Chapter 22: The Starting Position

21 February 1992

More than a month had passed. Harry and the other Slytherin first-years continued doing their work without much difficulty. Slytherin acquired more house points as the school year progressed.

Ron Weasley hadn't said anything to Harry and the other Slytherin first-years for a while. He would still occasionally glare at them and look at them disdainfully, but at the very least, he was keeping his mouth shut.

Maybe's he finally learned his lesson, Harry thought. Hopefully I won't be hearing his stupidity again.

At least that's what he hoped.

The Slytherin Quidditch Team would play the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team on February 22nd. It probably wouldn't have been as exciting as the match against Gryffindor, but Harry was hoping it would be a decent match. He had seen Liam Goldstein a few times around school since January. He didn't seem as crazy and fanatical about Quidditch as Oliver Wood. Harry was quite certain that nothing would go wrong before the match.

But he was wrong about that.

After classes that Friday afternoon, Draco asked Harry if he wanted to learn more about Wizard's Chess.

"Sure", Harry said. The two boys walked over to the chessboard.

"Harry, I want you to memorize the starting position. We'll start with the rooks. The black queenside rook starts on a8, and the black kingside rook starts on h8. Where would you place the white rooks?"

Harry then replied, "The white queenside rook starts on a1, and the white kingside rook starts on h1."

"Correct", Draco said.

Draco then said, "The black queenside knight starts on b8, and the black kingside knight starts on g8. Where are the white knights supposed to start at?"

Harry then said, "The white kingside knight starts on b1, and the white kingside knight starts in g1."

"That's right, Harry."

Draco then stated, "The black queenside bishop starts on c8, and the black kingside bishop starts on f8. Where would the white bishops be placed?"

Harry then said, "The white queenside bishop would start on c1, and the white kingside bishop starts on f1."

Draco then said, "The black queen starts on d8. A rule regarding the starting position is that the queen is placed on the square of her own color. So, where would the white queen start at?"

Harry then said, "The white queen would start on d1, since that square has the same color."

"Correct again, Harry."

Draco then ordered the black king to move to his designated square. "The black king starts on e8. Where would the white king start?"

"The white king starts on e1", Harry said.

"That's right, Harry."

Draco then said, "The eight black pawns are placed on a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, g7, and h7 at the beginning of the game. Where are the eight white pawns located at the start of the game?"

Harry then said, "The eight white pawns start at a2, b2, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2, and h2."

Draco said, "Well done, Harry."

Draco then nodded at Harry. "Okay, I'm going to clear the chessboard. I want to see if you can memorize all the squares that the chess pieces start on. Can you do that?"

"Sure", Harry said. "The white queenside rook starts on a1 and the white kingside rook starts on h1. The black queenside rook starts on a8 and the black kingside rook starts on h8. The white queenside knight starts on b1 and the white kingside knight starts on g1. The black queenside knight starts on b8 and the black kingside knight starts on g8. The white queenside bishop starts on c1 and the white kingside bishop starts on f1. The black queenside bishop starts on c8 and the black kingside bishop starts on f8. The black queen starts on d8 and the white queen starts on d1. The black king starts on e8 and the white king starts on e1. The white pawns start on a2, b2, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2, and h2. The black pawns start on a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, g7, and h7."

"All of that is correct, Harry", Draco said. "Well done."

He also added, "During the game, many of these pieces are likely to be captured. But even if you lose some material, you could still win a game of Wizard's Chess. Trust me, it is possible."

"Thanks for the advice, Draco", Harry said.

"No problem, mate."

Harry seemed satisfied after studying the starting position. He only hoped the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team was feeling fine as well. But he had no idea how wrong he was.

Graham Montague and Adrian Pucey were both in the Great Hall, eating some steak that was at the Slytherin table. They both wanted to prepare themselves for the match tomorrow. Maybe eating more food would take some of the anxiety off of them.

Montague didn't see why they should be worried. Ravenclaw should be easy to beat. This shouldn't have been a problem for them.

Montague and Pucey both decided to walk back down to the dungeons and meet the rest of the team in the Slytherin Common Room. It never hurt that much to do extra strategizing. It was worth a try.

As they both headed out of the great hall, they both saw someone they equally detested. It was Leo Dalton, the Gryffindor Seeker.

Dalton sneered when he saw Montague and Pucey. "Well, look who it is. The cheats on the Slytherin Quidditch Team. The slimy snakes."

"So original, Dalton", Pucey sarcastically remarked. "Please piss off and leave us alone. We want nothing to do with you."

