The filing cabinets were laid out across the ground, categorized meticulously. Each of the four Houses had their designated sections, but what immediately caught Moriarty's attention was that the Gryffindor section took up twice as much space as the other three combined.
"A surprising number of mistakes," Lilith commented as she walked up to Moriarty. She peered into one of the Gryffindor drawers with a sardonic smile. "Everyone here thinks they're a Gryffindor—heroes in their own minds."
Moriarty reached into the cabinet and pulled out a random file bag, flipping it open.
"These are detailed disciplinary records," he observed coolly. "Filch definitely kept these as incriminating evidence."
He returned the file—labeled for Gryffindor students of 1965—back into its slot. It wasn't what he was looking for.
"What are you searching for exactly?" Lilith asked, trailing her fingers lightly over the rows of drawers. Her movement was elegant, her expression tranquil, like a cloistered nun quietly reciting prayers over sacred texts.
Moriarty, not turning around, replied, "The Gryffindor cabinet for the years 1971 through 1978."
Lilith frowned slightly, puzzled. "Nothing significant happened during those years, as far as I know."
"Oh? Look at this," Moriarty called out, holding a parchment. "The Weasley twins have their own legacy. As of November, they've committed 226 infractions."
He paused to calculate. "If we exclude the days the castle was under the vampire virus incursion, they've only been in school for about a month and already racked up 188 cases."
Lilith gave a dry laugh. "They've really left their mark on Hogwarts. No one's been more mischievous than them."
"Not entirely sure about that," Moriarty replied with a subtle smile. His eyes caught sight of a tin cabinet a meter away marked "1978."
He stepped over. The weight of the drawer's contents was evident even without touching it—it looked ready to explode from overstuffing.
"Moriarty," Lilith called from behind the cabinet, "the names are on the back."
"James Potter. Sirius Black. Remus John Lupin. Peter Pettigrew," she read aloud, her tone subtly shifting.
"Potter? Black? Two purebloods in Gryffindor?" she mused. "One's the Savior's father. The other—Azkaban's infamous prisoner. Quite the history. Are you looking for them, Moriarty?"
He nodded, locking eyes with her, then walked to the front and placed his hand on the drawer labeled "James Potter."
"Step back, Lilith. These profiles might be enchanted to replicate—goblins aren't the only things that multiply," he warned.
Amused by the image, Lilith joined him anyway, standing beside him as he opened the drawer.
With a "swish," the drawer burst open—files, data cards, parchment, even prank toys spilled out in chaotic waves, cluttering the floor like a flood.
They stepped back instinctively, watching James Potter's life scatter across the stone floor.
A stale, mischievous scent wafted from the papers, like lingering echoes of the Marauders' laughter—masking the moldy stench of aged parchment.
Lilith wrinkled her nose and fanned the air. "Filch definitely has odd hobbies. Nostalgia? Or a fetish for troublemakers?"
"Filch is a Squib. He couldn't use magic, so he spent decades recording these things manually," Moriarty said, waving his wand. "Now it's my gain. Marauder's Map—come to me!"
With a whispering gust, a folded rectangle of parchment soared from the pile and landed neatly in Moriarty's outstretched hand.
Lilith leaned in closer. "Is that what I think it is? The Marauder's Map?"
"Yes," he confirmed, opening the parchment and tapping it with his wand. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Lilith burst out laughing. "As if any mischief-maker would admit it!"
"It's the spell to activate the map," Moriarty said. The ink lines began to extend rapidly, revealing Hogwarts in astonishing detail.
Lilith gasped. "It even shows our names—Moriarty Slytherin and Lilith Piliwick!"
"This map reveals not just hidden passages, but everyone's location," Moriarty explained. "It's invaluable. It shouldn't just be used for childish pranks—it deserves proper use."
He studied the dots and paths intently, assessing the real-time potential of the artifact.
"It's built on clever enchantments. Few modern wizards still master mantras," he added, glancing at Lilith. She looked at him with admiration and blinked reverently. "Are you planning to study mantra magic?"
"To improve it, actually," Moriarty said thoughtfully. "Salazar's diary contains mantra theories. It's a foundational element of Hogwarts' original magical architecture."
He continued, "Using the Slytherin family's magic, I can detect magical signatures—but I can't match them to individuals. The mantra could change that. If I master this, I might even publish an academic thesis: 'On the Integration of Mantras and Alchemical Instruments for Real-Time Map Navigation.'"
Lilith listened intently, her eyes soft as she watched him speak. Just then, a soft meowing sound broke their concentration.
Moriarty checked the map. Several dots were moving rapidly from the History of Magic classroom on the second floor toward the marble staircase.
"George, Fred, Cedric, and Lee Jordan," he murmured.
Another pair of dots—labeled Filch and Mrs. Norris—pursued them in hot pursuit, heading toward the first floor.
Lilith tensed. "Filch is coming back. He must've noticed a breach—he's wearing those alchemy-enhanced shoes!"
"It doesn't matter," Moriarty said, casually casting Disillusionment Charms on them both. He restored the cabinet and left behind only Mrs. Norris' dung tracks.
"The twins are going to be in deep trouble," Lilith muttered. "Filch will be furious."
"They'll manage," Moriarty replied, a faint smile on his lips. "They were born to be chaos incarnate. But Cedric hanging out with them? That's unexpected."
Still chuckling, they descended the stairs and found four first-years breathless from running.
George leaned on the railing. "Don't panic, guys. Filch isn't chasing us anymore!"
"Did his shoes malfunction?" Fred gasped. "They almost ended us."
Lee Jordan looked back nervously. "Shh! He might sneak up on us! What if he's invisible now?"
Cedric scanned the area. George groaned, "I think I heard a voice near the Transfiguration classroom—it said, 'Come on, Helena! Let's lure Professor Snape away!' It was right next to us. Maybe that's why Filch changed direction."
At the name "Helena," Moriarty and Lilith paused.
"Isn't that the girl Blanche hangs around with?" Lilith asked grimly.
Moriarty quickly unfolded the Marauder's Map. His gaze found the corridor near the Transfiguration classroom on the second floor.
Three names glowed clearly:
Severus Snape.
Argus Filch.
Jericho Blanche.