"Narcissa," Diana said with a sly smile, eyeing Mrs. Malfoy across the room. "A bit chilly this morning, isn't it? The winds of Hyprosey are sharper than those back in England. You might want to skip the afternoon rounds—your constitution isn't what it used to be."
A clear jab at her age.
Mrs. Malfoy's expression darkened as she responded coldly, "Don't get too pleased with yourself. You didn't fare much better this morning."
Moriarty watched silently as Penelope, ever the quiet one, suddenly chimed in with surprising boldness.
"Technically, Madam Malfoy is also on the losing side. She has one set of undergarments left, and when she arrived, she was layered in a coat and scarf. Professor Diana only wore her teaching robes. So Madam actually had two more garments to lose."
That sharp observation thickened the air. Penelope's calm tone only made the jab sting deeper.
Narcissa's lips curled into a challenging smile. "Well then, if you're all feeling so spirited—and there's nothing pressing this afternoon—I propose another round or two."
She turned her icy gaze to the rest of the girls.
Fleur flicked her silver hair over her shoulder and nodded thoughtfully. "Oui."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes at the group. "What say the rest of you?"
"I'm in!" Gemma said with sudden enthusiasm, the competitive fire in her blue eyes ignited.
Tonks smirked. "Fine by me."
Being a Metamorphmagus, Tonks had little to worry about. If she ended up completely exposed, she could simply shift her face into someone else's. She grinned internally at the possibilities—maybe she'd transform into McGonagall just for fun.
Narcissa, seeing unanimous interest, set the conditions. "Very well. Thirty minutes, and we continue."
"Why thirty minutes?" Diana scoffed.
She already had three fresh decks of cards in her hand and gave them a flourish.
"I'm ready now."
"No enchantments on the cards!" the girls shouted together.
Diana raised an eyebrow, feigning offense.
"Really? You think I'd cheat? I lost this morning too, remember?"
"But you weren't exactly overloaded with clothes to begin with," Narcissa pointed out icily.
"Ridiculous. Narcissa Malfoy—don't make yourself look foolish."
"Diana Shava—some of us play by rules."
The two women stood nose-to-nose, voices low and dangerous, the tension between them palpable.
Tonks seized the opportunity.
In a blink, her appearance shimmered and changed—within moments, she had morphed into a perfect replica of Moriarty, complete with robes, hair, and that infuriatingly confident smirk.
The real Moriarty blinked. "What are you—"
But Tonks simply grinned, sauntered toward the two arguing women, and wedged herself between them. Feeling the softness pressing on both sides, she wrapped an arm around each woman's shoulder.
Mrs. Malfoy and Diana both stiffened.
They believed it was Moriarty.
Diana's posture melted, and she leaned against "him" slightly.
Even more surprising, Narcissa didn't resist. She lowered her head modestly, her face flushed, but didn't move away. She allowed Tonks' hand to rest on her shoulder.
Tonks laughed in her real voice. "Well, now I understand the appeal. If I were Moriarty, I'd keep you two wrapped in my arms all day."
"What?" Diana's eyes snapped open.
"You're not—"
They both turned abruptly.
The real Moriarty was still seated, looking vaguely amused.
"TONKS!"
The furious shrieks were nearly identical.
Tonks, now back in her own form, stood proudly.
"Hey, don't be mad. I just gave you a little taste of your fantasies. So? What do you like about my boyfriend, hmm?"
Narcissa looked mortified.
She had let down her carefully guarded walls. For a moment, she'd allowed herself to believe—just believe—that Moriarty was reaching out to her. She had softened, only to be fooled by a disguise.
Her fists clenched, face stormy.
Diana, on the other hand, was already smoldering with icy rage. Her narrowed eyes scanned the girls one by one.
"Heh," she chuckled darkly, "let's stop pretending, shall we? We all know what this game is really about."
The girls watched her warily.
"This isn't just about cards," Diana continued. "It's about pride. Dignity. And stripping someone down in front of others—that's what breaks that pride. But clearly, it hasn't worked well enough."
She leaned closer to them. "We're only halfway to that goal."
"What do you propose?" Narcissa asked icily.
Diana turned her cheek coyly, then turned back and smiled. "Simple. The loser strips in front of a man."
The air froze.
Man?
There was only one in the room.
Moriarty.
All eyes slowly turned to him.
Was he… a man now?
Oh Merlin.
Faces flushed, and not from anger.
Diana stepped up to Moriarty with a deliberate sway in her walk, leaned in so close her breath brushed his cheek.
"Moriarty, get ready. You're joining this round."
"You mean…" Moriarty grinned, "I play poker with you lot? Same rules?"
"Yes."
"I object!" Narcissa said immediately.
Gemma's hand flew up, signaling her disapproval too.
Penelope lowered her gaze, her cheeks scarlet. "This might be going too far…"
Diana shrugged. "Please. I'd be the most exposed if I lost. But I'm not afraid. Are you?"
Moriarty gave Diana a faint nod of approval.
"Nice move," he mouthed.
Diana winked.
"You owe me."
Narcissa noticed. Her lips thinned.
"Fine," she snapped. "Let's play."
"Wait, what?" the others gasped.
Mrs. Malfoy had just agreed?
"But," she said firmly, "I'm adding one condition. Everyone wears the same number of garments: slippers, socks, pantyhose, a skirt, outer robe, and one set of underclothes. Seven items. No more. No less. Fair?"
"I'm in," Fleur said quickly. "I was at such a disadvantage earlier!"
"Agreed."
"Seconded."
Penelope and Gemma both nodded.
Diana hesitated, then gave in with a casual shrug. "I'm still confident."
But Tonks stood defiant.
"That's not how a real game works," she said. "A battlefield is a battlefield. Everyone enters with their own strengths. If someone wants to wear two hundred layers, let them!"
"If you don't care about fairness, why not just marry Moriarty and skip the game?" Narcissa fired back.
Moriarty laughed quietly.
So this is it—personality differences at play.
Penelope and Gemma—balanced, gentle, and fair-minded. Narcissa, Fleur, and Diana—calculating, strategic, always measuring the odds. Tonks—born competitor, thrill-seeker, and driven by the love of a real challenge.
As the women continued to argue, Moriarty stood and clapped.
"Ladies!"
They turned toward him.
He grinned.
"Let's simplify. Everyone wears the same thing: The Emperor's New Clothes!"
"Huh?"
"I'm already ready," Moriarty said, arms wide.
The girls gasped.
"Moriarty! You're practically naked!"
He stood there confidently, clad in only a pair of briefs.
"I am wearing something," he said calmly. "Just like the Emperor."
The girls sputtered, their faces red as apples.
"That's outrageous!" Diana shouted. "You want us to strip bare in front of you?"
"Well," Moriarty smirked, "you did invite me to play."