"Montague, how's your mother doing? Is she still a prostitute?", Dalton asked nastily.

Montague's face reddened when Dalton had mentioned his mother. Montague's mother, Ava Montague, had cheated on Montague's father at least two times before Montague was born. He didn't know how Dalton had figured out what had happened, but he tried to shrug it off and not let it bother him.

"Shut the hell up about my mother, Dalton", Montague said.

The two Slytherin chasers then walked away.

"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?", Dalton remarked. This caused the two Slytherin boys to turn around and glare at Dalton, the looks of hatred being clear and evident. But Dalton continued speaking. "But that's not a surprise. You're both brain-dead morons who don't know any better. But both of your fathers were morons as well, so that's not really a surprise…"

Before Dalton could continue, Montague and Pucey both charged towards him and tackled him, knocking the Gryffindor seeker to the ground. Dalton tried to fight back, but it was one against two, and he was feeling the pain from their kicks and punches everywhere.

The entire Great Hall was in an uproar as many students were watching the fight now, mostly out of intrigue and curiosity. Montague and Pucey were both taking turns hitting and punching Dalton. They wanted to teach the stuck-up jerk a lesson about running his mouth.

"Impedimenta!"

The impediment jinx had knocked both Montague and Pucey to the ground. They both turned their heads to see who had cast it.

It was Professor McGonagall.

She walked over to Dalton, who was now bleeding from the punches and kicks that he had attained from the two Slytherin chasers.

"To the hospital wing, Dalton", McGonagall said.

She then glared at Montague and Pucey. "For attacking and assaulting another student, sixty points from Slytherin. Each."

Montague and Pucey both realized what had just happened. Slytherin had just lost 120 points.

But McGonagall wasn't finished yet.

"Detention every day for the next three weeks. Starting tomorrow."

Montague thought, Three weeks. That's going to suck.

But then he remembered.

Oh no! The match against Ravenclaw!

"But professor! The quidditch match!", Montague exclaimed.

"Should have thought about that before attacking one of my students", McGonagall said.

"But he was insulting our parents!", Pucey shouted.

"Well, you should have ignored him and kept on walking!", McGonagall exclaimed. "Don't look at me that way, you deserve detentions!"

Montague and Pucey both looked at each other with fear before heading off to the Slytherin Common Room. They both knew Flint would be furious.

In the Slytherin Common Room…

"What?!", Flint shouted.

Montague and Pucey had just told Flint what had happened in the Great Hall. Harry knew Flint was incensed. After all the training that they had put in, two of their players would have to miss the game to serve detention. Not to mention that Slytherin had lost 120 house points.

"Fine", Flint said. "This changes everything. I did not expect this."

"Slytherin are still in the lead for the house cup", Harry said.

"Yeah, but now we only have a 30-point lead", Draco said. "One of the Ravenclaw second-years, Cho Chang, just gained Ravenclaw forty points after completing her Charms exams with a perfect score."

Urquhart put his head in his hands. "How did we get to this point?"

"Everything was going just fine", Flint said, seething at Montague and Pucey. "But you two idiots just had to ruin it for the rest of us. You should have known Dalton was trying to provoke you. You could have simply ignored him."

Montague and Pucey were now both looking at the ground. They both now knew they had messed up big time.

Flint was still glaring at Montague and Pucey. "And yet, you chose to attack Dalton. You both fought him, and got caught by McGonagall. After all that training we put in…"

Flint grabbed one of the beater's bats and slammed it against the wall, upsetting several portraits in the process.

"Calm down, Marcus", Gaius Avery said, who was rushing over to stop Flint from trying to hit anything else in his anger and outrage.

"How can I calm down, Gaius?", Marcus asked. "We were this close to beating Ravenclaw, and now we have to change our plans."

Flint took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, then he seemed to regain his composure.

"All right, then", Flint said. "Warrington, you'll be starting as chaser tomorrow. Don't worry about the Ravenclaw chasers, you've shown to be quite useful in training. And Potter, whatever you do, catch the snitch as quickly as possible."

Harry nodded. "You got it, Flint." He knew that tomorrow would be a difficult challenge for the Slytherin Quidditch Team, who would be missing two of their best players in that match.

This was not something he would have expected.

22 February 1992

Harry woke up that morning, not feeling too pleased about what he would be facing that afternoon. The Ravenclaw Quidditch Team was feeling pretty confident. Harry saw Liam Goldstein smiling and joking with other players on his team. This would be bad. If he managed to get out of this unscathed, he would be so thankful.

"Good luck, Harry. You too, Draco", Pansy said.

