Harry Potter and the Return of Merlin: Chapter 4 (5/?)
Title: Harry Potter and the Return of Merlin
Fandom: Merlin/Harry Potter Crossover
Rating: T for slight violence and language
Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione...or at least the precursors to the relationships
Spoilers: HP - definitely through the end of OotP, since Merlin is supposed to know more than most, there may be other spoilers as well. Merlin - through the end of season 3 because I haven’t had a chance to watch season 4, so I can’t spoil it, lol.
Warnings: AU. Slight Violence and language.
Beta: the wonderful animeloveramy. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Merlin. They belong to J.K. Rowling and BBC respectively. They have simply been kind enough to allow dreamers like me to indulge in fantasies involving their characters. Some of the text is directly from, very close to, or inspired by what J.K. Rowling originally wrote. This is simply because this fic closely follows OotP and I see no reason to pretend that I’m better than J.K. Rowling and try to rewrite it. I will try to leave an AN at the bottom when I use large amounts of the text.
Summary: When Voldemort used a spell of the old religion to regain his body, he gives Merlin the reason he needed to step out of the shadows. Disguised as a fifth year student, he goes to Hogwarts to watch over Harry and do what he can in the war to come.
Previous: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Morning came far too quickly. Merlin may have gotten better about waking up when he was supposed to, but that didn’t mean he liked it any more than he had when he’d still been a lowly manservant. He rolled himself out of bed with a groan and stumbled into the bathroom. Turning the water to scalding hot, he stepped into it and proceeded to wake up and get clean.
“BLOODY HELL!”
Merlin started. His foot slid on the slick tiles and his arms pinwheeled automatically in a mad attempt to regain his balance.
“What in Avalon’s name?” he muttered as more shouts drifted into the bathroom from the dormitory. The floor shook slightly. Dread pooled deep in his stomach. He quickly shut off the water snapped his fingers. The suds disappeared and his skin dried. He grabbed his dressing gown off the hook, shoved his arms through the sleeves, and hurried out the door.
Seamus was standing in the middle of the room, his wand in hand, and was casting jinxes and curses as rapidly as he could. The other boys in the dorm were awake as well. Neville had fallen out of bed and was now cowering behind his mattress. Dean was staring around in confusion while Ron and Harry had cast shields in an attempt to block the spells that Seamus was still casting with no regard to the other occupants of the room.
“DON’T LET IT GET AWAY!” he shouted when Dean made to open the door and escape the dorm. The locking jinx Seamus cast at the door nearly hit Dean’s hand.
“What what you’re doing!” said Harry crossly, glaring at Seamus. Merlin could see that he was calculating how best to jinx the other boy without dropping the shield that was protecting him.
Deftly avoiding the flying spells, Merlin managed to grab his wand off his bedside table before crouching down beside Harry. “What is going on?”
“I’ve no idea,” Harry cried. “He just woke up, shouting and starting casting spells all over the place. He nearly jinxed Neville!”
“We haven’t been able to figure out what the bloody hell he’s trying to hit,” added Ron. Merlin noticed that he did not look happy to have been woken the way he had. Then again, from what Merlin had seen over the summer, Ron didn’t seem to like being woken up at all.
Movement near the ceiling caught Merlin’s eye. A small form dove from the shadows, straight toward Seamus. The boy cursed loudly and dove aside just in time to avoid getting hit in the head with an an angry dragon.
Kilgarrah soared upward again and crouched on the rafter, his back arched much like a cat’s, his wings spread menacingly as he glared down at Seamus.
What the hell are you doing? Merlin demanded.
Defending myself! snapped Kilgarrah. This sorry excuse for a wizard attempted to curse me for no reason whatsoever!
Oh, really? Just what were you doing when this began?
I was sitting here, waiting for you to return so that we could venture downstairs. I was only minding my own business, making no trouble at all. Then he awoke and saw me. I did nothing but look at him and he shouted and began attempting ot hex me.
And so you attacked him? Really, Kilgarrah. What did that solve? And Arthur always called me the idiot.
I am well aware that this was, perhaps, not the best course of action. But it was all I could do until you returned and forced the blasted idiot to listen. I doubt he’d actually stop to listen to a talking dragon!
