Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 3 Science and Magic

In this world, most magic schools are located in steep mountainous areas.

Hogwarts is no exception.

but.

Its exact geographic location is kept secret.

Even in the British wizarding world, not many people knew about it.

Not to mention that all the magic schools were covered with sleight of hand, and people who couldn't do magic could only see some ruins or warning signs.

Finding a school was almost impossible.

Just five minutes ago, the Sherlocks hadn't even known magic existed.

But just now, Sherlock, a little boy from a Muggle family, said something remarkable in a nonchalant tone.

Hogwarts is in Scotland!

This is simply... a madly running Gorgon - Mag had to work very hard not to lose his composure.

"what do you know?"

Compared to McGonagall, Sherlock seemed very calm.

It was as if he didn't understand why the other person was so surprised.

"What you just said means...Hogwarts is in Scotland?"

Mag couldn't help but ask.

"It's just a simple inference."

Seeing that McGonagall still looked confused, Sherlock sighed and took out the admission letter he had received three days ago.

"This paper is thick, strong and crisp, of exceptional quality, and costs nearly half a pound a stack."

McGonagall looked at Sherlock in confusion.

It seems to be asking with its eyes: So what?
Sherlock handed the letter to McGonagall. "Professor, could you please hold it up to the light?"

Mag was confused, but still did as Sherlock asked.

Then she saw a capital "A" and three lowercase "l", "b", and "a" intertwined in the texture of the paper.

Mag was stunned.

Hogwarts has sent out countless admission letters over the years, but this was the first time she noticed this detail, and naturally she didn't understand what it meant.

"Do you understand what this means?"

she couldn't help but ask.

"Of course, 'Alba' means Scotland in Gaelic, and the paper is made in Scotland."

Sherlock said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"But……"

Before Mag could refute, Sherlock quickly explained:

"Of course, that alone isn't enough to make a judgment—but add in the Scottish eagle owl that delivered the letter, the tartan pattern on your shirt, and the casual use of Scottish Gaelic when you spoke... If you still can't make a judgment based on that, then you'd be foolish."

"Merlin's beard..."

After Sherlock finished speaking these words in one breath, Mag was completely shocked.

I clearly thought it was unbelievable before, but after Sherlock's explanation, everything became so natural.

This little wizard is really... so surprising.

So when we return to school this time, should we consider suggesting to Headmaster Dumbledore to strengthen confidentiality measures?
After all, it is too incredible to deduce the location of Hogwarts without using magic!
"Sherlock, are you really going to school there?"

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Head of Gryffindor House, has left.

Professor McGonagall was very impressed by Sherlock's ability to determine the location of Hogwarts based solely on clues obtained through observation.

- even though Sherlock himself thought it was obvious.

Because of this incident, the usually strict Professor McGonagall praised Sherlock generously and expressed great expectations for Sherlock's future life at Hogwarts.

After this, Mag did not forget to fulfill his duties conscientiously.

She told Sherlock that things like wands, robes, and magic books, which seemed to be only available in the magical world, could actually be bought in London - as long as you knew the way.

In fact, she could have taken Sherlock directly to Diagon Alley.

But as the Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, McGonagall was too busy, especially with the school about to start.

After discovering that Sherlock's family was not opposed to magic and that his parents promised to take Sherlock with them, she decided to free up her time for the family that needed her more.

So she explained it in great detail and also told Sherlock how to get to Hogwarts by car.

In addition, McGonagall also signed a confidentiality agreement with Sherlock's parents on behalf of Hogwarts - the existence of magic cannot be revealed to anyone other than immediate family members.

This was not a problem for the Holmes couple, as they were not the most outgoing of people.

Sherlock thought of something and his eyes became more profound.

After McGonagall left, Mrs. Holmes, who was already sentimental, became hesitant again.

According to McGonagall, once Sherlock goes to Hogwarts, he will have to live in the school and can only return home during Christmas and summer vacation.

This alone was enough to make Mrs. Holmes find it difficult to accept.

Not to mention that this kind of life will continue until Sherlock graduates from seventh grade.

As a mother, she found it hard to accept the thought that Sherlock would only stay with her for more than two months each year for the next seven years.

"Dear Varita, since it is Shylock's own decision, we should support him - we always do so, don't we?"

"I understand, but Tanan, Sherlock is only 11 years old..."

"Trust me, and trust Sherlock, he will take care of himself."

The wizard's reputation is certainly not good, but Sherlock's life safety is more important.

The consequences of the magic going out of control...sounds truly terrifying.

Besides, this was Sherlock's own choice.

He is not an ordinary little boy after all.

Mr. Holmes explained as he walked towards the bedroom with his wife in his arms, and at the same time turned around and gave Sherlock a reassuring look.

Sherlock was certainly relieved.

Although his father would give in to his mother in most cases, he was always able to successfully persuade his mother at critical moments. Sure enough, Mr. Holmes did not disappoint his son.

