The Ghosts' Struggle

Peeves.

Peeves had lived in Hogwarts Castle ever since Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded.

More precisely, Peeves had been born alongside the entire structure.

Yes, this "structure"—Moriarty had once thought it meant Hogwarts Castle. Everyone had thought so.

But in fact, Hogwarts Magic Tower was another part of that "structure."

"Why Peeves pranks us, we do not know," Moriarty said to Dumbledore. "But I think Peeves' birth is closely connected to the Magic Tower."

Moriarty and Dumbledore strode swiftly through the Castle, quickly passing everything around them.

"The Four Founders built the Magic Tower to protect the Light Elemental Artifact!" Dumbledore said solemnly. "You told me that!"

"Yes, that's right." Moriarty nodded, his tone excited. "Protecting the Light Elemental Artifact was a smokescreen, meant to confuse Light."

"I don't know who it was. Perhaps Ravenclaw? Or perhaps Salazar? In any case, one of the four came up with this method."

"That was to use the Light Elemental Artifact as a prototype to create an entirely new being—Peeves!"

"You ask why I'm so certain?" Moriarty looked at Dumbledore, confidence and excitement gleaming in his bright eyes.

"That's because ever since I learned about Light, Peeves has been avoiding me. He has always avoided me!"

"If you think that's all, then once we find Peeves, you can ask him why he's been avoiding me."

Moriarty shrugged as though it were perfectly natural. "After all, no one has ever rejected my goodwill or approach. I find Peeves' abnormal behavior very strange."

Dumbledore could not help smiling. The "goodwill and approach" Moriarty spoke of probably referred to his seduction of all sorts of witches. Well, probably.

The two walked all the way from the Headmaster's Office to the Great Hall. They passed many students along the way, all moving in groups