Chapter Summaries

Eleven-year-old Pomona went with Pete to Diagon Alley to buy her first wand, resisting Madam Sprout’s insistence that she conceal her Veela features. They arrived safely, and Pete steered them toward the shops with a chance to buy a faster broom.

• Pomona read that the Loch Ness Monster had escaped again and refused Madam Sprout’s request to hide her face with a spell.
• Pomona said she was going to Diagon Alley for a wand, and Pete offered to accompany her while warning about the dangers of the magical world.
• Pete and Pomona used Floo Powder to travel to Diagon Alley, where passersby stared at Pomona’s face.
• Pete suggested they buy a flying broom, and Pomona realized that was part of why he had joined her.

Pomona visited Madam Malkin’s new robe shop while Pete searched for books, where pure-blood customers scrutinized her and whispered about the Black family. She responded to their contempt by ordering every outfit on display and demanding that the person taking measurements come out.

• Pomona left Pete at Flourish and Blotts and went into Madam Malkin’s robe shop next door.
• Pomona overheard two young wizards discuss their preferred Hogwarts houses and reflected on Hufflepuff’s inclusiveness.
• Madam Malkin’s customers stared at Pomona and whispered about the Black family after she asked for a custom Hogwarts robe.
• Pomona placed a pouch of Galleons on the counter, ordered every outfit on display, and demanded that the person in the back room come out.

Pomona encountered Bella, who was revealed to be a student and a Death Eater, while shopping for school robes, then was harassed by a witch until Pete rescued her. A sullen boy warned Pomona and Pete that their money made them targets, leaving Pomona with a deeply negative first impression of him.

• Pomona met the haughty Bella at Madam Malkin's shop, where Bella searched for Sirius Black and left in a cloud of black smoke.
• Customers said Bella was a Slytherin prefect and a Death Eater, and Madam Malkin pushed Pomona out after she complained about a strange smell.
• A fortune-telling witch grabbed Pomona and tried to drag her into an alley, but Pete drove the witch away with his wand.
• A greasy-haired boy mocked Pomona and Pete for carrying so much money and warned them to return home, but Pomona took offense at his words.

Pomona met Lily Evans and Severus Snape in Diagon Alley and warned Lily and her parents about the dangers and history of the wizarding world. She left them as she and Pete headed to Ollivander’s, looking ahead to her possible future at Hogwarts.

• Pomona encountered Lily Evans, Severus Snape, and Lily’s parents while shopping in Diagon Alley, and told them she might study at Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts.
• Lily asked about Durmstrang and Grindelwald, and Pomona explained that Grindelwald had ruled the wizarding world and wanted Muggles exterminated.
• Snape pulled Lily behind him and told Pomona to stop, but Pomona urged Lily’s parents to understand the dangers Lily would face and asked about her older sister.
• Pomona and Pete reached Ollivander’s, where Pete told her that Hufflepuff’s ghost was the Fat Friar and looked forward to her arrival at Hogwarts.

Pomona Martin visited Ollivander to find a wand and immediately produced a Patronus with a beechwood wand containing Veela hair. She left with the wand despite wanting to try others, and encountered Lily Evans and Snape's family outside the shop.

• Pomona asked Ollivander whether a wizard could have only one wand, and he explained that each wand was unique and suited to its owner.
• Ollivander gave Pomona a beechwood wand with Veela hair, and she immediately conjured a swan Patronus.
• Pete explained that Expecto Patronum was an advanced spell that required a happy memory, while Ollivander connected Pomona's Veela heritage to the swan.
• Pomona insisted on trying other wands and argued with Pete, then left without paying after Ollivander handed him the wand.
• Pomona saw Lily Evans and Snape's family gathered outside Ollivander's shop.

Pomona considered whether to attend Hogwarts or Beauxbatons and confided her fears about love, her mother, and the future to Madam Sprout. An owl arrived with a Hogwarts letter and an unmarked letter from Pomona’s father, leaving her to face an unexpected choice about her family.

