Chapter Summaries

Draco pressured Hermione to choose whether to spend her condition on learning about Moaning Myrtle's death, and she decided to hear everything he knew. He revealed that Rubeus Hagrid had been framed for the Chamber of Secrets attacks and named Tom Marvolo Riddle as the real culprit.

• Hermione accepted Draco's condition and chose to ask about Moaning Myrtle before curfew.
• Draco described how Rubeus Hagrid was accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets after a student testified against him and evidence appeared to implicate him.
• Draco told Hermione that Hagrid was innocent and had been framed as a scapegoat.
• Draco revealed that Tom Marvolo Riddle had opened the Chamber of Secrets, released the monster, and orchestrated Hagrid's framing.

Hermione learned that Tom Marvolo Riddle had opened the Chamber of Secrets, killed Moaning Myrtle, and framed Hagrid, then realized Draco was hinting that Riddle might still be alive. Draco refused to reveal Riddle’s current identity without a new favor, leaving Hermione humiliated and torn over whether to accept.

• Hermione reeled as she learned Tom Marvolo Riddle was the real murderer and Hagrid had been innocent.
• Draco asked Hermione to consider what had become of Riddle and hinted that he might still exist under a current identity.
• Hermione asked Draco what Riddle’s identity was, but Draco said that was separate information from the favor he had already fulfilled.
• Draco demanded another favor in exchange for revealing Riddle’s current identity.
• Hermione shook her head, refusing to let Draco see her cry again.

Hermione agreed to owe Draco a favor in exchange for more information about Tom Riddle’s fate. Draco revealed that Riddle became the feared Dark wizard Voldemort, leaving Hermione stunned in the Room of Requirement.

• Draco offered to answer Hermione’s questions in exchange for a favor, and Hermione reluctantly agreed.
• Draco explained that Tom Riddle pursued forbidden Dark Magic after leaving Hogwarts and rejected his old identity.
• Draco described how Riddle gathered followers who supported pure-blood supremacy and spread fear through the wizarding world.
• Draco revealed that Tom Riddle became known as You-Know-Who, or Voldemort.
• Hermione realized that Voldemort was the former Hogwarts model student and sat in stunned silence.

Hermione agreed to protect Draco after he hinted that he knew more secrets, and Draco used her promise to justify taking her hand. The chapter ended with him interlocking their fingers in a dark Hogwarts corridor as Hermione trembled in fear and resistance.

• Draco told Hermione that she should protect him because he still knew other secrets, and she reluctantly agreed.
• Draco asked Hermione to escort him back to the Gryffindor Common Room, and she led him through the dark corridors.
• Draco reached for Hermione’s hand, claiming that holding it would help protect him from falling or having an accident.
• Hermione refused and demanded that Draco use his condition instead, and he agreed.
• Draco approached Hermione and pried open her clenched hand, then interlocked his fingers with hers as she trembled.

Draco led Hermione back to Gryffindor Tower while holding her hand, leaving her shaken and humiliated. When the Fat Lady caught them and questioned their hand-holding, Draco invented an elaborate story to explain it, and Hermione could only stare at him in disbelief.

• Draco held Hermione's hand and led her from the Chamber of Secrets toward Gryffindor Tower despite her discomfort.
• Near the Fat Lady's portrait, Draco released Hermione as soon as she tried to pull her hand away.
• The Fat Lady noticed Hermione's stiff hand and asked whether she and Draco had been holding hands.
• Draco told the Fat Lady they had gotten lost, made a bet, and held hands to avoid getting separated or knocking over suits of armor.
• Hermione trembled as she listened to Draco's implausible explanation, unable to figure out how to deny it.

Draco gave the Fat Lady roses and persuaded her to keep the late-night incident secret before entering the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione recoiled when he tried to put an arm around her, then entered after discovering the common room was empty.

• The Fat Lady mistook Draco and Hermione’s late-night return for a harmless mishap and joked about their mutual assistance.
• Draco presented the Fat Lady with roses as an apology and asked her to keep the incident secret, and she agreed.
• The Fat Lady opened the portrait hole and urged Draco and Hermione into the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Draco tried to put an arm around Hermione’s shoulders, but she recoiled before he touched her.
• Draco entered first, and Hermione followed after confirming that no one else was in the common room.

Hermione entered the Gryffindor Common Room believing it was empty, only to find Draco Malfoy still there, watching her. Panicked by his mention of their return “holding hands,” she lunged to silence him and tripped, falling toward his armchair.

• Hermione fled into the Gryffindor Common Room and confirmed that no one else was inside.
• She sank onto the carpet by the portrait, trying to gather strength to reach her dormitory.
• Hermione spotted Draco Malfoy sitting by the fireplace and realized he had not left.
• Draco told Hermione that no one knew they had returned holding hands.
• Hermione lunged to cover Draco’s mouth, caught her foot on the carpet, and fell toward him.

