Seeing this large cat again, Ron's feelings were inevitably complicated.
Previously, he'd had several arguments with Hermione because of Scabbers... well, now it should be called Peter Pettigrew.
He'd even stopped speaking to her for a while because of this.
Sherlock had been indifferent to this, but Harry had been anxiously worried.
As it turned out, Hermione and Crookshanks were right.
Scabbers really wasn't a good thing!
Of course, Hermione had also apologized to him later, admitting she hadn't managed to see things from his perspective.
But still, thinking about how the rat that had been with him for three years was actually a man in disguise, and that for three years they'd slept in the same bed every day, and sometimes he'd even dirty the sheets...
This fact was simply too brutal for him!
"Look, it's carrying a letter in its mouth!"
"What? Let me see!"
Hearing Ginny's words, Ron collected his thoughts and bent down to grab Crookshanks.
However, Crookshanks made an agile leap and landed directly on Harry's lap, tilting its large head with the letter toward Harry.
Harry was somewhat surprised. "Crookshanks, is this for me?"
"Meow—"
Crookshanks responded lazily and settled into Harry's lap.
Harry curiously picked up the letter, but as soon as he tore open the envelope, he immediately stood up in surprise.
This action sent Crookshanks tumbling to the floor.
"Meow!"
Crookshanks immediately cried out in displeasure.
"Sorry, Crookshanks, it's just that..."
Harry held the letter in one hand while about to bend down with the other to pick up Crookshanks.
"I'll do it."
Seeing Harry's movements were awkward, Ginny took the initiative, scooping up Crookshanks with both hands.
"Meow-meow Meeoow?"
"I'll hold you, but you have to be good, okay~"
Ginny petted the cat while asking curiously, "Harry, who wrote you a letter?"
"Sirius Black."
"What?!"
Both Ron and Ginny looked surprised.
Ginny was so surprised she forgot to pet the cat. "Why would Crookshanks deliver a letter for him?"
"What does he say? Read it out loud!" Ron was more eager to know the letter's contents.
"Meow—"
Dear Harry.
When you read this letter, this cat has probably already brought all my anxiety and hopes to you—it's the smartest cat I've ever seen and has helped me immensely.
Although the Ministry's announcement cleared my name, those words whitewashing the truth disgust me.
Harry, my greatest wish now is to see you.
You choose the place, bring professors from school, or anyone else you trust.
If you agree, send word—this cat can find me.
If you don't wish to meet with me, I can understand your wariness.
This is a responsibility that should have been fulfilled twelve years ago, but it turned into nothing due to my foolishness and Peter's betrayal.
Your parents' deaths are my lifelong regret, and the loneliness you've endured torments me day and night.
Your eyes are as bright as Lily's, and your courage would make James proud.
Whatever you decide, I'll always be your family.
------------------
Yours faithfully
Sirius Black
"Sherlock's prediction came true again!"
Ron exclaimed, "Is there anything he can't predict?"
Ginny looked at Harry. "Harry, what do you think? Will you meet with him?"
Harry remained silent.
"It's better to be cautious." Ron frowned, saying with some concern.
"Although Black has now been proven innocent, no one knows what he experienced in Azkaban...
Dad said people locked in there go mad after just a few weeks, let alone being imprisoned for twelve full years.
Don't forget, he did tear up the Fat Lady's portrait!"
"But he's Harry's godfather. If that hadn't happened, Harry should have grown up with him from childhood."
'No, even if that hadn't happened, I still wouldn't have grown up with him.'
Hearing Ginny's words, Harry thought silently.
When Hagrid had carried baby Harry out of the ruins, before Peter had framed Sirius, Sirius had also asked Hagrid for Harry.
However, Dumbledore had insisted on letting Harry grow up in a world isolated from magic, so Hagrid had firmly refused Sirius.
Later, everyone believed Sirius had asked Hagrid for Harry that night in order to kill the infant.
But it seemed now he'd genuinely wanted to care for Harry.
If Hagrid had really given Harry to Sirius that night, perhaps Harry's fate would have been different.
But this matter was in the past, and Harry didn't plan to tell Ginny about it.
