Disclaimer: I do not own the Sherlock or Harry Potter series.
Chapter 2 Professor Slughorn
Everyone was now in the Great Hal for the Welcoming Feast.
"That must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," John said, indicating the large man by Dumbledore.
"We'll see if he lasts the year," Sherlock replied.
John nodded in agreement. The position was said to be cursed.
"You're right. We've had a new one every year now," John said. John spotted Ron and Hermione, but no sign of Harry. "Strange. I wonder where Harry is."
The three were rarely seen apart from each other in you didn't count fourth year when Ron had though Harry had put his name in the Goblet of Fire and when Ron and Hermione were mad at each other. Professor Snape then came walking in with Harry behind him.
"That's not a good sign," Sherlock said.
John noticed the dry blood under Harry's nose.
"What happened to his nose?" he asked.
"I don't think I want to know," Sherlock said.
Sherlock scanned the room for a moment.
"I think I know who did that," he said.
John eyed the person Sherlock was looking at.
Draco was pointing and laughing at Harry.
"Malfoy does seem pleased with himself," John said.
To everyone's surprise, the new professor, Horace Slughorn, was going to be teaching Potions. This meant that Professor Snape would be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
xxx
John and Sherlock had passed their O.W.L.s in Potions to be able to continue with the class.
"Can you believe this?" John asked.
He still could not believe that Professor Snape was now teaching Defense.
"If the job is truly cursed, Professor Snape will be out by year's end," Sherlock said.
"I just don't understand," John replied.
"Dumbledore must have his reasons," Sherlock said as they entered Potions.
John was not surprised at all to see Hermione was in the class.
"Small class," John said.
"Welcome, gentlemen," Professor Slughorn replied.
"Hello, Professor," both John and Sherlock said.
They joined the rest of the class by standing in front of several caldrons.
"Let's dive on, shall we?" Professor Slughorn asked.
As everyone was getting started, Harry and Ron came walking in.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry apologized. "We weren't originally supposed to take Potions."
"Not to worry, boys," he said.
They learned about three potions. Amortentia, Veritaserum, and Felix Felicis. The person who came nearest to recreating the Draught of Living Death would get the Felix Felicis. To the class's surprise, Harry was the winner.
"Thought you had that," John told Sherlock as they left class.
"So did I," Sherlock replied.
xxx
John had watched one Saturday night as Harry, Ron, and Hermione did their homework. Hermione was routinely helping Ron. Then Harry got up and left the common room.
"Where was he going?" Sherlock asked when John had told him about it.
"I don't know. I think it might have something to do with Dumbledore," John said.
"I'd like to see inside that book of his," Sherlock replied.
John had to laugh a little. Sherlock was sure that Harry's success was the book he had gotten to use since he did not get one form Diagon Alley.
"Still sore that he's getting better marks than you?" John asked in a teasing voice.
"There has to be a reason," Sherlock said.
"I'll try to get information," John replied.
John looked over at the Quidditch Pitch as they walked through the courtyard.
"Are you going to be trying out?" Sherlock asked, noticing the look.
"I don't think so," John told him. "I haven't practiced enough."
"Are you done with homework?" Sherlock asked.
"No," John said after thinking for a moment. "Did you want to go to the library?"
"Might as well," Sherlock said.
xxx
John had finally figured out what Harry was doing.
"You were right," he told Sherlock.
"I usually am," Sherlock said.
"Harry is doing something with Dumbledore, but its secret," John replied.
"It would be secret if they're working on a way to defeat Voldemort," Sherlock said.
John's eyes grew. Not many people said the name of the darkest wizard that ever lived.
"You have no problem saying his name," John said.
"It's just a name, John," Sherlock replied.
"Maybe," he said under his breath.
Sherlock then cleared his throat.
"All right, then. I know you've been dying to tell be about tryouts," he said.
The new subject caught John's attention.
"Ron got Keeper," he said.
"There's more to this," Sherlock replied.
John nodded.
"He really shouldn't have got it," he said.
"Perhaps Potter gave him some of the lucky potion," Sherlock suggested.
"No, it wasn't that. It was something else," John said, remembering what he had seen.
"It had to be Granger," Sherlock replied.
John shook his head. He did not know how Sherlock had come up with that theory.
"Hermione wouldn't cheat," John said. He then looked down as he thought. "At least I'd hope not."
"Maybe you don't know her that well, then," Sherlock replied.
xxx
John went to Sherlock the next day with what he thought had happened at tryouts.
"I think in know what happened to McLaggen ," he said.
"He was Confunded," Sherlock replied.
John frowned.
"How did you… never mind," he said.
Sherlock then took out an invitation from his bag.
"Professor Slughorn has invited me to one of his parties," he said.
"Really?" John asked. However, it had not surprised him. "That's a big thing."
"I'm sure Potter was invited," Sherlock said.
"He was, but he can't go," John replied.
"Yes, I heard about Professor Snape giving him detention," Sherlock said.
"Also, have you noticed Dumbledore isn't really here anymore?" John asked.
"Yes, I have," Sherlock said.
"Your theories?" John asked.
"I'm positive it has something to do with whatever he and Potter are doing in their sessions," Sherlock said.
John looked down.
"This war is really happening," he said in a low voice.
"Yes," Sherlock replied.
"Has Mycroft told you anything?" John asked.
"Nothing they're not already releasing," Sherlock said.
"I just want to be prepared," John replied.