"Thanks", Harry said. But he knew that the game was going to be unpleasant. If he got out of this alive, he would be showing a vast amount of gratitude. How did everything get ruined so quickly?

Just before the match, Flint showed them the lineup:

The 1991-1992 Slytherin Quidditch Team

Match vs. Ravenclaw

Chasers: Marcus Flint (captain)

Draco Malfoy

Cassius Warrington

Beaters: Peregrine Derrick

Lucian Bole

Keeper: Miles Bletchley

Seeker: Harry Potter

Substitute Players: Linus Urquhart (Chaser)

Terence Higgs (Seeker)

"Let's go, Slytherins!" Flint shouted.

The Slytherin Quidditch Team flew out to the pitch.

"Here comes the Slytherin Quidditch Team!", Jordan shouted. "Flint, Malfoy, Warrington, Derrick, Bole, Potter, and Bletchley. It's going to be harder for those arrogant pieces of scum now that two of their players are being punished as they justifiably should."

Some of the Slytherins booed after hearing this. Even Professor McGonagall didn't seem too pleased after hearing this. She covered the microphone and seemed to be talking to Jordan sternly. When she was finished, Jordan seemed nervous and shaken.

"And here comes the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team!", Jordan shouted. "Wilson, Taylor, Davies, Goldstein, Green, Jones, and Clearwater! Should be expecting a fair and good performance from them."

"Captains, shake hands", Madam Hooch ordered.

Flint and Goldstein walked to the center of the Quidditch pitch and shook hands. Harry could have sworn he saw a hint of a smirk on Goldstein's face. The absences of Montague and Pucey seemed to give the Ravenclaw team the conceived notion that they would easily win this game.

"Mount your brooms!"

Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle into the air. Flint grabbed it and tried to score against the Ravenclaw keeper, Hunter Clearwater, but it didn't work. Clearwater blocked the Quaffle and passed it to Jesse Wilson, a seventh-year who was one of the Slytherin chasers. Wilson dodged a bludger from Bole, and headed towards Bletchley. Wilson threw the Quaffle to the hoop on the right. Bletchley wasn't able to stop it.

"Ten-zero, Ravenclaw!", Jordan shouted into the microphone.

Bletchley passed the Quaffle to Malfoy, who carried it towards the Ravenclaw goalposts. Malfoy threw the Quaffle to the goalpost on the right and it went through successfully. The score was tied 10-10.

"Don't worry about it, Clearwater", Goldstein shouted.

Clearwater passed the Quaffle to Roger Davies, a Ravenclaw third-year. Davies managed to dodge a bludger from Derrick and charge on his broom towards Bletchley. Davies threw the Quaffle into the hoop in the middle. Bletchley couldn't dodge it.

"Twenty-ten, Ravenclaw!", Jordan announced.

Warrington grabbed the Quaffle and headed towards the Ravenclaw goal posts. But Gabriel Green knocked a bludger in Warrington's direction, causing him to drop the Quaffle. Ravenclaw chaser Stanley Taylor then grabbed the Quaffle and headed towards the Slytherin goal posts. (Stanley Taylor was a 7th year) Taylor threw the Quaffle to the goal post on the right, and Bletchley wasn't able to block it. The score was now 30-10 in Ravenclaw's favor.

Bletchley tossed the Quaffle to Flint, who was looking incensed. This was not going at all like they had hoped.

Flint grabbed the Quaffle and angrily zoomed as fast as he could towards the Ravenclaw goal posts. In doing so, he accidentally flew into the path of Blake Jones, a Ravenclaw seventh-year who was also the seeker.

"Foul!", Madam Hooch shouted.

Crap! Harry thought. Now Ravenclaw would have a chance to score another goal.

Stanley Taylor grabbed the Quaffle and heaved it towards the goal post on the right. Bletchley lunged to block the Quaffle, but his attempt failed. The score was now 40-10 in Ravenclaw's favor.

Within the next ten minutes, Wilson and Taylor both scored two goals each, making the score 80-10. Bole and Derrick launched bludgers at the Ravenclaw chasers, but they didn't seem bothered by their attempts to unnerve them.

Warrington grabbed the Quaffle and tried to score. On his way to the Ravenclaw goalposts, Liam Goldstein knocked a bludger in his direction, causing Warrington to drop the Quaffle. Roger Davies grabbed the Quaffle and dodged a bludger from Bole. Davies threw the Quaffle through the hoop on the right, scoring. Bletchley couldn't stop it.

"Time-out!", Flint shouted.

Madam Hooch allowed the Slytherin team to have a time-out.

