The Great and Unfortunate: Chapter 3 - The Prince of Enchanters
Story Title - The Great and Unfortunate (ffn link)
Story Description - Rowena will stop at nothing to teach the exceptionally-skilled Merlin how to properly harness and use his powers, even if he is Salazar’s student. Meanwhile, Salazar’s hatred for muggle-borns only grows, and Merlin’s skills as a parselmouth, as well as his loyalty to Slytherin house, gives way to the development of a gruesome plan.
Story Rating - teen (T)
Story Characters - Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Merlin, Morgana le Fay, Cliodna, Sir Cadogan, Arthur Pendragon
Story Pairings - Salazar/Rowena, Merlin/Morgana, Merlin/Cliodna
Chapter - 3) The Prince of Enchanters
"Tell me, Merlin: what do you know about Charms?" Rowena asked as she slowly paced around the room.
Merlin stood in the middle of the stone room and fought the urge to turn around like a dog chasing its tail. There was something distracting about the way Rowena was circling him. "Nothing, I s'pose," he replied.
"You suppose?" she questioned.
Nervousness washed over Merlin like a tempest. He felt like prey, and Rowena seemed to be the predator eagle on the Ravenclaw crest. There was something about the noblewoman that unnerved Merlin and made him question every word he said. He had never before felt so frustrated with himself.
However, as he thought about all this, he realized that it forced him to improve on his weaknesses.
"I dun' - do not - know anything 'bo - about - Charms, Lady Rowena," Merlin stuttered.
"But you said that your father taught you how to levitate objects," she reminded. Her blue robes came into his peripheral vision, swishing like ocean waves.
"Yes, that he did," Merlin confirmed. "Is that a Charm?"
"Indeed. The Levitation Spell," Rowena answered as she came to a stop in front of Merlin. "Can you tell me the incantation?"
"Levioso," Merlin replied. "Emphasis on the first 'o.'"
"Levitate that goblet over there," Rowena ordered, pointing to a table behind Merlin. "Try not to spill the wine, of course."
Merlin whirled around and settled his gaze on the silver goblet. He walked up to the table it was resting on and looked at it for a moment, painting a portrait of it in his mind. He closed his eyes, imagined the cup rising into the air, thought the incantation, and, finally, tapped the goblet with his wand. When he opened his eyes, the goblet was levitating just above his head.
He turned around to face Rowena and awaited her response. She merely stared back at him with her mouth slightly agape and her eyes wide.
"Did you - did you do that non-verbally?" she asked incredulously.
Merlin nodded. "Was I not s'posed ta?" he asked nervously.
"No, no, I just..." she trailed off, her gaze moving to the goblet, which was still levitating in the air. She swished her own wand and set the goblet back on the table before turning back to Merlin. "I did not expect you to be able to perform non-verbal magic."
"I can only do it for this spell, Lady Rowena," he replied.
"That is still very advanced magic, Merlin," she said. "No matter. We will have to focus on more difficult Charms."
Merlin felt the same nervousness wash over him. More difficult? That did not sound very good to him.
No. Steel yourself. Something told Merlin that Rowena appreciated people that took on challenges, people that attempted to conquer all. Moreover, the young boy did not want to run anymore. Not like he did on the day the wandless wizard took away his parents.
"No Charm will be too difficult," Merlin declared confidently.
A surprised smile graced her features. "Go to the other end of the room, and summon the goblet from there," she ordered. "The incantation is accio, and the wine is yours if you can keep it all in the goblet by the time it reaches you."
It was late when Merlin returned to the Slytherin House dungeons. His stomach grumbled - an irritating and familiar reminder that he skipped both lunch and supper - and he swayed from side to side as he walked, possibly due to the goblet of wine he had earned himself.
When he opened the door to the room he shared with the other wizards, he was immediately enveloped in darkness. Not a moment later, though, Merlin heard a hushed, "Lumos," and got momentarily blinded by a soft light.
"Declare yourself!" one of the boys shouted.
"Merlin. And keep quiet," Merlin answered.
The wand lowered to reveal its owner - Arcturus. He had a confused frown on his face. "You disappeared after lessons," he said observantly.
The corner of Merlin's mouth twitched with a sardonic reply, but he had quickly learned that Arcturus Black was better as an acquaintance than an enemy. "Yes, I s'pose I did," Merlin replied as he strode towards his bed.
