Chapter 399: The Old Prideful Monster
Chapter 399: The Old Prideful Monster (4K Combined)
Draco had truly come to ask Sherlock about questions regarding Dark Magic Defense.
Even Harry and the others could see that something was off with this, let alone Sherlock.
As Harry and Ron had said, given the current situation, the teacher-student relationship between Draco and Sherlock, while not as bad as the one between Snape and them, was pretty close.
The difference was that Snape actively made things difficult for Harry and the others, whereas the issues with Draco were his own.
Now, for Draco to come specifically to ask Sherlock about problems he didn't understand in class was as unusual as Snape offering to help Harry with his homework and asking if he needed assistance.
However, Sherlock didn't make things difficult for him. Instead, Sherlock patiently explained everything until all of Draco's doubts were resolved.
At first, Draco was a bit nervous and anxious, but once he realized that Sherlock wasn't going to mock or challenge him, he focused on the lesson.
Despite issues with character and upbringing, Draco's magical abilities were actually stronger than Harry and Ron's, though he was slightly inferior to Hermione.
This was partly due to the Malfoy family's early magical education and partly because Draco never let up on his studies.
While he often provoked Harry, mocked Ron, and insulted Hermione, he never neglected his own learning.
It was nearly noon by the time Sherlock finished explaining everything to him.
"If you have any more questions in the future, you can come to me anytime."
As he said this, Sherlock paused and stared directly into Draco's eyes, making the already uneasy Draco instinctively look away.
"However, Malfoy, or if you don't mind, I can call you Draco. I can fulfill my duty as a teacher to teach you, but are you willing to take on the responsibility of a student and help me with a few small tasks at times?"
Draco's eyes darted around.
"W-What kind of help?"
Sherlock had already turned his gaze away and was organizing the papers on his desk as he spoke.
"Relax, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. It's just a small favor, and it's not now. If you're unwilling when the time comes, I won't force you."
Draco eventually left Sherlock's office.
For this sudden change in his student, Sherlock only pondered for a moment before shaking his head and leaving his office.
This year's Christmas was particularly lively.
Before the feast began, the long tables of the four Houses in the Great Hall were mostly filled with students, except for the Slytherin table, which had only a few students sitting there.
The staff table on the raised platform, as always, was packed. Hogwarts professors, regardless of gender, were mostly single, so they always spent Christmas at the school.
Unlike the start-of-term feast, the Christmas feast had fewer rules. The ghosts had just finished their Christmas performance, and the students were chattering and laughing, the hall filled with joy.
Dumbledore, the headmaster, had the best trait of not making long speeches during such joyful occasions. He told a few funny jokes and then announced the start of the feast.
The feast was far more abundant than any other, and the students, who had been hungry from a day of activities, eagerly picked up their knives and forks to fill their empty stomachs.
Harry was quite pleased with the roasted ham in front of him. As he cut into the crispy and tender ham skin, he happily discussed the Quidditch team's training schedule for the next semester with Ron and Hermione.
However, when his gaze inadvertently swept over the Hufflepuff table and saw Cedric and Chang in close proximity, he couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.
He didn't show this disappointment, though. Harry wasn't a particularly sentimental person. While Chang was his first crush, this unrequited feeling, which never even had a chance to start, was something he had largely put behind him.
Even Ron, who was closest to him, didn't notice anything was wrong, and only the perceptive Hermione picked up on some changes.
This was a testament to how well Harry usually hid his feelings.
While Harry was feeling down in the love department, up in the professor's section, Sherlock was helping Silke cut her steak.
"It's a bit overcooked, and the sauce is a little too salty, but it's still edible. Of course, it can't compare to what you make."
Sherlock placed the small pieces of steak on Silke's plate, and she watched him with wide, blinking eyes.
"Shall I cook for you tomorrow?"
"How can I let you do all the cooking? It's the holidays, and I have nothing to do. Let's go together, and I can help you out."
"You work hard enough with your classes already."
"What's so hard about that? Besides, you also have to teach your students. There's no reason you should be the only one taking care of me, even if you are a year older."
"Then let's go to the kitchen together tomorrow." Silke's lips curved into a happy smile, her eyes and eyebrows reflecting her joy.
Sherlock also smiled warmly.
Since that night at Eddie's grave, he had become much more proactive, no longer content to let Silke bear the emotional burden while he just waited for things to happen.
They were both very happy, but Snape, sitting next to Sherlock, couldn't share their joy.
"Cough, cough, cough."
He coughed loudly, drawing Sherlock's attention, then glared at him with a disdainful and unfriendly look.
"If you have a cold, stay away from me. Don't cough in my direction."
Seeing Sherlock's indifferent demeanor, Snape's expression darkened even more.
But he couldn't really say anything to the two lovebirds, knowing he wasn't exactly a saint himself.
"Did Draco come to see you today?"
Snape cut straight to the chase in a low voice.
Sherlock's eyes narrowed as he heard this, and he speared a piece of roasted sausage with his fork.
"He came to me this morning, asking for help with some Dark Magic Defense questions."
"Even you should be able to tell something's off, right?"
"Out with it. What's going on with Voldemort?"
Snape took a deep breath and lowered his voice even more, speaking in a tone only they could hear.
"Recently, he had a private conversation with Lucius. I don't know what they discussed, but not long after, Draco's mother, Narcissa, came to me. She asked me to keep an eye on her son at school."
"Did she specify what kind of care she wanted?"
Snape seemed to find Sherlock's question redundant and spoke irritably.
"Of course, she didn't. I think she doesn't know either, but she sensed something from Lucius and came to me as a precaution."
Sherlock fell silent for a few seconds, slowly slicing the sausage on his plate before continuing.
"What do you think of Draco?"
Snape was taken aback by Sherlock's question and frowned, countering, "What are you planning?"
"I have no plans. I just want your opinion on this student. After all, you've been his head of house for four years and have always taken care of him. What do you think of him?"
Snape gently set down his knife and fork. He knew Sherlock wouldn't ask such a trivial question without a reason.
Snape never dropped the ball when it came to serious matters.
"He's a bad one", Snape said without hesitation, speaking harshly about a student he usually took under his wing. "He inherited his father's qualities—arrogant, superficially well-mannered to those of equal or higher status, but cruel and rude to those he looks down on."
"But his badness is only superficial."
Sherlock tilted his head, looking at Snape.
"What do you mean?"
"Regardless of how bad the Malfoys are, they always prioritize their family", Snape said coldly. "According to Dumbledore, someone who values family can't be all that bad."
"I won't comment on Lucius, but Draco is like that. He's just a child who hasn't been raised properly, indoctrinated from a young age with the idea that he's better than others. So, he acts that way outside. I've heard that when he first met Potter, he wanted to be friends with Harry, but he also insulted Weasley. When Potter chose Weasley over him, he felt slighted, and that's when their rivalry began."
In Slytherin, Draco has two followers, Goyle and Crabbe. These two students are not much to speak of, but despite Draco usually treating them like his lackeys, he actually values the friendship among the three of them.
"Friendship?"
"Yes, friendship. Goyle and Crabbe might have their own thoughts, which are likely influenced by their parents. They may not treat Draco as purely as he treats them, but Draco doesn't see them just as subordinates or lackeys; he sees them as friends."
The word "friends" coming from Snape always seemed a bit awkward.
But Sherlock's focus was not on that. He continued to ask, "So, Draco isn't inherently bad, just lacking proper education?"
Snape seemed to understand Sherlock's thoughts and asked coldly, "You want to help him correct his ways?"
Sherlock shook his head. "Not exactly correction, but regardless of the task he receives from Voldemort, as a teacher, I don't want to see a student with potential go down the wrong path."
"I don't think this is the time for such charitable feelings", Snape said, half mocking, half warning.
Sherlock looked at him seriously. "Do you think that as a teacher, guiding students' character is just being charitable?"
Snape snorted but didn't respond. Sherlock, however, didn't stop.
"I've always thought there's a problem with your teaching style, Severus. Given our relationship, I can be straightforward. I know you sometimes act in class to show your disdain for Gryffindor and Harry, and perhaps you genuinely dislike the Gryffindor House. But as a teacher, isn't it your job to do more than just impart magical knowledge?"
Snape's voice was calm. "What else, then?"
Sherlock took a deep breath. "Have you ever considered that in a full boarding school like Hogwarts, the most important thing is to educate students in character and values?"
"That's the parents' job."
"But as you said, what if the parents, like Draco's, teach them all the wrong things?" Sherlock stared into Snape's eyes. "Let's not talk about others. Think about your own experience. When you were a student, didn't you ever wish a teacher could help stop Sirius Black and James, to correct their behavior?"
Snape fell silent. His hands, hidden under the long table, clenched into fists, the knuckles turning pale from the force.
"Rely on teachers? When have they ever been able to control them?"
"See, even you think that way. Students today must have the same thoughts. If I encounter such a situation, I can't go to a teacher—it would make me lose face among my peers, and even if I did, it wouldn't solve the problem."
"I don't know why Hogwarts has never had a professor address this issue, or if someone has noticed but hasn't spoken up. The school's responsibility to educate students should always prioritize character over talent. If a student can't be a decent person, then no matter how powerful their magic or how high their talent, they will only bring disaster to the Wizarding World, just like Voldemort. On this point, I feel you should have a deeper understanding, Severus."
Snape stood up from the long table, clearly wanting to end the conversation and leave the Christmas Feast early.
"I've already warned you about what I know. Pay attention to it. As for how I conduct myself, I don't need your advice."
With that, he quietly left the teachers' table and exited the Great Hall.
Watching his departing back, Sherlock sighed and shrugged, muttering to himself, "Suit yourself, you old stubborn fool."
(End of Chapter)
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