You-Know-Who, the Dark Lord, Voldemort disappeared.
All that remained was Harry Potter and the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
To this day, no one knows the reason.
Regardless, the fact that the Dark Lord who had dominated the wizarding world was defeated by an infant was undeniable.
With this, the eleven-year Wizarding War was declared over, and the wizarding world was finally free from darkness and terror.
Because of this, Harry Potter became a household name as a hero before he had even grown up, revered as "The Boy Who Lived."
Some even proposed making the day of Voldemort's disappearance "Harry Potter Day."
Of course, this request was ultimately not realized.
But this didn't diminish Harry Potter's special status in the wizarding world.
According to wizarding world customs, Harry Potter, the same age as Sherlock, would also be starting school this summer of 1991.
Undoubtedly, compared to Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's appeal was far greater for Sherlock.
So, after learning this history through books, Sherlock made a decision.
After starting school, he would quickly approach Harry Potter and use this important figure as his breakthrough point for understanding the wizarding world.
Sherlock had no doubt that if the world he lived in were a novel, then Harry Potter, if not the protagonist, would certainly be a very important character.
As long as he stayed with him, various conflicts and contradictions would surely come to him continuously.
That would make understanding the entire wizarding world much more convenient.
Moreover, compared to adults like Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, making a breakthrough through Harry would undoubtedly be easier.
Of course, this was relatively speaking.
After all, given Harry Potter's household fame in the wizarding world, he would probably be a star figure at school.
There might even be a group of young admirers bustling around him, so approaching him wouldn't be too easy.
However, the more challenging it was, the more interesting it would be.
Finally, September 1st arrived.
On this day, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes together escorted Sherlock to King's Cross Station.
Hogwarts was in the Scottish Highlands—this was Sherlock's deduction, which had also been confirmed by Professor McGonagall.
But to get there by train... how to put it?
Using Mr. Holmes's joking evaluation: "Taking a train to wizard school seems rather ridiculous. Have they used up all their magic carpets?"
What the couple found even more incomprehensible was that the train ticket showed Sherlock needed to board the eleven o'clock train departing from Platform 9¾.
As everyone knew, London's King's Cross Station only had Platform 9 and Platform 10—there had never been any Platform 9¾.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall was a competent faculty member. While carefully explaining to Sherlock how to enter Diagon Alley, she had also told him how to find this seemingly nonexistent Platform 9¾.
Ten o'clock, King's Cross Station.
One platform bore a large plastic sign with the number 9, another bore a large plastic sign with the number 10, and naturally, there was nothing between them.
But Sherlock knew that Platform 9¾ was behind the barrier wall between the two, requiring special means to enter.
The moment of parting had arrived.
Mr. Holmes smiled and waved farewell to his son continuously.
Mrs. Holmes, however, turned away, her shoulders shaking constantly, clearly not wanting to face this moment of separation.
As an emotional person, such a reaction was not surprising.
Mr. Holmes fully demonstrated the responsibility of a family head. After waving goodbye to Sherlock once more, he tightly embraced his wife's shoulders and left.
Sherlock, watching his parents depart, was in no hurry to run at the wall.
He first curiously reached out to touch it—it felt solid, not a false illusion.
He knocked on the bricks, and the "thud thud thud" sounds proved it wasn't hollow either.
Looking down, obvious footprints and cart tracks led straight into the wall's other side. From the stride length, these people had been forceful and hurried.
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Sherlock's mouth.
Now it seemed that even without McGonagall's instructions, he would know what to do.
Sherlock guessed that wizards had specifically added this setting of requiring a fast collision to enter to prevent non-wizards from accidentally entering through light contact.
There was nothing more to say.
Face the wall, quicken pace, charge!
Sherlock didn't close his eyes, yet still felt darkness approaching.
But this lasted only an instant.
Soon, his view opened up.
Directly ahead were empty railway tracks and a platform crowded with passengers.
Looking back, what had been the barrier wall was now a wrought iron archway with large letters reading "Platform 9¾."
Interesting.
Sherlock showed a genuine smile.
He had originally thought the owl mail delivery was a prank.
He never imagined it would be the key to opening the door to a new world for him.
Sherlock was certain that starting from this Platform 9¾, he wouldn't feel bored for a very long time to come.
Since he had arrived a bit early, the Hogwarts train hadn't yet arrived.
Sherlock could only wait on this long platform.
While waiting, he wasn't idle but observed these wizards who would soon become his schoolmates, analyzing their histories and backgrounds.
This way, the long wait wasn't entirely boring.
[New student, mother is a witch, father is an ordinary person in the demolition industry who only learned of his wife's identity after marriage]
[Returning student, rich in desire for performance, outgoing personality, strong expressive ability, often serves as a host]
[New student, parents absent for unknown reasons, raised by grandmother, forgetful, timid, lacking confidence]
...
Just as Sherlock's gaze moved away from a round-faced boy and his grandmother and began searching for the next target.
A deep red steam locomotive came roaring in, with a sign reading: Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock.
The moment the train arrived, everyone surged forward.
The steam locomotive, now stationed at the platform, sent out thick smoke that swirled above the crowd. Soon the first car was packed with students, then the second, the third...
Students boarding the train either leaned out windows to talk with family, or played around in their seats, or sat in place looking around curiously. The atmosphere was filled with joy.
Sherlock was in no hurry to board.
His target hadn't yet appeared. Until then, he would continue waiting.
Even if the wait was very long.
Finally.
When he saw a thin, frail boy pushing a heavy trunk alone onto the platform, Sherlock's eyes showed satisfaction.
Finally, I've been waiting for you!