Endgame

Endgame

Disclaimer: JKR owns anything HP related. Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeusand Tim Rice own the Chess concept and lyrics, etc, and I own anything in between.

Chapter Two: The Game Begins

'This has got to be a joke! Tell me this is a joke?' Ron Weasley, seventh-year Gryffindor, groaned.

'What's a joke, Ron?' Hermione Granger, a fellow seventh-year Gryffindor asked curiously.

'That!' Ron said and pointed to a notice on the bulletin board. 'He can't be serious about us doing this!'

'I believe I'm perfectly serious about the participation of the both of you in this endeavour, Mr. Weasley. Is there a problem with the roles in which you've been tentatively cast in?' Severus asked as he snuck up behind the two Gryffindors.

Ron and Hermione turned quickly and looked at their Potion Professor with a mixture of shock, disbelief and scepticism. 'Professor Snape? You really mean for us to...ah...put on this play...umm here?' Hermione asked timidly.

Severus snorted. 'Yes, Ms. Granger, here. What did you expect, that I would be dragging you all to London or Broadway? I believe it is the Headmaster himself who says that 'music is a magic beyond all we do here'. You more than anyone should know exactly how much we do do here, Ms. Granger, since you're so fond of putting your nose where it doesn't belong,' he sneered.

'Err...not that this play is a problem, Professor, but...' a new voice began to say effectively cutting off any further words from Hermione, 'in case you didn't realize it, we don't have a theatre here at Hogwarts.'

Severus turned to gaze intensely at the boy who'd spoken, noting the fact that as he arrived Ron scowled and dragged Hermione away quickly. 'Apparently you have forgotten this is a school built out of pure magic, Mr. Potter,' he said cooly. 'Accommodations shall be suitably arraigned, and a theatre will be provided for.'

Harry Potter, seventh-year Gryffindor, sighed. 'Oh, of course, this is Hogwarts after all. Anything can happen here, even things you don't want to happen,' he said a bit dully.

Severus looked sharply at the boy when he heard the tone in his voice. It was very clear to him that Harry was acting a bit oddly, and the reaction of his friends wasn't normal either. Making a split second decision he decided to do something a bit drastic, but it would hopefully get some questions answered. 'Mr. Potter, you will report to my classroom right before supper. And you will be there alone. That means no tag-alongs, including Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger.'

'Don't worry, I doubt they would come with me anyway,' Harry said in a half-whispered voice that sounded more than a bit bitter, then he remembered what Severus had just said in more detail and turned back to look at him curiously. 'A-alone, Sir?' he asked in surprise.

'Alone, Potter,' Severus nodded in confirmation, then with a swish of his robes walked off.

He headed himself not towards the dungeons as he had originally intended, but towards the guest rooms instead. Stopping at one of the doors he knocked slowly and waited to see if there would be a response.

'It's open!'

Severus opened the door hesitantly and peeked round the corner. 'Are you alone?'

'Quite. Do come in won't you?'

Severus walked inside the room and shut the door, placing a locking and silencing charm on it secretly. 'Can we talk for a moment, Lupin?'

'Of course, my door is always open for you, Severus ,' Remus said from the chair near the fireplace he was sitting on. 'Please, sit down.' Severus nodded absentmindedly and sat down, gazing for a few moments into the fire. 'Is everything all right, Severus ? You seem a bit distracted.'

'Yes...and no,' Severus said after a moment. 'It's Potter.'

'Is something wrong with Harry?' Remus asked in concern.

'Have you seen him today? Or spoken to him?' Severus asked.

Remus shook his head and sighed. 'No, I haven't. The full moon was last night remember? I haven't left my room since early yesterday afternoon.'

'You have at least had a house-elf send up food?' Severus asked sharply.

Remus nodded and waved his hand towards a small table that had some dishes on it. 'Yes, Father, I've eaten,' he chuckled.

'It's not a joke, Lupin,' Severus scowled. 'You need to take better care of yourself. If not for yourself then at least for Potter...and Black.'

