Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 608 This is the Boomerang
After a brief conversation with Alastor Moody, who was disguised as Barty Crouch Jr., Sherlock became even more certain of his earlier judgment.

Simply put, given that they encountered Moody at this time and place, the most natural reaction would be for them to go up and greet him.

If you immediately turn away or hide when you see him, it would seem extremely unusual.

The person who would do that is Neville.

As Sherlock had expected, after the conversation, the other party began to inquire about the purpose of their visit.

Sherlock didn't even blink before blurting out:

"We have questions to ask Professor Lu Ping."

"Lupin?"

Barty followed Sherlock's gaze and glanced at the Defense Against the Dark Arts office not far away.

The next moment, he straightened his face and said in a serious tone:
“Holmes, I think you should know the rules of the game.”

"Yes I know."

"Teachers cannot directly help you prepare for the top three competition; this is explicitly prohibited."

Seeing how engrossed the other person was in the role, Sherlock didn't hesitate to join in with his own acting skills:

“I think you’ve misunderstood, Mr. Moody. We’re not looking for Professor Lupin because of the Triwizard Tournament.”

"What is it? As a member of the judging panel, I need to find out."

"It's a private matter related to Gemma."

"Is it related to Miss Farley?"

Little Barty turned to look at Gemma, his normal eyes and his spinning magic eyes both staring at her at the same time.

“That’s right, that’s how it is.” Gemma immediately nodded in agreement.

Her expression was calm, showing no sign of guilt.

"If that's the case, then let's go."

However, I'll have to ask Lupin about it later to confirm the situation.

His gaze swept over their tightly clasped hands, and once again, a smile more painful than a grimace appeared on his face:
"And Holmes, I wish you, Potter, and Diggory good luck on the third project."

After saying that, without waiting for their response, he turned and limped away, leaning on his cane.

"Youth is wonderful; it holds endless possibilities."

His words, along with the "thump, thump" of the wooden leg striking the ground, echoed in the empty corridor.

The sound grew farther and farther away, eventually disappearing around the corner.

Only after the hunched figure completely disappeared from sight did Gemma breathe a long sigh of relief; her palms were already slick with sweat.

Sherlock had already told her the correct way to use the Marauder's Map.

So when she arrived at the castle with Sherlock and saw the sign for "Barty Crouch," but instead saw Alastor Moody, she immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.

The person they just dealt with wasn't the real Moody at all, but Batty Crouch in disguise!
She couldn't understand why a retired Minister of Magic would go to such lengths to impersonate someone else and infiltrate Hogwarts.

Is it because you can't stand being alone?
Is he trying to regain power?

still is……

In any case, there must be a huge conspiracy behind this.

As for Sherlock, he has clearly touched upon the core of the conspiracy.

"I can feel that you are nervous now."

Sherlock's voice pulled Gemma back to reality.

"Yes."

Gemma didn't hide it and nodded in agreement.

Although she instinctively cooperated with Sherlock's actions immediately after witnessing them.

Even now, thinking back on it still makes me feel lingering fear.

Sherlock smiled slightly, then pulled Gemma away.

Upon touching Gemma's damp, slippery palms, he added:
“You did a very good job, dear Gemma.”

When Gemma saw that Sherlock was indeed leading her towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, she was taken aback.

She had thought Sherlock was just using it as an excuse to fool the fake Moody, but she hadn't expected him to be serious.

As if guessing her thoughts, Sherlock stopped at the office door and calmly said:
“I’ve said before that I don’t lie in most cases—unless it’s necessary.”

The next moment, he raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

Gemma: "..."

The door opened quickly.

Sherlock and Gemma just happened to see Lupin putting away his wand.

At the same time, Lupin saw the two people standing outside the door and his face immediately showed obvious surprise.

He had originally thought that Harry would be the one coming to find him at this time.

After all, he had just given Harry pre-match coaching and made his stance clear, so it was only natural for Harry to come to him.

Of course, Sherlock's arrival was also within his expectations.

