Ficlet: A castle, for you
Title: A castle, for you
Author: otterandterrier
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Ron W./Hermione G.
Period: General
Warnings: Realy subtle adult suggestions
Notes: I wrote this in an hour or less (without counting extra time) last week. I was writing the 100 word drabbles and I wanted to do something with chess. There are probably lots of stories about chess, so... this is my little contribution. Many thanks to anysomething for revising it; there are some mistakes I didn't know how to correct but heck I don't care! You know Spanish is my first, so put up with me because I've seen native speakers who write ten times worse than me (it's not lack of modesty, it's truth and self-defense).
A castle, for you
At first, I hated when Ron beat me at chess.
Then I had come to accept it.
Later, I liked it.
Coming from me, it sounds almost stupid, but true enough, I played only to see him winning.
It's not that I let him win: I would never go that low. I give my best, and still, he would mercilessly and literally chop my King's head off.
The fine red streaks of his eyebrows approaching, the corner of his mouth turning up, and you knew it was checkmate.
His "game over" lines had changed over the years, as my emotions. The first times he wouldn't look so buoyant: for sure he thought he might just have been lucky and I'd defeat him as soon as I could make with a chess strategy book. The book didn't help.
Thus, he let his triumph be more evident. He would tease me with 'Don't worry, Hermione, you'll get the hang of it... someday.' Or the more pointed 'You don't have to be top mark at everything, you know.' Those made me very angry.
I've always noticed that he enjoyed it most when he played against me (and he consequently won), not as when he won against Harry or anybody else. The bottom lip going pale, pale as he bit it, and then he would release it in enthusiasm and it would be very pink and very wet...
He thought chess was the only thing no one could take from him. That it was his only success. He's always been like that, Ron. He always thought he wasn't worth much, that he couldn't excel at anything-after all, he was just Ron Weasley.
I daresay he has accepted the fact that he was wrong, and that he's finally embracing who he really is. It took some harsh rows, though, in which I yelled and cried and told him things I never thought of revealing. He's paid me well, yes. But it was hard and painful, for both of us.
He would twist his hands before every move and cross one leg over his knee. Or sit cross-legged, sometimes. And he would make a move.
I never told him why I keep playing when both know I don't stand a chance against him. I never got the hang of it, and I don't intend of doing so. Chess is a game of logic and strategy: I've never felt attracted to it in spite of that my whole life has always been ruled by logic and planning. Ron has, and it's helped him a lot in his Auror training. He is one of the best, honesty speaking. I don't think that he ruffles his hair in such a seductive way (seductive for me, I don't think he did it seductively on purpose, before) when he's after dark wizards, nor that the reason he catches them so efficiently is that they fall dead with the scent that the messy flame on his head emanates. It works with me, all right, but I'm not a dark wizard. I'm terribly lost for him.
Ron knows that I enjoy seeing him overpowering me at chess. I don't need to tell him, it's obvious. Otherwise I wouldn't keep humiliating myself. As I said, his "game over" lines changed. And the way he says them, which means even more. 'Don't worry, witch, you checkmated me long ago,' he would let out against my hair, holding me against him. Sweet defeat. It is in those moments when it's unclear to me who has won and who has lost, or if there is ever a loser at all. The conquering King and his Queen: we are checkmated.
***
This story is actually dedicated to lectura35 . I'm not going to lie and say I wrote it thinking of you or that I planned to write something for you beforehand: no, it's not how it happened (my honesty is brutal, always). But Mely, you've helped me so much with my rhr_bigbang story! Not only encouraged me all the time, but also written two amazing, sweet loving love scenes and... well, I can't begin to tell how much I appreciate your dedication and support. So, I just hope you'll like this ♥^-^♥ (I know you still check LJ) Love you, dear!
Oh, and I should explain the title... If you have some parts of the HP books branded on fire in your brains, you might remember that, when looking for the Lovegoods' house, Ron says it looks like a rook. Hermione says 'It looks nothing like a bird', and Ron says 'A chess rook. A castle, for you.' It's very silly, actually, but taken out of context sounds brilliant, and I love it :D
***
I also wanted to share a fanart (not by me, but I wish it was!) submitted today by one of my favourite artists at Deviantart. She is the author of the amazing drawing in my userpic (which you have to check out), and she was complaining that she was not good enough. My reaction was 'what the hell?'. And yes, she proved me right with her new RHr incredible art! It's a sin not to see it, so go go!
And since we're here, I'll list some of the new RHr artz by other artists I've loved so you can check:
DH: Restraint
HP--Good morning: Ron and Rose // Hermione and Hugo
Auror Weasley (wohoo hello Mr Weasley!)
Ron and Hermione (wedding outtake photo :P)
And the very colourful, fun and cute series of RHr drawings by Ninidu! Their only flaw (since my point of view,at least, no judging) is that she makes Ron's eyes green (her drawings looks slightly like the actors), but they are brilliant.