Moriarty stayed in the secret room for an hour before finally emerging. The students followed behind him, and when they exited the underpass, they were greeted by an unexpected scene— the Sorting Hat hung solemnly on the Slytherin staff, with Fawkes perched atop its brim, his talons glowing faintly. Peeves hovered beside Fawkes, for once silent, while a multitude of ghosts—Sir Nicholas, the Grey Lady, the Fat Friar, and even the Bloody Baron—drifted quietly in the air, forming a spectral canopy overhead.
The sunlight filtered through the translucent ghosts, breaking into shimmering silver and grey hues. As the spirits floated with grace, the light seemed to pulse and dance through them.
A golden beam bathed Fawkes in brilliance, making him appear aflame once more. The phoenix's glow interlaced with the cold gleam of the silver Slytherin staff, creating a mesmerizing contrast of warmth and chill.
"Magical creatures and people... coexisting in harmony. This is Hogwarts," Tonks murmured with awe. "It's like the most beautiful painting of the year."
Moriarty smiled and said, "Then we should be in that painting too. We brought light and stories to Hogwarts."
The younger students nodded, enchanted by the idea. From the rear of the group, Bill called out, "Muggles have these cameras that develop the photo instantly! I wish we had one now. We could keep this memory forever."
Bill stood out as the only one not dressed formally, yet his casual air added charm rather than taking it away. His words struck a chord with the seventh years—William, Percy, and the others—who would soon leave Hogwarts behind.
Noticing their bittersweet expressions, both Moriarty and Dumbledore shared a brief glance. Each, without speaking, had the same idea.
In the days following the Chamber of Secrets incident, the school entered a whirlwind of exam preparation. Assignments and revision left little time for anything else, but Moriarty still managed to write to Lockhart, urging him to submit an article linking the Chamber of Secrets to the Slytherin bloodline.
Three days later, the Daily Prophet front page featured the headline:
"The Truth of the Millennium Chamber of Secrets – The Descendant of Slytherin Speaks Out!"
"The chamber left behind by Salazar Slytherin has long been thought a myth. But now, Moriarty Slytherin, direct heir of Salazar himself, has proved its existence and led every professor and student of Hogwarts into its depths!"
True to his preference, Moriarty did not appear in any of the photos. Instead, the accompanying images showed the ancient chamber's architecture and the petrified remains of the basilisk.
Second Article: "A Magical Revival Era? The Heir of Slytherin Weighs In!"
"It is said that every student and professor at Hogwarts has, in some way, become a part of Slytherin's legacy. For decades, the house has carried a poor reputation, but Moriarty Slytherin's actions are bold enough to redefine history.
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, stated, 'Perhaps young Moriarty will help the wizarding world understand what Slytherin truly stood for.'"
Third Article: "Exclusive: Moriarty Slytherin Unmasks You-Know-Who's Dark Origins!"
"The Slytherin heir, in a bold revelation, declared that Tom Riddle—known now only as the Dark Lord—was the true perpetrator behind the Chamber's previous opening fifty years ago, which led to the death of Ravenclaw student Myrtle Elizabeth. Rubeus Hagrid, wrongfully accused, has now been exonerated by the testimony of all Hogwarts professors and ghosts.
Though You-Know-Who has disappeared, few realize his true name: Tom Marvolo Riddle, a descendant of the Gaunt family—Slytherin's last direct lineage."
At breakfast, Lilith read the paper aloud to Moriarty word for word. "Not one sentence about the Dark Lord's financial empire," she said with a smirk.
Moriarty responded with a sneer, "Just a pile of numbers to feed moths. Power doesn't lie in gold."
The Ministry of Magic's reluctance to accept Voldemort's continued survival worked in Moriarty's favor. And if Voldemort, hiding in the Albanian forest, read that newspaper? He'd be livid.
Perhaps desperate enough to possess some unfortunate wizard and sneak into Hogwarts.
That thought amused Moriarty. He'd disrupted the plot beyond recognition—would Dumbledore still train Harry as the 'Chosen One'?
