Chapter 6: Scholar's Mate

18 November 1991

Five minutes after Harry won his game against Pucey, Marcus Flint and Jeff Dolohov walked past him and Theo in the Slytherin Common Room. Marcus and Jeff were both sixth-years. The two older Slytherins seemed to be arguing about something.

"Hey Flint, want to play a game of Wizard's Chess?", Harry asked.

"Sure, Potter", Flint said. He was apparently pleased to stop arguing with Jeff. Flint had the white pieces and Harry had the black pieces.

"Pawn to e4", Flint said. The white pawn on e2 moved to e4.

"Pawn to e5", Harry said. The black pawn on e7 moved to e5.

"Bishop to c4", Flint said. The white bishop on f1 moved to c4.

"Bishop to c5", Harry said. The black bishop on f8 moved to c5.

"Queen to h5", Flint said. The white queen on d1 moved to h5. The white queen was attacking two undefended black pawns from her position on the h5 square. Harry noticed that the black pawn on e5 was threatened by the queen. He decided to defend it.

"Knight to c6", Harry said. The black knight on b8 moved to c6. The black queenside knight was defending the black pawn on e5.

The problem was that Harry had chosen to defend the wrong pawn.

"Queen to f7", Flint said. The white queen on h5 moved to f7, demolishing the black pawn on the f7 square.

"Checkmate", Flint said.

Harry was disappointed he had lost again.

Theo decided to explain the situation.

"The mating pattern you and Flint just played is known universally as 'Scholar's Mate'. It is a quick checkmate often seen at the beginner level where the queen and kingside bishop team up against the opposing king. The point of that is to exploit the weaknesses of the f7 square for black and the f2 square for white, as both of those squares are only defended by the kings on the respective sides of those squares."

Theo then said, "But this checkmate can easily be avoided. On your second move, instead of playing your bishop to c5, you should have instead played your kingside knight that was on g8 to f6. This knight move would stop the white queen from moving to h5."

"Thanks, Theo", Harry said.

"Always willing to help, Harry", Theo said. "Slytherins stick together."

Harry turned to Flint. "So, what were you and Dolohov fighting about?"

"We both wanted to ask out the same girl from Slytherin, a fifth-year prefect named Cleo Rowle", Flint said.

"Well, who's idea was it first?", Theo inquired.

"Well, Dolohov's, but…"

"I think that answers the question", Harry said. "Jeff wanted her first, so it makes sense if he asks her approval."

Flint hung his head in defeat. "Fine. I'll go talk to Jeff and allow him to ask out Cleo."

Flint walked to the sixth-year dormitories. Two minutes later, Dolohov ran out of the room, clearly looking happy as hell.

"Thanks, Potter!", Jeff shouted in gratitude as he ran off to find Cleo.

Five minutes later, Gaius Avery, a fifth-year Slytherin who was also a prefect, approached Harry and Theo.

"Potter, Professor Snape wants a word in his office", Avery said.

"Did he say what it was about?", Harry asked.

"He said that he wanted to tell you in person."

Harry nodded and headed to Snape's office. When he arrived, he noticed Snape grading papers.

"Mr. Potter, I need to speak to you about several issues on my mind. The first issue is about your relatives."

"What about them?", Harry asked, feeling disgusted. Harry hated the Dursleys, and for obvious reasons. Even though they were his only living blood relatives, they treated him terribly, not to mention they verbally and physically abused him.

"I visited them", Snape said. Harry could the see the indignation and irritation in Snape's eyes.

"From what I have seen, it is very clear you are unhappy with the Dursleys", Snape said.

"What an understatement", Harry sarcastically remarked.

Professor Snape looked at Harry briefly before continuing to speak.

"Potter, you have every right to be angry and disgusted with those muggles. They are contemptible and revolting. But I would advise you to watch your cheek."

Harry nodded. "Right. Sorry, Professor."

Snape then said, "I went to Headmaster Dumbledore and explained to him the unpleasant attributes of the Dursleys and how awful that home seems to be for you. But you know Dumbledore and how adamant he is. You also know he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt."

Harry had to agree with Snape there. Dumbledore was nice, but perhaps too nice. Dumbledore obviously thought the Gryffindors were such wonderful angels. Harry sneered at the thought, as he pictured Ron Weasley and his arrogant housemates from Gryffindor. Harry was angry at Dumbledore for leaving him in such an awful place in Privet Drive, where he could never be loved.

"However", Snape said. "I was able to compromise with the old man. Us Slytherins are known for our strategic and ambitious plans."

"I agree", Harry said.

"So, Dumbledore gave me permission to allow me to take you away from those Muggles during the first week of every summer. Unfortunately, there are blood wards in that loathsome house that are supposed to protect you. But I'll bring you to my home after the week is up, so you'll be able to get away from the Dursleys."

Harry beamed. "Thank you, sir!"

"There's another issue I needed to talk to you about. It's about Quirrell and why he tried to injure you at the Quidditch match."

Harry was intrigued to know why the stuttering moron would go through such trouble just to end his life.

"Quirrell is after something in this school", Snape said. "It originally was in Gringotts Wizarding Bank. I believed Quirrell was the one who tried to break in and steal it on July 31st, even though Dumbledore ordered Hagrid to remove the object, which he did."

"I remember reading something about that break-in when I visited Hagrid once", Harry said. "What is that object, anyway?"

"That object is known as the Philosopher's Stone. It was created by Nicholas Flamel. Potter, you can tell the Slytherins in your year, as they all seem to care for you, especially Malfoy and Parkinson. But do not utter a word about this to anyone else."

"I understand, Professor", Harry said.

"Thank you", Snape said. "Oh, and good night, by the way."

Harry walked back to the Slytherin Common Room. When he reached the common room, he saw that Draco and Pansy were waiting for him.

"Harry, we had to warn you", Draco said. "We think Quirrell might be working for You-Know-Who."

"Yeah, Professor Snape said that Quirrell is after something in this school known as the Philosopher's Stone", Harry said. "Quirrell broke it into Gringotts to find it, not knowing it was already moved from there."
As Harry sat down, he felt nervous. "What if that stuttering idiot tries to kill me again? What will I do?"

Pansy reached out for Harry's hands with her own. "Harry, we won't let him do anything to you. If that repulsive monster tries to do anything, we will stop him. Together."

Harry nodded as Pansy held him tightly for a few minutes. Then, they all went to bed, with determination in their minds.