Chapter Summaries

Albert and Isabelle spent the day in Hogsmeade, where their conversation about Ron’s apparent crush on Madam Rosmerta led Hermione to reconsider her feelings for Ron. Albert revealed that Black would infiltrate Hogwarts, though he believed Black’s target was not Harry, and he and Isabelle returned to the Room of Requirement to rest before the night ahead.

• Albert and Isabelle visited Honeydukes and then found Fred, George, and Lee Jordan whispering in The Three Broomsticks.
• Hermione and Ron joined Albert and Isabelle, and Isabelle pointed out Ron’s apparent interest in Madam Rosmerta.
• Hermione lent Ron Sickles so he could buy Butterbeer for Harry, then wondered whether Ron’s feelings for Madam Rosmerta were real.
• Hermione asked whether Albert could foresee Black’s movements, and Albert said the Ministry would not catch him and that news about Black would arrive soon.
• Ron overheard Albert’s warning that Black was near Hogwarts, and Albert later told Isabelle that Black would infiltrate the school but probably was not after Harry.
• Albert and Isabelle returned to the Room of Requirement to catch up on sleep before the night ahead.

Albert spent Halloween with Isabelle and his friends, then joined the students gathered in the Great Hall after Sirius Black broke into Hogwarts and attacked the Fat Lady’s portrait. He suspected Black had escaped and inferred that he had no wand, while he and Shanna stayed behind to keep order.

• Albert woke beside Isabelle, gave her chocolate, and went with her to the Halloween feast after confirming that Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had bought the Venomous Tentacula seeds.
• Albert discussed possible inventions with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan during the feast and chose not to help catch Black, believing he could bring Albert future benefits.
• Albert learned that Black had destroyed the Fat Lady’s portrait, and Dumbledore ordered the students to spend the night in the Great Hall while the castle was searched.
• Albert reassured Shanna that Black had likely escaped through a Secret Passage and stayed with her to patrol the Great Hall instead of searching the castle.
• Albert told Shanna that Black had attacked the portrait with a knife, leading her to realize that Black probably did not have a wand.

After the search for Black turned up nothing, Albert dealt with the chaos caused by Sir Cadogan changing the Gryffindor password and learned he would leave for the Potions Tournament the next morning. He suspected Black had entered through a Secret Passage and told Fred and George how to track anyone using one.

• The professors searched Hogwarts until dawn without finding Black, and the exhausted students were allowed to return to bed as morning classes were cancelled.
• Albert confronted Sir Cadogan after he changed the Gryffindor password without informing the prefects, and Percy got him to reveal that the new password was “pony.”
• Professor McGonagall told Albert that Professor Slughorn would take him to the Potions Tournament the next morning.
• Albert and Lee Jordan discussed theories about how Black entered Hogwarts, and Fred and George said they believed he had used a Secret Passage.
• Albert suggested that Fred and George scatter chalk dust in the Secret Passages to identify footprints if Black tried to enter Hogwarts again.

Albert and Isabelle left Hogwarts with Professor Slughorn to attend the Magical School Potion Championship, where Albert was expected to compete. After Albert drove off the Dementors pursuing their carriage, Slughorn explained the tournament and Albert promised Isabelle he would bring back their Golden Cauldron.

• Albert and Isabelle met Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Slughorn before setting out for the championship with Hagrid.
• Dementors surrounded the Thestral carriage, and Albert and Isabelle used their Patronuses to protect Hagrid and scatter them.
• Albert told Slughorn that Dementors had preyed on students, including Harry Potter, and rejected Slughorn’s predictions about his political future.
• Slughorn explained that the tournament would last about a week and that each school would send one student to the finals.
• Isabelle said Albert could compete and asked him to bring back their Golden Cauldron, and Albert promised he would.

Albert and the Hogwarts delegation traveled to Beauxbatons, where they met the other schools and waited for a Portkey to the Magical Gardens. The Portkey brought them to a village-like entrance, where two wizards welcomed them to the hidden gardens.

• Professor Slughorn explained that the teams would meet at Beauxbatons before taking a special Portkey to the Magical Gardens, and Albert photographed Beauxbatons Castle as they arrived.
• Madame Maxime greeted the Hogwarts delegation and led them to a tent, where they met Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students over dinner.
• Alice tried to attract Albert's attention, but he suggested that the group tour Beauxbatons together; Marie warned him about Alice's habit of bewitched boys.
• Madame Maxime had everyone hold her cane, and the Portkey transported the teams from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang to the Magical Gardens.
• Two wizards welcomed the bewildered visitors at the entrance to a village-like place.

