The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 296 School didn't start on September 1st?

6:48 AM on September 1st.

Port of London, England.

A Japanese passenger ship slowly entered the port.

The captain handed over the reins to the first mate, dragged his exhausted body back to the captain's cabin, and collapsed onto the bed to fall into a deep sleep.

The first mate looked like he was about to cry; he also wanted to rest.

They encountered an Atlantic storm, and the entire crew worked through the night to barely escape the storm.

Having wasted too much time on the Atlantic, the ferry was obviously late.

"Waaah—"

The passenger ship sounded its horn, and the massive vessel came to a stop. Passengers rushed off the ship in a flurry.

After nearly twelve hours of arduous work and intense mental strain, the crew members were exhausted and tired, but now they could finally rest.

"Phew, we're finally back!" Lilith walked out of the port, took a few deep breaths, and excitedly raised her arms. "Stepping onto London soil, breathing in the unique London smog, we announce to England that we're back!"

"You're full of energy," Moriarty chuckled, turning to look at another companion. "Look at Jericho, he's dizzy and can't walk."

Jericho leaned weakly on the handrail, each step he took seemingly requiring immense courage.

"I've really experienced the power of Japanese passenger ships—I think I've developed seasickness—something I never had before!"

Damn Japanese passenger ship, damn weather! Ugh, ugh—"

Jericho turned his head to one side, and the passengers around him quickly moved away; fortunately, he only dry heaved.

Moriarty went over and patted Jericho on the back, hoping it would make Jericho feel better.

"We have over an hour until the Hogwarts Express arrives at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. How's it going? Are we alright? Let's go to St. Mungo's Hospital."

Moriarty looked at Jericho and Lilith, seeking their opinions.

The ferry could have arrived at the port much earlier, and they could have gone back to Slytherin Castle to get some sleep.

Unexpectedly, they encountered a rare and severe storm, and the passenger ship was almost swept away.

If Moriarty hadn't used magic, the consequences would likely have been a shipwreck and loss of life.

"No, let's not," Jericho's weak voice came through. "I miss Madam Pomfrey's warm hands more than St. Mungo's Hospital. Let's go back to Hogwarts."

"It's too far to the train station from here, almost across half of London." Lilith considered the itinerary for a moment and proposed a solution: "We can have Moriarty apparate us to Diagon Alley, and then go to the train station."

"Okay, I agree," Jericho said listlessly. He probably missed Hogwarts; a glint of light appeared in his eyes when he mentioned the school.

"I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts! Oh, my dear bedroom, my bed! My Slytherin dungeons, my delicious food..."

"I think you're missing Helena," Moriarty said with a wicked grin.

"Ahem," Jericho blushed and quickly changed the subject to the Japanese crew.

He complained, "The Japanese crew members are all megalomaniacs. How could they think they could get out of the storm on their own?"

They thought they had done a good deed!

The captain isn't exactly a bright man either; I'm going to complain to their superiors—they didn't even check the route before setting sail!

And the weather! Do I really need to remind you of something as simple as checking the weather?

"Oh, Merlin, you foolish Muggle, enough is enough!"

Lilith chuckled, earning Jericho a glare. They put their hands on Moriarty's shoulders. All the passengers had left, and Moriarty used Apparition.

"Snapped!"

Moriarty and his two companions appeared on the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley, where many wizards stared at them with wide eyes.

"vomit--"

Jericho bent over and vomited on the ground.

The dizziness caused by the phantom appearance made him vomit.

"I suspect you deliberately embarrassed me," Jericho glared at Lilith.

"Oh no, sorry Jericho," Lilith said, rubbing her forehead. "Oh, I forgot about that."

Then she smiled and said, "Who told you to agree to my suggestion? You're still as naive as ever."

Jericho slapped his head, panting heavily.

Moriarty paid no attention to their bickering, because he found there were too many wizards in Diagon Alley.

Large numbers of wizards gathered on both sides of the street, and there were people outside every shop.

There aren't usually this many wizards.

"Hey! Hey, Moriarty!"

