As soon as Potions class ended, Ron immediately couldn't wait to complain to his friends.
"Did you see how Snape and Malfoy looked just now? It was absolutely disgusting."
"Malfoy is just a clown, don't mind him."
Hermione frowned. "But Professor Snape wasn't wrong—Dumbledore will indeed return to us soon."
"He may have said that, but his tail was practically wagging in the sky, I think he can't wait for Dumbledore to really leave so he can become headmaster."
"Ron, you misunderstand Professor Snape too deeply."
Sherlock looked at the indignant Ron and explained seriously.
"I still maintain my previous opinion, Professor Snape is a despicably kind good person."
"Sherlock, it's not that I don't trust you, but I'd like to broaden my horizons, I can see Snape's despicable side, but where exactly do you see his kindness?"
"Many places, pay attention, you need to observe, not just look."
Sherlock shrugged. "In fact, his interest in becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is much greater than becoming Hogwarts headmaster."
"Uh—"
Ron was stunned by Sherlock's answer. "If it were him, I'd rather have Lockhart continue teaching that course."
Hermione's brow furrowed at this.
When she learned that Professor Lockhart had most likely been controlled by Voldemort's dark magical object, she had expressed concern for the professor.
Unfortunately, things had come to this point, and all she could do now was pray. But hearing Ron bring up this topic now, she couldn't help feeling somewhat displeased.
"Let's not discuss this anymore. Let's focus on the upcoming match instead!
Didn't Sherlock say that after Harry finishes this match, we'll go to the Chamber of Secrets to defeat the basilisk and rescue Professor Lockhart!
By then, maybe he really could continue being our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
Sherlock sighed.
If such a day really came, Lockhart would be exposed for what he truly was.
He didn't care what others would think, but he would be the first to refuse to let Lockhart continue as the teacher for this course.
Hermione obviously didn't know Sherlock's thoughts. She turned to Harry and asked curiously.
"Speaking of which, Harry, are you confident about defeating Hufflepuff?"
"Don't worry, this time it's not just me, everyone on the Gryffindor team thinks so."
They could even defeat Slytherin with their seven Nimbus 2001s, so taking down Hufflepuff would definitely be no problem!
Seeing Harry's confidence, Sherlock's gaze also became profound.
"Prepare yourself, Harry, after you finish this match, we'll go to the Chamber of Secrets and end everything."
Harry nodded firmly.
This time, the entire Gryffindor team had never been as confident about winning the Quidditch Cup as they were now.
Match day arrived quickly.
The morning weather was clear and pleasant, with a gentle breeze blowing softly.
Sunlight danced on Gryffindor's scarlet tablecloth, making the gilded tableware gleam brightly, while the air was filled with the burnt aroma of toasted bread and the greasy scent of sausages.
"This is the ideal weather for a Quidditch match!"
Wood said enthusiastically while adding plenty of scrambled eggs to each team member's plate.
"Hey, Oliver, is there any weather you don't think is suitable for Quidditch?" Fred shrugged.
"What did you say last time during that thunderstorm? 'Not bad weather, should still be flyable,'" George put his right hand to his forehead, mimicking the gesture of observing the sky.
"Hahahahaha!"
Everyone was in high spirits, talking and laughing, not at all nervous about the approaching match.
Seeing this scene, which was completely opposite to the team's mood before the last match, Harry couldn't help feeling somewhat melancholy.
He remembered Cho Chang, who had specially come to encourage him before the previous match.
Wood didn't know what Harry was thinking, but noticing his low spirits, he patted his shoulder.
"Harry, cheer up, you need to eat a good breakfast."
"Yeah, thank you, Oliver."
"Don't be like that, Harry."
This time Ron guessed Harry's thoughts and lowered his voice.
"After you finish this battle, we'll be able to catch that guy who petrified Cho! Right, Sherlock?"
"Well said."
Sherlock rarely agreed with Ron's statement. "You should put aside romantic feelings for now and win this match as quickly as possible."
"I understand, Sherlock."
Harry took a deep breath.
The clues to the Chamber of Secrets had been thoroughly investigated, the Mandrakes were about to mature, and Hufflepuff wasn't a worthy opponent.
Everything was developing in a positive direction.
There was nothing left to fear. Ron, however, looked helpless.
He wondered why Harry was so obedient when Sherlock's words were clearly much harsher than his own!
But thinking it over, he really couldn't compare to Sherlock, so while eating his sausage, he looked around.
"Where's Hermione? Why hasn't she come over at this time? She couldn't have overslept, could she?"
"I think that possibility is unlikely."
Sherlock said seriously, "A person used to getting up early wouldn't do that, unless something unexpected happened."
