Distinction: A Potterlock AU

Ch. 12: In Search of Truth

Chapter 12:

John caught up with Sherlock right as they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Sherlock stopped and pulled out his wand. "Lumos." Sherlock whispered, as his wand glowed with light. He lifted his wand up high in order to provide the most light, then set off into the thicket of trees with John at his heels. "Sherlock." John whispered, as the pair traversed the thick weave of tree roots along the forest floor. Sherlock sighed through his nose. "What?" He asked. John drew his cloak tighter about him. Sherlock's wand did nothing to dispel the damp fog, and its light barely penetrated the gloom of the woods. "What are we looking for?" John asked him. "You'll see." Sherlock replied vaguely. Sherlock was having little difficulty in dodging the dense growth on the forest floor, but John was not nearly as graceful. He had tripped multiple times, each time swearing with increased volume. After around a quarter of an hour, Sherlock stopped at what was evidently the final destination. He turned around and could not help but chuckle. His companion was quite disgruntled. John's cloak was torn in several places, he was covered in scrapes, and would likely be very bruised, come morning. To top it all off were the twigs and leaves sticking out of his hair and clothing. "It's not funny, you cock." John snapped at his friend. This only succeed in broadening Sherlock's grin. "Au contraire, my graceful friend, it is very funny." Sherlock replied smoothly, still chuckling about John's condition. John raised his fist in preparation to smack the stupid grin off of Sherlock's face, when a twig snapped. "What was that? " John whispered anxiously. Even the ever-calm Sherlock seemed to have been unnerved by the sound. "It's just some animal, John. Nothing to worry about." Sherlock replied in a harsh whisper. But Sherlock didn't seem so convinced. John opened his mouth to suggest leaving the vile forest, when the sound of crunching leaves pierced the silence eerily. Sherlock and John froze, listening with bated breath. Leaves crunched again, and then again, becoming quicker in frequency, and louder in intensity. Someone, or something was sprinting at them, with unknown intent. "RUN" Sherlock and John shouted in the same instant before taking off. Sherlock grabbed John's arm, and pulled him along, because he knew John was apt to get lost, or trip. Sherlock's long legs carried them all the way out to the edge of the thicket, John stumbling beside him. They ran all the way across the lawn before collapsing near the edge of the castle. Whatever had been chasing them was long gone. "OhmygodIamneverdoingthatagain." John hissed in one breath. Sherlock ignored him, and focused on taking deep gulps of air, to calm himself down. Although he'd never admit it, he had been frightened. He must learn to keep a better lid on his emotions. After a few minutes, John stood and took off running for the Gryffindor common room, eager to get to bed, and to get away from whatever fearful thing had been in the forest. Sherlock rose and watched him run down the hall, shaking his head with disdain at his thundering footsteps. The fool was bound to get caught, making that much racket. Sherlock quietly slunk away to the Ravenclaw tower. His desire to find who or whatever was responsible for the student's death was stronger than ever. Sherlock Holmes was not about to let fear stand in the way of the truth. Tomorrow, with or without John, he would find what had chased him out of the forest, and make it pay for what it had done, be it man or beast.