34. A Friend

After the talk with Merlin, they headed to Slytherin Dungeon.

"Do you know who our roommate is?" Magnus inquired.

Ragnar denied, "No, when I woke up today, he was already gone."

"Then let's see who it is." He decided and strode to the Dorms.

But, as soon as they entered the Dungeon, they were treated by loud claps. Straight for a minute they did not stop.

As expected, the leader of this little event was Lucius. He was also clapping but slower and more gracefully than others.

"You are a true, Slytherin, Mr Pendragon. You earned 60 points on the first day." Lucius said, bootlicking Magnus.

~What does this guy even want from me?~ Magnus wondered.

"55 actually, 5 were earned by Ragnar." Magnus corrected him, stopping Lucius and making Ragnar hide behind him. He did not like being in the spotlight of these power-hungry snakes.

"Yes, Mr Oroborus has done great too. All students of Slytherin students should learn from you. We are, after all, born to be elites in the future. We can not let our house lose the cup." Lucius spoke as if he was the leader of the house.

"If you keep this performance, you will someday get to meet a very great person I know. He knows about you and watches your performance." Lucius said suddenly.

Magnus just nodded and left towards his dorm room. ~Who is this pervert keeping an eye on me? *Sigh* Just as expected, things are not as simple as they seem. I need to learn about the political and social happenings of the Wizarding World.~

They entered the room and finally saw who their roommate was.

"Uh... Knock before you enter, that's basic manners." Snape barked.

Magnus chuckled, "I don't need to knock to enter my room. Yeah, that's my bed."

Snape's face reddened at the embarrassment. To save his face he pointed to Ragnar, "I was talking to him."

Ragnar was taken aback, he touched his chest and replied, "Me? I'm staying in this room too."

Magnus facepalmed himself and went straight to Snape's bed and sat down a good healthy distance away from him.

"Mate, what's your problem? Stop this pretentious bandwagon you're on. What do you get from acting all high and mighty? I am studying 5th year's books, I apparently belong to a magical family that's is nearly as old as this school.

"But I don't act arrogant. Do you know why? Because I was raised in a humble family. Born to parents you all call Muggles." Magnus lectured him. He was already stuck with him for 3 years already, might as well just make him a friend.

Seemed shocked for some reason. "Wait, you're a muggle-born?"

"Yes, I am. You got any problem with that?" Magnus asked with his eyes probing him.

"No no, I thought you came from some very ancient pre-blood family. How are you Merlin's descendant?" Snape inquired with genuine curiosity.

"I don't know. It's just in the blood. Besides, Merlin was also Muggle-born, with an extra talent for magic." He explained.

"Then why are they treating like some big lord?" Snape questioned.

"Because I am a hot commodity. They are pampering me before slaughtering me like a sacrifice. Don't you know the influence of just the word "Merlin"? If they have me by their side, they can use my name, Merlin's name, to their advantage. Also, I think many of them believe I'm a pure-blood.

"Listen, Severus, We're in a Snake's pit. Nobody can be trusted because you're for yourself. Everyone here wants to further their careers or wealth by stepping on others. Remember, this is Slytherin." Magnus concluded.

"That means I can't trust you either," Snape argued.

Magnus smiled, "Haha, did you forget what happened at the Sorting ceremony so easily? The hat said I fit in all four houses. Brave, cunning, loyal and sharp-minded. I got it all. And know one thing, Severus. The thing I despise the most for some reason is betrayal. And I would never betray my friends or family. The rest is up to you to decide. Come on, Ragnar. You're too thin, I smuggled some sweets for you."

"What the hell, I'm not that thin." Ragnar retorted.

Slowly, the noise faded from Snape's ears as he fell into deep contemplating. What he found out today was that Magnus was way more intelligent in the aspects of cunningness than he showed everyone. Most saw him as a naive child but he didn't believe that now.

He remembered his whole life till now. An abusive father, an abused mother. He always wondered, why did his mother even marry his good for nothing father. She came from a pure-blood respected family after all. He always wondered, why did she never retaliate even while having the power to do so?

Then his eyes fell on Magnus. A boy, who had everything, good parents, probably money too, now also the influence of his heritage. Yet he stayed humble. He was either too dumb or just being his real self.

Till now, his only friends were his books and Lily Evans, now, only books were left, and sadly, they don't reply to his words.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Magnus whining at Ragnar.

