Chapter 138 "Life Is Like A Chess"

December unleashes its wrath upon Hogwarts with relentless high winds and stinging sleet.

The young wizards within the castle, accustomed to the perpetual chill of winter, find solace in the warmth of crackling fires and the protective embrace of thick stone walls.

Their gratitude deepens as they gaze upon Durmstrang's ghost ship tethered on the icy lake, its colossal form buffeted and swayed by the fierce gusts. Like spectral dancers, the ship's black sails twirl and flutter against the backdrop of the ominous night sky.

Beauxbatons' enchanted carriage mirrors the struggle against the elements, jostled incessantly by the howling wind. Majestic rune horses, draped in snug blankets, seek refuge within the stable, where the aroma of Hagrid's generous servings of single malt whiskey mingles with the biting cold.

The students attending Care of Magical Creatures find themselves grappling not only with the intoxicating scent but also with the demanding care of the formidable Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Now dwindling in number to a mere ten, these creatures still harbor a violent penchant for mutual destruction.

At almost six feet in length, their robust gray carapaces, formidable limbs, explosive fire-breathing tails, and various appendages render the Blast-Ended Skrewt a grotesque spectacle of fearsome proportions.

The students, faced with the repulsive sight, cast disinterested glances at the substantial box Hagrid unveils, laden with plush pillows and cozy blankets.

In an attempt to induce hibernation, Hagrid places the Blast-Ended Skrewts into the box and seals it shut. However, his expectations are met with resounding failure, leaving him not just mistaken but significantly so.

Evidently, snails neither hibernate nor appreciate the confines of tight spaces. The aftermath of their protest was marked by a series of explosions, scattering smoky box fragments across the ground, liberating the snails to wreak havoc in the pumpkin patch.

Draco and Blaise, sporting disdainful expressions, averted their gazes, deeming the spectacle unworthy of attention. Goyle and Crabbe, embodying the epitome of qualified followers, departed in search of more engaging pursuits.

In response to the chaos, Harry, Ron, and Hermione led a contingent of Gryffindor wizards, brandishing their wands to emit sparks in an attempt to corral the unruly Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Having learned from past misadventures, the remaining Slytherin students instinctively rallied behind Skyler, entrusting him with the responsibility of navigating the unfolding predicament.

Mocking disbelief permeated the air. Could Skyler, a wizard who treated dragons as mere pets, possibly grapple with creatures as peculiar as lobsters ablaze at the rear end?

Skyler's discerning eyes traversed Pansy, Millicent, Tracy, and Audrey, pausing on Nott. A certain depth in his gaze hinted at unspoken thoughts. He inquired, "Has everyone reached a decision?"

A unanimous affirmation resonated as Pansy and the three girls exchanged glances, taking the lead in responding, "Yes."

Skyler's lips curled slightly at the corners, "Now, pay close attention to my instructions. I'll initiate the binding spell to restrain them. When I count to three, simultaneously cast the stun spell. Remember—avoid bombarding those tough shells. Aim for the males' spines and mouths, and target the females' suckers."

Skyler refrained from deploying the barrier spell, concerned it might not breach the blast-tailed snails' formidable shells. With a swift wave of his wand, it transformed into thick vines, progressively entangling the five snails layer by layer.

As the snails attempted to resist, emitting sparks from under their tails, Skyler's cold shout cut through the chaos, "One, two, three, now!"

The young wizards executed Skyler's strategy flawlessly, pinpointing the vulnerabilities mentioned and incapacitating all five Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Simultaneously, the Gryffindor wizards, aided by Hagrid, were just completing their own tasks.

Rita Skeeter, draped in a thick magenta robe with a purple suede collar and an ostentatious crocodile leather handbag, observed the unfolding drama from the fence of Hagrid's garden.

Hagrid, busy securing a rope buckle on the blaster's spine, turned to Rita Skeeter and inquired, "Who are you?"

"My name is Rita Skeeter, a reporter for the Daily Prophet," Rita replied, her mouth adorned with a smile that showcased her gleaming gold teeth. "What are these charming animals called?" she inquired, her smile widening.

"Blast-ended Skrewts," Hagrid grunted in response.

"Really?" Rita expressed genuine interest. "I've never heard of them before. Where did they come from?"

Hagrid's face reddened beneath his unruly black beard. Seizing the moment, the astute Hermione stood up and chimed in, "They are fascinating, aren't they? Right, Harry, don't you think so?"

"Uh, yeah... Ouch... very fascinating," Harry stammered, momentarily distracted as he accidentally stepped on his own foot.

Hermione shifted her gaze towards Dean Thomas, who sported an ugly gash on half his cheek, Lavender, whose robe bore scorch marks, and Seamus, nursing several burned fingers.

