HP: I AM SHERLOCK HOLMES

Easter break ran from late March to early April. Like Christmas, students could choose to go home or stay at school. Unlike the relaxed Christmas holidays, Hogwarts professors always assigned heavy homework during Easter break every year.

This year was no exception. Even a top student like Hermione had to spend several days in the library to complete assignments on time. Other average students faced even greater challenges.

Moreover, each house’s Quidditch team used this time for intensive training, preparing for the final House Cup matches.

Gryffindor team captain Oliver Wood had approached Harry early:

”Potter, you’re not going home for the holidays, right?”

Harry: ”I—”

”Excellent! I knew you wouldn’t go home! I’ve already arranged with the other team members. The weather’s perfect this holiday—we can fly every day. Perfect training weather.”

Harry: ”—”

”You know we’ve already won two matches! Just defeat Ravenclaw in the final match, and we’ll have the championship cup!”

Speaking of this, Wood’s eyes blazed with wild light. His entire being radiated an aura that warned others to stay away, successfully deterring Seamus and Dean from approaching Harry.

”It’s decided! One week of intensive training, one week of enhanced training! I’ll notify you when it’s time!”

Harry: ”...”

As soon as Wood left, the Weasley twins approached with arms around each other’s shoulders.

”Hey, don’t worry, Potter. Training won’t be as tough as he says.”

”Oliver’s in fifth year now—he has to prepare for O.W.L. exams too.”

”What exams?”

Harry didn’t immediately understand.

”Ordinary Wizarding Level exams, abbreviated as O.W.L.s.”

Just then, Hermione appeared from somewhere.

”These are subject-specific exams that fifth-year students must take, administered by the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Students’ scores in specific O.W.L. subjects determine whether they can continue studying those courses the following year.”

Hearing Hermione’s explanation, the Weasley twins expressed genuine admiration:

”Worthy of Miss Know-It-All—already understanding these things as a first-year!”

”So don’t worry, Potter. Have a pleasant holiday!”

”Though we have to go—Lee Jordan thinks he’s found a new secret passage to outside the school.”

”I bet it’s the passage behind the Gregory the Sycophant statue. We found it our first week here. Bye.”

After the twins swayed away, Hermione turned to Harry: ”Are you going home for the holidays?”

Harry shook his head. Though his relationship with the Dursleys had improved slightly with Sherlock’s help, he still didn’t want to return to Privet Drive. He couldn’t spend Easter at Sherlock’s house too, could he?

”The professors assigned so much homework; I won’t go back. Plus, Wood just found me about using the holiday for intensive training.”

Hermione nodded. ”Me too. I just asked Ron—he’s not planning to go back either. By the way, do you know where Sherlock is? He didn’t go to the library today.”

Harry shook his head again. Despite sharing a dormitory with Sherlock, he’d never been able to track his whereabouts. If he had to describe it in one word, it would be ”elusive.”

Sometimes Harry even suspected Sherlock secretly wore an Invisibility Cloak to slip away. So even if he’d really agreed to Mycroft’s surveillance request as Sherlock claimed, he couldn’t have managed it unless Sherlock deliberately revealed himself.

As Harry and Hermione were both scratching their heads, Dean and Seamus, who’d been waiting nearby, approached.

”Um, did we hear you talking about Holmes?”

”That’s right. Do you know where he is?”

Hermione’s eyes lit up.

”Yeah, we saw him on our way here.”

Dean then went with Seamus to play wizard’s chess with Harry, while Hermione followed their directions to the Great Hall. She didn’t take long to find Sherlock, because he wasn’t alone.

”Ravenclaw?”

Seeing two girls sitting beside Sherlock, Hermione pursed her lips, then quickly walked over. As she approached, she recognized one as the girl who’d sought Sherlock’s help before Christmas. Hermione hadn’t known her name then, but now she did—Cho Chang, one of Hogwarts’ few Asian students, a second-year Ravenclaw.

As for the other—

”Penelope Clearwater?”

Seeing her face clearly, Hermione couldn’t help but exclaim. A fifth-year student and Ravenclaw prefect.

Her voice made all three turn around.

”Sorry—”

Hermione naturally felt it was impolite to call out someone’s name like that. She’d guessed these two had likely come to consult Sherlock, like Hannah Abbott before.

”Maybe—I came at a bad time.”

”No, you came at the perfect time.”

Sherlock looked at Hermione. ”I assume Dean Thomas told you I was here?”

”Yes, and Seamus.”