There is no call to be sarcastic. Would you at least attempt to look docile? Your threatening is not helping the situation.
Very well, Kilgarrah grumbled.
Drawing his wand, Merlin pointed it at Seamus and calmly said, “Expelliarimus!”
The boy’s wand flew through the air, straight toward Merlin, who caught it with easy. Ron looked rather put out. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Harry shrugged and ran a hand tiredly over his face. “I don’t know about you, mate, but I’m not quite awake yet.”
Seamus spun to face Merlin. “What the hell did you do that for? That bloody creature is trying to kill me!”
“Kilgarrah is doing no such thing,” said Merlin, rolling his eyes. “He claims that he was just sitting in the rafters, waiting for me, and I believe him. He rarely interacts with anyone save for me.”
“How can you possibly know what he was doing?” Seamus demanded. “You weren't here, and it’s not as though that thing can talk!”
“I would not be so quick, Mr. Finnegan. You may find that I am quite articulate.”
All eyes turned to Kilgarrah, who was looking down at them with a smug expression on his scaly face. Harry and Ron seemed only mildly surprised. They’d become more or less accustomed to the fact that Kilgarrah could speak over the summer. He’d only done it a handful of times, preferring mostly to keep to himself and speak through Merlin, but the surprise had worn off a bit. Neville, on the other hand, looked about ready to pass out.
“What the hell is that thing?” asked Seamus warily. He raised his wand hand before remembering that he didn’t have his wand and dropping it quickly.
Ron looked at Seamus like he was an idiot. “It’s a dragon, what it Merlin’s name does it look like?”
“Dragons aren’t that small in size, not even as hatchlings,” Seamus snapped. “Everyone knows that.”
“Trust me, it’s a dragon,” Harry said dryly.
“I am not an it,” Kilgarrah interjected indignantly. “I have a name.”
“Oh really? What is it, then?” asked Seamus with a sneer.
“Kilgarrah,” Merlin said loudly, drawing everyone’s attention back to himself and effectively rebuking Kilgharrah, who really wasn’t helping the situation. “His name is Kilgarrah and he is a very rare breed of dragon, the last of the race of Old Magic. If you actually believe him, he used to know Merlin.”
“I did at that,” Kilgarrah sniffed, quickly catching on to Merlin’s plan. “He was a bit of an idiot when first we met.”
Thanks, said Merlin dryly.
You are most welcome, young warlock.
He rolled his eyes. Just play along to this next bit. I’ve got to put them at ease.
I take it that I am not going to like what you have planned.
Probably not.
Kilgarrah heaved a sigh. Very well. I will trust your judgement.
Thank you.
“Believe him if you will,” Merlin said aloud to the dormitory. “Whether he knew Merlin or not, which frankly, I doubt, he is a wonderful companion. I have learnt quite a lot from him and, for all his growling, he is not dangerous. I’ve never known him to hurt anyone. Had you not cast the first spell, he never would have retaliated and attacked you. He is far too gentle and his bark is truly worse than his bite.”
He paused slightly and leveled an icy gaze on Seamus. “Though I understand that his presence and appearance alarmed you, I do not appreciate the fact that you attacked without question. A wand is a powerful weapon. You must learn to use it wisely, or you may easily end up doing something you regret.”
Seamus stared at Merlin, open-mouthed. The warlock placed Seamus’ wand on the nearest beside table.
Silence fell over the dormitory. Seamus was rigid with anger. He glared at Harry, who frowned in confusion. He snatched his wand off the table and stormed past Merlin, into the bathroom, pausing only to grab his robes. The echo from the slamming door had barely faded before he stomped out again, fully dressed, and swept out of the dormitory. He was followed quickly by Dean, who gave everyone an apologetic look.
This is going to be harder than I thought, Merlin sighed. The tension between them is unsettling and I know they don’t fully trust me, either. Voldemort has certainly succeeded in sowing discord.
Indeed. But you are more than capable of surmounting this barrier. You will gain their trust and their friendship. After all, you are the servant who befriended one of the most arrogant princes in history and made him a good man.
Was that a compliment?
Certainly not. It was merely fact.
Merlin chuckled. If you say so.
