All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.
(All titles are from songs I believe suit the overall story, if not the chapter.)
* This Chapter contains snippets of the original chapter from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The Forest of Dean, August 1997
Draco's Point of View
The Grangers, the House Elves, and I dedicated several days to fixing up the cabin and making it more livable and comfortable. We could have relied solely on magic, but given the lack of activities in the heart of the forest, manual labour appeared like a reasonable way to pass the time. We didn't really see much of the Centaurs these first few days, leading me to believe that they were likely engaged in similar preparations, ensuring their comfort for the colder months and for whatever the future held.
The first order of business was the addition of a room to the cabin, which became the Grangers bedroom. The House Elves retrieved the couple's bedroom furniture from my Gringotts vault, a move that took Dan and Emma by surprise and evidently delighted them.
The main section of the cabin was already equipped with a sink and a rudimentary kitchen area with a serviceable woodburning stove/oven. The setup was rather odd to me, but it had all the essentials for meal preparation and dishwashing.
Aiden's cold box now occupied a spot in the kitchen/living area, conveniently accessible to the Grangers and the House Elves for storing our perishable food items. Upon opening it, we discovered the leftover Aphrodisiac Potion from when Hermione and I got married. Dan mentioned that Sev had said he and Emma could use it, but they never got the chance.
I jestingly promised to have Jomny make up some banana and chocolate smoothies, which earned me an amused chuckle from the man and a frown from Emma in disapproval. The role reversal was strange, but I liked that Dan and I appeared to be getting on now, and much like her daughter, Emma really didn't sustain her anger long.
'Ian the ghost' glared at all of us as we busied ourselves within the cabin, but the only one bothered by that was his nephew. The House Elves didn't acknowledge his existence at all, and Emma Granger couldn't see him. The one time the ghost approached Aiden, I had proven my seriousness about banishing him by almost doing just that. He was lucky he had gone and hidden at the final instant, and that I wasn't holding his spirit in place to prove my point. Needless to say, he had not gone near Aiden again.
There was also a lack of bathroom facilities, which Emma found especially hard to bear, and I must admit I had not enjoyed the lack either. We built another room, the framework of which we assembled ourselves, while magic took care of the rest.
The House Elves took over after that, and the resulting bathroom appeared every bit as pleasant as the ones the Grangers had enjoyed at home. The Grangers didn't question the origin of the materials, but their curious and concerned expressions didn't escape my notice. I assured them that the House Elves wouldn't have stolen them. House Elves after all, have no reason to resort to theft.
Once those two rooms were complete, Dan and Emma took to exploring the secure regions of the forest, and a lot of the time they took Aiden with them. I was aware Dan was developing a friendship with the Centaurs and had enjoyed introducing Emma to the creatures.
Then Jomny, Falry, Nimsey, and I took it upon ourselves to enclose and repair the basement area, which appeared to piss 'Ian the ghost' off. I claimed the original area of the basement, which now had a rough wood floor covered in rugs and a small window as well as a bit of ventilation and its own fireplace, all thanks to the House Elves, as my potion's lab. Not that I had much to brew at the moment, but it was comforting to establish something familiar. The House Elves also needed a place for themselves, so they took one side to build off, and I decided to take the other.
Their room or whatever they had made was done in hours, while I spent weeks digging out dirt for the bedroom I constructed for Aiden and me. They ensured the room was reinforced, and I was aware they were discreetly removing more dirt than I was digging, but I didn't mind.
When digging bored me, I chopped wood. Between Dan and me, we were amassing quite the stockpile of firewood, and the House Elves ensured we had plenty to chop.
After over three weeks of digging, I had a room big enough to be considered a bedroom. Twice the size of the room Hermione and I shared at the Grangers and much more like I was accustomed too when not at Hogwarts. I had the House Elves build me my own ensuite so the Grangers could have the upper bathroom to themselves.
