Summary: During a game of Magical Chess, her unexpected strategic prowess leaves Sebastian surprised and unsettled. When she attributes her improved skills to Garreth Weasley, Sebastian's irritation flares into a sharp, bitter exchange, fueled by a simmering jealousy over Garreth's influence and the changing dynamics of their friendship.
Word Count: 660 words
The Astronomy reading room felt comfortably familiar, the scent of old books and clean, open air clinging to the spacious chamber. The grand reading room, with its light-filled windows and sweeping views, had been one of their usual gathering spot between classes. It was a place for easy conversation and casual camaraderie, but now, it echoed with a different kind of quiet.
She had challenged him to a game of Magical Chess, a ritual they used to share before Charms class and sometimes before Astronomy class. In the past, Sebastian had always won, every single time. His mind, sharp and strategic, saw moves ten steps ahead, anticipating every counter. She used to enjoy the challenge, the inevitable defeat serving only to sharpen her own wits.
Today, however, felt different. Sebastian found himself distracted, his usual focus fragmented. His pieces moved with a hesitant precision, his mind replaying recent events: her capture, his own desperate panic, their delicate friendship bond. He kept glancing at her, searching for signs of lingering distress, for the exhaustion he knew she carried. He tried to act normal, to project an air of casual confidence, but his nerves were a tight knot in his stomach.
She, on the other hand, played with an unusual calmness. Her eyes, typically wide with intense focus, were now narrowed, thoughtful. Her movements were fluid, deliberate, her strategies subtly shifting, unexpected. She seemed to predict his every move, countering with a quiet confidence that was both impressive and unsettling.
"Knight to G5," she announced, her voice soft, but firm.
Sebastian's King rook shattered, splinters of stone scattering across the board. "Clever," he conceded, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes. He leaned forward, studying the board, a rare, ungrudging admiration taking hold. "I didn't see that. You've clearly been practicing."
She smiled, a small, triumphant curve of her lips. "I've had a good teacher."
He chuckled, already planning his counter-attack, a familiar thrill of the game returning. "Oh? Who's been schooling you in the noble art of strategy? Ominis, perhaps? Or even Natty, with her surprising tactical mind?"
Her smile widened, turning playful. "Actually," she said, her eyes twinkling, "Garreth showed me a few things."
The name hit Sebastian like a cold splash of water. His entire posture stiffened. Garreth. Weasley. The smile Sebastian had been holding, the shared amusement over the game, vanished. He felt a sudden, familiar tightness in his chest, a prickle of irritation. He quickly looked away, his gaze falling to the shattered rook piece on the board, avoiding her eyes.
"Garreth," he repeated, the name sounding oddly flat, almost a question, as if trying to grasp its meaning in this context. "Garreth Weasley? The same Garreth who thinks a Fire-Making Charm should be applied directly to the cauldron?" He heard the thinly veiled sarcasm in his own voice, a bitterness he hadn't intended.
He issued a silent command to a pawn, moving it without thought, his mind no longer on the board. He felt a ridiculous, illogical surge of annoyance. Garreth Weasley, teaching her chess? What did he know about strategy? About real tactics? About... her? It was absurd. Absolutely absurd. Yet, the persistent, unpleasant twisting in his gut was a feeling he couldn't quite name, a heat that had nothing to do with frustration over loosing a game.
"He called it 'controlled chaos'," she offered, a hint of amusement in her voice, oblivious to the storm brewing in Sebastian's mind. "Said it really threw off your kind; typical, methodical players."
Sebastian's jaw tightened. Controlled chaos. That sounded just like something Garreth would say. And the way she repeated it, as if it were profound wisdom... The thought of Garreth, all clumsy charm and accidental brilliance, being the one to unlock a new level of skill in her, in their game, gnawed at him. He hated it. He hated that he hadn't been here. He hated that someone else had filled that space.
He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping the board for a viable defense. "Controlled chaos," he muttered, the words tight with a forced nonchalance, "is merely a distraction. It's certainly... disrupting my usual flow." He managed a tight, unconvincing smile. "But a temporary disruption, nothing more. It's hardly a winning strategy, no matter what Garreth might claim."
