Hally Potter

Chapter 18

Philosopher's Stone

Harry leads us into a room filled with golden bird like things, "Curious, I've never seen birds like these." Hermione says curiously. "They're not birds. They're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door." Harry says as we walk upon a broomstick, hovering in the air. 

"What's this all about?" Hermione asks, "I don't know. Strange." Harry answers. Ron walks up to the door, "Alohomora!" He tries. The lock rattles, making him shrug, "Well, it was worth a try." He reasons. I giggle a little at him as Hermione groans in frustration, "What're we going to do? There must be a thousand keys up there!" She says.

"We're looking for a big old-fashioned one. It's probably rusty like the handle." Ron says, I send him a smile as the other two look for it. "There! I see it!" Harry says, pointing, "The one with the broken wing." Harry says before looking at the broom. "What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asks, "It's too simple." Harry says to us.

"Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!" Ron encourages him. Harry smiles slightly before nodding and grabbing the broom, and then we see the problem. All the keys suddenly go in one direction, right at Harry. He climbs on, swiping at them. "This complicates things a bit." Ron says, making Hermione look at him.

Harry pushes off into the air. He flies off after the key. The others follow him. After a couple of minutes, Harry grabs the key. "Catch the key!" He calls down to us, He zooms by and throws the key to me, I catch it and head for the lock while Harry distracts the other keys. I quickly put it in the lock. "Hurry up!" Ron shouts, the door finally opens. Hermione, Ron, and I rush through, followed by Harry. We shut the door just as the keys slam up against it.

We enter a dark room with broken pieces all around and two rows of giant statues on either side. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all." Hermione says as we take a look around. "Where are we? A graveyard?" Harry asks, I shake my head as Ron tells him it isn't before signing and stepping forward and inspecting the statues. "It's a chessboard." He informs him. As he says that flames light up, illuminating the room. Harry, Hermione, and I come up with him.

"There's the door." Harry calls, we try to walk across the board to the door. Suddenly, as they reach a line of pawns, the pawns bring up their swords. The four of us jump and back up. "Now, what do we do?" Hermione asks, "It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. Alright. Harry, you take the empty Bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be the Queen-side castle. Hally, you help Hermione. As for me, I'll be a knight." Ron instructs us.

We take our places, "What happens now?" Hermione asks. "Well, white moves first. And then... we play." Ron says from atop a horse. A pawn on the other side moves forward. Ron studies the game. "Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like... real wizard's chess, do you?" Hermione asks. "You there, D5." Ron calls. A black pawn moves forward, diagonal to the white pawn. The white pawn raises its swords and smashes the black one. The four of us jump.

"Yes, Hermione. I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess." Ron answers her earlier question. We play the game, and pieces continue to get smashed. "Castle to E4!" Ron calls, we hear a smash. "Pawn to C3!" We hear another smash before The Queen turns and smashes a piece, making all four of us wince. The Queen turns again. "Wait a minute," Harry calls as I also process what he processed. "You understand right, Harry. Once I make my move, the Queen will take me. Then you're free to check the King." Ron tells Harry.

"No. Ron, no!" Harry shouts as I start to tear up, "What is it?" Hermione asks unknowingly. "He's going to sacrifice himself!" Harry exclaims, "No, Ron, you can't!" Hermione argues. Ron closes his eyes, "There must be another way!" Hermione shouts. Ron turns to us, "Do you want to stop Snape from getting that Stone or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me. Not Hermione. Harry and Hally!"