Chapter Summaries

As Gryffindor prepared to face Slytherin in a Quidditch match, Albert predicted that Harry Potter would catch the Golden Snitch and encouraged others to bet on Gryffindor. The chapter ended with Harry joining the bets while Ron watched, feeling as if he had missed an opportunity.

• Albert reassured Fred, George, and Lee Jordan that Harry Potter would catch the Golden Snitch and lead Gryffindor to victory.
• Albert gave Kenneth Troller advice on how to attract Slytherin bettors, and Kenneth collected wagers against Harry.
• Shanna bet on Gryffindor, while Truman and the Weasley twins placed bets with the Slytherin pool run by Marcus Flint.
• Albert told Fred and George they could recover their winnings from Flint by force if he refused to pay.
• Harry bet a Galleon on his own victory, and Ron felt that something was slipping away from him.

Albert and Shanna watched Gryffindor face Slytherin in a Quidditch match, while Albert later joined Isabelle to watch Harry pursue the Golden Snitch. Harry nearly caught it, but Marcus Flint rammed him and Madam Hooch stopped play, leaving the match unresolved and the crowd furious.

• Albert enchanted a banner reading “Potter Will Win” to make its lion roar, startling Ron and the other Gryffindors.
• Angelina scored first for Gryffindor, but Slytherin gained the lead through underhanded play.
• Albert left the stands to join Isabelle, and they discussed his confidence in Harry and his bet on Gryffindor.
• Harry spotted the Golden Snitch and raced Terence Higgs toward it, using his faster Nimbus 2000 to catch up.
• Marcus Flint rammed Harry just as he reached for the Snitch, and Madam Hooch halted the match for the foul.
• Gryffindor supporters threw rubbish and jinxes at Flint, while Albert told Isabelle he still expected Harry to win.

Gryffindor overcame Slytherin in a chaotic Quidditch match after Harry Potter’s broom was jinxed, and Harry caught the Golden Snitch to secure the victory. After the match, Flint faced students demanding payment for their lost bets.

• Lee Jordan condemned Flint’s conduct as spectators threw jinxes, and Madam Hooch suspended the match until the stands calmed down.
• Albert noticed Harry’s broom behaving erratically and told Isabelle that Quirrell was likely a servant of The Dark Lord who had come to steal the object in the Fourth-Floor Restricted Corridor.
• Harry clung to his out-of-control broom until Hermione intervened, the broom returned to normal, and Snape was left putting out flames on his robes.
• Slytherin extended its lead to 60:20, but Harry caught the Golden Snitch after Higgs gave up the chase, giving Gryffindor a 170:60 win.
• Flint angrily protested that Harry had nearly swallowed the Snitch, then was surrounded by students seeking repayment for their lost bets.

After Flint tried to welch on his Quidditch betting debts, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan recovered their stakes and prepared to help the other winners collect. Albert expected the students to keep pressuring Flint, while Kenneth Troller joked that he would buy Flint's trousers if the debts went unpaid.

• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan told Albert they had cornered Flint and recovered their five Galleons, then explained that they had left Flint and his companions in the Slytherin changing room.
• Kenneth Troller paid Albert fourteen Galleons from their betting profits and showed him the accounts, while George revealed Flint's betting pool owed winners 235 Galleons and ten Sickles.
• Kenneth Troller and the others speculated that Snape had interfered when Harry nearly fell from his broom, and Albert said he had seen Snape muttering during the match.
• Lee Jordan explained that the winners planned to join forces to collect their money, and Albert predicted that Hogwarts students would keep confronting Flint until he paid.
• Kenneth Troller offered to pay one Galleon for Flint's trousers as repayment, recalling that Flint had threatened to take his underwear if he could not pay.

Albert learned that Flint and his companions still refused to repay their gambling debts, while his friends continued to pressure them. In Charms class, Professor Flitwick taught the Cheering Charm, leaving Albert and the twins considering ways to use it in magical products.

• Albert heard that Truman and others had ambushed Flint and taken a Galleon from him after Snape punished Truman for seeking help with the unpaid debt.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan discussed pressuring Flint's group, while Albert said he had recorded the debt and expected repayment eventually.
• Albert learned that rumors about Flint having his trousers pulled down had spread widely through Hogwarts.
• Professor Flitwick demonstrated the Cheering Charm and explained how it could remove tension and unease, warning that too much could cause hysterical laughter.
• Albert considered making items or sweets with the charm, and Fred and George proposed creating Laughing Toffee.

Albert gave Fred and George ideas for developing magical sweets, then refused to reveal Nicolas Flamel’s identity to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. When Flint stormed out of the toilet, Fred used the Cheering Charm on him, and Professor McGonagall recognized the spell.

• Albert told Fred and George about Laughing Potion ingredients and suggested experimenting with magical foods that could become profitable products.
• Fred and George wrote down Albert’s suggestions, while Lee Jordan remarked that knowledge was wealth and Albert corrected him with Ravenclaw’s motto.
• Hermione, Harry, and Ron asked Albert who Nicolas Flamel was, but he warned them away from the mystery of the big dog and suggested they ask Hagrid or search the library.
• Flint emerged from the toilet in a fury, so Fred cast the Cheering Charm on him while George and Lee covered for him.
• Truman brought the debt-collection team over, and Professor McGonagall recognized the Cheering Charm as Flint laughed uncontrollably.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained curious about Nicolas Flamel and the treasure guarded by Fluffy, so they visited Hagrid for answers. Hagrid warned them to stop investigating and, concerned that Albert might target the Philosopher's Stone, decided to invite him for tea and consider telling Dumbledore.

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed whether Albert knew Nicolas Flamel and what Fluffy was guarding, and Hermione suggested asking Hagrid.
• Ron defended Fred and George for trying to collect Harry's wager from the Slytherins, while Hermione objected to their methods.
• The next afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione visited Hagrid and asked about Nicolas Flamel and Albert's warning.
• Hagrid told them to stop investigating, then began writing to invite Albert for tea on Saturday.
• Hagrid worried that Albert could overcome the professors' defenses around the Philosopher's Stone and considered telling Dumbledore.

Albert discussed plans for a future shop with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan while preparing to meet Hagrid for tea. He warned the others that the suspected Gringotts thief might be at Hogwarts, leaving them increasingly convinced Professor Quirrell was in danger.

• Lee Jordan gave Albert a note from Hagrid inviting him to tea the next day.
• Albert explained his plans for a shop, with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan discussing its products, finances, and roles.
• Fred asked when they could explore the fourth floor, but Albert warned that someone dangerous was watching what lay inside.
• Albert reminded them that Polyjuice Potion could disguise someone and suggested Professor Quirrell might be suspicious.
• Lee Jordan and Fred agreed that Professor Quirrell seemed likely to get into trouble, while Albert denied having predicted it.

Albert visited Hagrid and reassured him that he had no intention of stealing the Philosopher's Stone, while suggesting Dumbledore might be using it as bait for the thief. Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived as Albert left, and Hagrid warned them to stop investigating Nicholas Flamel.

• Albert found Hagrid exhausted and realized Harry had visited him to ask about Nicholas Flamel.
• Albert told Hagrid he knew Nicholas Flamel and argued that Dumbledore might have placed a fake Philosopher's Stone at Hogwarts to lure out the Dark Lord or his servant.
• Albert noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione outside Hagrid's cabin, then left after Hagrid let them in.
• Hagrid refused to answer the trio's questions about Nicholas Flamel and warned them that their curiosity could get them killed.

Albert watched the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff Quidditch match with Isabelle, keeping them warm while they discussed Wizard Cards and the future. After Ravenclaw won, Albert teased Isabelle about their future together, assuring her that he had only chosen her boat.

• Kenneth Troller asked Albert to help open a betting pool, but Albert refused.
• Albert and Isabelle watched the match together under a conjured umbrella and beside magical blue flames, discussing Quidditch and adding magical effects to Wizard Cards.
• Ravenclaw defeated Hufflepuff, with Cho Chang beating the Hufflepuff Seeker.
• Albert wondered whether the future could change and told Isabelle he had divined that they would marry.
• Isabelle teased Albert about another woman, and he replied that he had only chosen her boat.

