Here we are, the last chapter, I hope you enjoyed the story cause I had a fun time writing it :) Thanks again to everyone who took the time to read this, and I'm very grateful to all those who left me a review :) I love you guys!

Just so you know, I'm not satisfied with the Hermione scene but I couldn't find a way to make it better, so... here you go.

Enjoy ;)

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling, the BBC and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

A/N: I'm not english speaking, but I hope this won't prevent you from enjoying the story.

John quickened his pace, trying to erase the feel of Sherlock against him, his hands pinned against the bench, his legs just under his own, their mouths just a few inches away from touching…

He let out a deep sigh. This was a lost cause. He would never be able to forget the look in Sherlock's eyes, the slight catch in his breath, the tattoo of his heart beat so near his own. Feeling his cheeks flush at the memory he shook his head and headed towards the Hufflepuff common room.

However, Gregory was nowhere to be found. John tried to think of a few places where the Hufflepuff could be and soon gave up. There was a very simple solution. He turned on his heels and headed for his own common room, running his way up the stairs to their dorms.

After checking that he was alone, he kneeled next to Harry's bed and opened his suitcase, soon finding what he was looking for. He grabbed the old piece of paper and took out his wand before whispering: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

The statement in itself wasn't entirely true but John figured that honesty didn't really matter at this point. He found Gregory on the map, alone in a deserted classroom on the fifth floor. What was he doing there?

John suddenly heard footsteps coming upstairs and pushed the question to the back of his mind, hissing 'Mischief managed' before throwing the map back in Harry's suitcase. He got up to his feet and headed for the door, ignoring Ron as he passed him by.

He finally allowed himself to breathe once he was back in the corridor, Harry would never forgive if he knew that John frequently went through his stuff to use his precious map. The Gryffindor had never trusted John enough to tell him about the artifact, but luckily for John, Sherlock had figured it out on his own and he had himself overheard the other boy using the map.

Letting out a deep breath, John walked down the corridor and took the stairs two at a time, wanting to make sure that Gregory couldn't move before he got to the fifth floor. The corridor was empty when he arrived and he soon spotted the right door. John leaned against the door but the room was completely silent.

He sighed and firmly knocked. "Yeah, come in." John frowned at the lack of enthusiasm in his friend's voice but opened the door and slipped inside.

Gregory was seated on a desk, cross-legged and apparently deep in thought. He turned towards John and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "John? What are you doing here?"

The Gryffindor grabbed a chair and sat in front of Greg. "Were you expecting someone else?"

"Not really." Gregory lied. "So, did Mycroft send you?"

John wiggled in his seat and crossed his legs. "Not really no…"

"I'm not that dumb John." The Hufflepuff chuckled. "What did he order you to do?"

"Actually," John frowned at the realization. "he didn't exactly order me." He sat a bit straighter in his chair and cleared his throat. "Look, I'm only here because I think that something is bothering you… and I want to help."

"I appreciate it John, but you can't. It'll pass, I'm just being silly."

"No you're not." John replied seriously. "Is it about the Ball?"

Gregory let out a sigh. "I know you all think he forced me out, but he didn't. I wanted… I needed to do this as much as he did… It's just…"

"What is it Greg?"

The Hufflepuff looked up and John swallowed hard when he saw something akin to sadness in his eyes. "I can deal with idiots… I don't mind them because Mycroft is here. But next year he… well, I'll be…"

John saw him swallow the lump in his throat and circled his arm around his shoulders. "I'm sorry Greg…"

"We've been together for so long I can't…" The Hufflepuff took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. "Could you imagine Hogwarts without Sherlock?"

John looked away for a minute. Even if their situations were different – for obvious reasons – John cared for Sherlock as much as Gregory did for Mycroft. He tried to think about what the Hufflepuff had just said and felt his heart drop. No, he couldn't, he didn't want to imagine. And he didn't even want to know how it felt for Greg who knew it would all come true in a few short months…

"You know I'll have to tell Mycroft about this right?"

Gregory chuckled a bit, his face relaxing a little. "No you won't." John frowned and this time the Hufflepuff couldn't stifle his laughter. "Mycroft's probably bugged you or something. By the way love, if you're listening to any of this, wait until tomorrow to talk to me. And stay out of the Hufflepuff dorms tonight too."

John shuddered at the pictures suddenly assaulting his brain. Oh sweet Merlin, he had enough nightmare material to last a lifetime. Greg got up from the desk and gave him a warm smile, the first John had seen on his face for more than a week. "Thank you."

As soon as the door was shut and John was alone again, a voice came out of what he assumed was his tie. "Nice work John." The Gryffindor jumped up in surprise and nearly lost his balance.

"You bastard!"

The next day, Mycroft found Gregory in the same classroom, alone again. He gently closed the door and tried a small smile. "I'm sorry I spied on you and John. I needed to know."

Greg let out a sigh and sat on the teacher's desk, purposefully looking away. "I knew you would and I talked anyway. You don't have to apologize."

Mycroft closed his eyes for a second and moved a bit closer, observing Greg's reaction. When he understood that the Hufflepuff wasn't going to run away from him, he sighed and went to stand in front of him, placing his hands on Greg's knees.

"Why didn't you tell me?" The weakness of his voice forced Gregory to look at him and what he saw then was enough to take his breath away. Mycroft looked so small, so uncertain it broke his heart.

Greg grabbed his head and leaned in until his forehead came to rest against Mycroft's. "I didn't want you to worry. I felt stupid."

"But I did worry, I thought…" His voice broke and he closed his eyes again, swallowing whatever words were supposed to end his sentence.

"You thought I was mad at you…" Gregory whispered and Mycroft could only nod. "I'm not mad, I am thankful." The Slytherin's eyes shot open and Greg pecked him on the lips. "We both needed to be honest, with ourselves, and with everyone else."

"All right." Mycroft murmured. "But I don't want you to hide things from me… I need to know… I was…" The Slytherin swallowed hard and Greg brushed his cheek with the tip of his fingers.

"No more secrets. I promise." Mycroft smiled at him and kissed him slowly, lovingly. Gregory couldn't believe the Slytherin could kiss him like this and still seem so cold to the rest of the world. His true heart was a well-kept secret, and one he was more than willing to keep for himself.

"But…" Greg swallowed the lump in his throat. "Didn't you think about it? About next year I mean?"

"No…" Mycroft confessed. "I always thought I would find ways to visit you… Everything has always been so obvious between us, I never realized it could be an issue… It never felt like I was… leaving you… You were always going to be there…"

Gregory closed his eyes a small smile playing across his lips and Mycroft knew he understood. This was as close to an 'I love you' as he would ever get. When the Hufflepuff opened his eyes again, he was grinning.

"So, what did you do to Professor Dumbledore to get what you wanted this time?"

"Oh, nothing much." Mycroft chuckled. "He seemed quite enthusiastic actually, I rather think he was enjoying himself."

Greg rolled his eyes, drawing a smile from the Slytherin. "You will have your own rooms here and the ability to call House elves at will."

"Wh-" Mycroft cut him off by placing a finger against his lips. "I'm not done yet. Your rooms will be right next to the tunnel between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade."

"Hogsmeade?"

"Yes. Have you ever noticed the little house right next to Honeydukes?"

"Er… no. What about it?"

Mycroft grinned. "It's mine."

Hermione swallowed back her tears as she ran from the dungeons. She walked up the stairs and soon found herself on the third floor where she knew Sherlock would be. His class had just come to an end and he would be on his way to the park to spend his lunch with John. She knew she should leave them alone, they were so close…

But she couldn't help herself, she needed Sherlock right now. He would understand. Hermione pushed her way through the crowd of students and soon found the Ravenclaw standing in the middle of the hallway. He frowned at her for a few seconds but she ignored it.

She walked towards him and threw herself in his arms, burying her face against his chest and finally letting the tears roll freely down her cheeks. Sherlock had gone completely stiff for a moment, but she didn't mind. He awkwardly raised his arms and held her tight, letting out a sigh.

After a few minutes the corridor had fallen silent and Hermione found the courage to stop hiding her face. She looked up at Sherlock and brushed her tears away. "I'm sorry, Sherlock. I didn't mean to break down on you like that…"

"It's all right."

Hermione could tell he was a little uncomfortable and she chuckled a little. "I'm just so tired of hiding… I wish it weren't so complicated that's all…"

"I know…" Sherlock whispered.

