The smell of coal was thick in the air as the loud whistle of the Hogwarts Express sounded, an indication that it would soon be departing from Platform Nine and Three Quarters. It was a little daunting, that huge train, especially for a muggle-born who had never imagined until two short weeks ago that he'd be anything more than the doctor his parents so wanted him to one day be. That was John, John Hamish Watson, the terrified eleven year old boy who had just left his parents side, his elder sister Harriet shouting abuse as he ran straight through the platform. John took a shaky breath and steadied himself against his trolley, shooting a long glance at his squawking barn owl.
"Now hush, Cas, Harry's yelled at me enough for one day, thanks." He muttered gloomily, looking around anxiously as other students piled on to the train. He was beginning to believe this had all been a mistake, acceptance to Hogwarts or not, he didn't really have to go, did he? These thoughts plagued his mind as he trudged on board, putting his belongings away and beginning to look for a seat. There were so many children piled into the individual cars, and everyone sitting together looked like they were already such good friends. This only furthered John's dismay as he walked all the way to the back of the train, peeking his head in to one section nervously and taking notice that it was only housing one boy.
"U-Um, pardon me but would you mind if I sat with you? All the other seats are full…" A boy with strikingly beautiful blue-ish (they were speckled with green and brown in the most curious way) eyes looked up at him, face pretty much void of emotion save for a hint of loneliness.
"Sure." John smiled gratefully at the boy and sat down in front of him, pulling the sliding doors closed and looking him up and down curiously. He had dark curly hair and was quite tall for a first year, which John assumed he was considering he wasn't in any robes yet. He was wearing a dark blue scarf and an overcoat, fiddling with his long fingers, which were positioned firmly under his chin.
"So, I'm John…John Watson. It's nice to meet you." Things became a little awkward when the boy didn't respond and John took a deep breath, attempting to study his quiet companion. Does he already not like me? He thought to himself. The other male appeared bored out of his mind.
"What's your name? If you don't mind me asking." His attempt at breaking the ice seemed to fail, and he was seriously considering leaving to have one last look for an empty seat before he was finally merited a response.
"My name is Sherlock Holmes, I'm a pureblood wizard, although you may find that that status does me no service as everyone here believes me to be a freak. I have a sixth year older brother named Mycroft who is a Slytherin, treated the same way, and I deduce this to be the main reason other children have avoided me before I even attempt to speak. However you need not tell me about you, I can tell from your lack of judgment that you're clearly muggle-born, first year judging by your clothes and anxious demeanor. I also deduct that you have an elder sister you do not get along with, and that must be because she is a muggle and you are not since I've never met another witch or wizard with such a common last name as Watson. Most people wearing a new jumper that fuzzy would have a slight rash or irritation and your skin is perfectly clear, an indication that you wear this sort of material often, which no offence, tells me that you're quite boring. I find everyone boring, though, so don't think you're special." Sherlock spoke all of this incredibly fast and it was a bit much for John to keep up with, although he did recognize he was being slightly insulted. However, John was so in awe at the intelligence the boy displayed at he forgot the offence almost instantly.
"How did you do that? That's brilliant…." Surprise filled Sherlock's eyes, not expecting that sort of reaction at all. A ghost of a smile crossed Sherlock's lips and he shrugged.
"Don't know, just sort of born that way. My brother and I aren't exactly what you would call normal, personality disorders and all that, you know. Mum had us both tested, I'm apparently a high functioning sociopath." That didn't put John off, a curious light glowing behind his bright blue eyes.
"What's a sociopath?" Sherlock shrugged again.
"I don't know." They both burst into laughter, and suddenly there was a knock on the door. John got up to answer it, feeling a little bit better now that he seemed to have at least made an acquaintance, if not a friend. It was a woman pushing a candy trolley, and John looked expectantly over his shoulder at Sherlock. His look asked helplessly what all of the wizarding candies were and Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"We'll take the lot."
It was while Sherlock was explaining the dangers of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans that a petite ginger girl poked her head into their car. She was pale and her clothes were worn, immediately telling Sherlock she was a Weasley, although he wasn't mean enough to say so.
"Hello, excuse me, but I was walking by and saw that neither of you were in your robes…I'm a first year too, but my brother Percy says we should be arriving soon, thought you ought to know." Sherlock raised an eyebrow incredulously at her and she quickly dashed away, the boy turning a lazy expression to his new friend.
