Chapter Summaries

Amosta visited Professor Lockhart to discuss his role as a Defence Against the Dark Arts assistant and felt guilty about taking part of Lockhart’s job and transferring the position’s curse onto a voodoo doll. Lockhart mistook Amosta for an admirer and readily agreed to teach alongside him, leaving Amosta to ask whether he had studied Memory Magic.

• Amosta went to Lockhart’s office, where he found Hermione thanking Lockhart for helping her recover.
• Hermione accidentally knocked over Lockhart’s mail, and Amosta used silent wandless magic to put the letters back in order.
• Lockhart assumed Amosta had joined Hogwarts to follow him and become his assistant because he was a devoted fan.
• Amosta played along and explained that McGonagall wanted him to teach the upper-year students to ease Lockhart’s workload.
• Lockhart agreed to let Amosta teach alongside him and told him he needed no preparation beyond following instructions in class.
• Before leaving, Amosta asked Lockhart whether he had studied Memory Magic.

Harry and his friends discussed why Amosta Breen had become an Assistant Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts, while Hermione hinted that she had learned something during a visit to Lockhart's office. Harry remained troubled by the Chamber of Secrets and went to sleep still feverish, looking forward to Breen's class.

• Harry heard that Amosta Breen would become an Assistant Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Ron recounted how the rumor had spread through Hogwarts.
• Harry, Ron, and their friends speculated that Breen might have solved the Chamber of Secrets mystery or suspected Lockhart, while Fred and George celebrated that Breen would have less time to watch them.
• Hermione arrived from the library and said she had visited Professor Lockhart's office that morning, but Ron interrupted before she explained further.
• That night, Harry dwelled on the voice, his Parseltongue, Dobby's warning, and Malfoy's account of the Chamber, then fell asleep still feverish.

In February 1993, Amosta joined Gilderoy Lockhart to teach a joint Defence Against the Dark Arts class for sixth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Lockhart spent the lesson making students recite passages from his books, then pushed Amosta to demonstrate how a devoted fan should read them aloud.

• Cedric gave a singing Cupid card to a Chinese girl, Percy made a Transfiguration likeness of Penelope, and Dumbledore ordered flowers for Hogwarts's female staff.
• Lockhart announced that he planned to write an ode for everyone at Hogwarts and had devised a way to present them on Valentine's Day, prompting Snape to ask Amosta to stop him.
• Amosta reviewed the previous night's surveillance footage but found nothing, then arrived early for his first joint class with Lockhart.
• Amosta praised Marcus Flint's leadership of the Slytherin Quidditch team, irritating the Gryffindors, and told Flint that Lockhart would decide the lesson plan.
• Lockhart made students recite passages from his storybooks while Amosta helped maintain order, then handed Amosta a textbook and announced that he would demonstrate a fan's passionate reading.

Amosta grew increasingly frustrated with Lockhart’s absurd Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons and asked Dumbledore and Snape about arranging a drink that would incapacitate Lockhart. He invited Lockhart to the Three Broomsticks with aged firewhisky, while Hermione remained convinced that Amosta was Lockhart’s devoted fan.

• Amosta watched Lockhart turn Defence lessons into recitations and staged performances, including making Amosta act as a grateful villager while Harry played a snowman.
• Hermione praised Amosta’s performance because she believed he was Lockhart’s devoted fan, and Dean explained that she wanted someone influential to validate Lockhart’s adventures.
• McGonagall urged Amosta to show students what he could really do, and Amosta asked Dumbledore whether he would mind if Lockhart ended up in hospital after a drink.
• Snape described how a sleeping potion mixed with concentrated alcohol could leave someone confused for two months, while Dumbledore pretended not to hear their conversation and left.
• Snape promised to bring Amosta what he needed, and McGonagall arranged to speak privately with Madam Pomfrey that evening.
• Amosta invited Lockhart to the Three Broomsticks for aged Ogden’s Old Firewhisky, and Hermione told Harry and Ron that the invitation proved Amosta was Lockhart’s fan.

Hermione searched the library for clues about the Chamber of Secrets while Amosta encouraged her and later caught Fred and George sneaking around Hogsmeade. That evening, Lockhart collapsed after drinking with Amosta, and his urgent request left Hermione and Amosta tasked with writing replies to his fans.

