HP: A Sociopath Gamer In Magic World [ Chapter 64: Poker from 7! ] (Patreon)
Content
It was a good thing that there were no girls around as the last player of the round took out a certain adult magazine, "Raise."
I could hear the intake of air from the others, before Terry was shaking my shoulders again, "Charles! You have to win this mate."
The others were looking cautious now, looking to their pile to see if they had anything of equal value to contest with.
I gave a whistle and Hermes flew from my bed and handed me my top hat. I reached inside and pulled out four swimsuit issues which I threw into the pot causing the others to curse, "Call."
"Does that hat have everything?" Anthony asked, mystified as he grabbed the hat and turned it upside down.
"What will it be, Captain," I asked mockingly.
"Fold," Robert said, taking one of the remaining butterbeers in his pile and opening it.
"And then there were three," I said, glancing at the other two.
"You're out of your league Firsty."
I gave a snort, "You would think so, but I live at an orphanage remember. I've been playing poker since I was 7."
The fifth year prefect looked pretty confident as he, without the slightest hint of hesitation, threw not only his couple's necklace but also a ring and a bracelet, "Call."
The dealer, a third year Ravenclaw, placed down the final card down.
Ten of Spades, Five of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, Seven of Spades, and finally the Nine of Spades.
"Read it and weep losers, straight flush!" I shouted as I smacked the cards on the floor. I already knew they had nothing that could beat it, and I was proven correct as they threw down their cards and began to curse, or weep in the case of the prefect.
"Yes, Yes, Yes!" Terry said, jumping around.
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Common Room:-
I watched as Anthony tried to suppress a yawn for the umpteenth time, as we made our way into the common room.
By the end of last night, we had all walked away all richer and with more stuff than we knew what to do with, but that was to be expected with a LUK score of 30. Really should think about hitting Monte Carlo in the future.
There was talk of making it a monthly thing, which I was all for it.
"What's all the commotion," Michael said lazily when they reached the bottom of the stair only to find people gathered around the bulletin board.
Terry, being the most energetic, fought through the crowd of people to reach the front.
"Petition for a School Store, what's that?" he shouted out loud.
Eric, the Head Boy from last night's game walked up to us, "Someone left it under the door early in the morning."
"Wow, that's… suspicious. What even is a student store?" I asked.
"The flyer explains it a little. It's a store run by the prefects and teachers to raise funds for school equipment and activities, like clubs and such."
"A student store huh? Doesn't sound so bad actually, those school brooms should have been replaced years ago," trying to come off as casual.
"I'll say, you know I almost broke my neck during the first year because of them."
"I can also see how it might benefit those from muggle backgrounds like me since we can't just have supplies delivered to us like the others."
"I suppose so," Eric said thoughtfully, "… by the way, any chance I can take a peek at that magazine?"
"Sorry, I already gave it to Terry, and I doubt he'll part with it now," I told him without looking.
"Terry Boot you say?" he said with a contemplating voice.
Any more discussion was interrupted as we were just in time to see a girl slap the prefect from last night across the face before stomping off in a huff.
"Ah looks like she found out?" I said casually.
"Indeed."
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Flitwick:-
For the umpteenth time in the last hour Flitwick's eyes flickered to Charles Bell.
The charms professor had noticed the change in his young pupil after the holiday break.
The boy carried himself with a bit more self-confidence, something that was missing before.
He also took note that the young Ravenclaw no longer seemed to be on edge, as if every corner held some hidden danger. The bags under his eyes had also mostly disappeared leading him to believe that whatever nightmares had previously plagued him had subsided for the moment. Whatever had happened over the holiday's it seemed to have done wonders for the boy's mental state.
Ring!
The sound of the bell tower brought him back to his wits, as he got up on his desk, "Ahem, alright class you are free to pack up and leave. Don't forget we will be having a quiz on Friday, so study hard."
That made the class groan, except his Ravenclaws, never his Ravenclaws.
"Mr. Bell, would you mind staying back for a moment," he called out just as the raven-haired boy finished placing his books in his bag.
He received some playful jabs from the rest of his housemates as they left, showing Flitwick what a tightknit group they had become in only a few short months.
Once they were all gone Charles walked to the front of the classroom. "Yes, Professor, did you need something?" he said in that reserved tone that people got when they thought they were in trouble.
Gesturing to a stack of heavy tomes the short professor gave a short chortle, "No need to be worried Mr. Bell, I only wished for your assistance in helping me return some books back to the library, otherwise I fear Madam Pince will be rather cross with me."
Charles' shoulders visibly sagged in relief as he gave a smile, "Well we can't have that."
"That we can't," Flitwick said with a laugh.
Making their way out of the classroom, the two wizards made small talk.