Chapter Summaries

Harley prepared a fast method for processing Phantom Grass so she could brew her modified Invisibility Potion in the competition’s second round. After the contest began, she headed for the Magic Garden’s swamp, where she found only low-quality Phantom Grass along the marked safe routes.

• Harley regretted hosting Gabrielle after the energetic girl kept her awake until nearly midnight, and Pheobe took Gabrielle home the next morning.
• Harley chose Invisibility Potion as her first option for the second round and spent three days developing a reliable way to process Phantom Grass quickly.
• On the eleventh day after the first round, Chairman Hector announced the second-round rules, and the contestants entered the Magic Garden to gather ingredients and brew Potions.
• Harley and Pheobe entered together but went their separate ways, with each choosing to compete alone.
• Harley transformed her uniform into sportswear and raced toward the swamp, where she found only immature or defective Phantom Grass along the marked safe routes.

Harley gathered the swamp ingredients for her Invisibility Potion and entered the snowy region despite the cold. The patrol team recognized her as a thirteen-year-old Hogwarts student and called her a Monster.

• Harley used Spider Silk and a yew wand to search the swamp, then took Hemolysis Grass from a Castelobruxo boy, who gave it up after seeing her magic.
• Harley collected two of each available swamp ingredient and melted the ice she had created before leaving.
• A patrol team from the Beyonder Apothecary Association watched Harley depart and reacted with shock at her power and age.
• Harley rested in the snowy region, ate wild fruit, and used a ritual and Black flames to ward off the cold.
• Harley entered the snowy region fully prepared.

Harley crossed the polar region and was ambushed by a Uagadou contestant who tried to exploit her weakened state. She subdued and cursed him with a Seed of Disease, leaving him to suffer and die on his way back to school.

• Harley crossed the polar region, gathered materials, and suspected the route had been arranged to target Koldovstoretz's contestants.
• A young man from Uagadou ambushed Harley as she reached the woods, but she blocked his spells and trapped him with Spider Silk.
• The attacker begged for mercy while secretly preparing a wandless Stunning Spell, but Harley saw through his plan and pinned his arms.
• Harley made Spider Silk pierce the young man's veins, struck him when he screamed, and cursed him with a Seed of Disease.
• Harley left the young man to suffer, believing he would die on the way back to school if the Seed of Disease was not removed.

Harley returned from the Magic Garden after eliminating an attacker and brewed a near-perfect Invisibility Potion using a recipe that appeared to include a new ingredient. After she drank it and vanished, the judges recognized that she had improved the potion, leaving Hogwarts poised to win the championship.

• Harley healed the young man enough to keep him alive, sealed his memories, and left with his pocket.
• Harley returned to the square and saw a Durmstrang contestant preparing a Shrinking Solution.
• Harley displayed a large collection of rare ingredients and began brewing her potion while President Hector suspected she had improved the Invisibility Potion.
• Harley spent a little over an hour brewing a near-perfect Invisibility Potion as other contestants returned and prepared their own potions.
• Harley drank a sample and vanished, prompting the judges to identify the Invisibility Potion and Hogwarts Professor Slughorn to celebrate.

Harley won the Wizarding School Potion Championship after impressing the judges with her improved Invisibility Potion. She received the Golden Cauldron and left the other contestants stunned by her talent.

• Harley waited with her finished potion while the remaining contestants continued brewing, and the judges admired her work.
• At time's end, the judges praised Harley's method for overcoming Phantom Grass's flaws, then inspected the other potions.
• The judges praised Pheobe's gentler, faster-acting Wideye Potion, while the Castelobruxo contestant's potion failed after he was shaken by Harley's early finish.
• Chairman Hector declared Harley the champion, and the crowd watched as he presented her with the Golden Cauldron.
• Harley raised the trophy as onlookers reflected that she was only twelve and considered what it meant to live in the same era as a genius.

After winning the Potion-making competition, Harley spent the banquet discussing her craft with the Potion Masters. On the ride back, Nicolas explained that Alchemy items were failing and then launched into a long explanation of Chinese and Japanese, leaving Harley overwhelmed.

