Chapter Summaries

Albert remained calm through the O.W.L. exams, earned perfect results in the Charms and Transfiguration practicals, and helped his Gryffindor classmates prepare. The exams continued without further cheating, while Shanna and several others worried about their performances.

• Albert gave Fred mints to distribute to the Gryffindors and reassured Shanna that the O.W.L.s were manageable.
• During the Charm Theory exam, a Ravenclaw student was caught taking Dragon claw powder and had his exam qualification revoked.
• Albert completed the Charms practical perfectly, then comforted Shanna after her rat went wrong during her exam.
• Albert made a ferret vanish and reappear for Professor Tofty, then transformed it through several animals, ending as a lion.
• The lion frightened the animals prepared for other students, and the practical exam waiting room descended into chaos.
• Albert discussed the next exams with the Gryffindors, while Shanna barely made her iguana vanish and George struggled with the Transfiguration practical.

Albert and his friends took the Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. exams, while Albert earned another Outstanding with an impressive Patronus display. He then completed the Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies written exams with ease.

• Fred struggled to collect fangs from a Venomous Tentacula during the Herbology practical, while George handled it comfortably.
• Albert removed a Dark Curse from a rat and repelled a Boggart in the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical, then impressed Professor Tofty with five speaking Patronuses and secured his fourth Outstanding.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan passed the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam and celebrated having three days to prepare for their remaining papers.
• Albert finished the Ancient Runes written exam in ten minutes and slept at his desk while Katrina watched.
• Albert found the Muggle Studies written paper absurd but completed it aiming only for an Outstanding.

As exams continued, Albert joined Hagrid in secretly returning Buckbeak to the Hippogriff herd and helped fend off poachers following them. Hagrid released Buckbeak near the herd and parted from him sadly, while Albert reassured him that Buckbeak belonged in the wild.

• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan discussed Kenneth's black-market list and their joke shop plans with Albert, who suggested creating a place for students to arrange trades.
• Albert suspected Hagrid planned to return Buckbeak to the Hippogriffs and secretly followed him into the Forbidden Forest, bringing a Shielding Device and a Wizard Radar.
• Albert and Hagrid spotted poachers, and Albert stunned four men who had followed them; after discovering they were searching for valuable creatures, he confiscated their tools and erased their memories.
• Hagrid and Albert released Buckbeak near the Hippogriff herd without approaching its nest, and Hagrid sadly watched Buckbeak fly away.

Albert completed the Care of Magical Creatures practical exam without injury while Fred, George, and other students were burned or scratched. Hagrid admitted he had not taught the Fifth Years enough to prepare them for the exam, and the students went to the School Hospital for treatment.

• Albert and the other students finished their Potions exams, and Fred and George credited Albert with helping them prepare.
• Lee Jordan suggested celebrating, but Shanna reminded everyone that they still had four exams left.
• Albert identified the Spiky Dastard, exchanged Mole Crickets for a Bowtruckle leaf, and fed and cleaned a Fire Crab during his practical exam.
• Albert found Hagrid at the Hunting Cabin and warned him that students would complain about the lack of instruction on Fire Crabs.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan emerged from the exam burned or scratched, while Albert was uninjured.
• The students headed to the School Hospital, where Madam Pomfrey treated the injured candidates.

Albert completed his Astronomy and Arithmancy exams and used a Time-Turner with Katrina to take the Divination exam. During the practical, he showed Professor Marchbanks visions of a future newspaper accusing her of conspiring with goblins and identified Dolores Umbridge as connected to the trouble.

• Albert told his friends that his House-elf Bit had bought the Butterbeer and joked that the secret spell allowing him to take overlapping exams was too dangerous to reveal.
• Albert easily finished the Astronomy theory exam, and Fred, George, and Lee Jordan considered selling past exam papers to future O.W.L. candidates.
• Albert took the Arithmancy exam before using Katrina's Time-Turner to go back and attend the Divination exam.
• Albert and Katrina discussed their plans to attend the Quidditch World Cup with Isobel during the summer.
• Albert used palm reading and tea leaves to predict trouble for Professor Marchbanks, then showed her a crystal-ball vision of a newspaper article accusing her of conspiring with goblins.
• Albert's crystal ball revealed Dolores Umbridge as connected to Marchbanks's future trouble, and Marchbanks said only Inigo Imago had previously divined so convincingly in her examinations.

