Chapter Summaries

Andrew discussed the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position with Dumbledore and McGonagall, and Dumbledore considered appointing the Bloody Baron as the next professor. Andrew then told the students that Lockhart had left Hogwarts, and the school moved on from its grief to preparing for the OWLs.

• Dumbledore explained that he could not tell whether the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position had affected Lockhart, and Andrew suggested changing the course’s name or office.
• Andrew suggested Nick as a ghost professor, but McGonagall objected because of Nick’s limited magic, so Dumbledore proposed the Bloody Baron instead.
• Dumbledore asked Andrew to keep their discussion secret and tell the students that Lockhart had left the school.
• The students reacted with shock and grief, while Andrew arranged for them to send Lockhart cards and paper cranes and restricted visits to fan-club members.
• After the students returned to studying, Hogwarts turned its attention to preparing for the OWLs.

Andrew and Percy helped welcome the O.W.L. examiners before the examinations began, and Andrew served as a witness and assistant during the exams. The first cheating incident of the year occurred during Defense Against the Dark Arts.

• Professor McGonagall ordered the Gryffindor Prefects to keep watch on the Twins while the Castle prepared for the O.W.L. Examinations.
• Andrew and Percy discussed Huffman's return and whether Laboratory research could earn students exam exemptions.
• Professor Marchbanks arrived with the examiners, recognized Andrew and Percy, and joined Professor McGonagall on the way to the Castle.
• The O.W.L. Examinations began, and Andrew helped inspect desks, handle papers, and observe practical tests while students grew wary of him.
• A student cheated during the Defense Against the Dark Arts examination.

Andrew handled cheating incidents during Hogwarts’ exams, then earned Professor McGonagall’s praise for his Transfiguration work. At the farewell banquet, Professor Marchbanks warned McGonagall that Defense Against the Dark Arts results were so poor the Ministry might intervene, leaving her worried about finding a capable professor.

• Andrew helped expel a student caught using a cheat sheet during the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam.
• Andrew and Percy dealt with more cheating: two Potions students used Liquid Luck and were sent to Azkaban, while the other exams passed with few incidents.
• Professor McGonagall gave Andrew the original Transfiguration exam paper, and he earned a score she said she could not have surpassed.
• Professor Marchbanks told Professor McGonagall that Defense Against the Dark Arts results had fallen too low and warned that the Ministry might intervene over the lack of new Aurors.
• Professor McGonagall worried about finding a capable professor who could improve the school’s Grades.

After missing Potions class because Huffman got him drunk at the graduates’ party, Andrew learned that the gathering had also been meant to welcome him into the Student Council. Professor McGonagall assigned him to train incoming Sixth Year Prefect Bob in the council’s work.

• Huffman invited Andrew to the graduates’ farewell party, where Andrew met students before the celebration ended late at night.
• Andrew woke with a hangover and realized he had missed Potions, but Kevin told him Professor Snape had accepted his excuse without punishment.
• Andrew apologized to Professor McGonagall, who explained that the party had also introduced him to the Student Council and its Prefects.
• Professor McGonagall asked Andrew to train incoming Sixth Year Prefect Bob before preparing for his own exams.
• Bob arrived at Professor McGonagall’s Office, nervous about working with Andrew after the O.W.L. Examinations.

Andrew and his classmates took a series of unusually challenging exams designed to distinguish the top students. The term ended with the final exam, while the results remained unrevealed.

• Andrew finished training Bob early and spent his free time revising for exams.
• Professor Flitwick gave the students a Charms paper with easy passing questions and unusually difficult questions for higher marks.
• Andrew handed in his paper early and guessed that Nash, Weasley, Miss Granger, or Kevin might take first place.
• Andrew noticed an out-of-syllabus question on the Transfiguration paper and completed the rest of the exam with ease.
• Professor McGonagall told Andrew that he had earned full marks on the Transfiguration exam.
• Andrew and the other students completed the remaining exams, and their second year ended.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited for their final grades and discussed Taylor’s remarkable Transfiguration ability. Andrew compiled the Transcripts and learned that the scholarship scheme had improved Hogwarts students’ results before Professor McGonagall assigned him to contact the Ministry.

