Merlin's latest class had just ended, and she was gathering a few parchments when Tet suddenly appeared beside her in his usual casual manner, his hands tucked behind his head and a mischievous smile on his face.
"Hey, Merlin," Tet greeted cheerfully, tilting his head slightly. "How's teaching going?"
Merlin looked up, her expression softening as a faint smile curved her lips. "Far better than usual, actually," she replied, brushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "These children are… surprisingly fun to teach. Far more than my two apprentices, at least." Her smile turned slightly amused, her violet eyes gleaming with quiet fondness. "I've even taken a shine to a couple of them — I may take them on as personal students." She waved her hand dismissively a moment later and added, "But enough about that. I assume you're here for a reason, yes?"
Tet nodded, letting his hands fall to his sides, his expression becoming just a touch more serious. "Yeah, I am. I came to let you know that I temporarily sent the other Sins to a world that desperately needs help… and I plan to send you there as well when summer begins — if you're fine with that."
Merlin arched an eyebrow, her curiosity instantly piqued. "Oh? Is there anything interesting about this world?" she asked, leaning lightly against her desk with her arms crossed, her tone playful but intrigued.
Tet smirked knowingly. "Well… there's a male version of you there," he said, pausing for effect, "and multiple female versions of King Arthur."
Merlin's eyes widened slightly before a slow, delighted grin spread across her face, her voice carrying a note of amusement. "Ohhh… in that case, I'd love to go," she purred, her expression practically glowing with mischief. "Messing with another me sounds entertaining, and the thought of seeing a gender-bent Arthur? Intriguing, to say the least." She gave Tet a sharp, calculating look. "Anything else I should know?"
Tet chuckled softly. "Yeah. Did you… do anything about Voldemort's soul fragment?"
Merlin straightened slightly, her grin fading into a more thoughtful expression. "Only the one inside Harry," she admitted calmly, her tone matter-of-fact. "Even though you said it would sort itself out eventually, I decided to deal with it early. Having something like that latched onto him would've been nothing but detrimental to his growth. If I had left it, the likelihood of him reaching his full potential would've been… slim."
Tet nodded approvingly, satisfied with her explanation. "Alright," he said with a faint smile. "Is there anything you want from me while I'm here?"
Merlin tapped a finger thoughtfully against her lips before replying, "Yes, actually. I'd like some of my students to experience real combat, but Dumbledore refuses to allow it unless I can provide an environment where they won't be in any actual danger." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned forward slightly. "Do you have any games that would work for the growth of young wizards?"
Tet's grin widened, his eyes gleaming faintly. "I've got two in mind. The first one will perfectly recreate Hogwarts and the surrounding lands from around a hundred years ago — during the goblin rebellion."
Merlin's interest deepened instantly.
"It'll be highly dangerous," Tet continued, his tone even, "with dark wizards and monsters lurking around every corner. But instead of recreating the full game, I'll just rebuild the world and its dangers — no fixed story, no scripted characters. You'll even be able to set your own tasks or goals for the students, and I can give you special items to hand out as rewards."
Merlin's lips curved into an approving smirk. "Hmm. Sounds promising. And the second one?"
Tet's playful grin shifted into something a little more serious. "The other one's a world full of death and danger around every single corner," he said bluntly, folding his arms. "I don't recommend putting students through it… but it might be perfect for you."
Merlin's eyes glimmered with unmistakable intrigue, her smirk widening as she reached out to take the two keys Tet produced. One bore the crest of Hogwarts, its metal faintly pulsing with magical energy, while the other was engraved with a glowing runic ring that hummed softly in her hand.
"Well," she said, studying the keys with growing excitement. "This is going to be… fun."
That night Harry was serving his detention with Merlin just like any other — the quiet, dimly lit classroom filled only with the soft scratching of quills and the occasional flicker of torchlight on the stone walls. Merlin sat perched elegantly at her desk, idly flipping through an old, leather-bound tome while Harry worked nearby, until she finally closed the book and turned her sharp eyes on him with a small, knowing smile.
