Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 430 The True Prophecy
Harry climbed the silver staircase leading to Professor Trelawney's room after Ron.

He waited for Ron for a full twenty minutes, so he was prepared to endure it for a long time.

But when he arrived in the room, he was instantly enveloped by a wave of heat.

All the curtains were drawn tightly shut, making it completely airtight.

Although it was already June, the fire in the fireplace was still burning brightly, releasing heat without restraint.

The usual pungent aroma filled the air, growing stronger and stronger, making Harry cough and feel a stinging pain in his throat.

Harry laboriously navigated around the haphazardly arranged tables and chairs, heading towards Professor Trelawney, who was sitting in front of a large crystal ball.

Trelawney was enveloped in a hazy light and shadow, which flickered uncertainly in the dim firelight and incense smoke.

"Hello dear."

Professor Trelawney slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Harry, and spoke in her familiar, dreamlike, soft, and ethereal voice:
"Please look at this crystal ball...look slowly...and then tell me what you see..."

Harry did as he was told, leaning closer to the crystal ball and staring intently at it.

He genuinely hoped to see something special beyond the swirling white mist.

However, as time passed, nothing appeared except for the endless, monotonous swirling white mist.

The scene inside the crystal ball resembled a desolate white wasteland.

"How about it?"

Professor Trelawney did not show any anxiety, and asked in a gentle tone, "My child, what did you see?"

The room was unbearably hot, the heat feeling like an invisible shackle binding Harry tightly.

The smoke from the nearby fireplace stung him, making each breath feel like a burning sensation in his nostrils, and he desperately wanted to escape this suffocating, hellish place.

Just then, Ron recounted his experience when he came down, so he decided to imitate Ron and pretend to have seen something.

"Uh--"

Harry squinted slightly, feigning complete absorption in seeing what was happening in the crystal ball:

“A shadow… um… I saw a shadow.”

"What does it resemble?" Professor Trelawney asked softly, his voice as gentle as a feather. "Think... what does it resemble?"

Harry knew perfectly well that no matter what answer he gave, the professor would most likely associate it with that ominous sign.

After a moment's thought, he uttered a name that would make the professor wary.

Harry spoke with certainty, a hint of cunning in his eyes:
"What I saw was a human figure!"
That's my best friend, the detective from magic school—Sherlock Holmes!

"is it?"

Professor Trelawney muttered to himself, his quill, which had been eagerly writing something on the parchment on his lap, suddenly paused, leaving a dark ink dot on the parchment.

“My child, you may very well see the fateful bond between yourself and poor Sherlock Holmes!”
Look closely… at the shadow of Sherlock Holmes… is it complete?

“Perfectly complete,” Harry said firmly without hesitation, his eyes revealing an unquestionable expression.

"Are you sure?"

Professor Trelawney pressed on, his gaze fixed on Harry, as if trying to glean more information from his eyes:

Are you sure, child?
Didn't you see him struggling violently, with a shadow behind him about to devour him?

What the hell?

Harry silently complained to himself, but maintained a calm expression on his face.

"no!"

Harry answered firmly again, though he was already feeling nauseous and about to vomit, “He is very well, upright, and very healthy.”

"No crying? No injuries? No blood?"

Professor Trelawney pressed on, her voice tinged with urgency, as if she longed for an answer from Harry that met her expectations.

"no!"

Harry frowned, his tone tinged with impatience.

Professor Trelawney's words were like sharp noise, making him feel even more nauseous from the stuffiness of the room, and the air in the room seemed to be squeezing his nerves.

"He looked very well. He was holding a cane in his right hand, a pipe in his left, and a deerstalker hat on his head. He... walked away."

Harry made it up off the cuff, recalling the classic image of Sherlock he had seen when he and Professor Lupin were learning the Patronus Charm together, and then blurted it all out.

He had a feeling that the more detailed his description, the more successfully he could fool Professor Trelawney.

