"After you brought the eyeshadow back to your dorm, aside from your roommates, did you show it to anyone else?"
"No, I only showed it to the girls in my dorm."
"Do you remember exactly where you placed the eyeshadow in the dorm?"
"I put it in my vanity case, on the top shelf of the bedside cabinet."
"Was the cabinet locked?"
"No, we've never bothered with things like that."
"Just to confirm—was the last time you saw the eyeshadow before that Potions class?"
Cho Chang paused to think before answering.
"I'm... I'm not entirely sure. I don't actually know if it was still there before class that day. It was only after Potions, when I came back to the dorm and one of my roommates said she wanted something like it as an Easter gift, that I realized it was missing."
"Who was the one who brought up wanting to see the gift?"
"Alicia. She's a Muggle-born witch..."
As she spoke, Cho's eyes widened. "No—Mr. Holmes, it couldn't have been her!"
"Oh?" Sherlock gave a mild smile. "And why do you think that?"
"We've all been close friends since our first year. After I discovered the eyeshadow was gone, they were all incredibly supportive. Some of them were even planning to go home for the holidays but chose to stay..."
"Did all of them stay?"
"No, Alicia and Marietta stayed. Lucy went home... but that doesn't mean anything! She's just as close to me as the other two!"
"Miss Chang, I must remind you that if your statements are too subjective, it may hinder the investigation."
"Sorry..."
"No need to apologize. Just keep answering my questions."
"Mr. Holmes, what else would you like to know?"
"Describe your three roommates objectively, including their family backgrounds."
"Alright..."
This time, Cho took a little longer to explain.
Once she finished, Sherlock turned to Penelope Clearwater.
"I have what I need. Now, Miss Prefect, I'll be needing your assistance."
Penelope didn't even ask why. She simply replied, "Mr. Holmes, I'm at your service."
"We'll need access to the Ravenclaw common room—ideally, to Miss Chang's dormitory. That is, if you're truly serious about getting to the bottom of this."
As he said this, Sherlock fixed his gaze on Penelope, as if trying to read something from her expression.
"Penelope…"
Cho also looked at her with a hint of pleading in her eyes.
Allowing students from other Houses to enter one's common room wasn't standard protocol—hence the need for House-specific passwords.
But Ravenclaw was an exception.
Its common room didn't require a password but a correct answer to a riddle.
The real challenge lay in allowing a male student into the girls' dormitory.
In all Houses, the staircases leading to the girls' dorms would magically transform to prevent boys from entering.
However, girls could freely enter the boys' side.
Legend had it that the school's founders believed girls were inherently more trustworthy than boys.
Sherlock couldn't be bothered to argue with that sentiment. He simply passed the problem onto Penelope.
After all, they had come to ask him for help. Surely, they'd thought this through.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be worthy of the name Ravenclaw.
"If Mr. Holmes has formally accepted this case," said Penelope, "then I'll apply for permission from Professor Flitwick."
That declaration surprised both Hermione and Cho.
"Is that really necessary?" Hermione hesitated. "Miss Chang isn't even pursuing the matter anymore…"
Cho quickly nodded, "Yes, I really don't think—"
"I think it is necessary!" Penelope cut in, her eyes sharp as they locked on Cho.
"I understand how much this gift means to you—it came from your father, after all. And…"
Her voice grew firmer.
"…the honor of Ravenclaw cannot be tarnished."
There was something they hadn't told Sherlock or Hermione.
Cho had said her cabinet wasn't locked because Ravenclaw dorms were assumed to be safe.
But now that something had gone missing, it was causing unrest within the House.
In fact, Cho had initially kept quiet for fear of damaging Ravenclaw's reputation.
But nothing stays secret forever. The rumor eventually spread.
Ravenclaws, known for their sharp minds, quickly deduced the likeliest culprit was one of their own.
Even though most voiced support—"A Ravenclaw would never steal!"—it didn't matter.
Not when students had started locking their cabinets and casting protective enchantments.
Tactical reports may lie—but frontlines never do.
These actions sent a clear message: Ravenclaw was no longer a safe haven.
First-years, especially those sharing a dorm with Cho, were outraged.
Though Cho was a second-year, to the younger students, this pretty and kind upperclassman was clearly one of them.
For all these reasons, Penelope had resolved to see the matter through.
"Fieldwork is essential when the circumstances permit," Sherlock said, turning to Penelope.
"But I suggest you also restrain the Ravenclaw students from entering Miss Chang's dorm. Otherwise, what little evidence remains may be lost entirely. In fact, you should've come to me sooner."
Penelope looked slightly embarrassed.
She had conducted a preliminary investigation—but the results were frustrating.
In her view, everyone seemed like a possible suspect.
She'd only turned to Sherlock after learning about his previous encounter with Cho before Christmas—and researching his reputation in detail.
Now, she simply explained, "Roughly half the students chose to go home for Easter break."
"That, I'd say, works in our favor."
"I'll go to Professor Flitwick now. Cho, come with me."
After the two Ravenclaw girls left, Sherlock leaned back in his chair.
