Chapter Summaries

After Slytherin’s defeat, tensions with Gryffindor escalated, and Slytherin students repeatedly tried to retaliate against Albert and his friends. George and Albert turned one attacker’s ambush into a humiliating prank, while suspicion fell on Gryffindor’s older students.

• Gryffindor and Slytherin students clashed after the Quidditch match, and Professor McGonagall docked both houses heavily when a fight left students magically transformed.
• Slytherin students failed to trip or corner Albert, and one attacker knocked himself unconscious in the boys’ bathroom.
• George walked through a corridor with a fifth-year Slytherin following him, then Albert stunned the attacker from behind.
• George and his friends staged the unconscious student at the entrance to an abandoned girls’ bathroom, where passing girls and Filch found him.
• Albert advised his friends to use the same tactic against future attackers, and Slytherin students eventually blamed Gryffindor’s older students.

Albert studied alchemy while considering a protective amulet for Nia, but set the idea aside because he lacked the knowledge to make it properly. He instead worked on a moving wooden griffin and considered turning his magical creature models into a business with a potential partner.

• Albert learned that durable magical items required enchanted materials and advanced techniques, then reviewed alchemy’s history and its ties to transmutation and the Philosopher’s Stone.
• Albert drafted an amulet design using protective materials and Ancient Runes, but abandoned it because he knew too little about runic script.
• Albert decided that a nearly finished moving griffin made a more suitable gift and described how he had carved it from Protego Tree wood provided by Hagrid.
• Albert considered selling models of magical creatures and thought of partnering with someone who had been pushed out by others.

Albert advised Gabriel Truman on how to defeat Knotty after the Ravenclaw prefect disputed that Bridget Winlock belonged to Hufflepuff. Truman planned to confront Knotty that weekend, while Albert became interested in a quest reward for helping him win.

• Albert found a silver phoenix badge in a catalog and planned to order it as a Christmas gift for Nia.
• Truman told Albert he intended to duel Knotty over Knotty’s claim that Bridget Winlock was from Ravenclaw.
• Albert urged Truman to disarm Knotty, bind him, and settle the dispute with his fists rather than admit to a duel.
• Albert led Truman to find a book of defensive spells and agreed to watch the confrontation near the Black Lake that weekend.
• Albert checked his quest panel and saw rewards for helping Truman, including a chance to gain one of Truman’s skills.

Truman defeated Ravenclaw Prefect Knotty in an early duel after striking first with the Full Body-Bind Curse and then punching him, settling their argument over Bridget Winlock’s House. Later, Truman told Albert that Knotty had received detention, and Isabelle suspected Albert had inspired Truman’s tactics.

• Students gathered on the lawn and saw Truman finish his duel with Knotty by putting a Chocolate Frog card in his mouth and reciting Bridget Winlock’s achievements.
• Students learned Truman had fought Knotty over whether Bridget Winlock had been a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw, and many sided with Truman despite his sneak attack.
• Professor Flitwick took the furious Knotty away, and Albert told Fred and George that Truman’s duel had originally been scheduled for the weekend.
• Truman told Albert that Professor Flitwick had given Knotty a week of detention while Professor Sprout had only warned Truman and given him coconut ice cakes.
• Isabelle asked Albert whether he had given Truman the idea to use his fists, and Albert replied that he had told Truman not to try waking someone who was pretending to sleep unless he used his fists.

As Christmas approached, Albert and his friends discussed their holiday plans while struggling with the prospect of homework and winter weather. When the Daily Prophet confirmed Cornelius Fudge as the next Minister for Magic, Fred, George, and Lee realized Albert’s 25-Galleon bet could win him 100 Galleons.

• Fred and George said they and Albert would go home for Christmas, and the boys discussed what to do with their plants and whether they could make Garlic Crucifixes.
• As December brought colder weather and mounting homework, Lee complained about the assignments while Albert advised him to finish them before the holidays ended.
• George showed Fred and Lee the Daily Prophet report that Millicent Bagnold would retire in February and Cornelius Fudge would succeed her.
• Fred, George, and Lee remembered Albert’s 25-Galleon bet on Fudge and realized the four-to-one odds could earn him 100 Galleons.
• Albert confirmed the bet and asked when the winnings would be paid, pleased that the money would ease his concerns about buying things.