Hermione tripped and Draco caught her, leaving them in a close embrace that flustered her. When she tried to pull away, she stumbled again, and Draco held her more firmly, telling her there was no rush.

• Hermione caught her foot on the rug and fell toward the floor.
• Draco stood quickly and caught Hermione in his arms, absorbing her fall.
• Hermione remained frozen in Draco's embrace as he asked whether she was all right.
• Overcome with shame, Hermione tried to spring away but stumbled and ended up even closer to Draco.
• Draco tightened his hold and told Hermione there was no rush.

Draco kept Hermione close despite her resistance, then settled her on the sofa and arranged an excuse for their late absence. He left her with a reminder that she was still expected to accompany and protect him on the way to class tomorrow.

• Draco supported Hermione and teased her about liking to be in his arms, provoking her anger and embarrassment.
• Draco guided Hermione to the sofa despite her protests and stopped when she recoiled from his attempt to fix her hair.
• Draco and Hermione agreed to say they had stayed late at the library studying.
• Draco suggested they could cancel their protection agreement, but Hermione distrusted his offer, so he decided to keep things as they were.
• Draco told Hermione to meet him tomorrow and stay close to protect him, then went upstairs, leaving her alone.

After returning late, Draco gave his Gryffindor roommates the agreed-upon story that he had gotten lost after studying in the library, while Hermione repeated the same explanation to her roommates. The chapter ended with Hermione alone in the bathroom, shaken by what had happened and dreading having to attend classes with Draco and continue their protection agreement.

• Draco returned to the boys' dormitory and told Neville, Seamus, Ron, and Harry that he had lost track of time in the library and gotten lost on his way back.
• Ron accused Draco of breaking rules and belonging in Slytherin, but Draco challenged him, and Harry ended the argument.
• Hermione returned to the girls' dormitory and told Lavender and Parvati that she had been alone at the library and gotten lost on the fourth floor.
• Hermione escaped to the bathroom, where she broke down and worried about attending classes with Draco and fulfilling their protection agreement.

Hermione spent a sleepless night replaying her unwanted closeness with Draco, while he woke in high spirits and waited for her in the Gryffindor Common Room. When Hermione tried to sneak out unnoticed, Draco stopped her and reminded her of their agreement to have breakfast and go to class together, leaving her to follow him angrily.

• Hermione lay awake through the night, distressed by her physical contact with Draco and the emotions it stirred in her.
• Draco woke early, called the boys in his dormitory to get ready, and waited in the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Hermione woke exhausted and hurried downstairs, hoping to avoid Draco before breakfast.
• Hermione tried to slip out of the common room, but Draco called her by name and stopped her.
• Draco reminded Hermione of their agreement to eat breakfast and go to class together, and she reluctantly followed him.

Draco teased Hermione about their night together, then gave her potions to hide her dark circles and ease her fatigue. At breakfast in the Great Hall, Hermione sat with Draco at the Gryffindor table as their friends noticed them and Ron warned Draco to stay away from her.

• Draco teased Hermione about looking tired and suggested she had been thinking about him, making her hurry away in embarrassment.
• Draco stopped Hermione and offered her potions for dark circles and fatigue, which she accepted and used around the corner.
• Draco and Hermione went to the Great Hall and sat together at the Gryffindor table, where he pushed toast toward her.
• Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, and Olivia arrived and noticed Draco sitting with Hermione.
• Lavender asked Hermione whether she had been with Malfoy the previous night, and Hermione claimed she had gone to the library.
• Ron glared at Draco and told him to stay away from Hermione.

Draco maneuvered Hermione into having breakfast and sitting beside him, then predicted that Professor Flitwick would teach Lumos in the first Charms lesson. The classroom door opened after someone cast Alohomora, just as the class was about to begin.

• Draco used Hermione's promise to tutor him as an excuse to eat breakfast with her, and Hermione reluctantly agreed.
• Draco led the group to the Charms classroom and chose a seat beside the window for himself and Hermione.
• Parvati reunited with her twin sister Padma, who chose to sit with the Ravenclaws rather than join the Gryffindors.
• Draco predicted to Hermione and Neville that Professor Flitwick would teach Lumos first, while Hermione remained wary of him.
• Someone called out Alohomora, and the Charms classroom door swung open.

Professor Flitwick flew into the Charms classroom on a broomstick, demonstrated the Accio Charm, and began taking attendance. When he called Harry Potter's name, Flitwick toppled behind a bookshelf, leaving the class laughing and Seamus pointing out where he had fallen.

• Professor Flitwick flew around the classroom on a broomstick and landed silently on a stack of books.
• Professor Flitwick invited the Ravenclaws to discuss his flight after class and told the Gryffindors to focus on mastering the day's lesson.
• Professor Flitwick summoned the register with the Accio Charm, impressing the students, and began calling attendance.
• Professor Flitwick shrieked and fell behind the bookshelf when he called Harry Potter's name, prompting the class to laugh.
• Seamus pointed toward the books behind the lectern and called out that Professor Flitwick was there.

