Muggle in a Wizard's World

Chapter 9

“What’s the stadium for?” John asked. Sherlock came over to stand next to him, resting his arms on the stone and leaning forward. John thought that was a little bit risky, but he didn’t seem to think there was any danger.

“It’s for quidditch, that game I mentioned, on brooms.” Sherlock said.

“How do you play?” John asked.

“Well, I never played it before, but I think you have to throw a ball threw one of the three goal posts, while two other balls are being wacked around because their only goal in life is to hit people off of their brooms, and one small ball that someone has to catch for the game to be over.” Sherlock explained.

“That sounds dangerous.” John decided.

“I don’t think anyone has died from it here.” Sherlock said as if death was not uncommon in the game. “The school is really falling prey to the war; it’s not nearly as nice as it was before Voldemort. There is no more quidditch; no one can even go outside, potions class is all antidotes for the overflowing patents in the hospital wing, Defense Against the Dark Arts is all amateur auror training, preparing for the attack we know is going to come, it’s like we’re just waiting to die.” Sherlock sighed, looking around the empty grounds with sadness in his eyes. John hadn’t known Hogwarts in its glory days, but he seemed that it must have been a great place. He wished he could go to a quidditch game, it sounded thrilling and interesting.

“I think I was introduced to this world too late.” John decided.

“You were, but without You Know Who, you never would have been introduced.” Sherlock pointed out.

“I’m not thanking whoever this guy is; I would certainly go dumb again if it meant he didn’t rise to power.” John sighed.

“I’m just thankful my last days could be spent with someone who doesn’t cringe at the sound of my name.” Sherlock said. John took a moment to study his face, trying to tell if he was lying or not.

“I’m sure no one actually does that.” John decided.

“You’d be surprised, I was well known when I was in school, I was the punching bag. If anyone needed to pick on someone, I was the one to go to, no one would stand up for me, I had no friends, and it was easy enough. I just graduated last year, and all the grades knew me, but now I got permission to defend myself with magic.” Sherlock said with a small smile. John wanted to hug him, tell him everything was going to be okay, but that was a lie to Sherlock and to himself.

“Is that why they all gave you space to walk?” John asked.

“Yes, because they now know I can get back at them if I wanted to.”

“If Hogwarts was so bad, why you would stay?” John asked.

“It was that or dies, and I picked this.” Sherlock said simply.

“If I could go back and defend you I would.” John promised, even though it didn’t mean anything.

“But now it’s my turn to defend you, from all those terrible people roaming the hallway, you need to blend in, and everyone needs a tie showing their house colors on their robes.” Sherlock said, pulling something blue and white from his pocket. He held it up to show John, and it was a tie, but it looked old, as if it had had a previous owner. “Unfortunately I couldn’t get you a Gryffindor one; this is mine, from when I was in school.” John held out his hand to receive the gift, but Sherlock ignored him, stepping closer and putting the loop around John’s neck. He pulled the tie around, knotting it around in a way John had never seen before, and tightening it around John’s neck. His elegant fingers worked fast, so close to John’s face, he even felt them brushing his neck and chin. When Sherlock was done, he flattened the tie against John’s chest, which made a spark go through his body.