Fourth Challenge - Entries Thread

*Professor McGonagall* · #1 July 18th, 2009, 3:47 pm

The voting has ended. You can find the results in this thread:

4th Challenge - Chess Game - Results and Final Entries

Here is the list of entrants, their Houses, and their entry # with links to the single post view.

Cybobbie [R] - 1
Spacecadet [G] - 2
Karleecakes [G] - 3
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5
ArryGrotter [H] - 6
gottriplets [G] - 7
Mugglewizard [R] - 8
LyraLovegood [R] - 9
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10
LittleElf [S] - 11
Mad_Druid [R] - 12
Pox Voldius [S] - 13
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14
amanduhrae [H] - 15
witchsmart [G] - 16
HMN [H] - 17
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18
primcessjaffa [R] - 19
silverinkpot [S] - 20
MmeBergerac [R] - 21
freelantzer [H] - 22
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24
Anhelda [R] - 25
Melaszka [R] - 26
storyteller [R] - 27
Daggerstone [S] - 28
9th Wonder [G] - 29
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32
Lucybird [H] - 33
Kanksha [G] - 34
Klio [R] - 35
leah49 [G] - 36
Den_muggle [G] - 37

first round voting is closed - this is for information only:

The voting for the final round will begin sometime on Thursday. The final voting will close on Sunday, July 26th at Noon, GMT, which is 5 am Pacific Time. Here is a map of world time zones for reference. Time Around the World

Please go to this thread for the list of final entries and voting instructions for the final round.

4th Challenge-Chess Game-Final Entries

Ron Weasley · #2 July 18th, 2009, 3:49 pm

Entry 1

Confronting Minerva

Proud, in her new pink dress, Dolores came into the Transfiguration Classroom ready to put Professor McGonagall in her right place, since she finally got rid of Dumbledore.

- Hello Professor, as you know, in my new position as Headmistress, from now on you will have to report to me, and to me only. I just came here to make sure that you understand it, my dear.

- Oh, hmmm, hi Dolores - said Minerva with the most unpleasant look that she could put on her face. - So, apart from chasing and torturing students you also have time to bother the Professors that are really willing to teach something useful to Hogwarts students?

- Careful with your tone Professor! - replied Dolores, adding a lovely pink to her cheeks. As you know your position as Deputy Headmistress means nothing now that I'm in charge and I have all the means to finish your career. I have to remind you, in case that you forgot, that the Ministry will support me since you're as we all know too "loyal" to Dumbledore, an enemy of the Minister and to the Ministry itself and, not for long, on the run.

Considering carefully the last clear instructions made by Dumbledore, Minerva turned red, took some breaths, and finally managed to control herself. - Oh, dear, you're so wrong. I'm loyal, indeed, but loyal to Hogwarts principles and to the students, so you don't have to worry at all. Well, I have to get ready to start my class, so why you don't you go have some quality time cleaning your lovely cat plates?

- Good answer, but not the right one Professor - said Dolores, focusing again on her task to tease Minerva, so she could get rid of her as well. Using her best tone of kindness she added - You have to be loyal to the Ministry and by that means to me, my dear. Dumbledore is no more, so, since you're so used to, you'll become my pawn. You always worked so well as Dumbledore's pawn… as many professors that will have to be replaced, so now….

That was more than enough to Minerva. Despite all her efforts she was red as a pepper with her wand on her hand, mentally asking for Dumbledore to forgive her. Torturing students, preventing their training for the upcoming war, saying bad things about Dumbledore and now this!! It was too much, so while Dolores was still enjoying herself with that disgusting smile on her face, Minerva pointed her wand to Dolores and, before she could take another breath to calm herself down, the spell came into her head and without having to say the words…there she was, a lovely white pawn. Oh, Minerva knew she was in trouble, but enjoying the moment as much as she could she only could think that the tine and even cute Dolores would be a nice replacement as a piece in the next Hogwarts Wizard Chess Tournament!

steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #3 July 18th, 2009, 3:49 pm

Entry 2

The second jet of light hit him squarely in the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock [...]

It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging in the arch.
And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then fell back into place.

Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing - Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second....

But Sirius did not reappear.*

Falling…. I heard the victorious scream of my deranged cousin, Bellatrix, as I continued to fall into what seemed like nothingness. Followed by the terrified scream of my godson Harry, calling out to me. My dear friend Remus, bless him, for trying to console my godson, for as much as I reached out to Harry I could only watch the pain wash over his face, as his image grew more and more distant from me, while I continued to fall deep beneath the mysterious veil.

"SIRIUS!" he bellowed, "SIRIUS!"

“He can’t come back, Harry," said Lupin his voice breaking as he struggled to contain Harry. "He can't come back, because he's d-"
"HE - IS - NOT - DEAD!" roared Harry. "SIRIUS!"*

My name … that was the last thing I heard before everything went black. It was dark for a long while, and I didn’t know where I was or what to expect beyond this strange veil, I just wanted to get back to Harry. Let him know I was ok, and make sure he was too.

“TAKE ME BACK TO HARRY” I shouted into the emptiness,

And then just as abruptly as the falling had started, I landed with a thud on the floor in a dimly lit area. The room slowly came into focus… I sat staring across the room, at the largest black chess pieces I had ever seen. I struggled to move but was unable to.

The room brightened as Harry’s friends, Ron and Hermione entered, followed closely behind by Harry himself.

“HARRY!” I tried to scream but nothing came out. What was happening? I was unable to move or speak; I could only watch the scene unfold.

