## 221B Baker Street - 11:47 AM
Sherlock burst through the sitting room door with the kind of controlled urgency that suggested his morning had been spent reconstructing fundamental assumptions about reality rather than conducting routine investigative work. His usually immaculate appearance showed signs of travel and emotional processing—his dark hair was disheveled from running his fingers through it during moments of intense analytical concentration, and his pale eyes carried the particular brightness that indicated his mind was operating at maximum capacity while attempting to integrate new information with existing psychological structures.
He stopped abruptly upon seeing Sirius holding Harry, his expression cycling rapidly through surprise, recognition, assessment, and something that might have been relief mixed with residual wariness.
"Sirius Black," he said, his voice carrying the kind of analytical precision he used when encountering individuals whose presence required immediate evaluation for potential threats or benefits. "Recently exonerated godfather, falsely imprisoned for crimes committed by the actual traitor, currently experiencing the psychological aftereffects of Dementor exposure combined with the relief of vindication and freedom. How are you adapting to liberty and the discovery that your godson has been placed in rather unconventional care arrangements?"
Sirius blinked, clearly processing Sherlock's rapid-fire assessment while simultaneously trying to reconcile his expectations about Harry's guardian with the intense, brilliant man who had just summarized his entire recent life experience in a single breath.
"I'm... adapting well, thank you," he replied with the kind of careful courtesy that suggested he was still calibrating his responses to Sherlock's communication style. "And I have to say, Harry seems to be thriving under what I'm told are rather unique educational circumstances."
"Educational circumstances that are about to become considerably more complex," Sherlock replied, settling into his chair with movements that suggested barely contained nervous energy. "I've just spent the morning recovering childhood memories that had been suppressed for decades and learning that our family includes a sister whose existence I'd forgotten due to psychological trauma. Said sister is currently incarcerated in a maximum security facility but apparently capable of escaping whenever family obligations require her direct intervention."
The silence that followed was so complete that even Harry seemed to sense the gravity of the moment, his bright eyes shifting between the adults with unusual attention to the emotional undercurrents of their conversation.
"A sister," Sirius repeated slowly, his tone carrying the particular quality of someone whose assumptions about their friends' family situations were being systematically challenged. "You have a sister. Who's in prison. But who escaped to capture Peter Pettigrew because she considered herself responsible for Harry's protection."
"That appears to be an accurate summary, yes, though the term 'prison' may be somewhat inadequate to describe facilities designed to contain individuals whose intellectual capabilities exceed normal human parameters while their moral development remains... problematic."
Remus, who had been observing this exchange with growing concern for how Sirius might process information about the Holmes family's more unusual characteristics, decided to intervene with diplomatic explanation.
"Sirius," he said gently, "the Holmes family operates according to rather different principles than most people would consider normal. They're brilliant, protective, and absolutely devoted to Harry's welfare, but their methods for ensuring his safety sometimes involve resources and capabilities that extend beyond conventional approaches."
"Resources like sisters who can escape from maximum security facilities to hunt down fugitive murderers?" Sirius asked, though his tone suggested fascination rather than alarm.
"Among other things, yes," Sherlock confirmed with characteristic directness. "Though I should mention that I'm meeting with Eurus this afternoon to assess her current psychological state and establish protocols for coordinating our protective efforts regarding Harry's ongoing security needs."
Harry chose that moment to make a series of sounds that seemed almost like commentary on the adult conversation, reaching toward Sherlock with obvious desire to be included in whatever complex family discussions were taking place around him.
"And what does Harry think about having an aunt who's apparently more capable than most governmental security agencies?" Sirius asked, carefully transferring Harry to Sherlock's arms while noting how the child immediately settled with obvious contentment.
"Harry has excellent instincts about people and situations," Sherlock replied, studying his cousin with the kind of analytical attention that suggested he was processing the child's responses to recent developments. "His behavioral patterns indicate he's comfortable with complexity in his care arrangements as long as the underlying emotional foundation remains stable and protective."
Mrs. Hudson, who had been listening to this conversation while managing the practical details of serving tea to a group of adults whose family dynamics defied conventional understanding, finally spoke up with maternal authority.
