August Anderson

Anderson hasn't been able to sleep. This happens irregularly, but he can usually bet on a night every month when he'll have too many thoughts in his head. He generally ends up wandering the halls until the small hours of the morning, tiring himself out.

As he climbs the stairs to the fifth floor, the faint sound of footsteps down the hall gives him pause. He knows he's not easy to spot in the dark -- unlike most people, his wand's not lit up at night -- so he stands still on the landing and listens.

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The footsteps halt abruptly.

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When she is sure Tony understands they are potentially being observed—she can't tell by whom, which argues for Anderson or Weatherwax or possibly the Headmistress—Sherlock takes her hand and leads her down the corridor a little more slowly.

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But nothing Sherry can do will give Tony Stark natural stealth.

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Dry: "Enjoying the evening?"

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Tony squeaks.

...oh. Of course. Professor Anderson has no reason to care that they are invisible.

Maybe if she just doesn't answer him...

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Yeah no.

He ambles down the corridor towards them.

"Well, come on, then, I'm sure you've a good reason to be out of the dorms at three in the morning. Let's hear it."

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"...I totally don't," she says helplessly. "Hi, Professor Anderson. Um. Insomnia?"

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Sherlock does nothing whatsoever to advertise her presence.

Except, perhaps, smell like Earl Grey instead of motor oil.

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"My deepest sympathies, Miss Stark. I hear Professor Parker brews up a wonderful lavender tea for insomniacs."

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She sighs.

"I'll go back to bed," she mutters. "Sorry."

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"Make sure your sister gets back to hers as well, won't you?"

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Tony opens her mouth.

Tony closes her mouth.

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"Yes, Professor," says a very resigned Sherlock.

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"Good of you to join us, Miss Holmes. Do I need to escort either of you back to your towers?"

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"That depends on whether I am allowed to guide Tony back to hers."

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"I presume I can trust you to return to your own afterwards."

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"No," she says dryly, "I was planning to make myself at home atop the Astronomy Tower tonight."

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(Tony winces.)

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"Bit chilly. Bring a sweater."

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"I'll take it under advisement," she says serenely.

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"Good. Off you go, then. Hope that you don't meet someone stricter on the way."

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"Professor, there are damn few people in this school who would have noticed us in the first place. Come along, Tony."

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Tony follows Sherlock down the hall.

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