Ron/Hermione

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Hermione sighed, deep in concentration, trying to find the right move. Her eyes hadn't left the board for the past minutes. With a hopeful look across her face she gave orders to her miniature knight which, in an epic move, captured Ron's rook.

"You go," she said, eyes still on the board.

Ron looked at her discreetly, trying to hide the smile that was taking over his face. She had moved her knight out of the way, just like he had predicted, leaving the way clear for his Bishop to perform a checkmate.

The game was almost over, he already had his next move figured out. But he still had a dilemma to solve. He had spotted the right move minutes ago and was waiting for Hermione to do exactly what she did for him to win. It was there, clear, and she hadn't noticed her mistake. But he wasn't taking advantage of it, instead he was observing her concentrated face, he was studying how it wrinkled when she frowned, something she did when she was truly concentrated. He was examining how her head tilted, making her abundant hair fall all over her shoulder, caressing her neck. He was also busy watching her as she bit her bottom lip, slowly and gently.

The decision was his: he could avoid doing a checkmate and continue playing the game, that way he would be able to stare at her unique frowning and her hair tangling around her exposed neck a little longer. It would also buy him a few more minutes of seeing her biting her lips. But he could also simply end the game and win yet another round of chess.

And just when he was opening his mouth, ready to give random orders to a pawn, with the single purpose of giving the game a little more time…

"What? For once you don't know which piece to move?" she dared to say.

He smiled, a little devilish, and spoke instead to his Bishop, ordering it to move all the way towards Hermione's King. The enchanted little bishop didn't show mercy to its opponent.

"Checkmate," he said, very pleased with himself.

"What? How come I didn't see that?" She sounded frustrated. "Honestly, I don't know why I even bother," her cheeks went pink, she was obviously very mad with herself. She stood up and returned to the book she had left a while ago, hiding her face behind it.

Ron didn't regret his final choice, with a silent smile he admitted for the very first time to himself -and to himself only- that she looked strangely attractive every time she lost at chess.

A/N: Review please! It's not that hard, a few words will do the trick! They will make a difference...