He just heard Ginny continue.
"Besides, didn't he say in the letter that you can bring teachers or anyone else you trust, as long as Dumbledore is there, Harry will definitely be safe."
"Not necessarily—have you forgotten? In first year, You-Know-Who was attached to the back of Quirrell's head and got in.
In second year, he hid in a diary and got in again.
In third year, You-Know-Who didn't come, but his lackey had been hiding among us all along.
Dumbledore didn't know about any of these things. If this world didn't have Sherlock, we might all be in trouble!"
"But Harry has always been safe because Dumbledore has been protecting him all along!"
"Ending up in the hospital wing once per school year doesn't count as safe!"
"You're yelling at me, you actually yelled at me!"
"..."
Listening to the siblings' differing opinions, Harry said nothing, still staring blankly at the letter.
From this letter, he could indeed feel Sirius's sincerity.
The question was, should he meet with him or not?
Ron had a point.
Ginny also made sense.
Just then, he suddenly thought of something.
Harry suddenly looked up, and Ron and Ginny had just finished arguing. The three's gazes collided in mid-air as they said in unison.
"When in doubt, ask Sherlock!"
"When faced with difficult decisions, go find Holmes."
In the library, Hermione looked at Sherlock with a smile. "Now everyone in the school knows this—Sherlock, your reputation as the campus consulting detective is growing louder!"
"Not just on campus, but from a certain perspective, this isn't actually a good thing."
"Why not?"
The question came from Luna Lovegood, sitting on Sherlock's other side.
"Because I've never been a normal person."
Sherlock placed his fingertips together, elbows resting on the table supporting his chin, and explained slowly under the two girls' gaze.
"I'm restless by nature, not calm. Whenever I have nothing to do, I become anxious and uncomfortable.
Only when given difficult problems, work, and the most profound mysteries do I feel comfortable, without needing to artificially seek stimulation.
You know, I once found London an extremely boring city—these past few years, to promote the EU's establishment, local criminals have been suppressed and really aren't very active."
"Sherlock!"
Hermione said with some annoyance, "I don't think normal citizens would agree with that view."
"Right, right, I shouldn't be so selfish."
Sherlock said with a smile, "The disappearance of criminals is naturally good for social stability. No one loses except the poor consulting detective with nothing to do—fortunately, at that time an owl brought Hogwarts' admission letter.
The appearance of the wizarding world opened the door to a new world for me, finally freeing me from the need for artificial self-stimulation.
Judging by these three years, life as a wizard has been satisfactory.
Unfortunately, now in third year, I've more or less figured out the wizarding world's patterns. What remains is just step-by-step learning.
I'd originally thought Voldemort might provide some entertainment, but he turned out to be no different from a brainless fool.
Tom Riddle from fifty years ago was actually a decent opponent.
Now they've all gone with the wind, and the Prisoner of Azkaban incident has been resolved. All that's left are cases at school to provide some amusement.
As you said, more and more people know Mr. Holmes can solve cases without using magic. As a result, some cases that might have occurred have also decreased.
Recently, there haven't even been cases like the missing eyeshadow incident."
"Sherlock, you really are..."
Hermione listened in astonishment, shaking her head, not knowing what to say.
Luna's eyes were sparkling, though it was unclear what she was thinking.
"Ha!"
Just then, Sherlock suddenly sat up straight.
"As expected, choosing to befriend the Savior was a wise decision. New material has arrived!"
Following Sherlock's gaze, Hermione and Luna saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny hurrying toward them, with Harry holding Crookshanks.
When they saw Hermione and Luna sitting on either side of Sherlock, the three were already accustomed to it.
On one hand, Ginny and Luna were close friends who were always together.
On the other hand, after learning that the person who exposed Peter Pettigrew was Sherlock rather than the Ministry of Magic, even if Ginny didn't call her, Luna liked to hover around Sherlock.
She always said things they couldn't understand.
This gave Hermione some headaches.
At times like these, she felt like an outsider.
Harry had already explained how Crookshanks had delivered a letter for Sirius, and then handed the letter to Sherlock.
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