"You have magic...?" Arthur stared at Merlin; his manservant; his supposed 'best friend.' Merlin grimly nodded, noting that the expression on Arthur's face was disbelief, and hurt, no, betrayal. Merlin fidgeted with his fingers before Arthur angrily pointed to the door. "Leave, I don't ever want to see your face in Camelot again. If I do, I'll kill you, Sorcerer."

Merlin's hands trembled, and he battled the urge to cry, until anger started boiling in his blood. "I would follow you to the ends of the Earth, take a silver bullet for you, I've drank poison for you! I would trade my soul to hell if only to keep you safe. And damn you if you think I used my magic for anything other than saving your ass!"

Arthur tilted his chin up, and scowled, "You're a liar. You'll never mean anything, not to Camelot, and not to me. You'll always mean and be nothing." Merlin clenched his fists in a mixture of rage and anguish. "You see? That's the problem. I mean nothing to you, but you mean everything to me." Merlin turned on his heels, and left, making sure to slam the door on the way out.

Merlin grabbed his things, and left, making sure to leave a heartfelt note to Gaius. After storming through the woods until he was well out of Camelot, he found himself calming down, sort of. He gently brought a shaky hand up to his face, and touched the tears streaming down his face. He'd done it, and he'd lost. Some Once and Future King he was.

He sat down on a log, and took a deep breath. After he calmed down slightly, he fell asleep, with one final thought, 'I wish I wasn't born like this.'
-
Merlin awoke in the castle, but it looked newer. The part he was in, he couldn't recall, but he noted it was familiar. He sat up, and took in his surroundings. There was red flags hanging from the ceiling with lions on them. The room was warm, and coated in the colors red and gold. Merlin nearly jumped when he found a small boy with circular glasses staring at him.

Merlin examined the boy before realization hit him. "Are you me?" Merlin questioned and the boy looked at him as if her were absurd. He pulled his knees to his chest and pushed his glasses up his face. "My name is Harry, Harry Potter." Merlin knew the only way he was going to be able to tell if this boy was him was by checking his ankle for a little scar that he had in every time line.

"Do you have a scar of your left ankle? Shaped like a lightning bolt?" Harry furrowed his brows, "No?" Merlin sighed out in relief. "I have one on my forehead though." Merlin groaned, "This may sound crazy to a... child such as yourself..." Harry raised a brow, "I'm eleven, and I've lived a life with no magic for my entire life, and just recently have I been thrown into a world of magic... Try me." "...I'm you, or rather, you're me but were from different time lines."

"I'm you? Is it strange seeing yourself as me?" He asked, tilting his head. Merlin put his head and face in his hands. "I don't know why I'm here." Harry looked thoughtful, "Wait are you from the myth of King Arthur and his knights of the round table?" He questioned finally. Merlin nodded skeptically.

"Oh, then your being here must have something to do with Arthur. Now," the boy got comfortable. "Tell me what happened." Merlin sighed, and told him of the hatred of magic and how Arthur had banished him from Camelot in a fit of anger, or perhaps hatred. "Do you blame Arthur for your being here?" Harry asked thoughtfully. Merlin hesitantly shook his head as no.

Harry pursed his lips, "And are you suppressing any feelings for him?" He asked, and studied Merlin's face. "Uh, maybe a little, but I could never tell him, he's a prince, you know?" Harry looked sheepish. "Do all of your friends have a replica in a different timeline such as yourself?" Merlin nodded. "Do you think you could come with me to my classes today, and maybe point out who my Arthur is?"

Merlin looked lost in thought before he sighed and nodded. "I guess it won't hurt anything." The two shared a smile, "Great, classes start in ten minutes, I'll be right back." The boy left quicky, and came back in gaunty black robes, and a handful of air, well kinda, his hands were gone. "This is an invisibility cloak. You will have to stay hidden, but feel free to follow me to all my classes. I'll give you breakfast. My friends will be down to meet you in a moment."

A girl with frizzy hair was the first to arrive, and he quickly recognized her as Gwen. "Oh you're Gwen's counterpart." The girl slowly nodded, looking disbeliving. After talking for a bit, she looked more comfortable with the idea. Next to arrive was a pale redheaded boy who looked at the girl and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry I'm late," he started before he saw Merlin. "Bloody hell, I thought he was messin' with us." Merlin stifled a laugh and decided that his boy was either Gawain or Lancelot, and judging by the sneaky look he sent Hermione, he decided it was the latter. "You're Lancelot's counterpart, you are." Ron shrugged, seemingly not knowing who that was.
-
Merlin watched all the inneractions Harry had throughout the day, underneath the safety of his cloak. He decided, that though Snape was a rough man, he was clearly Gauis' counterpart, and that Arthur's counterpart was an eleven year old blonde who was as much of a prat as he himself. He went by the name Draco, which struck Merlin oddly. It did mean dragon after all.

