Chapter Summaries

Albert discussed ways wizards could stay cool and make everyday life more comfortable with Isobel, then received letters about Harry’s disappearance and an unexpected message from America. He planned to advise Hermione to contact Hagrid and was left wondering who had written to him from overseas.

• Nia fetched Tom from Daisy’s room and took him back to bed.
• Albert and Isobel discussed magical cooling methods, Pearl Milk Tea, and how wizards could improve their living environments.
• Albert asked Isobel to look for useful magic and teach him at school, and she agreed while warning him not to expect too much.
• Hermione wrote that she had lost contact with Harry and Ron, and Albert advised her to ask Hagrid to check on Harry.
• Albert received an unexpected letter from America and wondered who had sent it.

Albert received vague invitations from Nicholas and Sella to travel to America, then weighed whether to go while his parents discussed his safety. A tired owl delivered a letter from the Twins asking him to help with their latest inventions.

• Albert checked Nicholas's letter for danger and found tickets for Platform Seven and a Half and an American Floo Network journey, but no clear explanation of the trip.
• Albert read Sella's similarly vague invitation, wrote down his doubts, and left his reply in a drawer until the next day.
• Albert sent a letter to Bard Broad and told his parents about the invitation; Herb advised him to take a mirror and check in daily if he traveled.
• Albert freed Tom from Nia's room and went downstairs to breakfast with him.
• An exhausted old owl delivered a letter in which the Twins showed Albert their latest products and asked him to help solve problems they had encountered.

Albert traveled with Sera by luxury train to Nicolas Village in France, where they planned to visit the dying LeMay Couple and meet an alchemist connected to Albert’s future. Sera also prepared Albert for a later trip to America, warning him about its strict Ministry of Magic and introducing him to Nicholas’s granddaughter, Catherine.

• Albert boarded a five-day luxury train journey with Sera after learning their destination was Nicolas Village in France.
• Sera explained that Dumbledore had persuaded the LeMay Couple to give up the Philosopher’s Stone and that they were going to visit them.
• Albert learned Bard had registered him for the International Wizard's Chess Competition and that Nicolas had left something for him.
• Sera revealed that John Nicholas was an American alchemist responsible for America and showed Albert a photograph of Nicholas and his granddaughter, Catherine.
• Sera warned Albert about America’s strict Ministry of Magic, explained its currency and rules, and gave him notes about precautions for the visit.
• Sera told Albert the train would pass beneath the North Sea and enter Denmark after traveling underwater from Mari Bay.

Isobel explained to Katrina that Divination depended on innate talent and confirmed that Albert had made several true prophecies. Katrina reflected on her feelings of always falling short of Isobel, while Isobel left the conversation and contacted Albert through the Two-Way Mirror.

• Katrina asked Isobel about her Divination results, and Isobel explained that prophecy required talent beyond what the O.W.L. exam tested.
• Isobel confirmed that Albert had made several prophecies that came true, and Katrina asked when Isobel had started dating him.
• Isobel said she had confessed to Albert first and described being in love as obsession.
• Katrina rested her head on Isobel's shoulder and said she wanted to beat her sister just once.
• After Katrina left, Isobel returned to the Two-Way Mirror and called Albert's name.

Albert and Sera discussed Albert’s ambitions as their train journey continued, and Albert watched the train use a magical ring to travel beneath the sea. The train arrived in Denmark, where Sera revealed they would change plans and visit an old friend in Germany before going to France.

• Albert wondered whether he was too greedy in pursuing magical knowledge, and Sera advised him to give some things up.
• Albert spoke with Isobel through the Two-Way Mirror, and they discussed Katrina’s feelings for him.
• Albert watched the train enter the sea through a glowing ring forged from goblin iron, while Sera explained how the British Ministry of Magic had built the undersea passages.
• The train arrived in Denmark, and Sera told Albert they would change trains in Germany to visit an old friend before heading to France.

Sera took Albert to Veedebess Village through an ancient Transfer Gate and brought him to meet his old friend Jonas. Jonas mistook Albert for a potential match for his grandson Mark, leaving Albert to handle the misunderstanding.

