Hermione soon realized she had been overthinking.
Exclamations came from the table across the aisle from her.
Looking in that direction, she was amazed to discover that Sherlock had completely transformed his match into a needle!
Professor McGonagall didn't hesitate to give her assessment:
A transfiguration genius!
Students who completely transformed matches into needles received four points, while those who only managed to create a needle point on one end received one point.
This time McGonagall's point-giving to Gryffindor was justified and reasonable, and even her gaze toward Sherlock and Hermione became much kindlier.
It was precisely because of Sherlock and Hermione's excellent performance that the prepared closing remark "You're the worst class I've ever taught" remained unspoken.
However, Hermione understood in her heart that while Gryffindor's five points seemed to include one point she had earned, without Sherlock, McGonagall would never have given her that point.
Her transfiguration was only worth a smile—that one point was entirely thanks to Sherlock.
This instantly gave her the same feeling that Harry and Ron had experienced.
'Being suppressed by a academic bully!'
But she couldn't quite feel happy about it.
Before school started, her parents had told her to look after each other with him, but now it seemed completely unnecessary?
Her emotions didn't attract others' attention.
The new students continued their routine of attending classes, eating meals, and sleeping.
Just before bedtime, Harry finally asked the question he had been holding back all day:
"Sherlock, did you really not recognize that the cat was Professor McGonagall?"
The other three in the dormitory, despite having gone to bed early, couldn't help but prick up their ears upon hearing Harry's question.
"Dear Harry, I thought you would have asked me this much earlier?"
Sherlock smiled, then directly asked a counter-question: "So... what do you think?"
Harry thought for a moment, feeling he should be honest when facing Sherlock: "I think you were lying to her."
"Harry, you've found the key point."
Sherlock confirmed this, then said calmly under Harry's surprised gaze:
"As I told you before, what we need is observation, not just looking.
You also noticed the markings around that cat's eyes, but you didn't connect them to Professor McGonagall.
This cat's behavioral habits were different from normal cats—if you're familiar with these animals, you can easily spot the differences.
Of course, the most important thing is that I know about Animagus transformation.
Putting all these observed results together, it's actually not difficult to deduce the conclusion."
The difference between observing and looking was one thing, but after hearing Sherlock openly admit, he had lied to McGonagall, Ron finally couldn't help but sit up.
"Bloody hell—Sherlock, I thought you never lied!"
"In most situations, I indeed don't lie," Sherlock said calmly, "unless it's necessary."
"So today..."
"A white lie is more suitable than the truth for someone like Professor McGonagall. I don't want to be watched by her for the rest of my time here."
After all, he still planned to explore Hogwarts.
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
Their understanding of Sherlock had deepened another layer.
Sherlock had originally held high hopes for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
After all, from the courses so far, Hogwarts' teachers were all highly accomplished.
Even the ghost Professor Binns, who taught History of Magic by rote, had substantial knowledge when you actively asked questions.
Unexpectedly, Professor Quirinus Quirrell became the exception.
In the first class, the entire classroom reeked of garlic.
Although he didn't explain the reason, rumors said this was to ward off a vampire he had encountered in Romania.
As everyone knows, garlic is an effective means of repelling vampires. For someone as timid and neurotic as Quirrell, constantly worried about being attacked by dark magical creatures, such behavior was understandable.
As for the man himself, he explained his large turban—it was a gift from an African prince, thanking him for helping the prince escape from a zombie's harassment.
The students were all half-believing about this.
Harry was curious and couldn't help but whisper: "Sherlock, is what he said true?"
Sherlock shook his head.
Quirrell was lying, which wasn't necessarily a big problem, as long as he could do his job of teaching well.
The problem was that Quirrell couldn't.
To put it bluntly, this professor was simply a heartless repeating machine.
His rote recitation was even worse than Professor Binns in History of Magic.
When students asked questions, he would stammer and change the subject to the weather.
For a course with the highest practical requirements to be conducted like this...
Sherlock didn't know what to say anymore.
It seemed that not all Hogwarts professors were elite.
In contrast, Harry felt relieved.
He discovered that even students from wizarding families were at about the same level as him.
Among all the new students, the best performers were actually Sherlock and Hermione, both from Muggle families.
This gave him the leisure to joke with Sherlock:
"Actually, Professor Quirrell is a good person. I met him once in Diagon Alley..."
Harry told Sherlock about his experience in Diagon Alley. When he mentioned that Quirrell was from Ravenclaw and had originally been very intelligent, Sherlock frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Harry, what do you think would cause someone's personality to suddenly change drastically?"
Harry thought for a moment and said: "Hagrid mentioned that Professor Quirrell wanted to gain first-hand experience, but encountered vampires and hags in the Dark Forest, which changed him into what he is now."
"Not a bad explanation."
Noticing Sherlock's dismissive attitude, Harry was somewhat surprised: "What, have you thought of something?"
"My friend, it's always dangerous to theorize without sufficient evidence."
Sherlock patted Harry's shoulder as he spoke: "Come on, it's time for lunch."
After finishing their third Herbology class of the week that afternoon, the new students welcomed the only evening course of the week.
Astronomy.
Professor Aurora Sinistra required all new students to observe the night sky with telescopes.
The main content was learning the names of different stars and the orbital paths of planets.
Compared to other courses, this one was undoubtedly much simpler.
This was the only course that didn't require magic.
However, Sherlock, who had performed excellently in other courses, shocked everyone.
Having heard about Sherlock and Hermione's achievements, and considering the special nature of this course, Professor Sinistra deliberately questioned the two Muggle-born students.
Hermione's answer was excellent—she not only fluently named the nine planets but also explained the ecliptic and equatorial planes.
But when it was Sherlock's turn, he honestly stated that he knew nothing about it.
He only knew that Earth revolved around the Sun.
Everyone was then stunned.