As soon as Hermione finished speaking, she suddenly felt her vision blur.
The next moment, Crookshanks appeared in Sherlock's arms.
She hadn't even seen clearly how Sherlock had managed it.
Sherlock's other hand was still holding that copy of "Ancient Runes Made Easy."
"Oh, thank goodness!"
Seeing this scene, Hermione couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief.
However, Sherlock frowned. Because he was holding a book in one hand and tightly holding Crookshanks in his arms with the other, yet Crookshanks kept struggling, and with considerable force.
On the other side, without Crookshanks' interference, Ron, who was on the ground, expended considerable effort and finally caught Scabbers by its tail and pulled it out.
"Look at it!"
Ron held Scabbers and shouted angrily at Hermione.
"Look how thin it's become! Keep that damn beast away from it!"
"Crookshanks doesn't know it's wrong to do that!"
Hermione was scared by Ron's appearance. She instinctively moved closer to Sherlock's side and stubbornly explained: "All cats like to chase mice, Ron. It just thought it was playing a game!"
"A game? Didn't you say it has Kneazle blood? That damn beast is no simple creature—it definitely heard me say Scabbers was in my bag!"
"Stop talking nonsense. Crookshanks could smell it..."
"Enough! It's been targeting Scabbers specifically. I told you this long ago!"
Ron had gone mad with anger. He refused to listen to Hermione's explanations anymore, ignored the crowd of onlookers around them, and stormed back to the boys' dormitory clutching Scabbers.
Harry witnessed the entire scene. It wasn't that he didn't want to help—he was just too tired after training.
Besides, with Sherlock nearby, he felt there was no need for him to intervene. However, he hadn't expected things to turn out like this in the end.
"Sherlock, this..."
Harry looked at Sherlock, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"Harry, Ron left his star chart behind. Remember to bring it to him when you go back later."
Seeing that Sherlock seemed completely unconcerned, Harry nodded instinctively.
After saying this, Sherlock handed Crookshanks back to Hermione.
Now that Scabbers had left, Crookshanks was no longer struggling desperately to get down as it had been.
"Thank you, Sherlock..."
Hermione's voice was still trembling, and she looked at Sherlock with an indescribable feeling.
"No need to be so polite, Hermione."
After saying this, Sherlock looked thoughtfully at Crookshanks.
At this moment, being held in Hermione's arms, it was glaring at Sherlock with a fierce look, as if blaming Sherlock for ruining its plans.
It was hard to imagine such an expression appearing on a cat's face.
"Interesting."
A smile appeared at the corner of Sherlock's mouth.
Ever since the "cat and mouse game" incident, Hermione and Ron had been at odds.
Both felt they were in the right, resulting in neither being willing to speak to the other.
This made Harry, caught in the middle, feel very uncomfortable. He tried several times to reconcile their relationship, but all efforts were in vain.
Sherlock was completely indifferent to this, "Since neither of them thinks they're wrong, let's maintain the status quo."
Harry couldn't help but sigh at these words.
This was typical Sherlock.
He never cared about other people's opinions.
One day at lunch, Watson happily brought Sherlock a letter: newly appointed Professor Rubeus Hagrid had invited them to visit his hut.
When Ron saw that Hermione was going with Sherlock, he directly told Sherlock he was busy.
Harry wanted to go with Sherlock and Hermione, but was pulled aside by Wood to discuss tactics.
So, in the end, only Sherlock and Hermione came to Hagrid's golden hut.
Hermione even brought Crookshanks along, hoping that Hagrid, who was well-versed in animal studies, could see what was wrong.
"Welcome, welcome! Hey, where are Harry and the Weasley boy?"
Seeing Sherlock and Hermione, Hagrid's eyes crinkled with joy, but noticing Harry and Ron weren't there, he asked curiously.
"Gone to discuss new season Quidditch tactics."
Sherlock looked around Hagrid's hut and found there were still several Puffskeins in the room.
Obviously, Hagrid was still using his monetary power to maintain his title of "most popular professor."
"Oh, I know, the first match is against Slytherin, right!"
Hearing Sherlock's answer, Hagrid suddenly understood, then served homemade strong tea to the two.
"Without a doubt, Gryffindor will definitely beat Slytherin to a pulp. I should say, this year's Gryffindor will definitely win the Quidditch championship!"
When this topic came up, Hagrid spoke enthusiastically and at length.
It wasn't until he mentioned that McGonagall used to be an excellent Quidditch player that he realized he had unconsciously revealed too much again.
He coughed twice, covering his embarrassment at accidentally revealing the past again, then explained the real reason he had asked Sherlock to come.
After following Sherlock's previous advice, the Care of Magical Creatures class had become very popular.
But now that a month had passed, he couldn't rely on Puffskeins alone to maintain popularity.
So, he decided to go all out and directly approached Sherlock, asking him to help arrange this year's curriculum.
