"The more critical issue is that once the magical effect fails prematurely underwater due to excessive consumption, that would be fatal."
Sunlight slanted across the beds in the dormitory, where three sets of silver-gray scuba equipnt lay neatly arranged, gleaming with a cold, tallic luster.
Sherlock's voice was low, but when it reached the ears of his three companions, it was filled with power.
"No matter how good Cedric's thod is, it's still magic. As long as it's magic, there's always the possibility of failure or interference—especially in an unknown environnt. We cannot place all our trust in a single thod, particularly one that may be used in actual combat for the first ti, no matter how excellent the companion who devised it may be. We must be prepared for anything. In the end, it still cos down to that one principle..."
Sherlock raised his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping across Harry, Hermione, and Ron in turn, his gray eyes filled with determination.
"A person must rely on themselves!"
"I understand now!"
A brief silence spread through the dormitory, with only the occasional birdsong from outside the window.
Suddenly, Hermione's eyes lit up brilliantly. She drew in a sharp breath and imdiately said.
"So, this is the real reason you purchased the scuba equipnt in advance! For us, this isn't just a backup plan—it's an extrely practical double safeguard!"
"The first safeguard is obvious."
Hermione pointed at the scuba gear, her fingertip slightly flushed with excitent, her words flying fast though her thoughts remained crystal clear.
"If we use the Summoning Charm to call the scuba equipnt directly, like in the first task, that would an making it fly through Muggle villages in broad daylight toward Hogwarts. That would be absolutely terrifying!"
"So what?"
Ron scratched his ssy red hair, his brow furrowing with confusion.
"If the scuba gear is as useful as you just said, I think you could completely do it like the first task—use the Summoning Charm again to get a set of scuba equipnt from a nearby Muggle town. That would save quite a bit of money, wouldn't it?"
As a child of the Weasley family, he habitually considered things from an economic perspective. When his gaze fell on the scuba equipnt, he began secretly estimating the price of the gear—judging by its appearance, it was clearly worth quite a lot of money. At critical monts, save where you can.
"So what?"
Hermione imdiately turned around, fixing Ron with a scrutinizing look, her tone serious as she spoke each word deliberately.
"Ronald, this would clearly violate the International Statute of Secrecy! Just think about it—when three sets of scuba equipnt co whooshing through the countryside toward Hogwarts, avoiding Muggle eyes would be pure fantasy!
By then, having our scores invalidated would be the least of our worries. We might be directly disqualified from the competition and face consequences!"
Hearing Hermione's words, Ron imdiately shrank back, scared into silence. The consequences were indeed too terrifying!
Having successfully intimidated Ron, Hermione gave a light snort before continuing.
"But Sherlock purchased and had them shipped through Muggle postal services in advance. The packages' movent through the Muggle world was completely legal, routine, and unremarkable.
After receiving the scuba gear, owl delivery transferred them to storage at Hogwarts. This way, the objective was perfectly achieved. When it's ti for the competition, using the Summoning Charm to call them would be no different from summoning a broomstick in the first task.
No—it would actually be even simpler, because we already have one successful experience."
Hermione paused, her gaze burning as she swept over the three sets of equipnt in the package, her voice full of admiration.
"More importantly, there's the second safeguard. ti! Sherlock has bought everyone precious ti! If things turn out as Sherlock said—if Cedric's thod isn't perfectly validated before the competition, or if there's a risk of shortened effectiveness under vigorous activity—by the ti we think of other solutions, it would be too late!
Even setting aside the issue of summoning violating the Statute of Secrecy, even if we had incredibly good luck and managed to get the equipnt without Muggles seeing it which I believe is completely impossible but even if that were the case, apart from Sherlock, Harry and Cedric definitely couldn't learn to operate such complex Muggle equipnt within the required one hour."
"But now it's different!"
Hermione's voice rose several notches, her shoulders trembling slightly with excitent.
