The room was still buzzing, each of its occupants busy chatting away. Holmes slipped inside, pushing the door so that it was almost closed, and took a space by one of the cabinets, leaning on it in with a slightly arrogant stance. He should have known, really, that this wasn't the attitude to take this time around- but it was a mask, a façade. Sherlock Holmes was not where he was in order to be arrogant. He was where he was for protection, information, and to keep his space in the game.
Because the wizarding world had entered a dangerous game. And at the head of it sat the Order of the Phoenix, and organisation that had lost too much to remain functioning.
But somehow, the Order had pulled through. Sitting at the wooden table, feet up and chair tilted on its back legs sat Sirius Black, the joker of the pack of cards. Next to him, slightly more formal and in an altogether safer position, was Remus Lupin- grinning for once, glancing over to Sirius every few seconds. Molly and Arthur Weasley sat side by side, leaning over the wooden surface and conversing with their son, Bill, who Holmes wasn't acquainted with as of yet. Mundungus Fletcher was snoozing on the other side of Sirius, emitting a smoky smell, his jacket packed tight with what was clearly stolen goods. Mad-Eye Moody was also present, his strapped on eye swilling across the room. He gave Holmes a nod, but didn't call him out- Sherlock Holmes preferred the shadows, and that was something that Mad-Eye at least understood. A woman with bright purple hair sat with her head on her arms, occasionally pointing her wand at pieces of cutlery and watching the shoot across the table.
Other members were filtering out, their sounds being replaced by the wireless set. The thing was giving of its usual squeaky report, but not many were paying attention. Kingsley Shacklebolt strolled around on the other side of the room, rolling up scrolls of paper. Holmes was reluctant to show himself- he may have been familiar with a large number of the occupants of the dining room, but they still felt like strangers to him. They were happier than before, but also had a sense of urgency about them; as if they were happy only because soon, there would be nothing to be happy about, and they were determined to stay joyful for as long as possible. Or maybe they had yet to fully process the idea of a war, and were simply choosing to stay that way.
No. These people were soldiers. They had chosen where to stand, and by doing that had become fighters against something that had yet to come close to defeat.
Disarmament, yes. But Lord Voldemort had to have used his time wisely.
"Sherlock 'Olmes!"
And so it began. Trust Fletcher to make a scene.
The room fell quiet as Moody wacked Fletcher with his stick. "Never knows when to shut up. Holmes." The auror nodded, as did the former detective.
"Sherlock!" Molly Weasley. It was always Molly Weasley. Holmes could see her and Mrs Hudson getting along only too well, and for a moment he had to stop to remember his beloved landlady. "You'd think they don't feed you well enough up at that castle." She grumbled, surveying him almost too fondly.
"Too well, Molly." Holmes allowed himself a smile. "Arthur." He nodded.
"I wanted to ask you, actually, a few Muggles matters-"
"Not now, Arthur!"
"Yes, dear."
Molly turned to discipline her husband, leaving Holmes with some more space. "Remus," he nodded. "Black."
"Call me Sirius. No one uses the family name unless it's to shout at me. Oh, and Snape. Never forget old Snivellus, the slimy git. You've got to give me the gossip, Harry's got nothing that I didn't already expect- I mean, now we have someone who works with him, we can finally find out what he's-"
"Sirius-" Remus warned.
"-up to, and then I can get back at him for being such a-"
"Sirius!" Remus, for the first time in what seemed like forever, had raised his voice. "How's, um Hogwarts?" It appeared that he was trying to stifle a giggle.
"Oh, treating me well enough. The robes are a bit much to handle, though. Muggle attire has the upper hand here, I'm afraid."
"And Dumbledore-"
"Keeping the students out of trouble, as always."
"Minus the twins." Muttered Molly from across the room. "Goodness knows how I haven't gotten a letter about them yet."
"On the country, Molly, they're exceptionally well behaved in my classes. Excellent students, although I might ask you to mention to them that pretending to be each other will not in any way help them to defend themselves outside of the castle walls."
