Recaps

Dumbledore visited Weasley Manor, then took Harry to Budleigh Babberton after dinner. He told Harry that Severus still had not woken up, leaving his reason for bringing Harry there unresolved.

• Dumbledore arrived at Weasley Manor and joined the Weasleys and Harry for dinner.
• After dinner, Dumbledore promised Mrs. Weasley he would bring Harry back before half past ten and took him away by Apparition.
• Harry tried to steer Dumbledore away from an embarrassing memory by asking about the rules for Apparition and where they had gone.
• Dumbledore told Harry they were in Budleigh Babberton, then said Severus still had not woken up.

Dumbledore brought Harry to visit the reluctant Horace Slughorn, a renowned Potions Master, and Slughorn let them into his home after recognizing Harry. The chapter ended with Harry observing Slughorn's home and comparing his potions work to Snape's.

• Dumbledore and Harry arrived at Horace Slughorn's home, where Slughorn delayed answering the door and complained that they had brought no pie.
• Dumbledore introduced Harry to Slughorn as a celebrated Potions Master, and Harry politely greeted him.
• Slughorn recognized Harry Potter and remarked on his resemblance to Lily Evans and his father.
• Slughorn invited Harry and Dumbledore inside, admitting he might not have welcomed Dumbledore without Harry.
• Harry compared Slughorn's potions work with Snape's and recalled how few students dared ask Snape for help.

Harry and his friends boarded the Hogwarts Express amid the excitement of returning to school, while Harry remained uneasy about the Weasleys’ warnings concerning Sirius Black. Neville found a compartment occupied by an unfamiliar, shabby wizard, and Ron asked Hermione who he was.

• Mrs. Weasley made Harry promise not to look for Sirius Black, but Harry remained puzzled by the Weasleys’ secrecy.
• Harry and Ron boarded late and joined Ginny and her friends, who were eager to spend time with Harry.
• Harry spotted Cho Chang but received no invitation to join her compartment.
• Neville led Harry and the others to a compartment where a seemingly young, gray-haired wizard was sleeping.
• Ron quietly asked Hermione who the unfamiliar wizard was.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville discussed why the Weasleys feared Harry might seek out Sirius Black, then turned to their plans for the coming school year. They left the subject unresolved as the train sped through the rain and they considered their electives, especially Divination.

• Harry argued that dangerous trouble had always found him, even though he had not gone looking for it.
• Neville suggested that the Weasleys feared Harry might seek Sirius Black because of Sirius's friendship with Harry's parents, and Hermione agreed.
• Hermione told Harry not to seek out Sirius and said Hogwarts would keep him safe, while Ron doubted that safety based on their past experiences.
• As the train gathered speed in the rain, the four friends shifted their conversation to the coming school year and their electives.
• Harry wondered whether Divination could help him understand his unreliable visions and considered whether Dumbledore might also be able to foresee events.

The Hogwarts Express stopped abruptly, and Harry and the other students investigated as the lights went out. Harry caught Ginny when she stumbled into him, and Professor Lupin emerged to calm the students, leaving the cause of the stop unknown.

• Harry and the others noticed the Hogwarts Express slowing down, then watched it stop completely.
• Harry and Neville went to investigate as the carriage lights went out and students illuminated the corridor with Lumos.
• Ginny ran into Harry and he caught her; she blushed and moved away after asking what had happened.
• Professor Lupin came out of his compartment, cast a powerful Lumos, and told everyone to return to their compartments and sit down.

Harry killed a Dementor instantly with the Left Hand of Chaos and Calamity, leaving Lupin stunned by Harry’s power. Harry realized the hand strongly damaged evil creatures, and another thought surfaced as he prepared to use the Patronus Charm.

• Harry’s Left Hand of Chaos and Calamity killed the Dementor and left behind a Dementor Finger Bone.
• Lupin recognized the bone and marveled that Harry had killed the Dementor without using a Patronus Charm.
• Harry realized the Left Hand could suppress and damage evil creatures, as it had broken invisibility magic and blocked simple spells before.
• Harry recalled that he had only mastered a weak, shield-like Patronus Charm and raised his wand to use it.
• A thought suddenly surfaced in Harry’s mind as he was about to cast the Patronus Charm.

Harry hesitated to tell Hermione how he had destroyed a Dementor, but Ron suddenly began convulsing. As the group tried to help Ron, Crookshanks climbed onto his chest and unexpectedly showed him affection.

