Chapter Summaries

Albert discussed the Yule Ball and Harry’s preparations for the first task, then encouraged Harry to invite Ron into the Forbidden Forest for dangerous creature training. Harry challenged Malfoy to a bet about the task, and Ron agreed to join Harry without knowing what awaited them.

• Hermione recognized Yanira as a famous singer Albert had met in Spain, while Albert said he had already chosen a secret Yule Ball partner.
• Albert advised Harry to consider Ginny or Hermione as his dance partner, and Harry blushed as he thought of Cho Chang.
• Harry invited Ron to join Sirius Black and Lupin in the Forbidden Forest, telling him they would practice fighting Trolls.
• At dinner, Harry argued with Malfoy, offered to bet ten Galleons on the first task, and mocked Malfoy for backing down.
• Neville asked to watch the forest training, and Ron ultimately agreed to go with Harry despite not knowing what the outing would involve.

Albert explained his plans to secure a permanent activity room for the Wizard Cards Club, while Sirius and Lupin prepared Harry for the Triwizard Tournament’s dragon task. Harry learned the Conjunctivitis Curse and was about to train against Acromantulas with Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Lupin.

• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan stopped Albert from leaving and pressed him to help plan the Wizard Cards Club’s future.
• Albert told the group he would bring out his magical activity-room book during the finals and leave it with Professor McGonagall to protect it.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron went to practice in the grounds, where Sirius gave Harry a spare wand and Lupin taught him the Conjunctivitis Curse.
• Lupin revealed that the first Triwizard task involved dragons, and Sirius and Lupin advised Harry to prepare spells and use his Firebolt to stay safe.
• Harry tested the Conjunctivitis Curse on a ferret but found it too weak, so Sirius, Lupin, and the others planned to take him to an Acromantula nest for practice.

Sirius and Lupin took Harry, Ron, and Hermione into the Forbidden Forest to capture an Acromantula and train Harry for the Triwizard Tournament’s first task. Harry overcame his panic through repeated combat practice, while Sirius planned to continue training the others next week.

• Sirius and Lupin led Harry, Ron, and Hermione toward an Acromantula using Dark Creature Detectors, then blinded and captured one with a burst of light.
• Sirius and Lupin released the Acromantula in an open plain and challenged Harry to face it while they protected him.
• Harry’s first spells failed to stop the charging Acromantula, so Sirius and Lupin blocked it and bound it with vines before advising Harry to stay calm and target its weaknesses.
• Harry fought the Acromantula repeatedly, grew more confident, and used the Conjunctivitis Curse to blind it.
• Sirius killed the exhausted Acromantula and Lupin collected its venom; Sirius said Hermione and Ron could train against another one the following week, but Ron refused because he hated spiders.

Albert rejected Yanira’s attempts to secure him as her Yule Ball partner, then attended the Triwizard champions’ wand inspection and warned Mr. Ollivander that he could face serious danger within two years. The chapter ended with Ollivander agreeing to consider Albert’s advice and watch events unfold.

• Albert told Yanira he would not change his mind about dancing with her, and she compromised by asking him to dance a few times.
• After Yanira left, Albert’s friends emerged from hiding and asked about his dance partner, but he kept her identity secret.
• At the wand inspection, Rita Skeeter abandoned her attempt to interview Albert and instead interviewed Harry Potter.
• Mr. Ollivander inspected Fleur, Albert, Krum, and Harry’s wands, while Albert’s redwood wand was praised for its excellent condition.
• Albert privately warned Mr. Ollivander to leave before the next winter because he might face serious trouble, and Ollivander agreed to consider the warning.

After Rita Skeeter’s article turned Harry into a target for ridicule, Harry used Albert’s advice to stand up to Malfoy and other mockers. Albert then visited Hogsmeade with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to study Zoko’s Joke Shop before meeting Isabelle, and the chapter ended as someone asked whether she was his girlfriend.

• Albert explained that he had asked Rita Skeeter to leave his name out of the article because she twisted people’s words, while students continued sending her Howlers and wearing “Harry Stinks” badges.
• Harry confronted Malfoy, froze Goyle and Crabbe, and took Malfoy’s handkerchief after Malfoy mocked him.
• Harry told Hermione and Ron that Albert’s advice had helped him respond confidently, and fewer students dared to mock him afterward.
• Albert accompanied Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to inspect Zoko’s Joke Shop and discuss ideas for their future shop.
• Albert left the others to meet Isabelle, and they shopped for Christmas gifts and discussed Yanira and plans for next summer.
• As Albert and Isabelle approached The Three Broomsticks, a familiar voice asked whether Isabelle was his girlfriend.

Albert and Isabelle met Yanira and the Beauxbatons students at The Three Broomsticks, where the gathering drew attention from the pub’s patrons and Rita Skeeter. As Albert discussed the Triwizard Tournament’s dangers and boasted about facing a dragon, Yanira’s interest in him remained obvious even after he left with Isabelle.

