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Hello my fine friends have some fluff of Peter teaching Remus how to play chess. I always saw these two as really good friends the quite ones with the two chaos ensures. That's not to say this pair didn't create havoc they were just quieter abt it in my opinion. Any way I hope you enjoy
The Hogwarts year had started a month ago and Peter had been enjoying it so far. He was in a dorm with James Potter who was a childhood friend, Sirius Black who was loud and boisterous and Remus Lupin he was more of an odd creature quiet but really devious. You’d never expect it he kind of has an angel face that all the teachers trust, but a brain that has come up with the most mind-blowing pranks yet. He’s a bit closed off; in fact, no one really know anything about him. They don’t really know anything about Sirius either, but he is as loyal as a dog and weirdly protective of all the boys.
Peter always played chess in the common room with whoever would challenge him so far only a handful 7th years had been able to beat him and as a first year being able to beat most of his house was a feat worth bragging about. He’d even been able to beat the Ravenclaws that had challenged him, well except for Dorcas Meadows but he’s fairly sure she cheated.
There’s a few things that are consistent with the way Peter played chess, he was always 2 moves ahead, he always played black, he had certain moves he always used, and that Remus always watched him play. No matter what Remus would be there, sometimes he would hide behind a book, but Peter would notice his eyes peak over the page making sure his friend was winning other times he would be perched on the edge of his seat elbows on his knees watching the game like a lion watched a gazelle. One day the common room was unusually quiet, Remus was curled up on the armchair pulling his copy of Frankenstein closer to his face while Peter sat on the floor setting up a game of chess.
“Oi Remus want to play?” he said curiously setting the last knight in place. The sandy haired boy looked up from his book with his face looking all nervous suddenly.
“Urm… I don’t really know how to” he said gripping the books closer to him as if to hide his face.
“What?! That’s impossible you always watch me play even if you didn’t know, you’d at least know something”
“Yeah except I don’t know any of the rules somethings the short stubby things can move two places and sometimes they move diagonal, some pieces can move over pieces like that castle thing and the horses, and some can only move in directions and its all confusing at what is the purpose it doesn’t make any sense Pete. So just leave me to my book” Peter looked horrified. Not only were several things that came out off Remus’s mouth plain old wrong he also said that chess didn’t have a purpose.
“Ok that’s just wrong on so many levels. Chess helps with cognitive thinking skills, memory, imagination, concentration, confidence, and determination.” Peter made a vague waving gesture for Remus to sit on the other side of the board.
“Do I have to sit on the floor?” Remus grumbled
“Well put a pillow down if you want princess” as soon as Remus was settled on the other side of the board Peter launched into a long explanation.
“So, on the first move the pawns can move two spaces forward, but after that they can only move one space forward, they can’t go backwards, and they can only take pieces diagonally in front of them and only one space. Oh, and if a pawn gets to the other side of the board then you can swap it out for any piece you’ve lost.” The look in Peters eye was a bit frantic like he couldn’t get the words out quick enough.
“Are all the explanations this long winded and complicated?”
“Of course, Remus! Its chess not ping pong, it’s an ancient game from India that travelled across the east as a model scale of war! It’s not going to be simple you twat.”
“Let me get some parchment. I need to make notes” With nearly 40 inches of parchment filled with Remus messy scrawl about the rules of chess and the history and different names, not to mention all the benefits that Peter listed off.
“Ok do you think your ready?” Peter leaned forward, elbows on his knees hands clasped under his chin seeming to take this all to seriously, but Remus understood the rules. Mostly. He was so going to lose and for someone as competitive as Remus that was mortifying.
“Sure.”
“You start.” Remus’ hand was surprisingly steady as it moved the pawn in from of the rook two spaces. The blonde boy made a small noise at the back of his throat before moving one of his pawns too spaces in front of his bishop. Nerves were racking through Remus’ body and his hands started to sweat. A few pawns were sacrificed, and Peter had Remus rook and a bishop, but in fairness Remus had won his knight, but his king was in fear of being in check. In the end Remus had three pawns left to defend his king. Peter was looking a little better, but his pieces were scares on the board, but his king was protected by his castling move made early in the game.
“Good game.” Peter hand was outstretched over Remus’ crumpled king. Remus wiped his hands on his trousers to get rid of any lingering sweat and swallowed his pride to accept defeat in the form of a handshake. Chess became a game the two friends played regularly, but it wasn’t until fourth year when Remus finally beat him. Lets just say his celebratory dance was more embarrassing than all the loses he suffered over the years.