Compared to the standard, predictable Wizard's Chess sets, Sean's version was something else entirely.
In his chess set, Ron couldn't even beat Harry. His knight and queen fell in love, and the king, furious, sent the knight to hunt them down. In the end, Harry didn't lose a single piece, and Ron's game fell apart.
"Merlin's beard—that blasted knight! Did you have to fall for the queen?!" Ron fumed, his face turning beet red.
His shouting drew a crowd of curious young wizards, and soon the Great Hall was filled with all sorts of frustrated exclamations.
"You fell for the other side's queen?! And threw the match?! This is my game, you traitor!"
"You don't like fighting? Then why are you a knight? Go be a Great Hall decoration!"
"Merlin's sake—they're charging forward, and you say you ate too much to move? We're done for!"
Oddly enough, this game—90% luck and 10% skill—took the Great Hall by storm. Even older students came to see what the fuss was about, only to spend the night fuming because their chess pieces leaped off the board, shouting "Freedom!" before smashing to bits under the table.
Thankfully, the pieces had a self-repairing charm. So they could go on to frustrate the next player.
"Sean, wanna give it a go?" Ron called, pushing through the crowd as the younger students parted to let him through.
Sean, who'd been testing the chess set's mechanics, nodded. He'd always wondered—were these disobedient pieces a result of his low proficiency? And could the creator of a magical object with its own will ever fully control it?
"Oh, I'm coming for you, Sean," Ron said, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
The match started, and Ron was immediately dumbfounded.
"Knight, if you're not scared, move two spaces forward…" the bishop prodded the knight next to it.
"Scared? Me? I'm a noble knight, fearless and bold!" the knight declared, turning and moving two spaces.
"Aha!" the knight shouted.
And just like that, Ron lost. His pieces completely ignored his commands. When Sean ordered the black knight to move forward one space, even Ron's white knight obeyed.
His theory confirmed, Sean left the Great Hall.
In the Room of Requirement, Sean glanced at the top of his planner: Create Fantastic Beast Kneazle Cookies. Next to it, he scribbled: Grind Wizard's Chess to Skilled Level and Find the Next Intermediate Alchemical Creation.
Giving magical objects their own will definitely made alchemy trickier, but Sean always felt oddly inspired when crafting them. He figured it was the magical intuition—his so-called talent—guiding him from within.
He could make more creations with their own will, but what should they be? Finding those options shot to the top of his planner. He hadn't given up on Fantastic Beast cookies, but progress had to come one step at a time.
First, he needed to unlock the Skilled-level title. Who knew? It might bring some unexpected perks. After all, Skilled-level titles always came with new, special talents.
One chilly morning, snow blanketed the castle grounds, draping statues in thick white cloaks. Hagrid's hut looked like a gingerbread house dusted with frosting. The Black Lake had frozen into a glossy sheet, and nearby trees sparkled with frost. In the Hogwarts kitchens, house-elves bustled about, preparing steaming stews and sweet puddings in every flavor imaginable.
Sean savored his meal—no matter how busy he got, he never missed a chance to eat in the Great Hall.
The weather was bright, and Sean received a special letter:
Dear Sean Green,
The McGonagall family's dearest child. Know that there are some very joyful people waiting for you here.
Yours with love, Marcus McGonagall
Marcus McGonagall? Sean didn't know who he was, but it wasn't hard to guess he was connected to Professor McGonagall.
At the staff table, the professor gave him a gentle nod.
Leaving the Great Hall, Sean found McGonagall waiting by the third-floor spiral staircase.
"They're all eager to meet you. They've even prepared Christmas gifts for you," she said softly.
So, Sean started packing. He looked into magical gifts and ended up turning to the Weasleys.
"Mr. Weasley, I might need you to make a trip to Hogsmeade. I'll cover the costs…" Sean said in the corridor.
"Great Green, what are you talking about? George, that's gotta be the funniest thing I've ever heard," Fred said, looking at Sean like he'd lost his mind.
"Seriously, no fever, and he's talking nonsense," Fred added, circling him.
"Biggest fool ever! You're our VIP!" George said, his teasing somehow sounding completely sincere, like they genuinely meant it.
"Here, take this! And—" Fred started.
"Whatever you need, we're on it!" George finished.
The twins spoke in unison, then vanished down the corridor.
Sean picked up their note—a Ministry attachment for a new shop:
Weasley & Green Wizard Wheezes Approval Regulations Passed
Sean tucked the permit away, his steps lighter.
Snow fell for hours, and Hogwarts settled into a quiet afternoon. Under a massive Christmas tree, McGonagall stood with a suitcase, her formal dress robes swapped for a simple wizard's cloak. When Sean arrived, they set off.
Apparition wasn't allowed within Hogwarts' grounds, but once outside, that restriction lifted.
"Now that's more like it!" Sir Cadogan called from the Entrance Hall, squeezed between portraits. His pony pushed against him, twisting his face into a crooked grin as he watched the two wizards step into the snow.
The two witches in nearby portraits watched silently, their view blurred by the falling snow.
"Apparition can be rough the first time," McGonagall warned.
Sean nodded.
"But… Severus sent something to help," she said, handing him a potion vial.
After drinking it, Apparition wasn't nearly as bad as Sean expected. In an instant, lively sounds filled his ears.
The cobblestone path of Diagon Alley buzzed with witches and wizards, toads, owls, and rabbits weaving through the crowd. Every shop, every item, and every shopper radiated holiday cheer.
Last time, Sean had counted Knuts to shop. This time felt different.
…
Outside Hogwarts, the castle became a distant symbol. Severus Snape stood in the dim dungeon, as if it were his true home.
Sir Cadogan muttered from a portrait outside the dungeon door: "Coward, Severus, coward… always wrapping yourself in black, hiding your other side, trudging forward in lonely silence. You should be a knight…"
He trailed off, moving away.
"But, my king… how can a knight who's never known love find the courage to bring happiness to others?"