"Where did you go?" Arcturus asked.
Merlin heard the groan of another boy, along with the ruffle of sheets as he sat up. "Wha's wif the noise?" a muffled voice asked.
"Merlin has been going on solitary escapades through the castle," Arcturus explained. "I am asking about his adventures."
"I was only summoned by Lady Rowena," Merlin replied bitingly. He did not want the Black boy spreading untrue rumours.
"What she want?" the groggy voice asked. Merlin thought it may have been Diodorus.
Merlin changed into his nightgown and slipped under his sheets before coldly answering, "Nothing."
"It could not have been nothing," Arcturus whined. "Father says that Lady Rowena is a man in a woman's body, that if any witch should be burned at the stake it is her."
Merlin ground his teeth to keep himself from jumping at Arcturus's throat. "She is trying to find out who my parents were," he lied.
"Who were they?"
"I do not know yet."
"Oh, but you must - "
"Good night, Arcturus."
Merlin pulled his sheets over his head and hoped that the other boy would take that as a sign to keep his mouth shut. He was not sure why, but the smugness and overconfidence of Arcturus Black had irritated Merlin from the first time he heard him talk. Perhaps it was his wealth, or the way he paraded it, but something about the heir to the Black fortune caused a tingling sensation to run through Merlin's fingers.
The same sensation he felt when he had used a jinx on that dead rat.
Helga kept a protective arm around the young girl's shoulders as she guided her through the darkened castle. She hoped that her three colleagues would not be too irritated about being awoken in the eerie morning by her Patronus, for she desperately needed them to be in the best of sprits for the matter at hand.
She had found the girl wandering the cold Highlands alone, ropes still binding her wrists together. Helga could not fathom leaving her, even if she knew the risk of bringing a complete stranger to Hogwarts, especially when the school was still so young.
But she could not just leave her.
"Dawdling in Dreams," Helga muttered to the gargoyle leading to the Headmaster's Office. It spun to reveal the spiral staircase leading to what used to be the study of Lord Roderick Ravenclaw.
When Helga arrived, Godric, Rowena, and Salazar were already waiting. Godric had made a poor attempt at appearing well-rested, and Rowena stood next to his desk with her lips in a taut line, dark circles under her eyes. Salazar stood on the other side of his desk, a permanent scowl gracing his features.
All three gaped when they caught sight of the girl in Helga's arms.
"You must allow me to talk, and not interrupt me," Helga started.
Godric nodded and waved his hand, although he seemed none too happy about the request.
Helga took a deep breath before diving into her explanation. "This is Tolly. I found her on the outskirts of the castle grounds. She claims to have escaped a burning at the stake because her parents are a witch and wizard. Tolly, unfortunately, is a Squib."
"What?" Salazar bellowed.
"I am not finished!" Helga shouted. The mere occurrence of the kind Welsh woman shouting was enough to silence him. "We must care for her, somehow. There must be some use for her in the castle."
"Filth like her is the reason we have these obscene muggle-born wizards, Helga!" Salazar shouted. "Why would you bring her here?"
"Because she's not filth, Salazar - she's just a girl, and she'll be burned at the stake just for being in a magical family," Helga explained patiently. "Has your blackened heart finally crumbled?"
"You drive me mad, do you know that?" he seethed in reply.
"It was rather reckless to bring her here," Godric said. "You cannot be sure that she is telling the truth."
"Look at her, Godric!" Helga pleaded. "She is frightened, cold, and helpless. We must help her."
Rowena sighed and looked at the young girl. She could not be any older than sixteen, and her mousy brown hair was thin and matted. She had streaks of mud all over her face and body.
"I wish to hear from her," Rowena decided. "What do you have to say for yourself, Tolly?"
"I - I dun wish ta cause trouble, Your Ladyship," she stuttered. "I can leave, Your Ladyship."
"Do you wish to leave?" Rowena asked.
"Rowena, surely, you cannot be considering this!" Salazar exclaimed.
"You forget that this is my castle, Salazar," Rowena replied airily. "So, Tolly? Do you wish to leave?"
"Tru'fully, n - nay, Your Ladyship," Tolly muttered. "I can help, I can! I's very talent'd at sewin' and cleanin' and I can cook barley bread easy 'nough."