• Hermione searched the library alone for clues about Colin and Justin's petrification, and Amosta encouraged her to keep going.
• Amosta followed two cloaked figures to The Hog's Head Inn and discovered they were Fred and George, then spotted Percy kissing his Ravenclaw prefect girlfriend.
• Hermione told Harry and Ron about Amosta's encouragement, but their conversation ended when Lockhart was brought to the Hospital Wing in a dire state.
• Madam Pomfrey diagnosed Lockhart with a severe alcohol allergy, and Amosta apologized for inviting him to drink.
• Lockhart called Hermione and Amosta to his bedside and asked them to help him write replies to his fans.

Professor Breen held a joint Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson for first- and second-years, explaining that he wanted to improve their ability to defend themselves before his time at Hogwarts ended. After Hermione described the lost discipline of Ancient Magic, the class wondered if Breen would teach it.

• Percy announced that Professor McGonagall had replaced the afternoon History of Magic lesson with a joint Defense Against the Dark Arts class taught by Professor Breen.
• Breen arrived at the transformed Great Hall and told the students to put away Professor Lockhart’s books, prompting cheers from the class.
• Breen explained that Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching had been unstable and asked the students what they hoped to learn from him.
• Blaise Crabbe said he wanted to learn powerful spells, and Breen asked the class what made a spell truly powerful.
• Hermione explained that Ancient Magic was immensely powerful but had been abandoned and lost, and Breen awarded Gryffindor ten points.
• Ron asked Breen whether he intended to teach the class Ancient Magic.

Professor Breen demonstrated how he could modify modern Charms to amplify their power, using Ron’s Wingardium Leviosa as an example. The lesson ended with the students learning that ordinary Charms could become extraordinarily destructive in his hands.

• Amosta explained that he would teach practical Defense Against the Dark Arts and specialized in modifying modern Charms rather than teaching Ancient Magic.
• When Ron offered to demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa, Amosta repaired his broken wand and warned him that the internal damage remained.
• Ron successfully levitated a feather, then overpowered the Charm at Amosta’s instruction and burst it into fluff, earning Gryffindor two points.
• Amosta transformed a feather into a blade with Levicorpus, then used an enhanced Wingardium Leviosa to dismantle the Great Hall’s chandelier and reassemble it before it could fall.
• Amosta told Blaise Zabini that powerful Charms were all around them and asked whether he understood.

Amosta Breen taught the upper-year students a traditional ranking of magical skill, from Wizard Apprentice to Court Wizard, while warning them not to challenge stronger wizards recklessly. He hinted that one more level existed, but Dumbledore’s arrival left the students waiting to hear what it was.

• Amosta explained that Wizard Apprentices were roughly equivalent to students with more than four Outstanding O.W.L.S and that Journeyman Wizards ranged up to elite Aurors.
• Amosta described Court Wizards as exceptionally gifted practitioners and named Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout as examples.
• Students from different houses argued over whether their own Heads of House deserved the title, and Marcus Flint climbed onto a desk to defend Slytherin.
• Amosta ordered Marcus down and warned the students not to pick fights with powerful wizards or each other.
• Penelope Crewe asked what level followed Court Wizard, and Amosta admitted there was one more before Dumbledore arrived as the class ended.

Hogwarts students tried to imitate Amosta Breen’s modified Wingardium Leviosa, while Hermione struggled to understand the spell model he had assigned them to research. After Ginny hurried away from a collision with Hermione, Hermione withdrew to her dormitory feeling lonely.

• Ron showed Harry and the others his clumsy attempt at Breen’s Charm of Object Control and fantasized about using it against Percy and Malfoy.
• Hermione explained that Breen had altered Wingardium Leviosa using Ancient Runes and a modified spell structure, but she could not yet cast the resulting composite spell.
• Neville reminded Hermione that Breen had offered twenty points to anyone who succeeded, and the Weasley twins teased her until she left for the girls’ dormitory.
• Hermione ran into Ginny on the stairs, and Ginny hurried away while covering her bulging pocket.
• Hermione listened to Parvati and Lavender gossip, then sat alone in the dormitory, feeling cold and lonely.

On Valentine’s Day, Hermione helped Amosta answer Professor Lockhart’s fan mail and asked about his earlier advice on loneliness. After reading Lockhart’s unpublished manuscript and hidden records, Amosta discovered evidence of terrible secrets and confronted the cowering wizard in his portrait.

