Chapter 12: You Have Five Older Brothers

After all the young wizards had taken their seats, the Hogwarts Express officially set off, and the scenery outside the windows began to accelerate backward.

At this moment, Harry and Ron were no longer as reserved as when they first met.

Especially Harry, who found that both he and Ron were quite interested in each other’s families.

They asked and answered questions in turn, quickly deepening their understanding.

Sherlock had not joined in.

Simply listening to the conversation between the two was enough for him to make deductions about their situations.

He was more intrigued by the lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s forehead.

Of course, to Sherlock, that scar looked less like the legendary lightning bolt and more like a capital letter “N.”

Harry and Ron grew increasingly excited as they talked, and Ron, caught up in the moment, decided to show some magic to his two Muggle-born friends.

“George told me a spell that can turn it yellow.”

“It” referred to Ron’s pet, Scabbers, a gray rat that had been discarded by his older brother Percy, who was the prefect.

Ron opened his trunk and rummaged inside.

The trunk was quite messy; he moved aside a pile of books, pulled out two robes, and after a while, finally extracted a wand.

“Do you want to see?”

He looked at his two friends expectantly.

“Hurry up!” Harry said immediately.

Sherlock also watched Ron with interest.

During the summer holiday, he had already tried many spells, all successful.

By normal standards, his magical talent should be considered decent.

However, he was powerless against transfiguration spells like Professor McGonagall’s cup-turned-squirrel.

Of course, after reading the textbooks, Sherlock knew that such spells were not taught in first year—they were beyond the curriculum.

Under the watchful eyes of his two friends, Ron cleared his throat and waved his wand:

“Daisy, sweet cream, and sunshine, turn this silly fat rat yellow.”

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Scabbers remained gray, sound asleep, unaffected.

Harry: ’(°ー°〃)

Sherlock: ←_←

Ron was stunned for a moment, raised his wand again, and tried once more:

“Daisy, sweet cream, and sunshine, turn this silly fat rat yellow.”

Still nothing happened.

Harry: (lll￢ω￢)

Sherlock: ←_←

“Alright, I knew this spell was useless. I bet George already knew it was a dud,” Ron said disappointedly as he put away his wand.

“Is it the wand’s fault?” Sherlock asked.

Ron didn’t catch the meaning immediately. “What?”

“Your second brother’s wand...” Sherlock pointed at Ron’s wand.

The wand was very old and worn, with some spots peeling, and one end was glowing white.

“Oh, that’s Charlie’s old wand. The unicorn hair is almost sticking out, but Dad said it wouldn’t affect its use...” Ron carefully touched the worn wand and suddenly looked up, “Wait, how do you know it’s an old wand...”

“Ron, even I could tell it’s an old wand...” Harry chimed in beside him.

He secretly felt a bit happy, sensing his intelligence had gained the upper hand.

“No no no, I mean how do you know it’s my second brother’s wand? I haven’t even told you how many brothers I have!”

Right!

Harry only just realized that although he could tell it was an old wand, Sherlock had directly stated it belonged to Ron’s second brother.

That was just too outrageous.

Sherlock smiled.

“I not only know it’s your second brother’s wand, but I also know you have seven children in your family.

You’re wearing your eldest brother’s robe, holding your second brother’s wand, using your third brother’s pet, your fourth and fifth brothers are twins, and you have a younger sister who hasn’t started school yet.”

Harry and Ron were stunned.

Neither of them could speak for a long time, until Ron blushed and mumbled,

“Sherlock, it’s no fun to tease like this. You must have investigated me beforehand!”

Harry couldn’t help but back Ron up, “Sherlock, you actually knew about Ron’s family before, right? Otherwise, there’s no way you could know all this.”

At that moment, the two formed an alliance, convinced Sherlock had done prior research on Ron.

Sherlock was already used to this kind of reaction from them.

“My dear Harry, making these deductions is actually very simple. With careful observation and thorough analysis, you could deduce this information too.

Think about how I analyzed you just now—really, it’s nothing special!

Once I explain the deduction process, you’ll say, ‘Ah, it’s actually that simple!’”

Harry was skeptical.

“Really?”

“I don’t believe it!” Ron shook his head vigorously like a tambourine. “You definitely investigated me beforehand!”

Compared to Ron, Harry was a bit more composed since he had already seen Sherlock’s deductions once.

But now he, too, remained doubtful.

After all, the information Sherlock deduced from Ron was incredibly detailed, far beyond what he had just inferred about Harry.

Seeing the eager, inquisitive eyes of both boys, Sherlock smiled and said:

“Alright, let me explain:

Ron’s robe, wand, textbooks, and the trunk he carries are all old, which strongly suggests he was born into a family with multiple children—sorry, I took a longer look when you opened your trunk just now.

Your robe has been altered once and doesn’t fit perfectly. I bet when you change into it later, your sneakers will peek out. The old wand is obvious—even Harry noticed earlier.”

Harry: |(*′口`)

“But that doesn’t prove the wand belongs to my second brother!” Ron objected.

Sherlock shrugged. “Usually, wands and robes are purchased together, but judging by the relative wear, your robe is older than the wand.

Items like your wand and robe are typically passed down to younger children still at school when the older ones graduate.

So your two older brothers have definitely graduated.

Also, when you cast that spell earlier, you mentioned Scabbers was given to you by the prefect brother, and the spell was taught by George, which means you have at least two older brothers.

Coincidentally, I saw you talking to a pair of twin brothers on this train—you can’t deny you’re family. You all share the same red hair and similar features.

But none of them are prefects—the prefects have their own compartments at the very front, which is easy to find out.

From all this information, deducing the rest isn’t difficult, right?

Look, from these clues I could easily infer you have five older brothers; the robe and wand belong to your eldest and second brother; the pet belongs to your third brother, who is the prefect; and the fourth and fifth brothers are twins.”

“But how did you know I have a sister?”

“You might not have noticed, but there are a few strands of red hair on your shoulder. Judging by the texture and color, she’s about your age.

So you must have a sister or a younger sister; the latter is more likely.

That’s the only part I guessed rather than deduced, but I believe it’s correct. I imagine she hasn’t started school yet?”