Merlin's Chosen

Summary: 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 unite 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.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: This incarnation of the legend of Merlin belongs to the BBC. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. No profit is being made. I'm only want to have fun.

Chapter VIII

Harry knocked lightly at the door and waited outside the ornate door for Professor McGonagall. He almost forgot about he meeting until Hermione looked at him and Ron playing chess over the book-of-the-night and reminded him.

He heard a soft "Come in!" before the door opened silently. He entered the tidy office and sat in the offered chair. "Have some tea, Mr. Potter," she said pushing the pot and cup in his direction. He sipped at the liquid as he waited for her to say something. "There isn't much, Mr Potter, if I am to be honest, without a NEWT in Potions, as it is a foundation in most Ministry jobs."

"What if I did not want a Ministry job?"

"So you do not want to an Auror?"

Harry set the cup down with a sigh. "I honestly don't know, Professor. I did a lot of thinking since what happened back in May and I just don't know anymore."

"It is quite understandable that you don't want to continue to hunt dark wizards after the life you have lived." Harry felt a spark of relief that she actually understood. "However, there is the danger of not giving yourself the fullest opportunities you can."

"What do you think I should do, Professor?"

"If you do not want to pursue the matter with Professor Snape." There was a slight quirk in her mouth that Harry thought was a smile. "Then I would suggest getting a tutor. The school governors will still allow you to sit for the exam at the end of your seventh year."

"But how will that work?"

Professor McGonagall pulled a few sheets of parchments from the pile and handed them over. "You can look over these, with Remus and Sirius would probably be best. The pages contain both information about how a tutor would work and a list of possible potions tutors."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry stuffed the pages into his bag and got up to leave until he saw the hesitant look in her face.

"I heard about your defense classes you put together last year and from what I understand it the only reason many of your classmates passed their O.W.L.s." Harry waited for the lingering question. "Have you thought of becoming a professor, Mr. Potter?"

Harry paused. "Passed the D.A., Professor?" She nodded. "No, I haven't."

Professor McGonagall smiled. "Perhaps you should."

Harry was more confused than ever when the door closed behind him. He took a moment to lean against the wall and breathe before pushing off and heading to common room.

He never thought about becoming a teacher, but as he thought about the previous year and the thrill he got when his classmates got something right, it felt amazing.

He stopped at a window and just looked at the still misty Black Lake. The moon's outline was just visible through the clouds. He had always felt like Hogwarts was home, but did he want to stay after his own education was done?

Harry nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand clamped dow on his shoulder and his wand was out and pointed at his assailant before he understood what was going on. "Mad Eye would be proud," Sirius said smiling. "Why are you out so late?"

"I had a meeting with Professor McGonagall about Potions." Harry fell into step next to his godfather.

"Ah," said Sirius. "Normally I would be upset with a Professor who denied a student with a perfectly acceptable grade, but this is Snape."

Harry smiled a little and decided not to goad him. "Professor McGonagall gave me a list of possible tutors. Could you help me figure it out?"

"Still want to get your NEWTs?"

Harry nodded. "Everything that seems remotely interesting to do with my life requires NEWTs in Potions and I can't handle another two years with Professor Snape."

"What happened to being an Auror?" Harry stopped in front of another window and stood there staring at the heavy fog. "Harry?" He could hear the worry in his Godfather's voice.

"I thought I wanted to be an Auror, but now... I've been hunted all my life. I don't want to continue with that." He felt Sirius's hand on his shoulder and he turned to see a comforting smile on his face.

"I understand completely and will support you in whatever career you choose."

A weight seemed to lift from his chest. "What about being a teacher?"

"Defense?" Harry nodded again glad that he didn't have to explain. "I think that can be arranged." The pair spent the rest of the walk to the tower talking about what it was like being professor.

"What the blazes is taking him so long?" King Arthur walked the width of the room before turning and walking back. "Doesn't he know how important this meeting is?"

"Considering, Sire," Leon said as he stood smiling next to his chair at the round table. "That you have been talking about this meeting since Yule, I think he knows."

"Then why isn't he here? The delegation should arrive at any moment!" Arthur turned sharply at the sounds of the warning trumpets only to flinch at a sharp squawk from the open window. A hawk gently drifted to the floor before suddenly turned into the gangly form of a smiling Merlin.

"Sorry I took so long. I lost track of time." He wasn't even paying attention to the gaping looks he was getting from the assembled knights. "Shouldn't we move to the courtyard to greet our guests?"

"Mind explaining what that was?" Arthur asked.