And then as the trio took their positions on the large chess board, I heard

"White always plays first in chess," said Ron, peering across the board. **

At that I felt myself slowly being propelled two spaces forward on the chessboard towards the black chess pieces, my godson, and his friends. Ron spoke again

"Yes ... look..." ** he pointed in my direction.

And then I realized, I, Sirius Black had fallen beyond the veil and ended up inside a chess piece.

steps:

*Excerpt from the end of Chapter 35 and beginning of Chapter 36 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

**Excerpt from Chapter 16 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Ron Weasley · #4 July 18th, 2009, 3:50 pm

Entry 3

Draped over a couch near the roaring fire, Ginny looked at the crumpled piece of parchment in her hand and read.

Ginny,
Be by the lake at midnight. I have a birthday surprise for you.
Love,
Harry

It had been almost one whole year since the defeat of Voldemort, and the Battle of Hogwarts. Many things had happened, but most importantly (at least for Ginny), was that her romance with Harry was rekindled. He visited her at school whenever Auror duties allowed, lately visits were few and far between.
Impatiently, she stalked about the common room, waiting for the clock to chime midnight.
Finally, the appointed hour came. Looking around, she saw a few exhausted fifth years, sound asleep on their textbooks. Otherwise, the common room was empty. With a final look around, Ginny clambered out of the portrait hole and snuck towards the lake.
At last, she reached the lake’s edge. Other than a near tumble down the stairs, Ginny had escaped undetected. Looking around, she said in a sharp whisper, “Harry, come out!”

At once, Harry Potter stepped out from behind a gnarled oak tree.

“Happy birthday, Ginny,” he said, before pushing her fiery hair out of her eyes and giving her a long kiss. With a sheepish grin he added, “The purse isn’t mine, I promise. It isn’t much, I hope you like it.”

At that, he opened a beaded purse (which Ginny recognized as Hermione’s), and pulled out a red-checked picnic cloth, and a basket of Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans, a wizarding chess board, and a few butterbeers. Finally, with a flourish he pulled out a small leather-bound book.

He shuffled about a little nervously, before beginning, “Err..It was my ide-I mean, Ron-I mean, Bill thought it would be a nice idea, you know, a memory boo-“

“Shut up!” Ginny whispered savagely, and muttered a spell at Harry who disappeared in a glow of orange light.

“I’ve got you now,” croaked the hunched figure of Argus Filch, “I’ve spent years trying to catch one of you scoundrels in the act, and I finally have. Who was just standing there right now?” he barked, practically gloating.

“I was just taking a walk!"

“Nonsense!” he growled, walking over to the picnic cloth and he picked up a piece from the board, and inspected it. “Someone was here I saw it with my own eyes!”

Ginny’s mind raced to find an excuse, but all that came out was an incoherent sentence, “Chess club…walks…helps me think, you see.”

She shifted uncomfortably and knocked over a pawn. It squeaked, “Ginny, what’s going on?”

“Aha! I’ve got you now! Who’s there?” said Filch happily, peering behind the tree to find the intruder. Unable to find one, he continued, “You know what this means, of course. DETENTION!”

“Damned boys,” Ginny thought as she was dragged to Flich’s office, though she couldn’t resist turning towards the spot where Harry, or rather the pawn, had fallen and giving it a roguish wink.

steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #5 July 18th, 2009, 3:50 pm

Entry 4

Gilderoy's Chess Problem

Gilderoy Lockhart was standing in the middle of a giant chessboard, looking around... and saw that a piece was missing -- a pawn, specifically. He tried moving toward the spot where the pawn was missing, but he found that he could not.

He then heard a quiet voice say... 'In order to move -- you must become one...' Silence filled the room as he tired to figure out what the voice meant by that... Was he supposed to charm himself in order to fool some sort of mystical alarm system? Or did it involve some sort of transfiguration?

A lightbulb went off in his head at the lattter thought... it made sudden and perfect sense to him. Transfiguration... why didn't he think of it first... now to remember the right spell... in order to turn himself into a chess piece... 'Transfigura Puzzla', he said... and he turned into a puzzle piece... 'Oh dang...' he said, 'Wrong spell... what was that spell again?' 'Transfigura Pawna', he said, as he saw that the spell worked right, for the most part.

The only thing that went wrong with the spell was that his own head was the top of the pawn, and he had two large white arms at his side...

'Oh... well, here goes nothing...,' he said to himself, as he did his best to get to where he was going originally. He carefully wobbled his way over to his place and looked around the board.

'What am I supposed to do next?,' he wondered to himself. He continued to look around the board... and he heard that mysterious voice once again... 'Go forth and try your luck -- if you succeed, then all doors will open...', it said in a low voice. 'Ah, I see now...', he thought to himself, as he stepped forward to play the game at hand.

steps:

Ron Weasley · #6 July 18th, 2009, 3:51 pm

Entry 5

When the necessity came that the Philosopher’s Stone should be protected within the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he found himself with yet another opportunity to play both the watcher, and the player. For it was Professor McGonagall’s elaborate, life-size chessboard that presented yet an undeniable, and ever so tempting chance.

Having for so many years been the Hogwarts’ Professor of Transfiguration, it was obvious he would transfigure himself into a chess piece. But, which? “Well, as the Steward of this castle, akin to being King in The King’s absence, it would be obvious that I should play a king. But, I am rarely obvious.”

For several moments, the wizard, wearing robes of deep midnight, gazed at the chessboard. “Perhaps, a knight? Am I so chivalrous, and selfless as to be worthy of such a title?” He shook his head, no. “Rooks are powerful, as am I, and often held in a watchful position until well into the match. But, alas, they are held in the corners and often cannot see the proceedings very well.”

