Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Chuck and Sarah go on the first half of their date, which is a food rave. When they get there they find themselves unexpectedly joining a couple happily married for 55 years...Laura and Craig Turner. Sarah would find out they too were also in the lives of her nerdy date and Ellie. It would be something Sarah would greatly appreciate and understand knowing how much of positive influence Chuck is even though he may not realize it himself. The 4 would continue to talk to the point where Sarah reveals information about the divorce of her mom and dad that Chuck hears for the very first time. He takes note of it but doesn't press the matter knowing it most definitely is a sensitive subject knowing his own situation with his father Stephen Bartowski. Afterwards, the two would find themselves taking a stroll back to their car after a great evening spent together but not the way Chuck intended. Fortunately, Sarah enjoyed herself but the evening isn't over according to Chuck. The 2nd part of their date os about to happen much to the delight of Sarah who runs off very excited. Thankfully, she runs back to grab Chuck to drive them there. So, what's in store for Chuck and Sarah's 2nd half date that somehow involves Harry Potter? Where does Chuck take Sarah on their date? What choice does Sarah make that has Chuck trusting in her decision? How engrossed will Sarah be knowing she truly is a fangirl in regards to the word of Harry Potter? Who does Sarah end up talking about with Chuck after their date is over? Why does Chuck point a wand at Sarah to where they end up locking lips? Where room does Sarah going in and what's in that room? Read and find out! Anyways, hope you enjoy the read and leave a comment to share your own thoughts on this particular chapters. As always, reviews are awesome.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.
I don't own Chuck.
Wingardium Leviosa
XXX
Sarah's exuberance shows all over her face, especially in her eyes that are presently wide as saucers as they're totally transfixed on the lighted up building's sign of their intended destination. The School of Sorcery. For Chuck, the way she couldn't sit still in the passenger seat of his Falcon is endearing and not to mention cute in his eyes. Granted, there was a point that while driving up to the building that he thought she would unfasten her seatbelt, open the passenger side door, jump out, and run towards the front door entrance. Thankfully, she didn't and after finding a parking spot next to a van with the name of the business on it and the book doors open. Sarah eagerly gets out and is already waiting in front of his car and while waiting there is seemingly giddy. So giddy in fact that she can't stand still causing Chuck to nearly burst out laughing. He shakes his head, exits his vehicle, and makes his way over joining an extremely excited Sarah Walker.
After the two enter through the front entrance of the establishment, hand in hand, they are greeted in the distance behind the counter by a tall, lanky gentlemen with glasses and sporting a rather impressive ginger-ish afro. "Hey Chuck!" waved the individual in question.
"What's up Skip!" Chuck waved, heading towards the front counter.
Sarah instantly shakes her head after her nerdy date called out to person who greeted him on a first name basis. "You're a popular guy I see."
Chuck nonchalantly shrugs in response. "I..." He then quickly corrects himself. "...actually Morgan and I come here whenever we just want to have fun after a hard work week. That or we're just bored out of our skulls." the nerd grinned, briefly tilting his head to the left.
"So, I take it you're here a lot."
"Nah..." responded Chuck. "...I wouldn't say a lot." he added shaking his head.
It's at that point, 2 people appear carrying boxes and walking towards them. Sarah notices they're both wearing what looks to be employee uniform shirts. As they pass Chuck and Sarah, the two people in question focus their attention and happily greet Chuck with bright smiles on their faces.
"Nice to see you Chuck!"
"What's up stranger!?"
"Fernando...Bunny." nodded the youngest Bartowski sibling.
After reaching the front counter, Skip takes a moment to adjust his glasses then expresses a bit of a quirky smile. "It's been a while. So, this visit makes what...78?" he stated, leaning a bit sideways over the counter.
Instantly, Sarah turns her head to face Chuck and quirk her right brow up towards him. Once again, Chuck gives a slight shrug of his shoulders and a faint chuckle as he turns his attention back to Skip to give his response back to his ginger afro haired friend. "80 actually..." he briefly glances at Sarah who is now shaking her head in amusement. "...but who's counting really?" he added, waving off the number. In that instance, he refocuses by doing a quick introduction between. "Skip, this is my date Sarah Walker. Sarah, this is the awesome owner of The School of Sorcery, Skip Johnson." he added, glancing back and forth at both individuals.
"Nice to meet you Sarah." nodded Skip, extending his hand for a handshake. "We have 6 escape rooms and all are Harry Potter themed." After saying that, Sarah is trying to contain her excitement, but is clearly failing evident by the way hefr whole body is fidgeting as if at any point she's going to jump out of her skin. It's something that's clearly noticeable to Chuck and Skip as well. "I'm sure you can't wait to choose your room since Chuck wanted to hold off in paying when he called me on the phone instead of booking it online..." he added, turning pointing to the photos down in front of them. His attention is then directed to the nerdy individual standing next to her. "...like most people do." Skip firmly stated, eyeing Chuck with his eyebrows somewhat furrowed at him.
