Chapter Summaries

In Transfiguration class, Albert used his prior preparation and skill points to turn a match into a needle on his first try, earning five points for Gryffindor. He spent the rest of the lesson practicing transformations while his classmates struggled, and the students were assigned to keep practicing at home.

• Professor McGonagall warned the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw First Years about the dangers of Transfiguration and demonstrated by turning her desk into a pig and back.
• Albert spent 98 experience points to raise Transfiguration Theory to Level 1 while Professor McGonagall explained the subject.
• When Professor McGonagall asked him to practice, Albert turned his match into a silver needle with Vera Verto and earned five points for Gryffindor.
• Katrina also succeeded in transforming her match, while Fred and the other students continued to struggle.
• Albert used Reparo to restore his needle to a match, then practiced transforming it into other objects as Fred watched in amazement.
• Professor McGonagall assigned the First Years to practice turning matches into needles for homework.

Albert asked Professor McGonagall to teach him the Summoning Charm, but she tested his Transfiguration instead and invited him to join her Transfiguration Club. After joining, Albert gained enough experience to raise Transfiguration Theory to Level 2, then planned to meet his friends at the Quidditch Pitch.

• Albert asked Professor McGonagall about learning the Summoning Charm, and she said it was fifth-year material before asking how much Transfiguration he had learned.
• Professor McGonagall offered Albert a place in her Transfiguration Club if he could turn a match into a mouse.
• Albert transformed a match into a lame mouse, and Professor McGonagall accepted the attempt and restored it to a match.
• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan about the club, then agreed to meet them at the Quidditch Pitch to try flying.
• Albert went to the library and spent the 2,000 experience points from joining the club to raise Transfiguration Theory to Level 2.

Albert met the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan to try flying with Charlie, who arrived late with his broom and set up a simple flying test. Charlie had the four boys prepare to fly one lap around the Quidditch Pitch, and Albert and Lee admitted they had never ridden a real broom.

• Albert waited in the Great Hall, spoke briefly with Shanna, and left when Fred and George called him over.
• Albert met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, and the four headed to the Quidditch Pitch to meet Charlie.
• Albert used Alohomora to open the locked pitch gate, then practiced the Disillusionment Charm while the others practiced Lumos.
• Charlie arrived late with a Cleansweep Five and told the boys they would each fly one lap around the pitch.

Charlie taught the Twins, Albert, and Lee Jordan to fly, and Albert quickly became an exceptionally fast and capable broom rider. Charlie invited them to train with the Quidditch team as potential reserve players, while making clear they would still have to pass next year’s tryouts.

• One of the Twins flew a lap around the Quidditch Pitch, and Charlie praised his steady flight.
• Charlie taught Lee Jordan the basics, and Lee completed a slow but smooth test flight.
• Albert took his first flight, adapted quickly, and raised his Flight Technique (Broom) skill to Level 1.
• Albert sped around the pitch at nearly a Cleansweep Seven’s top speed, astonishing Charlie, the Twins, and Lee Jordan.
• Charlie invited the four students to train with the team using school brooms and told them they would need to earn places through next year’s tryouts.

Albert received Professor McGonagall’s notice for the next Transfiguration Club meeting and chose it over Charlie’s hoped-for Quidditch training. He spent the evening helping Shanna, Lee Jordan, and George practice the Lumos Charm, while the Twins returned after Filch confiscated most of their Dungbombs.

• At dinner, Angelina gave Albert Professor McGonagall’s notice for the Transfiguration Club meeting, and Albert told Charlie he would prioritize it over Quidditch practice.
• Albert went to the Great Hall to read and practice magic, where he encouraged Shanna to keep trying the Lumos Charm until she managed to light her wand briefly.
• Lee Jordan and George joined Albert and Shanna in practicing Lumos, and Lee improved at keeping his wand lit.
• The Twins arrived around eight-thirty and told Albert that Filch had confiscated most of their Dungbombs after they planned to use them against Peeves.

Albert protected himself and his friends from Peeves’s ink attack with a Shield Charm, then attended the first Herbology lesson, where Professor Sprout introduced magical plants and Dittany. The chapter left Albert’s group beginning their studies in Greenhouse One.

• George, Fred, and Lee Jordan told Albert they had spent the night planning to throw Dungbombs at Filch’s office.
• Albert and his friends encountered Peeves spraying ink at students, and Albert blocked the attack with a Shield Charm.
• Albert cleaned some of the spilled ink with Scourgify and explained that he had learned the Shield Charm from a book.
• Professor Sprout began the first Herbology class by introducing magical plants and explaining Dittany’s healing properties and cultivation.

During Herbology, Professor Pomona taught the students about magical plants and explained how to escape Devil's Snare. After class, Albert and the Weasley Twins discussed pranking Filch, and the Twins decided to throw Dungbombs into his office.

• Professor Pomona showed the students Devil's Snare and explained that light and warmth could drive it away.
• George told Albert, Lee Jordan, and the Twins that the Defence Against the Dark Arts post was cursed, and Albert explained the curse's origins.
• Albert and the others saw Filch catch a Gryffindor third year student who had thrown a Dungbomb in the corridor.
• The Twins decided to throw Dungbombs into Filch's office, and Albert offered to provide suggestions.
• Albert asked whether the Twins were prepared for detention, and they both agreed they were.

Albert taught Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to practice the Unlocking Charm, though none of them managed to open a lock. He explained that magic took time to master and left them thinking about how spells could be developed beyond their basic uses.

• Albert suggested using Filch’s confiscated-goods drawer as a target, and the Weasley Twins agreed to learn the Unlocking Charm so they could try it.
• Lee Jordan returned with news that William had failed to escape detention and had been sentenced to scrub chamber pots.
• Back in the dormitory, George, Fred, and Lee practiced the Unlocking Charm under Albert’s guidance, but none could unlock a drawer.
• Lee stopped practicing to preview classwork, while the Twins continued; Albert explained that his defense book introduced dangerous creatures and basic ways to avoid or survive them.
• After a day of practice, the Twins still had not learned the spell, and Albert said their limited experience with magic made it harder to master.
• Albert demonstrated the basic Lumos Charm and described ways to extend its use, such as making its light brighter or floating it away from the wand.

Professor Bard Broad taught practical Defense Against the Dark Arts, including how to avoid werewolves and use signal sparks. Albert offered George, Lee Jordan, and the Twins a defensive magic book, but reminded them that they still needed to master their current spells.

• Professor Bard Broad explained that the Defence Against the Dark Arts position was cursed and shared practical advice about vampires and werewolves.
• Professor Broad taught the class that werewolf bites could cause infection or lingering traits and recommended Silver Powder and dittany for treating wounds.
• Professor Broad taught the students to fire Red Sparks for danger and Green Sparks for agreed signals.
• Albert described Professor Broad as a reliable teacher and warned George that he and the others still had spells to practice.
• Albert offered George, Lee Jordan, and the Twins his copy of Practical Defensive Magic and Its Countermeasures Against Dark Magic, then reminded them to focus on mastering the Unlocking Charm.

Albert helped Fred, George, and Lee Jordan practice defensive and utility spells, explaining his theory that magical skill improved through practice. The chapter left Lee recovering after a Pepper Imp made him breathe fire, while Albert continued studying and training the difficult Disillusionment Charm.

• Fred, George, and Lee tried and failed to cast the Shield Charm, and Albert advised them to practice simpler spells.
• Albert explained that practice improved magical power and control, and the Twins switched to practicing the Unlocking Charm.
• Fred opened his drawer with the Unlocking Charm and won Albert’s bet, so Lee ate a Pepper Imp and accidentally scorched George’s face with flames from his nostrils.
• Albert said he had not mastered the Disillusionment Charm and explained that it was much harder than the Unlocking Charm.
• The Twins lamented that they probably would not learn the Disillusionment Charm that year.

