Sherlock's gaze swept across Dean's shining eyes, Neville's confused expression, and Seamus's barely suppressed smile.
The corner of his mouth slowly curved into a noticeable arc, with a knowing smile.
"You're quite right, dear Dean.
You met with your good friend from Hufflepuff, and on your way here you encountered Peeves, barely managing to escape from it.
Apart from all that, I really can't see anything else."
Neville couldn't help but gasp. "Sherlock, how did you—"
But before he could finish, Seamus interrupted him, laughing smugly.
"Haha, Sherlock, so even you have moments when you can't figure things out!"
Clearly, he wasn't interested in how Sherlock knew about Dean's recent whereabouts.
What he cared more about was that Sherlock hadn't been able to deduce that earth-shattering secret this time.
According to past experience, Sherlock Holmes had always given the impression of being omniscient and omnipotent.
"Even Sherlock Holmes cannot be truly omniscient," Sherlock said calmly, as if seeing through what Seamus was thinking.
At this point, Ron couldn't stand it any longer and immediately said. "Stop beating around the bush—Dean, just tell us what you want to say!"
"What I want to say is... about Professor Lupin's true identity!"
As soon as those words left his mouth, the expressions of Harry, Hermione, and Ron changed instantly.
Oh no, had Professor Lupin been exposed?
Please, no!
At this thought, the three of them looked toward Sherlock in unison.
Facing his three friends' tense and helpless gazes, Sherlock remained calm and composed.
He picked up his cup, took a sip of water, then said calmly.
"Remus John Lupin, born in March 1960, pure-blood wizard, entered Hogwarts at age eleven and was sorted into Gryffindor House.
During his time at school, his academic performance was excellent, his conduct exemplary in every way. In 1975, he became a Gryffindor prefect, a position he held until his graduation in 1978.
In 1993—last year—he returned to the school to take up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Since taking office, he has been widely praised, and Defense Against the Dark Arts has become the most popular course to date.
As for the man himself, he's been hailed as the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in recent years."
The three friends stared at Sherlock in amazement.
Dean, Neville, and Seamus also looked at Sherlock admiringly.
Impressive!
To know Professor Lupin's entire history so clearly.
However, after a moment of stunned silence, Dean was the first to react.
"No, that's not it!"
"What? Did I get something wrong?"
"I don't know if you got it right—after all, aside from you, few people know these things—but Sherlock, that's not what I meant."
Sherlock raised an eyebrow. "Oh, then what is it?"
"Haha, Seamus was right. It seems you don't know about this either."
Dean said excitedly, his face animated.
"Our beloved Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin, is actually not..."
The trio immediately tensed up again, afraid that Dean's next words would be "actually not human."
But Dean suddenly changed direction. "...actually not a man! Professor Lupin is a woman in disguise!"
"What did you say?!"
The three friends froze on the spot.
Harry's glasses nearly fell onto the table.
Ron made a strangled sound like a rooster with its neck being wrung.
Hermione gasped in shock and covered her mouth, instinctively looking toward Sherlock.
When she saw he still looked completely calm, a bold idea immediately occurred to her.
"A woman?!"
After a long moment of stunned silence, Ron finally reacted and couldn't help but shout.
"Bloody hell! Dean, where did you hear such rubbish?"
"This isn't rubbish!"
Dean explained urgently, speaking rapidly like machine-gun fire.
"My source is absolutely reliable—and I wouldn't tell just anyone!
Apparently, Professor Lupin has unspeakable difficulties. It might be to avoid some terrible curse, or to protect a huge family secret!
And..."
At this point, Dean suddenly lowered his voice vividly, glancing around mysteriously as if afraid of being overheard.
"Most importantly—this perfectly explains why she's in such terrible condition for a few days every month and has to hide away completely!
Haven't people been discussing this recently?
Such an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, yet every month for a few days, we have to have the old bat substitute.
And even after she returns, she looks pale and anemic!"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron: "..."
The three of them looked toward Sherlock in unison.
"Why are you all looking at Sherlock?"
Dean looked confused. "Does Sherlock already know about this?"
"No, Dean, I truly didn't know that Professor Lupin was actually a woman."
Whether it was her imagination or not, Hermione noticed that Sherlock seemed to be desperately suppressing a smile as he said this.
"Yes, yes. Apparently, it's because her body is in a special condition, and she's been using some complex form of Transfiguration long-term to maintain a male appearance, which puts enormous strain on her body.
So, every month for those few days... sorry, Granger, anyway, her reaction is much more severe than ordinary women!
So, the facts are obvious!"
Dean mimicked Sherlock's manner and stated his conclusion directly.
"So, during those times, she becomes unbearably pained!
So Professor Snape comes to substitute for her class every month!
So every time she returns after her rest, her complexion is so pale!
Now that I think about it, it all fits. These are clearly symptoms of excessive blood loss!"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron couldn't say a word.
"You're truly a genius, Dean," Sherlock said with a smile. "Although it's quite far-fetched, when analyzed this way, it does seem rather logical."
"Really, Sherlock? You think so too?" Dean became even more excited at these words.
Clearly, receiving affirmation from the great detective Holmes was as delightful to him as eating a watermelon.
"Indeed. When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
"Excellent!"
"However, don't tell anyone else about this for now. After all, we have no evidence—this is just speculation."
"Of course, of course!
I'm only telling you because we're good friends!
I was just about to tell you not to tell anyone else about this!"
Dean and Seamus left excitedly, rubbing their hands together.
But Neville didn't leave with them.
Having practiced swordplay with Sherlock for so long, his brain had gradually developed.