"I should hope they haven't been-! Anything else? We might as well know. Ron? Ginny?"
Holmes nodded, touched by the concern held by Molly for her children. One of her many redeeming qualities, and Mrs Weasley and her family were the possibly the only people that Holmes had yet to find a negative trait in. Perhaps they held too much sentiment- or perhaps they simply value their family in a way that Holmes no longer could. "Doing just fine."
"So, Holmes," Sirius began, drawing up a chair. "What's brought you back?"
"If you paid close enough attention to the Muggle papers, you might be more informed. I've had to dive out for a while, so to speak."
"Yeah, Molly was fretting. But we didn't expect you to come here. Dumbledore mentioned that you were up at the school, but it seemed pretty solid when you left before."
Holmes shrugged, in a way that he hadn't done for years. "I need protection, you need more people. It's a complimentary placement, and I couldn't say no to Dumbledore's offer."
"'Course you couldn't, none of us can. Good to have you back though. Let's see, you've missed… the rebirth of a Dark Lord, Fudge losing it, Harry showing off in front of Muggles, Fudge losing it again, Snivellus acting like I'm a child for finding it all funny, Remus learning how to feed a Hippogriff, and Hagrid almost flooding the dining room with his tears. We'll catch you up, and Dumbledore should have something planned for you. Of course, you'll be having more fun than me-"
"Sirius is confined to Grimmauld Place until we can prove his innocence," Remus cut in. "And he's being bitter about it."
"You try hiding out here for what could be years and see how you enjoy it. You might be jobless, Moony, but at least you can go outside."
"Not if I'm getting so much backlash from it." Remus muttered. Holmes had almost missed their jibes, the way that Sirius and Remus could be almost like brothers. He and Mycroft had never achieved that kind of relationship, and John- well, John thought that Sherlock was dead. And if Sherlock couldn't trust him enough to tell the truth, to have them disappear together, then did he really have the kind of friendship that he thought he did?
Yes. This was for John's protection, for the sake of everyone.
Especially John.
"And Peter?" Holmes asked, in an attempt to quell what was becoming jealousy.
"Who knows. Probably sucking up to old Voldy and trying not to get himself killed, the little rat. I'd have him brought here and tortured if I could, but Remus and Dumbledore and every other Order member thinks it's unpractical."
"Not your greatest idea, I'll give you that."
"So can we use the so called fake genius to our advantage? You always seemed pretty real to me."
How he hated the name. The papers were wrong, every single one of them. Hell, they had never even been close to right, not ever in their entire existence. The papers never got it right because they were too busy looking at the general picture. Never the details, never the real story. And that was where the wizarding world would always triumph over that of the Muggles, because before now, before the worst of the worst had come to light, there had always been at least an element of truth in there. At least one sentence that told the full story. And now, Holmes was trapped, all because of an Irishman and some publicity.
"Once you end up in the papers, you have to have a name. Mine happens to be less than flattering. I'm not more of a fake than magic itself, Sirius. The Muggles are as wrong as they've ever been. Amazing in so many ways, and incredibly ignorant in every other. I'm more than happy to re-join the Order."
"Yeah, you don't look it. Then again, sometimes you look more miserable than Snivellus. Brighten up and join the party, Holmes. It's going to be a long one."
Holmes couldn't not smile.
Yo~
Guess who procrastinated?! That's right, it's me! I try, I really do. Anyway, here is chapter eight, and thank you so very much to everyone who has reviewed, followed, favourited, and read. There will be more... at some point.
BUT 100 FOLLOWERS LIKE WOW HI GUYS WHERE'D YOU ALL COME FROM I SWEAR I JUST TURNED MY BACK AND THEN SUDDENLY BAM! YOU'RE HERE? HI WELCOME THANKS YOU LOT ARE SO KIND.
Sorry and thank you and yay ^.^