Chapter Summaries

Douglas secured Professor McGonagall’s approval to establish four regulated magic practice rooms and began preparing rewards to encourage older students to supervise younger ones. Before the rooms opened, he led Gryffindor’s first-years into their first Defense Against Dark Magic practical challenge, which ended with him watching for a reaction that did not appear.

• Hermione rallied Gryffindor students to take their house ranking seriously, but Colin’s photo request for Harry undercut her speech and made the common room laugh.
• Ginny briefed the first-years, while students in other houses responded to the rankings in their own ways and Angelina suggested replacing the fourth-year class representatives.
• Douglas persuaded Professor McGonagall to provide four magic practice rooms and presented rules limiting who could enter, what spells they could practice, and when the rooms could be used.
• Douglas convinced Professor McGonagall to consider awarding house points to students who supervised younger pupils and recommendation letters to sixth- and seventh-years who helped the rooms succeed.
• Douglas gave Gryffindor’s first-years a practical challenge in which they had to cross a cave-like passage without seeing a strange creature’s eyes, offering signed novels to the first student who finished.

Douglas taught the first-years that survival and strategic retreats mattered more than reckless bravery, then sent Ginny into a dark obstacle course to test them. Ginny was struck by a weakened Full Body-Bind Curse after seeing the creature’s eyes reflected in a puddle, and the chapter left her marked inside the course.

• Douglas explained that the game was about getting through safely, not defeating the creature, and warned the students to protect themselves when facing danger.
• Douglas chose Ginny to enter the course first, while he used a map to track her position and the spells she cast.
• Ginny lit her wand, heard a rustling sound, and cast the Quieting Charm to avoid alerting the creature.
• Ginny spotted puddles and assumed they were traps, but she accidentally saw the creature’s green eyes reflected in the water.
• The creature’s weakened Full Body-Bind Curse froze Ginny, and it struck her before disappearing.

Ginny failed Douglas’s cave challenge but earned Gryffindor ten points after sharing what she had learned with her classmates. The Gryffindor first-years all failed, while four Ravenclaws found the hidden path and reached the second stage before failing; Douglas then began the Slytherin second-years’ lesson.

• Douglas dried Ginny with a spell, sent her to write a reflection, and praised her for warning the other students about the cave’s dangers, awarding Gryffindor ten points.
• A second student failed after stumbling into a deep puddle, looking at the monster’s green eyes, and being hit with a Full Body-Bind Curse.
• After five students failed at the puddles, the Gryffindor first-years discussed ways across without noticing Douglas’s narrow path along the wall.
• A student briefly turned a stone into a plank, but it reverted before he could cross; by the lesson’s end, every Gryffindor first-year had failed.
• Four Ravenclaws found the hidden path and reached the second stage, where they failed; the Ravenclaws who failed did not share their experiences.
• Douglas began the last lesson of the day with the Slytherin second-years.

Douglas’s Slytherin students began a practical lesson in a creature-filled passage, and Theodore Nott was immobilized after recklessly casting a Fire-Making Spell. Crabbe made it to the second stage by sprinting through the first, but the strange passage frightened him into turning around, where Douglas’s Full Body-Bind Curse stopped him.

• Draco chose Theodore Nott to enter first, and Theodore cast Incendio at a creature before Douglas extinguished the fire and brought him back under a Full Body-Bind Curse.
• Draco sent Crabbe into the passage, and Douglas warned him not to use Dark Magic.
• Crabbe ran through the puddles and around the first corner, reaching the second stage without noticing the creature following him.
• Crabbe saw the creature’s huge shadow, became disoriented by the passage, and turned to raise his wand.
• Douglas immobilized Crabbe with a Full Body-Bind Curse before Crabbe could choose a spell.

Douglas rewarded Crabbe for his performance and penalized Theodore for using advanced Dark Magic, then explained to the Slytherins how Dark Magic could damage their bodies and minds. He left them wary of its dangers and returned the class to the lesson.

• Douglas released Crabbe and Theodore from the Full Body-Bind Curse, offered them chocolate, awarded Crabbe five points, and deducted five points from Theodore.
• Douglas asked Theodore whether he understood the consequences of casually using advanced Dark Magic, but Theodore remained silent and resentful.
• Malfoy said his father believed Dark Magic could prevent bullying and earn respect, and Douglas acknowledged its destructive power before describing its harm to body and soul.
• Douglas joked that Voldemort had become a bald, noseless “braised egg,” and Theodore anxiously touched his hair and nose while the other Slytherins reconsidered Dark Magic.
• Douglas advised interested students to wait until their fourth year to study Dark Magic, then resumed the lesson.

Douglas’s practical lesson challenged Slytherin students with dangerous-looking passages, while Draco organized them to share what they learned. Daphne Greengrass deduced that the second passage tested stamina, and Douglas left the students to ponder the course as he continued his plans to investigate the diary and encourage exercise.

• Douglas told Theodore and Crabbe to write about the lesson, and Draco persuaded him to let students share information about the passages.
• Crabbe described running through a cave-like passage and seeing a huge shadow and gleaming green eyes; Theodore agreed, though he did not understand why the others were focused on Crabbe.
• Draco organized the Slytherins to compare their experiences, and Pansy reminded them to use the spells Douglas had taught them.
• Daphne Greengrass completed the second passage and explained that its backward-moving floor, resistance, and narrowing walls made it a test of physical stamina; Douglas awarded Slytherin five points for her deduction.
• Douglas reflected that he had designed the course to watch for signs of the diary and prepare students for the Chamber of Secrets, while also encouraging them to get more exercise.

Douglas received Slane’s letter about publishing plans and a mandatory interview, then agreed to the arrangements. He also appointed Angelina Johnson as deputy class representative while assigning Fred and George to check their classmates’ homework, leaving the twins regretting their attempt to hand off their duties.

• Percy delivered Slane’s letter to Douglas, who agreed to the proposed collector’s editions and book signing and accepted the Daily Prophet interview.
• Hermione brought in the students’ reflections, and Douglas told the class representatives he would decide who had genuinely recognized their mistakes before returning their books.
• Angelina Johnson came with Fred and George to request a deputy representative position, and Douglas appointed her to supervise the class’s homework.
• Douglas ordered Fred and George to check all fourth-year Gryffindor homework and return unsatisfactory work, so the twins realized they had been given even more responsibility.

Douglas patrolled Hogwarts at night, using the Marauder’s Map to catch students out after curfew while planning to expand detention into morning exercise. When he saw a third-year Hufflepuff heading toward the Forbidden Forest, he hurried after them and took flight beyond the castle.

• Douglas sent George and Fred to memorize and write out passages in the corridor, warning them not to cheat before leaving on patrol.
• George and Fred turned wooden sticks into stools and sat outside Douglas’s office while pretending to recite.
• Douglas fed Mrs. Norris a dried fish, then used the Marauder’s Map to find and send a Gryffindor girl and a Ravenclaw boy back to their houses.
• Douglas recalled his and Bill and Charlie’s past nighttime patrols and planned to use detentions to build support for morning exercises.
• Douglas spotted a third-year Hufflepuff heading toward the Forbidden Forest, raced to an open-air corridor, and launched himself into the air with a flying technique.

Douglas followed Hufflepuff student Partridge Quincy into the Forbidden Forest and discovered he had gone there to prove his courage after Zacharias Smith called him a coward. Douglas punished him for entering the forest but encouraged him to find better ways to stand up for Hufflepuff, then hurried back to his office after spotting George Weasley, Fred Weasley, Argus Filch, Mrs. Norris, and Peeves gathered there.

• Douglas transformed from his red-crowned crane Animagus form and followed Partridge Quincy into the Forbidden Forest.
• Douglas watched Partridge carve “Partridge Quincy is not a coward!” into a tree and then checked the area after the boy fled.
• Douglas caught up with Partridge and learned Zacharias Smith had pressured him to prove himself for Hufflepuff's honor.
• Douglas deducted twenty points from Hufflepuff, assigned Partridge detention through Head of House Sprout, and escorted him back to the castle.
• Douglas advised Partridge that restraint could also be bravery and that Hufflepuff did not need to care what other houses thought.
• Douglas saw George Weasley, Fred Weasley, Argus Filch, Mrs. Norris, and Peeves together on the Marauder's Map and hurried toward his office.

Douglas returned to his office and found Peeves splashing foul water at Filch and the Weasley Twins, with much of it hitting the door and damaging something he had specially cultivated. Douglas used his upgraded Immortal-Binding Rope Spell to capture Peeves, alarming the gathered Hogwarts ghosts and prompting the Fat Friar to ask him to release the poltergeist.

• Douglas approached his office under a Disillusionment Charm and saw Peeves splashing foul water at Filch and the Weasley Twins.
• Kian the House-elf arrived and protested that Peeves had damaged something Douglas had specially cultivated.
• Douglas cast the Immortal-Binding Rope Spell, and the lightning-laced rope bound Peeves and caused him pain.
• Kian collected Peeves's fallen hat and the remaining foul water while ghosts gathered and watched Douglas uneasily.
• Sir Nicholas and the Fat Friar reminded Peeves of his agreement with Douglas, and the Fat Friar asked Douglas to put away the rope.

