The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 26 Seekers and Chasers

"Mr. Moriarty, Mr. Jericho, how dare you? And Miss Lilith? You'll break your necks!" Professor McGonagall arrived as well, looking particularly furious.

Moriarty and his two companions landed silently on the ground. Professor Snape walked up to them, his eyes blazing with fury: "Blanche, Pilliwick, and Slytherin, deduct thirty points!"

But seeing that Moriarty and the other two were unharmed, he put his wand away. Professor McGonagall also breathed a sigh of relief, then her eyes gleamed: "Although I hate to say it, Mr. Moriarty just dove down from a hundred feet in the air and executed a Lansky feint!"

After whispering a few words to Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape snorted at Moriarty, "Come with me, Mr. Slytherin, and you, Blanche!"

He strode toward the castle, with Moriarty and Jericho following behind.

Lilith's heart leaped into her throat. She caught up with Professor Snape: "Professor, they shouldn't have been expelled. It was me, it was me who made Moriarty take me flying..."

"Miss Pilliwick—" Professor Snape roared, turning around abruptly, "Write an essay on the school rules! No less than twenty inches! Hand it in before the next Potions class! Now!"

Lilith showed no fear whatsoever; she knew the school rules better than anyone, but Moriarty and Jericho…

She bit her lip and stood still.

Professor McGonagall gave her a sympathetic look. "Oh, don't worry, they won't be expelled. You're mistaken. Maybe I should go find Charlie; this year's Slytherins are even tougher..."

Professor McGonagall muttered something and left, leaving Lilith deep in thought as she watched Moriarty walk into the castle.

Professor Snape led Moriarty and Moriarty to the door of a potions classroom.

"Creak!" Professor Snape flung open the classroom door. "Romot! Come out here. I've found you a Chaser and a Seeker!"

William Romötter, captain of the Slytherin team, stepped forward and his eyes lit up when he saw Moriarty: "Professor, is that them?"

"Let's hear what our genius has to say," Professor Snape said expressionlessly. "I wasted a whole pot of Baskin-Robbins to find you a ballerina! If you don't get this sorted out quickly, your potion will be wasted too, don't blame me for not warning you, Romold."

Moriarty then realized that Strickland had just been teaching a seventh-grade Potions class. Although Strickland wouldn't admit it, Moriarty could tell that he had come out because he was worried about Moriarty and Jericho's safety.

Since the matter originated with Moriarty, he would not stand idly by.

“Professor Snape,” Moriarty looked at him, “I can brew you a pot of Bafite to make you feel better, and of course, a portion for Prefect William as well, to make up for the time you’ve wasted.”

Snape met Moriarty's piercing gaze. He felt as if he were looking into a calm, deep sea, and for a moment he felt he was about to sink into it, but he possessed the profound Occlumency technique.

Professor Snape looked away. "No one will stop you from brewing a potion that even a seventh-year student would have difficulty making, but you'd better keep your mouth shut, lest your potion turn you into a troll brain!"

He walked into the classroom and slammed the door shut.

Moriarty smiled; he knew that Stanislavski's words meant he agreed.

"Don't let Professor Snape's cold demeanor fool you; he actually cares about us quite a bit," William kindly explained, worried that the two first-years might get upset. "Come with me, this way, we'll talk as we walk."

The Buffet Brain-Boosting Potion is related to whether or not one can pass the NEWT exam. William took Moriarty's words to heart. After asking him some questions and receiving an affirmative answer from Moriarty, William praised Moriarty without reservation.

"In fact, don't rely too much on Baffy's Brain-Boosting Agent," Moriarty cautioned after William finished praising it. "If you take the first dose, your brainpower will be significantly improved. The second dose will only improve it a little bit. And when you take the third dose, you'll feel like it's garbage, and you'll want to throw it down the toilet."

"I admire your erudition," William said happily, having taken his words to heart. "With you helping me brew potions, I'll have more time to practice Quidditch. By the way, what did you two do to make Professor Snape break with convention for you?"

William led them into an empty classroom, looking them over with curiosity: "Since Professor Snape sent me to talk to you, he must have planned to go see Professor Dumbledore."

Let's talk about it. If nothing unexpected happens, our team will produce the youngest Seeker and Chaser in a century.

