September 1, 1994.
When Mrs. Holmes woke her that morning, Hermione felt extremely embarrassed.
She had clearly been determined to wake up early.
Unfortunately, because she'd been with Sherlock last night and lost track of time, she'd gone to bed quite late.
Hermione's thoughts were practically written on her face, and Mrs. Holmes naturally noticed, so she took the initiative to comfort her. "Don't worry about it, dear. People tend to sleep more soundly when it's raining."
Hermione looked out the window and indeed saw heavy rain pounding against the glass, which made her feel slightly better.
However, when she learned that Sherlock had woken up early without Mrs. Holmes needing to call him, Hermione immediately felt embarrassed again.
This sense of shame lasted all the way through breakfast.
"Well, this is the last meal you'll eat at home," Mrs. Holmes said with a smile. "You won't be back until Christmas."
"Mum, we probably won't be coming home for Christmas this year."
"Ah, why not?"
"There are activities at school."
"All right..."
Hermione could understand Mrs. Holmes's feelings.
Because her own mother felt the same way.
Hogwarts had a three-term system, with Easter as the spring break. Almost all students stayed at school during this holiday because they were buried under heavy loads of homework, and Quidditch players like Harry also had training.
If they didn't come home for the winter break—Christmas vacation—either, it meant parents and young wizards would only see each other during summer vacation.
"It's all right, Mrs. Holmes. We'll have owls write to you."
Mr. Holmes drove the car, and together with Mrs. Holmes, they took Sherlock and Hermione to King's Cross Station.
There, they met up with Sirius and Harry, Ron, and Ginny as planned.
A little while later, the Weasley family also arrived. Mr. Weasley didn't have time, so Bill and Charlie came to the station in their father's place to see off their younger siblings.
"Percy said he was just too busy and couldn't get away, because Mr. Crouch isn't in good shape now, and there are many things that depend on him," Fred said.
"I think he's right. I believe Mr. Crouch will know his name soon enough," George said.
After finishing this sentence, the two laughed together heartily.
The Ministry hadn't yet publicly announced the matter of Barty Crouch and his son.
Those who had seen Barty Crouch Jr. in the small compartment had been sworn to secrecy.
So, until now, apart from Mr. Weasley, his children didn't know that releasing Barty Crouch Jr. had been his personal action.
Instead, because Barty Crouch had suspended work, Percy, who had gained importance, was practically beside himself with excitement.
Because he could now report many things directly to Cornelius Fudge.
"Our Mycroft is the same way..." Mrs. Holmes remarked. "I don't know what he does all day. He's always saying he's busy, so busy..."
Mrs. Weasley immediately found common ground and began discussing parenting issues with Mrs. Holmes.
Sirius joined in the discussion with Mr. Holmes.
Seeing the parents chatting happily, the young wizards went ahead through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
For them as fourth-years, passing through here was now second nature. The only thing they needed to pay attention to was not attracting too much attention.
For Sherlock, this was as simple as eating or drinking—even if someone stared at him intently, they might not be able to track him continuously, let alone in a situation like this.
Nevertheless, they still passed through the platform in batches. First Sherlock and Hermione, then Harry and Ron, with the Weasley twins bringing their youngest sister Ginny last.
Once they entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the deep red Hogwarts steam train came roaring in, billowing thick smoke.
"The wizarding world should keep up with the times," Sherlock said upon seeing this scene. "It's time to consider phasing out this old steam locomotive."
"Sherlock speaks truly!" Ron nodded. "And they still have the nerve to call it the Hogwarts Express!"
"Ron, have you forgotten? In first year, Sherlock already said this isn't an express train—it should be called a direct train."
"All right, Harry, I did forget, but I don't think this kind of thing is really worth remembering."
They actually weren't late—in fact, they were a bit early.
But the platform already had many Hogwarts students and parents waiting, looking like dark shadows.
The small pig Sirius had given Ron was an owl that liked to squeal loudly, and hearing many owls calling through the smoke, it squeaked in response.
Sherlock, Harry, and Ron—the three tall boys boarded first and began looking for seats.
Soon, they had moved their luggage into a compartment on the train.
Then they jumped back onto the platform to say goodbye to the Holmeses, Sirius, Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie.
"I might see you all very soon," Charlie said with a smile as he hugged Ginny goodbye.
"Why?" Before Ginny could react, Fred asked eagerly.
"I think you'll find out," Charlie said. "Whatever you do, don't tell Percy I mentioned it... You know, 'it's classified information, to be announced when the Ministry sees fit.'"
"Oh, I really wish I could go back to Hogwarts this year," Bill said at this moment. Tall and handsome, he stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes on the train, looking somewhat wistful.
In this moment, he actually bore some resemblance to Sirius standing nearby.
"So why exactly?" George asked impatiently.
"I think you'll have a very interesting year," Bill didn't answer directly. His eyes gleamed. "I might even take time off to watch part of it..."
"Part of what?" This time Ron couldn't help but ask.
But just then, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley herded them toward the train door.
By the time they had boarded and closed the door, Hermione leaned out the window and said to the Holmeses, "Thank you for having me stay, Mrs. Holmes."
"Thank you for having us stay, Sirius," Ron and Ginny quickly added.
"Don't mention it." Sirius smiled and waved.
"Actually... I wanted to invite you for Christmas," Mrs. Weasley said, "but I expect you'd all rather stay at Hogwarts for one reason or another."
"Mum!" Ron couldn't take it anymore. He said irritably, "So what is it exactly? You three all know and you're keeping it from us?"
"I expect you'll find out tonight," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile. "It's going to be exciting—I'll tell you this much, I'm really glad they changed the rules—"
"What rules?" Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George asked simultaneously.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you... Now, behave yourselves, won't you? Did you hear me, especially you, Fred! And you, George!"
