Night Tour?
How long had it been since Dracula was eliminated from the night tour?
Looking into the girl's clear, expectant eyes, Moriarty relented with a nod.
"Jericho, how about you?" Moriarty asked to his side, expecting the usual quip. But silence answered. He turned his head—only Marcus and Leon stood beside him. Jericho was nowhere to be seen.
He glanced around the table in search of his friend. Marcus leaned in and whispered, "Sir, Jericho is at the Ravenclaw table."
Then, with a smirk, he added, "With his girlfriend."
Moriarty arched an eyebrow and then turned a knowing smile toward Lilith. "Looks like Jericho will be skipping tonight's tour. But don't expect him to stay in the dorms—he'll probably take his girlfriend for a rendezvous somewhere in the castle."
Lilith smiled in agreement, hiding her delight. The trio had suddenly become a duo. She didn't mind—whether it was the library or the Room of Requirement, any place would do.
She let her thoughts drift to a romantic image: a quiet, forbidden night. A boy and a girl learning magic in the shadows of the library. The boy gently adjusting the girl's wand stance. Their hands brushing, their bodies leaning closer, and eventually—
How much more romantic could it get?
Suppressing a giggle, Lilith composed herself and said with a graceful air, "We'd better go to the library. I've only practiced illusion spells in the restricted section."
"Don't talk about night tours so openly," Moriarty cautioned, glancing toward the long Gryffindor table. The Weasley twins looked unusually subdued, being lectured by Charlie Weasley—a rare sight indeed.
Night tours were never just a Gryffindor hobby. Slytherins and Ravenclaws also indulged frequently. But the lions got caught most often, teaching the other houses the value of discretion—via point deductions.
Lilith, reminded, checked her enthusiasm. She threw Moriarty a look and raised both index fingers.
Moriarty nodded knowingly.
After dinner, he returned to the dormitory. Jericho was still out with his girlfriend, and Keith and Ralpo had gone to their respective clubs. The dorm was quiet, empty except for him.
He opened Salazar's diary, flipping to the notes on spellcraft. The battle with Dracula had sparked new insights into Salazar's ancient spells.
At eleven o'clock, with no sign of Jericho, Moriarty cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and slipped quietly out.
Down in the common room, Lilith sat poised on a velvet couch. Her appearance was striking—subtle makeup, eyes glinting like starlight, and her golden hair tumbling neatly around her shoulders. She wasn't wearing robes but a Muggle leather jacket over fitted jeans, accentuating her tall, graceful frame.
Moriarty revealed himself. "Lilith, let's go."
"I've been waiting forever," she said with a delicate toss of her hair—an effortlessly charming gesture. She stood eagerly. "Blanche really didn't come back?"
Moriarty shook his head while casting another Disillusionment Charm over them. "Jericho probably won't return tonight. Americans are a bit more… open about this sort of thing."
The two made their way through the corridors, their footsteps light. As they descended the stairs to the first floor, a sharp meow halted them.
They froze.
"Mrs. Norris again!" Lilith groaned. "I swear I hear that cat twenty times a day. I'm starting to hate cats—and I used to love them more than dogs."
"Listen closely," Moriarty's brow furrowed. "That meow sounds... different. It's panicked."
Lilith stiffened. "Could Filch be in trouble? Another Dracula incident?"
"Filch has alchemical artifacts. He can handle minor threats," Moriarty said, already heading toward the noise. "Unless it's something unusual."
Lilith followed, curiosity piqued. The cat's cries grew louder as they reached the end of the stairs. Lilith tilted her head. "It's coming from Filch's office, I think."
"Yes, and did you hear that? There's laughter in the background."
Moriarty grimaced—he regretted not bringing the Slytherin staff. With it, he could have scryed the scene within the office.
"I hear it," Lilith confirmed. "It's not snickering—it's choked laughter, like someone trying to hold it in."
"That kind of laugh—and teasing Mrs. Norris? There are only two people in the castle who'd do that," Moriarty said. "The Weasley twins."
Lilith sighed and tugged his sleeve. "Now that we know, let's go. The night is still young."
She didn't want pranksters ruining her night with Moriarty.
But he had another idea. "Filch's office is just behind the stairs. If the twins have distracted him, then this is the perfect time. I need to retrieve something."
He dashed down the last few steps, and Lilith, curiosity outweighing disappointment, followed. "What could Filch possibly have that you want?" she asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Moriarty offered a sly grin, rounded a corner, and approached the office door. Drawing his wand, he muttered, "Alohomora."
Click!
The door creaked open.
The flickering light from the oil lamp above illuminated a chaotic office. The air smelled sharply of grilled fish and something fouler. Filing cabinets were stacked in neat rows—each one holding student disciplinary records.
Mrs. Norris darted between them, her fur matted with yellow, sticky goo. The poor cat leapt and twisted in distress, her cries echoing in the cramped space.
Fred Weasley and Lee Jordan stood nearby, wands glowing, cornering the unfortunate cat.
The door opening startled them.
"Meow—!" Mrs. Norris yowled in panic and bolted past them.
Fred and Lee Jordan turned, clearly startled, but they saw no one.
"Haunted?" Lee Jordan murmured nervously.
"Haunted? You're a wizard," Fred snapped, raising his wand. "Don't be ridiculous."
Just then, Lilith lifted the Disillusionment Charm. Her face was thunderous.
"Did you just hex a cat?" she snapped, storming toward them. "That's disgusting!"
"No, no!" Lee Jordan stammered.
"We didn't hex her!" Fred protested, smiling sheepishly. "We just smeared some Dungbomb goo on the floor. It's harmless fun."
"When she screamed, you must've felt so proud," Lilith glared. "Now get out."
Lee Jordan bolted, but Fred caught his sleeve.
"We're all part of the night tour army, aren't we?" Fred said, grinning. "Why not team up and give old Filch a real surprise?"
"Maybe steal his alchemical props?"
Lilith's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I'd advise against that," Moriarty's voice cut in. He had reappeared behind Fred, making the two boys jump.
When they saw it was Moriarty, they relaxed.
"Sir, you scared us."
Fred tried to drape an arm over Moriarty's shoulder, but thought better of it and offered Lee Jordan a high-five instead.
"George and Cedric lured Filch away. We were just giving Mrs. Norris a lesson. It worked—victory!"
Lilith pursed her lips. "I ought to report you to Professor McGonagall."
The boys paled. Moriarty added, "Professor Flamel once told me that if any of his alchemical artifacts are destroyed, a deafening alarm sounds. Try stealing one and you'll wake the entire castle."
Fred and Lee Jordan exchanged glances. "Thanks for the warning! We'll be off!"
Taking the hint, they fled, closing the door behind them.
Lilith gave Moriarty a questioning look. "Was that true?"
"Of course not," he replied smoothly. "Flamel's not that paranoid. But it was fun to mess with them."
He turned toward the filing cabinets. What he was after was locked in one of them.
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