"If I'd run into Black first, I wouldn't have wasted time drawing a wand! I would've torn him to shreds!"
After Professor McGonagall finished describing the dangerous confrontation between Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black, Hagrid's booming voice suddenly exploded, making a very characteristic declaration.
His face was flushed red, and his bushy beard trembled violently with his words.
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly, light glinting off his half-moon spectacles.
"Calm down, Rubeus."
Dumbledore turned his gaze to Sherlock and Harry, who sat side by side, his tone carrying that calming reassurance. "That's how things happened. Do you have any other questions?"
Harry sat rigidly in the oak chair without speaking.
Although he had learned from Mr. Weasley that Black was his parents' close friend during their lifetime, he never imagined their relationship was so close.
So, at this moment he was still in shock, unable to recover.
Sherlock, however, leaned back slightly, his grey eyes gradually growing sharp.
"Only three questions."
"Three questions?"
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but be startled.
She felt she had already explained things clearly enough. Although Hagrid was rough, his supplementary explanation had indeed perfected this painful memory sealed in the past. Yet Sherlock not only raised questions but raised three at once, which was truly unexpected.
"That's right, three questions."
Sherlock gave an affirmative answer again, holding up three fingers.
"First, since Pettigrew knew Black's whereabouts, why didn't he inform the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic?
Second, after Black killed Pettigrew, how exactly did he fall into the Ministry's hands?
Third, who were the other members of 'that group' that included James, Black, and Pettigrew?"
Hearing Sherlock's three questions, all three, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid froze.
Even Harry looked at Sherlock in surprise.
"Sherlock, how did you—"
Professor McGonagall was the most surprised. Clearly the questions were raised by Sherlock, yet she couldn't help but want to ask him back.
At this moment, Dumbledore glanced at Sherlock, then smiled.
"Minerva, let me answer these questions this time."
Professor McGonagall nodded reflexively.
Sherlock immediately perked up, hands clasped under his chin, staring intently at the old headmaster. "Then—I'm all ears."
"The first question. Since Pettigrew knew Black's whereabouts, why didn't he inform the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic?
As a good friend of James and Black, Pettigrew knew exactly where Black was hiding, which is why he could find him before the Ministry did. He was probably consumed by the flames of vengeance the instant he found Black, which is why he chose to face Black alone.
Don't forget, although Pettigrew seemed unremarkable in daily life, he was also a Gryffindor. The courage hidden deep in his heart transformed into reckless desperation at that moment.
Imagine when you discover a close friend's betrayal—the anger and disappointment are enough to make one lose all reason. Besides that, I think he also worried that if he missed this opportunity, Black would escape again."
At this point, Dumbledore's voice also became somewhat hoarse, a trace of pity showing in his eyes.
"The second question. After Black killed Pettigrew, how exactly did he fall into the Ministry's hands? Fudge described the scene to me—he was still Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time. He was the first to arrive after Black killed everyone including Pettigrew.
According to him, the scene was extremely gruesome. There was a huge crater blown in the middle of the street, so deep that even the sewers were ruptured. The entire street was littered with corpses and Muggles crying out to heaven. Yet Black stood there laughing maniacally as if he'd gone mad. In front of him, all that remained of Pettigrew was a pile of blood-stained clothing and some fragments."
Hagrid suddenly blew his nose forcefully, the sound shaking the portrait paintings on the wall. Professor McGonagall took out a handkerchief embroidered with the Gryffindor crest and quietly pressed it to her eyes.
"The Muggle eyewitnesses told the Ministry they heard Pettigrew question Black, which confirmed Black's crimes to the Ministry. Because it caused such a commotion, the Muggles all had their memories erased, and the incident was classified as a gas explosion.
Seeing escape was hopeless, Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. Pettigrew was recognized as a war hero and awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class."
"He didn't resist?"
Hearing about Black's actions, Sherlock frowned.
"No. Perhaps because he knew resistance was futile, or perhaps Voldemort's downfall drove him insane. According to Fudge, he was just laughing madly the whole time. When twenty squad members surrounded him, he even voluntarily extended his wrists, allowing the chains to bind him."
Dumbledore paused, and seeing Sherlock had no more questions, slowly continued.
"As for the third question—the other members of the group with James, Black, and Pettigrew... Come to think of it, you and Harry both know him, so even if I don't say it, I think you've already guessed."
"If you hadn't specifically reminded me, I might still have hesitated but now, the answer is obvious."
