The Broken Prophecy

Chapter 5: Merlin's Nightmare

"I'm very sorry about this, sir," Merlin stated apologetically. "I think someone is out to get me."

"Merlin, there's no reason for you to apologize. You didn't do this," Luna's father replied. "I'm just glad no one was hurt."

"I think it would be a good idea to report this to Professor Dumbledore," Merlin advised.

"I'll do that," confirmed Luna's father. "I think I'll take you home now. I wouldn't want you to have to take the Knight Bus again."

"I wouldn't want to impose on you, sir," Merlin refused.

"Nonsense, it will be my way of thanking you for everything you have done for my daughter," Luna's father responded.

"I appreciate that, sir," Merlin stated. "If I had to ride the Knight Bus again, I might have killed Ernie, that maniac!"

"I know how you feel, Merlin," Luna's father replied. "I've rode the Knight Bus too. I'll take you home in my car."

"I'll come too, daddy!" Luna squealed.

Merlin got into the car with Luna and her father. He was quite thankful that he wasn't being tossed about by the Knight Bus again. Ernie and Stan were two people that Merlin never wanted to see again. He would have rather had dinner at Professor Snape's house than ride the Knight Bus. Luna's father glanced at Merlin in the rear view mirror.

"Merlin, I want to thank you for the attention that you give my daughter. She doesn't have many friends at school," he stated.

"I'm very happy to do that, sir," Merlin replied. "Besides, I know what it's like not to have many friends."

"A lot of people at Hogwarts call me names," Luna complained. "Sometimes it even makes me cry. I guess I'm not as strong as you thought I was, Merlin."

"That's a load of rubbish!" Merlin exclaimed. "In fact, I love you even more now because you're even more complex than I thought you were!"

"Oh, my!" Luna sighed as she blushed.

"Thank you for inviting me, sir," Merlin said cheerfully.

"It was my pleasure, Merlin," Luna's father replied.

The car arrived at Merlin's house and Merlin kissed Luna's cheek.

"I'll see you at Hogwarts," Merlin whispered.

"I love you, Merlin," Luna replied.

"I love you," Merlin echoed as he exited the car.

Merlin entered his house to see his mother and father washing dishes.

"Hello, Merlin!" Katie Black cheerfully exclaimed. "Did you have a nice time at Luna's?"

"Yes, but I didn't have a nice time riding the Knight Bus," Merlin responded.

"I was so worried about you when you fell down that I was about to run after you!" Douglas Black blurted out.

"The driver of that bus is a total maniac!" ranted Merlin. "I never want to ride that bus again!"

"I don't blame you, Merlin. Did you like Luna's father?" Douglas asked.

"Yes, he was very nice," Merlin confirmed.

"I'm glad you two got along," Katie stated. "I told you that you had nothing to be nervous about."

"Do you remember when you told me that Luna's father was required by law to like me?" Merlin asked his father.

"Yes, why?" Douglas replied.

"Luna's father said the exact same thing to me at dinner," Merlin told his father.

"Ha! That's so funny!" Douglas exclaimed.

"Something strange happened," Merlin sadly reported. "A rock was thrown through the window which had a threatening letter addressed to me."

"Oh, no! Was anyone hurt?" Katie gasped.

"Thankfully, no. The rose bed of Luna's father was also destroyed," Merlin answered.

"What are you going to do?" Douglas asked.

"I'm going to have Feathers deliver a letter to Professor Dumbledore," Merlin replied.

"That's a good idea," Douglas confirmed.

"I'm going to write that letter and go to bed," Merlin stated.

"Good night!" Katie called out.

"Good night!" Merlin repeated.

Merlin entered his room and retrieved a quill and a bottle of ink from his school bag. Merlin sat at a table and wrote his letter to Professor Dumbledore.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

When I was riding home on the Hogwarts Express, my trunk fell out of my compartment and hit me. I thought it was an accident, but Harry told me that he heard someone laughing so maybe it wasn't an accident. Furthermore, tonight I had dinner with Luna and her father. Someone threw a rock through the window which had a threatening note addressed to me. I think a Slytherin student is out for revenge.

Sincerely yours,

Merlin Black.

Merlin folded the letter and tied it to Feathers' leg. After he sent his owl through the window, he put on his pajamas and brushed his teeth. Merlin sat on his bed and thought about what had happened that night. He wondered how someone could have known he was going to Luna's house since he didn't tell anyone where he was going. The only people that knew Merlin's destination were his parents. Merlin tucked himself in and went to sleep.

When Merlin woke up, he was in Hogwarts. Merlin noticed a six layered chocolate cake in a corner of the Great Hall and discovered he was at a wedding since the cake had models of a bride and groom on top. Merlin was embarrassed because he was still wearing his pajamas and everyone else was wearing their best clothes. Merlin walked down the aisle and saw the silvery white hair of the bride, Luna's hair. Merlin received a huge shock when he discovered that it was his best friend Neville Longbottom standing next to Luna and not him. Neville pointed to a large wooden crate sitting in a corner of the room. When Merlin walked over to the crate, he realized it was a coffin. Merlin looked in the coffin and saw his own body. When Merlin turned around and looked at Luna, she was pointing her wand at him with an evil glare on her face. Luna then uttered the last words Merlin had ever expected to hear from her.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Chapter 6: The Kiss

"NO, LUNA! DON'T DO IT!" Merlin screamed. He woke up on the floor struggling to get out from under his covers. Merlin's mother Katie ran into his room to check on her son.

