The morning atmosphere at Hogwarts shifted drastically when the little wizards received their copies of the Daily Prophet. Gasps echoed through the halls and corridors, and whispers turned into fervent discussions. The headlines printed in ominous, glowing blood-red ink drew immediate attention, their urgency not dulled by the still-drying magical ink that smelled faintly of copper and fear.
A group of Gryffindor first-years, not yet fully understanding the weight of the news, chuckled nervously as they stared at the moving photograph on the front page—a grotesque image of Lucius Malfoy's lifeless face, a green leaf ominously resting on his forehead.
"He's really dead? There's a leaf on his head! What does that mean—nature reclaiming evil?" one of them joked, half-laughing, half-disturbed.
A few second-year Gryffindors gathered near the group, offering half-hearted laughs, though the mood shifted quickly. Their chuckles withered under the glares of upperclassmen from all Houses, especially Slytherin.
"Watch your mouths. That man was a Hogwarts governor," Fred and George Weasley interjected seriously, both placing firm hands on the heads of the giggling first-years. "Whatever your thoughts, you show respect."
Even Percy Weasley, who often clashed ideologically with the Malfoys, didn't hide his grim expression. He silently herded his younger brothers to a quieter corner, casting a glance toward the Slytherin table. With his knowledge of Moriarty's tendencies, Percy felt the unmistakable weight of tension thickening the air. Something monumental was about to erupt.
At the Slytherin table, no one was eating. Shock clamped around the students' throats like iron chains.
"Merlin's beard! Lucius Malfoy? The head of the Malfoy family?"
"He's dead! Decapitated! His head was next to his body like...like a cursed trophy."
"Bloody hell! That's an attack on pure-blood honor!"
Leon's croissant slipped from his fingers, landing on his foot unnoticed. His eyes were locked on the paper, vacant and stunned. Around him, rage erupted from the older Slytherins—pure-blood students slammed their fists on the table, faces red with fury.
Jericho gaped at the image, oatmeal and chocolate dripping from his slack mouth. The spoon in his hand trembled.
Marcus Flint's hands shook so violently it looked unnatural—like a Muggle suffering from a nervous affliction.
Lilith's face turned ghostly pale. One hand covered her mouth while the other straightened the crumpled newspaper before her. Her keen political instincts screamed the obvious: this was not just a murder—it was a declaration. War seemed inevitable.
She glanced at Moriarty. His silver-gray eyes were narrowed into blade-like slits, slicing through the Daily Prophet as if the paper itself were responsible for Lucius Malfoy's death. Though seated several spots away, Lilith felt the cold bite of his fury as if a Dementor had brushed past her.
Moriarty read the article word by word, digesting every detail with merciless calculation.
Front Page Headline: Mr. Lucius Malfoy, head of the Malfoy family, murdered in Marseille, France!
Second Edition: Preliminary investigations point to vampire involvement!
Third Edition: British and French Ministries of Magic jointly launch manhunt for the vampire killer!
Fourth Edition: Exclusive: Why was Lucius in France?
Fifth to Twelfth Editions: All dedicated to Lucius Malfoy's death and its implications.
A mechanical chime echoed in Moriarty's mind:
Ding Dong~ Task complete: "Uncover the Vampire Ancestor's Secret" – Lucius Malfoy did not return safely. Half reward granted. Host receives: 40,000 points.
The system notification cooled the blaze within Moriarty, but only slightly. So Lucius had indeed uncovered the secret—but failed to survive the journey back. That implied interception. Someone—or something—didn't want the truth returning to Britain.
Moriarty flipped the next page, scanning the specifics.
On the night of September 11, 1989, Lucius' mutilated body was found by three French Aurors along a secluded road near the Old Port of Marseille.
He had been accompanied by three Malfoy family wizards and two French Aurors. Despite this protection, they were overwhelmed.
French Minister of Magic, Von Weir Capet, gave a statement:
"Mr. Lucius arrived at our Ministry on the morning of September 10. He requested two Aurors to accompany him on a visit to the Jewish Marquis."
Moriarty's sharp mind did the math—Lucius arrived on the 10th and was dead by dawn on the 11th. Either it was a trap from the start or the secret he uncovered was far too dangerous.
Von Weir admitted he accepted Galleons from Lucius in exchange for Auror support, but his true motive was clear: surveillance.
According to official reports, Lucius met the Jewish Marquis late at night. After that, all contact ceased.
At dawn, three French Auror teams were dispatched. They found nothing—until two Muggles, a man and a woman engaging in what the article tactfully labeled "indescribable activity," discovered Lucius' body in the forest near Marseille's port.
The woman fainted. The man called local authorities. French Aurors intercepted the scene quickly.
Von Weir Capet reportedly wept as he addressed the press:
"There was not a drop of blood left in Lucius. His head… shriveled like a deflated Snitch."
He emphasized the signs of vampiric attack—twin punctures on the neck, drained blood, and signs of magical combat.
Lucius' bodyguards and Aurors had vanished. Only battle scars on trees and terrain remained.
The French Ministry blamed vampires. Capet rushed to the Jewish Marquis' estate—but curiously, he announced the Marquis and his family were not responsible. No evidence of their involvement was presented.
Moriarty frowned. Convenient.
Notes within the article clarified:
The two French Aurors' assignment involved political backroom deals.
Vampires rarely receive visitors during the day—Lucius' urgency to return may have prompted the daytime visit.
Lucius was spotted near the port the night he died, likely preparing to return by ship.
When British Minister of Magic Millison Bagno was informed, she arrived via Portkey, vomiting upon landing due to her advanced age. Still, she insisted on witnessing the site.
Rufus Scrimgeour, head of the British Auror Office, confirmed the evidence supported vampire involvement. The two ministries jointly issued a warrant for the unknown vampire slayer.
Minister Bagno, despite her age, publicly condemned the secrecy surrounding the Jewish Marquis.
"If you refuse to release his address, we have every right to suspect your complicity!" she shouted.
Capet remained defiant. He knew Bagno was on her way out. Even Moriarty's past triumph over Nicolas Flamel wouldn't strengthen her political clout now.
Rufus, ever the lion, roared demands for access to the Jewish fortress. Denied.
The Ministries stood at a standoff.
In the fourth edition, the paper reported that Lucius, two days prior to his death, had been seeking the address of the Jewish Marquis through both magical and Muggle means.
It was implied that a half-blood vampire connected through Malfoy family assets brokered the meeting.
But when British Aurors asked French officials about those half-blood intermediaries, they claimed ignorance.
Too many convenient blanks.
Moriarty's fingers curled, the paper crumpling beneath his grip.
The mystery was far from solved.
But one thing was certain: someone feared the truth Lucius had found. And Moriarty would not let that secret rot in Marseille's shadows.
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