"Hey, you know I'm good for it." Chuck retorted, expressing a slight grin towards the man behind the counter.
There is a seemingly awkward moment between the two men that Sarah didn't really see going on. Why? She focuses on the 6 rooms on the laminated sheets each with descriptions of what's involved. The first room: Azkaban Prison, the goal is to break out and return to Hogwarts to save the school along with your friends. The goal of room #2:The School of Magic, break a strange spell of that your fellow students and instructors fall under before facing the return of who shall not be named. Room #3 is called The Wizard's Keep. As a new student, the goal is to prove yourself by solving a series of tests and puzzles within the 60 minute time limit. The next room , The Wizard's Secret", is #4 inspired by Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban in which the goal is learn the Dark Wizard's secret who tricked you into taking his place in prison before the guards realize you've escape the cell. Department of Magic is the 5th room and the goal is having the choice of two magical 50-minute escapes, Prophecies Quests and Dark Lord Resurrection, or creating up to 2 potions in the Magic Potions tavern. Finally, The Wizard Four and The Book of Black Arts. is the 6th room. The goal to save the Grand Wizard and his family from an evil sorceress and 65 minutes is all the time given to escape from.
Skip's face suddenly softens and is replaced with an amused smile. "I know. Just messing with you dude."
After skip says that, it's the cue for Sarah to carefully making the difficult choice to choose one of them to escape. She speaks up with a question on her mind directing her full attention to Skip. "What's the prize if you're able to escape?"
"You both win "Dumbledore's elder wand"..." he answered, holding up both fingers doing air quotes. "...if you're able to escape before the 1 hour time limit is up. Also, your picture is put up on our wall for the fastest escape time." he added, pointing to the wall to their left.
Chuck and Sarah turn to said wall leading the nerd to speak up. "Nothing on it."
"I know." nodded Skip crossing his arms. "Now, if you and Morgan ever took it seriously you both would have a shot at the wall."
Chuck shrugs his shoulders. "Not a big Potterhead. We do it just for the fun of it. Plus, we're major Star Wars nerds after all. She, on the other hand,…" Chuck points then turns his attention from Skip to Sarah." "...is a big Harry Potter nerd." he added, putting Sarah on the spot. His attention directed to her. "From what Molly told me. Not much, but enough."
"Is she now?" Skip responded arching his right brow. "Quick quiz..." he stated, crossing his arms with a serious look on his face. "...what is Headless Nick's full name?"
For Sarah, on any given moment she would be completely embarrassed for having the attention suddenly put on her, but this isn't just any moment. It's a moment that she's truly born for, she thinks to herself. "Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington." smirked the beautiful blonde. A slight tilt of heard to the right. "Come on, give me a harder question than that." requested the determined self-professed Potterhead nerd.
In that instance, Skip cracks his neck without the use of his hands and seriously stares at Sarah before asking another question. "Name every ingredient contained in Polyjuice Potion. I want the exact number as well." he instructed, firmly pointing at her.
"Wow, that's a hard question to answer..." responded Sarah shaking her head. Her attention never wavering off from Skip who is not backing down whatsoever either. Chuck, on the other hand, is simply standing there in absolute awe of Sarah's Harry Potter knowledge as she continues on. "...if you're just a muggle who has never been immersed in the Potterverse like I have. The exact number is 7." It's at the point she raises her right hand and starts with one finger raised. "Lacewing flies, leeches, powdered Bicron horn, knotgrass, fluxweed, shredded Boomslang skin, and a bit of the person you want to turn into." she finished, raising her ring finger on her left hand for the seventh and final ingredient. "I know I'm right."
Skip is momentarily silent as Chuck is standing there looking side to side from Sarah to Skip. "Is she?" wonder the curly haired nerd.
"She's right." Skip replied, briefly leaning forward and shaking his head out of sheer amazement. His arms still crossed.
Marry me! It's what Chuck would have blurted out loud if he didn't catch himself beforehand. Instead, he responds with the one word that best fits the moment. "Awesome!" breathes out Chuck, raising a victorious fist in the air. "I'll take Sarah's lead on the choice of room. I trust her." he added, proudly smiling at her.
"No more questions. You've passed my test and seem to know your stuff." nodded Skip to Sarah. "Choose your room and we shall see if you're worthy enough to be the first to make it on the wall." he added, in the somewhat similar tone of voice of Professor Snape.
Sarah nods back in response then returns a smile over to Chuck after hearing the last 3 words said. "We choose..." She pauses briefly peering down at the laminated sheets and then lifts he eyes to lock them with Skip's. "...The Wizard's Keep." she firmly, stated pointing her finger right now the room itself.
