The news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and was lying in the hospital wing like Mrs. Norris quickly spread throughout Hogwarts.
This caused the Chamber rumors that had previously died down to resurface, and for a time campus rumors flew everywhere, with students living in fear.
Particularly the first-year students, who now always moved in tight groups of three to five.
As if they feared that if they acted alone, they would be attacked.
Meanwhile, everyone began chattering and exchanging amulets, protective charms, and other items to protect themselves.
Of course, all of this was done secretly from the teachers.
There was one exception, however.
That was Gilderoy Lockhart.
Because in his autobiography, he mentioned that something very similar had happened in Wagadou.
At the time, there had been a series of attacks, and he had provided the residents there with various protective amulets, solving the problem immediately.
Due to Professor Lockhart's performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, the credibility of the stories in his book had risen dramatically.
Lockhart took the opportunity to offer a group purchasing model—young wizards could team up with friends and family to purchase protective amulets at lower prices, enjoying additional discounts.
This quickly became popular throughout the school.
Even Neville Longbottom bought a stinking large onion, a sharp purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail.
The other Gryffindors told him he wasn't actually in danger.
Because he was from the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, he wouldn't be attacked.
However, Neville didn't think so, his round face was full of fear. "Everyone knows I'm practically a Squib. They might not spare me."
Sherlock naturally disdained Neville's approach.
However, the enormous pressure seemed to motivate Neville as well.
During this period, he followed Sherlock's daily morning training, making very rapid progress.
His talent for swordsmanship was also gradually being discovered.
Combined with Harry being busy with Quidditch training, Neville was even showing signs of catching up.
It was an unexpected bonus.
As for Sherlock, he had been waiting for Dumbledore to come find him ever since the night they discovered Colin.
He felt he had been understanding enough.
A student being attacked was a completely different matter from a pet cat being attacked. As headmaster, Dumbledore would certainly face pressure from all sides during this time.
However, several days passed without him even seeing Dumbledore's shadow.
This was somewhat excessive.
Just when Sherlock couldn't hold back and wanted to actively seek out Dumbledore, Watson brought him a letter.
[Dear Sherlock, recent events force me to temporarily leave the school. When I return to school, I will personally inform you of related matters]
[Please trust me, justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied]
"This is... Mr. Dumbledore?"
Harry asked, looking at the unsigned letter.
"I was originally waiting for him to come find me, but now it seems I was too narrow in my thinking. I didn't expect the headmaster to be so busy with daily affairs!"
Sherlock said in a self-mocking tone. "Though it's understandable, after all, the headmaster isn't just Hogwarts' headmaster—he's also Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and First Class Order of Merlin!"
"Uh..."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron couldn't help but look at each other.
Sherlock's words were far too aggressive, and they didn't know how to respond for a moment.
After a while, Hermione felt it was inappropriate and cautiously tried to mediate.
"Sherlock, I don't think you should talk about Mr. Dumbledore like that. He really is very busy..."
"Too busy to even have time to meet with me? That's hardly the case."
"Uh..."
"And what's this about 'justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied?
How ridiculous! Can delayed justice still be called justice, doesn't he himself know justice delayed is justice denied?"
Sherlock said disdainfully. "This is simply a self-deceptive logical paradox.
What does he think justice is? A puppet on stage that deserves applause just because the curtain rises?
When the perpetrator chews on victims' families' tears in court, when evidence rots to dust in evidence rooms, when the bones of the innocent grow wild grass in unmarked graves—you call that 'never denied?
Please remember, my friend, true justice never needs excuses—it either arrives in time, or it doesn't exist at all."
○|￣|_
This time, even Hermione had nothing to say.
Harry saw the situation was bad and quickly asked. "So... why won't Dumbledore come to find you?"
"He's busy, but certainly not so busy that he doesn't have time to meet with me and explain the facts. He simply hasn't figured it out yet, just like last year with the Philosopher's Stone and Quirrell."
Sherlock said lightly. "Hmph, his actions remind me of Gemma. Trying to be responsible for every student means being responsible for none—compared to last year, he's made no progress at all!"
"I completely agree with that!"
Ron raised his hand. "I think this whole thing was Malfoy's doing. Even if it wasn't him, it definitely has a lot to do with him!"
Harry was confused. "Why do you say that?"
"Old Harry, you forgot—this is what you told me!
When you, Hermione, and Neville saw Mrs. Norris, what did Malfoy say at the time?
'You'll be next, Mudbloods!'
Look at their family—they were all in Slytherin, and he's always bragging about it.
So, I think they're likely descendants of Slytherin, and his father is evil enough. Their family might have had the key to the Chamber for centuries, passing it down generation by generation...
Remember the Malfoys' house-elf? Maybe the Dark object it mentioned was the key to the Chamber!"
"Right, doesn't that all connect?"
Harry immediately looked enlightened.
"There's only one truth—the culprit is Malfoy!"
After saying this, he and Ron looked at Sherlock expectantly, waiting for his decision.
Hermione looked at the two, then turned to look at Sherlock. Finding that he had no intention of explaining, she could only say helplessly.
"Have you forgotten the inspection before school started? No Dark objects were brought into the school!"
However, Ron countered. "That's not necessarily true. What if the key to the Chamber isn't a Dark object?"
Harry also mused. "Slytherin was one of the school's founders. It wouldn't be impossible to evade those detection instruments."
"Well said, Harry! You know what I think? Ever since the Quidditch match, he's been sulking. Obviously, this time he's taking out his anger on Colin."
"That's not impossible... Sherlock just mentioned Prefect Farley, which also reminds me of something. Didn't she say she would make Malfoy apologize to Harry and Colin? Now that Colin is like this, wouldn't that mean..."
"You mean Malfoy attacked Colin so he wouldn't have to apologize to him?"
Ron clapped his hands hard. "Hey, you know what, you really might be onto something!"
They went back and forth, each statement seeming more reasonable than the last.
Hermione no longer wanted to talk to these two and just looked at Sherlock.
Seeing Hermione's inquiring gaze, Sherlock shook his head.
"Malfoy didn't open the Chamber."
"Why not?" Ron immediately asked.
"Because he lacks the conditions—in every way."
With Sherlock's final word, the topic ended there.
Next, the group discussed the monster in the Chamber, and Hermione proposed what she thought was a sharp point.
"Maybe it can make itself invisible, or it can disguise itself—transform into a suit of armor or something else. Remember the ghoul we saw at Ron's house?"
"No way, you suspect that thing could hurt Mrs. Norris?"
Ron said incredulously, "I'd bet you a Galleon that it's no match for that cat!"
"I didn't mean an ordinary ghoul. I meant... I once read about chameleon ghouls in a book."
"You read too many books—you're getting confused."
Ron contributed a criticism.
Although Dumbledore had left the school, no more attacks occurred.
Time passed to the second week of December.
Like last year, Professor McGonagall came to collect the list of students staying at school for Christmas.
This time, both Harry and Ron signed the list.
For Harry, although his relationship with the Dursleys had improved with Sherlock's help, when given the choice to stay at school, he still preferred the latter.
Last year at this time, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to Romania to see Charlie; this year they planned to go to Egypt to see Bill.
So, all the Weasley children stayed at school. However, Percy's reason was different from the others.
He stated that his staying for Christmas had nothing to do with his parents' departure, but because as a prefect, he had a responsibility to support the teachers during this turbulent period.
Regarding his explanation, the Weasley twins and Ron all showed disdain.
When Mrs. Holmes learned that Harry and Ron planned to stay at school, she once again extended a warm invitation to both, hoping they would come to Sherlock's house for the New Year like last year.
However, both politely declined Mrs. Holmes this time.
Under these circumstances, among their group of four, only Sherlock and Hermione would be going home.
However, just before the holidays ended, another event captured the attention of all students in the school.
One morning, when Sherlock and Neville returned to their dormitory after their usual morning training, they were surprised to find that Ron and Dean, who usually would still be sleeping at this time, had already gotten up and were enthusiastically discussing something.
"The school is going to start a Dueling Club! The first meeting is tonight!"
Ron said excitedly, "Sherlock, you know, I've actually always wanted to join you all for morning training."
Sherlock: (¬_¬)
Noticing Sherlock's look, Ron said sheepishly. "The main thing is that getting up early is really too difficult for me..."
"You're quite self-aware, my friend."
"Ahem, anyway, now the teachers are going to teach us dueling courses, and we don't have to get up early. This is truly a wonderful thing!"
"But I don't think the Slytherin monster will duel with us," Neville said weakly. "It's not a wizard..."
"It'll still be useful."
Dean put his arm around Neville. "Don't say so much—first let me play with your stick!"
"Sherlock, are you going this time?"
Ron came over, bypassing Dean and Neville. "You're not going to skip it like the Deathday Party, are you?"
Sherlock smiled slightly and, under Ron's expectant gaze, gave a positive answer.
"I'm going."
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