Hearing Sherlock and Ron's words, Harry became even more confused.
He admitted that with the holiday approaching, he had indeed chatted a bit longer with Cho today.
But that wasn't the key issue!
Going to the Headmaster's office wasn't strange—for Sherlock, it was practically like his second home.
Waiting for him was also natural. Ever since first year when he faced Quirrell and Voldemort in the room with the Philosopher's Stone, proving that his mother's protective magic was a powerful weapon against Voldemort.
Harry was well aware of Dumbledore's plan to cultivate him as the Chosen One.
Even including Ron, though unexpected, was understandable for obvious reasons.
But when Harry saw Ron excitedly grab Scabbers and stuff him into his pocket, he became confused.
Surely, they weren't having Dumbledore examine Scabbers?
"So, what exactly are we doing?"
What he absolutely didn't expect was Ron looking at Harry's puzzled expression with complete seriousness. "Sherlock says he's found a way to completely resolve Scabbers' problem."
"Huh? Completely resolve?"
Harry was even more bewildered. Were they really having the Headmaster examine Ron's pet?
He instinctively looked at Sherlock, who nodded, "Yes, completely resolve Scabbers."
Why did that statement sound a bit odd?
Before Harry could ponder the difference between "completely resolving Scabbers" and "completely resolving Scabbers' problem," he saw Sherlock turn to Ron. "Can you give him to me first?"
"Of course!"
Ron handed Scabbers to Sherlock without hesitation.
Sherlock carefully examined this rat he'd been seeing for three years, finding its current state absolutely dreadful. It no longer had that plump appearance from before, and most of its fur had fallen out.
Missing one claw from their first meeting was one thing, but combined with its current appearance, it looked particularly pitiful.
Watching Sherlock carefully examine Scabbers, Ron first sighed, then said happily.
"Thank you, Sherlock. This time I can finally breathe easy."
Sherlock gave Ron a meaningful look but said nothing.
The three left the dormitory together and arrived at the common room.
Hermione was already waiting for them.
Seeing Crookshanks on her lap, Ron immediately frowned.
The Scabbers in Sherlock's hand began trembling violently.
"Does it have to be this way?"
Ron turned slightly aside, asking Sherlock in a low voice, "I don't mean her—I mean, do we have to bring that beast along?"
"Please trust me, dear Ron. The truth is about to surface."
Though the statement sounded somewhat odd, Ron didn't think too much of it.
Out of trust in Sherlock, he stopped commenting on Hermione bringing Crookshanks.
However, he still had no intention of speaking to Hermione.
When Hermione holding Crookshanks came to Sherlock's side, Scabbers began trembling violently.
As if the next moment he would escape from Sherlock's hands, fleeing far from this hateful cat.
However, Sherlock was prepared and naturally wouldn't let him succeed.
Despite Scabbers' violent shaking, he still couldn't escape Sherlock's strong, firm grip.
Watching this scene, Ron felt increasingly uncomfortable. He opened his mouth but ultimately forced himself to turn away rather than watch.
Though Harry was still completely confused, seeing this situation, he comforted his good friend.
"Don't worry, Ron. Sherlock has never let us down."
Ron nodded reluctantly.
This was also the source of his confidence.
Sherlock never disappointed.
At Hogwarts, most people had short memories.
Nearly two months had passed since Black's last appearance, and the Hogwarts staff and students seemed to have forgotten what happened before Halloween.
Now with the holiday approaching, professors no longer found excuses to accompany Harry through the corridors, and even Percy no longer followed Harry everywhere as before.
This allowed the group to reach the spiral staircase to the Headmaster's office quite smoothly, only to be stopped by that uniquely shaped statue.
"Sherlock, do you know the password?"
Hermione asked curiously.
Sherlock shook his head. "There is no password."
The moment his words fell, the enormous gargoyle immediately jumped aside, revealing the spiral staircase behind it.
All three companions were stunned seeing this.
That much clout?
When all three stood on the spiral staircase, Ron suddenly slapped his forehead.
"I understand!"
The three looked at him.
"The password to the Headmaster's office is 'There is no password'!
Professor Dumbledore is truly wise! Setting such a password—who could possibly guess it?"
After a brief silence, Sherlock smiled and said. "Ron, you are the wise one."
"Haha, what's that called, a stroke of genius, right?"
Seeing Ron's triumphant expression, Harry's mouth twitched and Hermione opened her mouth. Both had originally wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing.
Fine, whatever makes you happy.
It wasn't until they reached the door to the Headmaster's office that Ron's excitement subsided somewhat.
As Sherlock knocked on the door, Dumbledore's voice immediately sounded from inside.
"Come in!"
Sherlock didn't delay and pushed open the door first.
Hermione, holding Crookshanks, followed closely.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances and followed as well.
However, as soon as the three entered the Headmaster's office, they were shocked by the scene before them.
Before coming here, Sherlock had told them he'd found a way to resolve Scabbers' problem.
Combined with their destination being the Headmaster's office, the three naturally thought only Dumbledore would be there. They never imagined there would be others besides Dumbledore.
And not just one!
They were—Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, Transfiguration Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Head of Slytherin House, Potions Professor, designated temporary Dark Arts Defense substitute professor Severus Snape.
The actual Dark Arts Defense Professor, Remus Lupin, who had only joined Hogwarts this year.
Except for the two heads of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, essentially all the school's top-tier forces were present.
"What's going on?"
Seeing this scene, Ron was utterly shocked and couldn't help but quietly ask Sherlock. "Why are the other professors here too?"
