[{"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-543":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},1880133,2495,"Chapter 543: 0543 The Ball Plans","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-543",543,"\u003Cp>After announcing the news about the Christmas ball, Professor McGonagall kept Sherlock and Harry behind alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Harry feel extremely nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought his classroom snickering at Professor McGonagall's hairstyle had been discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Professor McGonagall spoke, he was stunned instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Holmes, Potter, the champions all have their own partners—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Partners?\" Sherlock raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What partners?\" Harry immediately asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall looked at them both with a strange expression, as if suspecting they were joking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't you just hear? I already said you need to bring partners to the Christmas ball.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze moved back and forth between Sherlock and Harry's faces. After confirming they truly weren't joking, she continued, \"Your dance partners.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry quickly said, \"I don't dance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock nodded. \"If we don't dance, then we don't need dance partners.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this matter, the two were in complete agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" Professor McGonagall said sternly. \"You both must dance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't!\" Harry said stubbornly. \"I don't dance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at that moment, Harry's mind suddenly conjured an image of himself wearing a black top hat and tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him was a girl wearing a dress full of frills, just like the kind Aunt Petunia wore to Uncle Vernon's company balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock frowned. \"The reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because it's traditional custom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall was even more resolute than Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are both Hogwarts champions—oh, and Diggory too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others may not need partners, but as representatives of the school, you must do what everyone expects of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry blinked. \"Do what everyone expects?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock shook his head. \"That reason doesn't convince me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You heard me, Holmes, Potter—you must both find yourselves dance partners—so you're not allowed to go home this Christmas!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall said in an unquestionable tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock and Harry exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could see that Professor McGonagall was truly angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If this were a week ago, I would have said finding a dance partner compared to facing a Hungarian Horntail would be a piece of cake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the two parted with Professor McGonagall, Harry said dejectedly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But now I've defeated the dragon and face the challenge of finding a girl to dance with—I'd rather fight the dragon another round.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come now, my dear Harry,\" unexpectedly, Sherlock actually laughed. \"Females are your area of expertise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have any such thing!\" Harry denied vehemently. \"I barely know any female students at Hogwarts...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But they know you,\" Sherlock patted Harry's shoulder. \"I'll bet you a Galleon that many people will invite you during this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry's eyes widened in horror, because Sherlock had never lost a bet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless he deliberately lost to someone while investigating a case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No buts. Actually, this isn't as difficult as imagined. We just need to choose suitable dance partners.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock said with a slight smile. \"For you, I think Miss Chang would be an excellent choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cho—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Sherlock's words, Cho Chang's face immediately surfaced in Harry's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, if he had to choose a dance partner, she was undoubtedly the person Harry most wanted to invite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho Chang was a year above him, not only very beautiful but also an excellent Quidditch player, and very popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might not agree, would she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he felt their relationship was good, what if?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if she told him, \"Sorry, Harry, I've already agreed to go with someone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wouldn't that be terribly awkward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he ask Ginny instead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Hermione said, she definitely wouldn't refuse him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Professor McGonagall also said they could invite a younger student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news of the Christmas ball made the originally cold campus become lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In previous Christmases, those choosing to stay at school were always a very small portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this Christmas was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially students fourth year and above—almost all of them were staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was obsessed with the upcoming ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry had never before realized that Hogwarts housed so many girls—he had never paid attention before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls giggled and whispered in the corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls shrieked with laughter whenever boys walked past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls excitedly exchanged opinions about what to wear on Christmas night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Sherlock, Harry, and Cedric walked by, they would often stop and giggle foolishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do they all move in groups?\" Harry couldn't help asking Sherlock. \"How can we wait until they're alone to lasso one and pop the question?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lasso one?\" Ron nearby offered a quite practical suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione shook her head somewhat helplessly, then quietly said to Harry, \"If you're too embarrassed, write a letter with an owl?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry's eyes lit up at these words. Right, using that method...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I personally suggest you invite someone in person—if you have a clear target.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione said, adding another sentence while inconspicuously glancing at Sherlock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, Sherlock and Harry were both very busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First was Harry. A curly-haired third-year girl from Hufflepuff proactively invited Harry to attend the ball with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry was so surprised he refused without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl walked away looking hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Harry feel somewhat embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had to do it, because Harry had never even spoken to her before and didn't even know her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn't all. Throughout the entire History of Magic class, Harry had to endure Dean, Seamus, and Ron's mockery and ridicule of that girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, two more girls came to invite him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was even more exaggerated—one was a second year, too young, even younger than Ginny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was actually a fifth year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From her appearance, it seemed if Harry dared refuse, she would knock him unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Harry still mustered the courage to refuse her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually... she was quite pretty,\" Ron said fairly after finishing his laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she's a foot taller than me,\" Harry said, still shaken. \"Imagine me dancing with her—that would be a spectacle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock's situation was slightly better than Harry's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably because people knew his peculiar temperament, so far fewer girls invited him than Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock also refused them all, just like Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was surprising was that some girls, after being refused by Sherlock, directly turned around and invited Harry instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After once again refusing a girl who was taller and stronger than himself, Harry couldn't help saying to Sherlock, \"If I weren't a school champion, they definitely wouldn't invite me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elementary, my friend,\" Sherlock said with a smile. \"This is human nature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So have you two actually decided who to invite, or rather, whose invitation to accept?