Snape was pissed. He knew Quirrell was after the Stone. That was much obvious after he cut off his path there on Halloween night. The bumbling fool tried to play it off, but Snape could see through his guise. The issue was that he didn't have any proof. Dumbledore, never a quick man of action, wouldn't do anything without evidence to back it up. So, Snape decided to go another route.

He tried to convince Quirrell that he wanted the stone as well and attempted to intimidate the man into joining with him. That would have been proof enough, but alas, it didn't work.

"Severus, my dear boy, what brings you here?" Dumbledore asked as Snape barged into his office.

"You know as well as I do that Quirrell is the one after the Stone, yet you do nothing."

"Nothing, you say? On the contrary, Severus, I am waiting patiently," he said simply.

"Waiting for what exactly?" Snape seethed.

"To catch him in the act, of course. Say we confront him now. Do you honestly think he would just turn on Voldemort?"

Snape let out a huff and threw himself down on a chair. He knew the headmaster was right, but he didn't admit it. Snape had too much pride for that.

"We both know that Voldemort is out there," Dumbledore continued. "The Potters were able to weaken him greatly, but not kill him completely. The rest of the wizarding world believes differently. If we play this right, we can change that.

"Catch Quirrell in the act, and we have irrefutable proof for his arrest. We get the right aurors, the right judge, the right reporter, and a looming threat of Azkaban, then we can get him to flip. With Voldemort's continued survival exposed, we will be one step closer to defeating him for good."

Snape thought it over. The old man was a master manipulator. He learned that soon after he joined his side, although he rarely ever was allowed to see the whole plan.

"Do you really believe that could work?" Snape asked.

"Have faith in me, Severus."

Hermione was beginning to drive Merlin mad. Now, Merlin would be the first to tell you about how much he loved magic and learning new things about it, but Hermione's rigorous study schedules and color-coded notes were certainly taking the enjoyment away.

Merlin wandered away from the table where he, Hermione, and Ron sat to get a reprieve. He was meandering through the stacks when he came across Hagrid sifting through a shelf of books. He looked very out of place in his moleskin overcoat.

"Hey, Hagrid," Merlin said, apparently starting the man since he jumped about a foot, the book in his large hand falling to the floor.

"Oh, Morgan, it's just you," Hagrid said, clutching his chest.

"Sorry about that," Merlin said, quickly bending down and picking up the book Hagrid had dropped. A closer look at the cover revealed that it was about dragons.

Merlin's heart skipped a beat. Dragons. A day after he arrived here from his time, he tried to call out for Kilgharrah but to no avail. It made sense. The dragon was already old in Merlin's time, so it was no wonder that he wouldn't still be around now. Merlin never even considered that there would be other dragons. How could there be more dragons if Merlin was the last and only Dragonlord that could hatch them? Something incredible began to build up inside him.

"Hagrid," Merlin said excitedly, handing the book to him, "do you know a lot about dragons?"

"I, uh," Hagrid said flustered, taking the book back. "Wait… Are you interested in dragons?"

Merlin nodded his head vigorously. That seems to be the right answer to Hagrid. The gamekeeper stood up straighter, a smile forming on his lips.

"I know a great deal 'bout dragons!" he proclaimed. "In fact…" Hagrid looked around, making sure no one nearby could eavesdrop before leaning down closer to Merlin. "Come by my hut in a bit, and I'll have a real treat for yeh."

An hour later, Merlin knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's hut. He had tried to slip out of the library unnoticed by his friends, but that didn't work out as he had hoped. So, both Hermione and Ron stood on either side of him. The three of them were confused to see that all the curtains were closed.

Hagrid called, "who is it?" before he let them in and shut the door quickly behind.

It was stifling hot inside. Even though it was such a warm day, there was a blazing fire in the grate. Hagrid made them tea and stoke sandwiches, which they refused.

"So, you two are interested in leanin' about dragons too, aren't yeh?" Hagrid said.

"My brother, Charlie, works with dragons in Romania," Ron piped up.

