Chapter 2
John grabbed Sherlock's sleeve, "I don't want to lose you"
"We'll stick together, okay?" Sherlock smiled.
"Sounds good to me". The two stumbled along with all the other students, trying to get into the Great Hall.
Sherlock pulled John away a bit aside from the others. "I don't like people."
John looked at his friend for a second before saying "hold tight to my sleeve." John pulled out his wand and muttered "impedimenta!" Everyone in the vicinity moved in slow motion and John pulled Sherlock swiftly through the crowd.
"W-what was that?" Sherlock asked, looking around in confusion and wonder.
John glances back at his friend as they walked into the Great Hall "just an impedimenta charm. I learned it a few years ago. It just slows everything around you down. Really helps in crowds.”
Sherlock's jaw dropped. "I also want to be able to do that!"
"I'll teach you. But after dinner and we get sorted. I'm starving." John smiled brightly
"Sounds fair enough." Sherlock chuckled, looking at the other boy.
John suddenly stopped and looked around "do you know who we go to get sorted?"
"I think my brother mentioned a 'McGonagall'. But I'm not sure." he frowned softly.
John nodded and grabbed a passing person "do we go to McGonagall to be sorted?" The random person nodded and walked off. John turned go Sherlock "let's find McGonagall."
Sherlock nodded, starting to make his way through the hall.
John followed closely, already on the lookout for ways to help Sherlock.
"How should we find him, or her?" Sherlock asked John quietly.
"Ummm. I don't think whoever it is would be happy if I used accio." John said, looking solely at Sherlock.
"Probably not." Sherlock chuckled. "You need to ask someone."
John laughed, "OK OK " he grabbed a passing person again and asked where they could find McGonagall. The person pointed to a woman holding a scroll by the teachers table.
Sherlock looked in the direction the person had pointed. "We can't go up there!" He whispered to John. "Everyone will stare!"
"I'll go up there. You stay here and make sure nobody notices your pet." John grinned reassuringly at him before heading towards the big table.
Sherlock looked around, feeling slightly vulnerable now that he was alone.
John, accidentally taking longer than he meant to, introduced himself to McGonagall and talked about sorting. More and more people came into the Great Hall.
Sherlock moved closer to the wall, trying to take as little place as possible. He wasn't used to this many people, and it made him feel weird and uncomfortable. He wished John would come back soon.
Unknowingly, John took his time to get back to Sherlock, introducing himself to other students and asking about the houses. It was almost 20 minutes before he got back to Sherlock.
Sherlock was sitting on the ground, curled up into himself, with his face buried in his knees and he was shaking, not far from crying.
John went back to where Sherlock had been and looked around. Then he saw the top of Sherlock head. John rushed over "I'm sorry I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be gone for so long. Are you okay???"
Sherlock sniffled softly and curled tighter into himself.
John knelt down in front of him "I'm so sorry, Sherlock!" He looked around before pulling out his wand again and saying "Muffliato". Knowing nobody close could hear them now, john said "hey, think of Redbeard. Think if how soft his fur is. How even his breathing is. It'll be OK ."
Sherlock tried to call down, which only resulted in more sniffling and quiet sobbing.
John tried not to panic. Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention, he grabbed the box Redbeard was in and lifted the puppy from it. John hugged Sherlock tightly, holding Redbeard in between them and slowly rocking them back and forth, "deep breaths. Focus on his heartbeat"
"N-No John..! Not here!" Sherlock wiped his cheeks and tried quickly to put Redbeard into the box again.
John wouldn't let him "no one can hear us. If they look at us, they won't see him. Trust me." He continued to rock them and started stroking Sherlock's silky hair
Sherlock curled up towards John, sniffling a little, running his long fingers through Redbeard's fur.
John kept stroking Sherlock's hair.
Sherlock soon relaxed into John's touch, slowly starting to breathe normally again.
"Better?" John asked quietly, looking into Sherlock's eyes "you still look a little pale." He quickly and smoothly slid Redbeard back into his box and helped Sherlock stand.
"Yes I'm...I'm fine." Sherlock swallowed, looking around.
John put an arm around him and took his bags. "Let's go get sorted, OK? Then we can go up to our room and Redbeard can calm you down some more."
Sherlock nodded quietly.
The two went where they were supposed to and waited for McGonagall to place an old hat on them to see where they'd go. Sherlock was sorted before John was.
Sherlock sat down on the stool they were supposed to sit on, and squeezed his eyes shut.
John crossed his fingers and hoped his friend got what he wanted.
"Ravenclaw!" He hat said, after a bit of thinking.
John clapped until his hands hurt and watched Sherlock cross to the Ravenclaw table.
Sherlock slowly sat down, trying to not take up much space, and watched John nervously. He really hoped John would get into the same house.
John waited and waited for his name to be called. Finally it was and he walked up to the stool. The second the hat touched his head, it shouted "RAVENCLAW!!"
Sherlock's face lit up and he smiled brightly towards John.
John jogged over to his table and sat next to Sherlock "I knew we'd both get in!" He smiled so widely it hurt.
Sherlock smiled back just as widely. "This is great!"
John couldn't stop smiling as others at the table welcomed them to Ravenclaw
Sherlock mostly sat quiet, but still smiling. He moved a bit closer to John.
John chatted with others for most of the meal before turning to Sherlock, "do you wanna leave early and get to our room? If we wait well get caught in a big crowd."
Sherlock nodded. "That sounds good."
John and Sherlock stood and before leaving, John asked a prefect where the dorms were. Then they were off.