Chapter Summaries

Harry persuaded Helena to give Dumbledore Ravenclaw’s Diadem, ending her thousand years of guilt. Helena’s newspaper interview then embarrassed Harry by claiming she had found the diadem while peeping on him bathing, and he stormed off in humiliation.

• Harry convinced Helena that the wizarding world would welcome the diadem’s return and urged her to give it to Dumbledore.
• Helena handed over the diadem, and Dumbledore announced that the lost treasure had been found.
• A Daily Prophet reporter photographed Helena and interviewed her about the diadem’s discovery.
• Harry saw the newspaper’s story, in which Helena said she had found the diadem while peeping on him bathing.
• Helena explained that she had named Harry because she could not think of anyone else, and Harry left vowing to confront everyone who had read the paper.

A wizard imprisoned in Azkaban escaped by transforming into a Big Black Dog after discovering that Peter Pettigrew was still alive. He headed toward Hogwarts, intent on seeing Harry and capturing Peter before revealing the truth about Harry’s parents.

• The imprisoned wizard saw a newspaper photograph showing Peter Pettigrew disguised as a rat with the Weasley family, and realized he was alive.
• The wizard transformed into a Big Black Dog, squeezed through the cell bars, and escaped Azkaban without alerting the Dementors.
• He swam away from the island and set out toward Hogwarts, planning to see Harry secretly and capture Peter first.
• The Big Black Dog began wandering the streets, weighed down by guilt and determined to reach the child.

Harry found Sirius Black disguised as a stray dog and brought him by Apparition to The Leaky Cauldron, where the staff were discussing Black’s escape. The chapter ended as Hilton and Bellucci saw their young boss arrive with the dog.

• Harry encountered a thin black dog near Privet Drive and pretended to adopt it, while recognizing that it was Sirius Black.
• Black followed Harry, hoping to reach Hogwarts and protect him while searching for Peter.
• Harry Apparated with Black to a luxurious hall at The Leaky Cauldron, shocking Black with his skill.
• Hilton told Bellucci about the Muggle news report on the escaped murderer, and Bellucci showed her the Daily Prophet article identifying Sirius Black.
• Hilton wondered about the young boss’s identity, and Bellucci cried out when he appeared with the large black dog.

Harry cared for Sirius Black while Black enjoyed his new freedom as a dog in Diagon Alley. Black tried to stop Harry from reading dark magic, and Harry later shopped for school supplies, including textbooks for the coming term.

• Harry had Hilton wash Black and prepare him a feast, then gave him a luxurious room beside his own.
• Black settled into freedom in Diagon Alley, following Harry to the Leaky Cauldron and around the shops while people discussed his wanted case.
• Black saw Harry reading a gruesome dark magic book and repeatedly tore it up, but Harry repaired it and eventually switched to its advanced edition.
• Harry bought Potions ingredients and new robes, then visited Flourish and Blotts for his schoolbooks.
• The clerk gave Harry Unfogging the Future, Intermediate Transfiguration, and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3, while Harry already had Hagrid's Monsters Book of Monsters.

On the last day of summer vacation, Harry and Black spent time in Diagon Alley, where Hermione arrived and decided to buy a pet. At the magical creature shop, Hermione chose Crookshanks after the ginger cat confronted Black and then calmed down.

• Black worried that Harry had no friends and mistakenly concluded that Harry was gay, resolving to find him a male partner if necessary.
• Hermione visited Harry, hugged him, and explained that she had brought her Hogwarts supplies and wanted to buy a pet.
• Harry and Hermione put Hermione's luggage in the room next to Harry's, then went to the magical creature shop.
• A large ginger cat named Crookshanks jumped down and faced Black, but circled him in confusion before returning to its cage.
• Hermione told Harry that she wanted Crookshanks.

Harry gave Hermione Crookshanks for her birthday and bought a Firebolt by trading the shop owner the publicity of his endorsement. The next day, he reunited with Cho Chang and Little Cutie before Apparating to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, where Ginny saw him with Hermione and Cho.