Hagrid let out a laugh. "I remember Charlie. Such a good lad."

"So, there are lots of dragons still alive?" Merlin asked.

Ron answered before Hagrid, having learned a lot about dragons from his brother. Whether is was by his own interest or just being told by an over enthusiastic brother, Merlin didn't know.

"Loads!" Ron said. "And there are so many different kinds. You should really hear Charlie. He talks on and on about them."

Merlin tilted his head in confusion. "How can there be so many dragons? Can't they only be born with the help of a Dragonlord?"

"Dragonlord?" both Hermione and Ron said at the same time.

Hagrid finally sat down at the table in the seat opposite of Merlin. He squinted his eyes and rubbed his beard.

"Now that's a term you hardly hear. No one 'cept only a few people now even know that word, 'specially what they are. How do you know about them?"

Merlin's mouth went dry. He didn't know what to say and ended up mumbling out something about an uncle.

"But, Hagrid," Hermione said, breaking the tension, "what is a Dragonlord?"

Hagrid took one last look at Merlin before turning towards her.

"Well, there is some debate 'bout that. No one is completely sure because they died out back in the age of Camelot. There is even some that think Merlin himself was a Dragonlord, though not everyone believes that. But, it is said that Dragonlords were somehow ken with dragons spiritually. They could command dragons."

"Like they would talk to dragons and they would understand and listen to them?" Ron asked, practically jumping out of his seat.

"Yeah," Hagrid said. "And the dragons that yer thinking about, Morgan, are probably the Great Dragons. They are a close cousin to the dragons still around today. Went extent with the Dragonlords, they did. It is said that the Great Dragons were smart creatures. Could even talk."

"Wicked," Ron said.

"Hagrid," Hermione said again. "What happened to the Great Dragons and Dragonlords?"

"They were all killed," he said bluntly, standing back up, "Killed in the Great Purge."

"I've ready about the Great Purge," she said. "But wait, you said Merlin was a Dragonlord. He didn't live until after that."

"That's why I said not everyone believes it. People disagree if he was one or not."

Merlin thought everything over. The dragons today were not the kind he was used to. He suspected that they were similar to wyverns. As a Dragonlord, he still had a connection with wyverns and probably with the newer dragons as well. He wouldn't know until he actually encountered one, though.

Merlin's hopes had fallen. He was so excited to hear that dragons were still around. Then reality crushed him. He didn't know how to feel. Emptiness began to seep in.

The emptiness didn't leave Merlin for the next few days, and people noticed that something had changed with him. But just like Merlin, they didn't know what to do about it.

"Mr. Emrys," McGonagall said as he was packing up his things to leave Transfiguration with the other students. "I would like a word with you before you leave."

Merlin looked up to her then over to Ron next to him.

"We'll wait for you in the hall," he said, Hermione nodding along.

As the others left, he followed McGonagall to her office, sitting in the offered chair.

"Biscuit?" she asked.

Merlin turned it down. She was put off a bit but quickly recovered and sat down across from him.

"I'm going to tell you plainly," she said. "It has not escaped my, or the other professor's, attention that something has been plaguing you recently. Now, I know that this year has been difficult for you. You've had some ups and downs since coming to Hogwarts. For the longest time, it seemed that things were going well. However, it is obvious that it has taken a turn for the worst. What happened?"

Merlin avoided looking her in the eye. To be honest with himself, he didn't entirely know what was wrong with him. He had been making progress. He was healing only to be knocked back down with no clear path to climb back up. It wasn't something he could express in words, though. So, all he did was shrug.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "That is not answer," she said standing up. She walked around the desk and crouched down in front of Merlin, trying to catch his downcast eyes.

"Believe it or not, I care about you," she said. "And there are others that care about you too. We want to help, but you have to let us, do you understand."

Tear began welling up in Merlin's eyes. He tried in vain to keep them at bay.

"Just talk to me," she whispered.

"I don't know how to," he admitted.

She pulled him into a tight hug as he broke down.

