The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 225 The Mood-Moving Mrs. Malfoy

Mrs. Malfoy was startled by Moriarty, her hands falling limply at her sides, her eyes wide with confusion: "What's wrong? It's just a diary, why are you so agitated?"

"Just a diary?" Moriarty repeated, mimicking Madame Malfoy's tone, looking at her coldly.

Even in her panic, Madame Malfoy still exuded an air of unparalleled aristocratic arrogance.

Moriarty narrowed his eyes: "If it's just a diary, why would you specifically mention it to me?"

Mrs. Malfoy's heart skipped a beat, and she shifted her gaze. Moriarty was right; that diary was indeed no ordinary book.

Moriarty walked up to Madame Malfoy once again, looked directly into her deep blue eyes, and spoke with a hint of reproach in his tone.

"It's not an ordinary diary, you know that very well."

You brought it up to make a deal with me—to trade the diary for the distribution rights to alchemy items. A brilliant idea.

But you underestimated that diary! You shouldn't have touched it!

"I didn't—" Mrs. Malfoy raised her head and shook it vigorously, her long, pale golden hair swaying back and forth.

At this moment, she didn't care about fixing her hair and said with the pride unique to Slytherin, "Do you think I'm a stupid lion from Gryffindor—unable to resist the urge to read other people's diaries?"

I didn't touch it; I know how to respect others!

Besides, besides, the diary belongs to the Dark Lord.

At this point, Mrs. Malfoy nervously glanced outside the shop, fearing there might be a Death Eater there.

Moriarty heard her say in a low voice, "I was there when the Dark Lord handed the diary to Lucius!"

So this diary is not simple, right?

I think you might be interested in the Dark Lord's dark magic items.

"Not too stupid," Moriarty commented casually, then sat back down.

"In our few interactions, have I only left you with the impression of being stupid?"

Mrs. Malfoy was fuming, her blond hair cascading over her shoulders, rising and falling, causing her ample bosom to sway wildly.

"When it comes to life and death, you're a shrewd woman, and so is your family," Moriarty said with a smile, then his tone changed:

"But when it comes to interests, you become clumsy. You're not a skilled negotiator, far inferior to Lucius."

Do you think I wanted this?

Mrs. Malfoy pursed her lips, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Look at all those pure-blood families, big and small, which pure-blood lady dares to show her face in public?"

"Ah! Perhaps except for Mrs. Zabini."

A hint of disdain flashed across Mrs. Malfoy's eyes.

"I could just remarry like that slutty spider! Isn't that how you all describe her?"

Lady Malfoy raised her eyebrows and glared at Moriarty; clearly, she disliked Lilith's description of Lady Zabini.

But I didn't.

Aren't there already enough people pursuing me?

Mrs. Malfoy gracefully twirled in place.

"I am the third young lady of the Black family."

Back in the day, the Slytherins and Ravenclaws who pursued me could have lined up from the Slytherin dungeons all the way to Professor Horace's office!

Moriarty seemed quite interested in the events of that time and asked, "What about the students of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff?"

Mrs. Malfoy haughtily raised her chin: "They are insecure and timid; they dare not look me in the eye!"

Moriarty shook his head and chuckled.

If he were dealing with Lilith or Tonks, he would say, "Are you sure you're not dreaming?" or "Are you sure you're not describing a scene from a dream?"

This was intended to elicit a mix of delight and reproach from the young girl, but Mrs. Malfoy was a mature woman.

Sometimes, saying things directly is more effective than beating around the bush.

"It's just the two of us here, so you can speak your mind," Moriarty said softly. "Have you considered remarrying?"

Lady Malfoy took a deep breath and slowly shook her head: "Draco is too young. I'm remarrying—if I really did that, Draco would suffer for the rest of his life."

Moriarty nodded, but then saw her smile haughtily.

"Once upon a time, the beautiful youngest daughter of the Black family, Narcissus, dressed in the most gorgeous gown, became the envy of all pure-blood girls, Mrs. Malfoy."