• Hermione thanked Harry for giving her Crookshanks, and Harry reassured her that the cat was beautiful.
• Harry bought the Firebolt without paying Galleons by threatening to publicly criticize it, and the shop advertised his purchase.
• The next morning, Harry and Hermione found Cho Chang waiting at the Leaky Cauldron with Little Cutie, who immediately returned to Harry.
• Harry Apparated with Hermione, Cho, and Black to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, where Ginny and Percy arrived.
• Percy left to approach Penelope, while Harry led Hermione and Cho onto the Hogwarts Express and joked about Hermione's jealousy.

Harry left the station without interfering in Sirius Black’s hunt for Peter Pettigrew, while Black learned that Scabbers would be going to Hogwarts and followed the train. Black finally reached Harry’s compartment, where he came face to face with the sleeping Professor Lupin.

• Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express and decided to let Black, Wormtail, and the others settle their grudges without his involvement.
• Black searched the Weasley family for Wormtail, learned that Scabbers was being treated and would later go to Hogwarts, and decided to wait for him there.
• Black leaped onto the departing train and searched its crowded compartments for Harry.
• Harry, Hermione, and Cho Chang found Professor Lupin asleep in the last compartment, and Hermione’s Sneakoscope sounded until Harry silenced it.
• Black reached the compartment, saw Lupin, and froze as Lupin opened his eyes with a fierce, wolf-like stare.

Lupin confronted Black on the train, then learned that Black claimed Peter had betrayed James and Lily and framed him. Lupin tentatively trusted Black, and they returned to Harry’s compartment to find someone else inside.

• Lupin lured Black away from Harry and confronted him in the train’s toilet.
• Black transformed from his dog Animagus form, and Lupin accused him of betraying James and Lily.
• Black said Peter, not he, had been the Secret-Keeper and showed Lupin a newspaper photo of Peter as a rat.
• Lupin doubted Black’s account but began to believe it after hearing that Peter was hiding with a wizarding family whose child was one of his students.
• Black said he had followed Harry for days without harming him, and Lupin put away his wand and healed his neck.
• Lupin and Black returned to Harry’s compartment and found another person inside.

Harry traveled to Hogsmeade by Apparition while riding the Hogwarts Express with Cho Chang, Hermione, Astoria, and the sleeping Professor Lupin. The train stopped in the darkness, and a hooded, ghostlike figure entered their compartment as the passengers felt a terrible chill.

• Harry returned from Hogsmeade with Honeydukes treats and surprised Cho Chang and Hermione by revealing that he had Apparated there.
• Hermione let Crookshanks out of his basket, and the cat inspected Lupin and circled around Black.
• Malfoy visited the compartment to tell Astoria that his mother had asked him to look after her, but he fled after she rejected his offer.
• The train slowed and stopped in the rain, and its lights went out as passengers cried out in the darkness.
• Harry conjured a flame, Lupin woke and offered to investigate, and a tall cloaked figure entered the compartment, filling the group with fear and cold.

Harry traveled north on the Hogwarts Express with Cho Chang, Hermione, Astoria, Lupin, and Black as a storm worsened and the train came to a sudden stop in darkness. Lupin woke to investigate, but a towering cloaked creature entered their compartment and filled it with a bone-chilling cold.

• Harry used Apparition to visit Hogsmeade and returned with Honeydukes sweets as Crookshanks joined the compartment.
• Hermione and Cho checked on the sleeping Lupin, while Crookshanks circled around Black.
• Malfoy visited to speak to Astoria, then hurried away after she rejected him.
• The storm intensified, and the Hogwarts Express slowed, stopped, and lost all its lights.
• Harry stopped Hermione from leaving and conjured a flame that woke Lupin.
• Lupin tried to investigate, but a towering cloaked creature entered the compartment and frightened everyone.

Harry and the others encountered a Dementor on the Hogwarts Express, then reached Hogwarts and learned that Harry would not be allowed to visit Hogsmeade. The chapter ended with Professor McGonagall asking Harry to leave while she discussed Hermione’s course choices.

