Harry Potter: Returning from Hogwarts Legacy

"Brilliant," Ron exclaimed with a thumbs-up.

Harry stepped forward, inserted the key into the keyhole, and turned it. The lock clicked audibly.

Pushing open the door, they found the next room pitch black, with nothing visible inside.

However, as soon as they stepped in, the room was suddenly flooded with light, revealing a shocking scene.

They stood before a massive chessboard, flanked by towering black chess pieces, each larger than them and seemingly carved from black stone or something similar.

At the far end of the room, facing them, were white chess pieces.

These tall, faceless white pieces looked hauntingly eerie. Neville let out a yelp and grabbed Seamus's arm.

"If you squeeze any harder, my arm's going to snap, Neville," Seamus quipped sarcastically.

Truthfully, Seamus had been scared too, but Neville's panicked grip had snapped him out of it.

"What do we do now?" Hermione asked.

Ron raised his head to examine the pieces, his expression serious.

"It's clear we need to play a game of chess to get to the next room."

"Maybe there's another way?" Seamus suggested, eager to act. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the white king. "Confringo!"

The king shattered instantly. But before Seamus could fully revel in his success, the fragments on the ground started to quiver and quickly reassembled into a whole chess piece.

"Looks like shortcuts won't work," Hermione murmured.

"I think," Ron said, "we'll need to become the chess pieces ourselves."

He approached a black knight and reached out to touch the horse.

Immediately, the stone came alive. The horse pawed at the ground, and the knight turned its helmeted head to look at Ron.

"Do we… uh, have to join you to win?" Ron asked.

The black knight nodded.

Ron turned back to Harry and Hermione. "We need to think this through. I'm afraid we'll have to replace five black pieces here…"

The others fell silent, watching Ron as he deliberated.

After all, Ron was the chess expert among them. He was their only hope of winning.

After careful thought, Ron spoke. "Here's the deal. Don't get mad, okay? I'm just being honest, but none of you are particularly good at chess—"

"We're not mad," Seamus interjected quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Alright. Harry, you take the bishop's position. Hermione, stand next to him as the rook," Ron instructed. "Neville, you go to the opposite side as the other bishop. Seamus, you'll take the spot next to Neville as the other rook."

"What about you?" Hermione asked loudly.

"Me?" Ron took a deep breath, his expression resolute. "I'll be a knight."

The pieces seemed to understand their conversation. As soon as Ron spoke, a knight, two bishops, and two rooks turned away from the white pieces and stepped off the board, leaving five open positions for the group.

"Standard wizard chess rules," Ron explained, taking another deep breath. "White moves first—"

Before he finished, a white pawn advanced one square.

"Harry, move four squares diagonally forward!" Ron commanded.

Harry obeyed, stepping forward as instructed.

It was the white pieces' turn next. The white queen advanced and brutally struck down a black knight with her iron mace, sending it flying off the board.

"I… I'm a bit…" Seamus swallowed nervously. "Ron, just don't let me get knocked out, alright?"

"Go, Neville," Ron said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "Take out their bishop."

"Me?" Neville flinched. "Take on the white bishop?"

Despite his fear, he obediently drew his wand and cast a Disarming Charm, destroying the white bishop.

Soon, the edges of the room were littered with lifeless black pieces.

Twice, Ron's sharp observation saved Seamus and Neville from dangerous positions, devising solutions to rescue them.

Ron himself led fierce charges on the board, eliminating as many white pieces as their side had lost.

"Let me think… let me think…"

Ron sat astride the black knight's steed, his face deeply conflicted.

At that moment, the white queen turned her featureless face toward Ron.

"I need someone," Ron muttered, swallowing hard. "Someone willing to be sacrificed along with me."

"What happens if we do?" Seamus asked hesitantly.

Ron didn't answer but cast a meaningful glance at the dismembered black pieces scattered lifelessly on the ground.

"No!" Hermione shouted. "You'll die, Ronald!"

"Do you want to stop Voldemort or not?" Ron roared back, his voice sharp and unwavering. "This is chess! Sacrifices are part of the game! Someone has to be sacrificed—why not me? I've been prepared for this since the beginning!"

"But—" Hermione tried to argue.

"Stop wasting time!" Ron barked, his tone nearing a command. "If we delay any longer, Voldemort will get what he came for!"

"I'll do it!" Seamus stepped forward. "It can't be Harry—he's the only one destined to face Voldemort. Ron, let's just hope my sacrifice won't be in vain."

Harry clenched his fists tightly. He knew that while his friends might not match the Order of the Phoenix in magical skill, their courage and resolve were equal to anyone's.

"Ready?" Ron asked, his pale face resolute. "I'll go first, then Seamus to A1. Harry—you finish the king."

"Got it," Harry said firmly.

Ron stepped forward, and the white queen pounced immediately. She raised her stone arm and delivered a crushing blow to Ron's head, knocking him to the ground. She then dragged his body off the board and tossed it aside.

Hermione let out a piercing scream but stayed rooted in her square.

"It's my turn," Seamus said, glancing at Harry and Hermione before trudging to A1.

"Check!"

The white queen turned away from Harry and approached Seamus instead.

"Tell my mum I love her," Seamus said before the queen struck him unconscious and hurled him off the board.

"Seamus!" Neville shouted.

"Don't move!" Harry ordered, pointing at Neville. He strode toward the white king and raised his head.

"Checkmate!"

The white king removed his crown and placed it at Harry's feet.

As the king moved, the rest of the white pieces bowed and stepped aside, clearing a path.

"Hermione, Neville," Harry said, turning to them. "Take care of Ron and Seamus. Go back to the room with the keys—I remember there were some brooms there. Fly them to the hospital wing. The rest of this journey is mine alone."

"Harry…" Hermione whispered, covering her mouth, her voice trembling. "Be safe!"

"I will," Harry reassured her with a nod. He clapped Neville on the shoulder. "Take care of Hermione. Stand tall—you're a man, Neville!"

"Alright!" Neville nodded emphatically.

Harry watched them leave before turning and continuing forward.

Ahead, he found an unconscious troll sprawled across the ground—undoubtedly the work of either Quirrell or Voldemort.

Past the troll was a puzzle involving potions, likely set by Professor Snape.

After a moment of deliberation, Harry grabbed the smallest bottle and downed it in one gulp.

Then, stepping through the black flames, he entered the next room.

As expected, there stood Professor Quirrell in front of the Mirror of Erised.

Quirrell turned to Harry, his face twisting into a sinister smile.

"Harry Potter…"

Before he could finish, Harry drew his wand and pointed it at him.

A jet of green light shot from Harry's wand, carrying an aura of death as it streaked toward Quirrell.

"Avada Kedavra!"

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