• Harley celebrated her victory at the banquet and discussed processing Phantom Grass and stabilizing Potion ingredients with President Hector and other Potion Masters.
• The contestants watched Harley’s conversation with the Masters, while Pheobe and the others could not join in.
• Harley rode back with Professor Slughorn and found Nicolas waiting to congratulate her on winning the Golden Cauldron.
• Nicolas told Harley that two Alchemy items had been destroyed and that the remaining ones opened fewer passages into the Magic Garden.
• Nicolas said the items seemed to be missing “essence,” then explained his views on the origins of Chinese and Japanese until Harley’s head spun.

Nicolas told Harley how the essence had vanished from alchemical items and asked her to learn Alchemy and eventually make a Philosopher's Stone for him. Harley agreed, and Fleur later congratulated her on winning the championship.

• Nicolas explained that the essence inside alchemical items had disappeared and seemed to have been absorbed by the world.
• Nicolas showed Harley a ruined alchemical item and described how the Beyonder Apothecary Association had used Portkeys to ease the strain on the remaining items.
• Nicolas offered to teach Harley Alchemy in exchange for her making him a Philosopher's Stone, explaining that the work consumed life force and had become too much for his aged body.
• Harley agreed to the arrangement, and Nicolas said he would send her a list of books to read and keep in touch by letter.
• Fleur hugged Harley from behind, congratulated her on winning the championship, and asked how she could get Harley's smooth skin; Harley teased her about the painful Daydream Potion.

Harley and Pheobe stayed at Professor Slughorn’s seaside villa in Biarritz and spent the day enjoying the beach. They were still swimming and attracting attention when the chapter ended.

• Pheobe told Harley that Gabrielle had drunk nearly half a bottle of Ice Champagne and was still asleep after being given several bottles of Potion.
• Professor Slughorn lent Harley and Pheobe his villa in Biarritz, left them wine, and departed to visit an old friend’s Magic Garden.
• Harley sent Hedwig to deliver a letter to Hermione, while Pheobe informed her family that she and Harley would tour France.
• Mr. Delacour visited the villa with Gabrielle, then left after confirming that Harley and Pheobe were safe; he refused Gabrielle’s request to stay.
• Harley and Pheobe explored the beach, played volleyball, ate lobster, and went swimming as tourists watched them in fascination.

Harley and Fleur relaxed at the beach until Hermione arrived to surprise Harley, then Hermione joined them at Professor Slughorn’s villa for dinner with her parents. The chapter ended with Harley introducing William Granger to magical drinks.

• Harley and Fleur swam, played beach volleyball, and relaxed together on the beach.
• Hermione arrived in Biarritz after receiving Harley’s letter and introduced herself to Fleur.
• Hermione pulled Harley into the water for swimming lessons, but made little progress.
• Hermione persuaded the Grangers to have dinner at Professor Slughorn’s villa instead of eating Muggle food.
• Harley served William Granger magical wine and explained Firewhisky and Ice Champagne.

Harley spent a week vacationing in France with Pheobe and Hermione before Professor Slughorn summoned her back to Britain for a Ministry interview about her Wizarding School Potion Championship victory and a meeting with Dumbledore. The chapter ended with Harley and Slughorn arriving at the Ministry of Magic, where nobody was waiting for them.

• Mr. Granger drank Firewhisky and Ice Champagne with Harley until Hermione alerted Mrs. Granger, who confronted him about drinking.
• Harley, Pheobe, and the Granger family enjoyed a week of sightseeing and swimming in France.
• Professor Slughorn contacted Harley and told her that the Ministry had arranged an interview and Dumbledore wanted to speak with her.
• Harley said goodbye to Pheobe and Hermione, then returned to Professor Slughorn's estate with the Granger family.
• Harley guessed that the Ministry wanted publicity to ease political pressure, and Slughorn confirmed she would hear the details from Dumbledore.
• Harley and Slughorn used a Portkey to reach the British Ministry of Magic, where they found no one waiting for them.

