Dumbledore took a calm step forward, standing in front of Professor Randy, and looked at Moriarty with anticipation. "Moriarty, do you have a way to break the curse?"
The old headmaster wanted Moriarty to reveal the method in public, but Moriarty wasn't going to oblige. He shrugged slightly. "Yes. But it's very complicated to solve the curse, and it requires more time."
Dumbledore and Professor Randy exchanged a look, but ultimately, neither said anything. A few minutes later, Marcus approached from behind and spoke softly, "Master, it's twelve o'clock."
Moriarty pressed the Slytherin staff firmly into the ground, ensuring it sank deep, leaving only the top exposed. As water element magic flowed into the staff, the grass surrounding it began to dampen.
"The heir of Slytherin, the descendant of Godric's Hollow, the young eagle who accepts ancient wisdom, the rose of Hufflepuff, speak to the Big Four!"
Moriarty suddenly spoke in Parseltongue, his voice ringing out clearly, the hissing reverberating across Hogwarts.
The stone pillars, suits of armor, and murals within earshot of the snake language seemed to come alive, as if responding to an ancient call. The stone pillars stationed themselves to guard the castle's perimeter; the suits of armor quickly aligned themselves along corridors and key passages; the portraits on the murals grew brighter, their eyes wide, scanning every corner of the castle—even the portraits of past headmasters were not exempt.
This sudden shift caused a wave of surprise and curiosity among the teachers and students. Professor McGonagall approached Dumbledore and whispered, "I can only assume that Mr. Moriarty controls part of the castle. After all, he's a descendant of Slytherin. But this—this state of the castle? It feels like a war, Albus! What's happening?"
For the first time, Dumbledore observed Moriarty with sharp, calculating eyes. His voice dropped low. "The Big Four designed Hogwarts as a battle fortress. I believe Moriarty's spell has awakened the castle's original form. As for what he's doing... we don't know yet."
But soon, it became clear what Moriarty intended. Drawing his cedar wand, he aimed it at the lawn on the right side of the castle.
"Ice Snake Dance!"
Centered on the Slytherin staff, a silver magic circle expanded across the lawn. Twelve ice snakes appeared, crashing through the grass and burrowing deep into the earth, leaving large holes behind.
Moriarty's expression shifted slightly. Dumbledore seemed to understand, and stepped forward. "If I'm not mistaken, you're trying to dig a passage?"
"Exactly. I'm opening a passage to the Slytherin secret room." Moriarty nodded. "There is a way into the secret room through the girls' bathroom, but I can guarantee no one wants to go through that route."
Dumbledore remained silent. Moriarty's magic focused on practical combat, making him somewhat unskilled at creating underground passages.
But Dumbledore knew opening a passage would be easy for him—if only he knew the secret room's exact location.
Just as tension seemed to mount, Peeves arrived, floating through the air.
In his hands, he held the Sorting Hat, and his voice echoed loudly. "When you get hit by this feeling, it spreads all over your body and deep into your bones! You ask me what it feels like? Oh Merlin, I've lost my mind, and I have to let it go! Oh oh~ but first, calm down and witness this grand spectacle!"
The students were confused by Peeves' cryptic words. Several of the snakes muttered, wanting to ask Barrow to chase him off, but Barrow remained frozen, his eyes distant.
Peeves floated toward Moriarty, tossing the Sorting Hat toward him. Moriarty could hear the hat grumble, "Hey, you need to be more gentle!"
Moriarty grabbed the Sorting Hat, and as his hand closed around it, something heavy slipped from inside the hat—a sword!
He gripped the sword, its silver blade gleaming under the sunlight. The teachers and students gasped in unison, "The Sword of Gryffindor!?"
Why had the sword of Gryffindor appeared at this precise moment? Everyone wondered.
But Moriarty's focus remained on Peeves hovering above him and the Sorting Hat. He seemed to understand something. He infused the sword with water element magic. Despite encountering resistance, he succeeded. Holding the sword with both hands, he swung it toward the lawn on the right with a powerful motion.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
With each swing, four water blades sliced through the lawn, embedding deeply into the ground. Slowly, a large cube began to rise from the earth, revealing an opening large enough for five people to pass through.
Moriarty's lips curled upward. As expected, using the Sword of Gryffindor to carve through the space was far quicker than using water magic alone. He then directed the twelve ice snakes to burrow into the earth, opening a passage that stretched from the lawn directly into the secret room.
"Whispering Snakes!" Moriarty summoned more snakes and instructed them to crawl through the underground passage, shaping it into steps and floors, neatly organizing the tunnel.
To the teachers and students above, all they saw were Moriarty with a staff and sword, Peeves singing an odd song, and the Sorting Hat involved in this bizarre chain of events. Everything felt strange and disjointed.
Only Dumbledore seemed to grasp the significance. Peeves' song was like a Cruciatus curse—penetrating into the brain and heart!
Together with the sight of Moriarty wielding the Sword of Gryffindor, Dumbledore realized what "that feeling" Peeves had mentioned was.
It was the feeling of witnessing a miracle, one that had been set into motion—and Dumbledore could see it unfold before his eyes.
Watching Moriarty open the underground passage, Dumbledore found himself transported to the past, when Hogwarts had not yet been a school, and the Four Founders had used their combined powers to transform the castle into the fortress of magic it had become.
Salazar Slytherin had thrust his staff into the ground, creating large protective magic circles to shield the castle's landscape. Godric Gryffindor had swung his sword, expanding the castle's grounds and opening secrets that had remained hidden for ages.
And Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had also played their parts, using their weapons in this great task.
Dumbledore recalled the legend he had shared at the Sorting Ceremony: The Four Founders' weapons were real!
Moriarty's voice snapped Dumbledore from his thoughts. "The path to the secret room is ready. Please, follow me."
Moriarty turned and walked toward the newly created passage. Marcus and the others tried to follow, but Dumbledore intervened, "In times of danger, I cannot allow my students to lead. Though I trust Moriarty, we cannot take chances. Professors—"
He raised his voice, "Please, come down with me to ensure the passage is safe. Only once it's confirmed should the students enter."
And with a final call, "Fawkes!" Dumbledore summoned his phoenix, instructing it to keep an eye on the students. Fawkes, for some reason, seemed particularly interested in Peeves, chasing after him.
Marcus and Jericho exchanged glances. Moriarty had clearly wanted all the students to enter the secret room, but Dumbledore...
At that moment, Moriarty shook his head at them, signaling it was alright. Without a glance back, he disappeared into the passage.
"Let's go," Dumbledore said, his voice firm. He turned to the students. "Prefects, ensure the safety of your peers."
Ten minutes after all the professors had entered the passage, a tabby cat emerged from the passage's entrance, which then transformed into Professor McGonagall.
"Children, come with me. I'll show you Slytherin's secret room!" Professor McGonagall announced, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
The students, eager and curious, rushed into the underground passage, their voices echoing with anticipation. William and Leon led the way, followed closely by Jericho and the other young Slytherins—practically bouncing with excitement as they ran down the passage.
"Wow, look at this!" Jericho exclaimed, his eyes wide. The silver floor and black ceiling made the passage feel elegant and mysterious. Several bright lights illuminated the walls.
Jericho couldn't help but compare the passage to a jewel in the Slytherin vault. "In just minutes, Mr. Moriarty has turned this place into something incredible. I can't wait to see the secret room inside! The passage looks amazing; the secret room can't be any less!"
The other students nodded in agreement. But Marcus remained silent. He had seen the secret room before, and there was little he could say to compliment what lay within.
Soon, hundreds of students entered the passage, their steps echoing through the underground tunnel as they made their way toward Slytherin's secret room.