Chapter 2

The next morning found the Gryffindors heading for double potions with the Ravenclaws. John was nervous about meeting the new guy if he was honest with himself but he was also excited. The group opened the door to the classroom in the dungeons to find many of the students already inside. It seemed as if the gang was nearly late. The room was filled with tables meant for partners to sit. John knew Jordie and Danielle would sit together while Amos and William partnered. The downside to an odd numbered group were situations like this, John sighed. His friends made their ways to desks while John looked around for who else needed a partner. In the middle of the classroom John saw an empty spot next to Sherlock Holmes, no one seeming to want to be next to him. It appeared his reputation had even made it to the Gryffindors. John narrowed his shoulders and marched to the table and sat down, Sherlock giving him a glance out of the corner of his eyes. It was obvious that Sherlock wasn't going to speak to John so he decided to make the first move towards being civil with one another. John faced the other boy, "Hi. I'm John Watson."

Sherlock looked to the boy next to him and nodded briefly.

John continued, "So it looks as if we're to be partners for potions." Silence. "Professor Slughorn can be a tad bit odd but he's a pretty good bloke." John continued.

Sherlock understood John would continue talking until he got a response from him letting out a tortuous sigh. "I am not interested in making friends. I do not even wish to be at this school but my annoying brother insisted. May I see your wand?"

John was taken aback by the quick speaking boy, unsure what he said for a minute until he noticed Sherlock still reading his book with his hand outstretched to John.

"Um. Sure." John handed his wand to the odd boy who summoned a book from his bag before handing it back immediately.

"Couldn't you have used your own wand for that?"

"Mine is in my coat pocket." Sherlock replied as if the answer explained everything.

John continued to stare dumbfounded at the boy.

"So muggleborn? Interesting. Shame your family doesn't approve of magic. But you still hold on to muggle customs and foods I see. Will you follow your father's footsteps into the armed forces?" Sherlock probed.

John was speechless, "How…?"

Sherlock obviously knew what he was going to ask as he didn't let John finish before he explained. "Your wand is obviously stored somewhere hastily often from the scratches on the side, one it to assume it is from hiding it while you are at home as you would have no need at school and robes do not scratch wands like that. I assume at the bottom of your trunk. As for the muggle customs: on your robe is a stain of jam and since you are right handed you can see it is from manual application, muggle habit I'm sure. As for your father's service in the muggle armed forces, that was a guess. Your hair is cut close to the hairline like a soldier but you are too young to be an actual veteran and the haircut is one that you've had for a long time based on the tan line so this must be from childhood influences, an important figure in your life being in the armed forces. Based on gender statistics my guess was your father." Sherlock finished matter of fact. Other students listened on with looks of disgust on their faces as Sherlock opened the book on his desk prepared for the inevitable anger.

"That was…amazing." John gushed.

Sherlock's head shot up looking at John in surprise, "What?"

"That was incredible." John repeated. Sherlock held his gaze.

"Really?" Sherlock asked doubtfully.

"Of course! You know it is." John replied with a look of admiration in his eyes.

Sherlock was unsure of what to say. No one had complimented him like that before. A slight blush reached his cheeks forcing Sherlock to turn back to his book in embarrassment.

Right then Professor Slughorn bustled into the classroom, cheery as ever. "Sorry I'm late class, I had a bit of a scuffle with one of Professor Sprout's more volatile plants." Slughorn looked around the room at the young faces. "Right then. I've seen you've all partnered off well done. We are going to brew a batch of living death today. Quite a tricking potion. Everyone is to work individually but the team with the best potions will each receive a bottle of felix felicis also known as liquid luck." He smiled to the students. "Well off you go! Directions will be found on page 13 of your books." Slughorn waved to the class.

Sherlock started the potion with vigor completely zoning into his work. John watched amazed at his passion before starting his own. During the potion making process John would hear Sherlock mumble things to himself which made John smile. Sherlock completed his potion suddenly. He regarded it with satisfaction, testing the effectiveness. He sat back in his chair before turning to watch John.

John felt nervous having such a genius watch him work. John was skilled in potions but nowhere near Sherlock's talent. John finally turned to Sherlock upset, "Are you just going to watch me make my potion for the rest of the class?" Sherlock regarded him for a minute before turning away and picking up his book. John let out a sigh of relief before continuing his potion. Some minutes later John was startled when Sherlock spoke up from his book, "stir counterclockwise three times and clockwise once. The book is wrong." John looked to the boy beside him then followed his instructions, the potion bubbling to life. John looked back to Sherlock who hadn't lifted his head from his book yet but was clearly grinning.

