Cedric had heard about several of his classmates across the school. They were Muggle-born wizards in Gryffindor House, already in their sixth year.
Sure enough, the Ravenclaw upperclassman addressed them: "If you're worried about job prospects after graduation, I might be able to help."
After getting their approval, she pulled out a grey piece of cardboard and explained how to use it.
"Do we knock it with our wands? Do we need to say a spell? This sounds fun—what does it do?"
True to Gryffindor spirit, the three and a half lions were enthusiastic and tapped the cardboard with their wands, exclaiming together, "Law and justice!"
Black text appeared on the grey card.
"The International Confederation of Wizards Statute of Secrecy?!"
They chorused the words in confusion, then asked, "What does the Statute of Secrecy have to do with us finding jobs?"
"Quite a lot," said the Ravenclaw girl—now a junior—confidently. "If not for the Statute, half-blood and Muggle-born wizards could secure better opportunities in the magical world."
Realizing she was saying too much, she hurried away.
In the Great Hall, nearly half the students were hunched over long tables doing homework. A student in a white coat entered, greeted everyone, and handed out a few cards.
The students picked up the cards and exchanged puzzled glances.
The white-coated student smiled. "Our leader is arriving soon—let's hear what they have to say."
"Leader? As in them?" said Charlie Weasley, looking up from his Animagus research at the Gryffindor table. He scratched his red hair in confusion. "Don't tell me this is Moriarty's work. I don't know any other secret societies at school."
"You wouldn't know even if you scratched yourself bald."
It was Percy's voice. He approached from the first-floor corridor, smiling at his brother. "I made yours especially, Charlie. Look closely—don't miss a detail."
Charlie flipped over his black card. "You made this for me? So, you're in charge?"
Percy nodded, smile widening. "More accurately, one of those in charge."
He then turned toward the gathered students and shouted, "Let's welcome our other two leaders!"
Applause rose—not loud, but warm—from the students in white coats.
The castle doors burst open, and two girls strode in: one cool and reserved, the other smiling gently.
At the Hufflepuff table, Tonks blinked in surprise. "Lilith and Gemma? They're running this? By Merlin's beard!"
She glanced toward the Slytherin table. Moriarty was absent, as were Marcus and Jericho. But Leon sat at the head of the table, wide-eyed.
In an instant, Tonks deduced that Moriarty was unaware of today's event.
"Leon! What are you doing?" she shouted. "Go tell Moriarty! Hurry!"
Leon blinked, then sent a small serpent racing toward the Slytherin dormitories.
At the front, Lilith, Gemma, and Percy took their places near the staff dais. Percy stood to Lilith's left, Gemma to her right.
Facing the mass of students, all three looked visibly nervous.
In his head, Percy repeated to himself: Percy Weasley, this is your first step into the Ministry! There'll be more moments like this! It starts here—just take the first step!
Steeling his nerves, Percy even threw a proud glance at his older brother Charlie and the Weasley twins.
Gemma, meanwhile, was so nervous her smile froze in place.
Only Lilith remained poised and calm.
"Curious about what's on those cards?" she asked coolly. "They're legal orders. Magical legal orders."
"Legal orders?"
A wave of whispers swept through the hall as students flipped over their cards. The Weasley twins tried folding theirs into paper airplanes but failed.
"There's definitely enchantments on this!"
"Definitely—and I bet they'd work well for mischief."
"Listen first."
Lilith's sharp tone cut through the chatter. "Recently, the head of the Malfoy family was murdered. The French Ministry of Magic falsely accused the British Ministry—and," she paused, biting her lip, "and Moriarty Slytherin—of orchestrating it."
The mention of his name came reluctantly, but she forced it out for the sake of her mission.
"Though Professor Lockhart suppressed the story, we live in a world governed by magic and law. So why can't we defend our rights through proper, legal channels?"
Her words gave the students pause. Leon frowned.
This world isn't fair, he thought. Power rules. Magic rules. Where does law fit into that?
He regarded Lilith critically. As the heiress of the Piliwick family and rumored to be close to Moriarty, she held influence, and he couldn't oppose her openly.
She seemed to sense Leon's doubt. Gazing at the Slytherin table, she raised her voice.
"Some of you may believe that magic overrides law—that this world is inherently broken. But I ask: why can't we build fairness and justice through law?"
The room fell silent. Her words struck a chord with the more idealistic students—like Percy—who now envisioned themselves as future Ministry officials.
Lilith took a green card from Percy and tapped it with her wand, declaring, "Law and justice!"
Text appeared: Order for the Prohibition of Animal Breeding Experiments.
Gemma followed suit. Holding a blue card, she announced, "This one is the Muggle Protection Act."
Percy displayed three remaining cards—black, red, and yellow. "These are the Ministry of Magic Order, Caning Approval Order, and the International Dueling Ban."
Now Charlie realized the black card was Percy's way of recruiting him for the Ministry.
"So that's your plan," he muttered. "Climbing the ladder, as always."
The students' curiosity was now fully piqued. Wands tapped cardboard everywhere.
"Law and justice!"
The cry echoed across the Great Hall.
Tonks's card—brown—read Prohibited Trade Items. She read aloud: "Refers to magical creature eggs and young banned by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Class A bans include Acromantula eggs, Chimaeras, and dragon eggs…"
Leon's purple card bore the title Wizengamot Charter of Rights. He read slowly, his finger tracing the words:
"…provisions ensuring the right of the accused to summon witnesses…"
Further down: "Current Members of the Wizengamot" and "Notable Cases of the Last Decade".
He tapped the card—pop. "She really found actual case files?"
Then he frowned and called to an aide, "I sent someone to inform Moriarty earlier—did you pass on the message?"
"Reporting again now!" A group of Slytherin first-years scurried away.
In the Slytherin dormitories, five young serpents stood at attention as they delivered reports to Moriarty.
Marcus took notes as the others spoke. Moriarty, meanwhile, was analyzing the performance specs of a new broomstick, comparing it to the Nimbus 1700.
"Done?" he asked Marcus without looking up.
"Yes. Everything's recorded," Marcus replied, handing over the parchment.
"How about you, Jericho?" Moriarty smirked. "Looks like Lilith's got something big in motion."
"She's quick," Jericho muttered. "Didn't know she was such a strategist."
"Marcus, read it aloud," Moriarty ordered. "I'm almost finished here. Once I am, we'll go see what Lilith's really up to."
Jericho raised a skeptical brow. "Isn't she just raising legal awareness? Her family's steeped in legal tradition."
"Never underestimate Lilith," Moriarty said, his smile sharp. "She's got ambition."
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