[a/n0]Just a brief rant on a 10000 word rant I got from TGGirlHaileyHolly ::In which the user utterly destroys even the notion of Fanfiction by declaring as deserving of prison-for-life anyone who dares to put characters in romantic relationships that do not exist in canon. And that someone's name decides who they will marry. Unless ...of course... under only specific circumstances which said user considers acceptable. As everyone's climate girlfriend puts it "How dare me!?"

[a/n1]Got a review saying I was obsessed with LT. As a whole, I think he's a small percentage of my little corner of HP. Since he's appeared quite a bit lately, I'll just push any upcoming appearances to a later add. Say at least 50. Might be more, since I don't even know when I have one in the queue.

[a/n]This grew out of a need to address the plethora of stories I've seen where "Merlin himself was sorted into [pick your House]" Bit of trivia Geoffrey, created Merlin. Also St Mungo is the Patron of Glasgow.

Harry Does Different CDLXXXIIa

Lone Traveler Meets Merlin

Harry Potter materialized …again… in some new location. Ever since that first time, after being cursed by Headmaster Dippet for killing a teenage Tom Riddle, he'd been bouncing around history for years at least, decades probably. He wasn't aging and he'd been at it certainly that long. A little bored, he looked around and noted "Well this is different. Couple hundred feet over Muggle London. Glass ball."

"Have you not made enough of a mess?" a voice intruded on the relaxing moment.

Harry became much more the LT, eyes narrowed at the seat across from him. Hearing a voice in an empty capsule meant for 20 would have panicked many a Muggle. To the wizard in question, it was a concern but no more. He demanded with a professional air "And you are?"

"I was born Geoffrey of Monmouth originally." A young-looking man appeared without the usual apparation pop. "Though Myrddin and Ambrosius are my more familiar aliases."

The Lone Traveler just raised an eyebrow "A lot of the common thoughts here I imagine you're bored with, or simply don't work for me anymore. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"It is refreshing to see you again my friend." Though looking young, the man's voice sounded old.

The Lone Traveler scowled "Seems a bit forward having never met."

"At this point in your life, Harry? No. This is the first. But for me …well, best I not say more than that we will encounter each other again." Came easy reply.

Harry frowned now "The whole wise wizard bit works better when you have a beard and at least grey hair."

"Like you, I'm much older than I look." Merlin countered, adding "And it's not I'm in your world, more you're in mine. Either of us can age as easily as changing socks, to steal from your favorite Headmaster."

Harry could only nod at that, but he contradicted "Since you're, so far as I know, strictly a wizard, I was referring to our presence among Muggles. And such a Muggle creation at that."

"I have to admit, I've not seen such in my travels. Sort of an observation tower, except it does not seem a fortification." The other wizard noted, then asked "What know you?"

Harry answered "No, it's not used for any kind of battle. Just for the fun of it. It was created by some guy named Ferris, so that's what it's called." He suddenly chuckled a bit "This one is owned by a company called Merlin Entertainment."

"Wonderful my name is so revered." He replied in a lightly mocking tone.

Harry had to roll his eyes "To change the subject, one thing about you bugs me. Every once in a while I hear about you in this Hogwarts House or that one. You would've been about Nicholas Flamel's age…currently anyway… by the time the school was even built."

"I did not hear a question there, friend." Pointed out Merlin with a chuckle, then after an unaffected shrug at the venomous look went on "You've heard of the Legend of the Great Ghosts?"

To this he frowned "Not even once. Though The Lone Traveler has been mentioned occasionally."

"Ahh, the arrogance of callow youth." The young man was condescending in the way only an old one could be "Regardless, there are not many of us Quetzalcoatl of Mexico is another. And Yamato of Japan. We act when a crisis threatens civilization as a whole."

To this Harry spat out bitterly "Coulda used you against Voldemort."

"Even with your relatively new involvement with this type of life, you know it doesn't work that way. Old friend." Merlin again sounded condescending "The Great Ghosts have to be discrete. I did, in fact, involve myself precisely accordingly. You will find the name Merlin Ambrosius in the Hogwarts book several times. However, the registry conceals my presence under the pseudonym I used for a quarter millennium. To properly direct the Voldemort War I attended during the late 50s and early 60s. You knew my niece, Susan Bones."

