Chapter Summaries

Albert learned that Gryffindor's Quidditch team had been chosen and introduced Angelina to his Wizard Card Club before heading late to the Transfiguration Club. He arrived to find Katrina and Diggory among the newcomers as Professor McGonagall demonstrated advanced Transfiguration.

• George told Albert that he and Fred had become Beaters, Angelina was a Chaser, Wood was Keeper, and Charlie was Seeker, with Danny and Paris as the other Seekers.
• Albert told Angelina that Mr. Hertok had agreed to help him with his problem, then discussed the reserve players and Cormac McLaggen with George and Fred.
• Albert described his Wizard Card Club to Angelina and offered Alicia a custom card with a reserve ability.
• Albert left the Common Room for the Transfiguration Club and arrived more than half an hour late.
• Professor McGonagall welcomed Albert and demonstrated turning a chair into a running dachshund while Katrina and Diggory struggled to follow the advanced magic.

Dolores Umbridge sent Hertok Dagworth an insincere apology after he threatened to publish one in the Daily Prophet, and Albert received the letter confirming the matter was resolved. After recognizing Umbridge’s name, Albert went with Lee Jordan to the library, where Lee revealed Albert’s riddle contest with Katrina.

• Umbridge feared Hertok’s threat to publish an apology in the Daily Prophet and asked Mafalda to identify the person Hertok wanted her to apologize to.
• Mafalda searched the files and wrote an apology letter, while Umbridge forced herself to endure the situation.
• Albert received the Ministry of Magic letter, recognized Dolores Umbridge’s name, and concluded that the dispute over Hertok’s Gold Membership Card had been resolved.
• Lee Jordan invited Albert to the library, then told Shanna that Albert and Katrina had bet on who could answer a hundred riddles correctly.
• Shanna confidently predicted that Albert would win the riddle contest.

Albert explained how he used homework to gain experience and become stronger, then practiced a new Lumos technique that let light detach from his wand. He managed to make the light separate twice, though he could not control it yet.

• Fred and George complained that Filch had made them mop muddy footprints, and Albert advised them to use a spell or blow up Filch's office.
• Albert explained that thinking carefully while doing homework helped him earn more experience and level his skills.
• Albert recounted raising his Wizarding Bloodline to Level 4, which increased his Magical Power and improved his spellcasting.
• Albert practiced separating the light from his Lumos Charm and made a faint ball of light detach from his wand twice.
• Shanna and Lee Jordan watched in surprise, and Shanna tried to reproduce Albert's technique but failed.

Albert explained that the floating light he was practicing came from a difficult variation of the Lumos Charm, then made rapid progress while his friends watched. Katrina escorted him to the Charms Club meeting, and his roommates reflected on how his talent and relentless work had put him far ahead of them.

• Albert told his friends that the key to mastering his light spell was diligent practice and explained that it was a difficult variation of Lumos.
• Shanna practiced the Duplication Charm while Albert quickly learned to send a bright ball of light floating through the air.
• Katrina reminded Albert about the Charms Club meeting and took him to Classroom 17, while Albert recalled receiving Professor Flitwick’s invitation and earning experience from the related task.
• Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Shanna joked about Albert and Katrina before discussing how Albert’s demanding practice and lengthy letters made his achievements seem terrifying.

Albert joined the Charms Club, where Professor Flitwick introduced Silent Spells. Albert successfully cast a silent Lumos, surprising Gabriel Truman, though he knew he still needed practice.

• Katrina led Albert to the Charms Club entrance, and Albert guessed that the password was the Exploding Charm.
• Albert entered Classroom 17 and met Gabriel Truman and other members as the club gathered.
• Professor Flitwick welcomed Albert with a fireworks display and announced that the lesson would cover Silent Spells.
• Professor Flitwick explained the advantages of Silent Spells and had the students practise casting spells without speaking.
• Albert silently cast Lumos, astonishing Truman, but realized he still could not do it consistently.

The Charms Club practiced Silent Spells as Professor Flitwick explained how to improve and why the technique mattered. Albert shared his approach to casting Lumos silently, and the gathering ended with the club discussing an innovative spell from Charm Innovation.

