Chapter 20: Knight to Percy's Nerves
Ron leaned forward over the family Wizard Chess set on the coffee table. His brow furrowed as he looked it over. Both he and Harry have reached a state of parity. The Weasley wracked his brain for a solution as the egg timer ticked down to a minute. It did not help that Percy watched the two from across the couch, staring intently at the game state. Almost like a tiger stalking its prey. Harry however, to Ron's great worry, sat unperturbed on the other side of the board. Finally, he grabbed for his bishop.
"Bishop to C5. Take the Pawn." Ron said, causing the Bishop to blast the Pawn away with a blast of fire from its holy book.
"I didn't expect that one." Harry said in surprise.
"Good show, Ron. I've never seen that move to get out of a certain tie." Percy said with a smile. The rare bit of praise caught Ron off guard as he gave things over to Harry's turn.
"Why thank you, big brother." Ron replied with a smile.
Harry looked over the board; his eyes darting about to try and find a way out. However, to Ron's surprise half a minute into Harry's turn, he stopped his timer. It caused Ron's heart to skip a beat. Harry conceded.
"Your game, Ron. You put a noose around my Gryffindor defense. Good game." Harry said before reaching out a hand to offer a handshake.
"It's not like he had much of a challenge, to be honest." The Posh Priss proclaimed.
Ron shook Harry's hand before turning to Percy. "And what? You think you can do better?" He growled.
"I know I can, Ronald." Percy replied with a scoff.
"Then come over here and put your sickles where your mouth is." Ron demanded, his face going flush in anger.
Percy then walked over and sat down as he pulled out his wand. "Reparo." He simply said, casting a spell to repair the broken chess pieces.
Ron leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, his freckles caught in the shaft of light that filtered through the slanted window. Across from him, Percy was rigid. He was gripping the armrests like they were lifebuoys in a stormy sea.
The board looked bleak—for Percy.
Only his King remained in play with a battered rook and a limping Bishop nearby, huddled at the far end of the board. A trio of Pawns stood stranded in the middle, with no hope of salvation.
Ron's side, however, looked like the aftermath of a well-executed ambush. His twin rooks loomed like gallows on the open files, his knight crouched mid-board, and one of his pawns was quietly ascending toward promotion.
The silence was oppressive. Even the pieces held their breath.
Ron smirked and leaned forward.
"Rook to D8. Check."
The white Rook roared like a war beast, galloping across the board. The black King, trapped in the corner, flinched as the rook bore down on him. Percy's bishop sprang forward in desperation.
"Bishop to F8," Percy said through gritted teeth, his voice brittle.
"Hmm," Ron said, tapping his chin. "Bold choice. Let's break it."
With a swift flick of his finger, he declared, "Rook takes F8."
The Rook smashed the Bishop to pieces, sending its helm clattering across the floor.
Percy did not blink. "Rook takes F8."
His remaining Rook stepped forward, avenging the Bishop, but too late.
Ron's grin widened.
"Knight to F6. Check."
The Knight snarled and sprang like a silver blur, landing with a clatter beside Percy's King. The redhead's eyes darted. The knight was not just checking his king—it was forking his last rook.
"Really, Perce," Ron said airily. "You should know better than to leave your King and Rook so… close."
Percy moved his king out of danger, stiff and wordless.
The Knight turned, casually lopping the Rook's head off.
Now it was over.
Ron pushed a pawn forward, slow and inevitable. One. Then another. He did not even rush it—he savored it.
Piece by piece, he boxed Percy in until his king had nowhere left to run. With a sigh of theatrical finality, Ron advanced a Pawn to the eighth rank.
"Pawn to F8. Queen. Check."
A new Queen exploded into being—tall, resplendent, and radiating power. The black king staggered backward as if scorched.
"King to H7," Percy muttered, barely audible.
Ron leaned back, laced his hands behind his head, and called the final shot.
"Queen to H6. Checkmate."