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron couldn't help asking. \"You know, quite a few people have come to me asking about you two champions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he glanced at Hermione.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were before, he would have thought Sherlock choosing Hermione was completely normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gemma Farley had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one said you couldn't invite already-graduated students, or accept invitations from graduated students, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, between Gemma and Hermione, who would Sherlock choose? That was really hard to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Harry, it was simpler—just mindlessly invite Cho Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Presumably Cho would be happy to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The saying goes: those involved are confused, bystanders see clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Sherlock hadn't revealed his choice and Harry was still conflicted, Ron had already arranged everything clearly for both of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Hermione once again pulled Harry aside to the Black Lake under his surprised gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to tell you something. This time I'm not forcing you to decide, just afraid you won't be prepared—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry saw Hermione's expression and his heart stirred. \"Is it about the Christmas ball?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. If you've already decided who to invite to the Christmas ball, do it soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione paused, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ginny chatted with me yesterday and said... said she wants to be more proactive this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you haven't decided yet, she might come ask if you want to go together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Harry freeze, Hermione quickly added, \"Don't be nervous! I'm not telling you to choose her, and I'm definitely not forcing you to do anything—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly waved her hands, her ear tips slightly flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Last time I forced my ideas on you, that was already wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time I'm just giving you a heads up, so if she suddenly approaches you and you haven't thought about how to respond, you'll both be awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all... no matter who you choose, being prepared beforehand is better than being caught off guard, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry snapped out of his surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head, kicking stones by the lake, Ginny's recent smile flashing through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked up at Hermione, his eyes extraordinarily sincere. \"Thank you for the reminder, Hermione. I'll seriously consider it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hermione let out a long breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then... whoever you plan to invite, it's still best to do it in person. That shows more sincerity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know... What about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione froze, her fingertip movements stopping abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes unconsciously looked toward the far shore of the Black Lake, the redness from her ear tips spreading down her neck a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She really hadn't expected Harry to suddenly bring this up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you've already made your decision, you should be more proactive too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry looked at his good friend and said seriously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel like Sherlock treats you... differently than he treats Gemma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably won't proactively approach Gemma, but if you never act and Gemma speaks first, he might just agree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day after this conversation, Hermione once again called Harry out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could Hermione be inviting Harry as her dance partner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Harry and Hermione run off alone again, Ron finally couldn't help asking Sherlock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock gently shook his head, saying with certainty, \"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even Sherlock hadn't anticipated that Harry and Hermione were discussing how to win him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hermione—we must grit our teeth and go for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry's tone was as if they were planning to breach an impregnable fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're running out of time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's today—you go find Sherlock, I'll go find Cho!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we return to the common room tonight, we must both have found partners—agreed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\" Hermione hesitated, but seeing Harry's determined momentum, she still nodded. \"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the proposer, Harry mustered the courage he had when facing the dragon and directly approached Cho Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept telling himself it was just asking Cho one question alone—that's all it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, when Harry thought this way, he found it very easy to encounter Cho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was just coming out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh—Cho? Can I have a word with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can't they be quieter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry thought angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the girls around Cho all giggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Cho's two roommates, who looked at Harry with a \"just as we expected\" feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Cho didn't laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said \"okay\" and followed Harry to where her classmates couldn't hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry turned to look at her, and his heart suddenly had a strange spasm, as if he had missed a step going downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stammered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had clearly made up his mind, but when he prepared to speak, he found each word difficult to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho stood there, looking at him with a complex expression of confusion, anticipation, and pleasant surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being stared at by such a gaze, Harry finally couldn't hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was that the words burst from Harry's mouth, said incoherently, without even properly enunciating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be partner with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, what did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho said, barely suppressing the laughter in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would—would you be willing to go to the ball with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry asked. So why was he blushing? Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Harry—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho's face also reddened, but she immediately smiled. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You agreed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I agreed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho looked at Harry's relieved appearance and tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you never came to invite me—could it be you were worried I'd refuse you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry's face became even redder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy's blush was the best answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cho said in a soft voice. \"I'm the same as you—I refused many people's invitations because they weren't the person I was waiting for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry: !★,°:.☆(￣▽￣)\u002F$:.°★.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Harry almost wanted to jump for joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, Hermione also cornered Sherlock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gathered her courage, her face flushed, and said, \"Sherlock, you haven't found a partner for the Christmas ball yet, have you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock's gaze swept over her flushed ear tips and clenched sleeves, then thought of how she had left with Harry not long ago, revealing a thoughtful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, could you be my dance partner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After asking this question, Hermione lowered her head, not daring to look at Sherlock's gray eyes anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can read more than 40 chapters on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FMikeyMuse\u003C\u002Fp>",2104,"2026-06-10T06:27:36.551Z",1,"novelbin.me","6cddc85945b04a2faf79f5211ccce279e80be1f4b32bd542306868bee58e4d16","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-544","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-542",637,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-cover.jpg"]