HP/Merlin Crossover: Intrigue (3/?)
Title: Intrigue [Merlin/Harry Potter crossover] (3/?)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Harry, Hermione
Spoilers: Harry Potter ~ takes place about three years after the final battle
Merlin ~ A week after “Le Morte D'Arthur” (Series 1 finale)
Disclaimer: The show “Merlin” is property of the BBC. Harry Potter is the property of Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling. No money being made.
Summary: Arthur and Merlin, unwittingly, go forward in time and they find themselves in the wizarding world. In the wizarding world, Merlin is god. But, what he doesn't know is that there's a secret hiding in plain sight. And it's about to be unraveled.
Chapter 3: Merlin finds out more about what his future holds and discovers that there is a mystery involving him. He also meets someone who turns out to be a familiar face. Harry and Hermione do some damage control...well, sort of.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
~ * ~
That night, Merlin couldn’t fall asleep. Sitting up in bed, he looked around the room. Despite the room being a spare room, he saw portraits hung up on the walls.
And if his eyes weren’t deceiving him, the people within the portraits were moving. He figured with this world being what it was - the wizarding world - that pictures coming alive like this were not unusual. And, most likely, were a result of magic.
How this world was so inherently magical still left him in awe. He almost wished to stay here. But Merlin knew that no matter how enticing the possibilities of this place were, Camelot was his home. And at some point (once they figured out how to get back), Arthur and him had to go.
And it was only a matter of time before Merlin would be forced to reveal the truth of his magic to Arthur. The nature of this place, this world, did not allow Merlin the chance to delay telling Arthur the truth about his magical abilities.
If they ventured out into the wizarding world, Arthur needed to know about him. If wizards automatically uttered Merlin’s name (or ‘Merlin’s beard’ as Hermione had exclaimed upon first seeing him and Arthur) as if his name was an equivalent to ‘gods’, then how could Arthur not question it? And not wonder why everyone seemed to know Merlin’s name without being properly introduced to him?
Sure, Merlin didn’t fear so much for how Arthur would react. At least as long as they were here - in the wizarding world where Merlin was regarded as an important figure - then certainly, Arthur wouldn’t be given the opportunity to take the secret badly. And if he didn’t take it well, then Merlin was certain Harry would make Arthur rue the day he was born.
No, what concerned Merlin was that it wasn’t fair to Arthur to have the secret thrust upon him now - a magic reveal that he would be forced to accept due to his unfamiliar and jarring surroundings. There would be no room for condemnation. Arthur had been taught to hate all those who performed magic - seeing them as evil as his father executed any sorcerers deemed a threat to Camelot. And here Arthur and Merlin were - seeking shelter from a wizard and depending on his good will.
The real problem lay in how Arthur would take the knowledge of Merlin’s magic once they returned to Camelot. Would Arthur turn his back on him and condemn Merlin - proving that whatever acceptance he may have had in the wizarding world had been only temporary?
Arthur would need to be told tomorrow morning about the magical nature of their hosts. Merlin wouldn’t have been surprised if Arthur had figured it out already. If there were enchanted portraits in Arthur’s temporary room such as those in Merlin’s room, then surely the prince would put two and two together.
And the prince would have little choice but to accept his current circumstances and Merlin’s (future) place in the wizarding world.
After all, while Harry would be considered an enemy to anti-magic Camelot; the wizard was giving them a place to stay despite Merlin and Arthur being trespassers on his property -- no matter how unintentional it was. Merlin wondered if Harry was the kind of person to kick someone out of his home. He hadn’t seen enough of him - Hermione even less and she was intoxicated anyway, so that didn’t help - to accurately judge Harry’s character.
Merlin was certain about one thing. The prince was definitely not the type of person to take things passively - surely, he would do something to complicate the situation especially in this strange, unknown place. Merlin could understand it if Arthur would feel trapped here - not sure how to handle the situation as he was left with little power to control his current predicament.
Either way, in the here and now, Arthur would have set aside his negative views on magic for the sake of appeasing those who were granting them hospitality.
Curiosity getting the best of him, Merlin climbed out of bed to have a closer look at the portraits. The framed pictures were grouped in threes and decorated each of the four walls.
He found it rather awkward to see some of the portraits of himself gracing the walls. Remembering that Harry had called this place, “Emrys Manor”, Merlin didn’t feel too surprised at the focus of the pictures. After all, Emrys was one of his many names for some reason that Merlin did not understand yet. He made a note to himself to ask Harry why the manor was given such a name. Was Harry connected to him in some way? Or did he just inherit this manor through family and the manor was already named so Harry didn’t see the need in changing it?
