Harry hadn't expected Professor Lupin to send an owl ahead to inform Professor McGonagall about what had happened on the train.
But before he could respond, there came a knock at the door.
Immediately after, Madam Pomfrey hurried into the office.
Harry's face turned red with embarrassment.
Although he had fainted on the train, the teachers' reaction seemed rather over the top, didn't it?
Of course, he knew everyone was just concerned about him. But precisely because of that, he felt even more embarrassed.
"Professor, I'm fine, I don't need anything..."
"Oh, it's you lot!"
Madam Pomfrey looked at Sherlock and Harry, immediately showing an expression of sudden understanding.
After bending down to examine Harry carefully, she said in a straightforward tone.
"I suppose you've been up to something dangerous again?"
Strange, why did she say "again"?
"It was dementors, Poppy."
Professor McGonagall answered the question on Harry's behalf.
Madam Pomfrey's expression immediately darkened, and she exchanged a grave look with Professor McGonagall, then directly complained with displeasure.
"Stationing dementors around the school—what a brilliant idea!"
As she spoke, she brushed Harry's hair back and felt his forehead.
"He certainly won't be the first to faint... Look, he's cold and wet all over. Those dreadful creatures have a terrible effect on vulnerable people..."
"I'm not vulnerable!"
Harry said indignantly.
Seeing him like this, Sherlock and Hermione couldn't help but exchange amused glances.
Madam Pomfrey acted as if she hadn't heard him at all. "Oh yes, yes, you're not vulnerable at all."
The dismissive tone in her voice couldn't have been more obvious.
Of course, her hands weren't idle either, continuing to check his pulse as she spoke.
"Sherlock already checked it!"
Harry protested again.
However, this was completely useless. Madam Pomfrey continued doing as she pleased, completely ignoring Harry's words.
"Poppy, what does he need?" Professor McGonagall, always direct and efficient, simply asked, "Bed rest? Should I arrange for him to spend the night in the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine, perfectly fine!"
Harry couldn't stand it anymore.
He had already felt ashamed that he was the only one who had fainted, and now seeing Professor McGonagall making such a big fuss made it even more unbearable.
It was then that he realized he was actually quite concerned about saving face.
"He really is fine now, Professor. I already gave him some brandy on the train," Sherlock finally spoke, seeing his friend was about to lose his composure.
"Brandy?" Madam Pomfrey looked at Sherlock with some surprise. "What good does that do?"
"Brandy aids digestion, dispels cold and warms the body, dissolves blood stasis and detoxifies. It's an effective vasodilator that can strengthen cardiovascular function—it's good medicine for cardiovascular patients," Sherlock recited knowledgeably.
"Is that so?" Madam Pomfrey was now examining Harry's eyes. After smelling that sharp alcoholic scent, she said somewhat doubtfully.
"It sounds similar to chocolate, but I still think he should eat some chocolate."
"I already have," Harry quickly seized the opportunity to say. "Professor Lupin gave chocolate to all of us on the train."
"Well done!" Madam Pomfrey gave her praise generously. "Finally we have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows the right remedy."
"So, do you really feel alright now?" Professor McGonagall asked suspiciously.
"Yes, Professor." Harry nodded insistently.
"Very well, then let's continue discussing your course schedules."
After Madam Pomfrey left the office muttering to herself, Professor McGonagall's gaze moved back and forth among the three students before she slowly began.
"Mr. Holmes, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, you all chose every available course last term. Although I don't know what prompted such a decision, there are some things I must tell you in advance."
She cleared her throat. "It's not unprecedented to have students who select all electives like yourselves. This year's newly elected Head Boy and Girl, Mr. Weasley and Miss Farley, both earned twelve certificates in their fifth-year O.W.L. examinations.
This is quite remarkable, but that doesn't mean they needed to take every single course. Do you understand what I'm getting at?"
Harry and Hermione pondered this, while Sherlock immediately said, "Is it scheduling conflicts?"
"Excellent, Mr. Holmes!" Professor McGonagall was very pleased with Sherlock's response.
"So, you'll need to selectively drop some courses, but which courses to drop must be your own decision."
"No problem, Professor."
