Thanks for the follows, favs and especially reviews. You're brilliant.

(NyGi) That is so true :)

(lulu) I'm glad you do and thank you for the praise :) Well, John will be definitely the nicer one - I don't really think he will have any problem with Ron - They will probably end up on good terms when John finally manages to have a word or two with him. The medical side will be explained (if there will be situation that requires it) about as much as it was explained to us - so probably only very vaguely :(

(HarnGin) Oh, I can certainly say they will not be exactly friendly towards each other (I even tried to write a civil conversation, but both characters refused to cooperate - how is that possible I don't know). They will get better though. Oh, no worries - we'll be (finally) starting on the case with next chapter yay :D

(forTheLoveOfHades) I'm glad you think so.

(dana-san) Depends what he will be brewing... and what will John allow him to buy ;) Thanks... I always somehow migrate towards John without even noticing.

(goanago) I am glad! Thank you :)

(Silvermane1) Thanks

(Sarah) Glad you liked it. Umm... yes... the duos... *whistles innocently* (I swear it's just temporary)

(zeynel) Thanks! I bet that too - I should probably switch to Sherlock in one of the next chapters to show what he is thinking. Yeaaah... it will take time for Sherlock to revise his opinion about Ron, but he will, if I have to say something about it (which I have)! Also I am sorry, I probably wrote it in a confusing manner (please, let me know how can I correct it) - it was John thinking Teddy is a rebelling teenager - doesn't make the assumption any less wrong though. But Sherlock would definitely be fascinated by those powers - I fear for Teddy (thank goodness he is in school)

CHAPTER 15

"So Milverton," started Ron, giving his notes a fleeting glance. "He was murdered with Killing Curse in the house he rented for the last three years during the night of April 23rd – the time of the death was estimated before midnight. Was discovered in the morning by the housekeeper, when she went to clean the bedroom as usual. Apparently, Milverton kept the same schedule for every day and was usually gone from his house by eight in the morning. She always entered about fifteen minutes after he left. I talked to her - at first she thought he merely overslept, but when she found out that was not the cause she called the Muggle Healers. Of course, they couldn't have done anything for the man. She was terribly distraught over what happened and not at all informative." Ron shrugged, "I found her on the way to the train station - she refused to stay in the close proximity to the house where someone died. When she pieced together that I was there because it was a murder she practically fled, mumbling something about vengeful spirits – I doubt she is acquainted with the wizarding world though, because she would have known that Milverton definitely cannot become a ghost, but it made me wonder if she may have encountered some in the past or was just that superstitious. Not that it really matters; I doubt she has anything to do with this. But in the case we would need to see her again, I have her address noted down."

John, while listening to all the facts, spluttered at the casual mention of ghosts. Did that mean they were real? He shuddered... just how many of the ghost stories around the city were suddenly real? Even Sherlock raised an eyebrow, probably wanting to argue about scientific impossibility of the existence of apparitions.

Ron didn't pay them any mind, just continued his narration, "The neighbours didn't report anything strange, but that was to be expected. The murderer could have apparated right in the house, without anyone being the wiser. We also have no information about anyone magical living in the area. But with the revelation of Milverton's occupation, I think that it's okay to hazard a guess that he discovered some information connected to the wizarding world and his intended victim didn't take it well. Though of course that alone seems like a very weak motive – but let's just assume for now that it was at least a part of it."

Harry was nodding along. He heard all this yesterday when he called his friend, so now the facts were mostly listed for Sherlock and John's benefit – but it was good to hear it once again.

"What did you discover in the house?" asked Sherlock.

The ginger shook his head. "I spent my time looking for everyone who spent time with Milverton after his death plus the neighbours – it was needed not only to find out if they noticed something that may help, but to make sure no one suspects magical interference in his death. Didn't inspect the house yet. Anyway, it was..."

"How could you not examine the crime scene... what is it – three days after the murder was committed?" asked the detective disbelievingly. "How do you know the owner didn't enter the house in the meantime? Didn't have it cleaned? Especially since this is actually a cause of natural death as far as the non-wizarding community is concerned - nothing is stopping him! Thanks to you we probably lost all the evidence that was there!"

Ron glanced at him, surprised at the accusation, "Do you really think I would just leave it like that?"

"Wouldn't be surprised," muttered Sherlock.

"And if you're concerned about not following the standard routine take it to your brother!" continued the Auror scathingly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sherlock glared at the man.

"Nothing at all," retorted Ron, glaring back. "Why don't you make a deduction if you want to know so much?"

"That's enough!" exclaimed Harry frowning at them. "Both of you stop right now!"

"He started it. I was being polite and he had a go at me without a reason... again!" grumbled Ron.

"And you're supposed to be a highly trained investigator," shot Sherlock back. "Yet again and again I am proven right in wondering just how you managed to get this position."

"I said that's enough!" repeated Harry with much more force than before. "We will need to get along, so I strongly recommend forgetting this petty feud of yours. We're adults, so for Merlin's sake behave like ones!"

Ron, and even Sherlock, silenced themselves and let the man talk, recognising that right now was not the time to argue back.