It didn't take more than a second's thought, but The Lone Traveler had to wonder "You maintained Amelia's appearance for decades?"

"Not quite. To be exact I am Amelia. And a hundred others throughout history." Merlin explained "Again, doing what is best for civilization."

To this Harry commiserated "Must be tough, living part of a life then moving on, before too much time passes."

"My relationship with time is more similar to yours, my friend. Except that where your bouncing about time is a linear experience for you, I actually am in all those time periods all at once. From my birth era in the 32nd century, back to the Stonehenge era and even well into the distant future of my homewhen." There was a bit of weariness by the end of his monologue.

That was somewhat over the head of even The Lone Traveler. He scratched his head and asked "Ahh …right… So tell me more; how long have –" he started, but realized the question was meaningless in that form "How many times have we met?"

"You see the problem, even from your currently limited perspective." Merlin smiled. Only the expression revealed his true age. He went on "I ask you to accept it is enough I can call you old friend.- What was that?!"

Harry chuckled lightly as they started moving "Seems some of us immortals can still get scared. Judging by the Sun, I'd guess the morning crew is starting to open up for the day. It's fine. Besides I probably should get started on whatever change needs to be made here."

"Well put-er there then." Merlin approached extending a hand.

Harry gripped it then flinched and yanked it away, snapping at his acquaintance "Tha'bloody'ell is this?!"

"My apologies Harry." Said Merlin, actually meaning it "Don't shoot the messenger until you hear me out."

The Lone Traveler persona was in full evidence, he commanded harshly "Speak!" Glaring at the tiny M now marking his right palm.

"There are powers about that are vast, truly immortal, timeless." Now the young man sounded ancient "This is both gift and warning. The gift will enable you to be aware that not only have you visited a particular world previously. Which, if it hasn't happened yet …will. You will also have …if not sure knowledge… a sense of what change you previously made."

The Lone Traveler lashed out with a vicious left-upper-cut, then snarled at the fallen wizard "Bet-cha didn't see that coming!"

"If it makes you feel better, old friend." Countered Merlin with a chuckle and a spray of blood from his mouth "A tooth that will grow back overnight is a small price. Harry, the universe is more complicated than either of us can guess. Each of those visits where you've changed something, of even minor consequence, a whole new reality results. That is the other purpose of my little M. This reality…right here…is something special to those higher-ups I just mentioned. There is no one …and I mean NO ONE like either of us in it. Consider my M a warning bell THEY will not permit you to make changes here. This reality doesn't even have magic. THEY will push you along to your next time period. If you land in a populated area and the M lets you know you're here, get out. Non-magically of course."

Now The Lone Traveler frowned "I've never been one for rules. If you know me as well as you claim to, you should know that, Merlin."

"I would much rather your life concludes as I recall, old friend." Offered the other immortal compassionately.

Harry sneered bitterly "And how's that? After bouncing all over time for a million years?"

"Bit of an exaggeration." Merlin stood slowly so as not to trigger another punch "But, no. Without revealing too much, of course: That original timeline of yours is still there. You'll return to it …some weeks chronologically, as I recall… You'll live a typical AND MORTAL life. Dying in the company of family."

This made Harry stammer the classic trio of questions "Wh-wh what? wh who? wh wh? How?"

"While I certainly don't have any obligation to NOT answer that" Merlin's eyes twinkled "I don't think the information would really benefit you. Consider that I already have disclosed how I could possibly have been a Hogwarts student. No small reveal of my own existence. But maybe it will make you feel better to nurse a grudge in the belief I do so in revenge for the tooth you broke.

Harry gave the glass an annoyed slap "You make it difficult for me to stay angry. So if I wasn't here to make any changes, was it just to be told NOT to?"

The returning smile was all but Dumbledoreish "That and our first meeting. See you in the future. Or the past. Lone Traveler." With that Merlin vanished, his last trace a Chesire-cat smile.

The local denizens reported a strange flash of light which was rapidly forgotten.