Prologue

For over a thousand years, Merlin had traveled alone. Given that his name "Emrys" means "immortal", it wasn't all that surprising. After Arthur's death on the shores of Avalon, Merlin had waited patiently for his return. Patiently until the 300th anniversary of the fall of Camelot.

On that day, Merlin decided to leave. If Arthur didn't want to return, that was fine by him. Merlin didn't have to wait like a lost puppy. With this conviction, Merlin departed. Rumors slowly reached him of a school to the north in Scotland. A school of Magic.

So, naturally, Merlin used a reverse aging spell and enrolled himself at Hogwarts. Every century or so he returned. Sometimes as a first year, but more often than not, 'transferring' to the school as an older student. It is hard to pretend to be so ignorant for so long, especially after what had happened the first time…but it is even harder to learn things over and over, trying to hide vast quantities of knowledge. So, this pattern remained unbroken, and relatively uninteresting. That is until 1995. That year, Voldemort returned.

Chapter 1: Merlin

Merlin was in South America deep within the Amazon jungle. In this remote location, it was very odd to see an almost white owl swoop down and drop a rolled up newspaper on the ground next to him. Even more odd was the front page sporting a moving picture and advertising a large athletic event- the Quidditch World Cup.

Merlin had not step foot anywhere in the United Kingdom in over 50 years. The last time he visited was to protect the city of London from German air raids which was not exactly a pleasant experience. So, when he saw that England was hosting the Quidditch World Cup (for the first time in 30 years) he decided to attend. Well, I can check up on Hogwarts again in person, he thought. Visit Dumbledore... and Harry Potter.

Though Merlin was not the seer that Morgana had been, the Old Religion had granted him a limited knowledge of the future. He vaguely knew of young Mr. Potter's destiny. It was a VERY limited knowledge. Merlin had not decided to interfere. After all, he reasoned, the future will unfold how it wants no matter what I do. I've learned that the hard way.

Time would not every really heal the grief Merlin felt on the fall of Camelot. He had tried so hard to save it...but that was years ago. Not now.

Merlin set down the Daily Prophet and proceeded to Vanish all evidence of his camp. I guess I'm done here he thought before apparating back to where his story had begun.

...

Meanwhile, an old man named Frank Bryce was murdered by the servant of the Dark Lord, and a young boy named Harry Potter woke up with a pain in his scar.