Remus shook his head and sighed. 'I see what you're trying to do, Severus , but save that speech for someone who cares, not me. Now what is this about Harry?'

Severus decided not to press his luck further by rising to that comment. He knew if he did Remus would only get angry, and the last thing Severus wanted was an angry werewolf on his hands the morning after a full moon when they still maintained most of their 'wolfish' aspects. 'Potter is...feeling rather depressed from the sound of it,' he said instead.

'What gives you that idea?' Remus asked curiously.

'An off-handed comment he made a little bit ago. Normally he does not speak of the school in such a...dull...way as he did. Not to mention that his so-called friends seemed to abandon him as soon as he showed up.'

'Hmm, you're right, that doesn't sound like Harry's normal attitude about Hogwarts, nor typical of Ron and Hermione. He loves this school and his friends,' Remus mused.

'Exactly,' Severus said in agreement. 'Which is why we must move along on this play. The faster we can bring some life back into this school, and especially it's students the better.'

Remus smiled and nodded. 'Have you any idea who you are going to pick for which parts?'

Severus nodded. 'Yes, in fact I posted the casting list just this morning,' he said and pulled out a sheet of paper from his robes. 'Here, hopefully I've made the right choices,' he said and handed the paper to Remus .

Remus scanned it over then stared all out as the information sunk in. 'Are...is this what you really want, Severus ?' he asked quietly.

'Yes, this is what I want. Is there a problem with the people I've chosen?' Severus asked and turned to look at Remus carefully.

'He actually agreed to do this?' Remus asked hesitantly.

'Yes, believe it or not he agreed to it,' Severus nodded. 'He said it would be quite the challenge.'

'Does he have any clue yet as to what actually happens in the play, Severus ?' Remus asked with a touch of amusement.

Severus smirked. 'I gave him a synopsis this morning.'

'And which synopsis was that, Severus ? The short and sweet of it, or enough to get him to consent to doing it?' Remus grinned.

Severus chuckled. 'He'll figure things out soon enough.'

'You're incorrigible, you know that,' Remus snorted, then looked back down at the cast list. 'Good choices on the rest of the cast from what I can see...however...there's one person missing.'

'Oh? And who is that?' Severus asked off-handily.

'Florence Vassy, the Hungarian second to Freddie Trumper, the American Chess Champion. Who will be playing her? She has a very vital role in this you know,' Remus said thoughtfully.

'I realize that, Lupin, and actually I have chosen someone to fill her role,' Severus said hesitantly.'

'Who?' Remus said puzzled.

'Actually...I've chosen you for that particular part,' Severus said quietly.

Remus blinked and looked at Severus in surprise. 'M-Me?' he stammered.everus ...Florence is a woman...I am not.'

*Thank the Gods for that* Severus thought to himself dryly. Out loud however he merely said, 'I'm going to alter the part a bit. Change the name from Florence Vassy to Silvius Vassy.'

'Oh,' Remus said quietly, then looked confused. 'Why me though, Severus ? Surely you could have found a female for the role?'

'I made the calls as I saw fit, Lupin. Everyone on that list I felt was made for the roles they're to portray...even you,' Severus said firmly. 'Besides, since none of the staff were willing to take on roles, there is no way in the name of Salazar I will have any young girl in that part. The only decent solo singer in the whole lot is Granger, and I've already casted her for the other female in the production.'

'Ah yes, Svetlana, Anatoly's wife,' Remus chuckled. 'That should prove interesting. Are you sure about my role in this though? Sirius may not be too happy once he finds out the truth.'

'I could care less what Black thinks or doesn't think about this,' Severus scowled. 'The only one that really needs to decide is you, Lupin. If you truly don't want the part then...I suppose I shall have to come up with an alternative...' Severus said, though secretly he wanted anything but that of course.

Remus seemed to think things over for a moment, then turned back to look at Severus . 'Do you think it could work if I did this?' he asked.

Severus nodded. 'With a few minor alterations to some of the lyrics, yes, I think it will work perfectly.'

