When Sherlock claimed that pitching tents was common sense, Mr. Weasley immediately nodded vigorously, his face was showing an expression of sudden understanding.
"Oh! I see!
So, this is what common sense means in the Muggle world?
How absolutely remarkable!"
Watching Mr. Weasley take Sherlock's words at face value, Hermione's face instantly showed exasperation.
"Please, Sherlock, this is hardly common sense!
Even adults from Muggle families haven't necessarily pitched such professional tents by hand.
Especially without anyone teaching them, and getting it right on the first try!"
As she said this, her gaze involuntarily glanced at the Weasleys' lopsided first attempt.
In her view, Harry achieving this level was already impressive.
If it had been her with the Weasley twins, Ron, Ginny, and a Mr. Weasley who liked to "help," they might not have managed even this well.
Harry nodded repeatedly in agreement.
In his world, this certainly wasn't common sense.
Ron added in an exaggerated tone.
"Sherlock, if I didn't know it was impossible, I'd suspect you secretly used some silent spells or wandless magic when we weren't looking!"
The Weasley twins curiously touched this and that, carefully comparing the differences between the two tents.
They were planning to open Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, so they were very interested in anything hands-on.
Why would tents made from the same materials turn out so differently?
Ginny's attention remained fixed on Harry, not participating in this discussion.
Apart from Arthur Weasley, the adult, Sirius and Peasegood both stood at a slight distance, watching Sherlock with interest, seemingly waiting for further explanation.
Sherlock looked at the various expressions around him and lived up to expectations by explaining.
"The common sense I'm referring to isn't life hacks that everyone knows, but fundamental principles that can be grasped through observation and logical reasoning.
In fact, if you'd paid attention, you'd notice these tents had clear design intentions from the start.
Poles provide support and framework, canvas offers shelter from wind and rain, ropes maintain fixation and tension—each connection point follows mechanical principles. When you understand the function of these components and their positional relationships within the overall structure, assembling them is like putting together a complex model.
Put more simply, every piece has its specific position and connection method.
The key lies in seeing the design logic, not relying on experience."
As he spoke, Sherlock walked to the pristine tent that Harry and Hermione had led in building, gently patting a straight pole. "Like the tent you just completed.
When you understand the principles and collaborate well, the result naturally becomes stable.
Harry did this very well—he quickly grasped the essential points."
Harry listened thoughtfully and nodded.
The skepticism in Hermione's eyes gradually transformed into deeper understanding.
She even began muttering to herself.
"Structural analysis—deconstructing tasks into functional modules. Indeed, this shares similarities with breaking down complex magical theory—though the subjects are completely different."
However, aside from Harry and Hermione, the others found Sherlock's explanation as incomprehensible as reading an arcane text.
They looked at Sherlock with completely bewildered expressions.
Sirius still didn't speak, but Peasegood pursed his lips.
"Sherlock, I understand your reasoning.
But I still think turning theory into practical skill so quickly is rather uncanny—"
Mr. Weasley remained immersed in the charm of "Muggle engineering."
Suddenly, as if something had clicked, he slapped his forehead and rushed excitedly toward the tent.
The twins immediately grabbed him firmly.
"Please, Dad, no more experimenting with the hammer!
Our tent is already set up—it's great!"
"Hey! Let me go!"
Mr. Weasley protested, though his voice was full of laughter. "I just wanted to look at that rope knot—"
Hearing this, the twins finally released him.
They still watched vigilantly, only relaxing when they confirmed he really was just examining the rope knot.
Just then, Harry discovered another problem.
Sharing two tents among himself, Sherlock, Hermione, and Sirius would be more than sufficient.
However, the issue was that once Bill, Charlie, and Percy arrived, the Weasley family would have eight people.
Hermione seemed to notice this problem too, looking questioningly between Sherlock and Harry.
Seeing Sherlock smile without speaking, Hermione suddenly had a flash of insight, as if understanding something.
Harry's reaction was half a beat slower, unable to keep up with Sherlock's thinking in time.
Just then, having finally figured out the rope knot, Mr. Weasley got on all fours and crawled into the first tent.
"Um—might be a bit cramped."
His voice came from inside the tent, sounding somewhat muffled.
"Might be" nothing—it would definitely be cramped!
Still, Harry felt awkward about bringing it up, when he heard Mr. Weasley call out.
"But I think everyone should be able to squeeze in. Come take a look."
What? Everyone squeeze in? Was he joking?
I built this tent myself—don't I know what it looks like?
Harry was puzzled when Sherlock patted his shoulder.
"Sherlock?"
"Go in."
After speaking, Sherlock ducked his head and entered the tent.
"Uh—okay."
Though still not quite understanding, out of unconditional trust in Sherlock, Harry immediately bent down and followed him through the tent flap.
The moment he entered the tent, the sight before him left him astounded.
More surprised than when he'd watched Sherlock quickly set up the two tents.
Because he found himself walking into an old-fashioned three-bedroom apartment.
Besides the living room, there was even a bathroom and kitchen?
At this point, he finally understood what was happening.
This tent appeared to be an ordinary Muggle tent on the outside, but in reality, like the Weasleys' car, it had been enchanted, with completely different spatial configurations inside and out.
The interior space was spacious, completely different from the exterior.
What Harry found strange, though, was that this room's decor was exactly like Mrs. Figg's house.
Mismatched chairs covered with crocheted covers, and the air even carried a pungent cat smell.