Dumbledore loved a good practical joke. He could not help but smile at the buffet of chess pieces before him, and his inevitable enjoyment of secretly being part of the greatest game of chess Hogwarts has ever seen. “The queen? Hardly! And I am not pious enough to be a bishop!” A mischievous grin settled upon the old man’s visage, as the most obvious answer came to him…”Of course, a pawn; the most underestimated piece on the board. Who would ever suspect I was watching them as a pawn on the board? I certainly wouldn’t, and that is saying something.”

Dumbledore drew his wand, pointed it at the white pawn standing guard before the queen’s rook, and ordered gently, “Would you mind terribly excusing yourself?” Relieved that he certainly would not be smashed into bits this game--he so disliked having to pick himself back up, and dust himself off, even if he did love the melee that too often reduced him to rubble--, the obedient warrior happily stood, twin scimitars at his sides, and walked off the board to a quiet, dimly lit corner.

Albus strode over to the position vacated by the obedient warrior, made a few gestures in the air with his pale wand, and allowed the stilettos of magic to weave an intricate web around him. In rapid succession the venerable headmaster’s body and all donned upon it began the transformation. His white beard cinched up his face, melding into him, while his elongated, star strewn hat flattened down on his head to form a wide brimmed helm. The mystical robes of the wizard took on the guise of padded armour, buttoned and fastened, while simultaneously his boots took on the white color of the pawn, becoming marble along with the rest of him.

He had now but to wait. He could hear Professor Quirrell in the next room, chasing that accursed key!

steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #7 July 18th, 2009, 3:52 pm

Entry 6

Hedwig was irritated about staying in the Owlery all day and night long. Biting Harry every chance she got didn’t help at all. So it was on one of these boring occurrences that Hedwig found herself swooping through the castle. Her favourite place today was the gloomy dungeons.

It wasn’t until it was too late that Hedwig noticed the pale young man. By the time she did, Malfoy had made his fun. Hedwig suddenly felt a sudden jolt as her wings disapparated into thin air, and she was left to fall down, down, down to the ground.

Malfoy laughed. He was quite sick of seeing Potter’s bird flying where ever it pleased. He thought he better show him what could awful things could happen if he leaves his animal unsupervised.

Harry and Ron were in the Great Hall, starting a game of chess. Malfoy had known this – he had passed Ron on his way to the dungeon, carrying the equipment. Now Malfoy retraced his steps, brewing his plan.

It took a quick Confundus Charm on both of them to allow Malfoy to place Hedwig among the two. By the time they came back around, Malfoy was far away at the Slytherin table.

“You want to be white?” Malfoy heard Ron say. Harry contemplated. “Why not.” Malfoy’s plan was going better than expected.

He watched from the sidelines, trying his best to suppress the laughter building up inside of him, as Harry and Ron set up, unaware of the abnormality in front of them.

“Pawn to C4,” called out Harry, when they started. But the pawn would not move.

“Pawn to C4!” Again, nothing happened. Harry looked up at Ron, who was just as confused as him.

“Pawn to C4?” Harry was wondering what was wrong. Had they got out a Muggle set instead? He decided to reach out and move it himself, the old-fashioned way.

When suddenly a loud ‘POOF!’ emitted from the chessboard, which was quickly lost behind the snow white feathers appearing from no where. The pawn Harry was trying to move had turned into a bird – an owl – Hedwig!

As he put his wand away, Draco’s laughter couldn’t be held in anymore. Harry and Ron looked over, not at all amused.

Hedwig wasn’t amused either.

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #8 July 18th, 2009, 3:52 pm

Entry 7

Wizard’s Chess Can Be a Pest

Ron, being an expert at Wizard’s Chess, was in his element. He consulted a black chessman and determined that he, Harry and Hermione would have to take the places of three of the black chessmen. Once the trio was in place on the chessboard, Ron explained that the white chessmen would be the first to move.

As they watched, a white pawn moved two spaces forward. Then the trio received quite a shock. The faceless pawn was suddenly transfigured into a bizarre combination of a pawn with the face of Peeves the Poltergeist. They all looked at each other with confusion. Why would Peeves be a part of the enchantment? They wondered aloud if a poltergeist could transfigure themselves?

Harry, knowing that time was short, quickly asked Peeves what he was doing here. Peeves responded by blowing a very wet raspberry and started to sing.

Some think Peeves is such a pest,
Because he likes to vex and jest.
The teachers met, their charms surveyed,
And Peevsie offered up his aid.
The professors began to laugh and snort,
They didn’t need old Peeves’ support.
Then Peeves became so irate,
He vowed he would retaliate.
So Peevsie’s here to cause a mess,
And make a farce of this game of chess.

Hermione couldn’t tell who groaned louder, Harry or Ron. How were they going to play and win with Peeves in the way?

Ron ordered the black chessmen to start moving. To their dismay, Peeves began to give the white chessmen bizarre instructions. Promptly the white queen did an Irish jig over to the black knight and then tangoed with him off the board. Peeves began to play hopscotch on his side of the chessboard in celebration.

Harry, Ron and Hermione became more and more frustrated. They knew they had to end this game and quick or else Snape was going to get his hands on the stone. Ron made another command, this time to Hermione. It actually was more of an urgent request. “Hermione, you’ve read more books on spells and charms. Do something, quick!”