So he felt something was off. He looked at Sherlock with a puzzled expression, about to ask another question, when Dean and Seamus returned and pulled him away.
"Neville, what are you still doing here?"
"I wanted to ask..."
"Oh, don't ask. Didn't you hear Sherlock say this needs to be kept secret?"
"But..."
"No buts. Come with us quickly. Dean composed a new song!"
"Uh, alright..."
"Dean, does anyone else know about this?"
"Don't worry, Hermione. Not many people know. I only told you all—oh right, you must keep it secret too!"
"Naturally, you can count on us."
Hermione had already recovered from her shock and smiled at Dean.
After Dean left, Hermione's expression became extremely subtle and complex.
Once Dean, Seamus, and Neville had completely disappeared from view, Hermione leaned close to Sherlock and asked in a low voice.
"Sherlock, was this you?"
From the moment Dean said "Professor Lupin is actually a woman," she had keenly sensed something unusual.
Smart as she was, she quickly connected the dots.
This suddenly appearing rumor, this nearly slanderous story, was actually a shield to protect Professor Lupin!
The purpose was naturally to protect that secret that, once exposed, would mean utter ruin—that Professor Lupin was a werewolf.
This seemingly absurd reason, along with the method of spreading information secretly rather than announcing it publicly, fit Sherlock's modus operandi perfectly.
Sure enough, Sherlock nodded and admitted directly. "It was me."
Hermione was stunned for a moment, then laughed. She lightly punched Sherlock.
"Even though it's to protect Professor Lupin, how could you use such an absurd reason?
They may be talking about it enthusiastically now, but after this period passes and they think carefully, they'll realize it's impossible!"
"The reason doesn't need to be too specific; it just needs to be distracting enough."
Sherlock said calmly. "Judging from the current effect, it's not bad, though it still lacks something.
But that's fine. Time will tell you all the answers."
Harry and Ron stared dumbly at Sherlock and Hermione's exchange, completely at a loss for what to say.
Over the following period, the news that "Professor Lupin is disguised as a man" spread like wildfire, even diluting the tense atmosphere of exam week.
"I have a secret to tell you, but you absolutely can't tell anyone else!"
"Don't worry, I'm the best at keeping secrets!"
"Hey, have you heard about Professor Lupin?"
"Shh, it's a secret, you can't just tell anyone."
"Right, right, I'm only telling you because you're my best friend!"
"That's more like it. I heard it from Professor Hagrid after Care of Magical Creatures class once. What about you?"
"What a coincidence, me too!"
"Hehe..."
"Hehe..."
As the rumor spread further and wider, the details became increasingly elaborate.
There were several different explanations for why Professor Lupin was disguised as a man.
For instance, Professor Lupin's father had raised Lupin as a son from childhood, which gave her behavior habits indistinguishable from a man's.
Or that Lupin's family had a magical inheritance that could only be passed to males, so she had to disguise herself as one.
Or that she was hiding from an ancient family curse that only targeted women, so she had to conceal her gender to protect herself.
Even a certain famous researcher from Ravenclaw, renowned for their learning and wisdom, claimed to have found evidence of such a bloodline curse in ancient books.
Due to the curse's effects, although one could change their appearance, there was no way to completely avoid female physiological characteristics.
Not only that, but due to special bodily conditions, the adverse reactions were much more severe than those of ordinary women—extremely intense.
This ultimately led to Lupin having to avoid people completely during those few days each month.
This made this explanation's credibility leap to the highest among all the theories.
Because this way, her monthly leave requests immediately received a reasonable explanation and gained widespread student acceptance.
The core pillar of this rumor was that Professor Lupin had a few uncomfortable days every month.
Once or twice could be called coincidence, but fixed days every month?
Emmmmm...
Actually, throughout this school year, students from first to seventh year had already noticed this.
Young wizards who didn't like thinking weren't interested.
But as time went on, they couldn't help but wonder about it.
After all, having such an interesting course taught by Professor Snape every month was... how to put it?
Objectively speaking, Professor Snape teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts was actually quite good.
At least much better than Quirrell and Lockhart.
But who told them they had the even more excellent Professor Lupin?
So as the saying goes: comparison's a thief of joy.
When there was no choice, Professor Snape was quite acceptable.
But with a choice, the young wizards naturally preferred that Professor Lupin not take leave and that Snape stay far away.
"Letting Hagrid know about this is equivalent to the whole school knowing."
Sherlock calmly told his three friends.
"I gave Professor Hagrid a little hint earlier, making him think this was fact—just like what I did with Dean Thomas now.
You should have noticed that Professor Snape is also happy to see this happen.
I've already spoken with Professor Lupin. He won't make any response to this matter—he should actually thank me.
Now all the details have been filled in. Except for the few who know the truth, no one will doubt this anymore.
After all, compared to Lupin being a werewolf, him being a woman is easier to accept."
"I feel like they're about the same..."
Harry said somewhat helplessly.
"Sherlock, you're invincible!"
Ron was excited. "That's so like you!"
Only Hermione was worried. "But Sherlock, this isn't a long-term solution after all.
Next year, Professor Lupin will still face the risk of being exposed."
"It doesn't matter. This temporary solution was meant to buy time from the start."
"Then why did you..."
Hermione was first stunned, then reacted. "Do you have a better solution?"
At her words, Harry and Ron also looked over in surprise.
"Yes, I've found a way to completely resolve Professor Lupin's problem."
Sherlock smiled. "If all goes well, we can solve it for him next school year."
This time, the three friends were completely stunned.
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