Albert received 100 Galleons for correctly predicting Cornelius Fudge would become Minister for Magic, then left Hogwarts for Christmas holiday. He reunited with his family at King's Cross and went home with them, bringing along his heavier cat, Tom.

• Albert received a leather pouch containing his contest winnings and a contract requiring him to sign for the 100 Galleons.
• The students learned Albert had won the prediction contest, and George revealed the prize amount as his friends teased him about being Lucky Albert.
• Albert explained to George, Fred, and Lee that Thestrals were pulling their carriage, then boarded the Hogwarts Express with his friends.
• Albert and his friends played a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans dare game, and Lee got a Bean that tasted like dirt.
• At King's Cross, Albert said goodbye to his friends and reunited with Daisy, Herb, Nia, and Tom.
• Albert brushed Tom in the car and said the cat needed to lose weight.

Albert celebrated Christmas with his family, opening gifts and spending the day with Nia, Luke, and Sansa. The family enjoyed a snowy holiday together, while Albert stayed cautious about using magic outside school.

• On Christmas Eve, Albert told Herb to leave Nia's present under the tree instead of by her bed.
• Nia woke Albert on Christmas morning to exchange gifts, and he gave her a phoenix badge while she gave him a present downstairs.
• Albert opened Christmas gifts, including books and a magazine from Professor McGonagall, then admired the scarf Nia had chosen for him.
• Luke and Sansa arrived, and the family shared a late breakfast before relaxing together; Albert refused Nia's request to perform magic because he did not understand the Trace.
• Tom teased Shira until the owl chased him under the sofa, making the family laugh.
• Daisy asked Albert about the book she had given him, and he said he had finished it but wished its contents were more than just a story.

During Christmas break, Albert researched the Rune Alphabet and developed the Runic Magic skill, which he raised to Level 2 so he could understand most Runic script. As he returned to Hogwarts, he found Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had brought garlic instead of making Garlic Crucifixes, and learned the others still had homework to finish.

• Albert searched library records about the Rune Alphabet and studied its origins and connections to Germanic languages and Ancient Runes.
• After writing to Truman, Albert bought Magical Phonetics Table and Runic Dictionary and studied Runic script throughout the holiday.
• Albert unlocked Runic Magic, raised it to Level 2 with the Experience Pool, and began correcting translations and researching runes for an amulet.
• Albert left for Hogwarts on the express train the day before term began.
• Albert found that Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had brought garlic instead of making Garlic Crucifixes, and asked whether they had finished their holiday homework.
• Lee Jordan said he and the twins had a little homework left, and Albert accused the twins of copying each other's work.

Professor McGonagall and Snape caught Fred and George submitting nearly identical homework, and Albert discussed sneaking into the Restricted Section with his friends. Later, Albert studied runes and explained Liquid Luck, leaving Fielder curious about his unusual knowledge of Ancient Runes.

• Professor McGonagall sent Fred and George away to redo their nearly identical assignments, and Snape also rejected their excuse and ordered them to redo his homework.
• Albert warned the twins that Snape could see through their bluff and revealed that he planned to get past the rope on the fifth floor.
• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan discussed the Restricted Section and the dangerous, difficult-to-understand magic in its books.
• Albert explained that the old unlocking spell Open Sesame was cruder than Alohomora, exciting Fred and George with its power.
• Albert studied runes in the library and told the twins that Liquid Luck existed but was difficult and dangerous to brew.
• Fielder questioned Albert about the runes, and Albert said the charm-enhancing rune he was studying was meant for boys.

Albert discussed Fielder, family life, and his research into Ancient Runes with his friends, then received a quest to write a rune book that became Hogwarts’ Ancient Runes textbook. The chapter ended with Filch overhearing Albert’s accidental remark about getting up at night and warning him against sneaking around.

