Chapter Summaries

Lynn assessed Beshilde’s spellcasting, taught her the Smoke Screen Charm, and continued researching his Patronus. He then enlisted Umr to help the Weasley twins ambush him, but the twins’ confidence left them perfectly set up for failure.

• Lynn tested Beshilde’s spellcasting, recognized her diligence, corrected her technique, and taught her the Smoke Screen Charm.
• After Beshilde left, Lynn continued practicing his Patronus Charm and later secretly gave Umr a camera and instructions.
• Umr met Fred and George on Monday and helped them prepare to attack Lynn with Dungbombs and Aging Bombs.
• Umr told the twins that Lynn would pass a particular corridor before class, and they hid nearby to ambush him.
• George boasted that their modified bombs could track targets, while Umr silently expected the plan to backfire.

Umr alerted George and Fred when Lynn arrived, and the twins tried to hit him with prank bombs. Lynn turned the bombs back on them, leaving the brothers filthy and aged as Umr photographed the scene.

• Umr spotted Lynn arriving with several Ravenclaw students and told George that Lockhart had appeared.
• George and Fred ambushed Lynn with Dungbombs and Aging Bombs, but Lynn dodged them and dispelled their tracking charms.
• Lynn levitated the bombs and countered every additional one the twins threw at him.
• When George and Fred tried to flee, Lynn sent the ten bombs after them, hitting each brother with Dungbombs and Aging Bombs.
• The bombs covered the twins in filth and aged their faces, while Umr photographed them and students watched in the corridor.

Lynn confronted Fred and George Weasley after their failed attempt to ambush him with an Aging Bomb. Impressed by their alchemy talent, he offered to support their future research, leaving the twins to consider his proposal.

• Lynn dispersed the students watching Fred and George pretend to quarrel, then used a Scouring Charm to remove the dung-bomb stench from them.
• Lynn recognized the Aging Bomb as a temporary Transfiguration effect, and the twins admitted they had no antidote because the effect would eventually wear off.
• When the twins tried to excuse their prank as harmless, Lynn reminded them that they had threatened to punish him and offered to collaborate instead.
• Lynn asked whether the twins had taught themselves alchemy, and George and Fred explained that their father, Arthur, had secretly taught them.
• Lynn offered to give the twins alchemy books and fund their research materials if they wanted to specialize in alchemy.

Lynn offered George and Fred a partnership to fund their alchemical work in exchange for priority access and custom items, and the twins took time to consider it. Meanwhile, Flint arrived at the Malfoy manor as Lucius received a group of visitors, and Lucius ordered Dobby to punish itself.

• Lynn offered George and Fred money and alchemical knowledge in return for priority access to their inventions and custom-made items, and the twins said they would think it over.
• George and Fred returned to the Gryffindor dormitory to weigh the partnership, while Lynn went to teach fourth-year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students.
• Flint arrived at the Malfoy manor and learned that Lucius was receiving fourteen guests, including Mr. Macmillan, Mrs. Selwyn, and Mr. Travers.
• Flint wandered through the garden instead of going straight to the drawing room, and Lucius confronted him about not arriving through the fireplace.
• Lucius summoned Dobby and ordered it to punish itself, so Dobby slammed its wounded head against the ground and blamed itself.

Malfoy convened the heads of sixteen families to discuss the German Magic Investment Company's destructive price war in Britain. The families had not agreed on a response when Mrs. Rowle asked to hear the Germans' demands.

• Malfoy stopped Dobby from punishing himself further and warned Flint against causing trouble as they went to the drawing room.
• Malfoy opened the meeting of the sixteen family heads and explained that the German company was undercutting British businesses to seize the market.
• A family head suggested asking the Ministry of Magic to intervene, but Malfoy said that would require surrendering their control over commercial affairs.
• Flint mocked the family heads and said he would sell his assets to the Germans, while the others remained unable to find a response to the price war.
• Mrs. Rowle asked Malfoy to explain the Germans' demands, as the Rowle and Malfoy families were the only ones able to make decisions on the issue.