Just get dressed. You have a long day ahead of you. Defense Against the Dark Arts with Dolores Umbridge. You will need your wits, what few you have, for that encounter.
Thank you for that vote of confidence.
***
Harry stared after Seamus, wondering what the hell he’d done this time and how this year could possible get any worse. A sudden weight on his shoulder broke Harry from his thoughts. He glanced up to see Kilgarrah staring back at him.
Do not worry about him, the dragon spoke into his mind. He had been forced to chose between loyalty to his family and loyalty to his friend and to his school. It is a most difficult choice to make. He is unable to see past his own troubles. Do not make the same mistake.
Harry frowned thoughtfully. He hadn’t even thought about it from that angle. Kilgarrah squeezed his shoulder gently with his talons before soaring over to Myrddin’s bed and curling up on the pillow, his yellow eyes gazing fixedly at Myrddin.
“This year is definitely going to be interesting, isn’t it?” Ron grumbled, rubbing a hand over his face.
Harry snorted. “You mean like all our other years at Hogwarts?” he pointed out dryly.
“Right,” Ron muttered.
“I take it that adventures are commonplace at Hogwarts,” said Myrddin, his eyes sparkling.
“You have no idea,” sighed Ron.
“Something always happens to us. Well, mostly me,” said Harry. “But Ron and Hermione seem to get involved by association.”
Myrddin’s smile became sad. “You two sound like two people I used to know. They were the best of friends and were always getting into trouble of the worst possible kind. One of them seemed to attract, rather like you, Harry. Without his friend, he probably wouldn’t have survived more than a few years. They were inseparable. Don’t lose that.”
Harry and Ron exchanged a look, unsure of what to say to that. Myrddin blushed slightly and fidgeted where he stood, suddenly looking as though he’d said more than he’d intended.
“I should head down,” he said quickly. “I’d like a few minutes to learn my way around the castle before classes start.”
He started toward the door. Harry grimaced slightly. As much as he didn’t trust Myrddin, he didn’t want him to spend his first few days at Hogwarts getting lost. He as a Gryffindor after all, and one of the few people in the school who actually believed him. Not to mention, Professor McGonagall would probably give him detention if she found out that Harry didn’t help out.
“You should wait for us in the Common Room,” he said quickly before Myrddin could leave the room. “You’ll never find your way down on your own. We got lost the first month we were here. Took a week to figure out how to get to the Great Hall and we still messed up a couple of times.”
Myrddin smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I’m absolutely hopeless at finding my away around.” He gestured to Kilgarrah, who soared across the room and alighted on the young man’s shoulder. With one last wave, Myrddin left the room.
“He’s strange,” Ron said once he was gone.
Harry raised an eyebrow. “You’re just now coming to that conclusion.”
Ron chuckled. “It’s just becoming more obvious the longer we know him. What do you think he meant with all that stuff about us reminding him of someone that he knew?”
“Dunno. But it’s another mystery to add to the list. I think we should stick close to him. I’m not entirely sure that he’s someone we can trust.”
“What do you mean? He seems nice enough, if a little mysterious.”
“I know, Ron. That’s the problem. There are just things about him that don’t add up. You weren’t at my hearing. The way he handled himself, you wouldn’t know that he supposedly spent most of his life in remote locations with his parents and he, somehow, destroyed one of the dementors that attacked him. He’s not telling us something and I think it’s important.”
Ron looked doubtful. “Whatever you say, mate. Lets go get something to eat. Myrddin and Hermione are probably still waiting. You know she’s probably boring him to death with fact about the school that she learned from Hogwarts, A History. Besides, I’m starving.”
“Of course you are,” Harry laughed. Some things, never changed.
***
Merlin nearly ran into Hermione when he came down the stairs. She was glaring at the bulletin board as if she wanted to set it on fire. She was very close to doing just that.
“Something wrong?” Merlin asked curiously.
“Those two,” she growled. “They are the absolute limit. What do they think they’re doing, advertising their products in the common room?”
Curious, the warlock drew closer and read the notice that had gotten Hermione’s dander up. Apparently, the Weasley twins were advertising for testers for the products. He had to admit that it was rather clever. They were pranksters, yes, but he knew that they would never actually hurt someone. He also knew that Hermione would never listen to him, so he wisely backed away and made himself comfortable in front of the fire to wait for Harry and Ron.
