Chapter Summaries

Rose, an orphan in late-July London, struggled to find work and secure a chance to attend school before she turned eleven. After the children worked at an open-air concert, they returned to the poorhouse with only a few pieces of hard bread and no money.

• Alice accused Rose of lazing around while she helped workers prepare for the concert.
• Rose recalled that two families had returned her because strange events followed her, and that the poorhouse children called her a freak.
• Rose worried she would miss her chance to attend school in September and be sent to St. Bruce's Church School or become a maid.
• Rose considered looking for work again or trying to get Director Johnson's recommendation, though he made her uneasy.
• Rose approached Alice and softly thanked her, but Alice turned away.
• After the concert ended, Rose, Alice, and Becky returned to the poorhouse, where the children received only hard bread and no coins for their work.

Rose went to Mr. Johnson to ask about attending school, but he demanded sexual favors in exchange and threatened her. Her uncontrolled magic shattered a cabinet and injured him, and she was locked in the underground confinement room.

• Rose went to Mr. Johnson's office after breakfast to ask about going to school.
• Mr. Johnson said Rose would have to earn her own tuition and then propositioned her, making clear he expected sexual favors.
• Rose shoved away Mr. Johnson's hand and became furious when he mocked Marge and threatened Rose's prospects.
• A loud bang shattered the display cabinet, and glass shards injured Mr. Johnson's arm.
• Miss Elena and others took Rose downstairs and locked her in the underground confinement room.

Rose remained locked in the confinement room, hungry and in pain, and feared she might have to leave school. Becky and Alice secretly brought her food, leaving Rose grateful as she ate the Yorkshire puddings.

• Rose drifted between sleep and waking in the cold confinement room and dreamed of home before hunger and nausea jolted her awake.
• Becky and Alice tapped on the window and broke its glass while Marge distracted Miss Elena.
• Becky and Alice dropped two Yorkshire puddings and a bag of sugar through the window for Rose.
• Rose waited until the girls had left, then crawled toward the food and ate a pudding through her tears.

Rose learned that she was a witch when Professor McGonagall came to take her to Hogwarts. After a day in Diagon Alley, Rose returned to her bed with the supplies she needed and hope for a new beginning.

• Rose woke in the confinement room and imagined ways to escape her life at the orphanage.
• Elena took Rose to meet a professor in Johnson's office, where Professor McGonagall used a Confundus Charm on Johnson.
• Professor McGonagall told Rose she was a witch and gave her a Hogwarts acceptance letter and shopping list.
• Professor McGonagall took Rose to Diagon Alley, where she bought school supplies with help from the Hogwarts fund.
• Rose returned to the orphanage with her wand, robes, secondhand textbooks, and dinner, then fell asleep exhausted but happy.

Rose left the workhouse for Hogwarts and boarded the Hogwarts Express, where she encountered Lily Evans after Lily argued with Severus Snape. As the train began moving, a group of first-year boys entered the compartment and told Rose to move beside Lily.

• Rose spent the rest of August preparing for school, while Marge comforted her about feeling guilty toward the workhouse girls.
• On September 1, Rose said goodbye to the girls and traveled alone to King's Cross Station.
• Rose crossed onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and saw Lily Evans leave Severus Snape behind after he insulted her.
• Rose boarded the Hogwarts Express and found Lily crying alone in a mostly empty compartment.
• After the train started moving, a group of first-year boys entered and told Rose to move over beside Lily.

Rose avoided interfering with the first meeting between Lily Evans, James Potter, and Black, but Severus Snape never appeared on the train. At Hogwarts, Rose met Snape and crossed the lake with Lily, Snape, and another first-year, leaving her awestruck by the castle.

