Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 357 Who is the Real Principal?
Britain has no death penalty, and this is no exception in the magical world.

However, for a living person, a Dementor's kiss is no different from a death sentence.

This was precisely the goal of all the teachers and students at Hogwarts.

"Okay, okay, I understand."

Fudge felt immense pressure facing the Hogwarts faculty and students, and he couldn't handle it at all.

He even regretted coming here, and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I... I'll try to persuade them."

Damn it, what's wrong with these guys?

Didn't I always try to reason with myself before?

How did it suddenly turn out like this? Can this still be considered Hogwarts, a place for educating and nurturing students?
He glanced at everyone present one last time. "Dumbledore, I have to go back now."

To be honest, Fudge was a little scared.

At this moment, in his eyes, the place was smoky and the people there had menacing faces; it certainly didn't look like a school.

He no longer wanted to, nor dared to, stay here.

"I send you."

As Dumbledore spoke, he smiled at Sirius and Professor Snape, then walked out of the office with Fudge.

After the two left, Professor McGonagall immediately looked at Sherlock: "Mr. Holmes, how did you do that?"

This seemingly random statement left everyone stunned. What? How did you do that?
What exactly is Professor McGonagall talking about?
Sherlock, however, calmly and composedly countered with a question:
"Professor McGonagall, are you referring to changing the Ministry of Magic's opinion, or the process of finding Sirius Black?"

"Tell me everything."

Professor McGonagall was in a very good mood at the moment, and even joked, "I'm not Fudge, I'm interested in both of these things."

“Actually, it’s really nothing to brag about,” Sherlock said, looking at Harry. “Harry, come here.”

Harry was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

Sherlock's idea was to use his talent for summarizing and retelling to describe the whole thing, and through his retelling, Sherlock might make new discoveries.

Anyway, this isn't the first time he's done this.

He first recounted how he found Sirius.

Sirius wrote a letter and had Crookshanks deliver it to Harry, after which father and son met and were all happy.

Harry omitted the part about Sherlock figuring out Sirius's hiding place using the Marauder's Map.

Marauder's Map is truly a godsend.

It's fine to tell Sirius, but if you tell Professor McGonagall, he'll definitely confiscate it.

He couldn't bear to part with something so good.

Professor McGonagall didn't ask any further questions. Just like Dumbledore had done earlier, she simply looked at Sirius with pity.

Snape's eyes flickered, but he didn't speak, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"What about the Ministry of Magic's sudden change?" Professor Lupin asked.

Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Sirius Black all looked on with curiosity.

It's worth noting that Dumbledore had already prepared to part ways with the Department of Magic, and even Rita Skeeter had previously believed that Dumbledore was the one supporting Fudge.

If things really develop in this way, it will definitely be a lose-lose situation.

At that time, Dumbledore had placed his hopes on Sherlock and had Professor McGonagall convey this message.

Surprisingly, Sherlock actually did it.

It's truly a case of "the mountains and rivers seem to block the way, but then a new village appears amidst the willows and flowers."

So Harry told the story of Sherlock's brother, Mycroft Holmes, again.

"You mean, Holmes's brother influenced the Ministry of Magic through the Muggle Prime Minister?"

After hearing Harry's words, Professor McGonagall found it unbelievable.

Snape, Lupin, and Sirius also looked at Harry with surprise.

“Well, Sherlock said… at times, Mycroft is the British government.”

Harry looked at Sherlock, and after receiving his approval, he relayed Sherlock's comments about Mycroft.

This statement immediately plunged the office into silence.

Everyone was processing this incredible information—that Muggles could interfere so much in the magical world.

In the end, it was Professor Lu Ping who broke the silence first.

A distinct smile appeared on his lips:

"I see. Although Muggles' wisdom and political strategies are different from ours, the underlying logic is the same."

In that case, it's not surprising that the Ministry of Magic is influenced by the Queen's government.

Sherlock's approach was farsighted, and indeed, it proved to be effective.

Sometimes, external forces are more effective at shaking up outdated systems.

Unlike others, Lupin, as a werewolf, experienced discrimination and marginalization in society, making him more receptive to the intersection of different worlds.

Professor Snape's reaction was quite the opposite.

"Porter, are you telling me a joke?"