We also sectioned off an entire wall for Aiden's room. I could see his crib, but he couldn't see me or hear me. When standing at his crib and casting a glance back into my room, it appeared to be nothing more than a wall adorned with a motif of baby animals on it. The ceiling was also reminiscent of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, albeit not so intricate.
During the day, it mirrored a sunny day with a tree for shade, and at night, it transformed into the night sky with fake stars and moon. Jomny confessed that he had repurposed the decor from the room Hermione, and I had shared at Hogwarts for the effect. If only I could recall its appearance.
Jomny did his best to recreate the RoFT in my underground chamber with all the same furniture, even the bathtub against one wall. Yet, nothing about it felt familiar, and I did wonder if some of that was merely the lack of the witch I loved and missed like crazy.
Worrying about where she was and what she was doing was a constant pain within me. The fact that Aiden missed her too was even harder to bear, especially when he cried for her. However, we were doing our best together, and the Grangers were always close at hand to help me when he was inconsolable.
Things in our Haven changed quickly after only a few days of being there. A squib couple, Marcus and Alice Smith, had turned up in the forest with an eleven-year-old son, Jacob, and two little girls, Aster and Dahlia. Jacob Smith had recently received a Hogwarts letter, and instead of being happy, the couple were terrified.
I was baffled when first meeting them that they were hiding, considering the husband stated he was born into a magical family and that his wife was the grandchild of another one, and both mentioned being on good terms with those magical families.
They were carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet from mere days before, and already things were appearing bleak. They hadn't wanted to take the chance that the Ministry would accuse their oldest child of stealing his magic, and they were certain their two younger children were also magical.
What initially struck fear into the squibs was the headline article in the newspaper they carried. Something labeled 'The Muggle-born Registration Commission' had been established under the management of Dolores Umbridge. I grimaced when I remembered that witch. I may have allowed myself to toady to her, but even I had disliked her immensely.
She had been at Hogwarts during my fifth year, a time when I was frantically attempting to maintain the facade that my world wasn't falling apart. It was a fight I had lost long before I accepted that fact. I truly hated to think of the person I had been then. Not all of it, of course, but the cowardice was the most embarrassing.
The Smith family had fled from their home in London after a Ministry official paid them a visit, insisting they register their son as a Muggle born. They had explained that they were squibs, but apparently that made no difference. They had been informed that the term 'squib' was exclusively used to categorize the offspring of a magical couple that possesses no magic, and any progeny born to such a squib would subsequently be considered a Muggle.
They had known then that something was wrong, and despite their agreement to go to the Ministry the following day, they had instead packed what they could of their belongings and left in the middle of the night, using a Muggle car to drive as far as they could.
They had reached the forest when they needed to stop and rest. It was a mere coincidence that a Centaur patrolling the area had spotted them and came to alert us and then his leader. Dan and I both approached them and unfortunately scared them in the process, but not so much as when Vasanos had emerged from the trees. However, once we explained our situation, they were relieved to find somewhere safe and secure to hide with their children.
The Smith family had been welcomed to the land by the Centaur leader, but there was no reason to expose our cabin. They simply assumed we lived in our van, and we didn't contradict them. The family pitched a tent a short distance from us, and days later inquired if they could plant a vegetable garden. The House Elves were ecstatic to have something else to do and help with, even helping construct a green house. By the end of the first week, our little Haven had expanded to include the Squib family and three young wizards.
Other news brought to us by the newcomers was that in the first days of the month, the Ministry had completely fallen to the Dark Lord, the Minister was murdered, and I was certain the wizard who had taken over was either under the Dark Lords sway or simply a Death Eater in his own right.
We also learnt that Severus had been appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts. This brought me a sense of relief for his sake, as I realised it meant he had gotten away with warning the Grangers and me without being punished too harshly for his failure to capture us. It also suggested that his role as a double agent remained undetected. I found myself contemplating whether one could still be classified as a double agent if one of the factions no longer considered you an ally.
During the second week, a few more individuals began to appear in the forest. Despite the wariness Dan, and I had of strangers, the Centaurs were adamant about extending an invitation to all who arrived to seek refuge in this Haven. My presence, once recognised, was met with suspicion, which was rather unhelpful.
Amusingly, it was the sight of me with Aiden that managed to sway most people's opinion of me. The squib family and the Centaurs also vouched for me.
I refrained from mentioning how offensive I found it that I needed to be vouched for, considering it was largely my magic that provided the safe harbour these Muggle-borns and half-bloods now found themselves in.
I even learned from the Centaurs that the reason no one took the word of the Grangers was because a few had speculated that I had 'Imperiused' them. These people were lucky I didn't know their identities, or I would have cursed them for that offence.
Also, within the second week, I resolved to fulfil my promise to Goyle to be a better friend to him. My attempts at Hogwarts had been limited to mere civility, a stark contrast to my previous behaviour.
I also recognised the necessity to assume the role of Lord Malfoy. However, this place was not solely mine to govern, and technically not mine at all. Nevertheless, I took it upon myself to discuss with Dan and the three Centaurs about inviting certain individuals to join us.
My initial suggestions were my own vassals, the Goyle and Crabbe families. I also suggested sending a missive to the Lovegoods. This I proposed for two reasons. Luna of course was my son's godmother and Hermione's friend, but the more prudent reason was the danger the family was put in simply from the publication put out by the Lovegood patriarch.
I also gave serious consideration to other Slytherins I was intimately familiar with, some of whom were firmly neutral in this war, but came to the conclusion that it would be better for everyone if I left them to their own devices.
Nott, for example, was caught in a difficult position. He was at odds with his father's political leanings, but I was certain he would choose familial loyalty over ideological differences. Zabini was a different case. His safety was assured, largely due to his mother's significant influence in Italy. Despite not being a Death Eater or even a true supporter to the cause, she had been compelled to provide support in other ways.
Greengrass was another matter. Her father was a forced follower of the Dark Lord, primarily giving financial aid that bought his family their safety. I found myself wondering if Lord Greengrass truly understood the fragility of that safety.
Bulstrode was firmly a supporter of the Dark Lord, despite the fact that her father was not a member of the inner circle. I was under no illusion that when the time came, the Lord and Lady Bulstrode would gladly heed the summons to fight without a moment's hesitation. I had no doubt now that Millicent would also be commanded to help in any battles to come. I was acutely aware that the foolish witch would do so just as eagerly as her parents. There was a time when I would have commended her for such loyalty, but I had learnt my lesson harshly.
The most concerning of my once-close acquaintances, one I had barely had time for, was the half-blood, Tracy Davis. However, due to her family's close ties with the Greengrass family, I decided against extending an invitation to her or her family for the time being. I was aware that Mr. Davis, a former Slytherin, was not only a business partner but also a good friend of Lord Greengrass. I wouldn't risk the safety of my son and Hermione's parents for people who might betray us out of a sense of loyalty to a known Death Eater, no matter his reluctance to be one.
I even considered Kai Borgin, but once again could reason as to why he and even many of his acquaintances would be better left at Hogwarts if none of them were being directly threatened. All Slytherin's would, after all, be afforded much more lenience from any Death Eater or supporter of the Dark Lord, simply due to the preconceptions associated with their House affiliation. The children of known supporters who resided in other houses would be in more danger than any Slytherin.
I recognised that there were many others who could have benefited from help, but the risks of danger merely became higher with every name that came to mind.
After much discussion, we agreed that the House Elves would venture out during the night to assess the Goyle and Crabbe families' status and determine the extent of certain individuals' involvement with the Dark Lord. For instance, the patriarchs of both those families were never going to receive an invitation to this place. The Lovegoods sent back a reply almost at once with Aquila and in a little over a week had become residents of Haven.
I was disturbed but unsurprised to learn that Crabbe had already taken the Dark Mark. Goyle, however, had not, although he later confided in me that he would have been forced to do so soon had he not been rescued. Thus, one of the House Elves had whisked him away from his bed in the dead of the night.
