Chapter Summaries

Draco reminded Ron that he had lost their bet and made him acknowledge Draco as his boss, while their friends teased them. George and Fred approved of Ron gaining Draco as a powerful backer, leaving Ron protesting that he had simply lost a bet.

• Hermione diverted the group's teasing toward Harry, who denied that he fancied Cho Chang.
• Draco reminded Ron of their bet, and Ron reluctantly called Draco his boss after everyone urged him to accept his loss.
• Draco joked about hiring lackeys, and Lavender offered to follow him before threatening to bad-mouth him to Hermione.
• George and Fred arrived, heard that Ron had acknowledged Draco as his boss, and teased Ron about gaining a powerful backer and possible wages.
• Ron protested that his brothers were not supporting him after he had lost the bet.

Fred and George tried to turn Ron's bet into a chance to work for Draco, but a joke about the Weasleys being poor upset Ron before the group made peace. Hermione later asked Draco how they could learn Defence Against Dark Magic when Quirrell's lessons were useless, and Draco said he would teach those who were willing to learn.

• Fred and George offered to serve Draco and asked for access to the Malfoy family's storerooms, while insisting Ron should act like Draco's underling.
• Ron accused his brothers of sucking up to Draco because of his ties to Professor McGonagall, and Fred and George admitted it was part of their reason.
• Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender reassured Ron after Fred's remarks about the Weasley family's poverty, and Ron tacitly forgave his brothers.
• Olivia reminded the group about their afternoon Defence Against Dark Magic lesson with Quirrell, and everyone returned to their common rooms to rest.
• Hermione asked Draco how they could learn Defence Against Dark Magic, and Draco said he would offer extra instruction to students willing to learn.

Draco told Hermione that Voldemort had cursed the Defence Against Dark Magic teaching post after Dumbledore rejected his application, and hinted that Dumbledore had deliberately covered for him. Hermione was left pressing Draco to explain his mysterious connection to the headmaster.

• Draco pointed out that Hogwarts changed Defence Against Dark Magic teachers every year, and Hermione realized the pattern seemed suspicious.
• Draco explained that Voldemort had cursed the teaching post after Dumbledore rejected him, and that the curse prevented anyone from holding the position for more than a year.
• Hermione worried about Professor Quirrell taking the job, but Draco reassured her that Dumbledore had everything under control.
• Draco reminded Hermione that Dumbledore had deliberately let him off easily when Professor McGonagall brought him to the headmaster, and Hermione recognized what she had missed.
• Hermione jokingly guessed that Draco and Dumbledore might be romantically involved, then asked Draco what their real connection was.

Draco teased Hermione before explaining that Dumbledore had hinted at hidden plans during the opening feast. Draco said the Quidditch announcement was meant for someone other than him, since he had unexpectedly been sorted into Gryffindor, leaving Hermione wondering who Dumbledore had meant.

• Draco told Hermione they were allies with Dumbledore and said the headmaster knew what was going on.
• Draco explained that Dumbledore’s warnings about the Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor had been hints, and told Hermione that students serving detention in the forest would have someone accompanying them.
• Draco said Dumbledore’s Quidditch announcement implied that an exception could let a first-year play, but that the hint was not intended for him.
• Draco revealed that he had been expected to join Slytherin but was unexpectedly sorted into Gryffindor, and Hermione asked who Dumbledore’s hint had been meant for.

Draco explained the prophecy that identified Harry as Voldemort’s destined opponent, and Hermione inferred that Dumbledore intended to prepare Harry to face him. After teasing Hermione about their birthdays, Draco explained that he was trying out for Quidditch Seeker because Harry had not yet had the chance to demonstrate his talent, leaving Hermione puzzled about how Dumbledore knew Harry was talented.

• Draco told Hermione that Harry fit the prophecy because he was born at the end of July and his parents had defied Voldemort three times.
• Hermione realized Dumbledore was likely training Harry to stand against Voldemort.
• Draco teased Hermione until she asked for his birthday, and he told her it was June 5, 1980, while recalling that hers was September 19, 1979.
• Draco and Hermione flirted and joked about what to call each other before Hermione returned to asking about his Quidditch tryout.
• Draco said Harry had not yet had a chance to show his Quidditch talent, and Hermione asked how Dumbledore had known about it.

Draco explained to Hermione that Harry had inherited his Quidditch talent from his father, James Potter, then shared a nap with her before their afternoon class. Hermione woke first and hurriedly wiped the damp spot on Draco’s shoulder, but he teased her that she had drooled while dreaming about him.

• Draco told Hermione that James Potter had been an excellent Quidditch player, explaining why Harry was talented.
• Hermione leaned against Draco’s shoulder and fell asleep, and Draco soon closed his eyes too.
• Hermione woke before class, admired Draco as he slept, then shook off her thoughts and woke him.
• Hermione tidied the sofa and wiped the damp spot from Draco’s shoulder, claiming it was water.
• Draco teased Hermione for supposedly drooling in her sleep, and she denied it and threatened not to nap with him again.

Draco and Hermione teased each other before Defence Against Dark Magic class, then made a bet about whether Professor Quirrell would call on Draco. Hermione set terms that protected her either way, but Draco noticed a possible opening in her promise and asked her to confirm it.