Well, Merlin supposed, it was easily explained away as having a connection to his role in the wizarding world. It was not too far out of the realm of possibility for wizards to use his name in such a way.
Below each of the moving pictures, there were different years attributed to the time that the picture was taken.
Merlin wasn’t sure how it was possible that a picture of him could be taken in the early 18th century and then another picture of him (looking only a little older than the one from 1707) dated in the later 19th century. From 1707 to 1895. It was inconceivable that he would have lived that long and remain relatively unaged. Unless…he was - would be? -- immortal? Or he had been reborn somehow?
One picture caught his eye. Merlin thought it was out of place since the subjects of the picture were two flying birds. One was a Merlin bird - a small falcon -- and the other was a much smaller bird of a species that Merlin couldn’t identify.
He read the inscription below the picture and it told him what he needed to know:
1970
Merlin transfigured into a Merlin bird with the Lady Morgana transformed into a Green Violetear hummingbird.
And then as Merlin continued to look at the picture, he saw the birds land back on the ground. A moment later, they shifted shape and Merlin saw himself and Morgana in the picture. The two of them didn’t look much older than Merlin was now. The pair whispered to each other before they walked out of the frame without sparing a glance toward Merlin.
Another picture that drew his curiosity was one of a woman sitting in a rocking chair with a baby in her arms. She smiled down at the child as the chair rocked back and forth, lulling the child to sleep. The sunlight came through the window and cast its golden shadow over the pair. Tiny balls of blue light floated about in the air - clearly, being held up by magic.
Merlin was startled to find that the woman looked so much like Gwen. Reading the details below the picture, he was even more mystified.
The inscription said:
1760
Merlin as a young babe being tended to by his nurse, Guinevere.
Now he was absolutely certain that reincarnation was the explanation to the span of years - and also the fact that, apparently, Gwen was holding him -Merlin. He was the baby in the picture - and to further support his theory, the picture had been done in 1760. And it had to have been him producing the balls of light. Though, Merlin was surprised that he could perform such a trick while still so young.
Gwen started humming a lullaby to the baby, and the balls of light seemed to move in tune to the rhythm of the song.
He watched for a few moments - himself almost entranced by the movement of the tiny balls of light.
And then, he heard a voice from a location he couldn’t quite determine.
“Hello there.”
Merlin turned around sharply at hearing the unfamiliar voice.
“Who said that?” He inquired.
“Over here, dear, to your right. The picture of Rowena Ravenclaw or rather, well, me,” He could hear her give a soft chuckle.
Merlin found his way to her picture. Rowena Ravenclaw, as she had called herself, was a brunette woman with a no-nonsense look about her though she held a friendly demeanor as well. She wore a regal deep blue gown and her dark hair was pinned back, a few loose curls from her wavy hair escaping the pin to fall upon her cheeks. The intelligence shone through in her brown eyes. She wasn’t a beauty by any standards, but by the way she carried herself in the picture, Merlin could not help but be enchanted by her.
“You must be Merlin? The very first, I presume?” She asked, smiling pleasantly at him. She moved an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
“Yes. How do you know that?”
She waved her hand. “Oh, there are pictures all over Emrys Manor. We are prone to exchange information when something rather exciting happens. You’ve noticed how people are able to leave their pictures?”
Merlin nodded.
“Well, that is how we move from picture to picture. It would be a right misery if we were bound to our original pictures, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Rowena suddenly exclaimed. “I should introduce myself properly. I’m one of the Hogwarts - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- founders. The House of Ravenclaw is my house at the school. It is where all the cleverest students go. ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure’ -- only the brightest will do.”
“Hogwarts is a school for those who practice magic, I’m assuming?”
“Yes, of course,” she confirmed to him. Then she smiled warmly at him. “You know, I have met you before. One of your earlier reincarnations, of course, as Hogwarts was founded centuries ago - in the late tenth century.”
“So, I somehow mastered the art of reincarnation? That’s why all the dates of the pictures are so scattered…” He mused, everything clicking into place.
Rowena nodded. “Quite right. Though you were not alone. As you can see there are others who reincarnated as well. I’m sure they are familiar to you?”
“Yes, Morgana…and Gwen? Although I’m not at all sure why Gwen is acting as my nurse in that one picture. She’s Morgana’s maidservant back in Camelot,” Merlin wondered in confusion. He hoped Rowena could provide him with an answer.
