After Halloween, the most anticipated days for the students were undoubtedly the upcoming Christmas holidays.
Strictly speaking, each academic year at Hogwarts is divided into two semesters, and the Christmas holiday marks the division between the two.
Before the start of the holiday, the first Quidditch match of the semester, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, officially began.
From the start of school in September to December, the Gryffindor team members had been training in the rain, their robes almost never dry, all for today's match.
Captain Wood placed great importance on the outcome of the match. He would be graduating from Hogwarts in two years, and his greatest wish before graduation was to lead the Gryffindor team to win the Quidditch Cup.
"We'll make them regret letting that little rascal Malfoy bribe his way in!"
Before the start of the match, he said this to the Gryffindor team members more than once, both threatening them and provoking Harry.
Malfoy, as if not afraid of angering Harry at all, mockingly called him "Scarhead" from the very beginning of the match.
Because of this, even when the Gryffindor players clearly noticed that the Bludgers had been tampered with, constantly and solely attacking Harry, they did not ask Madam Hooch, the referee, to stop the match. Instead, they planned to continue playing and win the match, thoroughly humiliating Malfoy.
In the end, Harry did indeed succeed.
He risked being knocked off his broom by the Bludgers and caught the Golden Snitch right over Malfoy's head.
Ending the match with a victory was also a great mockery of Malfoy.
But Harry's arm was broken, and he was sent to Madam Pomfrey in the school hospital.
It was just a broken bone. For Madam Pomfrey, rejoining Harry's bones required only a small spell, so afterward he could celebrate the victory with the other team members to his heart's content.
Later that night, however, the house-elf Dobby found him, admitting that he was the one who had tampered with both the barrier at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and the Bludger, all to protect Harry and force him to leave Hogwarts to avoid danger.
Harry was furious, but he was helpless against him, so the next day he told Hermione and Ron about his encounter with Dobby.
"I think this actually confirms something," Hermione analyzed seriously.
"Dobby so desperately wants Harry to leave Hogwarts because he doesn't want to see him harmed by the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. But Harry is a half-blood; he wouldn't be the monster's target at all, so why is Dobby worried about this?"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, then shook their heads with certainty.
"Don't know."
Hermione looked at them with a disappointed gaze.
"He must know something. He thinks the Heir of Slytherin will instruct the Basilisk to attack Harry. Who in the entire Hogwarts has such a big grudge against Harry?"
This time, Harry and Ron thought of the answer instantly and said in unison:
"Draco Malfoy!"
"From the current point of view, he is the most suspicious. We must investigate this thoroughly," Hermione said firmly.
Harry expressed a pessimistic view.
"Your previous plan is impossible to succeed. There won't be a suitable reason for a professor to give us a note to borrow a book, let alone a restricted book about potions. Expecting Snape to give us a note is like expecting Malfoy to take the initiative to confess everything to us. Even if other professors are easier to talk to, we still can't find an excuse."
"And one note can only be used to borrow one book. We have no way to cheat this," Ron added.
Hermione looked thoughtful.
"I do have a relatively risky plan."
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione with shining eyes, as if they were looking at someone who could carry them to victory.
"We can start with Professor Cavendish."
"Professor Cavendish? Impossible. If we ask him for a note, he will definitely ask what we want to do."
Hermione hesitated before saying the next words, but their previous plan to investigate Malfoy had already violated several school rules. What harm was there in adding another?
"I'm not talking about getting a borrowing note through normal means."
She lowered her voice.
"Recently, Professor Cavendish seems to be researching some magic. He often asks students to borrow books from the library for him, most of which are from the Restricted Section. We can start from this angle…"
After listening to Hermione's plan, Harry and Ron couldn't help but say excitedly:
"This is completely feasible!"
"Although there's a risk, as long as we deny it to the death, no one will find out!"
Hermione's face was conflicted.
"But this is deceiving Professor Cavendish."
"We're doing this to protect the entire school, Hermione," Ron said.
Harry also nodded.
"Even if Professor Cavendish knows the truth, he will understand."
In the end, Harry and Ron convinced Hermione, and for the next few days, they wandered together in front of Sherlock's office door as soon as class was over.
Finally, one afternoon, Sherlock called out to Hermione from inside the office.
Hermione cautiously walked in.
Sherlock was grading sixth-year homework and looked very busy.
"Do you have time now, Miss Granger?"
Hermione swallowed and replied calmly.
"I only have one History of Magic class this afternoon, and I've just finished it, Professor."
"Then could you please help me borrow a book from the library?"
"Of course."
"The book is in the Restricted Section. I'll write you a note—you can give it to Madam Pince, and she will get the book for you."
Sherlock took out a piece of parchment, wrote the book's title on it, and signed his name.
Hermione took the note and left the office.
Harry and Ron, who were waiting outside, hurriedly gathered around her, and the three of them went into an empty classroom together.
They stared at the borrowing note in Hermione's hand, their eyes full of tension and excitement.
"I'll do it."
Hermione patted Harry's hand, laid the borrowing note flat on the table, pointed her wand at the book title, and chanted:
"Scourgify."
Under the effect of the Cleaning Charm, the book title disappeared from the parchment, leaving only Sherlock's signature.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione cheered.
"The professor really didn't use magical ink!"
"Now just write the book title Most Potent Potions on it. Keep this note for now. Don't borrow the book yet—wait until I go to Professor Cavendish and explain it to him."
After staying in the empty classroom for five minutes, Hermione took a deep breath, and under the encouraging gazes of Harry and Ron, she walked back toward Sherlock's office.