XXX
"Here's our first clue Chuck." Sarah and her nerdy date are now wearing house robes, as well as holding wands, provided to them by Skip. When it comes to Chuck, he's wearing House Ravenclaw and Sarah chose to wear House Gryffindor even though Skip suggested Slytherin. She let that suggestion slide knowing that her old self would clearly be part of House Slytherin, but her new self is most definitely House Gryffindor. In any case, the 2 stand in front a row of 5 3D like image plaques hanging on hooks that seemingly come to life. Below that is a chest with a number lock. As for the 3D image plaques themselves, one of them is Dumbledore right in the middle. A time of 40 seconds have already passed after entering the room leading both individuals searching for the first clue, which the blonde Potterhead found and currently has in her hands.
These portraits don't talk - or do they?
Hang them in the right order,
and they may reveal the code to the leather chest.
Afterwards, she lifts her head eyeing all 5 pictures from left to right keenly noticing a number within the 5 3D image plaques. "Salazar Slytherin, Albus Dumbledore, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw." she faintly breathes out.
In that instance, Chuck begins reading out more of their first clue.
Cedric Gryffindor, always the center of attention, likes the spot next to Dumbledore.
Salazar Slytherin quarreled with Rowen Ravenclaw, so she wants to be as far from her as possible.
Helga Hufflepuff, always the peacemaker, will stay between Salazar and Godric, just in case.
Rowena Ravenclaw just wants peace and quiet, so she prefers to be by Dumbledore's side.
"I got it!" bellowed Sarah.
"Already!? responded Chuck, much to his amazement. "Are you sure?"
"You said, you trust me..." stated the Harry Potter aficionado, turning back looking over her right shoulder. "...right?" she added, in a question tone of voice.
Chuck nods then stands back watching Sarah do her thing as she steps forward retrieving Albus Dumbledore(9) and then places it in Helga Hufflepuff's former spot. Afterwards, she then reaches over taking Helga Hufflepuff(6) placing in between Salazar Slytherin(2) and Godric Gryffindor(3). The next thing Chuck knows Sarah has all 5 3D image plaques in what he believes is in the correct order, which he absolutely trusts it is. His thoughts concerning his blonde date's tremendous quickness is suddenly broken when she calls out a sequence of numbers.
"2-6-3-9-7!" She then points to the chest with the number lock.
Without any hesitation, Chuck quickly turns the number dials on the lock to put the exact sequence of numbers he trusts are right. Afterwards, he pulls the lock and it opens. Even though he wants to celebrate in that very moment, Sarah elbows him to get it open. He does just that and what's found inside once it's opened is what looks like a single chess piece. It's not just any chess piece...it's a knight. A knight with another clue above it on the back leather chest lid that Sarah reads out loud.
From the very start,
it's a move that Ron made near the end
that helped Harry move on.
His sacrifice was truly honorable.
In that instance, Chuck's eyes widen as he excitedly jumps up and down in place. "Oh! I know this!"
"What ya got?" wondered Sarah.
"Harry Potter and The Sorcerer Stone! Near the end of the movie. The chess match. " he quickly blurted out. His eyes then widen. "Knight to H3!"
For Chuck, he and Morgan for that matter never really took the escape room seriously like Skip mentioned earlier. In their minds, it was a way just to have fun and goof around with each other after a frustrating or boring day of work. However, when it comes to being with Sarah in the situation they are both in now, he certainly wants to take it very seriously because of what's at stake, he thinks to himself. Plus, the fact he doesn't want to disappoint her and become the reason they lost the opportunity to win both Dumbledore's Elder Wand and be the very first people to be up on Skip's wall when it comes to finishing with the fastest escape time.
In that instance, he grabs the knight sitting in the leather chest and quickly turns around and spots the chess board, which he quickly rushes over to. Sarah following suit behind him. When Sarah stands next to him, Chuck is about to place the Knight down on H3 when she immediately stops him.
"Wait! Don't put that there!"
"Why?"
"It's a test. If you place that move down first, we'll end up losing more time." she firmly retorted. Her attention on Chuck averted down to the chess board that's set up and ready to be played with. "Remember, this is wizard chess..." emphatically stated Sarah. "...not regular chess. That's why I'm here. Plus, I'm thinking this is a test where our wands come into play." Sarah said, lifting her wand up. "Also, I'm relying more on the book rather than the movie because it gives more details."
Stupid! Hello McFly! As usual, he would have to kick himself or in this case knock the top of his head Biff Tannen style for nearly losing the both of them the chance to not only get the 2nd clue, but potentially escape with a fast time. Of course, Sarah taking charge most definitely puts her on a whole other level to the point of surpassing the woman who shall never be named, he thinks to himself. Thinking back, his ex's intensity when it comes to being a nerd is certainly lackluster when compared to that of Sarah's Walker's intense nerdiness as it relates to the world of Harry Potter. Plus, her nerd knowledge when it came to answering Skip's 2nd question turned her hotness up way past 11 in the Spinal Tap scale of absolute hotness.
