My One and Only

Chapter 10 - Year 1

THERE WERE FEW THINGS IN THE WORLD MAIA TRULY HATED. After watching countless chess pieces shatter around her, she decided that wizards chess had earned a place on her list.

"Almost done." Ron said, his face twisted up in concentration. The white queen turned towards him, awaiting his next move. "Of course. It has to be done. I've got to be taken."

"No!" Harry and Hermione shouted, while Maia's hair had flashed white.

"Are you mental?" she cried. "You'll get yourself killed!"

"You've got to make some sacrifices in chess!" he snapped back, and Maia shook her head.

"Your life is worth more than some stupid game, Ron."

He stared at her, eyes glossy, and swallowed deeply. "Harry, after I take my move, you'll be free to advance and checkmate the king."

"Ron-"

"Do you want Snape to get the stone?"

"No, but-"

"There's no other choice!" He turned away from his friends, jaw locked in determination. Before anyone could say anything, he stepped forward, allowing the queen to pounce at him, her stone arm colliding with his head with a sickening thwack.

Hermione screamed and Maia's knees buckled. For one horrible moment, she thought he was dead, and she stumbled to the edge of her square.

"Don't move!" Harry cried, his voice pained as he watched Ron crumple to the ground in a motionless heap. He forced his breath to come out evenly as he stepped three paces to the left, his chin held high. "Checkmate."

The king tossed his crown at Harry's feet and bowed, the rest of the remaining white pieces following suit. They cleared the board, leaving the path to the door open. Maia began to rush to Ron's aid, but Harry stopped her, gripping her wrist lightly in his trembling hand.

"There's no time. He'll be fine."

There was nothing worse than not being able to help someone you love, but Maia knew Harry was right. They'd lost too much time arguing with Neville and now there was not a second to spare. Snape, or whoever was after the stone, could have found it by now. With a curt nod, Maia let her brother lead her across the board towards the door, Hermione close on their heels.

Maia gagged as Hermione pushed the door open and immediately all three of them drew their robes up over their noses. In the middle of the room, a grayish bloody lump laid, mangled and unmoving.

"At least we didn't have to fight that one." Harry gasped, his eyes watering from the stench of death, and Maia's lungs began to burn as she held her breath. They scurried around the troll and Maia let out a squeal as she accidently stepped on one of its fingers, the skin squelching beneath her tennis shoe. Harry slammed the door shut behind them, each of them taking in several delicious gulps of fresh air.

The room was empty, save seven differently shaped bottles, and while Hermione and Harry looked relieved, Maia knew this task wouldn't be as easy as it seemed. Just because there was no immediate recognizable danger didn't mean there wasn't a chance that one of them could get hurt.

"This must be Snape's obstacle. What do you think-" Harry's voice cut off as the trio stepped across the threshold and were immediately trapped in as a purple fire sprang up between them and the door. Black flames shot out of the ground in front of them, blocking the doorway that lead onward.

"Lovely." Maia groaned, shielding her eyes from the purple light. "Now what?"

"There!" Hermione jerked forward, seizing a roll of paper that was positioned next to the bottles. She held it close to her face, her eyes moving so quickly that Maia felt a headache form just from watching her. Harry peered over Hermione's shoulder, trying his best to read around her bushy mane, and Maia began to examine each of the bottles. She held the first one beneath her nose and sniffed, her eyebrows furrowing as she was met with nothing. It was scentless. Of course Snape wouldn't make this easy, she thought bitterly, setting the bottle down and joining her friends once more. Hermione was beaming down at the paper, her cheeks spread so far Maia feared they'd tear.