0157 Grandparents

"You mean the cause of death?"

Hearing Sherlock's inquiry, Mr. Weasley shook his head.

"They contracted Dragon Pox—a fatal disease that only spreads among wizards. Besides Harry's grandparents, those infected included the parents of the Goldstein sisters.

Hmm—you might not know them. The elder sister, Tina Goldstein, once helped capture the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and later became the wife of magizoologist Newt Scamander.

Oh, and your classmate's grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy, also died from this disease."

"What are the characteristics of this disease?"

As a doctor, Mr. Granger was quite interested in this topic.

"Besides leaving scars on patients' skin, this disease also causes their skin to remain permanently blue-green.

Additionally, in milder cases, patients develop green and purple rashes between their toes and sneeze sparks from their nostrils."

Hearing this, Mr. Granger showed surprise. "It sounds quite incredible. How does it spread?"

"The first Dragon Pox patient was a wizard who worked closely with Peruvian Vipertooths.

Chauncey Oldridge, who died in 1379, was the first known wizard to die from this disease.

'Quidditch Through the Ages' notes that Gunhilda of Gorsemoor, a Chaser who lived in the 12th century, had to abandon a Quidditch match due to mild Dragon Pox.

Gunhilda of Gorsemoor invented a treatment for Dragon Pox, but this disease still cannot be completely eradicated."

This time it wasn't Mr. Weasley who answered, but Hermione. Listening to Hermione speak knowledgeably, Mr. Weasley was amazed.

This year's Gryffindors were remarkable!

Some of the knowledge Hermione just shared, even he didn't know.

Noticing everyone's admiring gazes, Hermione straightened proudly.

This was the power of Miss Know-It-All.

"Never mind the Dragon Pox."

Ron couldn't help but whisper. "It would be more interesting to guess what Harry's grandfather will tell him."

Everyone chatted casually like this until the door of the Potter house was pushed open again.

Seeing Harry's cautious appearance, everyone couldn't help but smile at each other and entered the room again.

Surprisingly, besides Harry's grandfather, another portrait had appeared on the wall.

It was a woman.

Unlike Fleamont, who had left his portrait in middle age, Harry's grandmother Euphemia Potter's portrait showed a kind-faced, gentle-eyed elderly woman.

"Hey, Arthur, Harry just told me you're the one who brought him here this time!"

Fleamont grinned. "I never expected you to have seven children with Molly!

Hey, you clever devil!"

As he said this, his gaze couldn't help but drift down.

Mr. Weasley immediately blushed.

"The children are here, what are you talking about!"

Euphemia complained, then said to Mr. Weasley. "Thank you, Arthur, for letting us see Harry again, and all of you."

Her gaze swept over the others.

She paused briefly on Sherlock, then showed a kind smile. "Thank you for giving Harry a happy school life."

Just from her expression, Sherlock knew Harry hadn't failed to speak well of him to the two elders.

Their subsequent words indeed confirmed this.

The two elders sincerely expressed their gratitude for everyone's visit, and they particularly valued Sherlock in their conversation.

Especially Harry's grandfather, who even suggested that Sherlock should become the godfather of Harry's future children.

One could only say this old gentleman was thinking far too ahead.

The group ultimately didn't stay long in Godric's Hollow.

Although this was Harry's family home, under current circumstances, there was obviously no way for him to continue living here.

Harry promised his grandparents he would return to accompany them when he had time.

On the return journey, Mr. Holmes took over driving, while Mr. Granger moved to the passenger seat.

The two had agreed that during the return trip, they would take turns driving the flying car.

The Weasley father and son sat in the back row. Under Ron's persistent questioning, Harry also shared with his friends what his grandfather and grandmother had told him.

Harry's grandfather Fleamont was most proud of creating the formula for Sleekeazy's Hair Potion.

This achievement quadrupled the entire Potter family's wealth.

Terrifyingly impressive!

After retirement, he sold the company for a hefty profit.

Unfortunately, even with vast wealth, it couldn't compensate for the fact that he and his wife had no children.

However, just when they had completely given up hope of having offspring, Harry's grandmother Euphemia became pregnant.

Harry's father, James Potter, was born.

Fleamont was overjoyed.

The middle-aged couple naturally doted on James Potter immensely.

They watched James grow from an infant to adulthood, watched him enter Hogwarts, and meet, know, and fall in love with a Muggle-born girl named Lily Evans.

Unfortunately, though they saw their son and daughter-in-law marry, they didn't live to see their grandson born.

When Harry mentioned that the wizarding families hadn't given Harry his due compensation for ten whole years, Fleamont flew into a rage.

"What is that old bastard Dumbledore doing? Is this how he takes care of you?"

If Fleamont hadn't become a portrait, he would definitely have jumped out to fight Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore's own perception is flawed."