Harley learned from Professor Slughorn that Fudge and Barty Crouch Sr. were political rivals, and that Crouch had concealed her return to weaken Fudge amid the crisis over Sirius Black's escape. Slughorn said he was investing in Harley because he trusted her potential, and she thanked him.

• Professor Slughorn explained that Barty Crouch Sr. had withheld news of Harley's return from Fudge, who was under political pressure.
• Harley read Slughorn's parchment and learned how Crouch lost his chance to become Minister after his son was exposed as a Death Eater, while Fudge took office and struggled against Ministry rivals.
• Harley realized that Fudge would face blame for Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban and that Crouch had concealed her return to increase the pressure on Fudge.
• Harley destroyed the parchment with black flames after Slughorn told her to, then heard him explain that he was investing in her because he trusted his judgment and instincts.
• Harley thanked Professor Slughorn for his kindness.

Harley returned to Britain with Professor Slughorn, completed her Ministry paperwork, and went to Hogwarts, where Dumbledore told her Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban. Dumbledore asked her to capture Black alive so he could question him.

• Professor Slughorn helped Harley complete the return paperwork with Barty Crouch Sr., who warned her not to use magic outside school.
• Professor Slughorn took Harley to Hogwarts, where Fawkes greeted her in Dumbledore's office.
• Dumbledore congratulated Harley on winning the championship and passed along Severus's congratulations.
• Dumbledore told Harley that Sirius Black had escaped from prison and explained that he wanted to question him.
• Harley said she would beat Black half to death, leave him breathing, and bring him back to Dumbledore.

Harley returned to the Dursleys’ after Professor Dumbledore warned her about Fudge and Rita Skeeter. As Dumbledore worried over signs of turmoil in Britain and abroad, Harley settled in and worked on a paper about the Invisibility Potion.

• Professor Dumbledore warned Harley that Fudge would want to interview her and urged her to be cautious if Rita Skeeter interviewed her.
• Harley chose to return to the Dursleys’, and Fawkes transported her there from Hogwarts.
• Fawkes took some of Harley’s unfinished herbal mixtures and left a feather, while Hedwig flew off in anger; Dudley later burned his hand trying to touch Harley’s protected bedroom door.
• Harley spent the next two days writing a paper on the Invisibility Potion and sought advice from current and former Potions Professors.

Harley finished revising her Potions paper and learned she had been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class. When Aunt Marge’s visit threatened to expose her magic, Harley decided to leave the Dursley home for a week.

• Harley sent her completed Potions paper to Professor Slughorn and promised Hedwig a vacation after one last delivery.
• Uncle Vernon told Harley that Aunt Marge would be visiting, and Aunt Petunia explained her concern about keeping magic secret.
• Harley said she could erase Marge’s memory, unsettling the Dursleys before she went upstairs to answer a commotion of owls.
• Harley read letters inviting her to receive the Order of Merlin, First Class, and telling her that she could soon apply to join the Beyonder Apothecary Association.
• Harley decided to use the ceremony as an opportunity to leave the Dursleys for a week and began writing her reply.

Harley opened her birthday presents, subdued Hagrid’s living textbook, and received invitations and gifts from several professors. Three days later, Dumbledore took her and Slughorn to the Ministry of Magic for the Order of Merlin award ceremony.

• Harley restrained The Monster Book of Monsters with black flames and Spider Silk until it trembled in submission.
• Harley read Hagrid’s birthday card and suspected he would teach Care of Magical Creatures next term.
• Harley received gifts from Hermione, Dumbledore, Slughorn, and McGonagall, including an invitation to McGonagall’s Transfiguration Club.
• Aunt Petunia signed Harley’s Hogsmeade permission form after Harley explained she would be away for a week.
• Dumbledore collected Harley three days later, and he, Harley, and Slughorn traveled to the Ministry of Magic, where Fudge awaited them.

Cornelius Fudge used Harley’s return and her Potion Championship victory to stage a favorable press event and tried to secure more publicity and the Golden Cauldron for the Ministry. After Harley left for the Order of Merlin ceremony with Dumbledore and Slughorn, Dolores Umbridge stayed behind to report on her book promotion campaign.

