Harry Knows BestJohn's in Waterstones Piccadilly when he gets the text. He's trying to decide on a Christmas present for Mrs Hudson. She'd expressed an interest in the new Nigella Lawson cookbook, but Jamie Oliver was on offer and he'd seen her get teary during an episode of his American series, when he was dressed as a pod of peas and being mobbed by children in a playground. Usually this would end up with the man being put on a register, but on celebrities it is apparently charming to be covered in kids. "Such a lovely boy..." she'd said, her eyes sliding towards Sherlock, who was attacking a cushion so he could study the scatter pattern of feathers when
Incantations and Deductions Chapter ElevenChapter ElevenJohn makes his way to the Great Hall trying not to feel too downhearted. The beginning of fifth year has so far not been great: seeing Sherlock has churned up feelings that he doesn't want to examine too closely and which hadn't put him in the best of moods. Then his meeting with the head of Gryffindor had just been...well, shitty."I understand your desire to be back with your friends John, but you must understand that you attacked a fellow student in the midst of one of your nightmares. Now, whilst your Healers tell me you're improving they cannot guarantee that you won't relapse."Arguing, John had realised, would have be
Incantations and Deductions Chapter TenChapter TenPanic moves like a lapping wave over the occupants of the Great Hall. Tension starts with one or two individuals, quickly spreading through the crowds as the band stops playing and an eerie, almost silent hysteria settles over the masses. Fear is amply communicated through wide eyed stares and startled expressions: at first everyone is too stunned to speak. But not for long. Amongst teenagers, who have the added pleasures of souped up hormones and peer pressure, the rumour and speculation spread like wildfire over barren shrub plains. Girls clutch each other in protective hugs, boys try not to look too terrified.No one really s
Incant and Deduct Chapter 9Chapter NineJohn is determined.This year will be different. He isn't going to let the incident affect his life anymore. It had happened nine months ago, it was time to get over it.He's going to move back into the Gryffindor dorm. He is, he is. He's a fifth year now he can't sleep in his own cordoned off bedroom because he has pathetic nightmares. He'll be taking his O.W.Ls at the end of the year; he's damn well not going to wimp out, crying off due to illness.It's not as if he's actually ill, really, the twinge in his leg is nothing, and yes, he has a hideous scar on his shoulder but the physical therapy he's been doing over summer h
Incant and Deduct Part 8John was pretty excited about Christmas for once. Usually Christmas meant boring family occasions, Harry throwing a tantrum and eating too much. It was probably because his birthday was fairly close to Christmas anyway; he just couldn't get very excited. This year was different. This year the Triwizard Tournament meant he'd been able to meet up with his friends from Durmstrang (the ones on the Quidditch team and a few of the boys he'd met in the summer dragon training in Romania.) There was the prospect of watching the Triwizard tournament itself in the New Year. The school had decided that they would postpone it till January in response to t
Incantations and Deductions Chapter TwelveThe expression of shocked surprise on Sherlock's face would almost be comical if John felt anything like laughing. Someone died after jumping from John's window: of course Sherlock would want to check out the room. Obviously Sherlock's surprised that anyone as 'dull and mundane' as John could have worked out his plans."John." Sherlock begins and then seems to just stop.John rolls his eyes. "It's alright, I know why you're here, I'm not going to bother you, just wanted to make sure you didn't do any weird experiments on my stuff."Sherlock just nods, seemingly nervous. He doesn't move; it's as if his feet are rooted to the rug he's standi
Incant and Deduct 7A moment of rather baited silence hangs in the air after that particular revelation. "James. That is impossible." the headmaster states in a voice that is both soothing and balks no argument."It is! He said he was James and I should call him Jim and that he'd help me." Boscombe's glasses have practically fogged up as he looks at the headmaster beseechingly"I assure you, James there is no boy at this school called James Moriarty." the headmaster says.Sherlock's head whips round to the headmaster as Boscombe gasps. The old man's expression betrays nothing, but the skin around his eyes is tight, as if he is pained by somethin
Incant and Deduct Part 6The next morning John is in a fairly good mood when he first opens his eyes and is met with a room bathed with late autumn sun. Mondays means extra time in bed as he doesn't have to haul himself off for an early breakfast before Quidditch practice. Then he remembers the events of the previous evening and his good mood dissipates somewhat.Not that there was anything particularly distressing about his interview with Mycroft Holmes. Even though he'd been collected by a frankly eerie looking assistant (pointy face, stick thin to the point of being a broom handle, that straight blonde hair that marked her out immediately as former Sly
Incant and Deduct Part 5 SH HPIt occurs to Sherlock while hurtling down the corridor, that he and John didn't even have to exchange a look before they started sprinting in the direction of the screaming. That probably meant something; either that they were completely in tune with each other or equally barmy enough to run towards potential danger.They found the source of the scream on one of the main corridors; surprisingly it was Rachel Howells, the vindictive little idiot who'd nearly killed John last year. Unsurprisingly she was overacting, Sherlock could see it as he and John round the corner and jog towards the small group that was slowly forming around h
Curl Up and Dye SxJIt should be amusing actually, John thinks to himself. Had he really just not let himself notice? He'd been living with a man who forced him to notice things, who got disappointed in John when he couldn't see something that to Sherlock was just so bloody obvious it didn't even need one whole brain cell to notice it, work out what it meant and file it away. He had a feeling that if Sherlock had even the first inkling of what John was thinking now he'd get that look on his face which Mrs Clarkson would get when he handed in an essay on Alexander Pope late, riddled with spelling mistakes. "Really, John you must try harder next time."Sherlock
Cupid. Mike Cupid. SxJAlright, this was an absolute piss take. The higher ups had gone mental, maybe it was something to do with the bad winter or the economic downturn or sodding X-Factor but someone had clearly gone loopy. And now Mike was paying the price.It had been a normal Tuesday morning. A sudden lurch into consciousness as the alarm made that tinny invasive beeping sound, followed by the usual morning routine of staggering to the bathroom and performing the daily ablutions. Gargling his Listerine Mike had the sudden feeling that it might actually be a good day. His teaching duties were fairly light, he'd done most of his marking, seminar and lecture pre
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