Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts

#131 - Beauty is justice

Ron felt only a sense of surprise and disappointment when he saw Gemma Farley was there for Sherlock.

Of course, he didn't think the Slytherin prefect would have a May-December romance with Sherlock, who was still a first-year.

That would be too outrageous.

The point was, he had just been thinking that Sherlock wouldn't find a girlfriend before he was thirty, and now this beautiful young lady had come looking for him.

This was a bit awkward.

However, Hermione, who was with him, was on high alert.

If the Patil twins were the most beautiful girls in the first year, then Gemma Farley was one of the most beautiful girls in the entire Hogwarts.

Of course, girls like Cho Chang might surpass her in two or three years.

But now, because of her age, she hadn't fully blossomed and couldn't compare to her yet.

More importantly, Gemma Farley had a special aura just standing there, which made people involuntarily focus on her.

It was really hard to imagine that someone like her would be a Slytherin.

However, when she heard Gemma Farley suggest talking to Sherlock alone, Hermione immediately snapped back to reality and said reflexively:

"No!"

Sherlock and Farley looked at her at the same time.

Hermione looked slightly embarrassed, but still insisted:

"Miss Farley, I don't mean to offend you, but..."

"Gryffindor has just reversed the House Cup score because of Sherlock, and broke Slytherin's honor of winning seven consecutive cups.

I don't think it's appropriate for him to be alone with you at this time."

Hearing Hermione say this, Farley immediately smiled, and her sea-blue eyes turned into crescent moons:

"Miss Granger, it seems that you, like Mr. Potter, have a deep prejudice against Slytherin."

"I don't think that's prejudice."

Hermione raised her head and looked directly at Farley, saying stiffly, "Their performance is indeed disappointing."

At this time, Harry, who had been chatting with three Ravenclaw girls, also noticed this scene.

Seeing that Hermione and Farley seemed to be arguing, he said something to Cho Chang and the other two and hurried over.

"Miss Farley!"

"Hello, Mr. Potter," Farley said to Harry with a friendly smile, "It seems you're recovering well."

"Yes, thank you for your concern," Harry nodded, then looked at her and Hermione with some confusion, "What's this..."

"I'm here to find Mr. Holmes."

Farley said casually, "It's just that Miss Granger is a little too nervous, she seems to think that I will be detrimental to Mr. Holmes because of the House Cup matter—Mr. Potter, what do you think?"

Harry was stunned for a moment, "Hermione, I don't think Miss Farley is that kind of person."

Hermione: (ー`ー)

Whose side are you on?

You turn your elbow outward just because she's pretty, right?

Didn't you say it very well when facing the Patil twins just now?

Just when Hermione felt a little aggrieved and even angry, Sherlock suddenly changed the subject after saying this:

"But if this prefect is here for Marcus Flint's matter, then there is no need to talk about it separately."

Hearing Sherlock's words, everyone except Farley was stunned.

Marcus Flint?

Isn't that the fifth-year Slytherin student, the Quidditch team captain?

During the Gryffindor and Slytherin game, he even maliciously fouled Harry, almost knocking him out of the air.

What happened to this guy?

"You really already know," Hearing Sherlock say this name, Farley's eyes became deeper, she looked around: "Mr. Holmes, are you sure you want me to say it directly here?"

Farley's meaning was obvious.

Besides herself and Sherlock, there were also four Gryffindors and three Ravenclaws standing nearby, a slightly large number of people.

As soon as she said this, Harry, Ron, and Neville didn't feel anything was wrong, but the four girls glared at her at the same time.

What, you don't like us?

Sherlock shook his head slightly: "I'm all ears."

Seeing Sherlock say this, Farley didn't insist anymore.

However, her first sentence made everyone else unable to hold back:

"After the graduation ceremony banquet, some Slytherin students ran to the Black Lake to drink."

Drinking?

Was it to drown their sorrows?

But it's understandable.

Although Slytherin relied on Ravenclaw's stable performance to retain the Quidditch Cup championship, they ultimately lost the House Cup, losing the opportunity for a seven-peat.

Farley continued:

"Marcus Flint was also among them, but he doesn't hold his liquor well, and he's not a good drunk.

So after he got drunk, he could only return to the common room alone."

Farley said it simply, but the meaning had been conveyed.

No one wanted to take the drunkard.

Hearing this, Harry immediately felt a burst of joy.

You have this day too!

"...But he didn't return to his dormitory.

It wasn't until the next day that he was found by others lying by the Black Lake."

The crowd couldn't help but look at each other.

"Sure enough, he doesn't hold his liquor well, he directly treated the grass as his own bed," Ron sneered, "I said last time that the guy looks like he has giant blood, it's not surprising that this kind of thing happened."

"Miss Farley, there's no need to consult Mr. Holmes about this kind of thing, right?" Cho Chang couldn't help but say after hearing this, "It's just that he got drunk..."

Faced with everyone's doubts, Farley shook her head gently:

"The problem is that when Flint was found, his school uniform was stripped off, and he was only wearing underwear.

He was bruised and swollen, and there were obvious signs of being beaten on his face.

There was also a piece of parchment on the grass beside him, with a sentence written on it:

【If you can't afford to lose, you have to accept the punishment】"

Speaking of this, Farley paused and looked at Sherlock:

"Flint is still lying in the school hospital, I came to find Mr. Holmes because I want to ask you to investigate this matter."

Farley's words stunned everyone.

A fifth-year student, the Quidditch team captain, was beaten like this?

It really is...

Too delightful!

Harry and Ron almost shouted "Well done."

"Is he seriously injured?" Hermione couldn't help but ask, "Why is he still lying in the school hospital now?"

