Chapter 17, Like A Long Lost Friend

For several hours, Severus was enthralled by the history of Merlin and Nimue, nearly forgetting where he was so engrossed was he. The druidic couple, in truth, had been early childhood friends, at least in his imagination at the time. Discovering this book was like reuniting with them on a new and deeper, more grown up level. He'd missed them and it was grand seeing them again and getting to know them even better. The book began in Merlin's youth. He quickly rose to Arch Druid in his late teens. Though that fact did not surprise Severus, because Merlin was Merlin, it fueled him for his own grand future successes at a young age. He could be like Merlin if he worked hard, he just knew it. Knowing that Merlin was a Slytherin was all the more encouraging. For him, this was solid proof that Slytherin was the best house. Back in those days, Druidry was one of the intensive fields in which one could major at Hogwarts, but over the centuries, as fewer and fewer were skilled enough to take up that mantle, it became nearly a lost art. Though there were some druids still tucked away in Cornwall or deep in the Welsh hills, their skills were no longer taught at Hogwarts.

Merlin decided to help the Muggles of Britannia against the Saxon invaders because his visions were clear on the fact that life would worsen, even for wizards, if the Saxons were not held at bay. Severus wished he had visions like Merlin. It must make greatness a bit easier, if one had visions, he thought. When Merlin approached the most powerful warlord in all of Britannia, a Welshman named Uther Pendragon, offering magical aid, this Muggle warlord was eager and willing. He knew of druids, and though Merlin was a druid with more magic than some, he was still something Uther was familiar with to some degree. Being a wise as well as brave Muggle, he was glad to have magic on his side to wield against his enemies. He took heart when Merlin shared his vision concerning his new born son, Arthur. Uther lost heart, however, for a time when Arthur's mother died shortly after his birth, because this meant he had to be a full time father while fighting a war. More than once, the warlord literally fought with the sleeping baby in a sling on his back. Merlin assured him that Arthur's easy adjustment to war meant that he would be the great warlord Britannia needed when he grew up. He would rally enough forces behind him to do what needed to be done to win the war and protect the homeland from invaders trying to take what did not belong to them. Merlin could see that people would love and follow Arthur, and this inflamed Merlin's soul so that he loved the child as well. The young druid that was Merlin traveled with Uther Pendragon on his war campaigns against the Saxons. He helped to fight for the land that was his home as much as any Muggles and attempted to get other magic users to do the same. Though many were unwilling, including most with whom he'd attended Hogwarts, a few of the more powerful druids were willing including Nimue. He'd attended Hogwarts with her and never worked up the nerve to make his interest known, but war times made things different. When Uther's men gathered with those druids willing to help, Merlin decided he would have Nimue for his own as well as for his apprentice. She was nearly as young as he, only two years his junior, but he was well ahead of his learning curve, and his skills far surpassed druids twice his age. For this reason, he had more than enough to offer her in the way of teaching, was she willing. Though many druids practiced sex magic to gather power to unleash on the enemy the night before a large battle, Merlin always abstained. The night he decided to make Nimue his, he chose to take part. He chose to perform the sex magic with Nimue, allowing the other druids to raise the circle of power while they called upon the fertility magic to win them the upcoming battle. He sent one of the other druids to bring the lovely Nimue to him. When she saw him, she was clearly taken aback.

"You are Merlin?"

He frowned. "Why the shock? We attended Hogwarts together. We were in the same house."

"Yes, but there are others who could be named for the falcon, and considering the reputation you have, I couldn't see how it was you. The Merlin we have come here to assist has immense power. I assumed he had to be far older, and that perhaps you were even named for him."

Merlin laughed. Clearly he had something to prove, but he knew he'd have no problem doing it. "I am the strongest Britannia has to offer, and I offer you myself. I see something special in you, something similar to what I am myself," he confessed. "I will teach you things that shall enable you to rise to power far faster than you could alone, and in doing so, I will gain the assistant I require."

Severus was uncomfortable reading about the sex magic, so skimmed those passages quickly. At first Nimue was unimpressed with the process, but eventually, developed a liking for the physical pleasures with Merlin as well as what he was willing to teach her. She quickly became an invaluable partner as well as a good student and the friend Merlin never quite realized he'd longed for. Having someone to gradually help to shoulder some of his burdens as she learned, made all the difference in the world. By that time, young Arthur was six.

"Severus!" The sudden touch on his shoulder made Severus start.

"Yes? What is it?" He glanced up from the book to see Raislen staring at him, mild amusement in his deep set green eyes. "It's time for dinner. Didn't you hear Roky come in and tell us?"

Severus shook his head, reluctantly lowering the book. He felt a flush coming into his cheeks. "I must have been...lost in the book," he said, giving a slight shrug. Truly he very much wished to take the book with him to the dinner table and read while he ate, so difficult was it to tear his mind from the pages of Merlin's story. He knew that would be rude, though, so put it down on the sofa beside him with a reluctance that he could not hide. "May I leave it hear to finish later," he asked and Raislen nodded.

"Sure," he said with an easy smile. "It's so bloody great finding friends who are as into books as I am. You and Heather Toy are great!"

