Chương 144: Chapter 144: Detective Sherlock
Sherlock listened to his narration and couldn't help but shake his head.
"It's truly a shameful betrayal."
At the same time, he frowned, recalling what Lupin had said earlier.
"You said that after they found out you were a werewolf, they specifically studied some kind of transformation spell just to be with you during full moons?"
Lupin didn't immediately answer Sherlock's question. He silently looked up at the round moon hanging high in the night outside the shed, remaining in silence for a while.
After a moment, he slowly spoke.
"I've felt guilty about this matter all along, even hesitating whether to tell Dumbledore or not. Now that I've told you, even if Dumbledore is disappointed in me, after tonight, I'll explain the whole story to him."
Sherlock didn't speak, assuming the role of a listener, wanting to hear Lupin's story.
"James, Sirius, and Peter learned a transformation spell called 'Animagus' just so they could accompany me when I transformed into a werewolf. As I'm sure you know this magic allows wizards to take on the form of an animal, and since werewolves are only interested in attacking humans, they pose no threat to animals."
"James and Sirius were highly talented in magic, and they each learned to master this magic without issue. Peter, with their joint help, also managed to become an Animagus. After learning it, they didn't report it to the Ministry of Magic. With me transformed into a werewolf, we roamed freely in the village of Hogsmeade."
"I was young at that time, and I didn't consider how dangerous it was. It wasn't just Snape that one time; there were multiple instances where I came dangerously close to hurting others. Fortunately, I graduated from Hogwarts without any major incidents."
"I suspect that Sirius is using his ability to transform into an animal to sneak into Hogwarts, which would explain how no one ever saw him. But I never had the courage to tell Dumbledore about this; saying it would mean admitting what I did during my student years, and I was afraid he would be disappointed in me."
Lupin hugged his own wolf head, looking pained, but there was also a sense of relief in his voice as he let everything out.
"The students like me a lot, they think I'm a good teacher, but I've been weak, hesitating to tell the truth even when it endangered them."
Sherlock didn't pay much attention to Lupin's current emotional state because Lupin's words had triggered some memories. He stared intensely at the remorseful werewolf across from him and asked rapidly.
"Do you remember what Black's Animagus form was, what animal he turned into?"
"Of course, it was a large black dog."
Upon hearing his answer, Sherlock stood up abruptly from the ground.
"A black dog, a big one?"
Lupin noticed Sherlock's unusual reaction; he raised his head, as if he also guessed something, and stared at Sherlock in bewilderment.
"Yes, it was a large one, taller than an adult's waist."
Sherlock clenched his fists.
"So, it's him!"
"You've met him before?" Lupin asked nervously.
"More than just met, he even did me a huge favor!"
Sherlock didn't specify the favor. He paced back and forth in the shack, deep in thought.
"But it doesn't make sense. Besides you, nobody else knew he was an Animagus. He infiltrated Hogwarts effortlessly and snuck into Gryffindor's common room twice. So why didn't Harry get attacked even once? Was it just luck? Or was there something else stopping him?"
He mumbled to himself, and Lupin heard his murmurs but couldn't understand what was going on. Suddenly, Sherlock stopped in his tracks and stared at Lupin, starting to analyze step by step.
"I first saw him at Hogwarts when the school year had just begun. At that time, he must have recently arrived at Hogsmeade and hadn't found an opportunity to infiltrate Hogwarts yet. The second time was also in Hogsmeade, on the evening of the first day of school, since he was still roaming around in the village he must still have been looking for a way in."
"Then, on Halloween, I went to Hogsmeade once more, but by then, Black was no longer there. However, that same night, during the Halloween feast, he infiltrated Gryffindor's common room, which means by that point he had successfully found a way in."
"The third time I saw him was during that incident with the Dementors intruding the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, on the highest row of the Quidditch pitch stands. At that time, he probably thought there wouldn't be anyone there, but he happened to encounter me!"
He paused at this point. The Shrieking Shack was unusually quiet, so quiet that Lupin's heavy breathing was distinctly audible.
"This indicates something," Sherlock slowly said.
Lupin stared at him and asked, "What does it indicate?"
"He entered the Gryffindor common room for the first time on Halloween, and I encountered him during the middle of the Quidditch match, and then just a few days ago, Gryffindor's common room was intruded upon for the second time. Which indicates that during this entire period, he never left Hogwarts!"
