"Sherlock, you're going to Hogsmeade too?" When Hermione heard that Sherlock planned to go to Hogsmeade village with everyone else, she seemed quite surprised.
In her experience, unless there was a special reason he absolutely had to go, Sherlock never willingly set foot in that wizarding village. He always used a somewhat disdainful tone to comment that Britain's only all-wizard village was just an ordinary place full of mediocre sweets and boring small talk.
"As you've guessed, I wasn't originally planning to go there." Sherlock saw right through Hermione's thoughts. "If some cases could happen there, it might be somewhat interesting."
"Then why..."
"Because I've been rather bored lately." Sherlock leaned back lazily and began counting on his fingers. "The egg's secret has been solved, Dumbledore is still searching for leads on the old case, normal coursework is long finished... Gemma happened to invite me to Hogsmeade village, so I might as well go have a look."
"So it was Gemma's invitation..." Hermione suddenly understood, her hand hanging at her side quietly clenching her skirt. "Then I won't go. The common room will be empty and quiet—I can get some reading done."
"Why not go?" Harry looked up from the wizard chess board, clearly puzzled. "When can't you read? Didn't you always spend weekends in the library before?"
"You said it yourself—that was before, old Harry!" Ron patted Harry's shoulder and winked, lowering his voice. "Now it's different! Whenever Hermione goes to the library, Krum follows her. When he goes, that fan club swarms in after him. How can Hermione concentrate on reading then? But he can't get into the Gryffindor common room."
"Krum still won't give up?" Harry's eyes widened even more. "But didn't you already reject him?"
Hermione shook her head gently, clearly unwilling to discuss this topic further.
Krum was indeed one reason. But he hadn't actually approached her to chat after coming to the library—he just sat quietly in a corner reading.
Under those circumstances, Hermione was helpless. The library was a public space; she couldn't prevent him from coming. She hadn't reached that level of unreasonableness.
But as Ron had pointed out, even if Krum could stay quiet, those fan club girls were always chattering annoyingly. Hermione couldn't achieve the level of concentration Sherlock had, completely immersing himself in books while ignoring his external environment.
However, the more important reason was Gemma. Since returning this time, she had been gracious and composed. She had even proactively helped Hermione at the Christmas Ball, so Hermione really didn't want to be in the way when Gemma had actively invited Sherlock.
But this thought only lasted an afternoon. That evening, as the setting sun painted the castle corridors a warm gold, Gemma suddenly appeared in Hermione's path.
"Come to Hogsmeade village together?" Hermione stopped in surprise, nearly dropping her copy of Forgotten Ancient Spells and Charms. "But you already invited Sherlock?"
"Just because I invited Sherlock means I can't invite you too?" Gemma smiled and walked closer, the sunlight falling on her chestnut hair and giving it a soft luster. "Speaking of which, Sherlock specifically came to ask me something a few days ago—a question related to both of us."
"Related to both of us? What question?" Hermione blinked, her curiosity immediately piqued.
She didn't think Sherlock would ask about emotional matters.
Gemma's smile deepened. "About Hagrid and Madame Maxime."
Hermione immediately caught on. "Did he ask you if you saw anyone else when Hagrid and Madame Maxime were talking?"
"Exactly. Looks like he asked you the same question." Gemma's voice carried certainty. "I can sense that Rita Skeeter has angered Sherlock. She won't be jumping around much longer."
"As long as he doesn't do anything rash." Hermione sighed.
But she still didn't understand why Gemma would invite her when she had already invited Sherlock.
"Hermione, love is both selfish and selfless." Gemma seemed to see through her thoughts and spoke slowly.
"To love someone means loving all of them." Her tone was gentle but carried undeniable seriousness.
"Gemma, you might as well speak more plainly." Hermione's cheeks grew slightly warm, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening.
"When possible, no woman wants to share her beloved with another—that's the selfish side of love." Gemma stepped forward half a pace, lowering her voice further. "But from another perspective, if it's destined that this cannot be achieved, then perhaps it's better to..."
Having said this much, Hermione suddenly understood. Her face flushed instantly, red as a ripe apple. She hastily interrupted Gemma, her voice carrying a hint of panic. "I'll go with you! I'll go together, all right?"
"I knew you were smart enough to understand what I meant!" Gemma smiled even more happily and, taking advantage of Hermione's embarrassed distraction, quickly planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Hermione was stunned.
Saturday's dawn came especially early. Before the sky had fully lightened, Hermione, lying in bed, suddenly opened her eyes wide.
Gemma's words from yesterday still echoed in her ears, especially that line "love is both selfish and selfless," like a demon's whisper, circling repeatedly in her mind.
Since she couldn't sleep, she simply sat up and looked down at herself. This term, she felt she had indeed grown considerably, in various ways.
But even so, Gemma's words yesterday had still given her an enormous shock. She really hadn't expected that a girl as excellent as Gemma would have such thoughts.
Gemma was a prefect, Head Girl, an outstanding graduate representative—wherever she went, she was the center of attention. Yet even someone like Gemma was willing to compromise when it came to Sherlock.
Hermione couldn't help but marvel inwardly. She could only say that Sherlock Holmes was simply too charismatic!
Since she had no desire to sleep, and dawn had barely broken, Hermione wrapped her cloak tightly and hurried to the Great Hall. But entering the Hall, she unexpectedly discovered that someone had arrived even earlier.
Sherlock, Harry, and Neville sat at the long table with hot milk and bread before them, clearly having just returned from morning training.
"Looks like you've decided to go to Hogsmeade?" Sherlock's gaze swept over Hermione, his gray eyes carrying understanding—he had seen through her thoughts at a glance.
Hermione wasn't at all surprised he could tell. She nodded and said frankly, "Gemma found me yesterday."
