Chapter 8: Fishing Pole Trap

20 November 1991

Harry woke up, hoping to earn Slytherin some points in Charms.

He ate breakfast with the other Slytherin first-years. As Harry, Draco, and Pansy headed to Charms, Harry noticed Hufflepuff first-years Ernie Macmillan, Wayne Hopkins, and Justin Finch-Fletchley walking past them in the corridor. He nodded to them, and all three of them gave him curt nods in return.

This wasn't because the Hufflepuff students openly disliked Harry and the other Slytherins. It wasn't because they hated them or resented them. No, that was the job of the Gryffindors. While all of that was true, the Hufflepuffs weren't exactly very fond of the Slytherins either. Harry assumed this was because Slytherin had won the House Cup for the last six years.

Harry didn't even know when was the last time Hufflepuff had even won the House Cup. He figured he ought to ask Draco and Pansy about that, since they seemed to be more aware of Hogwarts and the entire Wizarding World than he was. Or better yet, he could ask Granger, since she basically memorized the history of Hogwarts.

When they were in Charms, Professor Filius Flitwick asked them to practice the Levitation Charm.

The Slytherin first-years seemed to be struggling with this.

"Wingardium Levios…", Pansy said when she tried to levitate one of the cups Flitwick had them use for practice.

"Here, let me help you, Pansy", Harry said as he offered her assistance.

"Wingardium Leviosa!", Harry said in a determined and seemingly forceful tone.

The other Slytherin first-years clapped at Harry's efforts. Pansy was smiling.

Theodore Nott had also managed to levitate one of the cups.

Professor Flitwick then said, "Brilliant, Potter and Nott! Twenty points each to Slytherin!"

Draco then clapped Harry on the shoulder as class ended. "Great job, Harry."

"It was nothing", Harry said as modestly as possible.

After classes ended, Harry, Draco, and Pansy all decided to study in the library.

Graham Montague and Linus Urquhart then stopped them in their path.

"I think it would be best if we came with you", Montague said.

"Why is that?", Harry asked.

"Didn't Professor Snape say he wanted you to be protected and watched closely? That's what we'll do. We'll come with you in case that madman Quirrell or any slimy Gryffindors try to cause some unnecessary shit", Urquhart said.

"Fine", Pansy said.

"All right, then", Draco said, rolling his eyes. "Just don't start acting like my parents now. I don't need more people trying to act so responsible towards my well-being."

"Speaking of your parents, Draco, how are they doing? Have they sent you any more letters?", Harry asked as they all headed towards the library.

"I've got a letter from Father", Draco said. "He congratulated the Slytherin Quidditch Team and us on our victory against Gryffindor. He says he wasn't pleased to hear what had happened at the match. You know, the incident with Quirrell."

"I never did have the honor of meeting them at Diagon Alley", Harry said.

"You'll see them at Christmas break", Draco said. "I asked if you could stay with us during the holidays, and mother and father both said that was fine."

"That's wonderful", Harry said.

All three of them had sat down and were going over their Charms notes and Potions notes. Montague and Urquhart were standing near their table, looking for anyone that was planning on causing trouble and pandemonium.

Ten minutes in, Hermione Granger had walked over to their table.

"Hello, Potter, Malfoy, and Parkinson", Granger said.

"Granger", Harry said as respectfully as possible.

Montague and Urquhart had walked over to them at this time.

"Is she bothering you, Harry?", Montague asked.

"It's fine, Montague", Harry said. "We're just talking."

Montague and Urquhart seemed surprised. Harry obviously knew this because it seemed almost impossible for any Gryffindor to get along with a Slytherin for just a few minutes, and vice-versa.

"Anyway, Granger, you need something?", Harry asked.

"I just never had the chance to thank the three of you for saving my life on Halloween", Hermione said.

"It was a pleasure", Harry said. "I do have a knack for getting into dangerous situations."

Harry and Draco laughed, but not that hard.

Pansy smiled politely at Hermione, but Harry had to wonder if that was genuine or if she simply wanted Granger to leave.

"How are you finding your classes so far?", Hermione asked.

"They're fine, for the most part", Draco said.

"Yes", Pansy said. "Harry's helped us Slytherins score a lot of points in Potions."

Pansy then ruffled Harry's hair jokingly.

