Chapter 21
Merlin's island was small, with only vines and thorns tangled into ancient castle ruins dotting the landscape. As Hermione and Archie landed, they took in the scene: crumbling stone walls, overgrown with nature’s reclaiming grip, with no bird or animal in sight.
They kept an eye on the map, carefully moving towards Merlin, their movement a practised and perfected choreography from days spent together. Closer to the ruins, Hermione could now see that they used to be a castle. The once-grand structure was now a mere shadow of its former glory, with towers reduced to stumps and walls barely standing against the weight of time and vegetation.
They heard Olive before they spotted her on the map, a sharp whistle playing a short melodic tune. Archie reacted to the sound, his nose flaring in annoyance as he spun around to see Olive. Her wings, similar to Archie's in pattern though not in colour, carried her exhausted body slowly through the air. Their eyes met, and despite the horror that overcame Olive, her wings felt safe enough to drop her. True enough, Archie was quick to catch her, his strong arms steady and sure.
The siblings stared at each other silently before Olive burst into sobs. “Archie, our Guardian isn’t hearing my song!”
Archie sighed and tightened his grip on Olive, resting her head on his shoulder to let her cry. His fingers carded through her hair as they gently rocked. Archie’s wings had come out again and wrapped Olive in a sort of cocoon. Slowly but surely, Olive’s sobs trailed off, and Hermione could hear Archie humming soothingly. Hermione awkwardly looked back down at the map in her hands to give the siblings some semblance of privacy and blinked when she noticed Merlin’s name slowly nearing their position.
“I’m sorry,” Olive mumbled into her brother's shoulder.
“What for?” he whispered back, his wings receding.
“For not listening to you when you told me to stay home.”
Archie hummed and then said, “And?” Olive pulled back with pursed lips and swatted him on the shoulder she had cried on, earning a half-hearted chuckle from him. “I just want you safe, Olive,” his voice broke.
She shook her head, her eyes glassy yet again. “Nowhere is safe anymore, Archie, you know that! I just needed to help you—help everyone!—and I couldn’t do that from home.”
“You didn’t need to do anything—”
“—I wanted to!”
“Olive!” he snapped, “Do you have any idea how scared I was to find you gone with only a note left telling me you’d gone to find Merlin?”
“You used to tell me he could do anything! If there’s anyone who could bring back our Guardian it would be him!” She looked up at him desperately, hanging onto his robes. “He can bring back our Guardian and—and—the Guardian of the other islands, too! You promised!”
Archie gritted his teeth. “No,” he said softly, turning his head away from Olive for the first time, and repeated himself louder, “No.”
“No? What do you mean ‘No’? Don’t you remember? You love Merlin—you love magic!” She pulled his head back to face her with a hand on his cheek. “Magic can do anything, everything, and so—so can Merlin—”
“—Merlin,” he hesitated, clenching his eyes tight as he continued, “Merlin was the reason our Guardian bird abandoned us.”
Olive's hands dropped from his robes, her expression shifting to one of disbelief as she sank back on her heels. “... What?”
But before Archie could elaborate, Hermione cleared her throat, nodding to the ruins when the siblings looked up at her, startled at her interruption.
The air crackled with energy, and Hermione felt a shiver run down her spine. They all turned to see an old man approaching, his wings—a stunning display of merlin wings—spread wide. His hair and beard were long and white, and his deep red robes billowed around him. Despite not using any visible magic, the air around him thrummed with power.
Archie immediately tugged Olive behind him, he glanced at Olive with panic in his eyes as if wishing to shield her further, but his body was trembling all over in the face of Merlin’s silent power and his wings would not come out to shield her. Instead, he faced Merlin head on, anger overtaking his eyes though he could not hide his fear.
Olive looked at him, shocked at the visible fear and anger towards a man he had always admired.
“I was wrong.” He spat, glaring into Merlin’s eyes, “Magic might be able to do everything, but Merlin can’t do anything. For all his power, he is weak. A coward.”
Merlin raised an eyebrow at Archie but said nothing else, his face a blank mask otherwise. His eyes darted between the siblings once and then turned away, entirely ignoring the two.
“Hermione Granger,” Merlin greeted, his voice resonant and commanding. “Welcome. Walk with me; we have much to discuss to complete your quest.”
“Sir, please, we—” Olive began.
But Merlin cut her off, his tone firm and harsh. “You are not meant to be here. Go home.”
Archie glared, his fists clenched at his side as his wings burst out in anger. “Don’t you dare talk to my sister like that!”
Olive’s eyes widened with desperation, darting in front of Archie as if to hide Merlin from him. “Merlin, please, we need your help! Since our Guardian bird left, our village has-”
Merlin turned to them, his gaze piercing, the sudden act silencing Olive. “I said, go home. There is no place for you here.”
