Chapter Summaries

Albert led students to investigate Umbridge’s screams and found her transformed into a toad-like state. After she frightened herself unconscious, Dumbledore and Snape considered the cause, while Dumbledore decided the Ministry would be told it was the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor’s curse.

• Albert gathered Gryffindor students and led them with Nick to investigate the screams near the Defense Against the Dark Arts Office.
• Cedric told Albert that Umbridge had turned into a toad, and Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw students crowded around her.
• Albert revived Umbridge and gave her a mirror, causing her to see her appearance, scream, and faint again.
• Albert had the students take Umbridge to the Hospital Wing and told the caretaker to notify Dumbledore or another professor.
• Dumbledore and several Heads of House visited Umbridge, and Madam Pomfrey recommended transferring her to St. Mungo’s.
• Snape suggested Umbridge’s appearance might have resulted from Polyjuice Potion, but Dumbledore said her condition would be blamed on the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor’s curse until there was evidence.

Umbridge remained at Hogwarts after turning into a toad, where students and the Weasley twins tormented her with a magazine, broadcasts, and enchanted gifts. After she screamed about seeing a giant, Professor McGonagall and Filch found Albert studying astrology with Firenze in Classroom Eleven and let him continue.

• Umbridge refused to go to St. Mungo's, and Fudge allowed her to remain at Hogwarts while she received treatment.
• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan circulated the Defense Express featuring Umbridge and resumed Wizard Watchtower broadcasts, enraging her when she saw the magazine.
• Umbridge screamed that a giant had appeared in the Hospital Wing, but Madam Pomfrey found no one there and concluded she had suffered a nightmare.
• Professor McGonagall and Filch went to Classroom Eleven, where they found Albert discussing astrology with Firenze.
• Professor McGonagall allowed Albert to stay, and Albert ended his discussion with Firenze before returning to the Common Room.

Harry explained to Dumbledore’s Army that Voldemort had returned and warned that a prison break, the Second Wizarding War, and danger to Muggle-born wizards were coming. He urged members to train more often while they still could and announced that he would teach them the Patronus Charm.

• Harry, Hermione, the Weasley twins, and Cedric agreed to increase Dumbledore’s Army meetings and prepare its members for Umbridge’s return.
• When Angelina objected that meetings conflicted with Quidditch practice, Harry explained that their peaceful training time might soon end, and Hermione proposed a schedule so students could choose which meetings to attend.
• Hermione and Cedric told the group that Albert’s Self-Defense Guide was intended to help Muggle-born wizards, who would face serious danger during the coming Second Wizarding War.
• Fred warned that a prison break was coming, and Harry revealed that Voldemort had returned and would soon free the Death Eaters in Azkaban.
• Harry described how Voldemort’s allies might bring down the Ministry and endanger Muggle-born wizards, then announced that he would teach the group the Patronus Charm.

Albert and the students helped turn Umbridge’s disappearance into a Christmas prank that strengthened Dumbledore’s Army and the Anti-Toad Alliance. The celebration ended when Professor McGonagall urgently summoned Fred and George, apparently because something had happened to their family.

• Katrina complained that the Defense Association kept occupying the Room of Requirement, and Albert reminded her that Isabelle wanted her home for Christmas.
• Professor McGonagall asked the prefects to organize a search after Umbridge vanished from the Hospital Wing, while Albert concealed that he knew where she was.
• At dinner, Umbridge changed back from a toad atop the Great Hall’s Christmas tree, spun to a song, and became the target of the students’ laughter.
• Harry and Dumbledore’s Army revealed that they had kidnapped and transformed Umbridge as part of the Weasley twins’ prank plan, then celebrated their success in the Room of Requirement.
• Professor McGonagall woke Fred and George with an urgent summons, and Albert suspected that something had happened to their family.

