Chapter 4: Innocent or Guilty?

13 hours earlier

"Mr Holmes, you need to come with us."

It seems to Sherlock that the wizarding world is already aware of his reappearance, and as they always do, got involved. They walked down the empty hallway, scattered with witches and wizards here and there, nearly all of them, he noticed, is giving him dirty looks and started whispering behind their hands as soon as they saw him. The grope of Aurors escorted him out of the Atrium and into one of the elevators off to the side.

For a world filled with magic, the elevators are surprisingly slow. Out of sheer boredom, as none of his escorts will ever tell him what was going on, Sherlock started to deduce the people surrounding him. The left one, he noticed, have three children and one of them just got their letter to Hogwarts, the one in front of him is a newbie, just started and nearly failed her potion test. He was about to go on to the one on his right when the elevator made a ding noise and the annoyingly smooth female voice announced, "Level Two, Department of Magic Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and the Wizengamot Administration Service." This appears to be their stop as the Aurors ushered him out of the elevator and down the empty corridor, they walked by Hermione's office, Sherlock was just about to open his mouth to ask what the hell was going to when a door opened to his right and he was roughly pushed through. The door behind him closed with a click and he is left standing in the darkness.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

The next two hours passed slowly, Sherlock is bored out his mind. He tried unlocking the door with magic, but apparently, you need to have some sort of identification for that. He was glad that they didn't take his wand, he charmed the walls so the voices came through, and he was somewhat shocked by what he heard.

"Did you hear, that Sherlock bloke, he tried to break in the, what do muggles call it, Tower of London?"

"Yeah, I heard that. I saw him this morning, trying to break into the Ministry. Thank Merlin that the Auror team was on stand-by"

"He tried to cover up his tracks by claiming You-Know-Who did it."

"What an idiot!"

"He contacted the Head of the DMLE, says he wants a meeting."

"Ha! Most likely to abduct her."

"He faked his death for years, lives in the muggle world as a private detective."

"Must not be a good one."

...

It's times like this he wondered why they ever defeated Riddle at all, Lord Voldemort is awfully clever for a wizard, with a lazy flick of his wand, Sherlock deactivated the charm on the wall. After he left the magical world to live a life in the muggle one, his magic has gone slack. Before that, he could easily listen to anyone within a 10-mile just with a simple spell. He flopped down on the floor, bored when the door opened with a click, an Auror stepped in, with a wave of her wand, she disarmed him and caught his wand easily. With another wave, magical restraint appeared on his arms. "Come on, the Head wants to see you." She said, and pull him with surprising strength. Sherlock observed her, "Your husband away for long?" he asked. The women looked offended and looked behind her to make sure that no one's listening, "How in the seven hells do about that you know that?! Are you an unregistered Legilimencist on top of being a liar and a thief?" She asked in a strained whisper.

"No," the corner of his mouth raised up to a smirk, "I simply observe."

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

"Why?" Hermione started.

"Why what?" Sherlock replied

She sighed, "Why you lied to me?"

"I never lied to you, look, if he can alter the records for me to see, he can alter it to make me look like I did it too."

"No, you're off your tits, Voldemort has been dead, he was killed, his body buried. I was there, I saw it happen. However, this record that Scotland Yard sent to us is more accurate, that's you." She pulled up a computer and showed him the screen, it was him, it looked real enough to fool anyone. But Sherlock Holmes is not just anyone, he noticed the colour of the pretender's shirt, just visible beneath the scarf. Purple, that day his shirt was black, the same one he's wearing now.

"See?" Hermione pointed at the screen.

"No, you look, see the colour of my shirt, it's purple, I wore black that day."

She laughed, a cold mirthless laugh, "Great," She scoffed, "we are basing your alibi on the colour of your shirt."

"Look, he's messing with your mind, that's what he wants, he wants to catch you off guard. Don't you SEE WHAT'S GOING ON!" Hermione looked taken back, she glances nervously towards the door and said in an undertone, "Then can you prove it?"

"John was there, he'll know," Sherlock said confidently. "Bit of a shock finding out though." He added as an afterthought.

"Fine," She said, waving for the Aurors to come in, "But John Watson is already familiar with the magical world."

Right, this chapter was fun to write, but no cliff-hangers though. I wasn't going to end it there but it seems like the perfect ending, so I did. Also, this is how the new Author's note gonna work now. (See below)

Forecast for next chapter: John visits Sherlock in the Ministry of Magic, only to find he's not there.

Warning: Possible Voldemort appearance, possible Harry appearance, possible blood, certain Kidnapped! Sherlock, certain Sherlock! Whump.

Bonus: Did you spot the Game of Thrones reference I put in there? Comment below.

Notes: As most of you will've noticed, I changed my name to Lady Hermione Margaery Holmes, but don't worry, I'm still me! ;)

Thanks: All who read my story.

-LHMH out