"Look," continued Harry who at one point stood up and firmly planted his hands on the table, leaning on them as he gazed at others, "I understand this is quite difficult and unusual situation for everyone. Sherlock, John, you're expected to adapt to a whole new world in a matter of days. Ron, we're expected to actually allow them to help as opposed to going behind every Muggle's back. So this can end either extremely well or as a complete disaster. I would rather avoid the second option, so please," he emphasised still carrying the authoritative voice, "at least a minimal effort would be appreciated. We're on the same side here after all, aren't we?"

The Auror and the detective both nodded, though it was obvious neither was very enthusiastic about it.

"Great," said the dark-haired wizard. "Now, the examination of Milverton's house was being held until everyone is gathered," he looked pointedly at Sherlock, "and it shall be visited now. You don't need to worry about the place being disturbed during that time, It was left empty after the housekeeper left and of course the necessary precautions were done so it stayed that way, as you would have known had you let Ron finish." He then turned to his friend, "Ron, you were already there, so I believe you can take them without any problem." Harry took a deep calming breath, "You will cooperate and you will not undermine each other's work. There is plenty we can learn by working alongside each other and we will take advantage of that. Any questions?"

"Wait, you're not going?" asked Ron, sneaking uneasy glances at the detective. He was not bothered that much by Harry's change of demeanour - he saw worse, but he was still panicking a bit about the possibility of being left alone with one of the Holmes brothers - he liked to avoid the elder one and apparently the younger was just as bad. "I swear, I will try to work with him, but Harry, shouldn't you, I dunno, be there too?"

"Sadly," retorted the Head Auror, as he sat back down, "I was left with quite a lot of paperwork." Ron cursed, eyeing the blasted parchments. "Besides this is a prime opportunity for you to start getting along."

"Or crash the whole thing," muttered John to himself, he rather thought Harry counted on this case to end well, but this seemed like the quickest way to ruin it - not that he really wanted to argue with the wizard.

"Or that," admitted Harry catching what was said, still piercing Ron and Sherlock with his gaze. "But I trust you all enough to know you will not jeopardize this and will bring back some results."

"You knew you wouldn't be going with us from the start," accused him Sherlock throwing glares at the red-head.

"It's Ron's case," the wizard told him in a firm voice. "I'm not taking it from him just because you were added to the equation – no matter what you may think about it and no matter what Mycroft suggested. I told you before, Ron is very capable and there is no need for my constant surveillance. You also cannot expect that it will always just be me you will be dealing with in the wizarding world. Take it as a test – if you're incapable of cooperating with other Aurors and officials, some things shall be reconsidered."

They held a staring contest, but at the end Sherlock nodded curtly. John for a good measure quietly added, "We understand," while he was secretly re-evaluating what he knew about Harry Potter until now. He couldn't help but feel like he was facing one of his superiors. Before, he may have briefly wondered how Harry, with such an easy-going attitude managed not to be eaten alive in the position he held, but now he fully saw what was only hinted in a few instances until now – one may have thought him to be a pushover, but they only got as far as they were allowed, as Harry was the one who had the real grip on the situation. Hell, even Sherlock was silenced into submission for a moment, but he was obviously not happy about how things were turning out.

"Well..." started Ron awkwardly – both pleased by the praise he got from his friend and devastated that it meant he would need to deal with the detective. "Ehm... I shall go and get ready. Can't go like this to a Muggle neighbourhood." He glanced at his robes as he stood up and disappeared in a flash.

"You cannot force him on us," said Sherlock before the door even closed. "I abhor incompetence. You may say he can keep up, but I assure you he will only hinder us."

John wished his friend would just shut up. He was sure something must have caused him to develop a memory loss, because he clearly pointed out to Skeeter yesterday that picking on people close to Harry was a sure way to ruffle his feathers.

Harry was sure that shouting out of frustration or banging his head on the desk (both of which he felt like doing) wouldn't be very professional or even effective in the long run. The only thing that stopped him from overreacting (well... too much) was the desensitization born from knowing Mycroft – he was far worse than Sherlock could even hope to be during the first few times they met (true he was doing it on purpose, while Sherlock said what he genuinely believed in, but that was neither here nor there). So clearly no matter how much he tried, changing Sherlock's mind about Ron by mere talking would be impossible. Explaining over and over that he is one hell of an Auror was doing little good. Heck, they even admitted knowing about their past... had they skipped the parts with Ron? That is why he was hoping that by having them to work together they would find a common ground - that is, if he managed to actually make them to work together...

"You don't do this to Muggle police," he said at last, thinking he found a way how to make Sherlock listen. He raised his hand to silence the detective who wanted to inform him just how he usually behaves with police. "Oh, I know – you're capable of withholding the evidence if you think it's necessary... manipulating your clients as well as friends... breaking into places instead of waiting for warrants and more – Mycroft didn't leave me in the dark. He wanted to be sure I would be aware of your methods – all of them, even the less savoury – possibly to make sure I just don't stop this over something you do. But he never mentioned you are openly hostile towards the leading Inspector. Not saying a word about the rest of the team, but you never completely disregard the man in charge – because your access to the case depends on that and you know it. That is the reason you usually follow the rules, even if it is just so-so." He steepled his fingers and gazed at Sherlock trying to relay the message. "Ron is the equivalent of Detective Inspector now. Do not forget that."