Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor Harry Potter.

A/N: It's taking a great amount of time for me to finish a series. But I'm a writer and I itch to write so I'll give you short stories instead. I think most, if not all, would belong in the same plotline. If not, I'll consider leaving a hint or something. Please leave a review if you enjoy them. ^^

Snippet One

Title: A Knight, a Witch and a Call of Magic

She's pacing again.

No surprise there. She's been doing that a lot ever since she awoke and found herself being eyed by a bloody dragon.

To think that she spent years with Harry Potter who was famous for being a magnet for the worst sorts of trouble. As if defeating Voldemort and his army of Death Eaters wasn't enough. Now, she just has to find herself stuck in ancient Camelot and befriending yet another bunch of self-sacrificing idiots.

Her magic itches to burn something, or someone, she thought as she glares at the smug looking knight blocking her exit. Of all choices to pick as her babysitter, Prince Arthur just had to pick the one she wants to hex the most.

"He's going to risk his life trying to save him again, that bloody idiot! He hasn't even recuperated from the last duel and now he jumps at the first sign of danger! Does he think he's invincible? Does he think himself incapable of being outwitted? Does he think they couldn't hurt him? Godric, an army of sorcerer, they say, and he all but run straight onto battle! And he even has the nerve to take my wand away and lock me here with you! Seriously, that blasted coward! Just he wait until I see him, then I'll show him who he's messing with!"

To his credit, Sir Gwaine is doing a fine job trying not to look fearful as a literal cloud of tension forms around her, growing darker and darker as her threats became more frightening.

He only winced once or twice or maybe thrice, but could anyone really blame him? She could give Arthur a run for his galleons. In fact, she can list the names of those who would pay just to see it. She'd done it before after all. At that, nothing is new.

But firecracker as she might be, even she has limits. Unfortunately for the knight, the ones who know how to stop her wallowing thoughts haven't been born yet in this time.

"When he protects the prince…" her voice trails at last, the yelling finally weakening to soft murmurs. Feeling her eyes start to blur with tears, she turned her back on him to hide her sniffles, her fear of heights momentarily forgotten as she stares at the vastness outside.

"Hermione-"

"…then who's going to be there to guard his magic backside? When he exhausts his magic for the greater good, then who would be there to save Camelot's greatest defender should the need arise?" she finished bitterly, unconscious that the knight, in his desire to comfort her, left his safe seat by the door to brave the flashes of lightning sparkling out of her hair so he can pull her into his arms.

Hermione froze but didn't pull away, her wandering mind drifting into a future where a bespectacled boy with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead locked her in a tight embrace and promised her that they're family, and family always return to each other.

"He's the most powerful man in the planet Hermione, and if what you told us is still the future, then he's also the most powerful wizard of all time. Does he even need a protector?" Gwaine offers, the need to correct him bringing her back to the present.

"He's not a wizard! He's a warlock, I taught you this! They're different!"

"He's Merlin," he shrugs.

Hermione frowned.

He's Merlin. He's Emrys. That's all there is to it, really. are the words being conveyed by his eyes.

Where had she heard these words before?

He's Harry. He's the Chosen One. He can do this. Ron had once said to convince her before he dragged her away so they could kill a giant snake, leaving Harry to face Voldemort.

Hermione found herself sighing, shoulders slumping in dejection.

The words sound right alright.

But they couldn't feel more wrong.

Harry is powerful.

And Merlin...well Merlin's a warlock and the embodiment of magic itself.

Surely, he could win this. It is his destiny after all. The legend says he could. And yet…

Yet the brightest witch of her age feels like screaming, as if something inside her is bursting to come forth.

The last time she felt this conflicted, she ended up leaving her best friend to help him in some other way. Harry Potter, past, present or future, would always have her.

So then who does Merlin have?

Merlin has magic. But is magic enough? Merlin has Arthur. But Prince Arthur, brave and righteous as he is, doesn't have magic. He wouldn't be able to fend off any magical attempt should one hit Merlin or weaken his magic.

And there's no question that Merlin would die before anyone can hurt Arthur. His loyalty in itself is as real as him being magic.

So then, that leaves her to the same question.

Who would protect Merlin? Or better yet, who can? Who would be crazy enough to try and dare to save the most powerful warlock of all time?

Hermione's magic is on fire.

She knows of his power. She knows of his strength. She's read of his achievements, of his greatness, of his destiny. Together with King Arthur, Emrys would bring a new age of magic in Camelot.

She believes this.

He's strong and he's brave and he could win this alone, she knows, but even so...

But even so...

Why?

Why does he have to?

Why does he have to do it alone?

Why does he always have to go into battle, saving everyone without a care for his own life?

Isn't his welfare just as precious? Isn't he just as important?

Why, when she could hear her heart, her soul, her very core singing in sorrow at just the thought of him being there for everyone but having no one?

"He is," she finally agrees, a sad smile on her face.

Sir Gwaine couldn't look away as the dark cloud surrounding her slowly shrinks into nothing.

"He may be powerful, but he's an idiot if he thinks I'd let him do it alone. Even magic can wear out. Even the most powerful spell caster needs time to recharge. Too much use of magic can drain him, and it only takes a powerful attack to weaken him and give the enemy time to detain him," she reasons.

Sir Gwaine responded with a groan.

"Oh come on, Hermione! Not this again, please! Arthur will kill me!"

"I'm sorry Gwaine," she apologizes, sounding remorseful but not quite. "It's my magic, you see. It's-" she hesitates for a moment, biting her lip in thought of how to explain this to him. Hiding an open palm behind her, she said, "It itches. It literally aches, almost as if my magic telling me to do something. This hasn't happened before, but I know I'd be a fool not to listen. That's why I'm answering to this call."

If she isn't worrying for the warlock, then Hermione would have laughed at the expletives that came out of the knight's mouth when her wand flew from wherever Merlin's hidden it into her waiting hand. Sir Gwaine really knows a plethora of curses, enough to fill an entire dictionary and make even the Weasleys blush.

She smirked when he flinched, his hands reaching up to feel his hair. She has no doubt he's thinking of the day when he pissed her off so bad, she turned his beloved hair into snakes, even Merlin looked frightened enough to let him suffer a few hours before he offered his help.

"You know he can always throw you in the stocks, or worse, ban you from the tavern," she remarks, grinning when he glared at her. "Well then, I'm off to see the idiot and the prat," she said in parting, offering him a curtsy, courtesy of Guinevere's patient teaching, before winking. "Wish me luck."

It took a few seconds and a lot of blinks for Sir Gwaine to believe that she really just disappeared out of thin air.

"That's a new one," he commented, dumbstruck. But then flashes of what he'd seen her do played in his mind like a puppet show, and the next thing he knew, he's crying in laughter.

Merlin and Arthur really should have known better. What else can they expect from the very girl who once turned Prince Arthur into a frog and threatened to turn the warlock bald?

A/N: Hate it? Like it? Love it? Please don't forget to leave me a review if you enjoy it. ^^ Happy reading!