"Thank you." John said honestly. Finishing up the potion John sat back. He looked toward Sherlock, amazed at the man beside him.

"How do you do it?" John asked suddenly.

"Read?" Sherlock asked teasingly.

"No" John smiled. "How do you know all those things about people?"

Sherlock set down his book and looked toward John. "I observe."

John merely stared at him, baffled at the ordinary response.

Professor Slughorn walked up to their table a moment after, John looked to the Professor while Sherlock continued to stare at the boy beside him.

The Professor dropped leaves in each batch. John's leave wilted slowly while Sherlock's seemed to burn away almost immediately. Slughorn gasped, "Well done! Well done! Mr…?"

"Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock answered.

"Ah yes Mr. Holmes. Well done! If I do say so, this was brewed so perfectly I dare say one drop would kill us all!" Slughorn exclaimed excitedly. The Professor gave both students a small vial of liquid luck before dismissing the class.

Sherlock swept from the classroom dramatically leaving John to meet up with his friends.

"You ok mate? Partnered with the freak all year, tough blow." William patted John's shoulder.

John looked confused as he thought of how to respond, "He's not that bad. He's really smart."

Amos snorted, "Ok whatever. I think we can knock out some homework before lunch. What do you say?"

"Might as well." John shrugged following his friends to the great hall while thinking about his mysterious potions partner.

Sherlock didn't make it to lunch again making John wonder if he went to the kitchens instead. During lunch John chatted with Molly and Greg about the new defense teacher no one had met yet.

"I wonder who it is." Molly questioned aloud.

"I'm not sure." John replied, "You both will meet him before me though. I have it with the Ravenclaws later today."

"OH with the Ravenclaws? Guess you'll have to see that Sherlock guy some more today. Tough luck." Greg remarked.

"He's not that bad. Sure he seems to know a lot of private information and has no regard for social rules but he's not a bad guy or anything." John defended. He didn't know why he kept defending a person he barely knew but it came like an instinct.

Greg gave an unsure look before Molly interrupted, "I guess I can see that."

John nodded before making a move to leave noticing Danielle and Jordie awaiting at the door for him, "Well I better get to charms. See you later."

John made small talk with the two Gryffindor girls on his way to charms when Sherlock passed by catching his eye for the briefest of moments while he sauntered to his next class, robes flaring dramatically around him. John watched as he turned a corner, not understanding his rapid heartbeat.

After the afternoon break, John headed to double defense with the Ravenclaws. John, along with the rest of his friends, was eager to learn who the new professor was. Upon walking in the students stopped with a gasp. Sitting at the front of the room was Harry Potter.

"Woah." Amos gasped. The other students were awestruck upon learning who the Professor of defense was this year. After the shock began to wear off people began to buzz with excitement. They were going to learn defense from the boy who lived. Despite all the whispering and looks Harry was receiving he never paid attention, he focused on the letter he was writing. John realized he must not pay attention because this is how he has lived his whole life. The idea made John a little sad thinking of being treated like a rare animal, gawked at constantly. Harry reminded John of Sherlock, ignoring the whispers and stares. Students fought for the closest seats to the front but John didn't want to treat his new Professor like a zoo animal so he took a seat towards the back even though his friends pushed their way to the front of the room. John watched in interest as students gawked, fought, and whispered around the room. Next to him a chair pulled out and a body sat down. John looked to see Sherlock taking out his textbook. He was surprised that Sherlock willingly sat next to him until he realized he had to sit next to someone so he must have chosen someone at random.

"Hello again." John smirked.

"Hello John." Sherlock responded while looking to him. When Sherlock's eyes met his John had to look away. The light eyes pierced his core. The contrast between the dark curls shadowing his face and his pale skin made Sherlock look like a piece of art.

Harry stood up to address the class, "Hi. I'm Ha- Professor Potter and I will be teaching defense against the dark arts this year."

"Are you not going to be the permanent professor?" A Ravenclaw girl inquired.

"I am not. I am working this year as a favor to Prof- Headmaster McGonagall, though it is exciting to be teaching at Hogwarts. I loved this school." Harry smiled warmly.

"Alright. So I'm following the footsteps of one of my great friends and former professors and beginning class with an exercise." With the flick of his wand Harry cleared the tables and desks so that only a wardrobe was left. He gathered the students to the center of the room to begin the lecture. The wardrobe shook with force from the inside. "Now who can tell me what is in that wardrobe?"

