Chapter Summaries

Albert agreed to help Professor Smith translate a complete set of Ancient Runes, then joined Fred, George, and Lee Jordan on a search for Flobberworms in the Forbidden Forest. The four set out after the rain stopped, relying on Albert’s Felix Felicis to help them find the creatures before nightfall.

• Professor Smith asked Albert about a fragment of Ancient Runes, and Albert admitted he had translated similar writing for Professor Broad before.
• Albert offered to translate the complete text, and Professor Smith agreed to organize it for him in a few days.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan asked Albert to search the Forbidden Forest for Flobberworms, but Albert refused to go while it was raining.
• After the rain stopped, Albert abandoned his unfinished essay and went with the others toward the forest, planning to return before five.
• Fred asked whether Albert had brought Felix Felicis, and Albert confirmed that he had some.

After taking a sip of Felix Felicis, Albert led Fred, George, and Lee Jordan into the Forbidden Forest to catch Flobberworms for Baruffio's Brain Elixir. They encountered Potions Master Dagworth, who warned them about the potion's dangers and offered to help Albert brew it safely.

• Albert used Felix Felicis to guide the group to a bone pile near Professor Kettleburn's cabin, where they found many Flobberworms.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan startled the Flobberworms with a stone and caught one each while avoiding the burst of spore dust.
• Dagworth arrived to buy Snakes Bird eggshells and revealed that he had arranged for the Flobberworms to be cultivated there.
• Albert told Dagworth that he wanted to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir, and Dagworth warned that it was dangerous and privately brewing it was prohibited.
• Dagworth offered to help Albert brew the elixir on the condition that Albert would not brew or drink untested batches, and Albert agreed.

Albert received a letter from Dagworth about learning to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir and showed his roommates magical devices he had made. When Fred, George, and Lee teased him about dating Isobel, Albert denied the rumor and learned they had once read Percy's diary.

• Albert read Dagworth's offer to teach him to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir when they next met in Hogsmeade and began writing a reply.
• Fred, George, and Lee entered Albert's dormitory and asked about his bottled blue fire and the warm hand warmer he had made.
• Albert explained that the hand warmer was a gift for his sister, but his roommates assumed it was for Isobel because of a rumor that they were dating.
• Albert denied dating Isobel and said they had only discussed a bet, while criticizing the others for gossiping about romance.
• Fred revealed that he and George had once read Percy's diary and learned that Percy had been upset about his Muggle friend.

Albert watched Gryffindor prepare for a rainy Quidditch match, discovered Lee Jordan had become the commentator, and met the McDougal sisters to settle their bet. The chapter ended with Albert and Katrina reaching the Ravenclaw Common Room, where Isobel explained that its door riddle had more than one answer.

• Albert teased the nervous Gryffindor players and learned Lee Jordan had passed Professor McGonagall’s test to become the Quidditch commentator.
• Albert left before the match to keep his arrangement with Katrina and Isobel McDougal.
• Katrina complained about missing the match for their bet as she led Albert to the Ravenclaw Common Room.
• Katrina answered the Eagle Ring Riddle, opening the door, and Isobel said the riddle had multiple answers.

Albert and Katrina competed to solve one hundred Ravenclaw Eagle Ring riddles, with Katrina winning ten Galleons. Afterward, Isobel told Katrina that rumors about her and Albert dating were false and that they were just friends.

• Katrina corrected Albert’s mistaken question about whether a ghost was dead, and Isobel urged them to hurry before the Quidditch match.
• Katrina and Albert answered the Eagle Ring’s riddles, and Isobel explained that Ravenclaw Heads of House had added riddles over generations.
• Albert promised not to distract Katrina, who solved one hundred riddles and won their bet.
• Albert paid Katrina ten Galleons and left, while Katrina wondered why he had made the bet and whether he had ulterior motives for gaining access to Ravenclaw’s common room.
• Katrina asked Isobel whether she and Albert were dating, and Isobel said they were just friends.

After winning the Riddle Bet, Albert entered Ravenclaw's Knowledge Vault and searched for the knowledge it was supposed to contain. He found records about Hogwarts' founding, scattered Runes, and Eternal Fire, but left without uncovering the vault's secret.

