Chapter Summaries

Professor McGonagall confronted Snape after he said he would take responsibility for a child, fearing he saw the child as someone else's replacement. Snape insisted he understood his feelings, then rejected an employee's offer to falsely report that he and McGonagall were married as they entered the Ministry of Magic.

• Professor McGonagall confronted Snape outside the Ministry of Magic's visitors' entrance and demanded to know whether he was treating the child as a replacement.
• Snape insisted that he understood and would take responsibility, while McGonagall entered the telephone box in anger and he followed her.
• Dumbledore watched from a nearby shelter, drank honey tea, and choked on an earwax-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean.
• At the Ministry of Magic, Ellie Wightman offered Snape and McGonagall a false marriage report to help achieve their goal.
• Snape refused Ellie's offer and headed across the Ministry's main hall.

Sean made Mrs. Norris Biscuits and discovered that transforming into a black cat did not erase his consciousness. He left to investigate whether he could still use magic in cat form, while a letter from Ms. Rowan Taylor offered help with Longbottom.

• Sean reassured Hermione, Ron, and the others that Bruce would be discharged from the Hospital Wing in three days.
• Sean received a letter from Ms. Rowan Taylor saying she had agreed to help Longbottom.
• Sean finished making Mrs. Norris Biscuits after observing the cat, and the System recorded his practice.
• Sean ate a biscuit and transformed into a black cat while retaining his consciousness.
• Sean took more biscuits outside to test whether he could still cast magic as a cat.

Sean discovered that his Doppelganger was a black cat, and Dumbledore invited him to study Animagus transformation over Christmas. As Hogwarts prepared for the Christmas banquet, Sean made an Elk Biscuit and advanced his Alchemy Domain proficiency.

• Sean transformed into a black cat and tested his feline abilities around Hogwarts, while Dumbledore watched and invited him to learn Animagus transformation.
• Dumbledore explained to Delis Derwent that black cats brought good luck and asked her to have the Lucky Statue replaced with a black cat.
• Sean decided to make a stag biscuit next and observed a stag while Professor McGonagall taught Transfiguration.
• Rumors spread that the Weird Sisters would perform at the Christmas banquet, and students were surprised to see Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape walking together.
• Sean helped his classmates with the Deflating Draught before Christmas and made an Elk Biscuit, raising his Alchemy Domain proficiency.

Sean received a special adoption order stating that Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape wished to become his legal guardians. The order required Sean to choose freely whether to accept at a Christmas Day ceremony, leaving his decision unknown.

• Sean spent Christmas Eve preparing gifts and wondered what final animal to choose for his Apprentice-level alchemical creation.
• The Fat Lady hurried through the portraits as Hogwarts prepared for Christmas, while Sean read letters and received gifts from his friends and professors.
• Albus Dumbledore, Filius Flitwick, and Pomona Sprout watched an owl carry the adoption order to Sean.
• The owl crashed through Sean's window, and Sean repaired the damage before reading the order.
• Sean learned that McGonagall and Snape had offered to adopt him and that he had to agree or refuse at the Christmas Day ceremony.

Sean helped Neville understand that he could keep his father’s wand while getting another wand, and Neville decided to buy one. Augusta Longbottom’s application for Neville to leave school was ready, though the Hogwarts Express had already departed.

• Sean returned to Hope Cottage and found Neville soaked after a failed Water-Making Spell.
• Neville apologized for ruining Sean’s books and feared Sean would make him leave the cottage.
• Sean suggested Neville could keep Frank Longbottom’s wand and use a second wand, explaining that his father’s wand could help him in battle and protection.
• Neville cast Finite successfully and ran out to buy himself a wand, but the Hogwarts Express had already left.
• Sean revealed Augusta Longbottom’s application for Neville to leave school and urged him to hurry.

Sean spent Christmas at Hogwarts, reading a heartfelt letter from Rowan Taylor and opening gifts from friends. At the Christmas feast, Ron and Harry joined him, and Fred and George pointed out that Sean and Harry had both received Weasley sweaters.

• Sean received a letter from Rowan Taylor about loving despite danger and uncertainty, then sent a reply and stored the letter with Justin's letters.
• Sean opened gifts that included photographs of his friends and a box of fireworks that filled the Ravenclaw dormitory with streamers.
• At the Christmas feast, Hannah Abbott approached Sean with a gift, encouraged by her friends, but Ron arrived before she could speak to him.
• Ron told Sean and Harry that Mrs. Weasley had sent Sean a sky blue sweater, and Sean said it was warm.
• Fred and George joined Sean and Harry and showed off their matching Weasley sweaters.

