Merlin's Chosen

Rating: T

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 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.

A/N: Well, it certainly has been awhile. Sorry about that. I didn't mean for the wait to be so long, but between my thesis and a nasty case of writer's block, this chapter took longer than expected. Thankfully it is longer than expected and we are finally to another plot point! YAY!

As always, enjoy the chapter and if you would like to get periodical fic updates, you can follow me at bottleofblckinkwrites. tumblr. com (just remove the spaces).

Chapter 18

The pair stood at arms length. Harry could see the calculating looks between them and the unspoken conversation that can only happen between siblings.

"But how?" Arthur's voice was breathless.

"Merlin and I had many theories. None of which we were able to prove," Morgan said.

"But how are you here? Of all places?"

Morgan's smile turned wistful and a tiny but sad. "I heard Freya's call when Merlin would not." Her face turned mischievous. "Mr. Potter allowed me to become a teacher rather than the crazy lady that moved into the Forbidden Forest."

Harry tried not to squirm when Arthur's gaze turned to him and he could see the wheels turning in the king's head. "I dare say you could out prank Gawain given the chance," Arthur said. Sirius barked out a laugh, only to have Harry punch him on the shoulder. Sirius looked petulant as he rubbed at the spot.

Harry saw the curious expression on Morgan's face. "You didn't tell him?" she asked.

Harry just pushed past them all muttering about "damned marauders" and "stupid pranks" to which he heard even Remus laughed.

He didn't bother to see if they followed, knowing that Morgan wouldn't let the last of the Marauders get them lost in the castle, but he did attempt to keep his temper under control as he slammed his way around the small kitchenette making tea. The slamming wasn't nearly as satisfying as he didn't have to search out the needed supplies, knowing the small space as well as the kitchen at the Dursley's. Harry stopped short at that thought and snorted.

He heard the rest of them enter through the portrait protected door chatting quietly amongst themselves. Harry sensed more than saw Remus stop at the door to the kitchen, look in, and decide to let Harry deal with his mood on his own, for which Harry was grateful.

Harry leaned on the counter, his hand splayed against the polished stone, arms straight, and head lowered over the nearly complete tea service. He sucked in a steadying breath. He had been awhile since he felt such a visceral flair of temper, seemingly out of nowhere.

However, he wasn't deluding himself. He knew he had a temper. He knew it was easily riled, but after that same anger nearly got Sirius killed, Harry had been working on keeping it at bay.

Thus he was glad that Remus just let him be rather than try and get him to talk.

At the same time, Harry hoped that his temper was his own and not a precursor to a nightmare filled night. He hadn't seen anything from Voldemort in months and he hoped that it was over.

"I thought you were heading back to London," Harry heard Morgan say.

Harry smiled despite his mood as he poured the boiling water into the prepared teapot. "Your brother had to go and complicate things," Harry called.

He picked up the tray and walked into the living room just as Morgan said, "He does that, doesn't he?"

Harry saw Arthur childishly stick his tongue out at her and she returned it.

"We decided to have Yule here and head back to London tomorrow," Sirius explained.

"Why not stay here?" Arthur asked. He glanced around the sparsely decorated room. "It is cosy."

Sirius and Remus shared a sad look that Harry looking away and setting the tray on the coffee table and kneeling. "We promised Harry a family Christmas at home," Sirius said.

"The best one we can manage, at least," Remus added.

"And it will be a great one because Sirius won't have to cook," Harry said passing the cups around and letting them add what they wanted. Arthur looked confused for a moment before Morgan rolled her eyes and switched her prepared cup for his.

"They were invited to the Weasley's," Remus elaborated.

"They?" Arthur asked.

Remus winced at the slip of the tongue and the preceptive King. He hated telling people about his 'furry-little-problem'. "I was invited, but I won't be able to attend."

"Other family?"

"Ah —." Remus wasn't sure how to answer and as he glanced at Sirius only to see him shrug.

"I'll explain it to you later, Arthur," Morgan interrupted.

Remus shot her a grateful look.

"Speaking of which, Mr Lupin," she continued. "Remind me that we should talk after... the holidays. I've been doing some research that may help."