"What's wrong, honey? Did you have a bad dream?" Katie asked.

"Y-Yes," Merlin whispered as he started to cry.

"There, there. Why don't you sit on the bed next to me and tell me about it?" Katie advised.

"No! I can't! Please don't make me!" Merlin replied as he sat on the bed.

"Merlin, you have to!" Katie urged. "I know it will hurt, but it will only hurt worse if you try to keep the dream locked up inside of you."

Merlin just put his hands over his eyes.

"Merlin, honey, please be brave," Katie suggested.

"I - I was at a wedding," Merlin stuttered.

"Keep going," Katie pleaded as she put her arm around Merlin's shoulders.

"Luna was the bride," continued Merlin.

"I take it that you weren't the groom," Katie replied.

"It was Ne-Ne-Neville," Merlin whined.

"Oh, your best friend," consoled Katie.

"Neville pointed at a crate. It was a coffin," Merlin cried out.

"Were you in the coffin?" asked Katie.

"Yes, after I looked in the coffin, I looked at Luna and she was pointing her wand at me. Her face was so... so... evil," Merlin wheezed.

"What did she do?" Katie asked.

"She... she killed me!" Merlin screamed as he grabbed his mother breaking out into hysterical sobs.

"It's all right, honey. It's all right. It was only a nightmare. You know Luna loves you," Katie replied as she hugged her son.

Merlin was much to distraught to do anything but cry and hold onto his mother. Katie sang to her son like she usually did when he was upset.

Don't cry, little one.

Don't fear, little one.

I will wipe away your tears.

I will kiss away your fears.

I will love you with all my heart.

We will never be apart.

Don't cry, little one.

Don't fear, little one.

When Merlin stopped crying, his mother led him into the kitchen for some tea. His father was waiting for him.

"Are you all right?" Douglas asked.

"Yes," Merlin replied.

"Is there anything I can do?" Douglas asked.

"If only I could talk to Luna and hear her voice," Merlin responded. "That would make me feel better. I can't even write her a letter because Feathers isn't back yet!"

"Maybe you should go ahead and write the letter now and send it when he does get back," Katie suggested.

After Merlin drank his tea, he went into his room to write his letter. Merlin looked through his bedroom window and watched the sunrise. Merlin picked up his quill and told Luna about his nightmare in the letter. He told her how much he missed her and how much he loved her. As he wrote his letter, a few tears fell from his eyes onto the parchment. Merlin suspected that his mother wanted him to go ahead and write the letter because it would help him deal with his feelings. When Merlin finished his letter, he heard a pecking sound at his bedroom window. Feathers had returned. Merlin got the letter from his owl's leg and opened it.

Dear Merlin Black,

I find your theory that a Slytherin student is wanting revenge to be quite plausible. I am sending the matter to the Order for further investigation. Please be careful.

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry

After Merlin read Dumbledore's letter, he gave Feathers some owl treats and sent him back out with Luna's letter. Merlin then took a bath to start his day. After he ate his breakfast, he did several chores for his parents to drown out the memory of his nightmare. He weeded his mother's garden thinking that the job would be a lot easier at Hogwarts. He then washed the family station wagon and helped his mother fix lunch. Since Merlin got quite sweaty when he cleaned out the garage and attic, he took another bath. After Merlin got dressed, he heard a loud bang outside.

When Merlin rushed outside to see what the noise was, he saw Luna waiting outside for him.

"Luna, what are you doing here?" Merlin asked in shock.

"I came because I got your letter," Luna replied.

"But, Luna! You could have just sent a letter back!" Merlin exclaimed.

"Merlin, I couldn't just write a letter. I could see how upset you were," Luna replied as she showed Merlin his tear stained letter.

"I appreciate you coming," Merlin stated. "I hope you didn't ride the Knight Bus on my account."

"I didn't mind. Besides, I came because I wanted to give you something," Luna commented dreamily.

"What's that?" Merlin asked.

"This!" Luna exclaimed. Luna grabbed Merlin and kissed him passionately. Merlin thought he was about to burn up.

"I'm very sorry you had that nightmare," Luna said as she finished kissing Merlin. "But you never have to doubt that I love you."

"I never doubted it, but I just needed to hear it," Merlin replied. "I love you too."

"I'm glad to hear it," Luna replied.

"Can you stay for dinner?" Merlin asked.

"No, daddy doesn't have anyone to cook dinner for him so I better be getting back," Luna answered.

"Okay, I'll see you later, " Merlin whispered as he kissed Luna's cheek.

As Merlin started walking back to his house, he heard a second loud bang which signified Luna returning home. Merlin thought about the kiss Luna had given him and thought that there was no problem he couldn't overcome.