[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes":3,"chapter-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","HP: I AM SHERLOCK HOLMES",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1879642,2495,"Chapter 2: 002 The Visit","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Sherlock's powers of observation and memory were exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately recognized this as the same owl that had delivered the letter three days earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like before, it circled the room several times and dropped a letter directly into Sherlock's hands with a sharp thwack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were instantly stunned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good Lord, Tanner, what am I seeing? An owl that delivers mail?! This must be a hallucination!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Holy Mary, Violet, I'll wager it's a messenger from God!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his wife continuously making the sign of the cross on her chest, Mr. Holmes shook his head and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, sweetheart, you're reacting like a mad turkey—as everyone knows, God's messengers only come to earth when the end times arrive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, how can you think that? That's such a terrible thought, just like Aunt Susan's apple pie next door—if you keep talking like that, I swear I'll make you eat a piece.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Holmes shrugged and stopped arguing with his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look at his son. \"Sherlock, do you also think it's a messenger from God?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Sherlock said coldly. \"It's just an owl that's learned to deliver mail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke while opening the envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reply was remarkably brief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"I will visit before 9 o'clock\"—Minerva McGonagall.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\" Sherlock couldn't help but chuckle softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Interesting. It seemed that fellow had great confidence in the actor he'd hired!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the time, it was now 8:45. In fifteen minutes, this person claiming to be Professor McGonagall would be arriving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sherlock, what on earth is going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with his parents' questions, Sherlock shook his head gently: \"That question is better left for our visitor to explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was quite curious to see this \"Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At exactly 9 o'clock, the front door was knocked on schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, I am Minerva McGonagall, who wrote back to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stern-looking woman appeared in front of the Holmes family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later, Professor Minerva McGonagall sat properly with the Holmes family in the living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McGonagall's first impression of Sherlock was favorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock was taller than his peers, which made him appear somewhat thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While his appearance wasn't the particularly cute type among young boys, his facial features were strong and he looked he would be a handsome man in future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gray eyes were particularly striking. Besides his eyes, his nose was also quite noticeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, Sherlock's appearance gave an impression of alertness and decisiveness, fitting McGonagall's ideal of a good student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief pleasantries, the no-nonsense McGonagall got straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every child born in Britain with magical talent was automatically added to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's enrollment list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When these children turned eleven, they would receive acceptance letters delivered by owl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the recipient didn't receive the letter, the owls would keep delivering until they did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the acceptance letter, there was also a list of required supplies, including uniforms, textbooks, cauldrons, wands, and other items included in that letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For children from wizarding families, this was a very routine ordinary thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some people, they neither knew they possessed magic nor were aware of the magical world's existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such cases, Hogwarts would send staff members to visit and explain everything to their guardians, ensuring they received the information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Holmes is the first this year to actively request our visit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she said this, McGonagall's look of appreciation toward Sherlock grew even stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In McGonagall's view, any person with magical talent who didn't receive systematic magical education was wasteful, and could even become a criminal in future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People in the Middle Ages were very afraid of magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many wizards, particularly witches, suffered various degrees of persecution, with severe cases even losing their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizards of that era also lacked a complete educational system, with all wizard children learning magic at home under their parents' guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was under these circumstances that Hogwarts came into being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It now had over a thousand years of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, people like Sherlock Holmes, born into non-magical families, showing such active interest in understanding the magical world was highly commendable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know, every year during school enrollment, some non-magical families would react to magic with fear and try to avoid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please, it was already 1991!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Film and television works about magic were all adapted from reality—why did these people still hold such attitudes toward magic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the nearly sixty-year-old McGonagall also understood clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prejudice in people's hearts was like a mountain—no matter how hard you try, you cannot move it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though magic school teachers repeatedly emphasized that wizards' magical power increased with age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If young wizards reached school age but still didn't learn to control their magic, their magical power would become unstable, and in severe cases, they might even lose their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the notion that wizards' equal evil still existed in some people's minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After multiple setbacks, Hogwarts established new rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these families, after understanding the truth about the magical world, still refused enrollment, these children could continue staying home and attending regular schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This amounted to