Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 607 Your Future, I'll Accompany You to the End
"Sherlock, Sherlock?"

The time Sherlock spent in the Mind Palace, when converted to the real world, wasn't actually that long.

Just a few seconds later, he had already sorted out and integrated the clues.

However, since Gemma happened to be talking to him at that moment, she almost immediately noticed that something was wrong with Sherlock.

After calling his name twice without getting a response, and seeing his vacant look, Gemma became anxious.

The girl swiftly drew her wand and aimed it at Sherlock, preparing to cast a sobering spell on him.

Just then, Sherlock left the Temple of Thought and returned to the real world.

Seeing Gemma's appearance and glancing at the wand pointed at him, he instantly understood the situation and gently pressed down on her wrist holding the wand.

The warm touch from her fingertips made Gemma pause.

She stared blankly at Sherlock, and only when she noticed that his eyes had regained their clarity did her tense nerves relax slightly.

"I am fine."

Seeing that Gemma wanted to ask more questions, Sherlock added:
"I was just thinking about a key question and got lost in thought for a moment."

"Sherlock, you scared me to death."

Among Sherlock's friends, Gemma was the only one who could give him a sense of maturity and composure, and rarely lost her composure like this.

But Sherlock's appearance just now was really too strange.

He kept shaking his head from side to side, muttering incoherent words that she couldn't understand at all.

It felt like an invisible hand was gripping my neck, swaying me from side to side.

Gemma was alarmed by his strange appearance, and it's no wonder she couldn't remain calm.

"Sherlock, are you...are you really alright?"

Even after being reassured, Gemma was still worried and reached out her other hand to gently stroke his cheek.

Only after she felt Sherlock's steady breathing did her anxiety finally subside.

"The Marauder's Map showed a visitor that shouldn't have been there."

Sherlock let her hand rest on his cheek, turned his gaze to the unfolded parchment, and spoke calmly.

Gemma followed his gaze, her eyes landing on the constantly moving name, her doubts deepening:
"A visitor who shouldn't have been there? You mean Mr. Crouch?"

"Yes."

"What happened to you just now? You were in such a state..."

Gemma hesitated before asking, unable to reconcile the strange Sherlock from before with the calm and composed person before her.

"I only stayed in my mental palace for a while."

Sherlock didn't explain much, but Gemma still caught a hint of something unusual in his tone.

Clearly, Barty Crouch's appearance at Hogwarts was completely unexpected for Sherlock.

It could even be a key breakthrough.

She was about to ask another question when Sherlock waved his hand:
"We'll talk about this later. I need to confirm something right now."

His gaze was fixed on the constantly moving name on the map, his eyes sharpening at that moment:
"I'm going to find him now."

I originally just wanted to get the Marauder's Map from Harry as an insurance policy, but I never expected to have such an unexpected gain.

An irrepressible excitement welled up in Sherlock's heart.

But the more excited he became, the calmer he appeared on the surface, and the clearer his thinking became.

“Gemma, you go first…”

"I do not--"

Before Sherlock could finish speaking, Gemma stepped forward, her eyes filled with a determination that seemed to suggest she was getting married.

"I will go with you."

Gemma knew what Sherlock wanted to say; he simply wanted her to go back first.

But his worries about Sherlock had now transformed into the courage to act.

At this moment, even though Gemma didn't know what had happened, she was unwilling and unable to let Sherlock face it alone.

For her, this was even her first chance to go on an adventure with Sherlock, and she would never miss it.

I was not involved in your past.

I'll be there for you through thick and thin.

Gemma grasped Sherlock's hand without hesitation, her azure eyes meeting his grey ones without flinching, and said, word by word:

"This time, you will no longer be alone."

Sherlock met her gaze and saw the determination and resolve in her eyes, as well as the deep-seated worry within them.

He quickly weighed the risks of the trip, and then remembered that Gemma was the strongest among his companions.

Both their magical skills and adaptability are enough to make them a reliable asset.

