Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 286 Speech at the Hogwarts Opening Ceremony (Part 3)
At Hogwarts' annual opening ceremony, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore addressed the entire school before the banquet, as was his custom.

"The Dementors sent by the Ministry of Magic are stationed at every entrance to the school, and no one is allowed to leave the school without permission while they are there."

I must emphasize—no trickery, deception, or disguise can fool a Dementor, not even an invisibility cloak or masterful stealth techniques.

Sherlock chuckled softly upon hearing this.

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

Hermione glanced at Sherlock and Harry with some concern.

"Dementors don't understand explanations or pleas for mercy, so I'm reminding every student here not to give them any reason to harm you."

The newly elected student council presidents and prefects should take responsibility for ensuring that no student comes into conflict with Dementors.

At this point, even those unaware of the inside story could tell that Dumbledore didn't like Dementors.

When Percy heard the words "newly elected president of the co-educational council and student council," he immediately puffed out his chest so that people around him could see his badge, while glancing around to see how people would react.

Unfortunately, not many people were watching him.

Even his girlfriend Penelope was listening intently to Dumbledore's speech.

In the direction of Slytherin, Gemma, another student council president, merely smiled faintly upon hearing Dumbledore's words.

"Now let's change to a more pleasant topic. I'm happy to introduce two new teachers to everyone."

"Both of you?"

Harry was taken aback by what he heard and couldn't help but look at Sherlock.

"First, Professor Lupin readily agreed to fill the vacancy in the Defense Against the Dark Arts course."

Led by Dumbledore, a round of applause immediately filled the Great Hall.

The applause wasn't very enthusiastic.

On the one hand, people are not very optimistic about this position. Anyway, the professor will be leaving next year, so it's just a formality.

On the other hand, it's because Professor Lupin's appearance is quite different from Professor Lockhart's last year.

Although Lockhart was ultimately controlled by dark magic, the students at the school did not perceive that Lockhart was under the control of dark magic.

They only saw that the handsome Lockhart displayed strength no less than Professor Snape's in his daily life, and that he also taught them a lot of useful knowledge.

In addition, the special circumstances of today make Lupin's already worn-out robe and patches stand out even more.

Of course, some students also gave a more enthusiastic round of applause.

They come from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione had just been taken away by Professor McGonagall and had no chance to talk to anyone else.

However, Ron, Cho Chang, and Ginny had just told their classmates about Professor Lupin's performance.

Therefore, everyone in both houses knew that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was truly skilled.

Compared to the reactions of others, Professor Snape's performance caught Sherlock's attention more.

Because the moment Dumbledore announced Lupin as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Snape turned to Lupin, his eyes filled with anger and hatred.

That's not surprising at all.

Aside from the freshmen, almost all the students knew that Severus Snape had always wanted to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

However, Sherlock understood at a glance that Professor Snape's gaze was not solely due to that reason.

At that very moment, Snape also noticed Sherlock's gaze.

He glanced in Sherlock's direction, frowned, and then regained his composure.

Sherlock had no intention of investigating other people's secrets, but he was still very interested in Professor Snape's reaction.

It was as if they were deliberately avoiding me.

Then Dumbledore added, "...In addition, Professor Kettleburn, the teacher of the Magical Creatures class, retired at the end of last semester and wants to have more time to enjoy his old age."

Hearing this, Harry's eyes widened in surprise: "Sherlock, Professor Kettleburn has retired, that means..."

“My dear Harry, I don’t think you noticed at the time, but I also called Hagrid ‘Professor’.”

"what?"

The nearby lion cubs were startled by the conversation between the two.

Is this happening?

Just then, Dumbledore said, "Rupert Hagrid has agreed to take on the teaching position in addition to his role as gamekeeper."

Applause erupted.

The welcome was much warmer than when Professor Lu Ping was welcomed earlier.

After all, Hagrid is considered one of the older members of Hogwarts.

He led first-year students on a boat trip across the lake every year, leaving a deep impression on everyone.

The applause at the Gryffindor table was particularly enthusiastic.

"I should have realized this a long time ago. Who else would ask us to prepare a book that bites?"

Ron pounded his fist on the table and shouted, "Sherlock, you guessed it again this time, didn't you?"

"It's not a guess, it's an inference."

Sherlock looked toward the Slytherin table, just as Gemma was looking in his direction.

Gemma gave Sherlock a somewhat apologetic smile—the applause at the Slytherin table was the quietest, with many people not even raising their hands.

Gemma was somewhat helpless about their petty behavior.

Hagrid, the protagonist of this story, didn't care about any of this; he was casually wiping his eyes with a tablecloth.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Let's eat!" Just like the previous two years, as soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, the golden platters and wine glasses in front of everyone were immediately filled with food and drinks.

