Gooood morning my dears! Here's another chapter for you, fresh from the oven XD

So, things seem to be looking up, but I wouldn't be too happy just yet. Things are going to get worse before they get better, so I hope you're ready for some angst ;]

Anyway, I don't have much else important to tell you guys so I'll leave it at that. Please follow sxs-fanfics for updates. And I hope that you read, review, and enjoy this chapter as much as the rest of them. Thanks for all the faves and follows so far, they really mean a lot to me ^^ And with that, I shall let you get to reading. See you next week! Love ya!

~SXS

Disclaimer: Any and all related elements from the Harry Potter or Sherlock universe are the sole property of their creators. I do not take any ownership of anything except for the ideas of the storyline.


John was flying high with Sherlock here. He was happy and smiling, more than he had in months. He didn't want these few days to end, but both of them knew it was an impossible dream. It was bothering Sherlock a lot more than he was letting on to be truthful, especially one morning when he woke up to find himself alone in bed. John wasn't in the room, and the space next to him was cold. Normally this wouldn't have such an impact but...he realised that this was how it was going to be for the rest of the summer. Waking up alone, trapped with his miserable family. Even when they went back to school there was only so much they could do. He'd grown so accustomed to living with John in just a short time, and soon it would be over. Soon...John would go to the Muggle world.

Sherlock got up and shuffled downstairs to the living room. John was sitting on the sofa in just his sleep pants. A sudden burst of impulsiveness took over and he went straight for the spot next to his boyfriend, pulling him in so that John was laying on top of him. Sherlock buried his face in John's hair, closing his eyes. He couldn't stand the thought of being apart.

"Sherlock?" John said quietly, surprised by the dark-haired boy's quick movements. "What's wrong?" He wrapped his arms around the other boy. Deep down he did know what was bothering him. "I don't want you to go either..." But then his mind tried to rationalise, to make him feel better about it. This was really just a high from the new relationship and being together for a few days. The pain at the idea of being separated from Sherlock would fade, it was the proper medical response.

So why, then, did he want to saw screw the questions and just ask Sherlock straight out to live with him in the Muggle world? He swallowed the lump in his throat. No. He couldn't. He didn't want to seem desperate, or to make Sherlock do something that he didn't want to. It would be too hard for him to leave what he knew, and he just couldn't expect that from him.

Sherlock, meanwhile, had stayed silent. He just wanted to stay exactly as they were, to not think at all about what was going to happen in a short time. He tilted John's face up to kiss him and the blonde didn't protest. It was nothing but gentle movements of lips, savouring every last sensation.

John was the one to finally break the kiss, panting as he pulled away. "Sherlock..."

Said boy looked into the other's eyes, trying to say what he had trouble putting words to. But when John said nothing, he spoke. "Why are you making me play a game to try to keep you?"

John blinked at Sherlock, then his eyes softened. "Keep me..." Then he chuckled a little, turning away slightly. "When you put it that way, it sounds rather silly..." He disentangled himself from Sherlock and then stood. Sherlock sat up more, but stayed on the couch, watching John.

"I guess I started it to keep you interested. But now I see that's a moot point." He turned around so that his back was facing Sherlock. "But now...The truth is, there's something I want to ask you that I'm just too terrified to ask."

Sherlock got up, moving to stand behind John. "You don't have to be scared. It's just a question." He put a hand on John's shoulder. "Please, John."

"But it could tear us apart," John said, moving away from Sherlock to sit on the couch again. The taller boy merely laughed but there was no mirth behind it.

"At this rate we'll be apart anyway."

They were facing each other, Sherlock now standing, John sitting, their gazes locked as John struggled to put to voice what he had been fearing the answer to for months now. Finally he let out a shaky breath. "Sherlock," he whispered. "Come with me."

Sherlock blinked. "Where?"

"When I leave Hogwarts..." But John already felt like he knew the answer. He bowed his head, waiting for Sherlock to say that he was stupid for ever thinking that he would give up his life of magic to be with plain old John Watson.

But in the next moment, Sherlock was kneeling in front of him, and put both of his hands on John's. He smiled, and leaned up to kiss him.

Taken aback, John waited until Sherlock pulled away to speak, voice wary with uncertainty. "Is that a yes?"

