Of course, everyone didn't refuse, and they all made room, giving Tewell a VIP viewing seat. Soon, a circle of curious young wizards surrounded them. Ron and Seamus, who were playing chess, became nervous, their hands trembling as they set up the pieces. It was their first time playing under a professor's gaze, especially one who was resting his chin on his hand, eagerly watching them.
"Why aren't we starting?" Tewell glanced at the two. "Am I making you uncomfortable here?"
George slapped Ron's shoulder, causing him to lean sideways. "Of course not, Professor. We'd love for you to stay here." George looked at Ron again, his tone carrying a hint of threat. "Isn't that right, Ron?"
Tewell chuckled at the scene, realizing his presence was putting pressure on them. "How about this? I can prepare a little gift for you. Whoever wins gets it." Tewell placed the badge on the table, handing it to the middle of Ron and Seamus. It was an enhanced version of the Ironclad Charm badge, capable of withstanding attacks from ordinary wizards for at least ten minutes, and even deflecting certain deadly curses to some extent.
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the badge. Although the design on it was, well, very rudimentary, they didn't underestimate it since it was presented as a gift by Professor Tewell. However, judging solely by its appearance, they couldn't make much sense of it.
Glancing at the badge, Ron and Seamus suddenly relaxed, even igniting with a fiery determination as they exchanged glances. Even giving commands to the chess pieces carried a scent of gunpowder.
Wizard Chess is essentially regular chess, but the pieces can move on their own; they obey the commands of the players. Of course, if the player is easy to bully, then the pieces won't behave obediently.
"That's a trap! Can't you see it?!"
"The queen is mighty! Please continue to charge forward, your most loyal servants will always be your shield!"
"Enough said, with my granny leading, we can all win."
Jokes aside, the pieces still obeyed commands in the end, but Seamus's skills were indeed not as good as Ron's, and he lost decisively after twenty minutes.
Amidst the excited or disappointed gazes of the onlookers, Tewell handed the badge to Ron. "This badge is inscribed with a powerful Ironclad Charm, capable of helping the wearer resist many spells, including some deadly ones."
There was an instant uproar, and everyone's eyes on the badge became fervent.
Whether it was because he received the badge or because it was the first time he received so much attention, Ron's face turned red, with blushes creeping up his ears and neck.
"Show us how it works, Ron!"
The Weasley twins couldn't wait to get to Ron's side, their eyes fixed on the badge in his hand.
"A reminder, the badge's magic is limited. It can be used only twice before the magic inside is exhausted, turning it into an ordinary badge."
Tewell's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dampening everyone's enthusiasm.
"So, take good care of it. Although I hope you never have to use it, it can save your life in critical moments."
Tewell winked at Ron and, while everyone was still in shock and disappointment, strode out of the hall.
The Gryffindor table was already crowded because of his presence, and after news of the badge's effects spread, even more young wizards gathered to watch.
If he stayed any longer, the hall would be packed with idle young wizards, and it would be difficult to leave. One badge in exchange for a high-quality Wizard Chess duel was a bargain in Trelawney's eyes.
Seamus's level wasn't high, just average, but Ron was different. Solving Professor McGonagall's chess puzzle already proved his exceptional skills. And to ensure he got the reward, he almost pulled out all the stops, combining various tactics masterfully.
Anyway, Tewell thoroughly enjoyed it.
In a cheerful mood, he quietly returned to the fourth-floor corridor, looking exactly the same as he did a week ago, without a single change.
Navigating through the familiar checkpoints, Tewell effortlessly arrived at the chessboard. Due to the board's peculiarity, he had to replace one of the pieces to command the black side. Naturally, he chose to replace the king and confidently issued commands to the pieces.
"Pawn, advance to A6!"
"Knight, capture the opponent's pawn!"
"Queen, return to E7!"
...
With a flurry of moves, five minutes later, unsurprisingly, Tewell—
Failed.
His lips twitched, speechless, as he waved his wand to block the throne the queen had swung down, then vented his frustration by shattering it. Failure was expected, but the unexpected speed of it was the problem. Seamus had lasted twenty minutes under Ron's command, so why could he only last five minutes?
It seemed he had underestimated this chessboard.
While waiting for the pieces to reset, Tewell observed the board. Undoubtedly, it employed a plethora of transfiguration techniques, reminiscent of Professor McGonagall's delicate spellcasting style. Especially during the process of piece restoration, Tewell could sense a controlling will.
The shattered pieces were thrown outside the board, but the source of control and willpower remained within the board. In simple terms, the board seemed alive, controlling the movements of the pieces.
It was similar to regular Wizard Chess but much more refined. Based on his understanding of the soul, this was a fusion of will, memory, and magic.
If this was McGonagall's work, Tewell found it somewhat unbelievable. But if it was Dumbledore's, then he understood. Thinking back to the old man's discussion of transfiguration and the display of willpower, achieving this level wouldn't be difficult.
From the looks of it, Dumbledore's research on the soul may even be deeper than his own! Tewell couldn't help but feel a weightiness in his eyes; the closer he got to the headmaster, the more he could sense the depth of Dumbledore's understanding of magic.
As a teacher who hadn't been actively researching magic for years, he was subtly falling behind in certain aspects. But Dumbledore was different. Living in Hogwarts, active in the magical community, his accumulation of magical knowledge was unparalleled in the contemporary era. This gave Tewell a headache.
How could he possibly steal the Philosopher's Stone under the nose of such an old man? He didn't want to end up surrounded by Dumbledore the moment he got hold of the Stone.
After much pondering with no satisfactory solution in sight, Tewell decided to let it go. With Chiro ahead of him, he was more anxious than himself. So, he brushed aside his concerns, got his mood in order, and returned to the chessboard to continue his wizard's chess game.
He had to get past this hurdle first, or the Philosopher's Stone would remain nothing but a fantasy.