On Christmas Day, Harry received his father's Invisibility Cloak, while Sean left the holiday festivities for a ceremony arranged by Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. The Special Adoption Order took effect, making Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape Sean's guardians.

• Fred and George teased Ron about his sweater and forced Percy to wear his Christmas present.
• Harry opened the Invisibility Cloak and learned from Sean that it had belonged to his father.
• Sean left Hope Cottage as the Hogwarts professors gathered in Dumbledore's office for a Ministry ceremony.
• Dumbledore announced that the Special Adoption Order issued by Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic had taken effect.
• McGonagall embraced Sean, and the document listed Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape as his guardians.

Sean improved his Transfiguration Biscuits and unlocked the Alchemy Advancement title, while his cat transformation drew attention at Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall offered to teach him Animagus transformation, Snape’s Deer Biscuit provoked Dumbledore, and Sean was left wondering what counted as an Intermediate Alchemical Creation.

• Sean practiced transforming into a cat and made a proficient Mrs. Liss Biscuit, realizing that stronger Transfiguration and Alchemy would be needed to create biscuits with Fantastic Beast abilities.
• Sean saw a crowd gathered around a statue resembling his black-cat form and fled before the Young Wizards recognized him.
• Professor McGonagall recognized Sean in cat form and offered to teach him Animagus transformation, but he said Dumbledore had arranged to teach him over Christmas.
• Snape ate the Deer Biscuit in his Dungeon, and Dumbledore’s arrival prompted Snape to shout that he should have knocked.
• Sean gained the Alchemy Advancement title after practicing Rooster Biscuits, then read the requirements for the next Alchemy title and wondered what qualified as an Intermediate Alchemical Creation.

Sean raised Mrs. Norris’s affinity to an expert standard and unlocked a Fantastic Beast title and talent, strengthening his plans for Fantastic Beast Transfiguration Biscuits. While returning to Ravenclaw Tower as a black cat, he came across frightened Hufflepuffs who had been wandering the corridors after drinking Mead.

• Sean visited Mr. Filch on Christmas and gave Mrs. Norris a biscuit while sharing stew with them.
• Mrs. Norris’s affinity with Sean reached an expert standard, unlocking the Novice Fantastic Beast Affinity title and revealing his enhanced Fantastic Beast talent.
• Sean left with Mrs. Norris and found that his cat transformation had become easier to maintain.
• Sean encountered Hannah and Sarian with other Hufflepuffs, who were lost and dizzy after drinking Mead.
• A sudden cat’s cry frightened the Hufflepuffs, making them scream.

Hannah and Sarian’s encounter with Sean’s black cat sparked a Hogwarts rumor about a Christmas spirit that brought good fortune. Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall accepted a family invitation to visit, and she began teaching Sean Animagus transformation in Dumbledore’s place.

• A black cat led Hannah and Sarian away from Mrs. Norris, and the two Hufflepuffs began spreading a tale about a Lucky Black Cat.
• Sarian told the Hufflepuffs that touching the cat’s ears would bring a year of good fortune, while Sean heard the rumor and let it spread.
• Professor McGonagall submitted a request to leave Hogwarts for several days after receiving a letter from her former family, and Dumbledore approved it.
• Sean arrived to begin Animagus lessons, and Professor McGonagall told him she would teach him while Dumbledore handled his duties.
• Professor McGonagall asked Sean to demonstrate how far his Transfiguration had progressed.

Sean pushed his Advanced Transfiguration to a master-level feat in Professor McGonagall’s office, creating a huge Fire Crab with layered Salamander patterns before it became a streak of flame. McGonagall praised him and urged him to follow the call ahead rather than dwell on the past.

• Sean shaped flames into a Fire Crab, then layered Salamander patterns over it through Multiple Transfiguration as Professor McGonagall watched.
• Sean enlarged the Fire Crab until it pressed against the ceiling, then sent it back into the fireplace as a streak of flame.
• Ravenclaw students watching outside the office marveled at Sean’s skill, while Toya and another student argued over which famous Seeker he resembled and chased Roger Davies.
• Penelope watched the commotion and resolved to help Ravenclaw end Slytherin’s Quidditch Cup streak, then quietly left after hearing McGonagall praise Sean.
• Sean gained 3000 proficiency for performing Advanced Transfiguration at a master level and reflected that the feat could only last two seconds.
• McGonagall told Sean to choose his life carefully, follow the call ahead, and stop dwelling on the past.

