Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Merlin was bored, which was really nothing new. He had begun to get bored a few decades after Arthur had died. There were only so many druids you could talk to and so many places you could visit in those days. It took awhile for him to be ready to leave Albion behind, but everyone he had known and loved was gone so he made his way to the docks and hopped on the first boat leaving the area. Exploring foreign territories and learning new languages helped for a while but after a few centuries he missed home and headed back. He was astonished to find that magic was flourishing in secret and that there was even a school for wizards called Hogwarts. Eager to check it out, he de-aged himself, a trick he had learned to help himself blend in with humanity, and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

In all his years, Merlin had never used another name, but it turned out that his name had somehow become famous and the magic folk looked upon him as if he was a god. How he had snorted and had a good laugh over that one! He could just imagine Arthur’s face when he finally got to tell him. The scruffy looking hat stuttered at having the greatest sorcerer to ever live under his brim, but did as Merlin asked and sorted him like he would any child. Given that Merlin was entering the school under a false name and sneakily checking the place out, the hat put him into Slytherin that first time. Over the years Merlin would come back and enroll at Hogwarts every so often, no real rhyme or reason, on when, or why and always using the last name Emrys, but changing the first name to anything other than his own.

The sorting hat began to greet him like an old friend and each time he sat under it, there was a hat stall while they caught up. It was the hat that recommended that Merlin create a family line for himself to make his visits easier, thus the House of Emrys was born. Whenever Merlin decided to reinvent himself he would add to his family tree and become the next generation. It was a flawless system until people actually started to care about the welfare of children which happened much later than you might have thought. Sometimes he had to play dual roles when a teacher wanted to meet his fictional parents, but sometimes he went the orphan route and lived with another wizarding family. It wasn’t hard to play on old ties since Merlin had many connections due to his long life, and he was never a burden on a new family since it was well known the Emrys family was an old and well off line. Merlin’s early traveling had brought him a great deal of wealth and he had just built upon it as the years went by. He had always lived rather simply, always ready to change lives on a dime, so he never really collected things. The few important items he had, he had put into his Gringotts vault years ago. 

Merlin’s biggest issue when he lived in the wizarding world had been working with a wand. His magic didn’t require it and he could, in fact, do most spells wordlessly by the time Hogwarts was created. He could hold back his power to make one work, but it meant his spells were weak. The first time he had used a wand to do a spell, it had failed miserably. After that he released his power and the wand blew up! He went through almost a dozen wands before he settled on enough power to produce spells and keep the wand intact, but he wasn’t satisfied. His fellow students always excelled above him because he was afraid of not holding back. Again, it was the Sorting Hat that helped him out. It was his third time at Hogwarts and he was almost ready to give up and go home when he landed in the Headmaster’s office. The headmaster had gone to deal with an injured student so Merlin was left alone. Bored, he decided to talk to his friend and put the hat on. It proved it was a thinking cap because it suggested to him that only an object of the Old Religion might channel his power. Merlin ran to his dorm where he kept his few belongings in an old knapsack that he had enchanted. He pulled the sidhe staff out and glamoured it to look like a wand. From that point on he began to excel at his studies, actually learning how to do the magic that he hadn’t caught on to the first couple times he had been to the school. After a few years, he learned how to transform the staff into a wand when he wanted to blend into the wizarding world. 

All of this led Merlin to where he was today, drinking a pint in a dark corner at the Leaky Cauldron and working out his next move. Merlin had taken a break from the wizarding world and been traveling since the end of the second world war. The death and destruction the humans had caused had taken a toll on his soul and he retreated from humanity for a bit, choosing to spend time deep in the Amazon rainforest among other out of the way places. He was finally ready to be with people again so he had been thinking of going back to Hogwarts. He was trying to decide between that and getting a muggle job when an older couple with a young child walked in and sat nearby. The boy couldn’t have been more than eight or nine but he was already showing how spoiled he was by asking for half the items on the menu and barely letting his parents tell him it wasn’t a good idea, before asking for more. He looked nothing like Arthur with dark hair and hazel eyes, but a prat is a prat no matter how old and how they look. Merlin decided Hogwarts could wait a little bit. He was going to help this poor couple. After a little spying, he learned the adults' names were Fleamont and Euphemia and the boy was James. With such unique names he could surely get a last name easily enough. Plans forming in his head, he left the Leaky Cauldron whistling a happy tune. 

The next time he saw James Potter, Merlin was an eight year old himself. He normally didn’t de-age himself this far because there was no need, but he figured a few years with an adopted brother might beat the prat out of James before they would attend Hogwarts. It helped Merlin’s cause that the Potter’s were purebloods. It made no difference to Merlin, who technically was a half blood, but he found the pureblood families were more aware of the Emrys line and accepted having an orphan deposited on their doorstep much easier. Merlin stood next to the solicitor he had hired before he de-aged himself, as the man explained to the Potters why he was there and how a distant relative who had married into the Emrys family had passed and their only son, Merlin Emrys, was left alone in this world. He had taken a chance, using his real name, but he had missed it and felt confident he could deal with the teasing that came with people assuming he had been named after The Merlin. With no other family he would be sent to an orphanage unless they would be willing to take him in. Before the solicitor could even tell them of the generous stipend that came with being his adoptive parents, the older woman was gathering Merlin in her arms and telling the man that they would be happy to care for the little one. Merlin let her hug him, even leaned into it, making him realise it had been a long time since he had let anyone get that close. For the most part, Merlin separated himself from others, since it made it easier when he outlived everyone. He knew, though, with that simple hug, that he would get attached to this family, and these people. Which is exactly what he did. 

Merlin spent his first three years with the Potters turning the spoiled boy from the Leaky Cauldron into his best friend. Just like Arthur, he could still be a prat but he had a good heart and it made the prattish moments insignificant. His adoptive parents treated him just as good as they did their natural son, even refusing to touch his money despite the solicitor insisting he had plenty. They paid for all his school items when school began and he and James introduced themselves as brothers to everyone on the Hogwarts Express. They had their first argument in years when Merlin was sorted into Slytherin again and James became a Gryffindor. The first few weeks James made new friends who took the house rivalry to new levels and James reverted back to the spoiled bullying brat he had been before Merlin came to live with them. In the end, it took them pulling a prank and Merlin and his new friend, Severus, landing in the hospital wing before James realised he had taken it too far and apologised. Severus never forgave him but he tolerated him for Merlin’s sake and later for Lily’s. 

Merlin felt bad that both his brother and his best friend at school fell in love with the same girl. He consoled his friend the best he could when Lily stayed oblivious to his feelings and fell for James. It was one of Merlin’s happier lives and when they graduated Merlin chose to stick around instead of fading away as he normally did. This meant talking Severus away from being friends with Death Eaters and encouraging him to apply to Hogwarts as a teacher. He didn’t get the post he wanted as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher due to Dumbledore wanting someone older with more experience, but he was hired as the Potions teacher. Merlin thought it was a brilliant fit and reassured Severus that he could try again once he had more experience. Both Merlin and Severus were at James and Lily’s wedding to celebrate their union and Merlin was happy for them when they found out they were expecting. The only pall on this life was the threat of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Merlin protected his friends and family as best he could without revealing his true identity. He begged James to stay out of the fight, terrified of losing him like he had Arthur. Maybe it was always destined to happen, maybe that was why he re-emerged when he had, and been at the Leaky Cauldron when a spoiled boy and his parents had come in, but James was a Gryffindor through and through and he wouldn’t stand by and watch Voldemort hurt people. He and Lily joined the Order of the Phoenix along with James’ friends, the Marauders. In the end, it cost them their lives and left their one year old son an orphan. Merlin knew that Sirius would never betray James, so he broke him out of the Ministry before he could be sent to Azkaban. Before he sent Sirius into hiding, Sirius revealed what Wormtail had done. Merlin tried to track him down, but he was gone and Merlin had nothing of his to use to track him. By the time Merlin had accepted his failure at keeping another loved one alive, Harry had been with the Dursleys for two years. Merlin hated that he had wallowed in his pain for so long, but this was why he tried not to grow attached to people. He knew he had hurt Severus when he withdrew into himself, even though his friend was hurting from the death of the woman he had still loved. Merlin decided to check in on his nephew only to scry and see he was forced to sleep in a small cupboard under the stairs and Lily’s family treated the boy more like a household pest then a sad little three year old. When he saw them give Harry bread and water while they feasted on ham and assorted sides, Merlin had enough. He stormed into Hogwarts and demanded to see Dumbledore. When the man insisted that only the blood protection of living with Lily’s sister could keep Harry safe, Merlin disagreed. Without revealing his real identity, though, Dumbledore refused to change his mind, even if they were mistreating the boy. It was then that Merlin decided to do something he had never done, not in the 1500 years he had been alive. He was going to raise Harry and Dumbledore be damned.

In all his years, Merlin had never taken in anyone. He rarely stayed in more than one place for longer than it took to attend Hogwarts. It was already abnormal for him to have stayed longer than the time he spent with Arthur but James had been special to him and he would not let his brother’s child be raised without the love he deserved. Once clear of Hogwarts he apparated to Diagon Alley. He entered Gringotts and withdrew a huge sum of money then headed towards a building for sale he had seen. It had a nice little storefront with a two bedroom apartment overtop it. Merlin couldn’t remember actually buying a home at any point in his long life, but neither had he had a child to raise either. Maybe it wasn’t a house with a white picket fence, but it was quaint and it would allow him to provide Harry with a sense of normalcy. Merlin didn’t need to work and earn money but he grew bored quickly and if he had to stay in one place, there needed to be some challenge to his life. He gave the owner double what he was asking as long as he was out by the end of the day. While he waited for his new home to be cleared out, he started to work spells into the exterior. Anyone searching for Harry Potter would never find this building. Anyone curious about the inhabitants would forget what they were curious about and move on. He would raise Harry as a wizard, right in the heart of the wizarding world. By the time the old owner was gone, the new building had more wards on it then Hogwarts. No one could break through. It was the same protection he had offered James, but his brother had thought Dumbledore knew best. Merlin tried not to dwell on it. He entered the premises and set up cleaning spells to scrub the place from top to bottom. Both bedrooms were the same size so he picked the one that had a view of Diagon Alley for Harry and took the back bedroom for himself. The previous owner had left the furniture for a small sum more and Merlin quickly transformed the plain bed into the shape of a dragon. Using his magic, he painted the walls to seem as if the dragon was flying through the sky with day on one end, and night on the other. He didn’t know much about children, but he thought he would like it. He planned to do more, but wanted to wait until he had Harry before adding books and toys, so he could see what the boy liked. By the time the place was ready, it was almost midnight. Even though he didn’t want to leave Harry for even one more night, he knew it was too late for a respectable parent-to-be to be claiming their child. He climbed into his bed instead and fell fast asleep, too tired to even dream for once.

For the first time in forever, Merlin woke feeling refreshed. It was almost as if his magic approved of his choice to raise James’ child and was giving him extra support. He grabbed the bag with plenty of gold still in it, and headed toward Privet Drive. Finding Harry’s home, he knocked on the door and waited. A thin dark haired woman he knew to be Lily’s sister answered the door. Her son hung on her leg and screamed he was hungry. Merlin glanced around but Harry was nowhere to be seen.

“Can I help you?” Petunia asked with a frown maring her face. 

“Yes. I am Merlin Emrys, James Potter’s adopted brother. I was hoping to speak to you concerning my brother’s last wishes. May I come in and talk?”

“I was told there was no more family, that’s why the child was left on my doorstep.”

Seeing that she would not invite him in, he tried to relax and give the story he had prepared. The only one who could dispute it would be Dumbledore and Merlin really didn’t think Petunia had the means to contact him, even if she wanted to. 

“I understand. I just returned from overseas and was told the awful news of my brother’s passing. I was told his son was given to you to raise, but his will expressly asks for me to raise Harry if anything happened to him and Lily. I have a copy right here.”

Merlin brought out the legal document he had forged giving him custody of Harry in the event of James death. Merlin put on his most charming smile before continuing. 

“I understand that Harry is like our family, he has magic. James wanted him raised with it and Lily agreed. I can provide you with any documentation you might need. I am hoping this wont come down to a court battle…”

With that, Petunia seemed to make up her mind. She never wanted the boy anyway and this man seemed to. There was only one thing that still concerned her.

“I certainly do not want to go into a court battle but I was told that Harry had to stay here, that living with us offered him some kind of protection.”

“Yes, it did and I thank you for giving him that while I was away, but I am more than capable of keeping him safe.”

Petunia stalled for another minute and Merlin wondered if she might actually care a little. That is until she nodded her head and unlocked the cupboard under the stairs. Merlin saw red as she picked up the too skinny toddler and  shoved him into Merlin’s arms.

“He wasn’t brought with anything so he isn’t leaving with anything either. You will have to provide for him. We don’t approve of magic so there is no need to keep in touch.”

She slammed the door in his face and he heard her cooing to her son on the other side. Merlin really wanted to curse her, more than he had ever wanted anything. It took everything he had to snuggle Harry tight and walk away. He wasn’t sure how safe apparition was for children so he caught the Knight Bus back to Diagon Alley. Despite being a stranger, Harry seemed instantly comfortable with Merlin, even drifting asleep in his arms. As soon as they made it back, Merlin headed for the clothing store. He bought everything he could think Harry might need in the next few months, having no idea how quickly he would grow out of things and set it up to be delivered that night to their new home. Then he took Harry to Flourish and Blotts to get him children’s books to read. They headed to a toy store next and he bought a toy broom and stuffed dragon for his new son. Finally he stopped by a grocer and bought plenty of food for the two of them. Cooking was one of Merlin’s favourite activities. It reminded him of making stews for the knights and Arthur while out on patrol or a hunt. 

Feeling like they had a good head start he brought Harry home and made him lunch while waiting for everything to be delivered. Lunch was a simple affair, just some grilled cheese and soup, but Harry ate like he was starving, and Merlin wondered if he was. Well Harry would never have to worry about that again. He would have access to food whenever he wanted.

 He had expected Harry to throw a tantrum at some point, after all he had been taken from the only home he could probably remember, but if he was upset, Merlin couldn’t tell. After lunch he held his dragon as he tried to clean up with the broom. Merlin had to show him it was a toy and not something to do a chore with. Activating the charm on the broom, it raised up to about a foot off the ground. Too low for Harry to get hurt if he fell. Merlin showed him how to hold the broom and make it go forward. The little boy was reluctant to set down his dragon to try, but once Merlin convinced him it would still be there when he was done, he gave the broom a try. His little giggles as the broom flew around the apartment made Merlin’s magic sing. Merlin left him to it after setting a few extra charms himself to cushion the landing if Harry fell. 

All the items he bought were delivered a short time later and Merlin took time to put Harry’s new items away. He could hear Harry talking to his dragon while he folded clothes, but then it got quiet. Worried, Merlin left Harry’s room to find his little charge had fallen asleep on the floor, still squeezing the stuffed dragon tightly. Merlin picked him up and cradled him in his arms before carrying him into his room and tucking him into his new bed. He leaned down to give him a kiss on the forehead when he felt something push upon his magic. He brushed Harry’s hair away and saw the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. With all the magic healing that could be done, why had they left this reminder of such a bad experience? Frowning Merlin reached out with his magic, intent on erasing or at least diminishing the scar, only to be met with dark magic. Probing the magic he discovered the piece of Voldemort’s soul left behind. There was no way he would let that monster live inside his nephew. Merlin’s eyes glowed brighter than the sun, as he drew out the horcrux and burned it away. Once it was gone, he sent healing magic into the scar and watched as it faded away completely, leaving Harry unblemished and free of dark magic. He left Harry to nap as he faintly wondered if there were any more Horcruxes.

Chapter Text

“Harry!” Merlin called. 

Seriously, how could he sleep in today of all days? 

“Uncle Merlin, we only got home a few hours ago. Can’t we stay in bed today?”

“Awfully grouchy for a birthday boy aren’t you?”

“We celebrated yesterday, remember. You apparated us to Paris yesterday morning for Croque Madame, New York for a pizza lunch, and India because you wanted real curry for dinner. I’m still not sure how you did it with all the time changes.”