Remus nodded and smiled. 'Very well then, I accept your offer gratefully. After all it's not like the play is reflecting anything in our real lives, it's merely acting.'

*Not if I have my way it won't be...only this tale won't end bittersweet, Remus ...this time...no matter what it takes...I will win...*

'Of course, it's only acting,' Severus said with a slight nod. 'Well then, I best be off. I have a lot to do, and time is of the essence,' he said standing up. 'Oh, and if you're up to it, if you could come round the Potion's classroom right before supper tonight? I would appreciate it.'

'I'll do my best,' Remus nodded.

Severus unlocked the charms he'd placed and was about to leave when he was called back. 'Yes, Lupin?'

'Umm...is there any chance...if you have it to spare that is...do you possibly...have any more of that...err...potion...you gave me when I first arrived?' Remus asked hesitantly.

Severus raised an eyebrow and stared at Remus intensely. 'Why? I assumed it hadn't worked since you didn't tell me anything the next day.'

Remus blushed and turned away at those words. 'Oh...it...it worked all right...perhaps too well...which is why I didn't want to tell you.'

'Oh? Exactly what did it do that it worked 'too well'?' Severus asked.

Remus blushed harder at those words. 'You really have to know that information?' he asked quietly.

'If you want more of the potion, Lupin, then yes, I need the information,' Severus said dryly. 'Now, how well did it work?'

'Err...that is to say...what I mean is...'

'Stop stalling and just say it, Lupin.'

'All right, all right,' Remus said irritably. 'Truth is...I haven't experienced...quite such a...err...nighttime reaction...as I did that night...not for a very long time anyway.'

'I don't follow. What type of reaction do you mean, Lupin?' Severus asked innocently.

'You really mean for me to spell this out for you, don't you,' Remus grumbled.

'Do you want the potion or not, Lupin?' Severus asked.

'Oh for Merlin's sake...yes...I want the blasted potion,' Remus said heavily, though another blush crept up his cheeks. 'Fine...if you must know...I had to change my sheets by morning. Does that answer your question? Now, will you give it to me or not?'

Severus looked at Remus thoughtfully for a moment. 'Hmm...give you more of my personal stores...so you can dream like that again...about Black no doubt...and get off from it at the same time. Hardly incentive to give you more of the potion, Lupin,' Severus said slowly then turned once more to go.

'I didn't dream about Sirius.'

Severus stopped short and stood there, his hand halfway to the doorknob. 'You're lying. Of course you would have dreamt about him, especially now that he's not sharing your bed as he has been all these years,' he said crossly.

'I'm not lying, Severus , I have no reasons to lie to you,' Remus said softly. 'Please...please, Severus ...let me have one more phial. I won't ask you again...but please...let me have one more chance to feel like I did that night...'

Severus sighed though he didn't turn round. He couldn't bear to see what he knew would be pleading in the other man's eyes, otherwise he'd break down himself and he couldn't allow that to happen. 'Consider it an incentive to show up before supper then, Lupin,' he said cooly, then before Remus could respond he opened the door and left, closing the door behind him.

He realised he'd left the casting list behind but he wasn't about to go back for it. Instead he made his way to his quarters and wrote out a revised casting list, then headed back to the board to post it. He didn't realize however that he was being watched very carefully, and as he walked away someone came out of the shadows and looked at the list, a pensive look on his face.

'So that's how you intend to play things, hmm?' the person said softly, then his eyes fell on another name on the list and they lit up with hunger. 'You're not the only one that plans to gain out of this, Professor, I plan on making my own moves too. When it comes down to playing the game, I know my chess, and like you...checkmate will be mine...and to the victor will go the spoils of war...'

*****

'Look, there's a new list up! Oh I wonder if I have a different part!' Hermione said hopefully. 'No, no such luck,' she sighed.

'At least you won't have to kiss him,' Ron said with a shudder. 'That would be horrific.'