"What Harry needs," she said briskly, "is consistency in his daily routine, appropriate attention to his developmental requirements, and adults who coordinate their efforts to provide him with love and security regardless of how complicated their individual circumstances might be."
She fixed both Sherlock and Sirius with the kind of penetrating stare that had probably disciplined generations of children into proper behavior. "That means no arguing about methodology, no competing for his affection, and absolutely no involving him in activities that are inappropriate for his age simply because you find intellectual challenges more interesting than normal child care responsibilities."
"Of course not," Sherlock agreed immediately, though his tone suggested he was already mentally cataloging various educational activities that might prove both age-appropriate and intellectually stimulating.
"And Mr. Black," Mrs. Hudson continued, turning her attention to Sirius with the same expectant authority, "I hope you understand that Harry's been developing beautifully under rather unusual circumstances, and any attempts to normalize his educational experience or discourage his analytical interests would be counterproductive to his psychological development."
"I wouldn't dream of interfering with arrangements that are clearly working so well," Sirius assured her, though his expression suggested he was still processing the reality of Harry being raised by people whose idea of infant education included forensic methodology. "Though I do hope I'll be able to contribute something meaningful to his upbringing beyond simple emotional support."
"Actually," Sherlock said, his analytical mind clearly working through new possibilities, "your presence could prove invaluable for several aspects of Harry's development that have been difficult to address through conventional arrangements."
"Such as?"
"Social interaction with adults who understand both magical and non-magical worlds, exposure to perspectives on family loyalty and friendship that complement rather than contradict our educational approaches, and most importantly, connection with someone who knew his parents personally and can provide authentic stories about their characters, values, and the specific qualities that made them worth the sacrifices they made to protect him."
Sherlock's expression grew more thoughtful as he continued his analysis. "Additionally, your experience with wrongful imprisonment and systematic betrayal by trusted friends provides you with unique insights into the psychological challenges Harry may face as he grows up—learning to distinguish between genuine loyalty and manipulative deception, developing appropriate wariness without becoming paranoid or emotionally isolated, understanding that survival sometimes requires difficult choices but doesn't justify abandoning one's moral principles."
Sirius absorbed this assessment with growing understanding of how his recent experiences, traumatic though they had been, might actually serve valuable educational purposes in Harry's unusual upbringing.
"You want me to help teach him about resilience and the importance of choosing trustworthy people," he said slowly.
"Among other things, yes. Though I suspect your primary contribution will simply be providing him with additional family connection and the knowledge that he's loved by people who understand his magical heritage as well as his current circumstances."
Harry, who had been following this conversation with obvious attention despite his limited vocabulary, made a series of sounds that seemed almost like approval of the arrangements being discussed around him.
"He likes the idea," Remus observed with fond amusement. "Though given his current interests, he's probably more excited about having another adult available for fingerprint analysis experiments than about abstract concepts like family loyalty."
"Both types of education have their place," Mrs. Hudson said diplomatically, beginning to clear the tea service while simultaneously monitoring Harry's needs for routine care. "Though I should mention that lunch will be ready shortly, and growing children need regular meals regardless of how fascinating their family conversations might be."
As if summoned by the mention of food, Harry began making the particular sounds that indicated his interest in immediate nutritional requirements, though he seemed perfectly content to remain in Sherlock's arms while discussing the logistics of meal preparation.
"Domestic routine continues despite family revelations about imprisoned sisters and expanding households," Sherlock observed with evident satisfaction. "Excellent. Harry's development benefits from stability and predictability even when the adults around him are navigating unprecedented psychological and practical challenges."
"Speaking of which," Sirius said, clearly still processing the full scope of what he'd learned about Harry's care arrangements, "how exactly does this household manage the balance between magical and non-magical education? Harry will need to understand both worlds if he's going to function effectively in either."
"Professor McGonagall visits regularly to provide magical theory education and monitor Harry's accidental magic manifestations," Remus explained. "She's also coordinating with Sherlock to ensure that Harry's analytical training complements rather than conflicts with his magical development."
"And the security arrangements for a household that's raising the Boy Who Lived under non-magical protection?"
"Considerably more comprehensive than conventional approaches would typically require," Sherlock replied with characteristic understatement. "Though the specific details of our security measures are probably best discussed privately rather than in general conversation."
"Fair enough. Though I hope you'll include me in those discussions, since Harry's protection is something I take very personally."
"Naturally. Your insights regarding magical threats and defensive strategies will be invaluable, particularly since your recent experiences have provided you with direct knowledge of how dark wizards operate and the specific tactics they might employ against targets they consider high-priority."
Harry's contribution to this discussion was to reach toward the magnifying glass he'd been examining earlier, making sounds that clearly indicated his desire to continue his forensic investigations regardless of whatever complex security arrangements were being planned by the adults around him.
"Right," Mrs. Hudson announced with the kind of maternal authority that transcended even the most intense analytical discussions, "lunch first, family security planning second, and Harry's nap schedule takes priority over everything else. Growing children need routine, and that includes proper meal times regardless of how urgent adult conversations might seem."
As the household began organizing itself around the practical requirements of caring for a toddler whose extended family included consulting detectives, wrongfully imprisoned godfathers, werewolf tutors, and sisters who escaped from maximum security facilities when family obligations required their attention, none of them could have anticipated that their unusual domestic arrangements were about to become even more complex.
But then again, Harry Potter had never been destined for conventional circumstances, and the people who loved him were discovering that protecting him required not just extraordinary dedication, but also the willingness to redefine their understanding of what family meant when brilliant people decided that nothing was more important than keeping one small child safe, happy, and prepared for whatever destiny awaited him.
---
## The Diogenes Club - Mycroft's Private Office - 1:15 PM
Mycroft Holmes sat behind his mahogany desk with the kind of absolute stillness that suggested he was either engaged in strategic contemplation of unprecedented complexity or calculating the precise probability that his family's well-intentioned protective instincts would accidentally trigger international incidents requiring extensive diplomatic cleanup operations.
The office around him reflected decades of careful curation—leather-bound volumes that contained information most governments would consider classified beyond top secret clearance levels, maps that showed political boundaries which hadn't been publicly acknowledged, and a collection of secure communication devices that connected him to decision-makers across the globe who depended on his analysis for matters affecting the stability of Western civilization.
Miss Smallwood entered with the particular kind of efficient urgency that indicated she was bearing news that would require immediate attention and possibly emergency resource allocation protocols. Her usually immaculate blonde hair showed signs of hasty preparation, and her expression carried the blend of professional competence and barely controlled concern that came from managing the administrative details of operations that most people couldn't imagine in their worst nightmares.
"Sir," she said, settling into the chair across from his desk while consulting her tablet with practiced precision, "I have updates regarding the Sherrinford consultation request, the Peter Pettigrew situation, and several developing matters that may require your direct intervention before this afternoon's scheduled activities."
"Begin with Sherrinford," Mycroft replied, though his tone suggested he was bracing himself for information that would complicate his already unprecedented arrangements for facilitating contact between his siblings under maximum security conditions.
"Dr. Reeves called to confirm that all necessary protocols have been implemented for this afternoon's consultation between Sherlock and Eurus," Miss Smallwood reported with the kind of diplomatic precision that revealed nothing about her personal opinions regarding the wisdom of such arrangements. "However, she wanted to emphasize that Eurus has been... unusually active since returning from her unauthorized departure yesterday evening."
"Active in what specific ways?"
"Extended violin practice sessions utilizing compositions that the facility's acoustic monitoring systems cannot identify but which appear to incorporate mathematical principles that exceed normal musical theory. Requests for additional writing materials and access to advanced texts on child psychology, educational methodology, and family dynamics. And most concerning, what Dr. Reeves described as 'that particular quality of focused attention that suggests she's planning something we probably don't want her planning.'"
Mycroft absorbed this information with the kind of resigned acceptance that came from decades of managing a sister whose intellectual capabilities made her simultaneously invaluable and absolutely terrifying to anyone with sufficient understanding of what she could accomplish when properly motivated.
"And her current containment status?"