Sean struggled to develop an alchemical method for transforming into a Fantastic Beast and prepared to study Ancient Runes with Professor Terra. He agreed to fund Fred and George’s joke shop, while Dumbledore watched the Hufflepuffs gathered near the Black Cat statue.

• Sean realized that transforming into a Fantastic Beast required stronger materials, a way to reconcile conflicting magic, and exceptional will.
• Sean drafted a principle that alchemical creations could be discovered to meet Wizards’ needs, then decided to seek Professor Terra’s help with Ancient Runes.
• Fred and George showed Sean their Headless Hats and asked him to invest in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
• Sean agreed to give the twins eight hundred Gold Galleons, leaving them astonished and grateful.
• Dumbledore watched the Hufflepuffs gathered near the Black Cat statue and reconsidered his judgment of the lucky Black Cat.

Sean considered joining Ravenclaw’s Magic Society in exchange for its Ancient Runes notes and help finding Professor Bathsheda Babbling, while Penelope Clearwater tried to recruit him for the Quidditch team. The chapter ended with Sir Cadogan revealing he had arranged the scheme with Penelope and speculating about Sean’s connection to Professor McGonagall and Severus.

• Sean learned Professor Terra was away and considered asking the Weasley twins for help with his studies.
• Penelope Clearwater offered Sean the Magic Society’s Ancient Runes notes and help finding Professor Bathsheda Babbling in exchange for playing Quidditch for Ravenclaw twice.
• Penelope hinted that Professor McGonagall’s interest in Quidditch made Sean’s participation especially important, then admitted she knew his connection to her.
• Sir Cadogan interrupted Penelope, criticized her use of Sean’s connection, and prompted her to give Sean the notes and leave the choice to him.
• Sean had already agreed to help, while Sir Cadogan later told Penelope he understood Little Green and hinted that Severus and Professor McGonagall were involved in keeping Sean’s connection private.

Sean studied advanced Runic script during the Christmas holiday before Harry and Ron took him to see the Mirror of Erised. The mirror showed Sean glimpses of his past and Hogwarts, and Dumbledore later spoke with him about his determination to rely on himself and build his own future.

• Sean spent two days organizing Wizards' failure notes and found advanced Runic script that could help with transforming into Fantastic Beasts.
• Harry and Ron rushed to Hope Cottage and asked Sean to come with them to see something.
• Harry, Ron, and Sean sneaked into the Fourth Floor Corridor at night and found the Mirror of Erised.
• Harry saw his parents in the mirror, while Ron saw himself as a celebrated Quidditch captain and winner.
• Sean saw green eyes, a ruined orphanage, Hogwarts, and finally a black-haired, green-eyed Young Wizard; Harry thought the mirror looked ordinary to him.
• Dumbledore spoke with Sean about his past and his desire to rely on himself, and Sean said the future mattered more than the past.

Sean gave up on Fantastic Beast biscuits for the time being and began developing Wizard’s Chess, whose animated pieces revealed how strongly his will shaped alchemical constructs. Professor Terra helped him understand the challenge, while his System Panel showed the progress needed to advance in Alchemy.

• Dumbledore warned Harry not to seek the Mirror of Erised again and claimed he saw himself holding thick wool socks.
• Sean worked with Professor Terra on Fantastic Beast Transfiguration, but their experiments failed, and she urged him to consider another perspective.
• Sean received Justin’s letter inviting Green to the Finley dinner and sharing his family’s warm Christmas message.
• Sean decided to try making Wizard’s Chess because Fantastic Beast biscuits seemed too difficult for now.
• Sean brought his unruly chess pieces to Professor Terra, who explained that his strong will had entered the constructs and then stilled them with magic.
• Sean checked his System Panel and saw his progress in Mrs. Liss Biscuit, other alchemical constructs, and Intermediate Wizard’s Chess.

Sean tested his magical Wizard’s Chess, then received an invitation from Professor McGonagall’s family and traveled with her to Diagon Alley for Christmas shopping. As Sean arrived in the festive Alley, Sir Cadogan questioned Severus Snape’s loneliness and ability to bring happiness to others.

