𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟏) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

56

The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight.

They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone.

Facing us, way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julie shivered slightly - the towering white chessmen had no faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron.

"Actually it isn't, Ronald" Julie answered to wich he rolled his eyes. She honestly don't know how she manged to joke in this situation and with her injury.

"We've got to play our way across the room." he said as Julie noticed another door behind the white pieces.

"How?" asked Hermione, trying to hide the tone of nervousness.

"I think," said Ron, "we're going to have to be chessmen!"

He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life.

The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron.

"Do we - er — have to join you to get across?" Ron awkwardly asked. The black knight nodded and Ron turned to them.

"This wants thinking about..." he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces ..."

Julie stayed quiet, watching Ron think, while clutching her shoulder. Harry and Hermione didn't say anything either.

Finally Ron said: "Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess-"

"We're not offended" Julie whispered quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Hary you take the place of that bishop, Julie, you're going to be that rook and Hemione, you go there instead of that castle!"

"What about you?" Hermione asked.

"Im going to be a knight." said Ron.

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop, a rook and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board leaving four empty squares which Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julie took.

"White always plays first in chess." said Ron, peering across the board. "Yes... look..."

A white pawn had moved forward two squares.
Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them.

Julie's knees were trembling. The pain in her shoulder increased and she was worrying about what would happen if they lost.

Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, face down.

"Had to let that happen." said Ron, looking shaken. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on!"

Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron only just noticed in time that Harry and Julie were in danger.

He himself darted around the board taking almost as many white pieces as they had lost black ones.

"We're nearly there." he muttered suddenly. "Let me think - let me think..."

The white queen turned her blank face towards him.

"Yes..." said Ron softly, "it's the only way ... I've got to be taken."

'NO! Harry and Hermione shouted while Julie whimpered, not being able to talk because of the pain.

"That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I'll make my move and she'll take me - that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But-"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"

"Ron-"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!"

There was nothing else for it.

"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go - now, don't hang around once you've won"

He stepped forward and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard around the head with her stone arm and he crashed to the floor.

Hermione screamed and Julie looked at the sight in horror but they stayed on our squares - the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out.

Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left.
The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear.

With one last desperate look back at Ron, Harry, Hermione and Julie charged through the door and up the next passageway.

~~

Sorry for not updating in so long, but I'm on vacation right now and I didn't have time to write a new chapter.

Hope you enjoyed this one!