Britain has no death penalty, and this is no exception in the wizarding world.
However, for a living person, the Dementor's Kiss is no different from a death sentence.
This was precisely the objective of the Hogwarts faculty and students.
"All right, all right, I understand."
Facing the gathered faculty and students of Hogwarts, Fudge felt immense pressure and simply couldn't withstand it.
He even regretted coming here, and nervously running his hand through his hair said. "I—I'll try to convince them."
Damn it, what's gotten into these people?
Hadn't they always been reasonable with him before?
How had they suddenly changed like this? Could this still be considered Hogwarts, a school dedicated to teaching and nurturing students?
He gave everyone present one last look. "Dumbledore, I need to head back first."
Honestly, Fudge was frightened.
At this moment, in his eyes, this place was chaotic and noxious, and these people looked fierce and malicious—nothing like a school at all.
He no longer wanted to, nor dared to, stay here any longer.
"I'll see you out."
Dumbledore spoke, smiling at Sirius and Snape, then left the office with Fudge.
Once the two had departed, Professor McGonagall immediately looked at Sherlock. "Mr. Holmes, how exactly did you do it?"
This seemingly cryptic question startled everyone else. Do what?
What was Professor McGonagall talking about?
Sherlock responded calmly and composedly with a counter-question.
"Professor McGonagall, are you referring to reversing the Ministry's position, or the process of finding Sirius?"
"Tell us both."
Professor McGonagall was in an excellent mood and even joked. "I'm not Fudge—I'm very interested in both matters."
"Actually, it's hardly worth mentioning," Sherlock said, looking at Harry. "Harry, you tell them."
Harry was initially taken aback, then nodded.
Sherlock's intention was for him to use his gift for summarizing and recounting to describe the entire situation. Through his retelling, Sherlock might discover something new.
After all, this wasn't the first time he'd done this.
He first recounted how they'd found Sirius.
Sirius had written a letter and had Crookshanks deliver it to Harry, then godfather and godson met, everyone was happy.
Harry omitted the part about Sherlock deducing Sirius's hiding place through the Marauder's Map.
The Marauder's Map was simply too valuable.
Telling Sirius was fine, but once Professor McGonagall knew about it, she would definitely confiscate it.
He couldn't bear to part with such a useful item.
Professor McGonagall didn't press for details and, like Dumbledore earlier, merely looked at Sirius with sympathy.
Snape's eyes flickered, and said nothing, who knew what he was thinking.
"What about the Ministry's sudden change?" Lupin asked.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Sirius all showed curious expressions.
After all, Dumbledore had already prepared to part ways with the Ministry, and even Rita Skeeter had previously believed that Dumbledore had been supporting Fudge all along.
If things had truly developed that way, it would absolutely have been a lose-lose outcome.
At the time, Dumbledore had placed his hopes on Sherlock and even had Professor McGonagall convey this sentiment.
No one expected Sherlock to actually pull it off.
It was truly a case of finding light at the end of a dark tunnel.
So, Harry recounted the matter of Sherlock's brother, Mycroft Holmes.
"Are you saying that Holmes's brother influenced the Ministry through the Muggle Prime Minister?"
After hearing Harry's account, Professor McGonagall found it incredible.
Snape, Lupin, and Sirius likewise looked at Harry with astonishment.
"Yes, Sherlock said that at certain times, Mycroft is the British government."
Harry looked at Sherlock, and after receiving his approval, directly repeated Sherlock's assessment of Mycroft.
This statement plunged the office into silence.
Everyone was digesting this incredible information that Muggles could actually interfere with the wizarding world to such an extent.
Finally, Lupin was the first to break the silence.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I see. Although Muggle wisdom and political strategy differ from ours, the underlying logic is similar.
Put that way, it's not surprising that the Ministry would be influenced by Her Majesty's government.
Sherlock's approach was very far-sighted, and of course, the facts prove his method was indeed effective.
Sometimes, external force can better leverage a stagnant system."
Unlike the others, Lupin, as a werewolf who had experienced marginalization and discrimination, found it easier to accept the intersection of different worlds.
Snape's reaction was entirely opposite.