"There's still over a week until the second task! If Cedric's thod is perfect, this scuba equipnt will be like a quiet insurance policy, best if we don't need to use it. But if, just in case, I an just in case, his thod shows uncertainty or insufficient duration under high-pressure actual combat, we still have plenty of ti!"
She deliberately emphasized the last few words, her eyes were full of certainty.
"We can find ti in advance, in a safe and controlled environnt, like so remote corner of the Black Lake, to conduct several short underwater adaptation training sessions!
We don't need to beco diving experts—we just need to learn how to wear the equipnt, breathe, move basically, and handle ergencies! This would be ten thousand tis more practical and safer than cramming at the last minute on competition day!"
Watching Hermione's excited manner, Harry's eyes also grew brighter and brighter, his green eyes looking at Sherlock with feelings that seed ready to overflow.
Of course, he hadn't considered things as comprehensively as Hermione had. But now, hearing Hermione explain it this way, he couldn't help reaching out to touch the equipnt on the bed.
The characteristically cool touch of tal imdiately made him more alert. At the sa ti, an unprecedented sense of security welled up from his heart.
Sherlock was truly Sherlock—planning ahead, calculating without error. He was simply too amazing!
Ron's reaction was slower, still in a state of not quite understanding but feeling it was impressive.
"A very precise summary, Hermione."
Sherlock snapped his fingers crisply, creating a sharp sound. He looked at Hermione, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
"Cedric's research is the core—I don't doubt his efforts and results one bit. But my responsibility is to ensure that no matter what unexpected situation arises, we can continue forward until victory.
The three sets of scuba equipnt I purchased are precisely a physical backup prepared in advance for the potential risk of magical duration being shortened due to consumption from vigorous activity, and for the need for physical safeguards in ergency situations. Double insurance—both are indispensable."
Speaking to this point, Sherlock paused, then looked again at Harry and Hermione.
"Actually, in the Muggle world, there's a more common term for what I'm doing."
"What term?"
Harry and Hermione asked simultaneously, their eyes full of curiosity.
"Contingency plan."
"Contingency plan?"
"Contingency plan?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other, clearly having never heard this term before. Ron unconsciously repeated it, his brow furrowing even tighter. Hermione propped her chin on her hand, blinking thoughtfully, as if searching for relevant mories in her mind.
But regardless, Sherlock's approach made them feel exceptionally reassured. What was that saying again? If they couldn't achieve victory even with this, that would be what seed strange!
"Next, we'll need to invite our captain over to learn the correct thod of using the scuba equipnt. Given his strong desire for victory, he should be quite willing to accept this contingency plan."
Sherlock looked at Harry as he spoke. "My dear friend, I believe that following the instruction manual's steps, you should be able to teach him."
"No problem!"
Harry patted his chest, his gaze falling on the scuba equipnt, his eyes determined and full of confidence.
After the afternoon Arithmancy class ended, the corridor was crowded with students coming and going, their footsteps and conversations weaving together. Sunlight stread through the stained glass windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor, with the unique scent of numbers still lingering in the air.
Hermione pulled on Sherlock's sleeve, her steps light, making no effort to hide her admiration.
"Sherlock, you're so clever! You know, when I first heard you talk about the golden egg's secret, I never even thought of using Muggle thods to solve the problem—my first reaction was that you should transform yourselves."
"Really? Into a submarine, perhaps?" The corner of Sherlock's mouth lifted slightly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
Hermione was smart, there was no doubt about that. But in terms of considering problems comprehensively, she always seed to fall a bit short, making so taphysical errors.
Either she would forget she was a witch, saying things like "but there's no wood here" when needing to start a fire.
Or she would forget she was a Muggle-born wizard, forgetting to fully exercise subjective initiative and combine magic with knowledge from the Muggle world. In short, she often viewed things with isolated, static, and one-sided perspectives. This was commonly called taphysics.
