Slytherin's powerful organization and unity gave them the advantage at the start of the conflict.
But the Lions' boldness combined with the Eagles' intelligence wasn't to be underestimated either.
Once they got their composure, they made the Snakes suffer too.
From then on, the hospital wing was never empty.
As a core figure in this match, Harry received special attention.
Wherever he went, Crabbe and Goyle would appear.
However, when they saw Sherlock by his side, they would disappointedly move aside.
Similarly, because Sherlock was protecting him, everyone who wanted to send Harry to the hospital wing ended up there themselves.
"Holmes, are you even a wizard?"
A Slytherin student didn't even have time to draw his wand before Sherlock punched him to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.
"Who says wizards can't use their fists?"
Sherlock looked down coldly at this fellow who'd tried to ambush Harry.
"A fifth-year student, caught after a failed sneak attack, and you still have the face to say such things? I'm embarrassed for you!"
As he spoke, he waved his wand and muttered a spell, and the attacker's wand flew into his hand.
"Have your prefect ask our prefect for it!"
After being disciplined by Sherlock, attacks targeting Harry decreased.
But even so, some Slytherin students still pulled small tricks when Harry was alone—like sticking out a leg to trip him in the corridor.
However, for Harry, who'd been training with Sherlock for three years, this was child's play.
He could handle it on his own.
When similar incidents increased, Wood became vigilant.
He went directly to Percy and the Gryffindor prefects with a suggestion.
As long as Harry left Gryffindor Tower, wherever he went, someone must accompany him—including meals, bathing, and using the bathroom.
He wanted to prevent Slytherin from keeping Harry off the field.
Percy wholeheartedly agreed with Wood's suggestion and told his girlfriend Penelope about it.
Although Penelope was no longer a Ravenclaw prefect, she still had considerable prestige within the house.
Not to mention that at this point, the Lions and Eagles were united against a common enemy.
So, students from both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw eagerly volunteered for this task.
The most enthusiastic were Harry's devoted fans, Colin Creevey and Ginny Weasley.
For Ginny, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.
Except for classes, using the bathroom, and bathing, she wished she could hang on Harry all day.
Colin was even more extreme, leveraging his gender advantage to even follow along to the bathroom and bath.
As for Cho Chang, she had now also become a protected target.
She and Penelope were the most targeted in all of Ravenclaw.
One was Percy's girlfriend and the spark that united the Lions and Eagles.
The other was Harry's rumored girlfriend and the undisputed heir to the title of most beautiful girl of her year.
Under these circumstances, Harry felt utterly annoyed.
Because wherever he went, he was surrounded by a large group of chattering people.
Although everyone meant well, he could barely make it to class on time.
Finally, one day, Harry could no longer endure the mobility restrictions caused by being protected and began complaining to Sherlock.
"Sherlock, I really can't go on like this. Do you have any good solutions?"
"Very simple—give them a taste of their own medicine."
Ron had already leaned in to listen, but upon hearing Sherlock's words, he immediately shook his head and uttered his new catchphrase.
"I don't understand."
He looked at his friend with confusion. "Sherlock, why don't you explain more clearly?"
Sherlock smiled slightly.
"Judging by the current situation, passive defense alone simply cannot solve the problem.
The way I see it, their actions are themselves an invitation.
In this situation, offense is the best defense."
This time, Ron finally caught on.
Once his train of thought opened up, a smile that Harry found somewhat sinister appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I understand!"
He immediately ran off to find his twin brothers Fred and George.
Although Harry didn't know what they discussed, watching the increasingly unrestrained smiles on the three brothers' faces, he keenly guessed something.
"Sherlock, won't this cause trouble?"
"As long as you Quidditch players don't participate, it won't."
"But—"
"There's no 'but,' dear Harry. I've told you more than once—learn to see the core through the phenomenon.
Think about it—up until now, not only have neither house's heads intervened, even the professors haven't stepped in. What does that tell you?"
Harry thought for a moment and tentatively said.
"That this level of conflict hasn't caught their attention yet?"
"That's only part of it. The second part is that they believe this level of conflict is still within controllable limits.
