A/N: This is sort of a companion piece to my other two bits of H/G fluff, I got this idea in the shower (of all places). Just want to say that I have always wanted to play chess, but I have no idea even how to begin, so I hope I at least got some of the pieces right. Enjoy!
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"Hey four-eyes!" the bishop yelled, startling Harry. "It's your move already!"
"What-oh, sorry." Harry told his pawn to move and looked back over at the corner where Ginny was sitting. He hadn't been able to talk to her since yesterday, and wanted desperately to go say something to her. The fact of the matter was: he didn't know what to say. He had naively thought that after asking her to the Yule Ball that he wouldn't be so nervous around her, but soon discovered that was not the case. If anything, his nervousness increased. He could barely look her in the eye without his mind going blank and his stomach doing cartweels.
Quidditch practice had been called off tonight, the weather was just too bad. Instead, he and Ron were playing a game of chess, with Hermione sitting on the floor next to Ron, her arm propped on his thigh. In between moves, Ron would quickly give her a kiss.
"Will you pay attention!" the queen screamed up at Harry. "Can't you see I'm about to be taken!" His chess pieces, ever since he first got them for Christmas in his first year, absolutely despised him. They never won, (especially since all he did was play Ron), and they seemed to take it out on Harry. He really couldn't blame them; Ron's chess pieces were quite a blood thirsty lot, however it was quite embarrassing to be taunted by them.
Harry quickly lost another piece to Ron. "Ron, your pieces are such bullies!" Hermione said as she watched Harry's bishop being kicked screaming off the board by Ron's.
"You tell him there, gorgeous!" said Harry's knight to Hermione. Harry's chess pieces, at least the male ones, were quite the ladies men. "If he wasn't making puppy eyes at that stunning red-head in the corner over there, we might have a chance!"
Harry's face went scarlet. Ron and Hermione gave each other a knowing look, trying very hard not to smile. They failed.
Ron finally decided to take matters into his own hands. "Oi, Ginny!" Ginny looked up from reading her book. "Come over here and give Harry a hand will ya?" Ginny slightly blushed and walked over to them.
Harry scooted over so Ginny could sit next to him. "Hey there, baby!" his bishop cat-called. "I was always partial to red-heads," said the King, winking at her and earning a slap from the Queen. Ginny giggled and smiled shyly at Harry. There wasn't much room on the bench they were sharing, so Harry discreetly placed his arm around her back, bringing her closer to the game (and him).
Harry was amazed. Ginny was an incredible chess player, almost as good as Ron. Even more amazing was the fact that his pieces never once argued with her and moved exactly where she said, all the while giving her outrageous comments.
"I can't believe your chess pieces are flirting with my little sister," Ron said disgustedly. Hermione and Ginny both laughed.
Harry grinned. "What can I say, they have good taste." He winked at Ginny.
It was half past one before Ron forced her into checkmate. "Good game, Red!" "We'll get him next time, beautiful!" His bishop and knight called as they hobbled into the bag. "You don't really like old four-eyes there, d'ya luv?" said a pawn. Harry quickly stuffed them under the chair. "Hey!" came the muffled outcries.
Ron and Hermione had both gone to bed, leaving them alone. Harry's arm was now pulling her closer. He was still racking his mind, trying to think of something to say, trying to tell her how he felt about her, without saying something stupid.
"I'm glad you didn't have Quidditch practice, tonight," she murmured.
"Yeah, me too."
Ginny laid her head in the crook of his neck. He brushed a feathery kiss on her temple and wrapped his other arm tight around her. She sighed and cuddled closer. Maybe she already knew, he thought, giving her another soft kiss.