Chapter Summaries

After tensions between Gryffindor and Slytherin rose following the Quidditch match, Albert and his friends used the Disillusionment Charm and Stunning Spell to ambush Slytherin troublemakers. Their latest prank left a fifth-year Slytherin humiliated outside the abandoned Girls' Bathroom, while suspicion fell on Gryffindor's older students.

• Gryffindor and Slytherin students fought after several Slytherins cornered Mark, and Professor McGonagall punished both Houses by deducting points.
• Slytherins tried to trip and ambush Albert, but their attempts failed because he was rarely alone and could defend himself.
• A fifth-year Slytherin followed George through a corridor, but Albert stunned him from behind.
• George and his friends staged the unconscious student at the entrance to the abandoned Girls' Bathroom, prompting rumors among the girls who found him.
• Albert, George, Fred, and Lee Jordan discussed using the same trick against future attackers, while others blamed Gryffindor's older students.

Albert reconsidered making Nia an enchanted amulet after learning how difficult durable magical items and alchemy were to create. He instead chose a nearly finished, animated Griffin carved from Guardian Tree wood as her gift, while considering future business ventures.

• Albert abandoned his plan to make Nia an amulet after realizing that enchantments often faded and durable magical items required rare materials and advanced skills.
• Albert studied alchemy, including the history of the Philosopher's Stone and ancient Runic Script, and developed a new protective amulet design he could not yet make.
• Albert settled on a carved Griffin as a gift after getting the idea while practicing the Basic Levitation Charm and seeing the model dragon on the Goblet of Fire.
• Albert photographed a Griffin statue, improved his carving skill, and used Guardian Tree wood from Hagrid to build a Griffin that could flap its wings.
• Albert imagined selling magical creature models through a company and considered potential business partners.

Albert advised Gabriel Truman on how to beat Nott after the Ravenclaw Prefect disputed that Bridget Wenlock had belonged to Hufflepuff. Truman left to prepare for the confrontation, while Albert considered the rewards offered by his Task Panel.

• Albert found Truman searching for Dark Curses so he could duel Nott over Bridget Wenlock's House.
• Albert learned that Truman believed Wenlock had been a Hufflepuff, while Nott insisted she had belonged to Ravenclaw.
• Albert advised Truman to avoid calling it a duel, disarm Nott by surprise, bind him, and fight him with fists instead of using Dark Curses.
• Albert led Truman to find the Self-Defense Spell Collection, and Truman invited him to watch the confrontation near the Black Lake that weekend.
• Albert reviewed the Task Panel's rewards for helping Truman and returning to his seat, where Shanna asked what he had been doing.

Truman defeated Ravenclaw Prefect Nott in a duel over Bridget Wenlock’s House, leaving Nott with a swollen face and a Chocolate Frog Card in his mouth. After Professor Flitwick punished Nott and Professor Sprout gave Truman only a warning, Albert admitted to Isobel that he had advised Truman to use his fists against someone who refused to listen.

• Albert and the Weasley Twins hurried to the lawn and saw Truman finish his duel with Nott by putting a Chocolate Frog Card in Nott’s mouth.
• Students learned that Truman had used the Full Body-Bind Curse before beating Nott, after the two argued over whether Bridget Wenlock had been in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.
• Professor Flitwick took Nott away, and Truman later told Albert that Nott received a week of detention while Professor Sprout gave Truman a warning and Coconut Ice.
• Mrs. Pince drove Truman and then Albert out of the library, where Albert ran into Isobel in the corridor.
• Albert told Isobel he had advised Truman not to try to wake someone pretending to sleep unless he used his fists.

As Christmas approached, Albert and his friends discussed holiday plans and their growing pile of homework. News that Cornelius Fudge would succeed Millicent Bagnold as Minister of Magic revealed that Albert’s twenty-five-Galleon bet could earn him one hundred Galleons.