• Sera and Albert got off the train in Berlin and entered Adeline's grocery shop to borrow the Transfer Gate.
• Sera led Albert through the ancient stone gate, and they arrived in Veedebess Village.
• Sera explained that Veedebess had been rebuilt after a Muggle war and showed Albert its streets.
• Sera brought Albert to Jonas's house and introduced them.
• Jonas called his grandson Mark downstairs, apparently hoping to introduce him to Albert.

Albert visited Jonas with Sera, met Jonas's grandson Mark, and learned about Beauxbatons while beating him repeatedly at Wizard's Chess. Mark reconsidered entering the International Wizard's Chess Competition, but Jonas urged him not to lose his courage.

• Jonas introduced his grandson Mark, a Beauxbatons student, to Albert, who explained that he was traveling with Sera.
• Mark described Beauxbatons and invited Albert to play Wizard's Chess ahead of the International Wizard's Chess Competition.
• Albert defeated Mark five times and asked him about Beauxbatons, its Flamel fountain, and other details.
• Albert spoke with Sera and the two old men, asked about the Transfer Gate, and received a price list from Jonas.
• After Albert and Sera left, Mark said he might withdraw from the competition, and Jonas encouraged him not to fear losing.

Sera took Albert through the German Ministry of Magic to the International Floo Network, then brought him to Nicolas Village. They arrived at a house whose hidden entrance was revealed by a Silver Card, and the story left them about to enter.

• Sera and Albert entered the German Ministry of Magic through a concealed shop and arranged for supplies to be sent to France.
• Hans escorted Sera and Albert to the International Floo Network, where they met Frank and learned their passage to France had been arranged.
• Albert and Sera traveled by Floo Network to Nicolas Village, where Sera welcomed Albert.
• Sera gave a House-elf a Silver Card, and the House-elf revealed a hidden door inside the house.

Albert visited Nicolas and Perenelle LeMay, learned how their hidden residence was protected, and discussed their plans to destroy the Philosopher’s Stone. Nicolas agreed to teach Albert alchemy and other knowledge before the couple’s remaining years ran out, and Albert left for Paris to prepare for the International Wizard’s Chess Competition.

• Nicolas explained that the LeMay Couple’s residence was concealed by the Fidelius Charm and that the Silver Card served as its password.
• Sera asked Nicolas whether he planned to give up the Philosopher’s Stone, and Nicolas confirmed that he intended to destroy it.
• Nicolas and Perenelle reassured Sera that they had enough Elixir of Life to live another five or six years and planned to teach Albert during that time.
• Albert used Nicolas’s crystal ball to glimpse a hand raising the Wizard’s Chess championship trophy, but Nicolas erased the image before the future was revealed.
• Albert accepted two thick books from Nicolas, then left with Sera for Paris, where he would await the competition’s round of thirty-two.

The Weasleys and the McDougals read news that Albert Anderson had won the International Wizard's Chess Competition in France, while Ron remained worried about Harry and frustrated that Percy would not lend him an owl. The chapter ended with Mr. Weasley receiving authority to search homes linked to Malfoy, as Isobel dismissed a newspaper scandal suggesting Albert was involved with other girls.

• Ron argued with Percy over borrowing Hermes to send Hagrid a letter about Harry, whom Ron feared was in trouble.
• The Weasleys read that Albert had become the youngest International Wizard's Chess champion, and Mr. Weasley explained that Mr. Bard Broad had arranged for him to enter the competition.
• Mr. Weasley said the Daily Prophet had suppressed accusations that Albert used magic to compete, but a flood of reports about Malfoy's group had prompted officials to issue a search warrant.
• Katrina showed the McDougals the front-page story about Albert's victory, and Mrs. McDougal invited Isobel to bring him home sometime.
• Katrina warned Isobel after seeing a photograph of Albert with Louise and two other girls, but Isobel dismissed the Daily Prophet's romantic scandal as fabricated.

Catherine prepared to meet the heir of the Wildsmith Family, a mysterious family tied to Nicholas and the Floo-Pow Company. Nicholas took her to the American Ministry of Magic to receive the British guest, leaving Catherine on the verge of meeting the legendary heir.