• Albert successfully cast Lumos silently several times while Truman struggled to make progress.
• Professor Flitwick explained that Silent Spells could give wizards an advantage in duels and were difficult to use with unfamiliar spells.
• Professor Flitwick asked Albert to explain his success, and Albert advised concentrating, starting with a familiar spell, and believing in success.
• Professor Flitwick demonstrated Wandless Magic with the Levitation Charm and said students would continue studying Silent Spells after the Christmas Holiday.
• Professor Flitwick began the club’s discussion of an innovative spell from Charm Innovation, leaving transfer student Albert bewildered by the conversation.

Albert returned Hertok’s Gold Membership Card and received rewards, including the rare Potions Mastery skill, while leaving a new task involving Dolores Umbridge unclaimed. He later snapped out of a daze in the Great Hall and accidentally injured Fred, who retaliated against George.

• Albert retrieved the Gold Card from the Room of Requirement, noticed the Diadem on a bust, and left without approaching it.
• Albert mailed the Gold Card to Hertok, triggering a completed task about underage wizards standing up to the Ministry and a reward task for Hertok’s gratitude.
• Albert claimed his rewards and discovered that Hertok’s skill reward was Potions Mastery, which could not be upgraded with experience.
• Albert left the task that would lower Dolores Umbridge’s favorability unclaimed and sat in the Great Hall to inspect his Skill Panel.
• Fred, George, Angelina, and Lee watched Albert sit motionless until he suddenly stood and struck Fred’s chin; Fred then punched George and the twins wrestled.

Albert received Felix Felicis from Hertok and learned that Professor Smith had photographed a Boggart’s true form, earning Albert an offer of help with alchemy. He kept the Secret Treasure map and agreed to explore the Forbidden Forest with his friends only after they were better prepared.

• Albert received a vial of Felix Felicis from Hertok and explained its effects and dangers to Lee Jordan, Fred, George, and Angelina.
• Fred and George proposed using the potion to search the Forbidden Forest for the Secret Treasure, but Albert refused to go until they were prepared.
• Professor Smith showed Albert photographs revealing that a Boggart appeared as swirling mist and offered to credit him for suggesting the method.
• Albert took a photograph and returned to the Common Room, where he secured the Felix Felicis and the Secret Treasure map in his drawer.
• When Fred, George, and Lee Jordan found Albert with the map, he agreed to go with them someday and warned that the Spider Repelling Spell alone would not protect them from Acromantulas.

Albert attended a Potions lesson where Snape had the students brew Weedkiller Potion, and he discovered a way to reduce its foul smell without weakening it. The successful improvement angered Snape, who deducted ten points from Gryffindor, while Albert considered selling the recipe.

• Albert and his friends discussed his mention in Incredible and learned that their Potions class would cover foul-smelling Weedkiller Potion.
• Fred rushed to finish his Flobberworm Mucus essay before class, with Albert helping him revise it.
• Snape assigned the class to brew Weedkiller Potion, whose stench soon filled the underground classroom.
• Albert added crushed daisy roots and nettles to his cauldron, producing a much less smelly potion that still killed the weeds in Snape's test.
• Snape deducted ten points from Gryffindor for Albert's experiment, and Albert said the improved recipe might be worth selling.

Albert read The Book of Abraham the Jew and sought help applying his alchemical knowledge, prompting Professor Rowena Smith to arrange introductions to two experienced alchemists. The chapter left Smith wondering why Gerbert Smith had taken such an interest in Albert.

• Albert finished reading The Book of Abraham the Jew, which described a method for making the Philosopher's Stone, but the panel offered no related skill or quest.
• Lee Jordan, Fred, and George discussed turning Albert's supposed Philosopher's Stone formula into a Hogwarts treasure before Fred and George left for Quidditch training in the rain.
• Albert returned the book to Professor Rowena Smith and asked for help with alchemy, but Smith concluded that Albert needed broader knowledge rather than more basic lessons.
• Professor Smith offered to write an introduction recommending Albert to Gerbert Smith and Sella Harrises, and asked him to explain his difficulties in a letter.
• After Albert left, Professor Smith realized that Gerbert Smith had initiated the invitation and wondered whether Albert was valued for more than his talent, despite being Muggle-born.