• Fred, George, and Albert said they would go home for Christmas, and they discussed leaving their plants behind and trying to make Garlic Crosses during the holiday.
• After December brought colder weather and more homework, Lee Jordan complained that the professors would not let students enjoy their Christmas break.
• George showed Fred and Lee a Daily Prophet article announcing that Millicent Bagnold would retire in February and Cornelius Fudge would succeed her.
• Fred, George, and Lee remembered Albert’s twenty-five-Galleon bet on Fudge and realized it could earn him one hundred Galleons at odds of about four to one.
• Albert said he expected the betting pool to pay out soon and was glad he would have money without asking his family for it.

Albert received his 100-Galleon prize for predicting Cornelius Fudge would become Minister of Magic, then left Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday. He reunited with his family at King's Cross and headed home with them.

• Albert signed the Daily Prophet's Magical Contract and received 100 Galleons, though the school soon learned about his winnings.
• Albert joked with Shanna, Angelina, Katrina, and Lee about his supposed luck and his redwood wand.
• Albert rode a Thestral carriage to Hogsmeade Station and explained to George, Fred, and Lee that the invisible horses pulling it were Thestrals.
• Albert traveled on the Hogwarts Express, played a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans dare with his friends, and changed into Muggle clothes before arriving at King's Cross.
• Albert noticed Ministry personnel near the station exit, said goodbye to his friends, and reunited with Nia, Herb, and Daisy.
• Albert held Tom in the car and remarked that the cat had gained weight while staying with Grandmother Sansa.

Albert and his family celebrated Christmas with Luke and Sansa, exchanging gifts and enjoying a quiet day together. The chapter ended with Albert reflecting that even a good book could not replace real experience.

• Albert and Herb placed Nia’s Christmas gift beneath the tree after Daisy reminded them not to stay up late.
• Nia woke Albert to retrieve her gift, and he gave her a phoenix badge before sharing dried fish with Tom.
• Albert opened presents, including a scarf knitted by Nia and an old issue of Today Transfiguration from Professor McGonagall.
• Luke and Sansa joined the Andersons for a festive breakfast, and Albert declined to perform magic because he did not understand the Ministry’s Trace.
• Tom teased Shera until the owl chased him beneath the sofa, amusing the family.
• Daisy asked whether Albert had read the book she chose for him, and he said he had finished it but that books could not replace experience.

Albert researched the Rune Alphabet over the Christmas Holiday, learned to read Runic Script, and began experimenting with its magical applications. He returned to Hogwarts with his unfinished amulet research and found Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had brought garlic and still had holiday homework to finish.

• Albert researched the Rune Alphabet in the town library and traced its links to Germanic languages, Latin letters, and ancient magic.
• At Truman's suggestion, Albert bought Magical Phonetic Table and Rune Dictionary, then studied until his panel displayed the Runes skill.
• Albert raised Runes to Level 2, learned to read most Runic Script, and began correcting mistranslations and studying its magical applications.
• Albert made the amulet he had set aside his latest research subject, but the Christmas Holiday ended before he finished its Runes.
• Albert rode the Hogwarts Express back to Hogwarts and found Fred, George, and Lee Jordan with a pile of garlic and some holiday homework still unfinished.

Fred and George were told to redo homework that resembled each other’s, and Albert discussed sneaking into Hogwarts’ Restricted Section to study old magic. While researching runes and explaining Felix Felicis, Albert joked that one rune he had drawn would increase a boy’s charm, leaving Field to question his expertise.

• Professor McGonagall and Snape each ordered Fred and George to redo their nearly identical homework, and Albert warned them that Snape could see through their excuse.
• Albert told the Twins and Lee Jordan that he planned to get past the rope on the fifth floor and visit the Restricted Section, then discussed ancient magic and the old unlocking spell Open Sesame.
• The Twins went to the library to work on their extra homework while Albert researched rune symbols, and he told them about Felix Felicis, a potion that granted temporary luck.
• Field questioned whether Albert’s runes worked, and Albert claimed that the rune she had been watching increased a boy’s charm.

Albert discussed runes and good-luck symbols with his friends, then received a task to write an Ancient Runes textbook for Hogwarts. As the group headed back, Filch overheard Albert mention getting up at night and suspected they were planning mischief.

