Chapter 17: Entering Hogwarts
Chapter 17: Entering Hogwarts
It wasn't just Sherlock who saw Harry and Ron flying in a car overhead; many other young wizards on the train witnessed it as well.
This certainly sparked a significant amount of discussion among the passengers.
However, none of this mattered to Sherlock, who was huddled in his compartment.
After confirming that he couldn't recall any more of the plot, he reopened his suitcase and pulled out a Third Year Defensive Magic textbook. He flipped through it, taking notes as he went.
He had a rough outline of his teaching plan, though with his level, he couldn't teach anything too advanced.
But he intended to at least run a normal class.
The sun, high in the sky, began to set.
Around noon, Sherlock had only bought a piece of chocolate from the snack trolley to tide him over, then continued refining his lesson plan.
Night soon enveloped the entire sky.
The train conductor then announced over the intercom that they would be arriving at Hogwarts in ten minutes.
Sherlock stood up from his seat, stretched, and put his book and quill back into his suitcase. He then changed out of his regular clothes and into his wizard robe.
The train gradually slowed to a stop.
Standing out among the group of young wizards, Sherlock followed the crowd off the train.
At the small, dilapidated platform, a towering figure waited for the students.
Seeing the students disembark, he called out in a rough voice, "First-Year Students! Come to me!"
The first-years, who had been somewhat at a loss, immediately found their anchor and gathered around this clear landmark.
Suddenly, the "landmark" seemed to have made a significant discovery and quickly walked over to where Sherlock stood.
"Oh! Sherlock! It really is you! I heard you were coming to teach at Hogwarts, but I didn't expect you to arrive by train!"
The person guiding the first-years was none other than Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and the Gamekeeper of the Forbidden Forest.
He walked up to Sherlock and gave him a hearty hug.
If you could call it a hug, that is, because when Hagrid embraced Sherlock, Sherlock's face was pressed against his belly.
"Professor Mcgonagall gave me a ticket", Sherlock said coolly as he extricated himself from Hagrid's embrace.
Given how familiar Hagrid seemed with the original owner, Sherlock wasn't too surprised.
After all, this was Hogwarts, where the original owner had spent seven years. He might not have had many friends, but he certainly had a few acquaintances, and the other professors would certainly recognize him.
The first-years, trailing behind Hagrid, all looked at Sherlock with curious eyes. From Hagrid's words, they could tell that this handsome but seemingly aloof man was their professor, though they didn't know which subject he would teach.
"You'd better get to the castle. Dumbledore is waiting for you in the Great Hall!"
Hagrid smiled and waved goodbye to Sherlock, then led the first-years down a path into the nearby forest.
Sherlock followed the older students to the other side, where a large group of ugly, black-winged creatures pulled carriages.
The second-year students were also experiencing this mode of transportation for the first time today. To most of them, it seemed as though they could not see the ugly horses, only the carriages they pulled.
"Can you see these creatures pulling the carriages, Professor Forrest?"
Hermione was the one asking Sherlock this question.
Since Harry and Ron had gone off to drive the flying car, she was now on her own.
Through her question, Sherlock was just beginning to recall the name of these magical creatures. He remembered reading about them in a book specifically about Magical Creatures that he had at home.
Thestrals, a type of ominous magical creature, can only be seen by those who have witnessed death firsthand.
Sherlock, whether in his past life or in this one, had never seen a human die. The only plausible explanation was that he himself had died once, which would be a more direct encounter with death than merely witnessing someone else’s demise.
In response to Hermione’s question, he replied softly.
"Being able to see these creatures is not a good thing."
Hermione had observed Sherlock’s behavior in Diagon Alley and knew that his personality was not as cold as it seemed on the surface. In fact, he was a very decent person.
"Harry and Ron are so reckless!" Hermione couldn’t help but grumble as she climbed into a Thestral-drawn carriage with Sherlock.
"They only care about having fun and showing off, without realizing how much trouble they’ll cause Mr. Weasley if someone sees that flying car!"
Sherlock found it quite interesting to chat with this young girl. Compared to the troublemakers Harry and Ron, Hermione was clearly more mature and sensible than them and even other students her age.
"If they could understand these consequences, they wouldn’t be Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."
The Thestrals pulled them to the gates of Hogwarts. Sherlock and Hermione got out of the carriage, and the students, led by their Prefects, walked into the school and eventually entered the castle.
Sherlock followed the students to avoid getting lost in the castle and to prevent any embarrassing mishaps.
As they approached the doors of the Great Hall, his nerves finally began to get the better of him.
Stepping through these doors, he would meet the headmaster of this magical school, one of the most powerful figures in the entire story and a person with the deepest and most intricate mind (based on the subjective impression from the movie commentary).
He would have to be careful not to slip up or reveal any inconsistencies in his story.
Sherlock took a deep breath and followed the students into the Great Hall.
In the center of the Great Hall, four long tables were placed. The young wizards, according to their respective Houses, took their seats at the different tables.
Above the tables, thousands of floating candles illuminated the hall, casting a warm glow on the gleaming golden plates and goblets.
At the front of the hall, on a raised platform, was another long table, the Staff Table.
As Sherlock looked up, the professors seated at the Staff Table were also looking at him.
In the center of the table sat an elderly man with a long white beard and peculiar half-moon spectacles.
The kind-looking man, who seemed like a friendly neighbor, smiled warmly at Sherlock, met his gaze, and waved him over.
(End of Chapter)
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