"Alright, Harry," Merlin said smoothly, her voice calm but carrying a faint undertone of excitement. "Tonight, we're going to be doing something… a little different."
Harry straightened up, curiosity immediately sparking in his green eyes. "Different? Like what, Professor?" he asked, his tone laced with both caution and anticipation.
Merlin's lips curled into a mysterious grin as she leaned back slightly in her chair, resting her chin lightly against her hand. "You'll see soon enough," she replied cryptically. "But first, we need to wait for your friends to get here."
Harry blinked, tilting his head. "My… friends?" he repeated in confusion.
Before Merlin could answer, the classroom doors burst open with a loud slam. An out-of-breath Ron and Hermione came rushing in, Ron panting heavily while Hermione looked mildly frazzled.
"I'm sorry we're late, Professor!" Hermione blurted quickly, brushing a few stray curls from her face. "Ron wouldn't stop eating!"
"Hermione!" Ron spluttered, his ears going bright red as he shot her a betrayed look. "You didn't have to tell her that!"
Merlin's eyes softened as a musical laugh escaped her lips, a sound that instantly seemed to lighten the tension in the room. "It's quite alright, Ms. Granger," she said warmly, waving a hand in dismissal. "Come, both of you, join us."
Ron and Hermione walked up to the front of the classroom, still bickering quietly under their breath until they stood beside Harry. Merlin reached into her robes, and with a graceful motion, she revealed a golden, glowing key that pulsed faintly with magical energy.
"Alright, you three," she said, holding the key up so they could all see it. Her voice shifted into something more commanding, her presence filling the room. "Starting tomorrow, the third years will be using this to gain practical combat experience."
Hermione's brown eyes widened with immediate curiosity, the soft golden glow reflecting off them as she leaned closer to inspect it. "Professor… what does it do?" she asked breathlessly.
Merlin's lips curved into a slight smirk as she turned the key in her fingers, letting the magic radiate around her hand. "This key," she began, "simulates another version of Hogwarts… along with its surrounding lands. But this won't be the Hogwarts you know. It will be filled with monsters, dark wizards, and countless dangers." Her gaze sharpened, settling on each of them in turn. "And the three of you are going to help me test it and fine-tune the system."
Ron's jaw dropped slightly, Harry's expression brightened with excitement, and Hermione's hands twitched faintly like she was already itching to take notes.
"Do well," Merlin added, her smile turning sly, "and I'll personally reward each of you."
Harry was the first to snap out of his daze, stepping forward eagerly. "What do we need to do, Professor?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.
Merlin chuckled softly, pleased by his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're all excited," she said, lowering the glowing key into her palm, "but keep something very important in mind." Her tone grew serious, her piercing gaze locking onto theirs. "While you will be safe and nothing inside the simulation can truly kill you, you will still feel pain. And if you suffer what would be considered a killing blow, the system will immediately kick you out."
She let her words hang in the air for a moment before finishing in a calm but firm voice:
"So, treat it exactly as you would a real life-or-death situation."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged determined glances before turning back to her, their expressions hardened with resolve.
"We understand, Professor," they said in unison.
Merlin smiled faintly, satisfied with their response. "Good," she said softly, the golden key shimmering brightly in her hand. "We will begin as soon as Professor McGonagall and headmaster Dumbledore arrives ."
A few moments later, Professor McGonagall arrived along with Dumbledore. The stern but composed Transfiguration professor gave a small nod before saying in her crisp, polite tone, "I am sorry for the delay, Professor Ambrosius. Dinner ran a bit long."
Merlin smiled warmly, resting a hand on her hip as she replied with a soft chuckle, "That's all right, Professors. I only just finished informing the students." She then straightened slightly, her expression turning more focused as she addressed the group. "Now then, once we're inside, each of us professors will take one of you and give you a test. If you can complete it, you will receive a high-level spell directly from the professor who gave you the challenge."
Her gaze swept over the students, eyes glimmering with intrigue, before she turned to her fellow professors. "Now, my fellow professors… who do you wish to accompany?"
The first to speak was Professor Dumbledore. Stroking his long silver beard thoughtfully, his piercing blue eyes softened as he said in his calm, measured voice, "If the two of you don't mind, I believe I shall take young Harry."
Harry's face lit up at that, a small but proud smile forming as excitement bubbled in his chest.
Next, Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses with a slight sniff and declared, "I shall supervise Mister Weasley."
Ron visibly stiffened at her words and tried very hard not to let out an audible groan, his shoulders sagging slightly as he muttered under his breath.
Merlin caught the reaction but only grinned slyly before continuing, "Then I'll take Miss Granger."
Hermione's eyes widened ever so slightly, and though she tried her hardest to maintain a composed demeanor, the spark of uncontainable excitement in her expression was impossible to hide.
"Very well," Merlin said at last, her voice firm and brimming with anticipation. She held up the golden, rune-engraved key, its glow intensifying in her palm. "Let's begin."
With a soft hum of magic, she activated the key. In an instant, a brilliant flash of golden light enveloped the room, and in the blink of an eye, the six of them vanished, leaving the classroom silent and empty behind them.
When they all next opened their eyes, they were standing in Hogwarts' Great Hall, but the décor and style were far older than they remembered. Despite its age, the hall somehow felt less ancient and yet more alive, as though the very walls were breathing with history and magic.
Dumbledore slowly spun in a wide circle, his piercing blue eyes sparkling with childlike wonder as he took in every detail. Then, with a sudden burst of unrestrained glee, he laughed loudly, the sound echoing beautifully through the enchanted chamber.
"My word!" he exclaimed, beaming brighter than anyone had seen in years. "It's just like when I was a boy! The Great Hall looks exactly as it did when I was a first-year!" He turned to Merlin, his expression overflowing with awe and nostalgia. "Professor Ambrosius, well done! But… how did you know?"
Merlin, quick on her feet, offered a calm, clever smile and smoothly replied, "I traveled to the surrounding villages, and some of the older residents volunteered their memories when I told them about my project." She tilted her head slightly, studying Dumbledore's delighted expression. "Do you like it, Headmaster?"
"Like it?" Dumbledore said, eyes glimmering as his smile widened. "I love it!" Then he clapped his hands together excitedly. "But let's get started! What comes first?"
With a small wave of her hand, Merlin pointed behind Dumbledore to a nearby table. Upon it rested six journals—three bound in rich brown leather with golden clasps and three in black leather with silver clasps. With a flick of her fingers, the journals floated gently into the air. The black journals landed softly in the hands of the professors, while the brown ones glided over to the students.
"These," Merlin said with a flourish, "are Field Guides—enchanted journals that record any piece of useful information their owner learns. Once you open it and sign your name, all your current knowledge will be recorded inside, and only you will be able to see it."
Dumbledore, practically glowing with curiosity, wasted no time. He eagerly flipped open his black journal, signed his elegant signature across the first page, and gasped softly as the once-blank parchment suddenly filled with a torrent of knowledge—every scrap of information he had learned throughout his life, perfectly preserved.
Turning a page with twinkling eyes, he murmured, "Marvelous… absolutely marvelous. It even contains a map that tracks our current location!" He tapped the page thoughtfully. "And if I'm not mistaken… we can use these to communicate from a distance as well?"
Merlin gave a small, approving nod. "Correct. It also keeps track of your current tasks and reminds you of the next step if you lose your way."
McGonagall, holding her journal delicately, raised an eyebrow and said with quiet amazement, "This is fantastic… Having something like this would be immensely useful to the students. Professor Ambrosius, do you think you could reproduce these in reality?"
Merlin smiled warmly and shook her head slightly. "No need, Professor. The books can be taken outside. They are yours to keep. Anyone who participates in this simulation will receive one."
Dumbledore's face lit up at that, his grin nearly mischievous. "Wonderful! In that case, I may have to consider allowing first- and second-years to participate… though we'll have to give them safer tasks."
Merlin stroked her chin thoughtfully, her expression turning pensive. "Perhaps we can recruit some of the older students to volunteer as chaperones."
McGonagall's lips curved into a pleased, approving smile. "An excellent idea, Professor Ambrosius. We could even offer House Points or extra privileges as incentives to encourage volunteers."
Dumbledore clapped his hands together once more, his energy infectious. "Perfect! I'll make the arrangements as soon as possible. Now then… what comes next?"
Merlin turned her gaze toward a large bulletin board against the far wall and gestured toward it. "Now, we need only assign tasks to the students. We can make one up ourselves… or choose from the ones listed on the board."
Everyone walked together toward the board, scanning the dozens of parchment flyers posted there. After only a few moments of studying them, McGonagall's sharp eyes locked onto a particular notice. Without hesitation, she snatched the flier off the board and announced firmly, "Mr. Weasley will perform this task." Her tone brooked no argument as she added briskly, "Come along, Mr. Weasley," before marching toward the exit.
Ron groaned under his breath, dragging his feet as he reluctantly followed her.
Dumbledore, meanwhile, studied the board carefully for several moments before a sparkle lit his eyes. "Professor Ambrosius," he said, turning toward Merlin, "are there any brooms?"
Merlin nodded casually. "Yes, in the equipment shed near the Quidditch field."
"Excellent," Dumbledore replied with an enthusiastic grin. "Come, Harry—I know exactly what you'll be doing."
Harry's face lit up with excitement, and he quickly responded, "Yes, Professor!" before hurrying after Dumbledore as they departed the hall.
Merlin then turned toward Hermione, her expression softening into something far more serious. "Well, Ms. Granger," she began, "I have something in mind for you—but it will not be easy. Do you think you can handle it?"
Hermione straightened her posture, her face determined and eyes burning with resolve. "Yes, Professor. Just tell me what I need to do."
Merlin's lips curved into a proud smile, nodding approvingly. "Good attitude. Let's go."
And with that, the two of them left the Great Hall together, the simulation now truly underway.
In Tet's realm, Tet and Hestia were lounging comfortably in the living room, watching events unfold at Hogwarts through a large, floating screen shimmering with golden light. Tet leaned back lazily against the couch, his legs stretched out as he rested his chin on his hand, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
"Well," Tet said casually, his tone playful and curious, "I wonder what's gonna happen with this year's big event."
Hestia, sitting cross-legged beside him while sipping on a cup of tea, raised an eyebrow and turned her head toward him. "What event, Tet?" she asked, her tone curious.
Tet glanced at her with a sly little smile. "Oh, just… originally, Harry was supposed to fight a massive, thousand-year-old basilisk to the death."
Hestia's eyes immediately widened, and she nearly dropped her cup as her voice pitched into a near panic. "What?! A basilisk?! In a school?!" Her fiery gaze locked onto Tet, demanding answers.
Tet waved a hand dismissively, as though it were no big deal. "Relax, relax. It's going to be taken care of," he said with a casual shrug, clearly entertained by her reaction.
But before Tet could continue, he suddenly froze. A firm hand gripped his shoulder, and an unfamiliar chill ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned his head—and his eyes went wide when he saw Artemis standing behind him, arms folded, her narrowed silver eyes gleaming dangerously beneath her bangs. Her expression was calm… far too calm… and her lips curved into a sharp, unsettling grin that made even a god like Tet uneasy.
"A thousand-year-old basilisk, you say?" Artemis asked softly, her voice smooth but laced with a deadly undertone. She leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze locking on him. "Interesting. Tell me more."
Tet forced out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. "S-sure," he said, his smile stiff and slightly strained.