In this world, most magic schools are located in steep mountainous areas.
Hogwarts is no exception.
However.
Its precise geographical location is kept secret.
Even within the British Magical World, not many people know it.
Not to mention that all magic schools are enchanted with a Muggle-repelling charm; non-magical people only see ruins or warning signs.
It's almost impossible to find the school.
Just five minutes ago, the Holmes family didn't even know magic existed.
But just now, Sherlock, a young boy from a Muggle family, said something extraordinary in a nonchalant tone.
Hogwarts is in Scotland!
This is simply… a rampaging Gorgon — McGonagall tried very hard not to lose her composure.
“Know what?”
Compared to McGonagall, Sherlock seemed very calm.
As if he didn't understand why the other party was so surprised.
“What you just said means… Hogwarts is in Scotland?”
McGonagall couldn't help but press.
“It's just a simple deduction.”
Seeing McGonagall still looking confused, Sherlock sighed and took out the admission letter he had received three days ago.
“This paper is thick, sturdy, and of exceptionally good quality; a ream costs nearly half a pound.”
McGonagall looked at Sherlock in confusion.
She seemed to be asking with her eyes: So what?
Sherlock handed the letter to McGonagall, “Professor, please hold it up to the light and examine it.”
McGonagall was puzzled but still did as Sherlock asked.
Then she saw a capital “A” intertwined with three lowercase “l,” “b,” and “a” in the paper's texture.
McGonagall froze.
In all these years, Hogwarts had sent countless admission letters, but this was the first time she had noticed this detail, and she naturally didn't understand what it meant.
“Do you understand what this means?”
She couldn't help but ask.
“Of course, ‘Alba’ means Scotland in Gaelic; this paper is made in Scotland.”
Sherlock said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“But…”
Before McGonagall could retort, Sherlock rapidly explained:
“Of course, this alone isn't enough to conclude—but add the Scottish eagle owl that delivered the letter, the Scottish plaid pattern on your shirt, and the Scottish Gaelic you inadvertently used when speaking… If one can't make a conclusion with all this, then that would be too foolish.”
“merlin's beard…”
After Sherlock finished speaking all of this in one breath, McGonagall was completely stunned.
Although she had found it incredibly unbelievable before, after Sherlock's explanation, everything became so obvious.
This young Wizard is… truly surprising.
So, when she returns to school this time, should she consider suggesting to Headmaster Dumbledore to strengthen security measures?
After all, deducing Hogwarts's location without magic is simply too incredible!
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Principal of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Dean of Gryffindor, had already left.
Professor McGonagall greatly admired Sherlock for deducing Hogwarts's location based solely on observed clues.
—Although Sherlock himself thought it was obvious.
Because of this, the usually strict Professor McGonagall did not hesitate to praise him and expressed considerable expectations for Sherlock's upcoming life at Hogwarts.
After this, McGonagall did not forget to diligently fulfill her duties.
She told Sherlock that things like wands, robes, and magic books, which seemed to only exist in the Magical World, could actually be bought locally in London—as long as one knew the way.
She could have taken Sherlock directly to Diagon Alley.
But as Dean of Gryffindor and Deputy Principal of Hogwarts, McGonagall was simply too busy, especially during the period leading up to the start of term.
After discovering that Sherlock's family was not averse to magic and that his parents promised to take Sherlock themselves, she decided to free up her time for families who needed her more.
So she explained everything very carefully, also informing Sherlock of the method for traveling to Hogwarts by car.
In addition, McGonagall also signed a non-disclosure agreement with Sherlock's parents on behalf of Hogwarts—they could not reveal the existence of magic to anyone other than immediate family members.
For the Holmes couple, this was not a problem; they were not ostentatious by nature.
Sherlock, however, thought of something, and his gaze deepened.
Once McGonagall left, Mrs. Holmes, who was already prone to melancholy, hesitated again.
According to McGonagall, once Sherlock went to Hogwarts, he would have to live at the school, only returning home for Christmas and summer holidays each year.
Just this alone was already difficult for Mrs. Holmes to accept.
Not to mention that this kind of life would continue until Sherlock graduated from his seventh year.
Thinking that for the next seven years, Sherlock would only spend a little over two months with her each year, as a mother, she naturally found it hard to accept.
“My dear Valita, since it's Sherlock's own decision, we should support him—we always have, haven't we?”
“I understand, but Tanan, Sherlock is only 11 years old…”
“Trust me, and trust Sherlock, he will take care of himself.”
Although the reputation of Wizards was not good, Sherlock's safety was more important.
The consequences of uncontrolled magic… sounded truly terrifying.
Besides, this was also Sherlock's own choice.
After all, he wasn't an ordinary little boy.
Mr. Holmes explained while embracing his wife and walking towards the bedroom, turning his head to give Sherlock a reassuring look.
Sherlock was, of course, reassured.