• Albert introduced Yanira to Isabelle, then invited Yanira and the Beauxbatons group into The Three Broomsticks.
• Albert bought Butterbeer for Yanira, Fleur, Gabrielle, and Isabelle while the pub’s customers watched them and Rita Skeeter’s photographer fell.
• Rita Skeeter tried to approach Harry, but she stumbled and fell; Harry entered the pub and warned her that the floor was slippery.
• Albert, Yanira, Isabelle, and Fleur discussed the tournament’s risks, Harry’s unexpected entry as a fourth champion, and the likelihood of cheating.
• Gabrielle asked whether Albert could catch a dragon, and Albert claimed he could exploit its weaknesses, including its fragile eyelids.
• Albert left with Isabelle, and Yanira complained about Isabelle while Fleur told her she had no chance with him.

Yanira told Fleur that Albert was engaged, while Madame Maxime learned the Triwizard Tournament’s first task involved dragons and planned to train Fleur to hypnotize one. Yanira passed the dragon news to Albert, who informed Hermione and Harry, and Hagrid awkwardly discovered they already knew when he tried to warn them.

• Yanira questioned Fleur about Albert, and Fleur explained his connections, engagement to Isabelle, and past correspondence with Louise.
• Madame Maxime told Fleur the champions had to retrieve a Golden Egg from a dragon’s nest and proposed using hypnosis to distract the dragon.
• Yanira told Albert about the dragons, and Albert noted that Hagrid had not yet warned him because he had forgotten amid his excitement.
• Albert told Hermione, who passed the news to Harry; Harry, Hermione, and Ron discussed how the tournament’s cheating made it seem like a joke.
• Hagrid tried to tell Harry about the dragons, learned the group already knew, and awkwardly wished Harry luck.
• Ron reproached Hermione for excusing Hagrid’s forgetfulness, arguing that a champion learning about dragons too late could be killed.

On the day of the Triwizard Tournament’s first task, Albert received dragon-hide protective clothing and encouraged Harry to put his safety first. He drew the Swedish Short-Snout Dragon and entered the arena as the first contestant, facing the dragon as the crowd cheered.

• Students congratulated Albert, while Shanna questioned why the champions had not been given protective gear; Professor McGonagall confirmed Hogwarts had prepared none.
• Mr. McDougal sent Albert a dragon-hide outfit from the Elegant Wizard Clothing Store, which Albert wore to the competition.
• Professor McGonagall led Albert and Harry to the champions’ tent, where Albert reminded Harry to prioritize survival over winning.
• Bagman explained that the champions had to overcome dragons and retrieve Golden Eggs, then drew their order: Albert first, Fleur second, Krum third, and Harry last.
• Albert drew the Swedish Short-Snout Dragon and entered the arena, where he studied the dragon as the crowd cheered.

Albert faced the Swedish Short-Snout Dragon in the Triwizard Tournament, using Transfiguration, smoke, chains, and stone to subdue it without being harmed. He obtained the golden egg to roaring applause, while Karkaroff began considering how Durmstrang might still secure victory.

• Albert surveyed the arena, Transfigured a lion and an eagle, and rejected the tempting idea of killing the dragon for a quest reward.
• The Swedish Short-Snout Dragon targeted Albert and unleashed a prolonged stream of fire, but he shielded himself behind a stone barrier.
• The dragon lunged at Albert, but the lion drew its attention while Albert struck it with heated stones and enveloping smoke.
• Albert transformed the smoke into chains and bound the dragon to the ground, with the lion helping pin down its head.
• The eagle retrieved the golden egg from the nest and placed it in Albert's hand as the crowd celebrated his victory.
• Madame Maxime sighed over Albert's success, while Karkaroff worried that Krum could not catch up and considered an unpleasant plan.

After Albert subdued the Swedish Short-Snout Dragon, he posed for promotional photos and reunited with Isabelle. Karkaroff gave Albert one point instead of the full marks awarded by the other judges, provoking a student riot that destroyed the judges’ stand as Rita Skeeter captured the scene.

• Mike Dabo arranged photographs of Albert posing with the subdued dragon, and Mog stopped the cameraman from photographing Albert kissing Isabelle.
• Albert reunited with Isabelle and his friends, who praised his performance and returned the Golden Egg to him.
• Madame Maxime, Crouch, Dumbledore, and Bagman each awarded Albert ten points, while Karkaroff gave him one point, claiming Albert’s Dragon Suit made the task unfair.
• The crowd booed Karkaroff and threw objects at the judges’ stand as he defended his score.
• Students, including Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, cast curses at Karkaroff, and the second wave of spells blasted apart the judges’ stand.
• Dumbledore Apparated the other judges to safety, while Rita Skeeter excitedly asked whether the riot had been caught on camera.