"What?"

Arthur gestured in a way that alluded to Merlin transforming from a bird.

"Oh, that." Merlin waved it off. "Just something I've been working on for a while." He moved to the door intent on meeting the delegation and also not seeing the looks that were being exchanged between the men behind him.

Merlin had a wide smile on his face as the delegation appeared in the courtyard. "Princess Mithian!" He called and Arthur rolled his eyes at his adviser's lack of decorum. Mithian's answering smile was a surprise as she hugged the warlock as a long lost brother.

"How are you, Merlin?" Mithian asked.

"I'm well enough."

Arthur started as Gwen appeared at his side. "Did you know of this?" He asked her.

She nodded. "They have been conversing since Yule." At Arthur's sidelong glance she continued. "It started out as negotiations for the treaty, but from what he has told me, it has grown into quite the friendship."

"Indeed," Arthur mused watching the two talk as they made their way to the steps.

"Your Highnesses," Mithian said bowing to Arthur and Gwen. "Married life suits you, Arthur." Arthur and Gwen shared a smile. "I'm happy for you." She smiled at Gwen. "For both of you."

"Thank you, Princess Mithian," Gwen said.

"Mithian, please, Your Highness."

"Then, please, call me Gwen."

"Do you wish to rest before the feast tonight?" Arthur asked. "I can have George here show you to your chambers."

"Oh, nonsense, Arthur. I can show her the way." Merlin said holding out his arm for her to take. Arthur tried not to gape after them as they disappeared into the castle.

"You have nothing to worry about, my dear." Gwen said breaking into his thoughts. "She is promised to a prince of the south and Merlin couldn't bear to leave Camelot for another's kingdom."

"I wasn't worried, but it is good to know." Gwen rolled her eyes as she took her husband's arm and pulled him into the citadel.

... ... ...

Merlin sighed as he sat beside the fire. Beside him Rowena smiled into her tea. "Care to share?" she asked.

"Hm?" Merlin looked up and she smiled at him. "Oh, just thinking."

"About?"

"The old days." Merlin said simply. "I just miss my friends and family."

"And your king."

Merlin smiled. "And my king."

A spell was at the tip of Merlin's tongue as Godric burst through the hut door. "Rowena! A wall collapsed and some people are trapped. We need your help!"

Merlin stood and made for the door to follow them. "May I help?"

The pair shared a look. As of yet he had only been around the village and only heard about the school the were building on top of the hill. "We must hurry." Godric said gesturing for him to follow and for the first time in a long time, Merlin felt useful.

The tutor arrived on a Saturday, almost two weeks into the term. Harry stood with Sirius, Remus and Professor Dumbledore in the entrance hall as she walked in with her trunk floating behind her.

"Ms Penne, It is good to see you again," Professor Dumbledore said smiling at the youngish woman. Her dark hair framed her pale face and her green eyes shown with mirth and professionalism. An odd combination.

"Morgan, please, Professor," she said as she shook hands with all of them. "The same to all of you, including my student. I am too young to be called by my father's name only." She eyed Harry with speculation and yet didn't seem awe struck like so many in the wizarding world to be meeting the "boy-who-lived." "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter."

"You can call me Harry, Ms Pen- er- Morgan."

She smiled at him. "Oh, yes. You will do nicely."

"If you will follow me, I can show you to your quarters and you can get settled before you start your lessons." Professor Dumbledore gestured up the stairs and the group followed him up.

Sirius pulled Harry to the back of the group. "So what do you think about her?"

"She's intimidating." Harry said. They both missed the soft smile that graced Morgan's face.

... ... ...

Ron and Hermione were both waiting for Harry when he returned to the common room. After meeting his tutor. "How did it go?"

"She knows her potions and I think I will be able to learn from her. She's the complete opposite of Snape."

Hermione smiled. "Good. I know how much you want to be an Auror, Harry."

"Yeah, an Auror." He flopped into his favorite armchair. "So what have you to been up to all day?"

"Hermione insisted that we do homework all day."

You can lounge about all day tomorrow and then you won't have to worry come Monday when your work isn't done."

"You may have a point Hermione, but that isn't what he's talking about."

Hermione took in Ron's red ears and gasped. "Oh, well you could have just asked for a break."

"Do you want to take a walk, Hermione?" Ron asked. "I know a great place where we can get a nice view if the fog cooperates."

Hermione blushed. "As long as we are back by curfew."

Ron smiled. "Can't make any promises."

