Merlin's Chosen

Rating: T

Synopsis: Arthur has slept in Avalon, the otherworldly place just beyond the reach of magic for all but Merlin and his chosen, recovering from the injuries sustained in the battle at Camlann. Years have passed and times have changed and Hogwart's school of Witchcraft and Wizardry has taken it's place on the edge of the Lake of Avalon, unknown to modern witches and wizards. The world is in need of the Once and Future King to protect Albion again but to do that the immortal Merlin, the man that has learned to live backwards, must be there and he is nowhere to be found. It is now the job of Merlin's Chosen. Only, Harry Potter thinks he's going mental.

This is based on the mountains that are around the movie version of Hogwarts and the lake that Merlin takes Freya to in season 2 episode 9.

AN: This is the last prepared chapter that was already posted on the other site. After this chapter posting will be sporadic at best. I do hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter V:

Harry watched the swirling mists out the window. The common room was silent, waiting for the still traveling Gryffindors to fill it. Harry sighed, gripping his bruised arm, feeling thankful for his ever vigilant guardians and thinking about what had happened earlier that day.

Harry laughed as Seamus pushed past him attempting to get away from an angry looking Dean. The trio greeted the rest of their schoolmates as they spotted him, Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione walked next to him holding hands; Hermione was still upset with him but seemed to be back to speaking to him. Behind him, Sirius seemed ready to hex anyone that got too close or looked at Harry wrong and Harry couldn't really blame him. He was nervous about the train ride.

Harry had just caught sight of Neville and was ready to greet him, when a strong hand latched onto his arm and wouldn't let go. He started to feel the effects of apparition when a look of shock passed through his would-be attacker's face. Harry pulled free of his grip confused why the magic hadn't worked. Sirius stunned the man and several pops echoed around the platform as several people disapparated. There were a few screams and shouts of surprise from parents and students alike.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Remus asked coming up next to him as Sirius bound the attacker and removed the hood.

"Yes, I'm fine," Harry answered, looking down at his almost-kidnapper. "What happened? Why wasn't he able to take me?"

"What do you mean?" the professor asked pulling him away as Aurors began to appear and take control of the situation.

"He grabbed my arm and I felt the beginnings of apparition but then it just stopped," Harry explained.

"You mean the man tried to kidnap you and the magic just didn't work?" Tonks asked. The other Aurors that responded were gathered around the unknown man and Sirius asking questions.

Harry nodded. "The man looked surprised that it didn't work. I pulled my arm free and Sirius stunned him. I heard several pops and people disappeared."

"It seems to be the general consensus," Kingsley said also walking up to them. "It is best if you get Mr. Potter to Hogwarts, Mr. Lupin, straight away. Do not worry about the train." Kingsley turned to Harry in full Auror mode. "The Auror Department will be in touch, Mr. Potter."

Harry felt a hand brush against his bruised arm and he turned expecting Remus or Sirius coming to get him for the welcoming feast but no one was there. Thinking it was Peeves trying to play a joke or something Harry shrugged it off and headed to the Great hall to wait for the rest of the students. Despite his thoughts, Harry waved jovially to Remus and Sirius who were already sitting at their places at the high table.

The upper years were just starting to trickle in when he arrived and Harry greeted his housemates as they sat along the table.

"How are you, Harry?" Harry looked up at the sound of the dreamy voice and Harry smiled at blonde form of Luna Lovegood.

"I'm doing okay, Luna, despite what happened. How are you?"

"Daddy and I had a lovely summer despite the rain and fog," she said.

"Glad to hear it. Did you do anything interesting? Like hunt wackspurts?"

She laughed, a light and air sound. "No, Daddy wouldn't hear of it. They get violent in the rain and he didn't want me to get hurt."

"Probably a good idea," Neville said coming up behind her. Ron and Hermione were just a few paces behind him. "Hi, Luna!" he greeted. Ron and Hermione repeated his greeting.

"I trust you had a good holiday," Hermione said. Luna answered the affirmative.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Neville asked.

"I'm fine, Neville. Thankfully, Sirius was there. What happened after I left?"

"The Aurors didn't want to hold up the train so they boarded the train and asked as many people as they could if they saw what happened," Neville said.

"There was an added bonus of having extra protection if they wanted to try again," Harry pointed out.

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asked and Harry didn't know how to answer and shrugged his shoulders.

"The man tried to kidnap me and something went wrong."

"But what went wrong?"

"I don't know, Hermione. Why don't you ask the guy that tried to take me?" Even Ron snorted at the comment and Hermione let out a small smile. "Kingsley said he would be in contact, maybe we'll find something out then."

The group around him nodded, but when he glanced at Luna there was a strange look in her eye. He opened his mouth to ask her when she shook her head slightly. "The first years are about to come in. I better get to my table." As she stood, the doors opened and the young witches and wizards were led in by Professor McGonagall.

Ron and Neville couldn't help but gape after her. "How did she know?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't think we would ever be able to figure out Luna Lovegood, even if we wanted to."

