Chapter Summaries

In Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration lesson, Argus showed an unusual ability to grasp the transformation of an object’s essence and earned an invitation to the Transfiguration Club. He helped students from both houses with their matches, but Harry and Ron ended the lesson unable to change theirs.

• Professor McGonagall taught the first-years how to turn matches into silver needles, while Argus attempted to transform his match into a pig and alarmed her with its needle-limbed form.
• Argus explained that he wanted to learn how to turn wood into a real pig, and Professor McGonagall praised his talent, suggested easier transformations to practice, and invited him to the Transfiguration Club.
• Professor McGonagall deducted five points from Slytherin for Argus’s classroom disruption but awarded the house five points for his Transfiguration, then asked him to help the class.
• Argus coached Draco and the other first-years, helping students from Slytherin and Gryffindor make progress with their matches.
• Ron discouraged Harry from seeking Argus’s help, and by the end of class Harry and Ron were the only students whose matches had not changed.

Peeves attacked the Slytherin and Gryffindor first-years with water balloons, and Argus protected the students before saving Parvati from falling off a staircase. Professor McGonagall rewarded Slytherin with twenty points, while Parvati left with her sister for a checkup.

• Draco and the Slytherin first-years celebrated that Gryffindors had asked Argus for advice as the groups walked toward class.
• Peeves threw water balloons at the students, and Argus shielded them with Protego Totalum.
• Parvati fell from a rotating staircase while Padma tried to hold on to her, and Argus caught her with Wingardium Leviosa.
• Parvati and Padma thanked Argus, and Professor McGonagall praised him for saving Parvati.
• Professor McGonagall awarded Slytherin twenty points and took Parvati to Madam Pomfrey for a checkup.

During Harry's first Potions lesson, Snape quizzed and berated him while Argus answered the questions. A potion explosion caused a fire and injured students, and Argus helped contain the chaos before Snape confronted Ron and Seamus.

• Snape began the Potions lesson by scolding the class and quizzing Harry, who could not answer his questions.
• Snape asked Argus the same questions, and Argus answered them correctly before Snape awarded Slytherin five points and took five points from Gryffindor.
• Argus and Draco worked on the Cure for Boils in a distant corner while Snape mocked Argus for not helping other students.
• A potion exploded near Snape, splashing corrosive liquid and setting the classroom into chaos as cauldrons and furniture caught fire.
• Argus extinguished the flames, cleaned the room, and directed students to help the injured before Snape demanded explanations from Ron and Seamus.

Ron and Seamus’s disastrous first Potions lesson cost Gryffindor points, while Argus learned that Gringotts had been attacked and saw an opportunity to use Voldemort’s return to advance his plans. The chapter leaves Argus heading to Flying Class as Harry wonders about the attacked vault.

• Ron chose Seamus as his Potions partner, and their botched brew exploded, injuring nearby students and Snape.
• Snape took points from Gryffindor for Ron, Seamus, and Harry, who helped bring the injured pair to the Hospital Wing.
• Argus ate lunch with Hermione and read a report that Gringotts had been attacked by a suspected Dark wizard.
• Argus resolved to use Voldemort’s return to distract attention from the Acolytes and undermine confidence in Gringotts while pursuing his own plans.
• Harry read about the attack and speculated with Ron about the targeted vault, while Draco rushed ahead to Flying Class and Argus followed the Slytherins.

Argus discovered he could not make a broomstick fly and welcomed Madam Hooch’s offer to let him attend other lessons instead. As classmates comforted him, Ron’s jealousy boiled over, and he charged at Argus on his broom.

• Madam Hooch taught the first years to summon and ride their brooms, but Argus could not get his broom to move.
• Madam Hooch told Argus to rest and said she would arrange other lessons for him during flying class.
• Argus studied on the lawn and reassured Parvati and her sister that he was fine without a broomstick.
• Several students came to comfort Argus, prompting Ron to accuse them of favoring him and Draco to confront Ron.
• Harry defended Argus, but Ron ignored him, mounted his broom, and charged at Argus.

Ron stole Argus's textbook and provoked Draco, whose broom broke during their aerial chase. Argus saved Draco but secretly caused Ron to fall, and Madam Hooch punished Ron and awarded Slytherin points for Argus's rescue.

