At Hogwarts' annual opening ceremony, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore spoke to all the staff and students before the feast began, as was customary.
"The dementors sent by the Ministry are stationed at every entrance to the school. While they are present, no one is to leave the school without permission.
I must stress—no tricks, schemes, or disguises can fool dementors, not even Invisibility Cloaks or master-level stealth skills."
Sherlock couldn't help but chuckle softly at this.
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
Hermione glanced worriedly at Sherlock and Harry.
"Dementors do not understand pleas or excuses, so I warn every student here not to give them any reason to harm you.
The newly elected Head Boy and Girl and all prefects should take responsibility to ensure that no student comes into conflict with the dementors."
By this point, even those who didn't know the details could see that Dumbledore did not like the dementors.
Percy, upon hearing "newly elected Head Boy and Girl," immediately puffed out his chest so people around him could see his badge, looking around to gauge people's reactions.
Unfortunately, few people were looking at him.
Even his girlfriend Penelope was listening intently to Dumbledore's speech.
From the Slytherin direction, the other Head Girl, Gemma, simply smiled faintly upon hearing Dumbledore's words.
"On a happier note, I'm pleased to introduce two new teachers."
"Two?" Harry was startled and couldn't help looking at Sherlock.
"First is Professor Lupin, who has kindly agreed to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
Under Dumbledore's lead, applause broke out in the Great Hall.
The applause wasn't very enthusiastic.
On one hand, everyone knew this position was cursed—this professor would be gone next year anyway, so polite clapping would suffice.
On the other hand, Professor Lupin's appearance compared rather poorly to last year's Professor Lockhart.
Although Lockhart had ultimately been controlled by dark magic, the students hadn't witnessed Lockhart being controlled by dark magic.
They had only seen the handsome Lockhart display power no less than Professor Snape's in daily life, while teaching them genuinely useful knowledge.
Combined with today's special circumstances, Lupin's already shabby robes and patches were particularly noticeable.
Of course, some students applauded more enthusiastically.
They were from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione had just been taken away by Professor McGonagall and hadn't had a chance to communicate with others.
But Ron, Cho Chang, and Ginny had told their housemates about Professor Lupin's performance on the train.
So, these two houses knew this new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had real ability.
Compared to others' reactions, Professor Snape's behavior caught Sherlock's attention more.
The moment Dumbledore announced Lupin as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Snape turned toward Lupin with a look full of anger and hatred.
This wasn't actually strange.
Except for the first-years, almost all students knew that Severus Snape had always wanted to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
However, Sherlock understood at a glance that Snape's expression wasn't solely due to this reason.
At that instant, Snape also noticed Sherlock's gaze.
He looked in Sherlock's direction, frowned, then immediately returned to his usual calm demeanor.
Sherlock had no intention of prying into others' secrets, but he still found Snape's reaction very interesting.
It was as if he was deliberately avoiding him.
Then Dumbledore continued. "...Additionally, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last term to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Sherlock, if Professor Kettleburn retired, then doesn't that mean..."
"Harry, I think you didn't notice that I also called Hagrid 'Professor' at the time."
"What?"
Hearing their conversation, nearby Gryffindors were all shocked.
Could this be true?
Just then Dumbledore said, "Rubeus Hagrid has agreed to accept this teaching position in addition to his duties as Keeper of Keys and Grounds."
Applause erupted.
Much more enthusiastic than the welcome for Professor Lupin.
After all, Hagrid was practically a Hogwarts' own.
Every year he led first-year students across the lake by boat, leaving a deep impression on everyone.
The applause from the Gryffindor table was especially warm.
"I should have figured it out! Who else would make us get books that bite?" Ron pounded the table while shouting. "Sherlock, you guessed it ahead of time again, didn't you?"
"Not guessed—deduced."
Sherlock looked toward the Slytherin table, where Gemma was also looking his way.
Gemma gave Sherlock a somewhat apologetic smile—the applause from the Slytherin table was the most lukewarm, with many not even raising their hands.
Gemma felt helpless about their petty behavior.
As for Hagrid, the subject of all this attention, he didn't mind at all. He was hurriedly wiping his eyes with the tablecloth.
"Well, that's all I have to say. Let the feast begin!"
Just like the previous two years, as soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, golden plates and goblets filled with food and drink appeared before everyone.
