"Yes, Sherlock, I have other friends besides you now. That's what happens when you leave someone alone for five years with no contact. I'm going to the Potters' for dinner like I always do. Get used to it." John was in a sassy mood today, not willing to take anything from Sherlock, who had been in a strange mood since he returned, always questioning him about every single little thing he did that seemed different and surfing the internet almost constantly, pausing only to make some snappish remark. "I've already talked to them about you, before you came back, you know," he added after a thought. "I owe them a lot, actually. I wasn't doing to well in those months following the funeral."
"The... Potters, did you say?" Sherlock seemed to only have caught the first part of John's statement.
"Yes," John replied rather impatiently, tucking a package under his arm before Sherlock could tease him for doting upon the children. "The Potters. Where I'm going now. Alone. Though I'm quite sure that if you would actually get off of my laptop for once, you would be welcome. They're quite eager to meet my friend and the one who had us all fooled for so long."
"Well, just go ahead. I have more research to do, anyway. Maybe next time," said Sherlock, waving his hand as if already wanting him out of the door.
The Potters' house always seemed rather- well- magical to John. It was bigger on inside, it seemed, which was what Harry said that people always exclaimed when they stepped into the entrance hall. As soon as he closed the door behind him, he could hear the children thundering down the stairs. Of course, he could hardly refer to them as children anymore, since James, once a sensitive and sympathetic ten year old, was now a cool fifteen years, Albus, as studious as ever, thirteen, and beginning to read what John remembered to be called "NEWT level books," and Lily, precious little Lily, five when they first met, now eleven, and getting ready to go off to Hogwarts for the very first time. In fact, she had already gone with her mum and dad to get her books and wand and all, and today was the last day of summer break before all three headed back on the train to their beloved school. John knew that Lily was nervous, scared, and beyond excited, and in the package he had stowed in jacket he had brought her favorite biscuits: Jammy Dodgers, for a snack on the journey.
In the back of his mind, John Watson laughed at himself. He had turned from a middle aged veteran soldier who could still run around saving the day in London with Sherlock to a grandpa- type figure to the Potters in just five years. He shrugged. Who said he couldn't be both?
Lily bounded down the stairs when she heard Dr. Watson knocking. As soon as he stepped in, he barely had time to smile at her genially before she rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "I'll miss you, Dr. Watson, when I go," she said, looking up at the man who had treated so much like family. "But I'll bring back all sorts of stories! And I'll write! If you think that Mr. Sherlock wouldn't notice frequent owls," she trailed off, concerned, until John provided an answer.
"I'm sure that your parents will be willing to share your letters with me when I visit." He winked. "You know, I don't just visit for your sake, I do enjoy your parents' company as well!"
"Good to see you, John!" said James, who was passing by in the hallway as he headed to the kitchen to sample the night's dishes while Ginny was out of the room. Her voice, however carried, throughout the house.
"James! Call him Dr. Watson! Don't be so disrespectful!"
"Ah, Mum," he replied earnestly, "But John knows I'm only joking!"
John grinned at James, nodding slightly to indicate he didn't care what he was called, but was discreet about it so that Ginny wouldn't notice and reprimand them both.
They sat down to a grand dinner, a sort of going away feast for the children. The heavily laden table groaned as Ginny levitated the last dish of mashed potatoes onto it. There were countless delicacies to choose from, and John couldn't imagine all of it being eaten by any amount of guests.
However, the other guests besides John numbered many, so maybe they would indeed devour all of Ginny's creations. Ron and Hermione Weasley, friends of Harry and Ginny's brother and sister-in-law, had been invited, as they frequently were, along with their little rascals, Rose and Hugo, both of which would also be heading to Hogwarts. Teddy Lupin, Harry's nineteen year old godson was also present after what was a hard day, John was told, in the search for Dark wizards.
The children were chattering excitedly about the adventure that awaited them, Harry and Ginny were laughing with Hermione about some memory of Ron involving, it seemed, a girl named Lav Lav, and Ron was ignoring them, stuffing his face as if he didn't get to eat such good food often.
John smiled as he sat back and surveyed the family, he knew that he could with out a doubt count them as his family, too.
Sherlock felt his phone buzz with a new text. He slid it open, glancing at the words, reading them three times before really taking it in. The man's name who we suspect is Harry Potter.
(A/N: OH MY GOODNESS GUYS I AM SO SORRY. LONG STORY SHORT MY COMPUTER CRASHED WITH THE NEXT COUPLE CHAPTERS ON IT SO THE STORY WILL BE ON HIATUS FOR A BIT. NOT TOO LONG. Please please please check my profile for the full story, apology, and news. All the apologies, Emily.)