• Ron took Argus's textbook and flew away, so Draco chased him and the boys traded insults in the air.
• Draco pursued Ron until Ron threw Argus's book away, and Draco's worn broom snapped as he went after it.
• Argus turned the grass into mattresses to cushion Draco's fall, then secretly made Ron's broom fail, leaving Ron with broken arms.
• Madam Hooch took fifty points from Gryffindor, barred Ron from her lessons, and said she would report him to Professor McGonagall.
• Madam Hooch apologized to Argus and awarded Slytherin ten points for his bravery in saving Draco.

After Ron’s actions in Flying Class left him injured and disgraced, Argus refused Harry’s pleas to forgive him, while Mrs. Weasley’s Howler scolded Ron and warmly welcomed Harry to the Burrow. That evening, Percy and the Weasley twins apologized to Argus on Ron’s behalf, and Percy stopped him to raise one more matter.

• Students gathered around Draco with gifts while Harry stayed beside the isolated Ron in the Hospital Wing.
• Mrs. Weasley’s Howler loudly rebuked Ron for disrupting lessons and stealing from classmates, then kindly invited Harry to visit the Burrow.
• Harry asked Argus to forgive Ron, but Argus rejected the plea and reminded him that Ron had caused trouble in Flying Class and hurt Draco.
• Pansy criticized Ron for failing to apologize, and Ron hid beneath his covers in shame.
• Percy and the Weasley twins visited Argus to apologize for Ron and offered to replace the textbook he had thrown away.
• As Argus prepared to leave, Percy stopped him and said he wanted to discuss one more thing.

Argus offered Fred and George a major investment in their prank-product business, promising funding, half the profits, and a future joke shop. After settling the deal, the three sneaked through the castle to the Hogwarts Kitchens for a late-night snack.

• Argus let Percy keep his annotated textbook and asked him for his notes, which Percy promised to bring to the Great Hall the next morning.
• Fred and George returned to meet Argus, who proposed investing in their products and offered them fifty Galleons in initial funding.
• Argus promised to cover their materials in exchange for one of each product and half the profits, and offered them a joke shop to manage after graduation.
• The three agreed to get a late-night snack and followed secret passages to the Hogwarts Kitchens.
• Fred tickled the pear in the kitchen's fruit painting, revealing a door handle, and welcomed Argus inside.

After dinner in the kitchens with the Weasley twins, Argus sneaked back through Hogwarts and narrowly avoided Filch near the room guarding Fluffy. He got lost in the castle and encountered Quirrell, who questioned why a Slytherin first-year was there.

• Leah served Argus an elaborate meal, and the house-elves brought him and the Weasley twins more delicacies after he praised her cooking.
• Argus parted from the Weasley twins and sneaked back alone, hoping to avoid drawing Dumbledore's attention.
• When Filch and Mrs. Norris searched nearby, Argus hid in the room outside Fluffy's chamber and used Scourgify to remove his scent.
• After Filch left, Argus emerged, got lost among Hogwarts' staircases, and heard Quirrell ask what a Slytherin first-year was doing there.

Argus encountered Quirrell, realized Voldemort was probing his mind, and escaped the confrontation when Snape arrived, though he received detention for being out after curfew. Snape then told Dumbledore about the meeting, and Dumbledore asked him to watch Argus and protect Harry's planned upbringing.

• Argus met Quirrell in the castle at night and tried to leave after noticing Quirrell's suspicious behavior.
• Quirrell, apparently under Voldemort's control, attempted Legilimency, but Argus's Occlumency resisted the probe.
• Argus drew Snape's attention with his raised voice, and Quirrell departed after warning that they would meet again.
• Snape gave Argus a week's detention and deducted five points from Slytherin for breaking curfew.
• Snape told Dumbledore that Argus seemed disgusted by Quirrell and may have sensed Voldemort's intrusion.
• Dumbledore asked Snape to keep an eye on Argus and ensure nothing disrupted Harry's development, and Snape agreed.