Voldemort reflected on how he had manipulated Harry Potter and planned to exploit Harry’s connection with Dumbledore, while Lucius Malfoy reported that Arthur Weasley had survived the snake attack. Voldemort ordered Malfoy to arrange a January breakout from Azkaban and secure the Prophecy Orb, leaving Malfoy responsible for a plan whose failure he feared.

• Voldemort explained that he had used dreams and Harry Potter’s heroism to steer him toward the Department of Mysteries, while hoping to make Harry a weakness for Dumbledore.
• Lucius Malfoy told Voldemort that the Order of the Phoenix had rescued Arthur Weasley and that Arthur had killed the snake.
• Voldemort warned Malfoy that he had to obtain the Prophecy Orb despite his previous failures.
• Voldemort ordered Malfoy to tell Avery to prepare a January attack on Azkaban, and suggested Luke Wood could help.
• Malfoy left to contact Avery and arrange the prison break, while planning to deal with Broderick Bode before he exposed their scheme.

Albert and Katrina traveled to Nicolas Flamel’s safe house in Devon to spend Christmas with Isabelle and Mrs. McDougall. After the holiday, Mrs. McDougall told them Arthur Weasley had been bitten by a venomous snake, and Albert gave her phoenix tears from Dumbledore in case no antidote could be found.

• Albert and Katrina used Dobby to travel to Nicolas Flamel’s Fidelius-protected safe house in Devon, where Isabelle welcomed them and pulled Katrina into decorating for Christmas.
• Albert gave Isabelle a notebook on Centaur healing magic, but after the three tried the methods, only Mrs. McDougal succeeded and kept the notebook.
• The McDougall family celebrated Christmas with a snow hut, a shared reading of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and a discussion about the wedding and the limits of Centaur healing magic.
• Mrs. McDougall said Dolores Umbridge had developed a toad-like condition after drinking Polyjuice Potion, and Albert blamed Harry Potter for the retaliation against her.
• Albert asked about Arthur Weasley’s snakebite and gave Mrs. McDougall a vial of phoenix tears from Dumbledore to use if the hospital could not find an antidote.

Sirius used the Wizard Watchtower’s Christmas broadcast to warn the wizarding world about Fenrir Greyback, Umbridge’s condition, and a predicted Azkaban breakout. The broadcast left Rufus Scrimgeour weighing how to respond, while Albert admitted he had made the prophecy and reassured his family that he had a way to protect them.

• Sirius broadcast reports about Greyback recruiting Werewolves, Umbridge’s condition, and the Anti-Toad Alliance’s claim of responsibility.
• Sirius warned that Antonin Dolohov, Bellatrix Lestrange, and eight other Death Eaters would escape Azkaban, and that the Dementors would side with Voldemort before the end of next summer.
• Umbridge searched the Hospital Wing for the hidden radio, returned to bed under Madam Pomfrey’s watch, and destroyed a pink toad ornament.
• Rufus Scrimgeour listened to the broadcast, considered the threat of an Azkaban breakout, and imagined what he would do as Minister for Magic.
• Albert told Katrina and Mrs. McDougal that he had made the anonymous prophecy and said he had prepared a way to evacuate his family if events worsened.

Sirius and the Order discussed Albert’s prophecy that the Ministry of Magic would collapse, Amelia Bones would be in danger, and the next Minister would become a sacrifice. Afterward, Fred and George enlisted Bill to help secure a Diagon Alley shop, while Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed their future careers.

• Sirius told the Order that Scrimgeour would become Minister and that Albert had predicted the next Minister would be a sacrifice to the Ministry’s collapse.
• Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin, and Mad-Eye discussed the planned Azkaban prison break and Amelia Bones’s danger, but doubted they could prevent the Ministry from failing.
• Mad-Eye said they should consult Dumbledore if Azkaban suffered a break and protect Amelia Bones as best they could.
• Fred and George asked Bill to negotiate for a shop at 93 Diagon Alley, explaining that Albert had provided startup money and advice.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed their career plans, with Harry and Ron considering becoming Aurors and Hermione hoping to work for magical creatures and house-elves.