Hermione, taken aback but resolute, nodded to herself and stepped forward. “Merlin, perhaps you could hear what they have to say.”
Merlin pursed his lips. “If I recall, you do not have long to complete your quest. I cannot help them, but I can help you.” He began walking further into the ruins, obviously expecting her to follow. She hesitated but followed him when Olive ran after him.
Archie, his temper barely in check, marched after his sister, wings ruffled. “Olive, stop. He clearly doesn’t want to help.”
But Olive refused to back down. “I won’t leave until he listens.”
Hermione glanced at Merlin, torn between her quest and the siblings’ plea for help. Merlin, sensing her hesitation, stopped and looked directly at Olive. “Your persistence is admirable, but misguided. My purpose is not to meddle in the affairs of villages.”
“But you’re Merlin! You have the power to make a difference,” Olive argued, her voice breaking.
Merlin’s gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. “Power alone does not dictate my actions. There are reasons beyond your understanding for why I must refrain.”
“Right,” Archie muttered under his breath but not so quietly that they could not hear him, “and that’s why you needed our bird to do things for you.”
Merlin finally turned to him, “your bird? Hah.” He scoffed and walked off again.
Hermione caught up to Archie as they followed Merlin through the ruins, her mind swirling with questions. She touched his arm gently. "Archie, what happened? Why did Merlin need your bird?"
Archie's expression darkened as he recounted the memory. "One day, I saw Merlin and followed him, hoping to learn from him. But what I overheard... it changed everything." He glanced at Olive, whose pleading eyes urged him to continue.
"I heard Merlin speaking to our guardian bird," Archie continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Merlin was asking for help, something about the balance. I couldn't just stand there. I burst out, asking him to teach me so I could assist. But Merlin turned me down, coldly." He sighed, a mix of frustration and resignation in his tone. "At least now, I understand its because I have no magic. But since that day, our guardian hasn't returned. And without their guidance, the village has descended into chaos. People have turned against each other, Olive was right, its not safe anywhere anymore. It never used to be so scattered like we saw in your map, Hermione, we were united. "
Hermione nodded solemnly, absorbing the weight of Archie's words. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, revealing a grim picture of consequences and unanswered questions. She glanced ahead at Merlin's retreating figure, her resolve strengthening.
"We need answers," she murmured, more to herself than to Archie and Olive. "And we won't find them by standing still."
As they reached the heart of the ruins, Hermione's gaze fell upon a shrivelled, lifeless tree, a stark contrast to the vibrant magic that once thrived here. Only a single twig, bearing a solitary seed, clung to life. Merlin's hand reached out, with a solemn reverence. With a swift motion, he plucked it, and the tree crumbled into dust, leaving nothing but barren earth.
"This is the final chance," Merlin's voice echoed through the desolate air. "You must take this seed to the island, where darkness reigns unchecked. Plant it there and infuse it with magic. Only then can life return, and the shadows be dispelled."
Archie's cynical remark cut through the tension. "Be careful granting Merlin's wishes, Hermione. Fulfilling them might just ensure you never find your way home again."
Hermione snapped her head to Archie, eyes widening at his choice of words. Merlin gently brought her hand up and curled it around the seed, meeting her gaze with a solemn nod.
“Follow me,” He said as he walked. “We don’t have much longer, it’s already begun to spread.”
~~~~~~~
That night, as they sat around the campfire, Merlin chose to sit a bit farther away from the rest of the group. During their travels, when not flying and in between playing the whistle, Olive had frequently asked Archie about his journey, Hermione about magic, and Merlin for help. Each time, Merlin either refused or stayed silent, his gaze distant and unreadable. Eventually, exhaustion overcame Olive, and she was the first to fall asleep. Archie and Hermione exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing that Hermione would take the first watch, allowing Archie to sleep next to his sister.
As the night deepened and the fire crackled softly, Hermione found herself alone with Merlin, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on his face. She decided to break the silence.
"Merlin," she began hesitantly, "why did you need the guardian bird's help instead of using your own magic?"
Merlin turned to her, his expression puzzled. "The balance?" he said, the word hanging in the air as if it carried a weight that Hermione couldn't quite grasp.
She frowned, pondering his response. "Balance," she repeated quietly to herself, feeling the word roll around in her mind, not fully understanding its implications. Merlin offered no further explanation and simply returned to his silent vigil.
The rest of Hermione's shift was spent in contemplation, trying to decipher the meaning behind Merlin's cryptic answer. The concept of balance eluded her, leaving her with more questions than answers.
The next morning, Archie sat by the dying embers of the campfire, his eyes red and puffy from crying. It was clear that something had happened between him and Merlin during his shift, but when Olive and Hermione gently pressed him for answers, he stubbornly refused to speak about it. His silence was heavy, casting a shadow over the group's morning, and especially seemed to upset Olive.
Despite the two additions, Hermione and Archie settled into their routine. Merlin observed this quietly, giving them the space to go about their morning routines. In an effort to cheer up Olive, Hermione demonstrated transfiguring her jumper into a robe and fallen leaves into a pouch and Merlin took over the cooking duties, acknowledging Archie’s successful hunt with a single nod. The aroma of breakfast began to fill the air, a small comfort in the midst of the tension.
After they ate, Merlin approached Hermione, his expression serious. "You still have the seed?" he asked.
Hermione nodded, patting the small pouch where the precious item was safely stored. Satisfied, Merlin motioned for them to pack up their belongings. "Let's head to the edge of the island," he said. "We'll need to fly again."
As they started their journey, Olive played her whistle, the melody hopeful and clear, echoing through the trees. She played with a fervent hope that their guardian bird would hear and come back to them.
~~~~~~~
They touched down on the next island just as the sun began to descend, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Hermione's nerves spiked as she realised tomorrow marked the tenth day. She turned to Merlin for reassurance but was stopped short by the look on his face. Something about his expression made her reach out to stop the siblings from venturing further into the island.
Hermione allowed herself a moment to take in their new surroundings. The island was reminiscent of the first one she woke up on but felt tenser, the atmosphere heavy with an unspoken threat. All was silent until, without warning, Merlin erected a golden shield around the group just in time to block a shadowy wisp that slashed at them.
Hermione focused on the shield and noticed it was weak, as if Merlin were holding back. She couldn't ponder this further as more shadows began assaulting the barrier. She tried to reinforce it by adding her own magic, but their energies clashed, her magic unable to merge with Merlin's shield. It struggled futilely, like a candle flame pretending to be a star.
Realising the incompatibility, Hermione quickly erected another shield around them, one taught by Professor Aurelianus. This allowed Merlin to focus his attention elsewhere.
Merlin took the opportunity she granted and released the shield, leaving her to shield them. He began moving his hands in a slow, deliberate circle in front of him, gradually bringing them closer together until they were clasped as if in prayer. Then, with a swift motion, he turned and opened his hands, releasing the collected shadows. In his hands, the dark wisps had transformed into a swarm of black butterflies, though as they dispersed into the distant island they had just come from, they seemed more like a swarm of mosquitoes.
Merlin nodded and Archie took it as a signal, stretching and pulling a tired Olive into the island to set up camp for another night.
Merlin relaxed his arms, and Archie took it as a signal to move, stretching and gently pulling a tired Olive into the island to set up camp for another night. Merlin lingered a moment longer, and Hermione stayed by his side, keeping her eyes on the distant swarm. They watched in silence, Merlin's expression grim and Hermione's shocked, as the swarm reached the island. Instantly, all the trees on that island were cut in half, falling as if sliced by an invisible blade. Hermione knew the shadows hadn't possessed that kind of power before. She recalled the energy she had felt while shielding them but... "balance."
Merlin met her gaze, his eyes reflecting a solemn understanding. He inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the silent revelation, then turned to follow Archie and Olive. Hermione hesitated for a moment, absorbing the unsettling display, before joining the siblings to set up camp.
~~~~~~~
The last day passed for Hermione in a blur, the impending sense of doom numbing her senses. She was distantly aware of making small talk with the siblings, tolerating Olive's questions, and pestering Archie about what had happened between him and Merlin. It wasn't until they reached the edge of the island that Hermione snapped back to reality. The sight before her made her heart drop to her stomach and bile rise to the back of her throat.
The distant island was blanketed by a pitch-black shadow, all life sucked dry, with aggressive shadows pouring over the edges. They stretched so far that they nearly made contact with the ground at their feet. At that moment, Hermione finally understood the warning she had been given. If she were to fail and the shadows took her, she would lose all memory of the way home, she would become an empty shell of herself. The realisation hit her with a cold, hard clarity.
Every second that passed, the shadows grew stronger, their presence more oppressive. Hermione could sense their hunger, an insatiable craving that seemed to claw at her very soul. Steeling herself, she spread her wings and soared high into the sky, seeking a better vantage point.
Merlin, too, had taken action, taking in shadows to change them into butterflies. The strategy was powerful but would not work for much longer, Hermione realised, as she watched each butterfly cut straight through two trees each. Archie had pushed a sobbing olive away from the edge and was desperately shielding her, bow and arrow lay discarded, useless against the shadows. Tears were streaming down his face as he gazed out helplessly at the looming shadows.
Determined, Hermione forced herself to fly closer to the island. The sharp winds fought against her, making it difficult to control her still unfamiliar wings, gritting her teeth against the pain, she pressed on, driven by the urgency of her mission.
Suddenly, a sharp scream pierced through her concentration. Hermione whipped around to see Merlin forced down on one knee, panting heavily. But the scream hadn't come from him.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she took in the horrifying scene: Archie lay on the ground, convulsing, as a shadow slowly crept up his body. Olive was beside him, screaming frantically, trying to pull him away from the dark force. Hermione's gaze flickered between the heart-wrenching sight and the island, now tantalisingly close yet seemingly out of reach.
In that moment, she made her choice. She flew back to the siblings faster than she had ever flown before, adrenaline sharpening her focus. As she landed, she summoned a wandless shield, pushing back the encroaching shadows with a forceful burst of magic. But the shadow on Archie clung to him stubbornly, its dark tendrils refusing to let go.
Hermione held her shield firm, her mind racing for a solution. She couldn't afford to lose focus—not with Archie's life hanging in the balance. The wind howled around them, carrying the echoes of Olive's desperate sobs and Archie's pained gasps. Summoning every ounce of her strength, Hermione pushed the shield harder, trying to pry the shadow off him.
"Come on, think," she muttered to herself, her thoughts a whirlwind.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the shadows reach Archie's face. For a moment, she feared the worst, but then she noticed something unusual: the shadows hissed and disintegrated upon contact with his tears. This unexpected reaction gave her a glimmer of hope.
Desperately, she reached for her wand, her hands trembling as she struggled to maintain the shield's strength. She fumbled, the effort of sustaining the shield splitting her focus, but she knew she had to act quickly.
With her wand in hand, she cast an Aguamenti over Archie, casting simultaneously for the first time. With her wand in hand, she cast an Aguamenti over Archie, casting simultaneously for the first time. Her experiment proved successful: the shadows disintegrated on contact with the water, and Olive quickly pulled Archie out of harm's way.
Hermione cancelled her shield, needing her full focus to cast another Aguamenti. She directed the water over the part of the island in front of her, thoroughly drenching it. As expected, the shadows on the island were defeated, leaving Merlin panting heavily on his knees. But the battle wasn't over. Hermione allowed herself two seconds to breathe. Though the shadows had disintegrated, the land they had touched was barren and lifeless, and more shadows were quickly closing in.
Merlin turned to face her, his eyes lighter than she had seen recently, before they widened. His expression made her pause yet again, and she slowly look at the ground in front of her were a sapling was beginning to grow.
In her fumble, the seed had been planted, and her magic had inadvertently fed it.
She fell back in horror as the tree began to grow rapidly in the wrong island. It truly was a beautiful tree, strong and powerful, its branches reaching skyward with an almost majestic grace.
Panic surged through her, thoughts racing too quickly to grasp. She reached out and grabbed the whistle Olive had dropped, blowing into it in a last ditch effort. The tree seemed to absorb the sound vibrations, amplifying them until they resonated across the landscape.
From the dark island, a dozen phoenixes emerged, drawn by the enhanced sound and using the tree as a beacon.
The tree acted as a lighthouse, guiding them home.
The phoenixes danced above the island, their glistening tears falling onto the shadows, dispelling the darkness and bringing life back to the barren land. The once-lifeless soil began to rejuvenate, vibrant greenery sprouting where the tears had fallen.
Finally, with the shadows vanquished, the phoenixes descended and perched on the tree.
“The Guardians.” Olive whispered reverently.
The three children watched as Merlin limped to the tree bowing in front of it until the Phoenixes crooned and gathered around him.
“He was right.” Archie whimpered, pulling himself up to sit, leaning heavily against Olive. “Dammit, the bastard was right. Our worship was a prison, we kept them from their purposes and… and this was what came from it.”
Hermione pulled herself up, allowing the siblings to find comfort in one another, she glanced at the darkening sky and held out the whistle to Olive.
Olive shared a heavy glance with Archie and smiled at her, shaking her head, “it’s yours now, Hermione, I want you to have it. Thank you for saving us; our very own Guardian.”
She smiled back and slowly walked towards the mythical bird and man. The phoenixes watched her approach, their eyes reflecting a deep, ancient wisdom. Merlin, still panting but now more composed, offered her a weary but grateful smile.
“Hermione Jean Granger.” Merlin said, standing to face her. “Congratulations on completing your quest.”
The phoenixes sang a melodious tune, their voices harmonising with the gentle rustling of the leaves. And that was the last thing she heard before, in a flash of blinding light, Hermione found herself standing in front of Helga Hufflepuff. Cuts all over and hand tightly clenched around a wooden whistle.