The engine's pistons hissed loudly, and the train began to move.
"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred shouted out the window—the Holmeses, Sirius, Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie were rapidly receding.
"What rules did they change?"
But everyone just smiled and waved at them.
Before the train even turned the corner, they had disappeared from view.
The large compartment that Sherlock, Harry, and Ron had found earlier naturally welcomed Hermione and Ginny.
Dense raindrops pattered against the glass windows, making it hard to see outside.
Ron opened his trunk and pulled out a piece of maroon cloth to drape over Pigwidgeon's cage—its screeching was too noisy.
"What's that?" Hermione asked curiously, looking at the odd cloth.
Ron blushed and said nothing.
Hermione was about to ask again when Sherlock already provided the answer. "I think that should be the dress robes Mrs. Weasley prepared."
Compared to Hermione, Sherlock's eyesight was far superior.
He saw at a glance that what Ron was using to cover Pigwidgeon wasn't just a simple piece of cloth.
The dress robes Mrs. Weasley had prepared for Ron were styled similarly to school robes, but this maroon color...
How to put it?
It was very much in line with Mrs. Weasley's characteristic style.
"She knits me a sweater in this color every Christmas!" Ron said huffily. "I've told her I don't like it!"
Sherlock chuckled lightly. "My dear Ron, I'd bet you anything that Mrs. Weasley definitely thinks it will bring out the color of your eyes more beautifully."
"Congratulations, you got it right. That's exactly what my mum said."
Ron sat down next to Harry and said glumly, "Bagman was willing to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts—remember, at the World Cup. But my own mother won't say. She won't even tell me what these dress robes are for."
"Actually, there's really nothing to hide—maybe they think being mysterious is fun." Sherlock, who was examining the glass, didn't turn around when he heard Ron's words. "Since Mrs. Weasley said the school changed the rules, then by tonight's opening ceremony at the latest, we'll know. It's only a matter of half a day earlier or later."
"Wait, Sherlock!" Ron looked at Sherlock across from him in surprise. "You—you don't mean to say you know what Mum and Bill were talking about, do you?"
Ginny also turned around, looking at Sherlock with astonishment.
"Yes, I know."
"Quick—tell me!" Ron said excitedly, then his gaze showed a hint of deep suspicion. "You're not going to do the whole secrecy thing like them, are you?"
"Of course not," Sherlock said with a smile. "I said before, there's really no need for secrecy about this."
"Tell us, what is it!"
"The Triwizard Tournament is being held at Hogwarts this year."
"What did you say?!"
Ron and Ginny exclaimed together.
Both showed expressions of disbelief.
But soon, they discovered that apart from Sherlock who had told them this news, Harry and Hermione didn't seem particularly surprised.
"What's going on? Harry, Hermione, you both knew, didn't you?"
"Sorry, Ron..." Harry said apologetically. "Dumbledore told me not to say anything—it was a week ago when we went to the Ministry. He specifically told me this when he was leaving."
"Again..." Ron was angry—angry at himself.
If only at the end of last term he hadn't been so unnecessary and said something like "Even if you don't tell us, Sherlock and Harry will tell us once we're out that door," perhaps this wouldn't have happened.
Anyway, ever since that time, whenever Dumbledore told Sherlock or Harry something, he would instruct them not to tell Ron.
However...
"Wait, but how does Hermione know?" Ron suddenly realized something was wrong. "Hermione didn't go to the Ministry either. Did you secretly tell her and not tell me, you..."
He was about to say "putting romance before friendship," but suddenly realized that wasn't right.
Harry and Hermione—that couldn't possibly involve romance.
Harry didn't even see Hermione as a girl.
She was just one of the guys!
So... there was only one truth!
Ron couldn't help but look at Sherlock.
"I told her."
Sure enough, Sherlock voluntarily stepped forward.
"Aha, you romance-before-friendship fellow, telling Hermione and not telling me!"
Dealing with Sherlock, Ron finally felt comfortable using that description.
"Ron, what are you saying!" Hermione said with a red face, seeming to reproach him, but actually feeling a bit of secret delight.
"Am I wrong? We may not have seen each other every single day during this time, but it was pretty close! So many opportunities, and he just didn't tell me this! You stayed at his house, so you got the advantage of proximity!"
"Ron, what are you saying!" This time even Ginny couldn't stand it anymore.
People who didn't know better hearing this conversation might think Ron was competing with Hermione for Sherlock—after all *ahem* forget it.
"Is there a possibility," facing the indignant Ron, Sherlock remained calm throughout.
He said lightly, "Because you never asked me."
"What do you mean I didn't ask? Didn't I just ask?"
"So, I just answered you."
"You... I... uh..."
Ron paused, only now realizing that before just now, he indeed seemed to have never asked Sherlock about this.
"Sherlock, do you mean that if I'd asked you before, you would have told me too?"
"Elementary, my friend."
For Sherlock, regarding whether he could tell others something, he had his own way of judging.
Anyway, it was Harry Potter who promised Dumbledore. What does that have to do with me, Sherlock Holmes?
Seeing Sherlock's statement, Ron had nothing more to say.
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny couldn't help but laugh.
But in the next second, Ginny's smile disappeared.
Because two Ravenclaw witches walked into the compartment side by side.
It was her good friend, Luna Lovegood, and Cho Chang.
After Cho Chang entered the compartment, her gaze swept over everyone. Seeing Ron sitting next to Harry, she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
After a moment's thought, she pulled Luna to sit at another empty seat.
Luna had originally wanted to sit with Ginny.
But since Cho Chang had pulled her along, she complied.
To be honest, she didn't particularly care about such things.
Since Cho Chang wanted to, she'd go along with it.
Ginny: (￢_￢)
You can read more than 40 chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse