Chapter 8
The team clanked their glasses together.
“Thanks for the drinks, Murphy!” Iris smiled after taking a sip.
“I should be the one thanking you, I still can't believe we're wizard chess champions! When we set out to compete, our odds were 10.6%!” Murphy cheered.
“Shows you how far those predictions will get you.” Tulip chuckled. “Because Celine and her team have been unseated, and we're the ones with the large trophy.” She patted the five foot tall trophy that was sitting on the table.
“It really is large, isn't it?” Iris laughed looking up at the large trophy.
“I wonder if it was hand sculpted or if they used a mould.” Badeea pondered as she ran her fingers over the joints of the trophy.
“Either way, it's ours! And I think we can all agree, it's all thanks to Iris.” Tulip cheered.
“Thank you Tulip, it wasn't easy to defeat her, but somehow I pulled it off and I think the only reason is because of the three of you.” Iris lifted her glass of butterbeer. “To our chess team.”
“Here's to you Iris, and those lucky enough to have you at our side.” Tulip cheered as they all raised their glasses and clanked them together again.
“Badeea outfoxed her opponents by using her imagination.” Murphy said. “Tulip proved playing from the heart is as important as playing with your head.” He looked to Iris, “and you helped me realize my dream without letting my enthusiasm get in the way of the team.”
“And just like those fickle little pieces on the chess board, we needed a leader, a Queen if you will, who understood our unique abilities well enough to turn them into strengths.” Badeea added happily, looking towards Iris.
Just as she was about to say something, the door opened, and a bunch of Hogwarts students came in, cheering loudly, Penny leading the way.
“Your Patronus said you won! I thought you guys deserved a party!” Penny smiled as she walked up and gave Iris a hug. “It's party time!”
The party was loud, everyone was happy that Hogwarts had brought home another trophy for the case and had taken it away from Beauxbatons. Murphy talked t anyone who would listen about how the team had managed to come up with a way to counter the dreaded Dragon defense, and how Iris had executed it beautifully.
Skye was currently drinking the Slitherin boys under the table with spiked butterbeer, and Iris was chatting with a few of her female friends, along with Tulip and Badeea. Murphy's eyes happened to be burning and he more then likely had bloodshot eyes to match how lousy he was feeling at the moment.
There was a lull near the fireplace, and he took the opportunity to roll himself near the fire. Murphy parked himself in the corner by the fire, and transferred from his chair to the booth, and leaned back. He had hardly slept the night before and just wanted to close his eyes for a moment.
“Sleeping during a party?” Iris asked him, and he peeped one eye open.
“Well, I didn't exactly sleep well last night.” He admitted to her as she slid in next to him. “I like your skirt.” He grinned.
“I know you do.” Iris smiled, taking a sip of her extra sweet butterbeer before pulling at the bottom of her sweater, pulling it over her head to show that she had worn the matching top underneath. “I also know you like this top too.” She winked, and Murphy could do nothing but smile like a fool. His favorite outfit, on his favorite person, in the glow of a fire... It all was just everything he could have ever imagined it would be. He was just about to lean in and try to give her a kiss when she said, “you know. I wish it would have been you.”
“What?”
“That faced Celine. It was you who had the dream of playing in the tournament, and you were such a fan of hers. I wish you could have had your moment in the spotlight, to show everyone how great you are for once.” She told him.
“Well, regardless, you took her on and you won with grace.” He told her, “and I'm proud of you for being not just my friend, but for making your name in the Wizarding chess world.”
“I wouldn't have done it without you-”
“Iris!” Murphy and Iris's attention was pulled from each other to the wizard coming their way. Archie Brewer, captain of the Slytherin team, beater, six foot five inches of muscle, and hair of a golden retriever. “You're looking good as ever.” He greeted, pulling up a chair to sit across from her and Murphy.
“Hey, Archie.” Murphy said through pursed lips. He knew that Archie had a thing for Iris, well, most people had a thing for Iris so that wasn't the only reason he didn't like the guy. It was he was charming, and handsome, and the kind of guy that all the girls swooned for.
“What's up?” Iris asked kindly.
“We're about to take this party upstairs, gonna' do spin the bottle.” Archie smiled at her.
“That's a problem, since I can't go up the stairs.” Murphy pointed out.
“I was talking to Iris, not you.” Archie explained further. Murphy felt Iris let out a long huff and sat her drink down with a clank.
“Now, Archie.” She began, and Murphy saw her sit up a little straighter and place her mug of butterbeer down. “Why would I go upstairs, and take a chance of kissing the guy I want, when's he's right here?” Archie's smile grew from ear to ear, and Murphy felt increasingly uncomfortable. “Murphy?” Iris looked over at him, leaning towards him, “you want to snog?”
His brain. Shut. Down. He knew he sat there for a second, lips flapping in shock at the blunt question, before his brain caught up with the rest of him.
“Yeah.” He nodded, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her to him. He had heard the ballads of first kisses feeling like fireworks and the palpable energy one feels and he thought that it was all just blowing smoke.
Until he kissed Iris. He swore he saw stars.
He felt one of her hands on his chest, and then the warm fingers of the other caress his face. He tried not to get distracted by that, and focus on her soft lips. With that said, he also had to squelch any temptation to open his lips and french her straight away. So he pressed his lips against her's, alternating between light brushes of and more powerful kisses, the latter Iris seemed to enjoy a bit more.
Murphy's head spun when he felt a light brush of Iris's tongue along his lips, a non-verbal way of asking permission to take the kiss further. He weighed the response of continuing in public, or if he wanted to sneak away somewhere a little more private.
“Do you... Uh, want to-” he tried to articulate the words he was looking for but found himself just starring into Iris's blue eyes.
“Do I want to...?” She asked.
“Uh... Privacy. You want to find somewhere more private?” He finally asked.
“Well,” Iris looked around the tavern. “It looks pretty dead in here since most everyone went upstairs.” Murphy peered around and indeed, there was just a few people in the pub, none of which were looking their way.
“Well then.” He cleared his throat, “before we get back to that, does this mean... You and I are... Ya know....”
“Well I sure would like to think so.” Iris told him, running her fingers over his cheek, her nails lightly tickling his skin. “You?”
“There is nothing I would like more, my Queen.” He winked, wrapping his arms around her tightly, just enjoying being close to her.
“Just so long as you never call me that again.” She said in his ear.
“No guarantee's, afterall, chess is what finally brought us together.”
“Then it's only fair I call you the King.” She joked.
“I think it's fitting since the Queen is more powerful then the King.” He pulled back enough just to press a kiss to her forehead. She smiled, but shook her head, instead of keeping the conversation going, Iris pressed her lips against his again. They sat cuddled in the corner until Madam Rosemerta kicked them out and they had to return to Hogwarts, trophy in tow.
In Murphy's mind, he had two trophy's to show off to the world, one was meaningless metal, and the other was Iris.
His Queen.