"Officially secure according to all monitoring systems and security protocols," Miss Smallwood replied with the tone of someone delivering information they didn't entirely believe. "However, Dr. Reeves mentioned that the electronic surveillance equipment has been functioning with unusual efficiency since Eurus's return, displaying performance characteristics that exceed the manufacturer's specifications in ways that suggest unauthorized modification or enhancement."
"Meaning she's improved their security systems during her brief absence and is now capable of monitoring their activities as thoroughly as they monitor hers."
"That appears to be the most logical interpretation, yes sir."
Mycroft was quiet for a moment, contemplating the implications of Eurus having unrestricted access to Sherrinford's internal communications and security data while simultaneously planning whatever activities had caught Dr. Reeves's professional attention.
"What about the Peter Pettigrew matter? Has his confession been processed through appropriate channels with adequate speed to ensure Sirius Black's immediate release?"
"Mr. Black was released this morning and has been reunited with Harry Potter under the supervision of appropriate family members," Miss Smallwood confirmed. "The Ministry's paperwork has been expedited through channels that you arranged, and all charges have been formally dismissed with appropriate documentation for legal record purposes."
"Excellent. And the broader security implications of Pettigrew's intelligence regarding Death Eater activities?"
"Ministry investigators are processing his confession and following up on leads that could result in additional arrests within the coming weeks. However, they've requested access to any intelligence you might possess regarding magical criminal organizations that could complement their conventional investigation methods."
"Prepare a briefing document containing information that will prove useful without compromising our sources or revealing the full extent of our knowledge regarding magical community activities," Mycroft instructed with practiced efficiency. "The Ministry's investigators are competent within their specialized domain, but they lack the broader perspective required for understanding how magical criminal activities intersect with mundane security concerns."
"Of course, sir. And the developing matters that require your attention?"
Miss Smallwood's expression grew more complex, carrying the particular blend of professional concern and diplomatic wariness that indicated she was about to discuss situations that defied conventional administrative categories.
"Several items, sir. First, the Prime Minister's office has been asking pointed questions about unusual activity patterns in Scotland, specifically regarding unauthorized helicopter flights to offshore facilities and reports of individuals with specialized capabilities being deployed for undisclosed operations in the Highlands."
"Standard deflection protocols apply. National security matters, ongoing investigation, classified according to appropriate clearance levels."
"Understood. However, they've also received inquiries from the Scottish Constabulary regarding reports of violin music being heard near Hogwarts School shortly before the arrest of a wanted fugitive, performed by an individual who was not supposed to be at liberty to travel to Scotland for any purpose whatsoever."
Mycroft's expression grew thoughtful as he processed the implications of Eurus's activities having attracted official attention from multiple law enforcement agencies despite her presumed discretion regarding civilian contact.
"How much do they know?"
"Very little specific information, but enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that someone with unusual capabilities was operating in their jurisdiction without appropriate coordination with local authorities," Miss Smallwood replied diplomatically. "They're requesting clarification regarding jurisdictional boundaries and proper protocols for future operations involving specialized personnel."
"Draft a response that acknowledges their concerns while emphasizing the importance of operational security and the need for continued discretion regarding matters that intersect with national security priorities. Include appropriate assurances that future operations will involve better coordination with local authorities when circumstances permit such transparency."
"Yes sir. There's also been contact from international sources regarding the Pettigrew arrest. Specifically, inquiries from American intelligence agencies about whether the individual in custody possesses information relevant to magical criminal activities that might affect their domestic security concerns."
"The Americans are becoming aware of magical community activities within their borders?"
"Their awareness appears to be limited but growing, particularly regarding activities that intersect with conventional criminal organizations or pose potential threats to non-magical citizens," Miss Smallwood explained with the kind of careful precision that suggested she was delivering information that could have significant geopolitical implications. "They're requesting informal consultation regarding best practices for monitoring and managing such situations."
Mycroft contemplated this development with the strategic thinking that had made him indispensable to British governmental operations for decades. The expansion of magical community awareness beyond Britain represented both opportunities for enhanced cooperation and risks of international complications that could prove difficult to manage through conventional diplomatic channels.
