The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 528 Luna Lovegood (1010)

Moriarty took over "The Quibbler".

This magazine needs to be turned upside down to read properly.

Moriarty recognized the illustration on the cover as a poorly drawn Cornelius Fudge cartoon.

Moriarty recognized him by the dark yellow-green hat on his head.

Fudge held the wand in one hand and a wizard's hat in the other.

The caption in the comic reads: How far is Fudge from taking over Hogwarts?

Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, who was already in his fifth year when he was elected minister, had previously denied any intention of taking over Hogwarts.

Fudge always insisted that he only wanted to "cooperate peacefully" with our Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

But is this really the case?

Sources with close ties to the Ministry of Magic recently revealed that Fudge's strongest ambition is to control Hogwarts, and he will not hesitate to use force if necessary.

"This won't be the first time," said a source within the Ministry of Magic. "His friends call him 'Professor Killer' Cornelius Fudge."

I hope you can hear what he says when he thinks no one's around. Oh, he always talks about all those old professors he killed. Drowned them, pushed them off buildings, poisoned them, and baked them into pies…”

Lilith saw the report from behind Moriarty and laughed out loud, which was rather unkind.

Moriarty met her smiling gaze and they exchanged a glance, then both burst into laughter again.

Fudge was a power-hungry fool, but he didn't have the guts to lay a hand on the Hogwarts professors.

While the Daily Prophet was attacking Dumbledore, Fudge was clearly taking a stand against him.

The choice of the editor-in-chief of The Quibbler, Xenophilius Lovegood, has already been proven.

"He supports Dumbledore, so we're on the same side."

Moriarty said to Marcus.

"You can go and talk to him, no, I'll go myself."

Moriarty said, getting up from the recliner.

"Gamp supports the Daily Prophet, I support those who sing dissent!"

"I originally planned to open a newspaper, but now that I've come up with this dissenting voice, it's saved me a lot of steps."

"Do you remember?" Lilith frowned slightly, and couldn't help but say, "A few years ago, some people were saying you were an ambitious schemer, a mastermind!"

"He was just riding my coattails back then, but things are different now," Moriarty waved his hand dismissively. "I believe Xenophilius Lovegood will make the right choice."

Lilith thoughtfully fetched Moriarty a coat; autumn was approaching and the weather was turning cold.

"Shall I go with you? If you cooperate with Changchang Fandiao, I can help you solve a lot of legal problems."

Moriarty, fully dressed, winked at Lilith and said with a smile, "Having the help of the Chief Attorney of Justice Law is so convenient."

Lilith raised her eyebrows smugly, but her ears turned red.

"Sir," Marcus said, "we found out that Xenophilius Lovegood lives in the village of Autri San Catchpol."

"Very good, let's go."

Moriarty and Lilith Apparated with Marcus to a breezy hillside.

I was struck by the beautiful scenery of this small village.

Looking out from a high vantage point, the village resembles a cluster of toy houses scattered among the clouds in a giant beam of light slanting towards the ground.

Moriarty saw a crooked house in the village.

That was the Weasley family’s Burrow.

Ron was taken back to the country by Lockhart, and the curse on the Weasley family is slowly being lifted.

This made the Weasley family extremely grateful to Lockhart.

Moriarty was still somewhat bothered by what the Egyptian princess had said about the Weasley family.

"Let's search up the mountain ahead."

A gust of wind blew by, and Lilith cupped her hands to her mouth.

They then shifted their phantoms several miles north.

"Look! There!"

Marcus pointed to a bizarrely shaped house.

At the summit of the mountain they had just arrived at, the house resembled a giant black cylinder, with a ghostly moon hanging in the afternoon sky behind it.

"What a strange architectural style."

Lilith brushed a strand of hair that had been blown by the wind and commented.

"This should be it," Moriarty strode forward, "The architectural style is consistent with the magazine's style."

The three of them walked to the courtyard gate.

Three hand-painted signs were nailed to the damaged gate.

First piece: "Singing the Quibbles" Editor-in-Chief: X. Lovegood.

The second item: Please choose a bunch of mistletoe yourself.

Thirdly: Don't touch the airship.

"I witnessed a truly spectacular scene."

Lilith stared at the sign and said coldly that she wasn't used to Lovegood's style.

Marcus turned his head back and forth.

Moriarty guessed he was looking at the various strange plants in the yard.

