The Chess Game, the Mirror of Erised, and the Cold Standoff

The stone chamber was vast and empty. The floor was precisely divided into sixty-four alternating black and white squares, resembling a wizard's chessboard magnified countless times. At the two ends of the board stood two rows of towering chess pieces—not ordinary stone carvings, but lifelike, giant wizard chess statues exuding a chilling magical glow! The black pieces were carved from some kind of dark, lustrous stone, while the white pieces were made of warm, milky white marble. Kings, queens, knights, bishops, rooks, pawns... they held massive stone weapons, silently guarding their respective positions like sleeping giants. At the end of the board, a closed stone door was the only exit.

"Giant wizard chess..." Hermione gasped, her voice echoing clearly in the silent stone chamber. "We have to win this game to pass?"

"It appears so." Linley's gaze quickly swept over the entire board layout, his mind analyzing the situation like the most precise computer. "Black moves first? Or white? What are the rules?"

As if to answer their questions, an ancient, emotionless voice, like stones grinding together, echoed in the chamber: "Challengers, please choose a side. Replace the pieces and win the game. The loser will be crushed. Begin now."

As soon as the voice finished, within the black formation, a soldier statue holding a giant axe suddenly let out a dull roar. Its heavy stone feet lifted, moving forward two squares! The movement was accompanied by a grating, ear-grinding sound.

The rules were cruel and direct. Someone had to become a piece, to personally enter the fray. The losing pieces would be ruthlessly "eaten"—crushed—by their opponents!

The faces of the four grew solemn.

"I'll do it!" Ron suddenly stepped forward, his voice filled with a desperate resolve. He stared intently at the white king statue. "I'm good at this! I often play wizard chess with Dad at home! Let me be the king! I'll command!"

"Ron!" Harry and Hermione exclaimed simultaneously, their voices laced with worry.

"Don't argue! There's no time!" Ron interrupted them, his tone exceptionally firm. "This is the only way! Trust me!" He looked at Linley, seeking support.

Linley's gaze lingered on Ron's face for a moment, then swept over the position of the white king on the board. The king was at the very back, relatively safe, but it meant other pieces would have to charge forward and bear the risk. He nodded. "Alright. You command."

Ron took a deep breath and strode to the position of the white king, standing firmly. The moment he took his place, the giant king statue seemed to merge with him, emitting a faint magical fluctuation.

"Harry!" Ron's voice rang out in the vast stone chamber, carrying the calmness of a commander. "You take the place of the rook! Stand in that position! Hermione, you be the bishop next to the queen! Linley..." He hesitated for a moment, looking at Linley. "Knight! High mobility! Take the knight's position!"

The three immediately moved to their designated chess piece positions as instructed. Harry stood at the left rook position for white, Hermione stood at the bishop position to the right of the queen, and Linley took the knight's position in front of the king. The moment they stood firm, the giant stone bases beneath them also lit up with a faint glow, as if activated.

The game officially began!

Ron displayed a surprisingly keen talent for chess. His gaze was sharp, his mind agile, and he quickly issued commands.

"Pawn, advance two squares!"

"Bishop, move diagonally three squares, capture that black pawn!"

"Linley! Knight, move from H3 to F5! Intercept that black knight!"

"Harry! Rook, move straight forward, threaten the black queen!"

Under his command, the stone pieces moved heavily and precisely, each step accompanied by a massive roar and flying stone debris. Every time a black piece was "captured," it was mercilessly shattered by a white piece, sending shards of stone flying! The scene was breathtaking.

Hermione watched nervously. She completely trusted Ron's judgment, but every time one of their own pieces moved, especially when Linley, as the knight, had to penetrate enemy lines, her heart leaped into her throat. The Moon White Stone pulsed with tension. Linley, however, remained calm, like the stone warhorse beneath him. His gaze calmly swept the entire board, precisely executing Ron's commands, each move perfectly defusing a crisis or creating an opportunity.

The black pieces' offense was extremely fierce, each move carrying a killing intent. Soon, white also paid the price. The bishop position where Hermione stood was suddenly attacked by a black knight. A massive stone hammer swung down with a whistling sound! Although she dodged in time, the stone bishop base beneath her was smashed to pieces! Flying stone fragments caused Hermione to cry out and tumble awkwardly to a safe area, her arm cut by debris, drawing blood.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed.

"I'm fine!" Hermione gritted her teeth and got up, her wand gripped tightly. Her face was pale, but her eyes remained determined. Linley's gaze swept over the bloodstain on her arm, his eyes darkening slightly, but he didn't get distracted, as the black offensive intensified.