And then he found Morgana's counterpart, a snide little girl named Pansy. He didn't like her. After all the classes, all four of them left for some place called the Room of Requirement. Hermione questioned him on who all he saw, but he made sure to leave the Draco being Arthur out. When she left for the library, Ron followed her like a lovestruck puppy.

Harry looked down, shoulders slumped and face sad. "I figured you wouldn't want them to know who your Arthur is." Harry's face lit up excitedly. "You mean you know?" Merlin nodded, "I think he's more a prat in your world than mine and that's saying something, believe me. Draco I think his name was."

Harry looked horrified and his shoulders slumped yet again. " I was worried you would say that." Merlin nodded and sighed. "Do you think I'm here because I did the impossible and died the death of an immortal being?" Merlin asked suddenly. "Immortal? You're immortal?" Merlin shrugged, "Supposedly, but I think I'm here because I died."

Harry shook his head, "What's it like?" Merlin frowned, "It's scary, being immortal is knowing you're going to be the last one standing. I'll have to watch my friends die around me." Harry shook his head, "Not being immortal. I was asking about dying, what's it like?"

Merlin sighed and tried really hard to remember. "It's painful. Unlike any pain youve ever felt before, and any pain you will ever feel. It's cold but it burns, you're scared and lonely. It's all you're worst fears and nightmares coming to life and destroying your mind, your heart, and your soul. It's sad. It really hurts."

Harry nodded thoughtfully before smiling gently; sadly. "You're not really dead are you?" Merlin shook his head slowly. Harry frowned, "Sometimes I wish it had been me that died, and not my parents." Merlin gently sat a hand on the boys head and ruffled his hair. "Don't be like that, you need to love yourself. Don't blame yourself."

Harry looked up at him, "Do you blame yourself for what happened?" Merlins shoulders slumped, "I do." Harry nodded, "Then that's why you're here. You're here because you don't love yourself, and we were meant to tell each other it's going to be alright."

Merlin blinked in surprise, "You're right, I think." Harry beamed up at him, and the two shared a small hug. "I understand what I need to do, but after this, you won't remember me. To you this will be a dream, and I'll be forgotten in your world." Harry looked sad, but nodded solemnly.

Merlin grabbed a notebook and scribbled something furiously before kissing the boys forehead. "When you wake up, this will be beside you. Remember that even the most powerful people are easily hurt. You are strong. In your world it is possible. Take your Arthur for yourself."

Before Merlin could leave, Harry grabbed him by his jacket. "Your Arthur isn't out of reach. Do your best, Emrys." Merlin and Harry shared one last smile before Merlin thought, 'I'm glad I was born like this.'
-
Merlin awoke, and his dark blue eyes met with the sky blue kingdom that lived in the eyes of Arthur Pendragon. "Oh my god, Merlin!" His arms wrapped around him, and pulled him up, hugging him tightly to his chest. "I thought you were dead. I'm so sorry. I never should have said that, I promise I'll make magic okay again."

Before Merlin could reply the Prince's lips met his. When they broke apart Arthur pressed their foreheads together, "Merlin," he cleared his throat his cheeks turning pink. "I love- I would love it if you came back to Camelot." Merlin smiled, "I would follow you til the ends of the Earth," he smashed their lips together again. When the two pulled apart, Merlin smiled and brushed Arthur's left jaw gently, "I love you... Prat." Arthur laughed, "I love you too, Dollophead."
-
Harry had been sneaking glances at the blonde haired Slyterin, ever since he'd woken up with a letter from him in a different time line. He was known as Merlin and Emrys. So many names. And Draco was his king, his Once and Future King, his supposedly happily ever after.

Draco stopped him in the hallway after their potions class, and instead of sneering like usual he looked slightly concerned. Harry told his friends to go on, and the two shared a knowing look before leaving. "Potter, is something wrong?" Draco winced at how sympathetic he sounded, but brushed it off anyways.

Harry bit his lip, " I regret deying your friendship, but I'm actually hoping for something more..." Harry twiddled his thumbs and Draco's face turned a brilliant shade of red. "O-oh.. yes. Uh of course. Allow me?" The two hesitantly exited the hallway to the cafeteria hand in hand.