Chuck grins back lifting his wand as well. "Right." he nodded, retracting his hand with the Knight hovering inches above touching H3. "Like I said, I trust you. I barely remember the movie scene."
Sarah expresses a smirk towards Chuck as she refocuses her attention on the chess board. She then directs him to place Chuck's knight that he has in his hand in the only open square that doesn't have a black chess piece on it. As for Sarah's she'll be playing the white side pieces. After giving a quick nod to Chuck, she then instructs him to use his wand to move each chess piece in the following sequence after Ron directed the black chess piece to D4. When they finally reach the moment in the movie where Ron declares check, Sarah instructs him to make his move...knight to H3. When he does, there is a brief silence then a click is heard as the H3 square with the knight on top of it lowers to where it pops open a drawer revealing another clue.
After retrieving the clue from the hidden drawer, Sarah speaks up before reading it. "No time for celebration. We got an elder wand to win and a wall to be on." she proclaimed, with strong determination in her voice.
"Yes ma'am." he answered back, expressing a crooked smile towards her.
XXX
In total, 25 minutes have passed with 35 minutes to go before Chuck and Sarah hopefully escape the room they're currently in. In that 25 minute span they were able to work together to solve 2 more clues that would lead them to read the following clue:
Dumbledore's Army brought forth their patronus in the Room of Requirement.
Ginny Weasley was able to conjure up a mighty steed.
"Room of Requirement is in reference to Order of the Phoenix." Sarah quickly shared. "Harry encouraged his friends to hold on to a powerful, happy memory. A memory that will help bring forth their patronus." she added, turning to face Chuck.
"Do you remember what Ginny was able to bring forth with her powerful, happy memory?"
Sarah doesn't have to think about it as she quickly blurts out the answer. "Horse!" Sarah quickly said.
In that moment, Chuck and Sarah immediately search for a horse or what possibly resembles a horse within the room they're presently in. They make the mutual decision to divide and conquer by dividing up the room. While the nerdy business owner and YouTube channel host is searching his side of the room, Sarah searches her side. After some intense searching, the patronus in question is found on a shelf, 2nd from the top, behind a row of chalices by Chuck. After retrieving it, he quickly reads out the clue attached to it.
Hermione speaks her mind and is a wealth of knowledge.
She is not known to clam up.
The time left on the clock reads 23:35 as Chuck and Sarah figure out the next clue. A clue that has the word "clam" in it leading Chuck to speak up. "What patronus, or in this case, animal likes to eat clams? The only animal I know that does is..."
"Otters!" the duo say simultaneously.
It didn't take long for the two of them to return to their side of the room in order to divide and conquer once again. While the curly haired nerd is checking within a pile of marked packages in the corner of his side of the room, the blonde beauty standing next to Dumbledore's Pensieve filled with some type of glowing liquid in it while searching a shelf on her side. It's then, her peripheral vision catches something within the glowing liquid causing her to focus then squint hard into it. She immediately sticks her hand in and retrieves the Otter.
"Got it!" called out Sarah, informing Chuck on the other side of the room. After taking out the next clue from its protective covering, Chuck is standing next to her while she reads out the next clue that was attached to it.
Loyalty and friendship is well known, especially when it comes to Ron.
Plus, this four legged canine.
Of course, the answer is a dog and the two didn't have to say out loud to know what the both of them would be looking for. So, they didn't waste any time and continued their search for man's best friend. Both look for representations of a dog from paw prints, to bones, to collar and everything in between. The clue would eventually be found in the form of the 3 headed dog named Fluffy from the 1st movie and book. After retrieving the clue, it's read aloud.
Luna sees things that others don't see.
What she sees can be quite hare raising.
The answer to the clue would be rabbit. It didn't take long for the two to head off in order to search for a representation of a rabbit. Everything from carrots to a wizard's hat, but the clue itself would be considered outside the box thinking. Instead of finding an animal or a representation of a pair of rabbit ears on a vintage tv's antenna would have Chuck and Sarah read the following:
After escaping Azkaban Prison,
Harry saves himself and Sirius from the Death Eaters.
Before he passes out, he sees a point of 12
Chuck and Sarah look at each other with the blue eyed blonde suddenly focusing on something over the nerd's right shoulder. That something is a lego replica of Azkaban prison and inside it is a small seemingly blue animal figure of what looks to be a stag. In the movie, it illuminated brightly during Harry's efforts in saving himself and Surius Black from falling to the Death Eaters. After quickly going over to open and retrieve the small stag figure in the lego prison, she reads the clue aloud for Chuck to hear.
