The air at Hogwarts had grown cold and oppressive, and it wasn't just the November chill. Fear hung over the school like an ominous cloud. The second attack had sent waves of panic through the students and staff. Even the most lighthearted among us were now whispering in hushed tones, wary of shadows and unseen threats. It was no surprise that the corridors were quieter than usual, with students huddling together or rushing to their next class, avoiding any chance of being alone.
My training was relentless. Every spare moment not spent in class or feigning normalcy was poured into the Room of Requirement. Clones sparred with me, their strikes precise and unrelenting as I pushed my circuits and reflexes to their limits. Yet it still didn't feel like enough. My progress was agonizingly slow, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental was missing.
Garuda, as always, perched near me, his sharp eyes watching me with quiet judgment. "You know, Arthur, this guilt you're carrying is weighing you down more than your lack of progress. It's affecting your focus, just like it was during the night." he said after another sparring session left me sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat.
"I know," I admitted, panting. "But I can't ignore it. It's not just about Colin. It's about all of this. I'm supposed to be moving forward, supposed to be stronger by now. Yet here I am, fumbling with basic circuits and a half-baked sword."
Garuda tilted his head. "You're trying to bear the weight of a savior's guilt while not even committing to the role. You're torn between being an observer and a participant, Arthur. Like i said Arthur maybe it's time to decide."
His words lingered with me, gnawing at my thoughts as the days of November dragged on. I couldn't help but feel like a Fraud, I wanted fo explore the Multiverse be an adventure but here I was, blessed with a system and knowledge of the future, yet I was too hesitant to take the necessary steps. I'd avoided taking the diary from Ginny out of fear of how it might change things. I'd avoided directly confronting the basilisk—though I could probably handle it—out of fear of upsetting the timeline.
And what had that achieved? Nothing. The atmosphere of paranoia in the school didn't help. Even classes felt stifled. Professor McGonagall was stricter than ever, and Snape's already sharp tongue was like a whip. Flitwick, filling in for DADA, tried to lighten the mood with demonstrations of dueling techniques, but even his cheerfulness couldn't pierce the gloom.
---
Arthur took Garuda's advice to heart. No more half-hearted attempts; if he wanted to change things, he had to act decisively. He wasn't Harry Potter, charging headfirst into danger, but he could weave his own path—one that involved planning, manipulation, and calculated risks.
The meeting with Rita Skeeter was another step in his carefully laid plans. Dressed once again as James Moriarty, Arthur waited patiently at the muggle restaurant. He had to admit, the setting felt familiar and oddly fitting for what was about to unfold.
Rita arrived on time, her Quick-Quotes Quill and notepad ready for action. "Mr. Moriarty," she greeted, her sharp gaze glinting with curiosity, "what scandal are we unearthing today?"
Arthur gestured for her to sit. "This time, Ms. Skeeter, we're dealing with something far darker than a fraudulent celebrity. This is about Hogwarts—about secrets that have been buried for decades. Secrets that are endangering students as we speak."
He slid a folder across the table. Inside were detailed notes, witness accounts, and references to the previous Chamber of Secrets incident from fifty years ago. Though i didn't add details about the Basilisk or Tom Riddle yet, the hints were there: a connection to snakes, petrifications, and the whispers of a monster lurking within the castle.
Rita skimmed through the pages, her lips curling into a smile. "This... this is gold. A scandal involving Hogwarts? The Ministry will scramble to cover this up, but the public will eat it up."
Arthur leaned back, his face calm but his eyes cold. "You'll write about it in a way that stirs the pot just enough to force action, but not enough to create outright panic. Highlight the incompetence of those in charge. Point out the gaps in security, the danger to students. Make it impossible for them to ignore."
Rita nodded, already drafting ideas in her mind. "Consider it done. But tell me, Mr. Moriarty, why are you so invested in this?"
Arthur smiled faintly. "Let's just say I'm someone who doesn't appreciate innocent lives being used as pawns in games they don't even know they're a part of."
---
Back at Hogwarts, the tension only grew thicker with each passing day. Arthur watched the students carefully, noting the growing fear in their eyes. Rumors spread like wildfire, each wilder than the last. Some claimed it was a ghost, others a cursed object, and a few even whispered about a monster prowling the corridors.
Meanwhile, Arthur also kept a close eye on Ginny Weasleys using his network. The key to everything, but stealing it from her without drawing attention was proving to be a challenge. Ginny clung to the diary as though it were her lifeline, and Arthur couldn't risk an overt move without tipping his hand.
As the days passed, his resolve strengthened. If fate wouldn't hand him answers, he would force them out himself. Every step he took, every thread he pulled, brought him closer to unraveling the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets.
But November wasn't over yet, and Arthur knew—deep down—that things were about to get much worse before they got better.
---Note
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