A difficult journey

Summer had just ended, well at least the weather showed it to be over. Huge drops of rain were falling out of the stale grey sky and a slight rumble showed that a thunderstorm was on his way. The people on the streets sighed and opened their umbrellas against the wet freezing breeze or turned up their collars to stay at least a bit warm. Sherlock stood at the window watching all those silhouettes hurrying past his window, black against the grey morning. London is such a dull place striked threw his head, filled with so many boring and pathetic human beings. It is no shame I'm leaving this great grey pit! Absently he stroked a hand threw his hair, to make it even untidier than it was before. No one would miss him at home, not even his mother, not to mention his father and he did not have any friend, he didn't need and they were just a distraction from the important things in the world. No, he would go gladly and would not look back a single time. Only a few weeks ago Sherlock got the letter, the important letter, which told him that he should attend a sort of Wizarding School, called Hogwarts. He would never, in a single heartbeat believe in such nonsense, if there weren't serious proves according to which this place had to exist, for example sending the letter by a loudly screeching tawny owl, it was a Strix aluco sylvatica a species which occurred all over Europe including Great Britain, easily recognizable by its large rounded head, the lack ear tufts, and the rather plain facial disc and the rather distinctive plumage color which was pale with dark streaks.

"SHERLOCK!" The loud voice of his father jarred him out of his thoughts. He had sneaked up behind him while Sherlock was in his mind palace. "Are you starring into space again, you freak?" Sherlock turned around, anger rising up in him like poison, "No, I am thinking. But I'm not surprised you mistake behavior like this for starring into space, because your dull brain is not able to produce even the slightest thought, not including food alcohol or sexual intercourse…" Slash His father hit him so hard that Sherlock could feel how he tumbled away and fell onto the rich velvet carpet. "You are not talking to me like that; you are still my son and thereby have to treat me with respect even if you are so special in your mind." He spat the last words into Sherlock's throbbing face, and the boy could feel tiny drops of spit landing on his burning skin. "Get your trunk into the car we are leaving in ten minutes for your special school", he said ironically and left the room, taking Sherlock's dignity with him.

John did not like crowds, he always felt like everybody was staring at him. Trying to hide behind his mother he walked slowly threw the train station, letting her push his trolley, with the big beautiful long eared owl, named Archimedes, he couldn't think of a better name and he looked just so wise. "Come on Johnny boy, move it!" yelled Harriet in the front being the total opposite of John loud and always seeking for attention. They arrived at Platform nine and ten, to go without any hesitation through the gate leading to Platform 9 ¾, they were used to pass any kind of magical gate, because of their many visits to the St. Mungo, in which his dad had… but John did not want to think about that, not on his first day of school. "Here we are sweetie" quavered his mum in a very detectable faked good humor, she was terrified of leaving her only son go to a school so far away from home…

"Here we are Sherlock, Mycroft, have a good term" his father said stopping in front of Kings cross station. "You can't just drop them, Siger. It's Sherlock's first time", his mum interjected worried. "Oh come on Rose, he is eleven. You two get out." He shouted, his mood was especially bad. Sherlock did not hesitate, he graped the cage with his elegant black barn owl , checked if his brand new Acacias wand, with its Phoenix feather core, was still in the pocked of his jeans and got out of the car as fast as possible, he just wanted to get away from them all, have a new start. Opening the luggage compartement and trying to hoist out his trunk was harder than he thought, with all his heavy books and extra chemicals which nobody could have forced him to leave at home, even if he would not need them at Hogwarts, they've just become a sort of home for him. Sherlock cursed under his breath, the trunk had fallen heavily on his left foot. "Need help?" Mycroft appeared around the corner of the car "As if you could do it better!" Sherlock answered dryly, hoisted his trunk on its wheels and disappeared into the station determined to do this thing alone, as he always did.

"Great, there is no free compartment in this whole train, will I have to spend the whole freaking journey on the floor in the bathroom or what? What a stupid school that does not even have space for all the pupils on the train!" John muttered under his breath, while he dragged his heavy trunk threw the aisles. Twice it had fallen on his feet already and it got heavier with every step, he should have stayed home, stupid boarding school! But then, at last there was an almost empty compartment, in which only one boy sat, his nose buried in a book. Nervously he slid the door open. "Hi, do you mind if I join you? Everywhere else is full…" The boy looked up, his dark curls floated over a high forehead under which piercing green eyes stared distasteful at him. "If there is no space elsewhere I can hardly refuse." He grunted and turned his face toward his book again. "Oh well, thank you very much!" John said timidly, he felt strangely uncomfortable under those strange peering eyes. Heaving his trunk under his seat he did not dare looking at the boy until he sat down on the opposite side of him holding Archimedes cage in his arms. "I won't steal your owl you can put the poor thing down" a cold voice said from behind the book. Hastily John put the cage down and not knowing what to do now he stared out of the window scared to death by this strange sociopath. After an hour or so, it seemed to John like an eternity, the boy took down his book and started to stare at him with such intensity that John just had to study the floor. "Why would you go to Hogwarts if you didn't want to? You don't have to, you know!" John stared, "How?" "Oh God, Why?! You are wearing an expression like a convict who is send to his execution, I see by your untidy clothes that you weren't excited at all this morning while dressing, I mean your oldest jeans really?! It's probably five oh, no six years old deducing by its smallness which is two sizes too small for you. Oh, and there is your behavior of the last hour, I mean you were bored I could tell, but you did not open a single book, possibly because you don't like to read but judging by your fingers you read quite often. Oh and you clutched your owl like it was your dearest precise, well of course it is because it is your only way to keep in touch with your oh so beloved family and friends back in your nice little world at home. Did I get anything wrong?" He smirked right into Johns face and he felt extremely irritated "Yes, I don't have any friend, never had!" With those words he stood up and left wondering threw the corridors and sitting in corners for the rest of the journey.

Sherlock was not surprised; he intended to get this kid out of his compartment. Everybody left if he showed them his talent. But he had a feeling that this one was different, he didn't care that he knew all that stuff about him and had been fairly impressed by his skills; he just didn't want to hear it. However he came back right before the train stopped and they changed into their robes. Maybe it would be good to have him as an ally, Sherlock thought and he decided to at least try. "Uhm, I didn't tell you my name yet, I'm Sherlock Holmes" He looked hopefully at the boy, expecting, no almost demanding an answer. He smiled a little "I'm John, John Watson. Nice to meet you." At this moment they felt a jolt and the train came to a stop. Suddenly there was a certain excitement in the air that even Sherlock could not fight to feel and which bonded them together. John and Sherlock, who were both going to the Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. Excitedly they got going leaving their stuff in the compartment as it had been said. Stepping out into the fresh cold air in a starry night, it had stopped raining a few hours ago, was a relive after the long journey. Suddenly they heard a loud shout and over all the students in their black Hogwarts robes appeared a giant man, shouting "First years over here to me! First years! Come here don't be shy!" Sherlock and John looked at each other their fasces flushed with excitement.