The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 52 The Badge Incident (Please add to your favorites!)

After the Slytherin-Hufflepuff match, the atmosphere at the school became increasingly strange.

Despite the seemingly nonchalant and magnanimous demeanor of Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall on the surface, Professor McGonagall secretly reserved the Quidditch pitch for three days, and the Weasley brothers trained there every day.

Professor Snape, on the other hand, exempted the Slytherin players from a week's worth of homework!

The students of both houses were burning with rage; the upcoming match transcended mere athletic competition, resembling a true wizarding duel.

The young wizards then likened the current situation to a duel between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin.

It's quite obvious to everyone that Slytherin has a true heir, while Godric Gryffindor's thousand-year legacy seems to have encountered some problems...

In the past, the lion cubs would attract attention wherever they went, but now they only get cold stares.

In contrast, the snakes, the young wizards of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, naturally became close to the snakes because they hoped Slytherin would defeat Gryffindor.

As they spent more time together, the young wizards discovered that Slytherin students were not at all as obsessive, eccentric, or difficult to communicate with as outsiders described. In fact, one could say that a proper Slytherin was not evil, but simply arrogant.

Over the course of a few days, Slytherin's status actually rose—even though the little snakes hadn't done anything; it was all thanks to the contrast with their peers.

Monday noon, the Slytherin table.

After a sixth-grade Ravenclaw girl struck up a conversation with Moriarty, Jerry Cole excitedly ran up to Moriarty and presented him with several badges he was holding.

"The props made by the Ravenclaw upperclassmen are really interesting," Jericho said with a grin.

These badges are large and shiny.

Above is a portrait of Moriarty riding a broomstick on a Quidditch pitch; it moves and flies around.

Each badge was printed with the same words, each bright red letter shining as if on fire.

Lilith turned her head and read out the words formed by the letters: "Mr. Moriarty beats up the Weasley brothers!"

The little snakes were all attracted and came closer to look with smiles.

"Sir, look, it has other tricks up its sleeve!" Jericho pressed the badge, the words on it disappeared, and then another line of text appeared, gleaming with a buttery light: "The snake ate the lion and left a pile of dung!"

"Hahahaha!" A burst of laughter erupted from the Slytherin table. The little snakes laughed so hard they almost fell over, and even Leon, who was usually very particular about table manners, lost his composure and laughed heartily.

"Dung! Dung!" Lalpo and Keith banged their spoons on the plate, shouting, "Gryffindor is stinking dung! A dung lion!"

A round of applause erupted at the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables, and several Ravenclaw academic elites with thick glasses raised their wine glasses, clinked them together, and downed their juices in one gulp.

The little lions were furious. Wood wanted to rush to the Slytherin table and throw the badge at Jericho's head, but Charlie held him firmly down on the stool.

Gradually, the students heard Larpo and Keith's voices grow softer and softer until their mouths opened and closed but no sound came out. Suddenly, the two realized something, glanced at Moriarty, and shut their mouths.

The little snakes all looked at Moriarty. Among all the young wizards, only Moriarty possessed such undetectable magical abilities.

"Such disgusting tactics were used in just one match?"

Moriarty's eyes were full of contempt.

"If I were just an ordinary Slytherin student, I would be happy to see Gryffindors trampled underfoot and mocked mercilessly!"

Moriarty's expression was indifferent, and for the first time, he looked at everyone with cold eyes, including the little snake and the little lion.

"But you seem to have forgotten who I am? I am a true Slytherin! Hogwarts is my home, the culmination of my ancestors' efforts!"

Everything here is closely related to me. Every little wizard in the castle has a special meaning to me. Their existence is an affirmation of the Slytherin family!

Despite the ongoing friction between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and my genuine dissatisfaction with certain actions of Gryffindor, insulting Gryffindor is insulting the four great houses, and indeed, insulting me! Of course, I treat all four houses equally in this respect.”

Moriarty's tone turned stern: "Ravenclaw? Gryffindor exploited a loophole in the rules to defeat you, so this is how you repay them?"

I've seen too many people who will stop at nothing to win, but what are you doing it for? For defeat! Even for the defeat of Gryffindor?

Have you considered the impact of what you're doing on the school's sense of collective honor and the relationship between students from other colleges?

Making a badge doesn't take long, but making an enemy of an academy can happen in an instant.

As for Gryffindor, I don't want to say much; that castle holds memories. But before making the decision to adjust your roster, did you properly consider the consequences?

Moriarty's tone wasn't fast, but every word had a powerful, penetrating quality.

The lion cubs and eagle eaglets lowered their heads in shame, their faces flushed red.

Bill Weasley gave Moriarty a serious look, then quietly left, and the lion cubs followed him away dejectedly.

However, Bill did not return to the Gryffindor common room. Instead, he went to the headmaster's office, gave the command, and went inside.

Dumbledore was chatting with portraits of past headmasters when Bill arrived and said, "I'd like to hear your opinion on Mr. Moriarty."

"Slytherin will flourish under his leadership, and he will absolutely not become a dark wizard," Bill said confidently.

"Good boy, go back now." Dumbledore's face showed no emotion.

Bill, however, seemed to have left his sentence unfinished: "Professor, Professor Randy next year—"

Dumbledore interrupted him: "I'll speak to him. As far as I know, Professor McGonagall has scheduled a practice match for you this afternoon. Go and prepare."

Bill wisely left, and as the headmaster's office door closed, he heard the portrait of Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black arguing: "I told you, Dumbledore! Hogwarts will flourish under Moriarty! You see, even the Gryffindor students can see that."

Then Bill couldn't hear the conversation in the principal's office anymore; he went back.

Not long after, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape walked in.

"What are your thoughts on the conflict between the houses?" Dumbledore asked seriously.

"If you ask me, it's all Bill Weasley's fault!" Professor Snape stared directly at Dumbledore, still speaking with his characteristic sarcasm even to the headmaster: "You sent him away for over nine months, and you never told us what his mission was!"

Now that he's back, does he remember his duties as team captain? Does he remember his rights as student council president?

There's been a thousand-year-old feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin, but never any real conflict with Ravenclaw! And now?

In my opinion, this is simple: deduct points! Put him in detention! Get Bill Weasley out of the Quidditch team!

"Frankly, Severus," Professor McGonagall said sternly, "I see no reason not to let Bill play."

"I've always believed that children should handle their own affairs," Dumbledore said, interlacing his fingers. "So far, Mr. Moriarty is doing very well."

"He lives up to the name of Slytherin!" Slytherin's expression softened slightly. "I think you can trust him."

Snape remembered the shampoo Moriarty had given him and closed his eyes slightly.

Dumbledore remained silent, neither confirming nor denying, and the office fell silent.

(End of this chapter)