Soo. I have lots of excuses like Exams and what not for not updating sooner but I reckon you wouldn't want to hear much. Also, I am terribly sorry to all my lovely readers who reviewed and I couldn't reply back to them; I have been awfully busy with life. So a HUGE thanks to 666Spektor, Shadows-Fallen-Angel, Aurora Heiress, TheAlabasterPheonyx, artemisgirl,Wholockian394,Sarah, nara, Sethiel and guests. You guys have my gratitude for the reviews, which kept on alerting me randomly that I owe you guys a chapter really soon. I have more to say but that will be at the end.
For now, enjoy!
Chapter-8
After Lavender left, Sherlock disappeared with Crookshanks into the kitchen and John settled for a few magazines he had picked up from the Yard that morning. Hermione was scowling at her phone – had been doing so for the past half hour and John had honestly wondered if he should ask what was up but in the end, when Hermione didn't respond twice, he resigned to the realization that he was doomed with another occassionaly - unresponsive flatmate.
He decided to retire early, seeing as there wasn't much going on in the living room and he needed to be up early for an interview at a new place. He had lost the last job a week and a half ago and though Hermione's presence made the rent easier, it didn't reduce the rest of the expenses.
"Hermione?"
John rolled his eyes again and clicked his fingers in front of Hermione's form (not between her face and the phone though; somehow, that just sounded dangerous), feeling somewhat like a magician who summons his assistants by clicking his fingers.
It had the desired effect on Hermione and she looked up at him, eyes unfocused but trained on him. "At what time do you leave for-"
"John, are there cameras around the flat?" she interrupted, looking around with narrow eyes, as if X-raying everything with the stare.
"Wha- No. I mean, there might be... Why? What made you think that?"
"There might be?"
John noticed she wasn't answering him but ignored it, "Well, Sherlock's brother Mycroft likes to keep an eye on him. Just to make sure he doesn't get into trouble, you know."
"Huh. So Holmes is so busy nowadays that he can't personally come to meet his brother?" a raised eyebrow accompanied this comment and Hermione started shuffling the things around, probably looking for the cameras.
"It's in the bookshelf." John supplied helpfully, receiving a crooked half-smile. Wow, Hermione did it the same way Sherlock did- half rise of the lips from one side. 'Wondrous talent some people have,' John pondered ruefully.
"Good of you to know and still not remove them."
"Good? Shouldn't you be worried that more people know you're here?"
Hermione flashed him a real smile this time, "No. The worst is over, the street might start to remain a little more crowded but whatever. It's not like..."
She stopped mid-sentence, as realization of some unknown fact seemed to sink in. She grimaced at John, making a face, "I've put you guys and Mrs. Hudson in a bit of a complex. Huh. Anyway, we'll have to discuss a security question about me. There are going to be strangers asking if I live here- Oh hell, they'll already know I live here so you can't deny that but if they ask for entry or that they want to meet me, you guys will have to ask a question and if, and only if, they answer it correctly, are they allowed upstairs."
"It's not a question of privacy but also for all of yours security. I hope you got the seriousness John." She said, her arms folded tightly, looking very serious.
John nodded, trying to convey he understood. He understood the importance of security- living with Sherlock made sure of that. What he actually wondered though, was that would it be really safe to have Hermione here in this flat? A famous Consulting Detective who blows up people's egos on a daily basis and a badass secret service government worker? (Because yes, he couldn't help but think of Hermione as badass after the time he saw her shouting at people yesterday and the way she made him shiver, not in a good way) He couldn't help but feel this arrangement would blow up soon- as soon as Lestrade failed to drop interesting cases in Sherock's lap. Or maybe, as soon as this case finished, the one with the reversed victims.
"Right. Now then, you were asking something when you called?"
The interview. Tomorrow morning. Right.
"Oh yes, I wanted to know when you leave for your office everyday?"
"8 o'clock. Why?"
