Harry Potter and the Return of Merlin: Chapter 8 (9/?)
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, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7
Author’s Note: Someone mentioned in a review that they thought I wasn’t including Ron and Hermione enough when talking from Harry’s POV. I’ll try to work on that a bit, because they are extremely important characters where Harry is concerned, but I just want to explain why they haven’t had a more active role. There are three reasons I haven't included them more. 1) Everything that happend in OotP happend unless I mentioned that it didn't or tweaked it myself, so all of that trio loveliness is still going on. 2) This has mostly been from merlin's POV and he's more concerned with Harry (at the moment) getting his feet under him, and actively making a difference in the war. He's been keeping his distance from the trio to make sure that they don't become suspicious of him. Starting soon, he'll be spending more time with all of them and Ron and Hermione will have more screen time. 3) So far, Harry's parts have mostly been introspective, from my POV. It's his thoughts concerning Merlin. I hope that helps.
Chapter 8
Yawning tiredly, Merlin stumbled across the Great Hall and plopped down at the Gryffindor table. Kilgharrah had kept him up half the night, wanting to know what he’d been up to while he was gone. He hadn’t gotten to sleep until the early hours of the morning and that coupled with the lingering effects of using the Crystal of Neahtid to look into the future, meant that he was a little on the exhausted side.
“Late night? asked Harry in a voice that was far too innocent as Merlin helped himself to some eggs. He sounded like Gaius when the old physician had been prodding to get Merlin to admit to what he already knew his ward had been doing.
Merlin shot him a tired smile. “Yeah. I lost track of time while I was studying.”
“Studying?” Ron repeated in almost comical horror. “We didn’t even have that much homework.”
“I’m a bit further behind than I thought I would be. Getting the chance to come here at my age is a privilege that I don’t want to lose.”
That seemed to be enough explanation for Ron, who shrugged and turned back to his breakfast, but Harry continued to eye Merlin carefully. Merlin did his best to ignore him and focused on his breakfast, all the while thinking that he definitely needed to figure out a way to get Harry to trust him.
All thoughts of that were derailed when the post arrived not a minute later. Merlin had finally broken down and subscribed to the Daily Prophet, if only to keep an eye on things. What he saw on the front page almost made his magic flare out of his control. As it was, a few of the plates and goblet rattled ominously as he read the lengthy article describing how Dolores Umbridge had been made High Inquisitor.
This is a load of absolute rubbish, Merlin fumed. The only parents who think the school is...what was it... “moving in a direction they do not approve” are death eaters who don’t want Harry to convince people that Riddle is back. And there are certainly no falling standards. Umbridge is the worst professor since Lockhart! This is nothing more than an excuse to spy on the teachers and further interfere. This is utterly ridiculous.
It was a very good thing that he’d closed off his connection to Kilgharrah so that the dragon could get some rest after tailing Harry, Ron, and Hermione for the weekend. If he knew what Umbridge was up to, Merlin had no doubt that she would find herself under attack.
“Oh, I can’t wait to see McGonagall inspected,” said Ron happily to Harry and Hermione. The three of them were bent over Hermione’s copy of the Prophet. “Umbridge won’t know what’s hit her.”
Merlin privately agreed. He was also rather interested to see how she handled Snape.
Oblivious to the commotion among the students, Umbridge walked into the hall and sat at the head table. Merlin caught Fred’s eye and smirked. The red head’s eyes widened in understanding. He elbowed George and gestured between Merlin and Umbridge. They hurried over to sit opposite Merlin and the trio.
“That was quick,” said George.
Fred eyed merlin contemplatively. “But will it be up to par, I wonder.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t do things halfway.”
“What are you three talking about?” asked Hermione warily.
Merlin grinned. “You’ll see. Just keep an eye on our favorite professor.”
“Snape or Umbridge?” Ron asked eagerly.
“Umbridge.”
Hermione harrumphed. “I thought you were more mature than those two.” She gestured to the twins as she spoke.
“I am. Most of the time, anyway. I learned a long time ago that there is some merit to playing harmless pranks. It lets you work off your frustration without harming anyone and it makes a point. Think of it as guerilla warfare.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a form a muggle warfare used primarily against greater forces, Ron,” explained Hermione in a long suffering voice.
“Oh.”
“Nothing’s happening,” complained Fred impatiently.
Umbridge reached for her pumpkin juice. “Just give it one more minute,” said Merlin.
She took a swallow. Gagging loudly, Umbridge dropped the goblet and spat out the pumpkin juice, staining the table cloth. Professor McGonagall jumped up to avoid the orange liquid spreading toward her while Umbridge grabbed a nearby glass of water and took a long drink.
The damage had already been done.
She gagged and clutched her stomach as the potion Dobby had slipped into her drink at Merlin’s request began to take effect. Her skin morphed into the slimy green scales of a toad. Snickers began to break out among the students. They only grew louder when her eyes became yellow and bulbous. She opened her mouth to scream and a croak came out.
“Who did this to me?” she demanded, still croaking.
The hall burst into laughter. Even the Slytherins were cackling. Professor McGonagall had a hand pressed to her mouth, her shoulders shaking with silent mirth even as she fought to keep her expression stern. Professor Flitwick had literally ducked under the table and even Snape seemed amused as Umbridge continued to screech, or croak, rather, in fury.
“Calm down, Dolores,” Dumbledore, the only teacher who looked at all calm, said soothingly. “I’m sure Severus can find you an antidote.”
Snape did not look particularly inclined to do so. In fact, if the slight lift of his brow was anything to go by, he’d rather let her stay a toad, but he nodded nonetheless. He picked up the goblet gingerly between two fingers and examined it carefully. He pulled something out of his pocket and dipped it in the liquid before examining it closely. Whatever the result was, it caused him to frown slightly. Snape shot Merlin a surreptitious glance. The warlock nodded discreetly. A smirk flitted across the potion master’s face before he quickly banished it.
“I am not sure that I can,” Snape said smoothly. “I have never seen a potion like this, though you have my word that I will try.”
“I want the person responsible for this found immediately!” Umbridge croaked, waving her hands, which were now webbed, about. “I want them suitably punished. How dare they do something like this to a teacher!”
I didn’t do it to a teacher, I did it to a ministry stooge.
McGonagall having finally gotten control of herself, turned to glare at Fred and George.
“It wasn’t us!” they shouted indignantly.
“Of course not,” she said skeptically. “Unfortunately, I don’t believe that. A word in my office, Messers Weasley.”
Dumbledore raised a hand to stop her. “I do not think that will be necessary, Minerva. Talented as pranksters though they are, I doubt that Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley could brew this potion. It is rather complex.”
“They could have bought it!” screeched Umbridge.
“I doubt that, Madam Umbridge. In fact, I doubt we will find the culprit at all.”
Dumbledore glanced toward Merlin as he spoke. The warlock stared back unabashedly. If the headmaster wasn’t going to do something to stop Umbridge, then he would. It was that simple.
Seeming to realize that Dumbledore knew perfectly well who the culprit was, McGonagall glared at him for a moment before turning to the students and dismissing them briskly.
“That was brilliant!” Ron cheered under the cover of the cacophony created by the students leaving the hall. “How did you do that?”
Merlin smirked. “That would be telling.”
“At least tell me that Snape won’t be able to find an antidote,” Ron pleaded.
“There isn’t one, as far as I know. It’ll have to wear off on it’s own.”
“And how long will that be?”
“Couple of days, maybe a week at most.”
“Brilliant,” Ron grinned, causing Hermione to roll her eyes.
“That was very irresponsible. Just think what she might do to you if she caught you!”
Merlin arched an eyebrow. “I assume she’d make me write more lines.”
“Exactly!”
“We will definitely be combining our efforts to drive that toad right out of the school,” Fred said enthusiastically, completely ignoring Hermione, who glared at him in disapproval. Perhaps I should warn them of what detention with Umbridge entails,
the warlock mused.
“That is, if a great pranking master like yourself will deign to help us,” teased George.
