Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 438 For Sherlock

Hermione was completely unprepared for Gemma to suddenly approach her.

She was never as agile as Gemma.

In addition, due to carelessness, they failed to dodge, so the distance between the two was instantly reduced.

Unlike Gemma's relationship with Sherlock.

When Gemma approached Hermione, her movements were as light as willow catkins brushing against her fingertips, carrying the delicate fragrance of a young girl's hair.

As swift as a shooting star streaking across the night sky, Hermione barely felt the cool touch of skin against Gemma's skin, and the unique, decisive fragrance wafting to her nose, before the brief encounter ended.

Gemma stepped back without hesitation, her movements so fluid as if she had rehearsed them a thousand times, yet different from how she turned away as if to leave when she did it with Sherlock.

There wasn't much blush on her face; instead, there was a stronger sense of composure and solemnity, as if she were completing an important ceremony.

Deep within those azure eyes, a clear sense of entrustment, encouragement, and an expectant light of "it's your turn now" shone.

She incorporated the heaviness she felt when handing over the envelope earlier into this brief moment of closeness in a more direct and undeniable way.

In the empty carriage, tiny dust particles floated in the beam of light, making this sudden intimacy leave a moment of silence.

Hermione froze on the spot.

She could feel a strange warmth emanating from the spot where they had just touched, as if that brief closeness carried an indescribable weight.

Hermione froze on the spot.

All speculation about Gemma's motives for calling her here—provocation, probing, or even just saying goodbye—vanished at this moment due to Gemma's completely unexpected action.

"Hermione, do you understand now?"

Gemma looked at Hermione and gave her a satisfied smile.

After being ambushed by himself, Sherlock acted as if nothing had happened.

I feel like his surname shouldn't be Sherlock Holmes, it should be Wood!
What a blockhead!
Hermione's current behavior is normal!
The shock was so great that Hermione's accent changed; it was no longer a standard Oxford accent.

"I don't know."

"Ah……"

Gemma chuckled and said, "What if I told you that I did the same thing to Sherlock?"

"What did you say?"

Hermione immediately lost her composure!
Sherlock and Gemma actually kissed!
It was me, it was me first, I was clearly here first!

The thought had just crossed her mind when she suddenly remembered what Gemma had just said.

Please don't have the naive idea that "I was here first."

Damn it, she actually guessed right!
"Don't worry, I kissed him here."

Gemma smiled and pointed to the spot where Hermione had just been kissed.

Hermione took a step back as if she had been electrocuted, looking at Gemma warily.

"Didn't you want to know what happened in Sherlock and the Room of Requirement?"

Seeing Hermione's action, Gemma couldn't help but tease, "Since you're not going to ask Sherlock, then I'll just tell you."

She then recounted in detail, accurately, and comprehensively, what Sherlock and she had done in the Room of Requirement.

This time, Hermione was completely dumbfounded.

At this point, she also understood the deeper meaning behind Gemma's action.

It carries a strong sense of symbolism and ritual.

It is a transfer of power again in the swaying carriage.

It was a silent, brand-like seal of contract that was added after Sherlock was entrusted to her.

"...?!"

Hermione's lips moved slightly, but she couldn't utter a coherent sound.

Lost.

A crushing defeat.

Total loss.

I had previously thought that being a third grader against a seventh grader gave me the advantage.

Looking back now, I realize I was a complete loser, with absolutely no hope of winning.

"I'm telling you all this not so that you'll become the way you are now."

Seeing this, Gemma frowned. "Do you remember what I just said? You need to stand up straight!"

"What did you say?"

Hermione stared at Gemma in surprise, almost thinking she had misheard.

“Sherlock’s reaction to my kiss was even less than yours just now,” Gemma laughed self-deprecatingly. “You don’t actually think I’ve won, do you?”

"But you still kissed him in the end..."

"You can do it too!"

Gemma looked at her with disappointment and exasperation. Honestly, if she hadn't wanted to leave, why would she have done all this?

