Merlin felt a surge of energy as he opened his eyes. He could hear the roosters crowing in the distance, announcing the dawn of a new day. He jumped out of bed and stretched his limbs, feeling a tingling sensation in his fingers. He was too excited to have breakfast, he had something more important to do. He went to the bathroom and took a quick shower, letting the water wash away his sleepiness.
Today he would be delivering a list of groceries to the Weasley residence, once he was dried and dressed, Merlin grabbed the list off his kitchen table and rechecked the list and made sure that he had everything ready.
Going to the corner of his living room, Merlin gathered up the bundle of cloth that contained the snowy owls body and gently placed it into his satchel as well, he had a feeling that the birds owner would be waiting for him at the Burrow.
As Merlin closed the front door behind him, locking the house up. He felt a strange sensation in his chest, as if he was saying goodbye to something. He looked up at his house, the small cottage in the woods that he had lived in for years. It was simple and cozy, and it had everything he needed, and he had grown fond of it. For some reason he felt as if this would be the last time he ever saw it, at least for a while.
Merlin wondered if he would ever see it again, or if he was leaving it behind for good. He felt a pang of nostalgia and sadness, but also a spark of curiosity and excitement. He didn't know what the future held for him, but he was ready to face it. He slung his satchel over his shoulder and walked away from his house, not looking back.
Merlin closed his eyes and focused on his destination. He felt a rush of wind and a flash of light, and then he was gone. He had vanished from the little village of Bruton, where he had lived for years. He had pretended to be a normal man, a simple farmer and a friendly neighbor. He had lived a quiet and peaceful life, until now. Now, it was time to find out what was going on.
When Merlin reappeared, it was along the Otter River in Ottery St. Catchpole, a small village located in Devon, England. He could see the village's paper shop, post office, and parish church from here. Merlin looked around himself and noticed a dirt path leading down the hill. Following it, Merlin could hear the birds singing and sounds of nature.
It wasn't long before Merlin knew he was in the right place, the sight of the crooked and colorful house made Merlin smile, it appeared as if magic was holding it together. There was no way that seven floors and five chimney's sat there by themselves. The property also had a garden with a small lake, a barn, a chicken coop and a paddock.
Upon approaching the property, Merlin could feel the magical barrier surrounding it. As Merlin got closer to the boundary, he felt a slight tingling on his skin. He realized that it was the magical barrier that protected the property from unwanted visitors. He wondered if he would be able to pass through it, or if he would need some kind of permission.
Stopping in front of the barrier Merlin focused, squinting his eyes he tried to see the barrier more clearly. He could sense its presence, he had never seen a magical barrier like this before, and he was curious about how it worked. He wondered if it was a spell or a charm, and if it had any weaknesses. He moved his hand closer to it, feeling a slight resistance.
Merlin was so engrossed in his inspection that he didn't hear the door of the house creak open. Two men stepped out and walked towards him.
"Mr Wyllt, is that you?" Merlin looked up, startled, from his examination of the magical barrier.
He saw Arthur Weasley, a tall and thin man with red hair and glasses, standing only a few feet away from him. Next to him was a young man who looked like a younger version of Arthur, except for his muscular build and the scars on his arms. He must be one of Arthur and Molly's sons, Merlin thought.
"Hello, Mr Weasley. I have your free delivery," Merlin said, pointing to his satchel.
"Oh, how wonderful! Molly will be thrilled," Arthur said cheerfully. He was about to say something else, but his son cut him off.
"What were you doing just now?" The red-haired young man asked sharply, eyeing Merlin's actions.
"I was just," Merlin hesitated, wondering if he should tell the truth. He decided that he had nothing to hide, "Looking at the barrier."
"How? Why were you looking at the barrier?" The young man frowned, his expression suspicious and his tone accusatory.
"You can see it?" Arthur asked curiously and cautiously, as his son drew his wand from his jeans pocket.
"Because I was curious and yes, I can," Merlin said feeling a surge of annoyance. He didn't like being interrogated, especially by someone he barely knew. He decided to answer honestly, "It's transparent like glass, but it's not glass. It's shimmering and sparkling, like a rainbow. It wraps around your entire property. It's not every day that I see something like this. It's quite impressive, really."
"That's amazing, isn't it Charlie?" Arthur slapped his son on the shoulder, laughing jovially, "I never thought a muggle would be able to see it, let alone know it was there."
"How do you know it's a barrier?" Charlie asked, he didn't share his father's enthusiasm. He looked at Merlin with suspicion and distrust. He tightened his grip on his wand, ready to hex him if he made a wrong move. "How do you know it's not something else?"
Before Merlin could respond Charlie turned to his father.
"Maybe he's not a muggle, Dad," Charlie said. "Maybe he's a squib, or a spy, or a dark wizard."
"I don't know what you mean by muggle or what you mean by squib," Merlin spoke up warily eyeing the stick in Charlie's hand, "But i can assure you that i'm not a spy or a dark wizard, if i was i wouldn't still be standing here."
