Chapter 8: Partial Pin
7 October 1992
More than a month into term had passed. Harry and the other Slytherin second-years remained diligent in their studies. Professor Lockhart was honestly so annoying for Harry to have to deal with. He was pissed, especially since he figured someone that made such accomplishments would not brag about them every chance he got. Being humble and modest was certainly not something Lockhart had ever learned or been taught.
Ron Weasley and the Gryffindor gits were still a problem, but not really a serious one. Weasley would still occasionally sneer at Harry and the other Slytherin second-years and make some snide comments, but nothing new or surprising.
Leo Dalton was the seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. He was a fourth-year student, and was friends with the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan. Dalton did not have a Nimbus 2001, but he seemed determined to race against Harry on the Quidditch pitch. Harry was sure he could beat him. He had done it before, and clearly had a superior broom. Harry honestly felt he was a better seeker and player than Dalton.
The Slytherin second-years had Defense Against the Dark Arts that day. Harry felt it was safe to assume that Lockhart was even more incompetent than Quirrell. Harry had expected to learn hexes, spells, or something useful. Instead, Lockhart would just share stories about his adventures and exploits. Harry could tell Lockhart was a good storyteller, but he did not see how this was beneficial for his education. Even though the stories were interesting sometimes, it was getting tiresome hearing Lockhart brag, as if he knew everything and was better than everyone else. Lockhart was consistently boastful, and seemed to have an ego larger than the planet. No one would like it if someone talked about themselves all the time. Harry was pissed that Lockhart kept asking him to play the role of the monster as Lockhart reenacted his adventures and escapades.
"Then I threw the silver dagger right at its heart, causing it to release an agonizing scream. Harry, scream for us. Show us how it would have been done."
Harry knew his friends enjoyed this more than he did. Harry screamed at the top of his lungs, but he wasn't really feeling passionate about that scream. How could he? This was not his story, assuming if it was true at all.
"Great work, Harry! Five points to Slytherin. Now, I wounded the creature, and that was certainly a step in the right direction. With the Wagga Wagga werewolf injured, it bought me time to draw my wand and defend myself. I cast the Homorphus charm. The spell drove into the creature's injuries, and in a few milliseconds, there stood a normal man in front of me, cured of his revolting curse. The Homorphus charm is indeed, a cure for lycanthropy."
Theodore frowned. He may have only been a second-year, but he was smart enough to know that something was not adding up in Lockhart's story. The DADA professor thought they should be highly impressed about his story. But no one clapped, no one smiled.
Theodore raised his hand. "Professor, isn't the Homorphus charm only temporary?"
"Not at all, Nott", Lockhart said, clearly trying his best to avoid the question.
"But sir, it says on page…"
"Maybe some restrictions and disabilities apply to normal wizards, but Gilderoy Lockhart is no normal wizard."
"You're abnormal, all right," Pansy muttered under her breath. Harry bit his tongue to prevent himself from laughing at that.
After class, Harry walked with Pansy, Daphne, Tracey and Theodore.
"You can't stand him, either, Pansy? I thought I was the only one couldn't tolerate him."
"I've never met anyone with a bigger ego, and that includes Draco", Pansy said.
"Hey!", Draco said, who had caught up with them and just happened to overhear the last part of the conversation. "I'm definitely nowhere near as boastful as he is."
"That definitely doesn't surprise me", Daphne said. "How are we going to survive nine more months of this? He's so annoying and self-centered."
"I might even go as far to say he's worse than Quirrell", Harry said. "At least Quirrell wasn't bragging about every detail in his personal life. Imagine how much more sincere and impressive it would have looked if Lockhart just didn't say anything about his achievements. That's what anyone normal would do."
After classes, the Slytherin second-years continued studying in the Slytherin common room.
Harry was looking over his transfiguration notes when Draco pulled out his Wizard's Chess set.
"Harry, I think it's time you learned about a partial pin. In a partial pin, the pinned piece can still move along the line of the pin, and it can capture the piece that is pinning it, but it cannot leave that line. Let me show an example."
Draco then placed the white king on c1, a white rook on c2, a white pawn on g2, and a white pawn on h2. Draco then ordered the black king to stand on d8 and the black queen to be on d5.
Draco then said, "So, Harry, with White to move, how would you create a partial pin?"
Harry then said, "Rook to d2".
The white rook on c2 moved to d2, forming a partial pin against the black queen on d5.
"Well done, Harry. I'll show another example. I'll place the white king on a3, a white bishop on a4, a white pawn on f2, and white pawn on g2. I'll place the black king on g8 and the black queen on c4. So, Harry, with White to move, how would you create a partial pin?"
Harry then said, "Bishop to b3."
The white bishop on a4 moved to b3, performing a partial pin against the black queen on c4.
"Excellent, Harry! I'll show one more example. I'll place the black king on a4, a black rook on e4, the white king on h5, a white rook on g5, and a white pawn on f6. So, Harry, with White to move, how would you carry out a partial pin?"
Harry then said, "Rook to g4".
The white rook on g5 moved to g4, performing a partial pin against the black rook on e4.
"So, Harry, what can you conclude from these three positions?"
Harry took a deep breath, then replied, " A rook and a queen can be partially pinned along a file or rank. A bishop or queen can be partially pinned along a diagonal. Capturing the pinned piece can still be advantageous to the pinning player, as it can result in the loss of material. A queen can only ever be partially pinned."
"Well done, Harry. I think you are gaining more insight about this."