• Catherine recalled how Nicholas chose her as his heir and revealed his wealth from secretly supplying Floo Powder in America.
• Catherine remembered how the American Ministry of Magic drove Floo-Pow Company away, prompting Nicholas to suspend American supplies and later reopen the company as revenge.
• Nicholas explained that the Wildsmith Family selected gifted heirs who shared its blood and had maintained its wealth and secrecy for over seven hundred years.
• Catherine dressed carefully and joined Nicholas, who Apparated with her to the Woolworth Building.
• Nicholas checked his pocket watch and led Catherine into the American Ministry of Magic to meet the arriving Wildsmith heir.

Albert arrived in the United States with Sera and Nicholas, but a Ministry employee tried to confiscate his wand because he was underage. Albert exposed the employee’s hostility and left after securing an apology, then told Sera he would not return to the United States.

• Catherine and Nicholas waited at the International Floo Network for Albert and Sera, who arrived half an hour late from France.
• Albert greeted Nicholas and Catherine, and Catherine kissed him politely, provoking Carter’s jealousy.
• Carter refused to issue Albert a Wand Permit and demanded that he surrender his wand to the Ministry for safekeeping.
• Albert handed Carter a nonmagical souvenir wand and let the Ministry inspect him, then mentioned his chess championship to prompt an apology.
• Albert explained to Catherine that Carter had acted out of jealousy and suspected the Ministry might have damaged or lost his wand.
• After drinking tea in the Ministry reception room, Albert told Sera that he would not visit the United States again.

Albert, Sera, and their companions visited Nicholas’s secluded Texas safe house, where Albert learned about the American magical world’s strict separation from Muggles and its unusual laws. The visit ended with Nicholas and Albert discussing American magical history and the risks faced by unregistered foreign wizards.

• Nicholas brought the group from his New York apartment to his concealed Texas farm, where Albert and Sera met two Swallowtail Dogs.
• Catherine explained that the American Ministry restricted contact with Muggles, banned magical creatures such as Swallowtail Dogs, and separated most Muggle-born children from their families to attend Ilvermorny.
• Albert explored Nicholas’s modern home and discussed wind turbines, electrical appliances, magical magnetic fields, and the Woolworth Building’s concealment with Nicholas.
• Nicholas showed the visitors his Kneazle, Lila, while Catherine noticed that Albert and her grandfather shared an enthusiastic conversation about obscure magical topics.
• Nicholas described the American Ministry’s repeated relocations and strict rules requiring foreign wizards to register and obtain Wand Permits.

Albert discussed the risks of future conflict between wizards and Muggles with Catherine and Nicholas before renewing a contract granting Catherine the right to sell Floo Powder in America. The Unbreakable Vow was sealed with strict obligations for both parties.

• Catherine asked Albert about his mobile phone, and he requested Ilvermorny textbooks.
• Albert warned Catherine and Nicholas that advancing Muggle technology could eventually threaten wizards and cause conflict.
• Nicholas led Albert and Catherine to a protected study to renew their Floo Powder contract.
• Albert agreed to grant Catherine American agency rights and not interfere with her business as long as neither party's interests were harmed.
• Catherine agreed to give half the profits to the Wildsmith Family and never reveal the Floo Powder formula except to a trusted heir.
• Nicholas sealed the Unbreakable Vow and warned them not to break it.

After signing the contract, Albert spent the evening discussing alchemy with Nicholas and Catherine, then read about American magical history and its restrictive laws. Catherine apologized for the trouble caused earlier, and Albert went to bed after accepting her hot chocolate.

• Nicholas invited Albert and Catherine to visit his Alchemy Workshop the next day.
• Albert read Chadwick's Charms and compared it with other spellbooks before studying American History of Magic.
• Albert learned how Rappaport's Law and the Wand Permit shaped the American magical world, and concluded he should avoid the United States.
• Catherine brought Albert hot chocolate and apologized for causing him trouble.
• Albert accepted Catherine's apology, read a little longer, and went to sleep.

Albert visited Nicholas’s workshop, learned about his alchemical products, and discussed a possible supply of potion ingredients from Burkina Faso. Nicholas asked Albert to befriend Catherine, his granddaughter and future heir, and Albert agreed to exchange ideas with her while clarifying that he already had a girlfriend.