"Okay, stay alert, stick close to me, and don't act on your own."

Gemma smiled brightly, revealing a pair of shallow dimples, her eyes full of joy:
"Don't worry, I will definitely protect you."

“Dear Gemma, this is something a man should say to a woman.”

Sherlock raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible teasing.

“It’s understandable to make changes now and then.” Gemma winked playfully and squeezed his hand.

Sherlock paused upon hearing this, but ultimately said nothing more.

He put away the Marauder's Map and strode quickly toward the castle.

Gemma immediately took his hand and walked alongside him.

The evening breeze brushed against her hair, bringing a touch of coolness, but it couldn't dampen the pounding of her heart or her concern for those around her.

"Most people in this city are just ordinary, with only bustling streets and traffic in their eyes."

But traveling with Sherlock Holmes, you'll see the battlefield.

Gemma had heard Sherlock say this more than once before, but only now did she truly understand its profound meaning.

The road beneath our feet seemed to have turned into a battlefield filled with the smoke of gunpowder.

Unknown dangers lurk in the surrounding darkness.

The people around her are her comrades-in-arms.

At this moment, she finally understood the tension and certainty that Hermione felt when facing danger together with Sherlock.

After the two entered the castle, Sherlock broke free from Gemma's grasp.

Gemma was taken aback.

However, seeing him take out the Marauder's Map, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Third floor, near the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, his direction hasn't changed."

Sherlock glanced quickly at the map and said succinctly.

Gemma leaned closer for a look and asked in a low voice, "Should we go straight over?"

"Good, let's go straight there."

Sherlock put away the map, and to Gemma's surprise and delight, he took her hand and walked quickly in the direction marked on the map.

The light in the castle corridor grew dimmer in the twilight, and the wall lamps cast a dim, yellowish glow, elongating the shadows of the two people.

The air was filled with the cool scent of ancient stones, mixed with a faint smell of dust, and echoed with their deliberately light yet still hurried footsteps.

Gemma, holding Sherlock's hand, was nervous, her palms damp with sweat. She felt every step he took pounding on her taut nerves.

Whether Sherlock suddenly had a breakthrough or not—of course, the possibility of that is extremely slim.

But this feeling of walking side by side and trusting each other made her happy.

This also strengthened her resolve to face danger with him.

As they turned a corner covered with faded, old tapestries, Sherlock tightened his grip on Gemma's hand and suddenly slowed their pace.

At the end of the corridor ahead, a very familiar figure was walking with a limp.

It was none other than Alastor Mudy, nicknamed Mad-Eye.

The moment Sherlock saw him, his gaze narrowed sharply, and his pupils constricted slightly.

He quickly took out the Marauder's Map and glanced at it again.

On the parchment, that glaring name—Barty Crouch—was now perfectly overlaid on this limping figure.

At the same time, Sherlock's mental palace activated instantly, and a series of memories related to Moody flashed through his mind:
At their first meeting in the Wissengamo courtroom, Moody had sharp eyes, a serious tone, and an aura that kept strangers at bay.

When Dumbledore introduced him at the beginning of the semester, he described him as one of the greatest Aurors, with extensive experience.

Before the start of each event in the Triwizard Tournament, his conversation with Bagman revealed his strict adherence to the rules and his concern for the warriors.

One by one, all the memories related to Moody were quickly extracted, reproduced, sorted out, and analyzed.

Soon, a bold conclusion took shape in his mind.

The "Moody" in front of you is actually Batty Crouch Jr. in disguise!

As for the method—besides compound decoctions, what else is there?
The iconic wooden legs struck the cold stone floor with a regular, dull "thump, thump" sound, which was particularly jarring in the silent corridor.

To be honest, Sherlock was somewhat surprised that Barty Crouch Jr. chose to impersonate Moody.

After all, Mad-Eyes has a notorious reputation and such distinctive physical features, so impersonating him is not a good option.

But the words came back again.

After all, Mad-Eyes has a notorious reputation and such distinctive physical features, so if someone were to impersonate him, almost no one would suspect anything.