• George asked Albert whether he knew Fielder, and Albert explained that they had met at the Transfiguration Club and that she excelled at Transfiguration.
• Albert’s friends discussed their families and asked who took care of him, and Albert said he could look after himself.
• Albert explained that the runic script “gibu auja” meant good luck and joked with Shanna about making an amulet by carving it and adding blood.
• Albert considered turning his rune research notes into a book, which triggered a panel quest to write an Ancient Runes book that became a Hogwarts textbook.
• Filch overheard Albert say he might get up early at night, warned him against being out at night, and left after mistaking the remark for teasing.

Albert joined Fred and George on a nighttime trip to the Restricted Section, where he planned to look for books on Potions and Liquid Luck. The twins revealed the Marauder’s Map, and Albert hinted that he had found a secret the map had not shown them.

• Albert woke in the night and went with Fred and George to explore the castle while Lee Jordan slept.
• Albert told the twins he wanted to research Liquid Luck and discussed how difficult and valuable the potion was.
• Fred and George revealed the Marauder’s Map and showed Albert how its password uncovered a map tracking everyone in Hogwarts.
• Albert realized the twins had used the map to find the secret passages and agreed not to tell Lee Jordan about it.
• Albert told Fred and George that the broom cupboard they had searched for was something else and led them toward a surprise.

Albert and the Weasley twins tried to enter the Room of Requirement, but found someone already inside, then explored Hogwarts' hidden passages and planned a prank on Filch. The chapter ended with Fred joining Albert and George under the Disillusionment Charm after Peeves began searching for the students out of bed.

• Albert failed to make a door appear to the Room of Requirement and concluded that someone was inside; he suspected Professor Bludger might be using it.
• Fred and George showed Albert a hidden passage behind a knight's statue and led him around the castle to explore its secret routes.
• Fred suggested waking Filch by using Peeves, and Albert agreed while warning that his Disillusionment Charm could still be detected.
• Albert cast the Disillusionment Charm on George, while Fred went ahead to draw Peeves' attention.
• When Peeves shouted about students wandering at night, George pulled the returning Fred into a hidden passage, and Fred asked Albert to make him invisible too.

Albert, Fred, and George used a Disillusionment Charm and a series of distractions to evade Filch while sneaking around Hogwarts. After Professor Bludger spotted Albert but let him go, the group reunited and headed for the Room of Requirement to investigate who had entered it.

• Albert cast a Disillusionment Charm on Fred, and George warned that Filch was searching for them.
• Fred evaded Filch while the twins’ U-No-Poos led Filch to suspect Peeves was responsible.
• Albert hid from Professor Bludger, who saw through his Disillusionment Charm but let him leave.
• Albert met George and told him to retrieve Fred so they could go to the Room of Requirement.
• Fred rejoined them, and Albert warned that Professor Bludger could see through the charm as they set off.

Albert took Fred and George to the Room of Requirement to hide from Filch, then led them on a late-night trip to the Restricted Section. They returned to Gryffindor with three books after Albert picked a chained lock, while Lee Jordan stayed awake to inspect their spoils.

• Albert showed Fred and George the Room of Requirement, first as a chamber-pot room and then as a comfortable room where they waited for Filch to stop searching.
• Albert explained how he had discovered the room, and Fred and George said they planned to make a Garlic Crucifix there.
• After Filch returned to rest, the three went to the library to find books, avoided opening a whispering Dark magic book, and searched the Restricted Section.
• Albert opened the chain on a book with a Muggle lock-picking tool after Alohomora failed, and the twins asked him to teach them the trick.
• At four in the morning, Albert, Fred, and George returned to Gryffindor with the Book of Spells, Book of Potions, and Powerful Potion, where Lee Jordan complained that they had not woken him.

Albert practiced the Obstacle Curse with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan during a snowball fight, showing how easily he could stop their throws. Shanna invited them to skate at the Black Lake, and the group decided Albert should help them get skates.

• Albert reassured himself that the Restricted Section books were unlikely to be noticed missing while Hogwarts students spread rumors about Filch chasing a late-night trespasser.
• Albert demonstrated the Obstacle Curse by suspending snowballs in midair, then used the spell to tease Lee Jordan and block Fred's throw.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan tried to practice the Obstacle Curse by blocking snowballs, but none of them succeeded and they were repeatedly hit.
• The boys accidentally pelted Shanna with snowballs, then Shanna invited them to join her skating at the Black Lake.
• Lee Jordan suggested Albert use Transfiguration to make skates, while George proposed borrowing a pair and copying them with the Copy Charm.

