The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 200 The Hogwarts Ball (Please subscribe!)

"We are Hogwarts..."

The twelve school board members murmured to themselves, and a school song and four confessions took them back to their student days decades ago.

Mrs. Malfoy looked up at the starry sky to keep the tears from falling from her eyes.

The students in this castle have gained so much during their seven years of study.

And because of them, Hogwarts is more than just a school; it was founded on magic, made sublime by dreams, and made immortal by love!

Dumbledore raised his glass: "To Hogwarts!"

Professor Snape was the first to stand up. "Headmaster, I must sponsor your drink."

He picked up the wine glass on the table and gently clinked it against Dumbledore's glass.

Many people laughed; they knew Snape's awkward nature, and this was a way of showing that he had accepted the students' gifts and was responding to them.

"Professor Snape is even more arrogant than a girl," Tonks whispered in Moriarty's ear.

"It's our turn to dance, Nymph." Moriarty squeezed his partner's palm.

Tonks stuck out his tongue: "Oh, I almost forgot."

Moriarty took her left hand and led her onto the stage on the right amidst envious glances from the crowd.

The stage was brightly lit. Moriarty wore a silver robe, while Tonks wore a bright red dress, and even her hair was burgundy.

A classic tale of ice and fire, reason and madness.

Moriarty reached out and placed his hand on Tonks's soft yet firm waist, momentarily lost in thought.

He vaguely remembered that his first time dancing was at a noble manor in Wimbledon, England. He had infiltrated the ball to carry out an assassination mission and learned to dance along the way.

Time flows like water, years pass like a song, and amidst the changing world, things change and people change. The girls in Moriarty's arms have come and gone, but Tonks has become the most special one.

Her bright eyes reflected Moriarty's handsome face. She reached out her left hand to hold his arm, and her right hand joined Moriarty's right hand, their fingers intertwined.

As light and cheerful music began to play, Moriarty slowly spun around in place to help Tonks get used to the dance; she hadn't danced in a while.

Gradually, Tonks regained her senses. A beautiful smile curved her lips as she twirled gracefully, her fiery red dress blooming like a red spider lily.

With a spin, Tonks threw herself into Moriarty's arms, pressing her face against his chest: "Moriarty, did I dance well?"

"Beautiful as a fairy." Moriarty picked up Tonks and lifted her high above his head.

"I've heard you praise a girl, that's rare." Tonks giggled, reached out, grabbed Moriarty's shoulder, jumped down, and danced to his rhythm.

Moriarty smiled without saying a word, leading Tonks around the stage. Social dancing is an essential skill for a pureblood.

Slytherin is the purest pure-blood family, and Black is the oldest pure-blood family. Moriarty and Tonks' dance was light and elegant, and soon waves of white and red rippled through the spacious hall.

As the music ended, amidst gasps and praises from the crowd, Moriarty and Tonks stepped off the stage and returned to their seats.

They looked around and saw that, apart from Professor Snape, there was no one else in the main seat.

Dumbledore danced with Professor McGonagall, Professor Sproutine danced with Professor Flitwick, Professor Sinister Strike danced with Professor Randy the vampire, and Ludo danced with Professor Bassheda Bablin, the ancient rune professor…

Professors Nicolas Lemaître and Perenel danced gently, while the other professors kept their distance, afraid of bumping into the two elderly men.

As the professors began to dance, the students flocked to the dance floor. Moriarty spotted a tall figure—it was Marcus.

He was dancing with another, even taller figure, their limbs flailing wildly, drawing a wide trail across the dance floor.

The students quickly made way to avoid the two tall, seemingly incapable dancers from bumping into them.

Tonks covered his mouth with both hands: "Merlin's Waltz! His partner is Hagrid! Marcus and Hagrid? Am I blind, Moriarty!"

Moriarty smiled; it wasn't unusual for boys to become dance partners with boys, or girls with girls.

Besides Marcus and Hagrid, there's also Roman and the Afro guy. It has to be said, they're incredibly in sync; even the rhythm of their footsteps is remarkably synchronized. Listen—

"My captain, could you please take your left foot away?"

"My dear teammate, before you make your request, please remove your left foot from my right foot!"

"My left foot is stepping on your right foot? Then where's my right foot? Why can't I lift it? Oh damn it! It's pinned down by your left foot!"

Their conversation drew laughter from those around them, who gathered to watch the scene of "left foot stepping on right foot".

In stark contrast to them, at the other end of the dance floor, Lilith and Gemma Farley were a couple.

Lilith, dressed in a black robe, and Gemma, in a white dress, moved in perfect sync with the rhythm of the music with every step of their dance.

Their dance is like a pulse, a heartbeat, a breath, and the rhythm of life, captivating wave after wave of boys.

Many boys were envious of the two roses Slytherin had, but none of them dared to step forward and invite one of them.

At Hogwarts, everyone knows they are the creators of the "Eternal Shine" fan club.

Although Moriarty already had a dance partner, but...

Who dares to question Moriarty's feelings?

Even without mentioning Moriarty, Lilith and Gemma's usual behavior is enough to make most boys hesitate.

Of course, Jericho is an exception.

His courage might be no less than that of Godric Gryffindor.

However, he didn't invite Lilith or Gemma; he has a girlfriend—he and Helena had a great time dancing.

But when Jericho sat back down and started drinking his orange juice, he noticed that Professor Snape was sitting alone in the main seat.

According to Jericho's later recollection, Stalin was motionless at the time, his eyes vacant, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Jericho judged that he was mourning Lily Potter?

The rival's wife, Harry's mother, and his eternal sweetheart.

"You can't refuse to dance because of a rival." Jericho's thinking is typical of Americans, who are used to showing their strength in front of their sweethearts and rivals.

So Jericho mustered his courage and walked toward Professor Snape.

"Whoosh!" Jericho extended his right hand. "My professor? My dean? I'd like to invite you to dance with me."

Snape turned his head, his face green with a cold rage, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and stared at Jericho.

Jericho was clearly used to that kind of look—the look from Stalin in the second level of the Dracula game, who mistook him for James Potter—that look was truly terrifying.

"My father told me that there are many ways to express goodwill, but the most effective way is to take the initiative. So, Dean? Consider this a reward for winning the competition."

Jericho beckoned with his hand, his face full of a sincere smile.

Snape stared at Jericho for a full five minutes, until Jericho felt his face stiffen from smiling, before Snape looked away and his expression returned to normal.

He quickly reached out and slapped Jericho on the shoulder, pushing him off the main seat and all the way to Helena.

"Keep an eye on your boyfriend."

Snape tossed out a sentence, flicked his robes, and walked away. Helena exclaimed in surprise, "His back doesn't look like the old bat's anymore."

Jericho stroked his chin and smiled meaningfully: "Failed? No problem. I'll teach him to dance and play Quidditch with him one day! Just you wait."

Helena immediately fell in love with her boyfriend.

Moriarty, who had been observing everything, was deep in thought. Just as he was considering whether to follow Snape, he heard Tonks' voice in his ear.

"Junior, let's dance another song."

Moriarty was certain he saw something alluring in Tonks' eyes.

He agreed, took Tonks into the dance floor, and they danced the last dance of the ball, a waltz, with tango steps.

In this November, as winter was approaching, Tonks' smile was like a little sun, warming everyone in the castle.

Her love, like a blazing flame, was branded into Moriarty's cold, deep heart, forever belonging to him.

The end of November passed in the lingering warmth of the ball, and before we knew it, December arrived. In the magical month, December is known as the "Last Moon."

Professor Nicolas Flamel assigned a large amount of alchemy homework to each student, making them all look forward to the Christmas holidays.

(End of this chapter)