"Although the other party didn't hold back, these injuries are not a problem with Madam Pomfrey here.

The key is that he lay on the grass all night wearing only his underwear."

"So what, it's not like he caught a cold because of that, right?"

Alicia couldn't help but interject.

"No, he's poisoned."

"Poisoned?"

Hermione felt baffled; what did wearing only underwear have to do with being poisoned?

"Yes, poisoned—in that state, he was bitten by all sorts of mosquitoes and insects all night long.

Due to the sheer number and variety of mosquitoes and insects, the various toxins intertwined and mixed.

Actually, it wouldn't be difficult to detoxify him, it just takes time.

In fact, when he was discovered, his face was already swollen beyond recognition; that was the result of toxin accumulation."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions were priceless.

Sherlock was expressionless, as if none of this concerned him.

Harry looked up at the sky, Neville looked down and fiddled with his pet.

Hermione pretended to look around at the scenery, while the three Ravenclaw girls were trying hard to suppress their laughter.

Only Ron couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Pfft~!"

When he saw Fali looking at him, he immediately straightened his face and said:

"Sorry, I just remembered something happy."

Fali glanced at Ron, but didn't dwell on the matter.

She turned her gaze to Harry.

The newest novels are first published here!

"Madam Pomfrey said that Flint's life is not in danger.

But he needs to stay in the hospital wing for another three days—coincidentally the same amount of time as Mr. Potter's stay in the hospital."

"Ah?"

Harry looked at Fali in confusion, wondering why she was telling him this.

He wasn't interested in such coincidences at all.

After saying this, Fali looked at Sherlock again:

"We hope Mr. Holmes can help us investigate this matter.

During this period, I will do everything I can to provide you with every convenience.

This one Galleon is a token of my personal appreciation, and I hope Mr. Holmes can accept it.

If we can find the culprit, we will have another generous reward, in short, we will definitely satisfy Mr. Holmes."

Hearing the conditions offered by Fali, the nearby young wizards were all shocked.

Especially Cho Chang.

In the Easter case, Penelope paid one Galleon after the case was closed, which Sherlock already felt was too much.

But the reason Penelope gave so much was because, in addition to the agreed-upon reward, there was also gratitude for Sherlock maintaining Ravenclaw's reputation.

As well as hush money, hoping they wouldn't reveal the matter—although now it seems a bit embarrassing.

Unexpectedly, Fali's performance today was even more impressive.

Just to get Sherlock to agree to take the case, she had already paid one Galleon.

Highlighting a more wealthy and capricious attitude.

It was conceivable how generous the reward would be once Sherlock really agreed to Fali and solved the case.

Of course, in Cho Chang's view, it was almost without question that Sherlock could do this with his abilities.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Sherlock, waiting for his reply.

In the eyes of everyone, Sherlock shook his head and said three words:

"I refuse."

When Sherlock firmly said the three words "I refuse," Fali, standing opposite him, didn't show the slightest surprise on her face.

She tilted her head, her smooth long hair swaying gently, her sea-blue eyes bright and deep, with a hint of inquiry:

"Mr. Holmes, can you tell me why?

If you are not satisfied with the reward, we can still discuss it."

She slightly raised the corners of her mouth as she spoke, revealing a confident smile.

As if to show Sherlock that as long as he was willing, everything was negotiable.

"It has nothing to do with that."

Sherlock waved his hand, looked up at Fali, and said calmly:

"The reason I am keen on solving puzzles is because I can reap unique joy in the process.

But this matter doesn't arouse any interest in me at all."

"Oh?"

Hearing Sherlock say this, Fali immediately showed a look of great interest: "I'd like to hear the details."

"Flint hurt my friend during the Quidditch match."

Sherlock said bluntly, "I think his current situation is well deserved."

"Sherlock!"

Harry, who had been standing quietly by the side, suddenly raised his head when he heard this.

His eyes were moist, his lips trembled slightly, and his eyes were full of emotion and surprise.

Sherlock actually remembered!

He still remembered the harm Flint had done to him during the Quidditch match!

This feeling of being remembered made a warm current surge in Harry's heart, and his eyes became hot.

"I admit that Flint's behavior in the Quidditch match was excessive, but Madam Hooch had already punished him at the time."

Fali frowned slightly, with a hint of incomprehension in her eyes:

"Mr. Holmes, are you serious?

This kind of behavior belongs to private revenge, which is not advocated or allowed."

Sherlock met her gaze without flinching:

"Miss Fali, I believe that when the rules cannot bring justice to the parties involved, private revenge from this moment on is justified and even noble.

So, this time I decided not to accept this case."

Fali was stunned.

She originally thought that Sherlock's reason for refusing would be simple, perhaps the reward was not enough, perhaps the case was too complicated, or perhaps there was something else as she thought…

But she never thought that Sherlock would give such an answer.

After thinking for a while with her head down, she suddenly raised her head:

"Mr. Holmes, I have to admit that your words moved me."

Sherlock looked at her without speaking.

"I came here today also at the request of others, whether to accept this case or not was originally your freedom, but…"

Fali's eyes were fixed on Sherlock, with a hint of cunning in her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to use this reason to refuse?"

Her voice was a little probing, as if she wanted to give Sherlock another chance.

Seeing Sherlock nodding without hesitation, Fali suddenly smiled, like a flower blooming in spring, bright and moving.

She gently raised her hand and flicked her fingers.

The Galleon that was originally in her palm shimmered with golden light under the sunlight and flew directly towards Sherlock.

Sherlock reacted quickly, reached out and grabbed it, steadily catching the Galleon.