Wizard’s Gambit quickly became a sensation at Hogwarts. Within a day, it spread from Gryffindor House to the others - even the Slytherins were lining up for a go.

Meanwhile, the game’s creators found some bugs and quickly rolled out v.2. As news spread, students clamored to know if more updates were on the way.

“Yes, there’ll be updates, but not until next term!” Fred called out, addressing the eager crowd.

“Why wait till next term? You’ve got the whole summer to work on it!” someone shouted back.

Fred and George shrugged, and George replied, “Because Alexis will be in America, and there’s no way we can do this without her.” Since Alexis’s the one with the game-coding experience, they’ll need her insight.

Fred added, “But don’t worry, mates, we’ll let you know the moment the next version is ready.”

“When will you start selling the game table?” another student asked.

Alexis stepped in, her voice carrying a playful drawl. “Next year, probably! We still gotta test it out, y’know? You don’t wanna buy a totally janky item or something, right?”

The crowd murmured in agreement.

The game table was placed on the previously forbidden third floor, right in front of the Giant Wizard Chess set, so anyone could try it out.

Since Fred and George wanted to take a game table home over the summer, they had to divide up their time to get everything ready. One twin would stay by the table, noting any feedback, while the other worked with Alexis in Scarlet’s training room to build a second table and sketch out game ideas and code.

Alexis grinned, twirling her wand. “Once you nail the first one it’s easy-piecy to get a second one. I love magic!”

George grinned back, clearly enjoying the time working with the game table. But Scarlet watched them with a slight frown, which Alexis eventually noticed.

“Are you, like, stressing over your summer plans or something?” Alexis asked, cocking her head.

“No, I’ve planned everything out. I’m confident it’ll go smoothly,” Scarlet replied, though her gaze stayed thoughtful.

Alexis raised a brow. “So what’s with the frown?”

Scarlet hesitated before turning to George. “Have you patented the game table and the programming language yet?”

George blinked. “Not yet, but we’re planning to. First thing at the Department of Inventions when break starts. Why d’you ask?”

“Got all the paperwork ready?” Scarlet pressed.

“Yes, it’s sorted, so...” George started, exchanging a glance with Alexis.

“Good.” Scarlet sighed. “Both the game and game table are a massive hit, and a lot of people have seen it. Don’t you think someone might try to buy these inventions from you – or worse, claim it as theirs?”

Both game makers’ eyes went wide with sudden understanding.

Scarlet turned to Alexis. “Alexis, you know this happens in the Muggle world, right? People steal inventions, or make it impossible for the inventors to promote them.”

Alexis pushed her brain cells as she pictured it. “...Yeah! Or even worse, they, like, straight-up bury you in legal fees so you can’t make a cent!”

George gaped. “...You’re joking, right?”

Scarlet shrugged. “Just being cautious. Business is as fierce as war. Though with Professor Dumbledore aware of the game table, it might not get that bad.”

George’s brow furrowed. “What’s that got to do with Dumbledore?”

“Because he’s protective of his students at Hogwarts,” Scarlet explained. After a year of reading summaries of wizarding news, she gained a clear understanding of just how influential their headmaster was within the British wizarding world – particularly in political circles.

In Scarlet’s view, if it weren’t for the headmaster, the Ministry of Magic would be far more ineffective and meddlesome.

George patted his chest, exhaling. “Milady, you nearly scared the life out of me.”

Scarlet smiled wryly. “I prefer to plan for the worst. With Professor Dumbledore’s protection, your invention should be safe from theft. However, I suspect someone might try to buy it out.”

“Why?” George frowned. “We’ve invented loads of things. Why’re you so concerned about Wizard’s Gambit and game table?”

“Because I see the potential for Wizard’s Gambit to become a major tournament - like Quidditch,” Scarlet said. “Imagine battles played out on a space as large as a stadium, with two teams of five players standing on either side, each controlling their characters in a fight...You can’t deny that the effects Alexis created are visually amazing; even people who don’t understand the rules would be captivated.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

George’s jaw dropped.

“And even if it doesn’t become a tournament, think of the Muggle video game console at my house,” Scarlet continued. “Millions of people buy them to play at home. Imagine the galleons you could make just by selling these tables – here and abroad...You’d be incredibly wealthy.”

George processed this, realisation dawning on his face. “And because they could make that much, someone might try to trick us into selling our rights to the inventions!”

Scarlet nodded. “That’s my bold guess – it might not happen, of course.”

George clenched his fists. “We’d never sell our rights!”

“That’s easy to say now since I’ve pointed it out,” Scarlet replied matter-of-factly. “But if they sent a skilled negotiator who convinced you that the game was a risky venture, could you honestly say you’d never consider it, especially if you thought it might help you recoup some of your costs?

George was silent, his earlier certainty shaken.

“Again, just being cautious. None of my worries are guaranteed to happen.” Scarlet scratched her cheek, embarrassed. Her dad had long urged her not to be so cynical, but she couldn’t help deflating the enthusiasm of those closest to her.

