07

[3houseswatson]

I suppose I should be glad that, as tests and finals go, 6th year is kind of a breather year. The OWLs are behind you and the NEWTs are still looming on the horizon but otherwise not an immediate threat. I personally didn't think the OWLs were all that bad, even though my marks were just decent. Nothing to write home about, especially since the family wouldn't know what nocturnal birds have to do with tests anyway. Still, good luck to everyone who's got to square off against the big tests this year, especially if you're still trying to get your head sorted after the school's most recent bout with strangeness.

Ah yeah, about that, the odd mind and body stuff. The only thing I had to deal with was a body that was about 20 years older than it ought've been (and the same height I am now, of course). I remember the whole thing pretty clearly, but I think that's because my mind wasn't changed. So... for those of you who've been told that their brains were mixed up, do you remember anything about those days at all? Is it like you blacked out for a few days, or is it all a little fuzzy, or do you remember all of it clearly?

I ask because I'm sure I'm soon to have a certain conversation, and this'll give me some insight on where that talk will fall on a scale of "awkward" to "stupdendously awkward".

Comments

[3potionproblem]

Little fuzzy. Magic doesn't seem to like giving people too much insight into other people we might become. Clearer than that time we were both older. Much, really. But, at times, yes--fuzzy.

[3houseswatson]

That sounds about right to me. I think I might be remembering this one fairly clearly because my mind didn't go through any changes. I scarcely remember what happened during that other time, in contrast.

So... what do you remember? About this time, I mean.

[3potionproblem]

I remember the fantastic idea of going into the forest without any magic or weapons. I remember us both enjoying it because we're idiots. I remember everything we did and said more or less, unless it related to him.

[mo_cara]

I dOn'T rEmEmBeR sHiT, bUt I aIn'T sUrE iF tHaT's JuSt My HoLeY pAn.

[3houseswatson]

I'm mildly impressed that for once I'm not the first one to call us idiots for getting into a mess like that.

Okay. So you remember most of what was said. Then we should probably figure out what we want to do about... all that.

[3houseswatson]

Your 'pan'...?

So, kind of like you lost consciousness for a few days?

[3potionproblem]

It seems fair to remind you that it will be summer soon.

[rule_britannia]

I wouldn't get too relaxed, John. The NEWTs will be breathing down our necks before we know it.

As for what happened, it's.. difficult to explain. I can remember precisely what I did, but sometimes why I did those things is a complete mystery.

[seeringlight]

I don't really recall much of what happened, which irritates me. I do like to think I have a good memory.
But this place has an odd way of pulling us into weird situations but not wanting us to be too knowledgeable of it.

[3houseswatson]

You've definitely got a point there, I'm afraid. I'll need to get good marks to get the career I want, so I'm sure this time next year I'll be trapped beneath a mountain of books and just generally being a mess. I'm sure you'll get through just fine and still be cool as a cucumber, though.

I get what you mean about things being difficult to explain. What I remember of some of the other wringers the castle's put us through is about on par with that. But your description of this is pretty interesting. The other odd stuff I remember is just hazy as hell, and I can barely make heads or tails of what happened in it. It must be even odder to know exactly what happened but have no context for it.

[3houseswatson]

Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. If this castle were an author, it'd make all of us incredibly unreliable narrators - possibly entirely for laughs.

This is actually something of a first for me, because I hardly ever have clear memories after something like this blows through. Like, for example, I was dead once. Apparently. Don't remember a single thing about it, which I suppose is the least distressing option.

[3houseswatson]

That's true. This might be a little redundant since the you who was also some odd Muggle version of you still remembered, but my sister's getting married this summer. And I was wondering if you'd like to go with me. For all that 'with' entails.

[3potionproblem]

Yes. But your family and friends will think you're gay if I do and I'm sure while there is a limited selection of women you might be attracted to here, at home over the summer you might find someone more to your liking.

[3houseswatson]

Hell, it might be easier for them to accept it if I really were completely gay instead of... whatever it is I am. Harry was about my age when she came out, and that kind of coincidence is probably enough to get everyone thinking there's some built-in straightness expiration date in our genes or something. But if they don't want to listen to how even though I still think women are attractive I like you more, then it won't be the first thing they've refused to try to understand.

