Chapter Summaries

Su Er followed Snape to the Quidditch Pitch, where Snape ordered him to drink a bubbling purple potion and attack him with his wand. The chapter ended before Su Er learned what the potion would do.

• Su Er heard Snape was in a foul mood after he had deducted points during Potions classes.
• Snape took Su Er from his office to the Quidditch Pitch without explaining why they were going there.
• Snape ordered Wood and the Gryffindor Quidditch team to leave their practice.
• Snape deducted five points from Gryffindor after Harry looked questioningly at Su Er.
• Snape handed Su Er a bubbling purple potion and told him to drink it, draw his wand, and attack.

Su Er drank Snape’s strange potion, which intensified his magic and improved his control, then sparred with Snape and managed to cut a lock of his hair. Snape took the duel seriously and caught Su Er with a vine from behind.

• Su Er drank the purple potion and endured intense pain until its effects passed.
• Snape threatened Su Er with the Cruciatus Curse, then attacked him with spells as Su Er scrambled to defend himself.
• Su Er noticed his Shield Charm and magic control had improved, and he countered Snape with several spells.
• Su Er used a double-casting technique that cut a lock of Snape’s hair, provoking Snape to intensify the duel.
• Snape warned Su Er to watch what was behind him, and a dark green vine wrapped around Su Er’s ankle.

Fred and George mistook Snape's training of Su Er for an attack and summoned Professor Sprout, who interrupted the session. After Su Er explained what had happened and learned the brothers had discovered Hagrid's Acromantula secret, they planned a Forbidden Forest trip for Friday.

• Fred and George spied on Snape hanging and striking Su Er at the Quidditch Pitch, then rushed to find Professor Sprout for help.
• Professor Sprout arrived and blasted Snape away before the misunderstanding was cleared up; Snape left, and Sprout let Su Er down.
• Fred and George confronted Su Er in the Castle and learned that they had misunderstood Snape's attempt to train him, though they remained unconvinced.
• Fred and George told Su Er they had spent 36 Galleons on Firewhisky to learn about Hagrid's Acromantulas and hoped to earn the money back.
• Su Er agreed to meet Fred and George at the Quidditch Pitch on Friday and said he would bring someone; George guessed it was Hermione Granger.

Professor Dumbledore escorted Su Er to the Ministry of Magic for Peter Pettigrew’s trial, where Su Er learned the Order of Merlin brought substantial prestige and practical benefits. They arrived at Courtroom Three as the trial was about to begin.

• Professor Sprout sent Su Er to Dumbledore’s office and told him Hufflepuff was proud of him.
• Su Er suspected Fudge planned to award him the Order of Merlin to gain something from him.
• Dumbledore took Su Er to the Ministry of Magic, where Mei Si Bathilda Bagshot greeted them.
• Mei Si explained that the Order of Merlin was the wizarding world’s highest honor and brought an annual reward and a guaranteed Ministry job after graduation.
• Mei Si led Dumbledore and Su Er to Courtroom Three for Peter Pettigrew’s trial.

Sirius Black was cleared after Peter Pettigrew confessed, and Pettigrew was sentenced to life imprisonment. Su Er received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and the chapter ended with him accepting the medal at the Ministry ceremony.

• Fudge reopened Sirius Black’s hearing after Peter Pettigrew was brought in and confessed to betraying the Potters and framing Black.
• Dumbledore confirmed Pettigrew’s account, and Black added no further facts.
• Fudge declared Black innocent, stripped Pettigrew of his Order of Merlin and property, and sentenced him to life in Azkaban.
• Dumbledore took Su Er to receive the Order of Merlin, Third Class, while Fudge invited him to work at the Ministry after graduation.
• Amelia Bones congratulated Su Er and checked on his health before Black joined the ceremony.
• Su Er accepted the Order of Merlin, Third Class from the elderly wizard as a camera took his photograph.

At the post-investiture celebration, Su Er received thanks from Sirius Black, who suspected Su Er had disguised himself and beaten him during Black’s imprisonment. Dumbledore announced that Black would become Lupin’s assistant professor at Hogwarts after Christmas, and Su Er later asked Hermione to join him on a trip to the Forbidden Forest for spider legs.

• Su Er avoided the adults at the celebration and privately imagined becoming Hogwarts Headmaster.
• Black thanked Su Er for helping clear his case and offered him anything in his vault, but Su Er declined the reward.
• Black told Su Er he knew Su Er had disguised himself and beaten him, while Su Er pretended not to understand.
• Dumbledore announced that Black had been appointed Lupin’s assistant professor and could move into Hogwarts after Christmas.
• Hermione examined Su Er’s Order of Merlin medal, and Su Er invited her to the Forbidden Forest to eat spider legs.

Su Er, Hermione, and the Weasley Brothers went into the Forbidden Forest to find Acromantulas, using an Invisibility Cloak and Disillusionment Charms to avoid being seen. They reached a hillside near Mountain Trolls and planned to head west, but the Trolls’ stench forced them to use Bubble-Head Charms.

