Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 207 We are different

Noticing Sherlock's expression after seeing Ginny's notebook, Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance, instantly realizing something was wrong. Hermione immediately asked:
"what happened?"

"Different."

"What's different?"

"The words on the wall were not written by Ginny."

Harry and Hermione exchanged another glance: "Why?"

Sherlock did not answer, but both of them could see that he was becoming visibly agitated.

He flipped through the notebook several times, finally tossing it onto the table and speaking in his usual rapid-fire manner, as he did when reasoning:
"The line of writing on the wall was a foot off the ground. According to the writing habits of most people, it was just the right height for a person who is about five feet tall to hang down naturally. If it were me or Ron, the writing would be at least two inches higher."

The footprints left at the scene were deeper at the front than at the heel, indicating that the person who wrote the instructions was in a tense state of tiptoeing most of the time. It can also be seen that these are size 36 women's boots.

The bracket hook is four feet three inches off the ground. To hang it precisely would require a levitation spell, but I checked it with a magic magnifying glass and there were no signs of spellcasting. Judging from the scratches on the edge of the bracket, it was obviously hung there by hand.

However, the writing on the wall was completely different from her handwriting in the notebook.

Also, neither Ron nor Ginny lied…

"Sherlock, could it be that she was intentionally concealing something while writing..."

"impossible!"

Sherlock stated firmly, "It takes a long period of professional training for someone to completely change their handwriting, which is simply impossible for Ginny at her age and with her abilities."

"Does that mean this has nothing to do with Ginny?"

Harry quickly said, "She had absolutely no motive to do that!"

"A locked room, an heir, a petrified cat... No, there are still too few clues!"

Sherlock paced back and forth in the classroom, trying to piece together the information.

He asked Harry and Hermione again for details about what had happened the night before, from their trip to Nick's death anniversary party to their return.

Then, he reconstructed the entire case in the memory attic of his own brain.

Unfortunately, it was all in vain in the end.

In this situation, Sherlock first went to Ginny in person, and after confirming that she was indeed fine, he began to look for other qualified people at the school, and he actually found quite a few backup candidates.

However, figuring out where these people went on Halloween night and obtaining the corresponding handwriting is not an easy task.

This has temporarily brought the investigation to a standstill.

In addition, Hermione also began to try to find information about the Chamber of Secrets.

Unfortunately, because she had helped Sherlock interrogate Ginny earlier, her actions were a little slow.

When she arrived at the library, she was told that all copies of "Hogwarts: A History of the School" had been borrowed.

"The waiting list for those who want to borrow the loan is already two weeks ahead."

One afternoon when she had no classes, Hermione said irritably, "Ugh, I wish I hadn't left mine at home, but there's so much Lockhart's thick books in the box, there's no room for it."

"Aha! How could you possibly give up Professor Lockhart's book?"

Although Professor Lockhart has now proven himself to be truly talented, Ron still loathes his behavior in class and can't resist making sarcastic remarks whenever he gets the chance.

Hermione pretended not to hear and turned to Sherlock, asking, "Sherlock, do you have any way of getting your hands on this book?"

Sherlock put away the Halloween card he had obtained through special means, which bore the handwriting of several criminal suspects. "Excuse me for speaking frankly, Hermione, I don't think the chances of you finding the locked room from the book are very high."

"Why?" Hermione asked, puzzled. "Have you already read the book?"

"No, but the fact that all the books have been borrowed, yet no information about the secret room has been leaked, speaks volumes."

Furthermore, you also mentioned that the story of the locked room is a legend, and perhaps the author of this book didn't include the legendary events in the book.

"But……"

"But if you really want to see it, I can get you a copy."

Under Hermione's delighted gaze, Sherlock slowly said:
“I heard from Gemma a couple of days ago that she also borrowed a book, and she probably hasn’t returned it yet.”

Hermione's smile froze instantly.

"Gemma? You mean Gemma Farley?"

“Of course it’s her,” Sherlock looked at Hermione with some confusion. “You seem quite surprised?”

"Uh... I just didn't expect that you and she were so close, after all, she's a Slytherin."

“My dear Hermione, I told you long ago that someone like Gemma Farley is the real Slytherin.”

“Exactly, Percy also told me that although he hates Slytherin, Prefect Farley is an exception.”

As Ron finished speaking, he suddenly exclaimed as if he had just remembered something:

"By the way, Sherlock! That's not what Prefect Farley was talking to you about on Halloween night, is it?"

Hermione: '(°ー°〃)
"That's not the case. She only borrowed the book after this incident happened."

"I see."

“Wait, wait a minute, you said... on Halloween Eve, Farley came to see Sherlock.”

"Yeah, what's the problem?"

