Moriarty carried a bowl of oatmeal porridge and a golden croissant, walked over to William, and sat down, placing a large glass in front of him. "Buffy Brain Booster for you."
"Wow, Mr. Moriarty, I don't even know how to thank you properly. I just want to say—Merlin's beard, you're a legend!" William exaggerated dramatically.
Moriarty quickly waved him off. "What are you two talking about? I doubt it's about the mermaids in the Black Lake."
William grinned. "Leon told me you've managed to change how the students view our house."
"Is that a bad thing?" Moriarty took a spoonful of porridge.
"Not at all," Leon replied, taking a bite of his sandwich before sighing. "But if you ever work in the Ministry of Magic, you'll see—aside from pure-bloods or the children of high-ranking officials—almost every wizard who graduated from Slytherin is met with suspicion."
"Changing people's perception of Slytherin is important to me. At the very least, it'll mean I won't be eyed with distrust the moment I graduate."
William, speaking through a mouthful of food, mumbled, "So, thank Mr. Moriarty."
"You're still as unceremonious as ever," Leon said, shooting him a look of disdain before turning back to Moriarty. "I should be the one thanking you. Perhaps, as Mr. Lockhart claims, you're bringing forth a new era. But that's exactly what worries me."
Moriarty and William put down their food and looked at Leon.
"Our Slytherin House is different from the other three," Leon said quietly. "We may make mistakes, but we are proud.
"It's difficult for us to admit fault, let alone bow our heads to others—especially not to Jericho. Slytherin is about being respected, about being revered."
Moriarty shook his head. He and Leon had different goals. They would never be true companions, but that didn't mean Leon couldn't be useful.
"It's too early to talk about joining the Ministry of Magic. Let's focus on next year's student council president, Leon." Moriarty's voice was calm but carried weight, cutting through Leon's defenses with ease.
Leon's eyes flickered with barely concealed ambition. Moriarty, unbothered, leisurely finished the last bite of his meal, then stood up and walked away. His voice lingered in the air.
"Find out what Bill Weasley is up to first. Then, I'll help you secure the position you want."
Leon's expression grew serious. William clapped him on the shoulder before leaving. "Good luck."
---
Ten minutes later, Moriarty arrived at the Potions classroom, carrying a cauldron of Buffy Brain Booster. Due to the extended breakfast, the professor had not deducted points for tardiness. As Moriarty approached the door, he was met with the usual stern glare.
But he wasn't concerned. Smiling, he said, "It's properly brewed, Professor. You can use it with confidence—no risk of it turning into troll brains. William has already tested it."
Snape's expression softened ever so slightly. He took one look at the potion and immediately recognized its quality. "Go to your seat, Mr. Slytherin."
Moriarty remained standing. With a casual flick of his wrist, he produced a small bottle of shampoo featuring a picture of Lockhart and a bird snake.
"Lilith mentioned that Bird Snake Egg Yolk Shampoo works wonders for young wizards. This one's for you, Professor. I tried it myself—it's effective. Most importantly, it has no connection to the Potter family. Mr. Lockhart made it himself."
Snape didn't reach for the bottle. Instead, he took a swift step forward, his gaze piercing as if Moriarty had just hit him with a Bludger to the back of the head. A flash of emotion—was it anger?—crossed his eyes before he quickly masked it. But Moriarty caught it.
"What are you implying? What do you know?" Snape's voice was low and dangerous. He motioned for Moriarty to follow him into a secluded corridor.
Moriarty didn't move. "I'm simply offering you shampoo, Professor. No need for the dramatics." His voice remained light, but his words carried an underlying weight. "Things happen in this school, Professor. As long as I wish to know, I will—whether it's past, present, or future."
Snape hesitated, then—grudgingly—took the bottle and walked into the classroom, slamming the door behind him.
"It is detected that the host has completed the task. An achievement lottery will be awarded."
Moriarty ignored the notification, choosing to focus on the lesson instead.
---
A week later, Hogwarts students began to recognize the rising talent among their peers. This generation of first-years had produced an impressive group, which quickly became known as The Shining Five.
Moriarty's performance in every subject placed him firmly at the top. By now, even upper-year students admitted that he could rival them—not just in theory, but in practice as well.
In Slytherin, his influence was undeniable. Even fifth, sixth, and seventh-year students showed him respect. Leon, for instance, had dropped the condescending "Little Mister" and now referred to him as "Mr. Moriarty."
If Moriarty led, then Lilith was second in Potions, Penelope Clearwater shone in Astronomy and Charms, and Jericho displayed unmatched skill in Flying. They were constantly chasing after Moriarty.
The final member of the five was Percy Weasley—the perpetual underdog. Some claimed he was simply born at the wrong time. But, as Charlie had said, Percy was maturing.
That night, three members of The Shining Five and three Slytherins, under Argus Filch's watchful eye, trudged toward Hagrid's hut for detention.
"You lot might think twice before breaking school rules again, eh?" Filch sneered, his beady eyes scanning each student. But none of them looked intimidated—only Jericho, ever the showman, grinned back at him.
Upon reaching Hagrid's hut, they found it empty except for Fang, who lay lazily by the fireplace.
"Stay put. I'll fetch Hagrid," Filch muttered before disappearing into the dark.
The night sky was clear, glittering with stars. A cool breeze drifted through the air, making the whole setting feel more like an evening stroll than a punishment.
Jericho circled the hut. "Strange. Hagrid's never late—where could he be?"
"Think he forgot about us?" Keith joked. "If he doesn't come back, maybe we could sneak into the Forbidden Forest and explore."
"Are you even Slytherin?" Jericho scoffed. "If Hagrid's not coming, we should be heading back to the common room for a proper night in, not playing explorers."
Keith chuckled. "I heard from my grandfather that the Forbidden Forest is full of rare potion ingredients."
"True, but it's not just about ingredients," Percy added. "Bill once told me there's a werewolf pack deep in the forest. He never saw them himself, but he said Peeves had—used werewolf fur to scare first-years."
"Peeves?" Moriarty repeated. The others turned to look at him, puzzled. A thought struck him.
"I've been at Hogwarts for a week… and I haven't seen Peeves once. Have you?"
Jericho, Keith, and Percy exchanged glances.
"Now that you mention it… no."
"The Gryffindors haven't seen him either," Percy said, frowning. "That is strange. Peeves is always causing trouble."
Moriarty's expression darkened. He gripped his Slytherin staff and pointed it toward the tallest tower. In Parseltongue, he murmured:
"Glory to Slytherin. The lion roars in the valley, the eagle inherits the wisdom of millennia, the badger nurtures all things. Speak to me, Founders!"
A green snake head flickered at the tip of the staff before vanishing.
Unseen by the students, the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall rippled.
Moriarty closed his eyes. In his mind, glowing orbs of magic appeared, each representing a presence in the castle.
Two minutes later, his eyes snapped open, gleaming with realization.
Peeves… had vanished.