Thank you all for reading :) The favs, follows and reviews mean so much to me. And the number of views is downright astonishing.

(dogsby) Very logical suggestion, but I like to surprise him too much to just hand him all the answers on the silver platter :) The transportation methods are not forgotten though... I think I wrote 'connect their fireplace to the Floo network' somewhere in my notes. The Knight Bus will be another must - if I manage to think of situation when they need to go outside of London.

(Guest) Thank you!

(lulu) I'm glad you enjoyed it. About Harry being too open - yes he is, if you count Sherlock and John as ordinary Muggles, but as people who are expected to fully function among magical folks later I think it's necessary to give them the means to assimilate. I sent a more detailed PM, because I totally took your last review as a permission to do so. If you wish to discuss anything else, don't hesitate to contact me (anyone is more than welcome actually, I would love to answer any questions you may have and don't want to put them in a review).

(dana-san) Thanks :)

(midnight-flurry) Thank you. I am happy you think so. Though I do hope they are on the way to form some sort of friendship too.

(Paddehfeets) Thank you :D

(Sarah) Thanks so much.

(KG86) :D I'm glad you think so. I can promise Ron will be back soon... others will come in later.

CHAPTER 11

At the end, the bags were distributed between Harry and John, who stood in front of the shop rather hopelessly surrounded by their (Sherlock's!) purchase. Sherlock with his free hands clasped innocently behind his back was unwaveringly walking back to the Leaky Cauldron, not even sparing them a glance. John was resisting the urge to throw Hogwarts: A History at his head – it was nice and heavy, exactly what he needed.

Okay, so the pub wasn't that far away, but that really was not the point. "I hate you!" he grumbled. "Can't you carry them?! They are yours!" However his complaints were mightily ignored by the retreating detective.

The doctor prepared to lunge, but Harry stopped him. "Don't worry about it. Look." He took out his wand and waved it. John tried to pick one of the bags – it was as if he held nothing.

"That's handy," he sighed in relief. "What's that?"

"Feather-light Charm," replied Harry and they hurried after Sherlock who was looking through the shop windows blankly (though he shuddered in disgust when they reached the owl shop). John cursed the man; he wanted to stop in the broom shop. But no, they were returning to the pub, because not only were the two of them degraded to the detective's personal bag-carriers, but Sherlock probably got bored already – great.

As they entered the Leaky Cauldron Hannah ushered them to one of the empty tables and brought them the promised drinks; they were called Butterbeers, as the visitors were informed. At the top of that John and Harry managed to convince Sherlock that it was a good time to have something to eat – their main argument was the fact that he was not on the case until tomorrow, no matter what he may or may not think.

John was bewildered by the menu they were offered and chose Pea Soup simply because all the other things sounded like someone was just playing with words so the menu was not so empty. Sherlock, after he promised to buy something (and actually eat it) was more daring and Harry just asked for 'what he had the last time'.

During the time they waited for their order John asked Harry what exactly Quidditch was, because he was wondering about it since he glimpsed the name of the place where they were selling the broomsticks. To the doctor's delight (and the detective's dismay), they got a long and detailed explanation of the rules – he was just naming some of the fouls when Hannah brought their meals.

It all sounded so fascinating. John found himself wishing he could witness this sport at least once. On the other hand, Sherlock found himself groaning at the stupidity of it all and declared that at the end it could be all reduced to two individuals chasing after a miniscule ball with the distribution of the points they had. Harry was just heatedly pointing out the importance of all the players, when the front door opened and the wizard froze mid-explanation of the scenario where chasers can bring in the victory despite the seeker not catching the snitch. John and Sherlock, who were not facing the door turned around to see what caused the sudden halt.

An elder woman, her blonde hair streaked with silver, stood there, her thin crimson lips stretching to a wide, toothy smile as soon as she spotted them. So far it wasn't really something to be alarmed about, but then Harry groaned and John really should have taken that as a sign of approaching danger.

"Harry," she cried in a falsely nice voice as soon as she was close enough. All three men cringed. She pointedly ignored Sherlock and John; her eyes were set only on Harry. "Isn't it a pleasant surprise to see you here? What a coincidence that I needed to make a quick stop in the Alley today, too." Then she sat down, on the fourth chair, still smiling widely as if to dare them to protest. A faint smell of alcohol wafted over the table as she leaned closer.

"It is indeed a marvellous coincidence, Rita," nodded Harry solemnly.

"My, my," the woman shook her head. "Aren't we serious today? What is the reason, I wonder."