Honestly, it hadn’t been that hard, although he had miscalculated somewhere so they hadn’t gotten home until about 4 AM. There were some perks to being magic incarnate, traveling through space while playing with time was one of them. 

Despite the fact that Merlin had been training Harry in the magic of the Old Religion since he was five, the boy still had no idea he was The Merlin. He had grown so used to Merlin’s magic and golden eyes, it took him a while before he noticed that not everyone’s eyes changed when they did magic. 

It still thrilled Harry each time he used wandless magic himself and his own eyes changed. It wasn’t that it made him feel special. It was more that he loved having something in common with the uncle that he adored and looked up to. That didn't mean he was ready to be up after only three hours sleep.

Merlin might be excited that it was Harry’s 11th birthday, but Harry wanted to forget it. His birthday meant getting his letter from school and buying supplies. Harry didn't know how Merlin knew it would happen today but he had been preparing him all week. 

Harry was perfectly happy living over the shop in Diagon Alley for six months out of each year and spending the other six months wherever the wind took them. Literally. Merlin would lick his finger, stick it up, and apparate them based on the way the wind blew. As a result, Harry could speak three languages fluently, and at least converse in another five. He didn't think a school could teach him anything his uncle couldn't.

“That wasn’t for your birthday, silly. It was just because I woke really hungry yesterday and couldn’t decide on what to eat.”

Of course his uncle would take him all over the globe because he was hungry. Harry had learned early that if Merlin said he was bored, that adventure was coming. His uncle was an original, although Harry had no idea how much of one he really was. 

It took Harry a few moments to process his uncle was still talking as he yawned and wished for his bed. 

“It’s just ham croissants and orange juice, so I hope you aren’t disappointed. I know you usually eat light after a lot of apparating. I’ve also dropped a few of the wards so I expect we will have at least one or two visitors today from Hogwarts. If you see curses fly, don’t worry. I have it in hand.”

“Wait, what? Why would there be curses? Plus, I told you I didn’t want to go to Hogwarts. I want you to continue to teach me.”

A knock at the door halted the frequent argument.

“Harry, just eat some breakfast. I’m sure they won't chance any curses but if they do, I’ve already thrown protections on you.”

“Uncle Merlin!”

Despite Merlin motioning him to go back to the kitchen, Harry stubbornly followed his uncle to the side door that led directly outside. 

Merlin opened the door to find an old man with a long beard, an older stern looking lady, and a half giant on his doorstep all pointing wands (and a pink umbrella?) at him. Seriously? All three of them?

Looking like he didn’t have a care in the world, and at least two powerful wizards didn’t have wands trained on him, Merlin crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

“If you want to enter my home, you will put those away.”

The only one to listen was Hagrid, who, having caught sight of Harry, dropped his umbrella and strode forward, enveloping the much smaller boy in a gigantic hug.

“Hagrid, he needs to breathe.” Merlin joked from the door.

Hagrid let go with a blush.

“ ‘Arry. We’ve been so worried. Ever since your letters came back undeliverable and we couldn’t find you.”

“Yes, Mr. Emrys. I think you have some explaining to do.”

Merlin just raised an eyebrow at the woman who spoke.

“He won’t do anything until you put your wands away. Uncle Merlin doesn’t like to be threatened. You should have seen the time these pirates..”

Harry trailed off when he saw his uncle give a slight shake of his head. He had forgotten that Merlin had told him that most people didn’t know he was a strong wizard and he wanted to keep it that way. The pirate story would have been a dead giveaway. 

The two wizards in the door looked at each other before slowly lowering their wands. Merlin waited until they were put away before welcoming them in and offering them some refreshments. 

“So how long,” Merlin called from the kitchen, “did it take you to notice he was missing?”

“We found Harry gone last month when we tried to send him his letter for school.” Minerva replied. 

“It took you almost eight years? Maybe I would be better off homeschooling you, Harry.” Merlin replied as he brought tea and small cakes into the living room. 

Harry brightened. He loved his life and didn’t want it to change. 

“You won’t be homeschooling anyone Mr. Emrys. In fact, I am ready to have you thrown in Azkaban for kidnapping Harry from his guardians.”

“I think you mean rescuing him from the neglectful and abhorrent people you placed him with after you kidnapped him, Albus.”

Three voices rose up in protest of Merlin’s accusation, but he simply waited until they quieted before he continued. 

“Do you recognize the name Roy Borkin?”

Judging from the tense set of his lips and lack of twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore did.

“Albus, I’ve never heard of this man. Who is he?”

“Roy Borkin is the Potter family solicitor, Minerva.”

“Do you want to tell her the truth or should I, Albus?”

“It doesn't matter what James wanted, Mr Emrys. I am sure if he had known that the only way to protect his son was to have him live with Lily’s sister so her blood could protect him, he would have agreed.”

No, he wouldn’t have. 

After stealing Harry away, Merlin knew this day would eventually come. He went to the family lawyer, prepared to bribe the man into verifying Merlin’s custody claim only to find a bribe unnecessary. James really had named Merlin the boy's guardian and a private letter revealed why.

Dear Merlin, 

If you’re reading this it means Lily and I didn’t make it through the war. I’m sorry for the pain I know this will cause you, even if you were always going to see us die. 

I don’t know if you are aware but you talk in your sleep. I’ve known since I was eight that you are the legendary Merlin. I want you to know you didn’t fail us like you think you failed Arthur (and I doubt you failed him).

We made the choice to fight and we would again.

I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but I need you to watch over Harry for us. If we are dead it means Dumbledore’s protections weren’t good enough. I should have let you do it, but I was afraid it would mean putting you in a position where your secret could be revealed. 

I am naming you Harry’s guardian and I hope you accept. I would hate to see my boy with Lily’s snob of a sister. 

Thank you for keeping him safe, which I know you will do, and thank you for choosing me to be your brother for a time. 

Sincerely,

Your brother, James

Merlin felt Harry’s arms go around him as he let a solitary tear drop at the memory. 

James had known but he hadn’t treated him any differently and he trusted Merlin to raise Harry. 

“He told you, Albus, and you claimed to have no way to get in contact with me. We both know you could have found me. I wasn’t hiding my actions on my hunt for Wormtail.”

“It was Sirius who betrayed the Potters.”

“No Professor McGonnagal, it wasn’t. Peter Pettigrew turned to Voldemort and it was he who overheard part of the prophecy and passed it onto the Dark Lord. Sirius confronted him and he faked the whole scene.”

“Then that means Sirius is innocent and he has been on the run for years!”

“I wouldn’t worry about Uncle Sirius, ma’am. He’s perfectly happy where he is.” Harry piped up before getting a stern look from his uncle. 

“I think we are getting off track. The point is that Mr Borkin made you aware I was Harry’s legal guardian. By denying me my claim, and putting him with the Dursleys, you violated my rights.”

Minerva looked shocked, Albus angry, and Hagrid was just plain confused. 

“I do have paperwork here, though, stating I will not pursue legal action if you would hire me on as a teacher so I can continue to protect my nephew while he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I think I would be well suited for Defence Against the Dark Arts, don’t you agree, after seeing even you couldn’t find Harry till I lowered my wards.”

“We already have a DADA teacher.”

“As to that, Harry, could you go in the other room for a few minutes?”

“You’ve never kept secrets from me before.”

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. The kid was right for the most part. He knew everything about his parents and Merlin taking him from the Dursleys. He spent two weeks every year with Sirius while Merlin sat by the Lake of Avalon to see if Arthur might rise. He knew that Voldemort and his followers would love to have a go at him, if they remembered he existed, which most wouldn't. The only thing he didn't know was Merlin was an immortal being who had been alive for 1500 years. He thought the old wizard in the tales was just someone his uncle was named after. 

“Right. So I killed your teacher a few days ago.”

All at once the wands were back at Merlin’s throat and Hagrid had pushed Harry behind him.

Ignoring the wands, Merlin tried to look around the giant.

“Harry, be a dear and grab the Pensieve please.”

Harry rolled his eyes and uttered a spell, turning his eyes gold and depositing the pensieve in front of them. 

Albus and Minerva gasped but Harry ignored them.

“You could have done that yourself.” Sassed Harry.

“Yes, but you need the practice.”

“Where did you learn to do that?” Minerva asked as she held a hand to her chest. 

“Uncle Merlin taught me. He said it’s an ancient art that most wizards no longer know.”

“Yes, just as I can try to teach others when I take up my new teaching position. I just hope Severus wont resent me for taking the job he wanted.”

“You already admitted to killing a man, what makes you think you will be teaching anything?”

“Watch and you will see.”

Merlin pulled a silver strand from his head and watched it float into the pensieve. He had other ways to share memories but this was the one the wizards before him would believe. 

He waited patiently with Harry as they viewed the memory of a few days ago when he had popped into the Leaky Cauldron for lunch and met a man with a large turban on his head. 

Merlin was starving. Harry was busy mooning over the animals at Eeylops so he was on his own to grab lunch. Thankfully it was Thursday and Tom always made a really good fish and chips meal on Thursdays. 

Walking into the Leaky Cauldron, Merlin was stopped short by a slight man wearing a turban that probably weighed more than he did. Merlin hadn’t thought he was the judgemental sort so he couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t take his eyes off the odd man. 

Never looking away, he greeted Tom and placed his order.

“No need to wait, Merls. I knew you’d be here today, you always are. I already have yours and Harry’s lunch made up.”

“I’m s-s-sorry. Di-di-did you say Ha-ha-Harry? Ha-ha-harry Potter?” the odd man stuttered.

Warning bells went off in Merlin’s head. The spells and wards he had created the night he took Harry to live with him made sure that Harry’s name never became famous. The only people who would remember him were people that had already known him and Merlin had never met this man in his life. 

Merlin didn’t have to respond because Tom was quick to correct the man.

“No. Harry Emrys, Merlin’s nephew.”

Merlin had not, in fact, changed Harry’s name, nor had he ever used it before, so he could see where it was assumed that they shared the same last name, seeing as he had spoken of his brother before in relation to Harry. 

Quirrell looked disappointed and Merlin wondered if he was hanging around knowing that kids would start arriving soon in Diagon Alley for school supplies. 

The man walked away, mumbling under his breath and Merlin decided to desert lunch and follow him until they entered the back alley.

Merlin reached out with his magic and felt the dark power emanating from the back of the man’s head. He pulled out his wand and watched as the turban unravelled at the spell he cast. 

“Master! I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened!”

“Cover us back up, you fool, before someone sees.”

It was at that moment he caught sight of Merlin. 

“Too late, Master. What do I do?”

“Kill him, you idiot!”

Quirrell began to cast the killing curse, but Merlin was quicker. With a flash of golden eyes, the second face began to burn, causing Quirrell to drop to his knees. Merlin hadn’t intended for him to die also, but the link between the two was irreversible so when Voldemort died, so did Quirrell. 

Merlin ended the memory there. It was bad enough they had seen him use magic, but Harry had already given him an excuse for that. They didn't need to see the way he disposed of the body left behind.

“That was Voldemort,” Albus said at the same time Minerva exclaimed.

“How did you do that?”

“Yes, it was Voldemort. Apparently he made horcruxes to keep himself alive. I have no idea how many, but I will be looking into it. As for the magic, it’s as Harry said. It’s an old magic I was lucky enough to learn. I’ve gotten quite good at it and have been teaching it to my nephew for a few years now.”

Merlin looked fondly on his nephew. Old magic was hard to do, but Harry had been determined to learn it. He only knew a few spells, but it was more than most people could ever achieve so Merlin was very proud of him. 

Again he wondered if it was destiny that had led him to James and by extension, Harry. 

At the mention of horcruxes, Dumbledore got a calculating look in his eye. Easily reading it, Merlin was quick to shut him down.

“Harry isn’t a horcrux, or at least he isn’t any longer. I removed Voldemort’s soul from him the first night I had him.”

“How did you..?”

“Know you were thinking that? I am an expert Legilimens. I have never found anyone that can hide something from me.”

“It seems, Mr. Emrys, that you would be a huge asset to the DADA position, now that it is obvious we are in need of a new teacher,” Dumbledore said begrudgingly. 

“Thank you. I kindly accept. Now, it’s been a nice visit and all,” Merlin said sarcastically, causing Harry to hide a grin behind his hand, “but it’s Harry’s birthday and we have big plans for the day.”

“We do?”

“Try to sound a little happier, Harry.”

“I’d be happy with some more sleep, Uncle Merlin.”

“I guess you don’t want to go to Eeylops and get one of your birthday gifts that I have on hold for you?”

Without a word, Harry raced towards his bedroom to get dressed, but halted at his uncle’s warning voice. Turning around, he saw his uncle look towards the guests.

“Sorry, Uncle Merlin. I was excited.”

Turning to address everyone else, he bowed slightly as Merlin had taught him to show respect. 

“Thank you for stopping by to check on my welfare. I hope to meet you all again in September. Have a pleasant day.”

Glancing at his uncle, he got a nod of approval and rushed out of the room to get ready. 

“Now. I’ll be happy to take Harry’s letter before you are on your way and I put my wards back in place.”

“I still think you should have left him at the Dursleys. What would have happened if Harry had met up with Quirrell instead of you? He would have had no protection.”

“Had Harry met up with him, the spells I have cast would have reflected any spell he used against him, even the killing curse and Harry wouldn’t have had to lift a finger.  Where you left him, he was locked in a cupboard with a bucket to use as a toilet and only let out to clean. He was three, Albus! Three! And he weighed less than most one year olds. You are lucky I didn’t kill them and I just took him away from there.”

Minerva looked as if she was going to have a heart attack and Hagrid started to cry. Even Dumbledore finally looked ashamed. 

“I didn’t know.”

“No, and you didn’t check either. If I hadn’t taken him he would have lived like that for the last eight years. Now, I’ll ask you to leave. My nephew and I have a big day ahead of us.”

Merlin took Harry's letter from Minerva and then slammed the door behind them still struggling with his anger. He willed his magic back as it tried to escape his grasp and curse the people who had hurt his family, until thin arms wrapped around him.

“I don’t remember any of that, but thank you for saving me. You are the best uncle, the best friend, I could ever have.”

“I love you, Harry. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Now I think it’s time for presents, don’t you?”

“I don’t need anything, not even a pet, as long as I have you.”

“Really,” Merlin said with a grin. “Not even a beautiful snowy white owl?”

Merlin laughed as Harry practically tripped over himself to rush for the door.

Chapter Text

“It’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t fair, Harry. Suck it up.”

Harry stuck his tongue out at his uncle, even if he couldn’t see it with his back turned and his head buried in Harry’s trunk.

“Keep your tongue in your mouth or I’ll turn it green again.”

“How do you always know?”

Merlin laughed. Harry had been practicing Occlumency with him from the time he was six, but it didn’t mean he could keep Merlin out. No one could, but that wasn’t how Merlin knew. 

To be honest, he guessed, knowing how his nephew reacted most of the time. 

“It’s my job to know. Now do you want me to pack your bookshelf too or will you explore the books the library has?”

“Just my favourites on the top shelf. Anything else can stay here.”

“Does that include Kilgharrah?”

Harry thought really hard about that. He didn’t want anyone to think he was a baby, but he had never slept without the stuffed dragon that Merlin had bought him the first day they were together. 

Merlin glanced back at the silence and saw unshed tears lurking in Harry’s eyes.

“How about I cast a glamour on him to look like a pillow? Only you will know it’s a stuffed animal.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Uncle Merlin. 

Harry waited until he saw his uncle’s eyes change colour before he stuffed the dragon into his trunk.

“I think that’s everything, Harry. Ready to catch your train?”

This brought them back full circle to Harry’s earlier complaint.

“Why aren’t you joining me on the train? I don’t know anybody. At least if you sat with me, we could practice magic.”

“Harry, you need to make an effort to meet new people. You’re a very sociable kid but all your friends are adults.”

Merlin tried, he really had, but maybe Diagon Alley hadn’t been a great place to settle. There just didn’t seem to be many kids that lived there so Harry made friends with the business owners like Tom and Florean. 

The summer months were the busiest for business in Diagon Alley, but that tended to be when Merlin wanted to travel so Harry rarely met kids his own age. Now Merlin was going to force him to hang out with the kids on the train while he finished up business here and closed his shop, before apparating to Hogsmede and walking up to the castle. 