Harry laughed as he watched the pair leave. He then sighed and thought about getting his own homework when Neville plopped down on the couch beside him. "Hey, Harry?" He seemed uncertain and nervous. "Were you thinking about starting up the DA again?"

"I wasn't planning on it." Harry smiled. "We have decent professors now. We don't really need the DA anymore."

"Well, I've been talking to Professor Black and he thought it might be a good idea for you to take it up again. To think of it as a redo of the dueling club in second year."

"Talking to Professor Black, eh?" Harry grinned at the slight pink of Neville's ears. "I will think about it, but it can't be just me teaching it and we will have to let the Slytherin's in if it is going to be a legitimate school club."

"That's what Professor Lupin said." Neville got a thoughtful look on his face. "I don't think Professor Black was too happy about it."

Harry smiled. "He wouldn't."

"Just think about it, Harry. It was the only reason I passed the O. last year."

Harry's smile turned wry. "That's what I've been hearing."

"As long as you think about it. That's all we ask. The DA is really yours anyway."

"Well, not really mine..." Neville picked up his bag intent on the Portrait Hole when Harry turned in the chair and yelled across the common room. " Wait... Whose 'we'?" Neville just laughed as the Portrait closed behind him.

Harry just sighed and pulled one his text books from his bag. He might as well get some work done.

The castle was nearly complete and the four founders were brimming with excitement at the prospect of the school opening soon. Merlin was surprised when they finally told him why they were building the castle on the hill. He never really thought about opening a school for young magic users, an idea that would have worried the court to no end. Too many magic users in one place for their antiquated minds.

He was still getting used to their form of magic and he came to realize that his long stay in Avalon, as magic itself, deprived the earth of its source and weakened most magic users to using wands as focuses for their magic.

Merlin looked out the window of his tower and tried not to think about his tower back at Camelot. He moved in just a few days after Godric said it was finished enough.

"Is it to your liking, Emrys?" Merlin turned in his chair to face Rowena.

He smiled. "It is more than I thought you would give me, so yes, far beyond my liking."

"We are setting the protection spells today. We would welcome your assistance."

"I would love to." Merlin followed Rowena onto the grounds of the school near the stone gate they had finished a few days before. Unknown to the other four Merlin had quietly set his own spells in every stone he touched, blessing the ground the school sat on, and laying spells to protect the students who would dwell there. Godric slapped him on the shoulder and if it wasn't for the years of having Arthur do the same he would have buckled under the weight.

"Are you ready?" Salazar asked, almost impatient. Merlin nodded and the other four raised their wands and started chanting. Merlin waited before adding his own voice to the chants and he watched as a dome formed over wide over the school grounds. He smiled at the color as it shifted from red to light blue before disappearing entirely. "What was that?" Salazar demanded turning to face him. "That was not how we practiced it!"

"My apologies, Master Slytherin." Merlin tried to placate. "My magic differs from yours. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that the spell would change somewhat than from what you planned."

"Steady, Salazar. Test the ward. Then attack as needed." Godric said and Merlin glared at him. He was far too like Arthur for his liking. Salazar stood there for several minutes waving his wand around and chanting in Latin. Merlin stifled his fidgeting and waiting for the out come.

"Who are you?" Salazar said sharply, turning back around.

"You didn't tell them?" he asked Rowena and Godric.

"I thought it prudent that they do not know," she answered.

"What of Godric? Why was he allowed to know?"

"You would keep secrets, Rowena?" Salazar asked.

"We all have secrets, Salazar."

Though I never got any of them to admit it, I had reason to believe that Salazar left because of me...

Harry looked up as the door to the mostly unused classroom opened and admitted Morgan. He stowed the journal deep in his bag as his new tutor set up a cauldron and set out some ingredients. Harry moved closer to the desk and sat down. "To see where you are with your knowledge of potions, I have placed on the desk a group of ingredients that may or may not go together. Your job is to figure out which potion it is and brew it. I will give you these hints, it should only brew in an hour and it is was taught in the first two years of school. You can use your notes and books if you brought them. You have two hours."

Harry scrambled for his bag, grateful that he thought to bring his school books and notes. He scanned the desk and smiled because he knew everything that lay there, and scanned the index for anything that seemed to go together. Harry sat up straight and his smile widened. He knew exactly which potion it was.

He turned the pages to the recipe and set to work chopping, mixing and stirring. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand before corking the vial of the completed potion.

"Good work, Mr. Potter. A perfect boil cure." She smiled, wickedly Harry thought for just a second. "Now we begin."