Others claimed his sister and mother, who were also brought to Haven, and all appeared grateful to be here, although Lady Goyle was kept a close eye on. I was well aware she was a staunch advocate of pureblood rights, and being indebted to mud-bloods, squibs, Muggles, half-breeds and blood traitors was not going to sit well with the witch.
Our suspicions were confirmed mere days later when she attempted to leave with her daughter under the cover of darkness. With Goyle's consent, not that I required it, I 'Obliviated' the witch of our location. She was returned to her home with no knowledge of where she had been or where her children were.
Goyle's little sister, Druella Goyle, was understandably distraught. She didn't wish to return to 'where the bad people were', as she put it. But she was only ten and terrified at the prospect of not having her mother close by; however, her brother swore to protect her, which appeared to provide some comfort.
She was a bit distrustful of the Muggles and squibs thanks to everything she had been taught about them, something I understood having had the same upbringing, but she took quite a liking to the Centaurs. From then on, she and Goyle spent a considerable amount of time with them. Goyle even being the first to volunteer to join the patrols of the claimed and protected lands, searching for others in need of a safe Haven. It was an act worthy of admiration. From that moment on, I was proud to consider him a friend, in the truest sense of the word.
Another surprise came days after the Goyle siblings arrived. Five of the seven of their family House Elves arrived, explaining that they had been freed by Lord Goyle so as to avoid execution by the Dark Lord, who had deemed all House Elves as undesirables and untrustworthy as they refused to follow his orders without permission from their families.
The House Elves had hoped to still be useful to the children of their family, so found themselves here in the Forest of Dean and stood around patiently until a patrol found them and they were invited to enter. They found happiness popping around, helping the various residents with whatever they needed to make their sojourn here a comfortable one, and caring for Druella and Greg Goyle.
My three House Elves were happy to have the extra help with the slowly growing population. No one was aware, but all the additional materials and food were funded by my family vault. I felt like it was the least I could do to atone for my family's part in the nightmare we were all living.
The day after Aiden turned one month old Jomny got a summons from Hermione. Upon his return he handed me a letter and the emerald wedding ring with the message she had sent. If she had said those words to me in person, I would have been amused but holding the ring in my hand merely left me cold and lonely.
Still, it was nice to see the words 'I love you' written so many times. She also explained that Potter had confronted her with his pieced together knowledge of our relationship and had not been happy. She had foolishly offered an oath of loyalty which the selfish prat had accepted. I wasn't impressed with Potters lack of faith in her at all. You would think he would have known her well enough to comprehend how pure of heart she was. I also hated that I couldn't be there to comfort her in her badly concealed distress.
In the third week of our sojourn at the cabin, any words of distrust aimed at me from around the camp evaporated when we all became witnesses to a horrifying scene. A group of dark wizards and Werewolves, referring to themselves as Snatchers, were pursuing a young couple through the forest. They were hunting for Muggle-borns and blood traitors, hoping to earn gold and favour from the Ministry of Magic.
We watched in silent horror as the Snatchers cast curses and hexes at the fleeing pair, and then as they tortured the two who begged for mercy before they were finally dragged away. I told the Grangers to keep Aiden close to the cabin after that, and they nodded in agreement. They appeared as spooked as I felt, cognisant that we could have just as easily been targets of the Snatchers.
The House Elves were rather pleased with all the new people because they got to help make more dwellings. This included one for the original squib family, when it became apparent that the Muggle tent was not suitable for long-term use. The Centaurs also ensured they were visible around the encampment, so as no one would make a fuss at their presence. Which, frankly, would have been absurd considering they were the secret keepers of the land.
I also summoned Monpy to my side to check on his and Ceeny's condition. The old House Elf had been badly hurt by a kick from someone who denied him the chance to heal himself. I was left with no choice but to command him to remain here with us. A decision that broke the old House Elves' heart, but he was able to bring a few interesting items with him, including a copied manuscript written in the Dark Lords hand. I took care to affix a 'Stasis Charm' to it so that it would not disintegrate before I had a chance to copy it in my own hand.