Flint blamed Kenneth Troller for his betting-pool debts while Albert and his friends planned to collect the money from the Slytherins during the Hogsmeade trip. Hermione brought Albert a French parchment that secretly contained the Philosopher’s Stone formula, and Harry and Ron were left waiting to learn what it said.

• Flint resolved to get revenge on the students he blamed for his losses, especially Kenneth Troller, while overlooking Albert.
• At Albert’s suggestion, Fred, George, and the other debt collectors planned to take the Slytherins’ Galleons during the December Hogsmeade trip after letting them lower their guard.
• Hermione showed Albert an old French parchment, and he agreed to translate it after the Christmas holidays while recognizing it as his hidden Philosopher’s Stone formula.
• After Hermione returned to Harry and Ron, she told them Albert had identified the parchment as French but had not said what it contained.

Albert received a letter telling him to return home for Christmas, while Fred and George learned their family would be visiting Charlie in Romania and they would stay at Hogwarts. After spotting Professor Quirrell in the Fourth-Floor Restricted Corridor, the boys speculated about his motives and decided Dumbledore was already watching for a thief.

• Albert read letters from Daisy and Nia and watched Tom sleep beside the stove.
• George learned his family would visit Charlie in Romania, while Albert and Lee Jordan planned to go home for Christmas.
• Fred and George spotted Professor Quirrell in the Fourth-Floor Restricted Corridor and wondered whether he meant to steal the protected treasure.
• Albert suggested Quirrell was controlled by the Imperius Curse and warned the twins that they had no evidence to accuse him.
• Albert guessed Dumbledore was waiting for the thief to act, and Fred wondered whether that meant they could not explore the corridor.

Albert explained his doubts about tea-leaf divination before joining his friends in a courtyard snowball fight and magically bringing a giant snowman to life. The dancing snowman drew a crowd, and Snape arrived to confront them.

• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan that he had guessed the tea-leaf reading and believed the practice was unreliable.
• Fred and George carried Albert toward the courtyard, where a snowball thrown by Truman struck Lee Jordan instead.
• Albert fought back against Truman and his companions with magic, then built a snowman as large as Hagrid.
• Albert enchanted the snowman to grow legs and tap-dance, thrilling the students who had gathered to watch.
• Snape appeared in the courtyard and asked what they were doing.

Albert warned Snape that the giant snowman was about to collapse, but Snape ignored him and was buried beneath it. After Albert organized Snape’s rescue and took him to the Hospital Wing, the snowman’s fall became a much-discussed story at Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall arrived to question Albert.

• Snape deducted points from Gryffindor while confronting Albert, who warned him to move away from the unstable snowman.
• The giant snowman toppled onto Snape, and Albert called for help while Fred and the others dug him out.
• Albert treated the unconscious Snape and had students carry him to the Hospital Wing as the courtyard cheered and spread the story.
• Madam Pomfrey treated Snape, who soon woke, and Professor McGonagall arrived and demanded that Albert explain what had happened.

After Snape was crushed by a collapsing snowman, McGonagall deducted points from Gryffindor and gave Albert detention, while students blamed Snape for the accident. Albert privately recognized that he had caused the snowman to fall, and the chapter ended with Katrina reading Harry’s card to Albert: “Nice work.”

• Albert explained to McGonagall that Snape had ignored his warning and been hit by the snowman, while Truman and Fred backed him up.
• McGonagall deducted ten points from Gryffindor and assigned Albert detention to finish his essay on human Transfiguration.
• Students rallied behind Albert and blamed Snape, worsening Snape’s reputation; Snape later left the Hospital Wing but returned with a fever.
• Albert realized that he had unconsciously caused the snowman to topple onto Snape and privately felt pleased with the result.
• In the Room of Requirement, Isabelle offered to help Albert with his essay, and Katrina read Harry’s card, which said, “Nice work.”