Moriarty heard Tonks' voice!

The sound seems to be coming from... Leaky Cauldron!

He turned and looked toward the bar. Tonks pushed open the bar door and ran toward Moriarty, followed by Gemma and Penelope.

"It really is Mr. Moriarty!"

Someone shouted from inside the bar, and Moriarty saw figures moving inside as a large group of people ran out.

Charlie and the Weasley twins.

Soldaya and Cedric.

There were also more than a dozen Slytherins, all of whom were members of the Hogwarts pure-blood army.

Lilith was stunned by what she saw. "Can someone tell me why you guys are in Diagon Alley? Today's the first day of school!"

"Because school isn't starting today!" Tonks ran up to Moriarty and casually mentioned it.

Moriarty noticed that Tonks' hair was gray, hadn't been washed for several days, and was dry like a pile of hay.

Tonks said to Moriarty with great excitement, "You're finally back!"

You have no idea what happened after you left. Headmaster Dumbledore, Minister Fudge, Mr. Lockhart, Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Arthur, Leon… and many more wizards sent you letters that nearly filled the castle!

Moriarty frowned; it seemed that things had changed in the British magical world since he left.

He took Tonks' hand, calmed her down, and led a group of young wizards into the Leaky Cauldron.

"One guest room, Uncle Tom."

Moriarty tossed a Galleon to the bar owner, Tom.

"No problem, room number 11 will be arranged for you, but..." Tom saw the person behind Moriarty, touched his nose, "Um, it might be crowded."

The group went up to the second floor and entered room number 11.

While going upstairs, Moriarty overheard the customers drinking and talking amongst themselves.

They're talking about Hogwarts.

"Snap!"

Jericho, who was finally entering room 11, closed the door. Good heavens, there were 23 people standing in the tiny guest room.

"What happened, Tonks? What happened while I was gone?" Moriarty rubbed Tonks's temples. She seemed to have been sleeping poorly lately, with a few bloodshot eyes.

Tonks sighed and began to narrate.

"The day after you left, the old minister Bagno retired, and Mr. Fudge became the Minister of Magic."

Moriarty wasn't surprised; Fudge's rise to power was a foregone conclusion.

"The first thing Minister Fudge did after becoming minister was to visit you at the castle."

Moriarty nodded, still quite satisfied with Fudge's attitude.

"On the third day after you left, Headmaster Dumbledore also came to visit you."

Moriarty was a little curious as to why Dumbledore was visiting him.

"There was only Penelope and I in the castle at the time. We received the headmaster. When he learned that you had left England, Headmaster Dumbledore seemed a little helpless, didn't he, Penelope?" Tonks looked at Penelope as if seeking confirmation.

Penelope confirmed Tonks's statement, adding, "The principal's expression at the time was like he knew something was about to happen but couldn't stop it."

By the way, Moriarty, I went to Slytherin Castle because I had arranged to meet my pen pal in Diagon Alley today, so I went to your house early.

You know, she's the girl who taught me to play poker.

Penelope explained why she was at Moriarty's house.

"Alright, let me get to the point," Tonks seemed anxious, and she quickened her pace. "The key point is that on the fourth day after you left, the Daily Prophet published a report."

Hogwarts is about to admit an extraordinary student!

A small snake handed over the Daily Prophet.

Moriarty took the newspaper, his gaze quickly landing on a name.

"Duweyne Vandro".

Duwayne·Venture.

The vampire Ventral employed Polish saints to attack Hyprose. Moriarty will not forget the Ventral name, nor will he forget Ventral's identity.

Vampires.

Or rather, a high-level vampire.

It's hard to say that a vampire entering Hogwarts is solely there to learn magic.

Wait, what's this?

Moriarty's gaze fell on a line of English text in the newspaper, which read: "According to Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Duwayne Ventral is only 11 years old, but that does not conceal his identity: a vampire."

"An 11-year-old vampire," Moriarty mused, "and the wizarding world knows Ventra's true identity, so wizards are questioning the idea of ​​a vampire becoming a new student at Hogwarts..."

(End of this chapter)