Luminous (A Young Sherlock Fanfiction)

Chapter One:The Stranger and the Scout

In all of my time at Oxford University, never once had I been accused of nepotism...which is really quite frustrating, because it is the primary reason which I was accepted. I would much prefer it if people were to accuse me of only being allowed amongst Oxford scholars simply because my father is a man of great importance to the Institution.

It's far more fun to prove people wrong when they deserve it.

It is for this reason that I grimaced as I saw the error in Professor Thompson's equation, right in the middle of his lecture.

"One should assume here that 'X' is greater than 'Y', and define the powers of 'x' and 'y', using a holomorphic branch of log, defined on an open disc of radius centered at 'x'." He explained. I winced, raising my hand.

"Excuse me, Professor-" I started.

"Y."

Everyone turned around, looking toward the classroom door, where the new voice had echoed from.

"Excuse me, Miss Hodge, did you just ask why?" The Professor asked, turning to look at me.

"No, I didn't." I said. "I was speaking, but I was interrupted."

"An open disk of radius centered at 'y', not 'x', Professor Thompson, sir."

The voice came again, but this time, its owner was visible; a scout, standing in the doorway holding a wastepaper basket to his chest.

"My apolgies. Y. Is that what you wished to say, Miss Hodge?"

"It was, sir." I confirmed, glancing back at the scout to find he had ducked out of view again.

"Then who was the other person who so generously thought to correct me?" He asked. The scout stepped into view once more. "Ah, Mr. Holmes the Scout. I see you've read my book."

"I did, Professor Thompson." Mr. Holmes replied.

"Which is more than I can say for some of my students! With the exception of Miss Hodge, of course, who never disappoints."

The bell rang overhead, and the scout stepped outside again to allow the classroom to empty.

"Saved by the bell! Homework: Find me all the solutions for this Quintic."

Everyone stood and began filing out of the room. Meanwhile, I stayed seated until the risers had cleared, then made my way to the blackboard, scribbling the Quintic into my notes. I heard footsteps behind me, only for them to quickly stop just inside the doorway.

"You may as well come and have a look." I called, not looking up from my notes. "I'm sure you're curious, seeing as you couldn't help yourself when it came to correcting the professor."

The footsteps resumed again, snd I looked up as Mr. Holmes stepped up beside me. He was a handsome man who couldn't have been much older than myself. He wore a scout's uniform with a black flat cap on his head, pulled low over his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Is there a rule that your father has to donate an expensive new science wing before you're allowed to correct the professors?" He asked.

"It's in the fine print of the student contract. Very easy to miss." I said, causing him to chuckle. "So...what do you think?"

"Are you truly curious, or are you just trying to con a scout into doing your homework for you?"

"Thst depends, is it working?" I asked. He chuckled, shaking his head.

"I very much doubt that Miss 'Never Disappoints' is struggling to come up with the solutions."

We both turned around to see one of the other students in the class, as well as one of my father's scholars, walking down the aisle toward us. I had seen him on campus, but had never had the privilege of his name.