At the front of the hall the stool sat waiting with the sorting hat placed on the seat. Harry smiled as he thought back to when he was a scared first year, expecting a test and then seeing a hat sing. So instead, of watching and listening the hat he watched the young ones and as their faces lit up at the sound of the strange song.

Harry jolted in his seat when Hermione poked him in the side. "Are you listening?"

"The hat is doing the whole prophecy thing again," Ron whispered. Harry didn't bother to answer, but instead listened more closely.

"...it is to Merlin's Chosen now charged.
In the mists that cover the lands of ancient Albion,
A land that is now in need of it's king.
As dark wizards grow near,
the mist protectors do appear
just as ancient magic once weaved.
Listen well, as the time soon comes,
Where the Once and Future King will return
From his resting place in Avalon.
He merely waits for his wizard to appear."

The hat fell silent and almost seemed smug at the quiet that followed. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and Professor McGonagall unrolled her list. Harry barely heard the names and houses being called as he internally panicked. I don't need this. First Voldemort now this?

"Emrys."

Harry turned to look out the still open doors just as his table cheered for the latest little Gryffindor and quickly turned back ignoring the shadow he definitely didn't see.

Merlin stood on the edge of the lake watching the gentle ripple of the wind on the water. He took a moment to mourn what might have been, before whispering his plea in the ancient language. A petite figure appeared on top of the water and slowly made its way to stand just off shore in front of Merlin.

"Freya," he said bowing his head.

She smiled. "Merlin."

"You know why I have come?"

She nodded. "The druid Mordred rides for Camelot and his gathers his forces as his aid."

"Do you know why?" Merlin fears the answer, fears it more than when he told Arthur of his magic. Yet the sad look in her eyes told him what he already knew. "The time has come, hasn't it?"

... ... ...

Merlin entered the council chambers with trepidation. He couldn't tell Arthur all he knew. The future could still change. Even as Merlin thought it he knew it wasn't true. After everything had happened, Mordred would be the one to deal the killing blow, not only to Arthur, but to everything that he had built.

"What did you find out?" Arthur stood at his place at the round table, expectant of good news.

"Mordred rides for war."

Arthur face fell into a grim expression. "Were you able to find out why?"

Merlin shook his head. "Freya was unable to tell me." Merlin prayed that Arthur would forgive him for the lie, but Merlin just couldn't say the words.

Arthur nodded and continued with the briefing he was giving the knights, while Merlin only half listened.

"Merlin?" He jolted and realized all of the them were looking at him and all of them looked concerned. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "Just a little tired from my journey, my Lord. You were saying?"

"Are you able to build some defenses that Mordred wouldn't be able to break?"

"Mordred's magic is strong, but I believe I can, with Kilgharrah's help." Arthur nodded and turned to Gwaine. Merlin returned to not paying attention. Merlin didn't know what to do. He knew if he tried to change the future the future would come to pass anyway. He learned that from the crystal cave, but he still didn't want his friends to die.

The night he went to his clearing just outside the city, the harsh dragon tongue rolling off his lips. Merlin tried to smile as the dragon landed, but he wasn't sure of he succeeded. "Camelot needs your help with their defenses."

"I will do what I can, Merlin, but it won't be enough."

"Then what was the point of everything? What was the point of creating Albion when it will be destroyed by the whims of a muling boy with delusions of grander? Arthur will die and everything we have worked for will be gone." Merlin sucked in a breath, beating down the panic. "Arthur will be gone."

Merlin looked up at the dragon and he could see the sympathy in his eyes and yet Merlin could see hope. "Arthur is the Once and Future King for a reason, Merlin. This version of Albion may disappear from the land, but it will always need it's king and he will always answer it's call."

It was late. Harry knew it was late and yet he sat in his bed with the curtains pulled shut staring at the trunk in front of him. He didn't remember much from the rest of the feast, only that it was Ron and Hermione that got him to stand to make their ways to the dorms. He wasn't even sure if he ate.

Harry looked down at his covered arm and once again wondered what was going on. He tried and almost failed to not call attention to the fact that the bruises left by his almost kidnapper were gone, when he knew for a fact that they were there before he left for the feast.

He took a breath and opened the trunk. Lighting his wand he pulled the book from its confines and opened it.

The title page hadn't change, not that he was really expecting it to, but he could still understand the flowing script even if it wasn't English. He turned the page and started reading.

Merlin sighed as he watched the mists close and turned from the lake intent on forgetting what he was leaving behind. He wandered the forest surrounding the Lake of Avalon and was surprised to find a village had grown not far from it's shores.

It wasn't long before he came on a well-established village, with it's huts forming a hapless circle around a well. Knowing the village wasn't there when he took Arthur -. He stopped himself and shook his head slightly against the thoughts.

It must have been early in the morning as people started exiting the huts with tools and small pouches full of food in their hands. Merlin hoped they were friendly enough to not be confused and wary of his questions as he approached the nearest dwelling only to be stopped by a blade to throat.

