John couldn't exactly remember waking up or following the other first years down stairs, but the smell of warm toast once he'd sat down at the Gryffindor table quickly brought him to his senses. He chewed a jammy mouthful thoughtfully as timetables were passed around and a voice beside him said, "We have Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts together. Thank god, I don't think I'd be able to make it through the latter otherwise."

John started and spilled his Pumpkin Juice as Sherlock slid into the seat beside him. Just as well – he wasn't sure if he was taken on the odd drink and was starting to wonder if Hogwarts provided tea.

"Why? I thought the Defence-ey one looked good." John grimaced as he tried to wring the juice from his jumper sleeves.

"Well yes, learning how to arm ourselves against the darker aspects of the wizarding world is both fascinating and essential. However-" Sherlock drawled as he flicked through a copy of The Daily Prophet and lazily pointed up at the High Table, "I'm not holding out any hopes for a certain Professor Quirrell."

John had to admit that the young professor Sherlock's long fingers had flicked towards looked like he could do with a hot cup of tea. At the thought of tea, John returned to squinting down the table for the sign of a teapot. It was only then that he realised both he and Sherlock were being glared rather viciously by Hermione Granger who he recognised from the Sorting the night before. Upon meeting John's eyes she huffed and nodded her head at Sherlock pointedly. John just kept staring bemusedly until she huffed again and marched over to the Weasley boy that was wearing an extremely shiny prefect badge on his chest. Within a few moments they were both standing over the two boys with matching scowls over their faces. Sherlock didn't look up from his paper as the prefect cleared his throat loudly. John suppressed a smile and tried to ask as seriously as he could, "Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Yes, there is." The prefect announced pompously whilst glaring at the back of Sherlock's head. "We have designated tables for each house at Hogwarts and he is a Ravenclaw, sat at the Gryffindor table."

A quick glance down the table told John that most of the Gryffindor table didn't really give a toss whether a Ravenclaw was salsa dancing on the table. Ron, Harry and Sebastian had just come down to sit next to the Weasley twins and all five were now grinning over at them. Fred and George Weasley both winked at John and began flicking pieces of cereal at the prefect. John had to give him credit here as he refused to acknowledge the twins even when the pieces began bouncing off his glasses.

"He'll have to go and sit back with his own house." Hermione chipped in, flicking her bushy hair over her shoulder with an air of importance. The whole affair seemed quite farcical to John.

Sherlock finally sighed and threw the paper down on the table, turning his head to look at the angry expressions aimed at him. John couldn't hold back the grin this time: the boy looked utterly uninterested in everything. The pale eyes glanced at the two irritable Gryffindor's once before turning to the Ravenclaw table. John felt a small twinge of fear in his stomach. Sherlock wouldn't leave him would he? John didn't have a chance to consider how worrying this sudden dependence on a boy he met yesterday was before Sherlock picked up the paper again and spoke at last whilst choosing an article to read.

"I don't think you want me to do that Percy. Whatever would Miss Donovan say if I told her about your suspicious prejudices against Ravenclaws? Oh no, I think it's best if me and John stay here."

Percy Weasley suddenly flushed as red as his hair as he nervously glanced over the hall at the Ravenclaw Prefect who's hair Sherlock had set alight last night as the Weasley boys, Harry and Sebastian all burst into guffaws.

"I-I have no idea what you're implying! Mine and Sally's relationship is purely professional, I-I…" Percy seemed to run out of excuses and briskly marched away to bury his glowing face in a very boring looking book. Sherlock peeked over the edge of his paper with twinkling eyes at John who had finally found the tea and met his gaze over the brim of a warm tea cup. Hermione hadn't moved however.

"No one said that John would have to leave too, he would stay here with the rest of the Gryffindor's." She hissed like an angry cat. The twinkle didn't leave Sherlock's eye as he lifted his gaze to the bossy girl and said with a small smirk, "Don't be ridiculous Granger, of course he'd come with me."

Sherlock glanced quickly, almost apprehensively, back at John as if he had said too much. John met the eyes with a small but clear nod, his face set firm so not to betray the strange sensation inside his ribs. His breath seemed to be coming a little short and there was a fluttering feeling in his chest, not entirely unpleasant but… unfamiliar. The slight nervousness in Sherlock vanished instantly and the tall boy grinned as Hermione opened her mouth to say something more.

"Well, we best be off, I think I left my wand in the Hospital Wing." He gave a charming false smile to the flustered girl as he stood and threw his bag over his shoulder. "Come along, John- Transfiguration soon."

John gulped the last of his tea and snatched up his own bag. Hermione looked furious as the two sauntered away and John called a quick "Catch you later!" to the other first year boys who were still laughing into their breakfasts.

"You didn't eat anything, won't you get hungry?" John asked as they started up the staircase. Sherlock tightened his blue Ravenclaw scarf around his neck before answering absently, "Hungry? No, no- I ate yesterday, I'll be fine for a few more days."

"What? Sherlock, you have to eat!" John replied, aghast.

"Of course I do, just not every day. It slows me down." He tapped his curly head as they climbed higher, "It's all just transport."

"Transport? Seriously?" John just shook his head when Sherlock didn't reply. "Right well tell me if walking becomes too much of a hassle when you have to haul around that mighty brain."

Sherlock grinned before slumping dramatically across John, throwing him off balance and almost causing them to both fall. "It's too much John, I can't go on!"

"Get out of it!" John laughed as he threw the boy off and took off racing up the rest of the stairs. Sherlock stayed right on his tail until they reached the Hospital Wing where they collapsed red, sweaty and struggling to laugh and get their breath at the same time.