Chapter 12: The Bishop
23 November 1991
Harry and Draco headed to Quidditch practice with the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team.
Marcus Flint started by saying, "All right, everyone. I've looked around and secured the perimeter. If any of us spot Quirrell, notify everyone else so we can protect Potter."
Harry said, "That's not really necessary, Marcus."
"It is necessary, Harry. He's a dangerous sociopath who should never have been allowed to teach here."
Harry nodded in agreement. Draco seemed to be feeling the same way.
"We'll start with the chasers", Flint said. "Urquhart, why don't you give it a try? Let's see if you can score against Bletchley."
Urquhart seemed nervous. "I'll do my best."
Harry watched as the second-year Slytherin took off on his broom. Bletchley was guarding the goal posts with a serious expression on his face. Urquhart heaved his arm back and threw the Quaffle. Harry was impressed when Bletchley couldn't stop the Quaffle from entering the goal on the right.
"That was perfect, Urquhart!", Warrington exclaimed. "Not too difficult, now is it?"
"Your throwing skills still need improvement", Flint said. "But that was good."
Urquhart seemed to be more confident.
"Now you go, Pucey", Flint said.
Adrian Pucey headed on his broom to score against Bletchley. Harry watched as Pucey heaved the Quaffle to the goal on the left. Bletchley was able to pull of a save and stop the Quaffle from entering the goal.
"How about you try, Montague?", Flint asked.
Graham Montague did his best. He chucked the Quaffle to the goal in the middle, but Bletchley was still able to stop the Quaffle from entering the hoop.
Cassius Warrington headed on his broom towards the goal on the left. It seemed like he would try to score through that hoop. But then Warrington surprised everyone when he suddenly zoomed towards the hoop on the right. Bletchley was caught off-guard and wasn't able to stop Warrington on time.
"Well done, Warrington!", Flint exclaimed. "How about you, Malfoy?"
Harry watched as his best friend zoomed with his Nimbus 2000 towards the middle. Bletchley was watching intently, clearly unsure of Draco's plan. The blond first-year zoomed around in multiple directions as he headed towards the goal posts. It seemed like Miles would be able to prevent Draco's attempt. But then Draco zoomed to the right, and then went as fast as he could towards the goal on the left. He got the Quaffle into the hoop, and Bletchley was unable to stop him.
"That's perfect, Malfoy!", Flint exclaimed. "Just like the last practice session we had, I'll have Bole and Derrick try to stop you chasers with their Bludgers. Montague, you'll start."
Montague seized the Quaffle and headed towards the goal posts. Bole launched a Bludger in his direction. It scratched Montague but didn't hit him hard enough to knock him off of his broom. Harry watched as the third-year continued on his quest to the goal posts. Derrick launched a Bludger that would have hit Montague's back if he didn't turn around and notice it. He quickly maneuvered out of the way and chucked the Quaffle towards the hoop on the right. It went in perfectly.
Pucey then tried his best. He headed in a straight direction towards the goal posts. Derrick launched a Bludger that hit Adrian squarely in the back and caused him to drop the Quaffle. Draco then grabbed it and tried to score himself. Bole knocked a Bludger in his direction, but Draco saw it coming and managed to dodge it. He went on to reach the goal area and managed to get the Quaffle past Bletchley.
Urquhart tried to throw the Quaffle into one of the goals, but was stopped by a bludger from Derrick. Flint took the Quaffle and managed to get it past Bletchley.
After four more goals from Draco and three more goals from Montague, Flint then made another decision.
"It's time to release the snitch", he said. "Potter, Higgs, this is where you two come in."
Harry and Terence both watched with anticipation as Flint let the snitch loose. When it started trying to escape, both Seekers took off towards it. Harry was clearly faster as he was heading in the direction of the Snitch. It seemed obvious that he would get to it first.
Flint asked Bole and Derrick to launch bludgers at the two seekers, though he already knew that both of them-or at least Harry-could still successfully catch the snitch even with all the pressure.
Harry managed to dodge one bludger, then two. Higgs wasn't so lucky. The second bludger from Derrick hit him in the stomach, causing him to fall to the ground.
Harry managed to eventually catch the Snitch, but when he did, everyone's attention was focused on Higgs, who was on the ground, looking limp.
"Higgs!", Harry screamed. "How bad does it hurt?"
Higgs merely moaned. "Doesn't…feel…good…"
"Urquhart and Warrington", Flint said. "Can you two bring Higgs to the hospital wing? Practice still needs to continue."
After Higgs was taken to the hospital wing, practice resumed. Harry was still able to catch the snitch and Draco could still score against Bletchley, but now everyone seemed shaken.
After practice ended, Harry went to the training ground with Flint.
Warrington showed up, clearly panting.
"You're late", Flint said.
"I was helping Higgs to the hospital wing, in case you haven't noticed", Warrington said.
"Granted, that is true", Flint said. "Harry, we should show you more defensive spells. One such spell is the blasting curse. To cast it, you should point your wand, and say, 'Confringo'.
"Make sure you point the wand away from us, by the way", Warrington said.
Harry pointed the wand to the sky and yelled, "Confringo!"
Harry watched with awe as a fiery-orange light came out of his wand. It was an impressive sight.
"Now this spell can be very efficient for dueling", Flint said. "But it can also prove to be quite dangerous and deadly. It should only be used in emergencies."
"Another spell that is quite useful is the Stunning Spell", Flint said. "Even though we've already reviewed it, can you remember how to cast it?"
"Stupefy!", Harry yelled, pointing his wand at a rock nearby.
An hour later, Harry was heading back to the common room under Flint's supervision.
"How was your training with Flint and Warrington?", Draco asked.
"It was fine", Harry said. "I think I'm understanding these defensive spells more."
"That's good to hear", Draco said.
Yet, Harry couldn't stop thinking about that mirror that he had seen earlier in the day. If only he could look at it longer…
24 November 1991
Harry woke up early on that Sunday morning. He had finished all of the homework that would be due that week.
Just like every other day, he ate breakfast with Draco and Pansy.
"Do you want to see Higgs in the hospital wing?", Draco asked.
"Absolutely", Harry said. "I think he might be walking like normal in a few days."
Pansy shook her head. "Poor guy."
"This will only make him try harder", Draco said. "Even though he's the reserve seeker, we might still need him in case Harry's not available. You can't ever be too cautious."
After breakfast, the three friends headed to the hospital wing.
"Madam Pomfrey, can we see Terence Higgs?", Harry asked.
"Fine", Poppy Pomfrey said. "You have five minutes."
Harry, Draco, and Pansy saw Higgs on one of the beds in the back of the hospital wing.
"Higgs, buddy, are you okay?", Harry asked.
Higgs grunted. "I don't feel so much pain now. It hardly even hurts at the moment. Madam Pomfrey said I can leave the Hospital Wing tomorrow."
"Terence, you know Peregrine is sorry", Draco said. "He didn't mean to hurt you."
"I already know, he doesn't need to apologize", Higgs said. "What matters is the well-being of the team."
"We love Quidditch, Terence, make no mistake", Harry said. "But your well-being is crucial. Dude, we care about you."
"I appreciate the concern, Harry", Higgs said. "But you're clearly the better seeker. Everyone knows that."
"That doesn't mean we think any less of you", Harry said. "You're just as valuable to the team."
"Have you seen Quirrell around lately, Harry?", Higgs asked.
"I haven't seen him since the spectacle at the match. Snape wants to make sure that he gets nowhere near me."
Higgs licked his lips. "I would love to kick his ass."
"We've got to study", Draco said. "We'll see you around, Higgs."
The three first-years headed back to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Harry, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team is having a practice session at the Quidditch Pitch this afternoon", Draco said. "You want to check it out?"
"Sure", Harry said. "Why not? It would give us a chance to check out the competition. You want to join us, Pansy?"
"Sure", she said, smiling. "Even though I'm not really a fan of Quidditch."
The Slytherin first-years had their lunch in the Great Hall. Harry observed the Gryffindor table. Hermione was reading a book as usual. No surprise there. Leo Dalton was laughing with Oliver Wood and the Weasley twins about something. Kenneth Towler, a Gryffindor third-year, was in a conversation with second-year Gryffindor Cormac McLaggen.
Gryffindor fifth-year prefect Percy Weasley was talking with Gaius Avery near the entrance to the Great Hall in hushed tones.
What could that be about? Harry thought. Percy and Gaius rarely fought with each other, as Percy was one of the more tolerable Gryffindors. Still, it seemed strange to see the two of them in a conversation, giving the rivalry of their respective houses.
Something suspicious is happening, Harry thought.
Gaius then walked up to the Slytherin first-years.
"Some bad news. One of the Slytherin second-year girls, Jocasta Mulciber, was found by Prefect Weasley unconscious in the greenhouses."
"Oh no!", Tracey exclaimed.
"How badly hurt is she?", Theodore asked.
"She was found bleeding. There was a lot of blood on the floor right next to Jocasta."
"Will she be all right?", Harry asked.
"She'll be fine, Harry", Gaius said. "But she'll be in the hospital wing for at least two weeks, according to what Percy told me."
Avery looked at the sky, looking worried. "Snape will take my badge away for this."
"No, he won't", Harry said. "You didn't do anything wrong. This isn't your fault."
Gaius put his hands in his head.
"I have to go to the hospital wing."
After the fifth-year prefect left, Harry looked at his friends in complete shock.
"We should really get going to the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team practice", Draco said. "We should take our mind off of this."
Harry, Draco, and Pansy headed to the Quidditch Pitch to watch the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team. The captain was a sixth-year named Finley Clarke, who was playing as the keeper. In Harry's opinion, Clarke didn't seem as talented as Bletchley, but he looked decent. He would make sure to talk to Flint about this.
In the Slytherin Common Room, Harry was pacing back and forth. The other first-years were watching this, as well as Warrington and Urquhart.
"Mate, are you okay?", Draco asked.
"I'm not, Draco. Far from it", Harry said. "A second-year Slytherin was attacked really badly. She was injured. And for some reason I feel responsible."
"How can you be responsible for what happened to her?", Daphne asked.
Harry was thinking for a few seconds. Then, a thought came to his head.
"Maybe Quirrell was responsible for that", he said. "He saw he couldn't get me killed, so he probably attacked her when she didn't notice and injured her. He probably did it to try to lure me to confront him."
"And what are you going to do?", Pansy asked.
"I'll have no choice. I'll have to take the coward on. Make him pay", Harry said.
"Harry, no!", Pansy exclaimed. "Please, it's too dangerous! I could never forgive myself if something happened to you and I could have stopped it."
"Yeah, Harry", Draco said. "Trying to attack Quirrell publicly won't accomplish anything."
Draco took a deep breath, then an idea formed in his head.
"Daphne, do you know if Madam Pomfrey will allow us to visit her?", he asked.
"Due to the seriousness of Jocasta's injuries and the way she was attacked, not for at least a few days", she said. "To avoid any suspicious activities."
"Tell you what, Harry", Draco said. "How about we teach you some more about Wizard's Chess? Let's examine the bishop. It would be productive to focus your energy on something else."
Harry pulled out his quill and some parchment.
"List the squares the two white bishops start at during the beginning of the game."
Harry wrote down the squares c1 and f1.
"Now write down the squares the two black bishops start at during the beginning of the game."
Harry wrote down the squares c8 and f8.
"I'm going to place a black bishop on b4", Draco said. "Harry, can you write down all the squares this bishop can move to from here?"
Harry wrote down the squares a3, a5, c3, d2, e1, c5, d6, e7, and f8.
"Now I'll remove the black bishop and place a white bishop on d5", Draco said. "Please write down the squares the bishop can move to from this position?"
Harry wrote down the squares a8, a2, b7, b3, c6, c4, e6, e4, f7, f3, g8, g2, and h1.
"I'll relocate the white bishop to b2 and place a black rook to e5", Draco said. "How can the white bishop capture the black rook?"
Harry then said, "Bishop to e5."
The white bishop moved from b2 and stabbed the black rook on e5 to bits, capturing it.
"You should know that it is impossible for the superior side to win with just a king and one bishop. Which is why two bishops are needed to force checkmate. And the checkmate is often carried out with the inferior king in the corner."
Draco then ordered for the black king to be on a8, the white king to be on b6, a white bishop on f4, and the other white bishop on b3.
"Now, how will checkmate occur in this position?", Draco asked.
Harry then said, "Bishop to d5."
The white bishop on b3 moved to d5.
Harry said, "Checkmate."
"Now I'll relocate the pieces so that the black king is on h8, the white king is on g6, one of the white bishops is on c4, and the other white bishop is on g3", Draco said. "What will you do in this position?"
Harry then said, "Bishop to e5."
The white bishop on g3 moved to e5.
"Checkmate", Harry said.
"So, what can you conclude after all of this, Harry?", Draco asked.
"Bishops move diagonally, which means that a bishop must always be on a square that is the same color it started on", Harry said. "Bishops can capture, just like every other piece. They function best in the center, and seem to be essential in the opening and middlegame."
"Harry, if you keep practicing Wizard's Chess, I promise you that you will be gaining much insight about it", Draco said. "A good way to take your mind off of troubling matters."