"Go back."
Moody tossed the parchment with the sketch on it to Harry.
"All of you. From the moment you received this damned assignment until now, write down every step, every thought, every stupid decision."
"A formal case review report. On my desk by this time tomorrow."
He lunged forward, his magical eye nearly poking Harry in the tip of his nose.
Harry instinctively tried to step back, but Moody caught him by the shoulder.
"Remember. From now on, the Detective Club is not to conduct any independent investigations without my permission."
"All intelligence is to be reported to me. All operations require my approval."
"Do you understand?!"
"Y-yes!"
The three answered in unison, their voices filled with awe and even a little barely suppressed excitement.
The door closed behind them, and the humming of the detectors subsided.
Moody walked to the window and watched the three retreating figures, a hint of a twisted smile flashing in his normal eye.
He murmured in a voice only he could hear:
"A bunch of clever little brats, but still not good enough..."
"Just right."
"For scouting ahead."
Gryffindor Common Room. Late at night.
The fire in the hearth had burned down to dark red embers, occasionally throwing off a spark.
The air smelled of parchment, ink, and exhaustion.
The members of the Charon Detective Agency had just pulled an all-nighter more grueling than preparing for their N.E.W.T.s.
Crumpled drafts littered the floor, and thick reports covered the table.
Weariness was written on every face, but a feverish light shone in their sleep-reddened eyes.
Moody's professionalism had won them over, and now they were desperate to prove themselves.
Hermione was the commander-in-chief, responsible for piecing together everyone's fragmented recollections, organizing the timeline and chain of logic, and recording everything meticulously.
Ron was