• Hermione told Su Er that her Animagus preparations had given her a second heartbeat, and she decided to ask Professor Sinistra about the weather.
• Fred and George teased Su Er and Hermione about getting married before explaining that they had prepared for the trip based on Acromantula habits.
• Su Er demonstrated that his Disillusionment Charm made its target reappear in broken pieces, so Hermione brought Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and the brothers used their own charms.
• The four entered the Forbidden Forest and followed Hagrid’s directions toward the Acromantulas’ hillside near a group of Mountain Trolls.
• The Trolls’ terrible smell made the four use Bubble-Head Charms, and George led them west toward the Acromantulas.

Su Er and his companions prepared a trap to lure Acromantulas away from their nest, while Lisi sent Centaurs to escort the young guests out of the woods. Su Er set the bait and hid in a tree, waiting for the spiders to arrive.

• Su Er stopped Fred, George, and Hermione near the Acromantulas' nest and assigned them roles in a plan to lure the spiders into a trap.
• The group prepared bait and agreed that Fred and George would turn the ground into a swamp while Hermione used vines to entangle the Acromantulas.
• Lisi ordered a squad of Centaurs to escort the young guests out of the woods without bringing them to the tribe.
• Su Er transfigured the bait into a strange creature, used it to break a web strand, and waited for the Acromantulas to follow.
• Su Er transformed into his Animagus form, climbed a tree, returned to human form, and hid with his wand as he waited.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George trapped three Acromantulas and began extracting their venom to sell. After Hermione drained the first spider, Fred and George eagerly turned to the remaining two, expecting a valuable haul.

• Su Er lured three Acromantulas toward the trap using transfigured bait.
• Hermione alerted Fred and George as the spiders approached, and the group sprang their trap, binding all three Acromantulas.
• Hermione explained how to extract Acromantula venom and drained the first spider’s venom sac into a bottle.
• Fred and George looked forward to collecting venom from the other two Acromantulas and getting rich.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George were surrounded by Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest and fought their way through the encirclement. They escaped with their lives and the severed spider legs, but the Acromantulas pursued them.

• Su Er and Hermione bundled the severed legs of three Acromantulas while Fred and George collected venom.
• Su Er sensed danger, and the group found themselves surrounded by more Acromantulas.
• Su Er assigned Fred and George to blast an opening, Hermione to hold back the spiders with fire, and took the rear himself.
• The four wizards combined their spells to break through the spiders’ encirclement and escaped with the severed legs.
• A small black spider signaled the Acromantulas, and they pursued the four into the forest.

Su Er and the Weasley twins and Hermione were trapped by Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest, and Su Er devised a plan to attack the tiny spider commanding the swarm. As Su Er cast Sectumsempra at the exposed target, centaurs arrived and fired arrows into the battle.

• The centaur captain followed the sounds of spells through the forest while the Acromantulas caught up with Su Er, Fred, George, and Hermione.
• Hermione spotted a tiny Acromantula riding atop a much larger one, and Su Er guessed that the tiny spider commanded the swarm.
• Su Er told Fred, George, and Hermione to save their strength and coordinate Exploding Charms against the tiny spider.
• As the fire wall weakened, Fred, George, and Hermione blasted apart the swarm, and Su Er cast Sectumsempra at the exposed Acromantula.
• The centaurs arrived and shot arrows toward the Acromantulas.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George escaped the Acromantulas with help from the centaurs and returned to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They roasted the captured spider legs, and Su Er offered Hermione the first one.

• The centaurs brought Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George to the Black Lake and warned them not to provoke the Acromantulas again.
• Su Er recalled that Sectumsempra had killed the Acromantula commander, letting the centaurs rescue the group amid the swarm’s chaos.
• Fred and George discussed going home for Christmas and keeping their fifty Galleons secret from Mrs. Weasley.
• Su Er suggested they eat the spider legs, and Hermione’s growling stomach prompted the group to find a clearing and start a barbecue.
• Su Er credited Hermione with helping them escape and offered her the first roasted spider leg.

After eating the Acromantula legs, Su Er and the others planned how they might return to the Forbidden Forest, then headed back to Hogwarts. The next morning, Cedric Diggory and a crowd of students woke Su Er to show him a Daily Prophet report naming him the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin in history.

• Fred and George praised the spider legs and suggested returning to the Forbidden Forest with broomsticks to gather more, while Hermione warned them to tell her first.
• Su Er extinguished the campfire completely, and the group returned to bed.
• Su Er spent the night chatting with Ariana in his mind and promised to find her more books in the library.
• A crowd of students gathered around Su Er's bed and woke him.
• Cedric Diggory showed Su Er the Daily Prophet's headline about his Order of Merlin award.

After receiving the Order of Merlin, Su Er struggled with Hogwarts students’ exaggerated stories about his role in catching Pettigrew and escaped to Hagrid’s Hut. There, he corrected Harry, Ron, and Hagrid about what happened and left Harry asking about his father’s connection to Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

• Cedric returned Su Er’s Order of Merlin, and Su Er told the Hufflepuffs that Sirius Black, not he, had caught Pettigrew.
• Hogwarts students embellished Su Er’s role in the capture, while Colin Creevey took his photograph and got an autograph.
• Su Er went to Hagrid’s Hut to avoid the attention and found Hagrid, Harry, and Ron discussing Pettigrew.
• Su Er explained that Pettigrew had willingly served Voldemort and had hidden as Scabbers to escape responsibility, leaving Ron embarrassed.
• Harry asked whether Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew had both known his father.

Hagrid told Harry and Ron about James and Lily’s friendship with Sirius, Pettigrew, and Remus, explaining how the group called themselves the Marauders. He began describing Dumbledore’s plan to protect Harry’s parents with the Fidelius Charm.

• Harry asked Hagrid to explain Sirius and Pettigrew’s relationship with his parents and the betrayal.
• Hagrid said Sirius had been James and Lily’s closest friend, while Remus and Pettigrew later joined their group.
• Hagrid recalled that the four friends called themselves the Marauders and that Sirius and Remus were considered as best men at James and Lily’s wedding.
• Hagrid told Harry that his parents had fought Voldemort under Dumbledore and were brave despite the danger.
• Hagrid explained that Dumbledore warned James and Lily of Voldemort’s plans and proposed hiding them with the Fidelius Charm, whose purpose Harry asked about.

Hermione joined Harry, Ron, Hagrid, and Su Er as they discussed the Fidelius Charm and how Peter Pettigrew betrayed Harry’s parents. Hagrid revealed that Sirius was Harry’s godfather, leaving Harry stunned.

• Hermione explained how the Fidelius Charm protected a secret through its Secret Keeper.
• Su Er clarified that the charm could only be broken if the Secret Keeper willingly revealed the secret, and Hagrid explained that Pettigrew had been made Secret Keeper at the last moment.
• Hagrid recounted how Sirius had been blamed for betraying James and Lily before Pettigrew’s guilt came to light.
• Hagrid said James had made Sirius Harry’s godfather, and Harry reacted with shock.

Harry learned that Sirius Black was his godfather and discovered that Black had already visited him as a black dog and sent him the Firebolt. As the pre-Christmas Hogsmeade Weekend approached, Harry eagerly awaited seeing Black while Snape continued teaching lessons about werewolves.

• Hagrid confirmed that Sirius Black was Harry’s godfather, and Harry asked when he would get to see him.
• Su Er told Harry that Black had visited as a black dog, sent him the Firebolt, and would come to Hogwarts as a Defence Against Dark Magic teaching assistant.
• Harry grew excited about meeting Black, while Ron and Hermione discussed Snape’s lessons and his focus on werewolves.
• In the days before Hogsmeade Weekend, Harry repeatedly asked Ron and Hermione whether he looked presentable, while Colin Creevey sought a photo with Harry and Su Er.
• Snape again replaced Lupin for a lesson, assigned work on identifying werewolves, and Su Er wrote about using their wolf-like habits to recognize them.

Su Er gave Harry the Marauder's Map and explained how to use a secret passage to reach Hogsmeade. On Hogsmeade Weekend, Harry waited until the other students had left and prepared to sneak out through the passage to Honeydukes.

• Su Er let the exaggerated rumors about Pettigrew continue, hoping they would become so absurd that they faded away.
• Su Er gave Harry the Marauder's Map as a Christmas present and told him about secret passages to Hogsmeade.
• Harry learned from the map how to reach Honeydukes and planned to use that passage rather than risk approaching the Whomping Willow.
• On Hogsmeade Weekend, Harry watched the students leave, opened the map, and confirmed that the Third Floor Corridor was empty before setting out.

Su Er went to the Hog's Head Bar to sell the Acromantula venom he had collected, seeking a deal with Aberforth Dumbledore. Aberforth offered forty-five Galleons, and Su Er accepted.

• On the way to Hogsmeade, Su Er quietly arranged to meet Hermione at Honeydukes later.
• Su Er went to the Hog's Head Bar, where he planned to sell his Acromantula venom directly to Aberforth.
• Aberforth initially dismissed Su Er, but he reconsidered after Su Er said someone had sent him and vouched for his honesty.
• Aberforth tested the venom and offered Su Er forty-five Galleons for it.
• Su Er accepted Aberforth's offer.

Su Er told Aberforth that Ariana Dumbledore had spoken to him in the Blurry Illusion Realm, stirring Aberforth’s grief and hope. Su Er explained his theory that surviving an Avada Kedavra might be the only way to reach the realm.

• After selling venom, Su Er stayed at the Hog’s Head and told Aberforth that Ariana had suggested he visit.
• Aberforth dropped his glass when Su Er named Ariana, then demanded to know how Su Er had learned about her.
• Su Er said Ariana had told him herself, and Aberforth eagerly asked where she was and how he could find her.
• Su Er explained that Ariana was not a ghost and that he had encountered her twice in the Blurry Illusion Realm, or Limbo.
• Su Er proposed that wizards could reach Limbo only when near death, perhaps by surviving an Avada Kedavra.