“Anyway, I need to get supplies for class. I’m not even sure what I want to cover even though Dumbledore has asked me multiple times for a curriculum. I’m debating trying some Old magic with the kids. Not many can do it, though. Would it be a waste of time?”

Harry loved that his uncle asked his opinion, even though he was only eleven.

“I would, at least for the first through maybe fourth years. After that I hear students get anxious for O.W.L.S so maybe stay away from stuff they won't be tested on?”

“How did you get so wise, nephew of mine?”

“By doing the opposite of what you would do?”

“Oi!” Merlin exclaimed as he lobbed a pillow at Harry. 

Harry laughed and ducked, sticking his tongue out again for good measure. 

He saw his uncle’s eyes flash and panicked, running into the bathroom, but it was too late. His tongue was neon green.

“Seriously?”

“I warned you. Now let's get a move on before you are late and miss the train.”

Grumbling, Harry grabbed Hedwig’s cage and whistled. The snowy owl zoomed in the window, landing gracefully in the cage. Harry gave her a gentle stoke before locking the door. Harry ran one last comb through his hair before they were off. 

It was a short walk to the train station. People were in such a rush, no one noticed the dark haired man and the boy who looked enough like him to be his son, not just his ward, lean against the wall and slip onto Platform 9 ¾. 

All around the platform families were saying goodbye and luggage was being loaded. 

Harry didn’t want to be a baby, he really didn’t. It was bad enough he was bringing a stuffed animal to school, he didn’t need to be upset over not seeing his uncle for a few hours and travelling alone. 

Most of these kids wouldn’t see their families for nine months but his would be there daily. He was sure if he had been left at the Dursley’s he would have been excited to go to Hogwarts, but he had been raised by his uncle and he was happy with his current life. 

Harry knew part of it was he used to a certain amount of freedom and excitement. Even when Merlin left him with Sirius for two weeks every summer, he got to learn things he shouldn’t.

Harry wondered if Merlin knew that Sirius had taught him to be an animagus too. What would his uncle think if he knew that Harry turned into a falcon (a merlin falcon at that)? Would he be impressed Harry was able to pull off such a difficult spell or would he laugh at his sentimentality? 

“You are stalling, Harry.”

“I just don’t want to go. I honestly thought you would change your mind. I don’t need friends my own age. I have you, Sirius, even Uncle Remus has been visiting since you told him where we were. I get it if I needed to learn magic and couldn’t at home, but loads of kids are homeschooled and you already make a great teacher. Why do we have to leave home and go with the same people who entrusted me to the Dursleys?”

“I want you in Hogwarts because I know your parents would have sent you there. I have a load of good memories from attending with your father, even if we ended up disagreeing at first based on the houses we were sorted into." Merlin got quiet and looked, really looked at the boy he viewed as a son. "You know, you’re right. I’ll make you a deal. Attend this year and if you hate it, then I will take you back out and we can put Hogwarts behind us.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Do I lie to you?”

“No.”

“Ok then, but I want your word that you will actually try to make friends and give it a shot. I know you have your father’s stubbornness. You have to give it a chance.”

“Deal. Thanks, Uncle Merlin.”

“Anytime, Harry.” he said as he ruffled his nephew’s hair. “Now, your train awaits. I’ll see you at the feast tonight. I can’t wait to see which house you will be sorted into. I’m sure it will be Hufflepuff.”

“Never! I’ll either be Gryffindor like my mom and dad, or Slytherin like you.”

“Well you already have the tongue to match the Slytherin house.”

Harry stuck his neon green tongue out at his uncle causing him to laugh and a group of red-headed children to look over. Embarrassed, he put his tongue back in his mouth.

“Now you're the colour of Gryffindor.”

“Fine, you win. I’ll get on the train just so I don’t have to deal with you anymore.”

Merlin pulled him in for one last hug. He had been tempted to let Harry attend alone, confident in his protection charms, but something told him to attend Hogwarts again and since he couldn’t de-age right now, the best method would be to teach. 

“I’ll see you later. Be the friendly kid that I know you to be. You’ll be fine.”

Harry boarded the train and found an empty compartment. It wasn’t long before one of the redheads he had seen earlier opened up the compartment.

“Do you mind if I sit here, everywhere else is full.”

“Not at all.”

“I’m Ron Weasley.”

“Harry Potter.”

“So why is your tongue green?” Ron blurted out.

Harry groaned. Of course someone noticed. “My uncle has an odd sense of humour. He’ll fix it tonight if the spell doesn’t wear off which it probably won’t.”

“How will he do that if he’s at home and you aren’t?”

“Oh, he’s the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher so he’ll be there too.”

“Blimey. How will that work? Will he be nicer to you or harder on you? I wouldn’t want any of my family to teach me.”

“My Uncle Merlin raised me and had been teaching me magic since I was three. I’m used to it by now.”

“Your uncle’s name is Merlin?”

“Yeah. He said he got teased for it a lot as a kid but his mom was a muggle who loved the merlin falcon so he was named after that. It wasn’t until he was adopted by my father’s family after his mom died that he knew his name was special. Apparently he didn’t meet his father until right before he died so even though he had magic, he had no say in his name.”

Ron was about to respond when Harry looked past him with a grin.

“Did you see that?”

“See what?”

Harry got up from his seat and opened the door only to see a huge toad waiting to be let in. Harry picked it up and carried it in, petting the top of its head. Meeting the toad got Harry and Ron talking of pets and Ron was about to try a spell to turn his rat yellow when a bushy haired girl threw open the door.

“Have either of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his.”

“This might be his toad then. We were just petting it until it wanted to leave again.”

“Thank you! I’ll let Neville know you have him, since he seems perfectly happy with you right now.”

The girl disappeared as quickly as she had come and Harry and Ron went back to talking about pets. In no time, the door opened again and the girl led a shy boy in.

“Trevor! I was worried I had lost you!” Neville dove for his pet and couldn't resist snuggling the toad up to his cheek.

“I saw him jump by the window. I was very impressed with the height he could go.”

“Yeah, he’s a champion jumper all right. My name is Neville and this is Hermione. She was helping me look for Trevor.”

“Does he have a habit of wandering off?”

“He does. Very independent, but the train and Hogwarts are new so I didn’t want him exploring without me.”

“My uncle taught me a spell that might help you. It’s supposed to help you find your way, but if you concentrate on a person, place, or even an animal it will help you find that too. Do you want to learn it?”

Hermione radiated with excitement, Ron looked interested, and Neville just seemed nervous.

“Let’s see it then.” Hermione quipped.

Harry took out his wand and pressed the tip to his heart. 

“That’s your wand? I’ve never seen anything like it.” Ron interrupted.

Harry examined the wand his uncle had gifted him. It was fourteen inches white oak from an island Merlin said was blessed. Inside was a single dragon scale donated by Aithusa for his eleventh birthday. 

What made it remarkable though was the carving Merlin had done to the outside. A stag and a doe ran along one side and a merlin and a dragon flew along the other side. 

“Uncle Merlin wanted me to take my parents with me to Hogwarts. They died when I was one.” He said softly. “My parent’s patronus’ were a stag and doe.”

“It’s beautiful, Harry.” Hemione remarked.

“It's amazing. I just have my brother Charlie’s old wand.”

Neville remained quiet but he looked sad and Harry didn’t want to push him. 

Now, with his uncle in mind, he said the spell as he swept his arm out and pointed the wand straight.

“Invenire.”

“Did it work? I don’t see anything?” Ron asked.

“Course it worked. I told you my uncle is a teacher. Look out the window.”

His new friends gathered at the window where a golden glow was headed towards London. Suddenly it exploded into fireworks and the path was gone.

“Showoff.” Harry muttered. He probably thought Harry was making a run for it or something.

“What happened to it?” Neville asked, worried the spell had ended, and knowing if it was that quick, he’d probably never find Trevor.

“My uncle vanished it but I’ll have to tell him the fireworks were a nice touch.”

“How did he do that if he is still in London?”

“I don’t know. He just does stuff like that.”

The four of them spent the next few hours getting to know each other and trying the spell out. Hermione was convinced she could use it to find passages in books but it wouldn’t work for her.

Harry figured it was because you were finding something close to your heart, where the wand is placed, and homework wouldn’t cut it. Neville had a lot more luck when they would take turns walking Trevor down the train.

At one point a witch came along with a trolley full of snacks. Harry remembered what his uncle said about making friends when he handed him a stack of gold.

“Feel free to buy food on the train, Harry. It’s a long trip and I’m sure you’ll get hungry. I packed you a good lunch, but I knew from my own time that they sell sweets. Maybe you will make friends who would appreciate a chocolate frog or some licorice wands.”

Taking his uncle’s words to heart, he bought out the trolley and shared it with his new friends. 

They were almost at their destination when a blonde haired boy opened the door with two boys behind him.

“Another Weasley. How many of you are there on this train?”

The pale boy sneered at Ron who flushed red, with anger or embarrassment or both, Harry had no idea.

What he did know was this kid was a bully, and he hated bullies. 

“There’s not enough to balance the pratness that you're giving off.” Harry cooly replied. 

“Do you know who I am? Who my father is?” 

“Judging from your manners, an even bigger prat than you.”

“I’m Draco Malfoy, from one of the oldest pureblood families. Since I’ve never seen you before, I would guess you're nothing more than a mudblood.”

Ron had his wand out instantly but so did the two large boys behind Malfoy.

Harry just stood and waved Rob back.

“Blood purity doesn’t mean anything, but I’m not surprised you place an importance on it. You don’t seem like the sort that can think for yourself. If you ever change, let me know. I’m willing to give you a second chance. For now, I think it’s best if you leave.”

Harry pulled a little of the old magic into his eyes. His uncle had taught him that bright colours in nature often meant a creature was more dangerous or venomous. 

He said that showing off the bright colour would show anyone threatening him, he was dangerous too. He probably hadn’t meant for Harry to use it on a train with another 11 year old, but oh well. It was too late now. 

As expected, the gold blazing from his eyes scared the boy and he was quick to retreat with his buddies.

Pleased, he sat back down only to find his new friends all gaping.

“How did you do that? Are you a metamorphmagus?” Hermione asked.

“No. When you use old magic, it changes your eye colour. I just pulled on a little of that magic and it bleeds in. It was enough to scare him off for now.”

“But..but..that’s impossible. No one can use that magic anymore.”

“Obviously that’s not true because you just saw me do it. My uncle taught me and he might teach you guys too, since he’s considering teaching it in his DADA class.”

Hermione’s eyes widened and then she impulsively hugged Harry as she squealed with happiness. 

“I just hope we end up in classes together. Fred, my older brother, said it’s usually two houses to a classroom. Any class without a Slytherin will be a good one.” Ron butt in.

“Excuse me?” For the first time since they had met, Harry felt a coldness for the ginger haired boy.

“It’s just that all Slytherins are like Malfoy. A bunch of pureblood jerks. There wasn’t a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn’t in Slytherin.”

“I’ll have you know my uncle is a Slytherin and he is one of the kindest people I have ever met. He also doesn’t care about blood purity. It’s fine to dislike someone, but don’t judge a whole based on a few.”

Ron got a stubborn look, like he wanted to dispute it, but he also didn’t want to lose a new friend so he just nodded.

Hermione, anxious to change the subject, began talking again.

“I can’t believe we are going to learn old magic. I know they go into the stories and the history of it in History of Magic class, but no one really has any idea why it disappeared and as far as I read, no one can use it.”

“It isn’t easy. I’ve been doing it since I was little and I only know maybe ten or so spells. I can’t do anything hard like Uncle Merlin does.”

“Uncle Merlin? The Merlin? I thought he died 1500 or so years ago.”

At this point she looked downright suspicious like he was lying or pulling her leg, so Harry was quick to correct her. By the time he finished explaining, she had settled back down but it made Harry wonder if his uncle learned old magic to live up to his name.

They chatted for a little while more and the uncomfortable atmosphere from the house dispute eased till they were all laughing and joking again. 

Soon it was time to get changed and Hermione left them to get her robes on.

The train finally came to a halt.

They were there.

Despite himself, Harry began to get excited.

"You're tongue is still green, mate."

Harry just facepalmed. His uncle better fix it before the sorting. 

Chapter Text

“Dumbledore told me he hired you as the new Defence teacher. I assumed he was joking since he seemed intent on you heading to Azkaban, not Hogwarts.”

Merlin straightened from the boxes he had been unpacking.

“Severus. Good to see you! How have you been?”

Merlin hugged his old friend and tried not to be hurt when he pushed him away.

“How have I been?” Snape sneered at the man he used to call friend. “ I lost the woman I loved and my best friend the same night. At least you were alive, not that I would have known it from the large amounts of letters you wrote or the visits.”

Ashamed, Merlin looked down. Snape was right, he could have made an effort. 

“I’m sorry, Severus. I was consumed with tracking down the man who caused us both loss. When I failed at that, I had to protect all I had left of him.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t? I would have helped you if you had come to me.”

“I did.”

“No you didn’t!” Snape yelled at him.

“Yes, I did. I came to you right after I helped Sirius escape. I wanted you to come with me but you were drunk. I had never seen you like that and it upset me even more. You told me…” Merlin squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to let a tear fall at the memory. “You said you had nothing left as you stared straight into my eyes. I think I lost my mind a bit. By the time I came back to myself, years had passed. I didn’t know how to approach you, so I chickened out. I went to see Harry instead only to find the deplorable way he was being treated. After I realised I would have to go into hiding to raise him, I knew I wouldn’t be able to approach you and ask you to choose between me and Dumbledore.”

“You, Merlin. I would have chosen you, if you had just asked. You were my only friend and Harry was all I had left of Lily.”

Snape let a single tear fall and this time when Merlin hugged him, he didn’t push him away, but he didn’t return the affection either.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken that choice from you. Will you give me a second chance?”

“Why should I?” Snape asked bitterly.

Snape stepped away from the warlock and went to leave Merlin behind before he heard the softly uttered words.

“Because it’s what she would have wanted.”

Snape spun around and pulled his wand on his former friend.

“Don’t use Lily against me.”

Unafraid, Merlin raised his hands in the air.

“I’m not, but you know it’s true.”

The men stared at each other for a few moments before Snape dropped his wand to his side.

“I’ll consider it.”

He walked out without a backward glance and Merlin grinned. That had gone better than he had expected. Snape hadn’t even given him a hard time about taking his dream job. 

Whistling, he finished unpacking his supplies. It was almost time for the feast, but first, the first years had to be sorted. 

Merlin might have joked that Harry was going to end up in Hufflepuff but he didn’t really think so, not that there was anything wrong with Helga’s house. His Harry just had a little too much fire for the kind hearted Hufflepuffs and patience definitely wasn’t one of his nephews strong points. 

If he had to bet, he would say Gryffindor, but maybe that was because he saw so much James in him and maybe a bit of Arthur too. 

Merlin knew if Arthur was here now, and eleven, that he would be a Gryffindor. Their characteristics practically screamed knights. 

Yeah, he could see Harry in Gryffindor, but as long as Harry was happy, his house didn’t matter. Merlin had taught him early on to look underneath and judge based on a person’s heart, not their house. 

Merlin heard the bells ring. Well, he wouldn’t have to wait much longer for his curiosity to be appeased. The sorting would be beginning soon. Time to make his way to the Great Hall.

Harry had loved the trip across the lake in the little boats. Hagrid had greeted him with a smile and a friendly wave. Luckily no one asked how they knew each other. 

Harry didn’t mind people knowing he was raised by his uncle, but he didn’t need to share that Merlin had practically kidnapped him to do it. 

“How do you think they decide our houses?” Neville asked nervously.

“My brother told me you have to battle a troll.”

Ron mimed out a battle with his foe while Harry and Neville clapped. Hermione rolled her eyes at the juvenile behaviour.

“Really, Ronald? You believe they will have children who don’t know much magic face off against a troll?”

“Maybe it's a little one.” he shrugged.

Harry already knew but he decided to let his new friends banter back and forth until a thought occurred to him.

“Guys, can we make a promise?”

“What kind of promise?” Hermione asked as Harry shuffled his feet in embarrassment.