Although his father usually yielded to his mother in most situations, at crucial moments, he could always successfully persuade her.
Indeed, Mr. Holmes did not disappoint his son.
After thorough communication, he eventually persuaded his wife to accept the reality that Sherlock would be spending less time with them over the next seven years.
The next step was preparing for school.
Originally, Sherlock intended to purchase all the necessary school supplies by himself.
But this time, Mrs. Holmes would not agree to him going alone, no matter what.
Plus, shopping required financial support from the family, so this time, the father and son had no choice but to compromise.
The next day, the family of three drove off and soon arrived at Charing Cross.
This is a very bustling area.
It is located in the City of Westminster, adjacent to Chelsea where Sherlock's family lives, and is traditionally considered the central area of London, as well as Britain's customary zero-mile point for roads and railways.
The Holmes family's destination this time was on this very street.
According to McGonagall, they first needed to find the famous Leaky Cauldron—of course, McGonagall's definition of famous was limited to the Magical World.
Before she mentioned it, neither Sherlock nor the Holmes couple had ever heard of such a place.
Originally, Sherlock thought this would be easy, but unexpectedly, they encountered a setback right from the start.
“Tanan, did we make a mistake?”
Mrs. Holmes looked at the bookstore on the left, then at the record store on the right.
Being in central London, both stores were very popular.
But she looked left and right, up and down, and couldn't find a bar anywhere.
Mr. Holmes also frowned.
Watching the passersby, some entered the bookstore, others the record store, but none looked like they were going to a bar.
At this moment, the couple simultaneously looked at their son.
Unlike his parents, Sherlock saw very clearly.
There was indeed a bar here.
Its location was between the large bookstore and the record store on the other side—just as McGonagall had said.
However.
If McGonagall hadn't specifically pointed it out, even with Sherlock's meticulous observation skills, he wouldn't have noticed it.
As for others, including Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, there was even less chance.
Just by looking at the hurried expressions of the passersby, one knew they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron.
“Is this the Magical World's influence on the mundane world, lowering its presence to make it invisible to ordinary people?”
Sherlock understood in his heart.
Indeed, once one came into contact with the Magical World, interesting things followed one after another.
He responded to his parents directly with action.
Watching their son walk directly towards the space between the two stores, the couple quickly followed.
When they got closer, they finally noticed the bar.
Dilapidated, small, and dirty—that was the first impression of the Leaky Cauldron.
Stepping inside the bar, it was still dimly lit and sparsely furnished.
There were a few tables in the shadows of the corner, where a group of people were drinking and talking loudly.
Everything looked no different from an ordinary bar.
But these people were all dressed in strange clothes, and their conversations were incredibly absurd.
Mr. Holmes only listened to a few sentences before he couldn't help but say to his wife:
“Valita, I bet you, ordinary people coming here wouldn't even finish their mead before getting up and leaving.”
Mrs. Holmes also nodded.
After all, “creating a meteor shower” sounded utterly ridiculous no matter how you heard it.
Sherlock's gaze swept over each of these people, every scene subconsciously analyzed and organized by him.
【Smoking woman 5 meters to the northwest, under 50, married, poor self-control, separated from her husband, purpose of coming to the bar is to seek young opposite-sex companions】
【Smiling man 7 meters directly ahead, early 20s, about to get married, came here to bid farewell to his bachelor days, his friends do not support his actions】
【Short man by the table diagonally behind, around 35, irritable, doesn't have enough money to pay for his drinks, currently trying to find a way to skip out on the bill】
【Ordinary-looking strong man passing by…】
Every person observed by Sherlock seemed to automatically transmit this information into his sight; for Sherlock, this had become an instinct, like eating and drinking.
【The man walking towards us, about 40, has been observing everyone entering and leaving the bar—oh, he's the owner】
“Two Muggles, one young Wizard, a classic combination—another summer has arrived, blown in by the wind.”
The man stopped in front of the three and introduced himself directly: “I'm Tom Cruise, the bar owner. You can call me Old Tom. Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron!”
Tom Cruise?
Looking at his almost bald head, his wrinkled face like a shriveled walnut, and his eyes almost narrowed into slits, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes's mouths twitched, unsure what to say.
They knew it was impolite, but they couldn't control themselves.
However, Sherlock was not affected; he stepped forward and greeted him directly:
“Mr. Cruise, Professor McGonagall sent us.”
After observing and deducing Tom's personality, Sherlock directly stated McGonagall's name.
“Of course, of course, young Wizards from Muggle families, though rare, are not uncommon. Come with me!”
While following Tom, Sherlock subtly inquired about the people he had just observed.
As the bar owner, Tom naturally knew their situations.
The result made Sherlock very pleased—his deductions were all correct.
It seemed that even in the Magical World, his deductive method, summarized from the scientific system, had not lost its effectiveness.
So…
When science and magic intersect—the story begins.