The other players on the Slytherin team gathered around Flint.

"What the hell is wrong with you today, Bletchley?", Flint asked. "We're literally being massacred here. Wake the hell up!"

"I'm sorry, Marcus", Miles said. "I think I'm cracking under pressure. Without Montague and Pucey, I'm getting more nervous."

"Even without those two idiots, we can still win this game!", Flint shouted. "If we win, it will be a clear path to the Quidditch cup. This is our chance. Just try to stop the Ravenclaw chasers from scoring any more goals."

"All right, then", Bletchley said.

The game resumed. Miles held his ground and was able to prevent the Ravenclaw chasers from scoring any further goals. But neither Harry nor Jones were able to find the snitch.

But then, Goldstein launched a bludger at Draco, who was carrying the Quaffle. The bludger hit Draco squarely in the stomach, causing him to fall to the ground and drop the Quaffle.

Flint called another time-out.

The other Slytherin players crowded around Draco, who was on the ground, bleeding.

"We need Madam Pomfrey!", Harry exclaimed. "He looks pretty hurt."

Things had just gotten worse. Now Draco would have to be taken out of the game.

"She's coming. I see her", Bole said, peering into the stands.

"Urquhart!", Flint shouted. "I'm substituting you for Malfoy."

"Yes, Flint", Urquhart said. He seemed really nervous to be entering the game.

"And Potter?", Flint asked. "Find that damn snitch and end this accursed match already."

"Yes, Marcus", Harry said. He knew that was Marcus just said wasn't a request. It was a demand. Harry had avoided the wrong end of Flint's temper all season, and he wanted to keep it that way.

The game resumed. Urquhart was substituted for Malfoy. Draco gave him permission to temporarily use his Nimbus 2000. Harry darted all around the pitch, trying to find the snitch.

Then, he saw it. Harry could tell that Jones had spotted it as well. The two seekers were clearly on their brooms at the same speed, trying to catch the snitch.

"Derrick, launch a bludger at Jones!", Flint shouted.

Derrick knocked a bludger at Jones, causing him to veer out of the way and lose his concentration on the snitch. Harry then reached out his arm as long as he could, then clasped the tiny little ball.

"I've caught the snitch!", Harry yelled, showing the snitch for everyone to see."

The Slytherin Quidditch Team let out an enormous roar. They all ran down to the pitch and mobbed Harry. They had almost blown the game. They were all so relieved.

Lee Jordan announced the final score, 160-90.

"And Slytherin wins!", Jordan shouted. "Although let's be realistic, they got lucky. They had a very mediocre performance today."

"JORDAN!"

The Slytherin team patted Harry on the back.

Meanwhile…

Pucey and Montague were both in McGonagall's office, cleaning her desk and the floor. They both also had to write lines about not provoking or encouraging violence.

It was a grotesque and rigorous punishment. But Montague knew that they had both brought this upon themselves. They both couldn't complain.

Argus Filch had been supervising the detention but had left a few minutes ago to go for a walk.

"You two had better be finished when I'm back", Filch growled at them. "If it were up to me, I'd chain you both up and leave you in the dungeons all day."

Neither Montague nor Pucey were feeling energized enough to snap back at Filch.

Back to the present time…

The Slytherin Quidditch Team arrived to the hospital wing to tell Draco the news about the match. He seemed ecstatic, grinning when he heard the final score.

A few minutes later, Harry noticed that Montague and Pucey had arrived to the hospital wing.

"We finished our detention for today", Montague said.

"Yeah. McGonagall was finally being merciful", Pucey said.

Montague then looked at Flint. "We both apologize for our stupidity and asinine choice. We really screwed up. We won't let it happen again."

"I understand", Flint said. "But let this serve as a lesson to you both. We almost lost the match. But Harry caught the snitch and saved the game for us."

Draco then asked if he could speak to Harry privately.

"Okay, then", Flint said. He then motioned for the other Slytherin players to give the two Slytherin first-years some privacy.

"So, what do you want to tell me?", Harry asked.

"It was just like our chess lesson from yesterday", Draco said. "I said that a game of Wizard's Chess could be won even after losing some pieces. In the Quidditch match, our team temporarily lost three players-Montague, Pucey, and me. The odds seemed stacked against us. But we still won the match. This shows that even when you lose some pieces or men at the beginning of a game or match, not all hope is lost."

"I guess I can see the correlation, Draco", Harry said. "But we won against Ravenclaw. Now we just need to beat Hufflepuff in May and everything should be fine. We should be able to win the Quidditch cup."