Hermione gave him a small smile and stepped back, noticing someone watching them a few feet away. "Oh…" Sherlock turned back and saw John too.

He was standing still, his whole posture incredibly stiff. His face seemed expressionless except for the fire in his eyes. Hermione noticed his hands were clenched into fists and frowned. John and Sherlock were staring at each other now and Hermione could almost hear the unspoken words between the two of them. She could have cut through the tension with a knife.

"All right, that's it." She hissed before wiping her last tears away. She grabbed Sherlock's wrist and dragged him with her as she stormed towards John. The Gryffindor's eyebrows shot up but she could still see that spark in his eyes.

She opened a classroom door at random and let go of Sherlock's wrist. "You, stay there and wait for me." Then she turned to John. "I need a word."

"What makes you think I would want to listen to you?"

"Hermione, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Both answers came at the same time and Hermione glared at them. "I'm saving you both some time. Sherlock, it'll only take a minute, and John…" She sighed and raised her hand in the air. "Please, trust me. You are going to want to hear what I've got to say."

Her tone was a bit gentler now and maybe this was what convinced John to get in the classroom. Maybe it was the feeling he had that Sherlock was desperately trying to hide something from him. Something that Hermione was about to reveal…

"Hermione, I don't know what you think you're doing, but please… don't."

She saw the pleading look in Sherlock's eyes and almost gave in. "Trust me. You'll thank me later."

Hermione got in the classroom herself and locked the door. Even through the door she could almost see Sherlock leaning in trying to spy on them. "I'm not that stupid Sherlock." She announced before placing a Silencing Charm on the room.

She turned around and watched John for a moment, his arms crossed and his frown in place. "Right, what do you want?" His tone was harsher than he had intended, but Hermione was past caring at this point.

"I want you to stop ogling him from afar. It's getting ridiculous." She threw her hands in the air as John simply gaped at her.

"I'm not. And even if I was…" He closed his eyes. "I'm not 'ogling' your boyfriend as you put it!"

"Oh please John, you're-" Hermione stopped dead, her eyes widening in surprise. "You… My… What? Sherlock's not my boyfriend!"

John rolled his eyes and Hermione simply stared at him, resisting the urge to slam her forehead against the wall. "Of course!" She finally cried out. "Of course, how did I not see this? Merlin it was so obvious!"

She shook her head, grinning from ear to ear before running towards John, crushing him in her embrace. "What the hell are you talking about?"

She released him and stepped back. "God, you're as oblivious as he is. Unbelievable." She placed her hands on John's arms and looked up at him, her expression serious again. "Sherlock isn't my boyfriend. I can't believe I didn't see you were just jealous."

"What?" John seemed lost by now. He had a puppy sort of look and Hermione restrained herself from hugging him again. "Of course he's your…"

"Of course he isn't." She gave him a warm smile. "I'm not interested in him, and believe me… he's not interested in me." She giggled to herself before looking up again. "I'm not his type."

Not his type… Not. His. Type. John repeated the words until they made sense, and when they finally did he could only gape at the young girl. "Oh…" He whispered.

Hermione raised a suggestive eyebrow and John's eyes widened. "Oh!"

She took his hands in hers and shook them. "I'll leave now but please… please! Don't just stand there when he comes in, you've both waited long enough."

John could simply nod as he saw Hermione get back towards the door, unlocking it. Sherlock rushed into the room, glaring at her as if she had just told his mother about his experiments. Hermione ignored it and stood on her toes, placing a kiss on Sherlock's cheek before heading out. She turned back one more time to wink at John and finally closed the door, leaving them alone.

John swallowed hard. He could feel his heart beat so hard he was afraid it would burst out of his chest. He felt very – very – aware that this moment would change the entire nature of their relationship. He could feel all the tension from these past weeks resting on his shoulders, slowing him down.

Hermione was right. Probably. Perhaps. She might be right. Oh what did she know? What if she'd been wrong? What if Sherlock rejected him? He couldn't take it, he couldn't risk what they had, he couldn't… His breath caught as Sherlock finally looked up, his eyes boring into his own and causing his heart to stop.

But how could he not? How could he possibly go through the rest of his life, knowing how they felt about each other and still not do a thing? He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, trying to remind himself that Gryffindors were supposed to be brave. John took his wand out and locked the door, taking a step towards Sherlock.

