Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 116 Greek Interpreter
Corner of the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade.

The Greek translator Hadras Baskerville, who once sold the giant three-headed dog Shaggy to Hagrid, is telling Sherlock and Hagrid about his bizarre experience in detail.

"Mr. John Smith, who hired me, told me that a Greek friend of his came to visit him on business.

However, he could not speak any foreign language except his own, so he needed a translator who was proficient in Greek.

After consulting professionals, he thought of me first.

This makes me very happy, after all, it means that my work ability is recognized.

He also told me that his home was some distance away, so he had to get there through a special means.

Mr. Smith seemed quite anxious as he spoke—he even had his door key ready.

Mr. Holmes, you must be aware that these days almost all wizarding families are connected to the Floo Network.

Mr. Smith clearly said he had friends over, yet he insisted on using a Portkey instead of the more convenient Floo powder.

Of course, the portkey also has the advantage of being able to transport multiple people at once, but there are only two of us right now, so even using Floo powder won't delay it for long.

This inevitably strikes me as a bit strange.

But since he was dressed very expensively and fashionably, and was very generous, he gave me five silver Sickles as a tip right after we met, so I didn't think much of it at the time...

Oh, Virgin Mary, if I had to choose again, I swear I would never leave with him! "

Having said that, he picked up the butterbeer and took a big gulp, his eyes full of horror.

"and then?"

Seeing that the "Greek guy" who sold Maomao to him stopped at the most critical moment, Hagrid couldn't help but urge him on.

Sherlock said nothing, but he leaned forward slightly, which showed that he was becoming more and more interested in the matter.

“Sorry, I was a little thirsty just now,” I continued.

I used the door key to get to his house and found that it was daytime, but all the curtains were drawn, as if they were deliberately preventing me from seeing outside.

Just as I was surprised, the voice of Smith, who hired me, sounded beside me:
'I am sorry to block your view, Mr. Baskerville, but I really did not intend for you to know where you were.

If you can find your way back, it might be inconvenient for me.'

I think you can imagine how surprised I was by his words.

Mr. Hagrid, Mr. Holmes, don't look at me like this, I am actually very timid."

At this point, he explained somewhat embarrassedly, took another sip of butterbeer, and then continued under Hagrid's anxious eyes:
"I knew I was no match for him, especially since he had already taken out his wand and was looking at me with a cold gaze.

Oh, I swear, I have never seen such a terrifying look in my life.

"This is really an outrageous behavior, Mr. Smith," I was terrified and could only stammer, "You know, what you did is very rude..."

'It's actually a bit rude and illegal, but I don't care.'

When I heard him say that, I shook even more violently.

'Don't worry, I'll make it up to you...but!
I must warn you, Mr. Baskerville, that it would be dangerous for you if you attempted to tell anyone about this.

I remind you that no one knows where you are now.

At the same time, no matter where you go, you can't escape from my palm.'

His words were calm, but his tone was harsh and extremely threatening.

I admit that I was indeed scared.

I don't know if the other party is a dark wizard, but I firmly believe that if I dare to refuse, I will be cursed to death on the spot.

At that time, all I could think about was finishing this matter as quickly as possible, and then leaving here quickly and staying away from this scary guy.

As for the remuneration, I dare not even think about it.

I asked him what he wanted from me, and he told me that I only had to ask a few questions of the Greek friend who was visiting him and get answers from him.

After saying this, he took me into another room.

Compared to the room at the beginning, this room is much smaller, with only a very small window high on one wall.

But the most eye-catching thing was a chair in the middle of the room, on which sat a tall young man.

I had the feeling he was supposed to be a very strong man, but he looked drained and exhausted.

When that person saw me, his eyes turned red and he roared desperately, but no sound came out.

I guess he must have been put in a tongue-lock.

What don't I understand at this time?

He has no friends at all!

It was obvious that they had used some illegal means to kidnap a poor man who could only speak Greek!

But now that things have come to this, there is nothing I can do but let him do whatever he wants.