Douglas confronted Peeves over ruining his stinky tofu brine and revealed that their agreement had expired when he graduated, reigniting the ghosts’ fear of his Peeves-Repelling Charm. He promised the ghosts that neither students nor professors would receive the charm and that he would use it only on Peeves, before an unseen newcomer silenced Peeves and criticized Douglas’s patrol.

• Douglas accused Peeves of ruining his stinky tofu brine and splashing it on his office door, while Peeves claimed he had not deliberately provoked him.
• Filch urged Douglas to use the Peeves-Repelling Charm, alarming the ghosts and prompting the Weasley Twins to listen more closely.
• Douglas explained that their agreement had barred him from making or distributing the charm only while he was a student, so it had expired when he graduated.
• The ghosts recalled how Douglas’s charms had harmed Moaning Myrtle and Professor Binns, and they feared he might use them again.
• Douglas promised the Fat Friar and the other ghosts that he would not give the charm to students or professors and would use it only on Peeves.
• An unseen newcomer cast Langlock at Peeves to stop his howling, then rebuked Douglas for gathering over a hundred ghosts during his patrol.

Professor Sprout, Snape, and Douglas argued over the mess Peeves had caused while the Weasley twins and Filch watched. Peeves escaped, and as the twins finally left, Snape taunted Douglas over his foul-smelling water, prompting the twins to slow down and listen for more gossip.

• Professor Sprout found George and Fred beneath a sheet and ended their detention, but they insisted on staying to see what happened to Peeves.
• Snape repeatedly deducted points from the Weasley twins, and Douglas awarded the points back, leaving them caught in their argument.
• Peeves's ropes vanished, and he escaped after crying out in relief.
• Professor Sprout told the ghosts, Filch, and the Weasley twins to leave, while Snape took points from the twins for failing to greet him.
• Snape mocked Douglas's foul-smelling water and cooking, and George and Fred slowed down to hear more.

Douglas endured Snape and Sprout teasing him about his past plant-identification mistakes while defending his cooking and his Potions OWL result. After learning that Dumbledore had summoned McGonagall and Flitwick away, Douglas reflected on Snape’s interest in his cooking notes and on how his ideas could benefit Potions classes and Hufflepuff.

• Douglas told Snape that he had earned an O on his Potions OWL, but Snape and Sprout mocked his past mistakes with Horklumps, horseradish, and wolfsbane.
• Snape said he had reported the Peeves incident to Dumbledore and hoped Douglas would be dismissed, then chased the Weasley Twins back toward Gryffindor Tower.
• Sprout reassured Douglas that the damage to his work was not his fault and said she would speak to Dumbledore on his behalf.
• Sprout told Douglas that Dumbledore had been away for over a week and had summoned McGonagall and Flitwick that afternoon, though she did not know why.
• Sprout revealed that Snape had been watching kitchen staff use Douglas’s ingredient-preparation methods, and Douglas realized Snape had noticed the ideas he had added to his book.
• Douglas considered how food-based practice in Potions classes could reduce wasted ingredients and bring more funding to Hufflepuff, recalling Sprout’s support for struggling graduates.

The Weasley twins told Gryffindor students about Professor Holmes’s confrontation with Peeves and the ghosts, sparking excitement over his spell that could bind Peeves into a peach. Their classmates questioned Nearly Headless Nick about what had happened, leaving him facing a crowd of curious students.

• The Weasley twins returned to the Gryffindor common room and drew attention by boasting about their encounter with Peeves and Professor Holmes.
• Ginny admitted that the twins had startled her into accidentally blowing up a teapot, then joined the others in questioning them.
• The twins described Professor Holmes’s stinky tofu and his agreement with the ghosts, while Hermione wondered why the incident was absent from Hogwarts, A History.
• Gryffindor students grew excited at the possibility of learning the spell that could turn Peeves into a peach.
• Nearly Headless Nick entered the common room, and the students immediately pressed him for details about Professor Holmes, the ghosts, and the Peeves-Repelling Charm.

Sir Nicholas persuaded Harry to attend the ghosts’ Halloween banquet, which he said might be canceled without living guests. The next morning, Douglas headed to Hogsmeade for an interview, but Slane hurried him into the Three Broomsticks to meet the reporter he had invited.

• Sir Nicholas answered students’ questions and invited them to the ghosts’ banquet for the five hundredth anniversary of his death, but they lost interest when they learned there would be no food.
• Harry agreed to attend after Sir Nicholas pleaded with him, and Sir Nicholas left excited to tell the other ghosts that the banquet could go ahead.
• Douglas dressed formally and went to Hogsmeade for an interview, while students followed, hoping he would treat them.
• Ambrosius Flume announced a one-percent discount at Honeydukes to celebrate Douglas becoming a famous author and promoted sweets Douglas had invented.
• Slane grabbed Douglas outside the Three Broomsticks and rushed him inside, warning that the special reporter he had invited should not be kept waiting.

