Lupin's Secret

The castle, which had grown quiet over the Christmas holiday, became lively again when the students returned.

The Gryffindor students gathered in twos and threes, chatting about trivial matters from the break, while a few were hard at work on their holiday assignments.

After tidying up his dormitory, Albert sat by the window with Lee Jordan, playing Wizard Cards. This deck was no longer quite the same as the original set. Its categories had become more detailed, and even the cards themselves had grown much more professional—the sort that could be sold.

Although Wizard Cards were no longer as popular as they had been at first, quite a few students in the school were still willing to join the Wizard Cards Club.

They were not there merely for the champion's prize. More often, it was because they could always find friends in the club to play cards with.

Getting together to play cards really was a wonderful feeling.

The only regret was that Wizard Cards still could not be mass-produced, and selling them would be a losing business. These days, the Wizard Cards Club was managed largely through Lee Jordan's enthusiasm, and he enjoyed doing it.

"Finally beat you once. That wasn't easy." Lee Jordan raised his arms in a stretch and said with a grin, "You haven't played Wizard Cards in ages."

"Yeah, it's been too long." Albert set down his cards and turned to look at Fred and George, who were frantically copying homework. Smiling, he asked, "Well? Finished copying yet?"

"Almost. Just a little more."

"We'll be done soon."

"I really don't know why those two refuse to spend a little time on this." Lee Jordan was used to it. After every holiday, Fred and George had to rush through copying homework to finish their holiday assignments.