Albert and Isabelle arrived at the Magical Gardens village ahead of the Potions Tournament and learned about its greenhouses and dangers. During a tour, a Wagadu student was injured after falling under a Veela girl's Charm Magic and trying to pick a flower, leaving the contestants warned about the risks ahead.

• Bobby guided Albert, Isabelle, and Professor Slughorn to their rooms and introduced them to Selina, who explained that the tournament would begin the day after tomorrow.
• Albert and Isabelle spent the evening playing Wizard's Chess and talking before returning to their rooms to sleep.
• The next morning, Bobby and two other Male Wizards led the group on a tour, and Professor Slughorn explained that only eight teams had entered because several schools had withdrawn.
• The Herbology experts showed the contestants rare and dangerous plants, warning them to stay alert inside the Magical Gardens.
• A Wagadu student fell beside a golden trumpet-shaped flower and was taken to the village hospital after trying to pick it under the influence of a Veela girl's Charm Magic.

Albert learned that the Magical School Potion Championship's first round would be brewing the Draught of Living Death, then completed it first while Isabelle neared the end of her brew. Catherine Nicholas appeared beside him at the competition, leaving Albert wary of her sudden familiarity with Isabelle.

• Albert divined that the first round would involve the Draught of Living Death, while Isabelle told him that many schools already knew the task.
• Professor Slughorn confirmed the potion challenge and offered Albert and Isabelle his Advanced Potion-Making book, but they said they were prepared.
• At the village square, Albert recognized Catherine Nicholas among the spectators and spotted Damocles among the judges.
• Albert brewed a Draught of Living Death and finished first, while many other contestants struggled and Isabelle continued her potion.
• Catherine sat beside Albert and greeted him with a smile, making him feel that danger was near.

Albert reunited with Catherine at the Potions Tournament, where they discussed Isabelle, a beauty potion, and the suspicious Veela girl. The judges announced the Draught of Living Death scores, with Albert taking first place while Isabelle remained unscored under a rule meant to give each school representation.

• Catherine greeted Albert and Isabelle, explained that she was Ilvermorny's team leader and a Potions teaching assistant, and asked about the beauty potion research.
• Catherine and Isabelle warned Albert to stay away from the Veela girl, while Slughorn wondered about Catherine's relationship with the others.
• The judges announced that Albert had scored 99 points and taken first place, while Guy Bernard came second with 94.
• The judges ranked the remaining contestants, including Alice, the Castelobruxo girl, the Ilvermorny boy, and the Wagadu student, whose potion scored 68.
• Catherine asked whether Isabelle resented being left out of the scoring, but Isabelle said she had entered the first round for fun.

Albert learned the second round’s rules and toured the Magical Gardens’ greenhouses, where he saw rare plants that could serve as potion ingredients. The chapter left him preparing for the ingredient-gathering round while learning that the gardens protected species such as Phantom Scent Grass and Longevity Grass.

• Professor Slughorn told Albert that the second round would require contestants to gather ingredients in the Magical Gardens and brew a potion within ten hours.
• Damocles Belby praised Albert’s first-round victory and encouraged him to explore the gardens’ library and learn from the opportunity.
• Catherine arrived with her team and asked Albert about Damocles, the inventor of the Wolfsbane Potion.
• A Herbology expert warned the contestants not to damage the protected Phantom Scent Grass, which Sigmund Bach had used to invent Potency Potion.
• Albert saw Longevity Grass and other endangered plants in the greenhouses, though the contestants could not use them as ingredients.

Albert learned about the restricted library and the Fountain of Good Luck in Magical Gardens while speaking with Mrs. Norris. He planned to focus on the potion competition for now, then left the pub with Isabelle for a walk.

• Mrs. Norris told Albert where the village library was and explained that its best books were reserved for residents and renowned Potions Masters.
• Albert learned that the library’s Compendium of Magical Plants could be accessed through a quest requiring him to become a Potions Master or settle in Magical Gardens.
• Mrs. Norris said Magical Gardens contained many ingredients and creatures, but warned that its dangerous plants required caution.
• Mrs. Norris revealed that the Fountain of Good Luck existed, but its water was ordinary spring water, and urged Albert to prioritize winning the competition.
• Isabelle invited Albert to take a walk, and he went with her toward the pub’s entrance.