After Karkaroff was removed from judging, the tournament resumed with Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum facing dragons. Fleur and Krum both secured their Golden Eggs but endangered themselves and damaged dragon eggs, leaving Fleur with forty points and Krum with twenty-eight.

• Dumbledore, Bagman, Madame Maxime, and Crouch removed Karkaroff from the Judges Panel and agreed to replace his scores with the average of the other judges.
• Fleur Delacour hypnotized the Welsh Green Dragon and took its Golden Egg, but the dragon nearly burned her before the handlers intervened; she received forty points.
• Albert warned Isabelle and Katrina that Fleur’s approach was dangerous and privately resolved to guard against Barty Crouch Jr.
• Viktor Krum attacked the Chinese Fireball directly, blinded it, and seized the Golden Egg, while the rampaging dragon crushed several eggs before the handlers subdued it.
• All four judges gave Krum seven points each because he damaged the dragon eggs, giving him a total of twenty-eight.

Harry retrieved the Golden Egg from the Hungarian Horntail but was injured when the dragon struck him, then received treatment and earned forty-five points. Bagman announced the second task would take place in the lake on February 24, and Albert let Hermione discover the Golden Egg’s underwater clue at the celebration feast.

• Harry endured the crowd’s hostility, summoned his Firebolt, and lured the Hungarian Horntail away from its nest to seize the Golden Egg.
• The Hungarian Horntail struck Harry with its tail, piercing his shoulder, but Harry escaped and Madam Pomfrey healed him.
• Harry returned to the judges’ stand and received forty-five points; Hermione told him Karkaroff had been removed after his disgraceful attempt to interfere.
• Bagman announced that the second task would begin on February 24 and urged the champions to solve the riddle inside their Golden Eggs.
• Krum apologized to Albert for Karkaroff’s behavior, and Albert hinted that Karkaroff would soon no longer lead Durmstrang.
• At the celebration feast, Albert let Hermione hear the Golden Egg’s shrill underwater song, and she realized the next task would take place in the lake.

After the Triwizard Tournament’s first task, Albert dealt with his sudden fame and explained why he refused the clothing store’s offer. He told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan that Karkaroff was a former Death Eater likely to be killed when The Dark Lord returned, and began planning to enlist house-elves to help someone survive.

• Mike Dabo offered to design formal robes for Albert and his dance partner, but Albert refused because he already had robes and did not want to owe the store favors.
• Rita Skeeter’s Daily Prophet article further damaged Karkaroff’s reputation, while Hogwarts students rallied behind Harry and Albert attracted even more attention.
• Albert chose photographs of Harry to send to Sirius Black with a letter asking him to analyze the Karkaroff affair.
• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan that Karkaroff was a former Death Eater who had betrayed his companions, and predicted The Dark Lord would kill him after returning.
• Albert explained that Karkaroff could hide using a house-elf and the Fidelius Charm, then said Harry would defeat The Dark Lord and asked the others to contact Dobby.
• Fred, George, and Lee agreed to arrange a meeting with Dobby, while Albert said he also hoped to take another house-elf from Hogwarts if Dumbledore allowed it.

Sirius and Lupin used the Defense Guide to expose Karkaroff’s past as a Death Eater, after rumors about his conduct in the Triwizard Tournament spread through Hogwarts. The revelation made the magazine a sensation and left Karkaroff unable to remain in England.

• Sirius persuaded Lupin to publish an article questioning Karkaroff’s conduct and revealing that he had once been a Death Eater.
• Rumors spread through Hogwarts that Karkaroff had given Albert one point because he despised Muggle-born wizards and had helped make Harry a champion to endanger him.
• Albert rejected Lee Jordan’s plan to spread a rumor about Krum and discussed the Yule Ball and Wizard Cards finals with Lee, Fred, and George.
• Fred invited Angelina and George invited Aaliyah to the Yule Ball, leaving Lee without a partner.
• The Defense Guide published its account of Karkaroff’s past, driving up the magazine’s sales and prompting letters, curses, and Howlers against him.
• Parents demanded that Karkaroff be sent away from Hogwarts, and the revelation made it impossible for him to remain in England.

Dumbledore and Phineas debated Albert Anderson’s motives while Dumbledore read an article exposing Karkaroff as a Death Eater. Snape reported Karkaroff’s flight and the Dark Mark growing stronger, then Dumbledore asked him to watch Moody and brew Veritaserum because he suspected someone had infiltrated Hogwarts.