Albert confirmed his identity as a Seer and completed the Astronomy and History of Magic O.W.L. exams as the fifth years finished their tests. At the ensuing celebration, Harry remained upset because Dumbledore would not let him move in with Black.

• Albert relied on Professor Marchbanks’s friendship and influence to help establish his standing as a Seer.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan complained about Divination and joked about palm reading before the Astronomy exam.
• During the Astronomy exam, Albert accurately completed his star chart while Professor Marchbanks and Professor Tofty prevented Fred and others from copying.
• The fifth years sat the History of Magic exam, and Albert finished it before celebrating the end of the O.W.L. exams with his friends.
• Albert danced with Shanna, then learned from Ron that Harry was upset because Dumbledore would not let him move in with Black.

Albert spent the end of the school year with Isobel, made summer plans, and prepared Fred and George to produce magical items. After leaving Hogwarts, he learned that Herb and Daisy had gone east to pursue a business opportunity, so he would spend the summer with Luke and Nia.

• Albert received Quidditch World Cup tickets from Tiberius Ogden and discussed summer plans with Isobel, including meeting at his house in Hogsmeade.
• Gryffindor won the House Cup, and Hogwarts celebrated its Potions Championship at the End-of-Year Feast.
• Fred and George told Albert their product demonstrations had earned a few orders, and Albert gave them a list of magical items to make.
• Isobel picked up Katrina after the Crossing the Lake ceremony, then Apparated away with her sister and their luggage.
• Albert learned from Luke that Herb and Daisy had gone east to investigate a business opportunity, and that he would spend the summer with Luke and Nia.

Albert warned his family about Mad Cow Disease and explained that contaminated cattle feed was likely responsible. After agreeing to buy Nia a birthday dress, he read the Daily Prophet and discovered that Peter Pettigrew had reportedly died.

• Albert told Luke and the family that Mad Cow Disease could spread to humans and was probably caused by cattle feed containing ground-up cattle parts.
• Albert gave Nia more Beauty Potion and reassured her about the risk of infection.
• Nia asked Albert to buy her a dress as an advance on her birthday present, and he agreed to go shopping with her.
• Albert tried to contact Isobel through the Two-Way Mirror, then read the Daily Prophet and was stunned by news that Peter Pettigrew was dead.

Albert learned that Peter Pettigrew had escaped Azkaban, then reunited with Isobel and invited his Muggle sister Nia to the Quidditch World Cup. After a family shopping trip, he received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and a flood of congratulatory letters.

• Albert read that Peter Pettigrew had escaped Azkaban and recorded the news in his notebook.
• Albert met Isobel in Hogsmeade, and they agreed that he would take Nia to the Quidditch World Cup with them.
• Albert invited Nia to the World Cup at breakfast, and she eagerly accepted despite her parents' concerns.
• Albert and Nia shopped in London for clothes, then returned home with their family.
• Fudge informed Albert that he had received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, for his Human-Shape Restoration Charm.
• Owls delivered congratulations to Albert and disrupted the family's lunch.

Sirius and Lupin investigated Peter’s suspicious reported death, then Sirius arranged to meet the Dursleys and discuss Harry’s guardianship. The meeting ended with the Dursleys agreeing to let Harry stay with them for part of each summer so Lily’s protective magic could remain in effect.

• Lupin told Sirius that Peter and Peter’s mother had died under suspicious circumstances, and Sirius proposed asking Anderson to use Divination to determine whether Peter had escaped.
• Sirius and Lupin cleaned Grimmauld Place, discussed Harry and Lupin’s difficult life, and Sirius suggested they open a shop together.
• Harry told Vernon that Sirius planned to visit, frightening the Dursleys, while Sirius and Lupin dressed formally and traveled to Privet Drive.
• Sirius introduced himself to the Dursleys and, with Lupin, explained that Harry needed to stay with his blood relatives for part of each summer to maintain Lily’s protection.
• Petunia agreed to let Harry stay as long as he behaved, and Sirius warned the Dursleys to treat him properly.

Albert sorted through congratulatory letters with Nia, discussed the danger facing his family and weighed how to use his rare skill-selection reward. A package from Valeria and Catherine brought news of their potion business and plans to attend the International Alchemy Conference and Quidditch World Cup, while Nia warned Albert that Valeria was romantically interested in him; Albert decided to attend the conference with Isobel.