Remus's smile was full of cynicism. "So have I and there's no cure."

Morgan waved his comment off. "You haven't lived as long as I have."

Harry could see the guarded hope in his mentor's eyes as he conceded and prayed that Morgan wouldn't disappoint him.

"So what is Christmas?" Arthur asked. "You mentioned that term before."

"A winter holy day that took the place of Yule over the years," Morgan explained, interjecting. "I'll tell you the whole story later."

"There are still some in our world that practice the Old Ways. I only started a few months ago," Harry said. "Ron's family — the Weasley's — celebrates Christmas and invited us to celebrate with them."

"What prompted your return to the Old Ways?" Arthur asked.

Harry could tell that he was genuinely curious and he shrugged staring down at his cup. "Merlin mostly," he said. "He left a journal with my family where he wrote about his adventures before leaving Britain. He wrote a lot about how he observed the various holy days and for me it started with Samhain." He glanced over at Morgan and she smiled sadly. "The thought brought me comfort."

"Oh?" Arthur said. "How so?"

Harry realized with a jolt that the King had no idea about his family history and it was disorienting. Finally meeting someone that knew nothing about him.

"Uh, my parents were killed when I was a toddler, so I never really knew them, but after Samhain…" He trailed off and looked up to see Arthur's knowing smile.

They all descended into silence and Harry tried not to be surprised at how comfortable it felt. It was almost like Arthur and Morgana were family rather than a mythical king and Harry's potions tutor slash ancient sorceress. For a moment there was the crackling fire and the gentle clink of tea cups.

"How do you propose we get to London tomorrow?" Sirius said.

"Anything but that floo," Harry said.

Sirius snorted and Remus laughed. "No, I understand that. The best bet would be to take a portkey. With Arthur and Morgan with us…"

"What about the Fidilus?" Harry asked. "We need to get Professor Dumbledore's permission to even take them into the house."

Sirius set his tea cup down with a clunk. "I'll be right back." He stood and disappeared into his bedroom.

Harry look over at Remus. "Should we be worried?"

Remus smiled and shook his head. "We are Marauders after all."

They sat in somewhat confused silence waiting for Sirius to appear. He came out of his room carrying a piece of parchment and a rather sad looking quill. He tossed the quill to Remus and handing the parchment to Arthur.

"Memorize it, then destroy it," he said.

Harry watched as Arthur and in turn Morgana read and memorized the writing before she threw it into the fire and watching it burn.

"We each have a single-use parchment from Albus in the off chance we need to get someone out of danger," Remus said. "Don't ask me how it is a single use but the Headmaster made it clear to use it carefully."

"And since we need a portkey," Sirius said motioning to the quill.

"And you expect me to make it?" Remus said.

"And I thought you needed Ministry approval?" Harry said.

Sirius adopted a look of innocence. "What they don't know won't hurt them."

"It's not like they can track the spell. They just go on the blind faith that people have that they can," Remus said, letting the Marauder Moony out with a mischievous growl at the edge of his voice.

"So as long as people don't realize they can make a portkey, the Ministry isn't worried about it," Harry said.

"Exactly," Remus said. "Plus, it isn't an easy spell to cast which is why Sirius tossed me the anchor. The last time he tried to make one we landed in the Black Lake. In December."

Harry burst out laughing and Sirius glared at him. "We were fine and the Giant Squid was most helpful when we found it too cold to swim."

"The cold didn't stop James from swearing up a storm the entire time," Remus said. "Nor from Minnie giving us detentions for a month."

"How does this Portkey work?" Arthur asked.

Harry stopped and really looked at their unlikely companions. Arthur looked uneasy and Harry couldn't blame him. He was in a future that so far he was taking in stride. It must have helped that he was in a castle, but he was also surrounded by unfamiliar magic and unfamiliar people. Morgan was staving off the inevitable freak out because she was his sister, but that wouldn't only help so much.

Along that same vein, Morgan was giving her brother a worried look. It seemed that she, with Harry, was expecting the melt down that came from a modern world for a medieval man.