"Pot—ter, are you telling me a joke?"
A trace of mockery flashed through his dark eyes. Just as in his usual Potions class, he drew out Harry's name in a long tone, and before Harry could explain, he continued.
"He is British government?
Ridiculous. You can't possibly expect us to believe such an absurd claim, can you?
According to your vague account, this great detective's brother only recently became a clerk in the Muggle government.
So please tell me, how could such a shallow, inexperienced minor official possibly have the qualifications or ability to make the Muggle Prime Minister exert such substantial pressure on the Ministry?
Does that make sense?"
Faced with Snape's questioning, Harry didn't know what to say.
He was also a wizard from a Muggle family and knew far more about Muggle society than information-isolated wizards.
But even so, he felt it sounded somewhat absurd. Yet this was precisely what had happened.
Harry looked at Sherlock and found that his friend had no intention of explaining.
He immediately understood what Sherlock's attitude meant—believe it or not, we don't care.
So, he, like Sherlock, chose not to respond.
"The Muggle Prime Minister? Brilliant! I love this idea!"
At that moment, a flash of satisfaction crossed Sirius's haggard face. He looked at Snape provocatively.
"Put away your self-righteous logic, Sni—vellus!"
Just as Snape had drawn out "Pot—ter" earlier, Sirius similarly elongated his insult.
"You have no idea what the Holmes brothers are capable of!
The younger brother found the truth buried for twelve years in just one term—for the entire twelve years before that, everyone including myself was played by a rat!
The older brother doesn't even need magic to influence that fool Fudge and the Ministry through the Prime Minister!
They don't rely on that stupid seniority system—they use this!"
Sirius forcefully tapped his temple, looking contemptuously at Snape.
"This is real intelligence!
The facts are right in front of you, yet you still insist on your assumptions, no different from Fudge!
Oh right, someone like you who only skulks behind cauldrons plotting schemes naturally can't understand!"
The moment Fudge left, Sirius, who had briefly been on the same side, immediately began mercilessly mocking Snape.
"Black, it seems twelve years in Azkaban have completely rotted your brain, making everything you say no different from spewing dung.
However, if you continue this way, I'd be more than happy to stuff Bezoars into your skull!"
"You can try."
Sirius and Snape locked eyes, the disgust in their gazes practically overflowing.
Snape didn't back down, but his expression mixed anger with fear.
The next moment, he directly drew his wand.
Sirius didn't retreat either, upon seeing this, he also drew... well, he didn't have a wand, so he drew Professor Lupin's wand from beside him.
Lupin: (－‸ლ)
"Enough!"
At that moment, Professor McGonagall suddenly spoke. She strode between Snape and Sirius, directly separating them. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two men, and finally she said.
"Severus, Sirius, you are both people Dumbledore trusts.
The truth from twelve years ago has been clarified. Now you should set aside past differences and learn to trust each other."
Harry felt this was tantamount to asking for a miracle.
Because even with Professor McGonagall between them, Sirius and Snape still glared viciously at each other, their hatred was reaching its peak at this moment.
Harry strongly suspected that if Professor McGonagall weren't here, these two would start fighting immediately.
No—even with Professor McGonagall present, if she weren't blocking them now, they would still fight.
Hadn't they already drawn their wands?
Professor Lupin alone couldn't stop them.
"In the short term, I require that you not openly antagonize each other."
Professor McGonagall's tone revealed a trace of impatience.
"Regardless of the past, we now belong to the same camp and must stand united. My personal suggestion is to start by shaking hands with each other."
Harry began to admire Professor McGonagall.
Because Sirius and Professor Snape actually did as Professor McGonagall said, putting away their wands and walking toward each other—although they walked very, very slowly, they still extended their hands and clasped them together.
However, both men's hands touched only briefly before separating.
And throughout the entire process, they continued to glare fiercely at each other.
"That's more like it."
Professor McGonagall showed a satisfied expression. She turned her head, gave a warning look at a certain portrait on the wall, then withdrew her gaze.
"Potter, does this mean you're planning to go home for the holidays again?"
