Moriarty returned to the Slytherin common room as if entering the boys' bathroom.
There wasn't a single girl in sight on the sofa. The little snakes sitting in front of the fireplace were all boys, and they cast envious glances at Moriarty.
"Sir, we're back."
Jericho's voice came from behind Moriarty. He looked back.
Jericho, Leon, and the others walked in through the stone gate, looking as exhausted as soldiers returning from a battlefield. They greeted Moriarty weakly and collapsed onto the sofas.
"Move to the right, good man. Make room for me," Leon muttered to his companion beside him as he sat at the edge of the couch.
Jericho took a few heavy breaths, raised his arm with great effort, grabbed a random glass from the table, and poured its contents into his mouth without caring who it belonged to.
"Sir, being famous is truly exhausting."
Moriarty sat down beside him with a curious expression. "You? Famous?"
"No, you're famous," Jericho waved his hand with a mixture of admiration and disbelief. "Seeing you being chased and intercepted by girls... I thought about what I'll be like ten years from now. I don't think I'll enjoy that kind of fame, even if they're sweet little girls."
He shook his head gravely.
"Outrageous. Are you trying to elevate yourself by comparing to Mr.?" Leon cast him a weak glance.
"Hmph, don't forget, I'm a fast-rising star myself. I have my own fans," Jericho said proudly. "I like attention, but I don't enjoy being gawked at like a monkey."
"Oh? So by your logic, Mr. being adored by girls means he's a monkey being watched?"
"What's wrong with you today?" Jericho flipped over to face Leon and scowled. "Why are you constantly picking fights with me?"
Leon didn't answer. He simply closed his eyes and started dozing off.
"That's suspicious. You're hiding something!" Jericho pointed at Leon. "Sir, make him talk! Leon did something behind your back!"
"Liar! I didn't!" Leon lunged at Jericho and shook his head at Moriarty, flustered.
"You two never stop," Moriarty chuckled. "Anyway, have you found your dance partners yet?"
The pair immediately stopped fighting.
Jericho grinned carefreely. "I've got Helena."
Leon lowered his head, and Moriarty's and Jericho's eyes widened at his reaction.
Jericho gasped dramatically. "No way! The President of the Boys' Club couldn't find a partner?"
Keith, lounging nearby, chimed in with a teasing grin. "Our noble Prefect Leon invited the female chairperson... and got rejected."
"Keith!" Leon jumped up as if stung, pointing furiously at Keith, clearly offended.
Keith ducked behind Moriarty. Moriarty calmly patted Leon's shoulder and motioned for him to sit down.
"You refused to give her pudding before, and now you want her as your dance partner? Think it through, Leon. Any girl with self-respect and pride would reject you after that."
Leon sighed heavily. "I don't know what I was thinking. When I heard about the prom, she was the first one that came to mind."
"Aha, I get it," Jericho said with mock understanding. "You want to dance with her, but you won't even give her dessert. Classic scumbag behavior."
Leon jumped at him again, grabbing him by the collar this time.
The little snakes burst into laughter. Moriarty chuckled. "Calm down, Leon. You're representing the Minchum family. Keep your composure."
Leon reluctantly released Jericho. The latter straightened his robes and grinned cheekily. Leon hadn't used any force, but Jericho couldn't resist jabbing, "You can't find a dance partner, so now you're choking people? What a man!"
As Leon shot him a glare that could cut stone, Jericho quickly shifted topics. "Sir, have you chosen your dance partner?"
The common room instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to Moriarty. Even Lilith, hiding behind the door of the girls' dormitory, held her breath.
Lilith's black eyes were filled with unease and uncertainty.
She was standing just beyond the doorway. A dance partner? Who would Moriarty choose?
Lilith completely dismissed the girls who chased Moriarty and tried to engineer chance meetings with him. They were nothing to her.
Most of those girls wouldn't dare approach Moriarty seriously, not with all the accolades and prestige surrounding him. Their antics were noisy but empty—lots of thunder, little rain.
What truly bothered Lilith were the actual threats. In her mind's eye, she saw Gemma Farley, so refined and intelligent. Then she saw Penelope Clearwater beside Moriarty, nodding obediently and flashing her clever smile.
Which of them would Moriarty pick?
Or… would he choose both?
After all, Headmaster Dumbledore had explicitly said it was acceptable to have multiple dance partners.
Lilith pouted. That rule was clearly made with Moriarty in mind.
But her instincts told her Moriarty wouldn't go that route. He'd choose one.
Back in the lounge, the silence didn't last much longer. Moriarty gave Jericho a sharp look. "Did a girl put you up to this? Are you asking on someone's behalf?"
"Ah, this…" Jericho cracked immediately. He didn't dare lie under Moriarty's gaze—those grey eyes could pierce through lies and dig out truths.
Lilith's cheeks flushed red at that moment. She was caught.
Fortunately, Jericho wasn't the type to betray a friend. He chuckled. "Sir, this rescue operation was organized by Pilivick."
Leon, Keith, and the others nodded.
Moriarty understood and gave a small nod. He glanced briefly at the girls' dormitory door. Jericho braced himself, thinking he might call for Lilith, but instead Moriarty asked, "Where did Tonks go after the match?"
"Uh…"
Jericho and Leon looked at each other. "Tonks went to the Hufflepuff kitchen," Jericho offered. "Said she wanted to cook something good."
Moriarty smirked. "That greedy cat."
He stood up and addressed the room. "The dinner dance starts at seven sharp. Every Slytherin must have a partner. Arrive in formal attire and show the guests what Slytherin pride looks like."
"No problem, sir. We won't disappoint," Leon answered immediately.
After Moriarty left, Jericho sighed and shook his head. "Tsk. Looks like Mr. has made his choice. Yep—Senior Tonks."
He emphasized "Senior Tonks" as if trying to make sure Lilith heard him.
In truth, Lilith had already realized it when Moriarty asked about Tonks.
He had made his decision. The heavy stone pressing on Lilith's heart finally lifted.
And oddly, she felt at peace.
Looking around Hogwarts, Tonks truly was the most suitable dance partner for Moriarty.
Both were Dream Team players. They'd just defeated a national team together. To lead the dance and represent Hogwarts in front of guests—they were the perfect pair.
Lilith crawled back into bed, curling up under her white quilt. She suddenly realized… she wouldn't always be able to stay by Moriarty's side.
Meanwhile, Moriarty had just stepped out of the common room when he ran into Ralbo, who came sprinting toward him.
"Sir! Mr. Moriarty—please, come quickly! Come to the Black Lake!"
Moriarty gave him a stern look. "Calm down. What's going on at the lake?"
"Someone's waiting for you..." Ralbo pleaded, eyes wide. "Please. Just go."
"Who?" Moriarty asked, puzzled. Who could make Ralbo act like this?
"You'll see when you get there," Ralbo muttered, then rushed back through the stone gate.
Now Moriarty's curiosity was piqued. Who would summon him like this?
He didn't believe anyone at Hogwarts would dare harm him—unless their head was stuffed with Gurdyroot.
Ten minutes later, Moriarty arrived at the Black Lake. In late November, the lake looked grim—like Professor Snape's face when angry. Cold, bleak, and uninviting.
Scanning the shoreline, he spotted a figure in white.
A woman stood there, facing the lake. Her pale blonde hair fluttered in the wind.
From the back, she exuded a graceful and commanding presence. A woman—not a girl.
Moriarty narrowed his eyes. Who was she?