Professor Flitwick welcomed Harry to Charms class and taught the students about precision in spellcasting before demonstrating Lumos and explaining its magical principles. He introduced the counterspell Nox, and Hermione raised her hand.

• Professor Flitwick enthusiastically welcomed Harry to Hogwarts and his Charms class.
• Professor Flitwick stressed precise pronunciation and wand movements, then demonstrated Lumos.
• Draco taunted Hermione about her ability to perform a basic charm, and she coldly told him she needed no reminder.
• Ravenclaw student Comfort asked technical questions about Lumos, and Professor Flitwick explained its light, energy use, and magical principles.
• Professor Flitwick taught the students Nox as Lumos's counterspell, and Hermione raised her hand.

Professor Flitwick taught the class Lumos and held a contest to see whose light lasted longest. Hermione, Harry, and several Ravenclaws held on until Flitwick called the contest a draw, and Draco helped Hermione with her sore arm.

• Hermione asked whether Finite Incantatem could stop Lumos, and Professor Flitwick confirmed it and awarded her five points for applying what she had learned.
• Hermione cast Lumos on her first attempt and earned ten points, while Harry, Ron, and Seamus struggled with the spell in different ways.
• Draco teased Hermione about her supposed professional standards, and she ignored him as she continued practicing Lumos.
• Professor Flitwick started a Lumos endurance contest, and Draco stopped early while Hermione, Harry, and several other students kept their lights steady.
• Professor Flitwick declared the remaining students' contest a draw, and Draco gently stopped Hermione from moving her aching arm.

Draco helped Hermione relieve her sore wrist, then used an obscure healing charm to ease the aches of several Gryffindor students and earn points from Professor Flitwick. The chapter ended with Flitwick asking what other spells Draco knew, and the students waiting eagerly for his answer.

• Draco steadied Hermione’s wrist and showed her how to stretch and rotate it, earning ten points for Gryffindor from Professor Flitwick.
• Neville applauded first, and Ron began stretching Harry’s arm in hopes of earning points too.
• Draco cast the Muscle Relaxation spell on Hermione, whose pain and stiffness disappeared.
• Professor Flitwick praised Draco’s use of the Soft Light Healing Charm and awarded Gryffindor twenty more points.
• Draco used the charm on Harry and the other students who had held out, then told Professor Flitwick that he knew other spells.

Draco entertained Professor Flitwick’s Charms class before being summoned for a private assessment of the magic he used against Peeves. He asked Hermione to accompany him that evening, but she refused on the grounds that her bodyguard duties did not include her time off.

• Draco joked that Lumos was the only other spell he knew, and Professor Flitwick praised him for thinking of how to solve problems.
• Professor Flitwick dismissed the class without homework but told the students to practise Lumos, then asked Draco to visit his office that evening about the Peeves incident.
• Neville worried that Draco might be in trouble, but Draco explained that the school wanted to assess the potential dangers of his magic.
• Draco asked Hermione to come with him, claiming he was afraid of the dark and that protecting him was her job.
• Hermione argued that Draco had never specified her working hours, and she refused to accompany him during her time off.

Draco teased Hermione about accompanying him to hear Professor Flitwick’s assessment of his Peeves spell, and their friends repeatedly teased them about wanting to be alone together. At lunch, Draco revealed that their first Transfiguration lesson would involve turning a match into a needle, prompting more teasing about his supposed preparation for Hermione.

• Draco told Hermione that Professor Flitwick had assessed his spell against Peeves, and Hermione agreed to hear the results while insisting she was not accompanying him for his sake.
• Draco refused to let Neville join them, claiming Hermione was his bodyguard, and Neville accused him of wanting to be alone with Hermione.
• Olivia joined Neville in teasing Draco and Hermione until Hermione blushed, hurried toward the Great Hall, and changed the subject to lunch.
• At lunch, Draco told Neville that their first Transfiguration lesson would involve turning a match into a needle, and Neville praised his advance knowledge.
• Ron accused Draco of using his family connections to get information, while Lavender and Parvati teased Hermione about Draco preparing for her.
• Hermione scolded Lavender and Parvati but secretly added the lesson details to her notes, and Ron insisted that she did not care for Draco’s tips.

After lunch, Draco stayed in the Gryffindor Common Room while Hermione studied, teasing her and urging her to rest before Professor McGonagall’s class. He eventually lay down beside her to sleep, leaving Hermione trying to focus despite his presence.

• At lunch, Draco teased Ron about being late, making Ron flush and angrily attack his steak while Harry tried to calm him.
• After lunch, Draco stayed in the common room as Neville went to rest, finally understanding Draco’s hint that he wanted to be alone with Hermione.
• Hermione blushed as Draco sat beside her and teased her about studying, but she insisted she was fine and showed him the fatigue-relieving potion he had given her.
• Draco conceded that Hermione had planned ahead, then joined two sofas together and lay down beside her.
• Hermione resumed studying, but Draco’s presence nearby kept distracting her.