Sherlock's expression remained unchanged, as if he'd expected this. But Harry immediately looked up, clearly puzzled. "Gemma invited you to go to Hogsmeade together?"
After receiving Hermione's affirmative answer, Harry's eyes widened, his mind full of confusion. What were these girls up to? Were they really planning to share Sherlock?
But as soon as this thought emerged, he immediately pushed it aside. Sherlock could surely handle this himself—Harry didn't need to worry about it.
Unlike Sherlock, Harry's reasons for wanting to go to Hogsmeade were actually multiple. On one hand, Sherlock had long since solved the golden egg's secret. Just a few days ago, Cedric had specifically sought them out.
This time he had fully demonstrated a captain's responsibility, saying he had an inkling about how to breathe underwater for an hour.
On the other hand, it was because of Hagrid. Whenever Hagrid was feeling down in the past, he liked to sit at the Three Broomsticks. Harry hoped that maybe this visit to Hogsmeade would let him run into Hagrid and persuade him to return to school.
Of course, seeing Sirius every time he went to Hogsmeade was also an important reason.
After a while, Ron, Dean, and others gradually arrived at the Great Hall. After breakfast, nearly all students third year and above crossed the cold, damp grounds toward the school gates.
But as they passed the Durmstrang ship moored on the lake, they encountered an unexpected person.
Viktor Krum.
Krum walked from the cabin onto the deck wearing only black swimming trunks. His physique was lean but not weak—rather, it was powerfully lean, every muscle well-defined, perfectly matching people's image of a top-tier Seeker.
He nimbly climbed onto the ship's rail, took a deep breath, spread his arms, and with a "splash" dove into the icy lake water.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow, a curve forming at his lips. "Winter swimming? Somewhat interesting."
"He's mad!" Harry watched Krum's dark head bobbing in the middle of the lake. "It's January—the lake water must be freezing!"
"Dear Harry, I'd advise you to abandon that notion as soon as possible." Sherlock turned to look at him.
"What notion? What are you talking about?" Harry looked confused.
"Have you forgotten the second task?" Harry suddenly gasped at this reminder.
Right! In the second task, they also had to go underwater!
"So my suggestion is that once we return from Hogsmeade this time, we add swimming lessons to our schedule."
"Don't announce something so momentous in such a casual tone!" Harry couldn't help saying.
Ron's eyes widened even more. "What? You're not joking, are you?"
"If you still want to win." Sherlock smiled faintly, though his eyes were serious. "I recall you saying your swimming skills aren't particularly impressive."
"But the second task isn't until February 24th!" Harry hastily explained. "That's still over five weeks away—the weather won't be this cold by then."
"And didn't Cedric say he already had an idea?" Ron added.
Sherlock stopped walking and slowly turned his head, his gray eyes fixed intently on both of them. Harry and Ron felt increasingly guilty under his gaze and couldn't help shrinking back. "Wh-what?"
"People must rely on themselves." Sherlock's voice slowed, carrying a measure of gravity. "Given the qualities Krum is displaying right now, I don't think we'll have an advantage in the second task."
"Durmstrang is in Northern Europe, where winters are far colder than here." Hermione chimed in at just the right moment, her tone somewhat helpless. "I imagine for him, the current lake water is still quite warm."
Harry fell silent. If he hadn't entered this competition, it wouldn't matter, but since he had, he genuinely wanted to win.
After a long while, he took a deep breath, raised his head, and his eyes became determined. "I understand. Once we return from Hogsmeade, I'll learn to swim with you."
"But there's a Giant Squid in the lake." Ron frowned, unable to help expressing his concern.
"That's actually not a worry." Hermione smiled and shook her head. Seeing Harry and Ron's gazes turn to her, she explained, "Have you forgotten what happened to Dennis? Colin Creevey's brother—he accidentally fell into the Black Lake at the start of term and was caught by the Giant Squid, which then pushed him back to shore."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, both showing thoughtful expressions.
The group passed through Filch the caretaker's inspection and arrived at the entrance to Hogsmeade village, successfully meeting up with Cho Chang and Luna from Ravenclaw.
Next, everyone began splitting up. Even without Sirius present, it was still Sherlock, Hermione, and Luna in one group, and Harry, Cho Chang, and Ginny in another.
As for Gemma, who had arranged to meet Sherlock and Hermione, she had already gone ahead to wait at the Three Broomsticks.
"Harry seems to be looking for someone?" Hermione watched Harry in the distance, leading Cho and Ginny as he hurried from shop front to shop front.
From Harry's hurried pace at the front, it was clear he had no intention of shopping, and she couldn't help asking curiously.
"Looking for Hagrid." Sherlock's gaze fell on Harry's retreating figure as he spoke lightly. "Finding Hagrid is one of his main purposes for coming to Hogsmeade this time."
Luna asked somewhat puzzled, "What will he do after finding Hagrid? Does Harry want him to come back and continue teaching us Care of Magical Creatures?"
"I'm afraid that's exactly what he's thinking." Hermione sighed softly, her eyes carrying a complex expression.
She genuinely felt that the new Professor Grubbly-Plank was better suited to teach this subject than Hagrid—whether in teaching methods or professional expertise, she was far superior. But due to her relationship with Hagrid and Harry's angry looks, she had never managed to say this to their faces.
However, Sherlock and Luna had no such reservations.
Luna frowned, her tone full of incomprehension. "Why would he do that? Professor Grubbly-Plank teaches much better than Professor Hagrid."
Sherlock was even more direct. "After this experience, this course will probably need to be co-taught by two teachers from now on."
Hermione looked at these two beside her, noticing how their unguarded words had formed a subtle accord at this moment. Recalling Gemma's words yesterday about "love being both selfish and selfless," she suddenly gained a deeper understanding.
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