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"Where are you going?" Lilith stood up abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me you're planning to find the Headless Horseman."
"It wouldn't be wise to seek him out now. We lack crucial information," Moriarty replied calmly, adjusting his collar as he glanced toward the window. "I'm heading to Hogsmeade to meet someone."
Of course, the person he meant was Old Flint. Moriarty intended for him to investigate the ancient legend surrounding the Fire Dragon, rumored to be tied to forgotten magical lineages and possibly even the cursed vaults.
"No! Are you trying to wear yourself out?" Lilith brushed a few strands of her dark hair back from her forehead in frustration. Her eyes widened in concern. "You haven't rested in 48 hours! I don't want to lecture you, but… it's my fault. I should've told you everything earlier."
She sighed, remorse tugging at her voice. Moriarty's stern expression softened, and he nodded slowly, easing back into his seat. "It's not your fault, Lilith. You're right. I'll stick to the original plan—get some proper rest tonight."
"That's more like it." Lilith's eyes sparkled with relief and pride. "Rest well, boys! Good afternoon!" She spun on her heel and headed back to her dormitory with a skip in her step.
Moriarty and Jericho exchanged glances. "Good afternoon."
Soon, silence blanketed Hogwarts. While the castle slumbered, the rest of the British wizarding world was wide awake, celebrating the recent events.
Dumbledore himself had attended four major festivities that afternoon alone. Pure-blood families collaborated with The Daily Prophet to circulate the news across Europe and capitalize on the excitement. Gilderoy Lockhart, ever the opportunist, was already penning "Nicolas Flamel's Recliner and Moriah's Sky," a flamboyantly exaggerated tale that earned him even more praise.
The entire British magical society seemed to smile, while the French delegation had long returned to their homeland, quietly licking their wounds. British Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold, took immense satisfaction in outshining the French Ministry in her final year. Had Cornelius Fudge not already been confirmed as her successor, she might have extended her reign.
Fudge, watching Bagnold's popularity soar, found himself increasingly uneasy.
Yet amid all the joys and rivalries, Hogwarts remained oddly detached. The students basked in the afterglow of victory, yet something unsettling lingered—too much joy, it seemed, brought an unnatural imbalance. An eerie breeze haunted the corridors, and illness began to spread.
By Wednesday, the students realized that three days had already passed since term began.
At breakfast, the Slytherin table buzzed with subdued energy.
"It's strange. I'm only in second year, but I feel like I've aged a decade," Jericho murmured, slumping over the table. His eyes scanned the Great Hall with a distant, glassy look.
Keith and Ralbo nodded in solemn agreement, sighing. "It feels like we lived a whole life in two days… and now we're back to childhood."
Their sentiments resonated with the younger Slytherins. Whispers floated across the table—most couldn't quite adjust to the abrupt shift.
"That's because everything you did recently was what adults do," Lilith quipped, handing Gemma a steaming bowl of oatmeal. She arched an eyebrow at the boys. "You two strutted outside the dormitory like sentries! I bet even Professor Snape wouldn't dare knock with you two on guard."
Keith and Ralbo chuckled sheepishly. "It felt great. We wouldn't mind doing it again."
Gemma accepted the bowl, added a splash of milk, and stirred thoughtfully.
"There are many at Hogwarts who feel the same," Gemma said quietly. "Everyone wants to be important, to stand beside Moriarty doing extraordinary things…"
"Total immersion! Roleplay! Custom magical experiences!" Jericho interjected with sudden fervor. "I've got a brilliant business idea—turn the classrooms into simulation chambers! Let students live their dream lives, as heroes or Aurors or Ministers!"
Lilith and Gemma gave him identical amused stares. After a year, they still weren't used to Jericho's spontaneous eccentricities.
"Oi, Marcus!" Jericho called. "Where's Mr.? I want to pitch my genius idea!"
"Same place as usual," Marcus muttered from the Hufflepuff table, not bothering to look up. Jericho understood instantly—Tonks. "No need to ask. Mr. is probably in the Room of Requirement."
"Lilith, aren't you coming?" Gemma asked.
