Chapter 38: Hermione's Request

Hermione was far from satisfied with her performance in flying class.

However, circumstances left her with little choice. As the lesson drew to a close, the mere thought of having to take to the air once more made her legs tremble faintly. Under the circumstances, Hermione shook her head helplessly, forced to face reality. She would simply have to find another way.

Just then, she noticed Neville standing beside her, clutching his Remembrall tightly. He still wore a look of deep contemplation, muttering to himself about whether he had forgotten lunch, his homework, making his bed, or doing his laundry. Finally, she could not help but say, "Is there a possibility that you forgot to thank Sherlock?"

"Right!" Neville slapped his forehead hard. How could he have forgotten something so important when the boy had saved his life? "Thank you, Granger! I'm going to thank Holmes right now!"

Watching Neville trot off toward Sherlock, who had just descended from the air, a sudden spark of inspiration struck Hermione. A bold idea began to take root in her mind.

After the flying lesson concluded, the students headed to the Great Hall for dinner as usual. Whenever mealtime arrived, Ron Weasley transformed into a ravenous eater. At this moment, he was shoveling a steak and kidney pie into his mouth, his eyes fixed intently on the other dishes on the table, as if fearing someone might snatch them away.

In this atmosphere, Harry wisely chose to share the joy he had found in flying class with Sherlock. "You know, Sherlock? I feel like this is a skill I’ve mastered without even being taught! You might not believe it, but it’s as if I were born knowing how to do it... I just lean forward, grip the broom tightly, and it accelerates! I can hear the whistling of the wind and feel my robes fluttering behind me. It’s so easy, so wonderful... I even think Malfoy doesn't compare to me!"

Watching Harry’s excitement and animated gestures, Sherlock nodded slightly. He understood everything Harry was describing. He himself was a person with natural athletic talent; skilled in boxing and fencing, his coordination was naturally exceptional.

"Based on my observations, Malfoy indeed does not compare to you."

"Really?" Harry was overjoyed to receive Sherlock’s affirmation.

"Hard work determines the lower limit, but talent determines the upper limit. You had never touched a broom before, yet you were more proficient than Malfoy; that says it all."

Harry puffed out his chest at these words. As far as he was concerned, the person he hated most in the entire school, Snape, could only rank second. The first was Malfoy. Of course, the reason the former was being compared to Malfoy was partly due to Sherlock, who insisted that Snape was a good man.

However... Harry had tried very hard to believe Sherlock, but Snape simply refused to live up to it! Thus, he remained firmly at the top of Harry’s "most hated" list.

"What about me? What about me?" Ron had finally finished his dinner and let out a satisfied burp. Hearing the conversation between Sherlock and Harry, he quickly pointed to his own nose. "Sherlock, do you think I have talent?"

Sherlock’s gaze swept over Ron’s nose, which seemed permanently smudged with dirt. "With all due respect, most people in this world haven't worked hard enough to reach the point where they need to rely on talent."

Harry let out a muffled laugh, while Ron looked completely bewildered.

Sherlock turned back to Harry. "If you enjoy flying, I suggest you sign up for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

"Huh?" At this suggestion, Harry looked just as confused as Ron. "Sherlock, are you joking? First-year students aren't eligible to join the house Quidditch teams!"

Ron was wide awake the moment the topic turned to this.

"There are exceptions to every rule," Sherlock said calmly. "As far as I know, Slytherin hasn't just won the House Cup six times in a row; they’ve also crushed Gryffindor in the Quidditch matches. During that time, Professor McGonagall didn't even dare to face Professor Snape for weeks..."

"How do you know all that?" Ron asked, puzzled.

Sherlock frowned. "It only requires..."

"Observation, I get it. Please, go on."

Watching Ron learn to preempt his answers, Sherlock nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Under these circumstances, with your flying talent, you have a very good chance of being granted an exception to join the team."

As Sherlock described it, Harry’s breathing grew heavy. Joining the Gryffindor team! It was something he had never dared to imagine. But now, put to him by Sherlock, he suddenly felt it was a very real possibility. The key was, as Sherlock had said, he loved to fly. The feeling of soaring freely on a broom was simply marvelous! He loved it so much. It was no exaggeration to say that this afternoon’s flying experience was the happiest moment of his life he could remember.

A moment later, he made up his mind. "Sherlock, can you come with me?"

"Of course." Sherlock had guessed Harry would ask this when he made the suggestion, so he agreed readily.

Harry let out a long sigh of relief. It was strange; although he had only known Sherlock for a month, and the boy was his peer, every time he looked at him, he felt a sense of "everything is under control." It was no exaggeration to say that the sense of security Sherlock provided even exceeded that of Hagrid, the giant.

So, having received Sherlock’s affirmative answer, Harry felt instantly at ease.

"Me too!" Ron couldn't help but chime in. If they were going, why shouldn't he give it a try?

Sherlock glanced at him without a word.

"Hey, what’s that look supposed to mean!"

"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt." Just as Ron began to feel slighted, a figure appeared before them.

"Granger?" Ron was instantly annoyed at being interrupted by Hermione; not even the goodwill he felt for her standing up for Sherlock and Harry earlier could outweigh his irritation. "Can’t a guy eat in peace?"

Hermione ignored him, looking only at Sherlock. "I couldn't help but overhear what you said to Potter—"

"I knew you would," Ron muttered to himself.

Sherlock: "Shut up."

Ron: (；´д｀）ゞ

"Sherlock, can we talk in private?"

Sherlock didn't answer but stood up immediately.

"Harry, did you see that? He was cold to me! He was actually cold to me!" Watching Sherlock walk away with Hermione, Ron turned back to Harry, looking deeply aggrieved.

Harry: (⊙﹏⊙)

"We met on the train! We eat and live together, and he’s siding with *her*!"

Harry: .....((/--)/

"And did you hear that? She called him Sherlock! And he didn't even refuse!"

Harry: ╮（╯＿╰）╭

"I never imagined Sherlock would be the type to favor girls over his friends. I really misjudged him!"

"Um... Ron." Facing Ron’s barrage of accusations, Harry found it hard to keep a straight face. He couldn't help but say, "Have you forgotten that Sherlock said he and Granger knew each other before school started?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Strictly speaking, she was here first."

Ron: 〒▽〒