The Ravenclaw paled a little and gripped the bottom of his shirt. "Look, John…" His voice was so small it almost sounded like a whisper. "I don't know what Hermione told you…"

John got a bit closer, focusing his gaze on Sherlock's lips. Oh those lips, he had been so close just yesterday. It all felt like a lifetime ago. He glanced at Sherlock's pale, long neck and let out a sigh. If he moved just a few feet closer he could change everything…

Pictures of the two of them walking down the castle's corridors hand in hand flashed through his mind. He pictured them on their bench, him sitting on Sherlock's laps or his head nuzzled in the crook of his neck. They were snogging in an alcove, smiling at each other in class, cuddling in the Gryffindor common room, laughing in the park, shagging in the room of Requirement…

John could feel his heart in his throat by now. He took a step closer to Sherlock, swallowing hard. They were only a few inches apart. John looked up and saw all of the emotions the Ravenclaw usually hid so well. Need, desperation, hurt, loneliness, fear and… love?

"Please John…" Sherlock's pleading tone sent a shiver down his spine. "What did she say?"

John reached out a shaky hand and grabbed Sherlock's tie. The Ravenclaw simply stared at him, confusion written all over his face. "She said we were idiots…" He whispered before pulling Sherlock towards him and pressing his lips against his own.

Sherlock didn't move an inch and John soon stepped back in horror. He felt his stomach drop, his chest tighten, his eyes begin to sting a little. Why had he listened to Hermione? Oh, Sherlock would never let him live this down…

"Sherlock, I'm so…" The Ravenclaw swallowed his words as he leaned in himself, capturing John's lips in a desperate kiss. He grabbed the back of his head, trying to push him closer. John recovered from the shock quick enough to respond to the kiss, moving his lips against Sherlock and lifting his hands to run them in the messy black curls he had been dying to touch.

Sherlock moved closer, flushing John's chest against his own and joining their hips. He bit his lower lip and John gladly opened his mouth for him, accepting his tongue and greedily stroking it with his own. Every brush of Sherlock's body against his set John's nerves on fire, opening doors he had thought would stay closed forever.

John let out a whimper as Sherlock took control, pushing him until his back hit the side of a desk. The Ravenclaw slid his leg between John's thighs and moaned when he felt his hard-on beneath his trousers. John could also feel Sherlock's cock pushing against his abdomen and felt a heat wave rush up his whole body, leaving him weak at the knees.

He stood on his toes and pushed his erection against Sherlock's, swallowing the growl that escaped the Ravenclaw's throat. Sherlock let his hands run up John's legs before grabbing his ass, satisfied to hear John groan at the touch. He grabbed the back of his thighs and sat him up on the desk, settling himself between his legs and pushing himself against John.

He left John's mouth and began sucking on his neck, biting, licking and kissing the delicious skin offered to him. John leaned into his touch and rubbed their hips together in a desperate plea for more contact. His whole world was so full of Sherlock he felt on the verge of implosion.

Then he heard footsteps in the corridor and realized how late it was. He growled and ran his hands through Sherlock's hair before trying to pull him away. "Sherlock… oh… Classes are about to start…"

His voice sounded more like a whimper than anything and he knew he couldn't even have convinced himself. "I don't care." Sherlock groaned against his neck before biting it again, making John gasp.

Sherlock pulled his head back to press his forehead against John's. The Gryffindor took in the sight of his disheveled friend, his lips crimson and swollen, his eyes full of want and he leaned in to capture his lips in another breath-taking kiss.

When Sherlock gripped the front of his trousers and began unfastening the belt, John decided that he didn't really care either.

That night, Sherlock and John entered the Great Hall together. The Ravenclaw was grinning like a cat and the Gryffindor looked positively beaming himself. Mycroft and Gregory shared a knowing look and chuckled in their plates.

They'd wait until after dinner to inform John that he was wearing his friend's tie.

There you go, it's over :) I considered writing an epilogue but I quite like this ending :) I can just picture Mycroft and Greg grinning.

Anyway, I hope you aren't too disappointed by the ending, but even if you are, feel free to tell me, I accept criticism ;)

Aaaaand, I think that's about it. Hopefully I'll be back soon with another story, but I'm still waiting for an idea to pop into my head ( perhaps Merlin/Arthur next time, who knows? )

See you!