4. Sometimes a goodbye is the only option
John couldn't tear his eyes from the unmoving body of Sherlock. His blood turned cold as he gripped his wand tight in his hand. He let out a heavy breath and glared at the intruders. If the looks alone could kill then those four Death Eaters would be dead in a matter of seconds.
"Oh! You still have it in you, don't you?" Harvey teased, a smirk present on his face. The men seemed to be unconcerned about the anger that was rising in John.
"We've decided to drop by. You know, a visit after the years. We wanted to hold a small reunion…" Norwood drawled in a mocking tone.
"Yeah, and it was just our luck that the time we decided to drop by, you weren't home. Just your pets were here, and as they seemed to be not behaving themselves, we needed to take care of them." Harvey smiled and pointed towards the bodies.
"Harvey…" John warned. He noticed that Sherlock's eyes were moving frantically. It seemed that he was only hexed with a Pertificus Totalus. The doctor's knees almost gave out in relief. He didn't know what he would have done if Sherlock really had been killed. Still, the relief didn't overpower the feeling of annoyance and anger towards the unwelcome guests.
"Easy there, Johny. Don't fret. We know that those two are your cover-ups. Though, I have to congratulate you. The way you managed to escape the Ministry and aurors was ingenious." Harvey's tone of speaking turned less mocking and more friendly.
"So…." Coyne's deep voice echoed through the room and his eyes turned to the armchairs. John signed resignedly and waved his wand toward the furniture. In a place where the two armchairs stood, now were two large sofas. As the doctor hid his wand back in his sleeve, he quickly shot a look at Sherlock, whose eyes were no longer moving everywhere, but instead were fixed on the new furniture in quite a visible shock.
"What do you want?" John asked. He wasn't in a mood for pleasantries. His life was becoming a mess. First Potter, now them. It seemed that he wouldn't be able to escape his past.
"Don't be so cold. Aren't you happy to see us?" Norwood asked with a smile and waved his wand producing a pot and a few cups of tea. The intruders sat on the sofas looking comfortable and at ease.
"I am glad you are alive and well. But you surprised me. And the times we live in are not good for surprises." John's words carried a meaning that didn't need further explanation to the wizards present. This time they were the prey and the hunters wouldn't stop till they apprehended them. And their lives wasn't the only thing at stake.
"We know, of course we know. I am fucking tired of this hiding and running away. I commend you for a good idea to hide among muggles, but I wouldn't be able to live with the vermin." Harvey shoot Sherlock and Mrs. Hudson a look full of disgust.
"John always had a high tolerance. Remember the mudbloods he needed to prepare for another round of interrogation after Bella had some fun with them? The memory still makes my stomach churn." Coyne's words provoked a burst of laughter from his colleagues. John only grimaced. He didn't like to be reminded of the darker moments of his career as a Death Eater.
"Why are you here?" He asked impatiently. He couldn't give in to small talks while Sherlock was lying there petrified and probably listening intently to every word that had been spoken. John could only imagine what had been going on in the detective's head at the moment.
"So impatient, so impatient…. but very well. There has been a small problem with some of our ex friends. They've been trying to return to the old ways and stirred some trouble with the Ministry." Harvey always failed at being subtle, even at school he was horrible at it. So some of the Death Eaters that managed to escape Ministry tried to return to their activities, it seemed.
"They've been targeting young mudbloods. A simple, but quite efficient method of working they established. They would monitor some parts of the country for the letters from Hogwarts. The moment they noticed the owl, they went into action." Nott's explanation made John understand that what he was talking about was actually the case of the murdered kids with the Dark Mark carved on their chests. The case he and Sherlock investigated some time before.
"It's not that we oppose such activities, but they have drawn the attention of aurors to us. And those bastards became quite efficient in hunting us down. A few had been caught already, though they weren't related to the recent attacks. With Malfoy on the Ministry side, even the best safe houses seem to be not safe." That piece of information actually got John's interest.
"Malfoy?" He asked.
"Oh, you don't know? Their youngest actually became an auror. He is quite chummy with Potter and together they are playing a witch hunt." Harvey explained.
"But how is that possible? Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater just like us. He has a mark, I was at his initiation." John said and he unconsciously grabbed his arm where his own mark was hidden from view.
"That sneaky bastard actually helped Potter in some way or other. Also Lucius' wife lied to Dark Lord in order to protect that spectacled menace, can you believe it?" Nott's voice became angry but quickly he got hold of his temper and reached for a cup of tea. John could notice a resignation in his eyes. And not only in his. The other three men also looked as if there was no much hope left for them.