Malfoy revealed that twelve of the sixteen wizarding families had accepted a German investment company’s offer to sell their British assets in exchange for dividend shares. The meeting left the remaining four families questioning why they had been invited, while Malfoy claimed he wanted to include them in the plan.

• Malfoy said a German Magic Investment Company had offered to consolidate the British magic market, and Mrs. Rowle realized its representatives must have promised concrete benefits.
• Flint and Malfoy’s reactions revealed that twelve of the sixteen attendees had secretly accepted the Germans’ offer, leaving Mrs. Rowle and three others uninformed.
• Mrs. Rowle condemned the others for surrendering their British foundations before the conflict with the Germans had even begun.
• Malfoy explained that the Germans would buy the families’ British assets for twenty percent above market value and provide dividend shares without voting rights.
• Malfoy defended the deal by saying the Germans had signed a magical contract to match the families’ contributions and had a strong record of profitable investments.
• When the four excluded wizards asked why they had been invited, Malfoy claimed he had proposed bringing them into the plan, and Flint laughed at his explanation.

Lucius Malfoy and the other pure-blood family representatives agreed to invest their British assets in the German company, binding their fortunes together. Mrs. Rowle then proposed buying the Hogwarts governors’ seats, and Flint reported the unexpected offer to Old John.

• Lucius Malfoy demanded that the remaining four families join the investment so all sixteen major businessmen would share the risk.
• Mrs. Rowle agreed to contribute the Rowle family's British assets, and the other three representatives followed suit.
• Mrs. Rowle asked the twelve Hogwarts governors whether they would sell their seats.
• Flint visited Old John at the German investment company's office and reported that the families had agreed to cooperate.
• Flint told Old John that Mrs. Rowle had unexpectedly proposed purchasing the governors’ seats.

Old John learned that Mrs. Rowle was seeking to buy Hogwarts governors' seats and told Flint to watch her plans. At Hogwarts, Lynn advised Beshilde to seek a medical examination, while Tom showed unusual curiosity about her.

• Flint explained that Mrs. Rowle had proposed buying governors' seats, and Old John considered how her plans might affect his efforts in Britain.
• Old John ordered Flint to monitor Mrs. Rowle and report any developments.
• Lynn told Beshilde that her weak magic might stem from a physical problem and suggested she visit Madam Pomfrey.
• After Beshilde left, Tom asked Lynn about her condition and denied that his interest in her was anything more than curiosity.

Lynn learned that Mrs. Rowle was trying to acquire seats on the Hogwarts Board of Governors and told Old John to investigate and stop her. He then chose to attend Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party with Hermione, Harry, and Ron instead of the school's Hallowe'en feast.

• Tom insisted that he felt only pity for Beshilde, while Lynn teased him about his interest in her.
• Lynn received Old John's report that Mrs. Rowle was trying to buy the twelve Hogwarts governors' seats, though Lynn had not arranged for her involvement.
• Lynn replied that Old John was the person he trusted most and instructed him to discover Mrs. Rowle's motives and prevent her from obtaining a seat.
• Umr told Lynn that Hermione wanted him to join her, Harry, and Ron at Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party.
• Lynn decided to skip the Hallowe'en feast and attend the Deathday Party, surprising Umr.

Lynn attended Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, where he questioned a ghostly nun about how people became ghosts. The nun could not explain what happened to the dead who did not become ghosts and directed Lynn to ask the Fat Friar.

• Hermione insisted that Harry and Ron keep their promise to attend Nick's Deathday Party, and Lynn warned them that ghost food would not feed the living.
• Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lynn entered the cold, crowded party and met Nearly Headless Nick.
• Lynn chatted with a ghostly nun about her death, while Hermione pulled Harry and Ron away for whispering about him.
• Lynn asked the nun where the dead who did not become ghosts went, and she suggested he speak to the Fat Friar.

Lynn asked the Fat Friar about his research into ghosts and the afterlife, and learned how the Friar’s life led him to become a ghost. The Fat Friar revealed that he and a ghostly friend had discovered dark magic capable of giving a ghost a new life.

