Watching Sherlock climb into the carriage, Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at each other in confusion.
They didn't understand what Sherlock had meant by saying that.
However, the three also knew Sherlock's personality well—if he didn't want to explain, asking would be useless.
Just like last year's boat ride, Hermione, Harry, and Ron followed Sherlock into the carriage one after another.
Once all four were aboard, the door slammed shut by itself.
When all students had boarded the carriages, the long convoy began moving along the path to Hogwarts Castle with violent jolting.
After boarding the carriage, all four simultaneously smelled a faint odor of mold and straw.
Sherlock sat by the window, his gaze turning distant.
The reason he had made that comment earlier was because he could clearly see that these hundred-plus carriages were not without horses pulling them.
Between the shafts of each carriage stood a "horse."
The quotation marks were necessary because their appearance was horse-like but not quite horses.
These horse-like animals had no flesh on their bodies, with black hide stretched tightly over their skeletal frames, every bone clearly visible.
Their heads resembled dragon skulls, with pupil-less white eyes that stared unblinkingly at the crowd around them.
From the ridge between their shoulder blades sprouted wings—large, black, leathery wings that looked more like those of giant bats.
Sherlock had stopped in place earlier to carefully observe them.
These creatures stood motionless, silently positioned in the increasingly thick night, appearing strange and ominous.
When he confirmed that his companions, as well as all the other young wizards he could see, were unable to see these strange creatures as he could, Sherlock instantly made a judgment in his mind.
He was a very rational person, so he naturally wouldn't think he had gone mad.
However, his gaze continued to follow the constantly moving silhouettes outside the carriage, watching them spread their four legs and run at full speed, naturally showing a thoughtful expression.
Before figuring this matter out, Sherlock didn't plan to tell his friends about it.
The rain was getting heavier, which happened to cover the tracks of these magical creatures and the wheel marks.
But Sherlock also knew that even without rain, probably no one besides himself would bother to notice the traces on the ground.
"Sherlock, what's wrong with you?"
Hermione couldn't help but ask.
Although she couldn't see these strange creatures like the others, she keenly sensed something was amiss.
"Nothing."
Sherlock withdrew his gaze and looked at Hermione twice. "What did you want to tell me earlier?"
"What?"
Hermione hadn't yet adapted to Sherlock's leaping thought patterns.
"Just now when I returned from Professor McGonagall, you had something to say to me."
Sherlock stared at Hermione. "What did you want to tell me?"
With Sherlock's prompting, Hermione immediately remembered that she had indeed wanted to tell him something earlier.
Now that Sherlock asked, she naturally said.
"During the inspection just now, I noticed that Ginny seemed particularly nervous."
"Oh?"
Sherlock's eyebrows rose slightly.
"You know, before school started at Diagon Alley, Mr. Weasley had fought with Malfoy. I suspect that was intentional on his part."
"So what?"
Ron asked in confusion. "My dad did give Malfoy's father a good beating, but what does that have to do with Ginny?"
"I think what Hermione means is that Malfoy's father was deliberately picking a fight at the time, with the purpose of taking advantage of the chaos to slip Voldemort's dark magical object to Ginny."
Harry said thoughtfully, and noticing Ron shudder, he added.
"Sorry Ron, but I think Sherlock and Dumbledore are right—you really should get used to that name."
Even though he had witnessed Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione discuss Voldemort so brazenly more than once, whenever that name was mentioned, Ron still couldn't adapt and would instinctively react.
Initially, Harry would apologize for this and even actively change from calling him "Voldemort" to "You-Know-Who."
But after facing Voldemort directly last year and receiving guidance from Sherlock and Dumbledore, Harry could now comfort Ron in return.
The best way to overcome fear is to face it!
'Come on, Ron!'
Ron looked at Harry with resentment. "Alright, you're right—but I think I might need a long time to get used to it.
But Malfoy's father wouldn't slip something to Ginny, would he?
Didn't Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape already inspect everyone?"
"You're right."
Hermione nodded. "But why was Ginny so nervous?"
"I actually know the reason for that."
Speaking of this, Ron looked somewhat embarrassed.
"It's all because of Fred and George. They spent the summer scaring Ginny with school stories—but who knew we'd encounter this kind of thing this year!
"No."
Sherlock looked at Ron. "Harry had already told you in advance about the pre-school inspection, but you didn't take it seriously.
Besides, apart from Fred and George, I think you had a hand in it too."
Ron. "..."
'Damn, he saw through me again!'
"Ron, Ginny is your sister after all—"
Harry also couldn't help but advise, "You should treat her better."
Ron coughed hard twice. "Don't worry, only we brothers can bully her—no one else is allowed!"
Hearing Ron's words, Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. There was no point talking to someone like this.
She turned her gaze to Sherlock, waiting for his conclusion.
Sherlock took less than three seconds to search his memory for information about Ginny, then shook his head.