John and Sherlock watched the exchange bemusedly – at least John did, Sherlock already found a lot about her. To be perfectly honest he wasn't impressed, but decided to keep silent for now, watching where the situation would go.

"Why," continued the woman as she rummaged her ghastly purse for a quill and a piece of parchment, while giving Sherlock the perfect opportunity to have a quick glance in and furthered his deductions about her, "I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions now that we've met here so unexpectedly."

"Rita," said Harry in a tired voice. "I'm sure you're well aware that I am not going to talk to you."

"What a pity," tsked the woman. "The latest trip abroad destroyed all your manners, I see. Not only you omitted to introduce me to your companions, but you refuse to talk to me as well? Ah, no matter – I shall do the talking then."

"Maybe you should just leave," suggested the wizard sharply.

"Oh, no," she shook her head. "I believe you may want to hear what was going on here while you were visiting the foreign Ministries. Where were you anyway? France? Germany? Somewhere else? Why so much secrecy?"

"Rita!" said Harry warningly.

The woman ignored the dangerous tone, instead she grinned once again. "Well, I wonder where to start. You missed quite a lot for being away for such a short time," she pretended to be deep in thoughts. "Would you like to hear how the Deputy Auror Weasley got into a fight with some crooks, because Mundungus Fletcher was involved with them in some shady business? He ended up in St. Mungo's for his trouble. I heard the bones in his left arm were shattered... ugh... that must have hurt!" She made a grimace of pain, but her voice sounded positively gleeful. "Thank Merlin for Skele-gro! So, is this a new direction for the Auror Office? To get involved in the petty disputes of those low-lives, instead of defending upstanding witches and wizards? Naturally, I ran an article about it, but it would be nice to have your statement too."

Hannah, who just finished serving one of the tables moved towards them, an angry expression on her face. Harry stood up, not reacting to Skeeter's barbs – though John noticed his eyes glinted dangerously. He and Sherlock followed suit. The detective however decided that he held himself admirably until now, but enough was enough – she was grating on his nerves more than Anderson and Donovan put together, and she reminded him a little too much of the journalists he was forced to endure in the past. He felt disgusted by people like that. However before he managed to open his mouth, Rita stood up too and continued in her unwanted tirade.

"Oh, but what was I thinking, that cannot be what are you really interested it. You still haven't been home yet, despite being back in Britain for a few hours now, am I right? Don't you wonder how your wife is, Harry? She must have been glad to have you out of the house for at least a while. Why, she was seen in the company of one Oliver Wood the very day you left. Isn't Mr. Wood your former team mate and a friend? Tsk tsk. They looked awfully close, if you ask me..."

"Interesting, how acutely aware you are of things, when I am sure you should have been passed out somewhere," interjected Sherlock smoothly in a much louder voice than the woman's. The whole pub stared at him – the Leaky Cauldron was never so quiet as at that moment.

"Excuse me?" Rita was visibly taken aback.

"You," started Sherlock and took a deep breath, "have a drinking problem, but then I guess you learned to function with alcohol in your system. Though it was worse these past days – it must be coincidence that you're sober enough to bother us with your presence. Your latest lover – quite younger than you by the way – broke up with you recently. It was him, not you, who ended it. He found someone younger and less poisonous, didn't he? You were with him to boost your ego, so why the anger – that poor photograph didn't deserve the treatment. And yet, you still have it – perhaps you were with him because of sentiment too. It's a pity that you need to drown your sorrow like that, but then you have no one who would be there for you now – except for the bottles. You're alone – and scared of staying that way. Quite a sad private life you have there. Hmm, but then your career is not that much either. You pride yourself for being a great journalist – you just mentioned an article you had published and yet your clothes are worn out – well-cared and the fabric was expensive, but definitely too old. Admit it, you struggle to get by nowadays. True, you must have been successful, but that was in the past and you wish to get your lifestyle back. A scandal about Harry Potter would be a great way to achieve it. You were choosing your words deliberately, knowing well that he might not react if you attack him directly, but the people he cares about – that's another matter entirely. But what were you hoping for? That he will shout at you? Curse you? That would be quite a scene. And you would be able to post a first-hand commentary. Very transparent plan indeed and quite a long shot. You must be desperate."

Rita was looking at Sherlock as if he was a monster from nightmares. She was pale, her eyes were wide and lips were trembling. John however didn't find it in himself to feel terribly sorry for her. Instead he mentally cheered for his friend – a feat that happened next to never when the detective started deducing people to pieces. Harry's furious glare was replaced by worried glance in Sherlock's direction. He tried to push Sherlock and John towards the door, but the woman regained her composure before they managed to leave.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "How dare you sprout those lies?!"

