Sherlock realized Percy definitely had some kind of problem.
After seeing Percy's various behaviors, he actually understood Percy's thinking.
To put it simply it was for face and his standing.
Gemma had led this group of Slytherins to their door without apologizing or any apparent remorse, simply demanding both sides cease fire.
In Percy's view, if he agreed directly in front of so many people, it would seem like he was afraid—intimidated by Slytherin.
How could he maintain his standing in Gryffindor after that?
More importantly, the one leading the other side was Gemma Farley!
Although both had been elected Head Boy and Girl this year, during most of the previous two terms, the professors led by Dumbledore had relied more on Gemma than Percy when handling affairs.
Percy hadn't realized this was his own problem.
He just found it hard to accept.
They were both Heads—why the difference?
So now that he had this opportunity, naturally he wouldn't let it go.
In Sherlock's view, this was a case of a bad person racking their brains being no match for a fool's sudden inspiration.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard to believe Percy would do this.
Of course, strictly speaking, Percy couldn't be called a fool.
Without a time-turner, he'd still managed to earn twelve certificates—his ability was obvious.
Although Gemma had also earned twelve certificates, she'd told Sherlock that she'd barely passed several courses.
Percy hadn't achieved excellence in everything either, but he'd managed more easily than Gemma.
Unfortunately, while Percy had high intelligence, he lacked wisdom.
But it didn't matter.
Since he was present, naturally he wouldn't let this situation continue.
So, after explaining to Hermione, he prepared to speak.
Just then, Penelope, standing beside Percy, suddenly whispered in his ear.
Seeing this gesture, Sherlock smiled slightly.
Good—it seemed he didn't need to intervene after all.
Ten minutes later.
In an unused empty classroom, representatives from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin were holding tripartite talks.
Gryffindor's representatives included Head Boy Percy Weasley, two prefects, Quidditch captain Oliver Wood, player representative Harry Potter, and house representative Sherlock Holmes.
Slytherin's side was similar. Head Boy Gemma Farley, two prefects, Quidditch captain Marcus Flint, and player representative Draco Malfoy.
Ravenclaw had relatively fewer people—only former prefect Penelope Clearwater and the two new prefects.
Having seen Percy's actions earlier, Penelope had already sensed her boyfriend's little schemes.
That's why she'd given Gemma that meaningful look.
But she hadn't expected that even after Gemma compromised again, Percy still wouldn't yield.
Not only that, his insistence had sparked even greater controversy, drawing the four prefects into it as well—needless to say.
Under these circumstances, Penelope decisively suggested that their lengthy presence there looked bad and they should move elsewhere to continue talking.
Gemma naturally had no objection—this had been her intention all along.
There was one thing she hadn't told her Slytherin classmates. before coming here, she'd already contacted Percy.
Her suggestion was that they didn't need to make such a big scene—she could just bring the prefects and Quidditch players for a small meeting.
But Percy had refused, saying that nothing should be hidden from people, and negotiations like this must be seen by more people.
At that time, Gemma had already vaguely guessed Percy's thinking.
It was then that the young snakes, wanting to boost their momentum, began joining of their own accord along the way.
It was precisely for this reason that Gemma, who had originally wanted to stop them, gave up.
Percy Weasley—since you want to make a big deal of this, I'll play along to the end.
When formal negotiations began, Percy's actions fully confirmed this.
Gemma's assessment of Percy went even deeper than Sherlock's.
Beyond his own face and standing, there was also bureaucratism.
This person hadn't directly agreed to the ceasefire request because doing so would make him, the Head Boy, appear completely useless.
Moreover, in Percy's view, meeting in public like this, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw already had superior numbers.
In contrast, Slytherin coming to them voluntarily was a show of weakness.
Just now, after Penelope's mediation, Gemma had taken another step back, acknowledging that dragging Ravenclaw into it was wrong.
This made Percy feel even more that the advantage was his, and he should press the attack.
Even if the two groups really started fighting, under these circumstances he was confident he could keep most people safe.
This would demonstrate the Head Boy's brilliant leadership.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated.
When Penelope proposed a small meeting, everyone except him agreed readily.
So, things returned to square one.
At the start of the meeting, Penelope fully exercised her initiative and spoke first.
"Everyone, I think we all remember those unpleasant beginnings.
But more importantly, Gemma came here to solve the root problem.
Tracing the past is meaningless—if you keep arguing like this, can you really clarify the original cause?"