Hermione thought hard. She had borrowed some books from the library just the other day. She looked at Ron and mouthed “Here goes nothing!” Hermione whipped out her wand and took aim at Peeves while he was busy celebrating. She spoke with confidence. “Arresto Communicatus!” Immediately Peeves mouth shut tight, he couldn’t utter a single word. His face turned red and screwed up with anger. Hermione then said her last spell, “Departo Vexare!” Peeves disappeared with a pop.

Harry and Ron cheered and told Hermione that she was a spectacular witch. Hermione said thanks and then reminded them that they had to get a move on.

steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #9 July 18th, 2009, 3:53 pm

Entry 8

'The Potion'

Severus Snape was not pleased for some reason. He had been applying a potion carefully on the floor of the entrance to the room he was currently in when a pesky pawn from the giant chess set had come poking its extra large head in his hair. It was a miracle the potion hadn’t burst into flames smoldering his face and hair. He had only managed to blink at the infernal transfiguration before it had apparently realized that this was not someone to mess around with and had shuffled off.

Why McGonagall had to transfigure an enormous chess set was beyond him. But then he had a slight aversion to transfiguration ever since the arrogant Potter had been good at it. He stopped for a while as he remembered that his son would be joining this year. If he were more like his father than mother then… But his idea was perfect. Binary flame potions and he had managed to tweak them even more to his pleasure.

He smirked as he stood up and waved his wand. Seven vials of potions appeared on the table in front of him. Then he extracted a parchment from his robes and sneered at it. He knew this would be the ultimate insult at the so called powerful wizards who never possessed any intelligence. Now if Potter was a Potter and came down this way. He rubbed his hands in glee.

But he knew that the pawn’s interference had been less influential to angering him than the reminder of how he had been used in the war by the so known most powerful wizards. He knew that the two were the opposing kings in the chess game and would use him again ruthlessly if need be. He was brought out from his reverie by a shuffle behind him.

“If it’s that insufferable pawn again…”He muttered as he reached into his robes once more, this time extracting a vial of potion. He had been working on it for the past two years. A potion that could cancel any form of transfiguration. He almost wished that the Potters were alive to see it. Lily would be delighted and James disgusted. This would be the perfect time for him to test it. He whirled around throwing the vial which shattered on impacting the smooth head of the chess piece. Then a swirl of yellow fumes emanated from the head. He felt a tug and was suddenly pulled to the pawn. He felt his body shrinking and growing in different parts. Then there was a bang and Severus Snape realized he had been turned into the pawn.

He realized how his head would be now huge and unproportional to the rest of the body an immediately reiterated his previous thought. He was happy the Potters were not here. James would be delighted and Lily disgusted. He noticed the ethereal glow surrounding him and with a pang realized that he didn’t know if the effect was permanent or temporary.

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #10 July 18th, 2009, 3:53 pm

Entry 9

Harry climbed into his bedroll as Hermione left the tent to take her turn at watch. He couldn’t sleep, though, with all that he had learned from Rita Skeeter’s biography of Albus Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, the man he had trusted above all others, had been using Harry his whole life… training him for no other purpose than to be a sheep for slaughtering.
He remembered the prophecy that he’d broken in the Department of Mysteries: Neither could live while the other survived… truly, it wasn’t that he had to kill Voldemort or die trying. The fact was that there was no way that both he and Voldemort could live, and no way for Harry to destroy Voldemort without himself dying.
All along, Dumbledore had been moving him about like a pawn on a chessboard. Allowing him to know just enough to keep on fighting, but never enough to make his own choices and plan his own strategies. And now, in order to defeat Voldemort, he had to move all the way across the board and become a queen before he could sacrifice himself for the greater good, just as Ron had sacrificed himself in that chess game long ago.
He fell asleep with these thoughts running through his mind, and dreamed he was back at Hogwarts. They were in their N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration class, and Harry was teamed up with Ron, as always.
“Today,” McGonagall was saying, “We will begin human transfiguration. This is the most difficult and dangerous level of Transfiguration, excepting only the Animagus transformation, which we do not teach at Hogwarts. You will have to practice on one another, but don’t be alarmed; I have a great deal of practice at restoring students to their regular forms after these lessons.
“I want you to attempt to transfigure your partner into an unmoving statue of him or herself. And do not try to fool me by using the Petrificus Totalus: I know the difference between a Transfigured student and a charmed one!”
Despite Professor McGonagall’s words, Harry grew very alarmed indeed when he saw that Ron was using his old wand. The one that had been broken long ago, when they’d crashed his father’s Ford Anglia into the Whomping Willow.
“Don’t worry, Harry, I’m sure I’ve got the hang of this. I’ve gotten loads better at Transfiguration since Hermione started setting those crazed canaries at me!”
Ronald waved his wand in Harry’s direction, a look of intense concentration on his face.
“And after class, we have a great long free period; we can play Wizard’s Chess. We haven’t played Wizard’s Chess in ages.”
There was a flash, a bang, a sputter of vermillion sparks – and Harry found himself unable to move. Ron had been so distracted by thoughts of playing chess after class that he had transfigured Harry into a nearly perfect black pawn.

Steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #11 July 18th, 2009, 3:54 pm

Entry 10

On the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, a large mound of a boarhound bounded after the butterflies, showering thick and gloopy slobber in his wake. Fang hated the Forest with its gnarled trees and strange, unfriendly smells; but the small creatures it attracted were fantastic playmates.

