Chapter 39 - Wizard Chess (1/2)
The next three weeks swiftly passed by and before they knew it, the 1st years had been at Hogwarts for almost two months. Rowan still had a long way to go as she had to go through each and every insignificant log, and all the while keeping an eye out for discrepancies and possible connections. And not to mention the added fact of being saddled with unexpected the Marauders in their research to cure Werewolfism.
With some relief, everyone finishes the last class of the day as in a day it would be all Hallows Eve with the Halloween Feast to be held in the Great Hall. The older students whisper of the great decorations and delicious food to be placed therein. Rowan slightly sighs in disappointment; she would have loved to dress up for Halloween.
”Alas, I guess one doesn't dress up as witches and wizards when one is magical,” Rowan sadly thought to herself.
Seeing Rowan sitting at the Slytherin table Severus says, ”So, are you done with your project yet?”
”Not even close. Besides I need to take some time off as our first tests are coming up and even, I need to study,” Rowan matter-of-factly stated.
Severus snorts and says, ”I will believe that when I see it with my own two eyes.”
Rowan rolls her eyes as Wilkes cheerfully comes over and said, ”Excited for the Halloween Feast tomorrow?”
”I hear it will be quite exciting,” Severus replied as Rowan pokes her food with her fork.
Seeing Rowan ignore him, Wilkes grins and says, ”Well, either way, I hear they'll have a sweet band.”
”Really?” Rowan said with a bit of interest. Seeing Rowan's interest, Wilkes begins to regale them with tales about past glorious feasts. That by the end of dinner even Rowan was a bit excited for the feast.
After dinner, they all head back to the Slytherin common room area, where the October chill had long begun caused the students to wear thick, warm clothes and for fireplaces in the Slytherin common room area to roar with heat. Sitting near a warm flickering fire, Rowan and Severus play a match of wizarding chess against each other. Not long after, Terry Greengrass joined them, Severus's only male friend in Slytherin. Terry Greengrass has silky flaxen hair and hazel eyes. And though average height, he seems smaller as he is rather slender with a delicate figure that looked like he could be blown away by a gust of wind at any second.
Seeing Rowan trouncing Severus so thoroughly, Terry tactfully points out a counter move for Severus with his finger. Seeing Terry changing the flow of the game, Rowan finally says, ”Severus just switch places with him already, Terry's clearly better at this than you are.”
Severus gestured rudely at Rowan, before rising out of his seat and motions for Terry to switch places with him. Terry eagerly does as he is told as Severus sternly says, ”You better beat her, she usually wins nine out of ten matches.”
”You're just jealous,” Rowan said with a snicker.
Terry sleepy eyes flicker for a moment and despite his fragile demeanor, his game style is anything but delicate. Rowan actually furrows her brows and rolls up her sleeves as she focuses solely on the match before them. The match soon turns into a violent aggressive match until Rowan finally tricks Terry by sacrificing her queen to entrap Terry's king.
Rowan lets out a breath and says, ”Geez, Terry, you look all fragile like a porcelain doll, but your chess style is anything but-. You're an absolute monster on the field!”
Terry grins slyly back. ”My family has expert wizard chess players.”
Severus snickers at the comment. ”Another match, Rowan?”
”I sincerely doubt I will win,” Rowan truthfully grunted. ”Terry had about a ten-move handicap and he still almost beat me.”
”Don't be so modest, you're quite good yourself,” Terry genuinely said.