Halloween evening.
News of the troll's defeat spread, and the Gryffindor common room was packed with young wizards.
The little lions, who had been feasting, were even more reluctant to go to sleep due to their excitement.
Such circumstances meant that the absence of Sherlock and the others hadn't drawn anyone's attention.
When they returned, they naturally blended in seamlessly.
However, among the four themselves, the atmosphere was inevitably awkward.
Earlier, when Snape had been the external conflict, it wasn't so bad, but now that they had returned to the common room, this topic was no longer convenient to discuss.
It was mainly awkward between Hermione and Ron.
Sherlock never knew what embarrassment felt like.
As for Harry, he hadn't done anything wrong in this whole affair.
Finally, it was Hermione who broke the silence.
She first looked at Sherlock and said "Thank you" to him.
Then she smiled and nodded at Harry and Ron.
After that, she fled toward her dormitory as if escaping.
"Granger, wait..."
Ron extended his right arm, palm open with five fingers spread, trying to call out to Hermione.
He genuinely wanted to apologize.
Unfortunately, she had already run away.
"It's okay, I think she won't mind."
Seeing this scene, Harry patted Ron's shoulder and spoke.
Ron looked at Hermione, who had already mixed in with the other girls, and could only sigh and lower his hand.
People teaching people can't teach them.
Events teaching people teach them in one go.
After this night, Hermione Granger became much less concerned about breaking school rules.
This also made her much more endearing, and her relationships with classmates were no longer as stiff as before.
She also became friends with Harry and Ron, who could call her by her first name, just like Sherlock.
Three days after Halloween, which was the day before the first Quidditch match of the season, Harry was suddenly called away by Professor McGonagall during training.
Originally, Harry thought McGonagall wanted to give him pre-game encouragement.
After all, if they could win this match against the Slytherin team, their ranking in the House Cup championship would rise to second place.
But as he walked, he felt something wasn't quite right.
Because Professor McGonagall didn't say a word, leading him to a separate small tower.
Then they climbed straight up to the eighth floor, stopping in front of a stone gargoyle.
When she spoke the password, the gargoyle nimbly jumped aside, and the wall behind it split in half.
A slowly ascending spiral staircase hidden behind came into view.
Harry neither knew nor dared to ask, so he maintained his silence and continued following Professor McGonagall up the staircase to the top.
A gleaming oak door appeared before them, with a brass door knocker in the shape of a griffin.
"..."
Having walked all this way, Harry was somewhat dazed, completely unaware of what Professor McGonagall intended to do.
But as she pulled the door knocker, Harry was immediately stunned.
What came into view was a spacious and beautiful circular room, with a huge table at one end, its legs shaped like unique claws.
On a shelf behind the table sat a tattered, wrinkled wizard's hat.
Harry recognized it immediately as the Sorting Hat that had placed him in Gryffindor during the opening ceremony.
Of course, what was most eye-catching in the room was the long-bearded old man.
The moment he saw him, Harry subconsciously ignored everything else.
Albus Dumbledore!
This was actually the Headmaster's office!
In that instant, several thoughts flashed through Harry's mind.
The Quidditch match was important, both for himself and for Gryffindor House.
But... no matter how important it was, it shouldn't warrant personal encouragement from Dumbledore, right?
Or had he violated school rules again?
Harry began trying hard to recall his recent behavior, but it seemed he hadn't broken any rules!
Except for not listening and going to the dungeon classroom on Halloween eve.
But hadn't that matter already been resolved?
While Harry was still in a daze,
"Mr. Holmes, may we begin now?"
With Dumbledore's words, Harry suddenly realized something.
He had been too nervous and hadn't noticed there were other people here besides Dumbledore.
Looking around now, he discovered that besides Dumbledore, McGonagall who had just arrived, and himself, the room also contained Sherlock, Hermione, and... Snape!
Combined with Dumbledore's words just now, Harry suddenly understood.
Could it be... that his being here was actually Sherlock's idea?
"Dear Harry, exactly as you're thinking."
When Harry subconsciously looked at Sherlock, the latter saw through his thoughts as always. "To verify the reliability of my statements, I need your help."
Before Harry could respond, Snape's cold voice rang out first:
"Mr. Great Detective Holmes, now that we've brought everyone here as you requested, I hope you won't disappoint us."
Indeed, his being here was Sherlock's idea!
And Hermione must be here for the same reason, but why?
Before Harry could figure this out, Sherlock had already turned to Hermione. "You may begin."
Hermione nodded, then started from the last Charms class on Halloween eve.
At this moment, Harry finally learned from Hermione's perspective what had actually happened that day.
It was exactly the same as Sherlock's original deduction.
First, unable to bear Ron's mockery, she had hidden in the girls' bathroom and cried for half the day.
Second, she was rescued by Sherlock just before the troll arrived.
Third, she and Sherlock discovered his and Ron's whereabouts together.
Finally, the four of them followed the troll and discovered the mysterious bloody message.
Although part of this content was Harry's personal experience, hearing it from Hermione's mouth had a fresh feeling.
Just as Harry was listening with great interest, Sherlock suddenly spoke:
"Your turn, Harry."
"Ah?"
Harry was startled, then realized.
Sherlock wanted him to narrate that day's events just like Hermione had.
Meeting Dumbledore's encouraging gaze, Harry steadied himself and slowly recounted his experiences from that day.
During his narration, he vaguely understood why Sherlock had asked him and Hermione to come.
On Halloween, Sherlock, himself, and Hermione had each had periods where they acted alone without intersection.
As for why Ron wasn't called, it was naturally because he and Ron had been together from beginning to end.
But why wasn't Quirrell here?
With this doubt in mind, after finishing his account, Sherlock began his statement.
However, his opening shocked everyone:
"First, the troll in the dungeon classroom was released by Professor Quirrell."
Harry and Hermione's mouths dropped open in surprise.
However, Harry, who trusted Sherlock unconditionally, quickly understood.
So that's it!
That's why Quirrell wasn't present.
McGonagall and Snape raised their eyebrows.
As for Dumbledore, he turned to Harry and Hermione, speaking in a gentle tone, but saying something that left both extremely speechless.
"Harry, Hermione, could you please leave first?"
Harry and Hermione instinctively looked toward Sherlock.
Only after seeing Sherlock nod to them did, they reluctantly walk out the door.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, it seems that in Mr. Potter's and Miss Granger's hearts, our great detective Holmes is more trustworthy than you."
Hearing Snape's sarcastic tone, deliberately emphasizing "Headmaster" and "great detective Holmes," Dumbledore laughed.
"Severus, this old man who's about to kick the bucket naturally can't compare to young people."
Snape: (￣_￣)
"Sherlock, you may continue."
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