======Bishop======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Wizard's Chess]] Piece, Enchanted Statue
  * **Owners:** [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]; Temporarily commanded by [[Ron Weasley]]
  * **Maker:** Enchanted by [[Minerva McGonagall]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
The Bishop is a life-sized, animated chess piece, part of a gigantic [[Wizard's Chess]] set. Carved from what appeared to be black stone, it stands taller than a first-year [[Hogwarts]] student. Like the other black pieces in its set, the Bishop is described as having no face. It is designed to resemble the traditional Bishop piece in the game of chess, likely featuring a mitre and clerical-style robes. It moves and acts according to the verbal commands given by a player.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The Bishop is enchanted to play [[Wizard's Chess]] with a high degree of autonomy and physical force. Its primary magical properties include:
  * **Animated Movement:** The piece moves across the chessboard according to the rules of chess and in response to a player's commands. It moves diagonally across any number of unoccupied squares.
  * **Violent Capture:** In [[Wizard's Chess]], capturing an opponent's piece is a physical and destructive act. The Bishop, like its fellow pieces, is capable of attacking and shattering an opposing piece when capturing it.
  * **Vulnerability:** Conversely, the Bishop can be captured and destroyed by an opposing piece. When taken, it is violently smashed and dragged from the board, rendered inert.
=====History=====
The Bishop was part of the enormous [[Wizard's Chess]] set created by Professor [[Minerva McGonagall]] as one of the seven magical obstacles guarding the [[Philosopher's Stone]]. This security measure was put in place in the [[Forbidden Corridor]] on the third floor of [[Hogwarts]] during the 1991-1992 school year.
In June 1992, [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] encountered the chess set on their mission to protect the Stone from [[Professor Quirrell]]. To pass, they had to take the place of three of the black chess pieces and win a game against the white side. Ron, an expert player, took command of the game, replacing a black Knight.
=====Role in the Story=====
The Bishop played a small but crucial role in the climax of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//. During the life-sized chess game, [[Ron Weasley]] recognized that a sacrifice was necessary to secure victory and allow [[Harry Potter]] to proceed.
Ron commanded the black Bishop to move to square H3. This was a deliberate sacrificial move, as it placed the Bishop in the path of the powerful White Queen. The Queen promptly moved and smashed the Bishop to the floor, dragging it off the board. This sacrifice was a critical step in Ron's strategy, clearing the way for Harry, who was playing as a Castle, to checkmate the enemy King. The Bishop's sacrifice directly foreshadowed Ron's own self-sacrifice moments later in the same game.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, the destruction of the Bishop is shown in dramatic detail. The White Queen stabs the stone Bishop through its torso with her sword, causing it to shatter into pieces. (film)