The battle on the chessboard grew increasingly fierce. White's pawns were almost wiped out, and the rook position where Harry stood was under immense pressure. Beads of sweat covered Ron's forehead, his lips pressed tightly together, but his eyes grew more focused and sharp. He saw an opportunity! An extremely risky, but potentially game-ending opportunity!

"Linley!" Ron's voice was filled with desperate resolve. "Knight, advance to E7! Check the black king!" This was an extremely dangerous sacrificial position! After Linley advanced, he would be completely exposed to the firepower of the black queen and the black rook!

Linley didn't hesitate in the slightest. The stone horse beneath him raised its front hooves, letting out a silent whinny, carrying him resolutely towards the designated E7 square! Its heavy hooves struck the stone slab, emitting a deafening, heart-pounding clang.

He landed precisely! His giant stone sword pointed directly at the black king!

"Check!" Ron roared.

The black king's massive body trembled. Its only escape route was to move to square F8. However, Ron was waiting for this moment!

"Harry!" Ron's voice changed, tinged with excitement. "Rook! Advance to F8! Checkmate!"

The rook statue where Harry stood erupted with a dazzling white light. It moved heavily and swiftly in a straight line, crashing into square F8! The massive gate-shaped weapon completely blocked the black king's last retreat!

The black king's enormous body froze in place, as if unable to accept defeat. A few seconds later, it let out a dull, mountain-collapsing cracking sound! The entire statue disintegrated from within, turning into a pile of huge stone fragments, which collapsed with a thunderous crash! Dust billowed!

They had won!

The other white pieces also stopped moving, becoming like stone statues that had completed their mission, returning to silence.

Ron slid to the ground from the king's position as if drained, gasping for breath, but a look of immense excitement and pride on his face. "Merlin's... beard... we... won!"

Harry also collapsed beside the rook's base, a relieved smile on his face. Hermione, clutching her injured arm, looked at the ravaged chessboard and the pile of black king fragments symbolizing victory in the center, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Linley jumped down from the knight's position. The stone horse became still after he left. He walked directly to Hermione and stopped in front of her, his gaze falling on the bleeding scratch on her arm.

"How's the injury?" His voice was low, with a hint of imperceptible concern.

"Just a scratch, it's nothing," Hermione quickly shook her head, trying to hide her hand behind her back, but Linley gently took her wrist.

He naturally took out a small bottle of Murtlap Essence he carried, dipped a clean gauze in it, and carefully applied it to Hermione's wound. The liquid brought a cool sensation and a slight sting, but it was quickly replaced by a warm comfort. Linley's movements were gentle, and the touch of his fingers carried a focused tenderness that made Hermione's heart race again, her cheeks flushing slightly. The Moon White Stone pulsed with warmth, clearer than the feeling of her wound healing.

"There," Linley said after finishing with the wound, releasing her hand with clean, decisive movements. Hermione looked at the wound on her arm, which had quickly stopped bleeding and scabbed over, and whispered, "Thank you."

"Mm," Linley responded, his gaze already shifting to the stone door that had just opened.

Passing through the stone door, the next chamber was even more bizarre. The air was filled with a thick, foul odor, a mixture of sulfur and blood, making one nauseous. The ground was slippery, littered with broken bottles and jars and scorched marks. Clearly, a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago.

At the end of the chamber, there was only one object—an extremely tall mirror. It almost reached the arched stone ceiling. Its ornate golden frame was carved with intricate, ancient patterns, but the mirror surface was unusually blurry, as if shrouded in a mist that would never dissipate.

"Mirror of Erised?" Hermione exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the legendary object she had seen in a book in the restricted section of the library. "It can reflect a person's deepest desires... but why is it here? Is it also a trial to protect the Philosopher's Stone?"

Just then, a cold voice, laced with pained gasps, echoed from the shadows of the chamber:

"Give... give me the Philosopher's Stone..."

The four were startled! Following the sound, they saw Professor Quirrell stagger out from behind a giant stone pillar! His face was as pale as paper, his lips devoid of color, and his entire body was trembling violently. His signature purple scarf hung crookedly around his neck, revealing an unnatural stiffness beneath. He clutched one hand tightly to his temple, while the other trembled as he pointed his wand at them, his eyes unfocused and wild, filled with extreme pain and a... forced hysteria.

"Professor Quirrell?" Harry stared at him in shock, "How did you..."

"Silence! Hand over the Philosopher's Stone!" Quirrell's voice suddenly rose, sharp and piercing, as dangerous sparks erupted from the tip of his wand. "Master... Master needs it! Give it to me quickly! Otherwise... otherwise..."

"Master?" Hermione caught the word, recalling her discovery from the previous night's office intrusion. "Voldemort! It's Voldemort on the back of your head! He's controlling you!" she accused sternly.

