PotterLock Down (A Crossover Fanfiction)

Chapter 6: Preparations

On the train to Dufftown, Sherlock and John listened as Harry attempted to explain Hogwarts and this strange coexistence called the Wizarding World that basically existed for the last millennium.

Harry told them about the Ministry of Magic and its rigorous dominion over all things magic ("A bit like Parliament for us normal people," Sherlock mused; "Yes, exactly," Harry agreed) and finally, about the whole situation that got him all but expelled not two days after his arrival.

John shook his head, but for once there was no logical explanation he could expect from his analytical friend. All this talk of potions and powders that actually did unnatural things, moving staircases, a school presided over by friendly ghosts, creatures like dragons and unicorns existing on the grounds of said school—John knew he would have to just accept everything or he would go mad trying to rationalize it.

To comfort himself, he thought of Mary and the new baby. To her credit, she was very excited about the prospect of going on another case with Sherlock, which made Watson feel a bit better about the whole thing. She also put the phone near the baby's ear, so John could hear the soft gurgling infant coos, which gave him the lift his spirits needed. Armed with these supports, he climbed onto the train without murmur.

At least they weren't headed somewhere magical. Harry said as much when they boarded.

"Dufftown is a good place for you to be, because it's a Muggle city, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry," he said, "but it's close enough to Hogwarts, I hear. Normally, the magic folk will take the Hogwarts Express straight into Hogsmeade, a wizarding town, and that's only accessible by Platform 9-3/4 at King's Cross."

John couldn't stop shaking his head.

"Nine-and-three-quarters, eh?" Sherlock echoed. "My that's clever. So tell me more about this Emory Harville."

Harry shrugged. "There isn't much to tell. I didn't even know his name till after he disappeared. It was strange, though; I think... Well, I don't want to sound vain," he stopped himself.

Sherlock leaned forward with a gleam in his eye. "No, you were expressing an opinion that might end up a valuable clue. What was it? I need to know absolutely everything you think, feel, fancy you saw, or imagine; tell me what you think."

Harry nodded. "I can't say for certain, but I think someone's been spreading rumors about my first years at Hogwarts. That's why they suspected me first, because according to these rumors, I've done this before."

Sherlock leaned back and pressed his hands together. "And have you?" he asked, watching the young man closely.

"No," said Harry immediately. "I could never be that cruel."

Sherlock considered the facts. "Who would stand to gain the most from your expulsion?"

Harry drummed his fingers on the table. "Draco Malfoy, maybe; he's by far the biggest bully at the school, and he really hates me."

"Does he enjoy bullying you?"

Harry sneered, "Rather too much, I should say."

Sherlock nodded, "Then if you were expelled, there would be no one to tease, now, would there be? And if he was the one spreading rumors and making students vanish, that means all the more trouble for him once he's found out. No, I think this is beyond any of your schoolfellows. Most bullies like to keep their victims miserable but still close. There must be someone who would actually benefit, who might actually, you could say, gain power if people started believing the rumors."

Harry shivered, and Sherlock immediately glanced around for a Dementor, but the young man spoke, "There is one wizard who would like to kill me. It would not be beyond him to arrange just this kind of setup."