• Fudge recalled how Barty Crouch Sr. had foiled his attempt to shift blame for the Quidditch World Cup grounds onto Crouch.
• Fudge greeted Dumbledore and Harley before reporters, praised Harley’s championship, and blamed Crouch for failing to welcome her.
• Fudge persuaded Dumbledore to let Harley give interviews before the ceremony and tried to hint that she should lend her Golden Cauldron to the Ministry.
• Dumbledore refused Fudge’s banquet invitation, and he and Slughorn took Harley away by Portkey after lunch.
• Fudge sent the reporters and Ministry employees back to work, then Dolores Umbridge introduced herself and offered to report on her campaign promoting How to Become a Prefect.

Umbridge flattered Fudge and encouraged his resentment toward Dumbledore, prompting Fudge to consider her for a promotion. Meanwhile, Harley, Dumbledore, and Slughorn arrived at Merlin’s Cottage for the Order of Merlin ceremony, where Harley and Dumbledore discussed Merlin’s possible ties to Hogwarts.

• Umbridge praised Fudge’s leadership and told him she had increased sales of his books.
• Umbridge condemned Dumbledore for disregarding Fudge, while Fudge concealed his resentment and judged Umbridge favorably.
• Fudge asked whether Umbridge would compete to become head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, and she said she wanted to help ease his burden.
• Harley, Dumbledore, and Slughorn arrived at Merlin’s Cottage for the Order of Merlin ceremony, and Slughorn warned Harley not to wander its confusing paths.
• Harley studied Merlin’s statue, and Dumbledore told her that Hogwarts traditions and records linked Merlin to the school.

Harley arrived at Merlin Memorial Hall for the Order of Merlin ceremony, where Professor Dumbledore honored her achievements before the gathered wizards. The ceremony began with Dumbledore awarding Harley the Order of Merlin, First Class.

• Professor Dumbledore escorted Harley to Merlin Memorial Hall, where she met former acquaintances and was greeted as the ceremony’s star.
• Harley took her place among the guests with Hogwarts’s four Heads of House, while Minister Fudge arrived with senior Ministry officials, including Lucius Malfoy.
• Professor Dumbledore welcomed the crowd to the hundredth Order of Merlin investiture ceremony and praised the contributions of its recipients.
• Professor Dumbledore cited Harley’s defeat of the Basilisk and her help exposing Gilderoy Lockhart before awarding her the Order of Merlin, First Class.

Harley received the Order of Merlin, First Class, at a ceremony followed by a banquet, where she was also welcomed into the Beyonder Apothecary Association. She spoke with Pheobe before the banquet ended, left still unsure how to interpret Pheobe’s teasing.

• Harley accepted the Order of Merlin, First Class from Professor Dumbledore and gave a speech at the ceremony.
• Professor Dumbledore introduced Harley to prominent guests at the banquet, where President Hector approved her membership in the Beyonder Apothecary Association and gave her a gold membership card.
• Harley turned down invitations to dance and went to the washroom, where she met Pheobe.
• Pheobe praised Harley’s appearance and achievements, then joked that she would make an ideal boyfriend; Harley felt disappointed when Pheobe said she was kidding.
• Pheobe said goodbye to Harley and boarded the Beauxbatons carriage after the banquet.

Harley chose to stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a week rather than return immediately to the Dursleys, and she began exploring Diagon Alley under Auror surveillance. Unable to visit Knockturn Alley openly, she headed to Gringotts to withdraw money and seek Potter treasures and gemstones for her experiments.

• Harley told Professor Dumbledore she wanted to stay at the Leaky Cauldron because Aunt Marge was visiting the Dursleys and she did not want to burden Aunt Petunia.
• Professor Dumbledore brought Harley to the Leaky Cauldron, where Old Tom gave her a discounted room for the week.
• Harley asked Tom to order a week's worth of the Daily Prophet and the Evening Prophet, then set out to explore Diagon Alley.
• Harley noticed Aurors watching her from the shadows and postponed her plan to visit Knockturn Alley.
• Harley decided to visit Gringotts to withdraw money, inspect the House of Potter's treasures, and obtain gemstones to study replicating her enchanted pocket.