“Oh, Merlin, reincarnation is a flighty magic. People can take on different roles like the matter with Guinevere. It just so happened that she looked after you in that particular reincarnation.”
“Why is she looking after me then? Shouldn’t my mother be doing that?” Merlin asked. Then an unpleasant thought came to mind. What if in that reincarnation - his mother was dead? Merlin couldn’t bear the thought.
Merlin was surprised at the disapproving look upon on Rowena’s face at his question. She spoke resolutely, “First, I must make myself clear. I don’t condone the ridiculous antics of the wizarding world at large. Complete madness, you understand,” she sniffed and sat down in the ornate chair behind her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your mother was very much alive and well in that reincarnation of yours - 1760, was it? And your mother cared for you a great deal - that has never changed no matter what. The wizarding world knew about your ability to reincarnate, you see. Wizards were assigned to track you - to find out when you would be reincarnated, when you would be reborn. And then, without fail, they took you, soon after you were born, along with your family and firmly ensconced you within the wizarding world--”
Merlin interrupted her. He wondered why he hadn’t been reborn within the wizarding world in the first place? Wouldn’t that simplify matters so that they didn’t have to resort to such drastic measures?
“Why wasn’t I reborn in the wizarding world then? That would have made the situation easier.”
Rowena appeared startled by the question as if this was the first time such a possibility was brought to her attention. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure if you were to talk to a reincarnated Merlin, then he would give you the answer you seek. Although…” She paused, looking thoughtful. And then she continued on, “There has been speculation as to why Merlin is reborn within the muggle world. You can imagine how some wizards were greatly frustrated that you didn’t try to insure a rebirth within our world - where you would be under the wizarding world’s protection. Still, it is all gossip and rumors in the end. Better to seek out a reincarnation of yourself.”
“Do you know where he may be? My reincarnation?”
She shook her head sadly. “No, unfortunately I do not. No one has been able to find Merlin. It is rather odd, actually.”
Merlin decided to save that piece of information for later. There had to be someone who knew where his reincarnated self was. Or maybe this was the reason why he had been compelled to enter that portal? Maybe he was meant to assist in solving this mystery? Although where Arthur came into all this, Merlin wasn’t sure. Still, he was grateful that Arthur had come with him. Merlin didn’t know what he would have done if he didn’t have a friend by his side - someone who was just as lost as he was trying to navigate these completely unfamiliar surroundings.
With this calming thought in mind, Merlin turned his attention back to Rowena who was still speaking.
“--placed you in our world, there came certain expectations. One such expectation was that you would be cared for by a nurse while your mother took on the roles of lady of the house. It is quite reminiscent to how aristocratic pureblood children are raised.”
“Pureblood?” Merlin questioned.
“Children who have two magical parents. Typically, an aristocratic wizarding family’s heritage stretches centuries back. These families enjoy boasting about how there is not one drop of muggle - non-magical - blood in their family history. The thought that there was a muggle relative - it would be scandalous! I personally think this practice is uncalled for and only breeds hate amongst wizards. But the fact of the matter is that you were treated like royalty - nothing but the best for the greatest wizard of all time. Well, let me just say, I’m certain that some wizards are perfectly comfortable in kidnapping you if your parents don’t consent to the move,” She finished, shaking her head.
Merlin was feeling terribly overwhelmed. Yes, he had previously been told that he was like a god to the wizarding world, but for wizards to be assigned to find him in every reincarnation; it was mind-numbing. Why was it so important that they take him away? True, Rowena had said he and his family were treated well and all, but why couldn’t the wizarding world simply let Merlin be? Live his life without their intervention?
“Why is this done?” He asked. “Why do they track me?”
Rowena sat up straighter, her eyes blazing. She looked displeased. “Every reincarnation, once you are of age, you are expected to provide the wisdom, the advice that the wizarding government needs to run effectively. As if they can’t think for themselves and they depend on you to do it for them!”
“But…wait, that means I remember all my past lives? Because I don’t think I could provide much sage advice if I only recall the life I’m currently in.”
“Yes, that’s right. Oh, I apologize for not mentioning that. I’m sure you’re very puzzled by all this. You look so very young. Is King Arthur a prince in your time?”
“Yes, he is. Does,” Merlin paused, unsure he should even ask because he was afraid of the answer. He hadn’t seen Arthur in any of the pictures in this room. Gwen was portrayed in a picture yet Arthur, who was likewise not magically-inclined, was nowhere to be seen in any of the moving pictures. That definitely didn’t bode well. “Does Arthur reincarnate as well? He’s not in the pictures here.”