• Albert told George and the others that Field was talented at Transfiguration, and Shanna asked about his family and the runic good-fortune symbol.
• Albert explained that the symbol might work as an amulet and joked about selling them, while admitting he was still researching Runic Script.
• Albert imagined writing an Ancient Runes book, which triggered a task requiring him to make his book a Hogwarts textbook.
• Fred warned Albert that Filch was nearby, but Filch overheard Albert's remark about getting up at night and cautioned him against sneaking around.
• After Filch left, Albert called the encounter an accident, and Fred and the others agreed.

Albert joined Fred and George on a nighttime trip to the Restricted Section, but the twins revealed the Marauder's Map, which they had taken from Filch's confiscated goods. Albert then hinted that he had discovered a secret place they did not know about and led them toward it.

• Albert woke in the early morning and quietly joined Fred and George, leaving Lee Jordan asleep in the dormitory.
• Albert told the twins he wanted to find books about Felix Felicis in the Restricted Section, and they discussed the potion's value and difficulty.
• Fred and George showed Albert the Marauder's Map and demonstrated its password, revealing that it tracked people throughout Hogwarts.
• The twins admitted they used the map to find secret passages and asked Albert not to tell Lee Jordan about it.
• Albert hinted that the broom closet the twins had been searching for was something else and invited them to follow him.

Albert and the Weasley Twins tried to enter the Room of Requirement but found someone already inside, then explored Hogwarts’ secret passages and used Disillusionment Charms while preparing to prank Filch. The chapter left Fred, George, and Albert hidden in a secret passage as Peeves searched the corridors.

• Albert failed to open the Room of Requirement and concluded that someone was already inside.
• Albert told Fred and George that the Room of Requirement could provide whatever space someone needed, and they agreed to treat it as their secret base.
• Fred and George showed Albert hidden passages around Hogwarts, including one leading out of the castle.
• Fred suggested using Peeves to wake Filch, and Albert agreed to help with the prank.
• Albert cast the Disillusionment Charm on George and himself, and George pulled Fred into a secret passage when he returned.

Albert, Fred, and George used a Disillusionment Charm and Dungbombs to evade Filch during their nighttime mischief, but Professor Broad saw through Albert’s disguise and let him go. Albert reunited with the twins and planned to hide in the Room of Requirement until Filch stopped searching, then go to the library.

• Albert cast a Disillusionment Charm on Fred and warned him not to reveal who had cast it if he got caught.
• George spotted Filch searching, and the three carried out their plan to distract him with noises and Dungbombs.
• Fred evaded Filch under the Disillusionment Charm while Filch blamed Peeves for the pranks.
• Professor Broad discovered Albert hiding, but let him go after directing Filch to search elsewhere.
• Albert met George and Fred and told them to head to the Room of Requirement, noting that Professor Broad could see through the charm.

Albert showed Fred and George the Room of Requirement, then led them on a nighttime trip to the Restricted Section to find spell and potion books. They returned to Gryffindor with three books at four in the morning, while Lee Jordan stayed awake to inspect their spoils.

• Albert took Fred and George into the Room of Requirement, first revealing a chamber-pot room and then changing it into a comfortable room where they waited for Filch to stop searching.
• Albert explained how he had supposedly discovered the Room of Requirement from the Twins' clues and let them plan to make Garlic Crosses there.
• Albert, Fred, and George entered the library after closing and searched the Restricted Section, avoiding a whispering book and another hidden magical secret.
• Albert used a Muggle lockpicking tool to open an enchanted lock and retrieve The Book of Spells, The Book of Potions, and Potent Potions.
• The three returned to Gryffindor at four in the morning, where Lee Jordan complained that they had not woken him and began examining the books.

Albert practiced the Obstruction Jinx with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan during a snowball fight outside Hogwarts. When Shanna invited them to watch people skate on Black Lake, the group decided to go along and find a way to get skates.

• Albert’s snowball fight with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan revealed that he could use the Obstruction Jinx to stop snowballs in midair.
• Fred, George, and Lee tried practicing the jinx but failed to block the snowballs, and Shanna was accidentally hit by three of them.
• Shanna declined to join the fight and said she was going skating on Black Lake with the Ice Skates she had brought from home.
• George and Lee persuaded Albert to go with them, suggesting he could duplicate borrowed skating boots with the Duplication Charm.