Now that Lucius is buried, I am single again, becoming the unattainable dream of countless pure-blooded boys.

"Who in the entire British wizarding world is worthy of me?"

Mrs. Malfoy's eyes lit up, a light of haughty aloofness.

"You know, I'm not Mrs. Zabini, nor am I Bella, Domeda, or Mrs. Parkinson..."

One by one, the names of pure-blood ladies popped out of her mouth.

"I am not like them. I can support myself and I will live a good life with my son."

Mrs. Malfoy's gaze was resolute, her eyes fixed on Moriarty without wavering.

"These words earned my respect."

Moriarty was generous with his praise, even though it was only one sentence.

"For your independence and self-confidence, I can resolve that diary issue for you," Moriarty added calmly.

"Ha!" Mrs. Malfoy let out an exaggerated sneer.

"Are you also bullying us orphans and widows?"

Do you think you can coax away my dark magic artifacts by praising me a few times?

You don't know what it is!

"You're the one who doesn't know what it is!"

Moriarty remained calm, his expression indifferent, and his tone unwavering.

"It's a Horcrux, Voldemort's Horcrux."

"hiss--"

Mrs. Malfoy gasped sharply, her pupils contracting abruptly.

The Black family's treasured books on dark magic contain descriptions of Horcruxes, and Mrs. Malfoy clearly understands what Horcruxes mean.

She let out a mournful moan: "Oh!"

Then she said, "Moriarty? Why did you bring that name up in front of me?"

Do you know that Lucius is a Death Eater?

He had a hideous black mark on his arm!

Whenever the Dark Lord summoned him, the skeleton and the venomous snakes would entwine as if they were alive.

Lady Malfoy closed her eyes, seemingly recalling Lucius's days under the Dark Lord, her anxiety and panic.

"Oh, no~"

Madame Malfoy swayed slightly, and Moriarty quickly helped her to a stool to sit down. It took her a while to recover.

"I'll take you to get the diary. To Malfoy Manor." Lady Malfoy seemed to have mustered her courage, and her trembling subsided when she mentioned the Dark Lord.

"The Dark Lord's Horcruxes cannot remain in my house."

"Of course it can't stay in your house, I'll destroy it." Moriarty continued, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly had a plan for the diary-themed Horcrux. It might not be perfect now, but who knows what the future holds...

The most important thing now is to get my hands on the diary.

Moriarty calmly met Madame Malfoy's gaze, who asked expectantly, "You'll destroy it, won't you?"

"Promise me!" Mrs. Malfoy's voice held a hint of urgency and pleading.

Behind each Horcrux lies a story of death.

Mrs. Malfoy has already lost her husband; she cannot afford to lose her son as well.

Moriarty made his assurances without batting an eye, gently reassuring Mrs. Malfoy.

"plz follow me."

Mrs. Malfoy forced a smile, walked out of the prop shop, locked the door, hung up the "Closed" sign, and then stood outside watching Moriarty.

Moriarty raised an eyebrow: "Apparition, huh?"

"My wand is still with you." Mrs. Malfoy rolled her eyes.

"Is that so?" Moriarty smiled slightly, making Mrs. Malfoy think he was doing it on purpose.

A wand with a black and gold handle was stretched into the air, gleaming with silver light. Moriarty held the wand in his hand, while Madame Malfoy silently clutched Moriarty's robe.

"Apparition!"

With a "snap," the two disappeared.

Meanwhile, two figures appeared outside Malfoy Manor.

Lady Malfoy summoned her house-elf Dobby and opened the manor gates.

As Moriarty entered the manor, the wealthy and powerful Malfoy even paved the garden paths with white agate, like a soft white carpet woven by fairies.

Vast fields of dahlias, daffodils, and purple roses bloomed around the villa, and the breeze carried their fragrance, making Moriarty, who was extremely sensitive to the elements of wind, feel as if he had stepped into a flower room.

Upon returning to Malfoy Manor, Mrs. Malfoy once again became aloof and superior.

She said to Moriarty, "Please wait for me in the lobby."

(End of this chapter)