Given Harry's trust in Sherlock, he would surely tell her everything that happened that afternoon.

But the fact that Gemma Farley, a student who had graduated last year, came along was completely beyond his expectations.

However, this surprise only lasted for a moment.

Lupin quickly regained his senses and let the two in.

After the two men were seated, Lupin poured them each a glass of warm water before smiling at Sherlock:
"I heard from Harry that you went to check out the exam venue?"
So, are you satisfied with Hagrid's arrangement?

Have you noticed anything that needs attention?

“We just ran into Moody in the hallway.”

Sherlock did not answer his question, but instead brought up a new topic.

Lupin's smile vanished instantly, his expression turned serious, and he leaned forward slightly.
Did he ask you what you were here for?

"I asked, and I told him I was coming to see you."

"What did he say?"

He said that as a member of the referee team, he could not allow the teachers to give us private guidance before the competition, as this would violate the competition rules.

"But you still came."

"Because I told you I wasn't here because of the Three Kingdoms Tournament."

"He believed it?"

"No."

"..."

Lupin looked at Sherlock, momentarily at a loss for words.

He didn't consider himself a stupid person—though not as stupid as his good brothers James and Sirius.

But this brief conversation just now made him feel like his IQ couldn't keep up, as if the two of them were not on the same wavelength.

Gemma, sitting next to Sherlock, looked helpless.

This is not Professor Lu Ping's fault at all; it's purely due to information asymmetry.

After all, no one would have imagined that the Triwizard Tournament referee, the former famous Auror of the Ministry of Magic, nicknamed Mad-Eye Moody, would actually be the former Director of the Ministry of Magic in disguise!
This is so outrageous that it would be hard for anyone to react.

Fortunately, Sherlock did not let the awkward silence continue.

Seeing that communication was blocked, he simply took out the Marauder's Map from his pocket and laid it flat on the table between the two of them.

Lupin was very familiar with the map he had helped create. He had heard from Harry that Sherlock had taken the map to the Quidditch pitch, and although he didn't understand Sherlock's specific intentions, he knew Sherlock had his reasons. He smiled and told Harry that Sherlock must have his own ideas.

But now Sherlock has placed the map in front of him again...

The boomerang came so fast that it caught him off guard.

He had no idea why Sherlock had taken out the map, so he could only lower his head and examine it carefully.

Remembering that Sherlock had just mentioned seeing Moody in the hallway, Lupin instinctively started looking from his own office first.

Upon seeing this, he was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

He abruptly looked up at Sherlock, his eyes filled with shock:
“Barty Crouch? What’s he doing at Hogwarts? Didn’t the Ministry of Magic say he was resting at home?”

“The problem is not with Crouch, sir.”

Sherlock said calmly, his gaze fixed on the map: "I told you, the person Gemma and I just encountered was Moody."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ping's eyes narrowed sharply, and his pupils constricted slightly.

If it were someone else, they might not understand what Sherlock meant by that.

But he was Remus Lupin, the creator of the Marauder's Map.

Last school year, I even witnessed Sherlock using the Marauder's Map to successfully expose Peter Pettigrew, who was disguised as Scabbers the mouse.

So as soon as Sherlock uttered those words, he understood what they meant and immediately grasped the key point.

Without saying a word, he lowered his head again and began to search carefully on the map.

Unlike before, this time he looked at it for a long time and very carefully.

Sherlock waited patiently, without urging him, and simply picked up his water glass and took a small sip.

He wasn't in a hurry, and Gemma was even less so, waiting quietly.

However, her gaze shifted back and forth between the two, as she curiously pondered the reason behind it.

It seems that the relationship between Sherlock and Professor Lupin is more than just a normal teacher-student relationship.

When Lupin raised his head again, his eyes were incredibly serious, and his voice was low and hoarse:
"Compound decoction?"

"So far, yes."

"Why did he do this?"

"Because of Harry's dream."

"Not 'him,' but 'he'?"

