HP: I AM SHERLOCK HOLMES

On December 25, 1991, the most significant event in the Muggle world since the war occurred.

Following the Eastern European revolutions, that once unbreakable union became a self-destroying alliance.

After this happened, the great northern nation became a complete laughingstock.

Western leaders didn’t even maintain their composure, laughing openly in public.

From then on, the international landscape of the Muggle world underwent major changes.

A year later, the entire world was in a period of restructuring after the collapse of the bipolar system, showing transitional characteristics of old order collapse and new order yet to be established.

Most importantly, the bipolar system completely collapsed, and a unipolar superpower situation formally took shape.

That country became the sole superpower, with its political influence, military projection capability, and ideological export reaching their peak.

It styled itself as the ”world leader,” dominating international affairs, with unipolar hegemony in the dominant position.

In fact, even if it didn’t style itself as such, most people in the world already regarded it as humanity’s beacon, future hope, and guiding light.

Although the magical world was relatively closed, this event was not without impact.

This was true globally, and for Britain, 1992 was equally a troubled year.

In April, the Conservative Party narrowly defeated Labour, achieving their fourth consecutive term.

Since Britain had formally joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), and the Eastern European changes led to German reunification, causing inflation in Germany.

With the Deutsche Mark rapidly appreciating, Britain needed to lower interest rates to stimulate the economy.

But the ERM restricted its monetary policy flexibility at this crucial moment, resulting in the Deutsche Mark continuously strengthening.

The pound was forced to follow with interest rate hikes to maintain exchange rates, further dragging down the British economy.

Against this backdrop, a man who would break the Bank of England appeared.

He seized the opportunity in September, using hedge funds to massively short the pound.

The Bank of England responded by emergency raising interest rates from 10% to 15% and spending £3.4 billion in foreign exchange reserves to intervene in the market.

Even so, they couldn’t prevent the pound-to-mark exchange rate from falling below the ERM lower limit.

The final result was that the man profited nearly $1 billion, Britain was forced to withdraw from the ERM, and the pound plummeted 15% against the dollar.

This became Britain’s most serious currency crisis since the war, casting a shadow over Britain’s path to EU membership.

Even that day was called Black Wednesday, with the enormous impact directly causing the Conservative government’s approval ratings to plummet, forcing the Chancellor to resign, and completely destroying the Conservative Party’s reputation for economic management.

Britain’s middle class suffered heavy losses in this crisis.

However.

During the summer holidays, when the Holmes and Granger families returned to London from Godric’s Hollow, Mr. Holmes had specifically warned Mr. Granger about this matter.

Since he had already followed Mr. Holmes’s advice in 1991, profiting by borrowing rubles, this time he also readily complied, converting the family’s sterling reserves to dollars and gold in advance.

The result was that he made a fortune in this financial crisis, doubling the family’s wealth.

Mr. Holmes had already told Sherlock about this when he first returned home.

So, when Sherlock saw that Hermione hadn’t sent a Christmas gift by owl, he deduced that Hermione’s family would be coming to his house at this time.

Sherlock’s deduction was, as always, accurate.

When he came downstairs for breakfast, Mrs. Holmes had already excitedly announced the news to the whole family.

The Granger family would be coming to their house today, and both families would spend Christmas together.

”It seems our family’s relationship with the Grangers is even better than I imagined, Mother!”

Hearing her eldest son’s words, Mrs. Holmes immediately laughed. ”Of course, Mycroft!”

”Why do you say that?”

”Because their family is very much like ours—originally ordinary people, but with a magical child in the family!”

”I see.”

”Not only that! Little Hermione knew Sherlock even before school started!”

Mrs. Holmes enthusiastically recounted their first meeting in Diagon Alley, describing how the Granger couple had initially been nervous facing a completely unknown world, and how she had warmly stepped forward to help.

Seeing Mycroft listening with apparent interest, Sherlock pretended not to notice.

Last year at this time, Mycroft had already thoroughly investigated his social relationships at school.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called Harry and paid him to monitor Sherlock.

But seeing his mother in such high spirits, Sherlock chose not to expose this.

”Speaking of which, that boy named Harry is quite similar to Sherlock and little Hermione.

His family are all ordinary people, and he only learned he was a wizard last year.”

”My dear Violet, that child is different from Sherlock and Hermione—his parents were both wizards.”

”I know, it’s just that the poor child lost his parents early and grew up with his aunt and uncle.

That family is really—”

Speaking of this, recalling her visit to Privet Drive, Mrs. Holmes kept shaking her head.