• Harry and Ron gave Hermione roses together, and she smiled after a gloomy night.
• Hermione visited the Hospital Wing, then met Amosta in Lockhart’s office to help answer his fan mail.
• While they worked, Amosta told Hermione that life was ultimately lonely, leaving her more unsettled.
• Amosta read Lockhart’s unpublished manuscript and abruptly sent Hermione away.
• Amosta opened Lockhart’s drawers and suitcases, examined hidden manuscripts, and found secrets that left Lockhart’s portrait trembling in fear.

Hermione examined Tom Riddle’s diary but could not uncover its secrets, while Harry refused to hand it over to Professor Breen or Dumbledore. As rumors spread that Breen was a Saint, Fred and George challenged him in class and were quickly defeated.

• Hermione returned to the common room, where Harry and Ron showed her the diary they had found in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.
• Hermione suggested taking the diary to Professor Breen or Dumbledore, but Harry insisted on keeping it unless the Heir acted again.
• Macmillan told Hannah Abbott that Dumbledore and Professor Breen were Saints, and students repeated rumors about Breen’s power.
• Fred and George asked Professor Breen whether he was a Saint, and he challenged them to demonstrate how to defeat one.
• Fred and George attacked Breen with Dungbombs, but he stunned them with a spell that sent red beams from a crackling orb.

Amosta asked Dumbledore for permission to have students practice against dangerous magical creatures, including Acromantulas, and learned that Hagrid had raised them. Dumbledore revealed that Hagrid’s expulsion was tied to the Chamber of Secrets and Tom Riddle, leaving Amosta to consider the link between Voldemort, Slytherin, and Harry Potter before deciding to speak with Hagrid.

• Amosta visited Dumbledore to propose that students face magical creatures in Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons beginning in March.
• Dumbledore approved the risky plan but advised Amosta to bring Severus along and speak with Hagrid about the Acromantulas.
• Dumbledore told Amosta that Hagrid had been expelled after encountering an Acromantula and that the incident was connected to the Chamber of Secrets and Tom Riddle.
• Amosta realized Tom Riddle had likely framed Hagrid and suspected Voldemort was descended from Slytherin.
• Amosta wondered whether Harry Potter and Voldemort were related and decided he still needed to talk to Hagrid.

Hermione demonstrated her incomplete Charm of Object Control before the school, earning admiration despite failing to break a stone pillar. Later, Snape brought a nervous Draco Malfoy to Amosta, who was left to hear what Draco wanted to discuss.

• Amosta encouraged Hermione to demonstrate the Charm of Object Control, and she used Levicorpus to send a feather flying into a stone pillar.
• Hermione’s feather shattered against the pillar, leaving only a small crater, and Amosta reassured her that she had grasped the spell’s essence.
• Hermione’s demonstration became the talk of the school, and students including Percy asked her for advice.
• Amosta studied Lockhart’s manuscript while worrying that the protection against the Dark Lord’s curse would soon expire and that he needed to leave his post.
• Snape brought Draco to Amosta because Draco was afraid to approach him alone, then left them to talk.

Amosta taught Malfoy the Charm of Object Control and warned him that his arrogance was his true opponent. Later, he visited Hagrid and encountered the injured Hippogriff Buckbeak before Hagrid realized who had arrived.

• Amosta questioned Malfoy about why he wanted to learn the Charm of Object Control, and Malfoy admitted his interest was tied to proving himself.
• Amosta spent nearly two hours correcting Malfoy's casting, though Malfoy did not fully master the spell.
• Amosta advised Malfoy that his arrogance was the only opponent he needed to defeat.
• Amosta passed Gryffindors practicing Quidditch in the rain and then found Hagrid tending to Buckbeak's injured hoof.
• Buckbeak broke free and ran into the Forbidden Forest, and Hagrid's smile turned awkward when he recognized Amosta.

Amosta and Hagrid went into the Forbidden Forest to question Aragog about the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. Aragog refused to reveal its identity and threatened them with his spider children, but Amosta stepped forward to try speaking with him.

• Amosta accompanied Hagrid deep into the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid warned that Aragog had become increasingly bad-tempered.
• Amosta and Hagrid reached the Acromantula colony, and Aragog emerged from his web to confront the intruder.
• Aragog recognized Hagrid and asked him to deal with the Centaurs who were hunting his children.
• Hagrid introduced Amosta as the Board of Governors' Investigator investigating the Chamber of Secrets, angering Aragog.
• Aragog ordered his spiders to surround Amosta and Hagrid and refused to name the ancient creature, fearing wizards would exploit its power.
• Hagrid explained that Aragog's refusal had once helped lead to his expulsion from Hogwarts, and Amosta stepped forward to try talking to Aragog.

