THE MASTERMIND OF HOGWARTS

"I heard someone mention Mr. Moriarty?" A blonde girl stepped into the compartment, her sharp black eyes sweeping across the space before landing on Moriarty.

"I knew you'd be in the last compartment, Mr. Moriarty! Professor Lockhart mentioned that you like to keep to yourself."

She extended her right hand toward Moriarty with confidence. "My name is Lilith Piliwick. It's an honor to meet you."

From her tone, Moriarty could tell she came from a wizarding family and was clearly a devoted reader of Lockhart's works.

"Hello, Miss Piliwick." Moriarty stood up and shook her hand lightly.

"Even though you already know my name, I must formally introduce myself. I am Moriarty Slytherin. It is a sign of respect."

Lilith nodded approvingly. "Some say etiquette is a relic of pure-blood traditions, but I believe all wizards should observe it! Simply because we are wizards."

"Oh? That's an interesting take. I don't think I've heard anyone phrase it quite like that before." Moriarty was intrigued. The girl in front of him seemed to be from a pure-blood family, yet her perspective extended beyond the usual pure-blood ideology.

"Yes, I've only recently refined my theory." Lilith brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Surely you haven't forgotten the Era of Magical Renaissance that Professor Lockhart proposed? My ideas stem from his."

Slytherin's beard! Someone actually got inspired by Lockhart?

Moriarty leaned forward, now genuinely interested.

Seeing his reaction, Lilith's voice grew more determined. "In short, I believe wizards are supreme!"

She lifted her chin. "I support breaking the International Statute of Secrecy, but unlike the Dark Lords of the past, I do not wish to eradicate Muggles. I accept their existence and even wish to live peacefully with them. However, wizards must govern the world!"

A heavy silence fell over the compartment. Percy looked between Lilith and Penelope in astonishment, his face turning red.

Moriarty studied Lilith closely. She wasn't just bold—she was brilliant.

"Regardless of your ideals, you speak like a true Gryffindor."

Moriarty smirked. It took courage to speak so openly about shattering the Statute of Secrecy and taking control.

Lilith returned the smile. "Mr. Moriarty, I can assure you, every Piliwick is a true Slytherin! I hope that doesn't surprise you? After all, you are the heir of Slytherin."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but—what exactly is Slytherin? And Gryffindor?"

The voice came from Penelope Clearwater. She bit her lip, fists clenched, her gaze darting between Moriarty and Lilith.

From the moment Lilith entered, Penelope had felt out of place. She understood nothing of their discussion, and she didn't like it.

But Penelope wasn't the kind of girl to sit quietly. Back in her Muggle school, she always demanded explanations when something confused her.

Percy, who had also felt overshadowed, cleared his throat, ready to answer.

But Lilith beat him to it. "Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor are the four Houses of Hogwarts. I think you might be sorted into Hufflepuff."

Something about the way she said it rubbed Penelope the wrong way. She frowned slightly. "Hufflepuff? I don't want that! I want to be in the best House!"

"Then you'll be in Gryffindor!" Percy said enthusiastically, finally finding an opportunity to contribute.

"Listen, Penelope! Gryffindor is the best House! Professor Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of our time, was a Gryffindor."

"Oh, you must be a Weasley," Lilith observed, tilting her head. "Your family has a long history in Gryffindor."

"And I don't see anything wrong with that," Percy said firmly. "In fact, I'm proud of it."

Lilith shook her head. "You're too defensive, Weasley. I wasn't insulting you."

She smirked. "Your reaction only reveals your sensitivity. You could learn something from Bill Weasley—he's different. My father speaks highly of him."

Percy had no response to that.

"So, you come from a wizarding family?" Penelope asked, still feeling lost.

"The Piliwicks are quite well known in Britain," Lilith answered, though her attention was clearly on Moriarty. "My grandfather, Justus Piliwick, was Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"The last person I remember holding that position was Barty Crouch," Moriarty remarked, recalling an article by Amelia Bones in the Daily Prophet.

"Barty Crouch was promoted under my grandfather's recommendation," Lilith said casually, before growing serious. "But I'm not bringing this up to boast. I was born into a family of lawmakers. By the age of eight, I could recite the International Statute of Secrecy by heart. The legal structure of the wizarding world is ingrained in me!

And the more I study the law, the more I despise the Statute. Do you understand, Mr. Moriarty?

The world needs laws to function, but we are wizards! We belong to magic! Professor Lockhart himself said it—magic should not be restrained."

"Miss Piliwick, I understand your frustration, and I appreciate your perspective on magic," Moriarty replied, leaning back in his seat. He tapped his Slytherin staff against the floor, sunlight reflecting off its polished surface. "But do you know why magic should not be restrained?"

Lilith's expression shifted. She pursed her lips. "I'd like to hear your answer."

"The answer is simple—because magic can overcome law. With magic, you can have everything."

Moriarty's voice was calm, yet powerful.

Lilith's confidence wavered for just a moment. She had spent years forming her ideology, but Moriarty's words stirred something within her.

After a pause, she smiled again. "You're right, Mr. Moriarty. But that won't stop me from pursuing my goals. In fact, I came here to invite you to join me in this great cause.

Oh, I imagine you already figured that out?"

She tilted her head playfully.

Moriarty chuckled. "I don't suppose you came just to ask for an autograph?"

"Haha, that sounds like something Professor Lockhart would say." Lilith grinned. "But you underestimate your own reputation. Your name is already in contemporary wizarding history books.

Pure-blood families whisper about you. Half-bloods and Muggle-borns alike try to learn more about you."

Penelope's brow furrowed. "Moriarty… are you famous?"

Moriarty glanced at her. "Technically, it's my surname that's famous. You'll understand once we arrive at Hogwarts."

"I think you are the famous one," Lilith remarked. "One day, Hogwarts and Slytherin will be known because of you—no, even more than that. Your name will be engraved in wizarding history."

Moriarty chuckled. "I'll have to buy you a drink for that compliment."

"I'll hold you to that," Lilith replied, smirking. "Oh, and I don't like sweets."

Percy awkwardly chimed in. "Girls who don't like sweets? Well, uh… I mean, too many sweets do make you gain weight…"

Lilith ignored him.

Percy hesitated, then asked, "Miss Piliwick… can I join your cause?"

Lilith blinked in surprise.

Moriarty shot Percy a knowing look—he suspected Percy was more interested in Lilith's Ministry connections than her ideology.

Lilith, however, took his question seriously. "Of course. You won't regret it."

She turned to Penelope. "And you?"

Penelope shook her head firmly. "I came to Hogwarts to learn magic, not to start a revolution."

Lilith's eyes flashed. "Why?"

"Because I'm—one of the Muggles you speak of."

Just then, the train began to slow. Moriarty smirked. "Alright, enough talking. Time to change into our robes—we've arrived."