After Voldemort punished Quirrell for questioning his interest in Grindelwald, he ordered him to prepare a potion so he could test Grindelwald’s talent. In Herbology, Argus and Hermione impressed Professor Sprout by identifying plants, and the lesson ended with her praising them both.

• Voldemort punished Quirrell, then ordered him to prepare a potion for Grindelwald’s next Defence Against the Dark Arts class so he could test Grindelwald’s talent.
• Argus received the Nightwalker achievement and decided to strengthen himself after realizing Voldemort had used Legilimency on him.
• Hermione eagerly joined Argus for their first Herbology class together, where Professor Sprout asked the students to identify a plant.
• Argus recognized the plant as Devil’s Snare disguised as a Christmas cactus and earned five points for Slytherin; Hermione earned three points for Ravenclaw.
• Hermione and Argus identified several plants in turn, and Professor Sprout said she would give both of them an O if the lesson were an exam.

Argus helped Hermione handle a Leaping Toadstool during Herbology, then arranged to buy Hagrid’s Forbidden Forest materials at market price. Before his detention, Argus fed and cleaned Mrs. Norris, only for Filch to catch him with the cat.

• Hermione struggled when a Leaping Toadstool jumped in her hand, but Argus calmed her and guided her through planting it.
• Argus reassured Hermione that her inexperience did not make her stupid, and she regained her confidence.
• Argus visited Hagrid before detention and discovered his stockpile of valuable fantastic beast materials from the Forbidden Forest.
• Argus offered to buy all of Hagrid’s materials at market price, and Hagrid gratefully agreed to trade with him.
• Argus fed Mrs. Norris fried fish and cleaned her with Scourgify in Filch’s office.
• Filch arrived and furiously demanded to know what Argus had done to Mrs. Norris.

Argus accompanied Hagrid on a nighttime patrol of the Forbidden Forest, where they encountered Mooncalves and talked about Hagrid’s solitary life. As they reached the forest’s edge, the centaur Firenze appeared and said he had come because of Argus.

• Filch admired how beautiful Mrs. Norris had become, thanked Argus for his advice about her care, and escorted him to the Forbidden Forest.
• Argus joined Hagrid and Fang for a patrol along the forest’s outskirts, where Hagrid showed him several Mooncalves.
• Argus and Hagrid continued the patrol and talked about Hagrid’s companionship with the Forbidden Forest’s creatures.
• As Argus and Hagrid headed back, Hagrid said he wished Argus could visit every day, and Argus promised to come when he could.
• Firenze emerged with a bow and arrow, greeted Argus, and told Hagrid he had come for him.

Argus met Firenze in the Forbidden Forest, where the centaur revealed a prophecy about Argus changing the centaurs’ fate, but Ronan attacked and Argus severely wounded him before leaving. Back at Hogwarts, Argus earned an achievement and learned that his next class was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Quirrell, only for Snape to appear behind him.

• Firenze told Argus that the stars had foretold his arrival and a change in the centaurs’ fate, then invited him to their settlement to explain the prophecy.
• Ronan accused Firenze of betraying the centaurs and attacked Argus, who blasted him into a tree with Expelliarmus.
• Argus left Firenze to treat Ronan and returned to Hogwarts, where he received 50 achievement points for completing his first Forbidden Forest patrol.
• Argus found Draco boasting in the Slytherin common room, then went to sleep without eating a late-night snack.
• Draco told Argus that their first lesson was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Quirrell, and Argus panicked about seeing him again.
• Snape appeared behind Argus as he tried to invent excuses to miss class.

Voldemort took control of Quirrell’s Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson and asked the students to define dark magic. Argus impressed him with his answer, but Voldemort then singled out Harry to ask about the Unforgivable Curses.

• Argus listened as students mocked Quirrell’s teaching, then watched Quirrell struggle through a lesson on Puffskeins.
• Voldemort took control of Quirrell’s body, shut the students’ textbooks with a spell, and began teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts himself.
• Voldemort asked the students what dark magic was, then pressured Argus to answer by invoking his knowledge and Slytherin’s house points.
• Argus said any magic used with strong malice could be dark magic and demonstrated his point with Aguamenti; Voldemort praised him and awarded Slytherin five points.
• Argus named jinxes, hexes, and curses as the three main categories of dark magic, and Voldemort turned to Harry to ask which spells were the Unforgivable Curses.

