Disclaimer: As mandatory with these things, I have to say upfront I do not own Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the characters therein nor the places or plot events spoken of. That all belongs to Guy Ritchie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, their benefactors, etc. etc.

Prompt: Did you know you look like...?


The undergraduate just stared at his professor for a moment, wanting to speak his mind. However, he was unsure about how to bring up what he wished to discuss. Normally, he was not so forward, preferring to keep to his notes and not bother Professor Moriarty with nonsense. This bit of nonsense could be ignored, though. Not with such surprising similarities presented.

His history book, chronicling events from the Colonies up through the last ten years, was clasped tightly in his hands. His mathematics was long forgotten as he approached his professor at the blackboard after lecture. He should have been be heading over to the dormitories to meet with his fellows before descending upon the nearest local pub for a good time, but his thoughts have been burning a hole in his concentration since he'd made his discovery.

Professor Moriarty swiped a rag over his equations, noticed the dawdling pupil hovering just beyond the lectern.

"Mister Lowell, have you a question about today's lecture?"

Lowell blinked, somehow surprised by his professor's intent opening dialogue. He managed to regain his tongue, though. "Not upon the lecture material, sir."

"Then if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for my sabbatical abroad." It's a dismissal, one that the poor student railroaded over.

"I do have a question for you, sir, but it's not about your book or the lecture."

Moriarty grimaced momentarily before schooling his face again. His look of mild interest took hold, and his inclined head urged Mister Lowell to go on. It seemed, though, his student's quick dose of courage had faded away. This professor, known in certain circles as the Napoleon of Crime, normally did not have patience for this sort of dithering. However, he had always been a teacher before being the head of a secret criminal organization, and he would not harm this young man for simply wasting his time.

Not physically, anyway.

"Mister Lowell, if you are not going to make your inquiry, then you should be on your way. I really do not have the time-"

"Are you aware that you look like President Grant?"

Nonplussed, Moriarty furrowed his brow. "Excuse me?"

Lowell swallowed, his voice gaining strength. "President Ulysses S. Grant. You greatly resemble some of his Civil War portraits, sir, and I was merely curious if anyone had informed you of this similarity before."

His mathematics professor slowly shook his head, astonished by the track the conversation was taking.

"No," Moriarty replied quietly. "I've never been told that. Have you proof of this strange circumstance of resemblance?"

"Of course," Lowell responded, nearly leaping forward to hand over his text for perusal. Helpfully, he'd marked the pages for Professor Moriarty to observe. The book itself was not of the best quality, but the details in the miniature portraits of the passed President and general could not be mistaken. Lowell had studied the pages closely, and he knew he was right in his estimation. Same eyes, same nose shape, even the same jaw that was set in the same look of stony examination that Moriarty was giving off now.

After another minute of browsing, his professor shut the textbook, handed it back to him, and merely shrugged.

"I personally see no extraordinary similarity between our countenances, but this was an amusing sojourn to take before settling my affairs here. I will take it as a compliment that you think I resemble such a great man, even if he was an American," Moriarty murmured, one corner of his lips lifting in good humor. "I look forward to our next encounter when I return next month, Mister Lowell."

Lowell gaped at him as the professor gently guided him out the door, shutting it firmly in his face. For some time he stood there, still unable to find the right response to the situation.

How could the professor not see it?

xXxXxXx

James Moriarty dug around in his desk, unearthing a battered old photograph from deep with the third drawer. He smirked at it, taking the sight of a man with his face but clad in a Yankee uniform instead of professorial garb.

"One inconsistent relative running away nearly one hundred years ago to live in America, and we are still paying the price, Uncle Grant. You're going to haunt me for the rest of my life, aren't you?"


A/N: I'm aware that those who haven't seen Lincoln aren't going to get this joke. Long story short, Jared Harris plays both Professor Moriarty and Grant in their respective movies. My friend and I both had a silent freak-out when we realized this in the theater, and thus made quiet jokes about how nobody should trust Grant, and wondering where Holmes was. Yep, couldn't help myself. Eh, sue me. No, wait, don't do that!