Hermione nodded and wrinkled her nose. 'I know. Not when I could be kissing you instead,' she said a bit flirtatiously.

Ron paled and shushed her. 'Hermione...not in the middle of the corridor! What would people say!'

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed. 'We've been dating for a year now, Ron. I think by now they expect it.'

'Doesn't mean we have to do it!' Ron said.

'Neville and Ginny kiss all the time in public. I think it's cute,' Hermione said dreamily.

'That's them, not us,' Ron said irritably. 'And it's not 'cute', it's just...gross.'

'Oi, you can be impossible sometimes Ronald Lennox Weasley,' Hermione pouted. 'Never mind then, let's go to the commons, I want to practise that charm we learned today in Flitwick's class. Should we see if Harry's round as well?'

Ron scowled. 'Only if I can use him as target practice.'

Hermione sighed. 'Are you ever going to see past this, Ron? He's lonely...I hate seeing him so depressed.'

'If he's lonely it's his own bloody fault, Hermione. He should have told us the truth from the get go, not waited till we find out the hard way,' Ron said coldly.

'I don't think he planned on that, Ron,' Hermione said softly. 'I think it was more of a spur of the moment situation.'

'Whatever, but it still wasn't right,' Ron grumbled. 'You'd think that idiot would have known better than to- '

'It wasn't Harry's fault, Ron,' Hermione said firmly. 'He was caught at a vulnerable moment is all. It must have been very hard to keep such a huge secret from us all these years.'

'Regardless you would have thought that they would have known better,' Ron said. 'I mean they could have at least used a different room!'

'I don't think they planned on using any room, Ron. Besides, it's not like they got all that far before we walked in,' Hermione said with a slight blush at that memory.

Ron groaned. 'They got far enough as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't matter, the point is he should have told us, Hermione, not let us find out that way.'

'Ron...are you ever going to forgive him for it?' Hermione asked.

Ron sighed. 'I don't know, Hermione. Probably...but not just yet. Hell, I don't care if he is that way, but I thought he was our friend. Friends aren't supposed to hold secrets from each other like that. I thought he knew he could tell us anything, we have always told him everything, it's only fair,' he said sadly.

'I know,' Hermione nodded and put a comforting hand on her boyfriend's arm. 'I was upset too...but by avoiding him like this we're only making it worse. I miss him, Ron.'

'I do too, Hermione, but he at least owes us an apology for keeping such a secret.'

'If you ask me, your brother's the one who should apologize,' Hermione snorted. 'He's the one that begged us not to tell your mum about it after all, and he didn't even say he was sorry for any of it!'

Ron scowled again. 'I know, and believe me, he's next on my list of avoiding people. You'd have thought that after all these years he at least would have come clean about it! But noooo...he had to be a prat and do something like that! In my own room none the less! Now how am I supposed to sleep when I go home knowing what happened?' he muttered.

Hermione chuckled. 'I can think of a very good way to make you forget...' she said coyly.

Ron looked up startled then a blush spread to the very roots of his hair. 'Hermione! I thought we agreed to wait until...err...well you know...just wait for a while...to do that,' he stammered.

'The you better plan our wedding now, Ron Weasley, because I certainly don't intend to wait forever,' Hermione said huffily.

'W-w-wedding?' Ron asked paling slightly. 'When did we discuss anything about getting married?'

'We didn't, but I'm telling you now. Besides I think your mum would love to finally marry off one of her kids. Obviously she won't get the chance to with Charlie, and Bill and Monique are too far into the 'living together' thing to want marriage, Fred and George don't even have girlfriends, and Percy is too busy at the Ministry to think about marrying Penelope yet. It'll be a while before Neville and Ginny might even think about it...if they do...so you see it's up to us,' Hermione said firmly.

'Can't we just do what Bill and Monique are doing?' Ron asked hesitantly.

'Absolutely not! What kind of girl do you take me for, Ron?' Hermione snorted. 'I want to be properly married, I won't stand for anything less.'