"I suppose she was attempting to tell us we ought to change, although I personally view this as fruitless since we'll be changed into different robes quickly after sorting." John thought this was a valid point, but he was most uneager to break the rules on the first day and rose to go change, Sherlock following suit in exasperation. The Weasley girl had been right, however, and it wasn't long after reclaiming their seats that the Hogwarts Express rolled to a stop. An air of excitement suddenly exploded amongst the students, grabbing their belongings and making their way to the boats they must take to the castle. Both Sherlock and John were apprehensive about leaving their belongings for strangers to take care of, particularly Sherlock.
"My cat, Frodo, he really doesn't like people…" Sherlock grumbled in an almost worried tone as he and John floated towards Hogwarts in their boat. John patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
"It's alright, at least he isn't as skittish as Castiel, my owl. Poor thing is going to have a heart attack before he ever sees the dormitories." The left side of Sherlock's lips twitched up in a smirk.
"Castiel…that's an interesting name." John chuckled, looking the most nervous he had the entire trip as they neared the castle.
"So is Frodo." Both boys couldn't help the grins that spread across their faces. Neither one of them had expected hitting it off with someone this quickly, especially someone who seemed so different from themselves. The rocky shore of Hogwarts was soon upon them and Sherlock helped his friend from their boat, looking around curiously. He smiled at the awestricken look plastered on John's face….it all must have been so surreal for a muggle-born. Adrenaline had consumed both boys, who raced each other up the castle's steps and into the grand hall, awaiting instruction from an elderly woman standing before them.
"Welcome first years, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House. It has come time for your sorting, and please note, that while you stay here at Hogwarts your house, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, will be like your home. You will be rewarded and deducted points throughout the year, and the house with the most points at the end of spring semester will have won the House Cup. Now follow me." The first years were all lined up at the front of the hall, the rest of the schools students taking their seats at their designated tables. Terror seized up in John as he stared forward at all the professors, particularly the important looking elderly gentleman seated in the middle. He grabbed on to Sherlock's arm for support, who simply shook his head at him in return.
"You're ridiculous, you know that?" Sherlock's tone was playful, but John wasn't really in the mood.
"No you!" He hissed, silence falling upon him immediately as the elder wizard began to speak and introduce himself and the rest of the staff. There was Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor Lockhart, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Sprout, among others. When Dumbledore was finished speaking Professor McGonagall picked up a large list of names on parchment and the ever infamous Sorting Hat.
"Ginny Weasley!" She called out, revealing the name of the ginger they had had an encounter with earlier. Sherlock snorted, he knew he'd been right.
"Gryffindor!" Gryffindor table erupted with applause and she skipped off happily towards who John assumed to be her family.
"Luna Lovegood!" A quirky looking blonde girl sort of absentmindedly waltzed up to the front of the room and sat down on the stool.
"Ravenclaw!" More applause filled the room, whooping and cheering for the strange girl, who headed towards her table in a daze.
"James Moriarty!" The room got particularly silent and John shot worried eyes toward Sherlock.
"What's going on?" The crazed look in James's eyes made the hairs on John's arms stand straight up. Sherlock's eyes were staring James down, responding to John with out breaking that eye contact.
"He's a Moriarty…close relative of the Malfoy's. You're going to want to stay away from them, John, if there is one thing they hate above all else it's muggle-borns." John gulped back the fear that was rising in his throat and blinked back the tears stinging his eyes. He hadn't expected blood-status to be something he could be targeted for, suddenly feeling thankful he'd made friends with a pureblood.
"Slytherin!" Slytherin table roared with applause, but they were the only ones making so much as a peep, furthering John's immense discomfort.
"John Watson!" John nearly choked on the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, earning a squeeze of the hand from Sherlock. John felt tiny as he approached McGonagall, eyeing the Sorting Hat with disdain. Please, he thought to himself. Whatever house I get, let Sherlock get it too.
"Gryffindor!" John decided to sit with the Ginny girl since he recognized her, sitting down in the company of a bunch of red heads, a girl with fuzzy hair, and a lanky boy with circular glasses. A pit was forming in his stomach as he heard Sherlock's name called.
"Sherlock Holmes!" Sherlock took a deep breath, locking eyes with Mycroft who was giving him a you'd-better-be-in-Slytherin death glare. Sherlock and Mycroft's entire family had been in Slytherin house since Hogwarts was founded, and he knew getting sorted into any other house would be a huge blow to his parent's ego. However, turning his eyes from his brother and looking on John, Sherlock found himself hoping he wasn't going to have to leave him all alone.
"Ravenclaw!" John, Mycroft, and Sherlock all felt their hearts sink. All Sherlock could think was Mycroft's gonna kill me!