And what makes you think I'll just suddenly turn around and prefer some girl from the neighbourhood this summer? Sherlock, all my serious relationships have been while I've been here. The stuff that happened in primary and with girls next door was little more than pigtail-pulling and getting called some girl's boyfriend because of shared Jammie Dodgers after school.

[3potionproblem]

So you really want me to be you date to your sister's wedding?

You know this isn't filtered, right?

[3houseswatson]

SHI-

[Inkblots. So many inkblots. A tiny black constellation of embarrassment.]

[FILTER]

We have really got to practice using those things. Like a coordinated effort.

But... yes.

[Filter]

[3potionproblem]

If we correspond over the holiday, it might be advantageous.

I think that would be fine. The date I mean. Might be prudent to tell your family before just to save on some of the questions at the time. And I'll try to keep you off Mycroft's radar but I really can't vouch for his best behavior. But yes. A date would be fine.

Are you sure you want it to be at a wedding, though? That's an awful lot of people you're related to or know closely for a initial foray into same-sex dating. It's alright if I'm just your friend that day.

[Filter]

[3houseswatson]

Sherlock, nobody in my family outside of mum, dad, and Harry know about magic at all. All my mum and dad have done about it is say I got accepted on scholarship to a specialty school and that I got hit by a car when I was attacked. If I eventually get a job at St. Mungo's, I'll have to either lie to those family members my whole life, go through the hassle of getting Ministry approval to tell them, or just cut them out of my life entirely. I'm already going to have to be covering up all that. You know I'm not a great liar, so I'd rather not have other lies - like you being there as just a friend - to worry about too.

That said, well... I suppose the wedding doesn't have to be the initial date. We're both free of the Trace now, after all.

[Filter]

[3potionproblem]

Well, running away has generally been my favorite summer past time. Where shall we go?

[streetsmarts]

I don't remember a hell of a lot. I remember I was goin' on about zombies, chaired some big guy and some spastic broad smooched me.

Anything other than that is kinda grim, kind of an impending doom feeling. So that's probably going to make everything less awkward for you, right?

[Filter]

[3houseswatson]

"Running away" kind of implies you've got no intention of coming back home, and this is really more just... not being home for a bit. For however long that 'bit' lasts. Unless you do mean you've 'run away' in the traditional sense and Mycroft's dragged you back every time.

You'd probably know more about insane magical places that would be an altogether terrible idea to visit. But I live about an hour out from central London, so I've been there my fair share. And being Muggleborn, I could probably give you a decent overview on what Muggles get up to in the city, since that seems to be your goal post-graduation.

[Filter]

[3potionproblem]

I'm rich and bored. What better way to pass the summer months than with a good game of extreme hide and seek? Sadly, yes, Mycroft tends to win in the end. But not immediately.

A tour of London would be excellent. Obviously I've been to King's Cross Station but it's been difficult to really gain access to the cultural centers. People generally look oddly upon a purse of gold coins and I have yet to find the appropriate exchange depot.

[Filter]

[3houseswatson]

Your brother is something else, that's for sure. Should I start worrying about him casting surveillance spells on my home?

I can definitely help you out there. Figuring out how to change money was one of the first things I had to get used to. And that's in a looong list of things to get used to. Other than that, the first step to blending in is to not wear fancy dramatic robes and call everyone Muggles.

[Filter]

[3potionproblem]

John, I can assure you, Mycroft will use every method of surveillance available to him to spy on you.

Yes, of course, no robes. I've tried to pay attention in muggle studies in regards to the appropriate dress attire. I'm quite assured that suits never go out of style so I'm well set there. If we get me some muggle money, I can pay in which case we can do whatever we want.

[Filter]

[3houseswatson]

Especially now that our friendship has taken a turn for the not-exactly-platonic.

I was about to write something about how people our age generally don't run around in suits, but then I tried to picture you in jeans and trainers. And I just... can't. I can practically hear my imagination grinding to a baffled halt and feel smoke pour out my ears.