When are you planning to patch things up with Arthur? Kilgarrah asked suddenly. Since his disagreement with Arthur’s portrait, Merlin had been brooding more than usual. Kilgarrah suspected that he was lonely.
“What?” asked Merlin distractedly.
Kilgarrah rolled his eyes, and glanced around to make sure that no one was close enough to overhear if he spoke aloud. They weren’t.
“Honestly, young warlock. Are you still holding a grudge? You yourself have admitted countless times to having the same frustrations. Or do you not remember that just months before your argument, you spent two hours ranting about how pointless it was to be an immortal who couldn’t actually do anything to help the present? You should have forgiven him years ago.”
“He’s the one that walked away. He told me not to bother contacting him again,” Merlin said tiredly. “I tried everything, short of coming up to the school to speak to him and he did not respond. I’m not the one holding the grudge.”
Realizing that he sounded like a petulant child, Merlin quickly added, “Besides, even he isn’t holding a grudge. I went to talk to him last night, as I knew that he deserved to know that I would be in the school and why.” A sudden mischievous glint appeared in the warlock’s eyes. “I learned something rather interesting.”
Grinning broadly, Merlin recounted his meeting with Sir Cadogan. There was an equally mischievous light in Kilgarrah’s eye by the time he was finished.
“Oh, this I must see.”
“I’ll be sure to introduce you before I break the enchantments. I plan to have a little fun with Arthur anyway.”
“Who are you talking to?”
Looking up in surprise, Merlin found Ginny standing a few feet behind him, a curious expression on her face. He smiled a bit sheepishly.
“Kilgarrah.”
“Oh,” she said, understanding dawning across his face. “I keep forgetting that he can talk.”
“He never lets me forget,” Merlin grumbled.
“Yet you seem only to comprehend a fraction of what I say to you,” Kilgarrah sniffed. “It takes quite a lot of effort to penetrate your thick skull.”
“I have become rather adept at ignoring you, for the sake of my own sanity.”
Kilgarrah cuffed him around the head with one wing, causing Ginny giggle at their antics. It was hard to believe that a dragon, even one as small as Kilgarrah, could be so human.
I really don’t understand why Harry, Ron, and Hermione are so worried about those two. They’re always so nice, even Kilgarrah once you get past the scales and sarcasm. I think they’re just being paranoid.
Cursing silently, Merlin closed his mind. He hadn’t meant to hear her thoughts, but she was naturally projecting them. With his mind open as it always was so that he could sense his surroundings, it had been impossible not to hear her. Projecting one’s thoughts was a common wizarding gift and simple enough to accomplish, though she had developed it a bit early.
“Are you headed to breakfast?” he asked quickly, trying to hide his embarrassment from Kilgarrah.
Ginny nodded. “What about you?”
“Harry and Ron are supposed to be helping me find my way to the Great Hall.”
“I’m meeting Luna, so why don’t you come with me,” she offered. “There’s no telling how long Harry and Ron’ll be.”
Merlin grinned. “That would be great.”
“How do you like Hogwarts so far?” Ginny asked as she led the way out of the dormitory.
“I haven’t seen much of the school yet,” the warlock chuckled, “but it seems pretty brilliant. There’s something oddly comforting about being in a castle. I can’t quite explain it. Besides, I’m looking forward to starting classes.”
“They’re hard, but they’re a lot of fun. McGonagal is strict, but fair and History of Magic is dead boring. Just be careful in potions. Snape hates Gryffindors. He’s always taking points form us.”
Merlin nodded thoughtfully. He knew that there was far more to Snape’s attitude than most realized. He was hoping that he would be able to break through some of the man’s barriers and save him from himself. Snape reminded Merlin far too much of Uther in his bitterness, though the potion’s master did feel great sorrow for his wrongs, unlike the long-dead king.
You cannot save everyone, Merlin, whispered Kilgarrah softly.
I know. But that doesn’t mean I can’t try.
“What electives are you taking?” Ginny asked curiously.
“Ancient Runes and Divination,” said Merlin. “I’ve heard that the Divination teacher is a batty old fraud, but I’ve always been interested in the theory. One of my ancestors was supposed to have been a seer.”