"My alarm's dead. Isn't working. Reckon I need to replace the batteries."
"Dr. Watson, are you asking me to replace your alarm clock for a day?"
"I- uh, yes?" He was thankful to hear the teasing tone in her voice and replied as lightly, though he knew Hermione understood what he meant.
He bade her goodnight and peeked into the kitchen to check on Sherlock, just to make sure he wasn't doing something questionable with the cat. He was thankful to find that Sherlock working with the microscope while Crookshanks was absent.
He said a goodnight to which Sherlock responded by merely grunting, and made his way to the room, to get ready for the night. It was when he was almost finished, that he remembered how Hermione had called Myroft Mr. Holmes, while he was sure he hadn't mentioned it...
... John racked his brains to remember a time when Sherlock's full name had been used but... he came to a dead end.
Hastily wiping his mouth, John went to the living room to find it empty. He glanced at Hermione's door- it was closed. Locked? Dare he check? Or knock?
No. That probably wouldn't be wise. She'd obviously retired for the night.
He had already started moving towards the kitchen to talk to Sherlock of his doubts, when he remembered about his theory on the blow up of this arrangement. As soon as Sherlock put his efforts into cracking what he had already mentally christened as 'The Hermione Case', he had the strongest feeling that things would start to get rough from then on.
So, he quietly trudged back to his bedroom, falling unceremoniously into the bed with a thump, trying his best not to dwell much on what he had just realized.
Next morning, John woke to loud knocks on his bedroom door.
What did Sherlock want this early? And since when had he learnt to knock?
He grunted a barely audible 'Come in' and the door opened too loudly for his liking.
Or maybe it was just the voice.
"Rise and shine, cupcake!" the shrill voice shouted in his ear, making him sit up and rub the said ear groggily, feeling like he'd lost his hearing for a couple of seconds.
Suddenly, the room was flooded with light; the curtains had just been tugged away with a loud screech.
Since when did Sherlock shriek and come to wake him in the mornings? John wondered, trying to shield his eyes from the sudden brightness and rubbing away-
Wait, since when did Sherlock have a female voice?
John shot a look at the window to see Hermione grinning in a cat-like way at him. He pulled the covers onto him as fast as he could manage, while squeaking out a shrill 'Hermione!'
She came towards him, all smiles and rainbows, looking ready to leave, "You asked me to wake you! Hurry up! Your interview's in an hour!"
She made towards the door then, casting him another look, "There's breakfast in the kitchen, finish up all of it. Sherlock didn't respond when I called him, so try to get something in his system."
John closed his mouth after ten seconds of the door banging shut.
The interview was successful and John felt satisfied by the time all the necessary chores of the day were done, by late afternoon.
It was almost five when the doorbell rang and heavy steps alerted John of a visitor. Mrs. Hudson was chatting loudly, so it was probably someone they knew.
"...adjusted quite well with Sherlock, yes she has. He's keeping out of trouble too, I must say, no wonder there aren't any complaints yet..."
Mycroft Holmes entered behind her, smiling his enigmatic smile, his ever-faithful umbrella by his side. He scanned the room immediately and John knew at once what he was looking for.
"Late afternoon, Mycroft? To what do we owe the pleasure?" John shook the man's hand, offering him the sofa as he sat on his armchair, but Mycroft remained standing.
"Ah yes, been very busy with the newest development, the dragons are really restless this week." He replied, smiling all the same.
John wasn't sure he'd right though...
"I expect the Doctor's finally being harsh." Sherlock entered, shooting Mycroft the sneer he specially reserved for him.
Mycroft seemed to bristle at the comment, shooting a sideways glance at Mrs. Hudson.
"It's her cakes, make her stop sending the stuffed things and I'll stop eating them."
The old woman opened her mouth in protest but Sherlock beat her to the punch. "You would do equally well to impose self-control and not eat them even if she sends them, which I'm sure she wouldn't if you stopped complimenting her cakes."