Then I began to communicate with the man in Greek using text as Smith requested.

'Are you ready to sign the document?'

'Do not! '

"Is there no room for negotiation?" "Don't even think about it."

'So you know what you're going to get?'

'I don't care about anything.'

The above questions and answers are just some fragments of our strange conversation, in which I had to ask him repeatedly whether he would compromise or sign a document.

He gave the same angry response again and again.

Finally, Smith seemed to be getting impatient. He rudely ended the conversation between me and the young man, then stared at me and said:
'Well, Mr. Baskerville, you see I haven't treated you as an outsider by asking you to take part in my private affairs.

You know, I had a Greek-speaking friend who helped me negotiate this matter in the beginning.

It's a pity that he returned to the East on urgent business, otherwise I wouldn't bother you.

I really need to find someone to replace him, and I asked you to come here because I heard that you are a very good translator... Now it seems that you and I are both very lucky.'

I couldn't say anything, so I could only nod to show my understanding.

'Here are five Galleons, I hope that is enough as a thank you!
But remember, if you tell anyone about this...

Even if you tell it to one living person... then may God have mercy on your soul!'

He pointed his wand at me and uttered these words viciously.

He then used the door key to take me back home and left amidst a series of bizarre laughs.

If I didn't have those five gold Galleons and silver Sickles in my hand, I would even doubt whether everything I experienced was just a nightmare.

Until now, I still can't forget his eyes, which were as dark blue as iron and flashed with cold, vicious and cruel light.

Please forgive me for not being able to express to you how disgusted and horrified I am by this man called Smith.

But I swear, the sight of him pointing his wand at me will haunt me for the rest of my life."

Having said that, Baskerville picked up his butterbeer again, drank the rest of it in one gulp, and then slammed the glass heavily on the table.

He let out a long sigh.

Even Hagrid could see that after saying all these words, the Greek guy's mental state was obviously much better.

"Hagrid, please give our interpreter another glass of butterbeer - and as for you, Mr. Baskerville, why not continue with your subsequent experiences?"

As soon as Sherlock said this, Baskerville was shocked.

He turned his head sharply and looked at Hagrid in surprise.

Hagrid shrugged at him and pouted in Sherlock's direction.

Although no words were spoken, the meaning was very clear.

Look, this is the magic of our Mr. Holmes.

"Forgive my impertinence, Mr. Holmes, but—"

"Just what?"

"I don't know."

Baskerville looked at Sherlock and said as if he had made up his mind:

"How did you know that I went there again, and more than once..."

"The edges of your robe are stained with yew chips, and the cuffs have some patina left, which looks like the oxidation marks on metal.

Based on this, it's easy to see that you've been earning extra money more than once, and the most recent one should have been within three days."

Sherlock leaned back and said lazily.

"By the way, when you mentioned being 'forced to translate,' your right index finger repeatedly pressed against the edge of this wooden table, leaving indentations of varying depths on the table mat.

According to my research, this action suggests subconscious self-defense.

So I infer that you may have voluntarily accepted the commission at first, but then regretted it because of some circumstances you encountered.

This has been preliminarily confirmed by your description just now - Mr. John Smith did give quite a lot."

Baskerville looked at Hagrid in shock again, and Hagrid blinked at him, finished his beer, and walked towards the bar.

He'd have to order two butterbeers this time.

When Hagrid returned, Baskerville had already begun a new round of presentation of the case to Sherlock. Hagrid quickly put down his beer and listened:
“…After the first visit to me, the man named John Smith visited me twice more.

One was a week ago, and another time...

Oh, Mr. Holmes, you are very remarkable—as you expected, he came to see me again two days ago in the afternoon.

Each time, he would bring me to his home via a portkey and speak Greek to the kidnapped man.

Oh, by the grace of God, I have to say, the poor fellow's condition gets worse and worse.

As you said, even though I received a high salary, I couldn't bear it and finally made up my mind to help him.

When I discovered that the man named Smith really couldn't speak a word of Greek, I suddenly had a bold idea. "

(End of this chapter)