Chapter 23: Theories

The next day, Lucy awoke in her own bed at Spinners end and she yawned. She was so tired and had had a terrible dream. Snape had told her that she had to defeat Lord Zuc and she was Merlin's descendant. 

But then Lucy sat up and pulled an awkward face because she realised that that wasn't a dream; it was real. Lucy sat up and saw there was a single present at the end of her bed, she picked it up and saw there was a single note on top of it: 

Dear Lucy 

I've had to go to Headquarters for an urgent meeting, don't even try and come looking for me because you'll be in deep trouble. 

I hope you like the gift I got for you, you may find it very useful...

Merry Christmas 

- Dad 

Lucy frowned and put the note to one side, she then began tearing open the wrapping paper to get to her gift. When she had torn off all the wrapping paper and thrown it down by the side of her bed, she looked at the present. It was a book. On the front it said: 

Merlin and Sebastian theories

(All you need to know about the two of the most famous people ever!) 

"You have got to be kidding, dad..." Lucy muttered and opened the inside cover of the book and found Snape had written her another note: 

This book was only published yesterday, the news that you're Merlin's descandant has spread pretty quickly...goodness knows how they found out (McGuire is probably the one that's guilty, I can assure you that only the people in Headquarters know.) It has mention of you in the book and you might just be surprised as to what you'll find in here. 

Lucy rolled her eyes, what was in this book Lucy had probably heard from Zuc anyway. What didn't Zuc tell her? He'd shown her Anastasia Garcia's death, he's shown her she was Merlin's descendant...what else was there to know? 

Lucy flicked to the first page under the bold heading of 'Merlin' and scanned the page quickly before deciding that it was in fact, worth reading:

Merlin. He's known all over the Wizarding world. But do we exactly know what he's famous for? Have we actually defined the reason why we his name when we're shocked? (Merlin's beard! See page 188.) What on earth did Merlin do to get his name so well known?

Well, due to recent events we know he plays a key role in something to do with 'the Tale of the Knights' (see page 300.) He has also played a major role in the place we do not know if it is fact or fiction; the medieval islands (see page 246.)

Some people have even considered Merlin was a myth himself! That was until we discovered that he  may be real. Because, it has come to our attention that Lucy Snape (see page 50) has claimed that she is the descendant of Merlin. Is she right? She could be. She along with Shona McGuire (see page 89) and Severus Snape (see page 55) her father, are trying to plotting Zuc's downfall (see page 60.)

Lucy looked up the page a little and turned to the page that held 'the Tale of the Knights' and began reading. It had one extract from the Tale of the Knights that Lucy knew already. The rest of the page told Lucy the basics of the Tale of the Knights and how Zuc, Lucy and Merlin linked into it. 

Sebastian is a mystery to us, though. (Lucy read on.) Could he have a descendant too? Or is it purely Merlin? Could Sebastian's descendants have died out or are they still out there? If so, why are they not making their way to find Lucy Snape and help her with her journey?

"I am not going to kick Shona out of the gifted just because she's not a descendant..." Lucy spat and then she gasped.

Could it be true?

Lucy closed the book quickly and ran downstairs with it, she picked up the phone and dialed Shona's number. It rang for a while before the phone was answered. 

"McGuire residence," Shona yawned. 

"Shona, I think that we need to talk." Lucy hissed sharply.

"Does it mean getting out of bed? I'm tired..."

"You're not up yet? It's Christmas!"

"Oh yeah, I've got a basket of cares..." Shona paused. "Oh look, it's empty." 

"Look. As soon as dad gets home from Headquarters, I'm coming over to your house. We really need to talk."

"I'll try and drag myself out of bed by then, see you soon." And with that, Shona hung up.

Lucy put the phone down and went over and sat on the window ledge, Snape had to be home soon. He promised he'd be here...but he'd broken promises before. Lucy looked down at the book Snape had given her then looked under the Christmas tree where there were a few more presents for her. As well as the present she had bought for Snape. 

Lucy turned back to the window and stared at the snow, she waited there for an hour and Snape still didn't arrive home. Instead, Shona walked up the path to her house and hammered on the door. Lucy got up and answered it. 

"You took a while, so I thought I'd come over," Shona said. "Where's Snivels?" 

"Still at the meeting."

"Oh..." Shona said awkwardly. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about, anyway?" 

"About Merlin." 

Shona frowned. "Why's that?"

"Remember Merlin had a friend called Sebastian? What if Sebastian has a descendant too?" Lucy held up the book then flicked to the page where she had been told about if there was a descendant of Sebastian. "They say the descendant of Sebastian should be helping Merlin's descendant in trying to defeat Lord Zuc..." 

"Well, you better go and find them and I better get out of here..." Shona turned towards the door but Lucy placed a hand on Shona's shoulder and spun her around. "What if we don't need to? What if she's already helping Merlin's descendant?" 

Shona looked baffled for a moment but then suddenly understood. "No, that's impossible! There's no proof!" 

"There's proof, you're part of the gifted, you found the orb, you found Merlin's sword, you're helping me just like Sebastian helped Merlin. You've got to believe you're part of this, Shona, you've helped us so much. Think of all the stuff you've done to help us! You're not a third wheel in this." 

"Are you sure I'm really Sebastians descendant?" 

"I really think you are, you're more Sebastian's descendant than anybody!" 

"Alright, I believe you...but what if I'm not?" 

"It doesn't matter, you're still worthy of the gifted." Lucy smiled just as Snape arrived but he paused just as he walked into the living room

"Have you found out?" Snape asked, his eyes flittered to the book. 

"Found out what? That I'm Sebastian's descendant?" Shona asked proudly. 

"Yes, that's good..." Snape muttered and then went into the kitchen and busied himself by pouring out some wine. He then walked back in the room and thrust a bag of presents in her hand. "They're from people at Headquarters." 

