Chapter 25: King's Gambit Declined Trap, Part 1

18 April 1992

It was Saturday.

Harry woke up early that day and silently practiced his Charms in the Slytherin Common Room. He and Draco both knew that Marcus Flint would have them training in a rigorous Quidditch practice that day. The Slytherin Quidditch Team seemed to be nearly unbeatable on the path for the Interhouse Quidditch cup. They just had to beat Hufflepuff next month and the cup would be theirs. But the Slytherin Quidditch Team also had to be careful not to get too cocky or sloppy.

A few minutes later, Draco joined him.

"So, when did you first meet the other players on the Slytherin Quidditch Team?"

Draco took a deep breath before answering his question.

"Well, my father is good friends with Marcus Flint's father. That's how I met Flint. I met Bletchley, Montague, Pucey, Warrington, Bole, Derrick, Urquhart, and Higgs at this Quidditch Little League that the wizarding world was hosting in the United Kingdom. We were all acquaintances back then."

"And now we're all on the same Quidditch Team", Harry said. "Amazing how life works, right?"

"Absolutely", Draco said. "I was lucky enough to have met you for the first time and we both got sorted into Slytherin. Our friendship seems very strong. Not to mention our entire house is backing us up due to the points we've earned for them."

"That doesn't make us very popular with the Gryffindors, though", Harry said.

"Like I care what those losers think. Honestly, they're not worth my time, energy, and attention. Especially a certain group of redheads."

"Don't remind me."

"Looking forward to practice today?"

"Of course, Draco. I love Quidditch. It's funny because a year ago, I have no idea what Quidditch even was. I obviously had no awareness of anything related to the wizarding world. Now I'm more motivated than ever to win that Quidditch cup. Our narrow victory over Ravenclaw, not to mention your injury, served as a catalyst to work harder. And I will work harder. Anything to shut Weasley up."

"I couldn't have agreed more."

At breakfast, Harry ate some toast while Draco had some eggs. Harry surveyed the crowd around him. Harry noticed Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff third-year, in a conversation with Herbert Fleet, a Hufflepuff fourth-year. Harry noticed Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe, both Ravenclaw second-years, laughing at the Ravenclaw table. The Weasley twins were laughing with Leo Dalton and Lee Jordan, no surprise there. Harry noticed that Oliver Wood was looking unhappy. Harry guessed it was because of Gryffindor's poor performance in their conquest for the Quidditch Cup. Being in fourth place had to be humiliating. Especially since Gryffindor had come so close to winning their match against Hufflepuff.

"What do you think we should be worried about when playing Hufflepuff?", Harry asked.

Draco looked around, as if he didn't want anyone overhearing their conversation, then shared his perspective.

"Well, we need to be wary of several of the players. The Hufflepuff beaters are pretty tough. The Hufflepuff keeper, Finley Clarke, seems to know what he is doing. The Hufflepuff seeker, Alfie Stebbins, is pretty quick on his broom. But I don't think Stebbins can match your skill, Harry. Especially since you have the better broom."

Harry laughed. "Yeah, well, that is true."

After breakfast, Harry and Draco headed to the Slytherin changing rooms with the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team. They waited for Flint to arrive and give them instructions.

"All right, team. Glad to see everyone is here. Now, we should be able to win against Hufflepuff. We are the stronger and superior team. We have a very good chance."

"Hufflepuff did beat Gryffindor, though", Warrington pointed out.

"Gryffindor is a weak team, Cassius. Besides, the only reason why Gryffindor lost is because Dalton screwed up and missed his chance to catch the snitch. Talk about letting a win slip from your fingers."

"Quite literally", Montague said, laughing.

"Don't joke around, Montague. You and Pucey still aren't off the hook. You've got to prove to me that your mistake and earning detention before that match is something that will never happen again. We have to diligent and discreet at all times. McGonagall would just love to catch us during our weakest moments and punish us. We cannot give her that chance."

"Well said", Bletchley said. "We should be able to win that match."

"Okay, then. Let's get out there and practice. We'll start with the chasers. Montague, Pucey, Warrington, Malfoy, and Urquhart. This is your chance."

Flint threw the Quaffle in the air, and Pucey dove in the air and caught it. Pucey headed towards the goalposts and threw the Quaffle in the goalpost on the right. Bletchley wasn't able to stop it.

Warrington grabbed the Quaffle and headed towards the goal posts. He threw the Quaffle towards the goalpost on the left. Bletchley intercepted the Quaffle just before it went in.

Bletchley threw the Quaffle towards Urquhart. Harry watched as Urquhart zoomed towards Bletchley with the Quaffle in his hands. Urquhart heaved the Quaffle as hard as he could towards the goalpost on the right. Bletchley lunged to intercept the Quaffle, but the Quaffle went in regardless.

