John Constantine and The Useless Magic Rock

Pawns

"Come on Harry!"

His friends continued to encourage him as he carefully made his way up.

Harry kept a steady hand around the broom and his eyes stuck on the key.

Like grabbing the snitch
Like grabbing the snitch
Like grabbing the snitch

The ebony boy bit hit lip lightly, keeping in mind his earlier gut feeling and John's words of caution.

Anything could happen in Hogwarts, Halloween was proof of that.

He held a breath as the key sifted slightly, before grabbing the older piece quickly.

He let out the air with relief.
He got it.

Harry ducked in surprised as another key almost hit him.
It seemed....faster...than the others...

He yelped as several more attempted similar motions.

He knew it!

He flew down as fast as he could, swatting and moving around as many keys as he could-ignoring the ones he didn't.
They hurt when they flew at him....

Once the broom landed at a decent enough height, he swung one leg over and ran towards the door where his friends were cooped up, their own hands covering their heads for protection.

John moved in front of the group, raising up his hands.

Like the troll all those months before, a wall of light was brung up just in time to collide with the hurricane of flowing keys.

The trio let out a collective sigh of relief at the familiar cover; they were able to unlock and go through the door a little less stressed about being pelted by wooden and metal objects at high velocities.

John stepped through the door backwards, only letting down their shield when he was on the other side and slammed the door firmly shut.

"That went well I think."

Ron couldn't help but let out a snort.
"Well?"

The blonde shrugged.
"Well in my experience: yes. I know it could've gone a lot worse. We got off pretty easy on that one."

Whatever experience he meant, they couldn't help but agree as they walked.

"Bloody hell.....is that what I think it is?"

They nodded.

The next room down the hall, was the largest by far.
Yet, strangely enough, it was what filled the space that surprised them.

"Now this-This is a chess match."

A large, black and white marble floor was raised and set.

On either side held an army at ones disposal.
Black and white respectively.

"Oh mate.....I'm bloody rubbish at chess...."

"It's alright John, Ron is fantastic at wizards chess! Honestly! I've never seen anyone play half as good as him!"

He must've been good to've earned such high praise from his friends.

"So I assume that this is the next trial?"

"Trial?"

"That's what I'm calling them, the Cerberus, the Devil's Snare and the Key: Tests in my opinion, to keep the stone of the hands of those unprepared for the dangers apparently."