Recaps

Brian learned that a dangerous wizard sought the Philosopher’s Stone and unicorn blood, while Hagrid admitted he was bound by a promise to keep a secret. Brian secured a promise from Number One Hundred and Eighty-Eight not to attack humans unprovoked and to help humans in danger, then the group discussed searching for the unicorns.

• Number One Hundred and Eighty-Eight described a terrifying wizard with two personalities who sought the Philosopher’s Stone and unicorn blood.
• Brian inferred that the stone fragment in his pocket might be part of the Philosopher’s Stone and considered searching for the Trapdoor.
• Hagrid apologized for keeping a secret but said he had promised someone not to reveal it, and Brian reassured him.
• Brian asked Number One Hundred and Eighty-Eight to promise not to attack humans unprovoked and to help humans in danger, and the spider agreed.
• Hagrid said the unicorns were hard to locate during breeding season, and Brian suggested asking the Centaurs.

Brian and Hagrid searched the Forbidden Forest for the centaurs and discovered that their magic confused travelers and Fang’s sense of smell. They found Firenze, who greeted them with a strange report about Uranus singing poetry.

• Aragog warned Brian and Hagrid to leave, then retreated in fear when Hagrid asked about the monster at Hogwarts.
• Brian realized the centaurs would gather to stargaze and burn sweet mallow and sage, so he and Hagrid followed Fang into the forest.
• Firenze finished a troubling divination and went to a distant part of the woods, where he heard visitors approaching and drew his bow.
• Brian recognized centaur magic in the runes that made Fang circle back to the same herbs, then followed smoke toward its source.
• Firenze lowered his bow when Hagrid called out and greeted Brian by saying that Uranus was singing poetry aloud.

Brian and Hagrid learned that the centaurs had kept the unicorns safe, and Hagrid revealed how Tom Riddle had framed him for a student's murder. As Brian resolved to investigate the case, Number One Hundred Eighty-Eight gave him a mysterious stone that turned invisible.

• Firenze warned Brian to beware of Pluto and said the centaurs would protect the unicorns, then urged the visitors to leave before his tribe returned.
• On the way back to Hogwarts, Hagrid told Brian that the Ministry had blamed Aragog for a student's death and that Dumbledore had helped Hagrid remain at school.
• Hagrid revealed that Tom Riddle had reported him, and admitted he had never been able to clear his name because there was no evidence.
• Brian learned that the dead student had become a ghost who lived in a third-floor girls' bathroom, and said he wanted to meet her and curse the Ministry.
• Brian and Hagrid encountered Number One Hundred Eighty-Eight, who gave Brian a glowing cocoon containing a stone that could turn invisible.

Brian learned from Hagrid that the Firefly Stone fragments were not the Philosopher’s Stone, then discovered his book could eat one and promptly fell asleep. He visited Moaning Myrtle to ask about her death and began speaking with her.

• Brian showed Hagrid the Firefly Stone fragments, and Hagrid confirmed they were not the Philosopher’s Stone before hurrying to find Dumbledore.
• Brian concluded that the Philosopher’s Stone was likely hidden beneath Hogwarts and that Hagrid was one of its protectors.
• Brian’s book ate a Firefly Stone fragment and fell asleep, so he tucked it into its trunk.
• Brian went to the third-floor Girls’ Bathroom and found Moaning Myrtle thinking about ways to kill herself.
• Myrtle angrily shouted at Brian through the wall, then softened when she saw him and invited him inside.

Brian listened as Moaning Myrtle described her bullying by Olive Hornby and resolved to investigate the monster that killed her, hoping to clear Hagrid and Aragog. After Peeves summoned “Snivellus,” Snape arrived in the Girls’ Bathroom and confronted Brian.

• Myrtle recounted how Olive Hornby bullied her and how she haunted Olive after her death.
• Brian asked Myrtle for details about the monster and committed to discovering the truth, but she began crying before she could answer.
• Peeves burst into the bathroom, mocked Myrtle, and announced he would fetch “Snivellus.”
• Brian stayed to comfort Myrtle and threatened to ask the Bloody Baron to discipline Peeves.
• Snape entered the bathroom and asked Brian whether there were Training Dummies in the Girls’ Bathroom.

Brian investigated the monster that killed Moaning Myrtle and asked Snape about possible creatures with bright yellow eyes. Snape referred him to Professor Kettleburn, then rejected Brian’s offer to heal his injured leg and left.

• Brian tried to explain why he was in the Girls' Bathroom, but Snape accused him of bullying Moaning Myrtle and ordered him to come out.
• Moaning Myrtle flooded the bathroom and splashed Snape after he entered without knocking; Brian soothed her and left the door slightly ajar.
• Brian questioned Snape about the monster that killed Moaning Myrtle and asked whether he knew of castle attacks involving a yellow-eyed creature.
• Snape suggested Brian ask Professor Kettleburn about magical creatures, claiming he only wanted to stop Brian from wandering around and unsettling the castle.
• Brian hugged Snape in gratitude and offered to heal his leg, but Snape pushed him away, cleaned himself, and left.

Brian comforted Moaning Myrtle, cleaned her bathroom, and offered to help find the monster that killed her. The next morning, he carried the unusual book to the greenhouses and arranged to meet Professor Kettleburn to ask about dangerous beasts.

• Brian cleaned the bathroom and praised Moaning Myrtle, who agreed to tell him what she remembered about her killer.
• Brian found that the book in his trunk had moved slightly and took it along to the greenhouses.
• Brian met Professor Sprout at breakfast and asked where to find Professor Kettleburn.
• Professor Sprout said Kettleburn was bringing her fertilizer and offered to take Brian to the greenhouses.

Brian helped Professor Sprout handle dangerous plants in the Third Greenhouse using Muggle ingenuity, then met Professor Kettleburn and learned that he kept a Chimera and other magical creatures. Kettleburn invited Brian to visit his private zoo and gave him a piece of Occamy eggshell.

• Brian tested the Venomous Tentacula and discovered he could stay beyond the reach of its vines.
• Professor Sprout showed Brian how Muggle equipment could make dangerous plants easier to handle, and he harvested Biting Cabbages, changed Mandrakes' soil, and subdued the Venomous Tentacula.
• Professor Kettleburn arrived to deliver his special fertilizer and gave Brian and Sprout black tea.
• Sprout offered Kettleburn extra Biting Cabbages for his Chimera, and he accepted some to feed it.
• Kettleburn invited Brian to visit his private zoo, mentioned his Bowtruckles and Occamies, and gave him a piece of Occamy eggshell.

Brian asked Professor Kettleburn about a creature that could explain the old attacks at Hogwarts, and they concluded that it was probably a basilisk. Professor Sprout connected the creature to the legend of Salazar Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets, leaving Brian planning to investigate the castle.

• Professor Sprout made Brian and Professor Kettleburn stay for tea and cookies before Kettleburn agreed to answer Brian’s questions.
• Brian described a yellow-eyed creature that could move through Hogwarts, frighten Acromantulas, and kill without physically attacking its victim.
• Professor Kettleburn identified the creature as a basilisk, and Brian explained that spiders fled from basilisks.
• Professor Sprout recalled the legend that Salazar Slytherin had hidden a basilisk in a Chamber of Secrets and linked it to earlier attacks on Muggle-born students and Moaning Myrtle’s death.
• Brian reassured Professor Sprout that the basilisk might be dead and suggested asking Dumbledore for permission to search Hogwarts with roosters.

Brian told Dumbledore he suspected a basilisk was in Hogwarts and planned to keep searching for the Chamber of Secrets. Dumbledore revealed that Voldemort was Tom Marvolo Riddle and warned that he might be hiding in Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher's Stone, then reacted urgently when Brian mentioned a snake-engraved bathroom tap.

• Brian tried to enter Dumbledore's office, greeted Fawkes, and found Dumbledore tidying the wine cellar.
• Brian told Dumbledore he believed a basilisk was in Hogwarts, citing an acromantula's terror, and said he would keep searching for the Chamber of Secrets.
• Brian asked whether Voldemort had framed Hagrid, and Dumbledore identified Voldemort as Tom Marvolo Riddle.
• Dumbledore said he believed Voldemort had survived and was lurking in Hogwarts to get the Philosopher's Stone.
• Brian mentioned a brass tap with a snake engraved on it, and Dumbledore asked him to lead the way to it.