Montague grabbed the Quaffle and zoomed towards the goalposts. Harry watched as Montague threw the Quaffle in the goalpost on the right. Bletchley intercepted it.

Flint then grabbed the Quaffle and zoomed towards the goalposts. Harry paid attention as Flint heaved his arm back and chucked the Quaffle powerfully. It went through the hoop in the middle, and Bletchley couldn't stop it.

Draco grabbed the Quaffle and zoomed towards the goal posts. Harry watched as his best friend headed towards Bletchley holding on to the Quaffle. Harry paid attention as Draco launched the Quaffle towards the goal posts. Harry thought the Quaffle would go in, but Bletchley caught it just in time.

Pucey then grabbed the Quaffle and headed towards the goal posts. Harry watched as Pucey launched his arm back and heaved the Quaffle. Bletchley lunged to stop the Quaffle from going into the goalpost on the right, but he couldn't stop it.

Twenty minutes later, Flint had the most goals against Bletchley by far.

"I'll be releasing the snitch, now", Flint said. "Potter, Higgs, get ready. This is where you come in."

Harry and Higgs both zoomed towards the Snitch. Derrick and Bole launched bludgers at the two Slytherin seekers, but could only distract Higgs. Harry caught the snitch within seventy-five seconds.

"All right, Slytherins! This sounds like a good practice."

Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle had been watching the Slytherin Quidditch Team practice. After Flint and the older Slytherins (minus Bletchley) headed back to the Slytherin Common Room, Theodore hustled towards the changing room, wearing his keeper gear.

"Okay, Nott. Time for some more training", Bletchley said.

"Sure", Theodore said.

"Don't worry, Theodore, you'll do fine", Harry said.

Harry and Draco both watched as Theodore zoomed towards the goal posts on his broom. Bletchley grabbed the Quaffle and headed towards Theodore on his broom. Bletchley threw the Quaffle towards the goal post on the right. Theodore lunged and managed to pull off a save.

Draco then headed towards the goalposts and tried to score against Theodore. Harry watched as Theodore lunged for the Quaffle and stopped it from going inside the goal.

Harry then grabbed the Quaffle and zoomed towards Theodore. Harry watched Theodore's eyes filled with determination as Harry threw the Quaffle straight down the middle. Theodore caught the Quaffle, clearly feeling excited and motivated.

Bletchley, Draco, and Harry continued throwing the Quaffle against Theodore, and Theodore seemed to have a decent performance in his defensive duty as keeper. After 70 passes had been thrown, Harry had recorded that Theodore had caught 30 of them.

"Not bad, Nott. Good job. Keep practicing and maybe one day you can be a substitute keeper for the team."

Theodore beamed. "I'd really like that. Thanks, Miles."

"You did well, Theodore", Harry said. "Let's head back to the Slytherin Common Room."

When the ten first-year Slytherins headed back to the Common Room, Draco pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.

"Harry, want to play another game of Wizard's Chess?", Draco asked.

"Sure."

Harry and Draco walked over to the chessboard as the other Slytherin first-years watched. Harry had the white pieces and Draco had the black pieces.

"Pawn to e4", Harry said. The white pawn on e2 moved to e4.

"Pawn to e5", Draco said. The black pawn on e7 moved to e5.

"Pawn to f4", Harry said. The white pawn on f2 moved to f4. The King's Gambit, Harry thought.

Harry thought that Draco would accept the gambit and capture the white pawn on f4. But, instead…

"Bishop to c5", Draco said.

The black bishop on f8 moved to c5. This move left the black pawn on e5 undefended. Should Harry capture it? He decided that it was best if he did.

"Pawn to e5", Harry said. The white pawn on f4 pulled out its small sword and stabbed the black pawn on e5 to bits before replacing it. Harry thought everything was fine. But there was a serious problem.

"Queen to h4", Draco said. The black queen on d8 moved to h4. This move put the white king on e1 in check. Harry had two legal moves. He could block the black queen's check with the white pawn on g2 by moving that pawn to g3, but then the black queen would capture the white pawn on e4, forking the white king and rook. So, Harry tried the only other option.

"King to e2", Harry said. The white king on e1 moved to e2.

"Queen to e4", Draco said. The black queen moved to e4, capturing the white pawn that occupied that square.

"Checkmate", Draco said.

Harry looked at the position, stunned. But it was true. The white king on e2 couldn't move anywhere. The black bishop on c5 covered the f2 square.

Harry shook hands with Draco. It was a good game, but he felt slightly disappointed that he lost.

Draco then decided to explain what had happened.

"The opening that was played was the King's Gambit Declined. When I refused to capture the white pawn on f4, I declined the gambit. But it was a very big mistake to capture the black pawn on e5. What you should have done instead, was play the white knight to f3. This move prevents the black queen from coming to h4 and gives White good development."

"Thanks for the advice, Draco. I'll remember it for next time."