Chapter 1: Snape's Chess Puzzle
1 September 1991
It all began with a simple handshake.
Harry Potter had walked into Madam Malkin's robe shop, where he met Draco Malfoy for the first time in the summer of 1991. The two started a conversation and became friends. Harry and Draco then started exchanging letters during the next month. On 1 September 1991, Harry reunited with Draco at King's Cross Station and met Draco's father (Lucius Malfoy), mother (Narcissa Malfoy), paternal uncle (Lothair Malfoy), and older brother (Julius Malfoy). Draco's parents and uncle helped Draco and Harry find Platform Nine-and-Three Quarters. Harry and Draco boarded the Hogwarts Express, where Draco introduced Harry to Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Blaise Zabini. Harry talked to them about his life at Privet Drive and with the Dursleys before he found out he was a wizard, and they all completely sympathized and shared his perspective about his hatred for those Muggles.
Harry became friends with all eight of them as well, and they were all sorted into Slytherin. Harry was feeling blissful so far, as everything was turning out to be excellent and the Dursleys were not around to ruin it. His life in Slytherin seemed to be excellent so far.
Then, the feast began.
Harry noticed buffalo chicken pizza was on the table. Harry started eating it without hesitation. If Dudley had been there, he would have stolen the food from him immediately. But the Dursleys could never access Hogwarts as far as he knew, so he could eat comfortably knowing that no one could hinder his ecstatic mood.
Harry ate four slices of buffalo chicken pizza, then started eating a couple of chicken legs. Draco was eating a double cheese burger and enjoying the meal.
"So, Draco, you've got to tell me about blood purity", Harry said. "How would you define a pure-blood wizard and a half-blood wizard?"
Draco put his burger down before answering the question.
"A pure-blood is a wizard with parents that each have two wizarding parents, also known as two pure-blooded parents. A half-blood is a wizard with one wizarding parent and a muggle, or a wizard with a pure-blood parent and a muggle-born parent. And finally, a muggle-born wizard is a wizard with no wizarding parents. A derogatory term to describe muggle-born wizards is the world mudblood. But just be careful not to use that word outside the Slytherin Common Room, as people from the other houses are so sensitive and will easily get offended and incensed."
Harry nodded. "Okay, thanks Draco."
So, I am a half-blood then, Harry thought.
Harry then saw Quirinus Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, speaking with a man in a black turban at the high table.
Harry then tapped on Julius's shoulder.
"Julius, I wonder, who is that man speaking with Professor Quirrell?", Harry asked.
Julius Ceasar Malfoy was one of the prefects for Slytherin House. He was named after the Roman general and dictator. Julius smiled when Harry asked that question.
"Oh, that is our Head of House, Professor Severus Snape. He is a brilliant and sagacious teacher. He teaches Potions classes, but everyone knows he secretly wants Quirrell's job. He has always wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Dumbledore has never let him. Honestly, Snape is brilliant at defense and fighting. You should definitely seek his advice."
"I'll definitely keep that in mind", Harry said. "Thank you for giving me this information."
Later, Marcus Flint, a Slytherin sixth-year who was also a prefect, arrived to take the Slytherin first-years to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons. Harry felt simultaneously tired and excited when he finally sat down on his bed in the Slytherin first-year dormitory.
Meanwhile…
Severus Snape had always thought that Harry Potter would be just like his arrogant father, James Potter. He figured that Harry would have a tendency for rule-breaking and would be iconoclastic and conspicuous as much as possible. Yet, when Harry was sorted into Slytherin that night, Snape suddenly had second thoughts. Could it be possible that he had been wrong about the Potter boy all this time? Harry may have looked like his father, but was it possible that he might have had a more similar personality and demeanor to his mother, Lily Evans? Snape had strong suspicions that that was the case. After all, he had not gotten to know Potter yet personally. And he knew he had already made innumerable and inexcusable mistakes in his past. He already knew that it would be unpleasant to have to explain to Potter what he had done when the time came.
Snape was filled with so much regret. He remembered that day in his fifth year, when he had been bullied by James Potter and then yelled at Lily Evans in his anger, calling her the derogatory term "mudblood." Snape repeatedly apologized, but it was too late, and their friendship was over.
Snape had joined the Death Eaters, and gave the prophecy about Harry to Voldemort. He had no idea that Voldemort would hunt Lily down and murder her. Snape wept bitterly over the love of his life. He honestly did not know if he would get over it.
There was not anything he could do about what he had done in the past, but what he had to do now was focus on the present and the future. The very least he could do was find some way to preserve the last remaining member of Lily's family tree and somehow keep him alive. It was what Lily would have wanted.
Snape summoned Marcus Flint to his office. When Flint arrived, Snape told him what he needed.
"Prefect Flint, I wish to speak to Harry Potter personally and talk to him one-on-one."
Later…
Harry arrived at Snape's office, not sure what his Head of House wanted from him. He hoped he had not done anything wrong. His teachers in his Muggle elementary school often reprimanded him and favored Dudley. He only hoped he would not receive the same treatment here.
Harry knocked on Snape's door.
"You may come in", Snape said.
Harry walked inside the office, clearly still intrigued by why Snape had asked him to be there.
Snape, meanwhile, figured he would try to be courteous and empathetic towards Harry. Even if he was the son of James, he was also the son of Lily, and a Slytherin. No one would be suspicious of him being compassionate and sympathetic towards a Slytherin, even if it was Harry Potter.
He is probably more open-minded than his father was, Snape thought. After all, he is a Slytherin. That says more than enough.
"Mister Potter, it is good to finally meet you for the first time."
"Hello," Harry said.
Snape then decided to ask Harry about his life at home before talking about anything else.
"So, how have your Muggle relatives been treating you?", Snape asked.
Harry sighed. "It was horrible. I hated living with the Dursleys. They starved me, abused me, treated me terribly, and even suppressed the information about my wizarding parentage. I hate them, and that is a strong understatement."
Snape suddenly was filled with anger towards Petunia Dursley and her family. One might even wonder why he did not just apparate to Privet Drive and murder the Dursleys himself. Petunia had the audacity to mistreat her own nephew in such a manner, and did not even show any remorse for her actions. Snape wished there was a way he could convince Dumbledore to change his mind about making Harry live at Privet Drive.
But that would come later. Right now, he would test Potter's intelligence, and see if he had the Slytherin habit of being creative and thinking outside the box.
Snape then pulled out his Wizard's chess set.
"Let's see if you can solve my chess puzzle."
So, Snape presented Harry with the following chess puzzle…
Snape's Chess Puzzle: The white king is on f8, a white rook is on h1, and a white pawn is on g6. The black king is on h8, a black bishop is on g8, a black pawn is on g7, and a black pawn is on h7. The objective of the puzzle is for White to play and mate in two moves.
Harry studied the position a few seconds. Then, he found the solution.
"Rook to h6", Harry said. The white rook on h1 moved to h6.
The black pawn on g7 yanked out its sword and stabbed the white rook on h6 into numerous pieces before replacing it.
Harry then said, "Pawn to g7."
The white pawn on g6 moved to g7.
"Checkmate," Harry said.
Snape smiled.
He certainly has his mother's wisdom and talent. He's definitely a suitable student for Slytherin.
"Well done, Potter. I hope you will make Slytherin House proud."
"I hope so, too, professor", Harry said.