"What do you think, Hermione?"
"I agree—it's probably someone from Ravenclaw. But judging by Cho's expression, she doesn't seem eager to pursue the truth."
"Understandable. For someone like her, choosing between truth and friendship isn't easy."
"You already know who did it?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"It's just a hypothesis for now. But Cho's account gave us some clues—just like this Easter egg."
Sherlock picked up an egg from the table and turned the smiling face toward her.
"Until it's cracked, no one knows who the winner is. Remember, drawing conclusions without enough evidence is always dangerous."
"So, you're going to the Ravenclaw common room?"
"We are," Sherlock corrected. "If you're willing to accompany me."
"To go sleuthing with the great detective? I'd be delighted!"
"Thank you, my friend. But first, I need to step out for a moment. If our clients return, please ask them to wait."
"You're leaving? Where to?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Penelope returned quickly. In less than ten minutes, she and Cho were back—with Professor Flitwick's written permission.
"Where's Mr. Holmes?"
Penelope blinked in surprise to find only Hermione in the Great Hall.
"He'll be back shortly."
Hermione didn't actually know where Sherlock had gone, so it was all she could say.
While they waited, Hermione chatted with the two girls and learned that Professor Flitwick fully supported the investigation.
In fact, had he not worried about appearances, he might've gone with them himself.
But as Sherlock had said, wizards preferred diplomacy over drastic action—especially when the suspected thief might be from Ravenclaw.
Sherlock didn't keep them waiting long.
But when he returned, cradling a cat in his arms, all three girls were dumbfounded.
"This cat…"
"Isn't that…"
"Mrs. Norris?!"
"So, you recognize her," Sherlock smiled, stroking the feline. Under his expert hand, Mrs. Norris began to duang-duang-duang with pleasure.
The girls could only stare in astonishment.
"Who wouldn't recognize her?" Hermione exclaimed. "Sherlock, how did you even manage to steal her from Filch?!"
"Strictly speaking, I borrowed her."
"Borrowed?" Penelope raised an eyebrow. "Filch lent her to you?"
It wasn't that she didn't believe Sherlock—but Filch's devotion to Mrs. Norris was common knowledge. It was hard to imagine him letting anyone else take her.
"I treated her stomach issues some time ago. That earned me his gratitude."
After their night in the Forbidden Forest, Sherlock had written home and requested special cat food and digestive medicine for her. With proper treatment, the results were quick and obvious.
It had been over half a month since then, and Filch's attitude toward Sherlock had drastically improved.
Or rather, Mrs. Norris's affection for Sherlock had improved—taking Filch's with it.
So borrowing her for a case? Child's play.
"Miss Prefect, I take it you received permission from Professor Flitwick?"
Sherlock's eyes twinkled. "I noticed a paper sticking out two inches from your right pocket—with his signature clearly visible."
"Let's get going."
Penelope was once again stunned by Sherlock's powers of observation and deduction.
But she frowned slightly at his choice of words.
"Addressing a lady that way isn't exactly polite, Mr. Holmes."
"Apologies. Compared to Miss Chang, your name's just a bit harder to remember."
Penelope: (ー`ー)
Cho: (oェ｀o)
"My name is Penelope Clearwater, Mr. Holmes. I'd prefer you use it—rather than calling me 'Miss Prefect.'"
"Understood, Miss Penelope."
Penelope: ???
Shouldn't it be Clearwater?
Hermione leaned close and whispered, "I think it's because 'Penelope' has fewer syllables and is easier to remember…"
She also briefly explained Sherlock's theory about the brain being like a hard drive.
Penelope sighed deeply.
Well… at least he didn't shorten it to Penny…
With that resolved, she led the way.
The Ravenclaw Tower stood on the west side of Hogwarts Castle. As they made their way there, Cho pointed to Mrs. Norris in Sherlock's arms.
"Wait… does she look fatter than before? I remember her being so skinny…"
"Not just fatter—her coat looks brighter too."
Hermione noticed as well. She reached out to pet the cat—but Mrs. Norris shrank back into Sherlock's arms, baring her teeth.
Hermione: (ー`ー)
"Your observation skills are improving, Hermione," Sherlock said, noting her expression. "Her stomach issues were resolved—so she's in better health now."
"No wonder Filch trusted you with her."
Penelope, walking ahead, looked back. "Didn't know you were good with cats. But how exactly is she supposed to help us?"
"Even in the wizarding world, don't underestimate animals."
Sherlock resumed petting, and soon Mrs. Norris was duang-duang-duang-ing again.
"Cats are tracking specialists. Their instincts and sense of smell might provide the key we need."
"But aren't dogs usually used in investigations?"
Hermione, with her Muggle upbringing, had a better understanding of this area.
"Their noses are more sensitive, right? I heard Scotland Yard keeps trained police dogs."
"That's a common misconception," Sherlock replied calmly.
"Cats actually have a sense of smell comparable to, or even stronger than, dogs. The difference is that cats are independent—they won't follow orders unless they stand to gain something themselves."
The three girls blinked in understanding.
Another curious bit of knowledge learned.
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