Chapter 29: Philidor Defense

23 April 1992

Harry woke up that Thursday morning and studied his herbology notes. The final exam for Herbology would take place within a month and Harry hoped that he would pass it. He was feeling confident and sure he would do well. He had no reason to doubt his abilities.

Draco then woke up.

"Morning, Harry."

"Morning, Draco."

"Looking forward to herbology?", Draco asked.

"Slightly. Hopefully I could pass the final exam. I would love to see nothing less than an "Outstanding" on that test."

"Same, Harry", Draco said.

The six Slytherin first-year boys eventually headed down to breakfast. As they ate, Harry noticed Ron Weasley glaring at their table from his seat at the Gryffindor table.

"I guess he's still upset that you got him in detention", Harry said.

"I should be the one to be upset with him, if anything", Draco said. "It's because of his idiocy that Pansy, Theodore, and I have to serve detention this Saturday. All because we're Slytherins, McGonagall thought we were trying to get Weasley in trouble."

"It is unfortunate", Harry said. "I wish I could help."

"It's not your fault", Draco said. "What we should have done was tell Snape without telling McGonagall. That way Weasley would still get detention and Slytherin wouldn't have lost any points."

"A lesson to learn", Harry said. "Always go to Professor Snape for our problems."

After breakfast, Gaius Avery and Cleo Rowle arrived to escort the ten Slytherin first-years to Herbology.

When they arrived to Herbology, Professor Sprout gave them a pop quiz. Harry was the only one to get every question correct.

"Ten points to Slytherin, Potter", Professor Sprout said.

"Thank you, Professor."

"Now I have some more questions", Professor Sprout said. "Can anyone tell me a basic description of a mandrake root?"

Theodore Nott raised his hand. "A mandrake root is obviously the root of a mandrake. It was a powerful potion ingredient that was the subject of many Muggle superstitions and folk tales. Stewed mandrake roots that had matured beyond adolescence were the primary ingredient of the potent Mandrake Restorative Draught, a healing potion capable of curing petrification."

"Twenty points to Slytherin, Nott", Professor Sprout said.

She asked the Slytherins more questions as the class continued working. Harry got four more questions correct and earned Slytherin house sixty more points.

After class, the Slytherin first-years continued studying. Harry saw Cassius Warrington walk into the Slytherin Common room.

"Warrington, want to play a game of Wizard's Chess?", Harry asked.

"Sure, Potter", Warrington said.

Harry had the white pieces and Warrington had the black pieces.

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

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

"Knight to f3", Harry said. The white knight on g1 moved to f3.

"Pawn to d6", Warrington said. The black pawn on d7 moved to d6.

"Knight to c3", Harry said. The white knight on b1 moved to c3.

"Knight to d7", Warrington said. The black knight on b8 moved to d7.

"Bishop to c4", Harry said. The white bishop on f1 moved to c4.

"Pawn to h6", Warrington said. The black pawn on h7 moved to h6.

"Pawn to b3", Harry said. The white pawn on b2 moved to b3.

"Kingside knight to f6", Warrington said. The black knight on g8 moved to f6.

"Bishop to b2", Harry said. The white bishop on c1 moved to b2.

"Bishop to e7", Warrington said. The black bishop on f8 moved to e7.

"Castle kingside", Harry said. The white king on e1 moved to g1, and the white rook on h1 moved to f1.

"Castle kingside", Warrington said. The black king on e8 moved to g8, and the black rook on h8 moved to f8.

"Knight to d5", Harry said. The white knight on c3 moved to d5.

"Knight to e4", Warrington said. The black knight on f6 leaped through the air and crushed the white pawn on e4, smashing it to bits.

"Queen to e2", Harry said. The white queen on d1 moved to e2, attacking the black knight on e4.

"Kingside knight to f6", Warrington said. The black knight on e4 moved to f6.

"Knight to e7", Harry said. The white knight on d5 jumped to e7, obliterating the black bishop that occupied that square with its sword. This move put the black king on g8 in check.

"Queen to e7", Warrington said. The black queen moved from d8 to e7, pulling out her sword and stabbing the white knight on e7 into numerous little pieces.

"Queenside rook to d1", Harry said. The white rook on a1 moved to d1.

"Pawn to b6", Warrington said. The black pawn on b7 moved to b6.

"Bishop to d5", Harry said. The white bishop on c4 moved to d5, attacking the black queenside rook on a8.

"Knight to d5", Warrington said. The black knight on f6 moved to d5, slicing the white bishop that occupied that square into half before replacing it. Harry realized that he had just committed a blunder. He hadn't thought it through and exposed his white bishop to capture. This looked like an unpleasant position.

"Kingside rook to e1", Harry said. The white rook on f1 moved to e1.

"Bishop to b7", Draco said. The black bishop on c8 moved to b7.

"Pawn to c4", Harry said. The white pawn on c2 moved to c4. This move attacked the black knight on d5.

"Knight on d5 to f6", Warrington said. The black knight on d5 retreated to f6.

"Pawn to d3", Harry said. The white pawn on d2 moved to d3.

"Queenside rook to d8", Warrington said. The black rook on a8 moved to d8.

"Pawn to a4", Harry said. The white pawn on a2 moved to a4.

"Rook on f8 to e8", Warrington said. The black rook on f8 moved to e8.

"Pawn to b4", Harry said. The white pawn on b3 moved to b4.

"Knight to h5", Warrington said. The black knight on f8 moved to h5. Harry wasn't quite sure why Warrington made this move. This move placed one of his knights on the edge of the board, where it didn't seem to be very useful. Or so he thought.

"Pawn to b5", Harry said. The white pawn on b4 moved to b5.

"Knight to f4", Warrington said. The black knight on h5 moved to f4. This move attacked the white queen on e2.

"Queen to c2", Harry said. The white queen on e2 moved to c2.

"Bishop to f3", Warrington said. The black bishop on b7 moved to f3, capturing the white knight that occupied that square by stabbing it into multiple pieces with its sword. Harry wasn't worried about this move, because he could just capture the black bishop with his white g-pawn.

"Pawn to f3", Harry said. The white pawn on g2 moved to f3 and yanked out its sword. It then annihilated the black bishop on f3 with its sword before replacing it.

"Queen to g5", Warrington said. The black queen on e7 moved to g5. This move put the white king on g1 in check.

"King to f1", Harry said. The white king on g1 moved to f1.

"Queen to g2", Warrington said. The black queen on g5 moved to g2.

"Checkmate", Warrington said.

Harry shook hands with Warrington. It was a good game, but Harry honestly felt bad that he had lost yet again.

Draco then decided to explain.

"The opening that Warrington played is known as the Philidor Defense. It's considered to be a passive opening because it hinders black's dark-squared bishop, but it still is an opening that is used occasionally. However, you made inaccuracies and mistakes in this game which could have been avoided easily. Your first mistake was blundering your light-squared bishop. You also spent too much time moving your queenside pawns when your kingside was in danger. Just something to learn for next time."

"Thanks, Draco", Harry said.

"No problem, Harry", Draco said.