Quirrell's body jolted violently, a look of extreme fear crossing his face, as if the name itself could burn him. "No... don't mention... Master's name!" he roared, and his wand suddenly pointed at Hermione. "Crucio!"

A blinding red light shot towards Hermione instantly!

"Protego!" Linley reacted with lightning speed! He stepped forward, completely shielding Hermione behind him, and simultaneously swung his wand! A semi-transparent silver barrier instantly spread out before them!

Bang!

The red light of the Cruciatus Curse slammed into the Shield Charm barrier, erupting in dazzling sparks and a grating cracking sound! The barrier fluctuated violently, and although it blocked most of the power, the immense impact still forced Linley back a step, his back hitting Hermione heavily!

"Linley!" Hermione cried out, quickly supporting him.

Just then, an even colder, slithering voice, like a viper hissing in one's ear, filled with soul-chilling malice, echoed in the stone chamber. The source of the voice was none other than the back of Quirrell's head!

"Fool... useless! Give the body... to me!"

Quirrell let out a shrill, inhuman scream! The last trace of his own consciousness was instantly consumed by extreme pain and fear! He violently ripped off the purple scarf from his head, revealing a horrifying sight—

Stuck to the back of his head was a distorted, flat face, like a melted wax figure! The face had no nose, only two long, thin slits for nostrils, and a pair of slender, serpent-like eyes gleaming with a scarlet light, staring at them with venomous greed! Voldemort!

"Harry Potter..." the face hissed, filled with bone-deep hatred and a morbid craving, "And... the interesting Son of Stars... Give me the Philosopher's Stone..."

The terrifying sight plunged Harry and Ron into an icy abyss, freezing them in place. Hermione gasped, her face turning deathly pale, and she instinctively clutched Linley's arm.

Linley's eyes instantly turned as cold and sharp as a deep pool. He shielded Hermione behind him, his wand steady, pointing at the monstrous face, his voice low and fearless, "Not a chance."

"You court death!" Voldemort's voice dripped with cruel delight. "Quirrell! Kill them! Especially that bothersome Son of Stars!"

The fully controlled Quirrell let out a beast-like roar, his wand waving frantically. "Avada Kedavra!"

A blinding, deathly green light, like a viper emerging from its den, tore through the air, carrying a terrifying aura of destruction, and shot directly towards Linley, who was blocking the front!

Death was imminent! The green light illuminated Linley's calm profile and Hermione's eyes, instantly widened in extreme fear!

"No--!" Hermione screamed hysterically, her body erupting with unprecedented strength, trying to push Linley away!

However, Linley was faster! He didn't dodge. Instead, he suddenly turned, using his own shoulder and arm to tightly shield Hermione in his embrace! At the same time, the Star Stone pendant on his chest, just as the Killing Curse was about to hit him, suddenly erupted with an unprecedented brilliance, like a supernova explosion! A thin, yet incredibly solid silver halo instantly enveloped his entire body!

Boom--!!!

A deafening roar shook the heavens! The ghastly green Killing Curse slammed into the seemingly thin silver halo! It did not penetrate! Instead, it was like hitting a solid wall, unleashing a violent energy shockwave! The entire stone chamber vibrated! Debris rained down!

Linley's body was struck by an invisible giant hammer, sending him flying backward! He tightly hugged Hermione, and the two of them crashed heavily against the golden frame of the giant Mirror of Erised behind them! The immense impact caused the mirror to emit a low hum!

"Urgh!" Linley let out a suppressed groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale, a trickle of blood staining his lips. The arm protecting Hermione fell limply, his body slid down the frame, and he collapsed to one knee, his chest heaving violently. The light of the Star Stone dimmed, becoming as weak as a candle in the wind. Forcibly activating the Star Stone's inherent power to withstand the Killing Curse came at a great cost!

"Linley!" Hermione broke free from his embrace and saw the blood on his lips and his instantly weakened aura. Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a cold hand, making it impossible to breathe! Overwhelming fear and heartache instantly engulfed her. She rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she supported his swaying body, her voice choked with tears, "How are you? Don't scare me!"

Linley coughed violently a few times, each cough pulling at the intense pain in his chest. He raised his eyes and saw the tears welling up in Hermione's eyes and her undisguised fear and concern. A faint upward tug at the corner of his blood-stained lips, his voice hoarse but with a strange sense of comfort, "...It's okay." He laboriously raised his uninjured hand, seemingly wanting to wipe away her tears, but ultimately just resting it weakly on her arm.

Just then, the Mirror of Erised, which had been humming from the impact, the mist that never dissipated on its surface, suddenly began to fluctuate violently! As if activated by the recent shockwave!