Find the table wheel that turns in circles.
Place the patronus in the order you found them.
BUT, turn first after each placement.
Clockwise -1
Counterclockwise-2
Clockwise -3
Counterclockwise-4
Clockwise-5
Instantly, Chuck and Sarah turn around in order to scan for anything remotely resembling a spinning outer ring that turns in circles. It didn't take long for Chuck to suddenly spot something against the wall across the room off to his left. What he also notices as he looks around the room is that all the tables are uncovered except the one against the wall across the room that he spotted. So, he heads straight for it and when he reaches it, the nerdy business owner pulls off the sheet unveiling what is truly needed at the moment. A circular table mechanism that has an outer ring that turns. He then notices indentions in the middle surface leading him to lean down and inspect a little closer. From his viewpoint, they look like 4 small grooves made to look like paw prints and 2 holes to where he has a sudden realization.
"Sarah..." he called out briefly glancing behind him. "...gather all the patronus and bring them here!" Chuck added, turning his attention back to the circular table.
"Gotcha!"
The blonde Potterhead complies with her nerdy date and gathers all 5 patronus and brings them to Chuck. Afterward, he asks for the horse and after briefly failing at matching the paw or in this case hoof prints, he finally does when it magnetically attaches to it. Sarah and Chuck briefly glance at one another then peer up at the clock reading 18:28. They don't waste any more time as Chuck turns the outer ring clockwise 1 time and after it returns to the same spot it started a click is heard. It's a click that cause both of them to express quick grins then repeats the process with the placement of the otter, dog, rabbit, and the stag that instantly magnetize. After each placement, the specified turns of clockwise then counterclockwise are done to where Chuck finally does the 5th clockwise turn for the stag.
When he does, he and Sarah hear not just one click, but two clicks. The final click of the circular table mechanism unlocks a hidden door right beside it that slowly opens. Without any hesitation, they head inside and when they do they find themselves in a medium sized room. On each side of the 3 walls are clocks: 1 to the left, 1 in front with a door next to it and then 1 on the right. In the middle of the room is a high circular table that has 1 thing sitting on it...a Time-Turner. After briefly checking out the Time-Turner they work together instead of the divide and conquer method. They start on the left wall reading the clue placed on the right side of the clock:
Together, you can turn back time
on the number of the Weasley family clock.
No hands to turn both hands.
Sarah is briefly silent the blurts out the answer. "9!"
"Ok, so we have to have to turn back time without using our hands. As much as I want to pull out a Cher reference right now, I'm not going to." he shared, slightly grinning.
A slight grin appears on Sarah's lips as she refocuses her attention on the clock in front of them. "No hands?" she faintly breathes out. It suddenly hits her. "Use our wands..." Sarah quickly shares, holding her wand. "...together" She tilts her head motioning to his wand currently in his front right pocket.
Chuck nods. The both of them then work together to turn counter clockwise the two hands to 9 using their wands. Afterwards, they direct their focus to the next clock directly in front of them when they first entered. They read the clue that relates Harry setting his alarm clock to get his Hogwarts letter instead of Vernon Dursley who will burn it. Again, Sarah's Harry Potter knowledge is helpful as they turn the clock counterclockwise to 6 a.m. Once done, they slide over to the next clock with the clue about the exact time the Hogwarts Express leaves King's cross. The answer...11 a.m.
"Is that it?" wondered Sarah looking around. She then stands steps back doing a 360 in order to figure out if she missed anything.
As Chuck, he's standing in front of the open archway of the hidden room. He shakes his head and as he does notices something then point outside over to the other side of the room. "There's another clock!"
Sarah rushes out of the hidden room with Chuck following right after her. After reaching the final clue a bit out of breath, she reads it out loud.
The Battle of Hogwarts began at midnight
and lasted until morning.
What time does Voldemort die?
"Do you know the answer Sarah?" he inquired, sensing victory close at hand.
"It's not exactly known. It's never really answered in the books or in the movie either." Sarah can clearly see the hope in Chuck's eyes suddenly fade leading her to not let that happen. In her mind, they've come too far and after taking a moment to look up at the clock then turns back her attention to her nerdy date in order to breathe new life into the hope that's slowly fading away. "Now, if I'm Skip and he's obsessively looked over the timeline of events from start to finish on fan website message boards like I have then..."
"Then what!?" he interjected, with a considerably freaked out tone of voice.
"5:30 a.m.!" Sarah spit out.
"Are you sure!?"
"Trust me!" she stated with urgency in her voice. Her attention directed to the clock in question and place her wand on the small hand. This leads Chuck to take a deep breath then reaches up pointing his wand against the big hand of the clock. They work together to move counterclockwise to the time of 5:30. When it's set, the whole room suddenly grows slightly dim to the point where a blacklight suddenly illuminates from the top of it revealing the following hidden message:
Enter the hidden room.
