Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 169 The rain keeps falling
Looking at Sherlock climbing onto the carriage, Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at each other.

They didn't understand what Sherlock meant by suddenly saying that.

However, the three of them knew Sherlock's character very well. If he didn't say it, it would be useless even if they asked.

Just like the ferry last year, Hermione, Harry, and Ron followed Sherlock onto the carriage.

After the four people got in the car, the door slammed shut by itself.

After all the students boarded the carriages, the long convoy began to move along the path of Hogwarts Castle amidst the violent bumps.

After getting on the carriage, the four of them smelled a faint smell of mold and straw at the same time.

Sherlock sat by the window, his eyes distant and deep.

The reason why he said that just now was because he saw clearly that these hundreds of carriages were not without horses.

There is a "horse" standing between the shafts of each carriage.

The reason for putting them in quotation marks is that they look like horses but are not horses.

These horse-like animals had no flesh on their bodies, and their black fur was tightly attached to their skeletons, so that every bone was clearly visible.

Their heads resembled dragons' heads, and their pupil-less eyes were white, staring intently at the people around them.

Wings sprouted from the bulge between the shoulder bones. The large, black, leathery wings made it look more like a giant bat.

Sherlock just stayed where he was, observing them carefully.

The animals stood motionless and silent in the gathering darkness, looking eerie and ominous.

When Sherlock confirmed that his friends and the little wizards he could see present were unable to see this strange creature like he could, he made a judgment in his mind instantly.

He is a very rational person and naturally would not think that he is crazy.

However, his eyes still followed the moving silhouettes outside the carriage. Looking at them running fast with all four hooves spread out, he naturally showed a thoughtful look.

Sherlock didn't plan to tell his friends until he figured out the matter.

The rain was getting heavier, covering up the hoof prints and wheel tracks of this amazing animal.

But Sherlock also knew that even if it didn't rain, no one except him would be free to pay attention to the traces on the ground.

"Sherlock, what's wrong with you?"

Hermione couldn't help but ask.

Although she couldn't see these strange animals like everyone else, she keenly felt that something was wrong.

"nothing."

Sherlock looked away and sized up Hermione. "What did you want to tell me?"

"what?"

Hermione hadn't gotten used to Sherlock's unconventional thinking yet.

"Just now when I came back from Professor McGonagall, you had something to tell me."

Sherlock stared at Hermione. "What do you want to tell me?"

After hearing what Sherlock said, Hermione immediately remembered that she did have something to say to him.

When Sherlock asked, he said:

"When I checked just now, I noticed that Ginny seemed particularly nervous."

"Oh?"

Sherlock raised his brow slightly.

"You know, before school started in Diagon Alley, Mr. Weasley had a fight with old Malfoy. I suspect he did it on purpose."

"so what?"

Ron asked in confusion, "My dad did beat up Malfoy's dad, but what does that have to do with Ginny?"

"I think what Hermione meant was that Malfoy's father was deliberately stirring up trouble, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to throw Voldemort's dark magic item to Ginny."

Harry said thoughtfully, noticing Ron shudder, and added:
"I'm sorry Ron, but I think Sherlock and Mr. Dumbledore are right. You really should get used to this name."

Even though he had witnessed Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione discussing Voldemort so unscrupulously more than once, Ron still found it difficult to adapt whenever the name was mentioned, and he would always subconsciously react with conditioned reflexes.

At the beginning, Harry apologized for this matter and even took the initiative to change his words to "Voldemort" to "the mysterious man".

But after facing Voldemort last year and being enlightened by Mr. Sherlock and Mr. Dumbledore, Harry is now able to comfort Ron in return.

The best way to overcome fear is to face it!

Come on, Ron!
Ron gave Harry a resentful look, "Well, you're right... but I think it might take me a long time to get used to it.

But Malfoy's father wouldn't force anything on Ginny, right?

Haven't Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape checked it out?"

"You're right."

Hermione nodded, "But why is Ginny so nervous?"

"Well...I know the reason."

Speaking of this, Ron felt a little embarrassed:
"It's all because of Fred and George. They used to scare Ginny with things that happened at school during the summer vacation - but no one knew that something like this would happen this year!"

"Do not."

Sherlock looked at Ron, "Harry has already told you about the things that need to be checked before school starts, but you didn't take it seriously.

Besides Fred and George, I think you should have been involved as well."

Ron: "..."

Damn it, he saw through it again!

"Ron, Ginny is your sister after all..."

Harry couldn't help but advise, "You should be nicer to her."

Ron coughed hard twice and said, "Don't worry, only us brothers can bully her. No one else can!"

Hearing Ron's words, Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance. There was no point in saying anything to such a person.

She turned her gaze to Sherlock, waiting for his conclusion.

Sherlock spent less than three seconds searching for information about Ginny in his memory attic, then shook his head and said:

"Ron's sister is fine."