However, faced with Sherlock's half-joking remark, Hermione actually stopped in her tracks and seriously thought for a few seconds before shaking her head, her tone serious.
"If we had already practiced human transfiguration, that would indeed be a good idea! But we won't cover that content until sixth year. If you attempt to transfigure yourself without complete mastery, the consequences would be unthinkable..."
"Thinking about it carefully, walking around with a periscope sticking out of your head would also be quite an option," Sherlock continued to tease.
"Pfft!"
Hermione couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing, her shoulders shaking lightly, her eyes curving into crescents with a faint flush appearing at the corners.
"Only you would think that way! By the way, what thod did Diggory co up with exactly? There's only one week left until the second task, and seeing how confident he looks, I'm quite curious... Wait, Sherlock, is she coming to find you?"
Hermione's gaze fell on the end of the corridor, where Fleur Delacour stood. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, gleaming with a soft luster in the sunlight. Her posture was upright, still wearing that proud expression, seeming out of place among the noisy students around her.
With Sherlock's ticulous observational abilities, he had naturally noticed her much earlier than Hermione. In fact, the mont his gaze swept over her, he had already deduced her purpose for being there.
"Quite obvious, my friend."
As soon as Sherlock finished speaking, Fleur walked straight toward them. Although she had been at Hogwarts for nearly half a year, wherever she appeared, she still attracted students' attention. However, when she reached Sherlock, she put away her usual arrogance. Her fingers lightly clutched the hem of her robes, her face showing a polite smile.
"Mr. Hols, may we speak privately?"
After saying this, she glanced inconspicuously at Hermione, her eyes carrying a hint of suggestion.
"Then you two can talk..."
Seeing this, Hermione imdiately released Sherlock's sleeve and turned to leave. Just then, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly by Sherlock.
"That's not necessary."
Sherlock's fingers closed around Hermione's wrist with perhaps even sowhat rough force. However, Hermione not only didn't feel offended, but secretly felt sowhat pleased. His gaze looked directly at Fleur, his tone flat yet brooking no refusal.
"She is my friend. Miss Delacour, whatever you have to say, you might as well say it directly."
"But..." Fleur's brow furrowed slightly, her face showing a difficult expression, even her tone softening sowhat, as if she still wanted to negotiate.
"If there's nothing else, please excuse us." Sherlock pulled Hermione along, turning to leave without the slightest pause in his steps.
"Wait!"
Fleur quickly stepped forward, blocking them both, her expression changing uncertainly before finally showing an almost pleading, difficult expression.
It must be said, she was truly too beautiful. This current helplessness ford a strong contrast with her usual proud and aloof appearance, causing passing students to stop and stare.
They looked at Sherlock with suspicious eyes, as if they would all transform into knights protecting the flower and stand up for her the mont Fleur spoke. Even Hermione softened sowhat unconsciously.
However, Sherlock remained unmoved, his eyes showing not the slightest ripple.
Finally, Fleur compromised, nodding lightly, her tone carrying so helplessness.
"Then... let's move to another place. There are too many people here."
"Fine." Sherlock stopped, which made Fleur secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Afterward, Sherlock led Hermione and Fleur to find an abandoned, unused empty classroom. For Sherlock, such a thing was incredibly easy. The classroom's desks and chairs were piled in the corner, covered with a thin layer of dust. Sunlight slanted through the window, with tiny dust particles floating slowly in the light.
Fleur walked to the center of the classroom, turned around, clasped her hands in front of her, her fingertips applying slight pressure, her tone carrying so candor.
"Mr. Hols, first I must apologize to you."
"Apologize? For what—for monitoring ?"
"That's right."
At this mont, Fleur had a favor to ask, so even her speech was much more sincere than before.
"Although I don't know how you figured it out, just as you said last ti, I agreed to do certain things for your brother—the other Mr. Hols. Mainly to monitor your every move during this Triwizard Tournant and promptly report this information to him."
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