Sherlock spoke in a calm tone, slowly revealing a name that Harry never expected.
"Professor R.J. Lupin."
"What?"
Harry, who had been silent, couldn't help but stand up. "Professor Lupin knew my father?"
"Obviously, he's the other person in that small group Professor McGonagall mentioned earlier."
Sherlock reached out and pulled Harry back into his seat, saying slowly.
"Based on the information just provided, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew formed a group at school. Potter and Black were the leaders of that gang. They had extremely high magical talent and, like the Weasley twins now, ignored school rules and loved causing trouble.
Professor Lupin was relatively mild-mannered and was the backbone of that group. As for Pettigrew—"
Sherlock frowned and said slowly. "His talent didn't match the other three. He was the one with the weakest presence in the group. He worshipped his friends and followed the three around all day. He seemed utterly ordinary, yet courage was buried deep in his heart. That's why at the most critical moment, he raised his wand at his former idol. I should be right, shouldn't I, Professor McGonagall?"
The more Sherlock spoke, the more surprised Professor McGonagall became.
By the time Sherlock finished and posed a question, Professor McGonagall was almost speechless.
"Holmes, how did you know all this?"
"Isn't this all what you just told me?"
Sherlock said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"The only thing you didn't tell me was information about the other member of that small group. But since Professor Dumbledore said it that way, finding a wizard that both Harry and I know, who's about the same age as Harry's father, is too simple.
Arthur Weasley is too old, Arnold Peasegood is too young. Professor Snape is the right age, but he didn't have a good relationship with Harry's father. That leaves only Professor Lupin, who just came to the school this year. There's no other possibility."
"Even so, how did you know there was another person in that small group?"
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but press him. She had never mentioned Lupin's name.
"'At school, he worshipped Black and James like heroes. Compared to the others in that group, he was always like a follower, following behind them.'"
Sherlock repeated what Professor McGonagall had just said. "Your subconscious way of expressing this is enough to show that this small group had other members besides these three, at least one more person. This reasoning process is too obvious, as clear as an ink stain on parchment."
Professor McGonagall was completely speechless. She couldn't help but look at Dumbledore.
He smiled at her in acknowledgment, then turned to Sherlock.
"That's what happened twelve years ago, Sherlock. Do you have any other questions?"
"Not for now."
"For now?"
Dumbledore keenly noticed the key word in Sherlock's statement.
"Yes, for now. Thank you to the three professors for the information provided today. This will help me find Black..."
"Holmes!"
Before Sherlock could finish, Professor McGonagall became anxious. She clutched her collar and said urgently.
"I believe in your abilities, but I must say that Black's power is far stronger than you imagine! Even in a one-on-one situation, I'm not confident I could definitely defeat him. You—"
"Don't worry, Professor."
Sherlock showed a reassuring smile. "Courage doesn't equal recklessness, I learned that principle when I was seven years old. Once I discover any trace of Black, I'll definitely inform you immediately. If he had stayed in Azkaban, that would be one thing, but since he had the courage to break out and wants to harm my friend..."
At this point, Sherlock's gaze suddenly became sharp.
"I will definitely bring this murderer who killed over a dozen innocent lives to justice!"
Seeing Sherlock's sincere gaze, Professor McGonagall finally released her grip on her collar.
"That's good. You know I absolutely don't want Pettigrew's tragedy to repeat itself."
"Repeat the tragedy?"
Since he had already obtained all the information, there was no need to continue staying here.
Dumbledore called for Mr. Hagrid and had Professor McGonagall escort Sherlock and Harry back to the common room.
As they walked through the long corridor, Professor McGonagall repeatedly urged Sherlock to keep a close eye on Harry and absolutely not let him do anything foolish.
She had now realized that Harry's personality was more like his trouble-making father than his obedient mother. Without someone watching him, something would go wrong sooner or later.
The evidence was obvious. Just looking at Harry's three years at Hogwarts—whenever something happened at school, Harry was sure to be at the scene.
After Harry and Sherlock returned to the dormitory through Sir Cadogan's weird password, only the two of them were there.
Harry looked at Sherlock, wanting to speak but hesitating. His mood was very heavy.
Although before the start of term, he had already learned through Mr. Weasley that his parents were killed because of betrayal by a friend, he never imagined that this person would have such a special relationship with his family.
Not only had he served as best man at his parents' wedding, but he was even his godfather.
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