• Hermione pulled Harry into their compartment and urgently asked how he had destroyed the Dementor.
• Ron convulsed and collapsed, leaving Harry, Hermione, and the others struggling to hold him still.
• Crookshanks jumped onto Ron's chest, and Hermione feared he was trying to reach Scabbers in Ron's enchanted pouch.
• Crookshanks rubbed Ron's chin and meowed affectionately, astonishing Hermione and Ginny.

Harry and his friends traveled to Hogwarts, where Ron woke from a strange episode with unsettling thoughts about Harry. The chapter ended with Ron denying that he could be attracted to boys while noticing that Harry matched the sort of person he liked.

• Lupin left the compartment, and Crookshanks briefly stopped Ron’s convulsions by lying on his chest before losing interest in him.
• Oliver Wood told Harry that Gryffindor’s Quidditch team would begin intensive training in the first week of term.
• Ron woke exhausted and could not remember what had happened, so Hermione suggested Madam Pomfrey examine him at school.
• Ron recalled a strange dream in which Harry had been central to everything and wondered if he might be attracted to him.
• Ron insisted to himself that he liked girls, then realized Harry also had long hair, big eyes, and fair skin.

Hogwarts students returned for the new school year and spent the days before classes discussing their professors, Sirius Black, and the Dementors. Harry learned that Remus Lupin had been close to his parents and Sirius, but the Lupin in his old photographs looked very different from the professor at Hogwarts.

• The Weasley twins used Dobby's help and their family connections to expand their joke-product business while most students prepared for the year.
• At the Welcome Feast, Harry learned that Rubeus Hagrid was the new Care of Magical Creatures professor and was glad he had chosen Hagrid's class.
• Harry found that his three electives did not conflict with one another, while Hermione had chosen five subjects despite overlapping timetables and brushed off his questions.
• Harry recognized Remus Lupin's name from a group photograph in his Photo Album and saw that Lupin had been close to his father and Sirius Black.
• Harry noticed that the young Lupin in the photographs looked very different from the professor now at Hogwarts.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron visited Hagrid to check on his preparations for teaching Care of Magical Creatures and learned that he had planned lessons featuring several dangerous beasts. The chapter ended with Hagrid's list reaching Graphorns for sixth year.

• Hermione persuaded Harry and Ron to visit Hagrid's Hut and check on his lesson preparations.
• Harry noticed that Ron had recovered his usual mood after secretly watching the older girls in the Common Room.
• Hagrid explained that he had prepared lessons for five different years and described Hippogriffs for third year.
• Hagrid planned to teach fourth-years about Kelpies, including the creature behind the Muggle legend of the Loch Ness Monster.
• Hagrid chose Fire Crabs for fifth year and Graphorns for sixth year, and Harry and his friends recognized the dangers posed by the creatures.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione attended their first Divination lesson with Professor Sybill Trelawney in the North Tower. Harry found Trelawney’s mystical manner unconvincing, but sat down with Ron and Hermione as the lesson began.

• Hermione had led Harry, Ron, and Neville to the Divination Classroom before the school year’s lessons began.
• Harry and Ron arrived late, and Hermione glared at them as they entered the classroom.
• Harry observed the cramped, stuffy classroom and the strange objects lining its shelves.
• Professor Sybill Trelawney introduced herself as a Seer and said she rarely appeared around the Castle.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together at a small table.

Harry was frightened when Professor Trelawney predicted that the Grim haunted him, but Professor McGonagall reassured him that Trelawney’s yearly death predictions had never come true. The students left Transfiguration calmer, though Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil remained worried about their own predictions.

• Professor Trelawney dismissed Hermione’s ability, warned Ron of bad luck, unsettled Neville, and read the Grim in Harry’s tea leaves.
• Harry connected the Grim with the black dog rumored to have appeared near Privet Drive and worried that Sirius Black might be coming for him.
• Professor McGonagall discussed Animagi in Transfiguration, and Harry worried that the lesson might expose the transformation he had learned over the summer.
• After Hermione described the Divination lesson, Professor McGonagall explained that Trelawney had predicted a student’s death every year without anyone dying.
• Professor McGonagall assured Harry that he appeared healthy and would not die, easing his fears, while Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil remained concerned about their predictions.

Ron and Hermione argued over Divination and wizarding traditions, while Harry noticed Draco acting unusually wary of him at Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class. The chapter left Harry wondering whether Draco’s behavior was connected to Harry killing a Dementor on the train.

• Ron called Hermione ignorant and criticized her for rejecting wizarding traditions, and Hermione argued that Divination was rubbish before leaving.
• Harry suggested Ron apologize, but Ron refused, and Neville noticed Hermione had claimed to take Arithmancy despite not attending it that morning.
• Harry, Ron, and Neville went to Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class, where Ron and Hermione continued to avoid speaking to each other.
• Harry saw Draco with Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy, and noticed Draco avert his gaze instead of provoking him.
• Harry wondered whether Draco was acting strangely because Harry had killed a Dementor on the train.

