"The Quibbler" and the Letter

Moriarty returned to the common room surrounded by the little snakes. Everyone excitedly discussed the match, William's smile impossible to suppress. For the first time, Leon and the other veteran players discovered how great it felt to win without committing fouls!

"In four days, we'll face Ravenclaw," Jericho said, seemingly tireless as ever. He hopped over to Moriarty with his Flying Broomstick. "Could you not end the match so quickly? Let me show off a few more moves in front of those beautiful Ravenclaw upperclassmen!"

Moriarty smiled. "I catch the Golden Snitch so quickly every time because I don't want you making too many enemies. I dare say, if you strut around in front of Ravenclaw's goalposts, forget about upperclassmen—you might even end up single for seven straight years."

Moriarty was in an excellent mood, not only because they had won the match, but because he had received a reward of 200 points.

"System, exchange them for the passive spell Tidal Wave."

800 points have been spent to exchange for Tidal Wave. Host has advanced to Level 28 Junior Wizard!

Moriarty felt a trace of coolness flow from his chest through his limbs and across his entire body. He had finally learned this practical passive spell!

Though it was one spell, it actually had two passive effects: first, when injured, he could restore a small amount of vitality to himself every three seconds.

Second, during battle, he could add a stack of Tidal Wave to an enemy. Once three stacks had been applied, the chance of freezing the enemy would greatly increase.

It could attack, defend, and restore health, and it had raised his level too. Those 800 points had been more than worth it.

Moriarty led the little snakes back to the common room, where Jericho was still talking. "When will we ever achieve a truly massive score? I mean, 160 to 0 makes us look like we lack confidence. When can we win by more than 1,000 points? That would really show our strength!"

The little snakes burst into laughter. William grabbed Jericho by the neck and laughed. "Winning by over 1,000 points? You really dare to say that! If you want to work us to death, just say so. You want us dead so you can enjoy the upperclassmen's cheers all by yourself, right?"

Lilith, Gemma, and the other upperclassmen laughed together. "Jericho, did you know? You have a nickname too—'Swift Kid'!"

Jericho looked utterly unconvinced. "You must have made that up again just to tease me."

"No, no." Gemma waved her hands repeatedly. "I swear it's real. Some upperclassmen from all four houses gave it to you. They think you're too fast. Um, your speed—your speed is just too fast."

Gemma could barely hold back her laughter. Once the younger little snakes caught on, they doubled over laughing, while Jericho's face turned bright red.

The Slytherin students happily spent the morning and afternoon that way. That evening, the first-year little snakes went to the Astronomy Tower with the first-year little eagles for Astronomy class.

After class, Penelope found Moriarty. "In four days, our house will be playing against yours. Good luck—I'll be supporting you!"

"Oh?" Moriarty smiled meaningfully. "You'll support me instead of Ravenclaw?"

Penelope's cheeks turned crimson, but she raised a small fist before her chest and said firmly, "I will next year, because I'm going to join the Ravenclaw team! So, you can only have my support for this year's three matches~"

Penelope lifted her little face and gave Moriarty a smug smile before running away.

Early the next morning, Moriarty sat at the long table eating breakfast. Without Tonks's support this time, everyone was eating the same milk bread and sandwiches.

Suddenly, a large flock of owls flew in, with Poseidon standing out especially among them.

The little wizards remembered that today was the day the new issue of the newspapers was released and eagerly picked up the packages that landed before them.

Before long, applause rang through the Great Hall. The Slytherin table applauded the loudest, as the little wizards found an official report in The Daily Prophet about Moriarty receiving Transfiguration Today's Most Promising Newcomer Award.

"Smack!"

Lilith slapped the newspaper onto the table. "Those damned bureaucrats! Just because Mr. Moriarty refused to take a photo with the Minister, they put what should have been a front-page story in some tiny corner?"

The article about Moriarty was only the size of a fist, while the front page was filled with irrelevant sensational nonsense.

Moriarty did not care in the slightest. He untied his package, pulled out a magazine, turned it upside down, and began reading it backward.

That reading method caught Lilith and Jericho's attention. They leaned over. "What are you reading? The Quibbler!"

On the magazine's first page was a witch and a wizard.

The witch wore a ferocious expression, a pointed Wizard Hat, and red robes.

The wizard looked somewhat younger, but his expression was equally fierce, and he held a wand in his hand.

A large headline read: Revealing Why the Heir of Slytherin Refused to Appear Alongside Minister Bagnold: A Battle Between Two Generations of Ministers!

The three quickly finished reading the article. Lilith was furious. "What has Lovegood turned you into? He actually said you refused to take a photo with Minister Bagnold because you wanted to become Minister for Magic! That deranged liar!"

"We won't believe it." Jericho, Marcus, Keith, and the others all shook their heads sincerely.

Moriarty said calmly, "Relax. I only subscribed to The Quibbler because The Daily Prophet has been too boring lately."

"Indeed," Lilith agreed. "My family predicts that Minister Bagnold will step down by the end of next year at the latest, so the Minister has banned all news related to the Ministry of Magic."

Moriarty narrowed his eyes. "Did your family say who the next Minister would be? I remember you saying your grandfather promoted Barty Crouch."

"Yes. Barty was originally the strongest candidate for Minister, but he failed to live up to expectations! He had a bastard son! Now, many people support Cornelius Fudge." Lilith sounded unwilling. If Barty Crouch became Minister for Magic, the Peverell family's authority would be further strengthened.

Moriarty recalled Fudge, who had kept bowing in the Headmaster's Office. Who would have thought that by 1990 at the latest, Fudge would rise to power and become Minister for Magic?

Many students watched Moriarty and Lilith discuss the Minister for Magic as though no one else existed, their eyes filled with longing and awe.

Lilith suddenly said, "No, I need to write a letter home!"

With that, she left. Leon finished the last bite of his bread and left as well. He too was going to write to his family. He had decided to follow Moriarty's advice and use the family's limited resources to thoroughly investigate Bill Weasley.

At that moment, Moriarty picked up an envelope from the package.

"To the Esteemed Young Master—Your Ever Loyal Servant, Lockhart."

It was a letter from Lockhart!

Lockhart was the person Moriarty had chosen to stand in the spotlight. Nothing could happen to him, so Moriarty hurriedly opened the envelope.

"Esteemed Young Master, by the time you see this letter, I will have arrived in North America!

"A week ago, I heard that Headmaster Dumbledore was asking around for my address through certain channels.

As you know, as an expert in Memory Charms, very few people can remember my home. Unless I am promoting at Flourish and Blotts or holding a new book launch, hardly anyone can trace my whereabouts.

But I have to guard against the Fli Family. Who knows whether Old Fli might sell me out to Headmaster Dumbledore.

So, two days ago, I went to North America under the pretext of discussing a new book. Please do not worry; I should return around Christmas.

P.S. Luke told me that your dragon egg is about to hatch. If you have time, you will definitely get to see a baby dragon when I return for Christmas.

Your most loyal servant, Lockhart."

After reading the letter, Moriarty clenched it in his hand. When he opened his palm again, the letter had become a pile of scraps.

Dumbledore asking around about Lockhart was something he had not anticipated. Even now, he had no idea where Dumbledore had spotted the problem.

But Lockhart had handled it well, raising Moriarty's opinion of him by several notches.

Thinking of how Fudge would soon take over as Minister of Magic, Moriarty had the idea of seizing the position of Minister of Magic for himself for the first time.