As Marietta Edgecombe struggled under Penelope's restraint, Sherlock paced slowly around the Ravenclaw common room, then began to speak:
"The second bed by the window in your dormitory has a sky-blue canopy embroidered with Chinese-style cloud patterns in silver thread.
Without question, that bed belongs to Miss Chang.
There's a magical potted plant on her nightstand. When I checked the cabinet, I found that the missing sandalwood box was originally stored on the third shelf.
Although the cabinet wasn't locked, the keyhole retained a faint trace of sandalwood scent, blending with the aroma of the scattered herbal sachets inside.
For Mrs. Norris, that scent was as obvious as a beacon in the night."
He turned to glance at Edgecombe, catching every nuance of her expression before continuing:
"The bed next to Miss Chang's has a dressing mirror inlaid with malachite on the cabinet top. The frame is engraved with the initials 'A.E.'
Clearly, it belongs to Miss Edgecombe—those are her family's initials.
I doubt you noticed, Miss Edgecombe, but there's a faint crack on the mirror surface, and within that crack are a few shimmering specks of silver—Floo Powder.
Of course, that's not incriminating on its own. After all, your mother works at the Floo Network Authority in the Department of Magical Transportation.
But it reminded me… and helped me uncover your motive."
Sherlock raised three fingers.
"There are three pieces of evidence that confirmed my suspicion."
The room quieted. Everyone leaned in.
"First, the spell residue.
Using a magical magnifier, I found faint traces of magic on both Miss Chang's dressing case and the copper wind chime hanging near her bed.
Under normal circumstances, the owner wouldn't need to cast magic to open her own case or access her eyeshadow.
And no one uses a wind chime, enchanted to play musical notes, as a practice target for spells.
So the magic must have been cast by someone else—the person who took the eyeshadow.
Why would anyone use spells on someone else's belongings inside a dorm room?
Most likely, to muffle the sound of opening the case and interfere with the wind chime.
The most suitable spell for that? Confundus Charm.
Though it's a complex spell requiring focus on a single object, it becomes easier if the target is stationary.
Even so, it's still difficult for a second-year. Multiple attempts were likely needed—hence the residual magic."
Sherlock leaned forward, fingers steepled under his chin, and looked at Penelope.
"Miss Clearwater, I believe you're more than capable of casting Prior Incantato, aren't you?"
She nodded confidently.
"Then please, cast it on Miss Edgecombe's wand."
Marietta's face turned pale.
"Marietta, hand over your wand."
"Prefect Clearwater, are you seriously going to trust an outsider over your own housemate?"
"Give me the wand."
Before she could argue further, Case stepped forward and snatched the wand from Marietta, handing it to Penelope.
Penelope didn't hesitate. She raised her wand and incanted:
"Prior Incantato!"
A glowing golden thread connected the two wands. It split into hundreds of arcs of light, weaving together into a shimmering dome.
Hermione watched in awe, envious of Penelope's skill.
I wish I could cast spells that well someday...
As the light faded, Penelope spoke:
"The Confundus Charm was indeed cast… and not just once."
"Marietta!"
Cho gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"Cho, you have to believe me!"
Marietta turned to Sherlock and snapped,
"Yes, I used the Confundus Charm—but only because I've been practicing magic on my own!
It's a difficult spell that helps train fine control. Is that so wrong?!"
"Calm down, Miss Edgecombe. That was only the first piece of evidence."
Sherlock silenced her with a single sentence, then continued:
"The second is scent.
The eyeshadow was kept in a drawer with herbal sachets, mingling with the sandalwood scent. That's how Mrs. Norris noticed it.
Honestly, your spellwork is dreadful. Even a cat could tell something was off.
You really thought it ended up at your feet by coincidence? That it likes you or something?
It sniffed out a droplet of gold shimmer on the walnut desk leg.
According to Miss Chang, that's from the gold shade in her seven-color eyeshadow palette.