Albert duplicated ice skates for his friends and circled the Black Lake while Fred, George, and Lee Jordan struggled to learn. He met Isobel and Katrina McDougal, discussed Professor Broad with Isobel, and returned to find the Weasley Twins had quit while Lee kept practising.

• Albert duplicated Shanna's ice skates, but Lee Jordan could not fit into them and watched as the others began practising.
• Fred and George fell repeatedly, and Danny and the other Gryffindors offered to help them learn.
• Albert skated around the Black Lake, then helped Katrina McDougal up after she fell and greeted her sister Isobel.
• Albert and Isobel discussed her Transfiguration paper and Professor Broad, whom Isobel said could help Albert learn more.
• Albert returned to find that Fred and George had given up while Lee Jordan continued practising with Mario.

Albert looked up Professor Broad’s achievements in the library and discovered that the famous wizard was friends with Morg McDougal, a name connected to Isobel McDougal. The chapter ended with Lee Jordan, Fred, and George asking Albert which team he would bet on in the weekend’s Quidditch Match.

• Fred and George returned from the Forbidden Forest, where they had searched for rabbits and found what Fred identified as unicorn tail hair.
• Albert went to the library with his friends and found Professor Broad’s biography in Notable Magical Names of Our Time.
• Albert read that Bard Broad was a celebrated wizard and a close friend of Morg McDougal, prompting him to wonder about the connection to Isobel McDougal.
• Fred and George were surprised by Professor Broad’s fame and his achievements in wizarding duelling.
• Lee Jordan, Fred, and George asked Albert which team he would bet on in the weekend’s Quidditch Match.

Albert wore a bracelet made from unicorn tail hair and Guardian Tree wood, bet on Gryffindor, and won when Charlie caught the Golden Snitch. After collecting their winnings, he persuaded Hagrid to take him and the others into the Forbidden Forest for a supervised walk.

• Albert showed Hagrid and his friends the bracelet he had made with Guardian Tree wood and unicorn tail hair, claiming it could bring good luck.
• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan bet on Gryffindor to win by catching the Golden Snitch.
• Charlie caught the Golden Snitch, Gryffindor defeated Hufflepuff, and the group collected eight silver Sickles in winnings.
• Albert revealed that Fred and George had sneaked into the woods before, then persuaded Hagrid to take the four students into the Forbidden Forest just once.

Hagrid took Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan on a quiet winter walk through the Forbidden Forest, where they found no dangerous creatures. After Albert dug up some matsutake and used them as a cover story when they met Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, Hagrid decided it was time to return.

• Hagrid led Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan into the Forbidden Forest and reassured them that he could protect them.
• Hagrid explained that Dumbledore had driven trolls away from the area near Hogwarts, and he showed the students paths he had made through the forest.
• Albert dug up winter fungi that Hagrid said were edible, then collected more to try grilling.
• Hagrid encountered Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank by a stream, and Albert claimed they had entered the forest to gather matsutake.
• Grubbly-Plank left to visit Kettleburn, and Hagrid told the students that Kettleburn was staying at the forest's edge before urging them to head back.

Albert and Hagrid hosted a barbecue with matsutake for Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan before the boys returned to Gryffindor's celebration in the common room. There, Albert explained what Occamies were and why Felix Felicis was so costly and difficult to brew.

• Hagrid took Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan into the Forbidden Forest, where they gathered a few matsutake and Hagrid offered them meat for fishing.
• Albert prepared and grilled the matsutake, but Hagrid and the boys quickly ate most of them before they shared sausages and tea.
• The boys returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, where Angelina and Shanna asked where they had been and heard about Professor Kettleburn and an Occamy.
• Albert explained that Occamies could change size and that their silver eggshells were used in Felix Felicis and once in expensive shampoo.
• Albert told Fred and the others that Felix Felicis was extremely costly to make because its ingredients were expensive and brewing failures could be disastrous.