"A portkey is a quick way for more than two people to get from one place to another at the same time," Remus explained. "The spell is tied to an object. Those who are going touch the object and either the spell is timed or activated by a password."

"Is it safe?" Arthur asked.

"It's not my favorite form of transportation but it is completely safe," Harry said. "Then again, I'm only really comfortable with a broom."

Remus took one last dramatic sip of his tea before standing. "Right then. It is Yule and we have ceremonies to observe."

"How did you celebrate Yule?" Harry asked.

Arthur and Morgana shared a look and a smile that told of old, happy memories. They sat like that in front of the fire swapping stories until sundown when Dobby appeared with their dinner. Leaving a place setting representing their loved ones, they feasted on their favorites and when they were full, they retreated to the parlor to light the Yule Log.

Harry had intended to stay up all night to watch the sun rise, but by the time midnight rolled around, he knew he wouldn't make it. Still when he glanced over at Morgan's smiling face he realized something earth shattering.

"I've already seen the sun rise," he whispered. Morgan must have heard as she turned to him and nodded in the direction of Arthur.

"We all have."

The castle was cold. Outside the wind was howling and the snow piling in the courtyard. Merlin was enjoying the warmth of his banked fire and the rather obscure magic book he managed to find in the castle's vaults.

"MErlin!" Arthur's voice ripped through the calm that was the morning and the man in question sighed and set his book and notes aside just as the King burst into his chambers.

"Ah! There you are, Merlin!" Arthur said. "The knights are down in the courtyard no doubt acting like children seeing snow for the first time. Gawain wanted to know if they would join them."

Merlin's eye brows shot up. "And you came up here to ask me? Why not a servant to retrieve me?"

Arthur shrugged. "Thought you might not believe the servant. And we all need some time for some frivolity."

Merlin stared at him and he couldn't decide if Arthur was being serious or not.

Arthur sighed. "It is Yule and as such and as your King, I command you to go out and have some fun."

Merlin stared at him for a moment then nodded. "Alright. Let me change into my warmer clothing and I will meet you out there."

"Fair enough," Arthur said and Merlin watched as he left.

With a sigh he stood and stared lovingly at his fire. Placing a containment spell on the fireplace he turned and shed his outer robe and pulled on a coat that fell to mid thigh and old leather gloves. He glanced out the window that faced the courtyard and sure enough the knights were throwing snow at each other and the children of the lower town. He could even hear laughter all the way up his high tower.

"MERLIN!"

He smiled and locked the door behind him to follow the king. After that, he really should have expected it but it was still a surprised when he stepped outside the great doors and heard a shout of "watch out!" before he was pelted in the face with a handful of compacted snow.

Silence descended on the courtyard before Gawain ran up and brushed him down.

"Sorry about that, Merlin," he said. "I was aiming for the princess." Merlin snorted at Arthur's offended objection. "Should have known he would have ducked."

"It is what a trained warrior does," Arthur sniffed.

Merlin snorted. With his hands behind his back he summoned a ball of snow into his hands and proceeded to ground it into Arthur's hair and then ran off to Arthur indignant shouts and Gawain's laughter.

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing in the snow, dodging frozen projectiles and generally being children amongst the children. It was the first time in a long time that Merlin felt free.

Even as he sat in the Great Hall at Arthur's right hand, listening as Arthur gave the perfunctory Yule speech about honoring the old year and welcoming the new, Merlin didn't let the coming troubles bring down his mood. Even as he thought of the notes he made just hours before sitting on his worktable Merlin tried hard not to think about prophecies and warmongering dragons and let himself be.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Harry asked a few days later. "There will be questions, sure, but it won't be too bad and you might have fun."

Morgan spared a glance at her brother who was about to cave and took pity on him. "We're sure, Harry. It will be nice to have a night to ourselves and talk."

The pair had managed to find a nice place in their strange little family and even the Black elf, Kreacher seemed to like them. He didn't like anyone.

Arthur nodded. "Go and spend time with your family. We'll be fine."

Harry smiled and picked up his backpack full of gifts and followed Sirius to the floo. The moon rise wasn't for a few hours but Sirius intended on joining Remus at the Shrieking Shack when it did.