Harry smiled, but he had to be careful. He cared for Pansy, but any sort of intimacy, that way, would not be wise. They were only eleven, he needed time to think before being in a serious relationship. He had just found out about the Wizarding World only months earlier.

"Yeah", Harry said. He then tried to change the subject. "But I'm sure McGonagall awards points to Gryffindor as well because of your work. You're basically the smartest student in our year if not the whole school."

"She does, but it doesn't really mean anything", Hermione said. "Besides, you all know Ron Weasley, he's cost Gryffindor points because of his temper."

"Yeah, well, he shouldn't have tried to provoke us", Harry said. "We've done nothing to him, and he and his gang of Gryffindors have thrown petty insults and mocking comments at us."

"You shouldn't really worry about him", Hermione said. "That's just his typical prejudice against the Slytherins."

Hermione then asked another question, one that Harry was reluctant to answer.

"What happened at the Quidditch match?", Hermione asked. "I noticed your broom was acting funny."

Harry glanced at Draco and Pansy, not really sure what to say.

"It was probably a prank", Urquhart said, attempting to explain. "Nothing really serious."

"Oh", Hermione said. "Well, if you need anything, you can talk to me."

"Thank you", Harry said.

Two hours later, the trio headed back to the Slytherin Common Room, with Urquhart and Montague walking behind them.

"She just seems so polite", Draco said, seeming to be surprised.

"Guess we can't judge all the Gryffindors to be same", Harry said. "Then again, Quirrell seemed polite too, so we can't just trust everyone because they show respectable manners."

When they reached the common room, Draco then pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.

Just then Tracey Davis walked by their table.

"Hello, Tracey", Harry said. "Want to play a game of Wizard's Chess?"

"Sure, Harry", Tracey said, smiling. Harry had the white pieces and Tracey had the black pieces.

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

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

"Knight to f3", Harry said. The white knight on g1 moved to f3.

"Knight to c6", Tracey said. The black knight on b8 moved to c6.

"Bishop to b5", Harry said. The white bishop on f1 moved to b5.

"Knight to f6", Tracey said. The black knight on g8 moved to f6.

"Castle kingside", Harry said. The white king on e1 moved to g1, and the white rook on h1 moved to f1.

"Knight to g4", Tracey said. The black knight on f6 moved to g4. Harry seemed intrigued and confused by this move. Tracey had moved the same knight for two moves in a row. Harry then decided to attack the knight with one of his pawns.

"Pawn to h3", Harry said. The white pawn on h2 moved to h3, attacking the black knight on g4.

Harry expected Tracey to retreat the black knight, maybe to f6. But instead, Tracey said, "Pawn to h5."

The black pawn on h7 moved to h5. This would allow Harry to capture the black knight on g4.

"Pawn to g4", Harry said. The white pawn yanked out its sword and stabbed the black knight on g4 to bits.

"Pawn to g4", Tracey said. The black pawn demolished the white pawn on g4. This move also attacked the white knight on f3.

"Knight to e1", Harry said, hoping to save his knight. The white knight on f3 moved to e1.

"Queen to h4", Tracey said. The black queen on d8 moved to h4.

"Knight to c3", Harry said. The white knight on b1 moved to c3. Harry was completely unaware of Tracey's plan.

Tracey then said, "Queen to h1."

The black queen on h4 moved to h1.

Tracey then said, "Checkmate!"

Harry took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, seemingly unhappy.

Draco explained, "The trap you fell into is known as the Fishing Pole Trap. It's a trap that many beginners can easily fall into if they get too greedy and try to take material at the wrong time. But this trap can be avoided. Instead of playing your pawn to h3 on your fifth move, you should just develop normally, like move your knight on b1 to c3. That way the knight move won't be completely able to destroy the white kingside."

Draco then took a deep breath. "Harry, you can't keep falling into traps all the time. It's not just a concept in chess. It could be a life concept as well. If some insane dark lord tries to get revenge against you, you will have to try to be discreet and surreptitious. There are so many traps that You-Know-Who might be planning as we speak. I'm not trying to be mean or judgmental. I'm just being realistic with you so you can prepare yourself properly."

"Thanks, Draco", Harry said.

"No problem, Harry", Draco said. "What are best friends for?"