What's even more infuriating is that the cluster of keys in mid-air actually scattered neatly, forming a huge, tongue-out smiling face, blatantly mocking him.
Draco was so angry that he was about to cast a spell.
"No, no, no!" Hermione quickly grabbed him, laughing uncontrollably. "They're helping me too."
Draco angrily withdrew his hand, glared at the mischievous key, and finally sighed helplessly.
"Consider yourself lucky. I won't let these little things interrupt me next time."
He picked up the bronze key, grabbed Hermione whose cheeks were still flushed, and strode toward the closed wooden door.
Insert the key into the lock and turn it gently.
Click.
The door slowly opened...
As soon as the two stepped into the next level, Draco slammed the door shut with a "click."
Before Hermione could even look up and survey her surroundings, he gently grabbed her wrist and whispered in her ear:
"Now that's good, those stinky keys can't fly in, and no one can save you."
Realizing what was happening, Hermione reached out and gently covered his lips as he leaned in, her cheeks still flushed. She said firmly, "No!"
Draco blinked, pulled her hand away, and asked plaintively, "Why now?"
"Opportunity knocks but once." Hermione deliberately put on a serious face, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips. "If you miss the chance now, you'll have to wait for the next one."
"No way--!" Draco's face fell dramatically, looking utterly devastated. "I won the game, got hit on the head with a key, and ended up with nothing?"
"That's just how it is." Hermione suppressed a laugh and patted his arm.
Draco sullenly hummed, then reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "Fine, I'll let you off the hook for now. But you owe me one, and you can't go back on your word."
"Okay, okay, I won't renege on my promise, be good." Hermione softened her voice and gently ruffled his fluffy blond hair.
Like soothing a large, sulking cat, I gently smoothed the stray hairs from his forehead.
Only then did the two of them raise their eyes and look at the checkpoint in front of them.
This is a gigantic Wizard's Chess of astonishing vastness.
The black and white chess pieces are all carved from jet-black and pure white boulders, each over three meters tall.
The knight, clad in heavy stone armor and wielding a lance, rode a warhorse with its head held high and hooves raised. The king and queen, with solemn expressions and cold gazes, stared at the center of the chessboard.
Even the stone carvings of the castle and the bishop exude a suffocating sense of oppression.
The ground is paved with smooth black and white stone bricks, extending neatly to the tightly closed door opposite.
The entire hall was spacious and solemn.
The giant stone chess pieces stood silently, as if they would be instantly brought to life and put into a life-or-death game the moment someone stepped onto the board.
Hermione's gaze swept quickly across the entire chessboard, her eyes instantly regaining their usual scholarly composure.
She frowned slightly, observing the placement of the chess pieces and the meticulousness of the layout, as well as the aura of absolute rule emanating from the magical fluctuations.
"This is definitely Professor McGonagall's doing," Hermione said confidently.
"Only she could combine Transfiguration and rule-based magic so perfectly. The sculpted style of the chess pieces, the rigorous logic of the game, and this... oppressive feeling that once it begins, you have to abide by the rules—it's all her style."
" Flitwick favors the delicate and agile, Professor Sprout excels in plants, but this cold, orderly, and chivalrous magical chessboard—no one but Professor McGonagall could create it."
She nodded her chin and continued her analysis:
"And this isn't an ordinary chess game; it's a real-life Wizard's Chess."
"The pieces will attack rule-breakers and strictly adhere to the rules of the game. To pass, you must personally enter the game and checkmate the opponent's king to open the door ahead."
"Absolutely right, Miss Granger." Draco nodded in agreement.
Hermione frowned, looking somewhat uneasy at the huge stone chessboard in front of her. "But... I don't know how to play Wizard's Chess."
Draco nonchalantly raised his chin and reached for his wand. "That's easy, we'll just use brute force to destroy it a few times and that'll be it."
"No!" Hermione grabbed his wrist. "That would ruin the fun of the challenge! These are challenges carefully designed by the professors."
"Since our Miss Granger is so insistent," Draco drawled, smiling indulgently, "It's not impossible."
Hermione's eyes lit up, and she asked, "What's your idea?"
"There's not much you can do," Draco shrugged, saying casually, "We'll just play chess."
"I know you can play, but are you sure you can beat it?" Hermione looked worriedly at the stone pieces that were taller than a person. "This is the level to protect the Philosopher's Stone; it's a bit dangerous."
Draco chuckled, brimming with confidence. "You're kidding, I'm a master of Wizard's Chess."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, her expression clearly disbelieving. "Really?"
"What kind of look is that?" Draco feigned injury, clutching his chest. "Can't I be a hidden master in the Wizard's Chess?"
"This isn't your hobby, and you don't play it every day," Hermione bluntly exposed. "You only play with Ron occasionally when he asks you to, and I've seen it; you always lose to him."
Draco immediately retorted confidently, "What do you know? I was just hiding my true strength! If I went all out and beat Ron until he questioned his existence, would he still have the nerve to drag me to play chess every day?"
Hermione paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, "It seems... that makes sense, but..."
"No buts." Draco suddenly leaned closer, a mischievous grin flashing across his face. "How about this, let's make another bet."
"Another bet?" Hermione immediately became alert.
"What, you're scared?" Draco raised an eyebrow to provoke her.
"You tell me what you want to bet first."
Draco's lips curled into a smile, and he was about to speak when Hermione suddenly interrupted him, shaking her head:
"No, no, let me say this first—this challenge was originally designed to protect the Philosopher's Stone and to train Harry; Professor McGonagall certainly wouldn't have designed it to be completely impossible."
"You know Wizard's Chess, so completing this level is either a bit difficult for you, or... you could have easily done it anyway."
"You're guaranteed to win, you're trying to screw me over."
Draco's smug expression froze instantly, his shoulders slumped, and he sighed helplessly, "I should have said I couldn't."
Hermione laughed at his embarrassed expression, "You rascal, you always find ways to trick me."
Draco looked at the giant Wizard's Chess before him and smiled confidently:
"Let me put it another way—if I could checkmate the opponent's king and win this game of Wizard's Chess within three moves, would you dare to bet with me?"
Hermione instinctively looked up at the imposing, cold stone chessboard array, her brow furrowing.
"Impossible. Even if you really know how to play, this is a trap set by Professor McGonagall. How could it be so simple that you can beat it in three steps?"