With the Philosopher's Stone long secured under Nicolas Flamel's watchful eye, Voldemort would never dare try anything. That led to another article in the Prophet:
"Hogwarts to Invite Master Alchemist Nicolas Flamel as Alchemy Professor Next Year? Flamel Responds: 'Why Am I Hearing About This Now?'"
Students laughed at the article. It was clearly Dumbledore's doing. When asked, he only chuckled and said it was a matter between "us old men." The students, meanwhile, were advised to prepare for exams.
June arrived, bringing stifling heat. The classrooms turned into ovens, and exams like Herbology and Astronomy were especially difficult under those conditions.
All quills were spelled with anti-cheating charms, yet Moriarty consistently handed in his answers first. The academic rivalry between Penelope Clearwater and Lilith played out once more. This time, Penelope exited the room ahead of her Slytherin counterpart.
Then came the practical exams.
Professor Flitwick tested the students' control by asking them to levitate pineapples across a desk. Most succeeded. Moriarty, however, not only levitated the fruit but had it juggle three desks in a circus-like performance. Flitwick, astonished, gave him full marks.
Professor McGonagall's test required students to transfigure a stool into a soft cat bed. Moriarty conjured a full feline furniture set—cat tower, beds, even a mechanical toy mouse.
McGonagall's eyes sparkled, and Moriarty mused: perhaps, if no one had been around, she might have turned into a tabby to try it herself.
In Potions, Moriarty brewed the Forgetfulness Potion perfectly and was the first to finish. Jericho, seated beside him all year, struggled to recall the steps. Thankfully, he had seen Moriarty's notes, as had Lilith—who was the second to complete her potion.
Ralbo, however, had no such advantage. Snape's piercing gaze never left him.
Snape's presence made students so nervous that even Penelope teared up.
History of Magic, the final exam, was met with collective groans. Moriarty, however, had a pleasant conversation with Professor Binns, discussing the Goblin Rebellions and the invention of the self-stirring cauldron. The ghost even offered to show Moriarty an ancient prototype.
A week later, exam results were released.
Moriarty, predictably, scored full marks in every subject, securing first place.
Penelope came in second, missing only in Potions.
Lilith, uninterested in Astronomy and History of Magic, landed in third. Her pride stung until Moriarty invited her to spend the summer at Slytherin Castle.
Percy fell to fourth place. Jericho came sixth. Overall, everyone performed admirably.
William and Bill both earned six Outstanding marks in their N.E.W.T.s—qualifying them to apply for Auror training.
Moriarty invited both to the castle for summer. Lilith, upon learning she wasn't the only guest, glared at him resentfully for the rest of the day.
In the third week of June, the final feast of the 1988–89 school year was held. The Hogwarts Express would leave the next day.
The Great Hall was awash in green and silver to celebrate Slytherin's fourth consecutive House Cup victory.
When Moriarty entered, Slytherin students rose in thunderous applause. The house had earned 910 points—more than Gryffindor and Ravenclaw combined. Over seventy percent of Slytherin's total had been earned by Moriarty alone.
Soon, Dumbledore entered, and the hall quieted.
"Another year has come and gone!" Dumbledore announced cheerfully. "Before we enjoy these marvelous dishes, let me speak a few words. What a year it has been! Your minds have grown, your hearts have expanded, and your friendships have deepened.
Yes, this has been a truly unforgettable year. We saw young Moriarty arrive. We saw Slytherin and Gryffindor reconcile. We witnessed Quidditch miracles and the unsealing of the Chamber of Secrets. We have become a family."
He raised his arms. "For this, I award Gryffindor fifty points! Ravenclaw, fifty! Hufflepuff, fifty! And Slytherin... one hundred more!"
The hall erupted into deafening cheers.
Then, as if rehearsed, Moriarty raised his staff, releasing a shimmering silver serpent into the air. Tonks conjured a cheerful badger. Penelope sent an elegant eagle soaring upward. And from the Gryffindor table, three students cast a roaring red lion.
The animals met at the hall's center, forming the Hogwarts crest above them.
Just then, Poseidon the owl swooped in, delivering a magical camera. Moriarty had requested it after exiting the Chamber.
Hagrid stepped forward, clutching the camera, and with a click—immortalized the moment.
Above them, the crest of Hogwarts glowed brightly, a symbol of unity and an unforgettable year.