Whether it was excitement or nerves, you couldn't resist trying it out—right there in the dorm."
Sherlock shook his head in disappointment.
"Frankly, the cat has a lower opinion of you than I do."
Marietta was speechless.
"You could still claim it had nothing to do with you, of course.
But even if you keep denying it… Mrs. Norris found where it was hidden.
That brings us to the third piece of evidence."
Sherlock stood.
"Miss Chang, you may open the door now."
Cho nodded and opened the common room door. A group of Ravenclaw students had gathered outside.
Penelope gave them a sharp look, and they quickly cleared the way—except for one tall boy who remained in place.
It was Robert Hilliard, the other Ravenclaw prefect.
He smiled as he caught sight of Penelope.
"Penelope…"
But before he could say more, she snapped:
"I don't want to talk to you right now."
She gestured for the others to go on ahead.
Sherlock shrugged and led the way, followed by Hermione. Cho and Case flanked Marietta on both sides.
Marietta's eyes darted toward Robert, preparing to call out.
But Penelope was quicker. She flicked her wand.
"Silencio!"
Marietta opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Robert's expression darkened.
"Penelope, casting a jinx on a younger student isn't appropriate."
"You'll understand when this is over."
Penelope was already sure Sherlock's deductions were correct. Marietta Edgecombe was the culprit.
But until the missing eyeshadow was found, it wasn't truly case-closed.
She hurried after the group, taking the rear in case of trouble.
After all, Marietta had just tried to call for help.
Robert reached out instinctively, then dropped his hand.
---
Back in the girls' dormitory, Sherlock casually remarked:
"Looks like Miss Clearwater has finally shaken off her admirer."
"Indeed… Wait, how did you—?"
Despite being a Ravenclaw, Penelope needed only a moment to catch on.
"Robert's crush on me isn't widely known. How did you know?"
"Just look at his robes."
Sherlock rattled off quickly:
"Crisp collar, perfumed sleeves. He's dressed like he's attending a wedding—not normal prefect attire.
When the door opened, he looked at you twenty-seven times. Me? Zero—even though I cracked the case.
His pupils dilated when you turned around, and the corners of his mouth lifted. Classic courting behavior.
And you? You avoided eye contact the whole time—like you were dodging a Fanged Geranium."
Sherlock chuckled.
"You should thank this case. It gave you the perfect excuse to avoid him."
"Mr. Holmes, I'm beginning to believe you knew it was her the moment you laid eyes on her."
Sherlock didn't reply, but the smirk on his face deepened.
"Now," Penelope said, "please show us the third piece of evidence."
---
Back in Cho's dormitory, Sherlock released Mrs. Norris.
The cat immediately darted to Edgecombe's nightstand, paws batting at the cabinet door.
Everyone froze.
Even with just her claws, Mrs. Norris can find the hiding spot, they remembered Sherlock saying.
Could the eyeshadow really be hidden there?
Sherlock first walked over to the walnut desk, pointing out the dried droplet of gold shimmer.
"That's my gold eyeshadow!" Cho exclaimed.
Hermione glanced at Edgecombe. She seemed dazed, utterly detached.
Sherlock then approached Marietta's cabinet.
Just as he'd described earlier, the malachite-inlaid mirror was there, with the "A.E." engraving.
A fine crack gleamed with traces of Floo Powder.
Sherlock tapped the cabinet gently with his wand. Mrs. Norris leapt aside.
The door swung open.
Inside were clothes, notebooks, books, and basic makeup—but no sandalwood box.
Everyone exchanged looks.
Penelope lifted the Silencio charm.
"Where is it?"
She stared straight into Marietta's eyes.
"Where did you hide it?"
Marietta suddenly grinned.
"Shouldn't you ask our great detective?"
She looked at Sherlock mockingly.
"Didn't you say Filch's cat could find it with just her claws?
Well, tell me—where's the thing I 'stole'?
Or did someone else Confundus-Charm it away?"
---
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