Sherlock gave his assessment without mercy. "I said before, he even thought you were doing well on Privet Drive."

Hearing Sherlock's evaluation, Mr. Weasley felt somewhat embarrassed. He was about to speak up for their old headmaster—after all, Dumbledore was born in the last century, and given his personal experiences, such views were understandable.

But then Sherlock said something that caught his attention.

"However, from your description just now, your grandfather and grandmother should still be hiding something from you."

Harry looked at Sherlock in surprise. "Sherlock, you mean—"

"It's not difficult to deduce this from your description—it was too deliberate.

They mentioned your parents' lives, mentioned their friends, but in their conversation, they were consciously avoiding the existence of one person."

Sherlock chuckled softly. "Perhaps because they became portraits, their concealment wasn't quite adequate."

When Sherlock mentioned that Harry's grandparents were hiding something from Harry, Mr. Weasley was merely curious.

But when Sherlock directly pointed out they were concealing someone's existence, Mr. Weasley nearly jumped from his seat.

Merlin's beard!

Galloping gargoyles!

Gobbling gorgons!

Though he had heard Ron, Percy, and the other Weasley children mention Sherlock's abilities more than once, and had just witnessed Sherlock's demonstration at the Potter house, only now did he truly appreciate this young boy's perceptiveness.

To deduce this merely from a third party's description was simply—simply—Mr. Weasley no longer knew how to express his current thoughts.

It was like a young Dumbledore!

However, what surprised him even more was yet to come.

"This person should be your father's close friend. The reason for concealing his existence might be because he failed to rescue them in time after receiving news, or perhaps he stood by knowing about it, or it could be—"

Here, Sherlock paused slightly and uttered two words. "Betrayal."

Silence.

A long silence.

Even Mr. Holmes and Mr. Granger in the front, who had been chatting and laughing, fell quiet. The atmosphere in the car suddenly became heavy.

"With limited information, this is all I can deduce.

For more detailed matters, you'll probably have to ask them later.

But I think they won't tell you—as elders deliberately concealing such information, they definitely won't reveal it easily."

At this moment, Mr. Weasley didn't know what to say.

What did he mean by "this is all I can deduce"?

This was already quite extraordinary!

It was fortunate that Sherlock hadn't stayed with Harry in the Potter house earlier, otherwise—thinking of this, Mr. Weasley felt involuntarily frightened.

He unconsciously glanced at Mr. Holmes, who was driving.

Did he know how remarkable his son was?

While thinking, he saw Sherlock turn his head, his gaze seeming substantial as it looked past Ron toward him.

"Mr. Weasley, you should know about this too, shouldn't you?"

Arthur Weasley: (°ロ°) !

Though the other party was just a young wizard about to enter his second year, Mr. Weasley had only one thought at this moment.

'Don't come any closer!'

He took a deep breath and tried to look as surprised as possible.

"Sherlock, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"I understand."

Sherlock nodded and said no more.

'Wait, I don't understand myself, so what do you understand?!'

Mr. Weasley's current mood could be described as being scratched by a kitten, but having witnessed Sherlock's abilities, he didn't dare say more.

He was afraid that if he said another word, even more information would be deduced.

Fortunately, the next moment, Sherlock voluntarily changed the subject.

"Harry, you needn't worry too much. I think they'll tell you eventually.

The reason for concealing it now is that they think you're still too young and don't deserve to know these things. When you're older, they'll naturally tell you."

Mr. Weasley's mouth twitched.

Sherlock was telling the truth, but his word choice was—what did he mean by "don't deserve" to know these things?

However, since Sherlock's words aligned with his own thinking, he also smiled and advised.

"Sherlock is right, Harry. When the time is right, they'll naturally—"

'Oh no!'

The moment these words left his mouth, Mr. Weasley realized the trouble.

Sure enough, even though he stopped speaking immediately, Sherlock, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and even Mr. Granger in the passenger seat all turned to look at him.

Mr. Holmes, because he was driving, didn't turn around, but he still glanced at Mr. Weasley through the rearview mirror.

At this moment, Mr. Weasley felt extremely embarrassed.

"Haha, hahaha, hahahaha—

What I mean is, if they really are hiding something from you, they'll definitely do as Sherlock said and tell you when you're older."

"Please, Dad, we're not Mom—we won't be fooled so easily."

Ron looked at Mr. Weasley with narrowed eyes while making a sarcastic comment. "Your expression is way too fake!"

"But I'm not Hagrid either!"

The usually good-tempered Mr. Weasley seemed somewhat indignant at this moment.

After saying this, he realized it was rather impolite and quickly explained.

"Harry, believe me, there are still doubts about this matter.

When you're older, or when we have definitive results, we'll naturally tell you."

Hermione. "Mr. Weasley, you really do know about this."

Arthur Weasley: (・_・)

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