Fred and George Weasley staged a Dungbomb prank to distract Filch while Fred stole an envelope from his confiscated-items drawer. Filch caught both twins, and Professor McGonagall sentenced them to detention as Filch made them clean up the mess.

• Fred dropped a Dungbomb in the corridor, and Filch caught him with the dirty paper bag in hand.
• Filch took Fred to his office, where Fred opened the dangerous confiscated-items drawer with Alohomora and pocketed an envelope while George distracted Filch outside.
• Filch caught George and brought both twins to Professor McGonagall, who took twenty points from Gryffindor and assigned them detention.
• Filch led the Weasley twins to a broom closet beneath a spiral staircase and ordered them to mop up the Dungbomb mess.

After Fred and George were forced to clean up Dungbombs, they discovered the Marauder’s Map among Filch’s confiscated items and learned how to use it. They kept the map between themselves and set off to explore its secret passages.

• Fred and George spent hours cleaning the corridor and Filch’s office, then went to the kitchens for sandwiches after missing lunch.
• Fred showed George an old, blank piece of parchment he had taken from Filch’s drawer.
• George activated the parchment by saying, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” revealing the Marauder’s Map and its details about Hogwarts, secret passages, and people’s locations.
• Fred and George learned that “Mischief managed” erased the map’s markings and decided not to tell Albert or Lee Jordan about it yet.
• The twins used the map to avoid someone approaching and entered a secret passage that led to the fifth floor.

Albert and his friends shared dinner, compared their progress with spells, and practiced Transfiguration before their late Astronomy class. They left for the Astronomy Tower without successfully changing a match.

• Lee Jordan told Fred and George that Filch had scheduled their detention in the Trophy Room for the following night.
• Albert shared his Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic notes as the group discussed their progress with Lumos and Transfiguration.
• At seven, the friends gathered to practice spells and used a twig that Albert transformed into a match and duplicated for them.
• None of the group managed to transform a match before Katrina explained that Transfiguration required days of practice.
• Albert checked the time and led everyone toward Astronomy class, reminding them to be careful not to arrive late.

Albert and the other first-years attended their first Astronomy Class, where Professor Sinistra introduced the Solar System and taught them to use telescopes. After class, Albert and the twins headed to the kitchens for food, leaving Lee Jordan to chase after them.

• Fred startled a drunken knight in a portrait, causing him to tumble into a river in a neighboring portrait.
• Cedric Diggory and the Hufflepuff students arrived at the Astronomy Tower before Professor Sinistra began class.
• Professor Sinistra unveiled a miniature Solar System and taught the students about the planets and how to draw star charts.
• Albert corrected Fred's planet labels and struggled with the others to locate Mars through a telescope.
• Albert left for the kitchens with the twins, while Lee Jordan chased after them and shouted for them to wait.

Albert, Fred, George, and Lee returned to Gryffindor Tower after Filch assigned the twins detention for the next evening. Albert noticed Professor Broad watching him strangely and received a quest to help Gryffindor win the House Cup, which he planned to leave for a future opportunity.

• Filch caught Fred and George and gave them detention polishing trophies, while Albert told them he could not teach them the Scouring Charm in time.
• Professor Broad encountered the four on the Eighth Floor and warned them to return to their Common Room before curfew; Albert noticed a possible change in the wall near the Room of Requirement.
• The Fat Lady made Fred repeat the password before she let the group into the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Charlie told them about Quidditch training, but Fred and George said they would be serving detention; Percy then scolded the twins for Gryffindor's low House points.
• Albert saw a quest to help Gryffindor win the House Cup and decided he could wait until Harry Potter arrived.

In Charms, the first-years learned the Extinguishing Charm and received a two-foot essay assignment on Lumos and Nox. On the way back, Angelina decided to try out for Quidditch, while Professor McGonagall warned the class that she would check their Match-to-Needle progress the following week.

