[It seems to be a rather popular assumption that Hufflepuffs are stupid. Now, John doesn't know about that; it's just that they don't much care for competition. Doesn't mean they're not smart, and John would like to think that after five years at Hogwarts he's been able to pick up on a thing or two.

Especially being the best friend of Sherlock Holmes makes it sort of difficult not to. Sometimes he wonders if he picks up on too much.

Which is probably why he finds himself eying Irene at dinner rather than focus on his own food, because Sherlock seems interested in her somehow and that is rare. So there must be something special about her and when John asks, Sherlock avoids the question, starts talking utter gibberish. Something about "information" and "studying", once.

There's something about her and he can't pinpoint what.]