• Rose pretended to sleep while Lily Evans sat beside her, and Snape failed to arrive as Rose expected.
• James Potter and Black discussed their family ties to Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Potter insulted Slytherin in front of Lily.
• Lily introduced herself to Rose, and Rose reassured her about being sorted before Lily and Potter argued.
• Hagrid called the first-years to the boats, and Lily introduced Rose to Severus Snape when he joined them.
• Rose, Lily, Snape, and a small girl with two braids crossed the dark lake by boat, and Rose saw Hogwarts for the first time.

Rose and Lily were sorted into Gryffindor alongside Potter and Black, while Snape joined Slytherin. At the welcoming feast, Rose shared that she had grown up in an orphanage and celebrated her new life as a witch with Lily and their fellow Gryffindors.

• The Sorting Hat placed Black and Potter in Gryffindor, and Black's sorting surprised students watching from the hall.
• The Sorting Hat sent Rose to Gryffindor, where Black made room for her, and then sorted Snape into Slytherin.
• Lily joined Rose in Gryffindor, leaving Snape disappointed, and the two girls happily discussed being housemates.
• At the feast, Rose eagerly ate the food and told the Gryffindors she had grown up in a poorhouse.
• Lily hugged Rose and celebrated their new lives as witches, prompting the new Gryffindors to grin together.

Rose settled into life at Hogwarts, met her dormitory roommates, and endured her first day of classes. The chapter ended with Rose, Mary, and Marlene heading to dinner while Lily went to the library with Severus Snape.

• Rose slept deeply in her new Gryffindor dormitory and woke the next morning to Lily getting ready for class.
• Lily introduced Rose to their roommates, Mary Macdonald and Marlene McKinnon, at breakfast, and Rose greeted James Potter after he teased them.
• Rose attended Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology, growing tired as the lessons and homework piled up.
• Lily left for the library with Severus Snape, and Rose explained to Mary and Marlene that he was Lily's friend from before Hogwarts.
• Rose, Mary, and Marlene set aside their worries about Slytherin and hurried to dinner, hoping for Yorkshire pudding.

Rose attended Potions with Mary, earned an E for their Cure for Boils, and stayed behind to speak with Professor Slughorn. On her way out, she witnessed Potter and Black confront Snape, and her laughter drew her into the argument.

• Professor Slughorn spent much of Potions Class talking about his connections before assigning the students to make a Cure for Boils.
• Rose and Mary brewed a clear, dark green potion that Professor Slughorn graded an E, while Lily and Snape made a potion he praised as perfect.
• Rose left Mary to return to the Great Hall and saw Snape urge Lily to join Slytherin as Potter mocked him.
• Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew appeared, and Black insulted Snape; Rose laughed and revealed herself.
• Lily shielded Snape from Potter and Black, then left with him, while Rose argued with Black about whether she had told on them.
• Lupin reminded them that lunch was ending, and Potter reproached Pettigrew for having eaten five pieces of bread that morning.

Rose watched Lily and Snape during Flying Class, where Potter and Black’s prank caused Snape and Black to fall from their brooms and end up in the Hospital Wing. Rose left Lily at Snape’s bedside and overheard Potter planning another prank with Black.

• Rose searched for Lily at lunch and watched for her during Flying Class, where Snape struggled to summon his broom.
• Madam Hooch helped Snape get his broom, and Rose enjoyed flying above the grounds.
• Potter dropped Horned Slugs onto Snape, causing him to fall from his broom, and Lily and Rose rushed to help.
• Snape cast a spell that knocked Black from his broom, and Potter dived after Black as the boys were sent to the Hospital Wing.
• Madam Pomfrey ordered Snape and Black to stay overnight, and Rose overheard Potter discussing their next prank with Black.

Rose tried to find work helping at Hogwarts, then reassured Lily that she would stand up for her if the Marauders bullied her. In Potions class, Sirius Black accused Rose of being a Slytherin-like tattletale, but her sudden sympathy left him confused.