"Then please wait outside with Potter for a moment. I need to discuss Miss Granger's schedule with her, and then we'll all go downstairs together for the feast."
Harry couldn't help but ask curiously, "But Professor, Sherlock and I have exactly the same schedule as Hermione..."
Hearing Harry's words, Professor McGonagall's face showed a rare moment of hesitation and shame.
But it was only for an instant—she almost immediately recovered her usual stern expression.
"That's correct, but I have some suggestions to make to her."
Harry said "Oh" and prepared to leave the office with Sherlock.
However, when he looked at Sherlock, he found that the latter didn't seem inclined to leave.
Professor McGonagall noticed this too and felt uneasy.
This was Sherlock Holmes, after all—had he figured something out?
"Holmes, is there something else?"
"Yes, Professor."
Hearing Sherlock's words made Professor McGonagall even more anxious, but she suppressed these feelings and asked. "What's your question?"
"Earlier Madam Pomfrey mentioned stationing dementors around the school..."
"Oh, you're asking about that!" Professor McGonagall secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Without waiting for Sherlock to finish, she said directly.
"Before the start of term, Minister Cornelius Fudge approached Headmaster Dumbledore, hoping he would agree to let these Azkaban guards station themselves at the school entrances."
At this point, Professor McGonagall's expression looked rather displeased. "Although Dumbledore wasn't happy about it, he ultimately agreed, considering the school's safety.
Not just Dumbledore—I don't like these dementors either, but when dealing with a wizard like Black, sometimes you have to ally with people you'd normally avoid at all costs."
Here she looked deeply at Harry, then turned to Sherlock. "Anything else, Holmes?"
"Thank you for your answer, Professor."
After Sherlock said this politely, he and Harry returned to the corridor together.
As soon as they left, Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione. "Granger, what I'm about to tell you absolutely cannot be shared with anyone. Can you promise me that?"
Hermione was startled by these words.
"If you can't promise, then I won't tell you—but personally, I think you should listen to what I have to say, because it will be greatly beneficial to you."
"Sherlock, what do you think Professor McGonagall wants with keeping only Hermione behind?"
In the corridor outside the office, Harry fully demonstrated his spirit of "when in doubt, ask Sherlock."
"Just ask her when she comes out."
"Huh? Can't you deduce it?"
"My dear friend, perhaps my past performance has given you this misconception, but as I've told you before, I cannot predict the future," Sherlock said with a smile, patting Harry's shoulder. "Of course, you're not entirely wrong—I have indeed deduced some things, but precisely because of that, I should ask Hermione first before saying anything."
"Ah?" Harry scratched the back of his head, not understanding what Sherlock was talking about.
Just then, footsteps could be heard.
Harry turned to see Hermione emerge.
Hermione looked at Sherlock with a complex expression, about to say something when Professor McGonagall also came out.
Seeing this, Hermione fell silent and let Professor McGonagall lead all three of them down the marble staircase toward the Great Hall.
They happened to see Professor Flitwick carrying a stool and the Sorting Hat out of the Great Hall.
"Ha, looks like the Sorting ceremony is over."
"Yes, Mr. Holmes," Professor McGonagall glanced at Sherlock. "Because of your situation, I asked Professor Flitwick to help me conduct the Sorting ceremony—now, please return to your respective House tables."
After saying this, Professor McGonagall strode toward the staff table.
The three naturally headed for the Gryffindor table.
Ron had already saved seats for the three of them.
As soon as they sat down, he immediately asked, "What happened?"
Harry was about to speak when Dumbledore stood up to begin his speech, so Harry had to stop.
It had become customary for the headmaster to speak before the feast, though this year was obviously different from last year.
The first thing Dumbledore said captured the attention of the entire school.
"Our school has been joined by several Azkaban dementors, sent here on Ministry business, as you all undoubtedly know, since they conducted a search of the Hogwarts Express earlier."
At this point, Dumbledore paused.
Harry and Hermione immediately remembered what Professor McGonagall had just said—that Dumbledore was not pleased about having dementors guard the school.
It certainly seemed to be true.
Sherlock watched Dumbledore with interest, and their eyes met briefly.
You can read more than 40 chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse