((OOC: I t is working for now- I will give it a try))

"I'm glad you have friends like Paul and his family. I wish I had friends like that...but well I'm pretty much a loner." He nervously laughed. "This is the first time I spend so much time with people, I normally kept to myself, my books, and my pets." He caressed his tiny owl's wings as he said those words. "I'm happy with them at least." Then Merlin remembered something about the disguise. "Well Magnus you are lucky and very sneaky if you can get out without disguise, but I always had to make an excuse when found, so I started dressing as an old man. I can do a potion to look older, it last a few minutes since I only take a bit." He laughs. "But nothing like that job the black flower did on me! No, no,no! I don't want to be that old if I'm going to hurt all over!"

Tamsin smirks. "You must be pretty good with potions if that's the case, those are tricky to make. Where you get the ingredients? Do you steal them from school?" She was grinnin.

"No, I happen to get them here in the forest." He flipped his hair. "And yes I am quite good with potions, like my mother - she teaches me lots."

"Drew, if you need help I can help. I kinda remember you saying something about not knowing much since you are from muggle parents, or am I wrong? Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's actually quite interesting."

"What do you mean, you wish?" Magnus said, "What do I look like, chopped Magnus? Dude, I expect to 'ang with you at least at some point during the 'oliday. The dragon farm man. You and Paul'll be 'aveing a blast."

Magnus laughed, "Well maybe I'm just too small and am overlooked? Actually I just kinda slink over to the edge when no one's lookin' and slip in. But I've been sneaking off on me own since 5 so maybe thats part of the reason?" He shrugged his shoulders.

Merlin blushed. "Oh right! I haven't forgotten about that! I can bring Meolc and I can turn into dragon and try communicate with the ones at the farm! I'm so excited!"

Tam pouts. "So, can I come too?"

Merlin smiles. "Only if Mag invites you." He sticks his tongue out.

Merlin laughed at the small comment. "It's not like I'm much bigger than you - I am really small for my age, everyone else is taller and I'm the dwarf." He listened and nods. "You are more experienced, and faster too. Unfortunately I am too noisy because I keep tripping on stuff, even my own feet!"

"Well, this is my first time exploring in the forest," Drew said. "And I really haven't explored much around the lake. And...you guys are going to think I'm weird, but...I haven't ever really been in Hogsmeade other than when I got here. We bought all my supplies and stuff in Diagon Alley and so I explored there. I'm looking forward to the workshop about Hogsmeade."

"Half muggle, Merls," Drew said with a smile. "Dad is about as average Muggle as they come...though he did fall in love with a witch, so not too average I guess." He chuckled. "Mum is a pureblood witch from a long line of purebloods and a whiz at magic. I've read about history of magic, spells, charms, potions, you name it...but reading and doing are two different things. Since I didn't have a wand until I started Hogwarts I'm a bit behind. I'll be glad of your help, my friend," he smiled.

"That'll be awesome. Its fine by me if you wanna come Tams. Might let you ride some too. They 'ave some that aren't so wild. Mostly a lotta Welsh dragons but given Mum's parents live in Wales its not really surprising." He grinned, "Well tripping is totally not gonna 'elp with the stealthiness."

"Hogsmede is awesome, you'll love it! You'll catch up, don't worry."

"I hope I will catch up soon," Drew said. "I can't wait to be able to just flick my wand and have something cool actually happen...cooler than floating a feather," he clarified. "But I guess I have to start somewhere."

As his friends discussed the dragon farm, Drew smiled. "It might not be as exciting as dragons, but I'd love it if you could all visit me at the manor some," he invited.

Merlin smiled at Drew. "You know if it makes you feel any better, I have never been into Hogsmade or Diagon Alley until I had to come to school. I have never visit any place either, I was secluded in my little village so I'm quite ignorant to lots of things. I'm learning."

"I would go then, make sure to send me an owl when the time comes." Tamsin smiled, she really wanted to spend time with them again.

"Ah so your mom is a witch! Must be weird to have a muggle and a witch as parents, normal for you but don't they contradict in their ways?" Merlin smiled sadly. "I wish I knew my dad...but I guess he didn't care about me or my mom so." He shrugs. "If I ever have a child, I won't abandon him or her."

"That's very sweet Merlin and the right thing to do. You are no man if you can't be responsible." Tamsin was glad Merls had his head in the right place, and mostly his heart. "You are good boy, hope you have a few kids in the future."

"Oh, one is enough." He giggles. "I'll be too busy with my dragons."

"Well look at it this way, even the most famous wizard started out small," Magnus said, "but eventually you'll get to even more cooler things. I'm pretty sure I can visit both ya, though I might 'ave to go with one o' the adults. I'll 'ave to ask. Depends on 'ow they are feeling. At one point two terms ago, both folks were thinking of pulling me from school."

Magnus gave Merlin a hug. "I'm glad you won't. We don't know what 'appened to me birth parents. So parents could've abandoned me. Police found me in a pram at night alone. Not a soul around."

EDIT: He smiled at Tamsin, "It'll be fun 'aving you around."

Drew smiled and shrugged. "You're right that it's not weird to me, Merls. And they don't really contradict. When we were in Virginia, Mum hid it more since we lived with more Muggles around, but she still did pretty much everything with magic at home. Dad has always been fascinated with it, so it doesn't bother him. Now that we're here and live several miles away from our nearest neighbor, it's mostly magic all the time, in and out of the house. My uncle said it's about time Mum educated us all. Personally I think she's done a great of it already while she was homeschooling us."

He bit his lip and grew quiet as his friends spoke of not having or at least not knowing their parent or parents. Drew felt a little bad for having his pretty normal life. He looked over at Magnus and asked quietly, "Why would they pull you from school?"

Merlin was excited to have another invitation. "I would love to go! I just need permission. Would we meet your dad? I don't know any muggles yet! I am very curious about them, but I promise not to ask too many questions or make him feel uncomfortable. I'll be a good observer."

Merlin felt sad to know about Magnus parents being lost. "Maybe they didn't abandon you, what if..they were killed? Like you say, you don't know. Maybe whoever left you there was not even one of your parents." Merlin was thoughtful. "Maybe my dad didn't abandon me and died too, but mom won't tell me a thing. Maybe I even know him."

Tamsin smiles. "I'll do my best to make it fun." She looks ahead. "This path never ends, why it seems farther now? Are we walking in circles Merls?"

"No, we are just walking slower since it is night and we are tired." He pointed ahead. "A little more ahead is the place you blew up before with serkets, so it won't be too long now."

Chuckling at Merlin's excitement, Drew nodded. "Oh yes, Dad will be there. And he doesn't mind questions at all, so ask all you want. Knowing him, he'll have some of his own for you. He calls it research and who knows, you could wind up being in his next book." He grinned at his friend. "I'm glad you both want to come," he smiled and looked at Tamsin. "You can come too, you know, Tams. When I said all, it included you."

At Merlin's suggestion of what happened to Magnus and Merlin's parents, Drew said, "They could have been heroes and died getting you to safety. Or maybe you were kidnapped by an evil nursemaid and they could never find you. I'm sure there are all sorts of things that could have happened that don't involve you being abandoned."

Merlin was even more excited now. "I can ask questions! Yey! So your dad is a writer? I want to write my own magic book in the future when I discover many more magical secrets and much more about dragons and creatures. So I want to make at least two books. But not until I finish researching, studying, and turn into a great wizard like Dumbledore or Merlin himself! Haha! I probably sound crazy and naive- to become like them there is a really long way to go. But...I'll be just me."

Tamsin smiled at Drew. "Thanks, I'll do my best to fit my schedule to visit both of you."

"I would invite you all to my home but I can't- it's forbidden to bring outsiders. It's sad because I'm sure you would love it." He was thoughtful for a moment. "I can ask, who knows?!"

[Edit] ((I have to go to sleep! I forgot the time! Take care, sweet dreams.))

(night Merls)

Magnus listened to Drew and was smiling. "Oh, parents freaked when I did the werewolf session and turned in front of the Care of Magical Creatures club. Paul, Dad and two co-workers were with them. I slammed into the cage and broke me rib--couldn't breathe when I shifted back. Dad gave me the Draught of Living Death and kept me out o' it for the rest of the shift. Every adult freaked out and didn't want to let me go back to school."

Magnus shrugged at Merlin. "Who knows. It seems odd, seeing the pram was an expensive one and me name was embrodiered on a baby blanket. Dad said there was a wizard family go missing about the time I was found. The muggles made up a birthday based on age and all." He gave Merlin a smile. "Most o' us made up what 'appened. I decided left me in the muggle world to save me life and they are out there somewhere lookin'. "

"Ooh book writing would be cool, Merlin." Magnus gave Merlin a smile, "If you can't, don't worry. I could take ya around London or you could see me 'ome."

((night Merls! Sleep well!))

"Yep, both my parents write, but vastly different things," Drew smiled. "Dad does mostly children books...what the Muggles consider to be fantasy because he puts in things about magic and magical creatures that the Muggle world doesn't believe or know exists. Mum is mostly a teacher, but while we were in America she served as a professor of history at a Muggle school and also wrote some historical factual stuff that got published and then she did lectures about it in several more schools."

Drew's eyes widened at Magnus' tale. "Dang!!" he said. "I bet that was scary and way painful for you with your rib." He frowned slightly though. "You would think that the adults would have understood things better. I mean it's not like Paul and your dad were going to leave you. I might not know much about werewolves, but I would think you need to protect the one changing just as much if not more than the rest of the people around."

((it's about time for me to call it a night too unfortunately))

(night)

He shrugged. "I'm used ta pain and stuff. I mean watching Dad try to get outta their grips and wanna get into the cage was kinda wild. But being in Dad's arms not able ta breath was kinda scary. And yeah I know they ain't gonna leave me under that potion but still didn't like taking it." He turned confused and shook his head. "No they did protect me but I did it without the wolfsbane potion. I was a full werewolf. There's only so much they can do when I'm like that. No, they were great. I wanted to let everyone see a real werewolf shift and observe. Paul and Dad were just scared and won't let me do it again for another club. Normal shifting is a nicely warm room, with a bed and games and such, under wolfsbane potion."

Merlin was shocked with Magnus story, it must have been very painful and scary situation but locking people away is never the best solution. "Glad you came back to school." Was all he could master saying since he had no idea what else he could say to such hard situations.

After listening about how he was found, Merlin could feel that he was loved. "If you were in such a nice pram, I am sure you were loved, and probably losing you was very painful for your parents, and maybe it was their way of showing you their love- setting you free. Since the circumstances are unknown...I would prefer to think the best instead of the worse. I try to do that with my dad, yet I can't help to think sometimes that he left me and mom behind."

Merlin nods. "That would be nice, we can meet in Diagon Alley or we could go to see one of those muggles plays I've heard about - maybe we can have a laugh."

Merlin had his eyes wide open while listening to Drew. "AH! So your dad writes about magic for the muggles! That's super cool!" Merlin couldn't imagine a witch teaching muggles history, it must have been very hard to control the need to use magic in class. "Your mom is tough, I couldn't live a day without using magic if I was her. Back home I am constantly moping over the fact that I can't use magic." He smiled. "Mom takes my wand away, to keep me from temptation."

Merlin was still listening to Magnus. "I wouldn't accept to be used on any club, I would feel like a circus freak. Of course, you had the best intention but still..I find it a bit cruel."

Tamsin smiled at Merlin. "I'm sure they didn't mean it that way Merls, just informative sessions. We can't learn if we don't know."

Merlin nods but still didn't liked that his friend was in a cage and put down with potions, even when they had no choice.

Roree shivered as she ambled towards the group. She was lucky she remembered to wear a hat, gloves, and a scarf, but she was thoroughly annoyed that her friend's cat hat torn apart her new coat. She had a go and almost tore the feline apart. Luckily for the cat, her friend stepped in just in time. Aurora must have looked like a crazy person, madly pointing her wand at the cat. Her wand hand had been shaking, she was so furious.

Roree tried to shake that all out of her mind. No need to taint everyone else's mood. Plus, it is such a lovely day, she thought bitterly. What could possibly go wrong.

"Dad and Mum were being overprotective. I mean they've only 'ad me for a short time." Magnus shook his head, "No no... I chose to do it guys. I was the captain of the club. I 'ad to convince dad and they spent months getting everything prepared. It was me choice to put meself in a cage and let everyone watch me become an un-potioned werewolf. I mean with the wolfsbane it would've okay, but a true werewolf... 'Ow often do people getta see a real werewolf safely and live? Tamsin's right, it were for information. I was the one who asked to do it in a cage so all could see. Dad just knocked me out after the 'ealer got me stabilized cos 'e didn't want me in anymore pain thats all."

Magnus shrugged. "Magnus isn't a normal name so might've been wizard. I'm used to it being so unknown. I mean I'd like to know but it probly ain't gonna 'appen. Still I know me new parents wanted me and that I keep being reminded of. They picked me even knowing I was a werewolf. You should see the werewolf room. Its huge and got tons of things to do in there. Hell, Dad even put in a trampoline. There's a bed, books, games, you name it."

Magnus smiled, "I like the idea of picking the most positive thought for your dad. I probly needa do that more... look more positive." Then Magnus started talking excitedly, "Oh London is great, there's so much ta see and the plays are good...well the two I've been ta... and they 'ave movies too which is like our pictures that movie only they 'ave sound and they tell a story--like a play. THere's museums and little cafes and sweet shops... Diagon Ally is amazing too. You'd like all the stuff they 'ave there. Oh It'd be so cool to take you lot around and show you."

((OCC: we are all on our way back to the castle, chatting.))

Drew listened to Magnus explain in more detail about what had gone on. He couldn't help but agree a bit with Merlin, but he did see the point and said, "Well it's true that seeing a real werewolf, at least a full one, is pretty much a once in a lifetime thing." He smiled as Magnus described the room. "that sounds amazing, Mags! So werewolves like trampolines?" he teased.

"And yes, Diagon Alley is awesome! I mean the plays and movies are great, but I was more used to them, so for me it was the magic part that seemed the best."

Drew chuckled at Merlin's comments and said, "I have a feeling Mum will have to take my wand too. And she didn't stop doing magic entirely...just when she wasn't at home. We knew if she'd had a bad day because she would pull out her wand and spell the door open with a bang. I remember once she was really ticked over some students and she kinda overdid it...blew the door right off the hinges," he grinned. "Dad was a bit shocked and he was making all these suggestions of how to fix it and Mum says, 'Oh for Merlin's sake, Richard, get out of the way!!If I did it with magic, I will fix it the same way' and she uses a spell to repair everything and then goes to make herself some tea. It's not a good thing to get Mum mad...the Scottish blood and auburn hair kick in big time!"

"Yeah most who get that close either die or become one." Magnus shrugged, "Its kinda 'ard to jump on 'em like that if I'm being 'onest."

"I swear me first time in Diagon Ally I wished I 'ad about 30 set o' eyes. Even after going so much, it still 'asn't lost its magic." He giggled at Drew talking about his mother and father. It sounded cute to him.