Although he'd lowered his voice as much as possible, this statement was still heard by the four professors in the office.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Lupin said nothing.
But Professor Snape gave a cold laugh and spoke up.
Unexpectedly, however, he actually praised Ron.
"Good question, Weasley."
Snape's eyes looked exceptionally cold at this moment. His gaze fixed tightly on Sherlock, as if the next moment he would transform into a venomous snake and bite him viciously.
"I too would very much like to know, Detective Holmes, why you've asked the Headmaster to summon us all here."
"Patience, Severus."
Just then, Headmaster Dumbledore spoke.
He looked at Snape, using a soothing tone. "I trust Sherlock. Since he was able to invite everyone here, he will certainly be able to give us answers."
As he spoke, he waved his wand, and four chairs slid behind the four young wizards. "Please, sit down."
"Is that so?"
Snape gave a cold laugh and continued in that uncomfortable tone.
"I remain skeptical."
"Severus, Holmes has fully demonstrated his abilities over the past two years."
At this critical moment, as Head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall naturally supported her house's key student.
"I also believe Sherlock wouldn't act without purpose." Professor Lupin also smiled slightly, expressing his support for Sherlock.
"Is that so? Then let us wait and see."
Snape said dismissively.
He particularly emphasized "wait and see"—everyone present could hear he was being sarcastic.
As for the three companions who came with Sherlock, they were completely bewildered by this point.
So, these professors were all specifically summoned by Sherlock?
Wasn't the plan to solve Scabbers' problem? What exactly was the situation now?
Even to save a pet, surely this wasn't necessary?
When everyone's gaze focused on Sherlock, he slowly took something from inside his coat.
Seeing that item, Hermione's whole body trembled, revealing an expression of disbelief, then quickly looked away.
But her face had already turned red to the roots of her ears.
Because what Sherlock had taken out were the wool socks she'd bought for him in Hogsmeade village.
At this moment, she was in complete turmoil, with all sorts of chaotic thoughts wildly bubbling up from her mind.
What was Sherlock's purpose in taking this out? What was his motive? Why bring it out in this setting? Was he trying to express something?
"First, I'd like everyone to look at something."
'Ah, Sherlock, please don't continue!'
Hermione was so embarrassed she wanted to find a crack in the floor to crawl into.
Although she couldn't see her own face, just from her burning cheeks, she could imagine what she must look like right now.
But strangely, though she was extremely embarrassed, there seemed to be a hint of joy hidden deep in her heart.
So conflicted!
Just then, she saw Sherlock reach his hand into the sock.
Hermione: "???"
The next moment, Sherlock pulled out from inside: a Sneakoscope?
Hermione recognized the little device at a glance.
It was the pocket Sneakoscope Ron had given Harry as a birthday present.
Some time ago, Sherlock had specifically asked Harry for it, and Hermione knew about this.
At this moment, her previous embarrassed thoughts vanished, replaced by relief and confusion.
What was the deal with hiding a Sneakoscope in a sock?
What was the purpose of bringing it out now?
Before she could sort out the relationship, the Sneakoscope Sherlock had taken out emitted a sharp whistling sound, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
Sherlock put away the wool sock but placed the Sneakoscope directly on the desk.
The Sneakoscope was now spinning while flashing light and continuously emitting warning beeps.
"This is a pocket Sneakoscope. I believe everyone knows its function."
Sherlock tapped the desk with his slender fingers, saying softly.
"This is a magical device originally from Egypt. Merchants by the pyramids like to sell them to tourists, and a magical equipment shop in Hogsmeade village also sells them.
Whenever there are untrustworthy people nearby, it will spin, light up, and emit an alarm sound, just like right now."
As the Dark Arts Defense Professor, Lupin was quite knowledgeable and immediately identified its origin.
However, as he explained, Snape's expression grew increasingly dark.
"Enough!"
He looked at Dumbledore, "Headmaster, I don't think we can allow him to continue this nonsense!"
After saying this, he turned to Sherlock and said fiercely.
"Don't tell me you're going to claim that someone in this room is untrustworthy?
To actually believe such a cheap toy is utterly ridiculous!"
Snape's excessive reaction surprised Sherlock somewhat.
But he quickly understood where this agitation came from.
Even Dumbledore spoke up. "Sherlock, I trust everyone in this office, so..."
"Sir, I likewise trust everyone in this office."
Sherlock said calmly.
Hearing Sherlock say this, confusion appeared in Dumbledore's eyes. He exchanged glances with Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but speak. "In that case, what's your point in bringing it out? Are you trying to prove it's broken?"
The three companions all looked tensely at Sherlock.
This was the second time Professor Snape had questioned Sherlock, and even Professor McGonagall, who had just supported Sherlock, now had doubts. If he couldn't convince them, things definitely wouldn't go well.
"To be honest, that's what I originally thought too."
Facing the questions from teachers and classmates, Sherlock remained very calm.
"However, it was precisely this cheap commodity that Professor Snape dismissed that recently successfully verified my hypothesis and provided the final piece of my series of deductions.
Regarding the case from twelve years ago, I now have some views different from public perception that I'd like to share with everyone."
Reaching this point, Sherlock's gaze swept across everyone in the office, saying word by word.
"This is also why I asked all the professors and students to come here today, because this matter concerns everyone present."
As Sherlock spoke these words, the office instantly became utterly silent, leaving only the pocket Sneakoscope spinning on the desk, continuously emitting its sharp alarm sound.
Even the light it emitted seemed to become extraordinarily bright at this moment.
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