Point and speak together the spell
that will open your way to freedom.
Sarah's eyes widen. She reaches out grabbing Chuck pulling him towards and eventually into the hidden room they were in a while ago. It's not long before they barely make their way around the high circular table with the time-turner sitting on top of it to where they stand in front of the door. A door that has no locks expect for some type of black mechanism. It's at that point, Sarah turns to Chuck and locks eyes with him.
"When I give you the signal, point and touch that mechanism and say..." she specifically instructed. "...'Alohomora.'" added Sarah, making sure to enunciate the word itself for Chuck. "Got it?"
"I got it!"
In that instance, Sarah nods as the two turn their attention to the black mechanism located where a doorknob should be. With their wands at the read, Sarah takes a deep breath. "Now!"
"ALOHOMORA!" they both confidently declared out loud in unison. The two wands pointing and touching the black mechanism. After saying that, there is a moment of silence that blankets the entire hidden room as Chuck and Sarah stare at the black mechanism of the door. Seconds feel like hours until a clear and audible click is heard leading to the door itself to slowly open towards them. As it happens, Chuck and Sarah stand there looking outside into the hallway. The two briefly glance at each other with Chuck stepping towards the open door, but then suddenly stops. He turns around, then back up a bit, and motions for Sarah to lead the way.
"Ladies first." he happily said, with a courteous nod towards her.
Sarah simply express a soft smile as she steps forward and is about to head out before Chuck. She stops, turns to face her nerdy date and reaches up with her hand. The youngest Bartowski sibling softly smiles back and takes her hand. Afterwards, they both step out together and when they do Sklp is standing a few feet away.
"Congratulations! You guys escaped! You win Dumbledore's elder wand! " After hearing that, Chuck and Sarah celebrate with the tall, lanky nerd raising both arms in victory. As he turns to face Sarah, she jumps on and clings on time to him like a spider monkey, with Chuck just rolling with it. They both continue to celebrate until Skip makes one more announcement. "Also, you have the fastest time of 47:27 with 12:32 left on the clock. You're on the wall." It's that bit of news that leads Chuck to spin in circles with Sarah continuing to cling on to Chuck with arms wrapped around his neck. While doing so, she's giggling like a little school girl knowing that she's just had the best time of her life.
XXX
Skip tacks up a picture of Chuck and Sarah with great big smiles on their faces as they each hold the prize of "Dumbledore's Elder Wand" up in front of them. Beforehand, he also sent a digital one via their email and is printing out additional copies to place in picture frame sleeves for the both of them. He walks off to check on said picture frames sleeves that he had Fernando and Bunny take care of, leaving Sarah, along with her nerdy date, to stand there a bit admiring the picture of their accomplishment. Sarah, with her arms crossed, is focused on the picture itself when she suddenly turns her head and speak up.
"I'm sorry." she softly said.
Sarah's apology causes Chuck to express a mixture of utter surprise and confusion on his face. To him, she had an awesome time doing the Harry Potter themed escape room by the sheer fact that she giggled like a little kid as she jumped in celebration onto him. In that instance, he shakes his head and turns to face her. "Why? I thought you enjoyed it?" questioned the nerd with concern in his voice.
"I do. I..." she pauses then continues on. "...umm...I did." she nodded, with an appreciative smile. "It's just that I can get pretty intense sometimes, especially with Harry Potter." Sarah added, with a slightly embarrassed shrug of her shoulders.
"Hey, you should see me and Morgan whenever there's a Star Wars trivia night somewhere..." Chuck retorted. A crooked smile expressed towards her. "...it can get downright cutthroat facing other teams." he added, with a bit of a chuckle. He pauses noticing what he said is helping a bit so he continues on. "You're a passionate fan. It's not your fault, like it's not my or Morgan's fault that we're passionate about Star Wars." he empathized with her.
"It goes deeper than that." she revealed.
"How so?" he asked with curiosity.
"My mom and dad."
"The divorce? Yeah, you mentioned it at the food rave earlier with The Turners." he said, carefully treading lightly on sensitive territory. "It's never an awesome situation, especially when kids are involved."
Sarah takes a deep breath and then continues on. "When things got rocky between my mom and dad, my escape would be watching the movies and reading the books with my sister. I'd tried my best to shield her from that the best I could through the use of Harry Potter. Unfortunately, she wasn't really much of an uber fan like I am. I'm just thankful she didn't end up like my dad when it comes to his way of thinking. Me..." Sarah shakes her head. "...I wasn't so lucky. Fortunately, it was my Mom who was able to save me by pulling me away from the dark side of my father's influence."