"Ron's sister is fine."
Hearing Sherlock's words, Harry, Hermione, and Ron all breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously.
Even they themselves didn't realize that by now, they had unconsciously formed a consensus.
For any matter, as long as Sherlock said there was no problem, then there was no problem.
Having resolved the Ginny issue, they began discussing Lockhart.
"Sherlock, last time you said Lockhart giving me books was to expand his influence. Now that you've met him in person, what do you think?"
"My friend, regarding this matter I maintain my viewpoint.
This is someone very skilled at packaging and marketing himself, with strong social and adaptive abilities.
Of course, I don't rule out that he has real skills."
"Professor Lockhart definitely has real skills! Just think about it—he's completed so many great adventures. How could he not have real abilities?
Otherwise,Dumbledore couldn't possibly have invited him to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
"That's just what he claims. Anyway, I didn't see him play any useful role in the recent inspection.
As for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione, I bet you that anyone who meets the basic requirements and applies could get through."
During their conversation, the carriage also passed through the gates leading to the school grounds.
The gates were flanked by tall stone pillars topped with winged boar sculptures. Although the carriage road was wide, due to the fierce wind and heavy rain, the carriages shook violently throughout the journey, splashing water all the way.
When passing the Forbidden Forest, Sherlock noticed that Hagrid's hut was completely dark.
At this time, Hagrid should be leading the first-year students across the Black Lake by boat.
As they drew closer to Hogwarts Castle, towering spires came into view, with many lit windows glowing dimly through the thick curtain of rain.
Finally, their carriage stopped at the stone steps in front of two oak doors.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Ron was the first to jump out.
Next came Harry, then Hermione, and finally Sherlock.
After getting out, he turned back to look.
Just then, lightning split the sky and thunder rumbled.
The lightning shattered the darkness.
This also allowed Sherlock to see more clearly those strange horse-like creatures.
They were skin and bones, with hollow white eyes gleaming.
Some of the "horses" even noticed Sherlock's gaze and turned their heads to stare back at him.
At this moment, people from the carriages ahead had hurriedly climbed the stone steps. Noticing Sherlock standing still, Hermione nudged him worriedly with her elbow.
"Sherlock?"
From the moment they'd encountered these carriages, she'd felt that Sherlock's state seemed somewhat off.
Although the topics about Ginny and Lockhart had diverted her attention earlier, it was clear now that he was indeed hiding something from her.
However, Hermione knew in her heart that as long as Sherlock didn't want to tell her, she wouldn't learn anything unless she used Legilimency.
"Interesting."
Sherlock softly uttered these two words, then turned back and joined his companions in the crowd, climbing the stone steps into Hogwarts Castle.
Hogwarts Great Hall was no different from the previous year.
It had been well-decorated for the new term feast, appearing even more magnificent and impressive.
Hundreds of candles floated in midair above the tables, making the golden plates and goblets sparkle brilliantly.
Besides the long tables belonging to the four houses, there was also a fifth table at the head of the hall.
The staff sat along one side of the table, facing their students.
Unlike his weakened state from recovering from illness last year, this year Sherlock was in excellent health.
So even after experiencing the storm, it hadn't affected him much.
However, the Great Hall was definitely warmer than outside, and after experiencing the station inspection and harsh weather, everyone who entered couldn't help but smile.
The Gryffindor table was at the far end of the hall, so the four of them walked past students from Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff houses in turn.
Harry couldn't help but look toward Ravenclaw. Without much effort, he spotted Cho Chang.
Compared to others around her, the exceptionally beautiful girl was quite conspicuous.
Whether it was his imagination or not, she seemed particularly clear among the blurred crowd, her face flushed, looking at him with eyes full of admiration and appreciation.
"Harry, are you planning to go to Ravenclaw?"
Just then, Ron pulled him back.
Harry couldn't help but blush—that was close, he'd almost embarrassed himself.
As soon as the four sat down, Fred began making a commotion. "The Lion King and the Savior have arrived!"
Everyone cooperatively applauded.
It was precisely because of Sherlock and Harry's outstanding performance last year that Gryffindor had made a comeback in the final stages, breaking Slytherin's potential seven-year winning streak.
George asked curiously. "So, which was more interesting—taking the boats or the carriages?"
Neither Sherlock nor Harry answered, but someone had already beaten them to it.
"The carriages were definitely better!"
Ron said with a compassionate expression, "Just thinking about my poor sister having to cross the lake by boat in this terrible weather makes me feel incredibly sad!"
Seeing Ron's performance, the Weasley twins looked at each other, then silently regretted their actions.
'Damn it!
Even our little brother could think of that—how did we miss it?'
Harry and Hermione beside them tried hard not to laugh.
Since they were good friends, they didn't expose him further.
"Good evening, little Lion King, Savior."
Just then, an unexpected creature actively greeted Sherlock and Harry.
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