Sherlock spoke first, "A Boggart."

"Right! Mister?" Harry led.

"Holmes. Sherlock Holmes."

John giggled beside him being reminded of James Bond. Sherlock looked at him quizzically before turning back to the Professor.

"Oh Mycroft's brother!" Harry realized. "I expect you're going to be a handful." Harry added.

Sherlock was surprised at the Professor's use of his brother's first name seeing as Mycroft is the Minister of Magic but if anyone was to act so casual about the Minister of Magic it would probably be the savior of the wizarding world. He was also shocked by the Professor's bold claim of Sherlock's behavior. Most professors liked to ignore his difficult nature.

"So what is a boggart?" Harry continued only to have Sherlock immediately answer again, "A boggart is an amortal shape-shifting being that takes on the form of the viewer's worst fear. No one knows a boggart's true form as it is always in the shape of a fear when seen." Sherlock continued haughtily, "Furthermore to combat a boggart one uses the charm 'riddikulus' while imagining an amusing shape that the caster would find comical which would inspire laughter, defeating the boggart." Sherlock finished his textbook definition.

"How many walking dictionaries must I know?" Harry wondered aloud before commenting, "very impressive Sherlock, ten points to Ravenclaw. You heard him class. Now we're going to practice the incantation and wand movement before we use the boggart."

Professor Potter worked with the class until he felt confident in their ability, "Now line up." The class rushed into a line fighting to be first. John was toward the middle and Sherlock the end as he walked leisurely to the line, seemingly bored. "Wands at the ready!" Harry called out before opening the doors letting the thing out.

One by one the students battled the boggart. William turned his fear of clowns into a flailing tube man, only the muggleborns getting the joke. Amos turned his fear of snakes into a magic toy. The class was going one by one turning their fears into something comical, the students all roaring with laughter. John walked up to the boggart, unsure what would appear. John had been afraid of his father but the more he aged the more he realized he didn't have to become like him. All those nights hiding from his own father had made him realize what is truly terrible, the fear of your own family. Fear. The creature morphed in the air in front of John until a dementer materialized. Professor Potter was ready to intervene when John pointed his wand and yelled "Riddikulus!" the boggart stayed as a dementor and began to advance John. Sherlock watched in horror as the monster approached the only person for he didn't hold disdain.

"Get back. That charm doesn't work on the boggart when it's a dementor." Professor Potter was quickly making his way over to the seventh year when John pointed his wand at the approaching boggart again.

"Mr. Watson I just said-" the Professor called out exasperated on his way to the student when John's spell interrupted him.

"Expecto Patronum!" Out from John's wand shot a white glowing shield forcing the boggart back into the wardrobe.

His classmates and Professor looked at him astounded. "Well done Mr. Watson. That is beyond a NEWT level spell."

"Uh..Thanks." John looked sheepish. He looked up and caught the pale eyes of a beautifully shocked Ravenclaw. John turned his face away before returning to the back of the line.

The Professor cleared his throat, "Well I don't want to deprive the rest of you. Let's continue." Harry once again released the boggart as the class continued.

Everyone had gone without incident when the last student took his place in front of the boggart. Sherlock didn't know what would appear in front of him but he was prepared.

Sherlock was waiting for the creature to take shape when suddenly he was looking into his own eyes. The boggart transformed into himself. No one understood as the clones stared back at each other until the boggart began to drool on the floor and make incomprehensible noises. Sherlock watched in horror as the boggart enacted a brain dead Sherlock. Sherlock's worst fear, losing his mind. He pointed his wand chanting the spell to change the sight into a brain dead Mycroft instead. Sherlock laughed merrily, the other students chuckling at the sight of their Minister drooling in a puddle on the floor.

"Wonderful work today class. I will see you Thursday. You are dismissed." Harry turned back to his desk to continue writing as the students filtered out of their last class of the day, buzzing about their new Professor.

John caught up to Sherlock, "So what was that all about? You are your own worst fear?"

Sherlock turned to look at the shorter boy, "Not exactly. I fear… losing my mind. I am not referring to insanity but in the way that I lose my cognitive abilities and become…ordinary." Sherlock spit out the word as if it was bitter in his mouth.

John deflated at the man's reference to ordinary people, "Ah yes what a nightmare to be ordinary."

Sherlock looked to the boy, "John."

Both stopped walking before Sherlock continued, "You are not ordinary." With that, Sherlock swept away into the library leaving a stunned John in his wake.