• Phineas warned Dumbledore that Anderson was using Sirius and might be targeting the Black family fortune, but Dumbledore defended Anderson’s character and wealth.
• Snape told Dumbledore that Karkaroff had fled and showed him his Dark Mark, which had grown darker as Voldemort regained strength.
• Snape questioned why Dumbledore had not tried to stop Voldemort’s return, and Dumbledore said they still did not know how Voldemort had managed it.
• Dumbledore asked Snape to keep an eye on Moody and brew the strongest Veritaserum after suspecting someone had infiltrated Hogwarts.
• Snape said Moody had searched his office in Dumbledore’s name, but Dumbledore insisted Snape watch Moody without explaining further.

Albert revealed the Wizard Cards Club’s new enchanted activity room, a spacious, comfortable place hidden inside a metal book, and explained how members would maintain and access it. He then began the fourth tournament semifinals, announcing Cedric Diggory and Hermione Granger as the first contestants.

• Newspaper coverage of Karkaroff and Voldemort made Harry more famous and brought him more invitations to the ball.
• Lee Jordan showed the students Albert’s ornate metal book, which concealed the Wizard Cards Club activity room when opened with a special key.
• Albert led the students to a secret passage and used the key and his wand to transform the book into a doorway to the activity room.
• Albert described the room’s features and announced rules for membership, access, and maintaining the space.
• Albert opened the fourth Wizard Cards Club tournament semifinals and called Cedric Diggory and Hermione Granger to compete.

Albert hosted the Wizard Cards tournament, where Luna beat Hermione to become champion. He offered Luna a dance at the Yule Ball and asked her to consider succeeding him as captain of the Wizard Cards Club, leaving the club’s future in her hands.

• Hermione defeated Cedric to reach the final, and Luna narrowly beat Shanna to join her there.
• Luna defeated Hermione in the final and received the tournament prize as the party began.
• Albert congratulated Luna and offered her a dance at the Yule Ball, arranging for Lee Jordan to invite her so she could attend despite her age.
• Albert asked Luna to consider becoming the next captain of the Wizard Cards Club and explained the responsibilities involved.
• Lee Jordan doubted Luna’s organizational ability, but Albert said the club would endure if she loved Wizard Cards and accepted the responsibility.

Harry worried about finding a partner for the Yule Ball and began thinking about inviting Cho Chang, while Ron and Hermione argued over their preferences and plans. The chapter left Harry still struggling to approach Cho and Ron doubtful that Hermione had found a partner.

• Hermione asked Harry if he had chosen a Yule Ball partner, and Ron said he hoped to invite a pretty girl, prompting an argument with Hermione.
• Ron said Albert planned to invite his girlfriend, and Hermione left in irritation.
• Fred and George told Ron and Harry that they had arranged partners, with Fred inviting Angelina and George inviting Aaliyah.
• Fred and George revealed that Albert had dated McDougal after Percy had pursued her and been rejected.
• Harry realized he needed a partner to lead the first dance, thought of Cho Chang, and spent the next few days trying to work up the courage to ask her.
• Hermione told Ron she had found a dance partner, while Neville worried that he and the others might be left without one.

As the Yule Ball approached, Albert watched students struggle to find partners and saw several invitations end in rejection. Ron Weasley’s attempt to invite Fleur Delacour became schoolwide gossip, while Harry learned Cho Chang was already dating Cedric Diggory.

• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan that Cedric Diggory was dating Cho Chang and that Roger Davies would fail to invite Katrina McDougal; Katrina rejected Davies, and Albert refused to reveal her dance partner.
• Harry Potter was rejected by Cho Chang, and Albert told him she and Cedric had started dating the previous year.
• Albert encouraged Lee Jordan to pursue fame through Wizard Cards as the group headed toward the Great Hall.
• Ron Weasley invited Fleur Delacour to the Yule Ball while affected by her Veela charm, then fled after she dispelled it; Cedric claimed he already had a partner and left.
• Students spread the story of Ron’s invitation, and Draco Malfoy mocked him as “a toad lusting after swan meat.”

While Lee Jordan defended the Wizard Cards Club from Slytherin students, Albert spent Christmas with his family and Isabelle. Isabelle joined the gathering and revealed that she had competed with many girls before winning Albert over, leaving him choking in embarrassment.

• Albert secretly arranged a paid prank that made a Hufflepuff student inflate and helped the Weasley twins become famous for their joke products.
• Lee Jordan told Angelina and Aaliyah that Albert had left Hogwarts, then used Albert's Defense Bracelet to repel Montague's spell and defeat him.
• Fred and George arrived with two other Slytherin students, helped Lee Jordan send the attackers away, and joked about giving Warrington a fake wand for Christmas.
• Albert reassured Nia and Luke about facing dragons in the Triwizard Tournament and explained that he would return to Hogwarts for the Yule Ball with Katrina as his dance partner.
• Isabelle visited Albert's family, helped Sansa prepare dinner, and told Nia she had defeated many girls before she won Albert over, causing Albert to choke.