Ceeny, unfortunately, wasn't mine to protect unless my mother freed her, and so far, she hadn't done that. Monpy reported that she was still safe at this time and rarely left my room, which my mother still slept in, only attending to her master's needs and the needs of the baby girl.
I found it amusing to think that the Death Eaters were now reduced to being his domestic slaves as well. I wondered if that would make any of them wake up to his perfidy, but somehow, I doubted it. And it really wouldn't matter if they did recognise his lies for what they were; they were all trapped by the tattoo they bore.
I had also dispatched Jomny to the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the premier French school, with a letter and a gift of sorts. It had come to my attention that my family's Abraxans were being utterly disregarded.
Thanks to that farcical Triwizard Tournament, I was aware that the institution kept a large stable of the animals. I didn't know if Voldemort merely didn't care about them or if he lacked the understanding or time to cater to their needs, but the House Elves that were originally assigned to their care were also dead, leaving the others struggling to tend to the needs of the more than fifty beasts. A task far beyond the capabilities of poor Ceeny alone.
Without knowing what else to do, I sent Jomny with a letter addressed to the Gameskeeper and Headmistress jointly. I offered them all my female Abraxan, a breed of giant winged horses, in exchange for their commitment to oversee the care of the seven prized stallions that had been the work of many generations of Malfoys. I also insisted that, in the future, any foals born to any of my females or even their own Abraxan's get turned over to me.
The Headmistress, Madame Olympe Maxime, and the Gameskeeper, Monsieur Gaspard Bonaccord, had agreed to my proposal, but they had a condition of their own. They wanted to keep a stallion for themselves if one was born, as they were very rare and valuable. I had not been overly pleased with the stipulation, but I had no other recourse, as I was in no position to oversee the creatures myself while hiding from the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters. Besides, stallions were a rare occurrence among the Abraxans, and while I hoped none would be born at this time, I understood the desire for one.
All the House Elves had lent a hand in relocating the Abraxans from the Malfoy stables over a fortnight, and astonishingly, no one appeared to notice, merely proving that the Dark Lord truly had no idea of their worth to the income of the Estate.
To add insult to injury, all of my father's beloved prized peacocks had also met their untimely end. More revenue would be lost because of that action. The feathers had been marketed for quills and to various clothing establishments. The droppings were sold off as fertiliser and to certain potion suppliers. They even generated income from their eggs and meat, although the latter was much less common in Britain and the meat birds were typically sold overseas. There was a vast array of nuances that the Dark Lord failed to comprehend about the complexities that underpinned the financial stability of the House of Malfoy.
OMAKE – This was just a bit of fun written with my son (Gaufdig). We wrote the first part together, but the 'Excerpt' is written by him. (This section has no bearing on the main story so it is not important to read.)
During the third week of August, an invitation was sent to the Lovegood's, in a letter quilled by me, enquiring if they wanted to be part of our Haven. They agreed after a bit of back-and-forth negotiation that shouldn't have been required and with a promise of interviews and articles to be allowed to be written in their publication. The relocation, it appeared, wasn't going to be a simple task by any stretch of the imagination, especially since they were insistent on moving their home as well. The entirety of their home.
It was believed it would take days of logistics and a few volunteers to help. Goyle and I had both even volunteered to help, but everyone had said no for various reasons, one at least, which came back down to a lack of trust of purebloods. Offensive, but I was glad not to have to leave Aiden. In the end, that assumption proved untrue in the most peculiar piece of magic I had even encountered that I had to assume was Lovegood family magic.
The pair of Lovegoods came one day merely to scout for a perfect spot to place their home and excitedly make introductions with the Centaurs. They ended up choosing a location further away from the lake, making some vague comments about unseen creatures. I found myself rolling my eyes and wondering what I was thinking when I agreed to make this eccentric witch my son's godmother. However, Aiden took to the strange witch instantly, and I was delighted to see she was equally and rightfully smitten with my little fire dragon.
