Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 521 Let me take you to see some exciting and thrilling things.

Facing his godfather Sirius, Harry finally poured out all the grievances he had been holding in for so long.

From the baseless slander in Rita Skeeter's articles to the strange looks from her classmates, and the annoyance of being pointed at and talked about even when she was walking.

Every word carried a bittersweet feeling that had been suppressed for a long time.

He had said those things before.

But nobody listened.

Sherlock is not a good listener most of the time—unless the matter is related to the case.

This also prevents him from using empathy.

Because in his eyes, everything Harry went through was nothing at all!

After hearing Harry's words, Ginny's earlier unease was instantly replaced by annoyance.

I used to be secretly angry because of Rita's fabricated stories about Harry's first love in her articles, and even deliberately avoided him. Now that I think about it, it was really childish and meaningless.

She clenched her fists. What she should really do was to be like Sirius Black, quietly stay by his side, and be a patient listener.

Damn it, why didn't I think of that? I acted too late!
"So that's it..."

After listening to Harry's story, Sirius Black's deep black eyes flashed with understanding, and he looked at Harry thoughtfully:

"I understand, she has discovered your value."

The name Harry Potter itself has a million times more appeal than anyone else.

Not to mention you're the youngest member of the Warriors in this Triwizard Tournament.

How could someone like Rita Skeeter possibly let such a golden opportunity slip by?
To grab the reader's attention, she would write anything, no matter how outrageous.

Just like Sherlock and Hermione said, it's best not to take her words to heart.

"But I can't do it!"

Harry looked up abruptly, his voice filled with anger, "Her nonsense has completely ruined my life!"

"This matter is indeed a bit troublesome."

Sirius sat up straight, his expression instantly turning serious, and his voice deepening:
"Rita Skeeter is a special correspondent for The Daily Prophet."

Dear Harry, you should know that this newspaper dares to criticize even the Ministry of Magic by name.

It's virtually impossible to shut her up completely.

And another thing is that readers just happen to like what she writes.

Even though we all know it's all fake, we have to admit that she's really good at stirring up emotions.

do you know?

This one article about you alone has caused the Daily Prophet's recent sales to increase by a full 20%, which is quite astonishing.

"Is there really no way out for us?"

Harry's shoulders slumped again, his eyes filled with disappointment, and his voice lowered considerably.

"That's not the case."

Sirius Black suddenly curled his lips into a sly smile and patted Harry's arm:

"If you really find her an eyesore, I do have a way to keep her in line for a while."

"any solution?"

Harry suddenly looked up, his dim eyes instantly lighting up, and eagerly leaned forward.

"Don't ask about the specific methods; just know that I have a way."

Sirius winked mysteriously.

"You're planning to use some special methods, aren't you?"

At this moment, Sherlock, who had been sitting silently drinking butterbeer, put down his glass.

The bottom of the cup made a soft sound as it hit the table. He raised an eyebrow and casually interjected.

"You kid..."

Sirius shook his head helplessly. "It's no fun if you explain it so clearly!"

"Given your personality, this is indeed the most direct and effective method."

"what……"

Harry paused for a moment, then realized what Sirius meant and quickly waved his hand:

"Let's forget about it then! It really doesn't have to come to that."

Having spent so much time with Sirius, he had heard some stories about his fathers' old raider squads.

He didn't want Sirius to do anything that might hurt others because of his own affairs.

Even though Rita Skeeter provoked him first.

"Don't worry about all that, Harry."

Sirius leaned closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Since she came to cause trouble first, it's not too much to teach her a lesson."

Harry bit his lip, frowned hesitantly, and after a moment of silence, shook his head firmly.

The conversation naturally turned to the three-way battle for supremacy.

Sirius looked at Harry and Sherlock with eyes full of trust and encouragement:
"Since the Goblet of Fire chose you two instead of other adult wizards, it means that you two are the most suitable candidates."

Harry, stop focusing on your age. I have absolute faith in your abilities.

I've heard a bit about that kid named Diggory. If the three of you team up, you'll definitely be able to defeat Beauxbatons and Durmstrang's gang.