• Nia brought Albert iced black tea while he answered letters congratulating him on receiving the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and he explained why he refused to open letters from strangers.
• Albert told Nia he had restored a spell that returned werewolves to human form and considered whether to use his award reward to learn Animagus or obtain a Philosopher's Stone recipe.
• Albert read Sella Harrises's invitation to the International Alchemy Conference in Egypt and considered entering the Barnabus Finkley Award for Exceptional Spell-Casting Technique.
• An owl delivered a package from Valeria, whose letter described her and Catherine's thriving potion shop, their request for more Baruffio's Brain Elixir, and plans to attend the conference and Quidditch World Cup.
• Nia told Albert that Valeria's suggestive photograph showed romantic interest in him and warned him not to hurt Isobel; Albert decided to attend the conference with Isobel.

Lucius Malfoy met with fellow Death Eaters and confirmed that Peter Pettigrew had died in Azkaban without exposing them. The group then discussed their anger at Cornelius Fudge and Malfoy proposed using money and respectable pure-blood families to influence him after the World Cup.

• Lucius Malfoy arrived at the Death Eaters’ hidden meeting place and confirmed that Peter Pettigrew’s body was in Azkaban and that he had named no one.
• Nott questioned whether Peter had faked his death, and Malfoy explained that Peter’s dying mother had visited him after donating much of the family fortune to St. Mungo’s.
• Avery said the pure-blood faction was dissatisfied with Fudge for awarding Albert the Order of Merlin, and Malfoy explained that Fudge could not suppress Albert’s supporters.
• Malfoy proposed causing Fudge trouble and then drawing him toward their circle after the World Cup by donating money and introducing him to respectable families.

Albert and Isobel planned their trip to the International Alchemy Conference and tested whether someone inside Albert’s enchanted suitcase could travel safely during Apparition. After the test succeeded, they discussed hosting Catherine and Valeria inside the suitcase and helping Isobel write a new Ancient Runes textbook.

• Albert invited Isobel to attend the International Alchemy Conference in Egypt before going to the Quidditch World Cup, and they discussed Catherine and Valeria’s upcoming visit.
• Albert asked Isobel to Apparate with the suitcase while Bit stayed inside, and Bit reported feeling nothing unusual.
• Albert proposed turning the suitcase entrance into a door connected to Isobel’s room so Catherine and Valeria could stay and brew Potions there.
• Bit told Albert that Mr. Lupin had returned the Galleons he had been paid to test spells.
• Albert and Isobel discussed organizing material for an Ancient Runes Guide and consulting Professor Bathsheba Babbling about writing a new textbook.

Sirius and Lupin discussed cleaning Grimmauld Place, opening a shop, and arranging Quidditch World Cup tickets for Harry. At the Weasleys’ home, Percy celebrated joining the Ministry while Fred and George revealed their plans and funding for a Joke Shop, and the family learned the Ministry had suppressed news of Albert’s awards.

• Sirius and Lupin discussed Albert’s shop ideas and decided to arrange Quidditch World Cup tickets for Harry and his friends.
• Percy announced that he had joined the Department of International Magical Cooperation and become Barty Crouch’s assistant.
• Fred and George argued with Mrs. Weasley about rejecting Ministry work and opening a Joke Shop, while Ron told the family Harry needed food because his relatives were dieting.
• Fred and George revealed that Albert had given them five hundred Galleons each from Sirius’s payment for restoring his reputation, giving them startup money for their shop.
• Mr. Weasley agreed to support Fred and George’s plans, and the family discussed how the Ministry had withheld news of Albert’s Order of Merlin and youth award.

Albert received twelve Outstanding O.W.L. results and took Nia to Diagon Alley to shop with Isobel and Katrina. After arranging to meet Mr. Bard, he left with him to attend the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-Casting.

• Albert told his family he planned to travel to Spain for a spell-casting competition, then received his O.W.L. results and found he had earned twelve Outstandings.
• Angelina wrote to Albert about her missing Quidditch captain badge and her plans to attend the Quidditch World Cup, and he sent a reply with her owl.
• Luke drove Albert and Nia to Diagon Alley, where they met Isobel and Katrina and learned that Hogwarts would host the Triwizard Tournament and a Christmas Ball.
• Malfoy insulted the group at Madam Malkin's, but Albert stayed calm as he ordered school uniforms and the sisters arranged their shopping.
• Albert took Nia around Diagon Alley, then met Isobel and Katrina at Charlie's Milk Tea Shop before Luke collected the family.
• Albert met Mr. Bard at the Leaky Cauldron and left with him for the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-Casting.

