Playing Chess

Rather uninterested at this point, he watched as Ron's knight reared onto its haunches and crushed his bishop.

"Check," Ron said.

Harry had never quite mastered chess. Strategy, deception, sacrifice, cunning – Ron possessed them in abundance, it seemed. Harry had none.

Harry moved his king one space to the right, sheltered by his last remaining pawn. His opponent's queen dashed across the field in one bold diagonal stroke before striking down the pawn and marching onto the now-empty square. My pawn, Harry mused. Me.

"Checkmate. Nice game, mate," Ron said.

"You win," Harry sighed. It's just a rehearsal, after all.