Truth or Dare ✔️

33

Harry, Hermione and the Weasley clan spent the May Day weekend holiday in London with Sirius and Remus. Harry sat at the table staring into space, looking a lot like a rag doll; slouching askew, his arm resting on the back of the chair; Sirius realized that the boy hadn't been right since Christmas. When Sirius asked him why he seemed so melancholy, Harry merely scrunched his face and shook his head, remaining silent. Ron offered that it was Umbridge and not the upcoming exams, that she was in charge of the ancient school and that no one really wanted to return. Sirius' eyes locked with Hermione's and she appeared to him, immediately guilty.

Once lunch was finished, Sirius rose from his seat and requested that Harry follow him. Harry sighed and slowly rose from his chair. Harry caught sight of Sirius heading toward the front door and his breath caught in his throat, thinking that Sirius would exit, but he turned to head into the living room instead. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He found his godfather seated on one of the settees, setting up a chessboard. Sirius looked up and smiled and gestured to the settee opposite him.

"You play, yes," Sirius asked.

A faint smile crossed Harry's face and he nodded finally. "Yes. Yes, of course." Harry eyed the hand-carved pieces and picked up the white King and examined it. The piece grinned and winked at him and Harry laughed with glee.

Sirius' brow arched as he smiled. "Any good?"

Harry's arms rested on his thighs and he leaned forward, placing his game pieces in their appropriate places. "I can hold my own," he replied, accepting the dare silently, just as his father used to do.

"Well, if you play anything like James, this might take a while," he warned lightly.

"I can sleep on the train," Harry said, grinning.

"It's on then Potter," Sirius said with a grin gesturing toward the board. "This was your father's chess set, by the way. Handed down for several generations. It's very old. The board itself is constructed of ivory and ebony, the pieces as well. The white King is the only piece that's that highly animated. Your great-grandfather spelled it to urge your grandfather to play with him. According to James, it was said that it'll only react on it's own in the hands of a Potter."

Harry smiled. "Blimey! Really!" He gingerly placed the piece on the board and the King righted itself, standing at attention, prepared to wage war in the impending mock-battle.

Sirius smiled as he nodded. "I am very thankful that Remus thought to grab it. It'll be yours someday, I reckon! You don't mind if I hang on to it in the meantime, do you?"

Harry smiled genuinely. "Not at all...Padfoot."

Sirius barked a genuine laugh.

For an hour, the two men sat across from the other, barely saying anything. Hermione came and went, leaving the two alone to finish out their game while she went upstairs to pack.

Another hour went by.

And then another hour.

Ron came and went. And Ginny. And then the twins.

And even Remus...

Finally, it was suppertime and Molly called everyone to the dining room. All came to the table to break bread except for Harry and Sirius and Hermione volunteered to fetch them. When she returned empty-handed, Remus left the dining room.