Albert discovered that Catherine had used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Isabelle, and the group revealed their tangled pen-pal connections. Valeria asked Albert to help research a beauty potion, and he agreed to offer some assistance.

• Albert and the girl beside him discussed the beauty-potion research before he realized she was Catherine disguised as Isabelle with Polyjuice Potion.
• Catherine admitted she had taken Isabelle's hair, and Isabelle said she had worked out the impersonation; Valeria had helped Catherine.
• Valeria explained that Isabelle had been her English pen pal, whom she had mistaken for a man, and that she and Catherine were pen pals too.
• Albert said he and Catherine were partners, and Valeria asked him to help with their beauty-potion research.
• Albert agreed to offer some help, while Valeria admitted she had felt disappointed to discover her pen pal was a woman and jealous when Isabelle brought Albert to the Potions Tournament.

Albert entered the Magical Gardens for the second round of the Potions Championship, where contestants had ten hours to gather ingredients and brew a potion. After choosing the more practical Shrinking Solution and recalling that the revised scoring rules favored Guy Bernard, Albert spotted an Aliot and considered eliminating his rival first.

• Professor Slughorn urged Albert to eat a hearty breakfast before the long competition.
• Albert questioned the organizers about the issued tracking clothes, and Isabelle confirmed that they were newly made and washed.
• The contestants entered the Magical Gardens, heard the rules, and were sent into the forest one at a time, with Albert going first.
• Albert abandoned his plan to brew a Beautification Potion and began gathering ingredients for a Shrinking Solution.
• Albert recalled that the changed three-round scoring system favored Guy Bernard, then spotted an Aliot and considered targeting Guy.

Guy Bernard was eliminated from the Magical School Potion Championship after Albert secretly fed him Arioter's Leaves and stole key ingredients from his satchel. President Bernard secured him an extra chance to compete, but the missing ingredients made it impossible for him to brew either planned potion, and he vowed to find and disqualify the culprit.

• Guy Bernard recalled how his grandfather had persuaded him to cheat and train for the championship, and he resolved to win the Golden Cauldron despite losing confidence after Albert defeated him.
• Guy Bernard followed his grandfather's suggestions, gathered his potion ingredients, and prepared to leave the Magical Gardens early.
• Albert, hidden beneath a Disillusionment Charm, stuffed Arioter's Leaves into Guy Bernard's mouth, leaving him laughing uncontrollably until a patrol member sent him away for treatment.
• President Bernard persuaded the Judges Panel to give Guy Bernard an additional chance to brew a potion with his collected ingredients.
• Guy Bernard discovered that key ingredients had vanished from his satchel, while President Bernard realized he could not salvage his grandson's chances and vowed to disqualify the culprit.

Albert continued the Potions Tournament while concealing that he had sabotaged Guy Bernard, then used a staged confrontation with a Wagadu contestant to make the attacker appear responsible for an assault on a patrol member. The chapter ended with the Wagadu contestant unconscious and Albert poised to leave him as the scapegoat.

• Albert met Daniela Gonzalez, discussed Guy Bernard’s family ties to the tournament organizers, and insisted he intended to defeat him fairly.
• Daniela told Albert where to look for Shrivelfigs, but Albert went to a patch whose location he already knew.
• A Wagadu contestant attacked Albert with wandless magic after a quest prompt warned Albert of danger.
• When a patrol member arrived to stop the fight, the Wagadu contestant stunned him and then resumed attacking Albert with a summoned wand.
• Albert blocked the contestant’s spells and made a Stunning Spell appear to rebound onto him, leaving him unconscious.

Albert subdued the Wagadu contestant who attacked a patrolman, then used the man’s broomstick to find the Fountain of Good Luck. He discovered mysterious symbols on the fountain and received a quest to uncover their secret before returning to the competition.

• Albert revived the patrolman and explained how the Black guy had attacked him and then been knocked unconscious by a rebounded Stunning Spell.
• The patrolman summoned other patrolmen, who carried the unconscious Wagadu contestant away and disqualified him.
• Albert summoned the lost broomstick with Accio and flew through the Magical Gardens toward a mountaintop.
• Albert found the Fountain of Good Luck, examined its mysterious symbols, and learned that its water seemed to have no magic.
• Albert received a quest to uncover the fountain’s secret, then flew back, hid the broomstick among the wrinkled fig trees, and headed for the competition entrance.

After returning from the Magical Gardens in first place, Albert challenged the organizers for treating him like a criminal while investigating Guy Bernard’s attack. The organizers apologized, but Albert left the confrontation declaring that he would win the championship.

• Albert returned from the Magical Gardens with two sets of ingredients and learned that the other three contestants had been eliminated.
• An organizer demanded to inspect Albert’s wand over Guy Bernard’s attack, and Albert protested that he had been attacked too.
• Albert confronted the Judges Panel and demanded an apology for treating him and the other contestants like criminals.
• Damocles supported Albert and argued that his skill in Potions meant he had no reason to cheat.
• Albert’s wand revealed only four spells and cleared him of attacking Guy Bernard, after which the young wizard and President Bernard apologized.
• Albert rejected the tournament’s handling of the matter and declared that he would win the championship.

Albert brewed a perfect Shrinking Solution but received a low score after confronting the Judges Panel, prompting contestants and school leaders to accuse the organizers of favoritism and cheating. The Magical Gardens distanced itself from the scandal, while President Bernard’s scheme to help Guy Bernard win became widely apparent.

• Albert rejected Slughorn’s criticism, prepared ingredients, and brewed a perfect Shrinking Solution, but the judges awarded him only 73 points.
• The judges gave Daniela a higher score than Albert despite her visibly inferior potion, and Castelobruxo’s headmaster protested.
• Koldovstoretz’s team leader and Durmstrang’s Headmaster Igor Karkaroff joined other school representatives in challenging the organizers over unfair rules and contestants’ eliminations.
• Contestants learned Albert had been attacked and suspected the Judges Panel was favoring Guy Bernard, President Bernard’s grandson, and they condemned the apparent attempt to fix the championship.
• The Magical Gardens disavowed responsibility for the scandal and objected to President Bernard’s botched effort to secure the championship for his grandson.

Albert united the Potions Championship contestants by exposing the organizers’ corruption, while secretly admitting to Isabelle that he had attacked Guy Bernard to remove a rival. With the third round approaching, he planned to brew an innovative Wit-Sharpening Potion.

• Selina and Slughorn observed Albert bringing the contestants together as they condemned President Bernard, Guy Bernard, and the tournament organizers for rigging the competition.
• The Wagadu Black contestant apologized to Albert and Valeria for his second-round attack, denied attacking Guy Bernard, and joined the others in toasting the still-unknown culprit.
• Isabelle suspected Albert had attacked Guy Bernard, and Albert confirmed to her that he had acted to remove an obstacle to winning the tournament before completing a Quest Panel mission by exposing the organizers.
• Albert told Isabelle that the third round would require contestants to brew a Potion using supplied ingredients, and he planned to present Hertok’s improved Wit-Sharpening Potion.

Valeria visited Isabelle to discuss romance, beauty, and their futures after interrupting Isabelle and Albert. The conversation left Valeria weighing whether to work with Catherine in the United States while expressing regret about her schooling and unease about Ukraine.

• Valeria arrived at Isabelle's room, and the girls sent Albert away so they could talk privately.
• Valeria teased Isabelle about having a boyfriend, and Isabelle explained how she and Albert had begun dating.
• Valeria complained that the boys at Koldovstoretz were unsuitable, while Isabelle said Albert was unusual even among English boys.
• Valeria told Isabelle that Catherine had invited her to help open a potion shop in the United States, but she was unsure about going.
• Valeria said she disliked the United States and Ukraine, regretted not attending Durmstrang or Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and noted that she would graduate from Koldovstoretz next year.

Albert chose to brew the dangerous Wit-Sharpening Potion in the Potions Tournament’s final round, despite Professor Slughorn’s warnings and the judges’ doubts. The judges let him proceed, while Catherine privately suspected Albert had been responsible for Guy Bernard’s elimination.

• The team leaders recognized that the new third round favored contestants who had prepared in advance, and that Guy Bernard’s elimination had left his grandfather’s preparations to benefit someone else.
• Professor Slughorn identified Albert’s ingredient list as one for Wit-Sharpening Potion and urged him to choose a safer potion, but Albert submitted the list unchanged.
• Damocles told the judges that Albert had helped Hertok study an improved Wit-Sharpening Potion, and Catherine recalled that she and others had supplied Albert with ingredients to practice brewing it.
• The judges confirmed that Albert intended to brew Wit-Sharpening Potion, and he calmly affirmed his choice without answering whether he had brewed it before.
• President Bernard allowed Albert to continue, while Catherine suspected he had arranged Guy Bernard’s elimination and warned Williams not to pressure himself or have regrets.