Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 319 Autumn's Initiative - Zhang

So...you're still planning to go back to England?

After listening to Gemma's plans for the future, Sherlock understood what she meant.

"Three years."

Gemma waved her wand again, and the butterbeer that had been finished in front of her disappeared, replaced by a new beer on the table.

"In three years at most, I will be able to obtain the highest international dragon trainer qualification."

As she tilted her head back and picked up her third glass of butterbeer to sip, her fair neck rose and fell slightly with each swallow.

"The British Ministry of Magic needs fresh blood. If some dark creatures really start to stir, I think I can be of help then."

Gemma smiled gently; the effects of three consecutive cups of butterbeer in a short period of time had brought a rosy glow to her cheeks, making her already beautiful and delicate face even more radiant.

The rain outside the window suddenly intensified, pattering against the glass.

"Romanian brandy is definitely worth trying."

Sherlock tapped his butterbeer with his knuckles; he hadn't even finished his first beer.

"But Hogsmeade's oak barrel aging is more suited to the British palate."

Gemma suddenly reached out her right hand and placed it on the back of Sherlock's hand, a look of anticipation in her eyes:
"This Christmas, I plan to give you a special gift."

Sherlock felt the back of his hand touch Gemma's smooth palm, but he just looked at her without saying a word.

Gemma blushed slightly and quickly withdrew her hand, as if the touch just now was an illusion.

"I think you'll be happy."

"I'm not happy at all!"

In the chilly locker room beside the Quidditch pitch, where the light was gradually dimming, Gryffindor captain Oliver Wood called a meeting.

“We’re not playing against Slytherin anymore—Flint just came to see me, we’re playing against Hufflepuff.”

"why?"

The other team members asked in unison.

"Flint's reason is that their Seeker is injured. He fell off a flying broom during practice and broke his leg."

Wood bared his teeth in fury, like an enraged lion: "But I think they're also using this opportunity to back down, to avoid playing in this kind of weather, thinking it will reduce their chances of winning..."

The storm raged all day, and even as Wood was speaking, they could hear distant thunder.

Harry was stunned: "Malfoy is injured?"

He couldn't help but recall the advice Hermione and Ron gave him when he heard in his first year that Snape was going to be a referee, in an attempt to prevent him from participating.

The two options are "pretending to break your leg" and "actually breaking your leg".

I doubt Malfoy would do the same.

Harry was clearly not the only one who thought this way.

“He must be faking it! I saw him hanging out with that Slytherin girl just the other day!” Fred Weasley said.

“Like you said, you can pretend to break your leg so you don’t have to compete against us in this terrible weather!” George Weasley said.

"Unfortunately, it is true. Flint brought a note from Ms. Pomfrey."

She testified that Malfoy had broken his bones and would need to rest in the hospital for at least three days, which would be Saturday—you know, she wouldn't lie to us.”

"That's perfect! He can make it to the competition as soon as he's discharged from the hospital!"

"You're too naive, Harry. How could Slytherin possibly let their Seeker play in a real match right after being discharged from the hospital?"

At this moment, Wood seemed to be wearing a mask of pain: "We've been practicing against Slytherin, and now we're playing against the Hufflepuff team."

Their style is quite different; they have a new captain, the Seeker Cedric Diggory…”

Upon hearing this, the three girls in the team, who were also chasers—Angelina Johnson, Aria Spinnett, and Katie Bell—suddenly burst into laughter.

What are you laughing at?

Wood frowned, somewhat displeased with their frivolous behavior.

“Digori, he’s that tall, handsome guy, isn’t he?” Angelina said.

“Yes, she’s muscular and doesn’t talk much,” Katie said, and they giggled again.

"He speaks little because he's too slow to say two words at the same time."

"Fred Weasley said impatiently."

His words immediately drew the ire of the three girls.

"I don't know."

At the same time, George Weasley said:

"Oliver, what exactly are you worried about?"

Compared to other teams, Hedgehog is a piece of cake.

Cedric is nothing to worry about!

"Have you forgotten that the last time we competed against them—the one where Snape was the referee—Harry set a record for the fastest Golden Snitch ever caught!"

“This time it’s different!” Wood immediately turned to the Weasley twins and shouted angrily, his eyes bulging with emotion.

