"Enough! Put away those boring tricks you use to deceive people in the Muggle world!"
When Snape heard Sherlock's deductions, his piercing gaze immediately shifted from Harry to Sherlock.
"Holmes, who do you think you are? Just by looking around for a few moments, you think you can guess what happened here? Do you really think you're some famous detective from a novel?"
"It's 'deduction,' not 'guessing,'" Sherlock replied calmly, completely unaffected by Snape's icy aura. He even corrected Snape's terminology. "Actually, I can indeed provide some helpful information about this case..."
"Shut up! I don't have time to listen to your boring analysis, Holmes. What I need to tell you is..." Snape sneered coldly, "Because of this incident, Gryffindor will lose twenty points."
Despite the presence of Gryffindor's Head of House right beside him, Snape didn't hesitate to make this decision.
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of all three students except Sherlock immediately darkened.
Especially Hermione's.
After all, this whole affair had started because of her.
As for Professor McGonagall, she remained indifferent to Snape's point deduction, as if she had already accepted his decision.
However, in the next moment, she suddenly said something that surprised everyone:
"Mr. Holmes, would you care to share your observations?"
"Professor McGonagall!" Snape whirled around to face her. "Are you sure you want to listen to a first-year student's grand theories? I think it would be better to give him detention for a while..."
"Thank you, Professor Snape. I know exactly what I'm doing," McGonagall replied calmly, looking at Snape. "Mr. Holmes is a student from my House. I am willing and obligated to hear his perspective."
After saying this, she turned to Sherlock. "Mr. Holmes, you may begin."
"This was a premeditated case."
Under the intense scrutiny of three professors and three students, Sherlock got straight to the point:
"The person who left this bloody message was a man, under six feet tall, middle-aged, right-handed. He moves quickly and is cunning, but he's currently troubled. This act wasn't his own intention but was done at someone else's instruction. Additionally, he used a wand approximately nine inches long..."
"Enough!"
As Sherlock spoke faster and faster, the expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly astonished.
Finally, an abrupt voice interrupted his analysis. "That's enough!"
Snape looked coldly at Sherlock, speaking with undisguised contempt and disgust:
"Hah, the great detective Holmes? I already told you to put away your boring tricks! Perhaps you can rely on them in the Muggle world, but in the magical world..." Snape's eyes suddenly became profound: "I advise you to be more careful!"
After saying this, he paused, then added as if suddenly remembering, "Gryffindor loses ten points as punishment for your nonsensical rambling in front of a professor."
Upon hearing Snape's words, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were immediately alarmed.
If the previous point deduction was punishment for wandering around, this one was clearly an expression of embarrassed anger.
You're the one talking nonsense! This is obviously a rule you just made up on the spot!
However, since he was a professor after all, even though they felt indignant, the three didn't dare express their feelings openly.
Otherwise, they would certainly face even harsher point deductions.
After all, Snape had always been this unreasonable.
So, the three unanimously turned their gazes to Professor McGonagall.
Faced with such an obviously fabricated reason for deducting points, Professor McGonagall, known for her sense of justice and fairness, should surely step in and speak up for them, right?
Moreover, she was Gryffindor's Head of House.
Unexpectedly, McGonagall looked at Sherlock and said word by word:
"I am very disappointed in you."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hearts of Harry and his friends immediately sank.
How could this be?
It seemed... this time Sherlock's performance had left Professor McGonagall too dissatisfied.
That made sense.
Although Sherlock had pretended to be very confident, those details sounded far too incredible.
Even they, who had witnessed Sherlock's abilities many times, still found it hard to believe.
How much more so for McGonagall, who didn't understand Sherlock?
But still, deducting points just for this seemed too excessive!
Surprisingly, Professor Quirrell, who looked extremely weak, suddenly said feebly:
"Professor, there's no rule for deducting points like this..."
The three immediately brightened up, looking at Quirrell with gratitude.
At this moment, even the garlic smell emanating from him didn't seem so pungent.
But the next moment, Snape mercilessly retorted:
"My rules are the rules!"
Quirrell: Σ(｀д′*ノ)ノ
Not only that, after saying this, Snape looked coldly at Quirrell and continued his assault:
"Besides, what you should do now is get lost and go back."
Quirrell: o((⊙﹏⊙))o.
Seeing even a professor succumb to Snape's intimidation, how could Harry and the others dare to act up?
Only Sherlock remained unmoved, instead showing a thoughtful expression.
McGonagall, as if she hadn't seen this scene, said to the four students:
"If you're not injured, you'd better hurry back to Gryffindor Tower—the students are all enjoying the Halloween feast in their respective Houses."
"Outrageous! Simply outrageous!"
On the way back to Gryffindor Tower, Ron was absolutely furious.
"Snape went too far! What kind of reason was that? I'll bet you anything he made it up on the spot!"
Harry and Hermione nodded repeatedly.
After the troll incident, the barrier between Harry and Ron and Hermione had been eliminated.
Now, facing Snape, their common "enemy," the three had formed a united front, unanimously criticizing him.
Even Hermione, who usually respected professors, was no exception.
But what surprised the three was when Sherlock suddenly said: "Actually, Professor Snape is a good person."
"Huh?"
The three turned their heads in unison, looking at Sherlock with shock.
He said seriously: "To be precise, Professor Snape is a despicably kind good person."
"..."
"???"
"Sherlock, how did you put those two words together?"
Hermione stared at Sherlock with wide eyes, expressing her inability to understand.
"These two words aren't opposite in nature, so why can't they be put together?"
Faced with Sherlock's counter-question, Hermione was momentarily speechless.
Indeed... kind and despicable weren't antonyms.
But... putting them together felt strange whether you said it or heard it, didn't it?
Ron also asked Sherlock unwillingly why he hadn't brought him and Harry along when he went to find Hermione.
Then Sherlock informed him that he was worried they would delay the rescue.
Ron looked miserable: "You're really honest..."
"I've said before, in most situations I don't lie, unless it's necessary."
"Thank you so much for your honesty!"
Just like this, chatting as they walked, they finally arrived in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
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