Merlin was back at Hogwarts, more specifically, back in the infirmary.
He sat beside a bed where his mother lay, pale and motionless. Helga stood nearby, casting spell after spell as she carefully assessed Freya's condition. When she finally finished, she let out a heavy sigh.
She turned to Merlin, her eyes filled with sympathy.
"Your mother will need to undergo several treatments" she said gently. "A few weeks of healing potions and blood-replenishing potions. They should repair the internal damage and prevent any possible infections."
Merlin swallowed hard.
"When…when will she wake up ?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.
Helga sighed again.
"That's difficult to say. The body is one thing, the mind is another. We can heal her physically, but until she wakes, we don't know the state of her mind, or how to treat it. For now, we'll focus on healing her body first."
Merlin nodded slowly, accepting her words.
"Thank you" he said quietly. "For everything you're doing for her."
Helga stepped closer and knelt down so she was at eye level with him. She gently cupped his face, her touch warm and reassuring.
"You don't need to thank us, Merlin" she said softly. "We'll make sure everything turns out well for both of you."
She paused, then continued:
"In the meantime, you can stay in one of the rooms in my house, along with the other students. At least until you're old enough to go through the Sorting Ceremony."
Merlin frowned slightly.
"Why can't I go through the ceremony now ?" he asked. "I'm already here."
Helga smiled patiently.
"Hogwarts' age of admission is eleven for a reason. That's when a child's magic stabilizes, when it's safe to begin formal training."
"You've exceeded every expectation for someone your age, your natural talent is extraordinary, but we can't change the rules for a single student."
She rested a hand on his shoulder.
"That said, you're free to enjoy everything the castle has to offer. The library, I noticed you seem to know how to read when I caught you looking at some of my books, and many other areas of the castle. It's far safer for you and your mother to remain here until we understand who is truly behind all of this."
Merlin nodded.
"Thank you, Miss Hufflepuff" he said once more.
She smiled at him warmly, then turned away, already reaching for her books as she resumed researching possible treatments.
—
Hours later, night had fully settled over Hogwarts. Inside the teachers' chamber, the Founders sat together, the atmosphere heavy as they discussed a grim possibility: a secret organization hunting witches and wizards across Great Britain.
The idea disturbed them deeply. They all knew persecution was nothing new, many kingdoms hunted their kind openly, and the magical community shrank with every passing year.
That had been the very reason the castle existed in the first place. Hogwarts was meant to be a refuge, a place to protect what remained.
They debated theories and possibilities, voices low but tense, until the door opened.
Salazar entered the room, and the conversation died instantly.
"Apologies for my delay" he said calmly. "I had a matter that required my attention."
Godric let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh.
"And what, exactly, could be more important than the possibility of a new organization hunting us down ?" he asked. "One that goes beyond the Church, no less ?"
Salazar's expression did not change.
"Certainty."
With that single word, he placed an object on the table.
It resembled a compass, but only at first glance. The casing was forged from dark, polished metal, engraved with intricate filigree and ancient markings along its rim. The lid was open, revealing an inner cover lined with deep crimson material, like silk or enchanted leather.
Beneath it lay the dial itself, concentric rings etched with runes and alchemical symbols, none of them used for cardinal directions. At its center rested a faceted gem, glowing an eerie green, pulsing faintly with light.
The needle, if it could be called that, was not a simple arrow, but a star-shaped pointer of silvered metal, trembling violently. The artifact emitted a sharp, insistent beeping, growing faster by the second, as if in agitation.
Rowena leaned closer, eyes narrowing with interest.
"What is that ?" she asked.
"I found it the night we discovered Merlin" Salazar replied. "In the same clearing. Near what remained of one of the hunters."
Silence fell.
"I've been studying it for days" he continued. "It bears runes and alchemical sigils woven together. This is no ordinary artifact. It's a tracker."
Helga's breath caught.
"A tracker…?" she whispered.
Salazar nodded.
"Designed specifically to detect magical blood."
The weight of those words settled heavily over the room. Helga paled, her hand tightening against the back of her chair. Godric stood abruptly, fury flashing across his face.
"And you didn't think this was important enough to share sooner ?!" he demanded.
Salazar met his glare without flinching.
"I needed to be certain. And among us, you know I understand alchemical artifacts better than any other."
He paused, then added pointedly:
"Or have you forgotten the cursed relics from Egypt ? The ones that nearly killed you until I deciphered how to reverse the enchantments by studying them ?"
Godric stiffened, then fell silent.
Helga straightened, her voice firm.
"That's enough. This isn't the time for old grievances. What matters is what we do now."
Godric exhaled sharply, reigning in his temper.
"I'll find whoever created that thing" he said, pointing at the compass. "Whoever they are."
Rowena nodded.
"I'll help Salazar analyze the runes more deeply. If we can trace their origin, we may find where this artifact came from.
Salazar's eyes darkened.
"Whoever made it… is one of us."
The room grew cold at his words. The implication hung unspoken but unmistakable.
A traitor.
After a moment, Godric cleared his throat.
"How is Merlin ? And his mother ?"
Helga tried to smile.
"Merlin has been given a room in Hufflepuff. He's safe. His mother…she's improving. Slowly, but she's stable."
Salazar's expression soured.
"I still don't think it's wise to keep a Muggle inside the castle" he said. "It's dangerous."
Rowena's gaze sharpened.
"That is not up for debate. Muggle or not, the information she may possess is valuable. And even if she knew nothing, we would not let her die."
Salazar's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening.
"Then don't come to me when this goes wrong.'
With that, he turned and left the chamber, the door closing heavily behind him.
Godric let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"He's my best friend" he muttered. "But he knows exactly how to get under my skin."
Helga softened slightly.
"I know" she said quietly. "We just need to be patient with Salazar."
But none of them truly believed patience alone would be enough anymore.