What kind of headmaster produces what kind of teachers—hmph, each one thinks everything is under their control."
"So, targeting Slytherin is just a means, not the end.
The real purpose is to draw the school's attention and solve this problem fundamentally."
"Hermione, when did you get here?"
Harry looked in surprise at Hermione, who had appeared without him noticing—she'd been reading in a corner earlier.
"I can't study; I can't concentrate."
Hermione said somewhat helplessly.
The common room was simply too noisy.
Oliver Wood was crouched in a corner before a model Quidditch pitch, moving little figures around with his wand while muttering to himself.
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were laughing hilariously at Fred and George's jokes.
Everyone else was similar, excitedly discussing how they'd made Slytherin students' schemes backfire that day.
Just as Sherlock had said earlier, they'd only been defending passively so far and had never actively caused trouble.
Not until Ron ran over and shared Sherlock's suggestion did they begin loudly plotting.
"We've been far too well-behaved lately!"
"Yeah, yeah, it's time to teach those guys a proper lesson!"
"But anyone can do this—except us players."
"Of course, but don't forget we're Gryffindor—plenty of people would love to do this!"
Hearing how in just a few sentences they'd already reached the stage of selecting candidates, Hermione couldn't help but shake her head and continued speaking to Harry.
"You'll be fine, Harry. You just focus on the match—we'll figure out the solutions.
Once things escalate a bit more, the heads of houses will step in.
Right, Sherlock?"
"Hermione, you're only half right, because ultimately it won't be up to the heads of houses to intervene."
"Why not? Isn't that your goal?"
"You've gotten one thing wrong—this actually shouldn't require teachers to intervene at all. It's just that the prefects on both sides haven't fulfilled their roles."
"Prefects?"
"Yes. When Slytherin students started tripping Harry in the corridors, the Slytherin prefects should have stepped up to restrain them—but they didn't.
No need to rush, Hermione, I know what you're going to say.
Even if the Slytherin prefects deliberately turned a blind eye, the Gryffindor prefects didn't make good use of this situation either."
"You mean that by escalating things now, they can take the opportunity to step in and restrain both sides?"
"No, by that point, prefects alone won't be enough to restrain both sides. That's when it becomes the Head Boy's responsibility."
"You must mean Gemma. Percy wouldn't think of this."
"Obviously, my friend."
"No wonder. I thought you wouldn't encourage Ron to do such a thing."
"This way, Harry won't be exhausted from dealing with everything, and we can also turn from passive to active."
Watching Sherlock and Hermione discuss back and forth, arranging everything for him so neatly, Harry couldn't help but have a strange feeling.
Why did he always feel like he was these two's son?
"There's one more thing."
Just as Harry was lost in wild thoughts, Sherlock suddenly spoke.
Harry immediately perked up. "What is it?"
"The Firebolt."
"You mean Slytherin might tamper with it?"
"Once both sides escalate things, targeting broomsticks becomes more effective than targeting players."
"I always keep it locked in my trunk. Unless someone can get into Gryffindor Tower—but they don't know the password."
"Forgotten how Cho Chang's eye shadow went missing?"
"You're saying there might be someone inside Gryffindor? Impossible—absolutely impossible!"
"Best if there isn't, but what if there is?"
"But—"
"Don't worry, Harry. I can add an Anti-Alohomora Charm to it today."
"That's great, Hermione."
That feeling of Sherlock and Hermione being his parents intensified.
Just as Sherlock had predicted, once the Lions and Eagles also began targeting the Slytherin Quidditch team, their previously aggressive stance immediately deflated.
There was no choice—the essence of the current conflicts was the Quidditch final.
If any players had problems, it would truly be more loss than gain.
To guard against the Lions and Eagles' targeting, the Snakes had to assign many people to protect their own Quidditch players.
Especially Marcus Flint and Draco Malfoy.
The former, as Slytherin Quidditch captain, had a nasty personality and a dirty playing style.
Such a person had long displeased the Lions and Eagles, so naturally they wouldn't pass up this opportunity, inevitably making him a priority target.
As for the latter, it went without saying.
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