Disclaimer: The brilliant characters belong solely to J.K. Rowling. The plot and typos are my own. No profit is being made.
A/N: Just a bit of frivolous fun on a Sunday night while challenging myself to keep to a 100-word limit.


~ Gauntlet ~

"Oh ho!" Harry laughed. "Sounds as though the gauntlet's been thrown!"

Ron boggled, an owlish expression on his face. "What? What did I say?"

Hermione and Harry collapsed against each other in a fit of giggles, pointing together at Severus. Ron looked hesitantly at his ex-Professor, his eyes going impossibly wider.

"I assume you have a chess board on the premises?" Severus asked, deadpan.

Ron nodded dumbly.

"Reset it. I trust you'll enjoy eating your words as much as your dinner."

When Ron slipped sheepishly from the room to fetch his chess set, the laughter started anew. Even Severus grinned.