• Albert skipped the Gryffindor–Ravenclaw Quidditch Match and recorded the Eagle Ring's hundred riddles and answers in the Room of Requirement.
• Albert answered the Eagle Ring's riddle and entered a hidden chamber lit by blue Eternal Fire.
• Albert translated and copied Ancient Runes describing Hogwarts' founding and its defenses against persecution and attack.
• Albert found scattered Runes forming the phrase “Superior intelligence is mankind's greatest treasure,” but could not determine what it meant.
• Albert examined an Eternal Fire and found Ancient Runes carved into it, then put it back and decided to record his discoveries.

Albert suspected the Ravenclaw Knowledge Vault concealed a further secret tied to Ancient Runes, then went to watch the Quidditch match and spoke with Isobel about the vault and a mysterious organization. Isobel left without explaining what she knew, while the match continued with Ravenclaw in the lead.

• Albert reasoned that the vault’s real treasure was hidden behind another test and suspected Ancient Runes and the phrase “wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure” held the key.
• After finishing his meal, Albert went to the Quidditch Pitch, where Gryffindor scored and Ravenclaw remained ahead 180 to 140.
• Isobel told Albert she had found records related to the Room of Requirement but struggled to understand its Ancient Runes.
• Albert asked whether Professor Broad and Professor Smith had come to Hogwarts because of the secret, but Isobel avoided answering.
• Isobel hinted that Albert would later learn about a loose organization, then left as the Seekers’ contest for the Golden Snitch continued.

Ravenclaw won the exhausting Quidditch match after its Seeker caught the Golden Snitch in a crash that injured both Seekers. After visiting Charlie in the School Hospital, Albert discussed Hogwarts’ founding history with Professor Smith, who remained puzzled by what the parchment revealed.

• Lee Jordan announced that Ravenclaw led the score as both Seekers chased the Golden Snitch, and Ravenclaw’s Seeker caught it after the two crashed into the ground.
• Albert comforted the exhausted Twins and gave them sweets before the group returned to the castle for food.
• Albert and the Gryffindor players visited Charlie, who stayed overnight in the School Hospital alongside Ravenclaw’s injured Seeker.
• Professor Smith gave Albert the parchment about Hogwarts’ founding and asked whether he noticed anything unusual.
• Albert asked about ancient wizards’ circumstances, and Professor Smith explained how scarce magical knowledge had been before the Founders shared it.

After Gryffindor’s Quidditch loss and Slytherin’s victory over Hufflepuff, Albert stayed focused on his own affairs, including secretly gathering ingredients for Polyjuice Potion. He learned that papers bearing his name had appeared in Practical Potions Master and Charm Innovation, and Katrina told him Professor Flitwick was looking for him.

• Professor Sprout discovered that Mandrakes were missing from Greenhouse Three, while Filch investigated and Snape noticed ingredients for Polyjuice Potion had vanished from his storeroom.
• Slytherin defeated Hufflepuff by a wide margin, prompting Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to consider retaliating against Slytherin until Albert warned them off.
• Shanna showed Albert that a paper under his name had been published in Practical Potions Master, and Albert realized his earlier letter had been revised into it.
• Katrina showed Albert that his paper had also appeared in Charm Innovation and said Professor Flitwick was looking for him.

Albert met with Professor Flitwick, who told him his paper had been published and passed along a letter from Elphias Doge. Their discussion turned to advanced protective magic, leaving Albert asking how spell incantations relate to runes.

• Professor Flitwick told Albert that his paper had appeared in Charm Innovation and gave him a letter from Elphias Doge, who wanted to correspond with him.
• Albert asked Professor Flitwick about the Patronus Charm and the Fidelius Charm, saying he wanted to hide his diary with the latter.
• Professor Flitwick explained how the Fidelius Charm concealed a secret in a Secret-Keeper and said Hogwarts was not protected by it.
• Albert asked why wizards used English incantations instead of Ancient Runes, and Professor Flitwick replied that the essence of Charms was runes.