“It would be my pleasure. Three heads are better than one, after all, especially when it comes to set up. Kilgharrah will be so disappointed he missed this. Maybe I should let him help next time.”
“Your dragon likes to prank?” asked Harry.
Merlin shrugged. “Not really. But he does have a sense of humor and he’s got a thing for making sure people get their just desserts, not to mention the fact that he’s taken a particular disliking to Umbridge. In fact, it’s a good thing I convinced him not to come to detention with me. I think he might have burnt her to a crisp right then.”
“Should have let him,” Harry grumbled.
“I’m beginning to think the same,” Merlin admitted.
“Do you think we could have the recipe for that potion?” asked George. “It would be a big hit as another prank candy.”
“I’m not sure,” Merlin said slowly. He’d created the potion himself and there were several ingredients that had fallen out of use years ago. It even required a healthy does of Old Magic to work properly. “It’s a bit difficult to explain and some of the ingredients are hard to come by. I’ll see if I can tweak it so that you can use it and so that it wears off more quickly.”
“Wicked,” the twins coursed. “See you later.”
“Come on,” said Hermione, giving Merlin a disapproving look, “we’d better get going, if she’s inspecting Binns’s class we don’t want to be late.”
***
The day was an absolute disaster. History of Magic was once more dead dull, Potions wasn’t too horrible, but neither was it pleasant and Umbridge had shone up to audit Trelawney. Merlin had actually felt sorry for the old fraud by the end of the lesson. Umbridge had asked her to make a prediction on the spot. Not even Morgana, one of the most powerful seers ever born, could have done that. Of course Trelawney had tried. She’d then proceeded to predict Harry’s death again and had tried to convince Merlin that he was never going to amount to anything. He’d felt a bit less sympathy for her after that.
The only bright spot had been that Umbridge still looked like a toad.
Defense had been particularly horrible. Before they had entered the classroom, Merlin had pulled Harry aside.
“You know full well she’s going to attempt to rile you up, just as she did last week,” he’d hissed. “For the love of Avalon, don’t give her the satisfaction. Keep your mouth shut. Just ignore anything she says.”
Harry had nodded slowly and Merlin had foolishly believed that he’d would behave himself. He hadn’t.
The class had started off much the same as the one previous week had. Hermione refused to read the book and challenged Umbridge when she noticed. It had been going rather well, Hermione had been unfailingly polite and logical, until Umbridge took points from Gryffindor and complimented Quirrell for being the only teacher to stick to Ministry approved lessons. Harry hadn’t been able to stop himself and had earned another week’s worth of detentions for reminding everyone that Quirrell had had Voldemort sticking out of his head.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m speaking in the Old Tongue and simply not noticing for all the good it does me, Merlin grumbled when they left class. He marched up to Harry, grabbed the back of his robes, and dragged him into an empty classroom. Ron and Hermione scurried after them. Without bothering to hide the way his eyes flashed, he slammed the door shut and warded it so strongly that no one was going to be able to get in.
“Are you bloody stupid?” he demanded, rounding on Harry. “You’re playing right into her hands!”
Harry glared at him. “What do you expect me to do? Am I supposed to just sit there while she insults Cedric and tries to tell us that the man with Voldemort attached to his soul is a better teacher than Lupin?”
“Yes!”
“You’re mad,” Harry spat. He strode past Merlin and tried to wrench open the door. It didn’t budge.
“Let me out.”
Merlin crossed his arms. “Not until you listen.”
Growling under his breath, Harry pulled out his wand. Merlin watched him try everything from alohomora to bombarda in grim amusement. After a moment, Hermione joined in as well. Merlin suspected that she was little bit curious about what spell he had used and that she didn’t want Harry to start cursing people, mainly Merlin.
“How did you manage to cast a spell so powerful without a wand or an incantation?” she asked.
He regarded her calmly for a moment. “I’m a Druid. The kind of magic I most naturally use doesn’t require a wand and I generally use non-verbals.”
Ron snorted. “That’s impossible. Every one knows the Druids died out.”