"Remus will be contained at the Shack, so you won't have anything to worry about," Sirius had said after he saw his friend off with the ever present concern in his eyes.

Arthur had been horrified by what Morgan explained to him. He couldn't believe that such a gentle man could be saddled with such a curse. Not to mention how he was treated by the general public had the king seething. After Freya, Arthur couldn't stand those kinds of prejudices.

The floo, on the other hand, was something fun to explain to Arthur when he nearly had a heart attack at Ron's head appearing in the flames the day before. His friend had only called to see if anyone one else was coming in a veiled hint about Arthur, only to have to talk the man down from a near panic attack.

"I'll make sure to bring a lot of food back," Harry said. "No one should miss out on Mrs. Weasley's cooking."

"I've been craving a good mince pie," Morgan said. "But you better get going before your friend eats all the food."

Harry could barely get the name out properly around his laughter before he sped though the flames and landed with as much grace as a drunk gnome in the Weasley's drawing room.

"Harry! My good man, are you alright?"

Harry looked up from his place on the floor at George. "I will never get the hang of Floo travel," he said as George offered him a hand to get up.

"Seeing as you have the grace of a gnome, I would say that it isn't a surprise," Ginny said from her place on the sofa.

Harry snorted. "I was just thinking I was more like a drunk gnome."

Ginny shot him a strange look over her book just as Sirius stepped out of the flames like he was walking the runway. Harry had to hold back the laughter of the sudden image of Sirius as a model he used to see in his aunt's magazines. Thankfully, the strange moment was interrupted by the rest of the Weasley family bombarding them with greetings from the men sitting at the table peeling potatoes and cutting other vegetables and hugs from a rather insistent Mrs. Weasley.

"The house smells great, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "Is there anything I can do?"

Mrs. Weasley waved him off with a smile and a mug of hot chocolate and pushed him over to the table to sit with Ron and his brothers. Hermione had decided to stay with her Mum and Dad for Christmas and would see them both when they returned to Hogwarts.

Harry sat in the middle of what seemed like an interesting conversation if the looks on each of the Weasley's faces was anything to go by.

"They could just have Cabin Fever. I know I do," Mr. Weasley was saying. "This is the wettest year on record anywhere and I know it is not just the supposed dementors roaming."

"I thought they managed to round up all the escaped dementors, Dad," Ron said. "That was the rumor at least."

"That's what it was, Ron." he said. "A rumor. They haven't managed to capture any of them."

"So what is going on?" Harry asked.

"Charlie was just telling us of a rather exciting encounter he had at the reserve this week," Bill said.

"And as I was saying, the dragons were even more restless as the guy toured the reserve," Charlie said. "I did my best to calm them but there was no point and then there was the oldest dragon in the reserve. A rare white one."

Harry jerked from his near doze to full wakefulness at that and spilled his hot chocolate on himself for good measure.

"A white dragon?" Mr. Weasley asked. "Never even heard of one."

"As far as anyone could tell she's the only one and old to boot," Charlie said. He handed off the prepared pot of potatoes to Bill, who passed it to Mrs. Weasley. "Some say she's older than Hogwarts. Anyway, she went absolutely nuts when the guy just stood there with this weird smile on his face. He said something and then the director crumbled. I just knew something was wrong and reacted. He casted back and —."

"Does she have a name?" Harry interrupted. "The dragon. Did she have a name?"

Harry didn't notice the strange looks the majority of the Weasley men were giving him including the widening of realization on Ron's, but focused on Charlie. Charlie for his part took the questions in stride and scratched at his stubble on his chin.

"Well, the other Tamers have various nicknames for her, but from the records I researched later, she was named Aithusa."

The mug in Harry's hand exploded but he paid it no mind and with a swipe of his hand it and the rest of the hot chocolate disappeared. Charlie's eyes widened at the show of power, but said nothing.

"Did she speak?" Harry asked.

"Harry, mate," Ron started, but then stopped. Harry could see a thought cross his mind. "Dragons don't talk. I mean the stories say they once did, but they don't now."