Brian and Dumbledore headed for Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom to investigate the suspected entrance to the Chamber of Secrets while discussing ancient magic and Brian’s Book. They encountered Professor Quirrell, and Dumbledore invited him to help search for the Chamber.

• Brian realized Dumbledore suspected that the snake-engraved faucet in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom concealed the Chamber of Secrets entrance.
• Brian discussed ancient magic with Dumbledore as they walked, then greeted Lee Jordan and watched him trade taunts with a Slytherin student about the upcoming Quidditch match.
• Brian showed Dumbledore the Book, which had swallowed two stone fragments, and Dumbledore said its magical fluctuations seemed steady.
• Professor Quirrell appeared, reacted nervously to Brian’s mention of a stone, and Dumbledore invited him to help find the Chamber of Secrets.

Brian and Dumbledore investigated the possible Chamber of Secrets while questioning whether Voldemort could control the basilisk. They found the snake-marked faucet in the girls' bathroom, where Dumbledore prepared to open its mechanism without a password.

• Dumbledore invited Quirrell to keep teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Brian encouraged him as he left.
• Brian questioned Dumbledore's suspicions about Voldemort and the basilisk, and Dumbledore admitted he might be overthinking things.
• Brian and Dumbledore searched for Moaning Myrtle and encountered Hermione, who nervously claimed she was only passing through to wash her hands.
• Brian noticed a cauldron-shaped bulge in Hermione's pocket and suspected she had left Flobberworm Dung in the bathroom.
• Dumbledore identified the snake-engraved faucet as a password-operated mechanism and said they did not need a password to open it.

Brian and Dumbledore opened the hidden passage beneath the brass tap in the bathroom and discovered a deep, dark pipe. Moaning Myrtle plunged into it after complaining that a handsome redheaded boy had begun pining for a Ravenclaw woman.

• Dumbledore dismantled the brass tap’s magical protection while Brian shielded him from an alchemical snake that sprang out of the smoke.
• Brian captured the snake in a jar and offered it to Dumbledore, who declined because Fawkes disliked snakes.
• Dumbledore told Brian to press the brass tap, and the basin and tap turned transparent and disappeared, revealing a person-sized pipe.
• Brian cast Aguamenti into the pipe and listened as the water fell for nearly two minutes before faintly striking below.
• Moaning Myrtle arrived, lamented losing a redheaded boy as a peeping target to a Ravenclaw woman, then plunged into the pipe.

Brian, Dumbledore, and Fawkes descended into the cavern beneath Hogwarts after Myrtle reported a snake, hoping to find the basilisk. They found only an old shed snakeskin, but Brian spotted emerald-like shapes glinting in the darkness.

• Brian tried to coax Myrtle back from the pipe by mentioning handsome students, but she stayed below and reported seeing a snake.
• Dumbledore arrived with Fawkes, and Brian sent the rooster’s crow down the pipe after Myrtle screamed.
• Brian descended into the cavern with Fawkes and found Myrtle unharmed, angrily kicking a dried snakeskin.
• Dumbledore followed Brian down the pipe and called it a delightful new Hogwarts attraction.
• As Fawkes scouted ahead, Brian and Dumbledore found Myrtle beside the old snakeskin, and Brian noticed emerald-like shapes in the distant darkness.

Brian and Dumbledore found the sealed entrance to Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets, but could not open it without risking a flood. The Book taught Brian Ancient Sealing Magic, which let him twist the stone snakes and remove an emerald from the door, though the Chamber remained closed.

• Brian and Dumbledore discovered the stone door to the Chamber of Secrets and realized its mechanism required a password in Parseltongue.
• Dumbledore warned that breaking the door could flood Hogwarts, so they decided they had to find another way to open it.
• Brian vented his frustration at the stone snakes, and the Book floated out of his pocket and revealed Ancient Sealing Magic.
• The Book taught Brian the magic, and he shouted “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” as he cast it at the door.
• The spell twisted the stone snakes together until an emerald fell into Brian’s hand, while the awakened rooster glared at Fawkes.

