A Study in Gold and Garnet
Wow! This has gotten a good number of views already! I really appreciate the reviews! I'm trying to map out upcoming stories, but its a bit tricky. I've just started typing out Year 2. Enjoy!
Chapter 5
John quickly got settled into his dormitory after the ceremony. It was late, so he changed and laid on his four-poster bed, trying to sleep. However, he couldn't stop thinking about how staggeringly unbelievable the day had been. He'd met actual wizards, waited on a platform that wasn't supposed to exist, and had his mind read by a hat. Even the journey to the dormitories had been a adventure, as half of the Gryffindors had been separated when a staircase started moving. However, he was most intrigued by Sherlock Holmes. How could someone be that brilliant? he thought. And confident? As he was mulling these thoughts around in his head, he drifted off.
oooooo
The next morning, he found himself in one of the many corridors of Hogwarts, squinting at the schedule he had in his hand. Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology. What did these words even mean? Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around. Sherlock stood there, dressed in his black robes and his blue Ravenclaw scarf. "We have a lot a classes together," he said. "They did something wise for once, scheduling Ravenclaw and Gryffindor together. Ravenclaw and Slytherin calls for too much ego-clashing, Slytherin and Gryffindor have an ongoing animosity, and Gryffindor and Hufflepuff makes for too much stupid in one room. Here, follow me, we have Charms first."
Sherlock led John quickly through a maze twisting corridors, moving staircases, and roving first-years. "How do you know your way around so well?" John asked.
"I snuck out last night to make a mind map of the castle."
"Wait, so you memorized this whole place in one night? That's brilliant!"
Sherlock looked oddly embarrassed. "You really think so?"
"Of course!"
Sherlock just kept walking, but John could see that the praise had affected him positively. Finally, they reached the Charms classroom. The class was taught by an incredibly small professor named Flitwick. John learned rather quickly that Sherlock was a remarkably skilled wizard. He had already known all of the spells they learned that day, and he was good at them. John wasn't too bad, especially since prior to today he didn't even know how to hold a wand.
After the lesson, as they were packing up their belongings, John leaned over to Sherlock. "How did you know all of these spells already? I thought you weren't supposed to do magic before you got to Hogwarts."
Sherlock gave him a small, impish grin. "I make it my business to know things, and I never let a few silly rules get in my way. Come on, we have Herbology next."
oooooo
The rest of the day passed in an exciting blur. John learned a lot about magic, and about Sherlock, during the rest of their classes. John learned that he himself had a strong aptitude for Herbology. The only two classes they didn't have together were Transfiguration and History of Magic, both of which John found passed by more slowly for some reason. Defense Against the Dark Arts was taught by a shifty-looking man named Professor Hope, but the class itself wasn't too eventful.
Potions was an interesting experience. As Sherlock and John walked into the dungeons, a harsh, deep voice welcomed them. "Grab a partner, set up your supplies, and keep your mouths closed." John looked up to see a tall, greasy looking man standing imperiously at the front of the room. John and Sherlock sat at one of tables and stayed quiet, not really daring to talk. Once the rest of the students arrived, the professor introduced himself. "I am Professor Snape. Welcome to Potions." he droned. "I can teach you many things. How to remember everything, how to manipulate time, even how to change your very essence." He paused. "But in reality I probably won't be able to get through any of your thick skulls."
John felt Sherlock stiffen beside him. Snape continued. "Just as an exercise, let's see if any you actually happen to know anything. What would happen if I mixed, say, powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of Wormwood?"
Sherlock glanced around the classroom, then languidly raised his hand. Snape seemed surprised as he called on him. "Yes, Mr…?"
"Holmes," Sherlock finished, then continued, "And the answer is a sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death."
"Hmm," Snape mused, frowning. "That's correct. Now, what about if I asked you to find a bezoar? Where would you look?" He posed this question more to Sherlock than to the rest of the class.
"Simple, a goat's stomach." Sherlock replied.
"Correct, again. Finally, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
Sherlock actually rolled his eyes at this question. "They're the same thing, also known as Aconite."
Snape paused for a moment, seemingly impressed at this confident first-year. Then he blinked, gave a slight shake of his head, and said, "Fine, ten points to Ravenclaw."
Once the real lesson began and they were tasked with brewing a Hiccoughing Potion, Snape kept hovering by John and Sherlock's table, waiting for Sherlock to make a mistake. However, he never got the chance. Not only did Sherlock never mess up, he made the whole potion without even opening the textbook. Sherlock left the classroom smirking.
oooooo
Near the end of the day, they were scheduled to have Astronomy and Flying lessons. As they crossed through the doorway that led up to the Astronomy tower, Sherlock's demeanor tangibly deflated.
"What is it?" John asked, a little alarmed at this sudden shift.
"Astronomy," Sherlock grumbled, crossing his arms as they made their way up the stairs.
"What about it? Is the teacher bad?"
"No, Professor Sinistra is fine. It's Astronomy itself that's the problem."
"Oh...ok then," John said, completely confused.
He came to learn what Sherlock had meant once the class began. Sherlock had absolutely no interest or knowledge in Astronomy. He didn't even know basic information about the solar system! When asked about his indifference to the subject, he replied, "Well, how does Astronomy affect my daily life? It's simply not practical. What does it matter that we go around the sun? We could go around a crumple-horned snorkack for all I care."
oooooo
The last lesson they had that day was Flying lessons. John was looking forward to this one the most. Sherlock had informed him earlier that they were going to fly on broomsticks! The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws walked out onto the castle grounds to find broomsticks laid out in rows.
"I'm Madam Hooch," the teacher standing between all the broomsticks said. "Stand beside a broomstick and we'll begin the lesson."
John stood by a broomstick next to his fellow Gryffindors. Sherlock stood across from him, with the Ravenclaws. "Now," said Madam Hooch, "Put your hand over the broom and say, 'Up!'"
John watched a few other students try it, rather unsuccessfully, then placed his own hand over his broomstick. "Up!" he said loudly. He closed his eyes, imagining how wonderful it would be to fly on a magic broomstick. Suddenly, he felt a large weight in his hand. He opened his eyes and there it was! The broom had jumped from the ground into his hand!
"Very good, Mr. Watson!" Madam Hooch congratulated. John looked over at Sherlock, who looked a little surprised but gave him a wink anyway. Sherlock had of course got his own broom to come to his hand, but it was not nearly as forceful as John's had been.
oooooo
At dinner, since Ravenclaws and Gryffindors sat separately, John had an opportunity to meet other people in his house. A boy to his left introduced himself as Greg, a fellow first-year.
"I noticed you spent a lot of time with Sherlock today," he said.
"Um, yes," John ceded. "He knows a lot about this place and-"
Greg interrupted him. "Yes, he does know a lot, doesn't he? Sherlock and I knew each other before Hogwarts and I've been putting up with him and his scary 'logic' for years. As much as it pains me to admit, he can be rather helpful sometimes, so I've kept familiar with him."
At that moment, a girl walked up and took a seat across from them. John recognized her from the Sorting ceremony as Sally Donovan.
"Hey, Sally!" Greg greeted her. He turned to John. "Sally and I knew each other before Hogwarts too."
"I heard you talking about Sherlock," she said. "John, I'm going to warn you, he's bad news. You should keep away from him."
"What? Why?"
"Because he's a bloody psychopath! Did you know he likes it when bad things happen? It gives his funny brain something to puzzle about."
"I don't know about all that-" Greg began.
"No, I mean it! He'll only let you down. You need to get some new friends, John, or at least some other distraction. You should try Wizard's Chess."
Just then, the Gryffindor prefect stood up and said, "All first-years to the dormitories!"
As John stood up and turned to leave, Sally called after him, "You could always go out for Quidditch!"
Greg caught up to John once they left the Great Hall. "I don't think Sherlock's as bad as Sally makes him out to be, but she's right; you should be careful."
"Why? Is he really a psychopath?"
"I don't think so. He's a great kid, and one day, if we're lucky, he may learn to be a good one too."
Thanks for sticking with the story, everyone!