Methods Beyond Magic

A Puppeteer's Peril

"He was lonely." Sherlock muttered, remembering another person that was very lonely at the start of term.
"He...Sherlock you're not actually serious?" John asked, walking over and setting the bottle and book on the desk. Sherlock avoided eye contact, staring once more at the desk.
"He could've destroyed my life, he could've ruined me, and now I can ruin him. But he didn't tell, so far, and if he doesn't tell then neither will I. We've both made mistakes, maybe those mistakes can cancel each other out." Sherlock guessed. John took a deep breath, probably to calm his nerves, make his voice come out peaceful and not shouting.
"You never made mistakes." John insisted.
"Yes John, yes I have." Sherlock pointed out, turning to face his caretaker. John looked a bit scared, as if he were worried about Sherlock's wellbeing or his mental health in general.
"What have you possibly done?" John asked, seeming like he wanted to step closer, but kept his distance nevertheless.
"Before he drugged me, before I knew what he was, I had thoughts, I had feelings, I had...I knew that it was wrong and I knew I could never act upon them, but I have to admit that boy distracted me in a way that no one else has. No one, except you." Sherlock pointed out, feeling terribly guilty just admitting it.
"So this whole thing, it really was a love triangle?" John asked. Sherlock nodded guiltily, looking away from John as if not wanting to see his eyes after such a terrible truth.
"You always came first." Sherlock assured, his voice coming out in no more than a squeak.
"I was always wondering how you could be so blind, oblivious even. Victor was enchanted by you, every time I saw you two together he was staring, he always had that lust in his eyes, it disgusted me but I knew I couldn't do anything about it. Of course, I was sure you thought no more of me than the caretaker, the squib." John admitted.
"And I was wondering why would couldn't figure out that he was nothing compared to you." Sherlock agreed with a laugh.
"Well, I must admit, it makes a lot more sense now that he's nearly killed us both." John admitted.
"How long do you think it will be, until he comes for us?" Sherlock asked, looking towards the door as if Victor was going to jump out from behind it, demanding answers.
"I'd give it until the morning." John decided.
"I can wait until then." Sherlock agreed. John nodded, looking rather awkward.
"Well, then, I'll just...call me if you need anything then." He muttered, turning on his heel as if about to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sherlock asked with a laugh.
"Hopefully nowhere." John agreed, turning back to face Sherlock with a smile on his face.
"Victor might turn up in the dead of night, I need my sidekick." Sherlock pointed out, grabbing all of their evidence to take into the room with them, just in case Victor decided to get sneaky.
"Sidekick? I did all the work here!" John defended, following Sherlock to his bedroom with a huff.
"Without me to present the problem you would've had no one to save." Sherlock pointed out.
"Oh, well then that makes you the hero." John shrugged. "Obviously."
"Of course I'm not the hero, idiot. You got involved and in less than two days you freed me, there's nothing I can ever do to repay you." Sherlock insisted with a smile, opening the window in case Billy wanted to fly in overnight, get an owl treat that was still littered on the bottom of his cage.
"You do realize that the last person to sleep in your bed was Victor?" John pointed out, looking at the pillows rather apprehensively.
"We'll flip them over, sleep on the blankets. Besides, it could be a metaphor if you think about it." Sherlock shrugged. John just laughed, shaking his head apprehensively.
"I definitely don't want to think about it." he decided with a smile. Sherlock just sighed, climbing into his bed and holding out his arms for John to join him, which he did. This time John lay his head on Sherlock's chest, their arms wrapped around each other in a very complex sort of puzzle, staring at the ceiling and breathing in harmony.
"I think, John, that this is the best year I've ever had at Hogwarts." Sherlock decided after a long period of silence.
"How could you possibly say that?" John asked, turning over in the dark as to see him better.
"Well, I've got you." Sherlock pointed out. John just laughed, holding Sherlock's arms tighter around him and laying back down.
"Ever the sentimental aren't you?" he asked.
"Always." Sherlock agreed.