As the last remaining butterfly decided that it had had enough of avoiding Fang’s playful snaps, a light breeze swept through the quiet morning, bringing with it a smell. A strange, new smell. Fang stopped and sniffed. It was musty, like the old, grey man who sometimes visited Hagrid; but there was no sweetness mixed in, no promise of a delicious treat.

Ordinarily, Fang was very cowardly , but overwhelmed by curiosity he stuck his nose to the ground and followed the scent. So inquisitive was he, that he did not notice that he had walked in to the forest! Sniff. Pause. Sniff. Following the scent, Fang ventured deeper until … THUD!

With his eyes fixated on his marvellous nose, Fang had not seen the tree trunk getting closer and closer. He shook his head in surprise, and resumed his search, but it stopped here. At the unpleasantly hard tree. Fang pressed his nose to the ground again and sniffed until he had found where the smell was strongest . . . under the tree. The breeze returned, but it was cold and harsh. Suddenly realising that he was in his least favourite place in the world, Fang whined, tail between his legs and began frantically digging at the soil. If he found what was making the strange smell he could go home and chase his tail and curl up by the fireplace. All of a sudden, instead of soil, there was a dull rap of his paw against wood; it was a box. And it’s lid was open, revealing a little person. Or so Fang thought. But this ‘person’ had no arms or legs or a face. It was a white pawn. Fang sniffed the object suspiciously, it didn’t smell the same as the old box, it smelt of . . . steak! Quickly, Fang picked the pawn up with his mouth and trotted back through the forest, head held high, pleased with his bravery and his treasure.

On returning to the vegetable patch Fang set about licking every part of the pawn, he could almost taste raw meat. His ferocious licking had had, however, knocked off a miniscule pin that connected the head to the rest of the piece. It bounced off, spilling a bright red, sparkling liquid from the body. The breeze returned but now it was warm, and inviting, wafting the smell of cooked meat towards Fang’s nose. He lapped up the liquid. Delicious. But it made him dizzy, it made him sleepy. His saggy eyes drooped as he flopped into a deep sleep. When he came to, everything was bigger, his tail was gone! Where were his arms? His legs? He felt rigid, much like that tiny, white pawn.

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #12 July 18th, 2009, 3:55 pm

Entry 11

Quirrell felt the familiar prickling behind his head that announced that his Master was going to speak to him.

“So, Quirrell, what’s this new idea you have to get to the Philosopher’s Stone? We know where Dumbledore hid it, did you find out more about the obstacles set to prevent access to it?”

“I have, My Lord. I’ve found out how to get past Fluffy, how to escape the Devil’s Snare and how to find the right key to the next door. I think we can trick our way through the chess game too. After that, Snape’s little riddles with the potions will be child’s play for you. I believe you have a pet snake, don’t you?”

“Yes, a nicely vicious little thing that may grow up to be a veritable serpent. Her name is Nagini. What about her?”

“I think we can use her, My Lord. She could slither across the chess board and open the way for us. It’d be easy enough for me to smuggle her in if we reduce her size a bit. The chess pieces are not trained to play against snakes; they won’t even notice she’s there. Once she’s in, we could re-enlarge her to her natural size. With a flip of her tail, she’d sweep all the chess pieces out of the way and we could cross the board to the door on the other side.”

“It’s worth a try, Quirrell. Quite clever of you.”

“I only aim to serve you, My Lord. I am happy that you find my idea worthy of your approval.”

So that was how it happened. Quirrell sneaked Nagini in, and loosed her on top of the chessboard, with instructions to get rid of the chess pieces so as to clear the way to the door.

They did not, however, count on Dumbledore’s foresight and brilliance. He had set it so that anything coming onto the chessboard that was not a human player would be instantly transformed into a chess piece itself. Moreover, a white chess piece that would be facing the entrance door, with its back to its goal, thus defeating the intrusion’s purpose.

Caught up in the drama of the game, Harry, Ron and Hermione never noticed it, but one of the white pawns they were facing had a snake’s head. After the chess game was over, however, the enchantment was lifted, and Nagini lost no time in scurrying back to her hiding place in the Forbidden Forest to wait for her Master’s return.

The rest is history.

Steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #13 July 18th, 2009, 3:55 pm

Entry 12

It was a lazy Saturday morning as Squiddy propelled himself through the icy waters of the Great Lake.

Rather nice marmalade today he thought, as he happily wiped the toast crumbs from his beak.

He swam languidly in circles for while, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his tentacles, and he soon got to thinking about his latest desire; to meet another giant squid (preferably female) and so be able to take up synchronised swimming. However he was a practical squid and sadly came to the conclusion that his dream wasn't likely to come true anytime soon.

Squiddy dozed for a while but woke with a snort at the sounds of a fight from the far end of the lake.

Wand wavers again.

Indeed Squiddy was correct. Two rival students had their wands at the ready and their voices raised.

"Like I'd ever flirt with your dog of a girlfriend!"

"Take that back, Hufflepuff"

Actually, Squiddy thought, maybe not having a mate wasn't such a bad thing after all.

His speculation cut short as hexes began flying, our tentacled friend sank beneath the surface until the testosterone levels had lowered.

"Incarcerous!"

"Ha! At least try a spell that you can actually perform! Densaugeo!"

"Pathetic! Let's see if she'll be so keen on you with boils all over your face! Furnunculus!"

Squiddy couldn't help himself; this was as good as a soap opera. He silently raised his head above the water and wished that he had another piece of toast to munch on as the drama played out.

The hexes flew back and forth becoming wilder and consequently more dangerous.