This time, both Harry and Ron looked at each other speechlessly.
"Um, Sherlock—"
Ron said somewhat helplessly, "Although I know you don't care about these things, couldn't you say something more auspicious?"
"You've already said I don't care about these things, so why would you want me to deliberately say something auspicious? My friend, don't you think your words are contradictory?"
Ron: O_O
'You make such a good point, I'm speechless.'
And so, everyone continued eating and chatting until breakfast was nearly over and they were about to head to the pitch, but Hermione still hadn't shown up.
"Maybe Sherlock really got it right," Ron muttered. "She probably ate something bad last night."
Harry said worriedly. "If that were really the case, it would be fine, but what I'm afraid of is—"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Professor McGonagall quickly walking down the stairs and approaching the staff table.
When he noticed her expression, Harry's heart sank, and he immediately had an ominous feeling.
The next moment, his premonition was confirmed.
Professor McGonagall surveyed the entire hall, first casting a Sonorous Charm on herself, then said something that shocked everyone.
"Today's match is canceled."
After a moment of silence, the entire hall erupted into chaos.
Oliver Wood was both the most surprised and the quickest to react.
He rushed to Professor McGonagall in one bound.
"Professor! We have to play, you know this is our closest chance at the championship—"
"Wood, I understand your feelings, but unfortunately, the current situation no longer allows us to continue with this."
After explaining to Wood, Professor McGonagall turned to the others and said loudly.
"All students must return to their House common rooms, where your House heads will tell you more about the situation, please leave quickly!"
As Professor McGonagall said these words, everyone understood what had happened. Another attack had occurred!
The hall, already noisy due to the canceled match, became even more chaotic.
The prefects naturally played their role at this time, beginning to lead students back to their respective House common rooms.
However, due to the sudden incident, the hall inevitably seemed somewhat chaotic. This scene immediately reminded Harry of last year's Halloween.
The situation then was similar to now.
Quirrell had rushed into the hall saying a troll had gotten loose, then the scene became chaotic, and finally Dumbledore had to step in and ask the prefects to take everyone back to the common rooms.
As a result, halfway there, Harry and Ron discovered that Sherlock was missing, and then remembered that Hermione might encounter the troll.
This time, it couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?
Thinking of this, he immediately turned to look at Sherlock.
Fortunately, he was still there this time.
"Sherlock, Hermione couldn't have—" Harry had just said Hermione was late due to an accident, and Sherlock, who had just mentioned that the reason for Hermione's lateness was an accident, now also frowned.
This accident was quite different from the accident he had imagined.
"Let's go!"
He said, grabbing Harry and pushing through the crowd toward Professor McGonagall.
"Hey, wait for me! There's still me!"
Seeing Sherlock pull Harry away, Ron immediately panicked.
"I haven't caught up yet!"
He immediately called out, wanting to follow the two, but lacking Sherlock's skill at navigating through crowds, he quickly fell behind.
"Professor!"
Sherlock pulled Harry to Professor McGonagall's side. "What exactly happened?"
"Holmes, Potter—"
Seeing Sherlock and Harry, Professor McGonagall's gaze was somewhat complex.
She pondered for a moment, then finally sighed. "Alright, come with me—"
"Wait, just a moment!"
Just as Professor McGonagall was about to move, she saw Ron also running toward them, having used all his strength to squeeze out of the complaining crowd.
He looked resentfully at Sherlock and Harry.
Is this really, okay?
Are we really good friends or not?!
Sherlock's expression remained unchanged, while Harry felt somewhat embarrassed.
'Oh no, how did I forget our other good friend.'
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall spoke up in time, breaking the awkwardness.
"Well, perhaps you'd better come along too, Weasley."
Under her guidance, the three climbed the marble staircase and stopped in a deserted place.
"Professor, has there been another attack?" Harry couldn't help asking as soon as Professor McGonagall stopped.
He felt both depressed and angry.
They had clearly prepared everything, and after finishing this match, they would have caught this troublemaker in one fell swoop.
To prevent the opponent from being on guard and to give him confidence to act again, even Dumbledore had pretended to leave the school.
They never expected that they had given the opponent a bit too much confidence this time.
The opponent had acted ahead of schedule!
The match was over before it even began.
How infuriating! Clearly, the rooster and mirror were both ready—
"No, it's more serious than that," Professor McGonagall shook her head upon hearing Harry's words, her expression grave. "The opponent has directly taken someone into the Chamber of Secrets."
"What?"
Harry and Ron cried out in shock, both clenching their fists tightly.
Only Sherlock's expression remained calm. "Professor, how can you be certain of this?"
You can read more than 40 chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse