Chapter Summaries

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.

Harry and his classmates continued their lessons and Quidditch training as the first Hogsmeade visit of the year was scheduled for late October. More than half a month passed without major events, and Harry improved in Potions and learned how to earn high marks in Divination.

• Hagrid agreed to add an advanced Hippogriff lesson after students asked for another chance to ride, and Hermione decided she would fly one too.
• Oliver intensified Quidditch training, while Professor Lupin announced an outdoor Defense lesson by the Black Lake that Harry and Hermione identified as a lesson about Kappas.
• Oliver booked a Saturday morning practice and arranged a friendly match against Ravenclaw for Sunday.
• Harry learned that the first permitted Hogsmeade visit would take place in late October, and he looked forward to seeing the Shrieking Shack.
• Over the following weeks, Harry improved in Potions and earned two consecutive Outstandings in Divination by writing miserable prophecies about himself.

Ron and Hermione’s growing tension over Crookshanks attacking Scabbers led to a major argument that continued into the next day. Before Professor McGonagall decided who could visit Hogsmeade, Harry learned that Lavender Brown was grieving the death of her rabbit.

• Ron and Hermione had previously made up after arguing over Divination, but Harry expected their latest disagreement about Crookshanks and Scabbers to be worse.
• Crookshanks tried to attack Scabbers again at breakfast, and Ron’s accumulated anger erupted into an argument with Hermione.
• Harry thought Hermione’s heavy workload and exhaustion had made it harder for her to control her emotions, and the two friends continued ignoring each other through breakfast and Herbology.
• Hermione tried to speak to Ron during Herbology, but he snapped at her, and their cold war resumed.
• Before Transfiguration, Harry went to ask why Lavender Brown was crying and learned that her rabbit, Binns, had died.

Harry and Ron encountered Dobby in Hogsmeade, who delivered Harry a magical letter proposing a potions partnership with the Xilieikesi family. Ron recognized the family’s significance and accepted the offer, while Harry remained puzzled about who they were.

• Harry and Ron met Dobby on their way to the Shrieking Shack, and he gave Harry a letter from Zuosili Xilieikesi.
• Harry read the letter, which proposed that the Xilieikesi family buy potions from him and his friends.
• Ron urged Harry to accept the proposal and burned the letter with his wand.
• The letter confirmed that the Xilieikesi family would contact them again, and Ron explained that the family had deliberately erased itself from records.

Harry met Professor Lupin in the corridor and agreed to have tea with him, giving Lupin a chance to discuss his friendship with Harry’s parents. Lupin began to tell Harry how his parents met, while a strange creature watched them from a tank in Lupin’s office.

• Harry finished his homework and set out to visit Hagrid, but encountered Professor Lupin instead.
• Harry noticed Lupin looked unwell and accepted his invitation to sit and have tea.
• Harry told Lupin he had seen a photograph of Lupin, his parents, and Sirius Black, prompting Lupin to acknowledge their old friendship.
• Lupin avoided explaining what had happened between the friends and suggested telling Harry how his parents met.
• Harry and Lupin entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, where a green, horned creature rubbed its tentacle-like fingers against a glass tank.

Harry asked Professor Lupin why his Patronus Charm remained weak, and Lupin explained that it required powerful positive emotions as well as sufficient magical power. The chapter ended with Lupin asking Harry what happy memory he used to cast it.

• Harry demonstrated the Patronus Charm to Professor Lupin, producing silver light that failed to take shape.
• Harry admitted that he knew little about the distinctions between ordinary, dark, and white magic.
• Professor Lupin explained that dark and white magic often drew on emotion, and that the Patronus Charm required strong positive feelings.
• Professor Lupin said Harry’s magical power was more than sufficient and suggested his happy memory was not joyful enough.
• Professor Lupin asked Harry what he had been thinking about while casting the spell.

