The part of the chapter after the chess match comes completely out of my imagination, as Ron doesn't go beyond the chessboard. If you've read Twelve Kisses by me, a bit of it may be similar, as I've used some lines from there that I thought would fit, but I won't use too much. Just a bit of dialogue.

One more chapter in Sorcerer's Stone!

Chapter 18: Checkmate

The next chamber was so dark we couldn't see a bloody thing in front of our noses. But, as they stepped into it, a bright light shone out of nowhere, and I felt as if I had does and gone to a part of my own private heaven.

We were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen. They were massive and looked like they were made from some kind of black stone. Across the chamber, were the white pieces. They were very creepy, as they had no faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" I said, figuring out things immediately. "We've got to play our way across the room. The door is there, see?"

Behind the white pieces was another door to go through. I knew this chessboard wasn't here for show. It had to be a task, and the only way we could get to the door would be to play and win the game.

Whoever made it, didn't think about Ronald Bilius Weasley finding it.

"How?" said Hermione nervously.

"I think we're going to have to be chessmen." I said, looking at the pieces.

I walked up to a black knight and touched the knight's horse. It sprung to life, the horse stomping at the ground a bit. The knight tilted his head down to "look"at me. I think it knew.

"Do we have to join you to get across?" I asked it. The black knight nodded. I felt an excited jolt go through my body.

"This needs thinking about." I said out loud, but mainly to myself as I started to strategize in my mind. "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces..."

Harry and Hermione stayed quiet, watching me stand there and analyze the board. I could see each move almost in my mind. However, I had a feeling that this wouldn't be as easy as playing any random person in Hogwarts. This would be like playing Bill. Only, I couldn't afford to lose.

"Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess." I said, wincing a bit, hoping I wouldn't upset anyone, mainly Hermione, who hated being told she sucked at something.

"We're not offended." said Harry, quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you next to him instead of that castle." I said, pointing then to the spots I wanted them to be.

"What about you?" asked Hermione.

I looked up at the black knight in front of me. It nodded, as if it could read my mind.

"As for me, I'm going to be a knight." I said, with a bit of confidence that had all of a sudden blanketed me.

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because the knight, a bishop, and a castle turned and walked off the board, leaving three empty squares that we quickly took.

"White always plays first in chess." I reminded them, peering across the board. "Yes... look..."

A white pawn had moved forward two squares.

I began to direct the pieces where I wanted them. It seemed easy enough at first. Then...

"Harry, move diagonally four squares to the right."

After he moved, the white queen came and took the other black knights, hitting it so hard, it almost shattered, and dragged it off of the board. All of our eyes grew wide as realization set it.

This was going to be exactly like wizard chess.

"Had to let that happen." I said nervously. "Leaves you free to take that bishop Hermione, go on."

The game went on and it seemed as if the white side were slaughtering us with no mercy. Pieces of black were in piles, laying like the fallen soldiers that they were. Twice i had to block Harry and Hermione from getting knocked out by making moves myself, taking some of the white pieces out with big pushes. Soon, the game looked neck and neck, and I was exhausted both physically, and mentally.

"We're nearly there" I panted. "Let me think, let me think..."

I looked at my position and where the others were. I then turned to the white queen, her faceless face taunting me, as if she was letting me know what I already knew was coming.

"Right." I said in a low voice. "It's the only way. I've got to be taken."

"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted.

"That's chess!" I snapped "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me. That leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But-"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?" I yelled.

"Ron-"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone! I have to do this!" I shouted, putting my foot down.

There was no alternative. It had to be done. I braced myself. Maybe she would take pity on me because I'm human and not stone.

Then again, maybe she would break me in half. That queen was a brutal bitch.

"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go. Now, don't hang around once you've won."

"But Ron-"

"I mean it! I'll be fine."

I stepped forward, and the white queen pounced like a fucking lion. There was a scream, an agonizing pain...

And then, there was nothing but black.

I felt myself being jostled gently but annoyingly. I could hear someone shouting something. Why was this person being so bloody annoying? Waking someone up from a nap should be a crime.

"Ron" I heard, sounding like a distant whisper. I really was not in the mood to get up. Maybe if I ignored it, it would go away.

"Ron, Ron please wake up, oh please!" I heard the voice again. This time a little more clearer, and somewhat louder.

I groaned. Whatever this was, it was sure going to hear my mouth when I got up.

"RONALD WEASLEY, YOU GET UP THIS INSTANT!" came a scream that forced my eyes to pop open.

I instantly felt pain. It was everywhere, but mainly my head.

Hermione?" I moaned as I tried to focus on my surroundings that were slowly turning from blobs to actual things.

"Ron! You're awake!" Hermione cried, latching onto me like a vice grip, causing the pain to increase.

"Hermione...please..." I winced, feeling as if I wanted my body to explode.

"Oh! Oh I'm so sorry. I'm just happy that you woke up! I was scared here by myself."

"By yourself? Where's Harry?"

"He had to go ahead. There was only enough potion for one of us to go through."

"Potion?"

"Never mind. Long story, I'll tell you when we get out of here if...oh goodness Ron! How will we get out?" asked Hermione, frantically.

"Help me up will ya?" I said holding out my hand.

Hermione pulled me up as best she could. I pushed myself up the rest of the way, and then I stumbled back as everything seemed to rush at me, causing me to become dizzy.

"Easy, Ron." said Hermione, situating herself under my arm, trying to steady me.

"What the bloody fuck happened?" I asked.

Hermione must have really felt sorry for me, because she didn't try to scold me on my grammar. "Well, the queen was simply barbaric!,She hit you hard over the head and then slung you into the pile of pieces as if you were a rag doll."

"What's a rag doll?"

"Never mind." Anyways, we need to get out of here and alert the school. Write to Dumbledore." said Hermione as she helped me into the chamber with the flying keys.

"Ooooookay." I pushed out, still feeling unsteady and dazed.

We walked on until we got to where the Devil's Snare was. That blast Hermione had sent had them had caused them not to regroup back into what they were when we fell into them.

I looked up. Dammit. We had forgotten something.

"Hermione, how are we supposed to get out?" I asked her.

Hermione looked up and then back at me. "Oh no! I didn't think about that! Stay here!" she said, having me to sit on the floor.

"And where the bloody- wait. Sorry. "Where are you going?"

"I have to go back and get a broom. Looks like we are flying out." she said before taking off down the little walkway.

I nodded, resting my back against the cold wall. I suddenly felt completely useless, a feeling that I hated. I had gotten myself hot in the head, causing Harry to have to leave Hermione behind and go on his own.

Hermione's footsteps drummed in the distance. She came running back, holding one of the brooms in her hand. She helped me back up off the floor and looked as if she was trying to size up the situation.

"Right...well...I think you may be too out of it to be able to steer." said Hermione, taking Harry's flute out of her skirt pocket.

"What are you talking about? I can..." but at that moment, Hermione's hair looked like it was spinning and I stumbled back some.

She was right. She's always right.

"Exactly." she said. "So I'm going to steer and you are going to attempt to play something on this flute son we won't be killed. Can you do that?"

"I can try." I said, taking the flute out of her hand. "Even if it's one long note."

Hermione nodded. She positioned the broom and mounted it. I mounted it behind her, holding onto her tightly. I could feel her shaking with fear.

"It's alright." I said. "Just pretend that this is a casual fly, a not a fly that we have to do that could potentially lead to our impending deaths if something goes wrong."

"Thanks, Ronald." she said sarcastically.

We kicked off together and I started blowing one tired and annoying note into the flute. Hermione flew up, drifting from side to side a bit until we emerged out of the hole.

I pushed my breath even more into the flute and made a sound. Fluffy remained sleep.

Hermione almost flew into one of his heads, I had to tilt her body for her to aim for the ground. Once we landed, we bolted for the door, as fast as I could limp. Then we closed it. I spit the flute out and we started to hear growling from behind the closed door.

We looked at the door, then back at each other. We started laughing loudly and cheering, despite being out after hours knowing we could get caught at any given moment.

"You were brilliant, Hermione!" I cheered.

"So were you! Let's never do this again!"

"I agree. What do we do now?" I asked.

I felt myself lose it again and stumbled back, this time falling and hitting the floor. Hermione helped me up and kept under my arm.

"First, we get you to the hospital wing. You're acting as if you have a concussion." said Hermione. "Then, I go and write a letter for Dumbledore and give it to Professor McGonagall. She'll know what to do."

She helped me all the way over to the hospital wing and pounded on the locked door. A minute later, Madam Pomfrey opened it, took one look at me, and didn't say a word. Something told me she probably knew we had done something very serious.

She helped me over to a bed while Hermione left to do what she had to do. She cleaned off the blood on my face and scalp, put dittany on the gash that I didn't realize I had (and because she knew I wouldn't panic, Hermione didn't tell me about), gave me potions for pain and my nerves, and made me lay down.

About twenty minutes later, Hermione came back. Pomfrey treated her small cuts and have her a potion for her nerves as well and told her to stay in the hospital wing for the night.

We laid there quiet for a while in our separate beds. I knew both our minds were on Harry, and what could be going on. I was worried about my mate. I felt terrible that we had to leave him alone. He was only 11. Would he be able to take on Snape? Would Snape actually kill a student?

Hermione got up and came over to my bed. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. Still stings though, my head." I said. It was true, the potion had done nothing. It still felt like Fred and George were hitting my head with their beater clubs over and over. Still, I tried to put on a brave face.

Hermione smiled, seeing right through my façade. "My mum used to kiss my hurts when I was younger. Made them feel better." she said and then she gave me a small peck where the gash had healed up on the right side of my forehead.

I looked at her as if she was mental. What kind of strange muggle bull- oh wait... That actually dulled the pain some. Blimey.

"Hey...it actually feel a bit better. That's some crazy muggle thing you got going on Hermione." I said with a chuckle.

Hermione laughed, went back over to her bed and laid down.

"Ron?"

"Yeah Hermione?"

"Do you think Harry will be okay?"

I didn't know what to say. Would he be okay? What was he doing? Would we see our best mate in the morning?

"Ron?" said Hermione again.

"I think so." I said, trying to make her and myself feel better. "I'm sure the teachers have found him standing victorious over Snape's dead body right now."

"Ronald Weasley, that is cruel!" huffed Hermione, but she couldn't help but laugh herself a little bit.

"I know. Now stop worrying and go to sleep." I told her.

"Goodnight, Ron." she said, her voice starting to fade to me.

"Night, Mione." I whispered before sleep took over my body.