"I am unsure of this, Rowena," Godric commented.
"And would you rather I throw her back out into the cold?" Helga retorted.
"No," Rowena answered. "Tolly, you will stay here, at Hogwarts Castle, under a few conditions. You must help clean the castle, as well as aid the house elves in the kitchens. You will be sleeping in the kitchens - we can place a cot there for you."
"Rowena," Salzar started as he strode around the back of Godric's desk to stand next to her. "Do not do this. She does not belong. She is a Squib."
"Salazar, you would do well to remember that anyone can be a Squib," Rowena replied icily. "You could have been one, your children may be Squibs... do not tempt Fate."
"This school will go to pieces if we let all of this filthy blood taint it!" Salazar exclaimed, his gaze moving to Godric. "We need wizards and witches like ourselves."
"We are not educating her," Helga said with a roll of her eyes. "We are simply housing her. Is a good deed beyond your comprehension, Salazar?"
"Do not make me out to be the villain, Helga," Salazar seethed.
"You make yourself out to be as whatever you wish to be, Salazar."
After two weeks of practicing the Summoning Charm with Rowena, Merlin could non-verbally summon a table from the other side of the castle.
Declaring the Summoning Charm more or less mastered, Rowena moved on to teach him its counter - the Banishing Charm.
"The incantation for this Charm is depulso," Rowena explained. "Place emphasis on the 'u.' To start, try to just send it away from you. Once you have that mastered, we will work on banishing objects to specified locations."
Rowena turned to a cushion resting on the only table in the room. She swept her wand in front of it, her gaze unfaltering, and the cushion went flying out the door. After a few seconds, she summoned the cushion back into the room and turned to Merlin with a proud smile.
"Now you try," she commanded.
"Lady Rowena, may I ask how these spells will help me win a duel?" Merlin asked. "You said tha' - that Charms would be an easier way of winning duels."
"They are," Rowena replied. "These are the simplest Charms - you cannot build a house from the roof down, Merlin. And, of course, this particular set of Charms will allow you to summon a weapon or banish an enemy's weapon. Do not fret - we will learn more useful Charms, but only when the time comes."
Merlin nodded in understanding and turned towards the cushion to work on the Banishing Charm. The Charm came easily when he had its counter mastered. All that he required was to imagine the exact opposite.
Rowena observed the boy as he banished and summoned the cushion repeatedly. Each time, the cushion flew a little farther away from him. She thought there was something endearing about his determination.
No, not endearing... powerful.
Merlin's determination had a severe edge of potency. This was a bittersweet revelation for Rowena.
The bitterness was due to the fact that he was Salazar's pupil, and not hers.
"The boy is incredible. Not only for a wizard of his age - for a wizard of any age!"
Godric raised his eyebrows skeptically and turned to Salazar. "Can you confirm this?" he asked. "He is your student, after all."
"Merlin performs as expected in my lessons," Salazar answered. "He can perform each jinx just as well as the next wizard of his age. Perhaps he catches on a little faster than most, but the strength of the jinxes he performs is not of particular note."
"Perhaps jinxes are a waste of his talent," Rowena suggested bitingly. "He excels at Charms."
"Jealousy is unbecoming of you, Rowena," Salazar replied in a venomous tone.
Rowena's eyes fluttered shut and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. When she opened her eyes, she fixed Godric with a determined stare and said, "He could be a master enchanter if I had the opportunity to teach him more, Godric. However, it is quite difficult when this can only be done in private lessons in the evenings."
"What are you suggesting, Rowena?" Godric asked.
"That Merlin is to be moved to the house of Ravenclaw," Rowena replied.
"Are you raving mad?" Salazar bellowed.
"Salazar!" Helga scolded with a mortified glare. She turned to Rowena with a huff. "Do you not remember what I told you about Merlin, Rowena?"
"Of course I do, but - "
"Then leave this matter well alone," Helga interrupted sternly.
Rowena turned to Godric with a helpless expression. "Godric, surely, you must understand."
"If I am to be honest," Godric started, "I do not believe you should be giving him special lessons at all."
"What?" Rowena exclaimed.
"I am glad you see it my way, old friend," Salazar said with a pleased smirk.
