Thank you for all those who reviewed, ESPECIALLY RABIDUS LEX AND SARAROOOOSSEE I really appreciate all your comments. But, to make things better, can any of you submit a couple of suggestions, riddles, anagrams, paradoxes, geometrical puzzles, chess puzzles, topological puzzles, and other puzzles that require logic? I would appreciate your help, really. I'll give an example: What is wrong with this statement? In this puzzle, the answer will be: It's not a statement. It's a question. That's what I mean. You can submit your suggestions along with your reviews, but if you don't want to, it's okay. I understand. Please help me! Personal favour.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS PHILIPPINES, MISS SHAMCEY SUPSUP, FOR BEING IN THIRD PLACE IN MISS UNIVERSE! WE FILIPINOS ARE PROUD OF YOU! XDD

~joaleennicole

Chapter Three

The Disbelieving Knight

"Care to play chess?" asked Lorcan, producing his chessboard and laying it carefully between him and Hugo. Hugo flinched at Lorcan's offer, but he said yes, in any case. He was bored because of the long train ride, and he was also unable to sleep, unlike Lily and Lysander, who were slumped unconscious in their own seats.

"You play Wizarding Chess?" Lorcan asked. "What do you want to be? White or red?"

"White." Hugo replied.

"Sure, sure. I'll take red. Where did you learn how to play chess?"

Hugo plainly replied, "Dad."

"Oh. Is he a good player?"

"Yeah. Pretty much so."

"Then this'll be a nice match. You move first."

Hugo looked hard at his chess pieces, and resisted the urge to laugh out loud. Lorcan seemed to have a funny set — he found his bishop picking its nose, and his knight and rook were playing rock, paper, and scissors with each other. He found it really funny, but he still resisted his urge to laugh. He cared more about how others would think of him than what he thinks of others.

"f3," he said. His knight moved forward. "I've moved the knight. Well, quite a stupid move I say."

Lorcan grinned. "It's not a stupid move. Knight first, eh? It's the only piece that can leap over other pieces, didn't you know?" He took a deep breath. "e3."

Lorcan's pawn moved a space forward. Hugo suddenly saw that's there no point in risking his knight for that matter, so he simply said, "Ng1."

His knight moved back to its starting position.

When Lily woke up, she found Hugo playing chess with Lorcan. Instead of smashing the opposing pieces, the other pieces just gave others a weenie. Out of humiliation, with its underwear covering half of its head, Lorcan's pawn, which was defeated by Hugo's bishop, left the board weeping.

"What kind of chess is that?" she asked. "Why are the other pieces so mean?"

Lorcan shrugged. "Mum bewitched them. She said that weenies were a lot safer than destroying. I find it funny, though." he said, snorting.

"It's very nice." she complimented.

"Yeah. Hey, Lily?"

"Yes, Lorcan?"

"Can you please wake up Lysander for me? I think that he's drooling on the furniture."

Lily smiled. She nudged Lysander on the shoulder. "Hey, Lysander, wake up." she said.

"Huh? What?" he replied.

"Wipe your mouth. Were almost at Hogwarts."

And indeed they were, for Lily saw the castle, with its turrets sticking out of the sky.

Look out for the next chapter: The Malodorous Lot

Thanks again, Rabidus Lex and Sararoooossee. Both of you made me happy. Love you both! :)))