Capítulo 48: Hermione's, You Lost Again
David stood at the edge of the trapdoor, gazing down at the Devil's Snare below. After some thought, he decided to investigate further. He tied a rope to one of the three-headed dog's legs.
"Moloch, hold this rope tight. Don't let it fall," he instructed. The massive creature, eyes closed, nodded slightly and tucked its leg inward to secure the rope.
Throwing the rope into the hole, David climbed down. He slid down cautiously until his feet touched the Devil's Snare. Almost immediately, the plant's tendrils sprang to life, wrapping tightly around him like snakes.
David didn't panic. With a wave of his wand, he conjured fire. The flames forced the Devil's Snare to loosen its grip, and David slid safely to the floor below.
"Huh, so it really is a buffer," he muttered, brushing himself off.
David found himself in a dimly lit corridor that stretched far ahead. Walking cautiously, he eventually reached an open door. Beyond it lay a massive chessboard with towering, life-sized chess pieces.
The black pieces stood silently near him, while the white pieces loomed on the opposite side. As David stepped onto the chessboard, the white pieces moved into position, blocking his path with weapons drawn.
"Looks like I need to play chess to pass," David murmured, scratching his head. Chess wasn't exactly his strong suit.
He chuckled at the thought. "This feels like a video game… the Devil's Snare is the login screen, and this chessboard is the first level."
David thought of Ron, whose chess skills far surpassed his own. "I'll need his help if I want to get past this."
Deciding to leave for now, David made his way back to the Devil's Snare. He climbed the rope he had secured earlier, using his wand to create a small flame that kept the plant at bay.
At the top, Moloch was still pretending to sleep—or so David thought. After a few light taps, he realized the creature had truly fallen asleep. Shaking his head, he closed the trapdoor and left, deciding it was time for some rest.
By the time David woke, it was already noon. The dormitory was empty, with Harry and Ron likely off exploring as usual. After freshening up, David headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
The hall was bustling with students enjoying their weekend. As David scanned the room for a seat, he heard a familiar voice call out.
"David! Over here!"
He turned to see Hermione waving at him from a table in the corner. David walked over to join her.
"Just waking up?" Hermione asked as he sat down.
David nodded, tapping his plate with his wand in a specific pattern. Instantly, it filled with food.
"Did you have another nightmare?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"No, I just went to bed late," David said between bites.
Hermione frowned. "Doing what?"
"Nothing important," David deflected, quickly changing the subject. "Hey, Hermione, do you know how to play wizard chess?"
"Wizard chess?" she repeated, tilting her head.
"It's like regular chess, but the pieces move on their own," David explained.
"Oh, I've played before, but I'm not very good at it," Hermione admitted.
David grinned. "Perfect! How about a game?"
After some hesitation, Hermione agreed. David quickly finished his meal and led her to the Gryffindor common room.
The common room was empty, most students preferring to roam the castle on weekends. David fetched his chess set from the dormitory and set it up on the table.
"Okay," David explained, "just tell the pieces where to move, and they'll follow your instructions."
Hermione nodded, her curiosity piqued. She pointed at a pawn. "Move two squares forward."
The piece slid forward, and Hermione's eyes lit up with excitement. She quickly became engrossed in the game, but David could see she was making mistakes.
"Ha! Hermione, you lost!" David declared after a while. "Knight takes king!"
The black knight lunged forward, knocking over the white king. Hermione frowned but refused to give up.
"Let's play again!" she said determinedly.
Several games later, the result remained the same.
"Hermione, you've lost again," David said with a teasing smile. "Bishop takes king."
The white king tumbled off the board and into a small box, where it grumbled loudly, blaming Hermione for her poor strategy.
"Hmph! I'm done playing," Hermione huffed, sweeping the pieces into the box and snapping it shut. "Let's go to the library instead."
She grabbed David's hand and marched out of the common room. After a few steps, she seemed to realize what she'd done, quickly letting go and blushing.
David chuckled. "It's okay, Hermione. I can teach you chess later if you want."
"Humph!" Hermione shot him a glare but couldn't hide her embarrassment. She walked ahead briskly, her cheeks still flushed.
David smiled as he followed her. Even if she wasn't good at chess, Hermione never backed down from a challenge—and that was one of the things he admired most about her.
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