• Madam Pomfrey turned down Rose's request for work and suggested she ask Dumbledore or try the library instead.
• Lily worried that Potter and his friends might bully Rose, and Rose embraced her after hearing Lily would not blame her for failing to defend Snape.
• Rose ate breakfast with Marlene, Mary, and Lily before they hurried to Slughorn's Potions class.
• Sirius Black accused Rose of sucking up to Slughorn and called her a tattletale, while Rose denied reporting the Marauders' antics.
• Rose's anger faded as she thought of Sirius's future devotion to his godson, and Sirius mistook her sympathetic expression for a sign that she was cold.

Rose began working Saturday mornings in the Hogwarts library, where a mishap with a floating book brought her into a tense exchange with Snape. She left him annoyed by his suspicion that she was reporting his whereabouts to Potter and Black.

• Rose arranged with Madam Pince to work part-time in the library, and Dumbledore approved her helping every Saturday morning.
• Rose agreed with Potter about his flying story, prompting Lily and Black to tease him about looking like a nightjar.
• Madam Pince assigned Rose to return misplaced books to their shelves using a catalog and the Levitation Charm.
• Rose lost control of a floating book, which nearly struck Snape as he worked alone in the library.
• Snape accused Rose of asking about Lily so she could report back to Potter and Black, and Rose ended the conversation in irritation.

Rose spent Christmas at Hogwarts, where she received her first presents in this world, including a magically warmed scarf from Sirius Black. After enjoying the feast, she remembered she needed to find the kitchens to make him a gift, but Marlene was nowhere to be seen.

• Rose learned that Marlene would stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because her family was visiting Poland, and she helped cheer Lily by suggesting a present for Petunia.
• Rose spent the holidays studying and playing Wizard’s Chess with Marlene before waking on Christmas Day to find presents from Mary, Lily, Marlene, Natasha, and other Gryffindor students.
• Rose unwrapped Sirius Black’s gift, a red scarf enchanted with a long-lasting Warming Charm, along with a note apologizing for misunderstanding her.
• Rose decided to make Sirius Black biscuits or another sweet treat, then went alone to the Great Hall for the Christmas feast.
• Rose enjoyed the decorated Great Hall, wizard crackers, and festive food, but after dessert she remembered she still had to find the kitchens and noticed Marlene was missing.

Rose met Marlene at Mirabella’s portrait, where she learned about Mirabella’s choice to become a haddock and discovered a secret passage leading to the Whomping Willow. Rose and Marlene then went to the kitchen together, growing closer as they joked about their houses.

• Rose found Marlene speaking with Mirabella, a witch trapped in a portrait after transforming herself into a haddock to be with her merperson lover.
• Rose praised Mirabella’s courage, and Mirabella revealed a secret passage behind her portrait that led to a place where a moving willow had been planted.
• Rose and Marlene discussed whether Mirabella’s choice was brave, and Rose said she must have been happy when she made it.
• Rose invited Marlene to the kitchen, and Marlene was surprised that Rose knew how to get there.
• Rose tickled the pear in a painting to open the kitchen entrance, and she and Marlene tumbled inside while playfully tussling.

Rose made soft chocolate cookies as a belated Christmas gift for Black and sent them to his family home. Sirius received the battered package despite his mother's hostility and smiled as he recognized the Gryffindor colors.

• Rose gathered ingredients in the Hogwarts kitchen and baked a successful batch of chocolate cookies after adjusting her recipe.
• Rose decorated the cookies with gold-and-red ribbons, wrapped them in silver and green, and told Marlene the gift was for Black.
• Marlene accompanied Rose to the Owlery, where Rose sent the package to the Black family home.
• At 12 Grimmauld Place, Black's mother crushed the package and ordered Reg to deliver it to Sirius, who was still locked in his room.
• Sirius found the box outside his door, picked it up after spotting the gold and red, and smiled as he held the damaged cookies.

Rose returned to Hogwarts after Christmas, spent time in the library, and watched Gryffindor lose its Quidditch match against Slytherin. After the match, she saw Snape leaving with Lily while James Potter vowed to win next year.

• Rose recommended Mary’s book to Marlene, returned to helping Madam Pince, and spent much of her free time in the library.
• James Potter boasted that Gryffindor would win the House Cup, and Dennis McGoo encouraged him to join the Quidditch team next year.
• Rose went with Mary and Marlene to watch Gryffindor play Slytherin, where James Potter learned that Lily had arranged to sit with Snape.
• Slytherin won 190–170 despite Dennis McGoo catching the Golden Snitch, and James Potter vowed to show them next year.
• Sirius Black pointed out Snape leaving beside Lily, and Rose saw them talking quietly together.

Rose intervened when James Potter, Sirius Black, and Snape clashed, then returned to the Gryffindor dormitory and decided she might try out for the Quidditch team next year. She began planning how to learn the game and improve her flying.

• James Potter and Sirius Black taunted Snape until Snape jinxed James with Furnunculus, and Sirius retaliated with Locomotor Mortis.
• Lily defended Snape, and Rose stepped between her and Sirius, urging him to take James to the Hospital Wing.
• Rose left the pitch with Marlene while Lily stayed to free and check on Snape.
• Rose returned early to the dormitory because the Gryffindor Common Room was gloomy after the Quidditch loss.
• Rose told Natasha she might try out for Quidditch next year, and Natasha suggested she ask Potter to help her practice.

Rose bet James Potter and Sirius Black that she knew more secret passages in Hogwarts than they did, wagering that James would practice Quidditch with her if she won. After naming several passages the boys did not seem to know, she arranged to meet them on the castle lawn that weekend, leaving herself with a chance to get the Quidditch practice she wanted.

• Rose teased James Potter and Sirius Black about rarely appearing at meals, and they said they had been given detention polishing Pringle's corporal punishment tools.
• Rose challenged James Potter and Sirius Black to a bet about who knew more secret passages; she offered to do their homework for a month if she lost, while James would practice Quidditch with her if she won.
• At the Gryffindor Common Room, Rose named the One-Eyed Witch Passage, a passage behind a fourth-floor tapestry, and a passage behind a mirror.
• James Potter and Sirius Black reacted with surprise to Rose's knowledge, while James nearly let slip that the boys had something more than secret passages to help them sneak around.
• Rose reminded James Potter of the bet and arranged to meet him and Sirius Black on the castle lawn that weekend afternoon.

Rose practiced flying and Quidditch with James Potter and Sirius Black, later growing closer to the Marauders through repeated sessions. As she flew, she set aside her fears about changing history and embraced the friendships and life she had found at Hogwarts.

• James Potter admitted he had borrowed the practice brooms without getting permission, and Rose hesitated before joining him and Sirius Black.
• Potter suggested Rose try out as a Seeker or Chaser, and Rose chose to focus on becoming a Chaser.
• Rose and Potter practiced flying and throwing a ball at a tree while Black acted as goalkeeper; Potter scored seventeen times and Rose scored twelve.
• Rose practiced with Potter and Black several more times, and Remus Lupin sometimes joined them to watch quietly.
• At their fourth practice, Rose and Black exchanged first names because neither felt used to being called by their surnames.
• Rose flew happily through the sky and stopped dwelling on her fears about changing the future.

Rose finished her first year at Hogwarts, formed close friendships with Lily and the other girls, and earned strong final exam results. She left for summer with Lily’s reassurance and, as they parted at the station, felt she had found a place to belong.

• Rose grew taller during the spring term while Lily defended Snape from clashes with the Marauders.
• As exams approached, Rose studied diligently and discussed Quidditch practice and a possible team position with her friends.
• Rose learned the Umbrella Charm and taught it to the girls during the rainy June weather.
• Rose earned Outstanding marks in History of Magic, Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts, Acceptable in Astronomy, and Exceeds Expectations in her other subjects.
• Rose and Lily left Hogwarts by train, and Lily held Rose’s hand as they passed through the barrier at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.