Upon hearing this, Jericho's eyes lit up, and he began to recount their thoughts and actions to William.

"Hey! You two—" Upon hearing Jericho and Moriarty display two world-class skills, William couldn't contain his excitement: "No need for selections, you two are the perfect players!"

He was stunned when he heard Moriarty swooping down from a hundred feet to perform the Lansky feint.

"Mr. Moriarty, are you really only 11 years old? I've always thought of you as an academic genius, but you—you're also an athletic genius?" William paced excitedly around the classroom. "No need to choose anymore, it's decided! Mr. Moriarty will be our Seeker, and Jericho, you'll be the Chaser! You two have no objections, right?"

"Of course! Of course I have no objection!" Jericho shouted.

Moriarty shook his head: "We have no objection, but others certainly will."

Breaking with convention is no small matter, especially with two first-year students joining the team at once. We'll be in the spotlight, and there might even be more internal discord, like with second-year Marcus Flint, who's been keeping an eye on the chaser's position.

Let's hold a public selection process so everyone can see our capabilities; they'll naturally be convinced.

"I completely agree with you, but it's too late. The match against Gryffindor is about to begin," William shook his head regretfully, then his expression hardened. "You are the new players—I will announce it tonight! If anyone has any objections, let them come to me!"

Moriarty looked at him with admiration. It was rare to find someone in Slytherin who maintained a firm stance. William was undoubtedly a man of great courage, and perhaps it was this courage that enabled him to suppress Leon and win three consecutive Quidditch championships.

As they parted, Moriarty told William, "If anyone has any objections to your decision—whoever it may be—please let us know, and we will defend our honor with our strength."

William laughed and said, "Don't worry, in fact, I bet Merlin that the news of your 100-foot dive has spread throughout the school, and everyone will only admire you."

"So they'll only have a problem with me then?" Jericho scoffed.

William patted Jericho on the right shoulder to encourage him: "You remind me of Charlie Weasley from Gryffindor. When he joined Gryffindor two years ago, people were full of doubts about him, but he quickly proved himself. I believe you are no worse than him."

"And Mr. Moriarty," William said with a sigh, "if you are ever selected for the national team, please let me know. I would love to get your autograph."

After exchanging a few words, they parted ways. Jericho said to Moriarty, "There's still some time before dinner. How about we go to the library? We should do some serious research on Quidditch."

"Good idea, but I also need to borrow a few potions books." Moriarty quickened his pace; as the number of courses increased, his to-do list grew even larger.

For example, Moriarty agreed to the cult's offer of the Baffaele brain-stimulating potion, and decided to brew it in the Room of Requirement. He already knew the recipe and steps by heart; all he lacked was time.

With the help of senior student Tonks in the House of Requirement, the preparation time can be greatly shortened.

When they entered the library, there weren't many people left, but Moriarty spotted Penelope.

The little girl was carrying a stack of books as she walked out. In just two days, Moriarty felt that she had become thinner.

Penelope's hurried manner made Moriarty choose not to disturb her. In fact, there was a Charms class the next morning, which was with Ravenclaw.

When they came out of the library, it was completely dark. Moriarty and Jericho carried the borrowed books toward the auditorium.

As they entered the auditorium, the previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone's attention turned to Moriarty, with many also staring at Jericho.

Just like on the day of the Sorting, all the professors and Dumbledore were present. When he saw Moriarty and Jericho walk to the Slytherin table and sit down, Dumbledore stood up.

"I think you've already heard," Dumbledore said, smiling at the students.

Most people responded with a smile: "Yes, Professor," "We've heard!" and "That's right!"

Dumbledore nodded: "Yes, yes, Mr. Moriarty and Mr. Jericho have become the Seeker and Chaser for the Slytherin team!"

The snakes burst into applause, but Dumbledore didn't stop: "It's not unprecedented for first-year students to be players, but that dates back a century!"

Therefore, no matter how outstanding the two young gentlemen are, I require that you absolutely ensure their safety.

Moriarty raised his wine glass on the table and smiled at Dumbledore, indicating that whatever kind of person Dumbledore really was, at least for now, he was sincere.

The NEWT exam is the ultimate wizard exam.

(End of this chapter)