“Well the sorting is the only thing my uncle disliked about attending school with my dad. They were sorted into Gryffindor and Slytherin and my dad made new friends and deserted Uncle Merlin. It wasn’t until he was hurt in a prank gone wrong that my dad got over the house rivalry.”

“So what does that have to do with a promise?”

“Well Ron, I thought that we were becoming friends and maybe we could agree to stay friends even if we are sorted into houses that hate each other, like my dad and uncle.”

“Of course we will stay friends, Harry” Hermione beamed and Neville nodded. 

Ron looked a little sour for a minute, “Just promise me if any of us end up in Slytherin we won't let each other go dark. That's the only way I will make your promise.”

“Agreed.” Harry stuck his hand out and Ron shook it, then they all took turns shaking hands.

They reached the castle and Hagrid knocked on the doors. Professor McGonagall led them to a room to wait while she delivered a speech on the houses.

Harry wasn’t really paying attention, not even noticing when the professor stepped out of the room. He was too caught up in thoughts of classes and spells they might learn. I

t wasn’t until someone screamed that his brain returned to the here and now. The school ghosts had decided to visit the first years to shake them up before the sorting. Harry ignored them and waited for the stern professor to come back which she did almost immediately. 

“Now, form a line, and follow me.”

Harry got in line behind Neville and in front of Ron and Hermione. They walked across the hall and into the Great Hall. 

It was just as beautiful as Merlin had described it with the floating candles and enchanted ceiling.

Harry felt his smile expanding as he took in everything. In the meantime, the professor placed a stool in front of all the tables and then placed the sorting hat on top of it. 

Harry looked beyond the stool to see his Uncle grinning madly at him. He gave a small wave before projecting his thoughts to his uncle.

“I made friends on the train like you wanted.”

“I can’t wait to meet them, Harry. Now, pay attention, little badger.”

Harry almost stuck his tongue out again, but caught himself. It had only gone back to its normal colour once they crossed the lake. 

He was really grateful and Ron was pleased not to have to keep checking for him.

He could see his uncle trying to hold back the laugh at seeing Harry restrain himself.

Harry’s attention was pulled away when the hat began to sing. It had a nice voice for such a ratty exterior.

Professor McGonagall took out a large piece of parchment and began to read names off it. 

Absently, Harry listened, while checking out the other teachers. He saw Hagrid and Dumbledore but there were many others including one that looked to be part goblin and another that wouldn’t stop staring at him. 

Merlin followed his gaze.

“That’s my old friend, Severus Snape. He isn’t being rude by staring, but I told you he cared for your mother since they were children. Don’t be upset if he has trouble dealing with you. He disliked James as much as he cared for Lily.”

Harry inclined his head and was about to respond when Hermione’s name was called. 

He winced when she jammed the hat on her head in excitement.

“Ravenclaw!” The hat yelled out.

Hermione gleefully headed to the Ravenclaw tables where they made room for her. 

Neville was the next of his friends to be sorted and Harry smiled when the shy boy was sorted into Hufflepuff. Hermione got up and gave him a quick hug as he sat down behind her at the Hufflepuff table.

Harry listened to a few more people being sorted before it was his turn. He sat on the stool and respectfully lowered the hat, jumping a little when it spoke in his head.

“Here, here. You’re special, aren’t you.”

“I don’t think so, I’m just Harry.”

“Well, just Harry, I can see inside your head, and I can tell you are more special than you think and it has nothing to do with Dark Lords or prophecies.”

“My uncle said not to worry about any of that stuff, he had it handled.”

“Of course the great Emrys would say that.”

What did the hat mean?

“It matters not,” the hat said, reading his mind. “You’ve been freed from destiny and now you have the best gift Merlin could give you.”

“I don’t understand. Can you explain it?”

“You have choice and free will. Like Merlin, you have characteristics of all the great houses and would do well anywhere, so where to put you?”

“Where do you think is best?”

“I see a fierce loyalty in you reminiscent of Hufflepuff, but I think your cunning mind would make Slytherin a good fit. Your chivalrous heart would do well in Gryffindor, while your intelligence would be an asset to Ravenclaw.”

“I think you're making people nervous with how long you are taking,” Harry thought good humoredly even though he couldn’t see to know if he was speaking the truth.

“You are right, young wizard. Besides, I made a choice too. Between your questioning nature and your wit, it must be..”

“Ravenclaw!” The hat called out. 

He could see Hermione beaming at him as he went to join her. They anxiously awaited Ron’s sorting, knowing the boy would be upset if he was in Slytherin, despite the promise he made. 

It was a relief then when the hat called out Hufflepuff for him even if he was slightly disappointed he wasn’t in the same house as his brothers. Later, Harry would point out that meant not dealing with his Prefect brother, Percy, which would cheer him up. 

Harry’s attention was drawn by Dumbledore giving an odd speech before they began to eat. 

Hermione was already talking to an older Ravenclaw about the library and Harry could hear Ron and Neville discussing Quidditch. 

Even though he didn’t want to be there, it really wasn’t so bad. He glanced towards the head table and saw his uncle deep in conversation with another teacher. 

Although he didn’t mean to, he must have mentally nudged him because Merlin looked up and caught his eye.

“You alright? You’re not eating.” His uncle pushed into his head.

“Too many snacks on the train. I’ll stuff some in my pockets for later.” he thought with a grimace. “That fifth cauldron cake was probably not needed.”

Merlin chortled in his mind.

“You were supposed to share, dollophead.”

“I did! It’s not my fault you gave me so much money.”

Harry felt his uncle groaning in his head and he couldn’t suppress a grin.

“It was supposed to last you the semester, not just the trip. How did you end up in Ravenclaw?”

Having no response, Harry stuck his tongue out before quickly remembering himself, but it wasn’t quick enough. He saw the tell tale flash of gold.

“Uncle Merlin!”

“What? It’s blue this time, to match your house.”

“Please change it back before anyone notices.”

His uncle’s eyes changed to gold again and he sagged in relief. 

“Looks like dinner is over. Dumbledore is getting ready to stand and give his speech. Sleep well, Harry. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

“Night, Uncle Merlin.”

Chapter Text

Merlin laid his head on his desk and groaned. Why had he thought it would be a good idea to teach? 

He could have de-aged himself again and attended as a student. Would it have been weird? Yes. Would it have possibly tipped Dumbledore off to his real identity. Definitely. 

Maybe he should have just moved to Hogsmede and kept an eye on Harry from there. The problem was, he wasn’t here for Harry.

Merlin knew his protective spells wouldn’t allow any harm to come to his nephew plus he had trained the kid himself. So why was he here?

Destiny 

Something told him that he needed to be here this year. He didn’t know if it was his destiny or Harry’s but it couldn’t be accomplished from the sidelines. The previous class had shown him he was right. 

“Hello and welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. My name is Professor Merlin Emrys.”

Merlin heard the usual tittering his name produced but decided to ignore it for now. 

He looked over the young faces, his first year Gryffindor and Slytherins. Already he could feel the animosity between the two groups and he wished Dumbledore would put an end to this unneeded rivalry. 

Instead he constantly put the groups together claiming to be forcing them to work together, but in Merlin’s opinion, watching a trainwreck and getting enjoyment from it. 

Merlin started going into his little spiel he had come up with to introduce himself, his qualifications, and more importantly, the dark arts themselves. 

He was halting to answer a few questions some of the students had asked when he felt something odd. 

He followed the feeling to a pale blond child. The boy was ignoring him completely to write in a journal, but as Merlin watched, the ink disappeared and when it returned it had changed.

This boy had a journal that wrote back?

Merlin pushed his magic towards the book, only to feel it actively try to repel him. 

Knowing it might make an enemy of the child and not caring much at the time, he stood before the child.

“Despite this being a dark arts classroom, I don’t want any dark objects brought in that I haven’t vetted myself. I’m going to have to confiscate this.”

Merlin picked up the journal. 

“You can’t do that!” the boy yelled.

“Actually, I can and I did.”

“My father will have you fired for this.”

“I’d like to see him try, Mr. Malfoy. While he is at it, I’d have to ask him how his son obtained a dark object such as the one you were just writing in.”

Merlin could see the confusion on the boy’s face and a quick glance in his head showed him the memory of the boy finding the journal on his father’s bookcase and innocently writing in it his worries about starting school. 

He was shocked and pleased when it wrote back, seeming to be a friend that liked Draco without his father’s connections.

Merlin tamped down on his own annoyance, and felt for the child. The boy knew nothing of occlumency and it had been ridiculously easy to see how alone the boy felt in his memories. 

Merlin made a vow to help him, even if the boy didn’t want it.

“Mr. Malfoy, you might have been unaware of the true nature of this book, but that’s the reason I am here. To teach you all about the dark arts.”

The memory faded as his final class of the day walked in. This was the class he looked forward to most and the least. 

He had to be careful with the first year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws. He didn’t want to show favouritism, but he also wanted to impress Harry and his friends, putting him slightly on edge. 

Merlin picked his head up off the desk and smiled at the incoming students. It was towards the back that he saw his nephew, surrounded by friends and laughing at whatever the red headed boy had said. He saw the dark haired girl roll her eyes and the other brunette boy with them blush a little. 

Merlin was curious, but he didn’t spy. He refused to be a helicopter parent, no matter how much he wanted to sometimes. He waited for them all to settle down so he could start, when he felt a brush at his mind?

“Spying, dear nephew?” he thought

“Concerned. You look tired.” Harry replied.

“I’m okay. The ghosts and the portraits remember me so they wanted to reminisce till the wee hours. I barely slept before having to teach. Remind me again why I wanted to come to Hogwarts?”

“You said destiny, but it’s probably because you expected an escape attempt from me and wanted to be close by when it happened.”

“Well, when I’m not close by you do dangerous stuff like become an animagus.”

Harry flushed. So his uncle did know. Hermione, who was sitting next to him, noticed and asked if he was okay. He looked at his uncle’s smirk and just nodded. 

He wanted to say something but his uncle was finally starting the class so he sat back knowing there was time later. For now, he was curious what Merlin would teach since he seemed to have no idea even the day before. 

“Hello and welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. My name is Professor Merlin Emrys, and no, I was not named after the Merlin of legend, I was named after the bird by my muggle mother.”

He hadn’t explained that to any other class unless they had asked at the end, but again, he was trying to get Harry’s friends to like him so he was more upfront with this class. 

“Now, since this is a first year class, I’m wondering if any of you know what the dark arts are?”

Many students raised their hands, including Harry, but Merlin chose a Hufflepuff to answer.

“Ms. Bones?”

“The dark arts or dark magic are spells that are done to cause harm, like the unforgivable curses.”

“Correct, and not quite correct. Can anyone else add to that or even disagree with it?”

Only two hands raised this time, Harry and his friend.

“Ms. Granger, what would you like to say?”

“The dark arts aren’t limited to spells. It can also be brewing poisons or potions meant to harm or raising dangerous creatures, like acromantula.”

“Again, very good, but not quite correct. Mr. Potter, do you want to contribute?”

“It’s not the act that makes it a dark art, it’s the intention. Even an unforgivable curse can be cast for a reason that isn’t dark, even if the spell itself is considered dark magic.”

“Exactly, Mr. Potter! Five points to Ravenclaw.”

Merlin beamed at his nephew before remembering that he shouldn’t single him out. 

“I also want to give Ms. Granger and Ms. Bones five points each for their great answers. You see, the dark arts are a discriminated subject. People hear dark and they assume evil, but if you were to pick up a sword, you would decide whether to use it to protect yourself and others, or to attack. The sword itself has no choice, so to label it a weapon just because it can harm, is not accurate.”

Merlin allowed himself an inner groan. He hated the sword example but it was so accurate, it was hard not to use it. He was tempted to jinx Harry when he saw him grinning. Harry knew how much that example annoyed him. 

Trying to be the grown up, Merlin decided to continue on. 

“Now in this class we will cover some of the basic jinxes and hexes that your average age might encounter and the counter curses. We will also focus on some spells which are normally covered in later years, but I want to get you started on early since they can become more powerful with time.” 

There were some excited murmurs and Merlin grinned. Every class he had so far had been excited because he wasn’t sticking to the traditional curriculum. 

The older kids were going to have supposed dark creatures to deal with as well as spells, but even Merlin thought that was too much for first years.

Mentally rubbing his hands together in a caricature of an fictional villian, Merlin gave an evil 'Mwahahaha' which he let Harry see and hear. Harry just laughed mentally at his uncle's theatrics.   

“Finally, I want to offer you all a chance to learn something not normally taught in Hogwarts, Old Magic. If any of you show an interest in learning, I will give you a slip and have you send it to your parents to get their permission. Unfortunately, I have been informed by our headmaster that I cannot teach anyone who’s parents do not approve.”

It was at this point he lost control of every single class. Since Dumbledore had refused him to teach old magic, without permission, he had decided to offer it to every grade level, despite Harry’s solid reasoning. 

He knew O.W.L.S. would occupy the 5th years and N.E.W.T.S the rest, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t take some time if they chose to. If any looked to be falling behind because they wanted to learn extra, then he would just have to help them catch up. 

Needing to get the class back under control, Merlin cast a silencing spell with a flash of his golden eyes. 

The room was silent once more as no one had the ability to create noise. Once a few seconds passed and everyone was looking straight at him, he let his eyes flash once more and removed the spell. 

“Now that I have your attention back, I want to clarify that Old Magic like the spell I just did, is extremely difficult. Some people try for years and can never so much as light a candle. I encourage you to try, but do not be hard on yourself if nothing happens. If at any point you decide you are done trying, I will not pressure you to continue. It is an old, almost forgotten practice that you are unlikely to ever be tested on, even in this class. Now, who would like a permission slip to try it?”

Almost the entire class raised their hands, including Harry. 

“I don’t know if you can get permission, Harry,” Merlin joked in his head as he passed out forms to the rest of the students including Harry’s new friends. 

“Of course I can,” drawled Harry back. “My guardian isn’t a prat who hates knowledge. Even if he was, my godfather would give me permission.”

“I don’t think the word of a presumed madman would be allowed.”

“You know you would allow it, Uncle Mer lin.”

Merlin stiffened momentarily upon hearing his name said that way. 

Harry had never done it before. He kind of whined his name sometimes, especially when Merlin pranked him, but he had never said it just like Arthur (and like James, part of his mind acknowledged.)

Merlin felt a brush against his mind that he had instinctively closed to his nephew. He could feel the concern radiating off him, so he put on a blinding grin, deposited the last permission slip and started class.

“Now that formalities are out of the way, let’s begin class. Today I have hidden a few items that would be considered dark items in the room. What I want from you today is for you to reach out with your magic and feel your environment. One of the best defences you can have is to be able to detect dark magic and get away before ever getting into a position where it can harm you.”

“Yes, Ms. Granger?” Merlin asked when Harry’s eager friend raised her hand.

“Are they actually dark items, Professor Emrys? You just said they were just considered dark.”

“That’s a good question, but I won’t answer it. I don’t want you to focus on why they might be dark just yet. The same items will appear in other lessons so you will eventually get your answer, just not today.”

Merlin was treading a dangerous line with his first lesson, since technically this wasn’t new magic, but it wasn’t old magic either. Every wizard had the ability to detect dark magic but for some reason it wasn’t taught.

By the end of the lesson, the class had found each item, multiple times. Harry had held back since he had been trained to do this a few years back. 

A little bored, it wasn’t until Harry reached out past the classroom on a whim, that he located the diary.

“Professor?” It still felt a little weird to raise his hand to speak to his uncle and to call him professor, but they had agreed to keep things professional in the classroom. 

“Yes, Mr. Potter?” Harry could swear his uncle was smirking despite the serious exterior he was showing. Whatever had bothered him earlier was gone, but his mental defences were still up so Harry couldn’t just mindspeak his question.

“Are we supposed to stay within the classroom walls or are there dark objects past this room for us to find?”

"Why do you ask?"

"I feel something, through that doorway." Harry pointed towards his uncle's office.

“Congratulations, Mr Potter. You have found a bonus item. This one is not part of the lesson, but a good reminder of why this was my first class. Another student mistakenly thought a book was normal. It was not. It had actually been cursed so I had to confiscate it. It’s locked away now in my office, but I’m impressed you could detect it. Another five points to Ravenclaw.”