She smiled kindly at him. “Oh yes, King Arthur reincarnates. You usually reunite with him once you come of age, though sometimes earlier. Any picture depicting King Arthur is not present in this room, unfortunately, but I have visited him in the portraits displayed in other rooms in the manor. If you would like to see him, there are a few pictures in Mr. Potter’s room. Hopefully that will satisfy your curiosity. Although, a word of caution - watch out for the “Riding Party” portrait. The subjects tend to be a little too enthusiastic.”
“Who is in the “Riding Party” picture?”
“People you know well, I’m sure, dear. King Arthur, you, Lady Morgana, Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere--”
He interrupted her quickly, holding up his hand. “Wait - how is Gwen Queen? She’s barely interacted with Arthur in the year I’ve been in Camelot. How is that possible?”
“You will find out in time,” Rowena told him simply.
Merlin sighed, rubbing his forehead. “All right. It’s jarring, that’s all, but I can sort of see it.”
“Of course, my dear. Guinevere was - will be an excellent Queen. That can not be denied,” she assured him. “But, as I said, the riding party picture with the five of you is exceptionally exuberant. It’s a rather priceless picture since it was taken during the days of Camelot and before the reincarnations began. The five of you are riding on horses in a friendly race. It is only a matter of time before you see them racing through a picture - so absorbed in the race that they have little concern for any people they might be disturbing.”
And as if to prove her point, a group of people on horseback entered Rowena’s picture. The horses were spurred onward. And then they were out of the picture - making their way around Merlin’s room via the other pictures before they were gone from the room completely.
Merlin could just make out the riders. Rowena had been right - it was definitely the five of them. A smile tugged upon his lips at seeing him riding alongside Arthur and seeing the prince - well, King, he amended, at that time - laughing as he raced, his cheeks tinged red from the activity. Morgana had been on Merlin’s other side while Gwen and Lancelot rode behind them.
“Do you see? I’m almost positive that they do not sleep! They just race all day and all night.”
Merlin shrugged. He found that he didn’t mind much at all.
Just then, he heard the door to his room click open. A blonde girl around Harry and Hermione’s age, maybe a little younger, entered his room looking for all the world as if she belonged there.
Before Merlin could demand that she tell him who she was, Rowena greeted the girl. “Ah, Lady Morgana. How nice to see you. I trust you wish to speak to Merlin?”
Morgana? This blonde girl was Morgana? Merlin was understandably surprised since the girl’s rather unique appearance didn’t fit with the Morgana that Merlin knew. She had long, dirty blonde hair and her eyes were grey. She was wearing bright blue tights with a dark blue skirt over it and a fitted long pink coat completed the eccentric dress. She also wore a cork necklace and strawberry earrings, which Merlin was positive, looked like real strawberries.
The blonde smiled at Merlin before turning back to the picture of Rowena. “I do hope you haven’t told him the Sorting story. I know how smug you are on that matter.”
Rowena looked affronted. She put her hand over her chest in dismay. “Why I never! I most certainly am not smug!”
Though Merlin could see Rowena smiling, looking all together very pleased with herself.
“What is this about?” Merlin asked, looking at the two of them.
The blonde girl shook her head, chuckling. “Oh, it’s nothing, Merlin. Maybe Rowena will tell you later. She certainly enjoyed talking with you, I’m sure. Isn’t that right, Rowena?”
Rowena looked like she had been caught red-handed. She spoke defensively though. “Oh honestly! I’m quite tired. I bid you goodnight.”
And with that, she stood up and walked away from them. Merlin could see a bed in the distance.
After Rowena’s departure, Merlin turned to the blonde girl - still in disbelief that this could be a reincarnation of Morgana.
“You’re really Morgana?”
She nodded at him. “A reincarnation, yes. I go by Luna Lovegood here. It would be best to address me as Luna while you’re here.”
“Can you prove to me that you’re her? You don’t look like her at all…I would feel better with actual proof.”
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry about that. It’s not often that our appearances are drastically altered from our original looks - such as how you look now. I’ll shift back to how you see me, but I can only do it briefly. The current reincarnation bounces back rather quickly. Watch, okay?”
Merlin nodded, his eyes trained on her.
She closed her eyes and whispered a few words to herself before her appearance changed.