“We didn’t,” said Merlin crossly. “There are only a few of us left. Most of the people who call themselves Druids don’t even use the Old Magics. They practice some of the rituals, though they rarely get them right, and live in the forest. I am one of the few true Druids left. I can trace my ancestry all the way back to Camelot. The spells I use have been handed down through my family since the time of Merlin.”
He fought madly not to laugh at the half-truths he was telling. When you knew all the facts, it was rather funny.
“If that’s true then what are you doing at Hogwarts? Surely you don’t need an education here,” asked Hermione shrewdly.
Merlin chuckled. “You’d be surprised. There are many spells that you learn here that a Druid never would, but you’d be right in saying that that I really don’t need the education. The ministry has refused to acknowledge that there are still some Druids left for centuries. When I approached Dumbledore about wanting to help fight Voldemort, we had to come up with a plausible excuse for why the Ministry had no record of me. Thus the childhood illness and parents who travelled the world were created to explain my lock of documented history.”
“Why lie to the Order?”
Hermione really was clever, Merlin had to give her that. She was asking all the right questions. “That was Dumbledore’s decision. He thought it best that as few people as possible knew who I really was.”
“If you’re going to lie to the Order, then why tell us the truth?” demanded Harry.
“Because I’m supposed to be helping you lot,” Merlin cried in exasperation. “Voldemort is after you and the Ministry is trying to discredit you. I thought you might like another person on your side, but you don’t trust me.”
“Your story never added up,” Harry muttered. “You kept doing things you shouldn’t be able to do. I saw you heal your hand after that first detention.”
Merlin glowered at him. “There was nothing wrong with my story. Everyone else believed it. You just happen to have an over developed ability to sense whether people are being truthful. It’s very annoyi--” He stopped short. “I didn’t heal my hand after detention.”
Matching Merlin’s glare, Harry said, “Yes you did. While we were walking back to the common room, you ran your left hand over the back of your right hand like you trying to sooth the irritation. It glowed and the irritation was gone.”
“I didn’t do that on purpose,” Merlin muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He’d thought he was managing to balance keeping a tight grip on his magic and leaving it open enough to allow him to sense the wards and any possible threats to the school. If he was healing himself unconsciously, then he wasn’t being as successful as he’d thought.
“Just how powerful are you?” asked Ron. “‘Cause my dad said that some of the oldest spells were from Druids, that even you lot needed them.”
“We do, but a lot of our magic is instinctual as well,” Merlin said, hoping that would be enough to put the matter to rest.
Harry scowled suddenly. “Are you actually here to learn or is it to keep tabs on me?”
It took every ounce of self control Merlin had learned over the centuries not to wince. He’d seen enough over the past months to know how much Harry hated being coddled and watched. He would have to chose his words carefully.
“Looking out for you was my idea and it wasn’t my intention until I realized what the MInistry was doing. I know what it’s like to feel like everyone hates you, like you’re under attack. I really am here to learn, I just thought I might try to help out while I’m at it.”
“You have no idea what it’s like to have to listen to people like Umbridge tell you that you’re a liar just because the Ministry doesn’t want to admit that Voldemort is back,” Harry spat bitterly.
“No, I don’t know what it’s like to be in that particular situation,” Merlin said softly. “I was born in a place where magic was banned on pain of death. Anyone caught using it, anyone even suspected of having magic, was executed without hesitation. I spent years listening to my best friend tell me why magic was evil even as I used it secret to save his life. I watched innocents die. My entire childhood was spent hearing that I was a monster. No one knew that I had magic, but I heard enough people express that opinion of those with magic that the point got across. Two and a half decades I spent keeping my mouth shut because it kept me alive so that I could help others. So no, I don’t know exactly what you’re going through. But I know enough to be able to say that if you think mouthing off to Umbridge is going to help, then you are an idiot of phenomenal proportions.”
The golden trio gaped at him. The raw pain and sorrow he still felt when he thought about those early years in Camelot had laced every word. Blinking away tears, Hermione crossed the room and pulled Merlin into a hug.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
He returned the embrace for a moment. “Thank you.”
