Chapter Summaries

Cyrus discovered Nicolas Flamel’s books in the Restricted Section and spent the night studying alchemy, hoping to learn how to create a Philosopher’s Stone. As dawn approached, he left the library with the books’ contents recorded in his memory and remembered that he needed to kill more roosters.

• Cyrus found The Book of the Jew Abraham and Nicolas Flamel’s manuscript, The Book of Hieroglyphic Symbols, in the Restricted Section.
• Cyrus read Nicolas Flamel’s letter to Albus Dumbledore and realized Dumbledore had left the books there for a sign from fate.
• Cyrus gathered alchemy books, including texts about Hohenheim, the Emerald Tablet, and the Book of Thoth, and recorded their contents in his memory.
• A rooster’s crow reminded Cyrus that dawn was near, and he hurried back through Hogwarts after deciding he had to kill more roosters.

Cyrus used Ginny's body to attend Gryffindor's Quidditch match against Slytherin after Ginny fell asleep, knowing Colin Creevey was in danger. The match left Gryffindor trailing as a tampered Bludger relentlessly pursued Harry, and Hermione could not identify who had bewitched it.

• Cyrus read dangerous books in the Restricted Section while using Ginny's body, then Ginny woke exhausted and learned there were no lessons because of the Quidditch match.
• Colin Creevey photographed Ginny and chattered to her, and Ginny asked Cyrus to record the match in the Diary before falling asleep.
• Cyrus used an Invigoration Draught and watched the match through Ginny's body, where he spoke with Hermione and Ron.
• Slytherin took a 60–0 lead in the rain while its team rode Nimbus 2001 brooms donated by Malfoy.
• A tampered Bludger targeted Harry, forcing the Weasley twins to defend him, and Hermione failed to spot who was casting the spell.

Harry won the Quidditch match despite the rogue Bludger, but Lockhart's attempt to heal his broken arm removed all the bones instead. Cyrus watched the chaos unfold and chose not to intervene, leaving Harry to be taken to the Hospital Wing.

• Cyrus realized the professors would not stop the match unless someone faced mortal danger, while Hermione failed to locate the spellcaster controlling the Bludger.
• Cyrus watched Lucius Malfoy and considered how to make him obey, then formed a plan to contact him later.
• Harry caught the Golden Snitch and won the match, though the Bludger had badly injured his arm.
• Lockhart pushed through the crowd and insisted on healing Harry despite Harry's protests.
• Lockhart's spell removed the bones from Harry's arm, and he sent Harry to the Hospital Wing with Ron and Hermione.

Cyrus healed Harry’s arm and learned that Harry, Ron, and Hermione planned to use Polyjuice Potion to investigate Malfoy. That night, Cyrus began a second hunt with the basilisk and attacked Colin, who discovered that Ginny was the Heir of Slytherin.

• Madam Pomfrey gave Harry Skele-Gro to regrow the bones in his arm after Lockhart had removed them.
• Harry accidentally revealed the trio’s Polyjuice Potion plan, and Cyrus offered to join their investigation of Malfoy.
• Cyrus encouraged Colin to sneak into the Hospital Wing, then rested until nightfall.
• Cyrus rode the basilisk through Hogwarts and encountered Colin on his way to visit Harry.
• Colin recognized Cyrus as Ginny and tried to photograph him with the basilisk before Cyrus told him good night.

Harry learned that Dobby had tried to force him to leave Hogwarts because the Chamber of Secrets had reopened, but Dobby refused to reveal who was responsible. After Colin Creevey was found petrified, Dumbledore confirmed the Chamber had been opened again and questioned how it had happened.

• Harry confronted Dobby, who admitted sealing the barrier and directing the Bludger at him to drive him away from Hogwarts.
• Dobby warned Harry that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened again but refused to identify who had opened it.
• Dobby fled when he heard footsteps approaching the hospital wing.
• Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall brought in Colin Creevey, who had been petrified while trying to visit Harry.
• Dumbledore found Colin's camera melted and concluded that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened again, asking how it had happened.

