Wizard Chess
The Game, the
Challenge, the Champion
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A/N:This chapter
is about further developements and the next round of the tournament.
DISCLAIMER:See
chapter one.
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CHAPTER 4:
The Champion:
Part 2: Conflict
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In the break participants had in
between rounds, Ron went over to chat with his friends Harry and Hermione.
"Great job Ron!" exclaimed
Harry.
"Excellant!" remarked
Hermione
"Thanks, guys," Ron
said. "Did you beat Neville?"
"Yes," she replied. "So I play you next Ron?" asked
Hermione.
"I believe so," answered
Ron. A small amount of tension started to build.
"I'm sure you'll both do great,
no matter who wins," said Harry, trying to ease the tension.
"Well, I think we're due to play
now," Hermione added. Ron nodded
and trotted over to the table. Hermione
followed.
'Hermione's not the kind of person to
get upset at losing, though I really don't want to make her mad,' thought
Ron. 'I'll just play my best. And besides, I NEED the money. She could do fine without it.' Ron really could use the 700 galleons.
Hermione was going through similar
conflict. 'I really like Ron, and his
family needs the money. Besides, he is
a better player. I don't know if I
could beat him anyway,' she thought.
'Yes, it won't look like I did anything if I lose, Ron's so good. And his family does have problems with money,
with all of their children.' She
decided to lose.
Ron had first move. He moved a pawn two squares up the board,
advancing toward the other pieces.
Hermione moved her respective pawn two spaces also. Soon, Ron was shocked by her choice of
moves. She created open paths to
valuable pieces. Ron hadn't lost
anything yet.
She remarked, "Oops," again
and again in response to her stupid moves.
In the time of five minutes, she had lost her bishops, a rook, a knight,
and half her pawns. Eventually, a path
opened clearly for Ron's rook to take the king. Ron took advantage of this, and won.
"Check mate," he announced
dully, with a shocked expression on his face.
"Good job, Ron!" said
Hermione.
After Ron was announced winner, he
found out that the seventh year he didn't know had won, also. He caught up with Hermione, and said to her,
"Why did you do that?" looking quite shocked.
"Do what?" she responded,
but Hermione looked away, as if to hide her face.
"YOU KNOW!" Ron said,
looking extremely mad. His face almost
matched the red color of his Weasly hair in anger.
"I didn't do anything, Ron! I
don't know what you're talking about," she replied. She had a bit of uneasiness in her tone.
"I can't believe this!" Ron
said. "You LOST ON PURPOSE!"
"I did no such thing!"
Hermione said, now with a wavering voice.
"Hermione, I don't get this! I'm
not talking to you!" said Ron, amazed at his own temper.
"Fine, Ron!" Hermione
replied. She walked off while Harry
came over to Ron.
"Ron, what happened?" he
asked, seeing the sad expression on Hermione's face.
"Nothing," Ron answered with
a VERY bitter tone.
Harry hed up his hands. "Sorry I asked." Then a huge boom filled the Great Hall. Two figures stood at the entrance, one tall
and one rather short. Harry recognized
the short one as Draco Malfoy, but had never seen the taller one.
"There's the Muggle-lover that
cheated on me, father!" the short one said, pointing at Ron.
"Don't worry son, we'll get Ron
Weasly and his (stupid) father in a lot of (stuff) with this!" The larger figure laughed.
"Luscious Malfoy!" Ron said.
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A/N: Sorry it's
short and a cliff-hanger, but I hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter should be up soon.