A shrub was covered with small, orange-red, radish-shaped fruits.

There are also gnarled vines, old crabapple trees, and mistletoe corollas laden with small red berries and large clusters of white beads.

Moriarty pushed open the creaking courtyard gate, went inside, and knocked three times on the heavy black door.

The door opened in less than ten seconds.

Xenophilius Lovegood stood there, barefoot, wearing what looked like a stained long nightgown, his long, cotton-candy-like white hair dirty and messy.

"What? What is this? Who are you? Oh no—you are? Moriarty Slytherin?"

He spoke in a sharp, complaining voice, perhaps not realizing it at first, before taking a closer look at the person in front of him.

"It's me, I'm glad you recognized me."

"That's what Moriarty said politely."

"Could you please let us inside to talk? It's too windy."

"Uh—of course, of course. Hurry up."

Xenophilius was clearly surprised, to the point of being at a loss for words.

As soon as the three stepped across the threshold, Xenophirus slammed the door shut.

Moriarty looked around; the layout and furnishings were the strangest he had ever seen.

Lilith frowned as she watched.

I thought to myself that this style would absolutely not be allowed in my home.

Of course, this is all predicated on Moriarty's home.

"It would be best to go upstairs," Xenophilius said happily, now that he understood.

He led the way up, Moriarty followed, and the three of them saw that the room upstairs seemed to be both a living room and a workspace.

A huge wooden thing is making noise.

It appears to have many magically rotating gears. It looks like a monster, a hybrid of a workbench and a pile of old shelves.

It seemed someone was behind it, only a wisp of white hair was visible.

"Please don't look down on the home of a single father and daughter. This is also an editorial office where we sometimes disagree."

Xenophilius was somewhat embarrassed and waved his hands around.

But she still said it openly and honestly.

"I have a feeling of being back in the Room of Requirement," Moriarty said with a smile and a shake of his head. "It doesn't matter, the point of our conversation is to offer a dissenting opinion."

"Splash—"

A small figure appeared behind the wooden thing.

"Dad, who's here?"

A little girl came out.

She had a head of messy, dirty, waist-length golden hair.

Her eyebrows were very light in color, and her eyes protruded slightly, which gave her a perpetually surprised expression.

What caught Lilith's attention even more was that she was wearing a necklace made of corks from butterbeer.

What caught Moriarty's attention was her eyes.

Other people's blue eyes can be described as a vast ocean or a boundless blue sky.

Her eyes were a very light blue.

Her eyes were clear and ethereal.

It's like a mirror.

Looking into her eyes allows you to see your own soul.

Xenophilius walked over to Luna, then turned and smiled at Moriarty: "My daughter, Luna."

"This year's Hogwarts freshman, Lunalovegood," he added, as if remembering something.

After Moriarty nodded with a kiss, he said to Luna, "They are guests in the house."

He then fluently recited the names of Moriarty and the other two.

"I've been keeping an eye on you."

A harmless smile appeared on Xenophius's face.

"Mr. Flint, the magnificent zoologist."

"Miss Pilivik, founder of justice and law, legal leader."

"Mr. Moriarty, the sole direct descendant of the legendary Slytherin family and the current head of the family."

Upon hearing these words, Luna quickly ran out and brought back three stools.

"Please sit down."

She said it out loud.

"By the way, you're being bothered by a lot of swarms of flies," she said as she moved the stool next to Lilith.

"What is that?" Lilith asked in surprise, while Luna had already turned around and walked behind the wooden figure.

Xenophilius explained, "Harassment flies... they're invisible, they float into your ears and mess with your brain."

She clapped her hands in the air, as if trying to shoo away an invisible giant moth.

Lilith simply turned her head away, pointed at the wooden thing, and said, "And what's that?"

"A combination of a typewriter and a printing press, which I asked Mr. Arthur Weasley next door to make."

Moriarty said approvingly, "Despite the difficult conditions and rudimentary facilities, you have produced one masterpiece after another. I heard you accepted Marcus's invitation. What do you hope to gain?"

Xenophius was initially quite pleased with what Moriarty was saying, but Moriarty cut straight to the point.

"Then I'll be frank," Xenophilius said, taking a long breath.

(Bonus chapter for the tenth time! Bonus chapter complete. Congratulations again to He Jiajun on becoming the Alliance Leader!)

(End of this chapter)