June 14th 1992

Hope and Cassie had spent the last few weeks watching Harry and his friends, making sure they didn't get into much trouble. And they didn't. Until now. Hope had followed the trio as they made their way towards the room that held Fluffy. They were under the invisibility cloak but it didn't matter, she knew where they were going. "Alohomora," Hermione muttered, the door creaks open allowing them to slip in followed by Hope, who they hadn't realised was there.

"Wait a minute...he's...Sleeping," Ron muttered shocked when they see Fluffy sleeping.

"Someone's already been here. they've put a spell on the harp," Hope said announcing her presence. The trio jump, clearly shocked.

"Snape," Harry muttered.

"Uh. It's got horrible breath!" Ron exclaimed in disgust. "We have to move its paw," Harry asked.

"What?!"

"Come on!" Harry encouraged as they grab the paw, which is blocking the door. "Okay. Push!" They strain and move it. Hope rolls her eyes and pops open the door. "I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. If something bad happens, get yourselves out...Does it seem a bit...quiet?

"The harp stopped playing," Hope told them looking up at Fluffy as drool from one head comes down on Ron's shoulder.

"Ew! Yuck! Ugh."

"Jump! Go!" Hope told them, they all jump through the trapdoor.

"Whoa. Lucky this plant-thing is here, really," Ron commented.

"Whoa!" Harry exclaims as the plant begins to move towards them. It ties them up tightly causing Hope to mutter, "shit."

"Stop moving, both of you," Hope told them as her and Hermione stop struggling.

"This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it will only kill you faster," Hermione continues.

"Kill us faster?! Oh, now I can relax!" Ron panics.

Hermione and Hope share a look rolling their eyes as the plant pulls them down causing Ron and Harry to panic even more. Harry is the first to relax and is pulled down to where Hope and Hermione are.

"He's not relaxing, is he?" Hermione points out. "Apparently not," Harry replies.

"Uh! I remember reading something in Herbology. Um Devil's Snare, Devil's Scare, it's deadly fun...but will sulk in the sun! That's it! Devil's Snare hates sunlight!" Hermione realises causing Hope to pull out her wand.

"Lumos Solem." A beam of light shoots out. The Snare shrieks and recoils allowing Ron to fall below.

Ron stands up, "whew. Lucky we didn't panic!"

"Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology," Harry retorts. A sound off to the side distracts them. "What is that?" Hermione asks.

"I don't know. Sounds like wings," Hope commented walking forward towards the noise. They enter into a room filled with golden "birds."

"Curious. I've never seen birds like these," Hermione comments.

"They're not birds, they're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door," Harry guesses. They come upon a broomstick, suspended in the air.

"What's this all about?" Hermione wonders. Ron walks over to the lock and tries to open it with a spell. The door doesn't budge.

"Ugh! What're we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there!" Hermione complained.

"We're looking for a big old fashioned one. Probably rusty like the handle," Hope concludes as she inspects the door.

"There! I see it! The one with the broken wing!" Harry points out and gazes at the suspended broom.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"It's too simple."

"Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!" Ron commented encouragingly

Harry nods and grabs the broom. All the keys suddenly go one direction, right at Harry. He climbs on, swiping at them.

"This complicates things a bit!" Ron commented. Harry pushes off into the air. He flies off, after the key. The others follow him. He finally grabs the key.

"Catch the key!"

He zooms by and throws the key to Hope, who catches it and heads for the lock while Harry distracts the other keys. She puts the key in the lock.

"Hurry up!"

The door opens, and Hermione, Hope and Ron rush through, followed by Harry. They shut the door just as the keys slam up against it. They enter a dark room, with broken pieces all around it.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all," Hermione states scared causing Hope to put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"Where are we? A graveyard," Harry guesses.

This is no graveyard," Ron sighs. "It's a chessboard."

They walks out onto the marble board, flames light, illuminating the board showing the giant chess pieces.

"There's the door," Harry points out, they all move towards it. All except Hope, she stops knowing is won't be that easy. They walk across the board, towards the door. Suddenly, as they reach a line of pawns, the pawns bring up their swords.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione asks cluelessly.

"It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. Alright. Harry, you take the Bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be the Queen's side castle. As for me, I'll be a knight," Ron commands. They all take their places except Hope who stands to the side observing.

"What happens now?" Hermione asked once they were all in place.

"Well, white moves first, and then...we play."

A pawn on the other side moves forward. Ron studies the game establishing his move.

"Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like...real wizard's chess, do you?" Hermione asked in fear.

"You there! D-5!" Ron commands, a black pawn moves forward, diagonal to the white pawn. The white pawn raises its swords and smashes the black one. "Yes, Hermione, I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess!"

The game continues on for what feels like hours. Pieces smash each other, mini explosions echo through the room

"Castle to E-4!"

"Pawn to C-3!"

The Queen turns, and smashes a piece. The Queen turns again. Ron, Hope and Harry study the game.

"Wait a minute," Harry called out noticing what the next move will be.

"You understand right, Harry," Ron asks.

Hope nods understanding what is about to happen. "Once he make his move, the Queen will take him...then you'll be free to check the King."

"No, Ron! No!" Harry yelled in a panic.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, confused as to what's happening.

"He's going to sacrifice himself!" Harry told her.

"No, Ron, you can't! There must be another way!"

"There isn't. It's the only move left," Hope commented.

Ron turns to face Hermione, "do you want to stop Snape or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, you and Hope. Knight...to H-3."

Ron's horse moves forward, slides and stops. "Check."

The Queen turns and advances. Ron breathes faster, clutching the steel reins. The Queen stops and smashes Ron's Knight causing him to go flying off the horse and landing on the floor, unconscious.

"RON!" Harry calls out as Hermione starts walking to him. "NO! Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing." Hermione moves back. Harry walks diagonally in front of the King. "Checkmate."

The King's sword falls onto the ground, Harry breathes out and then the three run to Ron. They bend beside him. "Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right...we have to go on," Hope tells the girl, not willing to leave her brother.

"Be careful," she tells them sadly. Hope and Harry nodded, standing and walking away.