The Three Brothers: The Cure

Checkmate

AN: The text in bold has been borrowed directly from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

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4th June 1992

A Chessboard.

A bloody chessboard.

Mark groaned inwardly at the sight before him. If there ever was a game that he truly detested, it was chess.

Everyone that he met over the years had assumed that because he got good grades and was usually inclined towards serious endeavours, chess would be a game that he liked. The truth, however, was the exact opposite. And the reason for it was something people could never understand.

Firstly, a game of chess required great patience—something Mark never appreciated spending in front of monochrome figurines. Second, and most importantly, Mark had never been able to enjoy the game. The thrill that players usually got in trying to figure out their opponents' strategy was non-existent for him; he couldn't help but be privy to their immediate thoughts.

It wasn't that Mark hadn't tried. Edwin, in his all-knowing wisdom, had tried to teach Mark the intricacies of what he called 'the gentlemen's game'. He had even gifted him a brand-new set; Mark remembered now that it sat unused in the bottom drawer of his room. But the chessboard in front of him was nothing like the one collecting dust back home. No, this was something straight out of a Lewis Carrol book.

In front of Mark was a life-sized chessboard, the chessmen sculptures made of stone. As he moved around, he suddenly found himself staring in the eyes of a stone black knight.

"They're enchanted," Mark whispered softly, but the silence of the room easily carried it across.

"What now?" Neville asked after a moment.

"I think we have to play across the board," said Ron. "Look, there's the door behind the white pieces."

"How exactly do we do that?" Hermione asked.

"We're going to have to be chessmen," Mark answered, locking eyes with Ron. Giving him a slight nod, he proceeded to the black bishop in front of him. "You're the best at this, Ron. Your call"

"What happens if we lose?" Neville asked the question hanging in the air. It was Harry who answered.

"Game over."

"Ron, you should take the King, that way you can direct everyone else," Mark suggested. Ron nodded in reply.

"Good call. We may need to sacrifice the Queen," Ron added. Looking at the others, he continued, "Harry, you take the place of that Bishop, Hermione you take the place of that Rook. Neville, you're the other Rook, and Mark you're that Knight"

At these words, the corresponding black pieces turned their back and walked off the board. The five of them took their positions. Once they were on their squares, a white pawn moved forward two squares.

"White moves first." Ron swallowed the lump in his throat and started to direct his pieces.

As the game progressed, the five of them got a demonstration of what would happen if they failed when one of their pawns was captured. The white queen, on approaching the pawn, smashed it with the stone club in her hand. Mark swore softly as the remains of the pawn were dragged off the board. He could see Ron getting even more nervous at the development and he took even more time to think over his moves.

"Who do you think made this challenge?" Mark asked Hermione, who was standing a couple of squares away.

"Professor McGonagall, obviously. These pieces are all examples of animation." She whispered confidently.