Ron looked at Hermione with a puzzled expression. "Prefect Farley went to Sherlock and said he had something to say to him—hasn't this happened once before?"

Sherlock looked at Hermione with the same puzzled expression. "Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Only Harry vaguely sensed what the problem was.

However, he wisely chose not to speak at this moment.

"You guys... never mind, it's... no problem!"

Hermione was about to say something, but seeing the looks on Sherlock and Ron's faces, she ultimately gave up.

Just do it.

Sherlock wrote a letter and asked Watson to deliver it to Gemma.

Less than ten minutes later, Watson returned triumphantly with the book "Hogwarts: A History of the School".

The book also includes Gemma's reply:
Dear Sherlock:

Watson's speed is always amazing; it seems that the tacit understanding between you two is truly unmatched.

I have no reason to refuse your request for "Hogwarts: A History of the School"—after all, compared to your contribution during the chaos after Halloween, this reward is insignificant.

The book has been enclosed with the letter. As for the return time, I believe that with your style, you will handle things properly once things become clear, without having to adhere to the library's rigid rules.

Also, if Prefect Weasley were to give another Slytherin exceptionalism speech to young Weasley, please remind him—my prefectural badges aren't for wiping the noses of Gryffindor's honor students.

Wishing you a successful investigation.

Gemma Farley
At the end of the ink mark was a simple little snake with its tail coiled around a familiar-looking Galleon.

When Sherlock was reading the letter, his three friends crowded around at the same time—as long as Sherlock didn't refuse, it meant he allowed the three of them to watch.

After reading the letter, Ron couldn't help but exclaim, "Sherlock, you just told Prefect Percy what he thought of her?"

“No,” Sherlock shook his head, “but it’s not hard to deduce.”

"Why... never mind, I won't ask."

Harry looked at the book with a surprised expression:
"My God, no wonder everyone still hasn't found the secret room after borrowing the books."

This book is so thick—the table of contents alone has so many pages!

Only Hermione, with a complex expression, remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice tinged with an almost imperceptible unease:
"So you and Prefect Farley are already that close?"

This time, even the oblivious Ron noticed that Hermione's tone was strange.

He instinctively looked at Harry, only to find that Harry was also looking at him.

The two friends exchanged glances and instantly understood each other.

Don't make a sound!
Sherlock paused for a moment, glancing at Hermione with surprise, not understanding why she had suddenly asked such a question.

"Dear Hermione, the depth of a relationship is relative."

Compared to most people at Hogwarts, I was naturally closer to Gemma.

But in front of you close friends, my relationship with her isn't exactly that good.

To me, she understood better than some professors that the prefect's badge was not just a key to the prefect's lavatory; it also meant much more responsibility.

As for you, I think you should look elsewhere, explore the legends of the secret chamber, and stop circling around the same old place.

Hearing Sherlock's answer, Harry and Ron both breathed a long sigh of relief.

Hermione wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer, but she knew in her heart that getting such a straightforward response was already quite an achievement.

She composed herself, clearing her mind of those random thoughts, and asked, "Why do I need to look for the secret room legend from a different angle?"

"The logic chain is clear enough, isn't it?"
If fifty students simultaneously peruse the "School History" and no one exclaims, "Look! The secret room is here!", it can only prove that our meticulous compiler has left the legends beyond the ink.

Of course, there is another possibility, which is, as Harry said, that they haven't been able to finish reading the book yet because of its thickness.

Regardless of which possibility you choose, I think you shouldn't waste your time on this book; you should choose a more efficient approach instead.

"More efficient? Sherlock, do you mean..."

"Go ask the people who know the truth."

"Who? Who would know the truth?"

“Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Binns the Ghost, who has been teaching the history of magic since the school’s founding.”

“I can’t speak for others, but Professor McGonagall certainly won’t tell us.”

"Really? Last time, Professor McGonagall argued with Snape for me, saying I shouldn't have left the Quidditch team. She should be treating you better, right?"

“You’re wrong, Harry. Last semester I went to see her specifically about Quirrell and the Philosopher’s Stone, and she told me not to say anything that was detrimental to the group.”

"Maybe she really doesn't know? Hermione, I don't think you should doubt a professor like that..."

“Harry, this doesn’t sound like something you would say.”

"I'm just telling the truth!"

“You’re starting to sound more and more like Sherlock Holmes—but even so, this incident shows her attitude, and I don’t recommend that you continue to look for her.”

“Then…why don’t we ask Professor Dumbledore? Didn’t he just tell Snape the day before yesterday, ‘Severus, I am the headmaster’?”

“Ron, this is not the time for jokes.”

“I’m not kidding, he really said that!”

(End of this chapter)