"Hagrid, Sherlock is only a third-year student, and you're asking him to do such things!"
Hearing Hagrid's request, Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes, I know, but I haven't treated him as a child since his first year."
Hagrid said in the most straightforward tone.
"He's much better than me—look, even the little fellow you brought likes them!"
Following Hagrid's pointing direction, Hermione saw Crookshanks happily chasing Puffskeins, batting at them like toys.
This strengthened her belief that Crookshanks was only chasing Scabbers out of interest, never intending to actually eat it.
"See? Without Sherlock's help, I would never have thought of this!
I used to think you all liked little cuties like Buckbeak and Aragog!"
Sherlock and Hermione exchanged glances.
One could only say, this was truly Hagrid!
"Please, Sherlock!"
Hagrid spoke while looking at Sherlock with sincere eyes, hoping to move him.
However, Sherlock refused.
"Specific curriculum arrangements are out of the question as Hermione said, I'm just a third-year student."
"Sherlock!"
Hearing Sherlock say this, Hagrid's whole body trembled, his eyes immediately reddened, "You won't help me?"
'Isn't this a bit much?'
Hermione looked at Hagrid in amazement. Though she felt she knew Hagrid fairly well, this was...
A bit too exaggerated, wasn't it?
"However, I can give you some suggestions..."
"Wonderful!"
Hearing Sherlock's words, Hagrid immediately turned from sorrow to joy, slapping Sherlock on the shoulder.
Sherlock was prepared and remained unmoved.
"Hagrid, be gentler!"
Hermione, watching from the side, couldn't bear it and quickly said.
"Hehe, sorry, I got excited and..."
Hagrid scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, then slapped his right hand with his left: "How can I not control this hand!"
Hermione: (ーー;)
"My suggestion is to refer to the British Ministry of Magic's classification of magical creatures to determine specific teaching content."
"Well, Sherlock... you know, my brain isn't very bright, so please explain more clearly!"
"It's simple. For third and fourth-year wizards, your course choices should focus on XX and XXX level magical creatures, like the Puffskeins that have made you famous recently."
Hearing Sherlock mention this, Hagrid unconsciously puffed out his chest, his face glowing with pride.
Sherlock glanced at him and continued.
"For fifth-year and above senior students, you can cover XXX and XXXX magical creatures.
The specific content arrangement should have gradation, increasing the danger level in order through autumn, winter, and spring terms.
For us third-year students, after Christmas, you can arrange teaching content like Hippogriffs.
As for which specific magical creatures to choose, that's up to you.
During teaching, remember: safety first. Ensure you can promptly handle any accidents that might occur."
With the foundation laid by the Puffskeins, Sherlock believed that even with Hagrid's unusual aesthetic preferences, the young wizards would be able to accept it.
"Good, that's what we'll do!"
Hagrid remembered Sherlock's plan and immediately felt cheerful.
After this, at Hermione's request, Hagrid also examined Crookshanks and confirmed it was very healthy.
"So, it has Kneazle blood after all, no wonder!"
Hagrid showed an expression of sudden understanding, "Hermione, you really found a treasure this time!
Kneazles are very intelligent—they can distinguish those with ill intentions."
"But it keeps targeting Ron's pet Scabbers."
Hermione sighed.
"Haha, cats catching mice is natural!"
Hagrid slapped Hermione on the shoulder, causing her to stumble. She quickly grabbed Sherlock's arm to avoid falling.
Hermione looked at Hagrid somewhat helplessly, but Hagrid was completely oblivious.
He laughed heartily, "It can't be that Ron's little rat has ill intentions, haha, haha!"
Sherlock looked at the still cheerful Crookshanks, a flash of contemplation in his eyes.
When leaving, Hagrid gave them some new food.
Barnacle bread.
Like other dishes Hagrid made, it was still an extremely hard food item.
After accepting it, Sherlock thought he could develop new uses for it, along with the rock cakes that served as shields and the toffee that worked as throwing weapons.
As for exactly how to do this, it required further consideration.
As Halloween gradually approached, the festive atmosphere at Hogwarts grew stronger.
October 16th, Friday.
After finishing Ancient Runes, Sherlock and Hermione headed straight to Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration classroom.
Just as they arrived outside the classroom, they realized something was wrong.
Hermione's roommate Lavender Brown was surrounded by several classmates, crying very sadly.
Her other roommate Parvati Patil was comforting her with an arm around her shoulders while quietly explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, the pair of good friends nearby.
Hermione now had a good relationship with her roommates, so upon seeing this scene, she immediately approached and asked anxiously.
"What happened?"
Harry and Ron had arrived earlier—their previous class was Professor Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures.
When they saw this scene, both showed surprised expressions.
Their surprise wasn't because of the crying Lavender, nor because of Parvati comforting her, not even because of Sherlock who had greeted them.
It was because of Hermione, who was asking Lavender what had happened.
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