Author's Note: AHHH! I'm so sorry it's been so long! I'm trying to plot out the next few chapters and put together some sort of storyline and I've been super busy. I'm not totally satisfied with this chapter but I feel like I needed to update. I'll try to get the next one out sometime this week. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. It really helps my motivation. This chapter I actually used the book for. Most of the great hall scene is almost word for word what JKR wrote with some changes just so Sherlock and John would fit in. Also, I do my best but I'm from Canada and the story is not brit-picked so if there are any things that are incorrect please correct me. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Sherlock.
After getting off the train, The Golden Trio made their way to the carriages with the other returning students. Upon arriving at the school, Harry and Hermione were pulled aside by Professor McGonagall to check over Harry and sort out Hermione's timetable. By the time they rejoined Ron, the sorting had already been completed. Seated in the great hall, the Trio noticed that two of the seats at the staff table were still vacant and began to get worried.
"Professor Watson and Professor Holmes aren't here yet," Harry observed.
"What's taking them so long?" Ron asked, earning an exasperated look from Hermione.
"They did mention leaving their things in another compartment. They're probably on their way now," she said.
"They're taking a bloody long time then. Do you reckon they got lost?"
"Of course not, Ronald! They're teachers. I'm sure they can find their own way to the Great Hall."
The whispers that were caused when Harry entered the room flared to life once again as the students began noticing not one, but two empty seats at the staff table. These whispers were silenced, however, the moment Dumbledore stood up to begin his speech.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast... As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." Harry remembered what Mrs. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school. Dumbledore continued to warn the students about the Dementors and the consequences of attempting to leave the school grounds without permission.
"On a happier note," Dumbledore continued cheerfully. "I am pleased to welcome three new teachers to our ranks this year. I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at eachother, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.
"We should have known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have set us a biting book?"
Once the noise died down, Dumbledore began speaking again. "As many of you have probably noticed, two of our staff are absent at the moment. Do not fret. They are on their way and, I suspect, will be here soon. In fact, I believe they are here now." As he shifted his twinkling gaze to the large double doors of the Great Hall, the staff and students followed suit, becoming aware of the sound of voices filtering through the doors. The doors burst open revealing a tall, imposing figure and a shorter, but no less intimidating one bickering between themselves as they strode up the walkway towards the front of the hall.
"How did you even manage that? How do you get lost in a school you lived at for seven years!?"
"It's been over a decade, John! You can't seriously expect me to remember every little detail of the building after that amount of time."
"Actually, yes I can! With that bloody massive mind palace of yours I figure you would have the whole layout stored away somewhere!"
"I can't keep everything! If I knew I would be returning, I wouldn't have deleted it!"
"You should at least be able to remember the way to the Great Hall!"
"It wasn't important at the time!"
"You're a stubborn arse, you know that!?"
"Obviously! You're in no place to talk! You've been so busy arguing with me you haven't even taken a proper look around yet!" At some point, previously, they had reached the front of the hall and were now bickering in front of the headmaster and the entire school. Upon hearing this, John stopped to actually take in his surroundings. Sherlock smirked at the awed look on his best friend's face as he took in the Hogwarts Great Hall for the first time. As the stunned silence of the student body dissipated, the whispers stared up again. Albus Dumbledore smiled as he began to introduce the newcomers.
"On account of Professor Jamison's retirement, please welcome our new Muggle Studies professor, Dr. John Watson." There was hesitant applause from the still stunned students and a few sneers from the direction of the Slytherin table. Obviously the subject was not popular with many of the purebloods. Dumbledore continued.
"And a warm welcome to Professor Holmes who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." The stunned silence was followed by more hesitant applause and even more hushed whispers as the two new teachers took their seats at the head table.
Holmes? As in Sherlock Holmes?
Isn't he that Muggle detective?
What's he doing here?
These were just a few of the statements Harry heard from the students around him before Ron got his attention.
"Look at Snape!" He hissed in Harry's ear.
Professor Snape was giving Holmes a peculiar look. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but Harry was taken aback by the expression on the potion master's face. Snape's expression was a mixture of distaste, confusion, and irritation all at once with a flash of recognition.. There was something else there that Harry couldn't place right away. When he did though, he was surprised. There was just the tiniest glimmer of grudging respect leaving Harry with even more questions about the not-so-muggle detective.
After getting over the shock of food appearing before his very eyes, John turned to Sherlock. Being an outsider in the magical community, John was confused by the students' reactions to his and Sherlock's new positions. Before he could even open his mouth, however, Sherlock beat him to it.
"You have questions," he stated.
"Ah... yeah. What-?" Was all John was able to utter before Sherlock launched into his explanation.
"Many traditional pureblooded families are extremely prejudiced against Muggles and Muggleborns. An idea I find ridiculous and, frankly, appalling. There is no evidence that blood status corresponds to magical ability. I know of many powerful Muggleborns and many, many incompetent purebloods. Unfortunately, tradition is hard to break and the subject of Muggle Studies is frowned upon by some of the more ancient bloodlines. As such, Muggle Studies professors are often unpopular with students from the snake house especially. The fact that you are a squib will not help this matter so, I suggest that you keep your guard up at all times in case some of the meaner spirited students decide to... take action. Seeing as you have no way to counter curses and jinxes, try to stay with at least one member of the staff at all times. I suppose part of the students reaction could also be attributed to the fact that they were not expecting a replacement Muggle Studies professor and another part to our rather... unorthodox entrance."
"How could you forget the location of a room this size!?" Sherlock did not dignify this with a response, instead continuing with the rest of his explanation, undeterred.
"As for my, supposedly, 'warm welcome', unlike the Muggle Studies position, the 'curse' on the DADA position means that the students will be watching me closely, most likely wondering whether or not I will make it through the year. Those twins at the Gryffindor table have already started a betting pool."
"How did you-? No, never mind. Go on."
"While my name is not as well known here as Muggle London, the Holmes family is one of the oldest known pureblood families in the wizarding world. Additionally, many of the students here have at least one Muggle parent and grew up in the Muggle world where my name is well known to the public."
"Do you think any of them could have connected you to Mycroft?"
"Doubtful. While Mycroft basically runs both the Muggle and wizarding government, his involvement is not usually common knowledge. Although, it is possible that some students may have parents that were here at the same time as me or Mycroft. While unlikely, another explaination is that students have discovered our... legacy... on their own."
"Legacy?" John asked.
"Mycroft had the top marks in the school for all of his seven years. He was the perfect student. He was a prefect in his fifth and sixth years and was awarded the title of Head Boy in his seventh."
"And you?" He received no response.
After the feast, Sherlock and John made their way to the DADA office and living quarters where they would be staying until further notice. While normally, Professors would have their own rooms attached to their classrooms, Dumbledore claimed that an incident with Peeves the Poltergeist and an unstable potion had recently rendered the Muggle Studies classroom and living quarters completely uninhabitable until further notice. Due to this, John was forced to room with Sherlock for the time being. Not that either of them particularly minded. Dumbledore was able to enlarge the DADA quarters to include an extra bedroom and a living room and, after some alterations from Sherlock, aside from the lack of a kitchen, the layout was remarkably similar to their own flat back at Baker Street. John thought that it was quite comforting and found that he rather preferred this arrangement. After all, God knows what Sherlock would get up to if left unattended for too long. Also, there would be no trips across the castle just to help Sherlock with something that he simply couldn't be bothered to do himself.
After unpacking his trunk, John made his way to the living area where Sherlock was sprawled on the couch, hands steepled under his chin, eyes closed. John settled himself by the fireplace where a nearly perfect copy of his chair was placed.
"So, thinking about the case?" The only indication that Sherlock heard him was a small affirmative grunt. That was when John noticed the cup of gently steaming tea sitting on the table next to him.
"You made tea?" John asked. His flatmate looked at him, puzzled.
"What?"
"Tea. Did you make it?"
"Of course not, John. How could I have made tea? We have no kitchen."
"I don't know. Magic?"
"One of the things that magic cannot do is create food."
"Well, where did it come from then?"
"House Elves, most likely."
"House Elves?"
"Yes, John. House Elves. A race of small magical beings whose purpose in life is to serve their master."
"So they're slaves?" John asked feeling a bit sorry for the creatures.
"In a way, yes. However, when serving a master that treats them well, they enjoy their jobs immensely. There is no greater joy for them than pleasing the ones they serve. The Hogwarts Elves in particular can get quite chatty. They're the ones who clean the castle and cook the meals. They are rather similar to Mrs. Hudson, actually." John nodded.
"Ah, so that's why you never questioned where your morning tea came from."
Author's Note: It feels too short... Well anyway, a few things. First, the Muggle Studies professor before Charity Burbage was never named. I only know that he was male. Second, I'm not sure quite how staff lodging works at Hogwarts but from what I've gathered, teachers sleep in rooms either in or at least near their office and classroom. Im just going to say that the rooms are connected to the office. Also, I wanted Sherlock and John to stay together for a few reasons but mostly because I need it that way for a future scene. The conversation about the house elves wasn't planned, but i feel like Sherlock would have grown up with house elves around and would just dismiss magically appearing tea. Anyway please give me feedback! Any questions? Concerns? Corrections? Let me know! I'm also open to ideas. Please Review!