"There's nothing a game of Gwent can't solve!"
Gwent, built on the fictional world of The Witcher game series, was the most memorable feature for every player who had experienced The Witcher series.
Wizard Cards was the board game Dudley created based on Gwent.
Like Gwent, Wizard Cards also divided card rarity into four categories: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary.
The original leader cards were changed by Dudley to famous wizards from magical history.
This board game had two main characteristics: extremely easy to learn and suitable for all ages.
This board game had two core elements: collecting and battling.
Battling needed no explanation...
Anyone who had played Gwent knew its charm. You'd be playing the AAA masterpiece The Witcher, but in reality, everyone became a card enthusiast. Some people even played The Witcher specifically for Gwent.
Haven't you seen how Seto Kaiba, when his card addiction flared up, spared no expense in resources to travel to the underworld just to duel the Pharaoh?
That's the charm of card games.
Most crucially, with magical enhancement, the originally static card characters could manifest concrete images, and during battles, phantoms of character attacks would appear, making the card game experience far more thrilling.
If the crude electronic games in the Muggle world could easily create addiction, imagine what this dimensionally superior card game could do in the wizarding world with its lack of entertainment.
Just imagine... at your summons, legendary wizards would serve you and fight for you. What an interesting prospect.
As for collecting, that was the main money-maker. Witch & Poison Publishing only sold the basic edition of Wizard Cards, cards with Common rarity, for just three Sickles. Even the poorest young wizard could afford it. If you wanted more powerful characters, you could only buy special booster packs.
A special pack wasn't expensive either, also three Sickles, but it only contained one card.
Whether you could draw the character you wanted depended entirely on luck or spending money.
Of course, you could also trade...
But to trade, the other person had to have cards, right?
One tells ten, ten tell a hundred, a hundred tell a thousand...
Wizard Cards caused an immediate sensation upon release. In just one month, it spread across all of Europe in a viral manner.
Actually, the wizarding world already had something similar to collectible cards: Chocolate Frog cards.
However, those were purely for collecting, with no further development. Like the old "Water Margin" cards from instant noodles, they were popular for a while, but only for a while.
People discovered that even collecting them all didn't have much meaning, so it gradually faded away.
But Wizard Cards were different...
"Let's have an exciting game of Wizard Cards!"
This phrase had almost become wizards' first greeting when meeting.
"My turn, draw card!"
This was the second.
Nothing couldn't be solved with one game of Wizard Cards. If there was, then two games.
Even Quidditch's popularity had dropped several percentage points.
Carrow, following Dudley's suggestion, even proposed to the Ministry of Magic to hold a Wizard Cards tournament. It was reportedly under consideration.
No choice. Wizards simply had too few entertainment options.
It had been one month since Dudley and the others arrived at Godric's Hollow. The Potter ancestral home had been partially renovated, the first floor was now habitable. The main issue was the enormous workload, plus the Potter home was hundreds of years old with some materials being magical products that couldn't be repaired with Muggle materials.
Also, Dudley couldn't spend all day renovating. He had other things to do. So after finishing the first floor, work was temporarily suspended.
The Potter home was large enough anyway. Just the first floor was sufficient for the three of them.
Recently, Dudley kept feeling like there was someone or something extra in the house, but when he searched, nothing was there. However, his Data Eye seemed to have detected some information...
This day, two owls arrived simultaneously, bringing invitation letters from friends. Ron and Neville, inviting them to visit the Weasley and Longbottom homes respectively.
"There isn't enough time. We can't go to both places, Harry."
Accepting one invitation meant rejecting the other.
No matter which side they chose, the other would be hurt.
"So Harry, you go to Ron's, and Hermione and I will go to Neville's."
Perfect. Dudley also wanted to discuss some matters with Neville's grandmother, Lady Augusta.
Hearing he'd have to separate from Dudley, Harry was quite reluctant.
But he eventually agreed.
For Dudley's happiness, Harry thought.
They couldn't let Hermione go alone to either the Weasley or Longbottom home while he and Dudley went to the other.
"Around August 15th, Hogwarts should send the second-year book list. Let's meet at Flourish and Blotts."
Dudley gave Harry these instructions.
Incidentally, both Harry and Dudley's birthdays this year were spent at the Potter ancestral home. Hermione predictably gave him a larger-capacity bag. Petunia and Vernon had been acting mysteriously lately, seemingly hiding some secret.
Hearing they wouldn't be returning, they were surprisingly happy.
The same thing happened with Hermione's parents, the Grangers.
When asked directly, they'd pretend nothing was happening.
Truly puzzling.
When the three left the Potter ancestral home, Dudley clapped his hands together. A transmutation circle pattern gradually emerged from underground, but quickly disappeared.
The three parted ways at a wizard shop's fireplace in Godric's Hollow.
Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor.
"Father, why do you keep refusing to invite Dursley and Potter to our home?"
Draco looked at his father, hoping for an explanation.
"Now they've already accepted the Weasley and Longbottom invitations."
Lucius sat upright in his chair, not directly answering Draco's question but counter-questioning:
"Draco, I heard that at Hogwarts you associated with people of Hagrid's status, the Forbidden Forest keeper."
"Is this true?"
Though his voice was calm, this calmness carried his unique inflection. He lowered his head slightly so his gaze could directly meet Draco's eyes.
If this were the old Draco, seeing his father like this would definitely make him cower.
But his first-year school life had changed Draco considerably.
Damn Goyle, damn Crabbe... how dare they tattle on me!
"Father, I believe we should invite them."
"This is very important for my future, for the Malfoy family."
If you can deflect, then I can deflect and continue pressing.
"We are purebloods. I thought I'd told you not to associate with such unsavory people."
The phrase 'unsavory people' seemed to remind Draco of something.
"Father—"
"Draco."
Narcissa, a woman with a perpetually arrogant expression, tall and slender figure, and startlingly pale skin, interrupted Draco: "Don't question your father's decisions."
"He's never been wrong all these years."
Never wrong?
Draco's expression became strange.
Dudley told me that the stupidest decision Father ever made was openly siding with the Dark Lord, standing against Dumbledore. This unwise behavior nearly destroyed the entire Malfoy family.
It was only because Professor Dumbledore was good-tempered, otherwise...
"Draco."
Lucius's voice rang out again, still unhurried and deliberate, still with that unique oily emphasis.
"Just watch and see..."