"To be honest, if Dumbledore hadn't invited me, I wouldn't have really wanted to come, but there are indeed some things here that require my presence," Moody said gruffly.
He and Sherlock walked into the Great Hall together. It was already lunchtime, and although the students hadn't arrived yet, the House-elves had prepared lunch for the Professors who had returned to school.
Of course, not all Professors chose to eat their lunch in the Great Hall; for instance, that old shut-in Snape hadn't shown up.
Sherlock and Moody sat down at the long table. A few Professors he was usually familiar with greeted him. Once the food had appeared out of thin air on the table, Sherlock glanced at the people sitting there and asked curiously,
"Has Professor Vector not returned to the Castle yet?"
Septima Vector, the Arithmancy Professor, was a somewhat rigid witch who was highly proficient in mathematics. Sherlock had a decent relationship with her because they often discussed Muggle mathematical knowledge in the staffroom.
Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies Professor who was usually on the best terms with Vector, said regretfully,
"She submitted her resignation to Dumbledore after the end of last term. She said she was tired of always staying in the Castle and wanted to go out and see the world. Actually, I know she fell in love with a traveller, and the two of them went off to travel the world together."
Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy Professor, was a dark-skinned witch. She sighed,
"She told me long ago that 12 was her love number. She must have met her soulmate during last year's Christmas break."
Soon, they began discussing topics like "stars, constellations, and the month of love". Sherlock had no interest in these subjects and did not participate.
He and Vector only had a casual friendship, so he didn't feel much regret or sorrow over her departure. After all, she had gone to pursue love.
However, this matter reminded him of Moody's current status at Hogwarts.
"Mr Moody, are you here at the Castle to fill the position of the Arithmancy Professor?"
Sherlock was a bit hesitant when asking this question, because Moody didn't look like someone who could teach a profound magical course like Arithmancy. It would make more sense for him to take over Sherlock's own position teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Moody waved his hand and shook his head.
"I didn't even take Arithmancy as an elective when I was in school; those numbers give me a headache. If I were really asked to be the Professor for that course, I wouldn't agree no matter what Dumbledore said. I heard from Dumbledore that he set up a new position specifically for me called Castle Guardian, specially prepared for the tournament being held this year."
With a little thought, Sherlock understood what kind of position this so-called Castle Guardian was.
Castle Guardian implied Hogwarts Security.
Dumbledore had specifically invited Moody to ensure the campus's safety for the Triwizard Tournament.
From this alone, Sherlock sensed an unusual atmosphere. Clearly, Dumbledore knew something.
By the afternoon, the weather outside the Castle began to turn gloomy. Soon, raindrops fell from the sky, pitter-pattering against the mottled stone exterior walls.
Sherlock stood before his office window, holding a cup of black tea, leisurely watching the rain grow heavier. He wasn't thinking of anything else, but rather that Hilke might have already reached her workplace by now.
This young girl hadn't told him all summer what job she had found; she had been keeping it a secret.
Sherlock wasn't particularly worried about her safety. After all, she had been an Unspeakable, and her overall strength was definitely higher than most Wizards in the Wizarding World.
It was mainly her personality that was a bit concerning. Sherlock was afraid she wouldn't be able to make friends and would eventually become increasingly withdrawn.
But Sherlock couldn't help her with social matters; he could only sit here and wonder.
After finishing the tea in his cup, he sat down to continue preparing his lesson plans for the new term. No matter what he had experienced, his primary role was that of a Professor.
He worked busily until evening. Estimating that the time was about right, he stood up, left his office, and headed towards the Great Hall.
Just as he reached the Great Hall, a large group of soaking-wet Young Wizards happened to come sprinting into the Castle from the Hogwarts gates.
It was raining quite hard outside, and these students from second year and above were drenched. As soon as the older students entered, they began using spells to dry their damp clothes.
The students also noticed Sherlock. Quite a few students entering their sixth year excitedly surrounded him, expressing their gratitude.
"My parents were thrilled! Just because I unexpectedly got an 'E' on my Defence Against the Dark Arts Wizarding Level Examination certificate, they told almost all our relatives about it over the summer and even bought me a new set of robes."
"Marchie has already graduated, but he specifically asked me to express his gratitude to you at the start of the term. He was successfully recruited by the Auror Office and is currently undergoing pre-employment Auror training. He said he must return to the Castle in person to thank you once he finishes his training."
"My mother told me I must say thank you to you, Professor Cavendish. Originally, the best I could get in Defence Against the Dark Arts was an 'E', but now it's an 'O'. She believes this is all thanks to you."
The last student to speak was Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. Sherlock had a deep impression of him; he considered this student to be the most talented among the upperclassmen.
"You should thank your own hard work. However, even though there are no crucial exams in the sixth year, don't relax. The N.E.W.T.s will require two years of preparation."
The group of students around him all nodded in agreement. Their success in the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations had given them a lot of motivation.
Harry and the other two came in later and saw Sherlock, but by then, he was already surrounded by the older students.
Harry and his friends had originally wanted to ask about what happened at the World Cup final, but they couldn't squeeze through after trying for a while. In the end, they could only head into the Great Hall first.
Once the students were seated in the Great Hall, the first-year students who had crossed the lake to enter the Castle also lined up and walked in.
They looked even more like drowned rats. Among them was an excited little boy who had clearly fallen into the lake; he was soaked from head to toe and was draped in Hagrid's moleskin overcoat.
The entire Great Hall became lively. Students chattered about interesting things from their summer break, and the Professors were also making small talk.
Sherlock was chatting with Moody about the changes in the Auror Office over the recent years. Just as he was mentally judging that the student who fell into the lake would likely be sorted into Gryffindor, someone suddenly sat down beside him.
The presence brought by that person as they sat down felt distinctly familiar. He froze for a moment, then abruptly turned around.
The young girl, who as a child needed his help even to show a smile, now had a bright smile on her face as she gently waved her hand at him.