Alexis sighed, “Ugh, you’re, like, the biggest pessimist, Scarlet.”

Scarlet shrugged. “Can’t help it; I was born this way. Probably best I head off now before I keep spreading ‘negative thoughts’. See you later.”

Alexis glanced at George. “Don’t dwell on it too much. She’s an overthinker – totally not a habit I’d recommend.”

George rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “She raised some solid points, though – worth thinking about. She said something like, ‘business is as fierce as war’. Has she been treating her work like a battle since she started?”

“Probably. Sounds like something her dad told her – like, some old Chinese saying,” Alexis replied, waving it off. “Just ignored it. Let’s get this table done.”

“Rough environment,” George muttered, resuming his work.

As Scarlet left the room, an owl soon delivered a not instructing her to meet Professor Dumbledore in the headmaster’s office.

Professor Dumbledore dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point. He had located the ruins of the Gaunt family shack.

“It’s a desolate, isolated place, charmed so that no Muggles can see it,” he said. “A dark, gloomy spot where traces of Dark Magic still linger.”

Scarlet noted down the address, then looked at the old wizard with concern. “Professor, you didn’t go inside, did you?”

Professor Dumbledore’s eyes crinkled with a warm, knowing smile. “No, Scarlet. Given all the precautions you highlighted in your proposal, I would not dream of entering the ruins unprepared.”

“Glad to hear that,” Scarlet replied with a nod. “I understand you’re a rational, wise wizard, but sometimes even the most disciplined minds can be...drawn to such dark places.”

Professor Dumbledore sighed in agreement. “Your caution is well-founded, Scarlet.”

Scarlet thought for a moment. “I suggest we destroy the ring on the first day of the summer break. Afterward, I’ll arrange a meeting with Mr. Black to destroy the locket, then retrieve the deaths from the hidden lake. Following that, I’ll meet with Lucius Malfoy to persuade him to surrender the diary so we can destroy it as well.”

“And how do you plan to persuade him?” the old wizard asked, his gaze steady.

“I could, as we discussed, blackmail him into surrendering the diary in exchange for me silence about his Dark Mark, or, if I possible, offer to remove it – if he wants that,” Scarlet replied.

Professor Dumbledore’s expression grew stern. “That would be an unwise course of action, Scarlet.”

“I understand.” Scarlet sighed. “There’s a risk if Death Eaters loyal to the dark wizard discover I have any influence over the Dark Mark. But you can’t deny that by using me as bait could make it easier to draw them out. And I don’t mind being the bait. Better me than Harry, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You don’t take your own life seriously enough, and that is a dangerous habit,” Professor Dumbledore replied., frowning.

Scarlet shook her head. “On the contrary, Professor, I evaluate my abilities carefully. I wouldn’t suggest such a bold plan unless I believed I had a high chance of success.”

The old wizard studied her intently.

Scarlet assured him, “I believe in information gathering for my preparation. I wouldn’t risk it without the intel Alexis provided.”

“And you trust her implicitly,” Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully. “You’ve only known her a short time, yet you trust her enough to stake a plan on her words. Scarlet, not every prophecy is fulfilled. Even if some details match, there’s no certainty the rest will.”

“We share a secret,” Scarlet replied frankly. “I can’t tell you what it is, but that’s why I trust her. And I know she trusts me with the same certainty.”

Professor Dumbledore scrutinised her expression for a long moment before nodding. “Very well, we’ll proceed with your plan. I’ll pick you up in the morning, if that suits. Will ten work?”

“Perfectly,” Scarlet confirmed with a nod.

They reviewed the plan once more before parting with a quiet “Goodnight”.

Time flew by, and soon, students received their marks. Hermione, unsurprisingly, scored straight O’s, while Harry, Ron and Draco all passed with flying colours. To Scarlet’s surprise, her results were mostly E’s with a few O’s, quite different from the numerous A’s she had expected.

The Weasley twins were engrossed in their game-making, and Alexis planned to head straight to the airport as soon as she left the platform. Draco greeted Scarlet with an expectant smirk, hinting that he’d see her soon, only for Harry to interject with a sneer that she’d likely visit him and his godfather before the “filthy rich Malfoys”. Maya and Amelia mentioned they might come for a visit around August when a new film was premiering, though Scarlet would confirm with them once she knew if she’d be around London or, as planned, in Japan – provided her mission to destroy the soul fragments proceeded as expected.

After the lively farewells and plans, Scarlet finally found some peace as she slipped into William’s car.

But her hopes for a quiet start to the summer were dashed. On the first day of break, just as she prepared to set out with Professor Dumbledore, Meiko abruptly stood up, insisting she would come along.

“Meiko...”

“Milady, you know I can’t simply stay behind while you venture into such darkness.” Meiko cast a hard look at the headmaster, as though blaming him for bringing Scarlet into an unknown place shrouded in dark magic.

Professor Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. “Scarlet, would you kindly explain how a supposedly secret plan has reached the ears of an ordinary lady?”

Scarlet sighed, “...Let’s have a cup of tea before we set off, shall we?”