Harry reunited with Ron and Hermione before the Halloween Feast and learned they had reconciled after Ron asked Hermione for help with his Astronomy homework. The chapter also revealed that Ron secretly researched magical automata and ended with Hermione keeping her reaction to a potion Professor Slughorn gave Professor Lupin to herself.

• Harry left Professor Lupin's office and found Ron carrying Hermione's schoolbag as they walked to the Great Hall together.
• Harry told Ron and Hermione that Professor Lupin had given him private guidance in magic.
• Harry noticed Hermione's reaction when he mentioned that Professor Slughorn had brought Professor Lupin an unknown potion, but Hermione said nothing was wrong.
• Ron explained that he and Hermione had spent the afternoon working on his Astronomy homework, which had helped them make up.
• The narration revealed that Ron spent much of his free time secretly researching magical automata in the dormitory.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione found the Fat Lady’s portrait slashed and learned that Sirius Black had attacked it after she refused him entry. Dumbledore calmed the panicked students, while the search for the missing Fat Lady began.

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Percy to the Gryffindor entrance and found the Fat Lady’s portrait badly damaged and empty.
• Percy called for someone to fetch Dumbledore or McGonagall, and several professors arrived to investigate.
• Filch volunteered to search for the Fat Lady, but Peeves told Dumbledore she was hiding on the fifth floor in a landscape painting.
• Peeves said Sirius Black had wrecked the portrait after the Fat Lady refused to let him in.
• The students panicked at the news, and Dumbledore ordered them to be quiet, calming the crowd.

After Sirius Black’s intrusion, Hogwarts students slept in the Great Hall while the staff searched for him and arranged a temporary guard for Gryffindor. In the days that followed, Harry wondered whether Black could have entered Hogwarts as an Animagus.

• Dumbledore checked with Percy that the Great Hall was safe and said a new portrait would temporarily guard Gryffindor while the Fat Lady recovered.
• Slughorn told Dumbledore that the staff had searched the Castle but found no trace of Black, and Dumbledore refused to let the Dementors enter Hogwarts.
• Harry, Ron, and Neville woke with full bladders and went to the toilet together.
• The students spent the next few days debating how Black had entered Hogwarts, and Hannah Abbott suggested he might have turned into a shrub.
• Harry considered whether Black could have used Animagus transformation to evade the Castle’s barrier and the Dementors.

Harry continued Quidditch training under staff supervision as Hogwarts prepared for a season with a new points system. Oliver Wood rallied Gryffindor before their first match, insisting they could win the Cup and urging Harry to beat Cedric.

• McGonagall allowed Harry to continue training as long as a staff member watched, and Madam Hooch took on the duty.
• Hogwarts changed its Quidditch standings to award points only for winning, based on each team's winning margins.
• Gryffindor assessed its rivals, including Ravenclaw's new Seeker Cho Chang, Slytherin's captain Peregrine Derrick, and Hufflepuff's skilled Seeker Cedric.
• Oliver Wood told Gryffindor that winning the House Cup was his last chance before he graduated and joined Puddlemere United as a reserve player.
• Oliver praised Gryffindor's Chasers, Beaters, and Seeker, and Harry vowed to crush Cedric.

Gryffindor and Hufflepuff began the Quidditch Cup opener in cold, rainy weather, with Harry’s flying and Gryffindor’s coordinated attack giving them an early advantage. Gryffindor led 20–0 less than a minute into the match, leaving Hufflepuff under pressure as Cedric searched for the Snitch.

• Madam Hooch started the match, and Harry quickly climbed above Cedric on his Firebolt.
• Angelina led Gryffindor’s Chasers to score within ten seconds of the opening whistle.
• A Gryffindor Beater struck a Hufflepuff rookie with a Bludger, and Alicia Spinnet recovered it and sent it to Angelina.
• Angelina scored again, putting Gryffindor 20–0 ahead before the match had lasted a minute.
• Cedric continued searching for the Golden Snitch and could not rally Hufflepuff as captain.