Severus grinned as he rose from the sofa to follow the older boy from the room. "I'll be back," he said over his shoulder as they left.

Raislen chuckled. "Are you talking to the book or the library."

"The library," Severus replied with a dreamy sigh. "It's so amazing."

"That's why you're worthy of it. You appreciate it's greatness," Raislen said with a chuckle. The WestCraven's stately dining room was stately, heavy with old oak yet still with a comfortable lived in feel. Raislen's parents, Mr. and Mrs. WestCraven were warm and friendly. Though the dining room, in some ways, was similar to that of Grandfather Prince with its old world, old money feel, the atmosphere was entirely different. Rather than coldly disapproving, the WestCravens were warm, friendly and cheerful. As they ate, both asked Severus about himself, his favorite subjects in school and his future aspirations. It made Severus feel a bit special that they cared to know his plans for the future and seemed genuinely interested. He spoke of his fascination for crafting potions and dark spells. Not until he asked them what they, themselves did, did Severus realize that he'd never wondered where Raislen's parents worked. He supposed they didn't talk much about family when at Hogwarts, distracted by school life and the pursuit of their own private projects.

"We're Unspeakables," Raislen's father replied readily. "But don't tell anyone or I shall have to kill all of us."

Raislen laughed. "Why all of us," he wondered.

"Well I feel wrong killing an innocent child, so I'll just take us all out," Mr. WestCraven replied cheerfully.

"He's teasing, Dear," Mrs. WestCraven told Severus, having noticed the silent horror on his face. "No one is getting killed. Raislen obviously trusts you entirely, else you'd never be here."

Raislen nodded. "He's a great kid," he assured his parents. "Plus I know secrets of his, so we're even."

"Ur...What, precisely, is an Unspeakable, if I might ask," Severus queried carefully.

"Oh, it means we work in the department of mysteries, at the Ministry Of Magic...studying and protecting said mysteries," Mr. WestCraven answered. "We're Unspeakables, because we can't talk about our job to anyone...due to the mystery aspect."

Severus nodded. "I understand, Sir. It all sounds very interesting."

Mrs. WestCraven sighed. "It can be, but more often it's frustrating," she grumbled.

Raislen nodded, giving his parents a good natured smile. "I was quite disappointed when I grew old enough to understand just how uneventful your work often is," he lamented. Turning to Severus he added,"You'd think they'd be studying fascinating items and sorting how they work, but it's more like being confounded by fascinating items or weird ones, and infrequently if ever learning much from them at all."

Mrs. WestCraven laughed. "Our boy explains things so well!"Severus agreed with Raislen that the job sounded as if it should be quite grand and fascinating, so the fact it often was not was a bit of a let down indeed. The food was delicious and Severus stuffed himself on thick lamb stew, cheesy bread and the best chocolate fudge cake in the world! After the evening meal was over, Raislen asked Severus to come up to his room and help him with a magical puzzle he'd gotten for Christmas. "It's about to drive me mad," he complained. "Every time I figure out where a piece goes, another moves. I think I've figured out a way to cheat the blasted thing, but it takes two, so I need your help. It's about being faster than it is, see and four hands are clearly better than two." Severus eagerly agreed, forgoing the library for the time being to follow Raislen upstairs. The puzzle was a large, grand affair, that when put together, formed an enchanted forest. Of course the towering trees with magical creatures flitting among them as mages and witches strolled to and fro put Severus once again in mind of Merlin and Nimue. The catch to the puzzle was that if you didn't solve it fast enough, the last piece you put down would move back to the box in which all the pieces were housed. If you didn't figure which came after the piece you laid down fast enough, and it retreated to the box, you had to fish it out again, put it back in place, then resume trying to sort what came next. If this happened more than three times, the piece would retreat sooner each time you replaced it. Worst, it took two hands to lift each piece from the puzzle box in which it came, so you couldn't sort through pieces with one hand while holding the last piece in place with the other. The makers of the puzzle, however, weren't thinking like Slytherins as Raislen was quick to point out. "We'll solve it together, and perhaps one of us can hold the bloody last piece down if necessary to," Raislen said.

Severus grinned. "Very Slytherin of you," he said proudly and Raislen nodded. Raislen's room was large and spacious, so they had the puzzle spread out on the floor. The thick green carpet was so thick that it was even comfortable to sit on. Luxurious, Severus thought with a contented sigh as he settled down to do some serious puzzle solving. By the time they had the puzzle completed several hours later, Raislen was covering wide yawns, and glancing repeatedly in the direction of his large four poster mahogany wood bed. Fully put together, the Enchanted Forest puzzle covered almost half of Raislen's floor. It was magnificent!

"I think I'm going to leave it there until I get tired of looking at it," Raislen decided. "Thanks for the help, Kid. That was really fun!"

Severus grinned. "How long will it take for you to be tired of looking at it?"

Raislen shrugged. "Probably a while. It does look amazing, so I shall enjoy looking at it and I'm not here that often."

Long months at Hogwarts were a relief to Severus in some ways, but now he wondered if such was the case for those who did not mind being at home.