Lupin didn't fully agree with Sherlock's conclusion.
"That's impossible. I've used the Marauder's Map, and I didn't see his name in any area of Hogwarts."
Sherlock locked eyes with him.
"Does the Marauder's Map truly cover the entire grounds?"
Lupin replied without hesitation, "Of course!"
"What about the Forbidden Forest?"
Lupin was taken aback!
Yes. The Forbidden Forest was vast, and as one of the creators of the Marauder's Map, Lupin knew they had mapped out every corner of Hogwarts, including all the secret passages and exits. But the Forbidden Forest couldn't have been included on the map because it was just too large!
"You're right! He could be hiding in the Forbidden Forest!"
A huge smile of realization appeared on Lupin's wolfish face. He now felt that Sherlock's former superior during his time at the Ministry was nothing but a complete fool for letting such a talent go. It was undoubtedly the Ministry of Magic's greatest loss!
"We'll go tell Dumbledore tomorrow and conduct a thorough search of the Forbidden Forest!" Lupin exclaimed excitedly.
Sherlock didn't respond to his suggestion but instead gazed intensely at Lupin.
"Perhaps we can try it tonight."
Lupin was shocked by Sherlock's words.
"Tonight? Just the two of us?"
"Yes, tonight, just us," Sherlock affirmed.
"But I'm in my werewolf form..."
"That's exactly what we need," Sherlock said, looking at him. "In this state, your hearing, smell, and vision are much sharper than when you're in your human form, aren't they?"
Lupin hesitated and said, "...Yes, that's true, but just the two of us in such a vast Forbidden Forest..."
"I know the chances are slim, but it's worth a try, if we don't find him we'll just tell Dumbledore tomorrow and try again."
In the end, Lupin was persuaded by him.
Through the secret passage in the Shrieking Shack, they returned to the spot near the Whomping Willow. By now, it was close to 1 AM, and apart from the sounds of insects and birds in the Forbidden Forest, there was no other noise.
Sherlock and Lupin didn't split up because even if they did, it would be futile in such a vast forest.
Staying together ensured that if they found Black, he wouldn't escape easily.
Once inside the Forbidden Forest, they continued their search deeper into it. In his werewolf form, Lupin was undoubtedly one of the top magical creatures in the magical world, rated XXXXX in terms of danger by the Ministry of Magic, on par with creatures like dragons and basilisks.
So, they didn't have to worry about encountering other magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest. With Lupin around, they all steered clear.
They had been walking deeper into the forest for over an hour, even reaching the territory that had once belonged to the Acromantulas, which was now a scorched wasteland. Still, there was no sign of Black.
"It's no use. Just the two of us in such a vast place, it's unlikely we'll find a single black dog," Lupin shook his head, feeling that this trip was destined to be fruitless.
Sherlock, however, rubbed his chin, thinking aloud.
"Perhaps we've been searching in the wrong direction. We instinctively assumed that if Black were hiding in the Forbidden Forest, he'd feel safer the deeper he goes."
"But in reality, in his Animagus form, it doesn't matter where he hides in the Forbidden Forest because no one knows his Animagus form except for you. Even if someone were to see him in this forest, they'd just see a black dog and wouldn't raise any suspicion."
"Furthermore, he'd have to keep an eye on what's happening at Hogwarts, so hiding deep in the forest wouldn't be advantageous for him to observe the school."
"So, we shouldn't be searching deep in the Forbidden Forest; we should search the forest's edge, closer to Hogwarts!"
Lupin was amazed by Sherlock's reasoning.
Wizards, especially those from pure-blood families, were naturally at a disadvantage when it came to logical reasoning. Most magic required strong emotions to perform, so as wizards advanced in their magical studies, they tended to become less rational, sometimes even obsessed, like Grindelwald or Voldemort.
But Sherlock's performance at this moment was nothing short of extraordinary among wizards, connecting all the clues to reach a conclusion close to the truth. They immediately turned back and began searching at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. However, after searching for nearly an hour and with the first light of dawn appearing on the horizon, they still had no results.
Sherlock sighed and said, "It seems we won't find him now. Let's return to the castle and inform Dumbledore about this. We'll have a better chance with more people searching."
Just as Sherlock finished speaking, Lupin suddenly perked up his ears alertly.
"Wait!"
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