Mycroft's lips thinned and his expression changed to the business-like facade he more usually adopted when he wanted to irritate his brother.
"My intention," Mycroft declared, seating himself on the seat in which Sherlock was about to throw himself in, "for today's visit, wasn't Mrs. Hudson's cakes-"
"-obviously-"
"I have, as a matter of fact, received intelligence, that you have a new flatmate."
"I think it's quite useless to ask if the 'intelligence' was the camera or one of your minions?"
"It was, actually, John's blog."
John felt himself sink into his chair at that, feeling deflated. Hermione wanted less and less people to know and now Mycroft knew too. He just hoped that Mycroft wasn't going to mention it to Hermione or go on his 'spy mode' on her.
"Aha! Another victim." Sherlock grinned over at John, apparently enjoying his discomfort immensely.
"Yes, yes, I know all about the fiasco which occurred yesterday. Took a lot of time shutting them up."
John thought he heard a snap from Sherlock's direction as he whipped to look at his brother, but he was himself busy gaping at Mycroft.
Did this mean that he-
The doorbell rang again, and John scanned the room, finding that Mrs. Hudson had already left, without any of them noticing. The sound of footsteps followed that of the door being shut and John shared a mutual glance with Sherlock.
Hermione.
The door opened to reveal the woman looking windswept and tired, though her expression changed as her eyes sought out the occupants.
"Mycroft!" she almost squealed, dropping her purse on the table and quickly enveloping the older man into a hug which could only be called affectionate.
Mycroft looked mildly disgruntled but he patted Hermione before she let him go, grinning like the freaking sun.
"What a pleasant surprise! And here I was, thinking how irresponsible of you to keep tabs on him via a camera, of all things! Really, you need to visit him more often!" she twittered, her arm still on Mycroft's side.
"You know how my duties are, Hermione, I can't afford to pay the homely visits often."
"Of course, the government and all." Hermione said seriously, though gave it away with a wink.
John felt rather like a stage prop, having been listening to the conversation with a sense of growing amazement. Their new flatmate just happened to know Mycroft? And that too on a first name basis? Indigestion alert.
"Hold on, you... you both know each other?" John said, looking once at Sherlock, who was watching with silent, narrow eyes, before turning his 'what-the-bloody-hell' look with full force on the two I-work-in-a-fucking-secret-government-department individuals.
"Yeah, through work." Hermione smiled at him like it was very normal to know The Mycroft Holmes enough to hug him without permission.
"How's the ache?" she asked Mycroft, losing her coat and scarf in the meanwhile.
"Oh good. Sweets banned for a month, at least."
"Aw, poor you. I'll throw in a word to Mr. Simmons for a little break. Why don't you catch up while I freshen up? We'll have tea, okay?"
"Oh, John, you do know him, right?" she asked, stopping in her way, as if she really didn't know.
"Of course I do. He's Sherlock's brother, how can I not know him. The question's about you actually, knowing him?"
"It was at work. Mycroft, do tell them the story, it was bloody hilarious."
And she disappeared into her room, leaving him more than a little confused and well, very confused.
"You sent her to spy on me?"
Sherlock's words were quiet in the room but they rang in the thick silence.
"Of course not, little brother. I believed you were more capable than that."
"What? What capable?"
"Well, I did say that I received information of her stay. Would I need that if I'd sent her? I said it so clearly and yet, shame, Sh-"
"John's post was made two days ago and yet, you come today. I barely think this was because of the toothache."
"I had other matters on my hands-"
"Like what? Dragons?"
"Hardly, Sherlock. You know that I would-"
"You know where she works."
John had settled himself back on his sofa by now, ensured that the uh, brotherly banter, between the brothers would be enough to enlighten him to the point of satisfaction. Sherlock finally seemed to be getting on point.
"Yes."
"And she knows the dentist."
"Yes."
