Chapter 9: Fork

30 October 1991

Halloween was approaching.

Harry, Draco, and the other Slytherin second-years continued studying and working. They were busy with their classes and were trying their hardest to concentrate. Harry and Draco practiced with the other players on the Slytherin Quidditch Team. They all seemed determined and ready to beat Gryffindor. They had the superior brooms, so it should not have been a problem.

Well, Harry didn't feel like he had to worry about any trolls. None of the teachers seemed to possessed by Voldemort. Lockhart was clearly too self-absorbed and egotistical to allow anyone else to inhabit his body. He certainly would be outraged if he lost all of his hair like Quirrell had.

Harry and the other Slytherin second-years were in the Slytherin Common Room, studying and working. He hoped that the contributions he gave to his studies would earn more points for Slytherin.

Cleo Rowle and Jeff Dolohov were on the couch, kissing. Gaius Avery seemed to be observing this, clearly disgusted.

Crabbe and Goyle decided to start playing exploding snap. Goyle won the first game and Crabbe won the second.

"All right, I'm heading out", Graham Montague said. He got up from the couch and headed towards the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room.

"Where are you going?", Flint asked, seemingly concerned.

"None of your business, Flint", Montague said. "I'm just going for a walk."

"In case you haven't noticed, Montague, I am your captain. And a Hogwarts prefect. If you are up to something, I think I ought to know about it."

"Just calm yourself", Montague said. "Everything is fine."

Flint knew there was no stopping the younger boy.

"Fine", he said. "But get back here when you are finished with whatever you are going to do. You wouldn't want to be caught by Percy Weasley or McGonagall. Remember the rules of Slytherin house, don't get caught."

Montague slipped outside the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room.

"What do you think he's up to?", Harry asked Draco.

"No clue", Draco said. "Maybe he has a girlfriend in one of the other houses."

Harry smiled. "That would explain a lot."

Meanwhile…

Graham Montague just wanted to take a relaxing walk and take time to think. He clearly had a lot on his plate. He thought about his fight with Dalton the previous school year, which caused him to miss the second Quidditch match of the school year and possibly may have cost him his chance of becoming captain after Flint. It seemed more than likely that Miles Bletchley would be made captain instead, as the other boy had been more careful and diligent, and never missed a single match during his time as the Slytherin Keeper. Montague could also forget about being made a Prefect after that fight. It seemed like Bletchley would get that honor as well.

Not that Montague was jealous or anything. He was genuinely happy for Miles, if all of that came to pass. What mattered was making sure Slytherin stayed on top. Slytherin had managed to hold on to the Inter-House Quidditch cup for seven years. Montague wanted to help extend that streak to eight years.

After twenty minutes of walking, Montague found himself on the seventh floor corridor. He realized he was not too far from the Gryffindor Common Room.

Now might be a good time to prank those gits, Montague thought. Unless I do something stupid and get caught again. God, I hope not. Flint would kill me if I missed another Quidditch match.

Montague smirked, knowing that the Gryffindors were hot tempered and could easily start fights when provoked. Before he could say anything else though, some incantation was shouted in a strange voice and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Twenty minutes later…

Percy Weasley was doing his usual Prefect duties, patrolling the corridors. He was very proud of his role as Prefect, almost to the point of obsession. He knew that bothered his family, especially Fred and George. However, he wanted to work for the ministry after school and he wanted to prove he was a serious candidate. Percy was looking into several employment opportunities. With his grades and attitude, he was sure he had his next career opportunity pegged.

Percy knew that keeping his younger siblings in line was not an easy task. Fred, George, and Ron caused all sorts of problems and trouble for themselves and others. Ginny had been sorted into their rival house, Slytherin. Percy didn't feel like there was anything wrong with that personally, but he knew his parents weren't too thrilled with the news, despite congratulating Ginny.

They'll have to get used to it, Percy thought. If she is a Slytherin, then she is. The sorting hat is never wrong. Perhaps the sorting hat saw that ambitious side of her, maybe that's why she was sent there.

Percy had also thought about the Slytherin prefect representing the sixth-years, Gaius Avery. The two boys had initially been sworn rivals, but later ended up becoming acquaintances. They weren't fast pals or best buddies, but they were on good terms at the moment. Percy could tell that the other boy also dreamed of getting that Head Boy badge. It was clear that either Percy or Gaius would be made head boy next year, due to their hard work and their commitment towards their role as Prefect. Percy was sure he would win it, though. Gaius was favored towards Slytherin and would be more inclined to help out his fellow Slytherins when necessary. Percy, on the other hand, showed no favoritism and had no problem docking points from even Gryffindor.

Percy continued walking until he reached the seventh-floor corridor. It was there that he found an ugly sight.

A Slytherin fourth-year boy, one of the chasers on the Slytherin Quidditch Team, laid on the floor in a pool of blood.

Montague, Percy thought as he searched for a pulse. He found it. Montague was alive, but he was in a very bad state.