Sherlock just beamed at him. "Don't ask stupid questions, John."

"Sherlock..."

"I can still be an Auror in the Muggle world. They have lots of them stationed there just in case."

"You really want to?" John asked again, still in disbelief. "You would come with me?"

Sherlock rolled his eyes fondly. "If I must state it plainly, so be it. John Watson, I wish to come with you to the Muggle world."

That was when it finally clicked in John's head, even though it was still spinning in shock. He smiled brightly and threw his arms around Sherlock's neck. "Wonderful!"

Sherlock laughed and hugged John back tightly. "Was that so terrible?" he teased.

"No," John admitted softly. "But I was so nervous."

"You really thought I might say no," Sherlock said, not a question. He pulled back and looked into John's eyes. "John, these last few days have been wonderful and I always want it to be this way. In case you haven't noticed, you are very important to me, and I would do anything to make sure I don't lose you."

John was rendered speechless. He was touched by the pure emotion in Sherlock's words, when he usually had trouble expressing such things aloud. He finally nodded, smiling more softly this time. "Your family won't like it."

"Bugger my family," Sherlock said. "They don't like many of the things I do, but I still do them."

John chuckled, and then settled against Sherlock's shoulder. "We're going to stay together..."

Sherlock tightened his arms around John. Yes. They would stay together forever. He was over the moon. But there were still two things he wanted to know. "What were the other two questions?"

John looked up, hesitating. "One...Do you want to go with me to the ball?" He chewed his lip waiting for the answer.

Sherlock tilted his head to the side. "We are boyfriends. I thought that that would be a given. Don't all couples go together automatically?"

"Oh. Well, yeah, I guess." John flushed and then looked down. He really should have more faith in Sherlock. "I can't ask the other one. Not yet." Sherlock looked at him curiously, but didn't press it further. When the time was right, he was sure that John would tell him. For now he would just relish in the fact that they could be, would be, together.

.~.OMWF.~.

The rest of the summer went by with exchanged letters and imagined kisses. There was an attempt to meet at Diagon Alley when it came time to buy supplies for the next year, but that was thwarted by John not being able to get a day off of work when Sherlock was going. So they continued to hold out, waiting for the first of September when they could meet again on the train.

This time around Sherlock was a bit behind schedule, so when he got onto the train, he started at the very front and worked his way back, looking into every compartment to find his boyfriend, Yorick draped over his shoulder. Finally, towards the back, he saw the familiar blonde head of hair, and his heart flipped in excitement. He opened the door and, with a smile, said, "Is this seat taken?"

John looked up from where he was reading a Muggle text book. "Sherlock!"

Sherlock sat next to him and wrapped his arms around the other boy. "I've missed you, John."

"I missed you, too," John said, face pressed to Sherlock's neck. They pulled back after a moment, leaving just their hands together, fingers intertwined. "How are you?"

"Lovely, now that I'm with you," Sherlock said, pressing into John's side.

"How was the rest of your summer?"

"Dull, annoying. Did I mention dull?" Sherlock turned to John and grinned. "And you?"

"Busy, busy..." John said, as if it wasn't anything new. "I'm done with my Muggle secondary schooling now."

"Really? That's great!" Sherlock kissed him on the cheek. "Perhaps you'll get a bit more sleep this year."

John grinned. "That's the plan."

Sherlock sighed, resting his cheek in John's hair. "I haven't been able to sleep well since I left your house," he said. "It's just not the same without you."

John squeezed Sherlock's hand lightly. "Get some sleep now. I'll wake you when it's time to change."

Sherlock didn't really want to sleep, but now that he was in John's presence, he felt a warm drowsiness take over. He smiled softly at him. "Thank you." He closed his eyes and almost instantly was asleep.

John moved to wrap an arm around Sherlock, holding him against his side as he slept. He was so glad to be back with Sherlock again, and to know that from now until June they had more opportunities to see each other. It was the reason he'd finished all his Muggle work; he wanted to have as much free time between Qudditch and magical homework to spend more time with his boyfriend.

For the whole of the ride, Sherlock slept quietly, his cat curled into his lap, and John watching over him. When he finally awoke it was to the other boy's voice calling his name. He blinked rapidly, then smiled when he saw his boyfriend next to him. "I missed that."

