Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters.
Check Mate
"Ron did that?" asked Becky a bit perplexed "why would he do that?"
"Well he's Ron" Hermione replied giggling "that means it doesn't have to make sense and if you try to analyze his logic it will drive you insane."
"I see" said Becky in a fake serious voice "it must be nice to go to school like that."
"You didn't go to school" Hermione was shocked "then how did you learn so much?"
"I have been trained since birth for my position as my Lord's assistant so I was unable to attend schooling with the other schooling" Becky said in a matter of fact tone "in fact I believe that you are the first friend that I have ever had my age" then some what hesitantly "you ... you are my friend right."
"Course we're friends Becky" Hermione nodded reassuring the younger girl "but what about your parents, why did they allow you to be raised by other people."
"I have no parents" Becky responded in a matter of fact tone "when I was born I was taken from my mother and after my intelligence was discovered I was raised to by my Lord's servant."
"That's terrible" Hermione was horrified "how could they just take you away from your family."
"The prisoners in the maximum security wing are not permitted to keep their children" Becky explained "I was treated with kindness and raised by the people of Azkaban, I do not believe that I would have half as good a childhood with my mother, even if she had been free."
"Becky" Hermione had a sudden horrible thought "if you don't mind me asking, what was your mother's name."
"I believe that it was Bellatrix, why do you ask."
"Bellatrix LeStrange killed Harry's god father in the Department of Mysteries" Hermione said quietly.
"Thank you for telling me Hermione" Becky said making several notations in her book "now that I know of her crimes against his Lordship I have instructed the guards to spend more resources in her apprehension."
"But how can you do that" Hermione asked a bit shocked "she's evil but she's still your mother."
"No Hermione she is the enemy of my Lord" Becky said voice filled with emotion "and as such she will be hunted into the ground like the dog that she is."
"But"
"Let us forget such things" Becky said, her earlier happy mood returning "do you have any pictures of Harry when he was smaller?"
Hermione's response was a wicked grin "let me get my album."
Across the room Harry shuddered in fear while he couldn't hear their words, the giggles and tone of voice were enough to warn him that he had made a mistake when he introduced the two girls.
For several hours, Harry continued to study his book on advanced Potions and for several hours, he attempted to ignore the two giggling girls behind him.
"Thank you Hermione" Becky said grinning "I really enjoyed looking at your pictures of Hogwarts and hearing your stories about your school year."
"No problem Becky" Hermione responded with a grin of her own "it's nice having a friend who's a girl, don't get me wrong Harry and Ron are great but you just can't discuss some things with them."
"I understand" Becky nodded "if you will excuse me I must take care of a matter of some importance."
"Ok, don't work too hard" Hermione said gathering up her things.
"I will not" Becky replied walking across the room to where Harry was reading "Harry."
"Yes Becky" he looked up from his book "is their something you want?"
"I have to take leave of you for a short amount of time" she responded "but I shall return as soon as I am able."
"All right"
Leaving the room, Becky made several notations in her ever present book as she walked to one of the more isolated locations in the castle.
"You called Becky" asked the Commander of Azkaban's forces "what does his Lordship wish from me"
"I have asked to meet with you on my own authority regarding a matter involving his Lordship's safety" replied the girl "it is in regards to his Lordship's acquaintance Ronald Bilius Weasly."
"What about him" asked Maxwell suddenly deadly serious.
"While he is currently friendly with our Lord, his past behavior erratic makes him a liability" Becky reported to Commander Maxwell "and as such I recommend that steps be taken to remove him from his Lordship's presence."
"What action do you suggest I take?" he asked eager for the intelligent young woman's opinion "I don't believe I could 'remove' him and keep the information from his Lordship with absolute certainty."
"That was my thought as well" Becky said with a nod "I have a plan to remove him from our Lord's presence that will not require bloodshed."
Maxwell's eyes shined with pride as he listened to the plan outlined by the intelligent young woman, it was times like this that he regretted not taking his chance to recruit her into the guard when he had the chance.
Back in the room with the Weasleys, Arthur had taken his son aside to explain some things to him.
"Percy, I appreciate what you have done for this family but if you ever even think about doing something like it again I will unleash the twins on you."
"Don't worry dad, now that my cover's been blown I won't have any reason to do something like it again" Percy said happy to be honest with his father "though now that I can't be used in the field, I don't know what to do."
"Have you thought about becoming an Unspeakable?" Arthur asked his son in a low voice "you are already part of the department so it wouldn't be that hard to make the jump."