Avery led the Death Eaters through the storm around Azkaban, where they freed their imprisoned comrades and escaped without the Aurors intervening. The next morning, Albert discussed the breakout with Isabelle and Katrina and explained why he believed Cornelius Fudge had chosen to ignore his warning.

• Avery led the Death Eaters through Azkaban’s surrounding storm, and Lucius Malfoy explained that the Dementors had been told to remain at the prison until the Dark Lord returned.
• Avery negotiated with the Dementors, who opened a path, and the Death Eaters entered Azkaban to free their imprisoned comrades.
• Bellatrix laughed after breaking free, while Lucius urged her to leave; the Death Eaters escaped by broomstick, with Bellatrix joining them last.
• Stringer went to the Ministry of Magic after learning the approximate time of the breakout, but he had ignored the warning and had not mobilized the Aurors.
• Albert read the Daily Prophet’s report with Isabelle and Katrina and said Fudge had likely ignored the danger to avoid becoming a target of the Dark Lord.

After the Azkaban breakout, Defense Express’s exposé on Fudge intensified public distrust of the Ministry, while Sirius warned Amelia Bones that she was marked to die. As Harry prepared to return to Hogwarts, Snape told him he would teach him Occlumency, and Fred and George planned to open a shop amid the coming unrest.

• Defense Express published Rita Skeeter’s interview with Harry and an article criticizing Fudge, prompting public calls for his resignation and suspicion of Lucius Malfoy and others.
• Fudge smashed up his office and issued a warrant for Sirius Black, but lacked evidence linking Sirius to the breakout.
• Sirius warned Amelia Bones that a prophecy said she would die before summer and urged her to hide, but she refused to flee.
• At the Order of the Phoenix meeting, Snape reported that Death Eaters had killed Broderick Bode and were considering using the Imperius Curse on Fudge; he also said Dumbledore wanted him to teach Harry Occlumency.
• Snape told Harry he would give him weekly Occlumency lessons, and Harry learned he and Sirius would travel to Hogwarts by Knight Bus.
• Fred and George paid Bill to help them find premises in Diagon Alley and warned Harry that Umbridge would make school tense.

Albert returned to Hogwarts and advised Harry that learning Occlumency would be difficult, while the news of the Azkaban breakout strengthened support for Dumbledore’s Army and the Anti-Toad Alliance. He helped Fred, George, and Lee Jordan plan a wider campaign against Umbridge, then urged the twins to prepare their joke shop for a possible early departure from school.

• Albert returned to the Gryffindor common room, gave George the twins’ holiday homework, and warned Harry that his emotional nature made learning Occlumency difficult.
• Harry said Snape was his Occlumency instructor, and Albert explained that Dumbledore expected Harry and Snape to overcome their mutual dislike.
• Albert reported that Umbridge’s skin condition was nearly healed, while news of the Azkaban breakout and Defense Express articles drove more students to join Dumbledore’s Army and the Anti-Toad Alliance.
• Fred and George showed Albert their transforming Anti-Toad Alliance badge, and he suggested free member badges, paid replacements, House designs, and a warning feature for Umbridge’s presence.
• Albert urged the twins and Lee Jordan to unite students before Umbridge recovered, and suggested that Fred and George could graduate early and focus on preparing their joke shop.

The Anti-Toad Alliance grew into Hogwarts’ largest club as students joined for its information, products, and opposition to Umbridge. Albert, Fred, George, and Lee discussed plans to drive Umbridge from the school, while Harry continued preparing to turn her into a toad.