After sufficient communication, he finally slept with his wife and made her accept the reality that Sherlock would be apart from them for the next seven years.

The next thing is to prepare for school.

Originally, Sherlock planned to go by himself to buy everything he needed for school.

But this time, Mrs. Holmes refused to allow him to act alone.

In addition, shopping requires financial support from the family, so this time the father and son can only compromise.

The next day, the family of three set off by car and soon arrived at Charing Cross.

This is a very prosperous area.

It is located in the City of Westminster, adjacent to the Chelsea district where Sherlock's home is located. It is the traditional central area of ​​London and the customary zero benchmark point for road and railway mileage in the UK.

Sherlock's family's destination this time is on this street.

According to McGonagall, they first needed to find the famous Leaky Cauldron - of course, the famousness that McGonagall mentioned was only in the wizarding world.

Before she mentioned it, neither Sherlock nor the Holmes couple had ever heard of such a place.

Sherlock originally thought that this matter was not difficult, but unexpectedly they encountered setbacks at the very beginning.

"Tanan, did we make a mistake?"

Mrs. Holmes looked at the bookshop on her left and then at the record shop on her right.

Because they are located in the heart of London, both stores are very popular.

But she looked left and right, up and down, and couldn't find any bar anywhere.

Mr. Holmes also frowned.

I watched the people coming and going, some going into the bookstore, some into the record store, but no one looked like they were going to the bar.

At this moment, the couple looked at their son at the same time.

Unlike his parents, Sherlock sees things very clearly.

There is indeed a bar here.

It was situated right between the big bookstore and the record store on the other side—just like McG had said.

but.

If McGonagall hadn't pointed it out specifically, Sherlock, with his meticulous observation skills, wouldn't have noticed it.

As for the others, including Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, there is no need to mention them.

One could tell from the hurried manner in which the passersby were walking that they could not see the Leaky Cauldron.

"Is this the influence of the magical world on the secular world, lowering its own presence and making ordinary people turn a blind eye?"

Sherlock understood.

Sure enough, once you come into contact with the magical world, interesting things will follow.

He responded to his parents directly with actions.

Seeing their son walking straight towards the middle of the two stores, the couple hurried to follow him.

When they got closer, they finally noticed the bar.

Shabby, small and dirty, this is the first impression the Leaky Cauldron gives people.

Walking into the bar, it is still dimly lit and the facilities are simple.

There were a few tables in the shadow of the corner, where a group of people were drinking and chatting.

Everything looks no different from an ordinary bar.

But these people were all dressed in strange clothes, and the topics of their conversation were extremely absurd.

Mr. Holmes could not help saying to his wife after hearing only a few words:
"Varita, I bet you that ordinary people would leave here before they even finish their mead."

Mrs. Holmes nodded as well.

After all, "creating a meteor shower" sounds ridiculous.

Sherlock's eyes swept over these people one by one, and each scene was analyzed and organized by him subconsciously.

[A smoking woman 5 meters to the northwest corner, under 50 years old, married, with poor self-control, separated from her husband, comes to the bar to find young people of the opposite sex]

[7 meters in front of me, a man with a silly smile on his face, in his early 20s, about to get married, came here to say goodbye to his single life, but his friends do not support his decision.]

[The short man at the table behind me, about 35 years old, has a bad temper. He doesn't have enough money to pay for the drinks and is currently trying to get out of paying.]

[An average-sized man passing by...]

Every person observed by Sherlock seemed to automatically send this information to his sight. For Sherlock, this had become an instinct like eating and drinking.

[The man walking towards us, about 40 years old, has been observing everyone entering and leaving the bar - oh, he is the owner]

"Two Muggles and a little wizard, a classic combination—another windswept summer is here."

The man walked up to the three people, stopped, and introduced himself directly: "I'm the bar owner Tom Cruise. You can call me Old Tom. Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron!"

Tom Cruise?
Looking at his almost falling hair, his face full of wrinkles like a shriveled walnut, and his eyes almost narrowed into slits, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes twitched their lips and didn't know what to say for a moment.

They knew it was not polite, but they just couldn't control themselves.

But Sherlock was not affected. He walked straight forward and greeted:
"Mr. Cruise, Professor McGonagall sent us here."

After observing and judging Tom's character, Sherlock directly called out Mag's name.

"Of course, of course, little wizards from Muggle families are rare but not uncommon. Come with me!"

While following Tom, Sherlock asked indirectly about the people he had just observed.

As a bar owner, Tom was naturally aware of their situation.

The result made Sherlock very happy - his inferences were all correct.

It seems that even though I have come to the magical world, the deductive method I have summarized from the scientific system has not lost its effect.

and so……

When science and magic intersect—the story begins.

　The contract has been signed, I am very happy, from now on I will update one chapter every day at 10 am and 5 pm (_)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)