HP: I AM SHERLOCK HOLMES

Sherlock had always been somewhat sharp-tongued.

However, since entering Hogwarts, everyone he’d met had been polite to him. Even Snape, who constantly targeted Gryffindor, was in Sherlock’s eyes a despicably kind good person, so this particular trait had never had a chance to manifest.

This time, when Dumbledore wanted to use his friend, it finally exploded.

Actually, Sherlock wasn’t opposed to being used. He often used Harry and Hermione himself. If Harry and Hermione were willing to use him, he wouldn’t refuse either.

But Dumbledore’s behavior was clearly different from his own.

Knowing that Quirrell might be Voldemort’s minion yet still allowing him into Hogwarts was placing Harry on the edge of life and death.

His purpose in saying these words was also clear. If Dumbledore couldn’t provide a proper explanation today, he would never allow Dumbledore to continue acting so recklessly.

Faced with the angry Sherlock, Dumbledore was stunned once again.

He lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he slowly began to speak:

”Saying Voldemort fears me most is really too flattering. He possesses power I will never have. As for my suspicion... if there is anyone who can truly kill Voldemort, that person can only be Harry.”

As soon as Dumbledore said this, it was like lightning cutting through the sky, dispelling all the confusion in Sherlock’s mind.

Having been at the school for two months, Sherlock had gradually become demystified about magic.

In an instant, all the clues connected.

”Only Harry can? What makes him different from others is... he’s the only person who survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse. His parents protected him when he was still a baby, so your confidence lies in that scar? Or rather... a spell that still has protective power to this day?”

This series of thoughts occurred instantly. As Sherlock spoke, Dumbledore’s expression became even more complex.

That sense of familiarity from earlier grew stronger.

Dumbledore’s thoughts returned to that summer in Godric’s Hollow.

At this moment, he even felt Sherlock was more perceptive than that old friend.

”It seems my deduction was correct?”

Just by looking at Dumbledore’s expression, Sherlock knew his speculation had been confirmed once again.

”Yes, my child, you are absolutely right.”

Dumbledore looked at Sherlock and slowly continued: ”I think you should know about the prophecy concerning the wizarding world’s Chosen One.”

Hearing Dumbledore mention the Chosen One prophecy, Sherlock immediately replied: ”The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born at the end of July to a wizarding family.”

This was what Hermione had found in the library. Though the source was gossip, judging by the results, it should be authentic.

”The content is correct, but not precise.”

Dumbledore sighed.

”To be exact, the prophecy states: ’The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...’”

Sherlock immediately extracted the key information from Dumbledore’s words.

”’Mark him as his equal?’”

”Exactly.”

Dumbledore smiled. ”You noticed that point indeed.”

”Neville Longbottom’s birthday is only one day before Harry’s,” Sherlock said directly. ”So, who the Chosen One is was actually decided by Voldemort himself?”

”Yes, there were two children who fit the prophecy, but Voldemort ultimately chose Harry.”

Dumbledore said with a complex expression, ”On that day, Harry’s mother used an ancient spell to protect him at the cost of her life—a spell powered by the greatest emotion in the world: love. Voldemort’s Killing Curse directed at Harry rebounded, and he vanished. As for Harry, he became the only lucky one to survive the Killing Curse. This protective spell still guards Harry to this day.”

”This is your confidence?”

Even though he now understood the whole story, Sherlock was still unsatisfied.

”I think you should know that in this world, older doesn’t necessarily mean more powerful.”

”Don’t worry, though this spell will eventually fade, it’s still too early for that...”

”It needs the power of blood relatives to maintain it, right?”

Before Dumbledore could explain specifically, Sherlock said, ”This is why you insist Harry continue living with the Dursleys—after all, they are Harry’s only family in this world.”

Dumbledore stared at Sherlock speechlessly.

He was beyond words.

Sherlock’s performance today had completely exceeded his imagination.

Looking at Sherlock before him, the white-haired old man couldn’t help but think:

’Do you see? Gellert... there is a genius here who can surpass us!’

Thinking of Harry, who survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse, and McGonagall’s earlier request to let Harry join the house team as an exception, his thoughts expanded further.

”And... there are two of them! Gellert...”

No matter how powerful Sherlock’s deductive abilities were, without sufficient information, he couldn’t guess what Dumbledore was thinking.

Seeing the other’s somewhat dazed state, Sherlock frowned.

”Besides this reason, is having Harry face Voldemort also because you have no way to completely kill him?”

Sherlock’s words immediately pulled Dumbledore back from that distant summer.

He looked deeply at Sherlock, his expression becoming serious: ”I now suspect that even if Voldemort were killed, he would revive in other ways, possibly becoming even more powerful.”

”So not abandoning graduated students is only one reason?”

Sherlock pondered, ”The key is that you need Harry to personally face Voldemort, to determine whether that spell is effective and to what extent it can work against Voldemort.”

”Sherlock, as you said, the others are also my students, aren’t they?”

Dumbledore finally smiled again. ”Don’t worry, Harry will be fine. The people protecting him aren’t just me.”

”Like Professor Snape?”

”Oh, I’m glad we agree on this point.”

”No, I feel Professor Snape is more practical than you in this regard.”

”If only Harry could think the same way you do.”

”I think we can change the subject now.”

”...Would you like some cockroach clusters?”

”No, thank you.”

”Well... I’m glad Harry has a friend like you. Whether to tell Harry about Quirrell is up to you, but I hope you won’t tell him about our agreement.”

”Very well, so what exactly did you put on the fourth floor?”

”The Philosopher’s Stone—it’s an ingredient for making the Elixir of Life. I think you understand why Quirrell would be interested in it... So really, no cockroach clusters?”

”Next topic.”

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