• Students bought and wore Anti-Toad Alliance badges, and the club grew into Hogwarts’ largest organization, offering members secret information, Joke items, magazines, and magical candies.
• Albert noticed that badge-wearing students whispered about rumors and treated students without badges warily, while some Slytherins suspected the other Houses were conspiring against them.
• Fred told Albert that some Alliance members wanted to use Obliviate on Umbridge, but he and George rejected the idea and offered discounts on Joke items instead.
• Albert suggested having Peeves torment Umbridge, and George and Lee described their plan to hang her in the Great Hall as a Valentine’s cupid and feed her a Bowel-cleansing Pill.
• Albert warned them to expect Umbridge’s retaliation and suggested involving the Alliance in finding less extreme plans.
• Fred explained that Harry still intended to turn Umbridge into a toad, and Albert cautioned that Umbridge would be prepared.

Umbridge returned from the Hospital Wing and was tormented by students and Peeves until she fled, convinced that everyone was mocking her and that birds were attacking her. Fred, George, and their allies planned to repeat the prank to make her doubt her sanity and eventually drive her from Hogwarts.

• Umbridge confronted Dennis Creevey and confiscated his House badge, then took badges from Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott after hearing they supposedly marked Anti-Toad Alliance members.
• Macmillan explained that the badges were ordinary House badges, but Umbridge declared them forbidden and refused to return them.
• Students staged a prank in which Umbridge heard taunts and saw birds attacking her while everyone else denied anything was happening.
• Peeves joined in, smeared U-No-Poo on Umbridge, and drove her from the corridor while humming The Toad Song and hitting her with a rolled-up newspaper.
• Fred, George, Cedric, Harry, Hermione, and Ron discussed repeating the prank to make Umbridge paranoid and considered other ways to stop her.

Umbridge brought Ministry Aurors to Hogwarts to expel Peeves, but Peeves and the students turned the operation into a rout. Umbridge was knocked unconscious and sent to St. Mungo’s with the Aurors.

• Umbridge arrived with Aurors to drive Peeves out while Dumbledore was absent, angering Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick.
• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to help Peeves if they could, and he used a spell to conceal them.
• Peeves used his upgraded joke items to overwhelm the Aurors, while Fred, George, and Lee Jordan led students in ambushing them.
• Students wearing Toad Badges blocked Umbridge’s escape, and Peeves beat her with a mop handle as the crowd cheered and sang The Toad Song.
• Peeves knocked Umbridge unconscious, and she was sent to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries with the unconscious Aurors.

Albert urged his friends to publish an article in The Quibbler exposing Umbridge and the Ministry’s actions, hoping to turn students and their parents against them. His friends wondered whether his warnings also hinted that the Ministry would fall and Umbridge would lead a Dark Lord-controlled Hogwarts.

• Albert read the Daily Prophet’s report on Umbridge’s ordeal and warned that her return would make matters worse.
• Albert proposed using an article to expose the Ministry’s effort to remove Dumbledore and let Umbridge take control of Hogwarts.
• Albert suggested publishing the article in The Quibbler, and Lee Jordan went to discuss it with Luna while Fred and George approached Harry and Hermione.
• Harry agreed to help, and Hermione offered to contact Rita Skeeter and meet her in Hogsmeade.
• Hermione, Harry, Fred, George, and Lee wondered whether Albert’s article and warnings were a prophecy about Umbridge and the Dark Lord taking over Hogwarts.

Umbridge appeared to have softened, prompting Hogwarts students to lower their guard and legalize the Defense Against the Dark Arts Study Group, but Albert remained convinced she was planning a trap. After Umbridge gave an ambiguous answer about Hagrid’s probation, Hermione formed a frightening suspicion and went to find Albert, where she found him teaching Katrina.

• Umbridge removed the Educational Decrees, returned Harry’s Firebolt, and allowed the Defense Against the Dark Arts Study Group to meet legally, while Albert warned that she was advancing by retreating.
• Albert arranged for Hermione’s materials to go to Rita Skeeter and the Quibbler, and he warned Harry that his incomplete Occlumency practice could make things worse.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione asked Umbridge about Hagrid’s probation, and she said he could remain employed if he brought no dangerous Magical Creatures into class.
• Ron reminded Hermione that Hagrid could return if Dumbledore remained headmaster, and Hermione hurried to the Room of Requirement with a new suspicion.
• Hermione found Albert teaching Katrina and told him about Umbridge’s answer; Albert cautioned that spoken promises and even signed contracts could not always be trusted.

Albert and Isabelle spent Valentine's Day discussing their future, their ambitions, and how their lives had changed since meeting. They ended the conversation affirming that finding each other was their greatest good fortune.

• Isabelle helped Albert stretch and persuaded him to resume morning exercises with her.
• Albert and Isabelle discussed his idea of using Muggle money to establish a hidden village and her newly brewed Liquid Luck.
• Isabelle worried that prophecy and the Dark Lord’s attention could complicate their wedding, and Albert reassured her they could prepare flexible plans.
• Albert explained why Percy had set aside Penelope for his career and recalled his own childhood ambition to become wealthy before receiving his Hogwarts letter.
• Albert and Isabelle reflected on their lives and agreed that meeting each other was their greatest luck.

Albert arranged for Rita Skeeter to write an anonymous article exposing evidence against Fudge and the Ministry, then reassured Harry, Ron, and Hermione that Dumbledore could still change the future foretold in a prophecy. He also explained Umbridge’s political aims and warned that the Ministry’s corrupt rules left them with little protection.

• Albert met Rita Skeeter at The Three Broomsticks, paid her to write an article without a byline, and helped her assemble evidence linking the Triwizard Tournament, Umbridge, and the Azkaban breakout to Fudge and the Death Eaters.
• Albert reminded Rita to include the Spanish incident and present the evidence as speculation, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions.
• Albert asked Luna about her preparations to take over the Wizard Cards Club and warned Lee Jordan that Fred and George might leave Hogwarts early.
• Albert told Harry, Ron, and Hermione that a prophecy showed Dumbledore dying, but reassured them that Dumbledore knew of the danger and could still change his fate.
• Albert explained that Umbridge wanted to expel Harry, remove Dumbledore, and become headmistress, and warned the trio that the Ministry could use its own laws against them.

Harry continued teaching the Dumbledore's Army Study Group the Patronus Charm, and Cedric became the first member besides the experienced trio to conjure a corporeal Patronus. Umbridge then burst into the Room of Requirement and accused the group of practicing Dark magic, prompting Harry and the students to confront her and head to Dumbledore's office.

• Harry reassured the students that mastering the Patronus Charm took practice and reviewed its requirements and risks.
• Cedric conjured a silver swan Patronus, encouraging the other students.
• Umbridge entered the Room of Requirement and claimed that the gathering had been reported to the Ministry as an illegal meeting to practice Dark magic.
• Harry calmed the students and agreed to go with Umbridge to explain the gathering before Dumbledore and the Minister for Magic, while the group insisted on coming too.
• George quietly asked Lee Jordan to find Albert and tell him what was happening.

Harry confronted Fudge and Umbridge in Dumbledore’s office as they tried to accuse him of organizing Dumbledore’s Army, while Harry exposed their use of Veritaserum on students. Dumbledore admitted to plotting against Fudge, fought off the Aurors, and vanished; Harry and the gathered students then confronted the Ministry officials outside the office.

• Harry challenged Fudge over the escaped Death Eaters and accused the Ministry of neglecting its duties while targeting Hogwarts.
• Umbridge brought Miss Aikmo and presented evidence of Dumbledore’s Army, but Harry questioned her testimony and revealed that Umbridge had formed the Toad Alliance.
• Umbridge admitted using Veritaserum on Colin Creevey and brought him and Ginny Weasley to the office; Dumbledore knocked them unconscious and ordered McGonagall to take them and Miss Aikmo to the hospital.
• Dumbledore admitted recruiting students to oppose Fudge, then fought the Aurors and disappeared from the office.
• Harry told the students that the Ministry had drugged students and driven Dumbledore out, and the students raised their wands against Fudge, Umbridge, and the Aurors.