They talked for a long time about the details of the match, and Sirius patiently listened to all of Harry's questions, giving detailed answers to each one.

As time went by, the Three Brooms Tavern became increasingly crowded, turning what was once a fairly spacious area into a cramped mess.

The air was filled with the aroma of butterbeer, the smoky scent of toast, and the various perfumes worn by wizards, while the air was filled with noisy conversations and the clinking of glasses.

Most of the people here are Hogwarts students, who gather here to laugh and play during their free time on weekend afternoons.

However, there were also many people from the magical world wearing various robes and with different expressions moving among them.

This is not surprising, after all, Hogsmeade is the only pure wizarding village in all of Britain.

For wizards who are not good at disguising themselves in front of Muggles, this is the safest and most comfortable haven.

There are too many people!

Sirius frowned, glancing at the throng of people huddled together in the room, his tone tinged with impatience:
"I think we need to go somewhere else."

"Great idea! But where do we go?"

Ron immediately jumped up from his seat, his eyes sparkling as he asked; he had been itching to sit still for a while.

"not us."

Sirius Black's lips curled into a smile, his gaze sweeping over the group of boys and girls, a meaningful smile appearing on his face:
"I think we need to split up."

"what?"

Harry paused, his face full of surprise, looking at Sirius with confusion.

Sirius Black said calmly:
"Harry, take Cho and Ginny for a walk around the neighborhood."

Sherlock, take Hermione and Luna with you.

Ron was dumbfounded when he saw Sirius had arranged everything so clearly for everyone else, and no one had any objections.

He pointed to his nose, looking completely bewildered: "And what about me?"

"Of course you'll be with me."

Sirius slapped Ron on the shoulder with such force that Ron staggered:
"I'll take you to see some interesting and exciting things."

Everyone was satisfied with Sirius's arrangements.

Cho Chang's cheeks flushed slightly as she quietly took a half-step closer to Harry. Ginny nodded, her lips pursed, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Although Harry would prefer to spend time alone with Cho Chang, looking into Ginny's bright eyes, he felt that it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go with Sherlock or Ron.

Moreover, Ginny herself didn't object, so she and Cho Chang volunteered to be guides, showing Ginny around the village since it was her first time visiting Hogsmeade.

On the other hand, Hermione and Luna were naturally willing to follow Sherlock.

Sherlock, however, seemed completely unconcerned; whether it was one person or a group of people, it made no difference to him.

As for Ron, upon hearing that it was something exciting and thrilling, he immediately put all his doubts aside and readily agreed.

So, after leaving the Three Brooms Bar, the group split into three groups and headed in different directions.

Seeing that Sherlock and Luna were both silent and the atmosphere was a bit quiet, Hermione took the initiative to speak and looked at Luna.

Like Ginny, she is a third-grader and this is her first time at Hogsmeade.

“Luna, Hogsmeade has many interesting shops. Would you like to look around? We can accompany you.”

Hearing Hermione's words, Luna seemed to snap out of her thoughts.

She blinked her large, protruding eyes, her gaze sweeping over the wizards in various robes and the shops with strange signs along the village road, a dreamy smile spreading across her face:
"Oh, okay!"
Curious bubbles float in the air here; I've been wanting to observe them closely for a long time.

"Whatever makes you happy, I'm fine with anything."

Hermione was already used to Luna's strange descriptions.

She smiled helplessly, turned to Sherlock, and wanted to hear his opinion.

"Just take a walk."

Sherlock made his decision succinctly, his steps remaining unhurried.

While Hogsmeade's main street is bustling, unlike the lively atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks pub, the Hogwarts students here are not as densely packed.

Most students who come here have a clear goal, either heading straight for Honey Duke Candy Store or toward Joko's Joke Store; very few stroll leisurely through the streets like they do.

Luna was filled with curiosity the whole way, and she would stop to admire the scenery along the way from time to time.

When she saw a spinning, dancing tin can in a shop window, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed softly in surprise:

"Look! It's waltzing with the moss fairy on the windowsill!"