leaving everything to fate and god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Hogwarts didn't encourage this approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a last resort when all else failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, judging from Sherlock's positive attitude, this situation shouldn't arise in this family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While McGonagall was observing Sherlock, he was likewise observing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, before McGonagall finished explaining about Hogwarts to Sherlock and his parents, Sherlock had already completed his analysis and assessment of McGonagall through observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result greatly surprised him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because according to his judgment, this woman calling herself Professor Minerva McGonagall wasn't lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a person's momentary expressions, every muscle movement, and every shift of the eyes, one could deduce their innermost thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone trained in observation and analysis, this wasn't difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock was precisely such a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his visitor had just sat down before entering the main topic, Sherlock had already deduced her personality from her wrinkle-free dark green robes, neatly arranged curly black hair pulled into a high bun, and the light-reflecting square glasses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serious, stern, and meticulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such people, if they wanted to lie, would be more easily detected than ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this reason, Sherlock began to doubt his previous judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If McGonagall wasn't lying...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn't that mean this wasn't that person's arrangement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did magic... really exist?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock couldn't help murmuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me, Mr. Holmes, what did you just say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McGonagall looked at Sherlock; she hadn't caught his mumbled words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock's parents also looked at him curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock shook his head, then fixed his bright gaze on McGonagall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prove whether magic truly existed, there was actually a very simple method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor, could you demonstrate magic for us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Sherlock's request, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes also looked expectantly at McGonagall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McGonagall wasn't at all surprised by such a request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they hadn't made this request, she would have found it strange—mainly because she had so much experience dealing with such situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you agree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving an affirmative answer, McGonagall drew out a black wand and waved it elegantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the surprised gazes of the family of three, the teacup in front of Sherlock transformed into an adorable little squirrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my God! Good Lord! Look, what am I seeing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How incredible—the teacup... actually became a squirrel!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to his dramatically expressive parents, Sherlock was much calmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Magic tricks? Hypnosis? Or dexterity of hands...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at this moment, Sherlock still tried to explain everything happening in front of him from a scientific perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the little squirrel, transformed from the teacup, shook its head and jumped onto his outstretched palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock tentatively petted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Mm, very soft.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little creature even actively nuzzled against Sherlock's hand, and the fluffy sensation immediately registered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The touch felt real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So... this was real, not a dream.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock looked up at McGonagall and made one final attempt:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor, could you change it back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Certainly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McGonagall waved her wand again, and the squirrel in Sherlock's hand immediately transformed back into a teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tea was still warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock spoke these words for the second time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time he was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world... truly had magic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fantasy that should have belonged to human imagination actually existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Sherlock, this was undoubtedly a complete reconstruction of his worldview.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, once he accepted this premise, Sherlock's thinking immediately expanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exquisite envelope, the mail-delivering owl, the strange enrollment method—all of these now had reasonable explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time he had truly misjudged that fellow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Holmes, are you willing to enroll in our school?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For McGonagall, she was long accustomed to the surprised reactions of young wizards and their guardians upon seeing magic—the key question was whether Sherlock could enroll on time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his response letter, Sherlock himself should have no problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it depended on his parents' opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing McGonagall's gaze directed at him, Mr. Holmes considered briefly and asked, \"Professor, does enrollment require boarding at school?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, I think you wouldn't want me to attend school eight hundred kilometers away in Scotland and still come home every day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Scotland? Oh, dear Sherlock, that's so far away! Your mother and I wouldn't be able to take care of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can take care of myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! Hold on a moment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holmes family looked at McGonagall in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was staring at Sherlock with an incredulous expression. \"Mr. Holmes, did you just... mention Scotland?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock looked at McGonagall calmly. \"Yes, Professor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How... how did you know?\" McGonagall was shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>",1622,"2026-06-10T06:27:23.966Z",1,"novelbin.me","643e2ece7bc7a34bd7789b846bc3b14b5a1367708bdba8245f5307a813ffd223","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-3","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-1",637,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-cover.jpg"]