Professor Pendragon

“Leon, absolutely not.”

Minerva heard Merlin argue back as she entered the kitchen.

“Leon, yes.” The knight replied, his voice mimicking Merlin’s quite accurately before changing back to his own. “I only ever see you every few months, if that even. I want to take the opportunity to actually fight someone I won’t take down in less than a minute.”

“Leon, yes.” She piped in as she opened the fridge. “I for one would love to see an actual fight that doesn’t include magic.”

Merlin looked at her, “Now it’s two against one Nerva. Really?”

“Three against one.” Draco came in from outside and shrugged when Merlin shot him a desperate look. “What? I’ve only seen you teach a class slowly with simple swordplay. Besides, you said you’d teach us to fight. And you did teach us a ton in just a week. There’s bound to be much more that you know.”

“Really?” Merlin rolled his eyes as he pushed up his sleeves. They nodded and he took a step back before pivoting and sending a dagger flying for Leon’s head. The knight side stepped and it stuck its tip first into the tree behind him.

“Is that how we’re doing it Merlin?” Leon laughed before pulling it out and slipping it into his belt. He ran towards Merlin and pulled out his sword, swinging it at Merlin who ducked and it whistled over his head.

Minerva gasped and took a step back, dragging Draco with her well out of the way of danger. Not that they would ever hurt either of them but just to be safe. They looked back towards the fight and saw that Merlin had caught the sword between two of his knives and pushed it up before head butting Leon. He staggered back and wiped at his now bleeding face with a wide grin.

Leon pulled the knife from his belt and sent it towards Merlin who moved to the side, getting a cut through his sleeve in the process. They moved towards each other again and the process repeated. In and out they both moved, both getting a little scratches with every movement. It stopped suddenly with Leon’s sword at Merlin’s neck and Merlin’s knife at Leon’s gut.

“Looks like a tie.” Merlin grinned and took a step back, sheathing his blade. Leon nodded and they both bent over taking deep breaths. “I haven’t done that in forever.”

“It was fun.” Leon stood up straight and clasped his hand around Merlin’s forearm who returned the motion. “Good job.”

“That was awesome!” Draco gasped out from next to Minerva who was similarly staring at the pair.

As Merlin waved his hand and his eyes flashed gold their clothes mended and cuts closed the blood disappearing from their skin in seconds.

“Thanks Merlin!” Leon grinned. “That’s sure handy.”

“That’s the only reason we ever draw blood fighting Leon.”

“I’m aware.” He paused then looked towards the house. “Anyone want food?”

***

“How do you turn into a cat?” Merlin asked Minerva after another game of Monopoly. They looked at him and Leon stared at Minerva.

“You can turn into a cat?”

“I’m an animagi.”

“Don’t know what that means.”

“Hang on.” Leon was still staring at Minerva. “You can turn into a cat? I thought becoming an animal was only a Merlin thing.”

“Merlin can be an animal? But he doesn’t know what an animagi is.”

“Hang on.” Remus started because at that point they were all confused. “An animagi is a witch or wizard that can turn into an animal. It’s a long process and they can only turn into one animal and they can’t choose what it is. Minerva is a tabby cat, my friend James was a stag, Peter was a rat, and Sirius is a dog.”

“They were animagus!” Minerva looked at him. “That explains so, so much.”

“Merlin can turn into any animal he knows the latin name for.” Leon explained. “If all your friends are animagi, why aren't you?”

Remus paused and Minerva looked ready to interject if necessary. “They turned for me. I’m a werewolf,” Merlin’s head snapped towards him at this and his eyes widened “and it was dangerous for them to be around me during the full moon but they refused to leave me alone. So they became animagi so I wouldn’t be alone.”

“You’re a werewolf!” Merlin shouted and Remus paled. “I thought you just got sick a lot.”

“You didn’t know?” Draco looked at him, “All the students learned last year and he was going to be fired but the adults wanted him to stay because he’s the only good defence teacher we’ve ever had. The kids don’t actually care at all. Snape makes him a wolfsbane every month for it.”

“You take wolfsbane Remus?” Merlin frowned. “That hurts the wolf and gives you less control.”

“I have no control, Merlin. That’s why I take it, so I don’t hurt anyone.”

Merlin frowned. “Did you not accept the change? Did you reject your wolf?”

“Yes!” Remus shouted, “Why would I accept it? I was a kid and everyone hated me because of it. They still do! If it wasn’t for Dumbledore then I wouldn’t have a job.”

Merlin thought for a moment. “1. I can help you control your wolf without the potion. 2. I hate Dumbledore.”

Minerva sighed as Narcissa made a strangled sound. Draco looked at him strangely even as Leon laughed. “Yeah, you do. I’ve gotten entire letters from you that are just ranting about him.”

“What does being a werewolf have to do with Dumbledore?”

“He hired you.” Merlin sighed and rubbed his face. “People collect things that give them power. It’s the most consistent thing in people in power. Dumbledore collects people. You because no one else would, that gave him you. To use and rely on for whatever. You’d do anything he asked, because you feel like you owe him.” Remus nodded at the pause. “Exactly. He did the same thing to Harry. Harry was raised without the knowledge of magic, abused, and neglected. Magic and this side of the world seem like a paradise to him and he’d do anything for the man that brought him here. Dumbledore.”

“He wouldn’t use Harry though?” Draco more asked than stated.

“He would. I went to him when I learned that Harry had part of Voldemort in him.”

“He what!” Draco, Narcissa, Minerva, and Remus shouted. Leon knew about this from letters and was fine sitting there as it got explained.

“Dumbledore told me that to defeat Voldemort Harry had to die. That he was destined due to ‘prophecy’.”

“He’s a kid.” Remus muttered. “He’s just a kid.”

“That’s what I said!” Merlin told them, “So I took Voldemort from Harry and told Dumbledore that he was stupid.”

“He’s using all of us.” Minerva muttered. “Everyone he’s helped was simply a means to an end.”

“Yup.”

“Now what.” Draco asked. “It’s not like we can do anything about it.”

“Sure we can. We’ll defeat Voldemort and then Dumbledore. Not necessarily in that order but I’ll do both.”

The group stared at him.

“You’re crazy.” Narcissa told him. “You’re actually crazy.”

“Probably.” He turned back towards Remus. “Do you trust me enough to accept your wolf?”

“Yes.” It wasn’t even a question of trust. He’d trust Merlin for anything.

“Then accept it, the next moon. It’s in a couple of days. Don’t fight it. You’ll be able to change at will after that other than the moon but you won’t lose control even then.”

“Is it that simple?”

“It’s that simple.” Merlin told him. “Who told you to fight it? Who told you it wasn’t a good thing?”

“Dumbledore.” Remus mumbled angrily.

“Exactly.”

***

“Merlin?”

“Yes Narcissa?” Merlin looked up from the puzzle he was doing on the table to the witch watching him from the doorway. He was trying to finish the puzzle before going back to the school tomorrow. Draco was behind her looking worried.

“Can you do a blood adoption on Draco?”

Merlin stood from the table and motioned for them to come to the couch.

“Yes I will. May I ask what for though?”

“I’m afraid Lucius will get him back. Pull family status and make us go back to him. I can’t let him have Draco again.” Her eyes clouded with tears and her voice caught in her desperation.

“I can make you my magical sister if you’d like. Draco will still be your kid but you’ll be completely free of His name and power if you want. You can reject the Malfoy name too.”

Narcissa nodded, “You can do that?”

“Yes. I can. Please reject the Malfoy name first please.”

“I, Narcissa Anastasia Malfoy nee Black, reject the name Malfoy. I am no longer tied to Lucius Abraxas Malfoy through marriage or family.”

I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, reject the name Lucius and Malfoy. I am no longer tied to Lucius Abraxas Malfoy through parentage or family.”

They paused as Draco rid himself of his middle name as well. They looked at him asking the silent question. “Whatever feels right to replace it please.”

“I, Merlin Emrys Wyllt Ambrosia Pendragon hereby accept and welcome Narcissa Anastasia Black and Draco Black into the Pendragon name and line. Through this magic they are now and forever known as Nacissa Anastasia Pendragon and Draco Lancelot Pendragon. So I speak, mote it be.”

A brilliant white flashed in the room, surrounded the three, then settled over them before disappearing.

“Lancelot?” Narcissa asked curiously, with a wide smile on her face.

“Lancelot, the kindest, most honorable man I’ve ever known.” He looked at Draco and smiled. “Seemed fitting.”

The boy flew from his seat on the sofa into Merlin’s arms a moment later.

“Thank you.” The boy sobbed as his mother joined in the embrace. “Thank you so much.”

***

“Have safe travels.” Merlin bowed to Leon who returned the gesture.

“You as well Merlin. Don’t let the kids drive you too insane.”

Minerva laughed. “I think he’s already insane, Leon. It might be too late to stop it.”

Leon turned and clasped arms with the whole group before bowing again. “I’ll head off today. I’ll see you again.”

“You sure you don’t want a drop off?” Merlin asked even as his friend started walking off the property.

“No thank you Merlin!” He shouted back as he turned around and kept walking. “Who knows who I’ll meet along the way.” He waved once more before turning to begin his journey.

“He’s gonna be walking for a month!” Draco exclaimed. “I think he’s the crazy one.”

“Eh.” Merlin shrugged. “It’s just Leon. He likes the adventure of it. He meets a lot of people this way. But yes, it will be over a month till he’s home. It’s quite far to France.”

“Merlin.” Minerva looked at her watch. “It’s time to go, the train will arrive in half an hour and we need to get ready for the feast.”

“What?” Merlin teased “You don’t want to go as is?” Minerva’s hair was down in a low ponytail and she wore a pair of riding pants from their racing that morning. A borrowed long sleeve shirt and a ball cap from some American baseball team. Remus wasn’t much better with a t-shirt and a pair of Leon’s pants because he too, only packed his nicer clothes. Draco’s hair was everywhere from the wind and the horses. He was barefoot in the entrance hall and a shirt and pants he’d borrowed from Merlin that’d been spelled to fit him. Narcissa was the most put together though her hair was also pulled into a low ponytail. She had insisted on staying in a skirt and had still managed to beat Remus in the mornings races while sitting side saddle. She’d changed afterwards despite the day's activities continuing to be outside.

“Merlin.” This time it was Draco who said his name with exasperation. “I have to look presentable. I refuse to be seen by anyone else like this.”

They laughed but circled around Merlin. Dracy hugged his mother tightly first.

“Narcissa, you have access to everything in the estate. This is your home now. You can have whoever over when you want or go to the town. It’s only a half mile East if you wish to. I’ll bring Draco on the weekends too.”

Narcissa smiled at him and pulled him into a hug before shocking the other professors by grabbing them too for an embrace.

“Thank you for taking care of my boy.” She told them before letting them go back to Merlin. They all smiled at her then simply disappeared.