Since Sherlock had said so, Hermione sat down. Fortunately, she knew both Ravenclaw girls, saving Sherlock from introductions.

As soon as Hermione sat down, she asked curiously:

”How did you figure that out? Because I came from the same direction they just left?”

”And timing.”

Sherlock’s fingers lightly tapped the table. ”I noticed you walked straight toward me, indicating strong purpose in coming here. Now, let’s not discuss irrelevant topics. Let’s talk business.”

Sherlock turned to the two Ravenclaw witches:

”Ladies, please tell my friend exactly what you told me, in as much detail as possible. Hearing this case again will be useful for me too. Hermione, this case might be very interesting, or it might not be. But I think you’ll find it intriguing. Now, I won’t interrupt you.”

Cho Chang and Penelope Clearwater exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes. In fact, Cho had only given Sherlock a brief opening before being stopped, with him saying his friend would arrive soon and would help with the case.

Sure enough, Hermione Granger had appeared shortly after. If that were all, it would be one thing. But what surprised them more was that from Sherlock and Hermione’s conversation, Hermione clearly knew nothing about the case.

Being sorted into Ravenclaw, their logical thinking was naturally sharp. They instantly understood what this meant, looking at Sherlock with even greater amazement.

Cho Chang glanced at Penelope Clearwater again, then began slowly at the latter’s encouragement:

”Actually, I originally didn’t want to trouble Mr. Holmes again—this is just a small matter. I don’t want to cause trouble for the house. But Penelope insisted we should seek Mr. Holmes’s help. Miss Granger, I’m not good at storytelling, so I can only state everything I’ve experienced in the most direct language.”

Hearing this, Sherlock immediately leaned forward slightly, clasping his hands to support his chin, indicating his full attention.

”Please forgive my long-windedness, but this must start from last Christmas. My father has been away on business for long periods. Even during such important holidays, he couldn’t return home to reunite with us in time.

Though my mother and I were unhappy, we understood father’s situation, he was simply too busy. But none of us expected that although he couldn’t come home that day, he still specially sent me a gift—seven-color eyeshadow from an magical supplies shop in Korea’s one of the oldest street, contained in a sandalwood case.

When I received this gift, my mother was especially happy. She said it was craftsmanship from that century-old shop in Korea, with eyeshadow made from ancient mineral pigments, even the white porcelain container was from antique period.

Mr. Holmes, Miss Granger, I won’t hide it from you—when I opened the gift, I was stunned. It was indeed exquisite. Seven porcelain discs embedded in the sandalwood case with plum, orchid, bamboo reliefs, colors ranging from dark cyan to pink, as if the four seasons were captured in that small space.

After returning to school, I always kept it in my jewelry box. My friends loved it too, and we’d originally planned to go out together this Easter—”

Here, Cho took a deep breath. Both Sherlock and Hermione watched her attentively. Obviously, she was about to reach the crux of the matter.

”After the last Potions class before Easter break, my friends and I returned to our dormitory as usual, only to find the jewelry box in its original position, but the sandalwood case had disappeared. We carefully searched the entire dormitory but found nothing. After questioning others, we confirmed no one had entered the dormitory.

I thought perhaps I’d put it somewhere and forgotten—I really don’t think this is a big deal. It’s just a box of ordinary cosmetics.”

After Cho finished speaking, Sherlock glanced at Hermione, then leaned back slightly with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he slowly began:

”Forgive my bluntness, but most of your description contained useless information, while truly useful content for the case was minimal.”

Hearing Sherlock’s unvarnished criticism, Cho’s face showed a blush of embarrassment.

”Sorry, Mr. Holmes. I don’t know which information is useful to you—”

Sherlock interrupted Cho, asking directly:

”Was there anything special about that eyeshadow?”

”In terms of color alone, those seven colors were indeed rich and unique. There was auspicious gold-red that made eyes glow with bright light when applied. Deep blue representing the night sky’s. Elegant pink like spring blossoms, displaying gentle sweetness...

These colors weren’t ordinary pigments but incorporated various rare magical plant and mineral powders. So, this seven-color eyeshadow wasn’t just for beauty—it had certain magical effects.

When feeling anxious, applying the light blue eyeshadow could soothe the mind. The gold eyeshadow sparkling with fine light could make the wearer more charming in social situations, attracting others’ attention.

Each eyeshadow color contained unique magical charm.”

Sherlock patiently listened to Cho’s introduction of the seven-color eyeshadow, then began asking other questions...

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