The Wizard’s Love Spell

"What do you mean GONE? Like... gone gone.....???" Isabella snapped. Charlie? Gone? He had to be joking.

But then again, why would he joke about losing Charlie? Charlie and Nick were quite close and had a long history. Nick wouldn't just joke of this.

"I've looked in the forest, as far as I dared to go at least, he's not coming when I call him." Nick said. He didn't make eye contact with Isabella.

"Could he have gone to the school to look for you perhaps?"

"No. He wouldn't do that. He knows not to go near the school. And to stay in the forest. He only flies home during summer break... he wouldn't just leave... that's why I'm worried."

Then a thought crossed Isabella's mind. It wasn't very pleasant though.

"Do you think... someone found him?" She asked, hesitantly.

Nick turned away. "I was hoping that wouldn't be the case."

There was a short silence.

Isabella put her hand on his shoulder. "How about we come back tomorrow to see if he's back? Perhaps he only went to walk around the forest. You never know." And though Isabella was trying to provide reassurance to Nick, it was also for herself. Because she too felt quite distressed. Where ever Charlie was, she only hoped he was safe, and that he'd be back soon.

They started to head out of the forest. Their walk back was silent, but not awkward. They walked in close proximity, and Nick, who usually held his head high and proudly, was now staring at the ground. His usual fun smile was gone. Isabella looked at him from time to time. She understood how upset he was. Though she'd only met Charlie this year, she understood how special he was to Nick.

Nick's mind was buzzing with questions and unpleasant thoughts. Where could he have gone? Maybe someone did find him? What if he's hurt? It was best not to dwell on these thoughts. As they walked out the forest, Isabella began to feel cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

This scene did not go unnoticed by Nick.

He took off his scarf and wrapped it around her. Her cheeks were flushed, but she wasn't sure if it was from the cold, or just because she was blushing. He sort of hoped it was the latter.

"Thanks.." she said, quietly. The walk back to the school was silent. "We'll come back tomorrow, ok?"

Nick nodded in agreement.

The school was empty, since most people were watching the Quidditch match, and others studying (mostly the Ravenclaws of course) but there were a few stray students around. Perhaps those born of non-magical families, who had yet to understand the sport of Quidditch.

Nick was about to head towards his common room, when he heard her say, "What should we do now?" She handed him his scarf back as she looked at him.

"No idea..." He said.

Isabella wanted to get him into a better mood.

"How about we play a game?"

"Oh! Ok.... I have an idea." she looked at him curiously. "We should play Wizard Chess, I'm pretty good if I do say so myself."

"Wizard Chess? What's the difference from muggle chess?"

"Have you never played Wizard Chess???"

"No...?"

"It's not different from how you play but it's better. You'll see." He started heading towards his common room. "I'll be right back, just meet me in the great hall, like by where I usually sit."

"Ok!"

So Isabella started to walk down to the Great Hall. It was mostly empty but there were a handful of students here and there. Most were studying or lightly chattering. Once she say down, it wasn't long before Nick was back. He carried a box with the board on top.

The pieces looked different to that of the muggle chess. These pieces almost looked... lifelike?

Nick set the game up quickly.

"I'll start so you can see what I mean" He said, "Pawn to D5."

Just as Isabella was wondering why he said it aloud, the piece moved itself to D5. No wonder it had looked so lifelike.

"It gets better as we go along."

"Whoa." She replied, and then made her move.

A while later, the Great Hall was beginning to fill up. The quidditch match must be coming to an end. Mira looked for Isabella, and found her with Nick. They were still playing. She stood behind Isabella, watching them play. Isabella was down to a Tower, knight and her king. Meanwhile Nick was doing much better.

The pieces were yelling at Isabella, for not having a good strategy. Nick just laughed.

"Queen to... G6" Nick's Queen moved forward, and knocked Isabella's Knight off the board. "Check mate, Isabella."

"Darn it!" Isabella. "I haven't played chess in a long time, ok?" There were no moves left, Nick's pieces surrounded her King. She had lost.

She turned away to face Mira as Nick was putting away the pieces.

"Do you know how the match ended?" She asked Mira.

Mira sighed.

"Hufflepuff won, only because they caught the snitch. 150-160. It looked like Slytherin was going to win... but last minute Hufflepuff got the snitch, only in the lead because of the one goal they scored. Michelle is not is good mood... so keep your distance."

"Oh ok, got it."

A cold aura then filled the great hall. A few heads dared turn to see who had walked through the door.

Michelle. She really was in a bad mood.

"I'm gonna try and talk to her." Mira said and walked away. Isabella didn't dare go there.

Michelle's face was stern, and she was glaring at the Hufflepuff seeker. Mira was trying to distract her, the poor Hufflepuff seeker looked genuinely afraid.

The teachers came into the hall, and once they took their seats, the hall's tables filled with food. Great timing, Isabella hadn't realized how hungry she had been.