The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 13 New Life in the Private Box

For Penelope Crivate, today was a lucky day. First, she couldn't find a way to get into the station, but a kind family helped her. Then, once she got on the train, she met the same family again.

The family had many children, each with red hair. Penelope learned that one of the boys, Percy Weasley, was a new student at Hogwarts, just like herself.

Percy warmly invited Penelope to the VIP box at the far end, and even insisted on helping her with her suitcase.

Percy carried his suitcase in his left hand and Penelope's suitcase in his right, walking forward while turning back to talk to Penelope.

"The boxes at the back are never empty. The kids always swarm to the more crowded boxes. The freshmen always have endless energy."

In fact, these words were told to him by his brother Charlie Weasley, and Percy believed that saying them would show his maturity.

For some reason, the moment Percy saw Penelope, he felt an urge to protect this freckled, brown-haired girl; he felt that Penelope was like his sister Ginny.

Penelope looked at Percy's slightly flushed face, smiled and nodded: "The train is about to leave, let's hurry."

When she saw that Percy's steps were a little unsteady, she said apologetically, "Dad knew I was coming to Hogwarts to study magic, so he brought me a lot of things. Um... I mean, I think it's better if I carry my own suitcase."

Percy shook his head vigorously, but Penelope insisted on taking it herself, claiming that she had already received a lot of help.

But when Percy saw the last box just ahead, he ran over, slammed his two large suitcases on the floor, flung open the box door, turned to Penelope, and said triumphantly, "Look, we're here."

Penelope glanced into the private room and noticed a gray-haired boy looking at them indifferently.

The gray-haired boy was Moriarty, and at that moment, the warm sunlight shone through the window facing the door, giving his gray hair a golden hue.

Penelope and Moriarty exchanged a glance, then hurriedly looked away. For a moment, she felt as if she had been sucked into those gray eyes.

Percy then turned around, his forehead covered in sweat. Realizing the situation in the private room wasn't as he'd described, he gave an awkward laugh: "At least there's only one person here..."

Penelope nodded, then looked at Moriarty: "May we sit down?"

Percy was clearly a law-abiding citizen; he quickly realized how reckless his actions had been and gave Moriarty an apologetic smile.

"I apologize for my previous impolite behavior, sir."

I was definitely too anxious, you know. The boxes in front were packed with freshmen, and those kids are a real headache.

Moriarty smirked. Listening to Percy talk could be quite amusing at times; watching a little kid act all mature always made real adults laugh.

"There's no one else in the private room besides me. Please have a seat, you two."

After receiving Moriarty's permission, Penelope put down her suitcase and sat in the other window seat, right opposite Moriarty.

Percy wanted to sit next to Penelope, but he was too embarrassed, so he sat down next to Moriarty instead.

“Actually, you don’t need to apologize to me,” Percy heard Moriarty say as soon as he sat down. “Helping this lady is a gentleman’s act, and I think you did a good job.”

Moriarty winked at Percy, whose face flushed red. "It's so good that you understand me. Nobody in my family understands me... especially my two brothers. They always make fun of my politeness."

Percy's voice trailed off, perhaps thinking of his brothers, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips: "Oh, I mean, they're naughty! But I don't blame them..."

After saying all that, Percy noticed that Moriarty and Penelope were both watching him quietly, and he smiled awkwardly, "Did I talk too much? Oh right, I haven't introduced myself yet."

My name is Percy Weasley! I hope I can become a Gryffindor prefect, thank you!

Percy extended his hand to Moriarty, and the mature Percy returned when the topic of prefects came up.

Moriarty extended his hand and shook it lightly. "Hello Weasley, I'm Moriarty Slytherin."

Percy frowned, finding the surname strangely familiar. A figure flashed through his mind, but it was vague.

Moriarty, on the other hand, looked at Penelope.

In fact, he recognized Percy the moment he saw him—the Weasley children were so distinctive, yet he knew nothing about this brown-haired girl.

"My name is Penelope, Penelope Crevat! My parents are ordinary people, but I will become a qualified wizard."

She smiled slightly at Moriarty, her freckles around her nose seeming to ripple, but Penelope didn't seem to care.

"I have no doubt about it, and you certainly can do it, Miss Krivat."

Moriarty nodded to Penelope's gaze. Who would have thought that this freckled little girl, who had not yet fully grown up, would one day become an intelligent, capable, and shrewd Ravenclaw prefect!

At that moment, the train whistle sounded, and the train started moving.

Penelope looked out the window with curiosity: "I've ridden trains in London, but never a magic train! My parents were so surprised when they found out I got into Hogwarts; I'll never forget their expressions!"

"When you get to Hogwarts, you'll find that the criteria for judging students have nothing to do with their background."

Moriarty noticed that Penelope was a little nervous because of her Muggle origins.

"Really?" Penelope stared intently at Moriarty with her deep blue eyes. "I want to be an excellent student, just like when I was studying in London..."

Her gaze shifted slightly downwards, noticing that Moriarty was holding a thick book, but she couldn't recognize a single word on the cover.

"Huh, your book... So this is a magic book?" Penelope pouted, her eyes full of longing.

"Yes, 'Theory of Magic'!" Moriarty glanced at the book and curled his lip. "I thought that by applying runes and alchemy together to a vehicle that had been enchanted with a large memory charm, we could create a magical vehicle with the same function as the Hogwarts Express. However, it seems that it's not that simple."

Nine months of study allowed Moriarty to experience the allure of ancient magic. If the path to advancement in elemental magic provided by the system was simple and powerful...

Ancient magic must be profound and mysterious.

But Penelope was stunned. What could be applied together to what? Her fantasy was shattered; magic was so difficult.

Perhaps these words overlapped with the blurry figure in Percy's memory, because he belatedly realized and said, "You are Mr. Slytherin, oh no, Mr. Moriarty!"

"You're the only freshman who can understand this advanced magic. Charlie told me that ancient runes are an elective course starting in the third year."

Although Moriarty's name has spread throughout the British magical world in recent months.

But Percy couldn't afford Lockhart's novels, and he spent all his time pestering Charlie for advice on how to become a prefect, so he was naturally unfamiliar with Moriarty.

Percy looked at Moriarty with mixed feelings. The thought that Moriarty was born in the same year as him suddenly brought a heavy pressure to him.

Penelope tried to steer the conversation in a direction she was comfortable with, saying to Moriarty, "Weasley calls you Mr. Moriarty? Wow, cool! I mean, do you remember Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes? He's the big boss!"

Moriarty read longing in Penelope's eyes; this Muggle-born girl longed to find someone like her.

Moriarty was trying to find a less offensive way to explain it to Penelope.

But then, with a "whoosh," the door to the private room was pulled open again.

The girl who came in this time had bright black eyes, fair skin, and a tall figure. Her long, smooth golden hair was draped over her shoulders and gave off a faint fragrance. Moriarty recognized it as the scent of the bird snake egg yolk shampoo.

(End of this chapter)