Harry and Ron struggled with their essays while Hermione told them she had seen Professor Dumbledore and Brian visiting Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Brian startled the trio with his pet snake, and Harry reacted strangely before Brian put it away.

• Ron worried that he and Harry could not manage their essays without Hermione, while Harry fretted about the upcoming Quidditch match.
• Hermione told Harry and Ron she had seen Professor Dumbledore and Brian at Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom and suspected they were hiding the reason for their visit.
• Harry and Ron discovered Hermione had gone to the bathroom to practice Potions, and she teased them for having written nothing on their essays.
• Madam Pince asked Brian to quiet the trio, so he approached them with his Alchemical Snake and made them jump.
• Harry stared oddly at the snake before Brian put it away, then looked confused when Brian apologized for frightening him.

Harry accidentally revealed that he could speak Parseltongue while demonstrating that he was unafraid of snakes. Brian took him to meet Dumbledore and kept the discovery quiet, while students mistakenly thought Harry was being taken for detention.

• Harry asked Brian to let the little snake crawl onto his hand, and it obeyed after Harry spoke to it.
• Ron and Hermione reacted with fear when they realized Harry had spoken Parseltongue, but Brian covered for him by calling him a snake enthusiast.
• Brian warned Ron and Hermione not to tell anyone and led Harry out of the library to see Dumbledore.
• Two Hufflepuff students mistook Brian's actions for a detention, and Brian realized his reputation as a strict librarian might spread around Hogwarts.

Brian reassured Harry that speaking Parseltongue would not get him expelled, then told Dumbledore about Harry’s ability. The Chamber of Secrets remained sealed by Brian’s Ancient Sealing Magic, and Brian left the office to prepare for his first day working at the Hogwarts Library.

• Brian encountered Malfoy and his cronies, who retreated when they saw him, and Harry thanked Brian for helping Neville stand up for himself.
• Brian reassured Harry that speaking Parseltongue was not grounds for expulsion and told him he would soon meet a magical creature.
• Brian regretted that his Ancient Sealing Magic had permanently sealed the Chamber of Secrets, preventing their planned expedition and leaving Hagrid’s name uncleared.
• Brian and Harry reached Dumbledore’s office, where Brian told Dumbledore that Harry spoke Parseltongue.
• Dumbledore welcomed Harry and reacted calmly to the news, while Brian prepared to leave before beginning work at the Hogwarts Library the next morning.

Brian reassured Ron and Hermione that Harry would return, comforted Hagrid about Aragog and told him evidence could clear his name, then narrowly avoided Hagrid’s celebratory hug. The next day, Brian found the library packed with students excited about the upcoming Quidditch match.

• Brian told Ron and Hermione that Harry was safe and would return from Dumbledore’s office soon.
• Brian told Hermione that Moaning Myrtle had moved to a storeroom near the Gryffindor communal bathroom and reminded her to clean up after brewing potions.
• Brian found Hagrid grieving over Aragog and explained that the basilisk evidence could clear his name with the Ministry of Magic.
• Hagrid tried to hug Brian in celebration, but Brian stopped him and insisted he wash his face and beard first.
• Brian apologized to Snape for having hugged him before, and Snape continued his patrol.
• The next day, Brian found the library crowded with students talking about the upcoming Quidditch match.

With the library crowded and noisy ahead of a Quidditch match, Brian used Honeydukes Creamy Almond Toffee to encourage students to finish their homework and free their seats. The plan quieted the library, though Lee Jordan complained after Fred and George got their sweets first.

• Brian struggled to concentrate amid the students’ Quidditch chatter and learned from Madam Pince that the library was always noisy before a match.
• Brian proposed handing out Hagrid’s Creamy Almond Toffee to students who completed their homework, and Madam Pince approved.
• Brian announced that he would check students’ work before giving them toffee and asking them to leave their seats.
• Fred and George brought Brian their homework, received passing marks, and each took a piece of toffee.
• The students hurried through their assignments, the library grew quieter, and Lee Jordan complained to Brian that Fred and George had betrayed him.

Brian set out to learn nonverbal spellcasting and helped Professor Flitwick and Professor Babbling find a book about it. Their disagreement over whether spoken and nonverbal spells could be cast simultaneously remained unresolved.