"I've thought about it dad but I really don't think that I could make the cut" Percy replied with a grin "sure I'm part of the Department but I don't know if I could ever be that good."
"I don't know son" Arthur said trying not to reveal too much "I think that you have the potential to be great."
"No offence dad but do you really have the experience to make that sort of judgment?" laughing "it's not like you were an Unspeakable is it?"
Percy's laughter trailed off as he noticed the serious look on his father's face "like father like son Percy, it might be nice to be able to pass along some of my skills and to be able to tell someone in the family what I saw."
Their conversation in the corner of the room continued, most of their family members concluding that Percy's behavior towards their father had been especially hard on the sensitive man they knew requiring an especially long reconciliation.
By unspoken agreement the Weasley family decided to leave the two men to their 'bonding' and seek out their entertainment in other parts of the room.
Ginny, Molly, and Penelope had claimed a table and were comparing notes on the returned Weasley.
The twins had claimed a corner of their own and were talking to each other in hushed tones, occasionally throwing a curious glance at the back of their father.
Bill sat with his brother Charlie, ensuring that his brother was caught up on all the family news that had not made the long trip to Romania.
Ron was board, alone, and entirely without diversion he didn't want to join his mother and sister, his brief conversation with his too oldest siblings had convinced him that their conversation was not about anything important, he didn't want to risk breaking his father's reconciliation with Percy because he was slightly afraid of harming his fragile parent, and their was no way in hell he would go near the twins when they were apparently plotting some mischief.
A brief knock on the door interrupted his sulking and curious the got up to answer it.
On the other side of the door was an old man carrying a chess set "terribly sorry to bother you but I heard that one of you was regarded as a skilled Chess Player?"
"I'm the best in Gryffindor" Ron beamed with pride "were you looking for a game?"
"But you're so young" the man said with a bit of astonishment then shaking it off "forgive me but in my experience most young people have no interest in chess these days, but where are my manners my name is Allmus and I was looking for a game if you are willing to accept my challenge."
"I accept" said Ron with a grin, happy to be on familiar ground "come on in."
"Thank you" said the man setting up the board "it's been so long since I've played, I hope I can still provide a challenge."
"Don't worry about it" said Ron a bit arrogantly "I'm sure you'll do fine."
Just as Ron had expected, the game was both short and brutally one sided but contrary to his prediction he was not victorious.
"You are even better then I was led to believe" said Allmus as he used his queen to win the game "it's a pity that you will never have a chance to realize your potential and become one of the greats."
"What do you mean never have a chance?"
"Well, you do go to Hogwarts do you not?" asked the old man.
"Yeah, I go to Hogwarts" confirmed Ron, a bit confused on what this had to do with his chess skills.
"Hogwarts does not have a class on advanced chess and I'm afraid that without it you will never be able to compete on a professional level" the old man shook his head "pity too as a professional chess player can make quite a bit of gold."
"What do you mean?"
"I suppose you could compare it to the pay that professional Quiddich receive because they receive money to do a recreational activity" the old man said "of course that isn't the best analogy because chess players have a longer career and are able to make considerably more money."
Ron listened to the old man talk with rapt excitement; he had finally found his chance to make his place in the world in a way that no Weasley ever had, the money wouldn't hurt either.
After several minutes of conversation with the old man and several lost games Ron had a sudden thought that caused his shoulders to slump "I'd never be able to pay for it, even with dad's new job I don't think we would swing the tuition, and I don't want to leave Harry to face Voldemort all alone."
"Payment would be no problem" the old man said making a move "and I don't see that you should worry about Harry, after all he had all of his adventures without your help didn't he?"
"No, I was there on all of Harry's adventures" Ron said puffing up proudly "and without me he would never have been able to succeed in any of them."
"Really" the old man said with astonishment "I hadn't realized someone so young as yourself has seen so much."
"Yeah" Ron said with a bit of pride "you always hear about what Harry does but the papers always make it look like he did it alone, they forget about the rest of us that did just as much."
"Amazing" Allmus said looking at Ron in a new light "but don't you think that it's time for you to claim your own glory, you've fought in every major battle that's taken place in the last few years so don't you owe it to yourself?"
"Your right" Ron said with a nod "I've done more then my part in the war effort and it's high time I went and got myself some recognition."
"Excellent" the old librarian said proudly "I must confess that it is a pleasure to see someone so young making such a mature decision."
"But how will I pay for it, you said it wouldn't be a problem for me?"
"Of course not" replied Allmus seemingly scandalized that such a question could be asked "even if you could not have qualified for any of the many scholarships based on merit, through your father's work on the Island you will have all your tuition and expenses paid for by my Lord Azkaban."
