Thank you for adding this story to your follows and faves and thanks for the reviews :) (I know, I know I'm parroting myself every time, but I can't help it - amazingly enough you continue to like it and I am terribly grateful)

(Jedi Master Albus) Thanks. I'm glad you agree on that :)

(DMacX) Can I write spoiler here? Nah... I will write it under the chapter so only those who wants to read it will. And regarding Ollivander... the question is - who would be more creeped out if they met: Sherlock or Ollivander? :D John would be... definitely.

(lakuniko) Thank you. I hope you will see more confident Harry, when the situation warrants it. Or Sherlock just needs to push the right buttons - I'm sure he is capable of doing that.

(Lanelle) Thank you so much :) And please, there will be no ignoring. I nice to see what my readers think may be included. Again, there will be a short note at the end of the story concerning the Alley visit. As for Harry bending rules, I definitely see him doing something like that, especially during the actual investigation :) And I promise Sherlock and John will find out about the past escapades too... eventually.

(Nataly SkyPot) Thanks!

(Sarah) I'm glad :D The second point - it will be there, but not just yet ;)

CHAPTER 8

The doctor sagged back into his chair, mouth agape. "That was... what was that?" he managed to ask.

Sherlock was watching the wand like a hawk now... most likely imagining the things he could put it through, in his attempts to figure out how it worked.

Harry grinned. "I thought I should show you something neater than just a simple levitation charm." Then he glanced at the detective. "And you wanted to experience magic, didn't you just say so?"

"Neat is the right word," breathed John. "What was that?"

"Patronus," stated the wizard simply.

"Protector?" translated Sherlock promptly.

"Yeah," confirmed Harry. "That's the spell's main purpose in a nutshell. Though it can be used for sending messages too, as you have just seen. I would give you a better explanation, but I am afraid that if I started, we would get distracted to the point of no return and I think I still owe you explanation of another kind before we go."

Sherlock agreed – for the moment it was really the best possible course of action. He could always ask about individual spells and magic in general later – oh, and ask he would. The detective then returned to his previous line of thoughts, "I understand that this has to do with my work. However, I fail to see all the connections between you, the Milverton case and our –" he gestured at himself and John – "inclusion."

Harry thought about the matter carefully for a few moments. "As you may have noticed from the discussion I had with Mycroft, we had this planned for some time already. But there is really no mystery to it. Your deductive skills and work as a detective are without a doubt beyond amazing. We felt that it would be more beneficial for you to know rather than to stay in darkness – we have crimes too, and help like yours would be welcomed."

"Then why it took so long – as you hinted previously – to get to this point?" asked Sherlock.

"The laws," replied Harry simply. "They didn't allow it. No one from your closest family is magical. And you are certainly not a government official who needed to be informed in case something of major importance happens... or let's admit it, for our society to manage to stay hidden – but we got around it."

"So Mycroft knew this ever since he held his 'minor government position'?" asked John.

Harry smiled, "Yes, well I have no idea what his 'minor position' is. We have him down as your 'Éminence grise' though. He simply must have been informed."

"Makes sense," said John. "If anyone would be able to find out in a matter of minutes despite your best attempts to cover it, it would be Mycroft Holmes."

"Yes," agreed Harry without hesitation. "His not being informed would have very unpleasant consequences... for us."

"So how did he take it when you told him?" asked the doctor, fishing for a story about the elder Holmes brother.

"John," scoffed Sherlock. "He couldn't have possibly been the one who informed him. Mycroft must have had the meeting at the beginning of his current career. The timing makes Harry an unlikely candidate because of his age."

"True," admitted Harry. "I met him just six years ago, when I was appointed the Head of Auror Department. Kingsley Shacklebolt – that's the Minister of Magic – thought it would be a good idea for us to meet, even though it's usually only the Minister who interacts with our Muggle contacts."

"And how did it go? Meeting Mycroft for the first time?" asked John, then the other thing registered and he blurted out, "Wait, you're the Head of Auror Department?! The top secret investigators that no one knows even exist?!" Even Sherlock looked a bit surprised at that part, thought he already knew that Harry held an important position in the wizarding world.

"I am – guess I got the required credentials for that position. But it's only unknown to Muggles," said Harry simply. "Oh, and the meeting – it went just fine," he added with such a tone that both Sherlock and John instantly suspected that it certainly hadn't.

"So Ronald Weasley works for you?" asked Sherlock when the wizard didn't seem like he was going to elaborate.

"Yes," replied Harry. "He is actually in charge during my absence. I wonder why he went to the hospital though. I would think he would send someone else. Finding out who had contact with the victim and what exactly do the Muggles know – or rather think about what's going on – it could have been done by anyone... but then he might have been curious, he is a bit like his father in that," mused the wizard.

"Oh, he was injured and probably didn't want to seem useless, so he did at least that – admirable really, but he could have done better sending someone who was less prone to make a fool of himself. Then, you left him in charge, meaning you thought him most competent. And in that case, I fear for your department..." informed him Sherlock without missing a beat.

"That's enough," hissed John, mentally preparing for the man to finally reach his snapping point. He wanted to visit the place where Harry was going, thank you very much, but his friend just insulted his entire department and with that his own competence too – it could have very well meant that their trip was over before it even started.

And it truly did seem like the wizard had just enough. He lost his easy demeanour and his eyes hardened. "You had no ground for your comment except for one encounter – in a situation that was unfamiliar to Ron no less. Don't judge people like that. It's not appreciated – especially when they are not present to defend themselves. Believe me when I say that Ron is one of the best and I trust him with my life. I always have," he said with finality. "And I wouldn't worry about my department either."

"I... will keep that in mind," said Sherlock slowly and John knew that was closest to apology Harry was getting – the detective may have complied for now, but he certainly didn't change his mind. The doctor was sure Harry knew that too.

"I trust you will," nodded their guest curtly.

"So," John tried to diffuse the situation, "what is our role in the investigation?"

Harry looked at him. "To help to find the perpetrator, of course. Similar to what you do with Muggle police," he started to explain. The doctor noticed that his voice was just a tad bit colder than it was before Sherlock opened his big mouth.

"As I said, the laws before didn't allow something like this – it was thought unnecessary. But partially due to very convincing presentation from Hermione who pointed out many developments in crime solving rivalling and sometimes preceding our means and partially due to Minister's unwavering support and approval of some others more open-minded members of Ministry, the Wizengamot agreed to involve a Muggle expert recommended by your side – and that expert was you. And to be honest, they quite liked the idea – fantastic results; unlimited access to one of London hospitals and its resources; not responding to any higher authority that would demand answers from you – except from your brother, but he knows anyway; not many acquaintances who would notice strange things happening around you... Actually thanks to that they didn't even protest much to John Watson being added to the Exemption too – we understood you were sort of a package deal."

John didn't look particularly happy hearing that – even though he was quite aware that he got this chance merely because of his association with Sherlock. Harry continued without noticing, "He shares a few of those agreeable traits with you – that fact helped too – except for the blog, but you already agreed not to reveal anything." The wizard paused for a moment and then shrugged, "But we were to approach you only in case a criminal from our society that proves to be a danger to Muggles as well is involved. And now we apparently have a murdered Muggle, so we're taking advantage of it, no matter how awful that sounds. But do keep in mind that this is a trial situation – how and if this cooperation continues depends on this case."

Sherlock nodded, satisfied for now. "And tomorrow we are going to visit the crime scene?" he asked.

"Yes, tomorrow," confirmed Harry, glancing at his watch (they were truly interesting – John could have sworn he saw small stars instead of hands). "Today's agenda however, is Diagon Alley. It will be a good start for you – before encountering other places."

So, for the note. *SPOILERS* kinda...
First I must say that wow... The next two chapters were already mostly written (still not ready to be published though) by the time I got your reviews and you totally got the fact that the bank will be there (seer's blood or Sherlock Holmes' lessons I wonder :D). I'm afraid it won't be nearly as funny as your ideas and I was thinking how to change it at least a bit, but didn't get in much, as the following chapters (which are somehow outlined and partially written too) would need to be changed too... I know totally my fault for being lazy and not trying enough.
And sorry about Ollivander, he won't be there now... the visit will be cut short, that's all I'm going to say (But I'm thinking about another visit later - because Sherlock would totally want all the crazy wizarding stuff to experiment on it - I didn't think of Ollivander making an appearance at all, but now I want him there, so if it will be possible I will try to get him in the story)