As soon as dawn broke, Moriarty walked out of the dormitory, passed through the dark and luxurious Slytherin common room, and ascended through the castle to the eighth floor.
The tapestry of a troll beating Barnabas the Barmy was a clear landmark, and Moriarty knew that the entrance to the Room of Requirement was on the opposite wall.
Focusing his mind, he silently repeated, I need a place to practice magic spells.
After pacing back and forth three times, a smooth door appeared where there had been nothing before. Without hesitation, Moriarty stepped inside.
A chime echoed in his mind—
"Ding Dong~ It is detected that the host has found the Room of Requirement. Three exploration draws will be awarded."
Since arriving at Hogwarts, Moriarty hadn't received many system rewards. He had expected to earn some for discovering the castle itself and even for being sorted into Slytherin. However, aside from the Sorting Hat awarding him a single lottery, the house now granted him three at once.
Looking around, he nodded in satisfaction.
The room was spacious, featuring an expansive practice area lined with training dummies—wooden mannequins, stone figures, and grass targets—perfect for testing spell accuracy and power.
A smaller section contained plush silk cushions, ideal for resting in between practices.
Moriarty wasted no time. Selecting a stone figure as his target, he took his position five meters away and raised the Slytherin Staff.
"Fractura!"
With a resounding boom, the stone man shattered into a pile of rubble.
"Reparo."
The fragments realigned and fused seamlessly back together.
Next, Moriarty retrieved a cedar wand from his robes, its polished surface cool against his palm. Raising it, he cast the spell once more.
"Fractura!"
Once again, the stone man exploded. However, this time, a thin layer of frost clung to the shattered pieces, dissipating moments later.
Repairing the dummy again, Moriarty switched to his holly wand. Unlike the effortless control of the Slytherin Staff or the cool resonance of the cedar wand, this one felt slightly unfamiliar in his grasp. He adjusted his wrist, channeling his magic before sharply raising his arm.
"Fractura!"
BOOM!
The impact was significantly stronger, sending five or six large chunks flying in different directions.
Observing the results, Moriarty analyzed the performance of each wand:
The Slytherin Staff was by far the most powerful, ideally suited for the ancient magic passed down through Salazar Slytherin's lineage.
The Cedar Wand enhanced water-element magic, even subtly imbuing basic spells with a watery effect.
The Holly Wand felt cumbersome for both general and water-based spells. Perhaps its true potential would only emerge once he mastered fire magic.
With a slight sense of regret, Moriarty stowed the holly wand inside a small bag enchanted with a Shrinking Charm and an Undetectable Extension Charm—his mobile storage space.
At that moment, the door appeared again, swinging open to reveal a girl with long, white-blond hair.
"Hey, this room is really weird. I never knew it could be used by two people at the same time."
Moriarty turned, offering a polite smile. "I assume you were looking for a place to practice spells."
"Yes, I come here every morning to train. I want to be an Auror after I graduate," she responded confidently. "I'm Tonks."
"Nymphadora Tonks. Hufflepuff's fourth year," Moriarty repeated knowingly before smirking. "You certainly left an impression after interrupting Dumbledore's speech. Not many students would dare do that."
Tonks grinned before narrowing her eyes. "Don't call me by my full name. If you do, I won't hesitate to hex you, even if you are a Slytherin heir."
Moriarty took a step closer, examining her pale, heart-shaped face and meeting her dark, mischievous eyes. With a serious tone, he said,
"Most people mock your name without understanding its true meaning. Nymphadora comes from ancient Greek, symbolizing the nymphs—spirits of nature who reside in forests, mountains, and rivers. It's actually quite a beautiful name."
Tonks tilted her head, considering his words. "You're the first boy to say that to me," she admitted.
She then grinned mischievously. "I get it now. You're Moriarty Slytherin—the one everyone calls Mr. Moriarty. I hear you're rather popular with the girls."
Playfully, she circled him, her features shifting rapidly.
In an instant, she transformed into Lilith's likeness, then Penelope's, and finally Gemma Farley's.
Just as she was about to morph into Professor McGonagall, Moriarty held up a hand.
"I see now why you weren't afraid to interrupt Dumbledore's speech," he chuckled. "You even dare to impersonate Professor McGonagall? That takes nerve. But seriously, Nymph, you have an incredible talent for disguise.
"If the Auror Office doesn't accept you after graduation, it's because they're blind."
Tonks blushed faintly but didn't object to the nickname. Instead, she changed the subject.
"This room looks different from the one I usually train in, but I have to admit, it's an excellent place to practice."
Her gaze landed on the frost-covered rubble.
"No wonder it felt chilly when I walked in. So, this is the so-called unique magic that Lockhart was bragging about?"
Moriarty shook his head. "Lockhart exaggerates. Ice magic is rare, but it's not that unique."
"Either way, I want to test myself against it," Tonks declared, her eyes gleaming with competitive fire. "What do you say, Mr. Moriarty? Or should I call you Little Moriarty~?"
Her teasing tone was accompanied by a playful smirk. Moriarty simply smiled back and flicked his wand.
A crimson Stunner shot toward her.
Tonks nimbly dodged, landing on the other side of the room. "Shouldn't we bow first? Even Slytherins have dueling etiquette!" she protested.
"I don't consider this a duel," Moriarty replied. "And the real world won't wait for formalities. Villains don't bow before attacking an Auror, Nymph. Practicing a hundred spells is nothing compared to experiencing real danger."
Tonks raised an eyebrow. "So, you're trying to beat me? A fourth-year challenging a seventh-year?"
Despite her words, she swiftly cast a Shield Charm.
Even with the protection, she staggered back five steps before regaining her footing.
"Well then," she grinned, "try handling my counterattack!"
Her hair flashed crimson as she raised her wand.
"Stupefy!"
A bolt of red light shot toward Moriarty. The power behind her spell was far greater than an ordinary Stunning Spell.
Not underestimating her, Moriarty cast Protego before retaliating with a Slytherin family spell.
"Serpens Sibilis!"
A stream of Parseltongue hissed through the air as glowing silver serpents slithered out from behind the training dummies, rapidly coiling around Tonks' feet.
She went rigid, pale-faced, but her resolve remained strong. Conjuring flames, she tried to incinerate them.
But dark green runes shimmered across the snakes' bodies, preventing them from burning. They continued their advance, wrapping tightly around her.
Moriarty smirked. "The Parseltongue summons them, and ancient Latin inscriptions protect them from fire and water. Not even an Unforgivable Curse can kill them."
Tonks suddenly flicked her wand—
"Expelliarmus!"
Moriarty's cedar wand flew from his grasp.
"I used a silent Disarming Charm right after casting my fire spell," she said smugly. "A good Auror knows when to strike."
Moriarty called his wand back with a Summoning Charm, smirking. "Impressive. Even Charlie Weasley might not be as talented as you."
Tonks sighed, glancing at the silver snakes still wrapped around her.
"Alright, alright! Let me go. These things are cold and slimy!"
Moriarty chuckled. "Apologize for calling me Little Moriarty first."
"…Fine. Mr. Moriarty~"
And with a wave of his wand, the snakes slithered away.