Merlin looked at his watch. He had never had issues with technology and magic like others, but watches were fairly simple, so many wizards had them, even if they liked to rely on magic to tell them time. 

“Alright, I think that’s enough for today. For homework, I want you to wander the castle and see if you can find five objects that feel different to you. It doesn’t have to feel dark, but you should be able to detect many forms of magic. Write a paper describing each item and what it caused your magic to feel.”

He saw Hermione’s hand raise again but continued first.

“Length doesn’t matter,” he watched her hand drop, “What is important is trying to explain your feelings. Class dismissed.”

Merlin wasn’t surprised when Harry and his friends stayed back. Classes were technically over for the day.

“Uncle Merlin, I wanted to introduce you to my friends. This is Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Neville Longbottom.”

“I’m pleased to meet you all. I’m afraid I don’t know your parents Hermione and Ron, but I did know yours, Neville. How are they doing?”

Merlin cursed his stupid tongue when Neville paled. 

“My parents are in long term care at St. Mungos. They were cursed during the war.”

“I’m so sorry, Neville. I’m afraid when I lost my brother, I didn’t take it well. I spent a long time ignoring others.”

“It’s okay, Professor Emrys. You didn’t know.”

Merlin tried to move past it. He listened to Harry and his friends talk about the first day of classes and Harry was telling him all about their dorm rooms and anything else that popped in his mind, but Merlin only half listened. The other half was busy thinking of the round faced girl a few grades ahead of him. 

Merlin remembered the sweet girl who held his hand as he bled all over the castle floor. 

James had been using him and Severeus as a target for pranks after Merlin was sorted into Slytherin. 

Normally Merlin could give as good as he got, but it was Samhain and he was distracted.The Marauders, as they liked to be called, had chosen to try to move the staircase while Merlin and Severus were on it, but Hogwarts has its own magic, so their attempt failed and the wind they had called to move the staircase, knocked the two boys over instead. 

Severus tumbled down the stairs and broke his arm, but Merlin was caught off guard, wondering if he could see his friends if he went to the Lake of Avalon that night, and he ended up going over the railing and falling two flights to the ground.

The teachers thought he survived because Merlin used accidental magic to cushion his fall. They had no idea that he died that night and his immortality kicked in to bring him back. 

James was nicer after that, and they soon found their footing as brothers again, but Severus never forgave him or his friends. 

It was Alice Longbottom that really helped him, though she had no idea she had. Alice had been on the steps heading up when she had seen him fall. 

She rushed to his side and held his hand as he bled out. Scared she started uttering spells for healing that she had read. While none of them worked, it was enough of an explanation for how he stopped bleeding and the wound closed when his magic healed him. 

Despite that, he still ended up in the hospital wing. Alice visited every day. She became a good friend and he was happy for her when she started dating Frank. He didn’t know the man well, but he looked at Alice like she hung the moon. 

He heard from James that she was expecting right around the same time Lily was due, but he lost touch after that, distancing himself so he could disappear again and reinvent himself like he always did.

His plans changed when James’ family was targeted by Voldemort. The war he had sworn he wouldn’t interfere in had hit too close to home. Now it seems it had hit closer than he thought.

“...rlin. Uncle Merlin!”

Merlin jumped. Harry was looking at him strangely and his friends looked uncomfortable. Merlin realised he had started crying and hadn't known it. 

“I’m sorry. My mind drifted. Harry, I hate to run you off, but I have a meeting with Professor Spout concerning mandrakes. I’ll see you at dinner, alright?”

Merlin shoved his nephew and his friends out the door. He felt Harry try to brush his mind, but he closed it off. 

He needed a few minutes to compose himself, but all he could see were the sad eyes of Neville Longbottom telling him his parents were in the hospital, tortured to insanity. 

Making an impulsive decision, he apparated out of his office and into London.

In front of him was the wizarding hospital, St Mungos. Merlin entered, automatically shielding himself from sight. He made his way to the long term care unit and searched until he found Alice sitting by a window.

Merlin sat beside her and took her hand. She never looked to see who held her hand, but he felt a squeeze and wondered if she knew it was him. 

Using his legilimency he reached towards her mind, only to be buffeted back by the pain her mind experienced daily. Cursing the death eaters under his breath, he pushed back using his magic. 

Again he saw the confusion and felt the pain, but this time, he added healing to his power. It took more than two hours, but finally, he could feel her pain recede. Meanwhile, he felt as if he had been cursed himself. This wasn’t something he could fix in one day, but he was confident he could repair her mind. 

If he only concentrated on Alice, he might be able to heal her within a week. If he helped Frank too, it was likely going to be double that. It would also take a toll on him physically and he still had to teach.

Merlin wavered, unsure what to do, until Neville’s face popped into his head again. If he could give this boy back his parents, then he was going to do it, no matter how exhausted it made him.

Decision made, he made his way to Frank who was laying in a nearby bed sleeping. Merlin found it easier this time because his sleeping mind was more passive than Alice’s awake mind. 

Merlin debated working on them both in the middle of the night. It might speed up the process, but it would make rising for classes harder. 

Tomorrow was soon enough to figure it out. For now, he pushed his magic in until he felt Alice and Frank were both in much less mental pain than before. 

He then apparated back to his room in Hogwarts and collapsed on his bed, grateful his first day was over. In no time he was asleep, not realising how worried he had left his nephew who could feel he was no longer in the castle for hours on end.

Chapter Text

Merlin jumps as his chamber door slams open. Standing in the doorway is one pissed off eleven year old. It would almost be funny if Merlin weren’t in so much pain he could barely stand.

Oblivious or just uncaring, Harry slams the door behind him. The sound batters Merlin’s brain and for a moment, Merlin fears he might actually lose consciousness. 

“Where have you been?”

“Harry, it’s 5 am. Do you think this could wait till morning?”

“No, Uncle Merlin. For the last two weeks you have been sneaking out and coming home looking worse and worse. Your lessons went from very cool and interesting, even if I knew most of the stuff, to reading out of the book while you rest your head on the desk.”

Merlin winced. 

“It was one day.”

“No uncle, it was three. Now are you going to tell me what you’re up to or do I have to call Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus to straighten you out?”

Merlin scoffed. Like those two could do anything to him, but he didn’t like he was hurting Harry. That hadn’t been his intention. After swallowing down a quick pain potion for his head, he began to ramble.

“I’m sorry, Harry. I wasn’t trying to hide things from you. I’ve just been too tired to explain, kind of like how I’m feeling now. Could we maybe try this later, like after classes?”

Harry didn’t answer other than raising one eyebrow in a way that for some reason, always seemed to intimidate the man he learned it from. 

“Right. You really are a prat, aren’t you?”

“Yup,” Harry replied, popping the p. 

“I’ve been apparating to London every night.”

Now Harry was confused. Hadn’t Merlin settled everything before they left?

“I don’t understand.”

“Look, when you introduced me to your friends, I used to know Neville’s mother. I considered her a close friend but I lost touch after we left school. When I found out what happened to her, I couldn’t stay put. I had to see if I could help her and her husband.”

Harry felt his breath catch. “Could you?”

“Yeah. I’ve been back every night healing their minds using a combination of legilimency and old magic. Tonight was my breakthrough. When they wake tomorrow, or later today actually, they should be themselves.”

“You healed my friend’s parents?”

“Yeah, well like I said, she was..”

Merlin didn’t get any further before Harry threw himself into his uncle’s arms.

“You’re amazing! I can’t wait to tell Neville. He’s going to be so happy.”

Merlin pushed Harry away for a moment and looked into his eyes.

“You can’t tell him, Harry.”

“But..”

“No. The hospital will inform his grandmother and from there, they will let Neville know.”

“Why can’t I tell him what you did? In fact, why were you doing it in the middle of the night?”

Merlin looked sadly at Harry. He always did his best to be honest with the boy and this wasn’t going to change that. 

“Harry, what is my number one rule?”

Harry looked down. “Never let anyone know how powerful you are.”

“If you tell Neville that I have managed in two weeks to do what professionals haven’t been able to do in ten years, what do you think will happen?”

“I just don’t get it. Why do you hide? You tell me all the time not to downplay myself. I was grounded for a week when I threw a chess game with you because you said I was being dishonest with myself. You keep telling me that one day, you will reveal your last secret to me, but when? Haven’t I proved I am trustworthy?”

Merlin gathered Harry back in his arms. Maybe Harry was right. There was nobody else that Merlin trusted with his secret and Merlin knew he had taught him enough occlumency that no one would be able to get the secret from Harry.

“You are right, as always. It’s becoming an annoying habit.”

Harry sniffled. “So you will tell me?”

“I will, but promise me you won’t share it with anyone, not even your other uncles.”

“I swear, Uncle Merlin. I would never betray you.”

“Ok. Here goes. Do you remember when I told you I wanted to teach at Hogwarts because I felt destiny wanted me here, but I wasn’t sure if it was mine or yours?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, my destiny was written more than a thousand years before I was born, unlike yours which was less than two years. When I was sixteen, I discovered that I had a prophecy concerning me and a prat I had just met.”

“Did my dad know?”

“No, Harry, because your dad wouldn’t be born for another 1500 years after that.”

Harry's jaw dropped.

“Wait. What?”

“My name is Merlin. When I was born, I was a bastard so I was given no last name. I took my last name, Emrys, from my druidic name. The one given to me in a prophecy stating I would be the strongest magic user to ever live and it was my destiny to stand by, protect, and love Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King. Arthur was my first brother, not from blood, but from a love born of friendship. Other brothers joined later, Lancelot, Gwaine, and the other Knights of the Round Table. While I succeeded in changing his views on magic, it was too late. He was dying when he finally accepted me and my magic. Since then I have waited, for Arthur will rise again, when Albion’s need is greatest.”

“So you are The Merlin, and you are over 1500 years old?”

“Yes.”

“And the best punishment you can dole out is to change my tongue colors?”

Merlin should have known Harry would accept him. Honestly, he could have told him years ago, but he just wasn’t used to it. To this day, Merlin had trusted less than a handful of people with his secret. 

“You do turn the most amazing shade of red when I do it,” Merlin teased him. 

“You better watch out, Uncle. I’m in Ravenclaw now and I have access to more books than you can imagine. Just wait until I figure out the spell you use. Revenge will be mine. Mwahahaha.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. “Did you seriously say 'Mwahahaha', like a cheesy movie villain?”

“I did, so you better watch out. Anyway, try to get some sleep.”

“You too, kiddo. You look as tired as me.”

“Makes sense. I’ve been staying up till I sense your magic get home each night. Luckily I have a lot of homework so at least that gets accomplished.”

Harry makes to leave when a thought occurs to him. 

“You were right about Professor Snape. There are times I think he picks on me for no reason, but then I catch him looking sad at me too.”

“If he’s acting out of line, I’ll say something to him.”

“Nah. He’s grumpy to a lot of kids but never mean. I feel bad for him. He asked me to stay after class a few days ago.  I had messed up a potion because thought I had to sneeze and I spilled a little too much valerian into the mixture when I did. Even though it was the only big mistake I’ve made so far, he offered to tutor me if I needed extra help. I was going to turn him down, and explain it was an accident, but he seemed sad, so I agreed.”

Merlin reached out and grabbed Harry, pulling him into a tight hug. Harry let his arms go around his uncle. He had missed this the last few weeks. 

“You’re such an amazing soft-hearted kid, little badger.”

“ Un cle. I’m not a badger. I’m an eagle.”

Merlin ruffled his hair. “Here, I thought you were a falcon?” Despite being tired, this was the closest he had been with Harry in two weeks and he missed it. "So when are you going to show me your animagus form? Sirius barely let the falcon part slip.”

“You didn’t pry?” Harry put one hand to his chest and fake looked shocked.

“Prat. You know I’m not that rude.”

“Then how did you find out?”

“Please! Sirius insisted on keeping you an extra month and asked me for some very rare ingredients including a mandrake leaf, claiming it was for a potion to prank Remus, who also made sure he spent the entire time with you both. I’m not stupid, Harry.”

“Why didn’t you stop us then?”

“Why would I? I trust your uncles or they wouldn’t be allowed near you. So let’s see it.”

Harry glowed with happiness and from one moment to the next changed forms. He flew around Merlin’s chambers before coming to a rest on Merlin’s outstretched arm. 

Merlin stroked his nephew’s feathers, trying to hold back the tears. A wizard doesn’t choose its animagus form, so the fact that Harry was a merlin? The immortal just shook his head at destiny and the web she weaved. 

“You’re beautiful, Harry. I’m not surprised you became something that flew. Ever since you were young, you loved flying. Now, fly to bed. I’ll see you in the afternoon for class if I don’t make it to breakfast first.”

Merlin gave a shake of his arm and Harry flew off, out the window, towards the Ravenclaw tower. Merlin wouldn’t be surprised if he had left a window open and flown here in the first place. It would be an easy way for his nephew to avoid Filch. 

Merlin settled in bed, exhausted but elated. He had broken through the last of the holds on Alice and Frank’s minds. He knew when they woke, they would be clear headed. Sadly, they would also find out that years had passed and they had missed raising their son, but now they would have a chance to know him.

Merlin fell asleep to thoughts of a sweet eyed girl and the feel of her hand in his still after all these years.

Harry woke bright and early, anxious to see Neville and find out if there was any news. He wouldn’t say anything, but he wanted to support his friend when he found out. 

As he made his way to breakfast, he couldn’t help going over the conversation with his uncle. 

He never thought that his uncle would admit to not only healing his friend’s parents, but also to being The Merlin. 

When he really thought about it, it made sense. In a way, Harry thought he already knew because there was no big revelation feeling. It just kind of clicked into place, like Harry already had the puzzle piece, he just had it spun the wrong way. 

It explained his magic, and his fear of others knowing how powerful he was. It also explained how he hid Harry from one that was considered the most powerful wizard of his age. 

Thinking of Dumbledore, Harry watched him covertly as he ate his breakfast. He knew Dumbledore didn’t like or understand Merlin. He had felt the nudging of the man’s power as he tried to get answers from Harry’s head, when Merlin’s proved too strong. 

Luckily, Harry had been trained by the best and no one was getting in his head without permission (except his Uncle, but he really didn’t count).

Harry felt the intrusion as he did every morning, but this morning, instead of ignoring it, he sent back a push, with the feeling that Dumbledore’s actions were rude. He saw the headmaster give a start and act like it was something innocent to Professor Snape, with whom he had been speaking, but his glance towards Harry gave him away.

“Well done, Harry,” he heard in his head.

Harry’s eyes shifted and he checked out his uncle who had just come trudging in. Honestly, the man looked like a stiff wind would blow him over, but a few days of rest would help him out. In the meantime, he saw a house elf pop in and give him a potion. 

Within a few seconds, there was colour in his cheeks and an alertness that had been missing when he walked in. His ears were also steaming.

“It’s my own version of the muggles energy drinks. Mixed a few things including a pepper up potion. It will get me through the day and then I can crash early tonight. It’s the weekend tomorrow so I can catch up on sleep then.”

Harry just nodded because Neville had just walked in and Harry was a lot more interested in him then his uncle right now. 

Hermione and Ron followed Neville a few minutes later. Hermione sat next to Harry and Ron tucked in next to Neville. Ron and Neville had become really good friends being in the same house, similar to how Harry and Hermione felt, but they all made an effort to spend time together and once most meals were close to done, they had no problem jumping tables and waiting together until meals were dismissed. 

Harry had just finished his chocolate chip waffles when Madam Pomfrey ran up to Dumbledore and whispered in his ear. Harry could see the shock from here and his face threatened to split from the grin.

“Dial it back, Harry. You don’t want Dumbledore to know you know something.” Merlin warned him.

Harry let the grin drop from his face as he waited for something to happen, which turned out to be Dumbledore walking over to the Hufflepuff table and requesting a word in private with Neville. Harry made sure Dumbledore didn’t catch him happy, but he neglected to hide it from Hermione. He could see the witch’s wheels turning in her head, but she stayed silent as Neville was led out. 

Ron was quick to join them after their friend was gone.

“Ron, is Neville alright?”

“I don’t know, Mione. Dumbledore just asked to speak in private. He assured Neville it wasn’t bad, but I think he was worried anyway.”

“Harry, you don’t seem worried at all. Do you know something?”