Voldemort revealed himself to Argus in Quirrell's office and tried to recruit him, but Argus refused. As Voldemort began to attack, Argus anticipated him and cast Expelliarmus.

• Voldemort questioned Harry about basic magic, grew furious at his ignorance, and took five points from Gryffindor.
• Voldemort pressured Argus into meeting him by threatening to approach Draco, Nott, and the other students.
• In Quirrell's office, Voldemort revealed that he was Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort.
• Voldemort asked Argus to join him, but Argus argued that he and the Acolytes were better off without Voldemort.
• Voldemort began to attack Argus, who anticipated him and cast Expelliarmus.

Argus defeated Voldemort in a duel and agreed to become his disciple in exchange for magical knowledge. After gaining achievement points and drawing new spells, he mastered a higher level of Transfiguration and transformed a table into an iron basin.

• Argus fought Voldemort, who praised his talent and invited him to become his disciple.
• Argus accepted after Voldemort gave him a notebook of magical notes, and Voldemort asked him to bring information about Potter and Hogwarts' third floor.
• After Argus left, Voldemort told Quirrell he expected Argus to help him and believed Dark Magic would corrupt the boy.
• Argus received achievement points for becoming Voldemort's disciple and used them to draw spells, including Finite Incantatem and Transfiguration.
• Argus merged his spell knowledge, improved Reparo and Densaugeo, and transformed a wooden table into an iron basin.

Argus studied Voldemort’s notes on Dark Magic and decided to trade information about Fluffy for payment while leaving Voldemort’s resurrection to Dumbledore. After arranging a Fantastic Beasts materials deal with Hagrid, Argus found the Room of Requirement and entered it to practice magic.

• Argus used Occlumency to study Voldemort’s notes and learned that jinxes, hexes, and curses all arose from malicious thoughts of varying strength.
• Argus decided he would tell Voldemort about Fluffy and sell additional information about the three-headed dog rather than investigate the Philosopher’s Stone himself.
• Vinda Rosier wrote to Argus that she had bought several shops in Diagon Alley, and Argus planned to discuss the Acolytes’ next move in person.
• Argus told Hagrid to prepare Fantastic Beasts materials for him to buy, and Hagrid apologized for doubting their business deal.
• Argus decided to use the Room of Requirement as a private place to practice magic, summoned its door on the Seventh Floor, and entered.

Argus agreed to serve as Draco’s second in a midnight duel with Ron, then confronted Harry for taking Ron’s side. The duel began when Ron attacked Argus with a spell in the Trophy Room.

• Argus explored the Room of Requirement and later returned to the Slytherin Common Room, where Draco told him Ron had insulted his new Nimbus 2000.
• Draco told Argus he had challenged Ron to a duel in the Trophy Room at eleven thirty, and Argus agreed to accompany him.
• Draco’s announcement drew a crowd of Slytherins, and Argus scolded him for making the secret duel widely known.
• At the Trophy Room, Argus heard Ron insult Draco and found Harry standing with Ron, then told Harry that his choice had put him against Draco.
• Ron drew his wand and fired Densaugeo at Argus before observing any dueling formalities.

Argus and Draco confronted Ron and Harry in the Trophy Room, but Filch treated Argus as a friend and took Harry and Ron into custody instead. The next day, Gryffindor’s hourglass had fallen to zero, and Ron faced his classmates’ scorn as he learned his parents were coming from the Burrow.

• Argus levitated Ron after Ron repeatedly attacked him, while Draco challenged Harry for defending Ron and then defeated Harry in a duel.
• Mrs. Norris ran into the Trophy Room and settled into Argus’s arms, and Filch greeted Argus warmly when he arrived.
• Ron shouted for Filch to catch the students breaking curfew, but Filch focused on Harry and Ron and praised Argus and Draco for restraining them.
• Ron called Filch a Squib, and Argus dropped Ron to the floor before leaving with Draco.
• The next day, Gryffindor’s hourglass was back at zero, Harry and Ron were scorned by Gryffindors, and Ron learned his parents would soon arrive from the Burrow.