Albert visited Hagrid to relax, then learned that Hagrid was keeping a new pet named Fluffy in the Forbidden Forest. Remembering what Fluffy might be, Albert agreed to go see it with Hagrid and followed him toward the forest with Fang.

• Albert played fetch with Fang using a returning boomerang and told Hagrid he wanted to fish to relax and eat grilled fish.
• Hagrid let slip that he was keeping another animal in the Forbidden Forest, and Albert questioned whether it was dangerous.
• Hagrid named the animal Fluffy and promised to keep it away from Hogwarts students.
• Albert prepared beef for grilling, then recognised what Fluffy was when he noticed Hagrid had set aside three portions for it.
• Albert followed Hagrid toward the Forbidden Forest to see Fluffy, with Fang trailing after them.

Albert followed Hagrid into the Forbidden Forest and met Fluffy, Hagrid’s young three-headed dog. After Hagrid put Fluffy to sleep with a recorder, Albert petted it, while warning Hagrid to think about what he would do when it grew.

• Albert made himself a walking stick as he followed Hagrid through the muddy Forbidden Forest.
• Hagrid introduced Albert to Fluffy, a wary three-headed dog he had bought from a Greek smuggler.
• Albert learned Hagrid had kept Fluffy’s existence from Dumbledore and warned that it would become too large to keep safely.
• Hagrid played a recorder to calm Fluffy, and Albert recognized the trick from the Greek myth of Cerberus.
• Albert fed and petted the sleeping Fluffy before leaving with Hagrid and Fang.

Albert enjoyed a barbecue with Hagrid and received a letter from Sella Harrises agreeing to correspond with him and recommending two alchemy books. He later showed Fred, George, and Lee Jordan their new Wizard Card originals before using a Vanishing Spell to escape Filch’s anger over muddy footprints.

• Albert cooked steaks and other food with Hagrid outside Hagrid's Hut, then received Sella Harrises's letter from George.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan joined Albert and Hagrid for the barbecue, and Albert declined to tell them what he had done in the Forbidden Forest.
• Albert showed the three boys Original Wizard Cards featuring them and explained that altering an original with the Transformation Charm would change every copy.
• Albert told his friends he hoped to learn the Ravenclaw entrance riddles and sneak into their Common Room one day.
• Filch confronted the four boys over muddy footprints, but Albert used the Vanishing Spell to clean their boots and the floor before they left.
• Filch took his anger out on two Hufflepuff students who could not use the Vanishing Spell.

Albert and his friends expanded their Wizard Card game, discussing its design and testing different decks. The game drew interest from students beyond Gryffindor, though its cards and factions still needed further development.

• Albert wrote to Sella Harrises about his Magic Lamp idea, then returned to the Great Hall after Shera carried the letter away.
• Albert and his friends added cards, organized them into factions, and discussed eventually making a card for Lord Voldemort.
• Albert explained the game's rules to Shanna and the other students, and Fred defeated Aylia in a match.
• Katrina and Shanna tried playing with borrowed decks, and Katrina lost after using Albert's Spell Cards recklessly.
• Truman and Katrina asked about House-specific cards and deck-building, and Albert invited interested students to help improve the game.

Albert expanded his Wizard Card plans while making progress in Ancient Runes, then joined Professor Babbling, Isobel, and Professor Trelawney for a discussion of Rune Stone Divination. Trelawney read Albert’s draw as a sign of wealth and success, but Isobel’s reversed Eihwaz warned of trouble ahead.

• Albert reflected on his many projects and said the Wizard Card game needed more players, while its design and production still depended heavily on him.
• Albert discussed his growing Ancient Runes knowledge with Professor Babbling after class and learned that he was approaching N.E.W.T. level.
• Professor Babbling invited Isobel and Professor Trelawney to discuss Rune Stone Divination, and Trelawney explained how to draw a stone.
• Albert drew upright Fehu to ask about his future fortune, and Trelawney interpreted it as a sign of financial gain and success.
• Isobel asked whether she would encounter trouble soon, drew reversed Eihwaz, and heard Trelawney warn that it was a bad omen.