"If this continues, not only me, but even that little girl will get ahead of you. What will you do then? Will you run to a corner and cry all by yourself?"

After hearing this, Hermione finally understood.

Gemma left herself with an idea that carried understanding, entrustment, and silent encouragement in this way.

It's about leaving her mark, her approval, and proof of being her fellow traveler on your own.

Just as she wove the symbol of life and loyalty (hair) into a ring.

Just as she solemnly presented the symbol of power and responsibility (the badge) to Sherlock.

This is Gemma telling her in her own way:
From this moment on, you are not just helping me keep an eye on him.

You are part of protecting him.

As Gemma watched Hermione's gaze gradually clear, the last trace of mischief in her eyes completely vanished, leaving only pure, heavy trust.

Everything that needed to be said has been said, and everything that needed to be done has been done.

Just as she didn't give Sherlock a chance to ask further questions when she left the Room of Requirement, she said no more.

Gemma gave Hermione a deep look, as if trying to etch her image into her heart, then turned and opened the door to the private room.

"Take care, my dear Hermione."

The farewell was spoken in almost the same tone as the one she had said to Sherlock earlier—of course, Hermione was unaware of this.

After saying this last sentence, Gemma didn't linger and walked out without looking back.

Her chestnut hair traced a clean arc in the corridor light.

The door closed gently behind her, shutting out the noise from the outside carriages and also cutting off the last glimpse of this graduated girl at Hogwarts.

Hermione remained standing in the box, as still as a statue.

She unconsciously touched her cheek with one hand, while her other hand tightly gripped the envelope containing Sherlock's secret files.

That light, flimsy piece of paper now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

A moment later, the slight shaking brought her back to her senses.

The cool touch on my cheek hadn't completely dissipated, but instead ignited a strange heat.

It was a mixture of immense confusion, a tremor of recognition, and an unprecedented, heavy sense of responsibility, as if a destiny had pushed it to the forefront.

It must be said that Gemma Farley's final farewell was far more impactful than Hermione had imagined.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, but Hermione felt her world being irreversibly drawn into a deeper vortex.

Even as the train pulled into King's Cross Station, Hermione was still reeling from the shock.

Harry and Ron wisely refrained from asking her what had happened between her and Gemma.

As for Sherlock, he seemed completely uninterested in it.

At this point, the students began to get off the bus, and the aisle became chaotic and noisy again.

Ever since Sherlock and Harry entered Hogwarts, there have been countless people greeting the Lion King and the Savior during every holiday.

The same applies this year.

"I wish I could be as famous as you guys," Ron said enviously as he watched the scene unfold.

"I would trade all of this for a perfect family with you."

Harry said in a low voice.

Ron's words reminded him of Snape.

If he hadn't told Voldemort about Trelawney's prophecy, his parents would be the ones picking him up at the station now, right?

Ginny glared at Ron.

"Oh, sorry, bro, I didn't mean to..."

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Ron quickly began to apologize.

"It's ok."

Harry shook his head; he knew, of course, that Ron hadn't done it on purpose.

People always envy what they don't have.

Sherlock said quietly, "Ron doesn't need to apologize, because what you said is the truth."

Harry had no reason to propose an exchange, because it was impossible.

Qiu Zhang sighed: "Sherlock, your words are as precise as mathematical answers, yet they always feel like a bucket of cold water being poured over someone's head."

"But he wasn't wrong, was he?"

Luna said, puzzled, "Ron is often overlooked because he has five great older brothers and a lovely younger sister, so he needs that feeling of being noticed even more."

Harry, having never experienced the warmth of a family growing up, certainly needs the love and care of relatives even more—just like I did after losing my mother at a young age.

"..."

Everyone except Sherlock stared at Luna speechlessly.

There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names.

The claim that Luna was called "Crazy Girl Lovegood" was indeed unfounded.

But then again, her way of thinking is really similar to Sherlock's!
Only she would agree with Sherlock so immediately.