"Identify yourself, traveler." Merlin recognized the lilt of the a man from the south and raised his hands to show he meant no harm.

"I am Gilly, son of Balinor." Merlin didn't know where the lie came from, considering he hadn't thought of the boy called Gilly in years but while the man didn't quite lower is blade, it was less ridged at his throat.

"How did you get here? This is a protected place."

"Protected from what?" The man let out an incredulous sound and moved to face Merlin.

"I took you to be a user, but you are clearly reckless if you ask such a question."

The dark haired man reminded Merlin of Mordred and he tried not to flinch as the blade slid along his skin.

"Salazar!" The man smirked at the shout. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Merely making sure our people are safe, Godric."

"This place is supposed to be a refuge for our kind, that is why it is enchanted so only we can find this place. If he is here, then he has magic." Merlin started at the word not used to hearing it used to freely. The other man, Godric, must have seen fear on his face because he smiled kindly. "You are safe here. You needn't worry."

"Where is here?" Merlin heard the dark haired man snort and tried not to react, but Godric smiled. "I have travelled a while alone so I don't really know where I am."

There was a strange sympathy in Godric's eyes and Merlin tried not to cringe under his gaze, but then the man smiled and gestured to the village, whose morning routines weren't even interrupted by Merlin's appearance. "This is the village of Hogsmead."

"Rather a strange name isn't it?"

Godric tossed his head back and laughed, before throwing his arm around Merlin's shoulders and leading him deeper into the village. "Indeed it is, traveler, but it seems to fit." Merlin glanced behind him to see Salazar had sheathed his sword and was following them with a brooding look on his face.

Godric led him through the village to a modest hut near the center of town. Out stepped a young woman with dark hair and kind eyes. She reminded Merlin of the young Morgana before everything had happened. "Who is this, Godric?"

"This is Gilly, son of Balinor, Rowena, a new arrival." Rowena's gaze swept over his face and Merlin wondered what she saw there. He probably looked tired, sad, and world-weary.

"Well then, boy, you better sit down before you fall over and have something to eat. Then we can figure out what to do with you." Her voice brokered no argument as she sat him down in front of her fire. She set about gathering some sort of meal with what looked like left overs from her own morning meal and pushed it into his hands. "Salazar? Could you go and find Helga? She said she would go looking for herbs this morning."

His voice was fond. "Of course, Rowena." Merlin breathed a sigh of relief at his retreat and hungrily dug into the scant meal.

"So why don't you tell us your real name?" He nearly choked on his bread and looked up at the woman's smirking face. Godric looked gobsmacked. "I am not saying you are not welcome here, because you are a user, but we do need a bit of trust in return."

Merlin got his breathing under control and looked down into his lap and at what was left of his court robes. "How long has it been since the fall Camelot?" Another look of surprise flitted across Godric's face while Rowena looked impressed.

"The city known as Camelot is only known in legend, but it is said that it is nearly 400 summers since the battle of Camlaan." Merlin drew in a gasp and tried to control his breathing. He felt Rowena's hand on his shoulder and tried to shake it off. Instead she knelt in font of him and took his face in her hands. She was once again studying his face and he could not hide the pain in his eyes. "But I suspect that such a battle is closer to you than the rest of us."

He nodded. "My name is Merlin." He ignored Godric's gasp, instead focusing on Rowena's comforting gaze. "Known to the Druids as Emrys."

Harry tried to hide the fact that he stayed up most of the night, but Hermione was far too preceptive.
"I was reading," Harry said ignoring Ron's sputtered choking, something to the effect of "Are you trying to be like Hermione?". "The journal Dad left me."

"Anything interesting?" Hermione asked trying to sound innocent.

"Nothing I can tell you, Hermione. You know that," Harry said gently and while she looked annoyed, she wasn't angry.

Harry dug into his breakfast as Professor McGonagall made her way down the table handing out schedules as she went. It seemed it was taking a bit longer as she got to the sixth years. "Mr Potter, are your intentions the same as last time we spoke?"

"Yes, Professor, but I did not get the necessary grades in Potions and I would prefer just to leave it alone." Harry spared Professor Snape a glance and Professor McGonagall just pursed her lips. "If that is your choice, Mr. Potter, meet with me later today so we can discuss your options."

"What of today's classes?"

She tapped the parchment in front of her. "You will attend the other classes as we discussed and you will have an extra free period until we figure it out."

Harry nodded. "Thank you, Professor." She sent him a small smile and continued on to Hermione and then Ron, while Harry sat at the table only playing with his food and staring at his schedule. Did he want to be an Auror? He wasn't sure, but he wasn't sure what else there was for him to do. He glanced up at the High Table where Remus and Sirius were talking to Hagrid. He didn't want to fight for the rest of his life, that is if he actually survived Voldemort.

He glanced down at his schedule and smiled. "You guys have Defense first right?"