Chapter 366: Merrill Bloom
Chapter 366: Merrill Bloom
The next morning.
Silke and Sherlock sat at the dining table, eating breakfast as usual. Neither of them mentioned the events of the previous night, as if they had both shared the same dream.
But what had happened couldn't be ignored as if nothing had occurred.
Their relationship seemed unchanged on the surface, but it had become more complex beneath.
"Are you going out today?"
Silke took a small bite of her sandwich and looked up to ask.
Sherlock held a cup of morning tea, his attention on the spread-out copy of The Daily Prophet on the table.
"There are still a few things to take care of. Kingsley and I have a meeting today."
After finishing his tea, he put down the empty cup, stood up, and stretched.
"I won't be back for lunch. If you get bored at home, you can visit Mrs. Weasley at 12 Grimmauld Place. I took you there once, so you should remember the location."
"Okay."
Silke smiled.
"Come back early tonight."
Sherlock, who was putting on his coat, returned her smile.
"Let's have steak for dinner. I'll bring back some wine from London."
Their brief conversation, simple as it was, spoke volumes about the subtle changes in their relationship.
After leaving the house, Sherlock used Apparition.
The next moment, he appeared in Diagon Alley.
It was now summer, and although the return of the Dark Lord had caused widespread fear in the Wizarding World, Sherlock's actions and the Ministry of Magic's propaganda had helped to ease the initial tension. Despite the lack of activity from the Death Eaters over the past few days, the atmosphere had gradually calmed down.
Even in the early morning, Diagon Alley was bustling with visitors. As the largest Wizarding commercial district in Great Britain, it never lacked for customers.
Sherlock wore a large robe with a hood covering his face.
It wasn't that he wanted to hide; rather, his fame in the Wizarding World was such that walking openly would draw a crowd of enthusiastic Wizards.
Thanks to Scrimgeour's deliberate efforts, the Ministry of Magic had tried to minimize Sherlock's influence. However, they couldn't suppress his popularity among the people.
The single, decisive blow to Voldemort's chest had been a profound shock, making many Wizards realize that the Dark Lord was not invincible.
The Ministry had considered digging up dirt on Sherlock to reduce his influence, but no one at The Daily Prophet seemed willing to write negative stories about him. Even Rita Skeeter, who had been missing for months and had returned more reserved, had rejected Scrimgeour's hints, claiming to be a journalist with principles who only reported the truth.
Sherlock walked down Diagon Alley until he reached The Leaky Cauldron.
Inside the old, shabby pub, a few Wizards were having breakfast. Sherlock's arrival went unnoticed by most, except for a few old witches with wide-brimmed Wizard hats who glanced his way.
Before the bar owner, Old Tom, could even greet him, Sherlock had already made his way to the corner and sat down across from a dark-skinned Wizard.
Kingsley, who was enjoying a Butterbeer and some jam bread on his own, recognized Sherlock's face and immediately broke into a smile.
"I thought you'd be a bit later. Have you had breakfast? Want some bread?"
Sherlock didn't remove his hat, but he relaxed back into his chair in front of Kingsley.
"I'm not like you; I've already had a fresh glass of milk and a delicious sandwich at home. Much better than the jam bread Old Tom makes."
Kingsley chuckled, not minding as he finished the last bite of his bread.
"How many Aurors can really enjoy such a life?"
"Do you never think about settling down?"
"Someone like us is a burden to a family. I don't want to drag anyone down. Mad-Eye Moody's retirement life isn't so bad, you know."
"Considering he's an old bachelor, you actually think his life is good? Come on, Kingsley, listen to me. Don't let his words get to you. Find someone you like, get married. It won't interfere with your work, and it will give more meaning to what you do."
Kingsley shook his head with a wry smile.
"We're not here to talk about this today. Let's leave it for another time."
Seeing that Kingsley didn't want to continue the conversation, Sherlock got straight to the point.
"Did he agree to come?"
"Actually, he's very excited to meet you. He graduated four years ahead of you from Hogwarts and was in the same House. When he heard you needed to see him, he got so worked up, he even said he was going to wear a white T-shirt under his Robe and ask you to sign it."
Sherlock's expression became a bit odd after hearing Kingsley's words.
"How does someone like that sound like they could do this kind of work?"
"Don't just think it's strange; no one in the Department of Mysteries thinks his personality fits his role." Kingsley said with a hint of frustration. "But his abilities are undeniable. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risen to this position in less than ten years at the Ministry of Magic."
As they were talking, Kingsley's gaze suddenly shifted to the entrance of The Leaky Cauldron.
"Look, he's here."
He raised a hand and waved at the Wizard who had just entered the bar.
"Bloom, over here."
The Wizard named Bloom was a plump man with light blonde hair. He was short but looked like a round ball of flesh.
Sherlock immediately associated him with Harry's cousin, Dudley, upon seeing him.
When he heard Kingsley's call, Bloom's small eyes lit up, and he quickly made his way to their table. He grabbed a stool from a nearby table and plopped down, causing the chair to creak ominously.
Sherlock could feel Old Tom, who was wiping glasses at the bar, glancing worriedly in their direction, as if afraid that this fat man would cause some unforeseen damage today.
Once Bloom was seated, his bright, small eyes fixed on Sherlock, and he extended his hand, which looked like a thick carrot with five branches.
"Oh, my goodness! Hello, Mr. Forrest. I'm Merrill Bloom, the Silent Watcher responsible for the Time Chamber in the Department of Mysteries."
(End of Chapter)
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