After failing to get permission to borrow books from the Restricted Section, Albert stopped probing the nature of charms and visited George in the School Hospital. He learned the Weasley twins had secretly joined a clash with Slytherins, while the trouble shifted attention away from them, and he began planning a Wizard Card competition.

• Professor Flitwick reassured Albert that he would understand the nature of charms in time, and Albert decided not to press the subject.
• Albert and Lee Jordan visited George, who had been struck by a Dark Curse during a fight with Slytherin Seeker Lucian Bole; Fred explained that the twins had joined a brawl after overhearing older Gryffindors plan to attack Slytherins.
• The older Gryffindors received a week of detention, and tensions between Gryffindor and Slytherin rose while Fred, George, and Lee escaped blame by posing as innocent bystanders.
• Albert discussed plans for a Wizard Card competition with Fred, George, and Lee, explaining that contestants would build their own decks and compete in qualifiers for a final four and prizes.

Albert tried to attract more students to the Wizard Card Competition after learning that only a handful had signed up. He considered offering the champion ten Galleons and left Truman to spread the word, while planning to improve Wizard Card and sell it next semester.

• Lee Jordan told Albert that only four Gryffindors had signed up, while Truman reported that he was the sole Hufflepuff entrant.
• Albert confirmed that he would meet Mr. Dagworth at the end of the month to learn how to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
• Albert discussed using a registration fee and possibly awarding ten Galleons to the Wizard Card champion.
• Albert asked Truman to spread the word about the possible prize, and Truman agreed to do so.
• Albert told Fred and the others that he wanted to improve Wizard Card and begin selling cards next semester.

The Wizard Card tournament drew a surge of interest after Truman announced a possible ten-Galleon champion prize, and Albert arranged to visit Hertok Dagworth to learn how to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir. Dagworth began explaining the potion's dangers, warning that defective batches had left brewers with permanent brain damage.

• Students flocked to learn Wizard Card and register for the tournament after hearing about its Galleon prize, while Lee Jordan limited preliminary entries to thirty-two places and explained the possible two-Sickle fee.
• Albert told George, Fred, and Lee Jordan that the club would keep meeting in the Great Hall to attract more players, then agreed to let them accompany him to Hogsmeade.
• Albert and his companions received refreshments at Hertok Dagworth's house before Dagworth led them to his unused laboratory and warned them not to touch anything.
• Dagworth questioned why Albert wanted to brew the prohibited Baruffio's Brain Elixir and said inferior batches had poisoned brewers, leaving some permanently at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Potions Master Dagworth told Albert and the others about Baruffio's Brain Elixir's dangers and history before brewing a batch with Albert. They diluted the finished potion for safety, and Dagworth warned Albert against drinking it undiluted.

• Dagworth explained that Baruffio's Brain Elixir could improve intelligence but carried serious risks, and that an inferior batch had once been diluted and sold on the black market.
• Dagworth sent Fred, Lee Jordan, and the other student away before beginning the brewing lesson with Albert.
• Dagworth prepared the ingredients and brewed Baruffio's Brain Elixir while explaining the process to Albert.
• Dagworth diluted the finished green potion at a ratio of ten to one, tasted a small sip, and advised Albert not to drink it undiluted.

Albert sampled diluted Baruffio's Brain Elixir, then drank a mouthful of the undiluted potion with Dagworth's permission and used its effects to reconsider magic and Ancient Runes. Dagworth warned him that the potion would leave him exhausted and advised him to rest, either at the castle or in the house.

• Dagworth gave Albert diluted Baruffio's Brain Elixir, which made Albert's mind feel more active and improved his memory.
• Albert asked to try the undiluted potion, and Dagworth reluctantly agreed to let him drink one mouthful after the first dose wore off.
• While discussing the formula with Dagworth, Albert offered possible improvements that made Dagworth worry more about the risks to his brain.
• After drinking the undiluted potion, Albert reconsidered his questions about spells and concluded that mastering Ancient Runes might reveal the key to Ravenclaw's Chamber of Secrets.
• Albert recorded his new thoughts and said relying too much on the potion could make people stupid; Dagworth warned that its effects would leave him tired and urged him to rest.