Cyrus realized the castle portraits had exposed his movements to Dumbledore, but he believed Dumbledore still misunderstood the Diary’s true owner. He joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they prepared Polyjuice Potion and discussed the attacks.

• Cyrus deduced that the portraits had reported his Basilisk attacks to Dumbledore, though the Chamber’s location remained hidden.
• Cyrus reflected that Dumbledore would mistake Tom Riddle for the culprit, unaware that the Diary’s soul no longer belonged to him.
• Cyrus left Ginny’s body behind and went with Hermione and Ron to Moaning Myrtle’s Bathroom, where Hermione brewed Polyjuice Potion.
• Harry arrived and told the others that Colin had been petrified and that Dobby had warned him about the Chamber and injured him.
• Ron blamed Draco Malfoy for the attacks, while Hermione wondered how the monster could move unseen, and Cyrus helped with the potion.

After Colin Creevey was attacked, Cyrus used Ginny’s body to investigate the Chamber of Secrets and agreed to help Harry and the others infiltrate Slytherin. He borrowed Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and discovered a Room of Requirement stocked with alchemical objects.

• News of Colin Creevey’s attack spread through Hogwarts, and students began carrying protective charms.
• Cyrus told Ginny about Colin’s attack and the plan to use Polyjuice Potion to investigate Slytherin, and Ginny agreed to let him borrow her body more often.
• As Christmas approached, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cyrus planned to steal potion ingredients from Snape’s office so they could use Polyjuice Potion on Malfoy.
• Cyrus borrowed Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and tested it while walking through the castle.
• Cyrus used the Room of Requirement to find a room for studying magical objects and discovered one filled with alchemical equipment.

Cyrus studied the Invisibility Cloak’s runes and attempted to make a Philosopher’s Stone, but his experiment failed. He considered finding another host if he could not create the Stone before the school year ended, rather than taking enough of Ginny’s life force to kill her.

• Cyrus examined the Invisibility Cloak and found runes associated with immortality and protection woven into its unusual material.
• Cyrus read Nicolas's notes and tried to make a Philosopher’s Stone by combining mercury, sulfur, salt, and earth, but produced only scarlet powder without life in it.
• Cyrus concluded that Nicolas Flamel’s notes did not explain how the Stone had been made and that some unforeseen factor might have been involved.
• Cyrus resolved not to sacrifice Ginny, whom he regarded as a friend, but feared he might need to absorb some of her life force if he could not make the Stone.
• Cyrus put away the cauldron and considered finding another host.

Cyrus used the chaos in Potions class to sneak into Snape’s office and steal potion ingredients, while Snape suspected Harry and his friends of causing the accident. Cyrus left with the ingredients as Snape demanded to inspect Harry’s wand.

• Cyrus followed Harry into Potions class under his Invisibility Cloak and waited near Snape’s office.
• Snape assigned the class to brew Swelling Solution and criticized the Gryffindors, especially Neville, Seamus, and Harry.
• Cyrus secretly caused Crabbe’s cauldron to explode, splashing the class with Swelling Solution and swelling Malfoy’s nose and Crabbe’s eyes.
• Cyrus plucked hairs from Malfoy and slipped into Snape’s office while Snape treated the injured students.
• Cyrus stole Bicorn horn, African Tree Snake skin, and other useful ingredients, then quietly left the office.
• Snape blamed Harry and his friends for the cauldron explosion and demanded to check Harry’s wand.

After Snape used Prior Incantato on Harry’s wand, Cyrus realized Snape had probably discovered the group’s secrets through eye contact and was secretly protecting Harry. Hermione continued brewing Polyjuice Potion with stolen ingredients, while Snape discovered the theft and fainted from rage; Cyrus then shared roasted snake eggs with Ron.