Sure enough, after he finished speaking, Professor Trelawney sighed slightly.

"Alright, child, let's stop here..."

It's a little disappointing... but I believe you've done your best.

Harry also breathed a long sigh of relief.

Great, it's finally over!
I stood up unsteadily, my legs even feeling numb from maintaining the same posture for so long.

He quickly picked up his schoolbag and was about to turn around and walk towards the door.

He felt that if he stayed in the room for even a second longer, he might suffocate.

Just then, he heard a loud, piercing sound behind him.

The sound seemed to come from another world, breaking the originally dull and oppressive atmosphere.

"Tonight."

Harry felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his body jolted, and he quickly turned around.

Professor Trelawney sat upright in his armchair, his posture as stiff as a wooden sculpture.

Her eyes were lifeless, her eyeballs motionless as if covered by an invisible membrane, and her mouth was slightly open, making her look very strange.

Harry was startled by this sudden turn of events.

In his memory, he had never seen Professor Trelawney like this before. A chill ran down his spine, and he couldn't help but ask:
"What—what did you say?"

However, Professor Trelawney seemed not to hear Harry at all; her eyes began to slowly move, as if struggling against some invisible resistance.

Harry stood there helplessly, feeling as if the professor was about to have an attack at any moment.

He hesitated, wondering whether he should go and see Sherlock.

Wait, Sherlock isn't a doctor; he should go to the school hospital to see Ms. Pomfrey.

Just then, Professor Trelawney spoke again.

It was still that same shrill voice, completely different from her usual dreamlike voice, as if another soul was speaking through her mouth.

What terrified Harry even more was what she said next:
"The Dark Lord lay there all alone, without friends, abandoned by his men."

His most loyal servant was also chained during those twelve years.

Tonight, his most loyal servant will break free of his chains.

Tonight, a powerful ally will join him.

Tonight, the Dark Lord will return with their help.

He will be more powerful and more terrifying than ever before.

Tonight… that ally… will set off… to meet with the Dark Lord… and that servant… will break free of his chains…

As Professor Trelawney spoke, his voice became intermittent, as if a broken bellows were struggling to pump.

Finally, her head drooped to her chest, making a gurgling sound, like indistinct syllables squeezed from deep in her throat. Then, quite suddenly, her head rose again, the movement stiff and abrupt.

"I'm sorry, my dear child."

Professor Trelawney mumbled absently, "It was so hot, you know... I took a nap..."

Harry was still staring at her blankly.

His brain was still processing the terrifying prophecies he had just heard, and he couldn't believe it for a moment.

Noticing Harry's expression, Professor Trelawney asked with some surprise, "Is something wrong, dear?"

“You—you just told me that—that the Dark Lord is going to come back…that someone will help him make a comeback…”

"The Dark Lord? That person whose name can't even be mentioned?"

Professor Trelawney looked utterly shocked; her eyes widened in disbelief, and she immediately exclaimed:
"My dear child, that's no joke... a comeback, oh my god—"

"But that's what you just said! You said the Dark Lord—"

"I bet you're asleep too, darling!"

Professor Trelawney immediately interrupted Harry, saying firmly, "I certainly couldn't have predicted something that absurd! The exam is over, let's get out of here!"

Harry climbed down the ladder and spiral staircase, his steps unsteady, his mind filled with unease.

Did Professor Trelawney think that ending the exam in this way would be impressive?

But judging from her appearance, it doesn't seem like that.
Or perhaps... he just heard Professor Trelawney make a real prophecy?

Thinking of this, Harry's heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

A strong sense of unease spread through my heart.

Five minutes later, Harry rushed through the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower.

Professor Trelawney's words still echoed in his mind.

People walked towards him, chatting and laughing as they headed towards the venue to enjoy that long-awaited moment of freedom, but Harry had no time to pay attention.

When he reached the entrance to the Fat Lady's portrait cave and climbed into the common room, it was almost empty.