"I don't think we should trust him," Charlie continued eyeing Merlin distrustfully.
"Charlie," Arthur spoke up, giving Merlin a once over, "He has our groceries, do you think a Death Eater would have masqueraded as a muggle selling vegetables at a market, just to gain entry to our home?"
"Mad Eye wouldn't have put it past them," Charlie replied dryly staring at Merlin, "I bet his name isn't what it is, either."
"You're right, my name isn't what it is, but that's for safety." Merlin responded looking squarely at Charlie, "I've been living in the woods for a while, but i know that barrier was created using magic."
"Hold on, how do you know?" Arthur slowly released his wand form his pocket and pointed it cautiously in Merlin's direction.
"Because i can do magic?" Merlin shrugged, turning his right palm upwards and with a golden flash of his eyes a little pebble began to form in his outstretched hand. "I'm a wizard," Merlin continued, "Just like you, i think."
Arthur and Charlie gasped as they saw the pebble appear in Merlin's hand. They couldn't believe their eyes. They had never seen anyone do magic like that, without a wand or a word. Merlin closed his hand around the pebble and lowered it. He looked at Arthur and Charlie with a calm expression.
"So, do i pass?" Merlin asked quietly, raising both his hands to show he wasn't a threat.
"I think you might,"Arthur holstered his wand, "Why don't you come on in and we'll help you unload the groceries. Mind you, i do have a fair few questions for you."
"Sorry," Charlie muttered extending a hand to shake Merlin's, "I'm just being cautious. You can never be too careful these days."
"It's alright," Merlin said, "I don't blame you for being wary. But I assure you, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm just here to deliver your groceries."
"Thank you for understanding," Arthur smiled warmly at Merlin, "And thank you for bringing us our groceries."
Arthur gestured for Merlin to follow him into the house. Merlin nodded and walked towards the barrier, hoping that it would let him through. He felt a slight pressure on his chest as he crossed it, but nothing else happened. He breathed a sigh of relief and followed Arthur and Charlie into the house.
As Merlin entered the house, he felt a wave of warmth and coziness wash over him. He saw a large and cluttered living room, filled with mismatched furniture, knickknacks, and books. He smelled a delicious aroma of baking bread and stew, and heard a crackling fire in the fireplace. He also heard voices, laughter, and footsteps from upstairs. He realized that the house was full of life and love, and he felt a pang of nostalgia and longing. Somehow it reminded him of a time long gone.
"Molly," Arthur called out to his wife, who came bustling out of the kitchen to greet her husband and second oldest son.
"Arthur, thank goodness. I was beginning to think you had encountered Death Eaters…" Molly began before stopping and realising that they had someone else with them. "Mr Wyllt?"
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley, i've got your groceries." Merlin responded, slowly gesturing to the satchel on his shoulder.
"Oh, that's great, thank you so much dear!" Molly thanked Merlin profusely and ushered him to take a seat at the kitchen table while she tended to the kettle. "I've no clue, how you fit it all in there without magic."
"Mum," Charlie interjected, as he and Arthur walked into the kitchen as well. "He's not a muggle, we think he might be muggleborn, but clearly he has no idea what's going on."
"Muggleborn?" Molly turned away from the boiling kettle and stared at Merlin in shock.
"I could see the barrier around the house," Merlin replied, gesturing out the window somewhere, "It sparkles and Charlie over here," Merlin pointed to Charlie, "Thought i was a Death Eater, whatever that is or a spy of some sort."
"Oh good grief," Molly whispered before taking a heavy seat at the kitchen table herself and holding her hands up to her mouth, trying to hide her disbelief.
Arthur sat down next to his wife and put an arm around her. He looked at Merlin with a mixture of sympathy and curiosity. He wondered how he had lived his whole life without knowing about the wizarding world, and how he had learned to do magic without a wand or a word.
"So how long have you known magic exists?" Arthur questioned, patting his wife on the back.
"All my life," Merlin decided the truth was the best option, "I thought magic had vanished from the world and that i was the only one left. Until i was walking in Little Whinging in Surrey one afternoon when i saw something peculiar."
"Wait, just pause for a moment," Charlie spoke up he was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, "Maybe we should start with who you really are."
"What do you mean Charlie?" Molly questioned her son, and giving Merlin the side eye, "What does my son mean, Myriddin?"
"That my real name isn't Myriddin Wyllt," Merlin replied openly, honestly, "And that my true name has't been spoken aloud by anyone in forever."
Arthur, Molly, and Charlie looked at Merlin with curiosity and suspicion. They wondered why he had used a false name, and what his true name was. They wondered if he was hiding something important, or if he was in danger. They wondered if they could trust him, or if they should be careful.
