The legend of the Chamber of Secrets still circulated throughout the Castle, but Sherlock had no time to pay attention to students guessing who the true Heir of Slytherin was, or whether anyone suspected him.
In fact, even before Halloween, in mid-October, he had already been immersed in the Hogwarts library all day long.
After witnessing the sheer volume of books at Hogwarts, Sherlock truly understood that the Original Owner's study was nothing in comparison.
Compared to the magic books here, it would not be an exaggeration to say it was a drop in the ocean.
The mysteries of magic are a treasure that no one with a thirst for knowledge can refuse.
This is a unique set of natural laws belonging to an abnormal world, and mastering and using these laws is not much different from learning natural science in the normal world.
The two only differ in their form of expression.
This was Sherlock's greatest realization about magic and science in the two months since he began to interact with magic.
Studious and knowledgeable individuals can achieve great things, no matter which world they are in.
Therefore, apart from fulfilling his duties as a professor, he spent most of his remaining time in the library.
There is a vast amount of knowledge for students to learn during the seven academic years at Hogwarts.
Under normal circumstances, let alone restoring the Original Owner's previous magic level, it would not be something Sherlock could achieve in a short time, even if he merely wanted to reach the level of a normal seventh-year graduate.
Even if he were a magical genius, it would still take at least two or three years.
Fortunately, the Original Owner's body was already familiar with the use and casting of most spells.
Sherlock only needed to practice the unfamiliar spells a few times to naturally achieve proficiency.
However, the profundity of magic is not only reflected in spells.
The muscle memory left behind by the Original Owner could only help him quickly become proficient in casting techniques, but the understanding of theoretical and magical knowledge such as Transfiguration, Herbology, Potions, and Astronomy still required Sherlock to study diligently.
Fortunately, his learning and comprehension abilities were not poor.
Before transmigration, he was a university graduate in the field of science, and even in the Wizarding World, acquiring knowledge remained the primary way for a wizard to gain power.
From July, when he first transmigrated into this world, until now, early November, four months had allowed Sherlock to basically master all the spells the Original Owner knew.
Only a few special ones that could not be easily attempted remained, such as Apparition, and those that did not rely solely on spells and casting techniques but required special emotions to succeed, such as Expecto Patronum.
These two types of magic were relatively advanced, and Sherlock did not dare attempt them for the time being.
In a castle like Hogwarts, where Anti-Apparition wards were spread throughout the school, he also had no chance to try Apparition.
Sherlock did attempt the Patronus Charm once; only faint silvery threads of light emerged from his wand tip, failing to form a concrete Patronus.
But he seriously doubted that even the Original Owner had truly summoned his Patronus.
It would be strange if a lonely person like the Original Owner could use such magic, which requires a great deal of positive emotion to cast successfully.
Putting aside theoretical magic disciplines such as Potions, Herbology, and Astronomy for now, Sherlock was confident that he had reached the standard of a normal adult wizard in the two main casting methods—spells and Transfiguration.
He might even be considerably stronger, relying on the Original Owner's accumulation. After all, not every adult wizard can master advanced defensive magic like the Shield Charm.
After confirming that he had mastered most conventional spells, he did not continue to expand into learning knowledge such as Potions.
After meeting Slughorn, he strongly agreed with at least one of his viewpoints.
Even with Albus Dumbledore, the most famous Light wizard in the entire Wizarding World, in charge, Hogwarts was still a very dangerous place.
A student had already been attacked, which meant the Chamber of Secrets had been opened and the Basilisk released.
Although Sherlock also wanted to resolve this crisis in advance, he truly did not know where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was, nor who the Heir of Slytherin who opened it might be.
If he knew, he would definitely first devise a suitable reason and excuse, then tell Dumbledore everything.
Wouldn't it be better to let Dumbledore worry about the specific matters while Sherlock carefully waited to deal with the "great tribulation" of his Defence Against the Dark Arts position?
Unfortunately, he had neither read the original book nor watched the movie of The Chamber of Secrets, having only heard an uploader explain the plot. He did not remember much useful information.
So now, to ensure his safety, he could only rely on himself.
Even if Sherlock was a half-blood, who knew if that Basilisk might suddenly go crazy one day, think he looked delicious, and attack him? (TN: Wth?)
Only possessing the ability to guarantee one's own safety is truly reassuring.
Therefore, Sherlock's next focus remained mastering various practical spells and strengthening his Transfiguration skills.
However, the magic level of a normal adult wizard still could not provide much sense of security in this dangerous castle.
To advance further, Sherlock naturally would not limit himself to ordinary magical knowledge.
After Halloween, he officially began studying the magical knowledge contained in the Restricted Section.
The Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library did not only contain books related to Dark Arts.
Rather, it housed books that the school deemed too dangerous and profound, unsuitable for junior and middle-grade students to access.
That's right—unsuitable for junior and middle-grade students.
After entering the fifth year, some of the content in the Restricted Section already became accessible.
As a professor, Sherlock naturally had the right to access all books in the library, including those in the Restricted Section.
On a Saturday morning in November, Sherlock went to the library and entered the Restricted Section for the first time.
Madam Pince, the librarian in charge of the entire library, naturally did not stop him.
It was simply that professors usually wrote notes and had students fetch books for them, so it was quite rare for someone like Sherlock to come in person.
Upon entering the Restricted Section, most of what met his eyes were books related to Dark Arts.
In terms of power and effect alone, Dark Arts are indeed the strongest category of spells, with the three Unforgivable Curses being the most potent among them.
To quickly gain self-preservation ability and master powerful strength, the most convenient way would undoubtedly be to learn Dark Arts.
But Sherlock's attitude toward Dark Arts was exactly as he had stated at the faculty meeting.
Spells are merely superficial; the true core lies in the human heart.
Until he was truly certain that his will could resist the erosion of Dark Arts, Sherlock was not prepared to touch these seemingly powerful forces that he fundamentally could not control.
Of course, not using them does not mean not understanding them.
Just like Dumbledore—no one has ever seen him use Avada Kedavra, but can you definitively say he does not know it?
And just as Sherlock was circling the bookshelves in the Restricted Section, choosing which book to start with, the crescent-shaped birthmark on his left arm began to burn again!