• Harry urged Ron and Hermione to enjoy the sunshine while they waited for the final grades, then invited Ron to spend part of the summer with him and Sirius.
• Ron explained that Taylor had been marking homework, and Harry said Sirius expected Taylor to surpass him in Transfiguration and was ready for NEWTs.
• Andrew reviewed his grades, including O marks in Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms, and considered how he had performed in his other subjects.
• Professor McGonagall compared the Transcripts and said Albus's Scholarship scheme had improved overall results, especially the number of top students.
• Professor McGonagall told Taylor to write to the Ministry's Logistics Department with the list of first-place students and the invitations, while Percy continued compiling grades and notices.

Andrew learned that Ravenclaw had secured the House Cup after its students dominated the year’s rankings. At the end-of-year ceremony, Minister Fudge announced Andrew would receive a NEWTs Exemption Certificate and scholarship for his work promoting the Shield Charm, leaving Andrew stunned.

• Professor Flitwick showed Andrew the rankings and celebrated Ravenclaw’s commanding lead in House Points.
• Andrew saw that Ron ranked first, Nash second, he ranked third, and Hermione had fallen to fourth in the Second Year results.
• Minister Fudge presented Ron with the top Charms student award and handed out academic scholarships at the end-of-year ceremony.
• Fudge announced scholarships and other honors for the Hogwarts Electricity Laboratory and Greenhouse recipients.
• Fudge awarded Andrew a NEWTs Exemption Certificate and scholarship for his contribution to improving and promoting the Shield Charm.

Andrew received an Order of Merlin award, a scholarship, and a Charms examination exemption for his improved Shield Charm, then discussed his future studies with Professor Flitwick. Back in the dormitory, his roommates celebrated his exemption and pressed Hughes about his top exam score.

• Fudge awarded Andrew an Order of Merlin honor and a scholarship for his work on the Shield Charm.
• Andrew reflected on the spell's significance and visited Professor Flitwick, who praised the improvement and urged him to study basic Charms over the holidays.
• Andrew showed his roommates his Charms exemption certificate, and they joked about how Professor Flitwick might react if he skipped the exam.
• Hal and the other roommates confronted Hughes about earning full marks, and Hughes said he planned to keep researching Lost Roman Magical History.

Hughes explained theories about the origins of Latin-based European spellcasting, prompting Andrew to consider how it might relate to Wagadu’s magic. Professor McGonagall gave Andrew authorization to cast spells over the holiday and told him to prepare for a confidential trip to Durmstrang.

• Hughes explained that spells taught at European magic schools were connected to Latin and that much of the records of Roman magical history had been lost.
• Hughes described the theory that regional spellcasting methods developed from how early wizards used magic, while Andrew wondered what might happen when different systems of magic met.
• Andrew and the others studied Hughes’s collected material until evening, when Professor McGonagall summoned Andrew to her office.
• Professor McGonagall gave Andrew his Ministry authorization to cast spells during the holiday and extended his break to twenty days.
• Professor McGonagall told Andrew to learn enough German for a planned visit to Durmstrang, where they would discuss cooperation, seek a professor, and possibly discuss reviving the Triwizard Tournament.

Andrew prepared forged-looking school documents for a holiday exchange and left Hogwarts for the summer, while Ron’s dismal grades became known among the students. On the Hogwarts Express, Andrew learned Ron was unfazed, and Hal invited the group to his house for Christmas.

• Andrew forged a transcript and exchange-program recommendation using genuine school materials and packed them for his holiday trip.
• Andrew learned that Ron Weasley had come first in Charms but failed Potions, Magical History, and Astronomy, and he regretted letting Ravenclaw hear about it.
• Andrew planned to study German and Legilimency during his holiday in Durmstrang and considered bringing Ron some German jinxes as an apology.
• On the train, Andrew’s compartment heard Ron arguing with his brothers about their grades, while Kevin noted Hermione had come first fairly.
• Hal invited Andrew and their friends to visit his house for Christmas, and the Hogwarts Express continued on its way.

Andrew returned to the orphanage for the holiday, where he presented a genuine transcript and passed Mrs. Camille’s test of his schoolwork. After learning the orphanage had improved thanks to a donation from Durr’s adoptive family, he settled into his room and planned his studies and gift-giving.