Still, as they wandered the safe land claimed as Haven, thanks to the added magic of the Centaurs, father and daughter scrutinised a gridded map of England. They pinpointed the forest on it and, upon selecting their desired area, touched the map, which brought up more squares. The squares progressively shrank until their chosen location was accurately marked on the map. When I questioned Luna about the nature of the map, I was informed it was a chess board.
"Why do you think the Casáudrwg family and the Lovegood's have been at war for so long?" she queried in her dreamy tone as we walked through the forest.
I frowned at her and inquired, "You were at war? With whom?"
"With the Casáudrwgs, of course. They are a very old wizarding family from Wales," she replied with a smile and then pulled a book out of her bag that was titled 'The Original Giant Chess Match' by Paulina Casáudrwg, handing it to me. I gazed at her incredulously, never having heard of the family. "We now have thirty-one of these maps," she said proudly.
"Why, in the name of Salazar, would you need that many identical maps?" I questioned, unsure if she was joking or serious. She appeared completely sincere and oblivious to how ridiculous she sounded. I glanced down at the book in my hand and began to skim through the pages, reading random paragraphs.
"Oh no, not Salazar. My side was in the name of Le Fay while the other was for Prince, and we would have had all thirty-two by now, but the Blacks never gave theirs up, and we didn't think it was worth forcing the issue with a family from the same side of the chess board," she replied, making me frown further.
"What?" I said stupidly.
"Read the book. It is quite informative," she said, smiling serenely. "I'm amazed you haven't heard of it; the Quibbler has been endorsing it for years." I refrained from mentioning that I had never read her family's publication, always believing it to be utter nonsense.
"You realise this is exceedingly derogatory towards your family," I told her after reading a few more lines.
"Oh, Daddy and I don't mind what they say about us, and no publicity is bad publicity," she said with an unconcerned shrug. "And most of what they write is true, anyway. Except for the part about us proposing the idea of giant wizard chess and me being a squib, of course. That's just silly."
"I suppose so," I agreed, but with a hefty dose of skepticism. I had to remind myself that this strange witch was a friend of my wife's. "What are you doing with the map now?" I inquired, observing her father once again measuring the area out with exaggerated strides. For a moment, his long white hair reminded me of my father, and I had to look back at Luna.
"During the original giant chess match, to move the pieces around, you selected a spot on the approved variation of the board. My family got bored with only being able to move to certain locations when there is so much of the United Kingdom to see, so after we had enough of the maps, we changed the enchantment so that we could move the rookery wherever we wanted. It hasn't been done in my lifetime, though, and I must admit I'm quite excited to see it done," she said, her silvery eyes sparkling in excitement.
"If it is a chess board, don't you need to follow the rules of the game?" I queried, confused.
"Not when you're the only player left," she stated, as if that were logical. I wasn't convinced it was and shook my head, ignoring the strangeness of this family again. I was quite certain it was merely a made-up story perpetrated by two equally bizarre families, if the second even existed. It was interesting to witness a building that looked like a rook drop out of the sky and land in place with no damage to it or the surrounding area whatsoever, nonetheless.
Many months later
"How in Merlin's name did they manage to transport their house here?" Hermione queried in astonishment as she observed the rockery in the middle of the forest and on the far edge of Haven.
"Promise me you won't question Luna or her father unless you're prepared to be subjected to one of the most absurd and preposterous stories ever fabricated. If you really need an answer, I have a copy of a book Luna gave me. However, I am absolutely convinced that her father is the real author of the fabrication. The most fascinating aspect is the glaring omission of any details about the magic supposedly at play. It furthers my suspicions that how they moved this house is part of their family magic which would explain why they don't want to share the knowledge," I told her.
Unbeknownst to Draco, a chess piece resembling a queen and a map lay in a vault in Gringotts, awaiting a future descendant of a certain lineage to claim them. One day that descendant will steal everything from the Lovegoods and claim victory of the board for themselves and their family line.