"It's obvious."

"Let's go see Dumbledore right now!" Lupin stood up abruptly, his tone urgent, clearly realizing the seriousness of the situation.

“That’s exactly why I’m here.” Sherlock also stood up, his expression remaining calm.

This time, their conversation went incredibly smoothly, without the slightest hindrance.

Gemma, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded.

How long has it been, and now it's my turn to have information asymmetry?

That boomerang flew way too fast!

She couldn't keep up with their train of thought at all and could only silently sort out the clues in her mind.

Before she could even figure out the details, Lupin had already asked:
"Miss Farley...is she coming with us too?"

Although he was asking Gemma, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Sherlock.

Clearly, he felt the matter was too dangerous, and the conspiracy involved might be far beyond imagination.

As for Gemma, as a graduate, she shouldn't get involved anymore.

But out of respect for Sherlock, I still want to hear his opinion.

After all, it was he who brought Gemma to his office.

Gemma was incredibly clever and immediately understood what he meant.

She immediately turned to look at Sherlock, her eyes filled with hope and determination, without the slightest hesitation.

Recalling Gemma's words outside the Quidditch pitch, and seeing the rare look of anticipation on her face, Sherlock hesitated for a moment before speaking:
“Gemma can help us with this.”

Upon hearing this, Gemma was overjoyed, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn upwards.

That's great! Sherlock has finally figured it out this time!

In the past, he would most likely have focused on the matter itself and wouldn't have specifically sought opportunities for her to participate.

Without us even realizing it, some things have already begun to change quietly!
Not only Gemma, but even Lupin was slightly taken aback when he heard this, clearly somewhat surprised.

But he quickly realized what was happening, nodded, and said, "Okay, let's go then, there's no time to lose."

As a professor at Hogwarts, Lupin naturally knew the password to the headmaster's office, saving Sherlock the trouble of having to use his face to scan.

The three of them walked quickly to the top floor, their steps hurried yet steady, and soon arrived at the principal's office.

"Remus, you've been coming to see me quite often lately."

Dumbledore opened the door himself and was somewhat surprised to see the three of them arrive together, but he still wore a gentle smile on his face.

"And Sherlock, every time you come, you bring something unexpected."

"Miss Farley, you haven't been to my office since you graduated, have you?"

"Albus, Sherlock has discovered something very important, concerning Voldemort."

As soon as he sat down in the office, Lu Ping couldn't wait to speak.

Dumbledore was taken aback by Lupin's bombshell announcement, and his smile faded as he turned his gaze to Gemma.

He keenly noticed that when Gemma heard the name "Voldemort," her body instinctively flinched, and then she gripped Sherlock's hand tightly.

He knew very well that Gemma's ability to come here with Sherlock and Lupin must have been with the consent of at least one of them.

Judging from the current situation, it is clearly Sherlock's idea.

But there are some things he must make clear beforehand, as it is for the sake of everyone.

“Miss Farley, now that you’re seated here, I won’t ask you to leave.”

Dumbledore's gaze suddenly sharpened, as if it could pierce through his crescent-shaped spectacles and reach the deepest recesses of one's heart:

"But I hope you won't tell anyone anything you hear or see here today."

This includes your parents and closest friends, because it concerns the safety of many people and could even affect the entire magical world.

At that moment, Gemma suddenly realized that in the seven years she had studied at Hogwarts, she seemed to have never really understood this seemingly gentle and kind old headmaster.

His effortless authority and the depth and wisdom in his eyes made her instantly realize the seriousness of the matter.

She couldn't help but glance at Sherlock beside her again.

I really made the right decision to come this time!

This made her realize how heavy the secret she was about to bear was.

Thinking of this, she nodded and said earnestly:

“Sir, I understand. I will not tell anyone.”

"very good."

Dumbledore nodded, then turned to Lupin:

"Then... Remus, please tell me what happened."

Lupin took a deep breath and said, word by word:

"The Moody at school is an imposter!"

(End of this chapter)