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: I decided to post this chapter the night before I leave for a three week vacation (one with limited internet) so maybe if I have enough time and energy, you'll have a new chapter when I return.
Chapter VI:
Merlin laughed as Gawain came through the door, his hair mussed and looking decidedly hung over. Gawain winced as the laugh hit his ears and sent Merlin a mild glare. "Could you not make so much noise?"
"Then perhaps you shouldn't have drank so much last night."
"Well, we were celebrating."
"Celebrating what?" Merlin asked with a snort.
"Some anniversary, or festival, or holy day in some far away land. Do we really need a reason for a night at the tavern?"
"It usually helps when His Highness comes knocking at the door wondering why you haven't shown up to training and what is taking Merlin so long to get you out of bed." Merlin merely chuckled at the panicked look on the knight's face as he realized that the King had been standing in the doorway the whole time. "Twenty laps around the training field in full armor and we will talk." Gawain didn't question it as rushed into his chain mail and plate with the unusual assistance of Merlin and rushing out the door.
"Are you going to bother to answer his questions about last night and the bet you lost to him?" Merlin asked Arthur with a smirk on his face.
"I said we would talk after the laps. Hopefully his head would be clear after that." Merlin laughed, following the king out to the training yard.
Harry grinned at this god-father as he sat right in front of the classroom with Ron and Hermione sitting next to him. He had been looking forward to Defense since he heard Sirius and Remus were taking over.
"Good morning, class!" Sirius said as the group of Gryffindors and Slytherins settled down. "In case you didn't know." He gave a wide grin at that. "My name is Sirius Black. You may call me Professor Black."
"I wonder if your dad is rolling over in his grave from laughter at that," Ron whispered. Harry grinned while Hermione let out a scandalized 'Ron!'. Harry knew Sirius heard him if his wider grin was any indication.
"Professor Dumbledore felt that you all needed a more stable and fulfilling education, which is why Professor Lupin has returned." There were a few nervous chuckles, all from the Gryffindor side all who heard the full story from Ron and Hermione. "Between the two of us you will gain a working knowledge of those people and creatures that could do you harm and how to defend yourselves."
A hand went up and Sirius' face was impassive when he called on the Slytherin student. "We've had a lot of professors over the years and Professor Lupin was the best, but what qualifies you to teach us?"
Harry barely blinked as Remus appeared behind Sirius and attacked. Around him students clamored to the wall trying to get away from the dueling men until they realized the barriers that were between them and the professors.
The duel was short but furious and with no clear winner. Harry snuck a glance at the Slytherin side and smiled proudly at the looks of awe on many of their faces.
Sirius took a couple of breaths as Remus sat at the desk behind him. "I guess that answers my question." Sirius let out a bark of a laugh as Remus smiled in the background.
"I'm glad you approve, Miss. Smythe," he said with a wry grin on his face.
"I was training to become an Auror when -" Sirius stopped and spared Harry a glance. "Before my unlawful incarceration."
Another hand went up. "What was it like? Azkaban?"
Sirius' face was grim. "Something I try hard not to remember." He pushed away from the desk and pulled out a stack of papers. "Because your Defense education has been so scattered, Professor Lupin and I have devised a short quiz to see where you are." There was a collective groan and Sirius smiled. "This is not for a grade, but do try your hardest. It will help us help you. Next class we will focus on dueling to get an understanding of where you all are. You have the rest of class to work on the quiz and once you hand it in, you may go."
Harry rolled up his sleeves to keep them ink free and out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione make some sort of aborted reach in his direction. He gave her a quizzical look which she seemed to ignore before focusing on the paper in front of him.
He really should have been expecting the dragging when he left the Defense room a while later but he hoped Hermione would have started her normal after test rundown of what she could have gotten wrong by the time he left. Yet as he was pulled into an alcove he berated himself for not realizing she never let things go.
"Did you go to Madame Promfrey?" she said with no preamble.
"What? No. Why? I mean, Sirius tried to get me to go but I didn't feel the need." She grabbed his wrist halfway through his explanation and he suddenly wondered how long Ron was going to take. She pulled down his sleeve and pointed to his pale but clearly unmarked skin.
"Then where are the bruises? And don't try the 'what bruises' because I know there were bruises after what happened yesterday."
He pulled his arm free and smoothed down the sleeve. "I don't know, okay?" He looked passed her hoping to see Ron as he passed by. "They were there before the feast and-" He remembered the brushing against his arm. What was going on?
"Harry? What's wrong? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
"Nearly Headless Nick is right over there helping some first years, so he probably did, but that doesn't explain the look on his face." Harry tuned the pair out as Hermione started to explain the Muggle phrase. He stiffly pushed against the wall.
"I need to go talk to Sirius," he said pushing past them.
"But, Harry -" He ignored her as he brushed past his classmates back to the Defense room. He was suddenly glad for the extra free period.
Merlin was nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for the King and Queen to finish their mid-day meal. Just as Arthur picked up the last grape the plate was gone and Merlin was out the door. Gwen's maid could take care of the rest.