Ron, who had been complaining about being hungry since the train, immediately dug in without a word, even forgetting about asking Harry what had happened.
Harry looked at Sherlock admiringly. "I thought Hagrid would just be an assistant teacher. I never imagined he'd actually become a full professor."
"My friend, Ron actually thought of it too, didn't he?"
"Hey, don't always use me as your intelligence measuring stick!" Ron said with some dissatisfaction, while stuffing another drumstick into his mouth.
Hermione hesitated for a moment, then said to Sherlock.
"Sherlock, I'm sorry. Professor McGonagall just told me something, and she made me swear not to tell anyone..."
Harry and Ron turned to look at her in surprise upon hearing this.
"What's so mysterious?" Ron asked after finally swallowing what was in his mouth.
Harry looked somewhat helplessly at his thick-headed friend—she'd already said she couldn't tell anyone, and you're still asking?
Sherlock shook his head. "Hermione, the correct approach would be not to even tell us that she made you swear to secrecy."
"Sherlock, do you really think so?"
Hearing Sherlock say this, Hermione, who had been feeling guilty, immediately showed a delighted expression.
"Of course. If Professor McGonagall kept you behind and you made an agreement with her, you should keep your word."
"Yes, yes!" Hermione nodded insistently; her conflicted feelings were completely swept away as she finally began to eat.
Hearing their conversation, Harry also understood. He figured Sherlock had probably already deduced what Professor McGonagall and Hermione had discussed.
That's precisely why Sherlock had spoken that way in the corridor earlier.
Sherlock was about to start eating when he suddenly looked up, sensing something.
From the direction of the Slytherin table, Gemma raised her goblet toward Sherlock in a distant toast.
Though somewhat surprised, Sherlock also raised his goblet to acknowledge her.
Gemma smiled faintly at Sherlock, put down her goblet, and began eating with graceful movements.
"Sherlock, shall we go say hello to Hagrid later?"
Harry said excitedly. Hagrid becoming a full professor rather than just an assistant made Harry genuinely happy for him.
He knew very well how important this was to Hagrid.
"I'm afraid we won't have time," Sherlock checked his watch. "Today's schedule was delayed considerably due to the dementors searching the train. When the feast ends, we'll probably be sent straight back to the common room."
Harry felt rather disappointed at this.
"Don't worry, Harry. We'll eat quickly and try to get there before the teachers notice."
"Mm-hmm."
The idea was lovely, but reality was harsh.
Just as Sherlock had predicted, when the last few pumpkin pasties disappeared from Ron's golden plate, Dumbledore made a few announcements just like the previous two years, then had the prefects lead everyone off to bed.
Harry and Ron still wouldn't give up, wanting to go to the staff table to find Hagrid, but they were mercilessly turned away by Professor McGonagall.
They could only regretfully decide to wait until breakfast the next morning to congratulate Hagrid.
Following the familiar route to the entrance of Gryffindor Tower, the Fat Lady's portrait blocked their way.
New term, new password naturally.
This made Neville Longbottom rather dejected, as he could never remember passwords.
Even though this time the password was simply "Fortuna Major."
Passing through the common room, after Hermione and Ginny bid them goodnight, the boys and girls separated and went their separate ways.
Returning to the familiar circular dormitory with five four-poster beds, everyone settled in briefly before going to sleep.
Sherlock was no exception.
Unlike the others, as soon as he closed his eyes, images began floating before him.
The dark, terrifying form of the dementor on the Hogwarts Express, the spell Professor Lupin used to drive away the dementor, Professor Snape's angry and hateful look toward Professor Lupin, Hagrid's joy upon hearing he'd been appointed Care of Magical Creatures professor...
Sherlock's mouth curved slightly upward as he said "Interesting," then fell asleep with these images.
The next morning.
Sherlock left Hogwarts Castle alone to exercise on the grounds.
Whether Harry or Neville, they all needed time to readjust to the new term.
"Sometimes I really have to admire you."
When Sherlock returned to the dormitory after his morning exercise, Ron looked at him like he was looking at some kind of creature.
"It's still raining outside, and you just ran out like that?"
"My friend, it seems you didn't realize that the rain only started when I was coming back."
"Alright, alright, I admit I got up late, okay?"
"Hey, Weasley, even if you didn't admit it, we'd all know anyway!"
"Yes, yes, whenever we tried to wake you in the mornings before, you just couldn't get it up in bed."
"..."
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