Joke Shop? No, Arms Dealer

Behind the shop was the storage room, a spacious but somewhat dimly lit chamber. Pushing open the door, they found a broad wooden table in the center, surrounded by neatly arranged display racks stacked with boxes of Joke Shop products.

Entering the inner room and closing the wooden door, the noisy laughter and clamor from the shop faded. The three of them sat around the table.

"Honestly, Professor Lupin, you look like you haven't had a good night's sleep in a week." Loren looked at the dark circles beneath his eyes and smiled with concern. "Has something been bothering you lately?"

Lupin's gaze passed over their somewhat youthful faces. Smiling, he said, "You'll understand when you're older. Adult wizards have new worries every day."

"But this is George and Fred's joke shop. They definitely wouldn't agree with you." Loren looked around. "This place is full of things that can make people happy."

"A moment of happiness can't cover up a terrible reality." Lupin sighed, then shook his head. "But at a time like this, being able to forget your troubles for a little while is already quite good... Forget it. Let's talk about what's happened recently..."

Loren saw the tension in his furrowed brow ease. He sat quietly and listened.

"It started during your exams last term..."

Lupin slowed his speech as he gathered his thoughts and chose his words. "Two months ago, I received letters from the American Magical Congress and a werewolf organization. Their investigation uncovered some unusual developments. Someone was recruiting dark wizards over there, secretly inciting werewolves, and there were even signs that... someone was using the Imperius Curse to enslave them..."

"Voldemort's doing?" Hermione immediately guessed.

Lupin nodded. "As soon as I received the letters, I went to New York to investigate. I found traces