"Schedule a preliminary consultation with appropriate American counterparts," he decided. "Nothing that commits us to specific operational arrangements, but sufficient engagement to establish communication protocols and mutual understanding of relevant security concerns."
"Understood. And finally, sir, there's been a personal message for you from Sherrinford. Dr. Reeves mentioned that Eurus specifically requested that you be informed she's looking forward to this afternoon's family reunion and hopes you'll be prepared for discussions that extend beyond simple sibling relationship management."
"Did she elaborate on what such discussions might entail?"
"No specific details, sir. Though Dr. Reeves mentioned that Eurus was smiling when she delivered the message, which she found... professionally concerning given the context."
Mycroft's expression grew resigned as he contemplated the likelihood that his sister's plans for their afternoon consultation extended well beyond simple emotional reconciliation with Sherlock and into territories that would probably require significant governmental resources to manage effectively.
"Miss Smallwood, please ensure that transport to Sherrinford is prepared for immediate departure following my meeting with Sherlock. Also, arrange for contingency communication protocols in case this afternoon's consultation results in developments that require emergency coordination with various authorities."
"What sort of developments, sir?"
"The sort that occur when Eurus Holmes decides that family obligations require her to take a more active role in protecting Harry Potter's welfare," Mycroft replied with the tone of someone whose experience with family crises had taught him to prepare for scenarios that normal people wouldn't consider possible. "Given her demonstrated capabilities for escaping institutional containment when properly motivated, I suspect this afternoon's meeting will either result in improved family cooperation or in her deciding that Harry's protection requires her direct personal involvement on a permanent basis."
"And if she decides on direct personal involvement?"
Mycroft's smile was thin and calculating, the expression of a man who was about to deploy resources that most governments could only dream of accessing while simultaneously hoping that such deployment wouldn't prove necessary.
"Then we'll discover whether the British government's crisis management protocols are adequate for situations involving genius-level criminals who consider themselves responsible for the welfare of prophesied magical children being raised by consulting detectives," he replied with characteristic understatement. "It should prove... educational for everyone involved."
As Miss Smallwood departed to implement his various instructions, Mycroft returned to his contemplation of the complex variables that would determine whether his family's protective instincts would ultimately serve Harry Potter's best interests or create complications that would require decades of careful management to resolve satisfactorily.
The game was approaching a phase where the stakes transcended individual welfare to encompass the stability of institutions that most people considered immutable, and the Holmes family was about to discover that protecting one small child could prove more challenging than preventing international wars.
Though given their family history, it was entirely possible that they would find such challenges considerably more intellectually satisfying than conventional governmental service had ever provided.
---
## Sherrinford Maximum Security Facility - Consultation Wing - 3:45 PM
The helicopter's rotors had barely stopped spinning when Sherlock Holmes stepped onto Sherrinford's landing pad with the kind of controlled intensity that suggested he was approaching either the most important conversation of his life or a confrontation that could fundamentally alter his understanding of family, morality, and the complex relationship between intellectual capability and human responsibility.
Dr. Reeves met them at the facility's main entrance with the professional efficiency of someone who had spent considerable time preparing for a consultation that existed outside the normal parameters of institutional protocol. Her severe expression carried an additional layer of wariness that suggested she was aware that this meeting could prove either therapeutically beneficial or catastrophically destabilizing for all parties involved.
"Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes," she said, addressing both brothers with the kind of diplomatic precision that acknowledged their different roles in the upcoming proceedings. "All necessary security protocols have been implemented, and Eurus has been prepared for the consultation according to your specifications. However, I feel obligated to mention that her behavior patterns since yesterday evening have been... unusually focused."
"Focused how?" Sherlock inquired, though his tone suggested he was mentally cataloguing every detail of the facility's security measures and psychological atmosphere while simultaneously processing his own emotional responses to being in proximity to his sister for the first time in decades.
"Extended periods of what appears to be strategic planning disguised as musical practice, requests for educational materials that suggest she's developing comprehensive theories about child psychology and family dynamics, and most concerning from a security perspective, modifications to our monitoring systems that have improved their efficiency beyond manufacturer specifications while potentially providing her with access to information we hadn't intended to share."
