8:00am, Hogwarts
Rolling over with a groan, Hermione narrowed her eyes at the excited whisperings of her friends. She blinked a few times, then swung her legs over the side of the bed, awake with startling clarity. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and reached for a hair tie. after pulling her hair up, she changed into her robes quickly.
"What's going on?" She asked her friends. Lavender answered her.
"Dumbledore decided to bring a Muggle into the castle!" She said.
"What? What's his name!" Hermione asked.
Ginny rushed in. "I just found out who!" She crowed in triumph to the room. They waited in suspenseful silence.
"Sherlock Holmes!"
Dawn, 221B Baker Street
"Sherlock!" John called, ignoring the dagger-filled glare he recieved as the man in question opened his door at the end of the hall. A barn owl was perched on Sherlock's chair, a letter clutched in it's beak. Sherlock appeared un-phased, and simply walked forward to take the letter.
To Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Mr. John Watson
221B Baker Street, London,
Mrs. Hudson's flat on the second floor
Raising an eyebrow at the addressing, he broke the wax seal, noting the crest.
"Dear Mr. Holmes, and Mr. Watson,
We extend a request for you to accompany one Minerva McGonagall. All will be explained when you arrive.
A Client"
He read aloud. Watson took the letter, his brow crinkling. "Should we take it?" He asked. "We don't even know what's going on."
A knock on the door stopped them. Mrs. Hudson came in, followed by a stern-looking older woman, whose hair was up in a tight bun.
"She says she needs to speak to you Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson said worriedly. "What trouble have you gotten yourself into now?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." He responded, looking at McGonagall.
Her clothes were impeccable, as if she'd just gotten them from the store, and higher end, office clothes. Inside job then, a glance at her hands showed she had worked with them before, and used them often enough to keep their callouses. Her nails were longer, so she probably didn't type; more chance of hitting keys she hadn't intended. Her tightly done hair suggested she was in a position of authority, probably a teacher from the way she held herself and the look she gave him. No bag, and no pockets. She was unarmed. Not too much of a threat then.
"My name is Minerva McGonagall. You are to come with me." She told them briskly.
Hermione reeled in shock. "Sherlock Holmes?" She repeated. She had always admired the detective, for his mind and his methods. She also had privately thought he was extraordinarily cute, especially with that ridiculous hat. A grin spread across her face. "I'm not sure if Hogwarts is ready for the east wind that is Sherlock Holmes." She laughed, her eyes sparkling. She ran downstairs into the common room, flying to Dean, another Muggle-born.
"Have you heard?" She asked excitedly, gripping his arm.
"What is it?" He asked, looking at her wide-eyed.
"Sherlock Holmes is coming to Hogwarts!" She shouted, causing half the room to look at them.
Dean gaped at her. "He's what? But why!"
"Apparently they can't figure out the whole Heir of Slytherin thing! Of course," She sniffed in disdain. "We have over one hundred Ravenclaws in this castle, I don't see how they can't solve it."
"Does it matter?" He asked. "Sherlock Holmes, the Sherlock Holmes is coming to Hogwarts! We might get to meet him!"
Hermione thought she might faint in joy, but curiosity got the better of her.
"I wonder how he's going to solve this. He doesn't have his homeless network, or Mycroft to give him state secrets, he's never encountered magic before..." She said, her brow crinkling. "All he has is John."
"Well, I daresay that will be more than enough help." A voice said from behind her. Spinning, she turned to see a tall, long-legged man in a suit, with a scarf and trench coat. His curly, unruly, black hair fell easily over his forehead, and stood in contrast to his milky skin. His pale green eyes seemed to pierce her very soul, and she couldn't help the grin that spread over her face. Sherlock Holmes in the flesh was standing before her.
Sherlock had agreed to go with her readily, while John put up his usual, "It's not safe!" protest. With a sigh, however, he grabbed his coat and followed Sherlock down the stairs, complaining the whole way. When they were on the street, he gave Sherlock a look, then addressed McGonagall.
"Excuse me, but where are we going?" He asked.
"You'll see." Came her response. She drew them into an alley, then stuck her right hand out, holding some sort of stick in it.
Sherlock was watching her, as if she was an exotic creature in a zoo. However, neither him nor John could hid their shock when a huge, purple, triple-decker bus appeared suddenly in front of them. The conductor stared at them in shock.
"Professor McGonagall, why've you got Muggle along with you?" Stan asked, his Cockney accent thick.
She didn't answer, but paid him and ushered them onto the bus. They took their seats, and John gave Sherlock a 'please explain this' look. Sherlock gave him a return 'I don't know how' look. With those glances exchanged, they looked out the window. Sherlock turned an interesting shade of green, and focused instead on his lap. Upon the rather jarring stop, a somewhat unsteady McGonagall herded them out, and they were in front of a castle. The bus disappeared, whooshing off to... somewhere.
With a smile, she waved the stick down her body, and her clothes shimmered a moment before turning into long, tartan robes. John looked at Sherlock, giving him the 'Are you bloody seeing this look?'
"I daresay, Watson, we'll most likely see things that will astound more than any case before." He said, with a small quirk of his lips.
"Wonderful." He said, following McGonagall as she strode through the gates, and up to the castle.
"Will you tell us where we are?" Sherlock inquired.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She said, briskly. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, deputy headmistress." She said, turning to hold her hand out. They shook it, then John asked.
"What do you teach, Professor?"
"Transfiguration." She smiled. "Now, come along."
