Ok, so I should explain a couple of things before we go any farther. First, Ron, Harry, and Hermione are in their seventh year. Only, not. Let's say they came to Hogwarts five years early, putting them in their final year when Chamber of Secrets takes place. So, that being said, it's just a time difference. Moving on, the second thing I should explain is that Harry and Ron have a little resentment towards Hermione. She has stopped helping them with their homework, and is refusing any of their bribes. Which is what she should've done all along, right? Right. Well, they don't like that. Let's get started with chapter two! The game is afoot, my dear readers!

Chapter 2

They went with her, trusting that they would at least be equally shocked by whatever they saw. Well, they had hoped anyway. The candles handing suspended in midair, the moving staircases, the owls, the moving paintings and the ceiling of the dining hall! It was transparent! John focused on following McGonagall, though it didn't escape his notice that Sherlock was looking around too. She led them up many staircases, till they reached a portrait of a Fat Lady, and McGonagall spoke the password. "Bravery." She turned to John and Sherlock. "This is the password you use to get in if you are a guest, or during the summer holiday. Now, on we go." She said, climbing through the hole. John and Sherlock stood there, surrounded by people. The room was a common area, and it was decorated in red and gold.

"...I don't see how they couldn't have solved it." A bushy haired girl sniffed.

A tall, dark skinned boy answered her, obviously excited about something.

"Does it matter?" He asked. "Sherlock Holmes, the Sherlock Holmes is coming to Hogwarts! We might get to meet him!" The girl looked like she might pass out. John and Sherlock exchanged glances. Apparently they had been expected.

"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." Sherlock said.

The girl spun, eyes wide and stared at him. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features into a less surprised and more welcome look. She strode forward, extending her hand.

"Mr. Holmes, Mr. Watson. Pleasure to meet you. My name is Hermione Granger." She introduced herself.

Sherlock looked her over, taking note of everything.

Her hair wasn't done completely which meant she wasn't fully ready for the day, though she was dressed in what seemed to be the school dress code. Robes were clean, but not new, she'd had them for a while. Her eyes still had traces of sleep in them which meant she had probably just gotten up recently and hadn't had time to use the restroom to do her hair or morning routine. She was still excited about his arrival at Hogwarts so she hadn't had time to process it which meant that she'd only found out just that morning. Topping that all, she wasn't good friends with the boy, but did know him. If he wasn't a close friend, why talk to him? Because he must have grown up in the 'muggle' world and knew about his reputation. She hasn't told her close friends because she hasn't gotten the chance and she wanted to celebrate with someone who knew who he was.

In the half second it took for him to gather all this information, he had reached forward and shook her hand.

"Sherlock Holmes, the pleasure is mine." He said.

"John Watson, pleasure." John said, shaking her hand too.

She smiled at them, before looking around the room at everyone else. "Mr. Holmes, Mr. Watson, these are the students and members of Gryffindor House. It's an honor to have you here." She said politely. Everyone sort of waved, and then McGonagall took over.

"Ms. Granger you will be showing our guests around the castle, and showing them the messages left at the attack sites. Also, the students attacked if need be. Their rooms are on the fifth floor, as are your new rooms. As their guide, your homework load will be less, but you will still be expected to pass your classes." She said firmly. Hermione kept a tight rein on her shock and gave them a smile.

"Of course, however, Professor, I can't seem to recall exactly where their rooms were?" She asked, silently cursing her teacher for springing this on her so suddenly.

"The portrait of the muggle magnifying glass. Albus seemed to think it appropriate." McGonagall said, smiling slightly.

Hermione was silently fuming as she led the way out of the common room.

Harry and Ron rushed after them.

"Hermione!" Harry called, and they all turned to look at the two boys running after her.

"Harry, I'm kind of busy." Hermione said, giving him a not-so-subtle clue to go away.

"Yeah, they can wait." The ginger boy, Ron, cut in. "You said you were going to write our Transfiguration essays for us, right? Well here are our books, and all you have to do is the rough draft, we'll make it look like ours." He said, giving her a cheeky grin before dumping his books in her arms, followed by Harry's books too.

They went to move off when her sharp, angry voice cut through the hall.

"One hundred points from Gryffindor! Each!" She snapped, causing the boys to stop in their tracks. "Now take these books back, and write your own essays. I said I would go over your notes, not do your homework! Now, if you manage to make an E on your essays, I'll add fifty points to Gryffindor, but it's up to you and the rest of the House to make sure that you work back the other one hundred and fifty." Hermione glared at them, dumping their books, notes, quills, ink, and parchment onto the floor. A slow clapping reminded her they weren't alone. However, it was neither Sherlock, nor John who was clapping.

"Nice one Granger." Malfoy sneered. "Now care to explain why your showing you Muggle famliy around when it's against the rules?"

"They are not my family. The headmaster brought them in to investigate the Chamber of Secrets." She said harshly. "Now move on before I deduct points from Slytherin too."

"Oh, abusing your title as Head Girl? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Watch your step, mudblood. You'll be next." He hissed as he brushed past.

She took a breath to collect herself.

"My apologies, you have just seen the worst possible welcome Hogwarts could conjure. The two boys were Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, that was Draco Malfoy." She explained, as she began walking.

"Harry and Ron used to be your friends." Sherlock stated.

"Yes, but they were using me for my brains. I'm the smartest student in Gryffindor, and used to help with their homework. But then I realized they kept piling it on me, while I had my own homework to do, so I just kind of, stoppped. Made them do it by themselves." She shrugged as they began down a staircase.

"You did the right thing, you know." John said, seeing Sherlock remaining quiet.

"I know," She sighed. "But I think I might have killed our friendship."

"If they were just using you for your brains, there was no friendship there." John said.

She just sighed again.

"What about Malfoy?" Sherlock asked.

Hermione's lip curled in distasted. "Oh, him. He's a rich, stuck up, pure-blood brat. Thinks he owns the world just because his father used to be a Death Eater."

"Death Eater?" John inquired.

"Long story, not fit for a leisurely walk to your rooms." She said, brushing it off.

"Pure-blood?" Sherlock asked. "He called you a mudblood."

"We'll discuss that later." She said, as she approached a painted. "We're here." She said, then thought a moment. "Professor McGonagall didn't give me the password."