Chapter 10: Quickest Stalemate
22 November 1991
It was Friday.
Harry woke up, just wishing he could stay in bed all morning. He noticed Draco grinning at him.
"You know what day it is, Harry?", he asked.
"It's Friday. So what?", Harry replied.
"We have double potions with the Gryffindors", Draco replied.
"I don't know why you're giddy about it", Harry said. "You really want to spend two periods in a classroom with Weasley and those other cocky lions?"
"Sure", Draco said. "If Weasley says anything or does anything stupid, Snape will just take points off from Gryffindor or give him detention. If Weasley is smart and learned anything during the three months he's been here, he'll stay out of our way and keep quiet."
"True."
Draco smiled. "You want to sneak into the girls' dormitory and scare them?"
"No thanks", Harry said. "Not my cup of tea. Besides, most of the girls in Slytherin respect me. All the first-years have welcomed me. But Pansy and I have been really close, like brother and sister, during my brief time in the Wizarding World. Along with you, of course."
"Fine", Draco said. "We should still wake them up, though."
"I think there's a rule that Professor Snape mentioned during our first night here", Harry said. "Something about boys not being allowed to enter the girls' dormitory."
"I know all about that", Theodore said. He had just woken up and immediately immersed himself into the conversation. "Some rule the founders established. Apparently, they thought that girls were more trustworthy than boys. So, some enchanted spell was installed to prevent boys from entering the girls' dormitory in each of the four common rooms."
"They're not giving us males enough credit", Draco said. "That's like all the Gryffindors and most of the school judging us evil Slytherins."
Draco said the word 'evil' with sarcasm.
"That's their problem", Theodore said. "If they are so naïve to think that we all will become criminals or murderers, then they are clearly out of touch with reality. Just because some of our forefathers turned dark doesn't mean we will do likewise."
Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle had woken up by this time.
"We should just get down to breakfast", Harry said. "The girls will be fine. Pansy will be the first one to wake up, for sure. I wouldn't worry…"
Just then Pansy walked into the room.
"Hello, boys", she said with a slight smile.
"Wotcher, Pansy", Draco said, waving his hand.
Harry said nothing, merely smiling at her.
When the other boys left the room to go to breakfast, Pansy grabbed Harry's hand and asked him to stay behind.
"Harry, can we talk?", Pansy asked.
"Sure", Harry said.
"Harry, I'm just concerned about you. I know Weasley and the other Gryffindors can be intolerable at times…"
"Pansy, I'll be fine. Weasley and his invectives mean nothing to me. I'll be alright."
"If you need me, I'll always be there."
Pansy squeezed Harry's shoulder affectionately as they walked to the common room. They both noticed Cleo Rowle and Jeff Dolohov exchanging a couple of kisses.
Gaius Avery didn't seem to approve.
"I need to remind you about our prefect duties, Cleo", he said. "We need to watching over the other Slytherins. You can snog your boyfriend later."
"Relax, Gaius. Everything will be fine. Nothing dangerous will happen.", Cleo responded.
"I'm just looking out. If Professor Snape finds out we've been handling our tasks and patrols in an inadequate manner, he'll give us detention and maybe even take our badges away."
Harry then decided to step in.
"Maybe you're being a little too hard on Cleo, Gaius", Harry said. "She's been doing well as a prefect."
"Thanks, Potter", Cleo said as she hugged Harry tightly.
"Need to breathe."
"Sorry."
Gaius took a deep breath. "Look, Potter, I know you're a peacemaker. The way you've been looking out for your fellow Slytherins in your year makes that evident. But there's a time for everything. Sometimes, criticism and opprobrium are necessary, especially when you carry vast amounts of influence."
"Understandable. But so far, neither of you have done anything wrong. At least from what I can see."
Gaius nodded. "I appreciate the feedback, Potter. Really."
Harry and Pansy then walked to breakfast with the other Slytherin first-years. When they were eating, they noticed Leo Dalton, the Gryffindor Seeker, glaring at them from across the room.
"What's his problem?", Goyle asked.
"He's probably bitter about losing the match", Harry said. "You know how badly Gryffindor wants to defeat Slytherin."
"Even if Dalton caught the Snitch before you did, Gryffindor still would have lost the match", Theodore said as he thought about the final score. "There was nothing he could have done. He should really get over it."
"That's true", Harry said. "But you know how butthurt the Gryffindors can be at times. How they easily lose their temper over petty situations. At least us Slytherins have some self-control."
After the Slytherin first-years finished eating, they all headed to potions. When they were walking through the dungeons, Leo Dalton rudely pushed Harry out of the way.
"Watch where you're going, you slimy Slytherin bastard!", Dalton snapped at Harry.
Harry wanted to think of a sarcastic reply to snap back at the Gryffindor third-year. But before he could say anything, Pansy then spoke on his behalf.
"There's no need to be nasty, Dalton", Pansy said. "Besides, you were the one who pushed him in the first place."
Without warning, Dalton spat at Pansy's feet. He then spat in her face. Harry, Draco, Theodore, and Blaise all pulled out their wands, ready to defend Pansy and attack Dalton. Then Professor Snape approached Dalton from behind.
"You have been at Hogwarts for three years, Dalton. You should know about proper etiquette and respectable behavior towards fellow students. For your disgusting behavior towards Miss Parkinson, I am taking twenty-five points from Gryffindor."
Dalton muttered under his breath, "Stupid, slimy-haired abhorrent asshole."
Unfortunately for Dalton, Snape had heard every single word.
"What was that, Dalton? I know what you said. Thirty more points from Gryffindor, and detention for one week. Starting tonight."
"But there's Quidditch practice today!", Dalton complained.
"Well, you should have thought about that before disrespecting your fellow students and a teacher!", Snape shouted. "Now get to where you belong."
Dalton walked off, clearly fuming.
"Are you all right, Miss Parkinson?", Snape asked. "Let me try a cleaning spell. Scourgify!"
Pansy was immediately cleaned from Dalton's saliva.
"I hope you're okay, Pansy", Harry said, squeezing her hand.
The Slytherin first-years walked into the Potions classroom. Then the Gryffindor first-years walked into the Potions lab. Harry noticed Ron Weasley glare at him for a brief second, but not say anything.
"He's just asking for trouble", Draco muttered.
"Ignore him, Harry", Theodore said.
"Today we will brew the Pompion Potion", Snape announced in a firm tone of voice. He very rarely acted in a humorous manner. "I expect every one of you to successfully complete this potion without turning my classroom into a battlefield."
Snape said the word "without" while glaring at Weasley, Finnigan, and Longbottom. Ron gave Snape a nasty look but was wise enough not to say anything arrogant or ludicrous. Neville looked frightened.
"Well then, you may begin."
Harry did not look in the direction of Weasley and the other Gryffindors as he worked with Draco and Pansy. The steps were seemingly primitive. The cauldron had to have Flitterby Moth in it after it was crushed to a pulp. The potion then had to be mixed clockwise until it turned green. The bouncing bulb had to be ground with a mortar and added to the cauldron. The potion was then required to be mixed anti-clockwise until it turned red. Afterwards, the foxglove had to be sliced and added to the mixture. The potion was then supposed to be stirred clockwise until it turned orange.
Tracey Davis was the first student to complete brewing the potion. She gave the mixture to Snape for evaluation.
"Well done, Davis. Ten points to Slytherin."
Harry and Draco grinned at Tracey. The two friends completed their respective potions next, along with Pansy. Snape rewarded each of them twenty points in Slytherin's favor.
Theodore completed his potion, then Blaise. Crabbe and Goyle were the last Slytherin first-years to be finished. Hermione Granger was the first Gryffindor to be finished. Harry wasn't surprised about that in the slightest.
Thirty minutes later, Harry watched as Weasley gave his potion to Snape, being the last student of all in that classroom to finish his work. Snape looked at the potion in a seemingly distasteful way.
"What is this supposed to be, Weasley?", he asked nastily.
"It's the Pompion Potion", Weasley said.
"Is that accurate? Because if I recall, the potion is supposed to be orange when it is finished. Your potion is red."
Weasley then looked nervous.
"Well? Care to explain, Weasley?"
Ron then stammered. "Well, I, uh…I might have turned it counter-clockwise for a little bit after putting in the Flitterby Moth, but I…"
Snape then silenced Weasley.
"Then this potion was completed in the wrong manner. It looks sloppy. If anything, it looks like crap. Ten points from Gryffindor."
Five minutes later, class was over.
After classes ended, Harry was talking in the common room with Draco, Theodore, and Blaise.
"What's your life at home, like, Theodore?", Harry asked.
"Well, my father, Timothy Nott, is an educator working for the Ministry. He used to tutor me, Draco, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle when we were small children. I have a younger brother, Hiram. He starts school here next year. I hope he gets into Slytherin."
"What about your mother?", Harry asked.
Draco and Blaise looked down at the ground, like Harry had just murdered someone.
"She died when I was six years old", Theodore said.
"I'm terribly sorry to hear that", Harry said. "How rude of me. I had no idea. I know what it's like to lose a mother."
"It's all good", Theodore said. "Besides, Hiram and I have enjoyed our father's personality and wisdom."
Draco seemed eager to change the subject. "Okay. Harry, I want you to witness a demonstration Theodore and Blaise will show us. The quickest possible stalemate. A game of chess can actually be stalemated in only ten moves."
"Wow, really?", Harry asked. "Is that possible?"
"Sure, it is", Draco said. "I'll bring the Wizard's Chess Set."
Theodore had the white pieces and Blaise had the black pieces.
"Pawn to e3", Theodore said. The white pawn on e2 moved to e3.
"Pawn to a5", Blaise said. The black pawn on a7 moved to a5.
"Queen to h5", Theodore said. The white queen on d1 moved to h5.
"Rook to a6", Blaise said. The black rook on a8 moved to a6.
"Some of the moves might seem unusual and strange to you", Draco said. "This is because both sides need to cooperate with each other in order to be able to achieve stalemate as quickly as possible."
"Queen to a5", Theodore said. The white queen moved from h5 to a5, smashing the black pawn that occupied the a5 square.
"Pawn to h5", Blaise said. The black pawn on h7 moved to h5.
"Queen to c7", Theodore said. The white queen moved from a5 to c7, destroying the black pawn that was on the c7 square.
"Queenside Rook to h6", Blaise said. The black rook on a6 moved to h6.
"Pawn to h4", Theodore said. The white pawn on h2 moved to h4.
"Pawn to f6", Blaise said. The black pawn on f7 moved to f6.
"Queen to d7", Theodore said. The white queen moved from c7 to d7, capturing the black pawn that was on the d7 square. This move also put the black king in check.
"King to f7", Blaise said. The black king on e8 moved to f7.
"Queen to b7", Theodore said. The white queen moved to b7, demolishing the black pawn that was on the b7 square.
"Queen to d3", Blaise said. The black queen on d8 moved to d3.
"Queen to b8", Theodore said. The white queen pulled out her sword and smashed the black knight on b8 to bits before occupying the b8 square.
"Queen to h7", Blaise said. The black queen on d3 moved to h7.
"Queen to c8", Theodore said. The white queen on b8 moved to c8, striking and destroying the black bishop that was on the c8 square.
"King to g6", Blaise said. The black king on f7 moved to g6.
"Queen to e6", Theodore said. The white queen on c8 moved to e6.
"Stalemate", Theodore said.
Harry found it hard to believe. But it was true. None of the remaining black pieces could move because they were all blocked. The black pawn on f6 couldn't move because it was pinned. The black king couldn't move anywhere without being in check.
"I think that was a humorous game", Harry said.
"Indeed", Draco said.
"It seems unlikely this type of game would ever occur in professional play."
"That's true. But this indicates there are numerous possibilities. We should always keep an eye out. I'm sure not even You-Know-Who knows about every chess tactic or strategy."