Did Sarah just make a Star Wars reference? She is the perfect woman, he thinks to himself. There is a brief moment of silence after as Chuck and Sarah stand in front of each other. It's when Chuck takes a moment to clear his throat that he speaks up. "What's his name? What's his job? You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to."
She shakes her head while giving a faint, but somewhat tight lipped smile. "It's fine. Jackson Burton. Jack for short. He's what you call a Spin Doctor when it comes to Washington Politics. In other words, he's a professional liar and master manipulator." she thoroughly shared with Chuck. "I almost became him and if that ever happened it would have been my own fault." The sound of disappointment can clearly be heard in her voice by Chuck.
In that instance, Chuck shakes his head. "No, it's not. You know about my situation with my dad. He wasn't always there and when he was there with me and Ellie..." This time, he takes a deep breath during a momentary pause. "...he wasn't. When he eventually left, I thought it was my fault for a whole slew of reasons. I know those reasons weren't my fault. The reasons were his own and it took a significant amount of time and therapy to help me come to that realization." he openly and fully shared with Sarah. "You have to know that your dad's sins are his and not yours."
In that moment of shared vulnerability, Sarah can feel herself welling up to the point of wanting to cry. However, she composes herself and holds back the tears while giving back a response. "You know, if my dad ever met you, he'd say you're a schnook."
"I'm honored."
"It's not a compliment." She pauses then continues on. "Anyways, the way you so eloquently put that knowing how tired you are right now after what we just went through in there." she retorted, pointing back at the room they were previously in.
"What can I say..." Chuck retorted, flashing his trademark toothy smile. "...I'm a tired albeit articulate schnook." he added, with amusement on his part.
"Lucky me." she softly breathes out. The two locking eyes in that very moment.
The moment between the two of them would unfortunately be over when Skip approaches the both of them with the 2 sleeves containing the picture tacked up on the wall. After taking a moment to look at them, Chuck and Sarah leave The School Of Sorcery but not before thanking Skip for an incredibly awesome time. After a 30 minute drive back to Culver City, they would find themselves being right back in a very familiar spot they were in last time, with one change. They returned from going on a date instead of a non-date. While standing there, face to face, a few feet away from each other, Chuck asks Sarah a question.
"How do you feel?"
"Like I want to keep flying and never really want to come down."
It's at that point, Chuck grins then attempts something that he fully remembers from the 1st Harry Potter movie. In his mind, he will probably sound, as well as look stupid. Yet, he does it anyway as he retrieves Dumbledore's elder wand that he won as the escape room grand prize, takes a step back and point it Sarah. "Wingardium Leviosah." he announced, with several waves of the elder wand. A corny British accent added in as well.
Sarah quirks her right brow towards Chuck after speaking that flying spell. "Stop. What are you doing?"
"The spell with the floating feather."
"You could have poked my eye out." she amusingly retorted. Chuck shrugs his shoulders in response, leading Sarah to continue on. "Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-oh-suh."
"What's the difference?"
"It's how you say it, Chuck. Pronunciation is everything." Sarah points at Chuck motioning for him to come closer with her right finger then directs him to stand in the spot right in front of her. A somewhat disappointed smile and shake of the head is done as Chuck begrudgingly complies shuffling forward a bit. A playful eye roll done afterwards, done at her expense. They are now a foot away from each other when Sarah peers up at him, then speaks up. "Repeat after me. Wingardium Levi-OH-suh."
"Wingaurdium Lev-ios-AH.
"Again." instructed Sarah.
"WingGard Levi-Oh-suh."
"Ok, now you just blew yourself up." Sarah shakes her head once again. "You're still saying it wrong." It's that point, she reaches up places both hands on either side of Chuck's face and pulls him forward to where they're now inches from each other's face. His arms just dangling down at his sides. "Wingaurdium Levi-OH..."
Sarah makes a sudden realization and its that same sudden realization that Chuck makes as well. The two continue to lock eyes as Chuck slowly leans down and in with a sense of curious anticipation filling what's left of the space between them. It's a moment they both have been wanting to have happen and now it has. It leads Sarah to close her eyes and in doing so, she not only feels his lips softly pressing against hers, but his right hand on her left cheek. His left hand placed in the area of right side and small of her back. A feeling that she rather enjoys to where she hopefully wrapped in the seemingly warm embrace of one of his arm. Unfortunately, the feeling of his hand in the area of her right side and small of her back is gone as it's not felt on the other side of her face to where he gently pulls her in for an even deeper kiss between the two of them. A momentary hitch in both their breath cause Chuck and Sarah to briefly stop, slowly open their eyes, and smile at each other. The non verbal communication between the two of them speaks volumes knowing the pleasurably satisfying, tingling sensation just felt throughout their entire body. It's a sensation that they want to continue on with as they move forward, pressing their lips together once again.