"Do not mistake me, Rowena," Godric said. "I understand that the boy is gifted in Charms, but he is Salazar's student and it is therefore up to Salazar to educate him. I do not want students believing that we practice favouritism at Hogwarts."
"It is not favouritism - "
"It is," Godric interrupted.
"Salazar will never teach him the Charms I intend to!" Rowena exclaimed.
"Oh, he will learn the Patronus Charm, eventually," Salazar commented dismissively, "but why waste time learning the Baubillious Charm when one can simply use a Blasting Curse?"
"How can we unlock the potency of our students if your 'old friend' is so stubbornly ingrained in his ways?" Rowena asked challengingly.
Salazar observed his colleague with a sense of victory. Rowena had always been excessively competitive and hubristic, and he revelled in the joy of seeing her so flustered by the mere fact that the situation did not model her desires. He had tried once, in their youth, to teach her how cunning could get her anything she wanted, but the proud Ravenclaw had dismissed his efforts.
It seemed that the past was punishing her, and Salazar could not be more pleased.
"Very well, Rowena, I will try to appease you," Godric said, pulling Salazar out of his musings, "if only so you may quiet yourself."
"How do you plan to appease me, Godric?" Rowena asked icily.
Godric smirked. "Well, if you were any other woman, I would gladly show you."
"Your chivalry is astounding," Rowena snarled sardonically.
The corners of Godric's mouth twitched, his smirk faltering for a moment, and Salazar could not help but think that his friend was ill-prepared to handle Rowena's temper. "If you so deeply desire to teach Merlin, then you must offer these lessons to every student," Godric started, "and the rest of us must do the same."
Any traces of joy on Salazar's face immediately disappeared. "I must be hearing incorrectly, Godric," he snapped.
"No, you are not," Godric said pointedly. "You will provide your lessons in Potions and that Dark Magic you insist on teaching to the rest of the students if they so wish to learn. All of us will teach our specialties to every student. Of course, our own students will be required to attend our lessons, but the rest of the day would be up to their desires."
"How do you plan to organize this, Godric?" Helga asked.
"Each of us will teach the students of our house for two hours every morning," Godric explained. "After that, we teach another house for two hours. For example, I will teach Rowena's students, Helga could teach Salazar's students, Rowena may teach my students, and Salazar may teach Helga's students. Then we repeat this twice more for the other two houses of students we have yet to teach. Simple enough?"
"This is not necessary, Godric," Salazar commented.
"I understand that you think your lessons are sufficient, but - "
"No," Salazar interrupted sharply. "I merely do not wish to teach the mudbloods. Why is it that every single time we are in this room, you all seem to be defending the scum under our boots?"
"Salazar, we have discussed this at great length," Godric said sternly. "If a man has magic, he is a wizard. That is the end of that."
"The whole point of these houses - "
"Was to appease your picky nature," Rowena interrupted coldly.
"I think I am the only one justified in calling people picky," Helga commented as she gave Rowena a pointed stare. She turned to Godric and said, "You, as well, are exceptionally idealistic in your selection."
"Idealistic? I would hardly - "
"Godric, please," Helga interrupted. "All of you make me sick to my stomach. Our goal was to educate wizards and witches, not to exclude them because of their origins and personalities. I quite like this plan, as I am quite certain that none of you would ever teach your students a damned thing about magical plants and animals."
"What would be the use?" Salazar muttered.
"Ask me that the next time you borrow dittany for your foolishly earned injuries," Helga snapped as she glared at the dark-haired man.
"Helga is right," Rowena said quietly. "We must rely on each other to make up for our shortcomings, even if we do not wish to admit that they exist."
"Very well," Godric agreed with a nod. "I will make the announcement to the students when we are breaking our fast tomorrow."
Helga smiled gratefully at Rowena. "Now then, would anyone like some honeyed wine?"
Merlin stood up without a moment's hesitation as soon as Salazar declared the lesson of the day over.
Ever since Godric's announcement that students could learn from the other professors, Merlin had been eager to explore the facets of magic left untouched by Salazar and Rowena. After lessons with Salazar, the students of Slytherin House could learn from Helga Hufflepuff. According to her quick description in the morning, she taught of the many uses and properties of magical plants, as well as the taming of magical animals.