Harry shook his head and turned back to Charlie. "Did she speak? Did she have a message?"

Harry watched as Charlie glanced between the silent table, Ron, Sirius and then back to Harry.

"Yes, she spoke," Charlie finally said.

"What was her message?" Harry pressed.

"I can't say," Charlie said. "She said it was for a specific person."

Harry growled and even Sirius looked concerned at that point. "What did the man look like?"

Charlie tried not to look surprised at the change in subject. "Uh," he said. "He kind of looked like you, Sirius. Younger though and kind of sickly."

Harry and Sirius traded looks. "You need to tell Harry what the dragon said, Charlie."

"But I can't," he said. "She said it was for His Chosen." Ron gasped at that.

"Who's chosen, Charlie?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Dinner is ready everyone!" Mrs. Weasley announced and for the first time since Harry started eating her cooking, he wanted to skip dinner. "Enough of such heavy talk and let's eat!"

Platters of food followed the motions of her wand and Harry sat back in his chair and tried not to glare. He ate, enjoying what he could, but was counting down the seconds until he could corner Charlie and hear the message.

After dinner cleared, Harry was again waylaid by Mrs. Weasley wanting pass around gifts before pudding and while Harry wanted nothing to do with it at that moment he went through the motions under the knowing looks of Ron and Sirius.

As soon as Charlie put down the empty plate and cup, he dragged the dragon tamer out the back door without so much as a by-your-leave.

"I told you, Harry," Charlie said, attempting to waylay Harry's questions. "I can't tell you."

"And I told you, you need to tell Harry," Sirius said. "As His Chosen, Harry needs to know."

Charlie whipped back to face Harry. "You!" he exclaimed. "You're Merlin's Chosen?"

Harry smiled sardonically. "Much like my hair, it is passed to me by my father's family."

Sirius snorted and Harry tried not to outright laugh.

"Well, that changes things a bit," Charlie said, running a hand through his hair. "If I remember her words correctly she said, 'the warlock once again walks the earth'. I'm not sure what that means."

Harry hissed and Sirius let out a strange canine whine. "Thank you, Charlie," Harry said. "Sirius, we should head back to London."

"I thought you were staying over," Charlie said. "Mum was so excited and I know the moon is tonight."

Harry sighed, thinking of Morgan and Arthur back at Grimmauld Place. "Plans have changed a bit." Harry wanted to tell Charlie who they had back at Sirius's home, but didn't know how he would take it.

"You can trust him, Harry," Sirius said.

Harry looked at his guardian and nodded. "Arthur has returned."

Charlie gaped at him. "Arthur? As in King Arthur? As in the Once-and-Future-King? That Arthur?"

Harry smiled. "Yes."

"Merlin's saggy —."

Harry couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. "Don't let Arthur hear those!" Harry said. "Merlin won't hear the end of it."

"You talk of them as if they are your friends."

Harry's smile softened. "They are. As well as family."

"We should get going, Harry. Arthur will want to know."

"So you know who she was referring to?" Charlie asked, following them back into the Burrow.

Harry nodded, pulling on the proffered coat. Harry could hear Sirius making their excuses in the parlor. "And so do you, if you know the legends, Charlie."

Harry saw the realization bloom on the wizard's face as the green flames took him back to Grimmauld Place. Harry looked up from his place on the floor at the concerned faces of Arthur and Morgan.

"Is anything wrong?" Morgan asked. "We weren't expecting you for hours yet."

"You could say that," Harry said as he stood and brushed himself off.

Sirius stepped from the flames their packages and no doubt bundles of food in his arms.

"Are you sure you don't know where Merlin is, Morgan?" he asked.

She shook her head. "And I haven't heard from him either."

Harry swore. "Then we have a problem."

"What is it, Master Harry?" Arthur asked.

"Mordred is the problem," Harry said. Arthur stiffened and then seemed to rub at his chest. "He's surfaced."

"How?" Morgan asked. "How do you know?"

"Ron's older brother is a dragon tamer and housed in his reserve is a rather old and rare white dragon."

Morgan smiled softly. "Aithusa."

Harry nodded. "Now we definitely need to find Merlin."