The Queen glided forward and lowered her staff—light flared, and the black king dropped to one knee with a groan, crown clattering to the ground. Silence. Then, applause—from the white pieces themselves. Ron did not gloat—not exactly. But he did raise his eyebrows and flash a lopsided grin.
"Well," he said. "I guess pride does go before a fall, eh, Minister?"
Percy's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"I underestimated you," He finally admitted, voice like cold tea.
Ron stood, stretching. "You always do."
He paused at the door, then added with a wink, "Same time next week?"
Percy glared at the board, jaw tight. "I'll bring a revised strategy."
Ron was already halfway down the stairs, laughing.
"That was just sad." Mafalda commented having watched the slaughter fest of a game her cousins just went through.
"Yes, it was. Seriously, did Percy really think he could beat someone who played the, and I quote, 'best game of Wizard Chess Hogwarts had ever seen?'" Ginny replied with an eye roll.
"Why was he all uppity over the game you helped Harry with, anyway?" Mafalda asked.
"He blames everything on Harry. Saw it all through last year. That and everything is either done his way, or the wrong way." Ron explained, a mournful look stretching across his face.
"THE RULES ARE THE RULES!" Percy shouts from another room
"And your rules stink worse than the laundry!!" Ron yelled back.
"But not as bad as one of the twin's stink bombs." Mafalda commented
"Oh, don't encourage him…" Ron groaned.
"Surely he can't get worse this year." Harry chipped in.
Ron then looked at his friend. "Prissy Percy is fueled by spite. He always can get worse." He replied.
"Besides, it's not like we are going to be dealing with a death-defying crisis this year. Right?" Ginny asked the room, waiting for a reply that never came.
Meanwhile: Lovegood Residence
The Lovegood Residence lay eerily silent in the afternoon sun, save a tea kettle warming up on the stove. The only noise came from the backyard. Instead of a traditional backyard filled with grass, a tree, and some outdoor furniture, it instead would best be described as a veritable jungle. Flowers, vines, bushes, and hedgerows grew in a haphazard fashion. To any "sane" wizard, it looked as if a chunk of the Amazon was plucked out of the earth and placed in England. Only a few fruit trees grew in defiance of this chaotic order. Yet underneath their smothered heights came a great rustling, as the Lovegoods rushed through their gardens at blinding speeds.
They zigzagged around in an equally haphazard fashion, blazing paths invisible to the eye. All the while their eyes darted about, searching frantically for something. This manic episode continued till the tea kettle let out a violent hiss from inside. The two, still in mid sprint, ran straight into each other at hearing its shrill signal. Yet as the two fell in a heap upon the ground, the first thing that came from their mouths was uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh Luna! That was so refreshing!!" Xenophilus cackled hysterically.
"Yes, it was, daddy! Oh, I wish we could do this more often!" Luna giggled happily.
"Of course, dear. Unfortunately, the world moves regardless of our desires." Xenophilus replied, before standing up and brushing himself off. "So how many Nargles did you spot today?"
"Unfortunately, none. But I'll keep looking." Luna sighed, standing up to brush herself off.
"Well, I'm pleased to say I caught a glimpse of one today." Her father said with a big smile.
Luna's eyes widened in awe and rushed to grab hold of her father. "Really!? Where!?" She frantically asked.
To her shock however, her father let out a hearty laugh. "Luna dear. If I told you, what would be the point of a discovery? The true magic in this world is the ones we hold dear in our hearts, and the experiences we can find in this big world of ours." Xenophilus replied with a smile.
Luna's face soured at hearing that, till her father ruffled her hair. It got an instant giggle out of her. She was not going to pretend she understood what her father meant, but she was determined to. Just as she was to see a Nargle as they walked inside for tea. Laughing the whole way inside with joy in their hearts.
Sharad: Chapter to Post 20. I would like to call check, but we are only scratching the surface of the game called Life.
Monsterhuntergod: Not gonna lie, it is fun as fuck to write for Luna and Xeno. What is the most bonkers and cooky thing you can think of? Yah there we go. They are so fun to write. And I can't wait to see her more in Hogwarts.