Most of the students in Slytherin House scoffed at Helga's introduction, which Merlin found strange. Surely, they were in the school to learn. What would they learn by scoffing at new ideas?
Whatever the answer was to that question, it was beyond Merlin's understanding. He yearned to learn more, to master more magic.
As Merlin reached the ground floor of the castle, he stopped in his tracks. Students were milling about the entrance hall, creating an entangling crowd of people trying to find their way. Suddenly, a blonde boy in scarlet robes appeared in front of Merlin.
"Good morning!" he greeted cheerily. "You are Merlin, correct? The boy that can speak to snakes?"
Merlin simply nodded and returned to searching the crowd for a way out of the castle and outside. Helga's lessons were often held on the edge of the forest on the castle grounds.
"My name is Cadogan Lynch," the boy continued. "I was selected by Gryffindor, you see. That's why my robes are scarlet!"
Merlin looked back at the boy. "That's impressive," he said monotonously.
"You should meet my friends!" Cadogan exclaimed. He turned to the crowd and waved his arms frantically while shouting, "Mabon! Aldreda!"
A few seconds later, two people appeared at his side. One was a tall and lanky redhead with a very freckled face and brown eyes. The other was a short girl with short, frizzy brown hair and scars on the skin of her tanned face. Her grey eyes were almost milky in contrast to her brown skin.
"This is Mabon Weasley," Cadogan introduced. "He is a muggle-born - very hard for them out in the real world, you know?" He paused and turned to the girl. "This is Aldreda Mercer. She is a half-blood."
Merlin nodded at them kindly, but his eyes remained focused on the girl. "Yer the one that cut off the thief's arms. That true?" he asked.
Aldreda shrugged and answered, "I hacked at the bone a few times, and then gave up. So not really true."
Merlin felt a combined surge of fear and admiration. And maybe a bit of jealousy. He wished that he had had that much courage when his parents were in danger.
"I should introduce you to some of the Hufflepuff House students," Cadogan decided as he grabbed Merlin's arm and led him into the now dispersing crowd of people.
"I really mus' get to Lady Helga's lessons," Merlin said.
"Nonsense - this will only take a moment," Cadogan replied before coming to an abrupt stop in front of two boys in yellow robes. Pointing to the one with long red hair and the beginnings of a moustache, he said, "This is Hengist Abbot, and this," he moved his hand towards the other boy, shorter and with black hair, "is Aeron Longbottom."
"Nice ta meetcha, Merlin!" Aeron greeted.
"Cadogan, I've got mah lessons," Merlin grumbled as he wrestled his arm out of the boy's grip. He forced a smile at Aeron and Hengist, "'Twas nice meetin' ya, too."
Merlin turned to leave the castle, but Cadogan followed right behind him. Once he caught up with the dark-haired student of Slytherin House, he said, "We should spend time together, Merlin. I think we would be great friends."
"Do you not have other lessons to get to?" Merlin asked irritatingly.
"Just Lady Rowena's lessons," Cadogan said dismissively. "She will not mind if I am late."
He will be in for quite the surprise, Merlin thought to himself with a trace of amusement.
"So, what do you say to my proposition?" Cadogan asked as the two came to a stop at the edge of the forest. "We could be great friends, Merlin."
Merlin nodded, if only to appease the boy. "Quite the plan," he said.
"Fantastic! Have a great lesson, Merlin!"
Cadogan turned to run back towards the castles, his robes billowing behind him. The boy nearly ran straight into Lady Helga as she was heading for the forest, but the woman did not seem offended. She merely laughed jovially and waved at the boy as he continued to run past.
Merlin did not know what to think of Helga's immense kindness. It was comforting, and it was she that he had to thank for bringing him to Hogwarts, but he found it difficult to see the benefit in being so optimistic and jovial. She was a soft-spoken woman, and it was a wonder that no one had taken advantage of those two particular traits - amiability and femininity.
Then again, being a powerful witch probably helped.
Once she reached the edge of the forest, Merlin realized that there was only one other Slytherin House student attending Helga's lesson - Merwyn Yates. The boy was very unnerving for Merlin, and so he tried to avoid being around him. It seemed, however, that it could not be avoided in that instance.
"Very well," Helga started cheerfully, seemingly unfazed by the small audience. "Let us begin with a lesson on dittany."