Hearing Sherlock's inquiry, Harry hesitated several times before slowly saying.
"As soon as I entered, I saw Ron's brother Percy. He had Ravenclaw prefect Penelope Clearwater pressed against the wall, and the two were... were... kissing."
Harry's expression was extremely awkward, mainly because this matter was difficult to describe in detail.
He really hadn't expected that Percy, who was usually so serious and rigid, and Penelope, who always gave off a wise and calm impression, could be so passionately intense...
"What?!"
Professor McGonagall immediately lost her composure. "Two prefects, actually doing such a thing..."
"Calm down, Professor McGonagall."
Compared to Professor McGonagall, the adult, it was actually Sherlock, the minor, who was much calmer.
He raised his hand and waved at McGonagall. "They're already senior students—doing such things isn't unexpected. Besides, kissing won't lead to pregnancy.
Harry, continue."
Harry noticed that Sherlock's words made Professor McGonagall's jawline tighten even more.
But she ultimately just pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with a lion pattern from her sleeve, gently wiped her glasses, and didn't object to Sherlock's words—at least not explicitly.
He glanced at Sherlock, sincerely admiring his friend's brave act of interrupting Professor McGonagall, then continued.
"They were indeed quite startled at first, but when they saw it was me, they relaxed.
Prefect Penelope smiled and greeted me, then left first.
Percy pulled me aside and lectured me for quite a while, telling me never to mention this incident. I naturally agreed.
But I never expected that when I went back, I would encounter such a thing!"
At this point, Harry's voice involuntarily rose several pitches, and his emotions became agitated again.
Both Sherlock and Professor McGonagall leaned forward slightly, knowing that what Harry was about to say would be the crucial content.
"I stepped onto the staircase and turned toward another corridor. It was particularly dim there.
I noticed this was because a window pane wasn't properly fitted, and cold wind was howling in, extinguishing all the torches in the corridor.
I had forgotten to cast a Lumos charm at the time, so halfway through I was tripped by something lying on the floor.
When I turned around to see what had tripped me..."
Harry recalled that terrifying scene, and the muscles on his face couldn't help but twitch several times.
As Sherlock had said, Harry indeed had a talent for narrative.
With his description, even Professor McGonagall felt as if she were experiencing it firsthand.
"At that moment, I felt as if my stomach had turned to water.
Because I saw Cho Chang, who had just taught me magic not long before!"
Harry showed a terrified expression and suddenly quickened his speech.
"Cho was lying on the floor, cold and rigid all over, with a look of absolute terror frozen on her face, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, exactly like Mrs. Norris when she was petrified!
Beside her was another person, also someone I had just seen—Prefect Penelope.
Penelope was just like Cho, lying there motionless, her blank eyes wide open."
At this moment, Harry seemed to return to that instant. He was silent for quite a while, took a deep breath, then continued.
"That wasn't all. Beside them was another figure.
It was Nearly Headless Nick, but he was completely different from usual—no longer his clean, translucent appearance.
He was pitch black all over, with wisps of black smoke emanating from him, just floating there horizontally."
"Do you remember the height from the ground?"
Sherlock suddenly spoke, his pen tip stopping beside a simple drawing of "smoking ghost."
"About six inches."
"What about his expression? Was it also terrified?"
"Yes, his head was drooping, almost half falling off, and the terrified expression on his face was exactly the same as Cho's and Penelope's."
"So, when you arrived there, the incident had already occurred."
"Yes, exactly!"
Sherlock glanced at Professor McGonagall.
Being the first to appear at the crime scene, and having both victims—Cho Chang and Penelope—interact with Harry before their misfortune.
If he didn't know the truth, even Sherlock would have to list Harry as the prime suspect.
However, this also proved once again that his decision two years ago was correct.
As long as he stayed near this savior of the wizarding world, he would never lack material.
"So, what did you do next?"
"I thought about running away, because no one knew I had been there.
But I also felt I couldn't just leave like that, because Cho and Penelope were lying there, and I couldn't abandon them—I had to find help.
But I was also worried that no one would believe this had nothing to do with me, because of the Dueling Club incident, everyone suspects I'm the Heir of Slytherin..."
Sherlock noticed a dismissive expression flash across Professor McGonagall's face.