Mrs. Figg was a woman who lived two streets away from Number 4, Privet Drive.
Every year on Dudley's birthday, the Dursleys would take him and another friend out for the day—to amusement parks, for hamburgers, or to the movies.
At those times, they would leave Harry with Mrs. Figg.
Back then, Harry didn't know he was a wizard; as just a child, he naturally wanted to go out and have fun too.
He naively believed that it was because of Mrs. Figg that the Dursleys wouldn't take him along.
So naturally, he couldn't bring himself to like Mrs. Figg, who prevented him from going out to play.
Later, as he grew older, Harry gradually realized that even without Mrs. Figg, the Dursleys still wouldn't have taken him.
But once first impressions form, they're hard to change.
Besides, Harry really disliked where Mrs. Figg lived—the whole place reeked of cabbage and cats.
Not only that, Mrs. Figg herself had an odd temperament and would insist Harry look at photos of cats she'd owned in the past.
Fortunately, all that was behind him now.
He'd already mended his relationship with the Dursleys. This very summer, he'd gone out with them—to amusement parks, for hamburgers, and to movies.
Not to mention, he now had a good friend like Sherlock, and they'd gone out together for his last birthday.
And there was Sirius, who had come to fetch him as soon as his month with the Dursleys was up.
Thinking about it this way, he probably wouldn't have any further dealings with the odd Mrs. Figg for the rest of his life.
As Harry pondered this, Mr. Weasley was wiping his forehead with a handkerchief while peering into the bedroom at the four bunk beds.
After a moment, he turned to address everyone who had entered the tent.
"I borrowed this tent from Perkins at the office.
Poor fellow's got lumbago—can't go camping anymore."
Except for Harry and Hermione, everyone else seemed completely oblivious to the tent's extraordinary interior space, as if they were long accustomed to it.
Next, Harry and Hermione, who was pulling Sherlock along, toured the other tent, which similarly had its own hidden dimensions.
It was slightly smaller than this one but lacked the cat smell—prepared for the girls.
"Let Ginny stay on this side."
Seeing the situation, Sirius said to Mr. Weasley, "We have two tents. She and Hermione can share one, so your family can split between two tents."
"How could we impose?" Mr. Weasley said, rubbing his hands.
"Come on, Arthur, no need to be formal with me!"
After brief consideration, Mr. Weasley agreed.
And so, Sherlock, Harry, and Sirius would share one tent as originally planned.
Ginny and Hermione successfully teamed up to share the other tent.
The remaining male members of the Weasley family would split between two tents.
The previously cramped living arrangements were suddenly improved.
Everyone's faces showed smiles.
However, these smiles didn't last long.
Because next they toured the tent the Ministry had prepared for Sirius.
And then.
Emmmmmmmmm.
Better left unsaid.
In any case, the Weasley family's mood underwent subtle changes.
Ginny was quite happy though—being able to stay in better conditions with Hermione was secondary; more importantly, she'd be very close to Harry.
Seeing that Sirius and Harry were settled and his task complete, Peasegood decided not to stay any longer.
"I'd better get going. Have a great time."
"Huh, Mr. Peasegood, you're not staying with us tonight?"
Hearing Peasegood's words, Harry was somewhat surprised—he had a good impression of this Ministry employee.
"My work isn't here. The Ministry still has plenty waiting for me!" Peasegood said with a grimace.
"In that case, Arnold, why not stay a bit longer?" Mr. Weasley suggested.
"No, those tasks ultimately depend on me to do them."
Peasegood shrugged, then smiled at Sherlock and Harry.
"Come to think of it, I benefited from your presence this time. The time spent bringing you here counts as a break for me."
After Peasegood Disapparated away, the awkward atmosphere eased slightly.
Of course, only Mr. Weasley paid it no mind. He picked up the dust-covered kettle and looked inside.
"We need some water—
On the map that Muggle gave us, there's a tap marked."
Ron glanced at the map in his hand and said as much.
"Well then, Harry, please go fetch us some water with Ron, and then—"
Mr. Weasley handed over the kettle and two saucepans they'd brought, turning to the others.
"Then the rest of us will gather some firewood and prepare to make a fire!
Sherlock, will you guide us, please?"
"But we have a stove!" Ron couldn't help but say. "Why can't we just—"
"Ron, don't forget the security regulations for Muggles!
I just said, from now on, we can't use any magic!"
"But this tent is magic—"
"That's Perkins's, not ours, and it's old magic anyway, so it doesn't count now!"
Mr. Weasley said with apparent seriousness.
However, the eager expression on his face and his next words revealed his true thoughts.
"Real Muggles make fires outdoors when camping—I've seen it, and we're going to do the same now!"
Everyone understood—Mr. Weasley was purely interested in the Muggle way of making fires.
Harry and Ron picked up the kettle and saucepans.
Harry said nothing—he'd done this sort of thing so often at the Dursleys' that he was completely practiced.
Ron, however, frowned. "Just the two of us fetching water?"
"I'll go too!"
Ginny immediately jumped up, taking a kettle from Harry's hands.
Ron: "..."
Wait, whose sister are you exactly?
Don't you see your brother is carrying more?
The three set off through the campsite, following the map's directions to fetch water.
The remaining people began gathering firewood as Mr. Weasley suggested, preparing to make a fire and cook.
Sherlock once again demonstrated his understanding of common sense during this process.
"This is common sense, my friend."
Facing everyone's questions, Sherlock said with a smile.
You can read more than 40 chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse
