Chapter Text
“What are we looking for here, Sherlock?” John sighs, watching Sherlock spin around the lanes and grab random books, stacking them high in his arms.
“Research, John.”
“Yeah but researching what exactly?”
“Murder, crimes, dark leaders, the usual.”
“The usual, of course.” He mutters back sarcastically, following the excited whirlwind.
John glances around sheepishly as Sherlock slams down the heavy tomes of books onto the oak desk, and the pair receive glares of annoyance from surrounding tables.
“Sherlock, keep it down!” John hisses to him, going to stand by his side.
“Why? This case is much more important than a few pointless OWLs.”
At this, Madame Pince swoops over to them and lowers herself to their level. She places a finger on her lip and shushes them, spraying gooey spit over their faces.
“Say it, don't spray it,” Sherlock says to her retreating back, and then looks down to sort out the books into piles of importance.
She doesn't turn around, but John sees her body tense up as she continues to slip around silently, peering over student's shoulders, and shooing louder ones out.
They both slide out a chair and sit down, John staring confusedly at the array of books Sherlock had grabbed. Twenty in total, they ranged from The Properties Of Water Insects, to How To Teach Your Owl To Do Tricks.
“And your choice for these books are...”
“Well, John, I haven't the faintest idea about what we're dealing with, and so we will flick through these books until we find any relevant information,”
“To do with...”
“I've already told you! Murder, crimes and dark leaders!”
“Right... Right, okay then,” John grabs the most promising looking one, A-Z Of The Greatest Wizards, and he begins to flick through.
***
“Nothing, nothing, NOTHING!” Bellows Sherlock, slamming the seventh book shut. The whole library looks up as he grabs all the books and shoves his chair back, about to put them back.
“Put those books down on the table and leave a library this instance! Both of you!” Madame Pince shrieks from her desk. Sherlock huffs and spills them back onto the table, and John rises. They remain silent as they leave, the whole library's eyes glued to them. They hear the whoosh of the books whizzing through the air to return to their places, but neither look round, or remove their eyes from the door. John holds back and allows Sherlock the dramatics of slamming the door open and striding out. John follows him, and then shuts the door behind them quietly. He turns around, and sees Sherlock standing in front of him, his face straight. Their eyes meet, and they stare looking at each other for a few seconds, and Sherlock's frustration ebbs away. Simultaneously, John and Sherlock's faces crack smiles, and they begin to laugh with each other.
“Come, on, let's go to the Common Room,” John says, regaining control. Sherlock does the same, and they wander back across the school.
Just as they begin to climb the first staircase, Sherlock spots Molly walking along the floor below. He hangs over the railing and John does the same.
“Hooper! Molly Hooper!” He calls out, waving. She glances up from the floor, her mouth opened slightly. Her eyes land on Sherlock and a shy smile creeps across her face.
“Hi, Sherlock!” She squeaks, and then spots John, “Hi... um... sorry...”
“John Watson,” John sighs.
“Oh right, sorry, John. What did you need Sherlock?” She returns her wide eyes to Sherlock, and John feels his own roll.
“Could you get the book Dark Magic For Dark Wizards out of the library please? I would, but we were just kicked out of it.”
“Oh, um, sure, but wouldn't that be in the restricted section?” She asks, frowning worriedly. Sherlock's face falls, and his whole body sags. Too over the top, John thinks to himself.
“If it's too much hassle then it's alright, I could always ask Mary or someone. By the way, I like your wand, I saw it this morning when we had Herbology with your house. It's very...” He struggles to find a word, yet luckily Molly intervenes.
“Oh thank you, Sherlock, it's maple, with unicorn hair,” She smiles sweetly, and then hurriedly adds, “You know, I could try to get into the restricted section, you never know, it might work,”
“Thank you, Molly.” Sherlock answers smugly, before straightening up and climbing up the rest of the stair case.
“That's... That's okay,” She pipes, looking both confused and sad. John watches her with a dash of sympathy as she turns around and goes to the library. He then follows Sherlock back to the Common Room.
***
“Lestrade!” Sherlock exclaims in surprise as he turns the corner and comes face to face with him.
“Oh hi Sherlock, John. Myc heard about the library by the way, he's not happy.”
“Ugh, do you have to call him Myc? And I don't care if it affected his relationship with Madame Pince in the slightest. Anyway, as I was going to say, I need you to get Mycroft to get Dark Magic For Dark Wizards out of the library for me. It's in the restricted section, and you, me and John can't, so you'll need to ask the head boy.” Greg opens his mouth, yet Sherlock cuts him off, “John and I can't ask him, he'll know it's to do with the case and will refuse. You on the other hand...”
“I dunno, I don't think he'd believe me...”
“Please?” John adds.
Lestrade sighs and scratches his head, before answering, “Alright fine, but, but!” He quickly says as they begin to walk off, “If he suspects me of anything other than school work and confronts you, you tell him I'm not involved in the case, and that I thought it was for your school work,”
“Naturally.” Sherlock answers, and then continues back to the Gryffindor Common Room. John brushes past Lestrade and gives him a thankful nod, and catches up with Sherlock.
“I thought you had asked Molly Hooper to get the book?”
“John, be realistic, she'd never manage to get it. I was just merely testing how far her admiration of me allows me to take advantage of her,”
“Sherlock,” John answers warningly.
“Oh John don't worry, it will all be towards the case. And any extra errands I need doing. Nothing big.”
***
“Mrs Gruntard, what are you doing down the Gryffindor corridor? Shouldn't you be experimenting on students? And why have you got some manky old blanket?” The woman turns round and splutters, her pointy wrinkled face outraged and dangerous. In her arms is a murky brown cloak, that seems to hold a magical aroma.
“You,” She spits angrily, pacing towards them both. Sherlock subconsciously slides a shoulder in front of John's, trying to keep him as far from her as possible. “Don't you dare talk to me like that, young man!”
“Oh I apologise, I must refrain from insulting the woman who used an illegal curse on my muggle born friend's first day at Hogwarts.” He replies quickly, yet with clarity. Her eyes narrow and she waggles a finger at him.
“Don't you think I've forgotten about your detention, Holmes, you're still coming to my office at five.” Sherlock opens his mouth to say something, yet he hears John whisper 'leave it' and so he closes it, and sweeps past her along the Gryffindor corridor.
“On your way, boy,” She snarls at John, before she slinks off down the corridor they came from, and around a hallway. John jogs to catch up with Sherlock, and doesn't say a word, noticing the complete look of concentration on Sherlock's face, and deciding it best to leave him to his thoughts.
“Vatican Cameos,” John calls out as they approach the painting. She swings open and allows them access to their Common Room.
Stepping inside, they both look at each other in confusion. The whole of their house stands gathered in a circle, cries of panic slipping into mutterings. Sherlock parts the crowd, and John follows behind him.
John feels his mouth fall open at what he sees.