And the Morgana that Merlin knew well was now before him. She was even wearing a silk blue dress that Merlin had seen her in often. Her dark hair flowed behind her and her green eyes were bright when she gave him a small smile.
Then she changed appearance and she was the blonde girl, Luna, once again.
Merlin nodded at her. “All right then. One last thing - if you’re truly Morgana, tell me what you said to me about magic when we were looking after the druid boy?”
“That was ages ago for me, you realize! What happened before you came here? What significant event?”
“The Questing Beast incident was only a week ago.”
Luna shook her head. “That is a long time ago. But I believe I remember the words. I’ll tell you if it will appease you.”
“It would help.”
“I told you, “What if magic isn’t something you choose, what if it chooses you?” Is that helpful?”
He nodded, accepting her answer. He decided to trust her - he knew for certain that the possibility of reincarnation was very real. After all, just seeing the dates on the pictures proved that point to him. And then Rowena, who had told him she had met reincarnations of himself, had addressed this girl as Morgana - surely it wasn’t foolish to trust that this truly was a reincarnation of Morgana? Rowena seemed like a person to be trusted - she had helped to found a school after all. That didn’t spell a person who set out to trick others. So with this logic, Merlin set his mind at ease.
Luna sat down on the bed and she crossed her legs so she sat in a sort of meditative position.
He sat down beside her. He decided to speak first. “In my time, you don’t know about your magical abilities. You just have visions of the future.”
Luna looked over at him. “Well, as you can see, I find out at some point. Something to look forward to,” she gave him a wry smile.
“Morgana--”
“Luna, if you could. Better start practicing or else you’ll slip up in public and then we’ll have a problem.”
“All right, Luna then. Rowena told me that no one can find my current reincarnation. Do you know where he might be?”
Luna shook her head - a little too quickly in Merlin’s opinion. “No, I don’t. To the best of my knowledge, I’m the only one who remembers Camelot and my true identity.”
“You’re lying to me. I know you are. You’re not looking at me. Tell me the truth.”
“I see no reason to. I don’t see you knowing this as terribly important…” She said breezily.
“Please just tell me. Please, Luna. Maybe the future me will know how to send Arthur and me back home.”
“I could help you with that, Merlin. No need to involve Merlin - although, I suppose, it would be much safer if I had his magical support to send you and Arthur back to Camelot.”
Merlin only gave her an impatient look. “Well?”
“The reason why I came to see you, Merlin, is to offer my assistance to you. I thought you might appreciate a familiar face who also knew this time and place rather well. So if you could not pressure me here, I’d appreciate it.”
But Merlin refused to back down. “You know where this reincarnated Merlin is, don’t you?”
She looked at him for what seemed like a long time. Then she gave a small nod. “Yes, I do.”
“Does he remember everything?”
She nodded again. “Despite attempts to the contrary, but Merlin - no matter which reincarnation - will always remember himself. It’s just the way it is.”
“Can I meet him?” Merlin asked her, though he knew he was pressing his luck.
To his surprise, Luna laughed in response. “Oh, that’s funny. I don’t know what to say to that.”
“What is so funny about it?”
She shrugged. To Merlin’s frustration, Luna abruptly changed the subject. “Anyway, you best make sure that you tell Arthur about your magic. Since Arthur is in the same predicament with you, then he needs to know about me and how I can help. And the three of us can not have a proper talk until he knows about your magical abilities.”
“There’s no way out of this, is there?”
“No, unfortunately not. In this world, it’ll be that much harder to hide your true identity from Arthur. It is better to get it out of the way sooner rather than later.”
Merlin sighed, resigned to what he had to do. “All right. I’ll tell him.”
Luna smiled at him. She stood up. “Well, I best be going. I do feel rather bad about sneaking in like this. I’m sure Harry will forgive me.”
And then she walked to the door, which agitated Merlin because she hadn’t told him what he really wanted to know.
“Luna, wait! Why can’t you tell me where Merlin is?”
She turned back to him and said solemnly, “Because Merlin told me not to tell anyone. I did not want to betray his trust. Friends don’t do that, you understand. I’m sorry if that’s the last thing you wish to hear, but it is the truth.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t press you anymore.”
“Thank you, Merlin. It was a pleasure seeing you.”
And Luna left the room quietly, shutting the door softly behind her.
~ * ~
The next morning:
“You did what?” Hermione uttered in disbelief.
Harry quickly said a spell to stop her cup of tea from falling to the ground. He really should have waited until after she had set the cup down. The cup froze before it could touch the floor and shatter. Hermione huffed and she grabbed the cup and set it on the counter. She looked to her friend expectantly.