Mycroft absorbed this intelligence with the kind of resigned acceptance that indicated he had expected exactly this level of institutional compromise from someone of Eurus's capabilities.
"In other words," he translated diplomatically, "she's spent the time since her return analyzing our security measures, researching optimal strategies for child protection and education, and establishing whatever technological advantages she considers necessary for conducting this meeting according to her preferred parameters rather than ours."
"That appears to be an accurate assessment, yes sir."
"Then we should proceed immediately, before she decides that further preparation requires additional unauthorized modifications to facility operations," Sherlock said with the kind of analytical calm that suggested he was approaching this consultation as he would any other complex problem requiring systematic investigation.
They passed through multiple security checkpoints, each more sophisticated than the last, until they reached the consultation wing where reinforced observation rooms were designed for interactions with prisoners whose intellectual capabilities made conventional containment measures inadequate for ensuring institutional safety.
The final door opened to reveal a space divided by bulletproof glass thick enough to stop small artillery rounds, though somehow the barrier seemed less like protection than simply acknowledgment that certain conversations required careful management of proximity and emotional intensity.
On the far side of the glass, Eurus Holmes sat in a comfortable chair with her violin across her lap, her dark hair arranged with mathematical precision and her pale eyes bright with the kind of intellectual excitement that suggested she had been anticipating this moment with the same analytical thoroughness she brought to any other fascinating problem requiring systematic solution.
"Sherlock," she said, her voice carrying warmth that seemed genuine despite the artificial circumstances of their reunion. "How lovely to see you again. Though I suppose 'again' is inaccurate, since your conscious mind has spent decades believing I was dead rather than simply incarcerated for the protection of society and my own continued development."
Sherlock approached the glass partition with careful steps, his pale eyes conducting the kind of systematic analysis that had made him legendary among those who appreciated observational methodology applied to human psychology.
"Eurus," he replied, his voice carrying complex emotional undertones that suggested he was simultaneously processing recovered childhood memories and attempting to reconcile them with the adult woman before him. "You look... well. Institutionalization appears to have provided you with adequate intellectual stimulation and appropriate care for your physical and psychological needs."
"How diplomatically phrased. Yes, Sherrinford has been quite satisfactory as specialized facilities go, though I must admit that family obligations provide considerably more interesting challenges than the routine puzzles they typically offer for mental exercise."
She began playing her violin softly, a melody that seemed mathematically precise but emotionally resonant, creating an atmosphere that was both beautiful and slightly unsettling in its perfection.
"You escaped," Sherlock observed, settling into the chair provided for consultation participants. "Escaped from what is supposedly Britain's most secure containment facility to hunt down a fugitive murderer because you considered yourself responsible for Harry's protection despite having no direct contact with him and no official role in his care arrangements."
"Family obligations transcend official roles, don't you think?" Eurus replied, her fingers continuing to dance across the violin strings while her attention remained focused entirely on Sherlock's responses. "Harry is Lily's son, which makes him our nephew regardless of what institutional arrangements might exist regarding my legal status. When I learned that threats to his welfare remained unresolved due to inadequate conventional investigation methods, direct intervention seemed... appropriate."
"Direct intervention that involved systematically defeating security measures designed by experts who understood they were containing someone of your intellectual capabilities, traveling hundreds of miles without detection, locating and capturing a dangerous criminal who had successfully evaded professional manhunts, and then returning voluntarily to incarceration after ensuring appropriate justice was served."
"The security measures were adequate for preventing escape by conventional prisoners but insufficient for someone who understood their underlying principles and possessed the motivation to overcome them temporarily," Eurus corrected with the kind of clinical precision that suggested she was discussing academic theory rather than describing criminal activities. "The travel arrangements were facilitated by individuals whose psychological profiles made them susceptible to persuasion when approached with appropriate combination of compensation and emotional manipulation. And the fugitive location was simply a matter of understanding his psychological patterns better than the people who were hunting him."
She paused in her playing, fixing Sherlock with those unsettling pale eyes that seemed to see far more than they revealed.
