Chapter 1
Sherlock - a tall, slender, blue-eyed boy with dark curls falling down over his face - was sitting alone in one of the apartments at the Hogwarts Express, looking out through the window. He had recently moved to London with his family after moving around the earth for as long as he could remember, and now, it looked like they were going to settle down there and stay. At first, he didn't mind. London looked like quite a nice place and he actually kind of liked it, but then, his parents started talking about sending him to a school. For his whole life he had been home-schooled by his older brother, and he liked it that way. No other kids bothering him, no stupid teachers that he had to correct. But now it all would change. Sherlock sighed and pulled his coat tighter around himself. He was 16, about to turn 17, and went to a school for the first time in his life. This was doomed to fail.
John-shorter than the average 17 year old, lean, and hazel eyed- was smiling widely as he walked down the Hogwarts Express, looking for an empty seat. He'd be going to Muggle school for his entire life, but had been trained in Wizardry by his father since childhood. He loved people and couldn't wait to fly through Hogwarts. Spotting an empty seat, he asked the boy across from it," anyone sitting there?"
Sherlock winced slightly and looked up at the blond guy in front of him. He nodded shortly and gestured for John to sit down.
"Thanks. Is this your first year? I can't wait to start." John continued smiling; looking from Sherlock to the landscape they were passing.
"It is." He replied shortly, and kept looking out through the window. He wasn't used to have conversations with anyone that wasn't in his family, so he thought it'd be best to avoid such things as much as possible.
John kept talking "I've heard such great things about our new school. Do you have any siblings? I don't. I wish I did so I could share this experience". He was oblivious to the stranger's apparent boredom.
"I have a brother." Sherlock mumbled and rolled his eyes. He just wanted to be alone.
"Cool. Is he older or younger? I’ve always wanted a baby brother. Do you have any idea what house you'll be put in?" John let his mind drift as he weighed the pros and cons of each house.
"Ravenclaw." Sherlock sighed. "Why are you talking so much?"
John looked at Sherlock in shock, "I'm sorry. I'm used to being around talkative people. I'm sorry, I'll shut up, I guess. And Ravenclaw is my top choice as well.”
"You? Ravenclaw?" Sherlock raised an eyebrow and looked at John.
"Yeah. I’ve been top of my class all my life. What about you?" John said, getting defensive.
"I can tell what you are for breakfast." The brunette shrugged.
"What? No, you can't," John looked directly at Sherlock
"I can. You had toast with strawberry jam and a cup of Lady Grey tea." He smirked slightly.
Johns jaw dropped, "how... how could have you possible have known that?"
"It's quite obvious since you've still got some jam in the corner of your mouth, and there are some crumbs on your shirt. Also, you've got a fresh stain of tea on your shirt." Sherlock smirked.
John wiped his mouth and looked down at his shirt. "Yes, well..." he cleared his throat and started rooting through his bag.
Sherlock smirked towards John. "Anything I missed?"
"I also had blackberry jam on my toast," John scowled.
“Two kinds of jam?" Sherlock raised an eyebrow.
John wiped his mouth and looked down at his shirt. "Yes, well..." he cleared his throat and started rooting through his bag.
"Sherlock Holmes..." Sherlock said, and actually smiled a little towards the other boy.
John grinned back, "Did you bring any pets?"
"Yes." He nodded, grinning smugly. "Want to see him?"
"Yeah!" John said, leaning forward. He had wanted a pet owl but his parents said no.
"But you need to promise not to tell anyone..."
"I promise," John vowed, peering at Sherlock expectantly.
Sherlock nodded quickly and leaned down. He pulled out a box covered by a piece of cloth from under the seat. Sherlock looked up at John and grinned slightly as he pulled away the cloth. A small, red, puppy with big ears jumped out of the box.
John immediately reached out and stroked the puppy's soft head, "he's so soft! How'd you sneak him on board?" He was smiling and his whole face was lit up as the puppy wiggled with happiness.
"I'm clever," Sherlock chuckled. "His name is Redbeard."
"Hi, Redbeard," John sighed. He looked up at Sherlock, smiling widely "he's better than any owl I asked for."
"Of course he is!" Sherlock grinned. He leaned down again and called for Redbeard, who came rushing towards him, tail waving in happiness. Sherlock picked him up and stroked the puppy over the fur while smiling. "By the way, I'm sorry for being grumpy earlier." Sherlock looked up at John, suddenly feeling a bit shy.