• Brian decided to practice nonverbal spells after seeing older students struggle to master the technique.
• Madam Pince told Brian to ask Professor Flitwick for help and pointed him to a book in the Restricted Section.
• Professor Flitwick and Professor Babbling asked Brian to help them find a book on nonverbal spells.
• Professor Babbling argued that spoken and nonverbal spells could be used at once by someone with two kinds of magic, while Professor Flitwick insisted the body could execute only one magical command at a time.

Brian, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Babbling discovered the violent history behind a Restricted Section book about nonverbal spells and discussed how its author might have used Ancient Magic to cast two kinds of magic at once. The chapter ended with Brian trying to revive a withered flower and apologizing to Cedric for using his name to coax Moaning Myrtle.

• Brian found The Twenty-Seven Wonderful Uses of Nonverbal Spell in the Restricted Section and saw that it taught readers how to make a nonverbal Killing Curse more effective.
• Professor Babbling explained that the book's author had been executed after killing many people, despite originally researching nonverbal spells to avenge his own torture by Dark Wizards.
• Brian and the professors read the author's diary, which described being healed by a stranger using Ancient Magic while that stranger fought Dark Wizards with other spells.
• Professor Babbling suggested Ancient Magic could let someone use two kinds of magic simultaneously, and Brian said he would try, while keeping his ability secret for Dumbledore's plan against Voldemort.
• Brian returned the book to its place and later told Cedric he was trying to revive a withered flower; he gave Cedric Almond Toffee as an apology for using his name to coax Moaning Myrtle.

Brian struggled to reproduce his nonverbal ancient magic, then discovered he could make progress by practicing a modern spell instead. After bringing five wilting pots of Fragrant Mallow to the library, he woke the next morning smelling of its perfume.

• Brian watched Hermione, Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean make a banner for Harry in the library and practiced Aguamenti, learning to conjure enough water to fill a cup.
• Brian used a nonverbal Scouring Charm to clean the paint-stained table, then wondered whether the withered flower was preventing his ancient magic from working.
• Brian asked Professor Sprout for nearly withered plants, and she told him that many plants in the student greenhouse plot were struggling.
• Brian carried five pots of Fragrant Mallow to the library and traded insults with Snape, who had brought back Quidditch Through the Ages.
• Brian spent the night with the Fragrant Mallow, and Professor McGonagall asked about the perfume he smelled of at breakfast.

Brian watched Harry’s first Quidditch match from the Gryffindor stands, where the students’ banner rallied the crowd and steadied Harry’s nerves. The match began with Angelina Johnson taking the Quaffle, while Professor McGonagall immediately reprimanded Lee Jordan for his biased commentary.

• Brian escaped Professor McGonagall’s spot beside the commentary box and joined Hagrid, who had brought telescopes for the match.
• Brian and Hagrid shared the telescopes with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and the other Gryffindors, and Brian warned Neville to keep Trevor out of the sun.
• Hermione explained that older Gryffindors had brought a bedsheet in case Harry fell from his broom, though Hagrid insisted Harry would be fine.
• The teams entered the pitch, and Hermione’s lifelike “Potter will win” banner roused the Gryffindor crowd and helped steady Harry.
• The match began, Angelina Johnson took the Quaffle for Gryffindor, and Professor McGonagall called out to Lee Jordan over his commentary.

Brian watched Gryffindor’s Quidditch match against Slytherin as Angelina scored and Harry searched for the Golden Snitch. After Flint fouled Harry, Harry’s broom suddenly began bucking violently, leaving his control uncertain.

• Angelina secured the Quaffle for Gryffindor, and the teams traded possession as the crowd cheered.
• Bludgers struck Katie and a Slytherin player, while Gryffindor’s Beaters protected their teammates.
• Angelina scored, and Harry dodged a Bludger while performing somersaults above the pitch.
• Brian spotted the Golden Snitch, and Harry raced the Slytherin Seeker toward it.
• Flint rammed Harry’s broom, but Harry stayed mounted, and Madam Hooch awarded Gryffindor a penalty shot.
• Harry’s broom began bucking violently, and Hagrid thought Harry was pretending to lose control.