Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts

Hogsmeade, a corner of the Three Broomsticks Pub.

Hadras Baskerville, the Greek translator who sold the giant three-headed dog Fluffy to Hagrid, was carefully recounting his bizarre experience to Sherlock and Hagrid.

“The Mr. John Smith who hired me told me that he had a Greek friend visiting him.

But he himself couldn't speak any foreign languages besides his native tongue, so he needed to hire a translator proficient in Greek.

Mr. Smith seemed very anxious when he was speaking—he even had the Portkey ready.

Mr. Holmes, you should know that in this day and age, almost all wizarding families are connected to the Floo Network.

Mr. Smith clearly said that he had a friend visiting his house, but he wanted to use a Portkey instead of the more convenient Floo Powder.

Of course, Portkeys have the advantage of being able to transport multiple people at once, but there were only two of us at the moment, so even using Floo Powder wouldn't take too long.

This couldn't help but make me feel a little strange.

However, because his attire was very expensive and fashionable, and he was very generous, giving me five silver Sickles as a tip as soon as we met, I didn't think much about it at the time…

Oh, Holy Mary, if I had another chance, I swear I would never have left with him!”

Speaking to here, he picked up his butterbeer and took a big gulp, his eyes full of terror.

“And then?”

Seeing that the “Greek guy” who sold Fluffy to him had stopped at the most crucial moment, Hagrid couldn't help but urge him on.

Sherlock didn't speak, but leaned forward slightly, indicating that he was becoming more and more interested in the matter.

“Sorry, I was a little thirsty just now, I'll continue.

Arriving at his house via Portkey, I discovered that even though it was daytime, all the curtains were drawn, as if deliberately preventing me from seeing outside.

Just as I was surprised, the voice of Smith, who had hired me, rang out beside me:

‘I'm very sorry for blocking your view, Mr. Baskerville, I really don't intend to let you know where you are.

If you can find your way back, it might be inconvenient for me.’

I think you should be able to imagine how surprised I was by his words.

Mr. Hagrid, Mr. Holmes, don't look at me like this, I'm actually very timid.”

Saying this, he explained a little embarrassedly, then took another sip of butterbeer, before continuing in Hagrid's anxious gaze:

“I knew that I was definitely not his opponent, moreover, he had already taken out his wand, and was looking at me with a sinister gaze.

Oh, I swear, I have never seen such a terrifying gaze in my life.

‘This is really an overstepping of boundaries, Mr. Smith,’ I was already terrified at the time, and could only stammer, ‘You should know that what you are doing is very rude…'

‘To be precise, this is not only a little rude, but also illegal, but I don't care.’

Hearing him say this, I trembled even more violently.

‘Don't worry, I will compensate you… but!

I must warn you, Mr. Baskerville, as long as you try to tell this matter, it will be dangerous for you.

I remind you to pay attention, no one knows where you are right now.

At the same time, no matter where you go, you will not be able to escape my grasp.’

His words were calm, but his tone was harsh, doing everything possible to intimidate.

I admit that I was indeed frightened.

I didn't know if the other party was a Dark wizard, but I firmly believed that if I dared to refuse, I would definitely be cursed to death on the spot.

At that time, all I could think about was completing this matter as soon as possible, and then quickly leaving this place, far away from this terrifying fellow.

As for the reward, I didn't even dare to think about it.

I asked him what he needed me to do, and he told me that I only needed to ask the Greek friend visiting him a few questions, and get a response from him.

After saying this, he led me into another room.

Compared to the first room, this room was much smaller, with only a small window high up on one wall.

However, the most striking thing was the chair in the middle of the room, on which sat a tall young man.

I felt that he should have been a very strong person originally, but at that time he looked listless and exhausted.

When that person saw me, his eyes turned red, and he roared desperately, but couldn't utter any sound.

I guessed that he must have been subjected to a Tongue-Tying Curse.

At this point, how could I not understand?

He didn't have any friends at all!

He had clearly used some illegal means to kidnap a poor man who could only speak Greek!

But since things had already come to this, there was nothing I could do, and I could only let him manipulate me.

Afterwards, I began to communicate with that person in Greek using text, according to Smith's request.