It took all Harry’s willpower not to glance at his uncle.

“N-n-no. Look, I forgot my homework. I have to go get it or Flitwick won’t give me any credit for it.  I’ll see you guys in charms class.”

Harry took off, hoping Hermione would forget it by the time class started. He snuck into his uncle’s DADA classroom only to be joined by the man himself a minute later.

“So smooth, little falcon.”

“Thought you weren’t prying?”

Merlin laughed. “I didn’t have too. I could see Hermione’s brain ticking from where I was sitting and you running out the room? Dead giveaway kid.”

“What do I say when she starts asking questions?”

“Nothing, Harry. You tell her you know nothing or you tell her it's private and ask her not to push. If she’s your friend, she should respect it.”

“You’re right.”

“What’s that, Harry? Could you repeat that for an old man?” Merlin cupped his ear like he was waiting but Harry just laughed.

“Ancient, more like.” Harry ducked as Merlin took a half hearted swing at the back of his head. He was almost out the door before something caught his attention.

“Uncle, did you get rid of the dark object you found on the first day of class?”

“No. In fact, I’ve been so distracted, I forgot about it. It should still be locked in my..”

Merlin trailed off as he realised he could no longer feel the journal. He raced to his office with Harry close behind. The drawer to his desk was no longer closed and the book was gone.

Merlin slammed the drawer. Harry rarely saw his uncle enraged, but he could tell he was. He was breathing heavily and he kept clenching his fists. 

“I’m going to make him regret testing me.”

“Uncle Merlin?”

Merlin forced himself to calm down. He knew he was scaring Harry and it wasn’t worth it. He would have the book back in his hands by the end of the day, exhaustion or no. 

“It’s alright, Harry. I’ve got it in hand, nothing for you to worry about. I’ll see you in class. Remember to keep our secret, but be happy for your friend.”

Harry wasn’t sure, but he trusted his uncle. If he said he had it, then he would back off, but he wished, for once, that Merlin would ask for his help, but he was just eleven. It wasn’t going to happen. 

As he walked out the door he checked his uncle out one more time. He could see Merlin had his plotting face on. He almost felt sorry for the thief. He wouldn’t want to be the person that put that look there.

Chapter Text

Merlin was torn, he really was. Part of him wanted to slam into Albus Dumbledore’s office, demand his item back, and curse the man for ever messing with him. The other part knew that would reveal his identity and stealth was a much better option. 

“Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbldore, you better have a good excuse for taking something locked in my office.”

Damn his temper. He really planned for being sneaky but he was just too pissed off. It had only been a few hours since Harry had left him alone to figure out his next move. He had tossed idea after idea out the door until confronting him was the only option left. 

Dumbledore barely startled at Merlin appearing in his office. He tried to remember if he had given the man the password, but figured if he hadn’t then Snape or one of the other teachers must have. 

“Mr. Emrys, I don’t need an excuse to take a dark object out of a classroom in my school. The item in question is not on your updated syllabus, thus it should not be where children could access it.”

“It’s Professor Emrys, as you well know since I am teaching in your school, as you like to point out. In addition, the item was not out in the classroom, it was locked away in my office and never should have been touched, especially because I know you know what it really is.”

“I assure you, I only have my students' best interests at heart. A horcrux has the ability to warp the mind of those close to it. I need to protect them in addition to you. While you might have an idea what one is, I am sure you haven’t dealt with the long term effects of having one in your possession. Why, it could be the reason you have been so ill lately, and not able to attend your classes properly?”

Damn it! Merlin should have plotted and snuck around and gotten revenge on the down low, because Albus had clearly anticipated Merlin’s argument. 

It made him wonder if Albus knew what he had been really doing the last few weeks, but there was no way he could. To know would be to admit that Merlin had the power to leave Hogwarts, despite its wards. Maybe he did but thought Merlin was using a portkey or the floo network?  

Regardless, he needed the book back. He promised to keep Harry safe and to do that he needed Voldemort’s horcruxes destroyed. The diary was the key to finding the others. He already planned a spell that would use the book to send out a magical ping and return back to him. The problem was it would take a lot of magic, and he had been in short supply since he had been healing Alice and Frank Longbottom. 

“I haven’t been ill, I’ve been tired. I’m trying to keep my nephew safe in a very large environment so forgive me if I take some time acclimating. Now return the diary and I will try to put this behind us.”

“My dear boy, what makes you believe I would do that?”

The fury that had pushed him into storming Dumbledore’s office returned with a vengeance. It took every ounce of restraint Merlin had learned over the years not to turn him into something Merlin could stomp on. 

“Return it.”

Magic crackled in the air as Dumbledore dropped his kooky old man facade, pulled out his wand, and stood facing Merlin in challenge. 

“You might have fooled Minerva and Hagrid with your claims about the Dursley’s but I am not so inclined to believe you. I spoke with Petunia and she claimed you threatened her with legal recourse when you took the boy. You probably don’t even remember the date, but she did, since you took him on their anniversary. I also spoke with Roy Borkin. James did in fact make you the legal guardian, which I had already known, but you didn’t find out until right before Christmas, almost two months after you took Harry. The boy who attended Hogwarts with James was weak, passing his classes with average grades, nothing extraordinary. You disappear right after The Dark Lord, claiming Pettigrew betrayed James, and you come back powerful enough to hide Harry Potter behind wards even I could not break. Now I find the child of a known Voldemort supporter has brought in a horcrux that would give you the ability to speak to the Dark Lord and you are suffering from magical exhaustion every night.”

“Great,” Merlin thought. “The man added two plus two and came up with a thousand.”

Dumbledore was smart, but he was wrong about one crucial piece of information, otherwise his theory would have merit. 

“That might make sense Albus, if I really was as weak as you presume I was while I attended Hogwarts.”

With a flash of gold, Albus’ wand flew into Merlin’s hand and for the first time Merlin actually looked at it.

“How did you get my wand?”

Merlin hadn’t realised he had spoken aloud until Dumbledore responded.

“I’ve had that wand for almost fifty years, long before you were born.”

Maybe it was time to trust Dumbledore. Although Dumbledore probably thought his mind was blocked to anyone, Merlin could see in it with ease, and he didn’t see bad intentions. In fact, he believed everything he had accused Merlin of and was desperate to keep Harry safe. Merlin had judged him off one error in judgement (a gross error to be sure since the Dursleys were disgusting human beings) but he really had thought the blood magic would be Harry’s saving grace. 

Merlin tried to think of the last person he had willingly told, not counting Harry. It had to have been about two hundred years ago. He had told his friend Ben Franklin the truth on his deathbed, offering to heal the man, but Ben wouldn’t do it. He claimed it would be the easy way and ‘A dying man can do nothing easily’, he stated right before he passed away. 

Making his decision, Merlin offered the old wizard his wand back, handle first.

“To have had it long before I was born, you would have to go back to the 6th century. I actually made that wand during one of my first attempts to attend Hogwarts. Most of the others blew up because I had too much power and the wands couldn’t handle it. This wand was the first I constructed after I learned how to push just enough Old Religion through it to do schoolwork but not so much that it would explode. I kept it for probably about a hundred years before I attempted to attend Hogwarts for the third time, I think it was? The sorting hat gave me the idea to use my sidhe staff as a wand and I left this one in the headmaster’s office. I had forgotten all about it until I touched it and felt the Old Religion still attached to it. I bet it's a pretty powerful wand for a normal wizard.”

Merlin looked contemplatively at his old wand, while Albus just stared in shock at the warlock. 

“Are you trying to convince me that you are the Merlin of legend. The old man that stood at King Arthur’s side? That’s the best excuse you can come up with?”

Merlin laughed. He was never believed when he first revealed his secret. Hell, he had even confessed to Uther and his counsel that he was a sorcerer and Arthur had convinced them he was just in love with Gwen. In fact, Harry might have been one of the few that accepted him without question. (Well he did question him about the tongue thing but that made sense for an eleven year old.)

“Watch.” Merlin closed his eyes and whispered a spell, connecting his mind to Dubmledore’s and showing him the past. By the time the spell was complete, hours had passed. Both of them must have sat down at some point because Merlin opened his eyes to see Dumbledore sitting in his chair, crying. 

“Albus?”

“I thought I had gone through so much, but the things I have just seen? And that's such a small part of the life you’ve lived. How did you manage to stay sane?”

“I’ve had some rough points over the years, but for the most part I try to keep too busy to think. Harry says I am always bored and need adventure or I will shrivel up and die. I think it's more I will dwell, so jumping from place to place, meeting new people, learning new magic, it helps.”

“And James knew?”

“Yes, although I didn’t know until the letter was entrusted to me by Mr Borkin. It seems as if James could keep a secret after all. Pissed me off when I remembered him telling Sirius he had caught me snogging a Ravenclaw boy and he claimed he was no good at hiding things from his friends.”

Dumbledore just gaped at him. Knowing it was getting late, Merlin reminded Dumbledore why he had come in the first place.

“The diary, Dumbledore? I need it.”

“Yes, yes, of course, dear boy. I have placed it somewhere very safe, but I will retrieve it immediately and return it to you by tomorrow afternoon. 

“See that you do. I think it goes without saying, Albus, that my secret should be kept. I wouldn’t appreciate you sharing it, even with people you trust like McGonagall.”

“Of course, of course.”

“Merlin rose and made to exit.

“Good night then, Albus.”

“Oh, Merlin!”

Merlin halted and turned back to the headmaster.

“Thank you. For keeping Harry safe and for healing the Longbottoms.”

Merlin didn’t know what to say to being thanked for doing the right thing, so he just nodded. He took a moment to glance at the doorway and imagined having to walk all the way back to his room. Exhaustion swamped him as something occurred to him. Albus knew his secret. He didn’t have to hide his abilities from him anymore. 

Albus saw a twinkle in Merlin’s eye a second before he somehow silently apparated out of Dumbledore’s office. Sitting back in his chair, Albus stared at the place Merlin had been, wondering what else the man was capable of.

Chapter Text

The silence in the library was deafening until Harry just couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed the book in front of him closed and stood up.

“I’m going to try again.”

“Harry, no. It’s too dangerous.” Hermione gripped her friend’s arm, trying to stop him from his madness. 

“Hermione, I will be fine. You worry too much!”

“Harry, last time you ended up with scales for a week! Scales Harry!”

Harry sighed as Ron and Neville sniggered. Glaring at his friends, he turned back to Hermione to try to convince her it would be okay.

“Last time I tried using magic I learned in class. This time I will be prepared. I will use the shield Uncle Merlin taught me himself.”

“It’s not worth it Harry. The book is booby trapped. There is no way to retrieve it without something bad happening unless you complete the puzzles first and we don’t know the answers yet.”

“Hermione, it can’t be impossible or he wouldn’t have offered extra credit for whoever retrieved it, plus one hundred house points.”

Not that that was why Harry wanted the book and Merlin knew it. DADA had become a favourite class for the whole school once Merlin finished healing Neville’s parents and got some sleep. It helped that he had confessed his identity to Dumbledore too, so now the headmaster didn’t fight him on every crazy plan he had, which to be honest, had been quite a few. 

The latest happened to be a challenge set up for every grade. Each level had a book located somewhere in the castle or on the grounds. Each book was protected by four spells and whoever retrieved the book got the extra credit in class, the house points, and was also allowed to keep the book. What made them special were the books were Merlin’s. Spells he had compiled over his long life and you didn’t need Old Religion to use them. No one but Harry knew that Merlin had written them, most students just knew they were one of a kind and some of the spells were powerful, although nothing that would be considered dark.

Harry hadn’t been interested since he already knew most of the spells Merlin mentioned until he made a mental comment directly to Harry in class.

“It just so happens that I included one of my special spells in this book, Harry. If you retrieve it, you might get the revenge you have longed for.”

Hearing that Harry knew he needed that book! All the spell traps were designed to be solved by lessons they had already been taught or by some reading ahead, but so far no matter what Harry and his friends tried, they failed. 

Hermione was right. Without a clue how to beat the puzzles, Harry had tried to just grab the book, using Accio, a spell he had learned in class. It hadn’t worked and he had been covered in dragon scales for a week. The Weasley twins had it worse because they had actually grown tails trying to get the 3rd year book, although they seemed oddly disappointed when the tails finally disappeared. 

So far the only grade to retrieve a book has been the fifth-years. Ron had asked his brother Percy how they did it but he was unwilling to give any details, simply saying it was a four house effort in teamwork so each house got the points and they were all sharing the book.

Hermione hypothesized that all the grades would need to do the same thing because it was possible Merlin had taught different spells to different houses. He was unique in that he didn’t teach based off a curriculum like other teachers, he did it off his mood and how the classes were acting. Last week he had started the class on Repello, a repelling spell, before he got bored, scrapped the lesson, and had everyone meet outside for a game of tag. 

In his version of tag, you had to cast a leg-locker curse tag on someone and once they were cursed, they were out until everyone was cursed or the the person who was it, was disarmed by expelliarmus, which he had taught a few weeks before. It was quite possible the Gryffidors and Slytherins had been taught something completely differently. 

Seamus and Dean from Gryffindor, had already offered their help and managed to figure out one spell, but even with them, Harry’s group had still been tossed out of the classroom, although luckily, no one had gotten cursed on that attempt. 

Either Harry used Old Magic or he never got the book because no Slytherins would speak with him, despite his best efforts to be polite. 

Harry opened his mouth to argue just that to Hermione, when the universe, or destiny, or whatever it was that screwed with his uncle, decided to screw with him too.

“Potter.”

Harry spun at the tense address. 

“Malfoy. What can I do for you?” he asked genuinely. 

The pale blond boy actually looked nervous as he shoved his fists into his pockets and looked anywhere but at Harry and his friends.

“I was wondering if we could talk. Privately.”

Hermione smiled encouragingly though he could see Ron’s scowl, but the red headed boy had done his best to put aside his prejudices to stay friends with Harry so he stayed silent instead of offering insult to the Slytherin that had come to talk. Neville gave him a simple nod.

“Sure.” 

He led Draco over to an unused classroom and ducked inside. Draco followed although he looked like he was worried Merlin would jinx him or something once they were alone.

Harry waited but Draco didn’t seem willing to speak, even though it had been his idea. Harry was about to give up when Draco blurted something out.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“I said sorry, you idiot.”

“Name calling as you apologise. We’ve made great strides.”

“Shut it, Potter. I’m trying here. Look, I know that Professor Emrys is your uncle so you probably know all about the book he took from me on the first day, right?”

Putting two and two together, Harry replied, “He never named names, he just said a student had a powerful dark object. I didn’t know it was you.”

“Well, it was. My home actually has a lot of objects like that. I didn’t realise how much they affected me until I came to Hogwarts and your uncle took the book away. The last few months away from all that have been…cleansing? I don’t really know how to say it. I just feel less angry and more humble if I’m honest.”

That made sense. His uncle had told him about how the horcruxes could warp people’s minds like the One Ring in Lord of The Rings. Thinking about a bald Draco holding onto a book and claiming it was his precious was enough to make Harry dissolve into laughter, putting a scowl on the other’s face.

“You're laughing at me as I try to be honest with you?”

Reigning it in, Harry began to apologise, explaining the sudden vision. Draco doesn’t laugh but his lips quirk a bit.

“Right. Anyway, I was hoping for that second chance you mentioned.”

“Right, cool. So do you wanna help us with the DADA book challenge?”

Surprised at how easy Harry accepted his apology/friendship, Draco was excited to be invited. He had of course tried to solve the puzzle himself, but he had only figured out one spell which he let Harry know. 

“We solved one too. In fact..”

Harry rushed away, having finally figured it out, just as Hermione came running into the hall. 

“I know how to get the book.” They both said at the same time.

Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean followed Hermione out while Draco came up behind Harry.

“It was always meant to be a group challenge. A member from each house has to solve a spell.”

“I think there’s more to it, Harry. I think we have to say each spell at the same time for it to work.”

“Right, because then it guarantees we work together. He hates the strife between houses so it would be exactly the sort of thing he would do.”

“So what are we waiting for?”