Harry sat up on the kitchen counter and he tried to explain himself.
“Honestly, Hermione. It was just an accident. And anyway, I’m sure that Merlin will get a clue soon enough and change his name below him. Arthur won’t suspect a thing.”
She shook her head. Tying her hair back into ponytail, she said resolutely, “I need to see it with my own eyes. I can’t believe that you placed Arthur in a room with a picture of Merlin.”
Harry shrugged. “Do you even know how many pictures we have of Merlin in this manor? Gathering dust in the attic?” He waved his hand as if to express his point. “It’s extraordinary enough that Arthur’s room only had ONE picture of him. For the record, I didn’t know that Arthur had no idea of Merlin’s magic until after I gave Arthur a room to stay in. What should I have done - come up with an excuse for why he couldn’t stay there? It was late, I was tired!” He spoke defensively.
Hermione seemed to surrender then. “Fine, you may have a point.”
“And anyway, he’s an old man in that picture. Not exactly the image of Merlin that Arthur would be expecting…”
Still, Hermione dragged Harry along with her to Arthur’s room.
“We’re going to wake him.”
“You - be quiet! And I do plan to discuss your appalling behavior toward Arthur later. Don’t think I won’t forget.”
“I didn't expect anything less,” he replied.
“You know, I thought my days of lecturing you and Ron were over, but, oh, was I wrong!”
“Oh, Hermione. You like it, I know you like it,” he said teasingly.
She made to whack him over the head, but Harry quickly moved out of the way.
~ * ~
Once they reached Arthur’s room on the third floor, Hermione told Harry that he was in charge of making sure Arthur was asleep.
Harry didn’t mind too much. The last time he had a chat with that picture of Merlin, the man took one look at Harry and started laughing so hard that tears were coming out of his eyes.
And actually, that last time was the one and only time Harry had talked to him. He certainly wasn’t gunning for a repeat performance. Although, Hermione did try to make him feel better and say that Merlin was still a bit tipsy from a rather lively party in that feast picture on the fourth floor. How Hermione seemed to know more about this manor than even Harry himself who owned this manor - through the Potter inheritance - was rather puzzling. But Hermione did absorb knowledge like a sponge - she was honestly like a walking encyclopedia.
They entered the room and divided up. Hermione headed to the portrait of Merlin while Harry went toward the bed. He could see that Arthur was still very much asleep.
Who wouldn’t be after traveling through time like that? That definitely took a toll on a person especially when one wasn’t expecting the trip in the first place.
Harry grabbed the one chair and moved it beside the bed. He sat down on it and contemplated whether he should poke Arthur with his wand.
In the end, he nonverbally summoned one of his books on Quidditch to him and he skimmed through the text.
~ * ~
Hermione looked below the picture and she almost couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Mermaid? You changed it to mermaid?”
The Merlin in the picture only looked at her with a bemused expression on his face as he stroked his beard. While his face did not look old or especially wrinkled, his hair was snow white and he was sporting a long beard the likes of Albus Dumbledore. Hermione knew that Merlin could change his appearance, and though he was not immortal and instead died to be reborn again, he could not grow old - his features and sprightliness didn’t appropriately reflect his age. But to appease the wizarding world, he had to put up a persona of wisdom in which people would respect him more easily. And well, children were always taught to respect their elders after all…
“Purely accidental, you understand. No one told me Arthur would be staying here. And a most clueless one at that. Find my shock to come back to my portrait and find him in this room! I had just been at a party at Morgana’s. It was not the best timing, you see. Be grateful I had enough presence of mind to change it at all!”
“Yes, but mermaid?”
“Oh, I suppose you could do better then! Can you believe that, Arthur?” Merlin directed his question behind him.
Hermione was not too surprised to find Arthur lying on the bed behind Merlin. He clearly looked to be nursing a hangover.
“Shut up, Merlin. My head hurts. Gods!” He retorted.
He grabbed a pillow and covered his face with it, moaning in discontent.
Merlin turned back to Hermione. “I should get him that hangover potion. Is there anything else you need to ask me?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t condone your actions, you do know that,” Merlin expressed firmly to her.
“Yes, I do know,” Hermione told him, rubbing her forehead in consternation. “Goodbye, Merlin.”
Merlin nodded at her and he headed over to Arthur.
Hermione went to Harry and told him that they should go. Arthur could wake up soon.
~ * ~
Chapter 4