Albert turned his detention into a private lesson with Professor McGonagall and finished an essay on human Transfiguration. After Fred and George attacked Professor Quirrell with enchanted snowballs, Albert helped ensure the twins received detention and obtained a signed note granting him access to the Restricted Section.

• Albert asked Professor McGonagall to teach him human Transfiguration, learned to disguise himself as a black armchair, and wrote an essay that satisfied her.
• Professor McGonagall saw Fred and George's enchanted snowballs knock Professor Quirrell down, then took twenty points from Gryffindor and gave the twins detention.
• Albert suggested that Fred and George apologize and polish silverware and chamber pots by hand, then kept Professor Quirrell busy with questions until he secured a signed note for the Restricted Section.
• Lee Jordan told Albert that Fred and George had enchanted the snowballs to test Professor Quirrell, and Fred ended up assigned to scrub the chamber pots.
• Fred and George blamed Albert and asked to copy his homework, while Lee Jordan offered to supervise them and Albert let them copy.

Albert and the debt-collection team ambushed Slytherin students who owed them money, taking nearly forty Galleons and warning them against retaliation. Albert left the group ready to use Memory Charms if the Slytherins fought back as they headed to Hogsmeade Village.

• Albert joined Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Truman in planning an ambush for Flint and the other Slytherin debtors.
• Lee Jordan bound Flint and his companions, and Fred and Truman took money from their pouches before the team locked them in a snow hut.
• The team ambushed three more groups of Slytherins, collected nearly forty Galleons, and divided the money according to the debts owed.
• Truman warned the robbed students that the team would keep pursuing repayment, while Fred kept their wands until they reached Hogsmeade Village.
• Albert persuaded the wavering students to stand together and said they could alter the Slytherins' memories if they sought revenge.
• The team cleared away the snow huts and set off for Hogsmeade Village.

Flint and his allies tried to retaliate against Truman and the students collecting debts, despite lacking wands and support. Their ambush failed, and Truman’s group left them humiliated and outnumbered.

• Flint proposed ambushing Truman’s group, while Perrigin Derrick urged negotiation and several Slytherins sided with him.
• Flint rejected Perrigin Derrick’s plan and borrowed wands from first-years to build a snow hut along the route back to school.
• Flint and his companions waited in the conspicuous hut, unable to hide it with the Disillusionment Charm.
• Truman arrived with a much larger group, surrounded the hut, and mocked Flint and his shivering companions.
• Truman warned Flint not to try again, and Fred told him he should become a good person as the debt collectors left together.

Albert let the debt-collecting group accept half of the Slytherins’ winnings and warned his friends that the Slytherins might seek revenge afterward. As Christmas break began, he mocked Malfoy, then heard that Flint planned to retaliate against Kenneth Troller.

• Fred and George told Albert that the Slytherins offered to repay their debts but refused to pay fourfold winnings, and Albert advised letting the group decide whether to accept.
• The debtors reached an agreement, repaid the Galleons they owed, and the group accepted half of its winnings.
• Albert teased Malfoy by calling him Harry Potter’s admirer as he and his friends left Hogwarts for the Christmas break.
• Kenneth Troller told Albert and Lee Jordan that Flint wanted to pull down his underwear, but Albert offered him no useful advice.
• Albert told Lee Jordan that Obliviate could erase Flint’s memory, then beat him at Wizard Cards and discussed the game’s future.

Albert woke on Christmas morning to give Nia a scarf and opened a mountain of gifts from family and friends, including a Two-way Mirror from Nicolas Flamel. He left suspicious packages from Snape and an unknown sender unopened, planning to inspect them after returning to school.

• Nia woke Albert to complain about not receiving a Christmas gift, and he gave her a wool scarf.
• Albert found Christmas gifts from his family, friends, and teachers, including matching gloves from Isabelle and a Two-way Mirror from Nicolas Flamel.
• Albert received a pair of matching gloves from Nia, while she confiscated Twelve Winning Ways to Charm a Witch after Herb began reading it.
• Albert found packages from Snape and an unknown sender, decided not to open them, and planned to share their contents with others at school.