• Pomona avoided Pete after their shopping trip and returned to tending the garden with Madam Sprout.
• Pomona weighed staying near Madam Sprout at Hogwarts against returning to France for Beauxbatons, while wondering what kind of life she wanted.
• Madam Sprout encouraged Pomona to be brave, learn to judge people, and decide what kind of person she wanted to become.
• An owl delivered two letters to Pomona: one bearing the Hogwarts crest and one addressed to her in her father’s handwriting.

On the Hogwarts Express, Pomona Martin shared a compartment with Lily Evans and Severus Snape, clashing with Snape’s rude manner while trying to reassure Lily about starting school. The train continued toward Hogwarts as Pomona and Lily shared food, while Snape refused to join them.

• Pomona avoided Bellatrix Black and found an empty compartment on the train.
• Lily Evans and Severus Snape joined Pomona, and Lily introduced herself while Snape remained guarded.
• Pomona told Lily that her fifth-year relative was in Hufflepuff, prompting Snape to mock the house and unsettle Lily with talk of Dementors.
• As the train left London, Lily and Snape read their textbooks while Pomona sat with nothing to do.
• Snape rudely refused the trolley witch and shut the compartment door, so Pomona opened her enchanted picnic basket and offered food to Lily and Snape.
• Lily accepted Pomona’s food, but Snape turned his back and continued reading.

On the Hogwarts Express, Pomona befriended Lily and discussed the conflict between wizards and Muggles with her and Snape. As the train neared Hogwarts, Pomona reflected on her father’s warning to avoid Beauxbatons and resolved to keep a low profile and protect her secrets.

• Pomona noticed that Snape wore secondhand robes and that Lily’s books were new, then offered Lily a Chocolate Frog.
• Lily read that Dumbledore had defeated Grindelwald and worried about Grindelwald’s hatred of Muggles, prompting Pomona to explain the history of conflict between wizards and Muggles.
• Snape asked whether Pomona supported Grindelwald, and she said she opposed war and had no desire for wizards to rule others.
• Lily denied that she and Snape were dating, while Pomona decided to keep her distance from them and remain inconspicuous at Hogwarts.
• Pomona recalled her father’s letter advising her not to attend Beauxbatons and chose to trust his warning as she prepared for life in the wizarding world.

Pomona Martin arrived at Hogwarts with Lily Evans and Severus Snape and watched the first-years undergo the Sorting Ceremony. She was sorted into Hufflepuff, Lily into Gryffindor, and Severus into Slytherin, and the chapter ended as the feast began.

• Pomona Martin, Lily Evans, and Severus Snape left the train and traveled by boat to Hogwarts, where Professor McGonagall explained the school rules and Houses.
• James Potter asked Professor McGonagall whether he could leave Hogwarts if he was sorted into Slytherin, and she ignored the question.
• The Sorting Hat placed Sirius Black in Gryffindor, prompting Bellatrix Black to draw her wand before Slughorn stopped her.
• Pomona Martin was sorted into Hufflepuff, Lily Evans into Gryffindor, and Severus Snape into Slytherin.
• Albus Dumbledore welcomed the students with a brief speech, and the feast began as Pomona watched Lily and Severus at their House tables.

At the feast, Pete warned Pomona about Hogwarts’ dangers and gave her advice for settling into Hufflepuff, while she bristled at his overprotectiveness. After Dumbledore’s announcements and the school song, Angie Diggory led the first-years toward the kitchens, leaving Pomona impressed by Hufflepuff’s consideration for girls.

• Pete joined Pomona at the feast, and she complained that he had not seen her off at the station.
• Pete pointed out Quentin Trimble as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and warned Pomona about James Potter, Slytherins, and the dangers she might face as a half-Veela.
• Pete told Pomona that her dormmates were Mary Locke, Susan Turpin, and Jane Weasley, advised her to keep the peace, and promised to protect her until he graduated.
• Dumbledore announced that the forest was forbidden, Quidditch tryouts would take place in the second week, and students should leave outside conflicts behind before leading them in the school song.
• Angie Diggory offered to take the hungry first-years to the kitchens with George, and Pomona concluded that Hufflepuff girls were treated well.

Pomona explored the kitchens and Hufflepuff common room before meeting her roommates, who asked about her Veela heritage and Hagrid. Alone in bed, she removed the spell hiding her face and wondered about her appearance and whether other eleven-year-olds had lives like hers.

