Just as dawn broke, Moriarty left the dormitory, crossed the dark yet luxurious common room, took the staircase, and arrived at the Seventh Floor.
A tapestry of Trolls Beating Up Barnabas the Barmy stood out clearly. Moriarty knew that the entrance to the Room of Requirement was in the wall opposite it.
He focused and silently repeated, "I need a place to practice spells."
After Moriarty passed the wall three times, a very smooth door appeared in it, and he stepped inside.
"Ding dong~ Detected that the host has discovered the Room of Requirement. Reward: three Exploration Draws."
Moriarty had not received many Lottery Draws since entering Hogwarts.
He had originally thought discovering Hogwarts and the Slytherin Dungeon would earn him Lottery Draws, but only the Sorting Hat had provided one. This room, however, gave him three at once. Moriarty surveyed the room's furnishings and nodded in satisfaction.
There was a large open area in the room, with more than a dozen wooden dummies, Stone Men, and straw targets set up to test the accuracy and power of spells.
Another section was covered with numerous silk cushions, where one could rest after becoming tired from spell practice.
Moriarty did not waste any time. He selected a Stone Man, stood five meters away, and raised the Slytherin staff.
"Sectumsempra!"
The Stone Man exploded with a bang, leaving fragments of stone scattered across the floor.
"Reparo." Moriarty repaired the Stone Man, then pulled the Snow Fir Wand from his robes and gripped it in his right hand. A trace of chill seeped into his palm.
After aiming the Snow Fir Wand at the Stone Man, Moriarty softly said, "Sectumsempra!"
As expected, the Stone Man shattered again. A thin layer of frost clung to the fragments, quickly evaporating after they hit the ground.
Moriarty repaired the Stone Man for the second time. This time, he drew the Holly Wand.
Compared with the Slytherin staff, which felt as natural as moving his own arm, and the Snow Fir Wand, which gave him a special sensation when held, the Holly Wand felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Moriarty flexed his wrist, poured Magic Power into the Wand, and sharply raised his arm. "Sectumsempra!"
"Bang!!!"
The poor Stone Man's explosion was louder than before, and it split into five or six large chunks.
The difference was obvious.
Moriarty then used all three Wands on another Stone Man, casting the Ice Magic spells Freezing Charm and Hailstone Charm, as well as an Incendio. Then he summarized the power of the three Wands.
"The Slytherin staff produces the greatest power. It is suited for Slytherin Family Magic and the spells left behind by my ancestor Salazar.
The Snow Fir Wand is practically tailored for Water Elemental Magic. Even ordinary magic can carry a trace of Water Elemental Magic's effects.
The Holly Wand is comparatively clumsy. Whether for ordinary magic or Water Elemental Magic, its actual effects are greatly reduced. Perhaps only after I unlock Fire Elemental Magic will this Wand reveal its true power."
With a regretful expression, Moriarty put the Holly Wand into his bag—he had always treated this small bag, enchanted with a Shrinking Charm and an Undetectable Extension Charm, as a portable warehouse.
The door in the wall appeared again, and a girl with long white hair walked into the Room of Requirement.
"Hey, this room is really strange. I never knew it could be used by two people at once."
Moriarty turned and smiled. "I suppose you need a room where you can practice spells too."
"That's right. I come here every morning to practice spells. After graduation, I want to become an Auror," the girl said. "I'm Tonks."
"Nymphadora Tonks. A fourth-year Hufflepuff senior," Moriarty repeated, then quickly smiled. "You left quite an impression on us. After all, there aren't many girls who can interrupt Professor Dumbledore while he is speaking."
Tonks smiled, then grew serious. "Don't call me by my name, or I won't mind giving you a Stupefy, even if you are Slytherin's descendant."
Moriarty stepped closer, admiring her pale, heart-shaped face as he met her bright black eyes. He said earnestly:
"Although many people think your name is rather inelegant, they do not know that Nymphadora refers in Ancient Greek to the nymph goddesses of Greek mythology who dwell in mountains, forests, and waters. It is a name filled with mythological charm."
"You're the first boy who has ever explained the meaning of my name." Tonks tilted her head as she looked at Moriarty. "I remember you're Moriarty Slytherin. They all call you Mr. Moriarty.