Professor Trelawney gave Albert and Isobel unsettlingly similar Rune Stone readings, while Albert received no new divination skill. Professor Babbling recruited Albert to help write an Ancient Runes reference book, and Isobel later offered to witness Albert’s wager with Katrina at the first Quidditch Match.

• Professor Trelawney performed several Rune Stone readings, predicting good financial prospects for Albert and danger and a difficult choice for Isobel.
• Professor Trelawney gave Albert her Rune Stones, divination cloth, and Rune Stone Divination book, but Albert found that his Panel Skills had not gained a divination skill.
• Albert drew a reversed Eihwaz Rune for himself and read it as a warning that he might face danger that term.
• Professor Babbling asked Albert to help compile and revise Advanced Runes Translation, offered him half the earnings, and gave him a pass to the Restricted Section.
• Isobel told Albert to keep his wager with Katrina private and offered to witness it when the year's first Quidditch Match began.

Albert asked Isobel how to defend against Professor Snape's Legilimency, and she revealed that she knew Occlumency. He paid her to teach him the basics, with lessons set to begin Sunday in the Transfiguration Club classroom.

• Albert asked Isobel about Professor Snape's ability to see through people, and she identified it as Legilimency and named Occlumency as its counter.
• Isobel admitted she knew Occlumency, and Albert guessed that her uncle Morg McDougal had taught her.
• Professor Smith interrupted them, and Albert told him he was helping Professor Babbling revise an Ancient Runes manuscript.
• After Professor Smith left, Albert offered Isobel Galleons to teach him Occlumency, and she agreed to give him weekly lessons starting Sunday.
• Isobel recommended Advanced Occlumency Guide in the Restricted Section, while Albert remained confident he could learn the skill.

Albert discussed elective subjects with Shanna and Lee Jordan in the Gryffindor Common Room, then arranged to sneak into the library’s Restricted Section with Fred, George, and Lee. The group left the evening planning to find books on defending against Legilimency, though Albert warned Lee that the spell was difficult.

• Shanna asked Albert for advice on transforming a button into a beetle, and he told her to practice more.
• Albert listed Hogwarts’ five electives and said he planned to take all of them; Shanna considered doing the same.
• Fred and George returned from the kitchens with pies, and Albert passed his share to Lee Jordan before eating half of Shanna’s pie.
• Albert told his friends he planned to sneak into the Restricted Section to find books about countering Legilimency.
• Lee Jordan joined the plan, and Albert warned him that learning Legilimency would be difficult.

Albert and the Weasley twins began a nighttime excursion, with Fred and George distracting Filch while Albert searched the library for an advanced Occlumency book. Albert’s Summoning Charm toppled a chain of bookshelves, forcing him to flee before he could retrieve it.

• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan left the Gryffindor common room under Disillusionment Charms and split up on the sixth floor.
• Fred and George drew Filch away from the library by knocking over a suit of armor and leading him on a chase with Lee Jordan.
• Albert crossed into the Restricted Section and summoned the Advanced Occlumency Guide.
• The chained book dragged its bookcase over, causing a row of shelves to crash down.
• Albert used Reparo to restore the shelves, then fled the library without the book.

Albert and Fred, George, and Lee escaped the professors’ search by hiding in the Room of Requirement after a crash in the library drew attention. Filch blamed the Gryffindor students, but the search failed and two students from other houses were punished instead.

• A loud crash startled Filch and the three boys, while Albert fled the library before Filch arrived.
• Fred, George, and Lee hurried back toward the Common Room, and Albert waited for them near its entrance.
• Albert led the boys to the Room of Requirement because the Fat Lady would not let invisible students enter the Common Room.
• Filch found no fallen bookshelves in the library and told Snape and the other professors that students had deliberately made the noise.
• The professors questioned the Fat Lady and searched the castle, but they found only a Ravenclaw girl and a Hufflepuff boy, each of whom lost fifty points.