"After becoming captain, Diggory organized a strong lineup, and he himself is an excellent seeker!"
That's exactly what I was worried you would think!
The match hasn't even started yet, and you dare to underestimate your opponent?
We must stay focused. Slytherin is trying to disrupt our rhythm. We must hold on and not give them any chance!

"Oliver, calm down."

George Weasley was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Wood to be so excited.

"Don't worry, we will take Hufflepuff seriously—very seriously."

Harry simply watched the scene silently, without saying a word.

After training ended and they returned to the common lounge, he immediately told his three friends the news.

Then he noticed that the three of them were not surprised at all; not one of them showed any surprise on their faces.

Harry asked in surprise, "What? You knew all along?"

Ron said lazily, "Our student council president, Gemma, went to see Old Xia specifically to tell him about this. Come to think of it, she really cares about Old Xia!"

Hermione glanced at Ron but said nothing.

"Sherlock, is what happened with Malfoy true?"

"I've already been to the school hospital, it's true."

Sherlock looked at Harry. "His leg is broken. Madam Pomfrey can heal it, but she requires him to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation."

After finishing his conversation with Gemma, Sherlock went to the school hospital for a visit.

They found Malfoy lying in a hospital bed and Pansy feeding him.

Since Malfoy apologized to Harry at the start of the school year, he has kept a very low profile.

I never expected him to do something so big without saying a word.

"Haha, that guy didn't just break his leg."

At this point, Ron said gloatingly:
"Do you remember the seven Nimbus 2001s that his father bought for Slytherin last year?"
When he fell off the broom, the thing hit the willow tree right in the middle!
Harry, you should know about the Whomping Willow, right? What, you don't?

"It's alright, the tree didn't like being hit anyway, so it smashed Malfoy's flying broomstick to pieces!"

Harry hadn't heard Wood mention this before, and a look of surprise crossed his face: "Is that so?"

Hermione handed Harry a photograph.

Harry felt a pang of anxiety upon seeing it.

That's not a flying broom at all.

It's basically just a dozen or so pieces of wood and twigs; it's completely unrecognizable from what it used to be.

Perhaps because Malfoy had already apologized to him, and given his kind heart, Harry didn't feel much pleasure compared to the gloating Ron.

On the contrary, upon seeing the wreckage of the flying broom, he felt a vague sense of reluctance.

Objectively speaking, Malfoy was an excellent seeker.

Harry, who has a deep affection for Nimbus 2000, understands the bond between Quidditch players and their flying brooms that they spend every day with.

Where did this photo come from?

"Your fan took a picture of it specially."

Hermione looked like she wanted to laugh but held it back: "He originally wanted to give you this photo himself, but he was bumped into by the Slytherin students."

Fortunately, Professor Flitwick was nearby, otherwise he probably would have gotten a severe beating.

Harry couldn't help but gasp.

Colin Crevey, this little boy is really daring!
With Ginny taking full initiative, Colin no longer followed Harry around as much as before.

However, his passionate feelings for Harry remained.

Sure enough, as soon as he encounters this kind of problem, he immediately tries to make his presence known.

Besides, this photo is really well taken. Harry tried to put himself in Malfoy's shoes and could feel the heartache.

“Gemma asked me to remind you that Hufflepuff’s new team, Diggory, has reorganized a team that is stronger than last year.”

Sherlock glanced at Harry twice, then smiled. "But it seems Wood has already told you about this."

"Yes, he told us not to underestimate our enemy."

Harry then recounted the training session of the day in detail, including what Wood had told them before training.

"Wood made the right choice; never underestimate your opponent."

Sherlock agreed, saying, "My advice remains the same: act quickly and find and capture the Golden Snitch as soon as possible."

Also, dear Harry, I suggest you go and find Cho Chang.

"Autumn?"

"Yes, although the Quidditch matches in the second half of last year were canceled, in addition to the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff also played a match."

Ravenclaw won that game. Cedric Diggory, though not captain at the time, had already become a Seeker. Cho Chang should be able to help you.

After saying this, Sherlock suddenly glanced at the door and couldn't help but smile.
“Dear Harry, women are definitely your forte; she’s even more proactive than I thought.”

(End of this chapter)