Chapter 52: Clearing the Challenges (2)

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Orli felt her heart clench with worry for Ron.

She watched as a black knight was violently smashed to the floor by the white queen and dragged off the board. Another black knight carried Ron on its back. He had been charging fearlessly into battle, showing no mercy. Soon, the edges of the board were littered with lifeless black and white pieces strewn about.

In the end, only one path remained:

"I've got to be taken!" Ron said quietly.

"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted simultaneously.

"That's chess!" Ron snapped. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I'll move forward, and the queen will take me - then you're free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"You make quite the convincing villain," Dumbledore smiled, twirling his beard as he looked at Snape. "See how determined they are to stop you."

Snape fixed the mirror-Ron with a terrifying glare. Orli suspected that if the timing weren't so inappropriate, he would have deducted three hundred points from Gryffindor on the spot.

Ron's face was pale but resolute. He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced immediately. She raised her stone arm and brought it crashing down on Ron's head. He collapsed to the ground and was dragged off the board, completely motionless.

"Ron!" Orli jumped to her feet, knocking over her pumpkin juice. Though she had known what was coming, the scene was still shocking to witness.

"I believe it's time we went to check on them," Dumbledore stood up as well. "But remember, Orli - this must remain secret from Harry and the others."

He placed his hand on Orli's shoulder and gently pushed her toward the mirror.

Orli felt a cool sensation on her face and stumbled forward, suddenly finding herself inside the mirror's scene.

"Ron!" She rushed to his side and knelt down beside him.

The white queen had already cleared the battlefield, with the pieces returning to their original positions. Only Ron lay there alone, blood covering his head.

"Professor, we need to get him to the hospital wing immediately!" Orli turned anxiously to Dumbledore as he and Snape emerged from the mirror.

"Ron!" Hermione's voice called from the other end as she rushed back, stopping short at the sight of the three people standing around Ron.

"Orli? Professor? Professor Snape, why are you here?" She froze, bewildered.

"This must be quite surprising, Miss Granger," Snape drawled. "Given how convinced you were of your own judgment, despite your friend's repeated warnings."

"But this isn't right - I just came from the potions challenge, and the troll was already knocked out. If you're here, who's in there? Harry's already gone through!" Hermione asked frantically.

"It's Quirrell," Orli said, patting her back reassuringly.

Hermione stared at Orli, her face flushing red.

"Perhaps the young ladies could escort our brave warrior Weasley to the hospital wing?" Snape suggested, turning toward the passage ahead. "The Headmaster and I need to check on our savior Potter."

Dumbledore cast a few small spells on Ron, levitating him into the air.

"I trust managing the Levitation Charm won't be difficult for you - especially you, Miss Granger. Professor Flitwick often praises your work."

---

By the time Hermione and Orli finally managed to get the unconscious Ron to the hospital wing, they were both nearly exhausted.

What had been just a single line in the book turned out to be quite an ordeal - they had to control Ron's floating body through the room full of flying keys, mount broomsticks, pass the Devil's Snare and the trapdoor, all while remembering to keep Fluffy asleep.

And Orli was afraid of heights.

Just as Ron was being settled in by Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore arrived carrying an unconscious Harry.

"Harry!" Hermione cried out.

"Merlin's beard, what in the world is happening today?" Madam Pomfrey asked irritably. She worked steadily, handing Hermione a bottle of Dittany for Ron's head wound before taking Harry and beginning to wave her wand to examine him.

Fortunately, neither Ron nor Harry was seriously injured. They just needed to spend a few days in the hospital wing.