Hagrid taught the students about Fantastic Beasts, bringing twenty-four Hippogriffs to fly over the class before two landed nearby. The lesson continued with questions about Hippogriffs, and the chapter ended as Hagrid waited for an answer to a difficult comparison question.

• Hagrid blew a silent whistle, and twenty-four Hippogriffs flew over the students before most departed for the Forbidden Forest.
• Two Hippogriffs landed beside Hagrid, thrilling the class as the students saw how large they were.
• Mandy Brocklehurst identified the creatures as Hippogriffs, earning Ravenclaw two points.
• Hagrid explained Hippogriffs and asked the students to distinguish them from Hippogriffs and Cockatrices.
• Harry, Ron, and Neville hesitated while Hermione and Ron were having a minor disagreement, leaving Hagrid briefly flustered.

During Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures lesson, several students rode Hippogriffs, encouraging others to try. Draco approached one without showing proper respect, and it reared up with its talons poised above him.

• Hagrid explained how to approach a Hippogriff, and Seamus followed the instructions before riding Buckbeak.
• Hagrid let Dean Thomas and Parvati Patil take turns riding Hippogriffs after Hermione signaled her approval.
• Draco decided the Hippogriffs were harmless and approached Fidebabi without respecting it.
• Fidebabi reared up and raised its sharp talons over Draco.

After Hagrid’s successful first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, Harry hurried to Ancient Runes and met Hermione and several Ravenclaw and Slytherin students outside the classroom. The students discussed Hagrid’s lesson as they entered, while Harry looked around for Professor Babbling.

• Most students enjoyed Hagrid’s first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, giving him confidence for his upcoming classes.
• Harry hurried from Hagrid’s lesson to Ancient Runes and found Hermione already waiting outside the classroom.
• Harry greeted Padma Patil, Lisa Turpin, Terry Boot, and Michael Corner as they gathered by the door.
• Daphne Greengrass greeted Harry, and Amanda Apalla praised his Summoning Charm before describing the Hippogriff lesson to Padma and Lisa.
• Harry credited Hagrid’s lesson preparation and glanced at Hermione, who continued reading her Runes dictionary.
• Harry entered the Ancient Runes classroom and searched for Professor Babbling.

Professor Babbling taught the class that accurately spoken or written runes could trigger magic even without understanding, and warned that certain runic names could draw the attention of demons and evil deities. The lesson continued with an introduction to basic runic symbols after Hermione heard how dangerous such studies could be.

• Professor Babbling explained that complete runes could produce magic when written or spoken, whether the speaker understood them or not.
• Padma Patil identified the danger that people could accidentally pronounce unfamiliar runic syllables and trigger magic, earning Ravenclaw a point.
• Professor Babbling warned the class that chanting the true names of demons or evil deities could attract their attention and have deadly consequences.
• Hermione questioned whether curiosity and exploration were important to learning, and Professor Babbling explained that more than ninety-nine percent of recorded wizards who studied such powers had died or disappeared.
• Professor Babbling began analyzing the construction and meanings of basic runic symbols.

Harry hoped Potions Class would help Ron and Hermione make peace, but he had forgotten that Snape was in St. Mungo's Hospital and a new professor had taken over the subject. The chapter left the class and its new teacher yet to be introduced.

• Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione's disagreement from Monday had continued through Thursday.
• Hermione struggled with the workload from taking every elective, while Ron felt little pressure from his homework and showed no sign of apologizing.
• Harry hoped Potions Class might ease the tension among the four friends, since Ron usually relied on Hermione for help in the subject.
• Harry realized Snape was in St. Mungo's Hospital and the school had already hired a new Potions professor.

Draco Malfoy brooded over his humiliation by Harry and Ron and tried to get Hagrid punished for the hippogriff incident. The Hogwarts Board of Governors rejected the Malfoys’ complaint, and Hagrid continued teaching as his classes grew more popular.

• Draco feared confronting Harry after losing to him in fights and duels and hearing rumors that Harry had destroyed a Dementor.
• Draco decided to target Hagrid, whom he believed owned the hippogriffs, and wrote to his parents asking them to use their influence against him.
• Mrs. Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy took up Draco’s complaint, but the Hogwarts Board of Governors blocked Lucius’s protest because Draco had not been injured.
• The board and Ministry investigated and found that students generally approved of Hagrid’s classes, while even Slytherins blamed Draco for ignoring the professor’s instructions.
• Hagrid kept teaching at Hogwarts, and students became increasingly curious about his lessons on dangerous magical creatures.

