Chapter Summaries

Shanna recalled an intense Wand-assisted snowball fight with Gege from two years earlier, during which she used magic and flying shoes to battle him. She ultimately defeated him, but their destructive fight drew Mom Elena’s attention; in the present, Shanna arrived outside the Training Room and heard Gege training inside.

• Shanna remembered Gege’s rules for their Wand-assisted snowball fight and began by casting a Shield Charm.
• Gege used Snow Birds, Ice Cones, and transformed snow to break Shanna’s defenses, while Shanna fought back with spells and her Flying Shoes.
• After asking what Curses she should use, Shanna heard Gege explain that combat depended on attacking, defending, and moving, then faced his Snow Dragon.
• Shanna pierced the Snow Dragon, bound Gege with snow, and hit him with a large snowball, knocking him into a crater.
• Shanna apologized in fright, but Gege comforted her and admitted defeat as Mom Elena scolded them over the ruined garden.
• In the present, Shanna reached the Training Room and opened its door after hearing Gege training inside.

Bell and Shanna trained in the family’s Training Ground while Bell researched how magic power could permanently enhance the body. The chapter ended with Bell beginning Golden Snitch Training to improve his spell accuracy.

• Bell practiced evading and blocking Bludgers, then tried knocking them into moving circles and forming small magical shields.
• Shanna treated Bell’s injuries, and he explained that he had added ten Bludgers because his body’s enhancement had improved.
• Bell reflected on his research into using magic power to strengthen the body and reassured Shanna that moderate injuries could help their training.
• Shanna completed her own training, and Bell praised her performance.
• Bell released thirty Golden Snitches and began using the Obstruction Jinx to train his spell accuracy.

Shanna trained against one group of Magical Statues but ran out of magic before defeating them, and Bell encouraged her. Bell then fought ten groups at once and defeated all fifty statues, leaving the House-elves to repair them and update their combat programs.

• Bell told Shanna to wait for the right opportunity as she began fighting one group of Magical Statues.
• Shanna used a variety of Curses and traps to disable several statues, but she could not defeat the remaining Shield Soldier and Spear Soldier before exhausting her magic.
• Bell comforted Shanna and said stronger attacks could let her take on more groups.
• Bell activated ten groups of statues, used Apparition, his Flying Shoes, and a Stone Giant to defeat them all.
• The House-elves began repairing the statues, analyzing the battle, and updating their combat programs.

Bell and Shanna exchanged Christmas gifts, and Bell treasured the drawing Shanna had made for him. He agreed to take her into the nearby mountains for a snowball fight, where their explosive play disturbed the hibernating animals.

• Bell reflected that he and Shanna had few friends, and realized his own influence had shaped her disdain for boastful children.
• Bell opened his presents and found Shanna's drawing of the two of them playing in a castle garden.
• Shanna showed Bell the white, snowflake-patterned scarf he had given her and asked to have a snowball fight.
• Bell agreed to take Shanna into the mountains, warning her not to go there alone.
• Bell and Shanna played in the mountains, and their booming snowballs woke or frightened the hibernating animals.

As Bell’s departure for Hogwarts approached, he and Shanna both struggled with the prospect of being separated. On September 1, Bell prepared to leave, and the family decided to take the Flying Car to King’s Cross so Shanna would not have to use Floo Powder.

• Shanna felt miserable because Bell would soon leave for Hogwarts, and she tried to hide her sadness so he would not worry.
• Bell complained about Hogwarts and considered skipping school, but he knew William and Elena would not allow it.
• On September 1, Bell reassured Elena that he had packed everything and that Lim would accompany him to Hogwarts.
• Bell refused to let Shanna use Floo Powder, warning that she might get lost, so Elena agreed they would take the Flying Car to London King's Cross Station.

Bell left for Hogwarts while struggling with the pain of parting from Shanna, who broke down as the train departed. Elena and Shanna mourned his departure on the platform, while William tried to cheer them up.

• At King's Cross, Bell refused Elena's offer to get him a pet and declined William's suggestion that he meet Harry Potter.
• As Bell boarded the Hogwarts train, Shanna stayed silent, unable to ask him to stay or say goodbye.
• When the train pulled away, Shanna cried out for Gege and tried to chase it before Elena held her back.
• Bell watched Shanna from the train window, waved to her, and fought the urge to return home.
• After the train disappeared, Elena and Shanna wept while William tried to comfort them and was pleased that Bell's departure improved his place in the family hierarchy.

After parting from Shanna, Bell wandered mournfully through the train until he accidentally encountered Neville and his toad, Trevor. He joined Neville’s compartment, where Hermione introduced herself and Bell gave his name, leaving the three students together on their way to Hogwarts.

• Shanna insisted that her Gege had taught her not to fear Voldemort, and Elena comforted her before taking her home with William.
• Bell watched the platform disappear, then wandered through the train in sorrow, hoping to find an empty compartment.
• Trevor landed on Bell’s head, and Bell grabbed the toad and began to draw his Wand before Neville rushed out and begged him to spare it.
• Neville told Bell there were no compartments farther ahead and offered him an empty seat in his compartment.
• Hermione introduced herself to Bell, who returned the greeting and said she preferred to be called Bell rather than Menethil.