This is precisely how reverse thinking is used to lead others into a blind spot in their thinking.

It's fair to say that even Sherlock wouldn't have considered this direction if it weren't for the Marauder's Map.

Of course, Sherlock also believed that with his abilities, he would eventually be able to see through the other party's disguise.

But by then, the other side's plan will probably have already been implemented.

Therefore... Marauder's Map is truly a magical tool!

In the third grade, with its help, I finally found Peter Pettigrew, who had been lying in wait for twelve years.

In fourth grade, he once again helped him identify Barty Crouch, who had infiltrated the school.

Pointed fork, big feet, moon face, worm tail...

Sherlock was certain that even they themselves hadn't imagined that their prank would result in such a great and practical invention.

In particular, the bug tail exposed itself by creating its own map.

All I can say is that karma is a cycle.

The book returns to its true story.

Now that it was confirmed that Moody was problematic, Sherlock began to observe him more closely.

The fake Moody in front of him was still wearing that highly recognizable cloak, the edges of which were badly worn, revealing the dark fabric underneath.

His face was covered with crisscrossing scars, with a hideous scar extending from his forehead to his chin, making his appearance particularly terrifying.

What's most impressive is his terrifying demonic eye, which is spinning wildly and nervously in its socket.

Judging from its appearance alone, it has no flaws.

Compound decoctions are understandable.

Almost instantly, Sherlock knew what he should do next.

They neither turned away immediately nor stayed in the same spot.

He gripped Gemma's hand again and continued walking forward at the same pace.

His expression was natural, as if he had simply bumped into someone he knew in the corridor.

Soon, upon hearing footsteps, the fake Moody stopped and slowly turned around.

Sherlock met his gaze and took the initiative to greet him:

"Hello, Mr. Moody."

"Hello, Sherlock Holmes."

Seeing Sherlock greet him and noticing his hand holding Gemma's, Moody smiled.

But when he smiled, his scarred face became even more distorted and bizarre.

It's no exaggeration to say that this smile was even uglier than a cry.

"You did very well in the first two projects, very well."

The fake Moody first praised Sherlock, his tone carrying a hint of what sounded like genuine approval, before turning to look at Gemma.

His gaze lingered on Gemma's face for a moment, his normal eyes and his shifting, demonic eyes both focusing on her, before he asked:
"You're Sebastian Fali's daughter, aren't you?"

"Yes, Mr. Moody."

Gemma understood Sherlock's plan the moment he spoke.

To feign a chance encounter and test the other party.

Upon hearing "Moody" mention her father's name, she immediately responded cooperatively.

His expression was natural, without the slightest flaw.

The fake Moody never expected that he would be exposed at the last moment after hiding for almost a whole school year.

He is still trying his best to maintain Moody's persona:
"A few years ago, your father helped me out of a troublesome, difficult situation..."

I have always been grateful to him.

Gemma continued to cooperate.

A perfectly timed look of confusion crossed her face:
“I’m sorry, I haven’t heard my father mention this.”

"Of course, I don't think he would tell you kids this kind of thing."

The fake Moody smiled, a smile that remained unpleasant, then changed the subject, his gaze returning to the two clasped hands:
"Alright, now can any of you tell me why you came here holding hands?"

If Sherlock hadn't seen the name Barty Crouch on the Marauder's Map beforehand, he probably would have been fooled by the man in front of him.

The other party's disguise was extremely sophisticated. They not only imitated Moody's appearance and voice, but also his tone of voice and habitual movements perfectly.

Unfortunately, Sherlock's knowledge of Moody mostly came from what others had told him.

The only time they had direct contact was at the Wizengamo Trials.

The time was short and there wasn't much interaction.

This is precisely why imposters had an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Otherwise, he would have been discovered by Sherlock long ago, instead of waiting until now.

Through a few simple words, Sherlock confirmed another thing.

The fake Moody had just discovered their whereabouts.

(End of this chapter)