Harry and Ron wondered what Draco meant by his hints about revenge, while Professor Slughorn taught a successful Potions lesson. The chapter left Ron and Hermione still estranged, with Ron quietly worried about her.

• Harry mocked Draco, who hinted that Harry could seek revenge on Sirius Black himself.
• Professor Slughorn inspected the Shrinking Solutions, explained students’ mistakes, and awarded Gryffindor and Slytherin ten points each.
• After class, Harry and Ron dismissed Draco’s remarks as an attempt to provoke Harry into doing something dangerous.
• Harry asked Ron about his ongoing feud with Hermione, and Ron said he had done nothing wrong.
• Ron noticed Hermione had disappeared again, and Harry and Ron speculated that her heavy workload was affecting her state of mind.

Professor Lupin began his first practical Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson by leading the students out of the classroom. After dealing with Peeves, he brought them to the staff Common Room, where Kensandy Monet had been waiting.

• Lupin led the eager but apprehensive students out of the classroom for a practical lesson.
• The students found Peeves stuffing chewing gum into a door's keyhole and mocking Lupin.
• Lupin calmly told Peeves to remove the gum, but Peeves spat at him instead.
• Lupin used a spell to teach Peeves a lesson, impressing the students.
• Lupin led the class to the staff Common Room, where Kensandy Monet greeted him and left.

Harry watched Professor Lupin teach the class to face Boggarts with Riddikulus, and noticed Lupin use a subtle mind-related spell to steady Ron. Ron transformed his Boggart into a huge spider wearing roller skates, and Lavender Brown stepped up next.

• Harry wondered what he feared most and thought of the Black Man, though he was unsure whether he truly feared him.
• Professor Lupin asked the students to picture their greatest fears and called Ron to face the Boggart first.
• The Boggart became a giant spider, frightening Ron until Lupin’s subtle magic steadied his emotions.
• Ron cast Riddikulus, giving the spider roller skates on all eight legs and making it fall over.
• Professor Lupin called Lavender Brown forward, and her Boggart transformation surprised Harry and several students.

During Professor Lupin’s lesson, the students used the Ridiculous Transfiguration Spell to defeat a Boggart, which Lupin sent back into the wardrobe after Amanda Apalla’s performance made the class laugh. Harry and Hermione were left without a turn, and the students discussed their fears and the new professors as they left.

• Lupin turned the Boggart’s silver orb into a deflating balloon, comforted Sue Lee, and had Padma take her to rest.
• Neville turned the Boggart’s image of a vicious-looking woman into a slug.
• Amanda Apalla transformed a horned demon into a dancing miniature pig, making the class laugh until Lupin returned the Boggart to the wardrobe.
• Lupin awarded points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor students, ended class early, and assigned a summary of the Boggarts chapter for Monday.
• Harry and Hermione left disappointed that they had not faced the Boggart, while the students talked about their performances and the Patil Sisters mentioned the Qiuqiu People.
• Neville said his Boggart had become an evil Dark Wizard, and the students speculated about Lupin’s fear of a crystal ball.

Professor Lupin’s practical lessons on Red Caps won over the students, while Harry found new guidance in Potions Class. The first two weeks went well for most students, though Harry struggled with the year’s new lessons.

• Professor Lupin taught the third-year students how to repel Red Caps with the Roaring Charm and took them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest to practise.
• Professor Lupin gave Harry, Hermione, and the two Ravenclaw boys priority when few students had managed to practise during the lesson.
• The students enjoyed another Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Hippogriffs, while Harry remained curious about what a Boggart would reveal about his fears.
• Harry received detailed corrections on his Potions homework for the first time and felt he could rely less on Padma’s help.
• Harry spent more time doing homework with Hermione, though he hardly asked her questions.
• Harry found the new lessons challenging despite being pleased with the changes to Dark Magic Defense and Potions Class.

Ron Weasley stunned the Gryffindor Quidditch team by guarding the hoops with extraordinary skill in a practice match, though he had not trained over the holidays. He discovered that his body had become unusually nimble and responsive, and he effortlessly escaped his brother’s headlock.

• The Gryffindor team split into two sides for a practice match, with Harry playing Beater and Ron guarding the hoops.
• Harry and Ron’s team won 190–20 as Ron stopped nearly all of Angelina’s side’s shots.
• Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, and the Weasley twins suspected Ron had secretly practiced over the holidays, but Ron denied it.
• Ron realized his strength, balance, reactions, and control over his body had improved despite his lack of practice.
• When one of the twins put him in a headlock, Ron twisted free with an effortless, unexpected movement.