• Pomona asked a House-elf what happened to leftovers, and Nini punished itself for making her think she had been served any.
• The prefect showed the first-years around the classrooms and led them into the Hufflepuff common room.
• Pomona met Mary Locke, Susan Turpin, and Jane Weasley, shared cookies, and told them about Hagrid and the broken wand.
• Pomona and her roommates chatted until the prefect told them to go to sleep.
• Pomona drew her bed curtains, dispelled the spell on her face, studied her reflection, and reread her father's letter.

After waking from a frightening dream, Pomona met Dumbledore for a morning walk and learned why her father had insisted she attend Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons. Dumbledore left her with more questions about her father, Grindelwald, and the school as they returned for breakfast.

• Pomona woke after dreaming of a fleeing man being chased by masked figures, then disguised her appearance and left the dormitory early.
• Pomona met a first-year Muggle-born boy in the common room who wondered whether magic was real, then went to the Great Hall for breakfast.
• Dumbledore recognized Pomona and explained that her father had chosen Hogwarts because dark wizards were searching Beauxbatons for what they believed was the Resurrection Stone.
• Dumbledore told Pomona that Grindelwald was alive and that a blood pact prevented them from harming each other, then said Pomona's father was physically well but could not see her.
• On the walk back, Dumbledore spoke about his complicated friendship with Grindelwald, Hufflepuff's rules, and Hogwarts as his home before returning with Pomona for breakfast.

Pomona encountered the usual House rivalries and discovered that Snape planned to skip his first Flying Class to study Potions with older students. After Lily left Snape to walk with her, Pomona headed to her first Transfiguration lesson while Lily wondered whether the Sorting Hat could have placed Snape in the wrong House.

• Pomona left the chaotic Great Hall and found Lily and Snape having breakfast together in a corridor.
• Pomona realized Snape intended to miss Flying Class and take Potions with the third-years because Professor Slughorn had excused him.
• Pomona criticized Snape for mistrusting her after he questioned why Dumbledore had invited her for a walk.
• Lily took her broom, left Snape behind, and walked with Pomona to the courtyard.
• Lily asked whether Slytherins were all bad, and Pomona advised her to judge people for herself.
• Pomona left Lily and hurried to her first Transfiguration lesson as rain threatened to disrupt Flying Class.

Pomona arrived late to Transfiguration with her tortoise and tried to tell Mary about a major event in France involving the Sorcerer's Stone. The first lesson ended in chaos, and Pomona learned that Jane admired Sirius Black for his bravery.

• Pomona hurried into the Transfiguration classroom after meeting Dumbledore and brought her tortoise as her pet.
• Pomona quietly told Mary that something big had happened in France and asked whether she knew about the Sorcerer's Stone.
• Professor McGonagall transformed from a tabby cat into a woman and reprimanded Pomona for being late, while Eddie Watt vomited at the sight.
• Mary told Pomona that their next class was Potions with Slytherin, and Pomona worried about Snape teaching them.
• Susan and Jane teased Pomona about Sirius Black, and Jane admitted that she thought he was brave.

Pomona and her Hufflepuff friends discussed Hogwarts gossip, House rivalries, and the absence of their Head of House, Dorian. When they reached Potions, Professor Slughorn was missing and a Slytherin upper-year was teaching instead, leaving Pomona convinced that Slughorn was instructing favored students elsewhere.

• Susan told Mary and the others that Dumbledore wanted Hagrid to teach Care of Magical Creatures, while the Ministry refused to approve him.
• Pomona worried that Slytherin and Hufflepuff students would escalate their rivalry into violence while Dorian remained absent.
• Eddie Watt emerged from Gryffindor Tower embarrassed after vomiting at the sight of an Animagus transformation, and Susan and Mary blamed Ravenclaw students for spreading the story.
• Jane, Mary, and Susan discussed Hogwarts professors living without their families and the differences between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
• Pomona and Mary arrived at Potions to find a Slytherin upper-year teaching in Professor Slughorn's place, and Pomona suspected Slughorn was teaching students he favored.