Harry, Hermione and Ron breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Sherlock's words.

Even they themselves hadn't realized that by now, they had already unknowingly formed a consensus. For any matter, as long as Sherlock said there was no problem, then there was no problem.

After dealing with Ginny, they turned to discussing Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Sherlock, last time you said Lockhart sent me books to expand his influence. How do you feel about meeting him in person today?"

"My friend, I still hold my own opinion on this matter:

This is a person who is very good at packaging and promoting himself, and has strong communication and adaptability skills.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that he has real skills.”

"Professor Lockhart must have real skills! Think about it, he's accomplished so many great adventures, how could he not have real skills?

Otherwise, Mr. Dumbledore would not have asked him to be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts!"

"That's just what he said. Anyway, I don't think he played any role in the examination just now.

As for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione, I bet you anyone who meets the requirements will pass..."

As the four of them were talking, the carriage passed through the gate leading to the school grounds.

There are tall stone pillars on both sides of the gate, and on top of the pillars is a sculpture of a wild boar with wings.

Although the carriage lane was spacious, due to the strong wind and heavy rain, the carriage was shaking violently from beginning to end, splashing water all the way.

As they passed the Forbidden Forest, Sherlock noticed that Hagrid's hut was completely dark.

At this time, Hagrid should be taking the first-year students across the Black Lake on a boat.

As we got closer to Hogwarts Castle, tall towers came into view, and many lighted windows shone dimly behind the thick rain curtain.

Finally, their carriage stopped at the foot of the stone steps in front of the two oak doors.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Ron was the first to jump out.

Next came Harry, Hermione, and finally Sherlock.

He turned around after getting off the bus.

Just at this moment, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky and rumbling thunder sounded.

The thunder shattered the darkness.

This also allowed Sherlock to see those strange horse-like creatures more clearly.

They were skin and bones, with hollow white eyes that gleamed.

Even a few of the "horses" turned their heads and looked at Sherlock after noticing his gaze.

At this time, the people in the carriage in front had hurried up the stone steps. Noticing Sherlock stopped where he was, Hermione nudged him with her elbow with some concern.

"Sherlock?"

From the moment she saw these carriages, she felt that something seemed to be wrong with Sherlock.

Although her attention was diverted by Ginny and Lockhart's conversation just now, it now seemed that he was indeed hiding something from her.

However, Hermione knew in her heart that as long as Sherlock didn't want to know, she would not know anything unless she used Legilimency.

"interesting."

Sherlock uttered two words softly, turned around, and joined the crowd with his friends, walking up the stone steps into Hogwarts Castle.

The Hogwarts Great Hall looked much the same as last year.

In order to celebrate the new students' banquet, we decorated it well to make it look more magnificent and grand.

Hundreds of candles floated above the table, making the gold saucers and goblets sparkle.

In addition to the four long tables belonging to the colleges, there is a fifth table at the top of the auditorium.

The faculty members sat on one side of the table, facing their students.

Unlike last year when he had just recovered from a serious illness, Sherlock is in great health this year.

So even after experiencing a violent storm, it still didn't have much impact on him.

However, the auditorium was much warmer than outside after all. After experiencing the station inspection and bad weather, everyone who entered here couldn't help but smile.

Gryffindor's table was at the end of the hall, so Sherlock and his three companions walked past students from Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff in turn.

Harry couldn't help but look in the direction of Ravenclaw.

It didn't take him long to spot Qiu Zhang.

Compared with other people around her, she was really conspicuous because of her outstanding appearance.

I don't know if it was an illusion, but the latter appeared particularly clear in the blurry crowd. Her face was flushed, and her eyes looking at me were full of admiration and appreciation...

"Harry, are you planning on going to Ravenclaw?"

Just then, Ron pulled him back.

Harry couldn't help but blush. It was a close call. He almost made a fool of himself.

As soon as the four of them sat down, Fred Weasley started to cheer: "The Lion King and the Savior are here!"

Everyone clapped in unison.

It was precisely because of Sherlock and Harry's outstanding performance last year that Gryffindor was able to make a comeback in the final stage and break Slytherin's dominance of seven consecutive championships.

George Weasley asked curiously, "So, which is more fun, a boat ride or a car ride?"

Before Sherlock or Harry could answer, someone else spoke up before them:

"It's definitely better to take a car!"

Ron said with a look of pity, "I feel particularly sad when I think of my poor sister having to take a boat across the lake in such bad weather!"

Looking at Ron's expression, the Weasley twins looked at each other, then secretly regretted it.

Damn me!

Even I can think of this, why can't I?

Harry and Hermione on the side were trying hard to hold back their laughter.

After all, we were good friends, so I didn't expose him.

"Good evening, little lion king, savior."

Just then, an unexpected creature took the initiative to greet Sherlock and Harry.

(End of this chapter)