Bard Broad brought Albert Anderson to the Ministry of Magic to apply for temporary permission for an underage wizard to use magic, while Albert warned that Voldemort’s return and the Second Wizarding War were near. They bypassed the Misuse of Magic Office through Barty Crouch Sr.’s connections and left with the application stamped.

• Bard Broad took Albert Anderson through the Ministry’s telephone-box entrance and explained that the visit would keep Albert from attracting unnecessary attention.
• Albert told Bard that Peter Pettigrew was likely in Albania and that an omen of Voldemort’s return would appear at the Quidditch World Cup.
• Albert predicted that Dumbledore would die soon, and Bard worried about what the Ministry would do afterward.
• Bard took Albert to Barty Crouch Sr. in the Department of International Magical Cooperation to avoid dealing directly with Dolores Umbridge.
• Percy Weasley returned with Umbridge’s signature, and Crouch stamped Albert’s application and wished him luck.

Albert arrived in Spain with Bard to compete in the Barnabus Finkley Exceptional Spellcasting Competition, and they settled into a bar that hosted the event. Bard explained the contest’s format and warned Albert about the bar owner’s half-vampire daughter, Diana.

• Albert and Bard greeted Rodris at the Spanish Ministry of Magic, where Bard introduced Albert as a chess and potions champion entering the spellcasting competition.
• Bard led Albert from the Ministry, which was disguised as a supermarket, to their temporary lodging in a bar called Barnabus Bar.
• Bard explained that the bar’s owner sponsored international competitions and was half vampire, then reserved rooms for himself and Albert.
• Bard warned Albert that Diana, the owner’s daughter, liked approaching promising young men and that vampire feeding could be dangerous.
• Bard described the competition’s spellcasting demonstrations and elimination rounds, adding that its champion’s trophy was made of pure gold.

Bard tutored Albert for the Barnabus Finkley Award competition and explained its history while Albert registered for the selection round. Albert received badge No. 17 and grew suspicious of Bard’s familiarity with the tavern owner, Diana.

• Bard told Albert how to present his spellcasting skills and explained that the competition grew out of Barnabus Finkley’s book, Finkelsh's Tricks.
• Albert encountered Terence Higgs at the tavern, and Bard argued with Old Higgs over his prejudice against Albert.
• Bard described how the Malfoy and Higgs families had changed their attitudes toward Muggles when their interests were at stake.
• Diana registered Albert for the competition, noted that he was sixteen, and gave him badge No. 17.
• Bard introduced Diana as the tavern owner and said she had one-quarter vampire blood, while Albert wondered what relationship the two of them had.

Albert enjoyed a Spanish meal and watched Yanila perform, discovering that her songs carried Charm magic linked to her Veela heritage. His quest to win the Barnabus Finkley Outstanding Spellcasting Technique Gold Award appeared, and after Diana tested his language skills and offered to introduce him to Yanila, Albert questioned Bard about their relationship.

• Albert ate Spanish seafood rice and watched Yanila sing, then recognized that her performance used Charm magic.
• Bard explained that Yanila would present the competition trophy and that winning the championship did not guarantee the Gold Award.
• Albert received the quest “Surpassing All Beauties,” which challenged him to win the championship and Gold Award and promised Yanila's favorability among its rewards.
• Bard told Albert that Yanila's father had one-quarter Veela blood, and Albert asked about getting Yanila's records as a souvenir.
• Diana tested Albert in several languages and offered to introduce him to Yanila if he won the Gold Award, while Albert said he already had a girlfriend.
• Albert asked Bard whether Diana was his daughter, and Bard replied, “Not exactly.”

Albert learned that Diana hoped Yanila would pursue him because her family chose its husbands from among Barnabus Finkley Gold Award winners, while he dismissed Yanila as merely a singer. He joined the competition in Spain, where contestants began demonstrating spells before the judges, and his turn had not yet come.

• Diana gave Albert the spell demonstration list and urged Yanila to hope he won the Gold Award so she could pursue him, but Yanila disliked the plan.
• Albert contacted Isobel through the Two-Way Mirror, told her about his trip to Spain, and discussed their future Christmas Ball plans, which made Isobel hesitate over involving Katrina.
• Albert ate breakfast calmly while Bard and Rodris discussed the judges and the competition's fairness.
• The five judges arrived, and the bar staff rearranged the concert stage for the spell demonstrations.
• Albert lined up as contestant No. 17, learned that another contestant thought he was competing for Yanila, and watched the first contestant conjure a field of flowers.