Something out of the ordinary was going on
Yes, something is peculiar, and by Mycroft's umbrella I will find out. Solving mysteries…it is what I do best after all- well, that's not quite right. It's more of a toss up between that and everything I do.
A hand waved obtrusively in front of Sherlock's face. "Sherlock. Hellooo. Don't tell me you're in your 'mind palace' again…" John Watson frowned and sat down next to Sherlock when his antics got no response. As he set about filling his plate with this and that for breakfast, he looked over at his companion again. Best mates since the (admittedly rather unfortunate) incident at the end of his second year at Hogwarts (Sherlock's first), the sixth year Gryffindor still had trouble at times understanding his Slytherin counterpart.
What is she up to? I've been observing her for a month now and still I cannot work out her motives. Where does she disappear off to? And to think that she, of all people, has been able to evade me for so long. Every evening, without fail, she just disappears. What could she possibly be doing?
John looked up at his friend again – and observed, as Sherlock would say – and noticed that Sherlock's eyes were not unfocused but moving slightly every now and then with an unwavering focus on something across the hall. Hmm.
Following his line of vision, John saw nothing out of the ordinary that could have caught the Slytherin's keen eye. "Sherlock, what are you looking at?"
Silence.
"Give it up, mate, you're not in your 'mind palace'!" Air quotes followed this particular phrase, as per usual. "I know you're focusing on something in the room. You don't have that glazed eye look going on, and I've seen your eyes move. So go on, what's caught your attention this time?"
Sherlock blinked and shifted his eyes to left to focus on his friend. "Oh very good John, very good." A 'you are this close from being punched in the face' glare effectively wiped the facetiously cheerful smile off Sherlock's face. He huffed.
I may as well tell him. Perhaps John even knows something. He is somewhat friendly with her after all. And they've known each other for some time having attended the same muggle primary school.
Sherlock looked away, back to his previous point of interest. "Molly."
"What?"
"I am looking at Molly." So intent was Sherlock's focus that he missed the sly grin that transformed John's expression into one of pure mischief.
"Hm, finally noticing her, are we?" John nodded sagely, looking for all the world like the wisest wizard to walk the earth.
"I have always noticed her, John." Sherlock remarked.
"Oh. Gotcha. So. Finally going to make a move then, huh?" A pair of waggling eyebrows replaced the nodding.
This seemed to catch Sherlock's attention and he looked back towards John with an expression somewhere between bored and confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Come on," John elbowed Sherlock playfully as he teased him. "You know."
A frank stare was all he received for that comment. "There are few things I do not understand, but whatever it is you are suggesting, John, is one of them."
"Seriously. No really, seriously? I give up!" John threw up his arms and rubbed his face. "Ok, so if you're still that daft, what are you staring at her for?" His inner matchmaking streak was set aside for his mounting curiosity. (Secretly, John had been rooting for the two of them to become an item for the past year.)
Once more Sherlock looked back at the table where Molly sat, only to see she had gone. "Have you noticed anything amiss about Miss Hooper lately, John?"
John thought about it, but couldn't pick out anything in her recent behavior to suggest something being 'amiss'. "Can't say that I have."
"Clearly you are not so observant as you think. Miss Hooper…Molly…has been disappearing every evening for nearly the past four weeks. She is returned by morning, of course, unharmed and not a soul the wiser for it – except for me, of course."
"Of course." John mimicked his friend. "It is unlike Molly to break school rules though…" John added as an after thought.
"Indeed. She's always alone as well, no Greg to be found."
"Yeah, well, maybe she's sneaking off to see him."
"Don't be ridiculous John." Sherlock frowned at the suggestion.
"I'm not being ridiculous! Is it that far of a stretch to think that maybe she's seeing someone?" John was beginning to feel exasperated with the whole situation.
"Yes."
"Oh, it's that simple is it? She's pretty, she's smart, maybe a little on the quiet side…bit quirky. But she's about the nicest person you'll meet." He was beginning to trail off. "Huh, you know, maybe I should ask her out…"
"John, this is a serious matter. I need you to focus and stop being so hideously ordinary for one minute!" Sherlock simply received a smirk in return. "As far as I've been able to deduce, she doesn't meet up with anyone inside the castle. She just disappears. Clearly she hasn't told Greg due to his absence at her side." He seemed to hesitate for a second. "Besides, if she was seeing someone, why would she have any reason to hide a relationship? Aside from the fact that her taste in men is atrocious, that is."
At that John mumbled a, "Oh I'll second that" in a gruffer voice than usual. He had never approved of his friend's manipulations with Molly. Yet, unfathomable as it was to him, it was obvious that Molly fancied Sherlock. Sherlock glared in return. Further thought on the matter gave John pause to hesitate. "You're absolutely sure about this, though, Sherlock? You haven't been mixing potions experimentally again, have you? Remember the last time that happened and the fumes got to your head-"
"I'd rather not, thank you John."
John snickered before becoming serious again. "But seriously, Sherlock, you are absolutely sure about this?"
"Yes, John," Sherlock rolled his eyes. "My observations are highly accurate, are they not?"
"Yeah, but there's always something…"
"Always something trivial, John, always something trivial. Now, I propose that you confront her about it. See what you can find out." Sherlock was decisive as always.
"Wait, wait, wait! Why me? Not that I don't mind talking to her, but I don't think strolling up to her and initiating a conversation with her about her evening whereabouts is going to go over all that well – even with Molly!" John went on to mimic the scenario going on in his head, falsetto voice and all.
"'Hey Molly!' 'Oh, hello John.' And she'll give a little smile and then, 'I have a question for you.' 'Ok, ask away.' 'Where are you going every night? I mean Sherlock's been following you and said something about sneaking off…' Yeah, that's going to be a fantastic conversation."
"Subtlety, John. Though I suppose that's never been a prized trait of Gryffindor." John scowled and turned back to his food, in no mood to do Sherlock's bidding if he was going to start throwing around House insults.
"Just talk to her John." John was looking intently at a peculiarly shaped rasher he had picked up.
Well there was that famous 'pride' that so defined John's House.
"Please John." Nothing. Sherlock was still losing to the rasher. Fine, if this is how he wants to do it, fine. Let's really play the House traits game. "I'm worried about her. She has a difficult enough time saying 'no' and she's far too gullible. Is it that much of a stretch to worry she has been coerced into doing something dangerous?" Ha! See if you can refuse that Mr. Chivalry.
John dropped the rasher and sighed. Honestly, he'd been thinking the same thing. Though he does know something Sherlock doesn't – Molly Hooper is much more resilient than Sherlock knows. Just not when it comes to Sherlock. Still, Sherlock does have somewhat of a case. Molly is known to have a hard time refusing anyone who asks for help.
He released heavy breath as he came to a decision. John Hamish Watson, what are you getting yourself into this time? "Fine. I'll see what information I can gather."
Sherlock grinned in triumph. His curiosity was piqued and now he just had to solve this mystery. The mystery of Molly Hooper. The absurdity of the situation and actions that were so decidedly not Molly Hooper had formed to what, in Sherlock's mind, had become a decidedly 'not dull' case.
"I'd better head off to the greenhouses though before I'm late. I'll see you later, Sherlock." With that John downed the remainder of his pumpkin juice, grabbed his rucksack, and strode out of the Great Hall.