Catching onto something, she smiled and suggested, "Excellent! How about an interview? Share your experiences in teaching magical creature protection with the readers of the Daily Prophet. They have a zoology column every Wednesday. We could feature these—um—blast-ended skrewts."

"Blast-ended skrewts," Hagrid eagerly corrected, "Er—yes, that sounds fine."

The two settled on meeting at the Three Broomsticks on Friday for Rita to conduct an interview with Hagrid.

"What's the matter?" Daphne inquired, her gaze fixed on Skyler. Slytherin had successfully handled the Blast-Ended Skrewts, and the other young wizards had departed, leaving Skyler lingering, observing the interactions between Rita and the sea in the distance.

Skyler offered a slight smile, "It's nothing. I just have a feeling that the old man with the white beard is about to encounter some troubles." As thoughts of Hagrid's subsequent developments crossed his mind, he found amusement in the situation while also feeling sympathy for Dumbledore.

Why did all his allies seem so adept at stirring up trouble?

Approaching Skyler, Daphne, even though there was no one around, cautiously cast an ear-blocking spell before whispering in a low voice only audible to the two of them, "What happened with Pansy's group?"

Skyler shrugged, "What else could it be? Just a display of goodwill towards me."

"But," Daphne wore a puzzled expression, "Isn't she close to your brother?"

Skyler sneered, "For all of them—Pansy, Millicent, Audrey, or Tracey—after I showcased my ability to tame the fire dragon, their personal loyalties took a back seat to their family interests. Today's statements are, I dare say, merely reflections of the intentions of those old folks pulling the strings behind them."

Since the commencement of the semester, Skyler found himself engrossed in the affairs of the Serpentis Vigil Club, the intricacies of the Goblet of Fire, and the study of various magical subjects.

Regrettably, this left him somewhat distant from his fellow young Slytherin wizards in the same class. It wasn't a matter of choice; his limited time made it impossible to immerse himself in every aspect.

His somewhat enigmatic brother, however, did not fail to meet expectations. Leveraging the opportunity, he secured admiration and respect from a cohort of classmates through exemplary performance in class and frequent amicable interactions with others.

Predictably, Pansy's proximity endured over time, while Goyle and Crabbe remained unwaveringly loyal followers.

Among the other young wizards, Blaise seemingly developed a newfound camaraderie with Draco. Millicent, Audrey, and Tracey's ardor and admiration for Draco became increasingly evident.

Initially fans of Skyler, the latter two abruptly shifted their allegiance to Draco.

Skyler was acutely aware of the dynamics but chose to feign ignorance.

He understood that life resembled a chess game, where the truth was straightforward. A misstep with one piece could jeopardize the entire game.

Regardless of Draco's prior schemes or determined endeavors, the decisive moment arrived when Skyler vanquished Draco and earned the coveted title of Hogwarts Champion. The fraternal rivalry for fame reached its conclusion, with the winner definitively established.

Following Skyler's resounding triumph in the initial event, even Pansy grasped the undeniable momentum favoring Skyler.

This realization extended to the other three girls, who, despite any personal affection towards Draco, couldn't ignore the weight of their noble family backgrounds.

Understanding that their actions reflected upon their families, they recognized the necessity to align with the established victor.

Draco, or the puppeteer behind him, unless utterly oblivious, and as long as the preservation of the Malfoy family's prestige lingered in their thoughts, they would acknowledge the irrevocable nature of their defeat. The chance for a resurgence remained elusive.

"Brother, brother, in the true chess game, I made my move as early as the first year. Despite your meteoric rise over a single summer, unless you eliminate me, you'll forever remain a mere chess piece. The real chess player that's been playing behind your back, I believe, will emerge soon, don't you think?" Skyler thought to himself while smirking a bit.

To be honest, Skyler also has a lot of expectations…

His mind is always racing with thoughts on who was the one behind Draco's sudden change. Would it be the Shadow Dragon led by Morganna herself, but if it's the Shadow Dragon, then why would she need the help of Draco when she already has Meredith confined?

Is this actually another group besides the one that Skyler has encountered this far? An entirely new group that has yet to let their name be known to the public, or to Skyler at least…

"Speaking of which," Daphne asked solemnly, "do you know what happened to Draco?"

"Well," when it came to Draco, Skyler wore a pensive expression. His demeanor turned serious as he responded, "I already have an immature guess in my heart..." He then displayed a wise smile and continued, "I think I will soon know whether my guess is right..."

Even though Daphne had almost blind confidence in Skyler, she couldn't help but show a hint of worry, "Is this really okay with you?"

"Don't worry!" Skyler raised his head slightly and cast his gaze into the distance, "I won't fight. It's an uncertain battle, and——"

"Life is like a Chess game, after all! You plan for your moves by the time the first pawn has been moved," Skyler continued.