Just a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor: No More, No Less

Chapter 14: Unexpected Reaction of the Body

The visitors were a father and son, both of whom looked remarkably similar. Their smiles, filled with sarcasm and arrogance, were unmistakable.

Sherlock's brow furrowed as he studied the man who had spoken. While he wasn't particularly disturbed by the man's words, he felt a sudden, inexplicable sensation: the upper part of his left arm burned with a sharp pain as though it were on fire.

Puzzled, Sherlock instinctively pressed his right hand against the hot spot on his left arm. There was nothing physically wrong, yet the burning sensation persisted, almost as if it were a reaction from within.

"Lucius," Mr. Weasley said coldly, his tone a mix of disdain and restrained fury.

Lucius Malfoy, the man who had spoken, smirked. "I hear you've been very busy with your... work," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "So many checks... I suppose they're paying you overtime now?"

He casually picked up a worn copy of The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration from Ginny's pile of used books. "Tsk tsk... Doesn't seem like it," he continued, his gaze moving toward Ginny. "My own daughter didn't need a brand-new textbook when she started school. But you... a wizard of your standing, well, I suppose times must be tough for you."

Ginny's face flushed crimson, and Mr. Weasley's face was nearly as red from the anger he was trying to contain.

Sherlock stood in silence, observing Lucius Malfoy closely. After a moment, the man's face finally registered in his memory. This was Lucius Malfoy, a known Death Eater, accompanied by his son, Draco — a boy with a vile disposition, though not yet an irredeemable villain.

But Sherlock couldn't help wondering: why had his left arm suddenly burned when they entered? Was there some connection between his physical reaction and the Malfoys' presence?

The verbal sparring between Mr. Weasley and Malfoy continued, with Mr. Weasley trying to maintain his composure. "We clearly have different definitions of what 'wizarding scum' means, Malfoy," he said, his voice tight with controlled fury.

Lucius's gaze shifted, settling on the Grangers, who were watching the exchange with caution. He sneered at them before his eyes flicked toward Sherlock.

Malfoy's pupils dilated, and his expression twisted into something hateful. "Well, well," he said, his voice oozing with disdain. "If it isn't the mad..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Weasley, unable to hold himself back any longer, lunged at Malfoy. The two of them collided, tumbling into a nearby bookshelf. The impact sent books flying and sent the other customers scattering in alarm. The clerk, frantic, tried to intervene, pleading with them to stop.

"Stop it, please!" the clerk begged.

George and Fred, delighted by the chaos, cheered their father on. "Go on, Dad! Punch him in the face! Knock him out!"

Sherlock watched the scene with some bemusement. He couldn't help but feel a little exasperated by the Weasleys' behavior.

What was the Weasley family's greatest strength? Was it their many sons, so no one ever cared if they got into a fight? In this case, it seemed they were just watching their father get pummeled, while excitedly egging him on from the sidelines.

Despite his amusement, Sherlock knew he had to step in. It was time to stop pretending to be the cold, indifferent figure the original owner had been. He needed to begin changing in front of those who knew him. The Weasleys hadn't seen him in nearly two years, and their perception of him was still in flux.

Additionally, it was clear that Mr. Weasley had rushed into this fight because he suspected Malfoy was about to insult the original owner's mother. Sherlock felt it would be unthinkable to stand by and watch, so he moved to intervene.

As he rushed toward the struggling pair, he reached out and grabbed Malfoy's hair. The instant his hand made contact, the burning sensation in his left arm intensified to a painful peak. However, instead of feeling agony, Sherlock was overtaken by an odd restlessness. Without thinking, he swung his left arm and landed a solid punch right on Malfoy's face.

The blow hit its mark with a satisfying thud, sending a spray of blood and a burst of swelling across Malfoy's face.

Malfoy was stunned. The entire room fell into stunned silence, as everyone—including Mr. Weasley—stared at Sherlock, utterly taken aback.

Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Fred and George all stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. They never expected Sherlock, the emotionally distant professor, to step in like this.

Malfoy was the first to recover. His face twisted with rage as his bloodshot eyes locked onto Sherlock. He drew his wand with a snarl, clearly ready to retaliate.

Seeing this, Mr. Weasley immediately drew his own wand, aiming it at Malfoy with determination.

Despite the tension in the air, Sherlock remained eerily calm. He stood firm, his face as expressionless as ever. He raised his own wand in his right hand, prepared for whatever came next.

Sherlock was not calm because he believed he could take on Malfoy in a duel. In reality, he had only recently started learning magic, and his magical skills were far from matching those of an experienced wizard. What kept him composed was his understanding of the rules governing the magical world.

In wizarding society, the first person to draw their wand and use magic was usually held responsible for any ensuing conflict. And since Malfoy had no idea of Sherlock's true magical abilities, he wouldn't be foolish enough to cast the first spell in a two-on-one fight, knowing the responsibility would fall on him.

Malfoy glared at Sherlock, his anger bubbling over. He didn't cast a spell but instead growled through gritted teeth, "You'll regret this."

With a final, venomous look at Sherlock, Malfoy threw the old textbook he'd been holding back into Ginny's cauldron, then spun on his heel, dragging Draco away as they stormed out of the bookstore.