"I—"
Harry was about to answer when Sirius suddenly spoke, looking at Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, I—I think I can call you that, can't I?"
Professor McGonagall was taken aback. She looked at Sirius, seemingly not expecting him to say this.
But soon, she showed a smile.
"Of course you can, Sirius. I just said, we now belong to the same camp."
Snape gave a cold snort.
"I want Harry to live with me."
Under Harry's delighted gaze, Sirius said directly, "Minerva, you know that if that incident hadn't happened, Lily and James had originally planned for me to look after Harry for them."
"You are Potter's godfather. As long as Potter himself agrees, I certainly have no objection."
"Then it's settled!"
Sirius looked excitedly at Harry. "We'll return to London tomorrow!"
"Thank you, Godfather." Harry said sincerely.
Snape let out another cold snort.
"Have you been smelling too much dung?"
Sirius spun around to look at him. "That abnormally large nose of yours seems more easily affected by odors than other people's."
"Sirius!"
Professor McGonagall immediately said sternly.
"All right, Minerva, I'm just expressing concern for dear Professor Snape. Perhaps he's not quite used to my way of speaking."
Sirius shrugged.
"I won't disturb your 'loving father-son reunion.'"
Snape practically squeezed out these words through clenched teeth.
His gloomy gaze lingered on Harry's face for a moment, then he nodded at Professor McGonagall, turned directly, and glided out of the headmaster's office like an old bat.
Once Snape left, the atmosphere in the office immediately became cheerful.
"Sirius, I know about the grudges between you two, and I don't want to discuss who's right or wrong.
But as I just said, I hope you can both let go of past differences."
Professor McGonagall said immediately.
"Of course, Minerva."
Sirius truly respected Professor McGonagall and nodded with a grin upon hearing this.
"Actually, Professor Snape is a good person."
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Sherlock suddenly spoke. "I've told Harry more than once that Professor Snape is the person in this school who least wants anything to happen to him."
"Albus will be very pleased," Professor McGonagall said with relief. "He has always trusted Severus."
"All right, can we please not discuss that killjoy?"
Sirius said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Headmistress, there's one more thing I feel I should report to you."
Hearing Sirius speak so formally, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but be curious. "What is it?"
"Harry has a friend whose pet is very clever, the cat I just mentioned that helped me deliver the letter."
"You're talking about Miss Granger, I assume. Her cat is indeed impressive."
Professor McGonagall said with some emotion, "I only knew it recognized Peter. I didn't know it could also help you deliver letters. But since it has Kneazle blood, that's understandable."
"Not only that, it even brought me the Gryffindor Tower password."
Almost the instant Sirius said this, Harry knew things were going badly.
'No, Godfather, what are you doing?
You're just stirring up trouble!'
Before he could warn him, Sirius continued lazily.
"That cat is smarter than some people. Although it couldn't bring me Peter, it did find a little slip of paper with an entire week's worth of passwords written on it in a boy's bedside table.
Minerva, I really think you should look into this. Although our Gryffindor students are known for bravery, they can't be this careless!
Oh, right, although I threw away that slip of paper, they apparently identified him from the handwriting."
"Who is it?"
Professor McGonagall's face turned gray as she followed Sirius's gaze toward Sherlock and Harry.
"Which complete idiot wrote down a week's worth of passwords and left them lying around?"
Harry opened his mouth but said nothing.
At this moment, he felt the temperature in the entire Headmaster's office seemed to drop.
"Don't try to deceive me! Tell me, is it Longbottom?"
Harry: "..."
'Your intuition is spot-on.'
"I knew it!"
Seeing Harry's expression, Professor McGonagall understood everything. She roared like an angry lioness.
"Neville Longbottom again, is it?
If he can't even remember the password, then he simply shouldn't go to bed!
When he returns from the holidays, I'm putting him in detention!
And I'm not letting him go to Hogsmeade anymore!"
Sherlock observed clearly that all the portraits of previous headmasters on the walls had quietly slipped away the moment Professor McGonagall opened her mouth.
Watching the true Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall lose her temper, Professor Lupin gave Sherlock and Harry a look, telling them to leave quickly.
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