The detective turned around. "The name is Sherlock Holmes. And unfortunately for you, I don't lie." With that he entered back to Muggle London, followed by Harry and John.

They barely got outside, when the entrance opened again and Hannah stepped out.

"You forgot this," she handed Harry his bag. In their hurry to leave, they snatched only the bags with books and forgot about the one behind the counter. She turned towards Sherlock. "Mr. Holmes, I could kiss you for what you did!" she exclaimed, looking at him with admiration. As was to be expected, Sherlock was more than surprised by that proclamation. So was John. Harry chuckled and she looked at him. "Oh don't look at me like that. She was positively horrid, Harry. I dare you to disagree! And I know it was a long time ago, but I didn't forgive her for what she wrote about Neville. And all the other people too. It was apparent that her lesson from Hermione didn't stick. I was about to kick her out! But it was about time she got a taste of her own medicine! Maybe this one will last longer." Then she beamed at the detective again, wished them all a nice day, and disappeared back indoors.

"You really shouldn't have done that," lamented Harry looking at Sherlock, though the effect was lost as he was fighting a smile. "Like Hannah said, it was probably long overdue, but you shouldn't have..."

"How can you say that?" asked John indignantly. "Are you really defending her after what she said?"

"John, I'm not defending her," replied Harry rolling his eyes at the ridiculousness of that statement. "She always twists the truth. Trusting Rita Skeeter is like letting yourself to be willingly poisoned. I was worried for a moment about Ron, but I already know thanks to Sherlock's quip back in your flat that he was well enough to be at work, so he is fine. And Ginny is a sport's redactor – the meeting was an interview that was scheduled before I left. Oliver doesn't like to get distracted from the game in any way, so she was ecstatic he agreed to one just before one of Puddlemore's matches."

"So she was lying," frowned John.

"Oh no," shook his head Harry. "Technically, she was not. She lives and breathes half-truths. That's why Rita Skeeter is a nasty piece of work – it would be better if she didn't notice you two."

"You think I can't handle one rude reporter?" asked the detective with raised eyebrows.

"I'm sure you can," shrugged Harry, "but why to make things harder for yourself when it could have been avoided. I bet she will try to sabotage you now and that's not really something we need."

"What can she do?" questioned John rather worriedly – remembering quite vividly that vengeful reporters and Sherlock was not a good combination.

"I'm expecting we will find out soon – she will probably attack the Ministry decisions concerning you," predicted Harry rather gloomily.

Sherlock did look like he wanted to say something, but at the end he decided to change the subject entirely, "So I suppose that now we won't be returning to the Alley?"

John was the one who replied – still thinking over the reporter. "Oh no," he said, "it was great – except for the last part – but I think I've had quite enough excitement for today. Leave something for the next time too, Sherlock. Preferably when there won't be any wizarding reporters around. Besides you have your books, imagine how much you can read and then probably delete – what else could you possibly want?" Sherlock just crossed his arms defiantly.

"Okay," nodded Harry. "It's good not to rush it anyway. Now you at least have the chance to read a bit and be better prepared for the next time. So I think we can conclude our day here. I will make inquiries about the case and will inform you about our next steps tomorrow. Will you meet me at Whitehall? There is a telephone box – the only one there if I am not mistaken. I'll meet you there. Let's say nine o'clock? We will be going to the Ministry first."

Sherlock and John nodded their consent. After that Harry assured them that the Feather-light Charm on the bags should hold for at least another hour, so they won't have any problem taking them to their flat.

After bidding their farewells, John and Sherlock hailed a cab. As they were stepping inside, they briefly wondered just which building at Whitehall is the masqueraded Ministry that dealt with magical people.

Let's just pretend there is one (and the only one) phone box on that street, shall we? I'm sorry if it's incorrect. :(
Sorry about Rita too... I hope I didn't make Sherlock too harsh (I was warned he sounds extra mean), but on my defence she was being mean too so...
Btw did you know she wrote a book about Harry after the war? Originally I was thinking they should find that one in the bookshop and have their view on Harry skewed, but then I decided they will meet her in person and will get the correct info later.
Oh... and the food in the Leaky Cauldron was inspired by the first movie (even though I named only the Pea soup) - I know that cannot exactly count as book canon, but I decided to use them anyway, so let's just pretend that Soup Soup Soup and others are very lovely dishes, not just a way to fill the board (there is a pic on the Wikia page about the Leaky Cauldron if you don't remember it from the movie - I know I didn't)