Today is Groundhogs' Day; Yesterday was Groundhogs' Day; Tomorrow will be Groundhogs' Day


[a/n]Little bit of fun at Ron's expense

Harry Does Different CCCDIV

Checkmate

"That's ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN games in a row, mate!" Ron chortled as he slid his white rook through Harry's line of black defenders. Harry's king dropped his sword in surrender and glared up at the human.

The handful of onlookers gave congratulatory slaps on the back to the winner and/or sympathetic looks to the loser.

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Much later, Harry was tying an envelope on his Snowy owl "Hope you don't mind a long flight, girl."

**squawk, squawk, bark, squawk** replied Hedwig as she took a third piece of bacon from her human. She didn't even glance at the addressee before taking a last drink of water and launching herself from his shoulder into the sky.

Hermione, carrying an armful of books, asked curiously "Who're you writing to?"

"Penpal." Was his not quite informative answer, as he saw his redhead friend coming into the courtyard "Met during the Tournament."

Ron teased "Harry's got a girlfriend! Harry's got a girlfriend!"

"Boyfriend actually." Was the deadpanned retort, much to the surprise of everyone within audio-range. "What? Well, it's a guy and he's my friend." This was hardly his first contact, merely the latest in a long series. Nor was it the last. These were not your typical letters, though they had a certain amount of trivia and personal goings on their primary contents consisted of notations in the form of things like P to QR3 or Q to K4, B x P, etc.

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Ron had become quite arrogant in his chess play, especially with his best friend. He settled in with his Quidditch World Reports paper, made his first move and smirked across the Gryffindor table. The redhead really should have paid attention when his bespectacled opponent brought out his Queen after only three moves. Nor did any warning bells sound that the lady of the board had positioned herself on a row just a couple squares above a Harry's Bishop. He just turned a page and delighted at his beloved Canons' acquisition of an ace goalie.

"Checkmate!" announced Harry, in a tone similar to the way his friend always announced his wins.

Their little section of the Great Hall went silent. Ginny turned away from the not unwanted attentions of her brother's black roommate to gape at the board. Dennis Creevey spoke for his Housemates and the few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws in range "How the bloody hell did THAT happen?!"

"A reverse fool's checkmate?" Ron glared at the opposing Queen standing proudly next to his King. She graciously accepted his sword in token of surrender. After three more losses, not quite as ignominiously, he only managed a draw as a result of a pawn race. Huffing in annoyance after the seventieth move he demanded "Where did that come from?"

Harry shrugged modestly and answered "Remember that 'boyfriend' you lot teased me about? He's Charlie Weasley. Been writing him back and forth since First. He remembers every game you two ever played. Said I shouldn't rush into anything, just learn how you play and send him all your moves. He taught me everything I know."

"Near Slytherin in your planning, Harry." Said Ginny in a totally complementary tone.

He bowed to her in acknowledgement, earning giggles from the nearest girls but a frown from his black dormmate "My pleasure m'Lady. Lost enough today mate?" He collected his books and departed, whistling a carefree tune.