Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 322 Playing with the Cat
In the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Snape, who was in place of Professor Lupin, unexpectedly called on Sherlock Holmes and asked him to explain the difference between an Animagus wolf and a real werewolf.

Because Sherlock was pondering why Snape, who always avoided him, would suddenly act so strangely, he didn't give an answer immediately.

"I never thought even the great detective would get stuck on such a simple question?"

However, in that brief moment, Snape's gaze sharpened.

"It seems I really overestimated you. Your supposedly logical mind is probably currently searching for the printed words on page 394 of your textbook like a sniffer dog, isn't it?"

Even though they weren't the ones being targeted, Snape's words still caused the entire class to feel intensely uncomfortable.

He dragged out the last syllable of his speech, giving it an uncomfortably sticky quality.

Just then, Sherlock finally spoke, his tone as steady as a clockwork mechanism, a stark contrast to Snape's earlier words.

"Werewolves, like centaurs and mermaids, are intelligent beings, and their classification level in the British Ministry of Magic is ×××××."

Hermione just pointed out the essential difference between the two—Animagus can actively transform into a wolf, while werewolves can only passively accept it.

In human form, werewolves are no different from normal humans, and their moral values ​​are not affected by their bestial nature.

However, on the night of the full moon, werewolves are forced to transform into wolves.

At this point, he will completely lose his human consciousness, not only forgetting who he is, but also not sparing even his closest relatives…

Sherlock paused at this point.

The curiosity in his gray eyes turned into surprise and relief.

He got it.

At that moment, he realized why Professor Snape had asked him to answer the question.

At the same time, Professor Snape did something that surprised the whole class once again.

He said decisively, "Correct answer, ten points for Gryffindor!"

Sherlock smiled.

Although this professor often belittles himself, calling his deductive method a trick to fool children, he is actually quite confident in himself!

However, he didn't need to make it so obvious.

If it were me, I would only need to assign a paper about werewolves.

In that case, a student of Hermione's caliber would be able to see through the mystery.

On the other hand, when Snape announced the extra points for Gryffindor, the whole class was in an uproar.

Everyone stared at Professor Snape with disbelief.

A strange thought suddenly came to their minds:

Could this Snape in front of me be someone else impersonating him using Polyjuice Potion?
You should know that in Potions class, Snape would deduct points from Gryffindor even if he had no reason to.

Harry, Sherlock, and more recently Neville are the main targets of their attention.

But now...

The old snake king actually gave the little lion extra points?

This is as absurd as the sun rising in the west!
"Quiet."

This was the third time Snape had said the word in class.

He ignored the astonishment of the whole class and then asked everyone to copy notes about werewolves from the book.

As for himself, he walked back and forth between the desks, slowly beginning to explain the science as he went:
"Werewolf" is composed of the Old English words Wer and wolf, which mean "human" and is sometimes also called Lycanthrope.

The necessary condition for becoming a werewolf is to be bitten by a werewolf in wolf form during a full moon.

Infection occurs when the werewolf's saliva mixes with the victim's blood.

If attacked by a humanoid werewolf, the victim may develop some harmless, wolf-like personality traits and preferences.

For example, developing a liking for raw meat won't have any long-term effects on other aspects.

However, regardless of whether the attacker is in wolf form during the attack, any wound from a werewolf bite or scratch will leave a permanent scar…

As Professor Snape described, images of what he was saying were displayed one by one on the projector.

This was quite novel to the pure-blooded wizards who had never seen a projector before.

After Professor Snape finished explaining what he considered the important points, he began to check the homework that Professor Lupin had assigned them in the previous class.

He still expressed great dissatisfaction with everyone's work.

"The explanation is too simplistic... and inaccurate; Kaba is more common in Mongolia."

Professor Lu Ping actually gave it eight points? Ridiculous! I wouldn't even give three points to an answer that's so poorly copied from the textbook.

After such agonizing waiting, the bell finally rang.

Just when everyone thought they could finally get rid of Snape, he didn't let them leave.

"To punish your ignorance, I demand that each of you write a paper for me."

The writing should fill two scrolls of parchment, focusing on how to identify and kill werewolves.

Snape's gaze swept across the class, lingering on Sherlock for a moment before he spoke emphatically:
"This class needs to be managed better—I'll take over the next class."

Upon hearing Professor Snape's words, the entire class erupted in uproar once again.

Are you kidding me?
To fill two rolls of parchment with writings on a completely unfamiliar subject?
It's due in the next class?
You old snake king are clearly making things difficult for us little lions!
"But sir, there's a Quidditch match tomorrow..."

Before Harry could finish speaking, Snape suddenly took half a step forward and moved close to Harry.

His brow bone suddenly bulged, and a sinister black mist rose from the deep-set eyes.