A hint of mockery flashed in his dark eyes, and just like in Potions class, he drawled out Harry's name, continuing without waiting for Harry's explanation:
"Is he Britain?"

Ridiculous! You don't actually think we'd believe such a ridiculous claim, do you?

According to your vague statement, this great detective's brother hasn't been a Muggle government employee for very long.

Then please tell me, what makes such a junior clerk so capable of making the Muggle Prime Minister exert such substantial pressure on the Ministry of Magic?

Is this reasonable?

Faced with Snape's question, Harry didn't know what to say.

He was a wizard from a Muggle family, and his understanding of Muggle society far surpassed that of wizards who were isolated from information.

Even so, he still found it somewhat absurd.

But that's exactly what happened.

Harry looked at Sherlock and found that his friend also had no intention of explaining.

He immediately understood what Sherlock's attitude meant—believe it or not, it's up to you.

So, like Sherlock, he chose not to respond.

"Muggle Prime Minister? Well done! I love this idea!"

Just then, a gleam of satisfaction flashed across Sirius Black's haggard face as he gave Snape a defiant look:
"Stop with your self-righteous logic, you idiot!"

Just as Snape had drawn out "pot-t" earlier, Sirius Black also drew out a monotonous "idiot":
"You have no idea what the Holmes brothers are capable of."
My younger brother found the truth that had been buried for twelve years in just one semester. For the entire twelve years before that, everyone, including me, had been fooled by a mouse!
My brother doesn't need magic at all to influence that idiot Fudge and the Ministry of Magic through the Prime Minister!
They didn't rely on that stupid seniority-based system; they relied on this!

Sirius Black jabbed his temple hard, looked at Snape with disdain, and said:
"That's real wisdom!"
The facts are right in front of you, yet you remain self-righteous, just like Fudge!
"Oh right, someone like you, who only knows how to scheme behind the crucible, would never understand!"

As soon as Fudge left, Sirius, who had just briefly united his forces, immediately began to mercilessly mock Snape.

"Black, it seems that twelve years in Azkaban have completely ruined your brain. Even the words you utter are no different from spewing filth."

However, if you continue like this, I'd be more than happy to shove a pile of dung into your brain!

"You can try it."

Sirius Black met Snape's gaze, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Snape did not back down, but his expression was a mixture of anger and fear.

The next moment, he pulled out his wand.

Sirius didn't back down. Seeing this, he also drew... well... he didn't have a wand, so he drew Professor Lupin's wand, which was standing next to him.

Lupin: (╯▽╰)
"Enough!" Professor McGonagall suddenly spoke up, striding between Snape and Sirius, separating the two.

Her gaze swept back and forth between the two of them before she finally spoke:
"Severus, Sirius, you are both people Dumbledore trusts."

The truth from twelve years ago has been clarified. Now you should set aside your past differences and learn to trust each other.

Harry felt that this was no different from asking for a miracle.

Even with Professor McGonagall between them, Sirius and Snape still glared fiercely at each other, their hatred reaching its peak at that moment.

Harry strongly suspected that if Professor McGonagall hadn't been there, the two of them would have probably started fighting.

No, even if Professor McGonagall were here, the two would start fighting if she didn't stop them now.

Didn't you see the wand has already been pulled out?
Professor Lu Ping alone cannot stop them.

"My requirement for you in the short term is not to openly antagonize each other."

Professor McGonagall's tone revealed a hint of impatience:

"Regardless of what happened before, we are now in the same camp and must unite as one."

My personal advice is to start by shaking hands with the other person.

Harry began to admire Professor McGonagall.

Because Sirius Black and Professor Snape actually put away their wands and walked towards each other, just as Professor McGonagall had said.

Even though they walked very slowly, they still reached out and clasped hands.

However, both of them only touched hands briefly before letting go.

And throughout the entire process, they kept staring menacingly at each other.

"That's pretty much it."

Professor McGonagall looked satisfied. She turned her head and gave a warning look to a portrait on the wall before looking away again.

"Potter, so you're planning to go home again this winter break?"

"I……"

Harry was about to answer when Sirius Black suddenly spoke up, looking at Professor McGonagall, "Minerva, I... I think it's appropriate to call you that?"