Bell answered Hermione’s questions and demonstrated Transfiguration by turning a fountain pen into a little owl named Xiao Gang. Hermione excitedly examined the owl, then suddenly turned pale and began sweating.

• Neville introduced himself and his pet toad, Trevor, which hid from Bell in terror.
• Hermione introduced herself and bombarded Bell with questions about his magic and family.
• Bell explained that he had cast Scourgify and Whirlwind Sweep, then reluctantly agreed to demonstrate magic.
• Bell transformed a fountain pen into Xiao Gang, which flew around the compartment and landed on Hermione’s shoulder.
• Hermione examined Xiao Gang and described how Professor McGonagall had introduced magic to her family.
• Hermione suddenly turned pale and broke into a cold sweat.

On the Hogwarts train, Bell accidentally worsened Hermione’s worries about her magical ability, and Neville began crying too. Bell stopped them and reassured Hermione that her skill already made her exceptional, then left the compartment in an awkward silence.

• Hermione feared she would be expelled from Hogwarts because she could only Transfigure a matchstick into a needle, and she burst into tears.
• Bell tried to comfort Hermione, but Neville also began sobbing over his own lack of magical skill.
• Bell shouted at Hermione and Neville to stop crying, threatening to turn them into toads.
• Bell explained that first-year students were not expected to master their textbooks before school and said Hermione’s Transfiguration was already impressive.
• Hermione and Neville fell silent as Bell gave up on easing the awkward mood and thought about Shanna.

Bell shared a lavish lunch with Hermione and Neville aboard the Hogwarts Express, astounding them with his magically enlarged suitcase and Dragon Meat. After they finished eating, Hermione asked how Hogwarts assigned students to houses.

• A trolley witch offered snacks, but Bell, Hermione, and Neville declined because they had brought food.
• Bell showed Hermione that his small suitcase was enlarged inside and called it Scamander's Suitcase.
• Bell set up a table and served baozi and other dishes, including Dragon Meat, leaving Hermione and Neville astonished.
• The three ate until they could not manage another bite, and Bell cleaned up with his Wand.
• Hermione asked Bell whether he knew how students were assigned to Hogwarts houses.

Bell told Neville and Hermione how the Sorting Hat worked and shared his opinions about the Houses before they arrived at Hogwarts. The Sorting Ceremony began, and Bell was called forward, but his House had not yet been announced.

• Bell explained that the Sorting Hat assigned students to Houses and said he planned to join Ravenclaw, while Neville hoped for Gryffindor and Hermione chose Gryffindor.
• Bell advised Hermione that Ravenclaw might suit her better, but she kept her choice and spent the rest of the train ride asking him questions.
• Bell, Neville, and Hermione arrived at Hogwarts, crossed the Black Lake by boat, and saw ghosts before entering the Great Hall.
• The Sorting Hat sang and Professor McGonagall began calling students forward; Hannah Abbott was sorted into Hufflepuff and Terry Boot into Ravenclaw.
• Professor McGonagall called Bell Menethil to be sorted.

Draco Malfoy traveled to Hogwarts with plans to befriend Harry Potter and Bell Menethil, confident in his family’s status. He found Harry on the train, but Harry rejected Draco’s offer after Draco insulted the Weasleys.

• Draco Malfoy looked down on Muggle-born students at Platform 9 3/4 while Lucius told him to befriend Harry Potter.
• Draco recalled his two tasks at Hogwarts: befriending Harry Potter and Bell Menethil.
• Crabbe and Goyle arrived with their sons, and Draco later boarded the Hogwarts Express with Clarke and Goyle.
• Draco found Harry and recognized him as the boy he had met at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
• Draco warned Harry against befriending the Weasleys, and Harry rejected his offer after Draco insulted his new friend.

Draco Malfoy fought Harry Potter and Ron Weasley aboard the Hogwarts Express, then was sorted into Slytherin and watched Bell Menethil join Ravenclaw. He was left jealous and furious when Harry was sorted into Gryffindor alongside Ron.

• Draco charged at Harry and Ron after Harry rejected his offer of friendship, and prefects broke up the resulting fight.
• Draco returned to his compartment and postponed looking for Bell Menethil while he planned how to win Harry back.
• At Hogwarts, Draco was sorted into Slytherin and felt pleased with his placement.
• Draco expected Bell Menethil to join Slytherin, but the Sorting Hat placed him in Ravenclaw, so Draco lost interest in befriending him.
• Draco hoped Harry would be sorted into Slytherin, but Harry joined Gryffindor, leaving Draco jealous of Ron.

Bell was sorted into Ravenclaw, where he met his Housemates and enjoyed the opening feast. After the Hogwarts students sang the school song, Bell reached the Ravenclaw common room, where the Eagle Door Knocker posed a riddle.

