Chapter 5: Pin
2 September 1992
It was Wednesday.
Harry woke up early that morning and gathered and accumulated his homework. He did not want to give Minerva McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house and the Transfiguration professor, an excuse to take points from Slytherin.
Harry got his backpack ready and waited for Draco, Theodore, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle to wake up. When they did, they walked down to the Slytherin Common Room.
Gaius Avery and Cleo Rowle, now both six-year students, were getting ready to accompany the Slytherin first-years to their lessons. Harry briefly surveyed all of the Slytherin first-years. He glanced at Duane Harper, a Slytherin first-year who looked stocky and athletic. He looked at Jared Dolohov, Jeff's younger brother. Jeremiah Goodwinter. Laine Slater and Lucas Slater, fraternal twins. Luna Lovegood, who seemed polite and extremely shy. Philip Vaisey. Taylor Duxbury. Caitlin Holland, whom Harry suspected he would get along with just fine. But the biggest surprise was Ginny Weasley, who clearly thought she would be in Gryffindor. Harry was looking forward to seeing the look on Ronald's face when he saw Ginny with the Slytherins. He doubted he would be ecstatic. He would be far from it.
Marcus Flint, the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team, briefly greeted Harry and Draco in the Slytherin Common Room. Marcus was now a seventh year and had showed the two Slytherin second-year boys his Head Boy badge with a smile.
"Mia Wright was made head girl, by the way", Marcus Flint said.
"That's great", Draco said. "Both of you deserve this honor."
"Thanks, Malfoy", Flint said. "By the way, I'll let you know when the first Quidditch practice will take place."
"Thanks, Flint", Harry said. "I can't wait to play Quidditch again."
As Flint walked away, Cassius Warrington walked over and shook hands with Harry and Draco. Warrington was one of the substitute chasers on the Slytherin Quidditch Team.
"How is your second-year so far?", Warrington asked.
"So far, everything is fine", Harry said. "I can't wait for Snape's classes."
"Can you believe that those three Gryffindor gits were dumb enough to fly a car to school?", Warrington asked, laughing.
"Me, neither", Harry said.
"Well, we tried to warn them", Draco said. "They didn't listen."
"I can't wait to hear about how he got punished", Harry said.
"From what Flint told me, the three of them all got detention for two months", Warrington said. "And of course, we all know that they cost Gryffindor 900 points."
"Well, we'll see you later, Cassius."
Warrington slapped Harry's back. "See you later."
Harry and the other Slytherin second-years headed up to breakfast in the great hall. There, they would receive quite a surprise.
About twenty owls arrived to deliver eleven brooms to the Slytherin Quidditch Team. Harry realized that they were Nimbus 2001s. Harry looked at the note written on top of the packaged brooms.
A gift to the Slytherin Quidditch Team. Hold on to the Inter-House Quidditch cup. Lucius Malfoy.
"So that's why he was looking ecstatic at Diagon Alley", Harry said. "He was going to get these brooms for the entire Slytherin Quidditch Team."
"This should be a piece of cake", Flint said, laughing. "None of the players on the other teams will have brooms these good."
"I'll write a thank-you note to Father", Draco said. "These brooms must have been costly."
"Obviously", Adrian Pucey said.
Flint and Bletchley seemed to be the most overjoyed of all the Slytherin Quidditch Team members.
As Draco was writing a thank-you response to his father, another owl arrived at the Gryffindor table. This owl dropped a red envelope in front of Ron Weasley. Weasley already seemed disgruntled with the fact that his sister was in Slytherin.
Weasley looked horrified when he saw that red envelope.
"What do you think Weasley got?", Harry asked Draco.
Draco inched to get a closer look, then smiled. "I know what that is. It's a howler."
"Another one?", Harry said. "This should be good."
Weasley looked at the howler, looking horrified.
"Better open it, Ron", Neville Longbottom said. "My grandmother sent me a howler once. I didn't respond…and it was horrible."
Ron hesitated, then opened the howler. The entire great hall was listening looking amused as the screeching voice of Molly Weasley filled the great hall.
