A Conversation

"Yes, it was. So how did you find out? As far as I know, you have no channels within the Ministry of Magic." Professor Dumbledore folded his hands beneath his chin and watched Moriarty.

"Was an award from an academic journal really worth the Minister for Magic presenting it in person?" Moriarty countered. He walked over to the Sorting Hat, touched its tip, and said casually, "It couldn't have been more obvious. She had her eye on my reputation and hoped to raise her approval ratings through the influence of a celebrity."

Moriarty added, "Just another old political trick. I don't like it."

Professor Dumbledore smiled kindly. "I'm glad you can see through the false masks politicians wear. Although graduates enter the Ministry of Magic every year, I have always opposed students becoming too involved with the Ministry before they graduate."

Moriarty nodded noncommittally, glanced at the professors in the room, and said, "If there is nothing else, I believe I should go to class. Professor Flitwick is teaching the Softening Charm today."

"Wait," Professor Dumbledore suddenly said. Then he winked at Moriarty. "Prepare well for the Quidditch match. I dare say the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor will certainly be the most exciting one in the past decade."

Moriarty readily agreed, then left.

Watching him walk out of the office, Professor Dumbledore looked at Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, it seems young Mr. Moriarty has no interest in your Transfiguration Club?"

"Yes, Albus," Professor McGonagall answered honestly. "Miss Gemma Farley mentioned it to Mr. Moriarty, but he showed no reaction at all."

Professor Dumbledore rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Severus, what do you think?"

"Who? Slytherin?" Professor Snape let out a cold laugh. "That foolish Blanche once said that if Moriarty were shown a potion's recipe and procedure once, he could brew the corresponding potion!

"In Potions alone, the qualities Slytherin has displayed give us no reason to doubt him. He is intelligent, powerful, calm, and... I can sense it in his potions—love."

"Love?" Professor Dumbledore rose and approached Professor Snape. "I can hardly believe that word actually came from your mouth!"

Professor Snape's gaze flickered away for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. "Believe it or not. Rather than speculate here, why not ask Gilderoy Lockhart? I sensed that same familiar feeling in that man's shampoo."

"Gilderoy Lockhart..." Professor Dumbledore walked to a bookshelf and took out With Slytherin in Eastern Tibet. Turning its pages, he said softly, "Perhaps there are things we have forgotten..."

Elsewhere, in the Charms classroom.

The news that Moriarty had won Transfiguration Today's Most Promising Newcomer Award had already spread throughout the school.

When Moriarty entered the classroom, the young snakes and Little Eagles burst into applause.

Professor Flitwick, standing on the podium, had no choice but to conjure a huge bundle of streamers with his Wand, both completing the celebration and quieting the classroom.

"I truly regret that the wizarding world has no academic journal for Charms. Otherwise, you would surely win an award," Professor Flitwick said, shaking his head in great regret. But he soon brightened. "Still, Mr. Moriarty, I believe you will soon have a chance to show your skills!

"Because Professor Dumbledore has permitted me to establish a Duelling Club! We will teach Little Wizards from first through fourth year the techniques of duelling. Well, you will also be able to learn about some advanced spells ahead of time."

The Little Wizards around them began discussing it excitedly, but Moriarty was instantly on guard. The Duelling Club's establishment was no coincidence.

It was Dumbledore. He wanted to test me? Test my strength!

Having reached that conclusion, Moriarty swiftly came up with a response. He stood and said to Professor Flitwick, "Professor, I would like to sign up."

The Little Wizards were briefly stunned, then found it perfectly natural. Once Moriarty sat down, Jericho sprang to his feet in a frenzy. "I want to sign up too, Professor!"

The Little Wizards' enthusiasm seemed to have been set ablaze. The entire class signed up with Professor Flitwick. As though they had agreed beforehand, Penelope and Lilith were the last two to register.

Moriarty saw the two exchange a glance, and identical fighting spirit flashed through their eyes.

After Lilith sat down, Moriarty asked with a smile, "Since when did you and Kriawatt have such an understanding?"

Lilith rolled her eyes. "You clearly want to ask why Kriawatt and I are at each other's throats."

"Was it because of that conversation on the train?" Moriarty guessed. "Surely not? I don't think the two of you are that childish."

"Of course it wasn't because of that, though our opinions truly can't be reconciled." Lilith glanced at Moriarty. "All right, stop asking. Just know that I'll defeat her in the Duelling Club!"

"Hey, Mr. Moriarty, stop talking about girls all the time," Jericho said. He had just returned from Professor Flitwick and, as if afraid Moriarty would vanish, dropped into the seat beside him in an instant. "We haven't sat together and talked for nearly two weeks! I don't even know what you've been busy with every day!"

Faced with his urgency, Moriarty merely shook his head blandly. "I'm sorry, but I'll still be leaving for a while after class. But one day, I'll tell you what I've been doing—if you want to know, if you are qualified enough."

Jericho lowered his head, his expression shifting unpredictably. Lilith, on the other hand, looked as though she had come to know Moriarty anew, light flickering in her dark eyes.

Throughout the entire lesson, the three said nothing more. After class, Moriarty left the Castle and slowly made his way to a hill not far from Hagrid's Hut.

Bloody Baron was already waiting there.

"Slytherin!" His voice sounded as though he had a whistle in his mouth, shrill and hoarse. "I thought you had inherited the will of the Four Founders and returned to protect the school!"

"Have I done anything that endangered the school?" Moriarty silenced Baron with an even more forceful voice, his eyes filled with displeasure. "Baron, I have treated you with respect only because you have accompanied Hogwarts for a thousand years. Yet you suspect me merely because I asked about the Chamber of Secrets?"

Moriarty smiled mockingly. "Do you think I am like the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets for the first time? What a foolish thought. The most foolish thing is that you actually tried to stop me! That is why you will never receive the forgiveness of our ancestor Salazar! Because you do not understand him at all!"

At the mention of Salazar, Baron's brows furrowed in pain. His gaunt face twisted, his beard trembled, and his body drifted back and forth.

"What exactly do you want to do!" Baron growled in a suppressed voice.

Moriarty looked him calmly in the eye. "That is precisely what I want to ask you. You—you all—what do you intend to do to me?"

A look of struggle appeared on Baron's face. At last, he sighed. "One day in December 1987, The Quill of Acceptance wrote your name in The Book of Admittance. Then, this Castle underwent a strange change."

Baron looked toward Hogwarts, his gaze gentler than it had ever been.

Moriarty became more alert and gripped the Slytherin staff tightly in his hand. He had a feeling that what Baron was about to say was connected to The Great Hogwarts Riot and the moonless night.

Sure enough, Baron continued, "I think you must have learned some information through the newspapers. I heard students say that wizards called that change 'The Great Hogwarts Riot.' In truth, that was a rumor, a misunderstanding. Hogwarts will never experience a riot!"

"On that point, I agree with you."

Baron gave a grunt, and his gaze toward Moriarty softened considerably. "Though it was not a riot, there truly was chaos!"