December began with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. I started the day by heading to the Room of Requirement for my monthly gacha spins. The first spin, as luck would have it, rewarded me with toilet paper. Toilet paper. I stared at the item in disbelief. "Useful?" I muttered, shaking my head.
Thankfully, the second and third spins made up for it.
The second item was a skill: [Individuality]. This was an upgrade for my Doppelganger skill. My clones, previously at a tenth of my power, would now be as strong as me. The drawback was that if they were killed, their bodies wouldn't disappear but would instead remain behind. Dismissing them myself avoided this, but it was a double-edged sword that demanded I use the skill carefully.
The third reward was another skill: [Web Creation]. This ability was like something straight out of a Spider-Man comic. I could create reinforced webs that were incredibly sharp and durable, capable of conducting mana as well. The potential applications ranged from combat to reconnaissance. "Now, this," I mused, grinning as I tested the threads, "is what I call a jackpot."
I left the Room of Requirement in good spirits, eager to test my new abilities. That mood didn't last long.
---
At breakfast, a peculiar silence hung over the Great Hall. Students whispered amongst themselves, passing around copies of the Daily Prophet.
"What's going on?" I asked Garuda, who perched on my shoulder in his diminutive form.
"You might want to take a look at today's headlines," he replied dryly.
Asking a copy from a nearby student, I unfolded the paper and felt my stomach drop.
"Arrest Warrant Issued for William James Moriarty!"
The article detailed a Ministry response to "recent baseless accusations" against their handling of Hogwarts' safety. In their infinite wisdom, they had decided to make an example of the man who brought their incompetence to light. Worse, they had obtained a memory of my meeting with Rita Skeeter, including a perfect image of my Moriarty disguise.
Rita Skeeter. Of course. She had sold me out.
"Well, that's one way to paint a target on my back," I muttered, crumpling the newspaper.
Garuda snickered. "You did stir the pot a little too well, didn't you? So, what's the plan now, genius?"
I leaned back, pretending to eat while my mind worked overtime. "Rita's made her way onto my list, that's for sure. But for now, I need to lay low. I can't have the Ministry snooping around Hogwarts too much, or they'll stumble across things they shouldn't. Let's focus on damage control."
---
The first step was to disguise myself. Using [Individuality], I created a perfect clone of my Moriarty persona, complete with the original outfit. The clone would take the fall if anyone came looking. I sent him out of Hogwarts using Garuda, instructing him to act as bait and draw the Ministry's attention elsewhere.
The second step involved gathering more intel on the Ministry's actions. Using the avian network, I began monitoring their movements. It seemed some were spreading propaganda, painting Moriarty as a dangerous muggle sympathizer bent on destabilizing the wizarding world.
---
Over the next few days, Hogwarts remained tense. News of Moriarty's supposed crimes dominated the wizarding world, and students couldn't stop talking about it. Meanwhile, I focused on my training and worked on mastering [Web Creation]. The skill was a game changer. Using mana, I could create intricate traps, offensive threads, or even construct makeshift bridges. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective.
However, my greatest challenge wasn't the Ministry or the students' gossip—it was Rita Skeeter.
---
A week after the warrant was issued, I decided to confront her. Disguised as an entirely different persona, I intercepted her in Diagon Alley, where she was enjoying a celebratory drink at the Leaky Cauldron.
She didn't recognize me, of course, but that was the point. "Ms. Skeeter," I said, sliding into the seat across from her, "you've been quite busy lately."
Her eyes narrowed, but she smiled. "I'm sorry, have we met?"
I leaned in, letting just a hint of menace creep into my voice. "Let's just say I represent someone who's very unhappy with your... betrayal."
Rita's confident facade faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I simply do my job, dear. If Moriarty didn't want to be exposed, he shouldn't have meddled where he wasn't welcome."
I chuckled softly. "Ah, but meddling is his specialty. And now, you've made things very personal."
Before she could respond, I dropped a bag of of dead bettels. "I'd suggest you write an article about Moriarty's sightings from reliable sources. Fail to do so, and the next time we meet, it won't be for a friendly chat."
Rita's face turned pale, but she nodded, clearly weighing her options. "I'll see what I can do," she muttered.
"Good. Enjoy your drink."
---
Back at Hogwarts, I felt a small measure of satisfaction. The wheels were in motion, and the Ministry's attention would be redirected soon enough. But this was just the beginning.
---Note
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