https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-51-The-Weather-Should-Be-Nice-Today/13456662/
Chapter 52: The Second Test
Chapter 52: The Second Test
Three days before the start of the Christmas holidays, Hogwarts began to be blanketed in snow.
The snow fell heavily, and within less than two hours, the entire castle was draped in a pure white cloak. Students, having finished their classes for the day, excitedly ran outside, eager to play in the snow.
However, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had no such mood. They sat in an empty classroom, their eyes listlessly fixed on the falling snow outside.
Initially, Harry and Ron were thrilled about Sherlock's jinx coming true. But once they calmed down, they, like Hermione, realized just how extraordinary the situation was.
"Is it possible, I mean, is it possible that this snow has nothing to do with Professor Forrest? After all, it snows around Christmas every year; it’s just a bit late this year."
Hermione tried to sound casual, but she couldn’t accept the reality. Neither the eleven years of science she had studied nor the two years of magic had ever suggested that a person could be so omniscient, capable of changing the weather with just a word.
Harry and Ron, however, looked at her with skeptical expressions.
"Don’t delude yourself, Hermione. You said before that everything about Professor Forrest was a coincidence, but today’s weather is something we tested with Professor Forrest ourselves. The evidence is right in front of us."
Harry shrugged.
"If you still refuse to believe it, we can even test it again."
Ron perked up at Harry’s words.
After discovering that Sherlock’s jinxes always came true in the opposite way of what he said, they had become addicted to testing it.
"Exactly, we can test it again. Professor Forrest is still in the castle, after all."
The three of them decided to act immediately. This time, Hermione didn’t try to stop them. She simply couldn’t believe it was real.
If just one test failed, it would prove that the jinxes were all coincidences and not some bizarre talent.
The three of them gathered stealthily in front of Sherlock’s office door. After much deliberation, they decided that Ron would go in this time.
Ron cleared his throat and straightened his robes. Once he was ready, he gently knocked on the door to Sherlock’s office.
"Come in."
Ron pushed the door open and walked in. Sherlock looked up from the seventh-year homework he was grading, his expression peculiar when he saw Ron.
"What are you up to now?"
Before Ron could say anything, Sherlock was already suspicious. Ron quickly recited what they had planned outside.
"Professor, while doing my homework, I came across some information about Boggarts. I didn’t understand it in class. Could you explain it to me again?"
Sherlock’s gaze seemed to pierce through Ron’s soul, but Ron’s mental fortitude was strong. He didn’t look away and instead swallowed hard, nodding earnestly.
"Which part didn’t you understand?"
Sherlock found Harry and the others’ behavior strange today, but he wasn’t a Legilimens and couldn’t read Ron’s thoughts. As a teacher, he naturally had to help a student with class material.
"You mentioned that a boggart is a magical creature with no specific means of attack, only causing fear. How does it survive, then?"
Ron's question was one Hermione had helped him formulate. Sherlock had only briefly mentioned this in class without delving into details, so it was fitting to ask about it afterward, without seeming out of place.
Sherlock didn't detect anything unusual in the question. He organized his thoughts and began to explain to Ron.
"No one has ever seen a boggart's true form. What it shows is a manifestation of the deepest fears of the person it encounters. Its very survival depends on this—fear. The boggart feeds on fear."
Sherlock explained in great detail, and Ron listened intently. When Sherlock finished, Ron thanked him politely.
"Thank you, Professor." He then added naturally, "If Filch doesn't give me any trouble later, I'm sure I'll finish this homework quickly."
Sherlock gave him a puzzled look.
"If you haven't broken any rules, why would Filch give you trouble?"
Hearing Sherlock's words, Ron's excitement couldn't be contained.
"Your point is that Filch won't give me any trouble before Christmas, right?"
Sherlock resumed grading the seventh-year assignments without looking up.
"Unless you've done something wrong, you don't need to worry about Filch. The caretaker may sometimes be unreasonable, but he generally follows the rules."
With the answer he wanted, Ron could hardly sit still. He stood up, bid Sherlock goodbye, and ran out of the office.
Sherlock sighed and shook his head, continuing to grade the assignments while keeping an eye on Neville's movements on the Marauder's Map.
After running out of Sherlock's office, Ron immediately found Harry and Hermione waiting in the corridor.
"Professor Forrest said that if I don't break any rules, Filch won't give me any trouble before Christmas!"
Hermione said thoughtfully.
"This is the best way to test whether everything that happens is related to what Professor Forrest said. Normally, if Ron hasn't broken any rules, he shouldn't have any trouble with Filch."
At that moment, Ron felt no fear or worry. Even if he knew that if Sherlock's jinx really came true, Filch would punish him, he couldn't suppress his excitement.
"That's right. We haven't broken any rules recently, so why would Filch give me trouble?"
As they spoke, they headed toward the Gryffindor common room. Since Ron's specified time was before Christmas, they would have to wait for the results over the next few days.
However, before they could even reach the stairs leading to the Gryffindor tower, Filch, his eyes bulging like a fish, angrily blocked their path.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