"Ragnar, tell me your secret. I remember every recipe for every potion. Yet I'm average. Why?" Magnus asked.

Ragnar scratched his head, not knowing what to say, "I don't know. I also follow the recipe with little changes here and there. I think what you lack is physical knowledge, how all ingredients work, mix and react."

"You hand movements..."

Magnus and Ragnar turned their heads. It was Snape who spoke.

"What do you mean? I turned my hands in the cauldron just the way it said in the book." Magnus argued.

"The speed of your hand's movement also matters, also it varies from potion to potion, from ingredients to ingredients and which side you are mixing it. I believe Ragnar should know this?" Snape questioned.

Ragnar thought, "Hmm, no that you say. I do adjust my hand speed. But it happens instinctively to me. I don't even think about it."

Snape felt personally attacked, "Then you might become the best potion master in history."

Magnus chuckled, "Haha, but he sucks at Charms. But, Ragnar, do not forget this friendship when you become a top potion master. Make them for free for me please, from time to time. Just a little liquid luck would do."

Ragnar chuckled, "Sure, I will give you a discount, of a negative 100 per cent."

Magnus' face fell. He looked at Snape, "If you know this then this means you're gonna be a potion master too. I guess I'll leach on you then. And I think I will quit on this subject entirely, don't have enough time to focus on such fine details. I'm satisfied with being average at this. Gotta leave some places for the rest after all."

"We can teach you," Ragnar suggested and looked at Snape.

"Sure, only if he teaches us transfiguration," Snape said.

"Deal," Magnus agreed instantly, shocking Snape.

~Why would he give his secrets so easily?~ Snape thought.

...

Dumbledore's Office,

Eugenia Jenkins, the Minister for Magic had come to meet the old man. She had received a reply to the letter and it was one word. "Yes,"

But she needed to know more. So she came here personally.

"Is he really Merlin's descendant?" She straightforwardly asked.

"Yes, he is. I believe by now you've heard about the current predicament the muggle Queen is in?" Dumbledore inquired.

Minister Jenkins' eyes widened, "He's related to it?"

Dumbledore nodded, "It's not just Merlin he's related to. King Arthur too."

He put some emphasis on his next words, "HE IS THE RIGHTFUL KING,"

Minister Jenkins was shaken as she took a few steps to the side and sat down on the chair.

"How many know about this?" She inquired.

"Very few," Dumbledore answered.

She took a long breath, "The amount of influence he's going to have on the magical world will be unimaginable. Merlin and now Arthur. They will come after him like Hyenas."

"That is why we must protect him," Dumbledore advised and came closer to her with a serious face.

"I met him in private, and I told him his situation. Minister, he's a sweet child, but, he made it clear, that if something were to happen to his family, he will not forget." Dumbledore said.

"Then I will place Aurors to protect them." She decided.

"NO! You must not do that." Dumbledore quickly stopped her and continued.

"I will send my people to safeguard them. The ministry has been compromised." He sternly said.

Minister Jenkins got up in anger, "Do you know your Order is an illegal organisation?"

"Yes, but it's necessary. With the ministry compromised, we have no choice. WE MUST FIGHT BACK." Dumbledore raised his voice a little.

She looked not convinced, "Do you know how much pressure is on me these days? With every new dead muggle, they are talking more and more about replacing me. And a change of administration is the last thing we need right now. It is what they want. If they find out about your little stunt, the Wizengamot will be after my blood."

"THE WIZENGAMOT IS RUN BY THEM," Dumbledore argued loudly, shocking her a little. This old man still had the strength it seemed.

Dumbledore continued, "The order was created to fight him, Minister. Nothing else. And the Ministry is already adamant on not catching the murderers. He and his army of so-called Death Eaters will continue to murder. SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THEM."

Minister Jenkins didn't speak for a full minute. Then she took a long breath.

*Sigh*

"Fine, fine. I am still sceptical of you, Dumbledore. But I will look the other way this one time. BUT, the boy and his family must be kept safe, no matter what. We finally have a ray of hope for this black and white world. We can't lose him now. Goodnight, Headmaster." She left after saying that.

Tired, yet a bit eased up, Dumbledore sat back onto his chair.

~Why did you take this path, Tom? Why?~

But he didn't have the luxury to relax. He got up and apparated away, to an unknown house in the middle of nowhere. Where he had called out a meeting.

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