"I understand why you told Lestrade to arrest Pembroke. You answered that question in the cab itself. But what I don't understand is what just happened now. The owl, that vial and then Mrs. Hudson's recovery. Also, what does Hermione have to do with anything?" John asks.
"Everything," Sherlock replies. He nods his head at Hermione. She stands up and brings out her wand. John nearly keels over. He has seen that thing before, at Lestrade's office. He looks at Sherlock once, a question on his lips, but Sherlock puts a finger on his lips, to gesture at John to remain quiet.
"John, I am a witch," Hermione says and with that she casts a Patronus. John sees everything in shocked silence as a silvery white wisp starts coming out of the wand and soon forms the shape of an otter, which merrily bounces around the room.
"I don't understand," John murmurs.
Then Hermione, assisted with timely inputs from Sherlock, starts at the very beginning. From Pansy's death to the curse on Mrs. Hudson. John listens to everything without saying anything. His head is reeling. He is half curious and half angry. Curious because he can hardly believe anything, and angry at Sherlock for not confiding in him. After Hermione is finished, he takes time to glare at Sherlock and her.
"So you two decided not to tell me anything," John says, his voice harsh.
"We did not think it was going to become so," Hermione waves her hand, "So connected. When I sought his help, I was sure it was a simple case. A witch killed mysteriously. That Sebastian Moran will be Blaise Zabini, or Pansy knew Moriarty—no one, in any way, thought that everything would come back to Moriarty. So now, it involves him and me. And you, as well."
John crosses his arms and grinds his teeth. He throws another angry glance at Sherlock, who is looking very embarrassed indeed. Hermione sees that exchange. She speaks, "And Sherlock did not involve you before because of this very reason. It was supposed to be an open-shut case. But it is now no more like that."
Hermione sees her pleas were falling on deaf ears. John is disappointed, she could tell. After going through so much together, he had every right to feel betrayed. Finally, John says under his breath, "Just like three years ago." Sherlock raises his head at that comment. Hermione can see the hurt reflecting in his eyes. John stomps towards the door and wrenching the door open, says, "Happy New Year in advance." He leaves, his angry footsteps a loud bang on the stairs.
Sherlock stands up, ready to follow John, when Hermione stops him by grabbing his forearm. She says softly, "No. Let him stew. I am pretty sure, sooner or later, he will come here himself and forgive us. If you follow him, you will only make him angrier."
Sherlock nods. Hermione asks, "What did John mean, by that. I mean, by what he just said right now. You looked…hurt."
Sherlock pinches the bridge of his nose. He sighs, "If you did look me up on Google, you would know that John knew nothing of my fake suicide plans. Still now, he sees that as a major breach of trust. This time too, he is the last to know."
"Well, I understand," she says quietly.
Suddenly, Hermione's stomach makes a noise. Sherlock arches an eyebrow. She covers her stomach and smiles, "Gosh, I am hungry." She turns to Sherlock and says, "Do you want some lunch or are you not going to let digestion hamper your deduction?"
Sherlock pauses to think what to do when an idea creeps into Hermione's head. She smiles, "Anyway, I was thinking of going to the Burrow for lunch. Then I could pick up Rose from there. Also, would you like to see how a wizard abode looks like?"
The question is enough to grab the Belstaf and follow Hermione to the Burrow.

They apparate near the field. Hermione beckons Sherlock to follow her. When they arrive at the clearing, the house in front of him, with its bulging wings and crooked structure, truly leaves him speechless.
Hermione secretly takes pleasure at his gobsmacked expression. He mutters, "How is that building not falling?"
"What if I say, magic?" Hermione smirks.
"It is...really something," he gives her a real smile that nearly knock her off her feet. She did not believe smiles were infectious, but his smile triggers her to grin at him. So she takes his hands and drags him along.
He lets her drag him to the entrance were he sees a red haired woman busy waving her wand at the wall. Hermione shouts, "Hello Mrs. Weasley!"
Molly turns around and rushes over to greet Hermione. She hugs her and then finally she notices Sherlock there, standing and gaping at the grass at his feet because he thought he just saw an ankle high person run across. Molly chuckles, "Gnomes! They are so difficult to get rid off! But I don't—"
"Molly, this is Sherlock Holmes. He uh, he is a Muggle," Hermione says.
"Oh! Welcome dear! I am Molly," Molly pulls him into a hug as well. Sherlock, who is lukewarm to physical contact, is surprised she would hug him, a stranger. She pulls away and nearly drags him inside the house, speaking all the time, "Sorry if things are a little odd dear! You must be used to some form of magic at least. Also sorry, my sons aren't here. But not so sorry that my husband is not here, he would have nearly drove you out with his questions! That man with his Muggle obsession! But you must meet my daughter, Ginny. Ginny, we have a guest!"
He had thought the hospital was strange, but this house came close to second place. Molly drags him to the kitchen where a pot is on stove being stirred by a spoon, on its own. He also spots a scrubber cleaning dirty dishes on the sink. If everything surprised him, he reins it in. but Hermione sees his amusement shining in his blue-green eyes. Another red haired woman emerged. But he knew her. She had come over to help Hermione move to 221C.
Ginny halts, she narrows her eyes, "Oh, I know him, it is Sherlock Holmes." Then she flicks her hair and goes over to hug Hermione. She whispers in Hermione's ear, "He looks hot."
A giggle erupts anyway, Hermione cannot stop it. She peeps at Sherlock. Yes, he did look nice. Something about men in black shirts…Sherlock looks at her. She shakes her head. Ginny pulls away and says, "I will bring Rose down."
Molly ushers them both to the dining table. She sets cutlery and before Sherlock could protest, there is an enormous amount of food on his plate as well. Hermione presses her lips to prevent from guffawing out loud.
Sherlock looks down on his plate. The food looks good enough. There is grilled fish and mashed green peas with mint. Molly also set down a basket of bread. She smiles at Sherlock, "I hope you like it dear. It was such short notice. Hermione did not say anything about a guest." She looks at Hermione disapprovingly. Hermione only helplessly smiles.
Molly reminded him a bit of his own mother. So for the first time in his life, he decides to be the polite man his mother (tried to) raise him as, and starts eating. Hermione nearly drops her own spoon in surprise. She wishes she had a camera. She leans closer and mutters, "Someone ought to make a video of this, you eating."
Shoving a forkful of peas, Sherlock grumbles, "Shuddup."
Hermione doubles over the table in laughter.

The sun is almost setting when Hermione uses the floo network to 221C (Sherlock was dying to know how that worked). The afternoon was well spent with Rose showing Sherlock around and Ginny nearly toppling over when Hermione confided in her about kissing Sherlock ("Ooo how was it?" "What happened then?") and Draco ("What? Again? Are you insane?" "Was it good?" "What now?"). Hermione was half contemplating to stun Ginny so she could make her stop.
They arrive at 221C, covered in ash and wheezing. Hermione mutters a quick spell and all the ash disappears over all their clothes.
Sherlock steps out of the fireplace and says, "So Apparation and this. What else is there?"
"Brooms and dragons," Hermione says, "Also Hippogriffs, if you can tame one."
"Hippogriffs?"
Hermione just smiles and saunters up to her bookcase and brings out the book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She gives the book to Sherlock, who takes it and deposits himself on her sofa once again. Rose, too, goes and sits down beside him.