Pomona attended Professor Flitwick’s Charms class and reflected on Dark Magic, love, and the shadowed figure in her mind. The lesson ended with Mary and Susan arguing about girls playing Quidditch.

• Pomona and the other Hufflepuffs prepared to confront Slytherin on the Quidditch Pitch after a Slytherin boy tried to drive a girl out of school.
• Professor Flitwick explained the importance of Charms and warned the Ravenclaw students not to use magic to harm innocent people.
• Pomona drifted into thoughts of Dark Magic and a lonely, shadowed figure until Professor Flitwick called her name.
• Mary told Pomona about her fir wand and her plans to visit Bavaria after passing her Ordinary Wizarding Levels.
• Mary and Susan argued over whether girls should join the House Quidditch team, and Pomona reflected on loyalty and love.

Pomona listened to History of Magic, discussed her ambitions and plans with Susan, and became curious about a sickly Gryffindor boy. The lesson ended with the students watching a Whomping Willow being planted before they fell asleep at their desks.

• Pomona sympathized with Lily Evans’s isolation and reflected on the dangers faced by Muggle-born witches and wizards.
• Pomona and Susan discussed Quidditch, the upcoming Triwizard Tournament at Beauxbatons, and Pomona’s desire to visit the school.
• Pomona asked Susan to help her get a broomstick, then asked about the exhausted Gryffindor boy beside James Potter.
• A Hufflepuff student spotted a witch planting a tree with a growth spell, and Susan identified it as a Whomping Willow.
• Pomona and Susan lost interest in the tree and fell asleep during Binns’s lesson.

Pomona Martin helped calm the newly planted Whomping Willow after its roots threatened Hogwarts' wall, using a potion that Professor Slughorn recognized by scent. The tree fell quiet temporarily, and Slughorn suggested Pomona's skill came from her blood.

• Lily Evans greeted Pomona Martin after History of Magic, and they planned to attend Herbology and go to the library together.
• Professor McGonagall summoned Pomona to the Whomping Willow, whose roots were damaging the castle wall while three wizards failed to restrain it.
• Pomona struck the knot on the tree's trunk with a stone, embraced it, and poured a potion into the soil to quiet its rage.
• Professor Slughorn identified sun flower and deadly nightshade in the potion residue, while Pomona warned that the Whomping Willow was only drugged temporarily.
• Slughorn told Pomona that her ability came from her blood, and Pomona answered him with a mysterious smile.

Pomona met with Slughorn, who asked her to tend the neglected greenhouse, and she negotiated for a reward. After leaving his office, she was disarmed and threatened by Snape, who left her frightened and crying.

• Slughorn showed Pomona a photograph of Barty Crouch and his son, then explained that he wanted her to care for the magical plants in the abandoned greenhouse.
• Pomona asked what she would receive in exchange and said she would consider the request, noting that she needed Dorian's approval to use the greenhouse.
• Pomona asked Slughorn for a Restricted Section permit so she could research how to calm the Whomping Willow, and he suggested she ask Dumbledore instead.
• After Pomona left Slughorn's office, Snape stepped out of the darkness and disarmed her with Expelliarmus.
• Snape threatened Pomona and left, and she crouched down and cried after he was gone.

Pomona Martin visited Professor McGonagall to ask about leaving Hogwarts and her disturbing visions, but learned that the school hoped she might eventually join its staff. McGonagall refused her request for a Restricted Section permit and directed her to Nearly Headless Nick, leaving Pomona suspicious of the adults’ intentions.

• Pomona Martin asked Professor McGonagall whether she could transfer schools and explained that she sometimes experienced visions and persistent unease.
• McGonagall suggested Pomona’s feelings might stem from unstable young magic or her bloodline, and hinted that a visit to the Forbidden Forest had helped Hagrid.
• McGonagall described Hogwarts’ staffing and budget problems and said the school hoped Pomona might become a Herbology professor after her studies.
• Pomona asked whether Hogwarts owed money, and McGonagall explained that the school faced pressure from sponsors amid the Dark Lord’s influence and the Minister for Magic’s suspicions of Dumbledore.
• McGonagall refused Pomona’s request for a permit to enter the Restricted Section and told her to ask Nearly Headless Nick about finding information elsewhere.