Chapter 195 "Deck of Stars"

Upon their encounter, Mr. Burke's face lit up with unbridled excitement, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. He eagerly expressed, "Miss Cassandra, I am delighted to announce that I have successfully completed the task. A total of fifty-three cards have been crafted according to your specifications! Behold! I shall name this playing card 'The Stars!'"

With these words, Mr. Burke proudly retrieved a deck of fifty-three cards from the counter and handed it to Cassandra.

As she scrutinized each card, she discerned the exceptional craftsmanship, as each card adhered precisely to her requirements.

Behind every card, intricate starry sky patterns were skillfully engraved by Mr. Burke—meticulously counted, exactly fifty-three stars adorned them.

While Cassandra meticulously inspected each card, Mr. Burke, bubbling with enthusiasm, eagerly elucidated the various functions of this deck. His excitement even manifested in spontaneous, uncontrolled dancing.

After Mr. Burke concluded his animated explanation, Cassandra couldn't help but inquire, "How many people have seen this deck of cards? Have you showcased it to others?"

Upon hearing Cassandra's inquiry, Mr. Burke, without much hesitation, wore a bashful expression as he responded, "I was just about to discuss this with you. Miss Cassandra, I wanted to ask if you'd like to use these cards right away. If not, could they be displayed here for a week to boost the shop's reputation? But rest assured, I haven't shown these cards to anyone without your permission. Professionalism is my priority."

Relieved by Mr. Burke's assurance, Cassandra tucked away the playing cards and explained, "I'm sorry, Mr. Burke, but I urgently need this deck of cards. I can't lend it for display."

Hearing Cassandra's response, Mr. Burke reluctantly watched as she stored away his creation but waved it off, saying, "It's alright. It's your rights, after all, Miss Cassandra! The opportunity you provided allowed me to create this exceptional set, and I'm truly grateful!"

Cassandra, smiling appreciatively, pressed further, "Mr. Burke, have you genuinely kept this set of playing cards private? Have you refrained from mentioning that I commissioned you to create them?"

Mr. Burke responded with unwavering assurance, "Don't worry, Miss Cassandra. I haven't even told my wife about this. In fact, I haven't had the time to share it with anyone. Over the past few days, I've been staying in the store for my meals and lodging. As I became increasingly passionate about perfecting these cards, it took longer than expected, and I didn't finish until late last night."

Upon hearing Mr. Burke's thorough explanation, Cassandra finally found ease and admitted, "I apologize, Mr. Burke, for being overly cautious. This card is of paramount importance, and I needed absolute confidentiality, which is why I veiled myself in black gauze when entering your store."

Mr. Burke, waving off any concerns, responded, "Certainly, Miss Cassandra. I understand your perspective. Rest assured, I'll guard this secret diligently. No one will know that you commissioned me to create this set of poker cards."

Smiling faintly at Mr. Burke's reassurance, Cassandra added, "Mr. Burke, do you know how to make a secret truly a secret?"

Cassandra's question is meant to say that no matter how people try to keep secret a secret, there is only one way to secure the secret safe. That is to kill the other party that knows about the thing in question.

Caught off guard by Cassandra's unexpected question, Mr. Burke paused momentarily before adopting a thoughtful expression.

However, in the following moment, Mr. Burke, deep in thought, suddenly reached into his robes, attempting to retrieve his wand.

Regrettably, for him, Cassandra, who was already prepared, proved significantly quicker than Mr. Burke. Before his wand was fully drawn, Cassandra had already aimed her wand at him.

"Expelliarmus!" she commanded, and in an instant, Mr. Burke's wand flew out of his grasp.

Facing the pointed wand, Mr. Burke froze in place, uttering with bitterness, "Miss Cassandra, you don't have to do this, really. I have no intention of revealing anything! I swear on my family name!"

Unmoved by his plea, Cassandra retorted, "Your family name? I recall Mr. Burke mentioning that the Burke family disowned you. Besides, you were too slow in drawing your wand."

Prior to this day, Cassandra had resolved to silence Mr. Burke, the sole individual beyond the secret circle who was privy to the existence of this deck of cards—its creator.

Her motivation stemmed from the imperative need for confidentiality and, more crucially, her apprehension that Mr. Burke might leave behind unknown elements within the poker deck.

Hence, Cassandra opted for the pretext of caring for her father and abstained from returning to Hogwarts for the week.

Instead, her focus remained singular: mastering a particular spell—Avada Kedavra.

Confronted with Cassandra's mocking, Mr. Burke could only respond with a wry smile, confessing, "It's been quite a while since I wielded my wand in a duel after graduating from Hogwarts."

In response to Mr. Burke's admission, Cassandra remarked with a smile, "Wizards in the magical world have enjoyed peace for too long, and it's becoming monotonous. It's time to bring forth one thing to the wizarding world once again, the thing that's been missing from its very core!"

Unaware of Cassandra's true intentions, Mr. Burke gestured towards the room behind him and made a plea, "I apologize, Miss Cassandra. Before you proceed, could I make one last small request?"

Caught off guard by the request, Cassandra hesitated to respond.

However, before she could reply, Mr. Burke continued, "In the drawer in the back room, you'll find some gold Galleons you provided. If you wish to take them, I certainly won't object. However, considering the effort I put into creating this set of magical playing cards for you, could you set aside some for me to pass on to my wife?"

He pleaded further, "My wife recently gave birth to our son, who is just a month old. She can't work right now, leaving them without income. They need this money for their livelihood."

Upon hearing Mr. Burke's plea, Cassandra fell into contemplative silence. After an indeterminate duration, the tip of her wand suddenly glowed brightly.

The look on her face as she stared at Mr. Burke while the light of the wand reflected on her face was one of pity. Not long ago, she was in a position where she couldn't do anything when Christine had abducted both her and her father.

Now, a man who just had a child born into the wizarding world is about to have his life ended by her own hand... Will she be strong enough to continue and cast the spell to keep the secret of the newly established Secret Hallows?