Harry was startled when he saw a huge hooked nose appear in front of him.

“Then I suggest you take extra care, Mr. Potter,” Snape said, staring at Harry, “because even if you’re missing an arm or a leg, you still have to do your homework.”

Faced with Snape's rude and overbearing attitude, everyone dared not speak out.

Only after Snape left and went out of sight did they begin to chatter amongst themselves.

“I know Snape has always wanted this job, but he’s never treated any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers like this.” Even the usually good-natured Harry couldn’t take it anymore. He said to his three friends, puzzled, “So why does he have to pick on Professor Lupin?”

“Perhaps it’s because of what happened with Boggart? He felt that Professor Lupin and Neville embarrassed him…” Hermione speculated.

"No, that's not the case."

Under the astonished gazes of his three friends, Sherlock shook his head and slowly said:
"Professor Snape had another reason for targeting Professor Lupin."

Ron quickly asked, "What's the reason?"

Harry and Hermione also perked up their ears.

"I'm sorry, the evidence is not sufficient at the moment. We need to wait for Professor Lupin to return before we can make a determination."

"What? It's mysterious."

Ron muttered in dissatisfaction, but he also knew very well that if Sherlock didn't want to, asking him again and again would be useless.

Hermione said with some concern, "I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon."

"Instead of hoping for that, let's hope Black can hide in Snape's office!"

Ron's shared hatred for Snape finally prompted him to speak to Hermione: "That way he can take him down for us!"

Hermione makes no comment on this kind of purely emotional outburst.

Sherlock calmly replied, "If I may be so bold, Black may not be a match for Professor Snape."

Ron: "..."

What you said makes so much sense that I am speechless.

The next morning, before dawn, Harry was already awake.

At first, he thought he had been awakened by the fierce wind.

But as he felt a chill run down the back of his neck, he immediately sat up straight.

Pee-Pee, the prankster ghost, floated around him, blowing air at him vigorously.

Harry immediately snapped, "What are you doing?"

Just kidding, hehehe!

Pippi ignored Harry and continued to puff out her cheeks and blow hard at him.

"You little devil, if you keep doing this, I'm going to find Blood Man Barrow!"

Blood Man Baro still held some sway over Pee-Pee Ghost. Its expression changed, and finally, it puffed out its cheeks, blew hard, and burst out of the room with a wild, giggling laugh.

Harry fumbled in the dark to get the alarm clock, only to find it was only 5:30.

He cursed the mischievous devil in his heart.

By the faint starlight, he turned his head and looked around; sure enough, Sherlock and Neville's bed was empty.

This made him feel somewhat emotional.

Although it wasn't raining outside, strong winds were blowing and rumbling thunder was rumbling, so it was about time for rain to come.

It's truly admirable that Sherlock and Neville were able to stick to their morning exercise despite the terrible weather.

I was thinking of turning over and going back to sleep, but while I was fine while I was asleep, now that I'm awake, I can no longer ignore the effects of this weather.

The thought of competing in a raging storm in just a few hours made me feel terrible.

After tossing and turning for half an hour, Harry finally gave up on going back to sleep.

He got up, put on his team uniform, picked up his Nimbus 2000, and quietly left the dormitory.

Ron and Dean were always heavy sleepers, so Harry's brief exchange with Peeves didn't wake them.

However, when Harry opened the dormitory door, he found something brushing against his leg.

Looking down, Harry's gaze sharpened.

He quickly bent down, picked up Crookshank, who was trying to sneak into the dormitory, and carried it outside.

“I’m starting to feel that Ron was right about you.”

Harry looked at Crookshanks with suspicion: "Listen... there are plenty of rats around here, stop staring at Scabbers!"

As he spoke, he used his foot to push Crookshan down the spiral staircase.

Harry entered the common room and, unsurprisingly, found the storm outside the castle had intensified as he walked to the window.

He knew very well that Quidditch matches could not be canceled because of such bad weather.

This is the nature of Quidditch matches, and it's also why Slytherins are reluctant to play against them in this weather.

This matter made Harry somewhat worried.

Logically speaking, seekers are usually light and agile.

Wood said something similar when he first saw Harry in first grade.

However, Hufflepuff's new captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory, is the complete opposite.

He was tall and looked about as muscular as Wood.

He was a strong man of average build.

Both Sherlock and Cho Chang had reminded Harry of this.

In such stormy weather, Diggory's weight actually becomes an advantage—because he is less likely to be blown about by the wind.

After standing at the window for a while, Harry felt a bit cold, so he went back to the fireplace.

While waiting for dawn, Crookshan appeared again and again, attempting to sneak up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

Harry stopped it time and time again.

Just as Harry pressed down on Crookshanks again, a familiar voice came from the doorway:
"Are you messing with the cat?"

(End of this chapter)