The Rising of Merlin

The One With the Long Conversation

So, chapter 20 already and many more to come. I never thought this would be so big when I started writing it, 53 chapters and an epilogue, so I hope you will be stay with me the following months =) Everything is written I just need to find the time to upload it so don't worry, this story will be finished.

Thank you so much for sticking with me for so long and following, voting, and commenting. It means so much to me that you like what I do.

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Chapter 20 The One With the Long Conversation

Merlin knew that Hermione was smart, but he never would have imagined that she would found out about his most guarded secret.

It's not like he wasn't prepared when he found her outside his chambers this morning. Aithusa had told him that she had felt someone connect with her Magic and warned him that it might have been Hermione and, judging by her reaction, she might have overheard her when she talked to him.

But he never thought that she would have come across, not only that conversation, but four other occasions where he acted suspicious. He really needed to start making sure that he was alone before he acted out of the ordinary.

So here he was now; listening to Hermione explaining her reasoning and watching her constant pacing, until finally, she stopped and said one word, 'Arthur'. There was no denying it now.

"So you figured it out?" He asked her and bent his head down. All his resolve was gone and the only thing left was resignation. There weren't any use lying anymore.

"I think I did, yes." Hermione answered him with a shaky voice. He looked up to meet her eyes.

"Then, please tell me, what is my name?" He needed to hear it from her. There was still a slight chance that she was wrong in her conclusions. But no such luck.

"Your name is...your name is Merlin." Her voice almost broke in the middle but she had said it. She had said his name. It was over. His secret was out.

"I understand if you're mad at me." He said after a few moments of silence. Hermione's gaze had shifted to her hands during the silence, but at his words, she immediately looked up at him with concern in her eyes.

"I'm not mad at you." She said quietly and walked forwards to sit down next to him on the couch. He shifted his body to face her before continuing.

"You're not? Why?" He asked surprised. "I lied to you for months. To all of you." He said and thought about what had happened between him and Ron before he left the Burrow. He rested his head in his hands, not wanting to see Hermione's concerned look anymore.

"I'm not mad at you because I can see how much it hurts you to lie like this. I'm guessing you've had to hide your true self all your life." She hesitantly took his head in her own hands and turned it so he could look at her. She wiped away a stray tear on his cheek he hadn't noticed falling, with her right thumb.

"Thank you, Hermione." He said when she let go of him, and he wiped away a few more tears that had escaped.

"For what?" She asked him.

"For not hating me." He made a small chuckle and sniffled.

"You're welcome." She turned her head away a little before continuing. "But I would like to know how this is possible." She said and made a gesture towards him. "How are you alive?" She turned to face him completely again.

"It's a long story." He said and his eyes roamed around the room before settling on Hermione again.

"I've got time." She said firmly and crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back into the sofa.