Albert copied skates for his friends and circled the Black Lake, where he helped Katrina McDougal and spoke with Isabelle about her Transfiguration paper and Professor Bludger. Isabelle’s remarks left Albert suspicious that there might be more to Professor Bludger than he knew, while the Weasley twins gave up learning to skate.

• Albert copied Shanna’s skates, but Lee Jordan could not fit into them, and Fred and George struggled to stand on the ice.
• Mario, Danny, and Jack helped the twins and Lee learn to skate while Albert skated around the Black Lake.
• Albert found Katrina McDougal after she fell and helped her up, then greeted her sister Isabelle and discussed her award-winning paper.
• Isabelle mentioned that Professor Bludger thought highly of Albert and advised him to learn from talented wizards, prompting Albert to wonder whether the professor was hiding something.
• Albert returned to find Lee still practicing and learned from Danny that Fred and George had given up.

Albert searched the library for information about Professor Bludger and discovered that a famous wizard named Moggy MacDougal was connected to Izabel Macdougal. The chapter ended with Lee Jordan asking whom Albert would bet on in the weekend’s Quidditch match.

• Fred and George returned from the woods and told Albert and Lee Jordan they had seen animal tracks and found unicorn tail hairs.
• Albert discussed fishing and grilling fish with Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Shanna before they went to the library to finish their homework.
• Albert looked up Professor Bludger and found an entry for Bade Blod, a famous wizard and friend of Moggy MacDougal.
• Albert wondered whether Moggy MacDougal was related to Izabel Macdougal, but decided not to dwell on it.
• Lee Jordan, Fred, and George asked Albert which team he would bet on in the weekend’s Quidditch match.

Albert wore a bracelet he claimed brought good luck, won a Quidditch bet when Gryffindor defeated Hufflepuff, and persuaded Hagrid to take him and his friends into the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid agreed to lead them in once, warning them not to wander off.

• Albert showed Hagrid and his friends a bracelet made from unicorn tail hair and Protego Tree branches, claiming its carved Runic symbols could bring good luck.
• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan bet on Gryffindor to win against Hufflepuff, and Hagrid warned them not to gamble.
• Charlie caught the Golden Snitch, Gryffindor won the match, and the four boys collected four silver Sickles from the betting pool.
• Albert asked Hagrid to take the group into the Forbidden Forest and revealed that Fred and George had sneaked into it before.
• Hagrid eventually agreed to take the boys into the forest once, telling them to stay with him.

Hagrid took Albert, George, Fred, and Lee Jordan into the Forbidden Forest to show them around, but the winter woods proved cold, quiet, and uneventful. They met Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank near a stream, and Hagrid then urged the students to return after learning she was visiting Professor Kettleburn.

• Hagrid led Albert and the others into the Forbidden Forest and explained that trolls had once lived closer to Hogwarts.
• Hagrid guided the students through the snowy woods, where Albert dug up fungi he claimed were matsutake.
• Hagrid called out to a figure near a stream, and Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank introduced herself.
• Albert told Grubbly-Plank that Hagrid had brought them to dig for matsutake, and she left to visit Professor Kettleburn.
• Hagrid explained that Professor Kettleburn was staying near the forest edge and told the students they should head back.

Albert and his friends visited Hagrid, where Albert grilled the few matsutake they had collected before they returned to the Gryffindor Common Room. There, he explained what an Occamy was and why Liquid Luck was so expensive and rarely made.

• Hagrid showed Albert and his friends the meat he kept to feed the Thestrals and Fang through winter.
• Albert cleaned and dried the matsutake, then grilled them over charcoal while Hagrid and the others praised their taste.
• Fred, Lee Jordan, and George ate most of the grilled mushrooms, and the group later grilled sausages and drank tea at Hagrid's hut.
• Albert and his friends returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, where Angelina and Shanna asked where they had been.
• Albert explained that Occamies could change size and that their silver eggshells were used in a shampoo once made by Gilderoy Lockhart.
• Albert said Liquid Luck was extremely expensive and rarely brewed because its ingredients cost so much and failed attempts were disastrous.