• Lupin drove off the Dementor with a spell, and Harry’s magic caused it to burst apart; Lupin explained what Dementors were and gave them chocolate.
• The Hogwarts Express started moving again, and Lupin explained that the Dementors had been drawn to the students’ happiness and would remain in place because no one had been hurt.
• Harry, Cho Chang, Hermione, and Astoria rode a carriage to Hogwarts, where two Dementors stood guard at the gates.
• Professor McGonagall called Harry and Hermione to her office, then told Harry she would not approve his Hogsmeade permission form.
• Harry agreed to stay at school, and Professor McGonagall asked him to leave so she could discuss Hermione’s courses with her.

At the start-of-term feast, Dumbledore warned Hogwarts students about the Dementors stationed around the school and introduced new teachers Lupin and Hagrid. Hagrid thanked Harry for helping clear his name, and Harry reassured him about his first lesson.

• Dumbledore warned students that Ministry Dementors were guarding Hogwarts and that no one could leave without permission.
• Dumbledore introduced Lupin as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, drawing sparse applause and Snape’s hostile stare.
• Dumbledore announced that Hagrid would replace Professor Kettleburn as Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and Hagrid received enthusiastic applause.
• Dumbledore said a new caretaker would arrive in a few days and that the ban on magic in corridors might be removed, prompting students to cheer.
• After the feast, Hagrid thanked Harry for helping restore his right to use a wand and secure his teaching post, and Harry encouraged him about his first lesson.

Cho discovered that someone had given her a Firebolt, while Hermione revealed that she had a Time-Turner so she could attend her many classes. The chapter ended as Harry and Hermione began their first Divination lesson with Professor Trelawney.

• Cho found a Firebolt on her bed, and her classmates explained that it was the world's best and fastest broomstick.
• Harry noticed Hermione's unusually crowded timetable and recognized the Time-Turner she showed him.
• Hermione said she wanted to try attending all her classes, though the schedule already gave her a headache.
• Hagrid told Harry and Hermione that he was excited and nervous about teaching his first Care of Magical Creatures lesson.
• Harry and Hermione entered Professor Trelawney's Divination classroom, where Trelawney welcomed them and claimed she had foreseen their meeting.

Professor Trelawney began teaching tea-leaf Divination and tried to impress the students with predictions, but Harry secretly thwarted her staged omen. As the class studied their tea leaves, Harry and Hermione were left with two untouched cups.

• Professor Trelawney introduced Divination and explained the term’s lessons and tea-leaf-reading procedure.
• Professor Trelawney predicted that Neville would break a cup, but Harry secretly prevented it, forcing her to claim the prophecy had changed.
• Professor Trelawney gave ominous predictions to Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, frightening the class.
• Harry and Hermione left their cups untouched while the other students interpreted their tea leaves.
• Harry swept his palm over his teacup, making its water vanish and leaving only the tea leaves.

Harry confronted Professor Trelawney after she predicted his death from tea leaves, then wounded her with Sectumsempra when she mocked Hermione. He left with Hermione, promising she would challenge Trelawney’s Divination with Arithmancy in six months.

• Hermione told Harry that Trelawney reminded her of a fraudulent psychic who had once tried to treat her illness.
• Trelawney read Harry’s tea leaves as signs of danger and declared that he had an omen of death from the Grim.
• Hermione challenged Trelawney’s claims, and Trelawney insulted Hermione’s Divination ability.
• Harry attacked Trelawney with Sectumsempra, leaving her bleeding and the students horrified.
• Harry told Trelawney Hermione would challenge her Divination with Arithmancy in six months, then vanished with Hermione.
• The students called for healing help and asked that Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore be notified.

Harry and Hermione discussed Harry’s use of Dark magic against Professor Trelawney, while Professor McGonagall defended Hermione and questioned Harry about a possible Divination contest. The chapter ended with Ron and Lavender speculating that Harry’s teacup omen meant he would die, until Hermione confronted them.

