Chapter 269: Fleur and Silke
Chapter 269: Fleur and Silke
Fleur looked at him with a somewhat mysterious expression.
"Do you treat all your students this well? I thought you only had a special fondness for Harry."
Sherlock rolled his eyes at her question.
"I treat all students equally. As a teacher, it's not just about imparting knowledge, but also about teaching them the values of being a good person."
The room fell silent for a moment. Fleur stared at Sherlock, and Sherlock stared back, their eyes locked in a silent standoff.
After several tense seconds, Fleur finally spoke, her tone somewhat irritated.
"I'm already at Hogwarts. Do you have anything to say?"
Sherlock knew he couldn't avoid or escape this. He stood up from his chair with a sigh.
"Miss Delacour, welcome to Hogwarts Castle."
Fleur didn't seem particularly pleased by his greeting. She frowned and said, "Do you address all your friends like this? Or have you decided to pretend you don't know me after more than a year?"
The robe on the coat stand by the door flew over to Sherlock and draped itself over him.
"I'm quite casual with my friends. I call Lupin by his last name, and I prefer to call Snape 'Prince.' Of course, if you want me to call you Fleur, we can start our tour now, Miss Fleur."
Fleur's face showed a slightly more satisfied expression, and she began to explore the castle with Sherlock.
However, she didn't seem particularly interested in Hogwarts itself, but rather in Sherlock's life as a teacher at the school.
"I heard that the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is cursed. You're the only one in nearly forty years to have held the position for three consecutive terms without any major incidents?"
As they passed the first-floor Myrtle's Girls' Bathroom, Sherlock took the opportunity to tell her the story of the Chamber of Secrets. This made Fleur even more curious about how he managed to stay a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for three years without any major mishaps.
Sherlock shrugged.
"The Daily Prophet seems to run a story about this every time they run out of news. I heard the journalists there have even placed bets on how many years I'll survive in this position. No one seems to think I'll last more than five years."
Reflecting on his two years at the castle, Sherlock admitted to himself that he felt incredibly lucky to still be standing there in one piece. Whether it was the Basilisk in his first year or the time-travel incident in his second year, he had narrowly escaped death on several occasions.
The coming years at Hogwarts promised to be even more turbulent, leaving Sherlock uncertain about how long he would last in this position.
Fleur was indignant on his behalf.
"How can they do that? Betting on your life like it's a game. I've heard that several wizards have already sued the Daily Prophet and its journalists for infringing on their privacy and publishing sensitive information."
Sherlock was familiar with the situation and recalled, "They are specifically suing a journalist named Rita Skeeter. But the lawsuits are mostly just a lot of noise. Most of the wizards involved have their own problems to deal with, so the lawsuits against Skeeter are likely just for show."
The two of them chatted as they strolled through the castle. Since there were no classes today, many students saw them, and the young wizards had plenty of free time.
However, Sherlock and Fleur deliberately maintained a certain social distance, ensuring that the Hogwarts students wouldn't misunderstand. Most people assumed he was just giving the Beauxbatons student a tour of the school.
As they passed by the castle library, Sherlock was explaining to Fleur that this was the largest magical book repository in the British magical community. At that moment, Silke, with her eyes covered by a black ribbon, happened to emerge from the library, carrying two thick books.
Although they had discussed the Fidelius Charm in the office before, Silke was clearly still upset with Sherlock.
She acted as if she hadn't seen him and was about to brush past him, holding the two heavy books like bricks.
Sherlock, of course, couldn't pretend he hadn't noticed.
With a sheepish smile, he extended his hand to take the books from her, saying with a thick face.
"Getting books from the library is something the older boys could help with. You're working too hard, carrying these heavy books all the way to the office. It's too much trouble."
Silke glanced at him with her golden eyes hidden behind the ribbon, her voice cold and distant.
"I just wanted to take a walk."
"Great idea!" Sherlock praised her immediately. "I've always suggested you get out more. The air by the Black Lake is even fresher. Next time you want to go for a walk, we can go there. The weather has been nice lately."
Silke's voice remained cold.
"There are fewer people by the lake. It's not interesting to walk there alone."
"Then next time, I'll go with you?" Sherlock asked carefully.
Silke wasn't buying it and continued walking with a blank expression.
"No need to trouble Professor Forrest. You're too busy and don't have much time."
"I'm not busy at all! Not busy at all!"
Watching the exchange between Sherlock and Silke, Fleur's expression became noticeably odd, as if she was feeling a bit jealous and out of place.
Finally, she found an opportunity to interject.
"Hello, Professor Silke. I'm Fleur Delacour, a friend of Sherlock's."
Silke didn't show any coldness when she heard Fleur's greeting; she simply nodded lightly.
"Hello."
Fleur looked at Silke's delicate face, and despite her usual confidence in her own beauty, she didn't dare to compare herself. Her expression was complex as she asked.
"I heard that you are Sherlock's girlfriend, Professor Silke?"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Fleur's question made Sherlock choke on his own saliva, his face turning red as he coughed frantically.
Silke, however, gave him a brief, indifferent glance before calmly answering.
"No, we are just colleagues. Who told you that?"
Hearing her response, Fleur's face immediately relaxed. Without hesitation, she betrayed Harry.
"Harry Potter. He told me at yesterday's feast."
(End of Chapter)
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