"Anyway, the hunts are now more intense than ever, so we decided to drop by and warn you." Harvey said pleasantly.
"Warn me? But how did you find me? How did you know where I live? Do the aurors…" John's voice towards the end became quite panicked. If the aurors found out where he lived, he would need to escape. He would need to leave Sherlock…
"Calm down, Watson. We found out by a chance. We happened to spot you a few weeks ago in London and decided to follow you. You know, to check up on you. If the aurors knew where you lived, they would probably have already made a move." Harvey's words calmed him a little. He turned his eyes to Sherlock and noticed that the man was looking back at him. He tried to reassure the immobilized man with his eyes alone, but he didn't know if it had worked or not.
"We're here to warn you and say goodbye, Watson." That got John's attention back to his guests.
"We're leaving. There is no place for us in Britain anymore." Harvey continued.
"But where do you intent to go?" John asked surprised.
"Russia. Can't tell you more. You know, to be safe. It is better that you know as little as possible. Better for all of us." Nott answered shooting a warning glare at Harvey who had opened his mouth, probably to tell John their exact destination.
"We're going to be safe. But the same cannot be said about you, Watson. Maybe you could consider going with us? Our life could become all right again." Harvey asked and got up from the sofa he was sitting at. His other companions followed.
"No thank you. Britain is my home." And my life is all right – John added in his mind. Harvey looked a little disappointed but it seemed that he hadn't truly believed that his friend would actually agree.
"I see. Well then, we need to go. Take care, mate. Don't get yourself Kissed." Harvey came closer to John and held out his hand. John grabbed it without thinking. It probably would be the last time he saw his friend.
"You too. I wish you the very best." He said. His voice tight.
"Ready, boys?" Nott asked looking at his companions. Harvey nodded and disapparated without another word. Nott and Norwood followed shortly after that.
"Oh, yeah. Finite Incantatem!" Coyne waved his wand towards the two immobile muggles lifting the spell. After that he nodded at John and also disappeared from the flat.
John didn't have time to think about the visit and what he had learned from it. He also didn't have time to ponder about his former colleagues' fate. He rushed towards his friend and the landlady in a hurry.
"Sherlock! Mrs. Hudson! Are you two all right?" He asked as he tried to help the older woman get on her feet.
"Oh dear, John. What was that? Who were those people? Why…." Mrs. Hudson started but John cut her in.
"Later, Mrs. Hudson. Now you need to sit down and calm yourself. I'll make some tea, so please do as I say." John didn't dare to look at Sherlock who was trying to stand up. He was afraid of what he could see in his friend's face. A look of betrayal? Disgust? Fear? Everything was possible with Sherlock Holmes and John wasn't mentally prepared yet to face is friend. A bit like a coward, he quickly left for a kitchen.
"How did it go?" Malfoy asked amusedly looking at the displeasure painting his partner's face. Harry Potter entered their office looking quite annoyed. He took off his coat and hanged it next to Malfoy's.
"I hate dealing with that Holmes. If it wasn't for him I would be able to catch Watson and now he has escaped again. It would be a pain to find him again, especially now that he knows that we track his wand." Harry complained as he threw himself at his chair in front of a desk that was almost entirely covered by various documents and forms.
"Have you tried checking in a rabbit hole?" Malfoy teased.
"Oh, ha ha! Very funny. You would also get fooled by that rabbit, admit it!" Harry flushed a little. He had been an object of jokes since the night he mistook a magical rabbit for Watson.
"Maybe, maybe not. So what are you going to do know?" Malfoy asked. Harry closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh.
"We observe. Our only clue is that Watson appeared at the same place Holmes' younger brother was investigating something. He's a detective, by the way." Malfoy raised an eyebrow hearing that. "Maybe there is some connection here."
"Are you suggesting that Watson is in contact with a muggle?" Malfoy asked in disbelief.
"Maybe. Who knows. That's the only clue we have for now. And it is high time you started moving your lazy ass. We're both going to patrol London till we find Watson." Harry opened his eyes and looked seriously at Malfoy.
"As you wish, you slave driver." Malfoy agreed in a mocking tone. "But let's start tomorrow. Today I need to relax." Harry rolled his eyes but didn't object. He had a feeling that Watson wouldn't try leaving London in the near future. He would have done that the first time they came into contact. There must be something that keeps the guy in London. Harry really needed to organize his thoughts. Maybe there was something he missed or deemed as unimportant.
"But you're still cooking tonight." Harry said warningly. Malfoy only snorted in reply.