"Room of Requirement? Absolutely not." Lilith took a bite of toast, shook her head, and spoke decisively. "Getting up early ruins the skin. I'm already three years younger than Tonks, yet I look older! No, thank you."
She tilted her head thoughtfully. "By the way… do you think Fleur will become a powerful witch? She left last night. I heard she seemed a bit upset—didn't even say goodbye to Moriarty."
Gemma, sipping her porridge slowly, paused at Fleur's name and lowered her spoon. "Hmm… Fleur, I think…"
The two girls drifted into a hushed discussion. Meanwhile, Marcus cast a glance at the untouched food in front of Jericho.
"Mate, are you going to eat that Danish?" he asked with faux innocence, eyeing the neglected plate.
"Be a dear and let me help you with that bacon, too."
"You glutton," Jericho replied dryly. "Take it. It's all yours."
Marcus happily dug in. Jericho shook his head, rising to leave—only to spot Moriarty and Tonks entering the Hall, with a small figure trailing behind.
"Soldaya!" Jericho exclaimed in surprise. "You dare disturb training with Mr. and Tonks-senpai in the Room of Requirement?"
"No, no!" Soldaya protested quickly. "I swear I was just passing by. I woke up early today."
"Let me guess. There's a fire in your chest, right?" Jericho teased.
"How'd you know?" Soldaya asked, blushing.
Jericho chuckled. "Gotta hide that. I won't tell you again."
"Hmmph!" Soldaya grumbled and sat beside a wide-eyed first-year. The student said wistfully, "Wouldn't it be perfect if every day was like yesterday?"
"Like yesterday? Morning chaos, afternoon vacation, dormitory naps?" Soldaya scoffed. "Why not run the school yourself?"
Laughter erupted among the Slytherins, though a wistful longing lingered behind the jokes.
Jericho, bored again, stood up and nodded politely to Moriarty as he left the Hall.
"Jericho, wait," Moriarty called after him. He caught up quickly. "If I didn't know you so well, I'd suspect the Imperius Curse—or worse, Polyjuice Potion."
Jericho rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sir, aren't you having breakfast?"
"I already ate with Nymphadora," Moriarty said as they strolled toward the Transfiguration classroom. "We've got McGonagall's lesson first today. Let's walk."
Jericho fell into step beside him, expression serious. "Sir… what I said to Sol earlier, it wasn't just a joke. It's how I really feel."
"I thought as much."
"I suddenly don't want to go to school anymore," Jericho confessed. "You have power rivaling an adult wizard, and wealth most nations can't match. Why stay here? I want to follow you—travel, do something that matters."
"Sleepy already, Blanche?" Lilith's voice cut in teasingly as she caught up. "You're tired of school after three days? Merlin help us."
She turned to Moriarty with a serious look. "Jericho's not alone. I've heard similar thoughts from others. They act like they made the bet with Nicolas Flamel and came out on top."
Moriarty took her words seriously. With a flick of his wrist, the Slytherin Staff materialized in his hand. If the unrest ran deep, he was ready to investigate Hogwarts thoroughly as Slytherin's heir.
"Pilfering my thoughts again?" Jericho muttered, embarrassed. "You know eavesdropping is unethical, Lilith."
"Ah~" Lilith giggled and stepped behind Moriarty. "I didn't eavesdrop. The wind brought your words to me."
Moriarty raised both hands between them, mediating. "One day, I will leave this school. And when that day comes, I'll take you with me, Jericho."
"Really?!" Jericho beamed.
"But that day is not today," Moriarty said firmly.
"Then I'll stay right here until it is!" Jericho turned to Lilith triumphantly. "You hear that? He said he'd take me!"
"Oh, aren't you lucky!" Lilith said with feigned jealousy. "But did I ever tell you Moriarty took me to Greece over the summer?"
"What?!" Jericho's grin vanished. "Summer?! Nooo!"
As Jericho clutched his head like he'd just lost a mountain of Galleons, Moriarty and Lilith exchanged a quiet laugh and stepped onto the floating staircase.
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