"While I was hesitating, Peeves burst through a nearby door with a bang.
After seeing this scene, he started screaming despite my attempts to stop him, attracting everyone nearby.
Then the professors and students remaining at school all came. Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, and Astronomy Professor Sinistra carried Cho and Prefect Penelope to the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan and gave it to Professor Sprout, having her fan Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs.
Just then, you happened to enter the castle.
I was eager to tell you about this, so I specifically ran to find you. You know the rest."
After saying this, Harry finally let out a long breath and leaned back.
It was indeed much more relaxing to get everything out in the open.
After hearing Harry's account of the entire incident, Sherlock thought briefly, then turned to Professor McGonagall.
"I'd like to examine the scene again."
"Your reason?"
"Harry indeed has a talent for summary and organization, but forgive me for saying so, his observational skills still need improvement."
At this point, Harry lowered his head in embarrassment.
'Sherlock, I'm sorry for disappointing you!'
"From Harry's description, it's only been about an hour since the incident occurred. I believe there should still be some clues remaining at the scene."
"Mr. Holmes, I think you should understand very well that this doesn't comply with school rules."
"Rules have been established to serve us from the beginning, not to constrain us."
Sherlock said nonchalantly, "Unless you truly believe Harry did this, and I'm someone eager to help him clear his name."
"That possibility isn't entirely absent."
"Ha!"
Hearing Professor McGonagall say this, Sherlock couldn't help but laugh.
"Professor, let's speak frankly.
Whether fifty years ago or now, only the Heir of Slytherin can open the Chamber of Secrets.
You surely don't believe the Sorting Hat would place such a person in Gryffindor, do you?"
Hearing Sherlock's words, Professor McGonagall's face showed a complex expression.
After Sherlock caught this scene, he was also stunned. "You actually think that way?"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Professor McGonagall scolded, then stood up. "I'll take you there."
At this time, the students were all under the prefects' supervision, having returned to their respective house common rooms.
So, the corridors were now empty.
Sherlock arrived at the crime scene and took out his magical magnifying glass to examine the surrounding environment.
Like his previous examinations of Mrs. Norris and Colin, he was very thorough in his investigation of the scene.
Places that seemed unnecessary to pay attention to in Harry's and Professor McGonagall's eyes, he also observed very carefully.
But even so, he quickly stood up.
Under the expectant gazes of Harry and Professor McGonagall, Sherlock slowly said.
"I can confirm that Mrs. Norris, Colin, and this time's two students and one ghost were all harmed by the same perpetrator.
The culprit can complete petrification the instant they encounter someone—this is a very powerful form of Dark Magic.
If I'm not mistaken, the opponent should be the monster that Slytherin sealed in the Chamber of Secrets. Right now, I'm still lacking some clues, and I'm just waiting for Professor Dumbledore to provide them."
"Mr. Holmes, are you certain the Chamber of Secrets has truly been opened?"
"This is obvious, Professor McGonagall."
Sherlock said calmly, "Crude imitation and true crime sometimes have only a thin line between them, but unfortunately, this time it's the latter."
Harry couldn't help asking. "But Sherlock, if Dumbledore never comes back, won't we be unable to investigate anything?"
"Of course not."
Sherlock firmly denied this. "Harry, you must remember that there are no perfect crimes in the world.
This won't change just because we've come to the magical world. The reason I haven't found the criminal yet isn't because the opponent is so clever, but simply because I've never heard of this type of criminal method before.
Now I just need some clues, and I'll be able to integrate them like puzzle pieces.
Dumbledore's appearance would just greatly accelerate my progress."
At this point, he turned to Professor McGonagall again. "Professor, in view of this, when Headmaster Dumbledore returns to school, I will go find him immediately."
Professor McGonagall didn't respond to Sherlock, so he took it as her tacit agreement.
With things as they were, there was no point in him and Harry staying here any longer. After bidding farewell to Professor McGonagall, they returned to the Gryffindor common room.
On the way back, Harry really couldn't hold back and finally asked.
"Sherlock, what you meant earlier—if Dumbledore had told you about the Chamber of Secrets sooner, then Cho and Prefect Penelope wouldn't have..."
Sherlock didn't answer, but Harry understood completely.
All responsibility lay with Dumbledore!
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