After a few moments, they find themselves getting lost once again in the heated kiss in the hallway in front of Sarah's door. This time, Chuck's left arm wraps around Sarah's lower back. They are now so lost within each other they don't notice the door open with Molly discreetly poking her head out. After expressing a proud smile, she lifts up her right hand with her phone at the ready and takes a picture, as well as a short video of what's unfolding in the hallway. A video that will be posted shortly in every social media the 13 year old is a part of. Unfortunately, her invasion of a private moment being shared by her older sister and nerdy YouTube host is cut short as she's pulled back inside, presumably by Emma Walker. The door is quietly closed, but not before Emma discreetly sticks her head out to take a quick peek then retreats back inside.
The kiss between them is heavenly much to Sarah's delight. Unfortunately, it's the blonde who forces herself to separate her lips from his. In doing so, she opens her eyes once again and when she does, all she sees is Chuck with his eyes closed. His lips protruding out in a goofy, but adorable way.
"Goodnight Chuck." Sarah softly said. "I had an awesome time." she added, reaching up to nearly touch his lips. Instead, she places her hand on his chest. A chest that is pounding and the source of that pounding is his heart. The reason is her. It's her hand placed on his chest that causes Chuck to suddenly snap out of it.
For Chuck, reality hits him like a slap in the face. "Huh? Oh, yeah...what?" he mumbled, in a post kiss groggy haze. A feeling of brief disappointment comes over him to where he briefly forgets where he is right now. He sobers up just in time to see Sarah halfway through her front door. A goofy, toothy smile shooting towards her.
"Looking forward to what you have planned for our next date."
It's those words before closing the door and completely disappearing out of sight that makes the goofy, toothy smile grow even wider. After momentarily standing there staring at Sarah's door, he turns around and then takes a deep, satisfying breath. Afterwards, he does a sort of celebration dance that last for a few seconds. He then takes a step forward walking down the hall with a much more lively kick to his stride. Meanwhile, the oldest Walker sibling slowly turns around and leans back against the main door inside of her 2 story condo after watching Chuck through the peephole of her door. She is smiling ear to ear as she pushes herself off from the door and starts walking forward. In doing so, she passes her Mom and Molly who she completely ignores while heading straight into the kitchen. However, before disappearing into it, she says only 4 words without looking back.
"Talk later. I promise."
A few seconds later, the door opens to the room that Molly was about to take Chuck when he arrived to pick her up for their date earlier in the evening. The light is switched on to reveal a Harry Potter room showing how much of a fan, and not to mention a nerd, she truly is. A few of the things that are hanging as mementos are a handful of passes attached to lanyards from Awesome Con in Washington D.C., the family Weasley clock, a life size cut out of Dobby, several movie posters, and her own personal monogrammed Wizard robe with her name on it. Now when it comes to what's on the shelves, she has all seven Harry Potter books starting from the top shelf. The second, third, and fourth row of shelves consists of photo ops taken at Awesome Con with Harry Potter casts like Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, Warwick Davis, Bonnie Wright, James and Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, and few others. That's just a small sample of what's in the room itself filled with memorabilia, clothing, pictures. art, programs, jewelry, etc. involving anything Harry Potter related for one Sarah Walker.
Speaking of Sarah Walker, she is standing in front of a desk where she places the sleeved picture of her and Chuck at the School of Sorcery. Next to that is Dumbledore's elder wand, which is sitting right next to the ping pong paddle that she went on her non-date with. In her mind, even though it isn't considered Harry Potter related, the ping pong paddle means more to her than all the things Harry Potter related within the room she's presently in, which say a lot. If it were possible, she would most definitely have the kiss she just shared with Chuck down on the table as well. Unbeknownst to her, Molly took care of that and will probably find out sooner than later. In any case, the blonde aficionado of the Potterverse takes a satisfying deep breath with a reflective smile gracing her lips. It doesn't last long as she's brought back to reality by the sound of Molly voice.
"Hurry your ass up will ya! We want deets!"
After taking one last look at the 3 items on the desk, she walks off to join her sister and mother who are eagerly waiting to know what happened on her date. True, they saw the ending of it, but the beginning and middle matter just as much, she thinks to herself. It's that thought in which she turns the lights off in her Harry Potter room then closes the door behind her representing certain parts of her past to where the possibility of a new door metaphorically opening for her present into the coming future.
XXX
NOTE: So, anybody need a cold shower after the kiss between Chuck and Sarah? Hopefully, you all enjoyed the pay off as this ends the 1st arc of this story. I'll be working on the 2nd arc shortly where a whole new casts of character will be appearing. Don't worry though as a number of the 1st arc characters will still be showing up. No, Shaw won't be in this arc I promise. LOL. Anyways, thanks for all your support in leaving comments and sharing your thoughts. To my dude NEVR, tip of the hat to you for once again beta-ing my chapters.