• Albert woke from a strange dream in which Catherine appeared with a child and Isobel accused him of betrayal.
• Nicholas told Albert that Catherine had left early and explained that her talent and childhood had left her withdrawn and with few friends.
• Nicholas showed Albert how he made Darkness Powder, and Albert successfully learned the process after two attempts.
• Nicholas showed Albert Soporific Bean extract and Potential Potion and discussed the magical products and markets that sustained his work.
• Albert mentioned his experience making Baruffio’s Brain Elixir, and Nicholas offered to source Runespoor ingredients from Burkina Faso.
• Nicholas asked Albert to become Catherine’s friend, and Albert agreed to exchange ideas with her through a Two-Way Mirror while saying he already had a girlfriend.

Albert drank the illegal Potential Potion, endured its painful side effects, and discovered that it had strengthened his magical power and raised his Wizarding Bloodline skill to level five. After Albert prepared to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir, Nicholas questioned his ambitions, while Sera explained that Albert had entered the magical world only a few years earlier.

• Nicholas explained the rarity of Murtlap, the history of Potential Potion, and why brewing it was forbidden.
• Albert drank the Potential Potion, suffered intense heat and weakness, and later demonstrated stronger magic with a wandless Lumos Charm.
• While bathing, Albert checked his Skill Panel and found that his Wizarding Bloodline had reached level five.
• Catherine prepared ingredients for Albert to brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir after he said he had improved the formula with Hertok Dagworth.
• Nicholas warned Albert against trying to follow his path, and Sera revealed that Albert had only been in the magical world for a few years.
• Nicholas concluded that Albert was a Muggle-born wizard who had grown up in the Muggle world.

Carter read a New York Ghost Newspaper feature in which respected American experts praised Albert and criticized Carter’s earlier remarks, leaving him furious and humiliated. Albert departed the United States with Sera, while Nicholas prepared to teach Catherine Occlumency and Legilimency.

• Carter read interviews in which Pigot Mogrilla, Tagore Jones, and Charles Cockle praised Albert and denounced Carter’s claims, and he angrily threw down the newspaper.
• Nicholas observed that Albert had used visits to influential experts to repair his reputation, though Albert had actually been expanding his network and had forgotten Carter.
• Sera and Albert thanked Nicholas and Catherine, then used a wizard’s hat to leave the United States.
• Nicholas and Catherine discussed Albert’s improved Baruffio’s Brain Elixir and Catherine’s interest in his abilities.
• Nicholas told Catherine that he would begin teaching her Occlumency and Legilimency.

Albert returned home from America to find his family away, spent the evening alone, and caught up with Catherine and Isobel through mirrors. Isobel showed him newspapers turning photographs with other women into scandals, leaving Albert asking her for help as rumors spread.

• Albert returned to his locked house, picked the front door lock, and found Daisy's note saying the family had gone to visit Grandpa Luke.
• Albert woke after a nap, bought groceries, cooked dinner, and learned by calling Herb that his family would return the next day.
• Albert contacted Catherine, and she followed his guidance to make an ointment for treating skin rashes.
• Albert finally reached Isobel, who showed him newspapers featuring his photograph with Catherine and a greeting kiss from Louise, alongside rumors about his love life.
• Albert complained that the press was painting him as a playboy, and Isobel laughed and reminded him that his fame drew the rumors.

Isobel and Albert dealt with their families’ worries after the Daily Prophet published rumors portraying him as unfaithful. Albert explained the photographs to his parents and showed them his championship trophy, then redirected their matchmaking advice toward finding Tom a mate.

• Mrs. McDougal showed Isobel a Daily Prophet article about Albert and warned her to leave him if its claims were true, but Isobel defended her judgment.
• Katrina told Mrs. McDougal that Albert was an amazing person and that Isobel was not easily deceived.
• Daisy and Herb lectured Albert about being faithful and urged him to find a girlfriend before graduating from Hogwarts.
• Albert identified Louise in one photograph, explained the other pictures, and showed his parents his championship trophy.
• Albert promised to invite a girl home if he found one, then changed the subject to finding Tom a mate.