13. Flying Keys and Wizard's Chess

**Ron's POV**

Okay, We got past Fluffy and the Devil's Snare. Hermione thinks that each task involves each professor. The Devil's Snare must be Professor Sprout's idea and Fluffy is Hagrid's so he must be a part of this as well since he is Gatekeeper. As we got closer to the door, Hermione said " Do you guys hear that? I hear flapping."

Harry opened the door and we found a thousand keys with wings flying around like the golden snitch.

" This must be Professor Flitwick's charm" Fred said.

"There's the door," Hermione said as she walked over there with Fred. "It's locked!" Fred said as he tried to open it again. I ran up there and tried to use the unlocking charm, but nothing happened.

"There's a broom here. Oh I get it. We have to try to find a key that will fit the lock, but there are like a thousand keys here. It will take us forever to find it" Harry said.

"Harry, how 'bout you try to find a key and we will try everything we can to open the door. The right key will be different then all the others. Something the other's don't have" Hermione said.

"Alright. i'll try" Harry said as he mounted the broom.

**Harry's POV**

I need to find a key that is different then the others. As I mounted the broom, the keys began lunging towards me. I flew quickly to find the key. I heard the others using many spells, but the door might be enchanted. I soon was at least five feet above ground flying everywhere to find the key. I then saw a key with a broken wing. That must be it!

"Guys! I think I found it! The one with a broken wing!" I yelled at them while trying to get away from the keys.

"Hurry, Harry! We are running out of time!" Hermione shouted.

I flew as fast as I could to the key with the broken wing while the other keys were on my tail. Think of it as a Quidditch match! The key is the Golden Snitch. I was at least two inches away from the key and then got closer. I caught the key and flew to the others. I tossed the key to Fred who unlocked the door and let the rest of the others through. I was trying to get away from the keys and I made my way to the door and made it through without any other keys getting through. Fred and George closed the door quickly and fell down leaning on the door.

"Everyone here?" I asked.

"Yep.", Everyone said.

"Okay let's go" I said, getting off the broom and heading to the next door.

**Fred's POV**

I can't believe we got through, a three-headed dog named Fluffy, Devil's Snare, and flying keys trying to rip our heads off. What next? I wonder if I'm gonna die down here.

When we opened the next door, we found statues black and white on each side of the room. Fire lit the torches and we saw checkers on the ground. I saw the door and Harry stepped on the checkered floor and made his way towards the door. Too easy! Something's Harry got to the other side of the room. The white statues in the first row blocked the way.

"Bloody hell! This is Wizard's Chess. Real life Wizard's Chess. We have to play our way out of this!" Ron said.

"Blimey! This will not be easy. This will involve us getting hit by a chair or something!" George screamed.

"Okay. We have to do this. Everyone gets on a spot. I'll be a knight" Ron said.

A few minutes later, we found half of our black statues destroyed. Ron's Statue was the only one on the left. Harry then said, "Wait a minute."

"You understand, right Harry? Once I make my move, the queen will take me. Then you're free to check the king" Ron said.

"No. Ron NO!" Harry screamed

"Ron! Are you mental?" I asked him.

"Ron you can't do this!" George yelled.

"What is it?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"He's going to sacrifice himself," I told her.

"NO YOU CAN'T! There must be another way!" she yelled.

"Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on! I can feel it. Not me, not Hermione, Not the twins. You!" Ron told him. Harry nodded and faced the board as we did the same.

"Knight to H3" Ron said while grabbing the handle of the horse's statue. He then closed his eyes and then his statue moved. Hermione closed his eyes while the queen took her sword and had broken Ron's statue into a million pieces. Ron then screamed and fell to the ground. Hermione then tried to go to him, but George then yelled " No! Don't move. We are still playing the game. Harry, you're up."

Harry then made his way to the king. "Check mate!" He said. The king dropped his sword. Then we all made our way to Ron and Harry told us "Take care of Ron. Then go to the Owlery and send a message to Dumbledore. Ron is right you know. I have to go on"

"Good luck Harry" George and I said to him.

"You will be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard. You really are" Hermione said to him.

"Not as good as you though, Hermione" He said to her.

"Me? Books and cleverness? There are more important things" she said while looking at me with a smile. "Friendship and bravery. And Harry just be careful."

He nodded and made his way to the door.

"Come on 'Mione. Let's get Ron to the Hospital Wing" I said to her while picking up Ron with help from George and making our way back to where we started.