Chapter 24: Opposite-colored bishop endgame, Part 2
9 January 1993
It was Saturday.
Harry woke up and started working on his Transfiguration and Potions homework. He knew he would have to be as diligent as possible to keep his grades consistent.
Harry glanced at Draco, Theodore, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle. They were all still sleeping, clearly feeling torpor and lethargy. Harry knew that he and Draco would later be practicing with the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team. He hoped that he could enhance his Quidditch skills and prove that he was capable to win the Quidditch cup for Slytherin yet again.
Eventually, Draco woke up. He grinned at Harry.
"Looking forward to Quidditch today, Harry?", Draco asked.
"Absolutely", Harry said. "I need the practice. I want to make sure Slytherin remains on top. I need to guarantee Slytherin remains the best. Every bit of practice will be worth it."
"I concur", Draco said. "Hopefully Flint will show some mercy, at least."
"I'm looking forward to playing Ravenclaw next month", Harry said. "Ravenclaw currently probably has the second-best Quidditch team at Hogwarts. If we can beat them, the path to the Quidditch cup will be clear for Slytherin."
"Agreed", Draco said.
Eventually, Theodore, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle all woke up. The Slytherin second-year boys met up with the Slytherin second-year girls and they all headed through the Slytherin Common Room to head upstairs to the Great Hall. Pansy smiled briefly at Harry.
Harry ate his bacon and toast, observing everything that was happening in the Great Hall at that very moment. He saw Cassius Warrington, Adrian Pucey, and Graham Montague laughing and joking with each other. Harry noticed Cedric Diggory talking and laughing with Alfie Stebbins, Finley Clarke, Jasper Moon, Malcolm Preece, Heidi Macavoy, and Herbert Fleet. It seemed reasonable to assume that Diggory was popular in Hufflepuff. And that was not surprising, even Slytherin girls thought he was attractive.
Later, the Slytherin Quidditch Team were getting ready for practice. Harry and Draco were putting on their uniforms as Flint gave one of his usual lectures.
"Okay, Slytherins. We can do this. Let's continue practicing like we've been doing and we should be able to defeat Ravenclaw next month. I know Ravenclaw is tough, but we can beat them. We clearly have the power and strength to take them on. We should be able to beat them, just like we did last year."
"Yeah!", the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team echoed.
"Then let's go out there and practice!", Flint exclaimed.
So, the Slytherin Quidditch Team headed out to the pitch. They were about to start flying when all of a sudden, they saw the members of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team heading towards them.
This is going to be good, Harry thought with glee. Flint could absolutely take Wood on.
"Flint!", Wood called out. "This is our practice time! We got up specially for this!"
Flint was even larger than Wood and had a trollish grin. He gave a cunning smile as he said, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."
"But I booked the field for today!", Wood exclaimed angrily, spitting with outrage. "I booked it!"
"Ah, but I got a signed note from Professor Snape", Flint said, giving Wood a note written to the former by Snape. "He gave us permission to practice today, so that's what we're going to do. So just stand over there and practice, we're going to stand over here and do our drills."
"Exactly", Bletchley said. "We're going to practice now, and there's nothing you Gryffindors can do about it. So play nicely now and do your practice over there. Run along now."
Wood glared at the Slytherin Quidditch Team for good measure before walking off with the other members of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Once the Gryffindors were out of earshot, the Slytherins chuckled.
"Okay, time for practice", Flint said. "We'll start with the chasers. Warrington, here's the Quaffle. See if you can score against Bletchley."
Warrington grabbed the Quaffle and headed to score against Bletchley. Harry watched as Warrington chucked the Quaffle into the goalpost on the right, and Miles couldn't stop it.
Adrian Pucey grabbed the Quaffle and headed to score against Bletchley. Harry watched as Pucey threw the Quaffle towards the goalpost on the left. Bletchley blocked the shot and intercepted the Quaffle.
Montague then grabbed the Quaffle and headed to score against Bletchley. Harry observed Bletchley's anticipation as Montague flew towards the Slytherin Keeper on his Nimbus 2001. Montague threw the Quaffle towards the goalpost in the middle, and Bletchley held his ground.
Draco then grabbed the Quaffle and decided to give it a try. Harry watched as his best friend zoomed on his Nimbus 2001 and headed to score against Bletchley. Draco heaved his arm back and made a good throw, but Bletchley blocked the shot.
Linus Urquhart also tried to score against Bletchley, but the Slytherin Keeper managed to block his shot as well. Flint then grabbed the Quaffle and headed to the goalposts. Flint heaved his arm back and managed to score on Bletchley.
The Slytherin chasers continued their practice for fifty more minutes. Flint had the most goals after that time period.
Finally, the Slytherin captain said, "Potter, Higgs, get ready. I'm releasing the snitch."
Harry and Higgs both zoomed on their Nimbus 2001s. Terence Higgs was nowhere near as good of a seeker as Harry, so the latter was sure this would be a simple chore. Harry extended his arm and reached for the snitch…and caught it!
"Good work, everyone", Flint said. "There is no reason why we shouldn't beat Ravenclaw next month."
The Slytherin Quidditch Team cheered at this news.
Later, the Slytherin second-years were studying their notes, when all of a sudden, Theodore had an idea.
"Remember that room we used to practice our dueling skills last year? I suggest we head back there and continue practicing."
"Not a bad idea", Harry said. "We absolutely should do that."
So, the ten Slytherin second-years headed to the secret room in the dungeons near the Slytherin Common Room and started practicing their dueling.
Harry pointed his wand at Theodore and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Theodore's wand went flying in the air, and Harry caught it.
"Okay, then", Harry said. "Let's see how we all cast the Tripping Jinx. Who wants to volunteer?"
Blaise raised his hand.
"All right, then. Lapso Accidere!"
Blaise tripped, then remained on the ground for ten more seconds. Harry then walked over and gave him his hand to help him up.
"You all right, Blaise?", Harry asked.
"Yes."
"Okay then, let's continue. The tripping jinx."
"Lapso Accidere!"
"The Jelly-Legs Jinx."
"Os comme gelee!"
"The Jelly-Fingers Jinx."
"Doigts comme gelee!"
"The Jelly-Brain Jinx."
"Psyche comme gelee!"
"The Babbling Hex."
"Blatherschite!"
"The Impediment Jinx."
"Impedimenta!"
They went through at least twenty more spells. Finally, Harry suggested they take a break.
Draco then had an idea.
"Okay, Harry. It's time for us to focus more on opposite colored bishop endgames. Let's look at an example. I'll place the white king on f8 and a white bishop on e7. As for the black pieces, I'll place the black king on e2, a black bishop on g2, and a black pawn on f3. So Harry, in one move, how can White draw this game?"
Harry observed the position. The Black f-pawn was two squares away from promotion and the White King was too far away from the action. But Harry noticed that the bishops were on opposite colors and the white bishop on e7 could control the next square that the black pawn would have to advance to.
Harry then said, "Bishop to c5."
The white bishop on e7 then moved to c5, attacking the f2 square. If the black pawn advanced, it would get captured and the game would end in a draw. The black bishop on g2 could do absolutely nothing since it was on the opposite-colored square as the white bishop on c5. It was a draw and there was nothing the black pieces could do about it.
"Well done, Harry. As I've said, an opposite-colored bishop endgame is drawn 99.9% of the time if the superior side is only ahead by one pawn. The defending bishop just needs to control a square in the pawn's path that is not controlled by the offensive bishop."
"Thanks, Draco. I'm glad to learn."
"Not a problem, Harry."