"I don't know the dentist and she knows the dentist!" he practically shouted, and John could hardly keep himself from rolling his eyes.
"Ms. Granger is a very important staff member of the team her community works with. I was merely curious as to how she was coping here. It had nothing to do with keeping tabs on you. In fact, she was more disappointed when she learned that I didn't come to visit you daily, as if I'm your nanny."
Mycroft's words were spiteful but Sherlock didn't visibly flinch.
"Moreover, the purpose of my visit was to discuss with her if she was wholly comfortable here and about your overall conduct."
"Means a lot, does it, her comfort?" Sherlock said, equally spiteful.
"Yes. You must stay out of her way, Sherlock. And I'm serious this time. She is not a woman to be messed with. You don't want to be on her bad side."
"Oh, I've heard that a lot."
"I mean it, if you get into a spot with her, it'll be out of my hands. You'll be on your own; your deeds, your consequences."
Sherlock's eyebrows were a part if his hairline, and John expected his to be on the same level.
Out of Mycroft's hands? This was news.
Sherlock didn't respond verbally and the silence was taut again.
Hermione entered the room in the next moment, not taking note of their argumentative positions at all. "Why are you standing, Sherlock? Take a seat."
"Actually, I'd better get going." Mycroft said, getting up, his smile back in place.
"So soon? I was going to make tea."
"Well yes, I've got matters to attend to, as you know." His eyes flicked in Sherlock's direction briefly before turning back to Hermione. "I hope you've adjusted well here? My brother not creating many problems yet, I hope?"
"Oh, he's been a sweetheart. But that's probably because he has a case to keep him occupied, isn't it Sherlock?" she was smiling, but there was something in her tone that John didn't like. He couldn't finger it, though.
Sherlock hummed and turned his back to them, evidently finding it boring, now that he couldn't jab or ask Mycroft anymore questions.
"Well, give my love to Harry, and of course, the twins. They're all okay, I hope?"
"Y-yes. Of course. It was lovely to see you, you should come over more often." She stammered, but then smiled, a fake one that John recognised with surprising ease. The thought of these people put her to unease; interesting.
"Good night, Hermione. John, Sherlock." Mycroft bade them goodbye, no hint of their earlier argument in his tone.
Hermione stood awkwardly still for a couple of seconds before turning to John expectantly, "Well, you'll have that tea, right? I'm starving!"
So, I guess Mycroft does know our Hermione. For any questions about them and also almost the whole gang of Harry's year being friends, more will be revealed in the next chapter. Also guys, I'm nearing A HUNDERED REVIEWS! I swear, I AM SOOOOO EXCITED! And more than 300 follows, and near a hundred and fifty favoriates! This is just totally awesome! I love each and every one of you!
So, moving on to important matters, I just wanted to say sorry if you guys found any errors because this chapter hasn't been Beta-ed. If anyone's interested, or would like to recommend someone for this story, I would be really thankful. Please PM me regarding this, I'm open to all chat. :)
ALSO, a few of you had requested Mycroft's appearance and even though I had this already planned, Wholockian39 and waterflower20. Thank you guys for you-know-what. :D
Otherwise, artemisgirl: Thank you so much for that, the pairings are still something I am undecided about and to EVERYONE: I might be putting up a poll since all the reviews are just making me totally confused. Either that, or I'm just going to keep it neutral. Thanks. :)
TheAlabasterPheonyx: The Statute of Secrecy is just going to make this even more interesting veryyy soon! :D And you'll have fun if you like the others are friends.
Sarah- I'm glad you liked that. And I think Purgs is new but he might have been mentioned here or there maybe.
Sethiel- All I have to say is Draco and Hermione are good friends. :)
Aurora Heiress, Shadows-Fallen-Angel, 666Spektor,nara and guests: Thank you for reviewing guys, here is your update! I hope you enjoyed. :)
Lastly, sorry for such a long A/N. Lol.