Who could have done this? Well, no time to worry about that now. I have to notify a teacher or prefect about this.

Percy ran down the corridor, trying to find a teacher. It was then, he stumbled upon Professor Snape.

"Weasley, why are you running in the corridor?", Snape asked, clearly having no patience for this.

Percy didn't think about that right now, clearly still appalled by how he found Montague. "It's Montague, sir. He's…he's injured. He's bleeding."

Later…

Harry and his friends were in the Slytherin Common Room. They were busy laughing and talking, now that they had studied continuously for hours. They enjoyed sharing details from their personal lives that they found entertaining.

"I can't wait to wipe that smile off Dalton's face", Harry said.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it", Draco said.

"It might be a blowout like last year."

Abraham Montague, A Slytherin seventh-year boy who was Graham's cousin, then walked over.

"Have any of you seen Graham? He hasn't come back yet."

Harry shrugged. "We don't know. He left the common room and never told us where he was going."

Just then Professor Snape arrived, a look of concern clearly showing on his face. Gaius Avery, Marcus Flint, and Terence Higgs were standing right behind him.

"I have very serious news for all of you", Snape informed them. "Graham Montague was found injured by a prefect on the seventh-floor corridor. It appears someone cast a dark curse on him."

This led to a large round of shouting and outrage from the Slytherins. Snape then held up a hand for silence.

"Luckily, Montague is expected to survive and recover. He is in the hospital wing right now, under supervision."

"Who found him, sir?", Lynn Fawcett, a sixth-year Slytherin asked.

"Prefect Percy Weasley from Gryffindor", Snape said. "He may have saved Montague's life. If he hadn't found him, we might have had one less Slytherin tonight."

The Slytherins murmured amongst themselves.

"We will find whoever was responsible for this, and they will be punished. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us."

Ginny Weasley seemed shocked by the news, as well as Luna Lovegood. Lucas Slater and Laine Slater seemed unhappy. Jocasta Mulciber seemed disappointed.

Harry and his friends sat amongst themselves in the Slytherin Common Room.

"I can't believe this! Who would want to attack Montague?", Harry asked.

"It's obvious it's Dalton", Draco seethed. "He clearly wants to sabotage Slytherin in Quidditch, using any means necessary."

"You really think Dalton is smart enough to be able to cast a dark curse?", Theodore asked. "You all know he's an idiot."

"He may not be as dumb as we think", Blaise said. "Do any of you even know what kind of marks he produces in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"No clue", Harry said. "But Montague was attacked near the Gryffindor Common Room. I think it's clear who the suspects are."

Draco then said, "Harry, I can tell you're stressed. I know what will take your mind off of things. Learning about Wizard's Chess. Today, we'll learn about a chess tactic called a fork. A fork is when two pieces are attacked at the same time."

"How is that possible?", Harry asked. "Show me."

"Okay, then", Draco said. "In this first example, I'll place a black rook on a8, the black king on d7, the white king on g2, a white pawn on f3, a white pawn on h3, and a white knight on c4. So, Harry, with White to move, how would you deliver a fork in this position?"

Harry looked at the position for a few minutes then said, "Knight to b6."

The white knight on c4 moved to b6, forking the black rook on a8 and the black king on d7.

"Well done, Harry! I'll show another example. I'll place the white king on g1, a white rook on e1, the black king on h5, a black pawn on e5, and a black bishop on e8. So, Harry, with White to move, how would you carry out a fork in this position?"

Harry studied the position, then said, "Rook to e5."

The white rook on e1 moved to e5, demolishing the black pawn that was on the e5 square, as well as forking the black king on h5 and the black bishop on e8.

"Great job, Harry!", Draco exclaimed. "I'll show another example. I'll place the white king on f4, the white queen on d4, a white pawn on f2, the black king on g8, a black pawn on d6, a black pawn on f6, a black pawn on e7, and a black rook on f7. So, Harry, with Black to move, how would you pull of a fork in this position?"

Harry then said, "Pawn to e5".

The black pawn on e7 moved to e5, forking the white king on f4 and the white queen on d4.

"So, Harry, what do you have to say after seeing these three positions?"

"A fork is an example of a double fork. Any piece can deliver a fork. Forks are most often delivered by knights. After all, a knight is not attacked by a piece it attacks except for an enemy knight, and it can be exchanged for a more valuable piece. A fork is most effective when it is forcing, such as when the king is put in check."

"Well said, Harry. You're clearly understanding this."

Just then, Marcus Flint and Cassius Warrington walked over, grim looks on their faces.

"Well, there's good news and bad news", Flint said. "The good news is that Montague is expected to survive and recover. The bad news is that he'll be in the hospital wing for two months, meaning he'll miss the match against Gryffindor. So, Warrington, you'll be starting as chaser in that match."

"Yes, captain."

"Also Professor Snape is firm on this", Flint said. "He wants the prefects to watch the other Slytherin students and supervise them, to prevent this from happening again. I know you second-years won't like it, but it has to be done. There's too much at stake here."