Professor McGonagall was taken aback. She looked at Sirius, seemingly not expecting him to say that.

But soon, she smiled:
"Of course, Sirius. As I just said, we're on the same side now."

Snape gave a cold snort.

"I want Harry to live with me."

Under Harry's surprised gaze, Sirius said bluntly, "Minerva, you know, if that hadn't happened, Lily and James were planning to have me take care of Harry for them..."

“You are Potter’s godfather. As long as Potter agrees, I certainly have no objection.”

"Then it's settled!"

Sirius looked at Harry excitedly, "We're going back to London tomorrow!"

“Thank you, Godfather,” Harry said sincerely.

Snape let out another cold snort.

"Have you been smelling too much poop?"

Sirius abruptly turned to look at him, "Your abnormally large nose seems to be more susceptible to smells than others."

"Sirius!"

Professor McGonagall immediately spoke sternly.

“Well, Minerva, I was just expressing my concern for dear Professor Snape. Perhaps he’s not used to my way of speaking.”

Sirius shrugged.

"I won't disturb your 'filial piety'."

Snape almost squeezed out these words from between his teeth.

His somber gaze lingered on Harry's face for a moment, then he nodded to Professor McGonagall, turned around, and slid out of the headmaster's office like an old bat.

The atmosphere in the office immediately became cheerful as soon as Snape left.

"Sirius, I know about the grudge between you and him, and I don't want to say more about who is right and who is wrong."

But as I just said, I hope you can all put aside your past disagreements.

Professor McGonagall spoke immediately.

“Of course, Minerva.”

Sirius Black truly respected Professor McGonagall, and nodded with a smile upon hearing this.

"Actually, Professor Snape was a good person."

Amidst everyone's surprised gazes, Sherlock suddenly spoke up, "I've told Harry more than once that the person in this school who least wants anything to happen to him is Professor Snape."

“Albus will be very pleased,” Professor McGonagall said with relief. “He has always trusted Severus.”

"Alright, can we stop talking about that annoying guy?"

Sirius Black put his hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Headmaster, there's something else I think I need to report to you."

Hearing Sirius speak so formally, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but ask with curiosity, "What is it?"

“Harry has a friend who has a very intelligent pet, the cat I just mentioned that helped me deliver the mail.”

"You mean Miss Granger, right? Her cat is truly impressive."

Professor McGonagall remarked with considerable emotion, "I only knew it recognized Peter, but I didn't expect it to be able to deliver your message. However, given its cat-like lineage, it's not entirely unreasonable."

"Not only that, it even brought me the Gryffindor tower password."

Almost the instant Sirius uttered those words, Harry knew he was in trouble.

No, Godfather, what do you mean by this?
Are you just enjoying the drama?

Before he could even offer a word of reminder, Sirius lazily said:
"That cat was smarter than some people. Although it didn't bring me Peter, it did find a small piece of paper with a whole week's worth of passwords written on it on a boy's bedside table."

Minerva, I think you really should keep a closer eye on things. Although Gryffindor students are known for their bravery, they can't afford to lose face like this!
"Oh, right, although I've already thrown away that little piece of paper, they seem to have recognized it from the handwriting."

"who is it?"

Professor McGonagall's face turned ashen as she followed Sirius's gaze to Sherlock and Harry:
"Which complete idiot wrote down a week's worth of passwords and just left them lying around everywhere?"

Harry opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

At that moment, he felt as if the temperature in the entire principal's office had dropped.

"Don't try to fool me! Tell me, isn't it Longbottom?"

Harry: "..."

You have a good eye for people.

"I knew it!"

Seeing Harry's expression, Professor McGonagall understood everything, and she roared like an angry lioness:

"It's Neville Longbottom again, isn't it?"

Since you can't even remember the password, you might as well not go back to bed!

When he comes back from this winter break, I'm going to put him in solitary confinement!
Also, I won't let him go to Hogsmeade again!

Sherlock could see clearly that the portraits of all the past principals on the wall had secretly disappeared the moment Professor McGonagall spoke.

Seeing the real headmistress, Professor Minerva McGonagall, lose her temper, Professor Lupin gave Sherlock and Harry a look, signaling them to leave quickly.

(End of this chapter)