• Hermione denied dreaming about Draco, then admitted she had looked at him while he slept and challenged him to object.
• Draco claimed Professor Quirrell would rely on him during class, and Hermione agreed to bet after Draco persistently asked.
• Hermione proposed that if she won, Draco would reveal all his secrets, while if she lost, he could share whatever he wanted without her asking questions.
• Draco accepted Hermione's terms, then stopped her and asked whether she truly meant he could say anything if she lost.

Draco teased Hermione about their bet and pointed out that she had already benefited from the secrets and potions he had shared. Lavender and several roommates interrupted them, and Hermione told them they were only preparing for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

• Hermione rejected Draco's attempt to carry their bet about calling her “wifey” over to their next bet.
• Draco argued that their bets and everyday arrangements had favored Hermione, and she accused him of having designs on her from the start.
• Draco reminded Hermione of their original agreement in the Room of Requirement and joked that she might have had to call him “hubby.”
• Hermione realized Draco had distracted her from preparing for class and demanded that he stop playing dirty.
• Lavender arrived with several roommates and teased Draco and Hermione for acting like a new couple.
• Hermione told the onlookers that she and Draco were discussing Defense Against the Dark Arts preparation.

Hermione answered her classmates’ questions about Defense Against the Dark Arts while Draco teased her and shielded their seats from the noisy classroom with a silencing barrier. When Hannah and Susan could not quiet the disruptive students, they and other students who wanted to study gathered near Hermione and Draco.

• Hermione explained the basic conditions for casting nonviolent defensive spells, and Draco encouraged the others to study and ask her questions.
• Lavender teased Draco about favoring Hermione, while Ron denied being Draco’s lackey and Hermione ordered everyone to settle down.
• As the classroom grew chaotic before Professor Quirrell arrived, Draco silently cast a barrier that blocked the surrounding noise from Hermione and their group.
• Olivia joked that she wanted a boyfriend like Draco, Neville earnestly said he wanted one too, and Draco rejected Neville.
• Hannah and Susan tried to quiet the disruptive students, then brought nearby Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors who wanted to study over to Hermione and Draco.

Draco agreed to help students focus in Defence Against the Dark Arts, then silenced the class with a shouted order and summoned Peeves to deal with a defiant Hufflepuff boy. Peeves intimidated the boy into apologizing, and Draco asked why he had made such a fuss over a request to keep quiet.

• Hannah asked Draco to help the students study without being disturbed, and Hermione agreed that he could help as long as he did not make too much of a scene.
• Draco dispelled the Muffliato Charm, stood on a table, and shouted for the students to be quiet, bringing the classroom to an abrupt silence.
• A Hufflepuff boy challenged Draco and rejected his request, so Draco called Peeves with a Summoning Charm.
• Peeves recognized Draco, became obsequious, and demanded that the boy apologize; the frightened boy raised a hand to slap himself.
• Draco stopped the boy and asked whether he had long held a grudge against him.

Draco Malfoy quieted the class, then helped Professor Quirrell teach Defence Against Dark Magic by clearly demonstrating a defensive spell. The lesson ended with the students impressed by Draco’s teaching, and he left for the Great Hall with Hermione and their friends.

• Draco sent Peeves away and asked the class to keep their voices down, and the students quickly obeyed.
• Professor Quirrell arrived and praised Draco after Draco claimed he had stood on a table to answer classmates’ questions.
• When Professor Quirrell struggled to explain a defensive spell, he called on Draco to demonstrate it.
• Draco cast the spell cleanly and explained its key points, earning the class’s attention and Hermione’s admission that he had won their bet.
• After the lesson, Draco left with Hermione, Olivia, Neville, Harry, and Ron for the Great Hall.

At dinner, Draco explained that he had secretly helped Neville find his toad, then teased Hermione about her earlier prejudice against his family. He openly declared he would win Hermione over, drawing teasing from their friends as Hannah and Susan joined the table.

• Lavender realized Draco had helped Neville find his toad on the train, and Draco said he had kept quiet because he disliked seeking praise and attention.
• Draco told Lavender that Hermione's earlier wariness came from prejudice toward the Malfoy name, and Hermione admitted that things had changed.
• Draco declared he would win over Hermione, who blushed and pinched him beneath the table before he put an arm around her shoulders.
• Olivia, Lavender, Parvati, Ron, Harry, and Neville reacted to Draco and Hermione's public affection, while Hermione did not push Draco away.
• Hannah and Susan arrived with their desserts and said they had watched the commotion from across the Great Hall, prompting Hermione to lower her head and step on Draco's foot.

At dinner, Draco’s classmates discussed his growing fame and the costs of popularity before Oliver Wood invited him to try out as Gryffindor’s Seeker. Draco agreed to attend Friday’s practice, where Wood would assess him.

• Lavender and other students praised Draco for commanding their Defence Against Dark Magic class, while Ron complained about his boasts and Hermione explained the drawbacks of fame.
• Ron joked that he would become famous first and keep a low profile afterward, and Harry pointed out that fame had never been his choice.
• Oliver Wood approached Draco and said Professor McGonagall had praised his quick reactions and talent as a Seeker.
• Wood invited Draco to try out for Gryffindor’s starting Seeker position at Friday’s practice, and Draco accepted.

After Wood chose Draco to try out as Gryffindor's Seeker, the Great Hall buzzed with the news. Cho Chang joked that Draco was her target, prompting teasing and Hermione's jealousy, while Draco reaffirmed that Hermione was his only female lead.

• Wood told Draco he would return on Friday to remind him about the Seeker tryout.
• Draco's friends celebrated his selection, and Ron explained Quidditch to Harry after Harry admitted he did not know the sport.
• Draco called himself the male lead and Hermione the female lead, drawing laughter from the table.
• Cho Chang arrived with Emock and joked that Draco was her target, making Hermione tense and the students around them fall silent.
• Draco calmed Hermione and said she was the only female lead in his eyes.
• News that Wood had chosen Draco for a Gryffindor Seeker tryout spread through the Great Hall.

Draco and Hermione left the noisy Great Hall, completed Draco’s detention cleaning the Trophy Room, and went to Professor McGonagall’s office after Filch passed on her request. Hermione promised to speak up for Draco, but the reason Professor McGonagall wanted to see him remained unknown.

• Draco agreed to stay with the others after they teased him about wanting time alone with Hermione.
• Draco and Hermione left the Great Hall together and talked as they headed to the Trophy Room for his detention.
• Filch told Draco that Professor McGonagall wanted him to visit her office once he finished cleaning.
• Hermione helped Draco gather the cleaning tools and promised to speak up for him when they met Professor McGonagall.
• Draco finished cleaning, and he and Hermione went to Professor McGonagall’s office and knocked on the door.

Professor McGonagall questioned Draco about the Defence Against Dark Magic lesson, and Draco and Hermione tried to explain away his involvement with Peeves. She gave Draco an extra week of detention cleaning the Trophy Room, and Hermione pulled him out of her office before he could bargain further.

• Professor McGonagall asked Draco how he had become involved with Peeves during the lesson.
• Draco claimed he had only tried to calm the noisy class, while Hermione backed up part of his account.
• Professor McGonagall warned Draco to avoid Peeves and assigned him three more weeks of detention cleaning the Trophy Room.
• Draco pleaded that his schedule was too full, then negotiated the extra detention down to one week.
• Professor McGonagall dismissed Draco and Hermione, and Hermione dragged the reluctant Draco out of the office.

Draco and Hermione left Professor McGonagall’s office and headed to Astronomy, with Draco teasing Hermione and stealing a brief embrace. They met Lavender and Parvati on the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, where the teasing continued as Draco offered Hermione his hand to help her climb.

• Draco pretended to feel wronged over his detention, hugged Hermione, and called her “wifey,” making her flustered and angry.
• Hermione hurried toward Astronomy, and Draco followed while continuing to tease her.
• Hermione and Draco ran into Lavender and Parvati, who joked that the pair wanted time alone together.
• Draco said he would look only at Hermione, prompting Lavender and Parvati to tease them and Hermione to threaten not to lend them her astrology notes.
• Draco climbed ahead on the spiral staircase and offered Hermione his hand, which she took.

Draco and Hermione attended Astronomy with Lavender and Parvati, while Draco anticipated Snape's upcoming Potions class. At breakfast, Harry received a letter from Hagrid inviting him and Draco for tea that afternoon.

• Draco warmed Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati on the Astronomy Tower before Professor Aurora Sinistra began the lesson.
• Draco focused on observing Polaris during Astronomy and worried that Snape would target him in Potions.
• Ron arrived early for breakfast to study for Snape's Potions class, and he told Harry that Snape favored Slytherin.
• Hedwig delivered Hagrid's letter to Harry, inviting him and Draco for tea at three o'clock on Friday.

Draco arranged for Harry and their friends to visit Hagrid, then warned Harry and the others that Snape would target him and Draco in Potions class. The group headed into the dungeon classroom, where they experienced its cold, damp atmosphere.

• Harry invited Draco to visit Hagrid, and Ron, Olivia, Neville, and Hermione wanted to come along.
• Draco told Harry that Snape held a grudge against Harry's father and would likely target Harry in class.
• Hermione warned Draco that Snape might target him too, while Draco said his Potions knowledge would protect him.
• Draco gave Harry and the others the questions and answers Snape would use to challenge Harry.
• The group walked through the cold dungeon corridors and entered the Potions Classroom.

Draco faced Snape’s hostility during his first Potions class, refusing to be rattled as the professor penalized Gryffindor for his replies. Snape continued targeting him as he began the lesson, leaving the class tense.

• Snape entered the dungeon classroom and singled out Draco and Harry with a long stare.
• Snape mocked Draco for joining Gryffindor, and Draco calmly replied that his father had approved his choice.
• Snape deducted five points from Gryffindor for Draco’s response, prompting Harry and Ron to protest while Draco reassured Hermione.
• Snape began his Potions lecture and told Draco to lower his hand when he tried to ask a question.
• Draco explained that he meant no offense, but Snape deducted another five points from Gryffindor for interrupting.