• Andrew shopped in London, then returned to the renovated orphanage and told Leanna about his grades.
• Leanna explained that Durr’s adoptive family had donated money, and Andrew helped sweep the yard before meeting Mrs. Camille.
• Andrew showed Mrs. Camille his transcript and completed a Mathematics exercise, convincing her that his grades were genuine.
• Andrew gave Mrs. Camille a notice about his school’s Germany exchange program and took his luggage to his room.
• Andrew unpacked his Legilimency materials, planned to study German and buy textbooks, then handed out snacks to the children who visited his room.

Andrew studied Legilimency defenses and decided to return to Hogwarts early to continue his research. After leaving Mrs. Camille and traveling to Hogsmeade, he realized Hagrid had become the new Care of Magical Creatures professor.

• Andrew read about Legilimency and its defenses, then considered learning the spell as a way to protect his memories.
• Andrew decided he needed to return to Hogwarts early, despite having twenty days of holiday, and spent the remaining time playing with the children.
• Andrew apologized to Mrs. Camille for leaving after only ten days and departed with his suitcase.
• Andrew traveled to Hogsmeade by fireplace and asked Hagrid to open the gate for him.
• Hagrid mentioned that Hogwarts professors were not very busy, and Andrew realized Hagrid had replaced Professor Kettleburn as Care of Magical Creatures professor.
• Andrew praised how demanding teaching was and headed to report to a professor.

Andrew returned to Hogwarts during his holiday to learn Legilimency, and Professor McGonagall provided books and advice before leaving him to practice. After he struggled to read a rabbit’s emotions, Dumbledore found him practicing on a rooster and offered to teach him in exchange for help at the office.

• Andrew asked Professor McGonagall for help learning Legilimency, and she brought him books from the Restricted Section and advised him to practice on rabbits.
• Andrew studied a book about emotion in magic and quickly learned to sense his target’s emotions, but his rabbit was only frightened.
• After five days of practice, Andrew made no further progress and decided to try Legilimency on one of Hagrid’s chickens.
• Dumbledore caught Andrew practicing and offered to guide him, and Andrew agreed to help at the office that afternoon.
• Dumbledore began correcting Andrew’s incantation, telling him he was saying it too quickly.

Andrew practiced spellcasting under Dumbledore’s guidance, then handled the Headmaster’s paperwork and made a recommendation about Hagrid’s appointment as a professor. Dumbledore accepted Andrew’s advice and decided to contact retired Professor Kettleburn, while Andrew remained stuck with the paperwork.

• Dumbledore coached Andrew until he mastered the standard pronunciation, gestures, and wand movements, then left him to work through a pile of documents.
• Andrew reviewed plans for repairing the school lawn, holding a library book donation event, and preparing correspondence textbooks.
• Andrew set aside Professor Binns’s proposed history teaching assignments and recommended that retired Professor Kettleburn train Hagrid before Hagrid took over Magical Creatures classes.
• Andrew approved increased laboratory funding from the Alchemy Factory and considered creating an incentive system for research.
• Dumbledore read Andrew’s recommendation, agreed that Hagrid needed training from Kettleburn, and began writing to the retired professor instead of finishing his paperwork.

Andrew mastered Legilimency by copying Dumbledore’s technique and reassured Hagrid about becoming a professor. Elsewhere, Harry and Sirius decided to return to Hogwarts early after Professor Binns sent Sirius a holiday study assignment.

• Andrew finished reviewing Dumbledore’s paperwork, then calmed Hagrid’s nerves about becoming a professor and advised him to use the old textbook while Professor Kettleburn trained him.
• Harry’s aunt and uncle wondered whether the man who had taken Harry away was a fraud, but the money he paid them eased their concerns for the time being.
• Sirius suggested that he and Harry return to school early because they were tired of the limited food options near Harry’s relatives.
• An owl delivered Professor Binns’s letter telling Sirius to master the key Fifth Year exam topics before term began.
• Harry agreed to go with Sirius to Hogwarts, where Professor Binns could help check whether the required time for the spell had passed.

Andrew agreed to secretly get the Sorting Hat Muggle poetry and opera, then encountered Sirius and Harry in Dumbledore’s office. Sirius received permission to enlarge his office and create a room for Harry, with Sirius himself set to cast the charm.

• Andrew finished his paperwork and agreed to buy the Sorting Hat poetry and opera while keeping its request from Dumbledore and McGonagall.
• The portraits of the former Headmasters stayed silent about the Sorting Hat’s request, and Andrew realized the hat had sorted every one of them.
• Professor Binns gave Sirius a booklist and advised him to ask the Headmaster for permission to enlarge his office for Harry.
• Sirius and Harry went to Dumbledore’s office, where they found Andrew instead of the Headmaster.
• Andrew told Sirius that no one was available to cast the Untraceable Extension Charm, so Sirius agreed to do it himself.

Andrew received Legilimency techniques from the Sorting Hat, while Sirius and Harry confirmed that the ancient Protective Magic had been satisfied. Professor Binns revealed his history with Lily and his respect for her talent, and Andrew learned that Binns might rival the Sorting Hat in magical theory.

• Andrew filed Sirius’s signed memo, then persuaded the Sorting Hat to teach him Legilimency techniques after agreeing to buy books.
• Professor Binns checked Harry’s Protective Magic and confirmed that the conditions had been met, with the effect stronger than expected.
• Professor Binns explained that he had taught Lily the protective spell and praised her as an outstanding witch who had studied Magical History deeply.
• Sirius learned that he had barely passed Professor Binns’s class, while Harry realized Hermione pursued Magical History mainly to come first.
• Andrew returned with books, received the Sorting Hat’s Legilimency tricks, and heard that Professor Binns’s theoretical knowledge rivaled the hat’s.

Andrew struggled to find a suitable subject for practicing Legilimency until Hagrid brought him a group of gnomes. Repeated practice let Andrew master the spell and learn to defend against Legilimency, and he was ready to travel to Armstrong with Professor McGonagall in three days.

• Andrew told Hagrid he needed a creature suitable for practicing Legilimency, and Hagrid promised to find one.
• Professor McGonagall returned to Hogwarts, approved Andrew's application to travel to Armstrong, and offered to help him practice defending against Legilimency.
• Andrew told Professor McGonagall that Hagrid was finding him a creature to practice on, so they agreed to wait for Hagrid's choice.
• Hagrid brought Andrew a group of gnomes, which Andrew used to practice Legilimency repeatedly.
• Andrew learned to probe the gnomes' memories and developed the ability to defend against Legilimency and send emotions back through the connection.

Andrew prepared to travel with Professor McGonagall on a secret visit to Durmstrang, while Hagrid celebrated becoming a Trainee Professor of Magical Creatures. The chapter ended with Andrew and McGonagall arriving at the Border Checkpoint to register and continue their journey.

• Andrew thanked Hagrid for helping him practice Legilimency and agreed to bring food to dinner.
• Andrew and Sirius independently collected food from the Kitchen before joining Hagrid and Harry for dinner.
• Hagrid announced that his appointment recommendation had been approved and that he would train as a professor of Magical Creatures under the returning Old Professor.
• Sirius advised Hagrid to work hard and learn from his mentor to pass the traineeship.
• Andrew and Professor McGonagall traveled by Floo Powder to the Border Checkpoint, where they prepared to register for their journey to Durmstrang.

Andrew and Professor McGonagall traveled secretly to Durmstrang, where Andrew struggled with the Portkey journey before they were escorted to the school. They arrived to find Headmaster Karkaroff waiting to receive them.

• Professor McGonagall warned Andrew to avoid becoming fascinated by Durmstrang’s teachings of Dark Magic.
• Andrew and Professor McGonagall crossed the border by Portkey, and Andrew lay on the ground while recovering from the journey’s dizziness.
• Professor McGonagall explained that Andrew could take a plane home once they were outside Durmstrang’s defensive perimeter.
• A pale-blond Durmstrang professor met them in a village and escorted them by carriage toward the school.
• The carriage traveled straight through Durmstrang’s defenses, and its driver announced that Headmaster Karkaroff was waiting.