"Do you have some place to be?" Arthur asked. Merlin turned a disbelieving look in his direction.
"Please tell me you are joking."
Arthur rolled his eyes at the insolence. "We have council and I need you to take care of some things."
Merlin must have looked like a fish unable to form the words he needed. "Do you even know what day it is?"
"Yes, Merlin. I do know what day it is. What does that have to do with the council session?"
Merlin glared at him. "You forgot you gave me the rest of the day off, didn't you?"
"What? Why would I give you-"
"You did, Arthur. Nearly a month ago. After Merlin received a letter -"
"From my mother!" Merlin was so upset he didn't even realize that he interrupted the Queen, not that she cared. Merlin took some measured breaths. "She is coming for a visit and I was supposed to meet her in the courtyard when she arrived."
Arthur must have realized his mistake because he looked apologetic. "You are right, Merlin. I'm sorry. Give Hunith my best."
Gwen stood and ushered Merlin to the door. "Why don't you bring her for dinner tonight? I have missed her so."
Merlin smiled. "I will see what she wants to do. Thanks, Gwen."
Merlin barely had his breath when he appeared outside the main doors and started scanning the crowd for that familiar figure of his childhood. His small smile turned into a wide grin when he saw his mother appear behind a passing cart.
"Mother!" he called and she turned breaking into a wide smile as she pulled her approaching son into a tight hug.
"Merlin!" She kissed him on the cheek and Merlin battled the blush that was growing on his cheeks. "It is so good to see you without having to worry about bandits and people taking over the kingdom!"
This time Merlin didn't even try to fight the blush and was thankful for the darkened corridor. "I'm sorry I haven't tried to visit you more, Mum."
She just smiled a long-suffering smile. "Don't worry about me, Merlin. I know the good you do here."
Merlin opened the door to Guias's work room and held it for his mother. "You'll be staying in my room, while you're here."
"Where will you sleep?"
"There is a servant room off of the King's chambers. I'll be sleeping there. The knights and I have a bet to see how long it takes him to realize I'm there." He helped his mother settle into the room, catching up on the happenings in Ealdor and Camelot. "Gwen has invited you to dinner this evening if you are up for it."
"I would be honored, but I don't really have anything to wear to eat with a queen."
"I highly doubt that Gwen would object to anything you wear, Mum, but if you are really worried..." Merlin hefted up a coin pouch. "We can go shopping in the market."
"Merlin, I cannot ask you to spend your money on me," Hunith said.
"Who else do I have to spend it on?" Hunith hid her sad smile as her son led the way out of the castle and into the busy marketplace.
Harry didn't end up going to Sirius. Instead, he found himself sitting on the shore of the Black lake watching the mists as they curled and danced above the water. He felt confused, like something was boiling just underneath his skin, like something in the world was changing and for once, it seemed, it had nothing to do with him or Voldemort and he was just a bystander.
He knew he had to go back the castle. His extra free period would soon be over and he had classes to attend... And then the meeting with Professor McGonagall.
But... His eyes had to playing tricks with him. He narrowed them as he looked out over the lake as a shape began to form over the water. It seemed almost human. Almost female...
A hand clamped on his shoulder and he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Yeh shouldn't be ou' 'ere, 'Arry," Hagrid's voice boomed out and Harry let out a relieved sigh. "'Specially after yesterday." Harry nodded, standing, and didn't object when Hagrid proceeded to escort him to the castle. He did spare a glance back at the lake wondering - and hoping - that his eyes were merely playing tricks with mist.
Hagrid left him standing just inside the doorway of the Entrance Hall where students were milling about. Harry reeled back at the force of Hermione's glare as she caught sight of him as she made her way up from the dungeons and directed him with a tilt of her head. Ron followed from his place on the stairs where he seemed to be coming from the common room to an alcove just off the just off the potions staircase. "Where did you go? We know you didn't go to Sirius, so where were you! We were worried sick!"
"Hermione!" Ron broke in. "Lay off him a bit. He doesn't look all that good." Harry could see in her eyes the exact moment when Hermione actually looked at him and he must have looked horrible with the expression on her face.
He pushed her away gently. "Please, Hermione, leave it alone." He ignored their attempts to call him back as he made his way to class.
Harry sat next to a surprised Neville while a confused Ron sat behind them next to Seamus. They had walked in just in time so there was no time for Ron to question him about what was going on, but Harry knew his best friend was concerned and for once in a long time he felt comforted by the thought.
The class went slowly and while Harry attempted to pay attention and even managed to take a few notes, but he wasn't sure if he actually learned anything. Harry kept his eyes averted from the lake as he and a silent Ron made their way back to the castle.
"Harry?" He stopped just inside the doors at his best mate's plea. "Are you okay?"
Harry opened his mouth to say that he was fine but the words wouldn't come out. "I think I am okay, Ron. Just... Something feels off. In the world I mean. Like something is about to happen."
"Does it have to do with You-know-who?"
Harry shook his head. "Surprisingly, no. Not this time at least." Harry smiled, feeling better. "Come on. Let's get some lunch."