• Snape cast Prior Incantato on Harry’s wand, which revealed an Engorgement Charm, and he docked Gryffindor ten points for Harry’s weak potion.
• Cyrus realized Snape might have learned the group’s secrets through Legilimency and suspected Snape’s hostile behavior was an act to protect Harry.
• Hermione added ingredients to the Polyjuice Potion brewing in the bathroom and said it would be ready in a little over a week.
• Snape recognized the stolen ingredients as materials for Polyjuice Potion but decided not to interfere, then discovered that Cyrus had taken many valuable supplies, including dragon blood, phoenix tears, snakes, and a Chimaera’s mane.
• Snape fainted after lamenting the effort he had spent collecting a jar of morning dew, while Cyrus roasted stolen snake eggs and offered them to Ron.

Snape went to Dumbledore to seek compensation for his stolen potion ingredients, while Lockhart arranged a Duelling Club and appointed Snape as his assistant. Snape left furious with Lockhart and eager to use the club to settle matters, while Lockhart planned a harmless demonstration before Christmas.

• Snape arrived at Dumbledore's office to report the theft of his potion ingredients and demand compensation.
• Lockhart asked Dumbledore to establish a Duelling Club, and Dumbledore agreed to the plan.
• After Lockhart rejected Filius as his assistant, Snape accepted the role following Lockhart's provocation.
• Snape told Dumbledore about the theft, and Dumbledore promised that the school governors would compensate him.
• Lockhart followed Snape and offered to catch the thieves, but Snape accepted him as the Duelling Club assistant while vowing revenge.
• Lockhart planned a pre-Christmas session with a demonstration using defensive spells, then decided to stick to the Disarming Charm.

Cyrus endured Snape’s pointed questioning in Potions before learning that Hogwarts was starting a Duelling Club. Percy then urged him to study hard and plan for a successful future, while Fred and George wanted him to challenge Slytherin students.

• Snape quizzed Cyrus on potion ingredients, but Cyrus answered his questions and Snape docked Gryffindor five points for fidgeting.
• Luna told Cyrus that Snape disliked him and remarked that he seemed much better than before.
• Fred and George proposed using the Duelling Club to beat up younger Slytherins, especially Draco Malfoy, and Cyrus said he would defend himself if they caused trouble.
• Percy pulled Cyrus away from the twins and warned them not to lead Ginny astray.
• Percy encouraged Cyrus to work hard, take every subject in his third year, and aim for prefect, Head Boy, and a Ministry career.

Cyrus, Harry, and their friends attended the Duelling Club, where Snape easily blasted Lockhart off the stage during a demonstration. Snape then paired Harry with Malfoy and assigned Hermione to partner with Bulstrode, leaving Ginny to face an unknown partner.

• Cyrus returned to the Great Hall with Harry and their friends for the Duelling Club.
• Lockhart introduced Snape as his assistant and began a demonstration duel with him.
• Snape disarmed Lockhart with Expelliarmus and sent him crashing off the stage.
• Lockhart tried to claim he had allowed Snape to hit him, while Cyrus mocked his excuse.
• Snape paired Ron with Finnigan, Harry with Malfoy, and Hermione with Bulstrode, then turned to assign Ginny a partner.

Cyrus, disguised as Ginny Weasley, faced Marcus Flint in an unfairly matched dueling-club bout and easily overpowered him. The chapter ended with Snape recognizing Cyrus's use of Liberacorpus and demanding to know how Ginny Weasley knew the spell.

• Snape paired Ginny Weasley with the much larger Marcus Flint, prompting Ron, Percy, and Lockhart to protest.
• Cyrus accepted the duel and taunted Flint, while Hermione, Ron, and Harry worried about the mismatch.
• When Flint refused to bow, Cyrus magically forced him to bend until Snape intervened.
• Flint attacked before Lockhart finished counting, but Cyrus deflected the curse and hoisted him upside down to the ceiling.
• Snape used Liberacorpus to drop Flint and asked how Ginny Weasley knew the spell.

Cyrus, disguised as Ginny Weasley, humiliated Marcus Flint and several other students during the chaotic duels, angering Snape. Snape then arranged a third duel between Cyrus and Flint and secretly taught Flint a spell, leaving them about to face off again.