• Professor Flitwick taught the class the Extinguishing Charm, Nox, and Albert and Lee Jordan managed to put out wandlight and candle flames.
• Professor Flitwick assigned an essay at least two feet long about Lumos and the Extinguishing Charm, and Albert explained how the students could approach it.
• Fred and George teased a skeptical Hufflepuff student, then insisted to Diggory that they had only been talking to him.
• Angelina decided to try for a Quidditch reserve spot, and George told her to find Charlie at the Quidditch Pitch that afternoon.
• Professor McGonagall said she would check whether the students could turn a Match into a Needle the following week.

Albert found the hidden entrance to the Transfiguration Club’s Classroom 21 and joined the meeting after transfiguring a chair for himself. Professor McGonagall began a discussion of Animagus transformation, but Albert realized he could barely understand the magazine article.

• Albert searched the sixth floor for Classroom 21 until Isobel McDougal came to fetch him and showed him how to enter through a portrait.
• Albert transfigured his invitation parchment into a wooden chair and made a cushion from a candy wrapper.
• Albert met Isobel and learned that she was Katrina McDougal’s older sister.
• The club members and Professor McGonagall praised Albert’s chair as he joined them for the meeting.
• Professor McGonagall congratulated Selwyn on winning an award, welcomed Albert to the club, and introduced the meeting’s topic: Animagus.
• Albert opened Transfiguration Today and realized that he could barely understand the article.

Albert learned that becoming an Animagus required advanced Transfiguration knowledge, potions, courage, and luck, and received a task to complete the transformation. At the Transfiguration Club, he studied the Summoning Charm and managed to summon a flower stem, but not a blooming chrysanthemum.

• Albert considered the Animagus requirements and received a task offering an Animagus skill level and experience for completing the transformation.
• Field explained that ordinary human-to-animal transformation was not Animagus, and Professor McGonagall warned the students that failed attempts could leave wizards as half-human, half-beast creatures.
• Professor McGonagall gave the students mice to practice the Vanishing Spell and lent Albert her copy of Intermediate Transfiguration to study the Summoning Charm.
• Albert practiced the Summoning Charm and summoned a flower stem after saying, "Chrysanthemum Blooms!"
• Field accidentally vanished a table leg, and Professor McGonagall restored it before Field examined Albert's summoned stem.
• Albert left the Transfiguration Club still unable to summon a bouquet of blooming chrysanthemums.

Albert returned from the Transfiguration Club and avoided drinking from a suspicious teacup, but George later got bitten by it. The boys discussed Quidditch, and Albert said he might not have time for training.

• Albert made milk tea, suspected a teacup might be Zonko's Nose-Biting Teacup, and created a new cup with Transfiguration instead.
• Fred and George returned from polishing trophies for Filch, and Albert told them about the Transfiguration Club and his practice of the Summoning Charm.
• George drank from the Nose-Biting Teacup and got bitten on the nose, then chased Lee Jordan while Fred laughed.
• Albert described the Transfiguration Club to Fred, and Lee Jordan said Angelina flew well at the Quidditch Pitch.
• Albert explained that having all the boys from their dormitory join the Quidditch team could cause gossip and unfairly blame Charlie, and said he might not have time for training.

Albert attended his first Potions class with the Slytherins and faced Snape’s pointed questions. He answered them correctly, but Snape took a point from Gryffindor and left the class convinced he favored his own house.

• Albert, Lee Jordan, Fred, and George discussed Snape and their Potions lesson over breakfast, while Angelina mentioned she had become a reserve Quidditch player.
• Albert and the other Gryffindors entered the gloomy basement classroom, where Snape had written the ingredients and method for a Potion for Curing Scabies on the blackboard.
• Snape questioned Albert about the Draught of Living Death, bezoars, and aconite, and Albert answered each question correctly.
• Snape dismissed Albert’s answers as copied from a book, then took one point from Gryffindor after Shanna spoke to Albert during class.
• Albert quietly observed Snape as the students began writing down the lesson.