Distinction: A Potterlock AU

Ch. 11: Grow a Backbone

Chapter 11:

John had been unable to fall asleep, so when the alarm on his watch, set for 11:45 went off, it only got out one beep before he shut it off. 'I shouldn't go. I really should not go. I should stay here and get some rest.' John thought. He knew that Sherlock was nothing but trouble, and that if they got caught, it was likely that he could be expelled, and that was the last thing he wanted. John also knew, that Sherlock was his friend and that he needed his help. And so it was that John reluctantly slipped out of the Gryffindor common room at 11:47 and headed to the empty Charms classroom. He arrived at around 11:56, due to both the distance, and the fact that he wanted to make as little noise as possible. Sherlock wasn't there, so he waited, and waited, and waited. Finally around 12:26, when John was already cursing his gullibleness and preparing to head back to the common room, Sherlock arrived. "You're late." John whispered, still fully expecting to be caught at any moment. Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Unlike you, I haven't spent the night tossing and turning trying to decide whether or not I was going to do something worthwhile with my evening. I've been doing important background research." "Smart arse." John muttered. "This way." Sherlock said, slipping out of the classroom into the corridor. John followed him as he strode across the campus. John had no idea where they were going and he was struggling to match Sherlock's long strides. Sherlock was moving more quickly and silently than seemed natural. They slipped out of Hogwarts onto the grounds and John soon realized that they were heading for the Forbidden Forest. "Sherlock!" John hissed. "What?" Sherlock snapped, turning around impatiently. "We have work to do." "You never said we'd be going in there." John said nervously. Sherlock sighed impatiently. "I'm going with or without you. You can head back to the castle and hope that you can find your way back to Gryffindor tower, or you can grow a backbone, follow me, and help catch a murderer. Your call, but I'm not waiting, and it would be unwise for someone so inexperienced to attempt traversing the Forbidden Forest alone. It's forbidden for a reason." With that, Sherlock broke into a jog and quickly disappeared among the trees. 'Fucking prick.' John thought, before running to catch up with him.