• Lynn found the Fat Friar at the Deathday Party and asked him about his knowledge of ghosts.
• The Fat Friar explained that he had studied church lore and wondered where souls went after death.
• The Fat Friar described how he and a wandering ghost built a Chamber of Secrets beneath a church to study ghosts and the afterlife.
• The Fat Friar recounted his execution, his own transformation into a ghost, and his return to Hogwarts.
• The Fat Friar said he had abandoned his research two hundred years earlier but had discovered dark magic that could give a dead ghost new life.

Lynn learned that the Fat Friar knew secret magic capable of resurrecting ghosts, but the Friar refused to explain it. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione discovered Justin Finley petrified beside a warning that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, with Professor Lockhart standing nearby.

• The Fat Friar told Lynn that resurrection magic came at a price but refused to reveal what it was.
• Lynn left the Deathday Party, changed back into Lockhart's appearance, and headed toward his office.
• Harry heard a voice threatening to kill someone and led Ron and Hermione through the corridors in pursuit of it.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione found Justin Finley lying stiff and terrified beside Professor Lockhart.
• The trio saw a message on the wall declaring that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened and warning the heir's enemies.

Lynn found Justin Finley petrified beside a warning on the wall, and Dumbledore brought Lynn, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to Lynn’s office to question them. Snape challenged Lynn about where he had been during the Hallowe’en feast, leaving Lynn unable to explain his absence.

• Lynn found Finley petrified beside the warning, and Harry and Ron suspected Lynn while Hermione defended him.
• Lynn cursed Draco Malfoy after Draco insulted Muggle-born students, making Draco’s tongue stick to his palate and his teeth grow.
• Dumbledore arrived, confirmed that Finley was petrified rather than dead, and ordered him taken to the hospital wing.
• Dumbledore took Lynn, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to Lynn’s office, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione said they had attended Nick’s Deathday Party.
• Snape questioned Lynn about his whereabouts during the feast, and Lynn could not explain where he had been.

After Finley was petrified by the basilisk, Lynn and Dumbledore considered why the attack happened and set out to search for clues. Harry, Ron, and Hermione debated who was behind the attacks, and Hermione proposed a dangerous way to test whether Malfoy was the culprit.

• Snape challenged Lynn for cursing Malfoy, but Lynn explained that Malfoy had called someone a Mudblood, and Dumbledore ended the questioning.
• Dumbledore concluded that a basilisk had petrified Finley through a reflection, and Lynn told him he had spent the evening at Nick's Deathday Party.
• Lynn and Dumbledore considered whether the attack targeted students, framed Lynn, or had happened by accident, then went to the Headmaster's office to question the portraits.
• Harry and Ron suspected Malfoy, while Hermione argued that Lockhart's calm behavior and unexplained whereabouts made him suspicious.
• Hermione suggested testing whether Malfoy was the culprit, warning that her plan would be dangerous and break many school rules.

Hermione proposed using Polyjuice Potion to investigate Malfoy, and Harry and Ron agreed to try obtaining the recipe. Lynn and Dumbledore discovered that someone had broken into the Headmaster’s office, leaving them to suspect the intruder was connected to the night’s attack.

• Hermione explained that Harry and Ron could use Polyjuice Potion to disguise themselves as Slytherins and question Malfoy.
• Hermione persuaded Harry and Ron to ask Professor Lockhart for permission to consult a Restricted Section book, using ghoul research as their excuse.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room and were mobbed with questions about that night.
• Lynn told Dumbledore that Fawkes could blind the Basilisk, but Dumbledore insisted they had to catch it quickly to protect the students.
• Lynn and Dumbledore found the stone gargoyle outside the Headmaster’s office knocked aside and unconscious.
• Dumbledore revived the gargoyle, which reported that an unseen intruder had Confunded it and used a giant snake to drag it away.

Lynn and Dumbledore investigated the ransacked Headmaster's office and found that the intruder had attacked Fawkes and driven the headmasters from their portraits. Dumbledore suspected the intruder was searching for a secret guarded by generations of headmasters, but said he did not seem to have found it.

