Capítulo 14: Chapter 14: Unexpected Physical Reaction
Two figures strode into the shop, a striking mirror image of each other, were it not for their age gap. The similarity was not merely in their physical features but also replicated in their identical, condescending smiles that were disdainfully aimed at the sight of the Weasley family.
Sherlock, who had been observing the entrance of this pair, furrowed his brows slightly. It was not because of the words of contempt dripping from the father's mouth, but more of the uncommon sensation that began to envelop his left arm ever since they made their appearance. It was as though a searing hot iron was pressing against his flesh, leaving behind a faint, throbbing pain.
Feeling a little baffled, Sherlock used his right hand to gingerly cover the affected area on his left arm. Despite no apparent wound, the hot sensation was radiating outward, in stark contrast to his cool exterior.
"Lucius," Mr. Weasley acknowledged with a frosty undertone, squaring his shoulders towards the intruding figure.
"Arthur," came the smooth reply from Lucius Malfoy, "you've been so encumbered by official duties. My, the Ministry must be rather grateful for your undying dedication, don't they compensate you handsomely for all those countless searches?"
His long, cold fingers picked up a faded and worn-out copy of 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration' from Ginny's cauldron, scoffing at its condition.
"Tsks, tsks, tsks, clearly not." Malfoy smirked as he appraised the book. "Your only daughter has to be seen with such pathetic supplies. What's the point in being a disgrace to wizardkind if they don't even pay you accordingly?"
Ginny's face blushed a crimson shade while Mr. Weasley's complexion turned an equally striking red, albeit due to mounting anger rather than embarrassment.
Sherlock remained silent through this spectacle, his penetrating gaze settled on the man antagonizing Mr. Weasley. He recognized the name - Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater. And by his side, his son, Draco Malfoy, a known bully, albeit not necessarily evil in essence. But why had his left arm experienced that jolt of pain when they had stepped into the shop? Lost in his thoughts, Sherlock barely registered the ongoing verbal altercation.
"Clearly, Malfoy, we have differing opinions on what constitutes a disgrace to wizardking." Mr. Weasley managed to retort, barely keeping his anger in check.
"Most certainly, just look at who you surround yourself with, muggles and.." Malfoy responded, his icy gray eyes sweeping over the room, resting momentarily on the clearly shocked expressions of Hermione Granger's muggle parents before ultimately landing onto Sherlock. With sudden realization, Malfoy's pupils dilated, his otherwise composed facade twisted in sudden indignation as he began, "Isn't this the mad---"
Before he could even complete his sentence, Mr. Weasley charged at the man in a fit of rage like a dragon protecting its young. Their entangled figures lurched violently, crashing into a side bookshelf.
The other patrons of the shop screamed in alarm, scrambling away to prevent getting embroiled in the scuffle. The shopkeeper, in the midst of the chaos, was shouting desperate pleas of, "Gentlemen, please stop this ruckus!"
Among this upheaval, the Weasley twins, George and Fred, seemed to be the only ones not in distress, but rather joyfully cheering for their father.
"Knock him out, Dad! Don't let him get away with it!"
Sherlock could only shake his head in exasperation at the spectacle. The twins were proving to be a source of annoyance due to their lack of insight in this situation. Was it not obvious that the Weasley family, blessed with numerous boys, held an advantage in strength, especially in physical fights? Yet here they were, witnessing their father in a disadvantageous predicament, cheering him on instead of lending a hand.
Despite feeling no personal inclination to intervene, Sherlock found himself compelled to do so. As he had realized earlier, he couldn't emulate the character of the original Sherlock-- the impassive and aloof manner, forever. Change was a part of life, and he would have to start showing his true colors. To go about this, the altercation seemed to be the perfect starting point. Mr and Mrs. Weasley, being away from Sherlock for nearly two years, were not likely to suspect his slightly altered actions.
Another compelling reason was the realization of Mr. Weasley's outburst; it had been in defense of an impending insult to Sherlock's mother. To stand by and merely watch would have been an insult to Mr. Weasley's courage and goodwill. Lastly, Sherlock was intrigued to understand the odd reaction in his left arm, to see if indeed it was a reaction to Malfoy's presence.
So, having found reasonable grounds, when Malfoy managed to pin down Mr. Weasley, Sherlock, with renewed determination, charged forward and grabbed Malfoy by his hair. The burning sensation in his arm surged along with his adrenaline, intensifying as his fist connected with Malfoy's face. However, the exhilaration overpowered the pain.
The forceful punch landed squarely on Malfoy's face, sending a spray of blood and causing his pale face to swell. Malfoy was left stunned, surprise written plainly on his face. The scope of surprise was not limited to him, though; Mr. Weasley lay equally stunned, and even the onlookers--Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and George--showed expressions of shock, not expecting the usually indifferent Sherlock to spring into action.
Malfoy seemed to be the first one to snap out of his surprise. He narrowed his eyes, now bloodshot from anger, and made a swift move to withdraw his wand. Seeing this, Mr. Weasley reacted in kind and aimed his wand at Malfoy.
Sherlock, however, stood calmly with his wand too pointed steadfastly towards Malfoy, showing no signs of shock or regret over his earlier action. Sherlock's calm demeanor was not because of an unrevealed proficiency in magic. Despite having spent a month familiarizing himself with the magical aspects of this world, he was well aware that his current magical abilities were no match to those of experienced wizards, like Malfoy's and Mr. Weasley's.
What gave him confidence in this situation, besides trusting in Mr. Weasley's backup, was his strong belief that Malfoy wouldn't dare cast a spell in the first place. During his month-long solitary confinement, Sherlock had read the complete set of magical laws. This might seem restrictive, but knowing the rules also meant he understood how far he could push the boundaries without breaking them. Part of integrating into a new society was understanding its rules.
Within the wizarding world, laws differed significantly from the muggle world, especially in terms of resolving disputes. Whether a conflict escalates to serious proportions largely depends on the use of magic. Unless circumstances demand it, the one to cast the first spell bears full responsibility for the conflict, regardless of its outcome.
Considering that Malfoy was outnumbered, and was unsure of Sherlock's magical abilities, Malfoy was likely to hold back, if he had the slightest bit of sanity left. So despite spitefully glaring at Sherlock, he held back from uttering a spell, instead leaving them with a threatening comment.
"You'll pay for this, both of you will, mark my words!"
With one last hateful glare, he threw the second-hand textbook back into Ginny's cauldron, turned around with Draco, and stormed out of the shop.
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