Chapter 23: Two rooks vs bare king

10 March 1992

More than two weeks had passed since Slytherin played Ravenclaw. The members of the Slytherin Quidditch Team seemed to be feeling more joyful. Harry knew that they had gotten extremely lucky. He knew that the path to the Quidditch cup seemed clear.

Draco had recovered from his injuries from the Quidditch match within two days. He seemed rejuvenated when he was allowed to leave the hospital wing.

Dalton had taken four days to recover. Every time he saw Harry with his friends, he gave them nasty stares. Harry knew Dalton was pissed from getting attacked, but he didn't see why Dalton was blaming him. Montague and Pucey were the ones who attacked Dalton, not Harry. Besides, the Gryffindor third-year had provoked Montague and Pucey to begin with. They wouldn't have attacked Dalton if he had just kept his mouth shut.

Gryffindor had lost against Hufflepuff. The final score in that match was 170-60. Gryffindor didn't perform as badly as they had against Slytherin. In fact, Harry thought that Gryffindor would have won. But Leo Dalton had sneezed when he came close to catching the snitch, causing him to lose focus and allow the Hufflepuff seeker, a sixth-year named Alfie Stebbins, to catch the snitch and give Hufflepuff a miraculous victory. Harry knew that the Gryffindor Quidditch Team were in last place and had no chance of winning the cup now. Slytherin would make sure of that.

Harry headed to transfiguration with the other Slytherin first-years. Professor McGonagall was her usual stern self. She had asked the Slytherin first-years to practice the Avifors spell. This spell would transform objects and creatures into birds. Harry was the first student to do it correctly.

"Ten points to Slytherin, Potter."

"Thank you, Professor", Harry said as humbly as possible.

After classes ended that day, Harry and the other Slytherin first-years headed to the common room. On the way there, they spotted Montague and Pucey both speaking heatedly with Flint.

"I'm still pissed that we have to serve detention with McGonagall", Montague said.

"Well, you brought that upon yourselves", Flint said. "You two shouldn't have attacked Dalton in the great hall. We've gained back some of the 120 points that we've lost from your mistake, but we still have a lot of work to do to gain a massive lead in points again."

"Just one more week, Graham. Then it's over", Pucey said.

"Well, that's true."

Flint then spotted Harry and his friends.

"Potter! Malfoy! How are our star players?"

"Feeling great", Harry said. "Gryffindor don't stand a chance now."

"I agree", Flint said.

Draco then said, "Well, we have to get going. See you guys around."

When Harry and the other Slytherin first-years reached the common room, Draco then pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.

"You know, Harry, two rooks can easily checkmate a lone king in the endgame."

"Really?", Harry asked. "Show me."

Draco then ordered a white king on a1, a white rook on c2, a white rook on d1, and a black king on f5.

"Assuming white is to move in this position, the goal for the two rooks is to take turns pushing the black king towards the edge of the board."

Draco then said, "Rook to d4."

The white rook on d1 moved to d4. The black king then moved from f5 to e5.

Draco said, "Rook to c4."

The white rook on c2 moved to c4. This move defended the white rook on d4, so the black king couldn't capture it.

The black king then moved from e5 to f5.

Draco said, "Rook to d5."

The white rook on d4 moved to d5. The black king then moved from f5 to e6. This move attacked the undefended white rook on d5.

"Now that the white rook on d5 is attacked, the trick is to move it to the other side of the board, as far away from the opposing king as possible. Rooks work best when they are far away from the opposing king. In this example, I'll move this white rook to h5."

Draco then said, "Rook to h5."

The white rook on d5 moved to h5. The black king then moved from e6 to d6.

"Now the other white rook has to move away from the black king. I'll move this rook from c4 to g4. Rook to g4."

The white rook moved from c4 to g4.

The black king then moved from d6 to e6.

"Rook to g6", Draco said.

The white rook on g4 moved to g6, giving check to the black king on d6. The black king moved from d6 to e7.

"Rook to h7", Draco said. The white rook moved from h5 to h7. This move put the black king on e7 in check. The black king moved from e7 to f8.

"We'll use the trick we learned last time", Draco said. "We'll just move the rooks to the other side of the board. Rooks work best when they are far away from the opposing king."

Draco then commanded, "Rook to a7."

The white rook moved from h7 to a7.

The black king then moved from f8 to e8.

Draco then said, "Rook to b6."

The white rook on g6 moved to b6. The black king then moved from e8 to d8.

"Now we can finish off the black king", Draco said. "Rook to b8."

The white rook on b6 moved to b8.

"Checkmate."

Harry had to admit that it was a clever scheme. And the white king didn't even need to get involved.

"We'll try another example", Draco said. "I'll place a black rook on a7, a black rook on e4, the black king on e8, and the white king on b3. So, Harry, what would you do to win this position for black? It's black's turn to move."

Harry then said, "Rook to c7."

The black rook on a7 moved to c7. The white king had only six squares to move around in.

The white king on b3 moved to b2.

Harry then said, "Rook to b4."

The black rook on e4 moved to b4. This move put the white king on b2 in check.

The white king on b2 moved to a3. This move attacked the black rook on b4.

Harry then said, "Rook on c7 to b7." This move protected the black rook on b4.

The white king moved from a3 to a2.

Harry then said, "Rook to a7."

The black rook on b7 moved to a7.

"Checkmate", Harry said.

"Well, that was a good job, Harry. So, tell me, what have you learned?"

"Two rooks can checkmate a lone king in the endgame easily without even needing any assistance from the superior king. The rooks just take turns pushing the weaker king towards the edge of the board. Whenever the weaker king attacks one of the rooks when they are undefended, they just move themselves to the other side of the board as far away from the king as possible but still restricting the king's activity. Two active rooks are very powerful in the endgame."

"Well said, Harry."

31 March 1992

Harry had finished his homework and was about to head to sleep. Theodore Nott greeted him before he did so.

"Is everything all right, Harry?", Theodore asked.

"Yes", Harry said. "Everything is fine. I haven't seen Quirrell around that much, haven't listened to any of Weasley's crap…everything seems fine. Not worried in the slightest."

"If Quirrell tries anything, we'll be waiting for him."

"For sure", Harry agreed.