However, Sherlock and Hermione were sitting in the corner, and Ron, who seemed to be trying to persuade Neville, was not far away, but the situation did not seem to be very good.

After hearing Harry's description of what had just happened, Hermione covered her mouth in surprise.

Clearly, even the young girl who had always thought Professor Trelawney was an old fraud was now somewhat undecided.

As for Sherlock, his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

"Sherlock, what are you thinking about?"

Upon seeing Sherlock in this state, his two closest friends immediately realized what was happening.

"Correct."

Sherlock smiled slightly and looked at Harry. "You, and Professor Trelawney, have answered a question that has been on my mind for a long time."

"You mean Professor Trelawney really made a prophecy—a real prophecy?"

"That's right, I'm afraid no one would have guessed that this professor, who usually likes to make predictions every day, is talking nonsense."

But at crucial moments, she always manages to surprise us.

Sherlock laughed: "It's quite surprising. I didn't expect Professor Trelawney to make another real prophecy."

All the exams are over, Harry, get some rest today.

"When we go to see Dumbledore tomorrow, I'll have to suggest to the headmaster that she get a raise."

"what?"

Harry and Hermione both looked at Sherlock in surprise.

Since Sherlock has concluded that Professor Trelawney made a real prophecy, and that the prophecy contained the fact that Voldemort would make a comeback with the help of his allies and servants.

But why was his reaction so calm?

So unexpectedly, neither of them even noticed why Sherlock said "again".
"But—but you've already stopped Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black's innocence has been redressed. Voldemort can't possibly make a comeback!"

“Dear Harry, we cannot look at things in an isolated, one-sided, or static way.”

When I use deductive reasoning to make inferences, I always consciously avoid falling into metaphysics without realizing it.

This is especially true after learning about the magical world, making it extremely difficult to predict the future, and Professor Trelawney is a living example of this.

Hermione astutely asked, "You mean, there's still a possibility that Peter Pettigrew could be rescued?"

“That possibility cannot be ruled out,” Sherlock smiled slightly. “Alright, let’s discuss this issue when we meet Dumbledore tomorrow; it is indeed quite late today.”

Harry nodded.

Although she still had doubts, she understood that Sherlock must have his reasons for saying so.

Hermione looked at Sherlock with a determined gaze.

"I want to go with you, too."

“Dear Hermione, even if you come to the headmaster’s office, I think he will still ask you to leave.”

“I’m going too!” Hermione said stubbornly, staring at Sherlock. “We’ll see if he really kicks me out.”

"And I!"

Ron then joined in and said something.

The commotion here had already caught his attention.

After getting rid of Neville in a few words, he came over.

Although I didn't hear the first part of what was said, I understood what the current situation was.

Sherlock and Harry have an important matter to discuss with Dumbledore tomorrow, and Hermione says she wants to go too.

In that case, how could I be left out?

The next day, the principal's office.

Sherlock eventually came to find Dumbledore with his three friends.

However, after Sherlock revealed the prophecy Professor Trelawney had made to Harry, Dumbledore's deep gaze behind his half-moon spectacles swept over Ron and Hermione, a hint of helplessness appearing in his smile:
"Ron, Hermione, I'm sorry, but could you please leave for a moment?"

His tone was gentle, and his voice echoed softly in the room.

Hermione and Ron were stunned when they saw Dumbledore say those words in a gentle tone.

Hermione and Ron were stunned. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with disappointment and confusion.

"Sir, is it really necessary to do it this way?"

"Ron said hastily, taking a step forward with his face full of anxiety."

"Since Sherlock and Harry will definitely tell us about this later, why do they have to make us leave?"

His eyes were filled with expectation, hoping that Dumbledore would change his mind.

"Don't worry, Ron."

Dumbledore smiled slightly, a hint of mystery in his smile. "This time I will specifically remind them not to tell you about this."

Ron was immediately dumbfounded.

(End of this chapter)