• Lynn and Dumbledore entered the Headmaster's office and found its contents scattered, Fawkes resurrecting, and a portrait damaged.
• Dumbledore confirmed that nothing was missing but said someone might have peered into his thoughts through the Pensieve.
• Fawkes told Dumbledore that a basilisk had petrified it before it could see the intruder's face.
• Phineas summoned the other headmasters, who reported that the masked intruder had entered with a basilisk and attacked the portraits.
• Dumbledore asked Phineas to search the castle portraits for the basilisk's route so they could capture it.
• Dumbledore told Lynn that the intruder was seeking a secret guarded by generations of headmasters and had apparently failed to find it.

After Justin Finley was petrified, Hogwarts tightened security while rumors spread about the Chamber of Secrets and Professor Lockhart. Hermione reasoned that Lockhart had been framed, but she still wanted to test whether Malfoy was involved.

• Professor McGonagall announced that Finley was stable and that Hogwarts would enforce stricter security while the investigation continued.
• Students debated the Chamber of Secrets and speculated about its monster and Slytherin's heir, while Lynn and Dumbledore learned that the culprit controlled the basilisk for personal reasons.
• A rumor spread that Professor Lockhart had no alibi when Finley was attacked, leading some students to suspect him and sparking a fight that Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore stopped.
• Hermione told Harry and Ron that Lockhart could not be the culprit because he would have prepared an alibi, and she concluded that someone had leaked the information to frame him.
• Hermione agreed that she and the others should still prepare the Polyjuice Potion and test Malfoy.

Hermione borrowed a Restricted Section book from Lynn under a flimsy excuse while continuing to prepare for Polyjuice Potion. Later, Bessild defended Lynn against accusations that he had opened the Chamber of Secrets, and he asked her why she wanted to learn powerful spells.

• Hermione asked Lynn to sign a library slip for Draught of Living Death, claiming it would help her study ghoul toxins.
• Lynn signed the slip, and Hermione, Harry, and Ron left pleased with the permission to borrow the book.
• Lynn discussed the Deathly Hallows with Tom and teased him about wanting to see Bessild Fontana.
• Bessild visited Lynn for her weekly lesson and asked whether he had opened the Chamber of Secrets.
• Bessild said Ravenclaw students trusted Lynn and had argued with Slytherins who accused him.
• Lynn set aside spell practice and asked Bessild why she was working so hard to learn powerful spells.

Beshilde told Lynn that she wanted to avenge her parents, who had been killed by Voldemort’s followers, and confessed her fear that she was too weak to do it. Tom wondered how he could make amends for the suffering his former self had caused, while Lynn offered him a chance at redemption; meanwhile, Hermione, Harry, and Ron obtained the ingredients they needed for the Polyjuice Potion.

• Beshilde asked Lynn whether he would stop teaching her if she wanted to learn magic for revenge, and he encouraged her to face her hatred.
• Beshilde told Lynn that Voldemort’s followers had killed her parents and confessed that fear, poor magical ability, and dreams of her parents’ condemnation tormented her.
• Beshilde fell asleep in Lynn’s office, and Lynn stopped Tom from speaking until she had left.
• Tom asked whether he could make amends for the harm his former self had caused, and Lynn told him he could choose to remain in the ball or pursue a new life of redemption.
• Lynn sent a letter to Old John by owl, then watched the night sky before leaving the owlery.
• Hermione, Harry, and Ron borrowed Draught of Living Death, then Hermione stole the needed Polyjuice Potion ingredients from Snape’s office while Harry and Ron distracted the class.

Lynn announced a Hogwarts Duelling Club to give students a chance to practise combat while the threat of the Heir of Slytherin remained unresolved. At its first meeting, Lynn introduced Snape as his assistant, and the two prepared to duel as Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched.

• Lynn learned that Old John needed at least two weeks to investigate the information he had requested.
• Lynn announced that Hogwarts would hold a Duelling Club before Christmas, and Harry, Hermione, and Ron decided to attend.
• The students gathered in the Great Hall, where Lynn appeared as Lockhart with Snape as his assistant.
• Lynn praised Snape’s combat ability and Potions expertise, while Snape privately planned to make him lose face.
• Ron worried that Lynn was afraid of Snape, while Hermione thought Lynn might be trying to spare Snape embarrassment.