Ron sighed and nodded meekly. 'All right, Hermione, you win. I won't fight you on this...but...have you even given any thought to what we'll do to support ourselves? We don't have a jobs or anything you know. Or even where we'll live after we leave Hogwarts...or are you planning on staying at the Burrow?'

Hermione grinned then reached into her robes and pulled out some papers. 'I've already given that plenty of thought. We're going to be working for the Ministry as it happens. I wrote your dad weeks ago asking him about jobs after school lets out, and he said we're both welcome to come work in his department. And I have several clippings for flats that are available for hire in Diagon Alley. You'll see, it'll all work out perfectly,' she said happily. 'Now, let's get back to the commons, I really want to try out that new charm.'

'Merlin, you really have given this thought,' Ron said in amazement as he stared at all the papers in Hermione's hands. 'Oh, all right, who am I to argue Fate eh? Let's get back to the commons then and try out that charm,' Ron chuckled, and together they left towards the Gryffindor tower.

What they hadn't been aware of is that whilst they'd been talking about their wedding, someone had crept up on them, and had been listening and watching since. The person now appeared from the shadows, a pensive look on his face.

'So...you two get to go off all happy and I'm stuck left behind with nothing. Not surprising though...I always end up with nothing don't I. Go on and have your jobs and your flat and your wedding and everything else. It's clear you don't need me...you probably never did...did you. Well fine then...I'll go be someone else's parasite, you won't have to worry about me again!' the boy said angrily, through there was a trace of tears in his eyes as he dashed off, though towards where he wasn't sure yet as long as it wasn't anywhere near Gryffindor Tower.

****

Remus passed by the bulletin board a little while later on his way to Severus's chambers and stopped when he saw the newly revised cast sheet. With a little smile he gently touched the name of one of the people on the list, confident that the person in question hadn't a clue of the truth. Remus had been keeping many a secret from this person for more years than he could remember, but with this turn of events perhaps the past could be forgotten in favour of a better future.

'You think you're fooling me don't you, but you're not. By giving me this part I see all to clearly what you really want from me, but I'll keep playing the game, Severus . For now anyway. But if you intend to let things end up like they do in the play...you can think again...'

Remus smiled smugly to himself then proceed towards the dungeons, the thoughts of a particular and wonderfully stimulating potion now on his mind. His dreams that night almost a week ago had been so intense that he still ached from them, and he wanted more of those dreams.

He hadn't felt this alive in a long, long time, and he had no intention of stopping the emotions and feelings he had for the man he'd dreamt about, the man he considered his soulmate. Remus had waited and suffered too many years alone because of foolishness and bitter regrets. Now it was time to put the past behind him, and finish what had begun all those years ago, and when he was done he wasn't going to let the man of his dreams leave him ever again.

****

CAST LIST FOR THE HOGWARTS PRODUCTION OF 'CHESS'

Produced and Directed by: Severus Snape and Remus Lupin

Main Cast:

Freddie Trumper - The American Chess Champion - Sirius Black
Silvius Vassy - Freddie's second and also his lover - Remus Lupin
Anatoly Sergievsky - The Russian Chess Champion - Severus Snape
The Arbiter - Chess Match Referee - Ronald Weasley
Ivan Molokov - Anatoly's second - Draco Malfoy
Svetlana - Anatoly's wife - Hermione Granger
Walter - Freddie's Agent - Harry Potter

Extra Cast Members:

Dean Thomas
Seamus Finnigan
Pansy Parkinson
Blaise Zambini
Hanna Abbot
Justin Finch-Fletchley
Parvti Patil
Padma Patil
Sally-Anne Perks
Lisa Turpin
Susan Bones
Terry Boot
Lavender Brown
Mandy Brocklehurst
Hannah Abbot
Morag MacDougal
Vincent Crabbe
Gregory Goyle
Evan Moon
Michael Nott
Millicent Bulstrode
Neville Longbottom
Ginny Weasley

FIRST REHERSAL SHALL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW MORNING IN THE GREAT HALL
- DO NOT BE LATE!-

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