Before long the irate Ravenclaw had had just about enough. Time to shut this cocky Hufflepuff up. He raised his
wand (wincing as another boil burst) and bellowed out one of his own personal (but unfortunately untested) spells.

The effect was immediate. With a flash of blinding light the two students were blasted high into the air and as they plummeted back down to the earth they were transformed; as was poor Squiddy who due to his own nosiness was in range of the spell.

The three unfortunates found themselves as ivory hybrids. We can only assume that the Ravenclaw student (who now bore an uncanny resemblance to a piano key) had tried to turn his Hufflepuff aggressor into an elephant.

The hero of our story now truly was one-of-a-kind; after all, how many Giant Squid/Chess Piece hybrids do you know.

Within the hour the boys had been found, laughed at, transported to the hospital wing and set right.
Poor Squiddy however was left to roam the great lake as a unique hybrid until somebody finally noticed and took pity on him.

Still, something to tell the grandkids one day.

The moral of the story is - eat more toast.

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #14 July 18th, 2009, 3:55 pm

Entry 13

“What is this stuff supposed to do, exactly?” Wormtail asked as he eyed the swirling pink goop.

“It induces the victim to live out a succession of their worst fears and recurring nightmares. With the right variation on the recipe,” here Snape added a pinch of powdered boomslang skin, “it will also cause the effects of those fears to manifest physically on the victim’s body. Had you been listening to the conversation earlier, you would have known this already, you dolt. Perhaps I should inform the Dark Lord that you are not paying attention at his meetings?”

“I do pay attention!” Wormtail bristled.

Snape just raised an eyebrow and gave his potion a final clockwise stir. It turned a violently bright orange. “This is ready to be bottled. Fetch me a clean ladle from that rack over there.” He pointed at the far wall.

Wormtail gave him a dirty look before turning to retrieve the item. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he returned. Combined with the heat of summer, the bubbling cauldron made the stuffy little room in Spinner’s End absolutely unbearable. He held out the ladle, staring at Snape and wondering how he could possibly stand to wear those thick dark robes in such conditions.

“Cooling charms, imbecile.”

Startled, Wormtail jerked and dropped the ladle into the cauldron. He watched in horror as the potion splattered and a gob of it hit him between the eyes.

The next thing he knew, Wormtail was on a giant chessboard and he couldn’t feel his feet. He looked down and felt sick. He no longer had feet.

“Pawn to D4!” came the Dark Lord’s cold voice.

Wormtail shot forward, only to realise that he was about to be taken by Ronald Weasley’s bishop.

Snape snorted at the outsized chess piece on his floor. A large purple bruise blossomed on Wormtail’s temple. He smirked.

“How convenient.”

The potions master summoned another ladle and began the bottling process, enjoying the tranquility while it lasted.

Steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #15 July 18th, 2009, 3:56 pm

Entry 14

Simply put: he’d had enough … but five words won’t cut it in this challenge.

Ron Weasley lay against the post of his bed, trying to ignore the gold chain necklace that his peripheral vision inevitably caught. “My sweetheart,” he ranted to his frustrated self.

How did he end up like this? At first it seemed like a good idea, all that snogging … and snogging … and well, the snogging. But now Lavender Brown seemed more like a never-ending penance. Things were sort of back to normal with Hermione, and frankly, one could argue that getting poisoned twice in a span of an HOUR is enough hassle for the whole school year.

He was set to avoid her at all cause, but it was a very flawed, tiring plan. You can only fake to be asleep so many times. He had even cast the Muffliato spell on himself for the sake of his inner peace. He knew he had to end it, soon!
While he figured it out the logistics of that one, Ron gathered enough courage to venture into the seemingly empty Common Room to play Wizard Chess. He was a Gryffindor after all.

But then he heard it … for the 11th time that day.

“Won Won! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!,” said Lavender as she made her way towards him, arms menacing to be wrap around his neck. That was when it happened.

He had not experience any surge of uncontrolled magic since his days before Hogwarts. It was a scary (especially considering he’d never quiiiiite mastered transfiguration spells). He felt it run through his veins as he grasped the table in the hope of gaining some control. But no, Merlin’s-Wicked-Firebolt, Lavender Brown was now a piece on his Chess Board.

The situation called for a freak out. There was no way he was ever going to attempt to the reverse the spell himself. What if her nose ended up where his ear should be? “Hermione will have to give lend me helping hand,” he thought, and she did, in a way.

While lecturing Ron on how all could have been avoided if he had managed to end up the relationship in the proper way, she dragged him into Professor McGonagall office. In ten minutes time Lavender had returned to normal. There was no doubt in his mind, McGonagall deserved a pay raise.

Once Lavender made sure everything was on the right place, she flung her arms around Ron’s neck. “Oh sweetheart, it’s ok. I know you didn’t mean it. Don’t feel bad. You’re still my Won Won,” she went on and on as he jadedly patted her back. He had the most uncomprehending look on his face, as Hermione rolled her eyes and made her way out of McGonagall’s office.

So here he was: right back where he started. Well, not exactly. With a 150 House Points ... less!