"My name is Merlin Emrys," Merlin intoned truthfully, "I was born in the Medieval Ages, I was the manservant to Prince Arthur and then later King. I killed Morgana, I watched my friend Arthur Pendragon die. I watched everybody I knew grow old and die around me. I became a recluse living in the woods and I changed my name so that the witchfinders wouldn't find me. I witnessed magic retreat and thought it had vanished. I have been attending Farmer's Markets for the last 50 odd years. Any other questions?"
Arthur, Molly, and Charlie stared at Merlin in shock and awe. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. There was no way that the Merlin of legend was sitting in front of them as a young man, why he would have to be over a thousand years old.
"Not for now," Arthur reacted first, slumping in his seat, disbelief colouring his voice, "I didn't know what i was expecting, but it wasn't that."
Merlin nodded, understanding Arthur's reaction. He knew he had overwhelmed them with his story, and he didn't expect them to accept it right away. He knew he had to give them some time to process it, and to come to terms with it.
"I understand, this is a lot to take in, and you can ask me any questions you have, and I'll try to answer them as best as I can," Merlin responded, his voice calm and gentle, letting them hear his words. He saw them nod slowly, their expressions still shocked but also grateful. "I won't lie to you, or hide anything from you. I'll be honest, and open, and transparent."
"For some reason," Charlie spoke up from his spot against the wall, "I believe you. We could always verify your story with Veritaserum, the truth potion, but somehow i think we'll get the same answer."
Merlin smiled slightly, feeling a bit of relief. He was glad that Charlie believed him, or at least didn't doubt him. He hoped that Arthur and Molly would feel the same way, and that they would trust him too.
"Thank you, Charlie," Merlin replied, his voice sincere and grateful. "I appreciate your trust, and I hope I won't disappoint you. And you're right, Veritaserum wouldn't change anything. I'm telling you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Feeling a little flustered, Molly got up from her seat and proceeded to make the four of them a cup of tea.
"So, the groceries?" Molly asked tentatively as she handed Merlin a hot cup.
Merlin smiled and reached for his satchel. He opened it and the smile slipped from his face as he pulled out a bundle of cloth, and gently sat it to the side. As he was pulling the groceries out of the satchel, there was shouting from somewhere upstairs and then a thunder as a group of teenagers descended the stairs.
"Who is that?" A red haired teenage girl asked, pointing at Merlin as she entered the kitchen, "I thought I could hear talking in here."
"Ginny mind your manners," Molly reprimanded immediately, "This is…" Molly paused and gave a questioning glance at Merlin, who nodded. "Merlin Emrys, he was the young man that was delivering our groceries."
"Merlin? Your parents must have had high hopes," A brown bushy haired girl curiously, extended a hand to shake Merlin's, "I'm Hermione Granger, nice to meet you."
"Behind Hermione," Charlie spoke up again, "Are three of my brothers, the twins, Fred and George and Ron the youngest." Merlin looked at the three ginger haired boys and gave them all a nod.
"Where's Harry?" Molly asked concernedly when she didn't immediately see the raven haired teen.
"I'm right here," a voice called down from the stairs, "What's up?"
"We have a visitor, the man from the market," Ron replied to the raven haired teen, "You know how mum mentioned a Mr. Wyllt would be stopping by? Well this is him and his name isn't really Mr. Wyllt, it's Merlin Emrys."
"Why the fake name?" Harry asked, he had taken the wand out from his pocket and was holding it loosely at his side.
"Well, I'm kind of famous." Merlin replied, smiling at the teen, who he remembered from the incident in Little Whinging. "By the way, I recognise you."
"You do?" Harry asked curiously, he had certainly never met this man before.
"Yep," Merlin smiled at the teen, "I saw seven of you in Little Whinging not so long ago."
"What!" Ron exclaimed just as half the room did the same.
"You were in Little Whinging?" George asked, he was currently wearing a bandage around his head.
"Yeah, I was taking a walk after collecting some mushrooms," Merlin replied, taking a sip from his cup. "As I was walking, a group of thirteen strangers appeared out of thin air at the end of the street, and I believe they entered number 4 Privet Drive."
"We never saw anybody, the street was empty!" Arthur exclaimed, letting out a little laugh, "And Moody didn't detect a thing either, how is that?"
"I have no idea," Merlin replied smiling at Arthur, "Although it may have been the mysterious powers of the Magnolia bush I was hiding behind."
"Damn, that's something!" Arthur shook his head in disbelief.
"But, you weren't alone," Merlin continued, and the room fell silent, they all stared at Merlin with wide eyes, "There were black dots waiting for you in the sky, I saw you all get swarmed."
"Far out," Fred and George said in unison, as the rest of the room looked shocked.
"Which reminds me," Merlin's smile faded into a grim line, as he reached for the bundle. Merlin got up from the kitchen table and went to stand in front of Harry. "If you were the boy in the flying motorcycle, I believe this belongs to you."
Harry's hands trembled with unease as he accepted the bundle from Merlin and slowly unwrapped it. There was a collective intake as the snowy owl was uncovered.