John sat back in his seat, "its fine. I'm always told I talk too much. If you don't mind me asking, where's your wand? I know mine’s falling out of my pocket but I haven't seen yours.” John pulled out a 10 inch, intricately carved, light grey wand.
"It's in my bag, packed down far in the bottom of the bag, I suppose." He chuckled a little. "I'll show it to you later."
"Awesome. What's the center? Mine’s phoenix feather .” John looked at his wand fondly.
"Dragon heartstring." Sherlock grinned. "By the way, John…"
"Yeah?" John smiled at Sherlock warmly.
"I've been told that I'll get my own room at Hogwarts, since they know about my past and my anxiety to talk to most people. But, you know, it will probably be pretty lonely. So…would you maybe want to... share room with me..?" His cheeks flushed slightly red as he looked over at John.
John looked shocked but recovered quickly "that sounds great. I hope I don't get on your nerves too much.” John smiled again before reaching across and stroking Redbeard.
"I don't think you will." Sherlock grinned a little.
John glances down, "can't wait. Hey, we're almost there, should we change into our robes?" He stroked the puppy in Sherlock's lap again.
"I…Is there a bathroom in here..?" He asked, as he carefully put back Redbeard into the box again.
John looked around "I don't think so. But I'll turn around if you want"
Sherlock nodded quietly, biting his lip. Even though it actually worked well for him to talk with John, he didn't feel comfortable at all to change clothes while he was around.
John half smirked and turned around and started casting small spells, changing the color and texture of his seat
Sherlock stood up, turning his back towards John, and quickly pulled off his shirt
In the reflection of the window, john saw Sherlock start to strip and smiled
Sherlock quickly pulled on the white shirt they were supposed to wear under the knitted vests. He folded his own shirt and put it into the bag, before putting on the vest.
John waited another moment before asking, "can I turn back now?" He was trying not to smile widely.
"Yes, you can." Sherlock mumbled and sat down again.
John turned around and grabbed the shirt from his bag, tossing it on the seat while he hunted for his robe. Finally he gave up, grabbed his wand and said "accio!" The robe flew into John’s hand. Without stopping, john started to pull off the shirt he was wearing
Sherlock looked amazed at him. Of course, Mycroft had tried to teach Sherlock spells like that, but he had never succeeded with learning them properly.
John, now shirtless, looked at Sherlock's surprised expression "what? Is there something in my hair?"
"No no, just…I can't use magic like that!"
"Oh." John grabbed his wand, pointed it at his shirt, sitting on the floor, and said "accio.” The shirt zoomed into his hand and he smirked.
Sherlock's jaw dropped. "You need to teach me that!"
John laughed "just focus on what you want and where it is. Then imagine it in your mind and say accio!" John did it again with his robe before pulling his shirt on.
"I’ll try it later, when I have my wand." He nodded.
"Ok." John slid on his robe and sat back down. "I wonder how they'll test us into our houses."
"Me too," Sherlock said. "I hope we get into the same house."
"You're smart enough to get into Ravenclaw. I hope I am too," john looked down at his wand, concerned with not being smart enough.
"I'm sure you are." Sherlock smiled.
"Thanks, Sherlock" John grinned up at him.
Sherlock grinned back. "Should we prepare to leave? We'll be there in just a few minutes.”
"Sounds good to me," John replied. He started gathering up his stuff, occasionally using a simple spell to impress Sherlock.
Sherlock put back the cloth over Redbeard's box, and looked at John casting his spell.
Now smug, John sat back down on his seat "so, if you don't get into Ravenclaw, which house do you want to go in?"
"I don't know, Gryffindor maybe? But it's really just Ravenclaw I want to get in to. What about you?" Sherlock tilted his head a little.
"Hufflepuff," john muttered quickly, looking down. "My father said I act like a Hufflepuff, anyway."
"I think you'd fit great in any house, really." Sherlock smiled a little.
"Thank you" John looked up at his new friend.
Sherlock looked back. The train soon stopped and Sherlock looked outside, taking a deep breath. "Well then, let's go!" He stood up, gathering his stuff.
Johns smiled changed to a nervous one and he followed Sherlock onto the platform.