• Cyrus blamed Bill for teaching him Levicorpus, and Snape reluctantly accepted the explanation.
• Harry accepted Draco Malfoy's challenge as the students' duels erupted into a chaotic battle.
• Cyrus hung the students who attacked him from the Great Hall ceiling until Lockhart stopped the fighting.
• Snape chose Cyrus and Marcus Flint for another duel, despite Lockhart's concerns about pairing a first-year with Flint.
• Snape threatened Flint and whispered a spell to him before Flint stepped onto the platform to face Cyrus.

Cyrus, disguised as Ginny Weasley, toyed with Marcus Flint during a duel before Flint summoned a snake and enlarged it. The giant snake threw Flint across the platform as panic erupted in the Great Hall.

• Flint hesitated to attack Cyrus, then fired several obvious spells that Cyrus easily dodged.
• Cyrus shattered one of Flint’s spells and struck him with a powerful attack, which Flint blocked with Protego.
• Snape urged Flint to use the spell he had taught him, and Flint summoned a small black snake with Serpensortia.
• Cyrus mocked the snake, and Flint enlarged it with another spell.
• The giant snake swept Flint off the platform, sending the Great Hall into chaos and causing Lockhart to collapse.

Harry saved Ginny by speaking to the enormous snake in Parseltongue, but the Great Hall's students feared him when they realized he could speak the language of snakes. Cyrus, Ron, and Hermione explained that people would suspect Harry was Slytherin's heir, leaving Harry frightened by the rumors to come.

• Snape tried to calm the panicked Great Hall while the enormous snake stood near Cyrus and Ginny.
• Hermione used the Levitation Charm to send Harry to the stage, where he landed between Ginny and the snake.
• Harry spoke Parseltongue, calming the snake and preventing it from attacking.
• Cyrus and Ron led Harry away as the students avoided him, and Ron asked why Harry had not revealed he was a Parselmouth.
• Cyrus and Hermione explained that Harry's ability was associated with Salazar Slytherin and would lead people to suspect he was the heir of Slytherin.

After Harry was blamed for the attacks, Cyrus reassured him before secretly arranging another attack to intensify the panic at Hogwarts. Cyrus left Justin Finch-Fletchley petrified after using the Imperius Curse to bring him face-to-face with Nearly Headless Nick.

• Cyrus and Hermione took a bath together after Harry and Ron went upstairs.
• The next morning, Cyrus reassured Harry, who said he cared only that his friends believed him.
• Cyrus left Harry and went to the third-floor bathroom so the basilisk could move through the pipes.
• Cyrus followed Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie, then used the Imperius Curse to lead Justin to Nearly Headless Nick.
• Cyrus lifted the curse, and Justin saw something that petrified him while Nick turned to look behind himself.

After Justin and Nearly Headless Nick were petrified, Harry was blamed and Professor McGonagall took him to Dumbledore. Cyrus persuaded Fred and George to lend him the Marauder’s Map so he could track the attacker, leaving him with a way to watch Hogwarts and its secret passages.

• Cyrus pretended not to know anything about the attack while Ron and Hermione asked whether he had noticed anything unusual.
• Fred and George joked that Harry was the Heir of Slytherin, and Cyrus realized the Marauder’s Map could help him track the attacker.
• Cyrus persuaded the twins to lend him the map by arguing that the culprit might target him after his fight with the Slytherins.
• Fred and George showed Cyrus how to activate and wipe the map, which revealed everyone’s location and Hogwarts’s secret passages.
• Cyrus took the Marauder’s Map and promised to return it when he was done.

Cyrus helped Harry, Ron, and Hermione prepare Polyjuice Potion in the Third-Floor bathroom so they could infiltrate Slytherin. He drank a dose made with Malfoy’s hair and began transforming into him.

• Cyrus caught Percy and Penelope snogging in the Girls' Bathroom and advised them to find a safer place.
• Hermione checked that the Polyjuice Potion was ready, and she, Harry, Ron, and Cyrus gathered the hair and clothes they needed.
• Hermione added Millicent’s hair to one cup, while Harry and Ron added Goyle’s and Crabbe’s hair to theirs.
• Cyrus added Malfoy’s hair to his potion and drank it in a separate cubicle.
• Cyrus felt the painful transformation pass and saw his platinum-blond fringe.