John smiled and gave him a gentle kiss. "Me too. Come on, it's time to get changed." He pulled away to get changed into his school robes. Sherlock did the same, only just realising that this would be the last time they had to do this. It didn't seem so long ago that he had done this for the first time. After this year, they started their real lives.

"Our last Start of the Year feast," John mused after a moment, as if he had read his thoughts.

"Yes. Our last everything." Sherlock couldn't help feeling just a tad bit sentimental. After all, Hogwarts was more of a home to him than his parent's house.

"But the end only leads to a new beginning," John pointed out, smiling.

Sherlock smiled. "You're right. A new beginning together."

John moved in to kiss him, and Sherlock didn't hesitate to return it. He wound his arms around John's waist, holding him steady while the train rocked them.

When they pulled back, Sherlock smirked a bit. "I wonder what kind of looks we're going to get."

"The Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team dating the Ravenclaw outcast," John said with a grin. "It will cause a stir."

"Not to mention the fact that I'm a boy. I'll bet most everyone expected you to be straight," Sherlock added.

John nodded. "I've only gone on a few dates with the girls in my year," he told him. "Never once really looked at a boy. So this will no doubt come as a shock to ninety percent of the school's population."

Sherlock only grinned. "Sounds like fun."

"Sounds normal for you," John teased.

"Shut up." Sherlock bent down to kiss John again.

.~.OMWF.~.

When the train finally stopped at Hogsmeade station, Sherlock and John were still kissing. They reluctantly pulled away, knowing that within moments they would be stepping off to head to school for their last year. Sherlock squeezed John's hand as they got their trunks together, Yorick once again on his shoulder. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

Sherlock gave his hand another reassuring squeeze and they made their way off of the train together.

As they stepped onto the platform, Sherlock got a bit nervous. What would everyone say when they saw the two of them together? Would they ridicule him and John? Would they just stare silently as they had when they were first friends?

John however, seemed perfectly fine. He called out to some of his housemates as they headed towards the carriages, raising his free hand to wave. And his friends? They just smiled back, some of them rolling their eyes. As if they had been waiting for it to happen. Only a few of them looked surprised.

Sherlock was perhaps the most surprised, though, at those reactions. "Interesting."

John looked up at him and smiled. "I guess it was more obvious than we thought." They both chuckled a bit, climbing into a carriage together. It started off, the invisible thestrals pulling them up to the castle.

"You'll have to sit at your House table for the feast," John said.

Sherlock pursed his lips. "I suppose you're right. But can we have breakfast tomorrow then?"

"Of course we can," John promised.

"Excellent," Sherlock said, face brightening. The carriage continued on, rattling up to the school. John had his head on Sherlock's shoulder for the ride, the Ravenclaw's arm around his waist, quietly enjoying his boyfriend. He wanted to savour every moment. They would only have so many before he'd be off to Muggle uni.

"So, an Auror?" he murmured after a little. "It suits you."

"You think so?" Sherlock asked, looking down at him.

"Mhm."

"Why though? Aurors aren't usually the sit-by-themselves-and-read-a-book type."

John chuckled. "You may do that now, but I don't think you will forever. Your mind goes far too fast to just allow you to sit."

"Well, you're right about that," Sherlock said, grinning. "The action of Auror life is what drew me to it. Never a dull moment." Just thinking about it sparked his eyes with excitement.

"Very you," John repeated before pulling away. The carriages had just arrived outside of the school. He gave Sherlock a quick kiss, knowing that once they got out, he would be swept away by his friends. And sure enough, when they stepped out, it was only a moment before he wrapped up in talking with old friends, dormmates and the potential Quidditch team members. He was back to being John Watson, star of Gryffindor.

Sherlock let him go, of course, making his way into the castle alone. They were further separated once in the Great Hall, heading to their respective House tables. Back to the way things were first day the year before. The first day of every year. One or two of his housemates did look at him, with less disdain than they used to. He supposed this was partially because he was a seventh year now so there was no one to look down on him, and perhaps his reputation had improved a bit from being friends with John. That didn't mean, however, that he wasn't still Sherlock Holmes, freak of Ravenclaw. No one spoke to him.