The group ran for the classroom that held the first year’s book. Draco lined up in front of the puzzle he had solved, watching as the others did the same. His was a blank piece of parchment with an ink quill next to it. At first he had thought the Professor was mocking him for using a book that spoke back to him when he wrote in it, but the more time he spent with the man in his class, the more he realised the professor was actually a nice person and wouldn’t do that. In fact, he had never again referenced that awful first day. 

It was in remembering the way the ink would disappear when he wrote to Tom, that he remembered a spell that Professor Emrys had said was great for sending secret messages.

“On the count of three, everyone cast your spell,” Hermione instructed. 

Draco waited and on three he spoke.

“Aparecium.”

He watched in fascination as the green ink appeared on the page, forming ancient runes which lifted off the page and into the air, floating towards the closed book on the podium, but first tangling with the other spells that had been cast at the same time. He could see the other spells in the house colours, eventually mixing until they became black and flew onto the cover. The book then began to glow gold before finally fading to nothingness once more.

“Did we do it?” Draco asked.

“I don’t know. Who wants to risk picking it up in case we failed?”

“I’ll do it,” Ron volunteered. 

He gulped deeply before reaching out with his eyes shut, and grabbing the book. One eye peeked open when nothing seemed to happen to him. He looked his hands over, but there were no scales. He even chanced a glance at his behind, but there wasn’t a tail either. 

Giddy, he opened the book and read the first page. 

“It’s a spell for replicating the book, so each person has their own copy!”

Everyone agreed to let Harry try it since he knew more spells than anyone else. It took him a few tries to get the wording right with the wand motion, but in no time, there were seven identical copies of the same book. 

Everyone was looking through and finding spells they wanted to try, but Harry only wanted one. He flipped through every page so of course it was on the last page.

“Old Magic spell for changing an opponent's appearance. Visualise the change you want to make, it can be anything that doesn't change structure, such as hair colour, eye colour, hair length, and so on. Once the image is in your mind say ‘Gwedd’ along with the thing you want changed. Eyes would be ‘Gwedd Llygaid’ which will change eye colour to what is visualised.”

Harry had known it would be old magic, which was much harder to learn than the Latin spells they taught here at school, but it would be worth it to see his uncle’s face when he finally mastered it.

“Harry?”

Harry looked up to see all his friends, including Draco staring at him.

“Did you find the spell you needed?” Hermione asked.

“Yeah. It's old magic, like I thought but it seems simple enough.”

“What spell did you need?”

Harry blushed at Draco’s question. Only Hermione, Ron, and Neville knew why he had been so desperate to get his hands on this book.

“It’s a spell to change someone’s appearance. My uncle likes to use it as a punishment and turns my tongue different shades.”

“You were willing to deal with dragon scales to get a book so you could change your tongue back to its normal colour?” Draco scoffed.

“No. I was doing it for revenge, and he won’t know when or how I will get it. So do you guys want to try it out with me?”

“It’s Old Magic, Harry.” Neville reminded him. “It’s really hard to do. I haven't even managed to stir wind yet in our extra lessons. I was thinking of giving it up.”

“You probably just need more practice with your well since stirring air is one of the easiest spells there is.”

“His what now?” Ron interrupted. 

“His well? Where your magic settles in your body?”

Seeing the confusion on all his friends' faces, he tried to explain it how Merlin had, when he got frustrated with a spell.

“You need to locate magic in your body, but not new magic, because that won’t be powerful enough. You're probably trying to use that for old magic, which is why it isn’t working. Try this.”

Harry sat on the floor cross legged and settled his new book on his lap. 

“Do you remember the spell he taught us the first day, to reach out to our surroundings and try to sense magic?”

“Yeah.”

One by one, his friends sat down, even Draco who Harry knew didn’t have permission to learn the old ways. 

“Right, so to begin with, work the spell on something close by, preferably sensing one of us here. Let me know when you succeed with the spell.”

It took a few minutes but soon each person was able to sense the magic of someone else in the room. 

“Good. Now that your body is used to searching for magic, turn the spell inward. Look inside yourself, instead of out towards us. You should feel something, it feels like a tingle, like when my arm falls asleep, and the pins and needles get me. That’s your well of new magic. Go past that and try to sense something more powerful. I can’t really describe how it feels, but its overwhelming when you first find it.”

Of course, Hermione was the first to find it and her eyes flew open, burning a bright gold when she did. It was gratifying to see he could help his friends. In the end Hermione and Draco were able to access it multiple times and even create strong drafts through the room. Neville, Ron, Seamus, and Dean managed to make their eyes glow and stir the wind, but that was it. Still Neville was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to tell his parents. 

Harry wished he could tell Neville the truth because he felt Merlin deserved his thanks, but Merlin was just happy to have helped a friend and student. 

Checking the time, Harry saw there were still a few hours left until dinner. He planned to use that time to practice. He was so absorbed in his plotting, he never noticed his uncle slip from the adjoining room, pride threatening to overwhelm him.

Chapter Text

Merlin was exhausted, and as such, didn’t pay attention as well as he should have. First, he was almost crushed by the items in the Lestrange vault and then the goblins had attacked, being very angry with him for breaking their wards and entering a vault other than his own. 

Merlin’s magic was too powerful for the goblins to defeat so they stopped their assault  to negotiate. Eventually, they had to agree to let him destroy the goblet he had stolen because no one was willing to deny Emrys something he wanted. They did make him pay for it though, which ended up costing him new wards and a pint of his blood.

It disgusted him when they passed it around so each goblin present could drink a bit of it, believing it would make them stronger (Merlin was fairly certain it would not. Not positive, mind you, but fairly certain).

Once they had their payment, they allowed Merlin to destroy the horcrux and placed the damaged vessel back where it had been. They soon disappeared back up to the surface, telling Merlin to reseal the wards before he left. Once it was done, Merlin slumped to the ground, letting his weary body relax and try to recuperate.

It was done. Finally the last horcrux was gone. He only had one more task to do before he headed home. Summoning the last of his strength, Merlin apparated to the Dept of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. Straight in front of him was something he never wanted to see again. 

“Emrys summons you, Great Cailleach.”

Instantly an old woman in tattered robes appeared.

“Finally learned your powers, Emrys?”

“It took me time and study, but yes. I will not take your time for too long. I, Emrys, request the knowledge. Has Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, has finally crossed your veil with no chance of returning?”

“Not sure if you destroyed every horcrux?”

“I am confident I have, but it serves me well to get confirmation.”

The Cailleach’s eyes seemed to peer straight into Merlin’s soul, but he wasn’t the scared young man she had met before. This was truly the Merlin of legend and the Emrys of prophecy.

“The information will not be free.”

“I thought you might ask for a boon, so I already have an offer for you. Give me the information I seek, and I will close this tear.”

“And why would I want it closed?”

“Because doing so will bring your dementors home. Here, they feed and use the energy for themselves. In the veil, you get everything they gather from the dead, which makes you stronger.”

“Who will you sacrifice to close the veil this time?”

“No one. We both know it isn’t necessary. I was young and stupid before. I’ve had 1500 years to learn my lessons.”

Merlin couldn’t believe an old figure such as the Cailleach would pout at not getting her way, but she did until finally she nodded in agreement. 

Merlin began to chant, words he wished he had known years ago so Lancelot could have grown old. He felt the dementors fighting to stay in this realm, but his power was too great and they all began to appear and fly into the veil. Many tried to grab Merlin as they passed and drag him in, but he anticipated that and had charmed his feet to stick.

Unfortunately, it meant they clawed him badly to try to hang on. He could feel the blood flow all over as their nails bit into him before they were sucked over the border. The ones who didn’t grab him tried getting one last meal as they passed, leaving Merlin to hear his loved ones die over and over. 

If anything this made his resolve grow and he chanted louder and faster until finally the last dementor was sucked in and the veil closed in on itself. 

In front of him, the Cailleach glowed as the dementors were once again under her control. 

“The man, whose soul you seek, has completely crossed over. He is currently providing a feast for my pets, whom I have missed so much. He will not bother you ever again.”

Once she disappeared from view, Merlin dragged himself into the next room, covered himself with James’ invisibility cloak, and collapsed right there in the middle of the ministry.

Harry paced back and forth anxiously as his four best friends were helpless to do anything but watch.

Draco laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sure he’s fine. Professor Emrys is amazing at defence against the dark arts. I’m sure he’ll walk through the doors any minute.”

“Draco is right, Harry. Your uncle can do things no one else alive can manage. I’m sure he’s fine.” Hermione tried to help.

Ron and Neville looked on silently nodding their agreement. Harry carded his hands through his hair for the millionth time it seemed and tried to breathe. Uncle Merlin had told him he was going after the last horcrux. He promised Harry they would celebrate as soon as he got back to Hogwarts sometime near dawn, but that should have been hours ago. 

Harry knew that Merlin could apparate right into the school so he had taken to pacing right in his uncle’s chambers when he hadn’t returned by breakfast. His friends followed him despite him telling them he was fine. 

“Harry?” 

Harry let his hair go and looked at his quietest friend.

“He’s The Merlin. He will be alright.” Neville said quietly.

Nervously, Harry laughed. “I know he’s a great teacher, Nev..”

“Don’t, Harry.” Neville cut in. “I’m sure he has his reasons for hiding it and I was pretty sure you already knew, but don’t try to lie to me now. My mother remembered him in her mind. She could feel his magic fixing her every night. She said she has never felt power like that before. She’s been begging my father and grandmother to let her come thank him. They want us to give him the privacy he obviously wants, but you need to realise he is too strong for anything to have happened to him.”

Harry looked around but none of his friends seemed surprised by Neville’s revelation.

“Did you all know?”

Hermione blushed while Draco and Ron shrugged.

“Neville confided in me. He got sick of me using Merlin’s name as a curse after what he did for his parents,” Ron confessed.

“It was obvious he was extremely powerful no matter how much he tried to conceal it, so I did a little digging. I found a picture of him with Newt Scamander at their Hogwarts graduation. Went by the name Martin Emrys then but I knew it was him and not a relative because he had the same small scar over his left eyebrow.”

Shocked at Hermione’s story, he turned to Draco.

“His name is Merlin and he knows magic that no one in centuries has known. It wasn’t that hard to put together, Harry, but we knew he had his reasons for keeping quiet so we decided as a group to honour those reasons once we worked out we all knew.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything, mate. He’s still your uncle and he’s the best DADA this school has had. We didn’t want to scare you guys off with knowing the truth.”

Ron hugged his friend who had begun to shake. “If you’re that worried though, we’ll help you find him, right guys?”

“Definitely,” They all agreed. 

“Where should we start?” Draco asked.

Harry was about to tell them when the door to his uncle's chambers burst open. Harry turned hoping it was Merlin, but instead Professor Snape stood in the doorway. 

“Is Professor Emrys here?”

“No. I’m not sure where my uncle is,” Harry started to let him know, but dark eyes scanned the room, not hearing a word Harry said. 

“You all need to go to the Great Hall.There’s an emergency and we need all students safe.”

Hermione grabbed Harry’s hand and squeezed it, reassuring the boy who had gone pale at the Potion master’s words.

“Professor, do you know what’s happening? Does it have to do with Professor Emrys?”

“No. The dementors of Azkaban were pulled away from the prison. No one knows where or why. We need to gather in case it's an attack by the Dark Lord so we can protect all the students, now go.”

Snape pushed them out the door, telling them to go straight to the Great Hall. He had to see if there were any other stragglers about. He stalked in the other direction, not noticing that the group turned left at the end of the corridor and not right, towards the Great Hall. 

As soon as they cleared the corner, Harry broke into a run, with the others following. 

“Harry, where are you going?”

Harry ignored Neville and continued to run, not stopping until he got to the headmaster’s office. He bowed before the gargoyle statue that blocked the entrance.

“Harry James Potter, son of James and Lily Potter, and nephew to Merlin Emrys, requests entry for himself and four others.”

“Harry,” Draco whispered. “It needs a password to open.”

Harry just smirked and waited until a few seconds later when the gargoyle moved aside, accepting the young wizard's respectful request.

“Go.” Harry shooed them. His friends ran up the steps as Harry bowed once more.

“Thank you, guardian.” He said, before racing after his friends. 

He entered Dumbledore’s office for the first time but the headmaster wasn’t present. The portraits, seeing the children and no adults began to murmur amongst themselves. Harry ignored them, hoping to find what he needed which he did.

“Floo Powder?” Ron wondered.

“I know my uncle was headed to London. Once we are there, I can cast the same spell I did on the train to find a loved one. It should lead us straight to him.”

“Where in London? It’s huge.” Draco reminded him.

“He told me the last horcrux was in Gringotts.”

“What is a horcrux?”

“They are pieces of someone’s soul, ripped from the body when a great act of violence occurs, but why is your uncle looking for a horcrux?” Draco answered Ron before questioning his friend.

“Because,” Harry replied, “Voldemort used them to stay alive. It’s why a prophecy claimed one of us had to die so the other could live. When he tried to kill me as a baby, he fulfilled the prophecy by leaving part of his soul in me, but my uncle destroyed it the first time he felt it, when I was a toddler.”

He ignored the shocked faces of his friends and continued on.

“He regretted not trying to see if there were more, he said, but his only thought had been to protect me and leaving that in me was bad apparently. When you brought the diary, though, Draco, you gave him a new chance to locate the other horcruxes because it was one of them.”

“Eww. I was writing to Voldemort’s soul?”

“Yeah. He’s been tracking them down ever since. Well, first he healed Neville’s parents, which you guys already know, then he started to hunt them down.”

“So, if he succeeds, then He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named cant come back?”

“I asked him that too, Ron, and he said he didn’t think so, but he did say he was going to make certain before he declared us free of him.”

“How would he make certain?” Hermione questioned.

“I don’t know,” Harry cried. “I just need to do something. I need to find him.”

Striding forward, Draco rested one hand on Harry’s shoulder and gave a small squeeze. 

“We will. Alright everyone, have you all used Floo before?”

Everyone gave a nod except Hermione. Draco took a few moments to explain it to her before they felt ready. Throwing a pinch of floo powder into the flames, Harry quickly stepped inside the green flames and clearly called out, “Diagon Alley!”

One by one, his friends followed until they were all in the heart of London. With his friends gathered around, Harry spoke the spell to locate his uncle and swung his wand from his heart straight out. 

“Invenire.”

Within moments a golden trail appeared, but it didn’t head towards Gringotts like Harry expected. Instead it headed away from Diagon Alley. It didn’t matter though. Harry would find him no matter where he went. 

He took off at a run once more and his friends followed. Eventually they ended up in Whitehall in front of a dingy building with a broken red telephone booth in front. The golden trail headed underground. 

“Now what?” Hermione wondered.

“I know this place. My dad works here. Follow me.” 

Somehow they all managed to fit into the telephone booth and Ron picked up the phone and dialled 62442 (MAGIC) before the operator came on asking their business. “Visiting Arthur Weasley.” Ron spoke before five visitor badges popped out and they were whisked away to the Ministry of Magic atrium. 

The Ministry seemed to be in chaos, with paper planes flying everywhere and wizards running around. 

“No wonder nothing ever gets done,” Draco joked. 

In all the confusion, no one noticed the children who began to weave between them, following a golden light only they could see. They headed down when it became clear Merlin wasn’t on the level they entered. 

The lift opened at level nine, The Dept of Mysteries. Harry led them down the torch lit corridor till they reached a black door. Pushing open the door, they enter a circular room with a bunch of doors. Harry can see the golden glow disappear into a door on the left so they try to open it but there is no handle. 

“How do we open it?”

“Ma-ma-maybe you should ask, like you did with the ga-gargoyle?” Neville stuttered.

Harry turned to him.

“Are you okay?”

“Ye-yeah. I’ve just been here once before. It’s scary, but I need to he-help.” Neville took in a few deep breaths. 

“We won’t be here long. You can wait here for us.”

“No,” Calmer now, he replied. “It’s all of us or none of us. We are safer together, just don’t touch anything. This is where they put things they don't even understand. It can be dangerous. My gran took me here when she was researching ways to help my parents. Nothing panned out but I did see a man turned into a baby right in front of me before ageing to an old man and turning to dust. It was horrifying.”

Ron was wide eyed as he checked out his friends. None of them looked thrilled to venture forward after that warning, but suddenly Harry straightened his shoulders and declared he was going alone and they had to stay. It started a loud argument until Draco finally got fed up. 