Douglas met Daily Prophet reporter E. Limos for a long interview about his novels, then signed books for a crowd of fans in Hogsmeade. Back at Hogwarts, he reflected on Slytherin students using a Strength Potion to beat his practical challenge, unaware that the other Heads of House were preparing to help their own students too.

• Slane introduced Douglas to E. Limos, who praised his knowledge of ancient magic and interviewed him about his writing and interests.
• E. Limos told Douglas the interview would make the Daily Prophet’s front page and criticized Lockhart for questioning Douglas’s abilities.
• Douglas found a crowd of fans waiting at the Three Broomsticks, signed their books, and confiscated novels from students who were reading during term.
• Douglas returned to Hogwarts and discovered that several Slytherin third-years had used a Strength Potion to pass his practical challenge.
• Douglas removed the hidden third challenge and accepted that students could use potions or charms, while the other Heads of House prepared to help their Houses compete.

Douglas received the list of students assigned to morning runs around the Black Lake and dealt with Harry, Ron, George, and Fred’s detention work in his office. At dawn, he led six sleepy students on a run, turning it into a noisy display that drew attention from Hogwarts Castle.

• Professor McGonagall told Douglas that the study room would open the following Monday and that students caught wandering at night would serve detention by running around the Black Lake at six in the morning.
• Douglas gave George and Fred extra detention work after they admitted they had forgotten their assignments in Transfiguration and Potions, and reminded Harry and Ron that they had the same duties.
• At six the next morning, Douglas took over the six students Filch had assembled, including Partridge Quincy and a young couple, and explained that they would exercise for an hour.
• Douglas taught the students how to run and encouraged them to shout house slogans; the Hufflepuffs chanted for their house, while the Ravenclaw girl and Gryffindor boy made up slogans of their own.
• The Gryffindor boy used Sonorus to amplify his chant, drawing watchers to the castle windows, and Douglas scolded the group while privately welcoming the attention.

Douglas reviewed his teaching-system points and discovered that practical assessments would count toward his total. Percy then brought him the Daily Prophet, which reported Gilderoy Lockhart’s arrest and relegated Douglas’s own story to the second page.

• Douglas checked his system and calculated that he had earned about 379 points in two weeks, with future practical classes also counting toward the total.
• Percy brought Douglas the Daily Prophet and a letter, warning him that major news had broken.
• Douglas read that Lockhart had been arrested after Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Flitwick exposed his theft of adventurers’ stories and his use of Obliviate.
• Douglas realized that Dumbledore had been investigating Lockhart since Douglas took the Hogwarts post, and that Lockhart’s crimes had prompted his arrest.
• Douglas found his own article on the second page and read the letter containing Slane’s condemnation of Lockhart and Mr. Limos’s apology.

Douglas held a fifth-year practical assessment in which students from the four Houses broke spells in prepared passages, and Ravenclaw finished first in the House rankings. He announced that the assessment room would open every Sunday for the year and offered private advanced-spell instruction to students who broke more than 60% of the spells alone.

• Douglas explained the assessment rules, including the shared progress through each House's passage and the individual and House rankings.
• The students arranged their House lines, with Slytherin following its representatives, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor competing for early places, and Hufflepuff remaining calm.
• Hufflepuff students began the assessment, while a Gryffindor later emerged claiming to have broken eight spells and a Slytherin emerged with the same total.
• The assessment continued until Ravenclaw's last student failed, leaving Ravenclaw first with 32 spells, followed by Slytherin with 31, Gryffindor with 28, and Hufflepuff with 26.
• Douglas announced weekly access to the practical classroom, promised private instruction to students who broke over 60% of the spells alone, and had the rankings posted on the Hogwarts noticeboard.

Douglas joined Dumbledore for a hot pot dinner, where Dumbledore asked about his work at Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Voldemort took control of his host and realized Douglas knew about the Chamber of Secrets, while Harry heard a deadly voice that Ron could not hear.

• Douglas left four students with Professor McGonagall and went to Dumbledore's office, where Dumbledore welcomed him to a hot pot dinner.
• Dumbledore repeatedly used magic to take food from the pot before Douglas could eat it, then praised Douglas's work at Hogwarts and asked how he was settling in.
• Voldemort saw the message welcoming him home beside the snake-marked faucet and suspected that Douglas knew the Chamber of Secrets and its entrance.
• After Professor McGonagall released them, Harry heard a voice threatening to kill someone, but Ron heard only a rustling sound.
• Ron and Harry ran to Gryffindor Tower, where Ron suggested Professor Holmes might have let the practical-class monster loose in the castle.