"Great" said Ron enthusiastically, happy the world was finally giving him the treatment he deserved "where is the best school."
"The best school is in Moscow and I know that if you have the courage to complete the next two years you will become one of the greats."
The reactions of the Weasley family were mixed when they heard Ron's plans but none dared voice anything but support for his goals, one glance at Molly prevented that the for none wished to dash the joy she was feeling that at last one of her babies would be safe from this awful war.
AN: I think I may have figured out what to do with Ron, it is both original and it does not make Ron the head of the anti Harry club. Becky LeStrange was something I had planned on when I first envisioned the character, it is kind of like the citizenship laws in several countries, and if you are born on the Island you are automatically a citizen of the Island. The only reason that Arthur was willing to admit his past to Percy was because of Percy's affiliation with the Department of Mysteries and because he wanted to teach his son some of the things he knows.
Lord Ravenclaw- Thanks for the review.
TheWraith1 – Interesting idea about the Demontias, I don't any plans to do anything like this but interesting idea.
Jasmine – I try to, sometimes this weekend for example I won't be able to other times I can. I just stop at the point that the story seems to want to stop at.
Dante Lewis – I am trying to avoid the whole soopa doopa powers thing, at times I do enjoy reading it but it seemed a bit of a cop out to me. Very perceptive on the parallel between the two Lords and what will happen in the story. Heh, I like Arthur and I asked myself what he would have done during the first rise that would allow him to work with the troops of Azkaban. Heh, thanks Dumbledore was one of the more difficult ones to write at first. Having a bit of trouble with Harry, Ron was much easer. Yep, Fudge is powerless when it comes to Harry and no matter what he does Harry can counter it ... almost without effort.
gallandro-83 – He hasn't returned at this point, hadn't thought about him passing the mantle.
Egyptian Flame – All depends on what I can pull off.
athenakitty – Questions will be raised by Fred and George who saw their father get very rough with someone and then suggest that he was going off to kill some people in very interesting ways. He may start teaching them a little on the sly. Volde might be a bit weary but I don't see him fearing the Lord of Azkaban yet. Still can't think up a good cure for the Longbottoms but suggestions are welcome.
Shawn Pickett – Just the scene where Arthur goes up into the attic and pulls out the old trunk.
Jordan – Becky is doing better, Hermione may get citizenship, don't think that the Weasleys will.
uten – Thanks I spent a bit of time trying to figure out how to portray that. Harry has forgiven Ron, but Becky will be watching him like a hawk. Having a lot of trouble trying to figure out how to give Harry his friend back, I don't want to drop him as a character, though he will be relatively unimportant in most of the fic so I am trying to think up a convincing way of having Ron accept things. I don't see him as a great strategist, what most people forget is that chess is just a mental exercise that helps you think in a certain way, it does not impart skill in moving troops so their will be no great commander Ron in my fics without a lot of development taking him to that point and that won't be happening in this fic. I agree that Ron is a 'momma's boy' which is one of the things that is making things so difficult. Ron may stick by Harry if he gets thrown into Azkaban by Fudge, I know that I could write that while remaining IC, the problem is writing Ron in such a way that he would accept Harry getting more gold, maybe show him how difficult it is to run a small nation but that brings me around to how to write it in without a blow up. In the end, I may just leave Ron in the dark about the true identity of the Lord of Azkaban and just have him think that Harry is just plain old Harry. Heh, I wanted to have the Dark Lord doing something besides cackling evilly to himself and I didn't think that anyone would wish to play any games with him.
Wormtail moved the last piece "check mate master."
Eyeing the board for a minute, Voldemort confirmed that there was no way out of his servant's trap "indeed it is Wormtail ... CRUCIO."
David305 – Tried to show Percy's state of mind going into this, he figured that if he ran then they would go after his loved ones and besides that he didn't care if he lived or died.
Paladin3030 – MOPS, Ministry Office of Professional Standards they are my version of Internal Affairs for the Ministry of Magic and they are technically part of the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries. Yes I am a fan of the Watchmen, and Rorschach was very cool.
solo2733 – Wish that I could take full credit for that but I have seen something similar in half a dozen movies, just thought it was cool enough to put in. Dr Gero – Not a bad idea, may have to use this if I can fit it in.
Markcohen – I agree, Clark is cool. As to giving too much specal treatment to the Weasleys, he is only able to get away with it because the Lord of Azkaban is an unknown and they don't have many past examples to judge his behavior against.