Albert returned to Hogwarts with a Mandrakes root he had bought from Dagworth and discussed the Wizard Card Club competition with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan. With thirty-two contestants signed up, they set the prizes and Albert outlined plans for collectible, numbered Wizard Cards.

• Albert decided he could not wait to raise his Ancient Runes skill gradually and had the House-elf return him to Hogwarts.
• Fred told Albert that thirty-two contestants had entered the competition after hearing that the champion’s prize would be generous.
• Albert showed Fred and the others the Mandrakes root he had bought from Dagworth for twenty Galleons to make a new Protective Bracelet.
• Albert set the competition prizes: the winner could choose ten Galleons or a deck of Wizard Cards, while second and third place would receive Butterbeer and a Quill.
• Albert explained that future Wizard Cards would come in limited packs, include rare cards such as Dumbledore, and carry official serial numbers.

Albert discussed selling Baruffio's Brain Elixir with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, and they planned future shops together. He also carved a unicorn amulet as a birthday gift for Isobel.

• Fred suggested making the bottle of Baruffio's Brain Elixir a ten-Galleon prize, and Albert agreed to try brewing more after Christmas.
• Albert offered Fred, George, and Lee Jordan a one-Galleon commission per bottle sold and discussed opening shops together after graduation.
• The four friends talked about a Defence Against the Dark Arts shop, a Joke Shop, and a Wizard Card boutique.
• Albert explained that dried Mandrake roots could be used to make amulets and continued carving a unicorn pendant for Isobel's birthday.

Eddie discovered the Wizard Card Club’s busy gathering, where Albert explained the game’s future, prizes, and competition rules. Professor Smith interrupted to ask about Wizard Cards and learned that they depicted real people and events inspired by Chocolate Frog cards.

• Eddie asked a Ravenclaw upperclassman about the crowd and learned it was the Wizard Card Club’s gathering, with ten Galleons promised to the competition champion.
• Albert answered members’ questions about future card sets, collectible packs, rare Gold Cards, and the Wizard Card Competition’s prizes and rules.
• Albert explained that thirty-two competitors would play a best-of-three elimination competition using decks built from cards provided by the organizers.
• Professor Smith arrived and questioned Albert about the gathering and the cards, and Albert explained that the game was inspired by Chocolate Frog cards and depicted real people and events.

Professor Smith invited Albert to a rare alchemy gathering on Sella Harrises’s behalf, then revealed he was searching for the Founders’ hidden chambers at Hogwarts. He asked Albert to help find a way into Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets, leaving Albert to consider the request.

• Professor Smith gave Albert an invitation from Sella Harrises to attend a gathering on January 13 and advised him to contact Harrises about travel arrangements.
• Professor Smith told Albert that Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets had supposedly opened fifty years earlier, killing a student, and might contain Dark Magic.
• Professor Smith explained that he had found a chamber left by Ravenclaw and had returned to Hogwarts partly to investigate the Founders’ hidden chambers.
• Professor Smith admitted he could not open the Chamber’s entrance and asked Albert to help, saying Isobel had recommended him because of his skill in Ancient Runes.

Albert remained suspicious of Professor Smith’s reasons for revealing Ravenclaw’s Knowledge Vault and wondered whether his unfinished task and Isobel’s divination pointed to a hidden danger. At lunch, Albert and his friends discussed Harry Potter’s expected arrival, then considered expanding their Wizard Cards competition.

• Albert questioned why Professor Smith had told him about Ravenclaw’s Knowledge Vault, since the “Ulterior Motives” task remained unfinished.
• Professor McGonagall reminded students to register if they planned to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas.
• George and Fred joked about tricking Ron about Hogwarts, and Albert warned them that Harry Potter might arrive next year.
• Albert and his friends discussed Potter’s fame, his possible Gryffindor sorting, and whether he was doing well with his Muggle relatives.
• Lee Jordan suggested enlarging the Wizard Cards competition, and Fred proposed changing its rules as Albert warned that more players would mean more work.