”I originally wanted Sherlock to invite him to our house again this holiday, but he refused. He must feel embarrassed—”

”Actually, Harry’s relationship with the Dursleys has improved considerably now.”

Seeing his mother look toward him, Sherlock explained, ”This year Harry received much better gifts than last year.”

Harry’s Christmas gift had come with a letter that, besides explaining why he sent this particular gift, also mentioned his recent school life.

Compared to last Christmas, this year the Dursleys had given him gifts that were basically double the previous year’s.

Popular Muggle snacks and a gaming console.

Although the console was Dudley’s old toy, he had only played it once before abandoning it, so it was practically new.

This was something Harry had once dreamed of, though having come to magical school, he was no longer particularly interested.

Instead, Ron and the Weasley twins were fascinated by it.

The three often competed fiercely for gaming console privileges.

As for snacks like cola, chips, and popcorn, they let Harry and his friends who stayed at school eat to their hearts’ content.

”That’s as it should be.”

Hearing Sherlock’s words, Mr. Holmes concluded.

”Family affection, friendship, and love are God’s most precious gifts to humanity.”

As he said this, his gaze moved back and forth between his two sons.

Both Sherlock and Mycroft showed their father well-behaved smiles.

Near noon, the doorbell rang, and the Granger family appeared at the Holmes’ front door.

”Merry Christmas!”

After Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and the Grangers embraced each other, they quickly ushered them inside.

”You shouldn’t have brought gifts!”

”Next year, next year we must come to our house!”

Mr. Granger said, pulling Mr. Holmes’s hand.

”No problem!”

Seeing Hermione run toward Sherlock the moment she entered, Mr. Holmes laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation.

Whenever Mr. Holmes and Mr. Granger got together, they inevitably ended up playing wizard chess.

After all, Mr. Granger couldn’t play this with his wife at home.

Although Mr. Granger never won against Mr. Holmes, he remained enthusiastic.

Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Granger always found common topics.

For instance, at this moment, they were examining the hand-knitted sweater Mrs. Weasley had made for Sherlock.

Mrs. Granger pointed to the red capital ”S” on the sweater’s chest and said to Mrs. Holmes.

”Violet, my Hermione received one too—don’t look at the similar style, even with different letters, it takes considerable effort.”

”Exactly, and judging by the craftsmanship, this child’s mother has really good needlework skills,” Mrs. Holmes agreed.

Naturally, Hermione pulled Sherlock to a corner of the living room, took a book from her bag, and handed it to Sherlock with anticipation.

”Sherlock, this is my Christmas gift for you!

Since I was coming today anyway, I didn’t have Watson make another flight, especially since it’s quite heavy.

When you didn’t see my gift this morning, did you think I’d forgotten?”

She blinked playfully at Sherlock.

”No, when I didn’t see your gift, I knew you’d be coming to my house today.”

Sherlock said while accepting Hermione’s Christmas gift.

Hermione: ”—”

Sherlock didn’t notice Hermione’s expression. When he saw this copy of Magical Crime Case Studies, his expression became somewhat strange.

”What’s wrong?” Hermione asked, puzzled.

Sherlock didn’t speak, only pointed to a nearby table.

There was another book there, which he had been reading until the Granger family arrived.

Hermione looked in the direction Sherlock pointed, and her gaze froze.

Another copy of Magical Crime Case Studies!

Before last Christmas, when she didn’t know Sherlock very well, she had specifically consulted Harry and Ron, holding a small meeting about what Christmas gift to give Sherlock.

She had finally decided on this Magical Crime Case Studies.

However, plans couldn’t keep up with changes—Sherlock had given Hermione a copy of Makeup for Beginners at Christmas.

Hermione’s girlish temper flared up, so she simply switched her prepared gift to Lockhart’s work Magical Me.

’Come on, let’s hurt each other!’

Of course, she regretted it soon after.

As she came to understand Sherlock’s character better, she realized giving him that book was completely useless.

Indeed, a year later, Sherlock was, compared to before, not improved at all—exactly the same.

Not long ago at the Dueling Club, Sherlock had delivered a critical hit to Hermione.

Hermione was certain she’d remember that phrase ”practice more if you’re weak” for the rest of her life.

She had originally planned to give this book again during summer vacation.

But after going to the Netherlands and finding a more suitable gift, the matter was postponed.

What she hadn’t expected was that with this delay, by the time she gave this gift, Sherlock already had one!

”Did you buy this yourself?”

Hermione asked with difficulty, holding onto a last hope.

”No, this was someone else’s Christmas gift to me.”

”Who?”

”You know her too—Gemma Farley.”

Hermione: (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

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