"Oh OK, thanks." Lucy said awkwardly, suddenly feeling sorry for Shona for she hadn't gotten any presents from her family. 

"Must be nice to have Christmas with family and get presents," Shona muttered to herself sadly. 

*     *     * 

"Out! Out! Out! You do not belong in the teachers carriages!" Lucy yelled at some first years on the Hogwarts train. It was the new year and everyone was on the Hogwarts train heading back to school.

"Neither do you!" One retorted. 

Lucy advanced on him, making him quake in fear. "I am Professor Snape's daughter, Merlin's descendant and a prefect. I have every right to be here. Now get out of here before I make sure you get a detention!" 

The two first years fleed back to the students carriages as Snape opened his carriage door and scowled at Lucy. 

"Stop using the 'Merlin's descendant' title as an advantage, it doesn't do anything good." Snape rolled his eyes. 

"Like you wouldn't do exactly the same thing," Lucy smiled and Snape ignored her and walked down to the bar and Lucy walked down to the student carriages. 

"Oh, look! Merlin's descendant strutting around like she owns the place!" A voice full of venom said behind Lucy's back. Lucy whipped around and saw Draco Malfoy standing there, his face was twisted into a foul grin that pierced into Lucy. 

"Shove off, Malfoy, go pander to Umbridge." Lucy spat back. "I'm sure she's very proud that you're part of the Inquisitorial squad." 

"Yes, she is. You aren't far wrong there, Snape, that'll be a first that you get something right...you really think that you're going to defeat Lord Zuc, don't you?" (Lucy sneered.) "My father says you couldn't even kill a house elf let alone one of the biggest threats to the Wizarding world...It'll be fun to see you get chopped in half by Lord Zuc's sword." 

"And it'll also be fun to see your little face when daddy gets hurt by Lord Voldemort." 

"Shut up!" Malfoy hissed. "You think you're powerful enough to say his name!" 

"It doesn't do any good to fear a name." Lucy smirked and pushed passed Malfoy and began patrolling the corridors again. 

"Move out the way, Sebastian's descendant coming through!" Shona screamed on the other side of the train. She had her hands on her hips, her sleeves were rolled up as she strutted past many compartments. She had made her trousers longer to avoid humiliation. She couldn't afford to buy anymore when she knew she'd grow again anytime soon.

"I didn't know we had royalty on the train!" Ginny laughed as she passed Shona to get some sweets from the trolley. 

"You'll find Merlin's descendant on the train too! But of course, we don't need to worry about her! Come get your autographs from the famous Sebastian's descendant!" Shona called back to Ginny. 

"Keep quiet!" George laughed as Shona entered the compartment and sat down next to Harry. 

"Hello, boys." Shona said to Harry, Fred and George. She then turned to Fred. "You think you're all cool for dating Merlin's descendant but Sebastian's descendant is much more famous." 

"No thanks, you're not my type." Fred laughed and gave George a high five. 

"Oh, you're more descendant of Merlin types who have visions about Zuc and sob about them." Shona sighed. "Just kidding! Lucy's fine...except she's not as famous as me." 

"Talking about me where you?" Lucy asked she stepped into the compartment, her prefects badge catching her light that was pinned to her school clothes. 

"Oh! Yes we were!" Shona's eyes widened. "The one who has the power to defeat Lord Zuc!" 

"No, stop it..." Lucy said in an ashamed voice just as Ron and Hermione came into the compartment and sat themselves down. "Everyone thinks that I can't defeat Lord Zuc." 

"I think you can," Harry said wisely. 

"Thanks, Harry," Lucy said although she didn't feel any better. 

"I think you can, too," Ron agreed. "I mean, you're quite good at those spells..." 

"I need a lot more practice." 

"And so do all of us," Hermione piped up. "Even I do, I'm still not perfect at the Reducto spell." 

"Oh really? You knocked me off my feet!" Ron retorted. 

"Not helping, Ronald..." 

"Like Hermione said, we all need a bit of practice." George said as he sat down below the window with his twin. "We're not perfect at everything. I mean, I don't know any other student at Hogwarts who's as good as you at potions." 

"Yeah! And remember that time when you found the Tale of the Knights on your own?" Fred joined in. "If you didn't find that, you wouldn't be where you are today." 

"We wouldn't have a clue about Merlin and Sebastian." Shona said and began eating some of Ron's every flavoured beans. 

"Or that we're their descendants," Lucy smiled and turned to the book, that Snape had given her, in her hands. 

"Exactly! We're all good at something! Even Ron is!" Fred smiled. 

"Really?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food. 

"Yeah! I've never seen anyone eat so much!" 

Everyone laughed but then calmed down as Lucy spoke. "I guess that we can still improve, we've all got plenty of time but we still don't know what's around the corner. Zuc could break the portal tomorrow." 

"But you'll see it happen, won't you?" Hermione said. "You're the one that sees the visions. You can always tell your dad or Shona...it's not as though you're alone in this. You're part of the gifted and help is always at hand." 

"You've even got Angus!" Fred grinned as he picked Lucy's cat up and handed him to her. "He's a pretty awesome cat." 

"Dad thinks otherwise," Lucy rolled her eyes and they all laughed nervously as they all had no idea what was going to be around the corner and what would happen to all of them in the future. "I guess we'll be at Hogwarts soon, I'm going to find dad," Lucy announced before walking off to the teachers carriages. 

As she walked there, she couldn't stop thinking about the thing that scared her most, now. 

She had to defeat Lord Zuc. 

People were unhappy that a fifteen year old girl who barely knew what she was doing was going to have to protect the Wizarding world from Lord Zuc. She wasn't exactly reliable and anything could go wrong. 

And the more insults she recieved, the less Lucy thought she could do it.