"The interesting question isn't how I accomplished these activities, Sherlock. The interesting question is why you're here discussing them with me instead of focusing exclusively on Harry's continued care and development under your guardianship."
"Because your actions have made you an active participant in Harry's protection whether we acknowledge that officially or not," Sherlock replied with characteristic directness. "If you're capable of escaping institutional containment whenever family obligations require your intervention, then we need to establish coordination protocols that ensure our efforts complement rather than conflict with each other."
"Coordination protocols," Eurus repeated with evident amusement. "How wonderfully bureaucratic. You mean you want to determine whether I can be trusted to assist in Harry's protection without compromising his safety through methods you would consider morally unacceptable."
"Can you be?"
The question hung in the air between them with crystalline clarity, carrying the weight of decades of separation, childhood trauma, and the fundamental uncertainty about whether someone who had killed a child in pursuit of intellectual satisfaction could be relied upon to prioritize another child's welfare over her own psychological needs.
"That depends," Eurus replied thoughtfully, resuming her violin practice with music that seemed designed to facilitate complex conversation, "on whether you're asking about my capabilities or my motivations. My capabilities for protecting Harry are certainly adequate to any threats he's likely to face, magical or mundane. My motivations are considerably more complex and probably require detailed discussion before you can make informed decisions about the extent to which you're willing to trust my involvement in his upbringing."
"Then let's discuss your motivations," Sherlock said, leaning forward with the kind of focused attention he typically reserved for witnesses whose testimony could determine the outcome of critical investigations. "Why Harry? Why this level of personal investment in protecting a child you've never met, whose welfare doesn't directly affect your institutional circumstances or personal comfort?"
Eurus was quiet for several minutes, her playing growing more contemplative as she appeared to consider not just her answer but the most effective way to communicate her reasoning to someone whose psychological architecture had been shaped by decades of protecting himself from the truth about her capabilities.
"Do you remember what happened to Victor Trevor?" she asked finally, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity rather than emotional manipulation.
The name hit Sherlock like a physical impact, triggering the cascade of recovered memories that had been slowly reassembling themselves since his conversation with Remus the previous evening.
"You killed him," Sherlock said quietly, his voice carrying the flat certainty of someone who had finally accepted traumatic truth after decades of protective denial. "You arranged circumstances that resulted in his death because you were jealous of my emotional attachment to someone who wasn't family, someone who couldn't match your intellectual capabilities but whom I preferred spending time with because he was kind and loyal and genuinely cared about my welfare."
"I arranged circumstances that were intended to demonstrate the vulnerability inherent in emotional attachments to people whose loyalty could be manipulated or whose presence in your life could be eliminated through superior strategic thinking," Eurus corrected with clinical precision. "His death was an unintended consequence of a psychological experiment that proved more effective than I had calculated it would be."
She continued playing, though the melody had grown more complex and emotionally nuanced, as if her music was providing emotional context for intellectual discussion that might otherwise remain purely analytical.
"I was eight years old, Sherlock. Eight years old and already demonstrating intellectual capabilities that exceeded adult comprehension, but with the emotional development of a child who had never learned that other people's feelings were as real and significant as my own. I saw Victor as a problem to be solved rather than a person whose welfare mattered independently of how his existence affected my relationship with you."
"And now?" Sherlock asked, though his tone suggested he was bracing himself for answers that might prove either reassuring or deeply disturbing.
"Now I understand that the capacity for emotional attachment you demonstrated with Victor—the ability to love someone genuinely despite their intellectual limitations, to prioritize their welfare over your own comfort, to accept vulnerability in exchange for genuine human connection—that capacity is what made you extraordinary rather than simply brilliant."
The violin music grew more beautiful and more complex, weaving together mathematical precision and emotional depth in patterns that seemed designed to facilitate the most difficult conversation either of them had ever attempted.