As she passed a house with a rotating wind chime hanging under the eaves, she listened again and whispered:

"That tone is too shrill; it'll scare away the snow sprites hibernating under the eaves..."

Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead, then pulled out a small notebook from her pocket and started flipping through it.

Sherlock glanced at it casually and noticed the word "SPEW" written on the notebook, with a list of members below.

However, the content is pitifully short, consisting of only two names:

Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley.

"So, you still plan to continue promoting the House-Elf Rights Promotion Association?" Sherlock asked.

"Yes."

Hermione put away her notebook, looked around at the wizards on the street, and said thoughtfully, "By the way, I should probably try to recruit some villagers into SPEW."

"They won't join."

Luna suddenly interjected, her voice light and airy, which startled Hermione for a moment.

"Why?" Hermione looked at her in confusion.

"Because they still need house-elves to do their work!"

Luna tilted her head and said seriously, "If we give house-elves freedom, who will help them clean their houses, cook, and do laundry?"

"I'm not saying that house-elves shouldn't do chores."

Hermione took a deep breath, her voice tinged with urgency, "But at least they need to get decent wages and have a respectable working environment!"

Luna blinked, still looking at Hermione with a puzzled expression, as if she didn't understand why Hermione was so concerned about these things.

Hermione sighed helplessly, but her resolve only strengthened:
"The current situation I am facing makes me feel even more that SPEW must persevere."

Sherlock, I think we need to take some more direct action.

I plan to start with the Hogwarts kitchen, but I don't know how to get in.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

Sherlock shook his head, paused, and then added, "However, I can tell you how to get into the kitchen."

"really?"

Hermione immediately perked up, her eyes lit up, and her tone was full of surprise.

"I don't lie in the vast majority of cases."

Hogwarts' kitchens are located in the underground building of the school castle, next to Hufflepuff's common room, just below the Great Hall.

To enter the kitchen, simply scratch the pear image on the fruit platter by the door.

When the pear smiles, it will turn into a green doorknob.

Luna laughed upon hearing this: "A pear that can laugh and turn into a doorknob, how interesting!"

Hermione sighed, "It's that simple. I thought it was something mysterious!"

“My dear Hermione, this is exactly how I reason.”

Before I told you, you found it incredible.

But once I tell you what happened, you'll think—ah, it's all so simple!

"That's true."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "Even though we've known each other for four years, I still can't help but feel surprised whenever something like this happens."

"It's only been four years?"

Sherlock laughed too, "You might stay like this your whole life!"

"lifetime……"

Upon hearing Sherlock's words, Hermione suddenly blushed, as if she had thought of something.

Sherlock looked at Hermione curiously, not understanding what she was thinking.

"Look at that bucket, its shape is really peculiar, it looks like a Kaba lying on the ground sunbathing."

Just then, Luna's words broke the silence between the two.

Following Luna's gaze, one could see a large wooden barrel in front of the Devis-Bans store across the street.

The wooden bucket was filled with colorful broom handles—red, blue, and green—packed to the brim.

Luna was clearly captivated by the scene. She stopped, stood on tiptoe, and looked in that direction, speaking in her uniquely ethereal voice:
"The broom handles were stuck inside, quietly, like little fish entangled in seaweed."

I think they're definitely waiting for a storm that can carry them away.

Hermione, perhaps the house-elves would enjoy keeping company with a barrel like this, listening to the sound of the wind together?

Although she was talking to Hermione, her eyes were glued to the barrel, completely absorbed in her fantasy about magical creatures triggered by reality.

Hermione's train of thought was interrupted. She sighed softly and glanced helplessly at Luna.

She was about to speak when she saw Luna bend down to tie her loose shoelaces, then look up and add:

"Also, you just mentioned the kitchen. I've heard that there are bread elves as guardian spirits in the Hogwarts kitchen, and they always sing lullabies around the oven at night."

o(一︿一+)o
Hermione was speechless for a moment, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.

She instinctively turned to look at Sherlock, wanting to see his reaction.

It would have been better if she hadn't looked; what she saw stunned her.

(End of this chapter)