~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt from 'The Original Giant Chess Match' by Paulina Casáudrwg ~~~~~~~~~
One fine afternoon, the then-current Lady Le Fay was having a small gathering of individuals and had invited the current heads of Houses Black, Prince, Gaunt, and Lovegood to her Estate, where tempers began to flare and caused an argument that, to this day, many say was as ridiculous as Xenophilius Lovegood's poor excuse of a newspaper. Unfortunately, we don't know what really started the argument or what it was even about. We do, however, know that this was the beginning of the world's largest and strangest game of wizard's chess ever conceived.
From what we have managed to find in the few records that remain, something was said to which Lady Le Fay took offence and almost came to blows over. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed that day, and a more benign way to solve their differences was suggested. Of course, the Lovegoods, being the crazy bastards they are, weren't satisfied with things being settled over a normal game of wizard's chess and insisted it needed to be more interesting, thus giant wizards' chess.
Each family involved would live in a house-sized chess piece that could move, jumping into the sky and settling into their new position on the giant chess board covering the entirety of the British Isles. Each family was given an interactive map that would show the locations of all other active pieces and could also be used to move the giant pieces according to the rules of wizard's chess.
Now, it must be said that in the beginning, this was to be a wholly peaceful affair with no deaths involved, except, of course, for accidents. This was, after all, highly experimental. Over the years, however, with no end in sight, some of the families began to get ideas.
Over the course of the next 130 years, several families were rendered all but extinct. This caused the surviving families—the Blacks, the Princes, the Gaunts, the Casáudrwgs and the Lovegoods—to meet up to discuss ending the ongoing hostilities. The discussion in question is heavily debated amongst those in the know; the result, however, is something that requires no speculation.
The Blacks, having gotten bored of this years ago, decided to simply stop playing, retiring their piece, causing it to miniaturise and go into its inactive state much like a normal wizarding chess piece, and rolling up their map and reportedly leaving the items locked in their vault to be forgotten.
The Gaunt's were much too busy with infighting to have much interest in continuing, so they followed the lead of the Blacks. The Prince's had somehow lost their map, but my family suspects theft by the treacherous Lovegood's. As such, they decided to retire their piece as well.
This, of course, left the mighty Casáudrwgs and those arsehole Lovegoods. Now while the Casáudrwgs were rightfully lamenting the losses involved, the dastardly Lovegoods destroyed the Casáudrwg's piece, the only other piece remaining in play, in a series of explosions ranging from fiery to icy and even glittery, until our beloved rookery crumbled to dust in a spectacular display and left a miniature in its place that the Lovegood's swooped down and claimed unfairly, somehow also stealing our map in the process, claiming that all is fair in love and war and giant chess games.
Summarily, they declared themselves the winners of the world's largest chess match. The Lovegoods also claimed to never take the lives of any opponents, and though none in our family can lay their deaths at the hands of those arseholes, we sincerely doubt those claims.
In the years since, many attempts have been made the world over to recreate the spectacle that was Giant Wizards Chess, but none have succeeded, as much of the magic required has been lost to us. We speculate, however, that the Lovegood family still has access to these magics, as they can seemingly move their house, their rook piece, without following the rules of the game.
White side
King- Prince
Queen- Gaunt
Bishop 1- Mcloud
Bishop 2- Nessy
Knight 1- Balthazar
Knight 2- Magnusson
Rook 1- Casáudrwg
Rook 2- MacLachlan
Black side
King- Le Fay
Queen- Black
Bishop 1- Niwl
Bishop 2- Tromluí
Knight 1- Zepar
Knight 2- Livdottir
Rook 1- Lovegood
Rook 2- Foley
All the Pawns were branch families of the main players and sadly died out quickly.
Author's notes: - Casáudrwg is the equivalent of Hatebad in Welsh. Niwl is Mist in Welsh. Tromluí is Nightmare in Gaelic. And Livdottir is a Scandinavian name meaning daughter of Liv (Vikings).
: - Ever grateful, Rkook1210, for your unwavering support. It's deeply appreciated.