"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU. YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE…"
Weasley had sunk low in his chair so only his crimson forehead could be seen. Fred and George both gave their younger brother a thumbs-up while grinning from ear to ear. It was evident that the Weasley twins thought it was great that their younger brother had gotten into trouble while only being at school within 24 hours.
"…. LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU, SEAMUS, AND DEAN COULD HAVE DIED. I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED, YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK. IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."
The howler then congratulated Ginny on being sorted into Slytherin before the red envelope ripped itself up. Draco Malfoy started laughing like a hyena as he pointed at Weasley's bright red face. Luna Lovegood, however, didn't seem to be paying attention to anything that was currently happening in the great hall.
"Well, what did the prat expect after stealing and flying a car to school?", Daphne asked.
"Serves him right", Theodore said. "He deserves to be punished."
Harry smirked, then finished his breakfast. "We'd better head to Transfiguration. Don't want McGonagall to accuse us of being late."
The Slytherin second-years headed to Transfiguration. There, McGonagall was all business.
"Welcome, second-years", McGonagall said. "Everyone turn in your summer assignments."
Harry and the other Slytherin second-years turned in their assignments. Harry wondered if McGonagall would reward him with points. But, she didn't.
McGonagall then asked everyone to transform beetles into buttons. Harry was the first Slytherin to successfully do so.
"Good work, Potter. Ten points to Slytherin."
Harry felt pleased. Pansy and Draco both patted him on the back.
Afterwards, the Slytherin second-years headed to the dungeons for Potions. Harry was looking forward to this. This would be a chance to gain Slytherin more points.
The Gryffindor second-years didn't seem too happy. They were already displeased with the fact that Gryffindor House had lost 900 points. Weasley seemed to feeling the most dread, as was shown by his facial expressions.
Snape then walked into the Potions classroom, showing his usual serious expressions.
"Well, Weasley. Let's see if you've learned anything from our lessons last year. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Weasley's face was blank. It was obvious that he didn't know the answer.
"I don't know, sir", Weasley said.
"Let's try again", Snape said with a sneer. "What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"I don't know, sir", Weasley said, sinking low in his seat. Draco, Daphne, and Pansy were doing their best to control their laughter.
"Weasley, where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Pity Weasley, you clearly forgot to open one of your books before this class, did you? Ten points from Gryffindor for not being prepared for class. I have an idea, we'll try someone else. Perhaps you could answer my questions, Potter?"
"Yes, sir", Harry said. "Powdered root of asphodel and infusion of wormwood creates a sleeping draught so powerful that it's known as the draught of living death. Monkshood and wolfsbane have no difference, they are an intrinsic part of the same plant universally known as aconite. A bezoar is a common potion ingredient taken from the stomach of a goat and will save you from most poisons."
"Twenty points to Slytherin", Snape announced.
"How can someone like Potter know that?", Weasley asked nastily. "He was raised by muggles!"
"Another ten points from Gryffindor, Weasley", Snape snarled. "Can you tell everyone, for Weasley's sake, where you learned those facts, Potter?"
"I learned it from One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, sir. I also got help from my fellow Slytherins. I was taught everything I would need to know about Potions this term. I'm surprised Weasley didn't think to open a book before your lesson, sir. I would expect even a Gryffindor to study before a lesson."
"Quite right, Potter. Your fame clearly precedes your thirst for knowledge. A true Slytherin. Now, let's get started on today's lesson. Today we will be brewing the Fire Protection Potion. I trust those of you who have been paying attention should have no problems when brewing this potion."
Harry remembered drinking this potion when he rescued Cleo, Mia, and Isabella from Quirrell. Brewing this potion should be a piece of cake for him.
The first step of the potion was to slice bursting mushrooms with a knife, then add to cauldron and stir clockwise until the potion turned blue. The second step of the potion was to salamander blood to the cauldron, then to stir anti-clockwise until the potion turned green. The third step of the potion was to crush Wartcap powder in pestle, add to cauldron and stir clockwise until the potion turned red.
Not surprisingly, Hermione Granger was the first student to complete her potion. Ten minutes later, Harry completed his potion.
"Twenty points to Slytherin, Potter", Snape said.
Draco finished his potion, then Pansy and Daphne finished their potions. Snape awarded Slytherin ten more points each for those three potions.
Theodore, Blaise, Tracey, and Millicent then completed their potions. Crabbe and Goyle were the last of the Slytherin second-year students to complete their potions.
Ron Weasley was the last student of all to complete his potion. Snape looked at his potion with disgust.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor for not brewing this potion properly, Weasley."
As Potions class ended, the Gryffindors filed out the door. Weasley was talking to Longbottom. Harry could hear Weasley say, "The man is totally irritable. Seems like all he cares about is embarrassing me every chance he gets."
"Anyone feel like hexing the Gryffindors for fun?", Draco asked.
"Absolutely", Harry said. The Slytherin second-years unanimously agreed to spare Granger and Longbottom from their prank. Despite the fact that Granger was muggle-born, the Slytherins didn't actually have any issues with her.
"Wands out", Theodore whispered.
Each Slytherin aimed their respective wands at a different Gryffindor.
"Now!", Draco breathed.
"Lapso Accidere!", they muttered in unison.
The first jinx hit Parvati Patil. She stumbled into Amy Geagan who crashed into Lavender Brown. The second jinx attacked Chrissy Golding, and she fell against Finnigan. A third jinx hit Weasley, who stumbled against Thomas, and they both collapsed against the wall. They all fell into a pile of flailing limbs.
Harry and the other Slytherin second-years laughed and guffawed as they headed to the Great Hall for lunch. Harry ate his lunch quickly, as it would take quite some time to make it to Astronomy.
Their Astronomy professor, Professor Aurora Sinistra, seemed cheerful when their first lesson began.
"Good afternoon, Slytherins!", Sinistra exclaimed cheerfully.
"Good afternoon, Professor Sinistra", they replied.
"It's time for Astronomy."
The lecture was quite interesting, in Harry's opinion. She occasionally asked the Slytherins questions, and Harry and Theodore managed to get most of the questions right. Slytherin gained thirty more points. The class was interrupted by loud crashes and a commotion a few floors down.
"Perhaps when we meet again on Friday, these distractions won't be around", Sinistra said. "Dismissed!"
Harry and the other Slytherin second-year Slytherins wondered what the loud noises were about. They noticed that all the commotion was coming from the Defense Against the Dark classroom! Harry and the other second-year Slytherins tried to be discreet as they headed towards that corridor.
The scene in the DADA classroom was clearly not harmonious. It was definitely chaotic and disorderly. It was obviously a scene of mayhem.
Professor Lockhart was nowhere to be seen. Harry and his friends saw dozens of electric-blue Cornish pixies were causing and inflicting damage on anything they could get their tiny hands on.
"Potter, Malfoy, help me!", a voice shouted. Harry and his friends saw Neville Longbottom hanging on to a ceiling beam.
Theodore slightly laughed. A pixie came flying through the door to presumably get them, but Draco zapped it with a hex. The hex caused the flying creature to spiral to the floor.
"We ought to do something about this", Harry said. "Longbottom is trapped and hanging up there. We should help him."
"I think it's better if we inform one of the Slytherin prefects about this", Draco said. "We're only second-year Slytherin students. We should just stay out of it. We haven't learned how to deal with pixies yet. We could get hurt."
Harry glanced back over his shoulder as the Slytherin second-years rushed to inform a prefect. Luckily, they found Gaius Avery near the DADA classroom and informed him of what was happening with Longbottom.
"So, Avery will take care of it", Draco said. "It's all taken care of."
Without a defense class to attend, the Slytherins had the day off. The Slytherin second-years were heading to the Great Hall for dinner when they saw Lucas Slater and Duane Harper speaking with a first-year Gryffindor boy.
"There here is", Harper said. "Now please leave us alone, Creevey. We want to eat."
"What's all this about?", Crabbe asked out of curiosity.
Draco stopped directly in front of the Gryffindor boy. "What do you want, Gryffindor?"
The boy seemed nervous at facing so many Slytherins. "Mm-my name is C-Colin C-Creevey", he stuttered. "I w-was just w-wondering if I could take a p-picture with H-Harry Potter. Maybe you and he could take one together and sign it f-for me."
Harry was getting tired of people bothering him because of his fame. It was getting on his nerves. People just couldn't respect his privacy. Why does it have to be me? Harry thought.
"It's out of the question", Draco said with indifference.
"Signed photos? You're giving out signed photos, Potter?"
As if this couldn't get any worse, Harry thought.
Loud and scathing, Ron Weasley's voice echoed across the Great Hall. He had stopped right behind Creevey, flanked by Finnigan and Thomas.
"Everyone line up!", Weasley roared to the crowd. "Potter's giving out signed photos!"
"No, I'm not", Harry said angrily, his fists clenching. "Shut up, Weasley."
The other Slytherin second-years had already pulled out their wands.
"You're just jealous", Creevey piped up.
"Jealous?", Weasley asked. "Of what? I don't want a foul scar across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head cut open makes you that special, myself."
"But I'm sure you would love to have a signed photo, though, Weasley", Harry sneered, using Slytherin arrogance to cover up his anger. "I bet your family could sell it. Merlin knows you need the money."
As soon as Harry finished saying that, Weasley's fist connected with Harry's face. The redheaded git tackled Harry to the ground and punched Harry at least four times before Crabbe and Goyle rushed in to break it up. Someone then cast an impediment jinx, throwing Ron off of Harry.
Professor Severus Snape arrived to the rescue. Thank Merlin, Harry thought. This is going to be good.
"For attacking another student, thirty points from Gryffindor, Weasley. And another detention", Snape said.
Weasley glared at Harry before walking away. The other Slytherin second-years could see that Harry's nose was bleeding.
Draco pointed his wand at Harry. "Episkey!" Harry's nose was healed.
"Thanks, Draco", Harry said.
"Not a problem. Always here to help."
After eating dinner, the Slytherin second-years headed to the Slytherin Common Room. There, the Slytherin second-years revised their notes. There, Draco pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.
"Okay, Harry. There is a chess tactic you should be aware of. It's known as a pin. A pin is a chess tactic in which a defending piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable defending piece on its other side to capture by the attacking piece. Moving the attacking piece to bring on the pin is called pinning; the defending piece so restricted is described as pinned. Only pieces that can move an indefinite number of squares in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line can pin. Bishops, rooks, and queens can pin. Kings, knights, and pawns cannot pin. Any piece can be pinned except the king, since the king must be immediately removed from check under all circumstances. Let me show an example."
Draco then ordered the black king to be placed on a8, a black knight to be placed on c6, the white king to be placed on g2, and the white queen to be placed on c2.
"So, Harry, how would you pull off a pin in this position?", Draco asked.
Harry then said, "Queen to e4."
The white queen moved to e4, pinning the black knight on c6 against the black king on a8.
"Good job, Harry. Now I'll show another example. I'll place a white rook on a3, the white king on c1, the black king on h8, and a black bishop on h4. So how would white pull of a pin in this position?"
Harry then said, "Rook to h3."
The white rook then moved from a3 to h3, pinning the black bishop against the black king on h8.
"Now I'll show one more example, Harry. I'll place a white pawn on h4, a white bishop on g3, a white bishop on h3, and the white king on f1. I'll place the black king on a8 and the black rook on d5. So, how would you carry out a pin in this position?"
Harry then said, "Bishop to g2."
The white bishop on h3 moved to g2, pinning the black rook against the black king.
"So, Harry, what can you conclude from these positions?", Draco asked.
"Pinning can be quite useful in preventing enemy pieces from making any moves. Pins are a useful tactic to keep pieces from moving, as those pieces would expose their kings to capture. Like you said, pinned pieces are restricted, as they would expose more valuable pieces to capture."
"Well done, Harry", Draco said. "I think you're truly learning from this."