The first half is easy.

The day of the tournament arrives. Just after lunch on Saturday the Great Hall has been rearranged and tidied up. The long tables outfitted with chess boards and each set given a large hourglass.

These hourglasses were different. You had seen one, but they each had an hourglass inside of them. These inner hourglasses would drain sand for 30 seconds before flipping, of their own accord. Each pass of the hourglass would signify the end of the player's turn. When the time ran out of the larger hourglass the game would end. Matches that ended "by time" would be evaluated on points.

You find a small placard along the underclassmen table labeled "Marvolo Gaunt." Sitting down you appraise your chess pieces. Each of the participants would use a provided chess set to be sure that no one cheated. You see that your fist set is red. Going second. With a sigh you begin to set your pieces.

Your first opponent is a Slytherin student. A third year with bright eyes and dark hair. His name is less memorable than his condescending attitude. Unfortunately, his confidence was misplaced, and you end your match in about a dozen moves. You move on to the next challenger.

Your next opponent was a hHufflepuff girl. Probably from the area, she had a thick northern accent and grey eyes. She was better than your first challenger, but ran out of time twice on her turn. You were halfway through the underclassmen division.

It is about three o'clock. A short break was called to reorganize the tables. You meet eyes with Ron, who is across the room and he walks over.

"How you doing?" He asks with a smile.

"Pretty good, you going to meet me in the finals?" you laugh eagerly.

Ron looks at you with a fire in his eyes. "You bet," he says "but watch out for Grimes, he's pretty good." He nods to your next opponent, a Gryffindor.

"Thanks." you reply.

Justice Grimes was in the Wizard Chess Society, and unless you miss your mark he is not much of a threat. He was good, but he favored a few very predictable strategies.

"So you got off pretty easily working on McGonagall's paperwork." You say. "What is Harry's punishment?"

Ron smiled thinly. "He's got some kind of grounds-keeping duty with Hagrid later in the week."

You shake your head, "That's rough, Hagrid's good people, but I don't envy him his job."

Ron nods, and looks like he is about to say something when Professor Flitwick rings a small bell from the Teachers' Table.

"Contestants to your seats, we are about to resume!" he squeaks.

You nod to Ron and rush back to your assigned seat across from Justice. You peek at your pieces: White. You hold back a curse. Justice was easier to read if he went first, his defence was strong, but his offence was predictable.