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #16 July 18th, 2009, 3:56 pm

Entry 15

Remus walked into the room where his wife, Tonks, was holding their baby son, Teddy Lupin. Just like any other mother and baby you’d find, she was reading a picture book out loud. It wasn’t just a typical scene, though. For one, the pictures in the book were moving. And also, both the mother and son were both changing their hair colors.
It wasn’t like Remus to ever be jealous. He always very understood, being a werewolf since he was a little kid. By now, though, he couldn’t help but feeling left out. When he was at Hogwarts, he didn’t get to participate with his friends in becoming animagi; he could already change into another animal. And he didn’t even participate with other werewolves; he was always the secret weapon to Dumbledore. Now, as his wife and son were changing their hair colors without even thinking about it, he wanted to be involved.
Back upstairs, Remus looked through some old books and found a spell that was supposedly for changing your appearance. He said the spell with the correct wand movement, wholeheartedly thinking about changing his hair color to blue. He looked in the mirror, and his hair color was blue. He changed his hair color back and decided to try something more interesting, something to change the shape of his nose into a big circle. He looked in the mirror, again, and laughed at his funny nose. As he laughed, though, the circle moved to his entire head, and then his body formed the shape of a chess pawn.
“Help!” Remus yelled and in a matter of seconds, Tonks came running to her husband, Teddy laughing at the big chess pawn in the middle of the room.
“Aww, Remus,” Tonks said, changing her husband back into a human. “Believe me, I love you the way you are. You don’t need to be a metamorphogus, or any less of a werewolf. I love you for you.” Tonks hugged and kissed her husband and Remus returned the favor. The entire family then returned back downstairs, where Tonks continued reading the picture book to their son.

Steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #17 July 18th, 2009, 3:57 pm

Entry 16

How Fred became a chess piece:

“Ugh, where am I?”
Fred struggled to open his eyes, finally managing to crack open his right eyelid, and with a groan succeeded in raising the other. Shaking his head to banish the final dregs of sleep, Fred took a closer look at his surroundings. A few candles lay about, illuminating a giant chessboard with life-sized pieces. Fred stared in wonder at the chessmen opposing him, wondering whether he was still dreaming.
“About time you woke up. I was being to think I’d overdone it on the sleeping draught.”
“George?” Fred asked. “Where are you?”
“I am everywhere you look and nowhere you’ve seen. I—”
“George you sad excuse for a twin, stop trying to pretend you’re intelligent and just tell me where you are.”
“Behind you.”
Fred rolled his eyes and turned around to face his brother. At least he tried to.
“What the--?”
Fred tried again and again to twist his body around, but found that his legs would not move, his torso would not turn, and his arms felt as though they had been glued to his sides.
“Need some help?” George asked, snickering, and Fred felt something grab his head and spin him around until he was face to face with George. Or face to giant, massive, house-sized face.
“Bloody hell, George!” Fred yelled. He would have jumped in shock if his legs had been working. “What did you do, put an engorging charm on yourself?”
“Not quite,” George said, still smiling as though he’d just witnessed the completion of a very amusing practical joke. Unfortunately, Fred knew his brother well enough to realize that this was exactly what had happened, and he was the target. With a growing sense of dread, Fred looked down upon himself and nearly fainted. Sometime while he had slept, someone, a certain ginger-haired sneaky little someone, had transfigured his entire body into a tiny, red, oddly fuzzy, chess piece.
“What--? How--? Why--?” Fred couldn’t get the questions out fast enough.
“Dunno actually,” George said, as he twirled his brother’s head between his fingertips. Remember that spell we were working on to make chess pieces life size?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I wondered what would happen if you said it in reverse. Course I needed a test subject, so I slipped you some sleeping draught and tried it out. It’s worked remarkably well.”
Fred was caught between admiration at the brilliance of George’s idea, and fury at the fact that he had been chosen to serve as the guinea pig. He settled for fury.
“George you self-absorbed, sneaky, little—”
“Ah, ah, ah. Names will get you nowhere.” George said wagging his finger. “In fact, you’ve gone and upset me. So I’m afraid I will have to punish you.”
George smirked and put Fred back onto the board. Then he ran to the door and called out: “Oi! Ron! Up for a game of Wizard’s Chess?”
Fred resolved to throttle his brother the moment he had hands again.

Steps:

Ron Weasley · #18 July 18th, 2009, 3:57 pm

Entry 17

Detention

In the ensuing madness of the tragic events at the Twi-Wizard tournament nobody noticed that the last Blast-End Skrewt went missing. Hagrid sensed trouble in the Forbidden Forest and discovered it was the Skrewt running wild. Ron had yet to complete a detention from earlier in the year when he was all mad at Harry and spent his time goofing off with the twins (Fred and George being masters of mischief avoided detection). Filtch had the pleasure of announcing the detention would be happening that night – with Hagrid, in the Forbidden Forest. Find the last Blast-End Skrewt.

“Detention with Hagrid, great, another trip into the forbidden forest, what could be worse?” whined Ron. “Giant Spiders and other mental things live in there – and we have to find the Skrewt to boot! This is madness!” Filtch snarled back, “You did the crime, now you’ve got to do the time.”

Hagrid, Ron and Fang entering the Forest at midnight. They wandered the paths for quite some time listening for the trustworthy blast-end sound of that blasted Skrewt. On and on they went with no Skrewt in sight. Ron, aware of more and more spider webs glistening in the trees, sensed that they were approaching Aragog’s lair.

Suddenly, something bumped against Ron knocking his wand out of his hand. It moved strangely and without thinking Ron grabbed Hagrid’s flowery pink umbrella and yelled ‘Petrificus Totalus.’ But things went horribly wrong (as things often do with Hagrid’s pink flowery umbrella). It wasn’t the Skrewt that Ron attacked - it was Aragog. “Nooooo shouted Hagrid tears streaming down his eyes. Not Aragog! Not my baby!” Aragog had turned into an object from Ron’s favorite game – a Wizard’s Chess pawn. Solid and white, with spider legs spewing from the bottom, it glowed in the moonlight.