Ron looked shaken. “I thought places like that were gone.”
“It was a long time ago,” Merlin sighed. “Eventually, things changed, and magic was welcomed. I don’t mean to boast, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that I kept my peace and was able to remain friends with a very important man. I was able to discreetly teach him things that the rabble rousers couldn’t.”
He looked Harry in the eye. “I’m not saying that you should lay down and let Umbridge and the Ministry say whatever they want. You do have to fight back, but you have to pick your battles. Do you have any idea how much satisfaction you’re giving her by shouting in class? I’ve said it before and I will say it again, you are playing into her hands and making yourself look like a volatile teenager who’s just acting up.”
“So what do I do then? If I don’t stand up for myself, if I don’t tell the truth, then what do I do?”
“I never said you don’t tell the truth. Just don’t engage in shouting matches in Defense class.”
“He’s got a point,” said Hermione thoughtfully. “If you become the model student, then Umbridge won’t have any reason to single you. That leaves you free to do all sorts of things in the evenings and outside of class.”
Merlin nodded. “Exactly. Do you remember what I said this morning about guerilla warfare? We’re a small and comparatively powerless group fighting much more influential individuals. You don’t win that kind of a fight by charging in headfirst.”
“You know, Hermione and I were talking about this a bit the other day,” Ron said slowly. “What if we started a study group sort of thing. We’re not learning anything in Defense and I bet plenty of people would want to come, in only to pass their exams.”
Hermione beamed. “That’s brilliant. You could teach us, Myrddin.”
“No, no I can’t,” he said quickly.
“But you know more than any of us,” she protested.
“About Druidic magic, not about your normal, everyday magic,” he lied. He could teach the seventh years without any problems, but they weren’t supposed to know that. “I could maybe teach a couple of lessons on Druidic magic, but I couldn’t teach everything.”
“Then who?” asked Ron.
Hermione immediately rounded on Harry. His eyes widened and he backed away from her.
“Are you mad? I can’t teach! If anyone is qualified, it’s you. You’re the best in our year!”
“Not in Defense,” Hermione said calmly. “Every time you’ve actually sat the test, you’ve beaten me and think about all the things you’ve done!”
“I haven’t done anything--” he began hotly.
“Let’s see,” interrupted Ron, screwing up his face in an imitation of Goyle thinking. “First year you got past all the enchantments and saved the sorcerer’s stone from You-Know-Who --”
“I’d have never made it without you two--
“Second year you killed the basilisk and saved Ginny--”
“Only because of Fawkes--”
Ron continued, getting steadily louder as he did. “Third year, you saved Sirius from the dementors--”
“That never would have happened without the time turner--”
“Last year,” Ron said, louder still, “you fought You-Know-Who--”
“WOULD YOU LISTEN!” Harry shouted.
Ron and Hermione looked at him in shock.
“You have no idea,” he said, shaking slightly. “It sounds great when you say it like that, but it was all just luck. Half the time, I didn’t know what I was doing. I was making it up as I went and I almost always had help. I’m not brilliant at Defense or anything like that. It’s not about memorizing spells. I’m not cleverer than Cedric and he died. You have no idea what it’s like to face him.”
“We know Harry,” Hermione said. “We really do. That’s why you need to be the one to teach us. We need to know what it’s like to face V-v-voldermort.”
Harry’s anger faded into stunned shock. That was the first time Hermione had ever said Voldemort’s name and it made him realize just how serious she was being.
Merlin walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Of the students in this school, you and I are the only ones who truly know what it means to be in battle, to fight for our lives and you are the only one to have faced Voldemort. You are the only one who can teach all of us what it’s like to fight him. Just think about it. They have a right to know.”
He nodded mutely. Relief washed through Merlin.
“Now that all of this is out of the way, I think we should be going before anyone notices that we are missing.” He waved his hand and the door swung open. Hermione gasped slightly, actually noticing this time that his eyes had glowed.
That’s one problem sorted, Merlin sighed. Only a million more to go.
Next: Chapter 9