~~Very bored, so I thought I'd write a story. Need to get rid of a bad case of writer's block.~~
"Checkmate." Ron's hand swept across the board, clearing it of pieces. They scattered across the table, righting themselves as soon as they stopped rolling, shrieking indignantly. Harry watched in fascination as the black king ordered his subjects into a neat line and began marching them back to the chessboard. Soon his attention turned back to the much more urgent matter of impending war-Hermione had once again beaten Ron in a chess match. This time it only took her six moves.
"I win again, I see," said Hermione, giving Ron a brilliant grin. He glowered at her. "You cheated, didn't you?" he snapped. She gave him a shocked look that quickly turned to anger. Harry winced, knowing what this would lead to-a shouting match and neither of them talking to the other for days.
"How can you even accuse me of something like that? I never cheat, and you know it! If anyone here is a cheater, it isn't me!" she cried, her voice rising dangerously, "my God, Ron! You, of all people, should know that!"
"What? Are you accusing me of being a cheater, Hermione? I take pride in my honesty!"
Hermione gave him a puzzled look. "What are you talking about, Ron? I wasn't referring to you." She jabbed her thumb in Harry's direction, who was happily watching a group of seventh year girls dance to a song George was playing on something that looked like a metal shoe. Ron reddened, his mouth forming an O. A few weeks ago, he would have protested that Harry was honest as can be, but lately Harry had been, ah, furtive. He was hiding a secret from both of them, and they were angry at him for keeping it hidden this long. They doubted their trust in Harry, these days.
After a few moments spent staring at Harry, they came back to the real world long enough to start fighting again. Soon the quarrel had escalated from a spat to a battle. Hermione shrieked at Ron, Ron yelled at Hermione. Soon they were standing in the middle of the room, attracting as much attention as possible. The groups of people at the surrounding tables had left for a quieter place to study. George stopped playing the shoe instrument long enough to glare at the fighters. The break in the music awoke Harry from his reverie.
"You two are still fighting? Can't you stop bickering long enough t' play a game of chess?" They stopped their verbal sparring long enough to glare at him. "You're goin' t' get us kicked out of here again if you don't stop soon." They paid no attention to Harry. He thought for a few moments, and then decided that there was only one was to solve this.
"If you two insist on finding out who's better that game, have a match. Whoever wins the match is the reigning champion. Agreed?" Surprised at this solution, both Ron and Hermione nodded. "Good, then. Let the match begin."
The players sat down to the chessboard, arranged their pieces, and began to play. It was a match of the two greatest players in Hogwarts history, fit for Dumbledore himself.