"So there really is a reason Mr. Moriarty is popular with young witches! Isn't there?" Tonks said mischievously. She began circling Moriarty, and even her appearance changed!
"Knowledgeable, polite, distinguished, well-versed in so much Ancient Magic, and wealthy too. Hmm~ You're practically a high-quality wizard!"
As she spoke, Tonks turned into Lilith, then Penelope, then Gemma Farley.
When she was about to transform into Professor McGonagall, Moriarty stopped her.
"Now I understand why you could interrupt Professor Dumbledore," Moriarty teased. "You even dare to parody Professor McGonagall? But seriously, Nymph, you're actually a Metamorphmagus!
"I'd wager you can definitely become an Auror—if the Auror Office refuses to let you become one, then everyone in there is blind."
Tonks's face reddened slightly, but she did not reject Moriarty's form of address. Instead, she changed the subject. "This is completely different from the room I entered before, but I have to admit, it's a great place to practice spells."
After examining the room's furnishings, her gaze fell upon the frost-covered stone fragments.
"No wonder I felt a cold current when I came in. Is this the unique and extraordinary magic Mr. Lockhart praised as yours alone?"
Moriarty shook his head. "Mr. Lockhart thinks too highly of me. Ice Magic is indeed unusual, but saying it is magic exclusive to me is somewhat exaggerated."
"Whatever you say, I want to try it." Tonks's black eyes brimmed with fighting spirit. "May I, Mr. Moriarty? Or perhaps, Junior Moriarty~"
Looking at this senior who seemed ready to pull a prank at any moment, Moriarty gave her a faint smile and rewarded her with an Expelliarmus!
The red light drifted slowly toward Tonks. She leaped to the other side of the open area and complained, "Shouldn't both sides bow before a duel? Merlin's hair, do even Slytherins no longer understand etiquette?"
"I never considered this a duel. This Spell won't be as slow as the last one." Moriarty raised his hand and fired a Sectumsempra. "The criminals Aurors face will not bow to you, Nymph. Practicing a spell a hundred times is not as good as one dangerous real battle."
"So you want to defeat me? Ah? Defeat a senior older than you?" Tonks smiled, but her hands moved without the slightest delay as she cast Protego on herself.
Even with the invisible shield protecting her, Tonks was forced back five steps before steadying herself. "Try your senior's counterattack!"
Tonks's hair turned fiery red as she pointed her brown Wand at Moriarty. "Stupefy!"
A thick red blaze shot straight at Moriarty.
The Spell was clearly stronger than an ordinary Stupefy. Moriarty did not dare be careless. He first used Protego, then cast a family spell.
"Whispering Serpent!"
A burst of hissing Serpent Tongue mixed with strange Ancient Latin pronunciations rang out. Silver pythons swiftly crawled out from the wooden dummies and straw targets, slithering to Tonks's feet.
Tonks's face turned even paler, but she remembered her dream and decisively cast Incendio at her own feet, attempting to burn the silver snakes to death.
Yet dark green words appeared across the silver snakes' skin, protecting them from the flames. They quickly wrapped themselves around Tonks.
Certain of victory, Moriarty explained, "Serpent Tongue summons the silver snakes, while the Ancient Latin whisper protects them with Fire and Water Immunity. Not even the Unforgivable Curses can kill them."
Suddenly—"Whoosh!"
The Snow Fir Wand in Moriarty's hand flew away!
Tonks raised the corner of her mouth. "Nonverbal spells! Junior Moriarty, right after Incendio, I immediately used a nonverbal Expelliarmus."
As Moriarty used Accio to retrieve his Wand, he said to her, "You mastered sixth-year Nonverbal spells in your fourth year. Perhaps even Charlie Weasley is not as skilled as you."
"You're impressive too. I can't do anything about these silver snakes, so let's call this round a draw." Tonks curled herself tighter. "What are you still doing? Make them leave already!"
Moriarty slowly walked toward Tonks, looking at her as though admiring a work of art.
"What kind of look is that?" Tonks bit her lip. "No girl likes snakes. The fact that I didn't jump at the sight of them already proves I have the qualities of a qualified Auror, okay!"
But when she saw that Moriarty remained unmoved, Tonks gave in. "Mr. Moriarty? Junior Moriarty~ Could you untie your senior? They're cold and slimy, and they're making your senior so~ un~ comfortable~"
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