What Moriarty and Jericho said to the little snakes was actually part of the agreement with Professor Snape—to ensure that Jericho received a lighter punishment.
Whether it was dominating Gryffindor with a massive score or innovating with new tactics, Moriarty was playing directly into his strengths.
He had given his word to Ludo Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, that he would represent England in the 1990 Quidditch World Cup.
Naturally, such a promise required serious preparation—and innovation.
As Jericho took his seat, the system chimed in with a new task.
"Ding Dong~ Task Released: Prepare for the World Cup (1)."
Mission Requirements: Lead the Slytherin team to dominant victories over Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.
Each match must showcase a brand-new tactic and be won by a margin of at least 200 points.
Mission Timeframe: Before February 1990.
Mission Rewards: 100,000 points and 10 years' worth of magical power.
Mission Failure Penalty: The host must marry Mrs. Zabini and become her seventh husband.
Mrs. Zabini's seventh husband?
That implies her sixth husband is already nearing his demise...
Moriarty put down his slice of toast with a frown. He had encountered Mrs. Zabini once at a pure-blood gathering—at the time, she had just buried her fifth husband.
In just a few short months, yet another respectable wizard was approaching death? That woman truly was something else...
The moniker Black Widow was no exaggeration.
Moriarty fully understood the system's cruel sense of humor now. Being tied to Mrs. Zabini was practically a death sentence.
Thankfully, the Slytherin team had been putting in serious effort, and with Moriarty's tactical innovations, their training games were yielding excellent results.
Fast forward to Thursday morning—less than an hour before the highly anticipated Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match.
Ludo Bagman arrived at the castle with a man who appeared to be in his twenties. Albus Dumbledore greeted them in person.
"Mr. Moriarty invited me to watch the match," Ludo explained with a wide grin. "Dear Albus, allow me to introduce someone—this is Roman, captain of the British national Quidditch team."
Dumbledore nodded politely at Roman. Though the young man clearly wasn't a Hogwarts student, his presence, alongside Ludo's, hinted at something significant.
When Dumbledore connected the dots back to Moriarty, the realization dawned on him.
Ludo smiled knowingly at Dumbledore's inquisitive glance. "Yes, Albus, your instincts are right. Moriarty's joining the national team. Quite the surprise, isn't it?"
Dumbledore was momentarily stunned—but beneath the shock was a deep sense of pride and joy. He hoped Moriarty would continue to grow, make new allies, and dazzle the magical world.
"Hold on, Director Ludo," Roman interrupted quickly, "I haven't agreed to anything yet! A twelve-year-old joining the national team? My players would never accept it."
"Relax, Roman, relax," Ludo said, patting the captain's hand. "That's why I brought you—to watch him play. Judge for yourself whether he's worthy."
"Shall we, Headmaster Albus?" he asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Dumbledore nodded and guided them to the Quidditch pitch.
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, Moriarty and his team enjoyed their traditional pre-match breakfast, specially prepared by Tonks. Soon after, they made their way toward the pitch.
Crowds of students were already settling into the stands. With the exception of those with classes, nearly every student from the four Houses had come to watch the showdown.
The professors had taken their places on the staff stand. Noticing the unfamiliar faces next to Dumbledore, students speculated eagerly.
Suddenly, a lively voice echoed across the stadium.
"Long time no see, everyone!"
Tonks, now a fifth-year, remained the official match commentator.
Her long hair had been transfigured into a brilliant golden-red, blazing in the sunlight like fire.
She clutched the enchanted microphone and shouted, "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the 1989–1990 Hogwarts school year! I'm your commentator—Tonks!"
"Ohhhhhhh~!"
The stands erupted with cheers and applause.
"Before we begin, let's welcome two special guests."
Tonks introduced Ludo and Roman to the student body, and the applause intensified into thunderous clapping.
"The atmosphere is electric," Roman muttered, visibly intrigued.
Tonks' voice boomed again as she began announcing the team lineups.
"Last year's champions—the Slytherin team—are widely considered the strongest lineup Hogwarts has seen in fifty years.
Their former captain, William, graduated, and this year, Head Boy Leon has stepped in as captain. But we all know—Moriarty remains the soul of the team..."
The words were drowned out by screams as Moriarty's fan club began chanting, "Forever Shine!" The frenzy was so intense that Tonks' voice was entirely lost.
Even Roman, no stranger to stadium roars, was taken aback. He leaned toward Ludo. "Are we here for player selection or to watch a celebrity showcase?"
Ludo chuckled, eyes fixed on the green-and-silver Slytherin flag fluttering in the breeze.
"Roman, I was a Slytherin myself. And I can say with certainty—no Slytherin student has ever been so universally admired by Hogwarts students and staff alike. Never."
He gave Roman a sideways glance. "You, a Durmstrang graduate, wouldn't understand the charm of Hogwarts."
Roman opened his mouth to argue but fell silent as Tonks returned to describing the teams—now with everyone listening again.
"This year, the Slytherin team has made a few adjustments."
Tonks elaborated, "With William's departure, the keeper's spot is now held by a seventh-year student.
Marcus has joined as a Chaser, completing the trio alongside Leon and Jericho.
All three are loyal subordinates of Moriarty. That means total trust in their captain—and full, flawless execution of his tactical commands."
The fan club cheered anew at the mention of Moriarty.
In the locker room, Jericho elbowed Moriarty and smirked. "You hear that, sir? They're howling like lunatics out there—they want to devour you."
Moriarty was unfazed. He calmly ran his fingers through the bristles of his Nimbus 1700, preparing it with precision. "They have high hopes. I must live up to them."
"I'd wager Helena is in that 'Forever Shine' fan club of yours," Leon teased as he walked past.
Jericho shot him a glare. "I'll shine as bright as Mr. Moriarty someday."
"Let's start with today's match, Jericho," Moriarty said, eyes gleaming with resolve. "This is your moment to shine. Let the world see your strength—show them that your potential rivals even mine."
Jericho's heart pounded with inspiration. He raised his right fist to his chest, full of conviction.
"And as for you two," Moriarty turned to Leon and Marcus, "you're integral to our new formation. I expect zero mistakes.
Ludo is here because I invited him. And since he's watching, we're going to leave him speechless."
The six players stood as one and shouted, "Yes, sir!"
"Let's go," Moriarty said firmly, leading them out toward the pitch. Jericho and Marcus followed closely behind.
On the field, the Gryffindor team awaited them, led by Charlie Weasley. It was evident they were ready—many players had upgraded their brooms to the latest Cleansweep series.
Their Beaters had also been replaced with two burly, powerful new additions.
"Go easy on us, Moriarty," Charlie joked with a grin, though his eyes burned with competitive fire.
Moriarty returned the smile with a respectful nod. "Give it everything you've got, Charlie."
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