Amosta Breen tried to question Aragog about a truth the Acromantulas feared, but Dumbledore intervened before Amosta could search the spider’s mind. Amosta returned to Hogwarts and agreed to help Hermione write Professor Lockhart’s reply letters at the usual time.

• Aragog threatened Amosta and Hagrid, refusing to answer Amosta’s questions and warning that the Acromantulas might eat him.
• Amosta froze time and the spiders, then confronted Aragog and threatened to search its mind if it would not tell the truth.
• Dumbledore sent a silver Phoenix Patronus to stop Amosta from harming Aragog, and Amosta relented.
• Amosta apologized to Hagrid, who said Aragog’s temper had caused the trouble.
• Hermione asked Amosta whether they would help Professor Lockhart write reply letters the next day, and Amosta agreed and told her to bring help.

Amosta returned to Hogwarts and was asked by Hermione to help sort Professor Lockhart’s fan mail, while Professor McGonagall questioned his approach to teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. After sleeping through dinner, Harry woke at night and found himself drawn again to the mysterious black notebook in his schoolbag.

• Amosta told Hermione to bring help for sorting Professor Lockhart’s letters, and Hermione ordered Harry and Ron to assist her the next day.
• Professor McGonagall raised concerns about Amosta’s teaching, while Professor Flitwick praised his new spells and suggested he teach an advanced course.
• Amosta joked with Professor Trelawney about her drinking, leaving Professor Flitwick laughing and Professor McGonagall visibly shaken.
• Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room, went to sleep, and missed dinner despite Ron’s attempt to wake him.
• Harry woke after dark, packed away his unfinished History of Magic essay, and reached for the mysterious black notebook again.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione debated whether Hagrid was connected to the Chamber of Secrets and whether they should show Professor Breen the notebook, but Harry refused to risk implicating Hagrid. While helping Amosta answer Lockhart’s fan mail, Harry finally asked whether Professor Breen had visited Hagrid the previous morning.

• Hermione suggested that another monster might have hurt the victims, but Ron and Harry doubted her defense of Hagrid.
• The trio considered giving Professor Breen the notebook, but Harry refused because he feared it could send Hagrid to wizard prison.
• Amosta moved the fan-mail work to his office and showed Harry, Ron, and Hermione the magical surveillance wall.
• Harry and Ron watched Amosta use magic to handle the letters, while Hermione helped with the work.
• During a break, Harry asked Amosta whether Professor Breen had visited Hagrid the previous morning.

Amosta reassured Harry, Ron, and Hermione that he had visited Hagrid to prepare their Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons, not to investigate him over the Chamber of Secrets. He left them intrigued by his planned Forbidden Forest encounters and pondering his belief that power, rather than love, could give people courage to pursue freedom.

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew nervous that Amosta had visited Hagrid to investigate a possible connection to the Chamber of Secrets.
• Amosta explained that he had asked Hagrid to guide him through the Forbidden Forest while preparing dangerous magical-creature lessons.
• Amosta refused to reveal which three types of dark creatures he had selected for the students to face.
• Ron asked why Amosta was so unlike the Slytherins they knew, and Amosta argued that Slytherin and Gryffindor could have similarities.
• Amosta contrasted Dumbledore's belief in love with his own view that power gave people courage to pursue love and freedom.
• Later, Harry asked Ron what he thought of Amosta's views, and Ron admitted he felt he needed power more than love.

Amosta experienced a sudden surge in magical power after reflecting on loneliness, while Dumbledore and Snape argued over Dumbledore’s unusual tolerance of him. By Monday’s Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, Hermione noticed that Amosta’s eyes looked darker than before.

• Amosta watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to their common room, then felt magic surge into him and spent ten minutes absorbing it.
• Snape accused Dumbledore of having a hidden reason for allowing Amosta to monitor students and set their classroom challenges.
• Dumbledore watched the darkness outside and praised Amosta as perhaps Hogwarts’ most outstanding student in a thousand years.
• Amosta recovered from the magical surge, sensed someone watching him, and raised a cup of tea toward the darkness.
• During Defence Against the Dark Arts, Hermione noticed Amosta’s eyes looked darker and suggested asking him about it later.