Penelope had originally been a Ravenclaw prefect known for her wisdom. Not just in Ravenclaw, but throughout the entire school, she had considerable prestige.
Although she'd lost to Gemma in the Head Girl competition, everyone knew this was inseparable from her becoming Percy's girlfriend.
It was precisely for this reason that the young lions felt a sense of kinship toward her.
So, when she spoke, the two Gryffindor prefects nodded repeatedly.
After seeing Gemma's look, the two Slytherin prefects also wisely kept silent.
Penelope smiled gently and continued.
"The fact that Gemma personally brought Slytherin students here already demonstrates her position and determination to maintain control.
This is far more important than any verbal accusations, isn't it?"
Percy was about to speak when he felt someone pinch the soft flesh at his lower back, and his body immediately stiffened.
He saw Penelope flash him a sweet smile.
"Percy, Gemma just made it very clear—
Our goal should be who wins this match in the end, not this exhausting war of attrition we're in now.
I'm sure she'll demand that Slytherin thoroughly reflect on and eliminate those disgraceful initial behaviors.
After all, order shouldn't just remain in agreements—it should be guaranteed through execution."
Sherlock and Gemma exchanged glances, almost immediately understanding Penelope's true purpose with these words.
She was using words like "reflect," "eliminate," and "demand" to hint that Gemma would handle Slytherin's wrongdoings, while also saving face for Percy—
Giving him a way out.
Gemma smiled slightly.
Indeed, having a boyfriend made things different.
Friends who used to be inseparable were now starting to speak for their man.
But she didn't mind. If Percy would actually take this out, she'd be happy to accept it.
In fact, Penelope's reaction was exactly what she'd hoped for.
Someone who could understand her while also stabilizing Percy, who had a somewhat official-obsessed mindset and wanted to control the negotiation rhythm.
Penelope's statement immediately gained everyone's approval.
Not only because her words made sense, but also because she was too beautiful.
Most people knew that judging by appearance was wrong, but the fact was that almost everyone unconsciously judged by appearance.
It was just a matter of degree.
Take Harry, for example—he was on the heavier end of that spectrum, an absolute face-concerned with person.
When dealing with people, he would use appearance as one of the core evaluation criteria.
When he didn't yet know Tom Riddle was Voldemort, he instinctively thought he was a good person.
When dealing with Gilderoy Lockhart, he also thought he was a reliable professor.
As for being attracted to Cho Chang, it was purely because she was a stunningly beautiful girl.
Even his closeness to his Godfather Sirius Black had elements of this.
However, even as someone who valued looks, under this appearance-centered evaluation standard, he still cared about the other person's character, personality, talent, and other inner qualities.
Once problems appeared in these areas, the advantages brought by appearance would completely vanish.
So, when he learned Riddle's true identity and understood what Lockhart had done, he immediately lost his illusions about these two goodlooking men.
A step beyond face-concerned was being a complete appearance focused.
These people focused completely on looks and didn't care about other information.
In other words, as long as you're beautiful, whatever you say is right.
Even if you're utterly evil and commit illegal and criminal acts, there will be comments like "pretty privilege," "such a good-looking person couldn't possibly do that," "she's so pretty, she must have had no choice," and so on.
For example: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
— John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn (1819)
It's one of the most famous lines in English poetry.
However, at this moment, the beautiful Penelope was speaking very clever truths.
She affirmed the value of Gemma's initiative to compromise, subtly offered Percy a way out, and naturally pulled the core topic back to the match itself.
With the top-tier looks recognized throughout Hogwarts on par with Gemma—her composed and eloquent manner made everyone feel inexplicably close.
That academic air, sophisticated through her studies, along with the faint smile that never left her face, almost melted everyone's hearts.
Things being what they were, everyone expressed that whatever Miss Clearwater said was right.
Harry, who had long wanted to end all this, immediately seized the opportunity.
"Penelope's right! If this continues, our training and rest will be completely disrupted!"
Oliver Wood nodded vigorously beside him.
In this world, nothing was more important than a Quidditch match.
If there was, it would be another match.
The attitudes of the Boy Who Lived and the Gryffindor Quidditch captain carried considerable weight.
Combined with his girlfriend Penelope's signal, this time Percy finally saw that "the advantage is mine" was actually a complete mistake, so he didn't object again.
But this wasn't enough.
Gemma knew clearly that they still needed a key figure who could deliver the final word.
You can read more than 40 chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse