Chapter 15: The Pawn

27 November 1991

Harry woke up early on Wednesday morning.

After what had happened yesterday, Harry didn't want to take any risks. There was no need to be overly cautious, but he knew it was better to be safe than be regretful.

Harry also knew that his dueling lessons with Flint and Warrington had to be completely surreptitious and clandestine. If anyone found out, he didn't want to think about what could happen. Maybe a few pointers or tips would not be illicit, but if anyone ever found out that Harry had practiced unforgiveable curses, he could end up in serious trouble with the school if not the ministry.

Harry decided that he would study his Charms classwork until the other Slytherin first-year boys woke up. Within twenty minutes, Theodore was the first one who had woken up.

"Good morning, Theodore", Harry said.

"Likewise, Harry", Theodore said. "I see you woke up early to prevent what happened yesterday from repeating."

"Yes", Harry said, chuckling slightly.

Draco then woke up to the sound of their voices.

"Ready for charms, Draco?", Harry asked.

"Not really", Draco said, smiling a little. "I might handle it, though."

"You'll be fine", Harry said. "This shouldn't be a problem."

"Thanks, mate", Draco said.

Harry then said, "Maybe we should wake up Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise. That way they won't go through what I went through yesterday."

"Fair enough", Draco said.

After all the Slytherin first-year boys had woken up, they all walked through the common room.

"How's Jocasta?", Harry asked Freya Hutchins, a second-year Slytherin.

"I have no clue", Freya said. "Last I heard from the prefects, she seems to be in a much better state than she was when Percy Weasley found her injured."

Harry watched as Isabella Naughton, a seventh-year Slytherin prefect, passed by them.

"Isabella?", Harry asked. "How is Jocasta's condition?"

"Haven't heard anything", Isabella said.

Harry sighed. "I still feel responsible."

"You shouldn't, Harry", Draco said. "This isn't your fault."

"I know", Harry said. "But the only reason she was attacked in the first place was because Quirrell wanted to cause me to come after him. Luckily for me, you and the other Slytherin first-years talked me out of trying to exact vengeance."

"Happy to be of service", Draco said, taking a mocking bow.

The two best friends laughed. Theodore, Crabbe, and Goyle snickered.

"Let's get going to breakfast", Draco said.

"Shouldn't we wait for the girls?", Harry asked.

Draco smiled. "There's no need. We'll just go get breakfast. They will understand."

So, the six Slytherin first-year boys headed to breakfast. As they were eating, Harry had to wonder if they would be able to adequately perform any of the charms that Professor Flitwick would assign them to complete.

Pansy, Daphne, Tracey, and Millicent joined them at the breakfast table. The girls did not seem upset or dismayed that the boys had eaten without them.

After breakfast, the Slytherin first-years all headed to Charms. Gaius Avery and Cleo Rowle were leading them to the charms classroom.

"That was wise of you to wake up early this morning, Harry", Draco said.

"It never hurts to be slightly discreet", Harry said. He thought the events that had happened yesterday morning were disastrous. He had no intention of ever allowing that to happen again.

As the Slytherin first-years sat down, Pansy smiled at Harry. Harry smiled back. Before either of them could say anything to the other, Professor Flitwick entered the classroom.

"Good morning, first-years", he said.

"Good morning, Professor Flitwick", the Slytherin first-years replied.

"Today we will review the locking spell and its countercharm, the unlocking charm", Professor Flitwick said. "We can use the door to the classroom for practice. Miss Parkinson, would you like to start?"

Pansy hesitated, then nodded her head.

She pointed her wand at the doorknob and shouted, "Colloport…"

She looked at the floor, seemingly panicking.

"Try again, Miss Parkinson", Professor Flitwick said.

"You can do it, Pansy", Harry said, hoping to offer encouragement.

Pansy tried to cast the locking spell, but her attempt was not adequate.

One by one the Slytherin first-years attempted to cast the locking spell, but none of them succeeded. Even Theodore, Blaise, and Draco were having trouble with it.

Finally, it was Harry's turn.

"Demonstrate for us, Mister Potter."

Harry pointed his wand at the doorknob and shouted, "Colloportus!"

The doorknob locked itself, seemingly secure and fastened.

"Good work, Mister Potter. Ten points to Slytherin."

Harry felt relieved, but felt bad that his fellow Slytherins couldn't cast the spell successfully.

Professor Flitwick looked at the Slytherin first-years, seemingly disappointed.

"Now I want all of you to cast the counter spell to the locking spell, also known as the unlocking charm. Mister Malfoy, would you like to try?"

Draco nodded. This time he seemed to be performing like he normally would.

"Alohamora!", he shouted, causing the door to be unlocked.

"Five points to Slytherin", Professor Flitwick said.

Draco seemed relieved.

"Can you try casting the locking spell again?", Professor Flitwick asked.

Draco pointed his wand at the doorknob and shouted, "Colloportus!"

The doorknob was locked again.

"Another five points to Slytherin", Professor Flitwick said. "Miss Parkinson, can you demonstrate the unlocking charm on the doorknob?"

Pansy shivered, her lip slightly quivering.

"Give it your best shot, Pansy", Harry said.

Pansy then pointed her wand at the doorknob and exclaimed, "Alohamora!"

The doorknob unlocked.

"Five points to Slytherin, Miss Parkinson", Professor Flitwick said.

"I told you that you could do it", Harry said, patting Pansy on her back.

Pansy smiled widely.

Shortly afterwards, Professor Flitwick gave the entire Slytherin first-year class a quiz. Harry was the only one to get every question correct.

"Twenty points to Slytherin, Mister Potter. Well done."

Harry was glad that he had earned Slytherin more points. What he had attained that day seemed to be well-deserved. But he was also careful not to act arrogant and hubristic. He wanted to work hard and make his peers and entire house proud, but he also wanted to be humble. He certainly had much time to think about that. His parents were murdered, he grew up in an abusive household with relatives that did not care for his well-being. He was more than thankful that he had friends and classmates in Slytherin that seemed to care about him. He would be sure not to take any of that for granted.

Pansy smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry. For your encouragement in the class."

"It's not a problem", Harry said. "I'm sure you or Draco would have done the same for me."

After classes for the ten first-year Slytherins were finished, they returned to the Slytherin common room in the dungeons.

They spent the next two hours studying their notes. Their exams before Christmas break were coming up in a few weeks. Harry wanted to make sure that they somehow could get through them without worry, panic, or discord. He believed they all had decent chances.

Afterwards, Draco pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.

"Harry, now we should practice how the pawn moves and functions. Write down all the squares the eight white pawns start at the beginning of the game."

Harry wrote down on his parchment a2, b2, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2, and h2.

"Now write down the squares the squares the eight black pawns start at during the beginning of the game."

Harry wrote down on his parchment a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, g7, and h7.

"Now I'll place a white pawn on e4 and a black pawn on d5", Draco said. "Harry, how would the white pawn capture the black pawn?"

Harry then said, "Pawn to d5."

The white pawn obliterated the black pawn on the d5 square before taking its place.

"Now I'll place a white pawn on e5 and a black pawn on d7", Draco said. "There is a special type of capture that a white pawn on the fifth rank can make. A black pawn on the fourth rank can capture this way as well. This type of capture is called En Passant, which is French for 'In Passing'. This capture occurs in this particular example when the black pawn on d7 moves to d5. The white pawn on e5 can capture the pawn as if the black pawn had moved to d6 instead. Harry, can you demonstrate how that would take place?"

"Pawn to d6", Harry said.

The white pawn on e5 moved to d6, capturing the black pawn on d5 through 'in passing'.

"You should be aware that pawns can be promoted to another piece upon reaching the last rank. It can be any piece you want, except for a second king", Draco said. "An example is when a black pawn is on h2. How would you promote the pawn?"

Harry then said, "Pawn to h1."

The black pawn on h2 moved to h1.

"You can choose to promote that pawn to a queen, knight, rook, or bishop", Draco said.

"I'll promote the pawn to a queen", Harry said.

The black pawn transformed into a black queen.

"Most of the time, the queen is the best choice", Draco said. "Pawns also play a role in delivering checkmate. I'll have the black king on e8, the white king on e6, and a white pawn on c7. Harry, how would checkmate be delivered?"

"Pawn to c8", Harry said.

The white pawn on c7 moved to c8.

"I'm promoting the pawn to a queen", Harry said.

The white pawn transformed into a queen on the c8 square.

"Checkmate", Harry said.

"I'll make another position", Draco said. "I'll place the white king on b6, the black king on b8, a white pawn on b7, and a second white pawn on a6. With white to move in this position, how would he achieve checkmate against the black king?"

Harry then said, "Pawn to a7."

The white pawn on a6 moved to a7.

"Checkmate", Harry said.

"So, Harry, what can you conclude from these findings?", Draco asked.

"Both sides start with eight pawns each at the beginning of the game", Harry said. "The pawns seem to be essential in the opening and should be traded for any other piece, since pawns are the least valuable pieces. Nevertheless, one or two extra pawns in the endgame are a significant advantage because they could pose a problem for the opposing side. Not to mention that they can be promoted to queens if the opposing side isn't able to stop the pawns. This shows the pawns shouldn't be disregarded."

"I agree", Harry said. "I think my experience and insight about chess is increasing, the more I practice these positions. It could be useful someday."

"Indeed it can", Draco said.

Harry then turned to Theodore. "What's Hiram like?"

"Pretty much like me, Harry. Except he's more into Quidditch than I am. I think he's even memorized Quidditch rosters from every season the last thirty years. If you become captain in sixth year, you'll have to put in good word for the two of us. We would both make decent keepers, I think."

"I'm sure you will."