Aragog’s sons, daughters and other relations sensing danger started scurrying towards them in an agitated rush. Ron, scrambled all over the ground in utter panic looking for his wand, found it and started firing hexes at the spiders left and right. Hagrid, still on the floor rolling in agony, was unable to compose himself to call off the oncoming spiders. Ron was yelling that he could set Aragog right if only Hagrid could pull himself together and hold off these spiders!

Just then bright lights appeared over the edge of the hill and Ron was thrilled to see it was the old Ford Anglia arriving to save the day.

Steps:

*Professor McGonagall* · #19 July 18th, 2009, 3:58 pm

Entry 18

"I’m telling you, Minerva, this chess set you have in mind is not transfiguration!"

"And I am telling you, Filius, that it most certainly is!" McGonagall replied, her nostrils beginning to flare. "Might I remind you that under Hocus’s Law of –"

"Oh, hocus pocus,' Flitwick pouted. "He couldn’t tell a hex from a jinx. I think it is quite clear that making nonhuman objects mimic life is most definitely a charm."

"A charm that transfigures an inanimate object to an animate one!" McGonagall retorted. "Transfiguration changes one object into another, Filius, which also includes changing an object from one state into another!"

"But wouldn’t you agree, Minerva, that charms enchant an object to act in a way that is abnormal for the said object?"

"Yes, but –"

"And wouldn’t you agree that making a chess piece mimic human life is enchanting it to act abnormally?"

"Yes, but –"

"So you agree that your idea of 'transfiguring,'" Filius raised his fingers in quotation marks, "chessmen to replicate life is actually charming them, not transfiguring them?"

"No!" McGonagall exclaimed so loudly that Flitwick almost spilled his cherry syrup and soda. "Transfiguration changes the nature of an object, Filius –"

"And so do charms!"

"So I am transfiguring these chessmen to act like people," McGonagall finished, talking louder than normal to drown out Flitwick’s objections. "I think you can claim almost anything is a charm, Filius. It is such a general branch of magic."

"Minerva! How could you say –" Flitwick squawked in outrage.

"But transfiguration is the more accurate terminology and magic for my plans!" McGonagall continued.

"Minerva, if you had even opened that copy of Quintessence: A Quest I had given you –"

But McGonagall had had enough. She moved her wand around in a circle, and then – Pop!
Professor Flitwick was gone, with a pawn from a chess set standing where he just was. Only, the pawn was not a usual pawn; it had Flitwick’s head where the pawn’s normally was.

"This is incomplete transfiguration, Minerva!" Flitwick’s head squeaked in outrage. "Set me free this instant!"

"Transfiguration, Filius, exactly," Minerva said quietly, a slight grin on her face. "But now for some…decoration." McGonagall waved her wand again and a star-patterned, purple collar appeared under Flitwick’s head. "That," McGonagall said, "is a charm." And she left the giant chessboard.

***

"My dear old chap," Flitwick said to the knight standing behind him. "You don’t think you could help me, do you?" The knight was silent. "Oh well," Flitwick sighed. There was a pause. "'Oh, come and stir my cauldron, and if you do it right…'"

steps:

Ron Weasley · #20 July 18th, 2009, 3:58 pm

Entry 19

Percy was not at all surprised when he walked into the kitchen and the twins fell silent. He was used to them conspiring against him and whispering about him when they thought he wasn’t listening. He expected it from them - they were so childish. Fred greeted him a little too enthusiastically.
“Good morning Percy! Lovely day isn’t it?”
“Em….well, yes, it is, I suppose” replied Percy cautiously.
“We were thinking of going for a walk in the woods. Want to come?” asked George.
Percy was a bit taken aback by this. They didn’t usually invite him to join them on their expeditions. He wasn’t quite sure what to say. What if they had some big trick planned for him? After a great deal of silent deliberation, he decided to go with them. After all, how much damage could they do?
An hour later, the three boys were walking through the woods. George produced a bag of sweets from his pocket and offered one to Percy. He accepted, and George threw a sweet wrapped in pink metallic paper to him. Percy unwrapped it and examined it carefully. The others, however, were already chewing so Percy made the brave decision to put the sweet in his mouth. The sweets were very chewy so the three boys walked in silence.
Percy’s mind began to wander. He was thinking of the game of Wizarding Chess he’d been playing with Ron the night before. They had stopped the game and agreed to complete it that evening. He had memorised the positions of all the pieces so he began to work out a strategy. He had just worked out a brilliant plan using a pawn to capture Ron’s Queen.
“Underestimated, pawns are, really,” he thought as he swallowed. “They can be quite useful sometimes.”
Suddenly he felt himself being pulled and twisted in all directions. He thought Fred and George must have been attacking him but when he was finally still he saw that were standing quite far away from him, laughing hysterically.
“A pawn!” gasped George. “I thought he’d be a book or a Prefect badge.”
“One of you tell me what is going on right now!” screamed Percy.
“Well, you’re the test subject for our new invention - haven’t come up with a name for it yet. Turns the eater into whatever they’re thinking of when the swallow it. And apparently you were thinking of pawns!” Fred could barely contain his laughter as he explained what they had done.
“What?! You…you imbeciles! Just wait ‘til I get my hands on you!!”
Once they had managed to reduce their laughter to the occasional snort and giggle, Fred and George began to walk away.
“Wait!” cried Percy. “you can’t just leave me here like this!”
“Oh, don’t worry,” called George over his shoulder as they walked away. “It will wear off in an hour or so”
“We think!” added Fred.

steps:

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