The fifth came slowly and after several more lessons with Potter. Holmes could conclude from these that the boy, while rather determined to hide his abilities, was talented. His work, albeit messy and fairly last minute, was well done- to the point at which Holmes was almost impressed. Perhaps the boy, distracted and hot headed as he was, was set to succeed in his subject. Of course, Holmes wouldn't have necessarily been surprised, but maybe impressed.

Potter was less keen to speak up in lessons, apparently preferring to keep his head down. Or more, he clearly felt he had no other choice. Holmes was reluctant to call on him, but at the same time curious as to what the boy might say in response to a challenging question- would he, if asked about using unforgivable curses in defence, decide to stay on the side of the law? Or would he refuse from a moral standpoint? Or maybe the boy was happy to get out of anything alive- indeed, it certainly seemed that way whenever Holmes released the class. Potter and his friends would hurry ahead, later to me seen in the library, muttering angrily about the Ministry. It was intriguing, to say the least.

But Holmes would have to learn more about the boy before attempting conversation with him. Already, he had earned himself some less than kind looks from Granger, who appeared to take issue with his teaching methods. Holmes was blunt, of course- as was she. Maybe not the best approach in such troubled times, but was it really beneficial to anyone for him to not call on the most timid of his students? Was it really going to help any of them learn if he only let the brightest answer? Of course not. Although Holmes had disagreed with this during his student days, he now had a duty to have each and every student pass.

Not to say that it would be difficult to do so, but more that he was rather reluctant to have certain members of his class excel.

Malfoy and his cronies, while much less of a problem than first anticipated, were less than high on his list of students to pay attention to. Keep an eye on, yes, but not make them thing that they were in any way special. No one really was, not in Holmes' class, but it was fairly amusing to watch Malfoy scowl and glare whenever he was ignored.

Holmes sat behind his desk on the morning of the fifth of September. The week was almost over, and most students were eager to catch the last of the late summer sun. Sadly, however, Holmes was rather less keen to allow them any free time- and so he sat, watching as they filed inside.

The day passed quickly, each class bringing with it new noises and deductions to make. Twice, Holmes revealed the newest scandal to the class, accidently shaming the perpetrators. In preparation for what he could tell would become a prank on the part of the Weasley twins, the seventh years were advised to avoid the fourth floor altogether. Homework was given, detentions were arranged, and by dinner, Holmes was sitting in his office, once again marking and correcting the ink-splattered work of forgetful teenagers.

It was almost as though he missed it.

Sherlock Holmes and working late had never been strangers, and their bond had only been strengthened upon leaving school. In the Muggle world, there was no time for sleep- there was always something new to be discovered, someone else to impress- and so Holmes had spent days awake, investigating and framing, learning and watching. It had been almost fun, to watch the sunrise over sleepy London, to watch as the city prepared itself for another morning of tired inhabitants and late trains. More fun when he had been with a companion, but none had stuck around for long enough to see his world, a world of wonder and excitement at the things that most were too ignorant to see the beauty in. Why yes, the sun set every evening- but each evening it set at a different time, with different colours blending into one another on the horizon. Yes, the rain poured down for days at a time each spring, but each droplet was new, cold as it landed on the lid of a coffee cup while he waited for a taxi.

One had stuck around long enough. Although Holmes had as good as betrayed him now.

Many saw Sherlock Holmes as a cold, heartless and unappreciating human being. But they couldn't have been further from the truth.

But it was a disguise that worked well, and one that no one had yet to uncover. One had come close, and in some ways had done worse than uncover his secret- he had instead been forced to confront it, to confront the things that set him apart from everyone he knew.

Midnight came, the stars shining bright in an unusually clear sky. Holmes was used to sneaking out, and even though he was more than allowed to leave the castle even at such an hour, he still felt as though he was breaking some sort of rule. It was a thrill, and a childish one at that- but it was nonetheless an excitement, so walk under the cloak of the night, alone and unseen.

The forest was old, perhaps even older than the castle. It had its secrets, as did the beings that lay within it. Holmes had never ventured inside, preferring to sit on the edge and study the soil- quietly, of course. But now he was making his way towards a black figure, almost a shadow against the trees.

"Professor Snape." He greeted the other, who nodded towards the trees.

"I'm not one for adventures, but perhaps it would be… safer under cover," His eyes flickered to the sides. "There are some students who simply cannot be trusted to stay where they should."

Was that a smirk? And if so, one of mockery or understanding? Holmes and Snape had both had their fair share of late night adventures, after all. And while Holmes had been less inclined to cause trouble, both had spent time being lectured for it.

"Mr Potter is a nuisance. He is famous, popular, and like his father. You will hear many of the staff call himself his mother's child- but I will assure you now, Potter will not live up to this. He is disobedient, rude, and all but a show-off. His sporting credentials and near-misses with death have gone to his head, and you are unlikely to talk any sense into him."

"I find him rather pleasant in my classes."

"He will also carry a grudge. You have yet to ask him a difficult question, to challenge him- but once you do, be prepared to be challenged, maybe even seen as below himself."

"A defiant personality?"

"You may have heard him with his friends, speaking of the Dark Lord. From this, Professor Holmes, I believe you could… deduce that the boy is unwilling to listen to any opinion aside from his own. While what he says is almost without a doubt true, he has lost friends over it."

"And how would you describe his friends?"

"Brainwashed. Into believing that he holds the answers to everything, into thinking that he won't get into trouble for his actions. They are mistaken."

0oo0

"This year," Holmes began, not leaving his seat. "Is a year of testing. As you well know, this is your OWL year, and as I have told you before, this is therefore one of the most challenging years as a student in this school. However, this year also brings with it tests of another nature.

You sit in this classroom today, confident of your safety. Protected by stone and some of the greatest wizards to ever have lived. But despite this, you are very, very wrong, if you choose to let down your defences. This year brings with it a new enemy, one to whom most of you, the very name sends shivers down your spines. And so it is my job, this year, to prepare you. Whether you believe in this threat or not, it is my duty as a teacher to ensure that the moment you leave the safety of this school, you are equipped and ready to deal with whichever dark forces you may encounter. Whether this be a simple boggart, or something else entirely."

The few who had raised hands let them down, watching him with a mixture of curiosity, anger, and approval.

"My views on the more controversial news that has recently come to light do not matter. I will not ask you what you may think, and you will extend the same courtesy to me. However, I prefer to act on the basis that the worst may indeed happen- and therefore, starting today, you will be learning how to defend yourself. Last year, you learned about curses. This year, you will lean some more. You will learn how to use them, how to counteract them, and where the law stands.

My best advice, however, is to run."

He assigned the class some reading, and watched for a few minutes- none spoke, and only a few glanced at each other, questioning looks on their faces. The reading itself was on unforgivable curses, and was the most detailed that Holmes could have found- although perhaps too detailed. Potter would occasionally look up, only be receive a prod from Granger, and return to reading.

The bell startled everyone, and as per usual, there the pack-up noise was deafening. Over it, Holmes managed to yell;

"Potter, stay behind!"

He then returned to his marking. Was he deliberately trying to unnerve the boy, or had he suddenly grown weary? As the door swung shut, he looked up.

"Never before have I had a difficult time in deducing a teenage boy," Holmes began. "Sadly, Rita Skeeter told me everything I needed to know."

"You believed-"

"Anything but. Her writing is good only for swatting at flies. However, I did assume that I could take everything she had said and from that believe the opposite- I'm… mistaken."

"Should I be thankful?"

"Only if you wish. Mr Potter, I don't believe for a second that you underestimate the danger that the wizarding world is now in. However, I do believe that you overestimate your ability to convince others of that danger. I can relate- not directly but in some ways- to your situation. And it is from there that I offer a helping hand."

Holmes watched as the boy frowned. He had surprised himself- while Holmes was known for assisting those who asked, it was unlike him to offer- and no doubt that he would regret it later.

Potter nodded. "How?"

"Sadly I am not influential, at least not here, and I would rather not tell anyone outside what I can do. However, I do have some skill, and despite what you may believe or have heard, would be willing to help you, if you so need it."

"Thank you, sir."

"Of course, this is on the basis that you convince Miss Granger that I am not out to have you all fail your fifth year."

The boy cracked a smile. Holmes probably hadn't smiled once in his entire fifth year- although that could have been because he spent a lot of it because yelled at. "She doesn't really-"

"Oh, I'm sure she does. You can go now, just in case they think I'm subjecting you to even more homework. Which I won't hesitate to do, by the way."

Hello again! So as a consequence for having a longer chapter, you have to deal with my awful speech writing. Sorry about that. Thank you to everyone who has followed, favourited, reviewed and read, and I might see you next week. I'm going on holiday in eight days, so I'll probably update just before I leave and then abandon this for two weeks while I'm away. Ah well! I hope you enjoyed this.