Ron, who had been complaining about being hungry since the train journey, started eating without a word, completely forgetting about the question he had just asked Harry.

Harry looked at Sherlock with admiration, "I thought Hagrid would only be a teaching assistant, but I didn't expect him to actually become a professor."

“My friend, Ron actually thought of that too, didn’t he?”

"Hey, stop treating me like a unit of measurement for IQ!"

Ron said somewhat discontentedly, and then stuffed another chicken leg into his mouth.

Hermione hesitated for a moment before speaking to Sherlock:
"Sherlock, I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall just told me something, and she made me swear not to tell anyone..."

Harry and Ron turned to look at Hermione in surprise when they heard her words.

"What's so mysterious?" Ron finally managed to swallow what was in his mouth and then asked.

Harry glanced at his oblivious best friend with a hint of helplessness. "He already said not to tell anyone, why are you still asking?"

Sherlock shook his head: "My dear Hermione, the right thing to do in this matter is not to tell us even about the oath she made you swear."

"Sherlock, is that really what you think?"

Upon hearing Sherlock's words, Hermione, who had initially felt guilty, immediately showed a look of joy.

"Of course, Professor McGonagall kept you behind alone, and you made a promise to her, so you should keep your word."

"Uh-huh!"

Hermione nodded emphatically, her earlier anxieties vanished, and she began to eat.

Hearing their conversation, Harry suddenly understood.

He figured that Sherlock had most likely deduced what Professor McGonagall and Hermione had been talking about.

That's why Sherlock said those things in the hallway.

Sherlock was about to start when he suddenly looked up as if he had noticed something.

From the direction of the Slytherin table, Gemma raised her wine glass towards Sherlock.

Sherlock was somewhat surprised, but he raised his wine glass in a gesture of respect to the other person.

Gemma smiled slightly at Sherlock, put down her wine glass, and then began to eat with graceful movements.

"Sherlock, shall we go say hello to Hagrid later?"

Harry said with some excitement that Hagrid had become a full professor instead of a teaching assistant, and that Harry was genuinely happy for him.

He knew very well how important this matter was to Hagrid.

"I'm afraid we don't have time."

Sherlock glanced at his watch. "We were delayed quite a bit today because of the Dementors searching our vehicles. Once the banquet is over, we should be able to return directly to the common room."

Harry was somewhat dejected upon hearing this.

"It's okay, Lao Ha, let's speed up and finish eating quickly, and then we can get there before the teachers notice."

"Uh-huh."

Ideals are beautiful, and reality is very skinny.

Just as Sherlock had said, when the last few pumpkin pies disappeared from the golden plate in front of Ron, Dumbledore gave a few instructions, just like he had done in the previous two years, and then had the prefects lead everyone to bed.

Harry and Ron were still unwilling to give up and tried to find Hagrid at the faculty dining table, but Professor McGonagall chased them away without any mercy.

They could only regretfully decide to congratulate Hagrid at breakfast the next morning.

Following the familiar route to the entrance of the Gryffindor Tower, the portrait of the Fat Lady blocked my way.

A new semester naturally calls for new slogans.

This frustrated Neville Longbottom, as he could never remember the passwords.

Even if this time the password is simply "Good fortune shines upon you".

After passing through the common room, Hermione and Ginny greeted them, and then the boys and girls parted ways.

Back in their familiar round dormitory room with five four-poster beds, everyone tidied up a bit and went straight to sleep.

Sherlock is no exception.

Unlike others, as soon as he closed his eyes, images appeared before him.

The sinister and terrifying image of the Dementors on the Hogwarts Express, the spell Professor Lupin cast to banish the Dementors, Professor Snape's angry and hateful gaze towards Professor Lupin, Hagrid's joy upon hearing that he had been appointed Professor of the Department of Magical Creatures...

Sherlock's lips curled slightly, he said "Interesting," and then drifted off to sleep with them.

the next morning.

Sherlock left Hogwarts Castle alone and went to the campus for his morning exercise.

Both Harry and Neville need some time to adjust and readjust to life in the new school term.

Sometimes I really have to admire you.

When Sherlock returned to his dormitory after his morning exercise, Ron looked at him as if he were a monster:
"It's still raining outside, and you just ran out like that?"

“My friend, it seems you don’t know that the rain only started when I was returning.”

"Okay, okay, I admit I woke up late, alright?"

"Hey, Weasley, even if you don't admit it, we all know it!"

"Yes, yes, before, every time we called you in the morning, you couldn't get an erection in bed."

"..."

(End of this chapter)