• Ron challenged Sean to Wizard’s Chess, but the pieces ignored both players’ commands, confirming Sean’s suspicion that they acted with wills of their own.
• Sean updated his plans to improve his Wizard’s Chess proficiency and search for another Intermediate Alchemical Creation.
• Sean received a letter from Marcus McGonagall, and Professor McGonagall told him her family wanted to meet him and had prepared Christmas presents.
• Sean asked Fred and George Weasley for help with a Hogsmeade trip, and they gave him a Ministry permit for Weasley & Green’s Magical Tricks Emporium.
• Professor McGonagall took Sean beyond Hogwarts, gave him a potion from Severus, and Apparated with him to Diagon Alley.
• Sir Cadogan called Severus Snape a coward and wondered how a knight who had never known love could make others happy.

Sean went shopping in Diagon Alley with Professor McGonagall, who gave him access to a vault funded by her and Severus Snape. After Sean spotted the crowds outside the not-yet-open Weasleys' and Green's Trick Shop, McGonagall took him to see it, where Animal Biscuits had already become a sensation.

• Professor McGonagall took Sean to Gringotts, where he learned that she and Severus Snape had deposited three thousand Gold Galleons for him.
• A Goblin offered to buy the potions in Sean's vault for one thousand Gold Galleons, but Sean did not accept the offer.
• Professor McGonagall took Sean to Twilfitt and Tatting's to shop for robes, and Sean noticed a crowd gathering near the end of Diagon Alley.
• McGonagall pulled Sean toward the crowd, where they discovered that Weasleys' and Green's Trick Shop was receiving owl deliveries and selling out its daily allotment before opening.
• A young witch told Dean Thomas that knowing Ron Weasley would not get him an allotment, while the crowd discussed the shop's popular Animal Biscuits.

Sean discovered that Weasley & Green's Magical Tricks Emporium had been selling his Animal Party Biscuits at a remarkable profit, and Professor McGonagall took him shopping before bringing him to her family’s home. The chapter ended with Marcus McGonagall excitedly welcoming Sean to the farm.

• Emily Gurt recognized Sean as a co-owner and brought him into the nearly finished shop, where the Animal Party Biscuits had sold out.
• Emily showed Sean the shop’s accounts, revealing that it had earned over one hundred Gold Galleons in a day before officially opening; Sean held fifty-one percent of its profits.
• Professor McGonagall learned that Sean had made an agreement with the Weasleys and was pleased with his decision.
• Professor McGonagall bought Sean elegant clothes and a hat in Diagon Alley before taking him to visit her family.
• Marcus McGonagall greeted Sean warmly at the family’s farm.

Sean stayed with Marcus McGonagall’s family, practiced Transfiguration, and learned that Professor McGonagall’s brother had died during Voldemort’s reign. After reaching Master standard, Sean resolved to persist until the end, though only he knew what was coming.

• Marcus McGonagall’s family welcomed Sean, and Marcus offered him a horse ride while his grandchildren watched him practice magic.
• Bard McGonagall, Zoe McGonagall, and Sarah McGonagall visited Sean, exchanged Christmas gifts with him, and saw him transform Sarah into a cat.
• Sean overheard Marcus warn Professor McGonagall that the Magical World was unstable and offer her refuge in his Fidelius-protected house.
• Sean recalled that one of Professor McGonagall’s brothers had died in a terrorist attack during Voldemort’s reign and practiced Transfiguration by the lake.
• Sean transformed a Fire Crab, reached Master standard in Transfiguration, and vowed to persist until the end.

Sean learned to control the enhanced abilities of his Animagus form while staying with the McGonagall family. Before returning to Hogwarts, he gave Rowan Taylor the money he had raised to run Oak Children's Home, leaving her overcome with emotion.

• Professor McGonagall taught Sean how to master the heightened abilities of his cat form, while Marcus watched them from behind a forklift.
• Sean read reports about changes to orphanage care and news about Holysee as his stay with the McGonagall family neared its end.
• Sean received a letter from Rowan Taylor asking whether he was sure about his decision to support the orphanage.
• Sean traveled to King's Cross and met Rowan Taylor, then gave her the money he had raised, including proceeds from selling his Undetectable Extension Charm bag.
• Sean told Rowan that he was repeating something that had happened once before, and Rowan struggled to hold back her tears.