“Can we just exit and find your uncle, please?”

The door in front of them opened to his words and he strode through before anyone could offer any more disagreements. Harry was quick to catch up with Neville, Ron, and Hermione right behind him. They made sure not to touch anything or even talk, just followed the light as it passed through mainly filled rooms. 

Harry could see the light veer off towards a door and raced for it until he heard a commotion in the room right before it. He stepped into the doorway to see at least a dozen wizards gathered around an empty spot where obviously, something was missing based on their conversations and spell casting. 

Harry wondered what might have been there when one of the wizards began to shift in his direction. He threw himself out the door and they plastered themselves to the wall, hoping no one had noticed. Luckily no one had and Draco held out his hands in a gesture to ask what now. Harry pointed to the light that passed the doorway before darting across the door. 

His friends each took turns making sure no one was looking before running the few steps across the doorway. They all breathed a little easier when they were past with no alarms being sounded. 

The light flowed under the next door over and Harry carefully turned the knob. 

The room was boring. It didn’t seem to house much of anything that Harry could see, just a few bookcases, and a large golden cup. The spell ended about halfway into the room but Harry’s uncle wasn’t at the end like he should have been. 

“There’s nothing here, Harry.” Hermione took his hand in hers and tried to provide comfort.

“There’s got to be. The spell has never failed me before.” He walked towards the end of the light, only to trip over something and go crashing down to the floor. 

“Look!” Yelled Neville. 

“Shush!” They all whispered. Neville blushed but he pointed to where Harry tripping had uncovered part of the missing teacher. Running his hands over the spot, Harry found Merlin was covered in the invisibility cloak that his dad had owned and Merlin had told him he would give him when he was older.  

He ripped the cloak off and uncovered his uncle, but Merlin was out cold. Smacking his cheeks lightly, he tried to get him to wake. 

“Uncle Merlin? Uncle Merlin, get up. Let’s have you lazy daisy.”

“Hmm?” Merlin stirred slightly but didn’t open his eyes.

“Harry, he’s bleeding.” Draco pointed out. 

Draco was right. Now that he looked, his uncle was covered in scratches and his clothing was torn, but nothing looked too deep and most of the bleeding had stopped. 

“Uncle Merlin, I order you to get your lazy arse up right now!”

Groaning Merlin opened his eyes to see the vibrant green of his nephew instead of the blue he had been expecting with the order to wake.

“How can you sound like Arthur, when you’ve never met him?” Merlin asked.

Relieved he seemed okay, Harry threw himself into his uncle’s arms. Merlin barely had time to brace himself before he caught him and Harry burst out into tears.

“I thought you were dead and I was alone again.”

“I won’t leave you, Harry. I promise. I told you I just had to destroy the last horcrux. It was simple enough.”

“Then why didn’t you come back? You said you would be home by dawn and you weren’t, then the school locked down because the dementors disappeared and I thought they took you.”

“So you came after me? How?”

“Invenire.”

“Ah,” Merlin said as he wiped tears from Harry’s eyes. He took in all Harry’s friends standing guard still and discreetly wiping away tears of their own. 

“Thank you all for coming for me. I think though that any other conversations would be best done at Hogwarts. I doubt the Ministry is happy right now considering what I’ve done. Best not to hang around here.”

“How will we get past them to get out, sir?” Hermione wondered.

“We won't. Just join hands and I will apparate us to Hogsmeade. We can walk up from there.”

“No,” Harry said, surprising his uncle. “Just apparate us directly to Hogwarts so we can get Madam Pomfrey to fix you up immediately.”

“Harry, no one can apparate in Hogwarts wards, remember?” Merlin stressed, trying to send a clue to his nephew to not give away his power.

“They already know, Uncle. Neville’s mom remembers you in her mind, Hermione saw an old pic of you and put it together, and Draco just sussed it out. Neville did tell Ron, but it was to get him to stop using your name in vain, so it’s all good.”

“Everyone knows?” Merlin bit back the panic as they all nodded. He hadn’t had this many people know his secret since Camelot. 

“It’s okay. I trust them and I think you need to trust people too. I think you should tell Snape because he’s your friend and Uncle Sirius and Remus why you are at it.”

“I’ll…I’ll think about it. For now, let’s just hold hands and get out of here.” He grabbed the cloak and settled it over his shoulders before reaching for Harry's hand. 

Harry clasped hands with Merlin and Draco, who held hands with Neville. Ron held his other hand while Hemione linked fingers on Ron’s other side. She reached out to take Merlin’s other hand, completing the circle. 

“Can you take..” Hermione’s question was cut off as it felt as if wind picked up under her feet and then gently set her back down. She looked in awe at Merlin’s Hogwarts chambers.

“That was amazing,” she gushed as the boys did the same. Merlin blushed and Harry rolled his eyes. 

“Let’s go. Hospital wing.” He said as he tugged his uncle’s hand.

“I don’t need it,” Harry ignored him. “You do know I’m the adult, right?” He whined.

Merlin heard laughter behind him as Harry just pulled him along. 

Chapter Text

Harry hugged Kilgharrah close before packing him away in his trunk. The school year was over and Harry was ready to go home. His uncle had been right, not that he would admit it aloud, to send him to Hogwarts. He had made great friends and had loved living here, with the quirky stairs and door knockers that ask riddles, but Harry still hadn't decided if he was going to return. 

Harry knew Uncle Merlin was waiting to see the choice his nephew made. If Harry stayed, then Merlin would too, but Harry could see the wanderlust in Merlin’s eyes. He thought he saw the slight sadness that Harry now wondered if came from thinking of Arthur and Camelot. The same sadness that disappeared when a new adventure awaited. 

A knock broke Harry out of his thoughts. He opened the dormroom door to find his friends gathered together. Draco grinned and tossed him a rolled up piece of parchment as the others pushed past. Neville sat on the bed and slung an arm the post. Ron shoved him over and stole his spot as Hermione started folding his remaining clothes with a spell Merlin had taught her. 

“I’m being invaded,” Harry joked as he unwound the scroll.

“Really, Harry. I would have thought you would be done with this already. The train leaves in less than an hour.” 

Harry was going to snark back at her until he saw what Draco had brought.

“Why did you give me what I can only assume is a treasure map?” Harry quirked his eyebrow up at his friend.

“We talked about it,” Draco blushed. “We want you and Professor Emrys to return next year but we know you both are longing for adventure so we thought if we could help with that then you might use the summer to explore and come back in the fall. After my father was brought to St Mungos, the manor was turned upside down by aurors,” There was a slight hitch to his voice so Harry pulled Draco into a quick hug.

It still hurt the blonde boy that his father had lost his mind after Voldemort crossed over. 

Merlin hadn’t known that the Dark Lord had cursed the tattoo his followers took. Any who had taken the dark mark lost their minds when he truly died. Harry’s uncle figured it was a way for Voldemort to ensure his followers looked for him if he ever appeared dead so he could return. One more plot in his quest for immortality. 

He obviously either didn’t know or didn’t care what would happen if he really did die. Lucius Malfoy would never leave the hospital again. Neither would a certain rat that Merlin had failed to notice sleeping with one of his nephew’s best friends all year. (Ron had been horrified to go back to his dorm and find his roommates yelling over the man that had appeared on Ron’s pillow.)

Merlin, hating death eaters, but wanting to help one of Harry’s best friends had tried to fix the elder Malfoy but he had taken the curse willingly so magic would not oblige the immortal. 

 Draco gave Harry a reassuring smile before pulling away. 

“This was left behind in his office. My mother said it was reportedly given to a Malfoy ancestor after Richard the 1st died. The ancestor claimed it was the real reason the Lionheart spent most of his reign abroad. Unfortunately, he never found the treasure which was said to be something so powerful it would grant the owner anything their heart desired.”

“We thought if Professor Emrys found it he could bring King Arthur back and then you guys wouldn’t need to leave here.” Neville piped up.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Neville and Ron thought that. Draco and I just figured you might have a good time but realise how much you miss us and come home. I highly doubt, even with magic, there is something so powerful it could bring back a 1500 year old king.”

Harry felt his eyes fill with tears. He really hadn’t wanted to come to Hogwarts and now? Now it felt like home but he was afraid if he stayed, Merlin would still leave. 

“Harry?”

Harry turned to see his Uncle Merlin in the doorway. He ran at the man and Merlin scooped him up like he had when he was little. He buried his head in his uncle’s chest, embarrassed to be crying in front of his friends but unable to help himself. 

By the time he pulled himself together his friends were gone and Merlin had him in his lap. He was combing his finger’s through Harry’s hair and humming a lullaby he used to sing him to sleep when he was young. Seeing Harry had stopped crying he gently magiced the tears and snot away before asking.

“You okay?”

“I don’t know what to do. I thought after this year we could go back to normal. Then everything happened and you defeated Voldemort and the death eaters paid and Sirius is free because Pettigrew is alive and crazy. I took it as a sign that we were free too. I knew I was going to miss my friends but there is so much to see and learn out there that I thought we should go back to how things were before I turned eleven, even if mom and dad would be disappointed I didn’t go to Hogwarts.”

Harry hung his head, hating the thought he had just voiced.

“Harry, look at me.” Merlin softly grabbed Harry’s chin and tilted his face up until Harry met his eyes. “Your mother and father would never be disappointed in you. I’m sure they are in Avalon watching over you and are proud of the wonderful, caring, and intelligent child that they loved with everything they had.”

Merlin waited until he felt Harry believed him before continuing.

“I made you a promise, Harry. If you want to leave Hogwarts and go back to our old life then we will. Sirius and Remus already plan to join us this summer now that his name has been cleared. We can stay in Diagon Alley and your friends could visit as much as they like and we will travel when they go back to school. Another option is asking their parents if they can join us for a little summer travelling. We haven’t been to Greece in a while. Hogwarts will still be here in the fall if you want to return.”

“My friends gave me a treasure map. They said it leads to something that could bring Arthur back. Then you’d stop being sad and running away from the memories and you’d want to stay at Hogwarts and teach.”

“Oh, Harry.”

Merlin gathered the raven haired child in his arms again. 

“I overheard you talking to Professor Snape. He was asking you to stay now that the position wasn’t cursed. I know you said it’s up to me but I heard you tell him you couldn’t. If you aren’t staying, I don’t think I want to be here without you.”

Merlin chuckled and bopped his eavesdropping nephew on the nose.

“Obviously you didn’t listen to the whole conversation. I told Severus that I wanted to step down so he could have the position he always dreamed of. Dumbledore offered to create a new class for me to teach. You are looking at the newest teacher of World’s Magics. I am teaching spells from all over the globe including things like Parsel Magic and the Old Religion. I accepted it already, conditionally. I loved teaching this year and I want to keep doing it, that is, if you decide to stay at Hogwarts. I told the headmaster that I would only stay if you wanted to and that I would need to spend the full holidays away to learn new spells from all over for my classes, so we can use that as an excuse to explore new places.”

Tears began to spill again, this time from the man as well as the boy. Merlin hugged tightly the boy who was more like a son than a nephew.

“I don’t need a treasure to bring Arthur back, Harry, although I think it was nice of your friends to offer. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to wait for destiny. It's time I move on.”

Magic flowed out of Merlin with those words but neither paid the gentle wave any notice.

“I’ve been confused on what I want but I also was afraid of choosing wrong and having you be unhappy. When you said you got offered a new position, it felt right. Like magic in a way. I want to spend the summer travelling all over. Maybe we could invite my friends around my birthday but mostly, I want it to just be us, Sirius, and Remus. I want to explore new places, eat crazy foods, maybe fight some more pirates, but most of all, I want to spend time with my favourite pink-haired uncle before returning to Hogwarts for Year Two.”

“Then we have a decision! Wait. Pink-haired?”

Harry laughed and his eyes glowed gold seconds before he shifted into his animagus form and flew out the window. His uncle would get his trunk and bring it back to their little apartment before picking him up at King’s Cross, he was sure. Harry couldn’t wait to ride the train and tell his friends he would be back next year.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, a peasant boy befriended a prince. He helped a prat grow into a great king. He gave everything he had for his destiny, never taking his own best interests to heart. He waited for his destiny to return, for the dragon claimed when Albion’s need was greatest, the Once and Future King would rise again. The dragon was wrong.

“Lets have you lazy daisy.”

He tried shoving the pillow over his head so the sunlight wouldn’t get through. 

“Arthur, get up. Seriously. How did you sleep through that?”

“Gwen, I love you, but go away.”

“Arthur, you have been moping for way too long. It's over though.”

Hands made strong by years of manual labour as a maid ripped the pillow away from the king.

“Gwen, why? Why do you hate me?”

“Stop being so dramatic, that’s Gwaine’s job. We have a visitor and she’s getting impatient waiting for you so move it.”

Arthur watched the woman he had married leave his bedchamber. They had many happy years together alive and in Avalon before they decided to just be friends. Gwen knew that Arthur’s heart was never completely hers alone and she was fine with that. Especially after she was able to reconnect and move on with Lancelot. She still was his best friend while Merlin was above the ground and technically Arthur was below it. 

Merlin. He missed him so much. Arthur had no idea how someone he only knew a decade could be so important to him, but he was. The connection between the two sides of the coin never dimmed. In fact it felt stronger than ever. The bond between the two of them was thrumming in a way Arthur had never felt. The closest had been a few years before when the Round Table, that now included James and Lily Potter, watched and cheered over Merlin as he kidnapped Harry from the Dursleys. 

Feeling that magic, Arthur finally woke up and hurried down to find the Cailleach waiting for him.

“Arthur Pendragon, we meet again.”

“Great Cailleach, to what do I owe the pleasure.” Arthur asked after bowing.

“He’s finally moved on, you are welcome to rejoin him if you would like.”

“You know I would. Are we all allowed to return or just myself?

“Only yourself to begin with. I will allow one more each Samhain after you arrive.”

“The full Round Table?”

“No,” Arthur hung his head a little. “But the original Round Table, your sadly now sane sister, since I liked her better before Avalon cleansed her, and the two newest additions.Some believed Merlin deserves it for how long he waited. I don’t agree but it was three to one so I lost, as usual.”

“Thank you.” The king bowed again deeply.

“Don’t thank me. I would never have allowed it but my sister promised that once Emrys showed growth you could return.”

“It only took him 1500 years.”

Arthur heard a tinkling laugh and the Cailleach grimaced. Turning around Arthur saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. As he stood in shock, the woman's features aged and an old woman took her place, still beautiful beyond compare. Then the years melted away to reveal a child before ageing back to the original face he had seen. 

“He did take a long time, didn’t he? No matter where he went, you were his only thought. He kept a scrying crystal and checked the Lake of Avalon for five hundred years. It wasn't healthy for either of you. Now though, he is ready for you.”

“If he only just got over me, is it the right time to return? Don’t I have to wait for his need to be great?”

“I have no idea where the dragon got that idea. You two were always two sides of a coin, meant to balance each other out, but Merlin lost sight of this. He sacrificed his own happiness for you till Merlin lost sight of who he was and could be.

He floated through his long life avoiding connections and then something changed. 

I watched him with James. He broke his own rules time and time again. I saw him start to be selfish in a way he never had been before. Even his attempts at moving on were half hearted. When my sister,” the triple goddess inclined her head towards the Cailleach, “decided to punish Emrys and create a prophecy to affect his family, I was so sure he would fall back into his old ways. He did for a short time, ignoring his responsibilities and leaving Harry but then he came back and he exceeded my expectations. 

The Once and Future King was always meant to be the man who stood by Emrys and shared his burdens. It is time for you to do that. Harry will be a little jealous but he is a remarkable child for all that he went through. He will adjust quickly. I have Seen and this is the time. Go forth, My King, and give my love to my Emrys, my son in magic.”

Arthur had no time to prepare. One moment he was entertaining actual goddesses and the next he was standing on a street, surrounded by wizards in robes and facing a nondescript door. Pulling on what James called his Gryffindor courage, Arthur raised his hand to knock just as the door flew open. Blue eyes met blue and Arthur was home.

Chapter Text

So I have decided to expand this a bit and added a prequel. Reading it is not necessary to this story but if you want to, it is now begun. Merlin and the Mauraders. I hope if you do read, you enjoy.