He didn't go to classes for the rest of the day. Instead, he sat and talked with McGonagall. At first it was about random, nothing too personal, things like how he liked each of the classes he was taking. Overtime, the professor kept trying to steer the conversation towards figuring out what was giving Merlin problems.

Eventually, she wore Merlin down into opening up. She had such an openly honest way of expressing her care and a motherly demeaner that accompanied it.

He confessed how much he was still missing his home, and how he would be getting better then something would jump out at him and steal away his progress. He talked about the empty feeling inside that would not go away. He let slip the pressure he felt for having such a huge responsibility. He told her that he didn't think he had it in him, and that he was a failure.

He could tell that McGonagall was struggling to process it all, but she was trying her best.

"What could you feel so responsible for? You're so young. You shouldn't have to worry about anything. There are adults to help you." she said.

He tried to think or a way to explain to her how untrue that was.

"Simply put," he said. "My life is not my own. There are some things that I am required to do. I was fine with it before, but, at times, I don't think I can go on with it anymore. It's gotten to be too much."

He was pulled into another hug.

"Who is making you do what? We can protect you. You're safe here."

"I wish that were true."

Minerva's heart was breaking. In her arms was such a troubled little boy. He had opened up so much to her, but there was still so much that he wouldn't say and that she didn't understand.

Someone held power over him. Even though he had been at Hogwarts for over half a year, he was still too scared to betray that person. Minerva didn't want to consider it, but from all the talks with Albus and Severus, she was beginning to think that the theory about him working with Death Eaters, and maybe Voldemort himself, had some evidence. But, everything he knew about Morgan Emrys' character said he would never willingly follow the dark side. He had too much light in him.

That was the trouble, though. He was obviously not willing in this situation.

When their talk came to a close, it had grown late, and curfew was coming up. Both having missed dinner, she offered to have some brought to them. She wasn't surprised when he told her that he wasn't hungry.

She reminded him that her door was always open if he wanted to talk about anything again, even if it was about Quidditch and nothing else. She wanted to know that she was here for him.

He stopped at the door on his way out.

"I know your going to tell the others about all this," he said quietly, causing her to freeze. "Oh, come on, I'm not dumb. I see how you all pay special attention to me. I'm not mad with you all, but I don't want to be treated different, and I'm not a threat to anyone, even if you don't believe that."

A though popped into Minerva's head from something that he said earlier.

"Are you a threat to yourself?" she asked.

Morgan was silent for a few seconds.

"You're not going to get rid of me that easily," he said, giving her a smile that they both knew was forced. "Oh, and when you do talk to them, can you tell Snape to stop being such an ass to the student's in class? I keep telling him that, but for some reason, he doesn't take too kindly to it."

Minerva was torn between laughing and telling him to not use that type of language, but he gone.

She left a few minutes later as well. He was correct in that she was going to tell Albus and Severus. They might also need to inform the rest of the staff to keep an eye on Morgan Emrys. She worried that the sweet boy might hold a danger to other students and himself.

When Hermione wasn't fretting about exams or Merlin's behavior, she kept worrying about Hagrid's soon to be hatched dragon.

"He lives in a wooden house, and it is illegal," she would say.

Then, one breakfast time, Merlin got another note delivered by a school owl from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It's hatching.

Later that day, they hurried through the grounds to the edge of the forest. Hagrid greeted them, looking flushed and excited.

"It's nearly out." He ushered them inside.

The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in it. Something was moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from it.

Merlin had witnessed a dragon hatch before. But this was a completely different experience. The time before, he was in control of the hatching. He made it happen and generally knew how it went. This time, all he could do was draw up a chair to the table and watch with bated breath as the dragon did its own thing, no need for him.

All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. To Merlin, it was gorgeous. It was black and tiny with wings that looked huge compared to the rest of its body.

It sneezed. A couple of sparks flew out of its snout.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured to which Merlin agreed. Hagrid reached out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snapped at his fingers, showing pointed fangs.

"Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!" said Hagrid.

"Hagrid," said Hermione, "how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?"

The two of the began discussing the dragon, with Hermione insisting that it wasn't a smart decision for Hagrid to keep it. Merlin tuned the out. He was transfixed by the dragon.

Reaching out, the dragon looked like he was going to snap at his fingers as well for a second, but then it sniffed his hand instead. Merlin watched in wonder at the dragon regarded him for a moment before proceeding to step closer and rub its head along Merlin's hand.

A smile crept onto Merlin's face. He was right. He did have a connection with the newer dragons. He almost cried.

He was reminded of Aithusa, the dragon he had hatched. He had left the young hatchling with Kilgharrah, but he made a huge mistake on not checking up with them. Sometime later, Aithusa was captured and locked away in a pit that they quickly grew too large for, severely harming their growth and development.

Merlin knew Hagrid would never harm this dragon knowingly, but he certainly would not be able to properly care for it, especially in his small hut.

"Hagrid," Merlin said, effectively drawing everyone's attention to him and away from their conversation.

The gamekeeper and his two friends look absolutely stunned at the dragon that was trying to curl around Merlin's forearm.

"You know you can't properly care for this dragon, right?" he said. "She needs to be with her own kind."

Hagrid looked sadly at the small dragon, tears in his eyes.

"I know," he said finally. "But, I can' just get rid of 'er. She's too little. She'll die."

Hermione cast a sideways glance at Merlin. "How do you know it's a girl?"

Merlin just gave her a knowing look before turning to Ron.

"What if we give the dragon to your brother, Charlie? You said he works with dragons in Romania, right? He could take good care of her, and she would be surrounded by other dragons as well."

"Brilliant!" said Ron. "How about it, Hagrid?"

Hagrid agreed that they could send and owl to Charlie to ask him.

It was a very dark, cloudy night when they arrived at Hagrid's hut a week later. Charlie had gotten back to Ron and the plan was to meet some of his friends at the top of the Astronomy Tower to give them the dragon.

Hagrid had the dragon in a large cage, but Merlin was unhappy about that, immediately letting her out. Hermione was appalled.

"Morgan," she hissed. "I know you two have some kind of bond together, but be reasonable. It's going to be incredibly difficult to get the dragon to Romania with it out of the cage!"

Merlin knew her argument was logical, but he was going to try to keep the dragon out of the cage for as long as he could. He just couldn't stand it, so he tried to reason with her.

"Carrying a large cage with a dragon through the castle would be very difficult. I don't want to get caught. I can get her up to the Astronomy Tower. Then we will put her in the cage before giving her to Charlie," he argued.

They waited several minutes arguing before Merlin shrunk the cage and pocketed it. It was nearing midnight, and they needed to hurry up.

He bent down close to the dragon and said loud enough for the dragon to hear but not anyone else, "akolouthíste tin kínisí mou." When he began to walk off, the dragon followed.

"Bye bye, Norbert!" Hagrid sobbed after them. "Mummy will never forget you!"

They made it into and through the castle without any problems. Hermione led the way, far in the front, making sure their path was clear. Merlin was next in line, the dragon obediently by his side. Ron brought out the rear. He was supposed to make sure that no one could sneak up on them from behind, but Merlin noticed he just keep getting further and further away as they navigated through the castle. Ron was the weariest of the dragon out of them all.

They arrived without a hitch, and Merlin was upset to put the dragon back in the cage.

"I don't understand how you did that," Hermione said, ensuing that the cage was properly latched.

"You should get a job with Charlie when we graduate!" said Ron. "The way you bonded with that dragon, they could really use you!"

Merlin couldn't help but smile. He had truly felt at home with the dragon. He hated to see it leave, but to know that it would be treated well and cared for, he had to let her go.

Around midnight, four broomsticks came swooping down out of the darkness. Merlin helped harness the cage to two of the broomsticks. Before he knew if they were gone, but so was some of the emptiness that Merlin felt inside.

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SnowOfAWarlock