• Bell used Occlumency during the Sorting Ceremony and was sorted into Ravenclaw, while Hermione joined Gryffindor.
• Dumbledore welcomed the students, and Bell ate a large dinner while telling Michael Corner that eating more helped boys grow tall and become popular with girls.
• Morag MacDougal wondered why Harry Potter had not joined Ravenclaw, and Bell suggested that students might choose Gryffindor because Dumbledore had been in that House.
• Dumbledore announced school rules, Quidditch tryouts, and a warning to avoid the corridor on the right side of the fourth floor, then led the students in the school song.
• A Ravenclaw prefect showed the first-years how to approach the common room, where the Eagle Door Knocker asked why a cobra in the forest never bit people.

Bell settled into Ravenclaw and spent his first morning at Hogwarts grappling with loneliness before resolving to focus on becoming stronger. He arrived early for Transfiguration, where Professor McGonagall revealed herself after Harry Potter and Ron Weasley rushed in late.

• The Ravenclaw prefect showed the first-years their common room, introduced them to Professor Filius Flitwick and the Grey Lady, and Bell settled into a dormitory with four other boys.
• Bell woke early, lingered alone by the common room window, and then went to breakfast before checking his timetable.
• As he walked to Transfiguration, Bell decided to stop moping, focus on his studies, and become stronger so he could reunite with his little sister.
• Bell read in the empty classroom until his dorm mates, Hermione, and a grey tabby cat arrived; he suspected the cat was Professor McGonagall in Animagus form.
• Harry Potter and Ron Weasley rushed into class after the bell and joked about Professor McGonagall, who transformed from the cat and fixed them with a stern look.

Bell attended his first Transfiguration class with Harry and Ron, concealing his advanced skill while Professor McGonagall taught the first-years. After Hermione questioned why he had let her transfigure her matchstick first, Bell faced an angry demand for an explanation.

• Professor McGonagall warned the class that Transfiguration was dangerous and demonstrated it by turning a desk into a pig and back.
• Bell realized he had forgotten A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, so he disguised Ultimate Transfiguration as a textbook and listened to the lesson.
• Hermione Granger transfigured her matchstick into a needle first and earned ten points for Gryffindor.
• Bell then transfigured his matchstick, disguised his book, and demonstrated the spell again for Professor McGonagall, earning five points for Ravenclaw.
• After class, Hermione confronted Bell and asked why he had waited for her to finish before transfiguring his matchstick.

Bell explained Animagus magic and its unpleasant preparation Potion to Hermione, then shared his theory that Wizards might be able to transform into magical creatures. The conversation ended with Bell eagerly discussing how Dumbledore’s Phoenix Patronus could support his theory.

• Bell explained that he had delayed his transformation because he preferred to avoid attention, and Hermione apologized for getting angry.
• Bell and Hermione walked to the Great Hall, where Bell told her that Professor McGonagall’s cat transformation had been Animagus magic.
• Bell described Animagus’s fixed animal form and its lengthy preparation, including drinking fermented saliva, which disgusted both him and Hermione.
• Bell argued that Animagus might allow transformation into magical creatures, citing the uncertainty in books and Dumbledore’s Phoenix Patronus as evidence.

Bell explained his theories about Animagus transformations to Hermione, then spent the day in classes and doing homework. That night, his roommate invited him to sneak around Hogwarts and search for the Four Founders’ hidden treasures.

• Bell told Hermione that transforming into magical creatures was especially dangerous because a Wizard might lose their sanity and fail to change back.
• Bell joined his Ravenclaw classmates for breakfast and told Mandy Brocklehurst and Michael Corner that mastering Transfiguration required constant practice.
• Bell attended afternoon classes, where Professor Flitwick fell from his stack of books after becoming excited at the sight of Harry Potter.
• Bell returned to the Ravenclaw common room and began his homework, explaining that he would forget it if he put it off.
• Bell's roommate invited him on a night patrol and revealed a rumor that the Four Founders had each hidden a treasure somewhere in Hogwarts.

Bell talked his roommate out of searching for a thousand-year-old Hogwarts treasure, arguing that any magical relics would be useless and that the Founders’ knowledge could be sought from Hogwarts staff. His roommate and another student sneaked out together, while Bell stayed behind to do his homework and worried they might be caught by Filch and punished by Snape.

• Bell explained that a thousand-year-old treasure would likely be ruined and mocked his roommate’s belief that it could make him stronger than the Four Founders.
• Bell suggested the roommate seek the Founders’ supposed expertise from Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, or Madam Pince.
• The roommate grew angry, then whispered with Bell’s other roommate before the two sneaked out of the common room.
• Bell returned to his homework and considered how Filch might send the students to Snape if he caught them out at night.

Shanna struggled with Gege’s absence on her first morning without him and refused to get out of bed or eat. Elena teased her about growing up so Gege would keep liking her, leaving Shanna determined to follow her mother’s advice.

• Shanna remembered crying herself to sleep after Gege left and burned her tear-soaked pillow with Incendio.
• William tried to coax Shanna into having breakfast, but Elena sent him out and took over.
• Elena teased Shanna that Gege might prefer a mature woman, prompting Shanna to sit up and accidentally bump into her mother’s chest.
• Shanna recalled finding and burning a book of nude women in William’s study when she was little.
• After comparing herself with Elena, Shanna asked how she could grow up faster, and Elena told her to eat well, sleep early, exercise, and drink more milk.