Hermione gave Luna a long look.

Did Gemma Farley, the girl who has passed away, really see that far ahead?

Could it be that even Luna is more suitable for Sherlock than he is?
It was me, it was me first, I was clearly here first...

Stop! I can't think like that anymore, or I'll really become a loser.

With that in mind, she secretly made a bold decision.

No more hesitation!

Hesitate and you will lose!

As a third-year student, I naturally didn't need the security guard to remind me; I had already broken into smaller groups and passed through the partition wall of Platform 9¾.

Harry spotted Sirius immediately; tall and handsome, he stood out in the crowd.

Beside him were the Weasleys, the three of them chatting and laughing.

Further away was Uncle Vernon.

He was eyeing the three people with suspicion.

His suspicions seemed to be confirmed when Mrs. Weasley and Harry greeted each other with a hug.

"Goodbye, Harry, I'll call and talk about the World Cup!"

Ron patted Harry on the back and shouted behind him.

Goodbye, Harry!

"goodbye!"

"bye!"

The children all said goodbye to Harry.

Harry waved to them as he pushed the trolley carrying the suitcase and Hedwig's cage toward Uncle Vernon.

"Uncle, my godfather wants to see you."

Harry said cheerfully.

"Godfather?" Uncle Vernon asked in confusion. "You don't have a godfather!"

"He has."

Just then, the tall Sirius Black walked over and put his hand on Harry's shoulder:
“I’m Harry’s parents’ best friend. I was convicted of murder many years ago and was only recently released…”

When he first saw Sirius Black, who was tall and handsome, Virgil Dursley had a pretty good first impression.

But upon hearing his self-introduction, Uncle Vernon's expression changed instantly, replaced by fear almost immediately.

"Sirius!"

Harry immediately protested.

He certainly knew why Sirius said that.

Because of what he had experienced with the Dursleys over the years.

If he hadn't desperately stopped them, Sirius would have personally gone to their house to teach them a lesson.

But having already repaired his relationship with the Dursleys with Sherlock's help, Harry naturally didn't want it to deteriorate again.

Even though Sirius's words were indeed true, he couldn't say that!
This is just making trouble out of nothing.

"Okay, okay, I was just joking."

Sirius shrugged. "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Sirius Black, and Sirius Black is Harry's godfather."

It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dursley.

On behalf of Harry's parents, I want to thank your family for 'taking care' of Harry over the years, and I've prepared a gift for you in return.

Harry couldn't help but touch his face with his hand.

Although Sirius stopped deliberately causing trouble for Harry's sake, he still spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon believed that his family had indeed been taking care of Harry for so many years, so he completely failed to understand Sirius's implied meaning.

Instead, his eyes lit up when he heard about the "gift." "Let's go, Mr. Blake, let's talk in the car!"

Sirius: "..."

Using sarcastic or sarcastic language on an idiot is a complete waste.

Harry, however, let out a long sigh of relief.

However, the moment he climbed into the Dursleys' car, he witnessed a scene that surprised him.

Not far away, Hermione tiptoed and gently wrapped her arms around Sherlock's neck, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

Her movements carried a hint of hurried determination, her brown curly hair swaying slightly with each step.

Harry could even clearly see that Hermione's ears turned red the moment the kiss landed.

"what happened?"

Noticing Harry's shocked expression, Sirius asked curiously.

"No, it's nothing."

Harry looked away and said.

It's just a kiss on the cheek, not a kiss on the lips, there's nothing to make a fuss about.

Both Cho Chang and Ginny kissed themselves.

Not to mention them, even the three female teammates on the Gryffindor Quidditch team kissed their cheeks when they won a game.

He was only so surprised because that person was Sherlock.

Although Hermione had never done anything like this before, given her relationship with Sherlock, a farewell kiss was really nothing...

Harry tried to comfort himself with this thought, but he couldn't help glancing at the platform again.

Coincidentally, Sherlock thought the same thing.

(End of this chapter)