"Harry represents the possibility of redemption for mistakes I made when I didn't understand the difference between intellectual superiority and human worth," Eurus continued, her pale eyes never leaving Sherlock's face as she watched his reactions to information that could either heal old wounds or create new ones. "He's a child who will face extraordinary challenges and dangers throughout his development, who will need protection and guidance that extends beyond what conventional care arrangements can provide. But more than that, he's family—he's connected to us through blood and affection and mutual obligation in ways that transcend institutional arrangements or official custody decisions."
"You want to help raise him."
"I want to ensure that he grows up with the analytical capabilities, emotional resilience, and moral foundation necessary to survive and thrive in circumstances that would destroy most people," Eurus clarified with the kind of precise authority that suggested she had thought through every aspect of this proposition. "Whether that assistance takes the form of direct involvement in his daily care, strategic consultation regarding his protection and education, or simply the knowledge that he has family members whose capabilities exceed normal human limitations and who are absolutely committed to his welfare—that depends on what arrangements you consider most beneficial for his development."
Sherlock was quiet for a long moment, clearly processing not just Eurus's proposal but the implications of accepting help from someone whose moral architecture operated according to principles he didn't fully understand or entirely trust.
"And if our approaches to child-rearing prove incompatible?" he asked finally. "If your methods for ensuring Harry's protection conflict with my commitment to providing him with appropriate moral guidance and emotional stability?"
"Then we'll have conversations like this one," Eurus replied with serene confidence, "where we discuss our differences analytically and reach compromises that prioritize Harry's welfare over our individual preferences regarding methodology. I'm not asking you to adopt my moral framework, Sherlock. I'm offering to contribute my capabilities to Harry's protection and development in whatever ways prove most beneficial for him."
She paused in her playing, studying his face with obvious attention to every nuance of his emotional responses.
"Besides," she added with something that might have been humor, "Harry will need to understand the full spectrum of human psychology if he's going to navigate the complex moral challenges he'll face as he grows up. Learning to distinguish between people whose loyalty can be trusted and those whose assistance comes with unacceptable conditions is probably more valuable than any conventional moral education could provide."
From his position near the door, Mycroft cleared his throat diplomatically, reminding both siblings that their conversation was being monitored by institutional staff who might have opinions about the arrangements being discussed.
"If I might interject," he said with characteristic precision, "the practical implementation of any coordination between Sherlock and Eurus regarding Harry's care will require careful management of Eurus's institutional status and the development of protocols that ensure appropriate oversight of her involvement in child-rearing activities."
"Meaning?" Sherlock inquired, though his tone suggested he was already calculating the bureaucratic complexities of arranging regular contact between Harry and an aunt who was theoretically incarcerated but apparently capable of leaving her facility whenever family obligations required her attention.
"Meaning that Eurus's continued residence at Sherrinford may need to be redefined from incarceration to specialized consultation arrangements that provide appropriate security while acknowledging her value as a resource for matters requiring her particular expertise," Mycroft replied diplomatically.
"House arrest with intellectual stimulation privileges," Eurus translated with obvious amusement. "How wonderfully civilized. Though I should mention that any such arrangements would need to include regular access to Harry and participation in discussions regarding his education and protection strategies. I have no interest in serving as an occasional consultant when family obligations require my full commitment to his welfare."
The conversation continued for another hour, with both siblings working through the complex practical and emotional implications of Eurus becoming an active participant in Harry's upbringing. By the time they concluded their discussion, they had established preliminary protocols for coordination that acknowledged both Sherlock's role as Harry's primary guardian and Eurus's capabilities as a resource for protection and educational enhancement.
As they prepared to leave Sherrinford, none of them could have anticipated that their family consultation would prove to be only the first step in arrangements that would ultimately redefine how extraordinary children could be raised by people whose love transcended conventional limitations regarding morality, legality, and the normal boundaries of human capability.
But then again, Harry Potter had never been destined for conventional circumstances, and the Holmes family was discovering that protecting him required not just extraordinary intelligence, but also the willingness to evolve beyond their individual limitations in service of something greater than any of them could accomplish alone.
The game was entering its most complex phase, where the stakes included not just Harry's immediate safety but the question of what kind of person he would become under the influence of people who understood that love sometimes required accepting help from sources that conventional wisdom would consider too dangerous to trust.
---
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