“I don’t think you’ll learn as much as you’d like. All she really does is predict Harry’s horrible death.” Grinny wrinkled her nose in clear annoyance.
Merlin shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”
He didn’t mention that he wanted to be there in the unlikely event that Trelawney made another true prediction. In choosing between Divination and Care of Magical Creatures -- it would have been far too obvious to take both -- he’d decided that he could accomplish more in Divination. Magical creatures tended to have a strange reaction to him because he was of the old Magic and Divination was the perfect cover for some of the spells he would need to do. He’d be able to use some of the genuine Seeing artifacts to keep an eye on the world.
After a little more idle chatter, Merlin and Ginny split up when they reached the Great Hall. He made his way to the Gryffindor table, watching her surreptitiously as she greeted the same girl who’d pulled him aside when he got off the train. Ginny was a wonderful girl. Merlin found that he rather liked her and hoped that they could actually become friends.
It wasn’t long before Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked into the Hall behind a group of Ravenclaws. Harry looked depressed and a little angry. To Merlin’s surprise, they walked over to him and sat down.
“I thought you were going to wait for us,” said Ron, shoveling bacon and eggs onto his plate.
Merlin watched him pile his plate high with slight amusement. “Ginny offered to help me. I didn’t get much chance to talk to her over the summer, so I agreed.”
Harry shot him an appraising look, which he pretended not to notice while hiding a grimace. Of everyone, Harry seemed to see through his lies the best. Merlin wasn’t sure how long he could string him along before Harry completely lost trust in him.
He was pulled from his reverie when Professor McGonagall passed by, handing out timetables. Ron immediately let out a groan.
“Do you see our schedule for today?” he demanded. “History of Magic, double Potions, Divination, and double Defense! What is Dumbledore thinking?”
“Honestly, Ron,” snapped Hermione. “The headmaster knows what he’s doing. I’m sure this is the way things had to be. Besides, you should have dropped Divination like I did. You know the subject is nothing but guesswork.”
Ron glared at her and retorted sharply. Merlin tuned them out and gazed at his schedule with a frown. He had to agree with Ron. No one in their right mind would ever construct such a schedule. It was actually torture for the students.
Merlin remained mostly silent throughout breakfast, preferring to merely listen, rather than force his presence on the three friends. It was rather amusing to observe them talking about Quidditch with a young woman who apparently the new team captain, or to watch Hermione go at it with the twins over their jokes.
You’ll need to see to the wards, Kilgarrah noted after a few minutes in the Great Hall. They are strong, but incredibly vulnerable in their complexity. It seems that many wards have been layered over one another with no attempt to repair or remove old and obsolete spells. With Voldemort once more on the loose, something must be done.
I know, Merlin said in amusement. I noticed as soon as we passed through them, but I cannot simply tear down the old wards and erect new ones. It would be too obvious.
Tom Riddle might be powerful, but I highly doubt that he would recognize a ward of Old Magic for what it truly is and he would never be able to break it.
He would know that the ward is incredibly powerful, more powerful than any modern magic can create. I don’t want Voldemort to become aware of my existence in any way.
Though I hardly expect that Voldemort will realize that he is facing you, the real Merlin of the past, you are right. He would realize that Dumbledore has allied himself with someone immensely powerful. Still, you must do something to protect the students.
I’m sure I’ll figure something out, the warlock sighed. Unfortunately, it will have to wait until I can determine just how much power Dolores Umbridge holds in this school and how much of a threat she will be.
She is most decidedly nasty, Kilgarrah said with an almost imperceptible shudder.
Merlin frowned. I don’t like the way that the Ministry is interfering in the school or the way that the Ministry has become so corrupt. Hogwarts is supposed to be free of such influence.
What do you plan to do?
Must you really ask that? I plan to set things right. How, I don’t know, but I will do it. We’re going to need everyone fighting as one to defeat Voldemort.
That we are, young warlock. That we are.
There was so much to do in order to save the wizarding world form the darkness and death it was headed toward. It was a lot to accomplish. Even for him.
Author’s Note: Nothing from this chapter is specifically from the book. At least, not as far as I know.
Next: Chapter 5