‘Are you prepared to sign the document?’

‘No!’

‘Is there no room for negotiation?’

‘Don't even think about it.’

‘Then do you know what the consequences will be?’

‘I don't care about anything.’

The above questions and answers were just some snippets of our strange conversation, and I had to repeatedly ask him whether he would compromise and sign a document.

He gave the same angry answer again and again.

Until finally, Smith seemed to be a little impatient, he rudely ended my conversation with the young man, and then stared at me and said:

‘Alright, Mr. Baskerville, you see that I didn't treat you like an outsider, that's why I invited you to participate in private matters.

You should know that I originally had a Greek-speaking friend who helped me with the negotiations at the beginning of this matter.

Unfortunately, he returned to the East due to urgent matters, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered you.

I really needed to find someone to replace him, and I heard that your translation skills are very high, that's why I called you over… Now it seems, you and I are both very lucky.’

I couldn't say anything, and could only nod to express my understanding.

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‘Here are five Galleons, I hope this is enough as a thank you!

But please remember, if you tell this matter to others…

Even if you only tell one living person… then may God have mercy on your soul!’

He pointed his wand at me and said these words fiercely.

Afterwards, he used a Portkey to send me back home, and then left amidst a series of bizarre laughter.

If it weren't for the five gold Galleons and silver Sickles still in my hand, I would even have suspected that everything I had experienced was just a nightmare.

Even now, I still can't forget his eyes, which were iron-blue and gray, flashing with cold, vicious, and cruel light.

Please forgive me for not being able to describe to you how much I loathed and terrified this person named Smith.

But I dare to swear that the scene of him pointing his wand at me will be unforgettable for the rest of my life.”

Speaking to here, Baskerville once again picked up his butterbeer, and drank the remaining portion in one gulp, then slammed the glass heavily on the table.

He let out a long sigh.

Even Hagrid could see that after saying all these words, the Greek guy's mental state had obviously improved a lot.

“Hagrid, please get our translator another butterbeer—as for you, Mr. Baskerville, why not continue to talk about your experiences after that.”

As soon as Sherlock said this, Baskerville's heart trembled violently.

He suddenly turned his head, looking at Hagrid with a surprised expression.

Hagrid shrugged at him, and gestured towards Sherlock's direction with his mouth.

Although he didn't speak, the meaning was very clear.

Look, this is the magic of our Mr. Holmes.

“Please forgive my recklessness, Mr. Holmes, it's just…

“Just what?”

“I don't understand.”

Baskerville looked at Sherlock, and said as if he had made up his mind:

“Why would you know that I went again afterwards, and more than once…

“The edge of your robe is stained with yew wood shavings, and the cuffs have some verdigris stains, which look very much like traces of metal oxidation.

Based on these, it's easy to see that you've earned extra money more than once, and the most recent one should have been within the past three days.”

Sherlock leaned back, saying lazily.

“By the way, when you mentioned that you were ‘coerced into translating,’ your right index finger repeatedly pressed on the edge of this wooden table, leaving indentations of varying depths on the coaster.

According to my research, this action implies subconscious self-defense.

So I deduced that you might have initially accepted the commission voluntarily, and then encountered some situations that made you regret it.

This point, combined with your description just now, has been preliminarily confirmed—Mr. John Smith indeed gave a lot.”

Baskerville once again looked at Hagrid with a shocked expression, the latter blinked at him, and after finishing his glass of beer, walked towards the bar.

This time he had to get two glasses of butterbeer.

By the time Hagrid returned, Baskerville had already begun a new round of case presentation to Sherlock, Hagrid quickly put down the beer and entered a listening state:

“…After finding me for the first time, that person named John Smith found me twice more.

Once was a week ago, and once…

Oh, Mr. Holmes, you are truly remarkable! As you predicted, he came to see me again two days ago in the afternoon.

Each time, he used a key to bring me into his house, where he would speak in Greek with the kidnapped man.

Oh, Holy Mary, I must say, the poor fellow's condition was worse each time.

Just as you said, despite the high payment, I couldn't bear it any longer and finally resolved to help him.

When I discovered that the man named Smith really couldn't speak a word of Greek, a bold idea suddenly came to me.”