• Harry told Hermione he had used a Dark spell that cut Professor Trelawney’s lifespan in half, and Hermione said she would break him out of Azkaban if necessary.
• Professor McGonagall warned her class not to overreact to Trelawney’s predictions and admitted she disliked Trelawney’s unreliable Divination lessons.
• Professor McGonagall told Harry she would not punish him for Trelawney’s injuries and said the other teachers were protective of him.
• Ron and Lavender discussed the black dog omen in Harry’s teacup and speculated that Harry might die soon.
• Hermione appeared in the Great Hall and shouted at Ron and Lavender for talking nonsense.

Harry and Hermione attended their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, where Hagrid introduced the class to Hippogriffs. When Harry approached one, his lingering aura made all the Hippogriffs kneel, leaving the class astonished.

• Hermione argued with Ron and Lavender Brown about Divination and stormed away, while Harry teased that their lives had been shortened by his Dark magic.
• Harry and Hermione joined Hagrid's class near the Forbidden Forest, where the students struggled to open their Monster Books of Monsters.
• Hagrid brought more than a dozen Hippogriffs to the paddock and explained how to approach them respectfully.
• Harry stepped forward to approach a Hippogriff, but all the Hippogriffs knelt before him after sensing the aura of dragons and the Basilisk on him.
• Hagrid said Harry could ride the kneeling Hippogriff, but Harry declined as the other students rushed forward.

Malfoy provoked Buckbeak during Hagrid’s lesson and was scratched, but Harry exposed his injury as an act and revealed that Crabbe and Goyle had encouraged him to target Hagrid. The class remained afraid of the hippogriffs, and Malfoy eventually stepped forward again.

• Malfoy mocked Buckbeak after it bowed to him, and the hippogriff slashed his arm before Hagrid restrained it.
• Harry pointed out that Malfoy’s severe-looking wound had vanished, and Malfoy got up once his deception was exposed.
• Harry questioned Malfoy and learned that Crabbe and Goyle had urged him to get hurt so Malfoy’s father might have Hagrid dismissed.
• Crabbe and Goyle joked about Hagrid’s teaching while Malfoy joined in, and Harry reassured Hagrid that he would not be blamed.
• The students stayed away from the hippogriffs after seeing Buckbeak attack Malfoy, until Malfoy eventually stepped forward.

During Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures lesson, Malfoy provoked Buckbeak and was clawed, but Harry revealed his wound had healed and confronted him about plotting against Hagrid. The lesson continued, though the students remained wary of the Hippogriffs, and Malfoy eventually stepped forward again.

• Malfoy mocked Buckbeak and slapped its beak, prompting the Hippogriff to slash his arm and send him screaming to the ground.
• Hagrid tried to take Malfoy to the hospital wing, but Harry stopped him and showed that Malfoy’s wound had disappeared.
• Harry questioned Malfoy about plotting to get Hagrid fired, and Malfoy admitted that Goyle had suggested causing trouble in class.
• Crabbe and Goyle checked on Malfoy, then laughed with the Slytherins about Hagrid and the lesson while Malfoy joined in.
• Hagrid continued teaching, but the students avoided the Hippogriffs after seeing Buckbeak attack Malfoy.
• Malfoy eventually stepped forward again.

Malfoy faced Buckbeak again, earned the Hippogriff’s forgiveness, and helped Hagrid’s first Care of Magical Creatures class end safely. Later, Harry recalled how his advice had made Astoria popular, then noticed a pink, heart-marked letter that hinted at new trouble.

• Malfoy bowed to Buckbeak and held his ground until the Hippogriff calmed down and lowered its head.
• Malfoy touched Buckbeak and rode it through the sky, after which the other students approached the Hippogriffs again.
• Hagrid thanked Malfoy after class, but Malfoy panicked and ran away; Harry and Hermione reassured Hagrid about his lessons.
• Harry remembered advising Astoria to burn a rare wizard card, which had made her even more popular with her classmates.
• Harry saw a pink letter decorated with faint red hearts.