Chapter Summaries

After Dumbledore urged Harry to choose his own path against Voldemort, Harry sought Hermione’s help recovering Slughorn’s memory and used Liquid Luck to devise a plan to earn Slughorn’s trust. He left to visit Slughorn, while Hermione gave Ginny a vial of Liquid Luck and suggested she try Lavender’s method.

• Dumbledore told Harry that he had found several Horcruxes, needed Slughorn’s memory to learn their number, and believed Harry could succeed; Harry resolved to face Voldemort by choice rather than because of the prophecy.
• Harry learned that Neville wanted to join the Defense Association and told him the meetings would resume after Christmas.
• Harry asked Hermione for help with Slughorn’s memory, and Ginny revealed she had overheard them and offered suggestions.
• Hermione and Ginny helped Harry consider getting Slughorn drunk and lowering his guard; Harry took Brain Elixir and Liquid Luck, then planned to build trust by asking Slughorn about his mother.
• Ginny and Hermione recalled that Slughorn’s birthday was April 28, and Harry hurried off to visit him.
• Hermione gave Ginny a vial of Liquid Luck and suggested she try Lavender’s method.

Albert discussed Harry Potter’s doubts and the dangers facing the wizarding world with Isabelle and the McDougals, revealing that Cassandra’s prophecies might foretell Dumbledore’s and Scrimgeour’s deaths. He remained confident that the Dark Lord’s fall was approaching and left the task of defeating him to Harry.

• Albert told Isabelle he had been giving Harry Potter advice, and she asked him to be more careful and come home on time.
• Katrina speculated about Albert’s relationship with Hermione, and Albert explained that he had helped Hermione send her family out of England.
• Albert warned that the British wizarding world could soon worsen while the Dark Lord remained alive.
• Albert revealed that Cassandra’s remaining dates might mark Dumbledore’s and Minister Scrimgeour’s deaths.
• Albert said Dumbledore had discovered the secret behind the Dark Lord’s immortality and believed Harry would bring the conflict to an end.

Harry strengthened his plan to obtain Slughorn’s memory and arranged Yule Ball partners with Hermione, Ron, and Luna. He warned Luna that supporting him could put her family at risk and urged them to prepare for the coming trouble.

• Harry told Hermione that Slughorn had agreed to sell Liquid Luck and that he planned to earn Slughorn’s trust to obtain the Horcrux memory, with Albert’s suggestion to press him directly as a last resort.
• Harry and Hermione arranged for Hermione to invite Ron to the Yule Ball while Harry would invite Luna, and Harry discussed the plan with Ron.
• News of the invitations spread through Hogwarts, and Ron said he hoped to break up with Lavender after she learned Hermione had invited him.
• Harry told Ron that defeating Voldemort was his priority, then met Hermione and Luna by the marble staircase.
• Harry warned Luna that the Death Eaters might target her father for supporting him and advised her family to protect themselves.

At Slughorn’s Yule Ball, Hermione and Harry confronted Ron about whether he was prepared to risk his life in the coming war. After explaining Dumbledore’s worsening condition and the danger ahead, they heard Ron vow to join the fight against Voldemort.

• Slughorn pulled Harry around the party to meet guests while Hermione asked Ron whether he had prepared himself for the Wizarding War.
• Harry identified Sanguini as a real Vampire, and Fred and George explained that Albert had sent them to invite Slughorn to become their Potions consultant.
• Fred and George warned Ron that he was unreliable with secrets, prompting Hermione to suggest they discuss the war somewhere private.
• When the Room of Requirement was occupied, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went to the Prefects’ Bathroom and Hermione cast protective spells.
• Harry said Dumbledore’s injuries were worse than expected and that Dumbledore had entrusted him with destroying the Horcruxes.
• Hermione explained that she and Harry were prepared to risk their lives, and Ron vowed that he would not back down and asked what he should do.

Kingsley and Arthur asked Harry to support Scrimgeour’s policies in a Daily Prophet interview, and Harry agreed on the condition that he review the article first. At Grimmauld Place, the group discussed plans to protect Ministry families and agreed that Harry, Hermione, and Ron should begin Apparition and combat training early.

• Kingsley and Arthur discussed Scrimgeour’s fears about Voldemort, the Ministry’s secret apartments, and the possibility that Albert’s prophecy had made the Minister more vigilant.
• Kingsley asked Harry to give the Daily Prophet an interview, and Harry agreed as long as he could review its contents before publication.
• Harry told Sirius that he planned to give Slughorn a cask of Honeyduke’s for his birthday and use Liquid Luck to obtain information for Dumbledore.
• At the Christmas gathering, Fred said Albert would be the Secret-Keeper for the Ministry’s protective apartments, and the group discussed how the plan could shield families from Death Eaters.
• Harry asked to learn Apparition early, and Kingsley arranged for Lupin to teach Harry, Hermione, and Ron while Moody provided Harry with defensive training.

Albert told the Defense Association that he foresaw Voldemort taking control of Britain after killing Scrimgeour, while Snape would kill Dumbledore, and urged them to prepare for war. He revealed Harry would ultimately defeat Voldemort at Hogwarts, gave the members Liquid Luck, and ordered them to keep the meeting secret.

• Albert said Voldemort planned to eliminate Scrimgeour and Dumbledore, and that his vision showed both men dying before the Death Eaters seized control of the wizarding world.
• The members reacted to Albert's claim that Snape would kill Dumbledore, but Albert said he had warned Dumbledore and discouraged them from acting against Snape without evidence.
• Albert explained that Scrimgeour had also been warned and that the Defense Association needed to prepare for the coming war rather than interfere recklessly with the prophecy.
• Albert said Harry Potter would defeat Voldemort at Hogwarts and gave each member Liquid Luck to improve their chances of survival.
• Albert warned the members to keep the meeting's revelations secret, reminding them that leaked information had led to Cedric being captured.

Albert trained the Defense Association in survival tactics and the Disillusionment Charm, emphasizing secrecy, retreat, and protecting their lives. The members received access to defensive items and Detection Pocket Watches, which immediately identified a Grindylow nearby.

• Albert explained that the Association's enchanted membership list would sound an alarm if anyone leaked important secrets, then taught members to retreat, hide, distract enemies, and ambush them when advantageous.
• Albert demonstrated how to use the Disillusionment Charm and advised members to take an enemy's wand after knocking them down, while using nearby sturdy objects to block dangerous spells.
• Albert showed the members different levels of the Disillusionment Charm and warned them to Apparate rather than risk hiding from The Dark Lord.
• Albert and experienced members helped the others practice the Disillusionment Charm and announced that training would continue for about a month, with practical facilities planned for April or May.
• Fred and George explained the Defense Association's limited, discounted defensive supplies, and Dobby brought Detection Pocket Watches for each member.
• The Detection Pocket Watches warned of an enemy, and Albert pointed out the Grindylow in the aquarium as the source.

Draco Malfoy failed to repair the Vanishing Cabinet and left Snape's office without getting help, unaware that Dumbledore's plan required the cabinet to remain broken for now. At an Order of the Phoenix meeting, Snape reported Voldemort's plots against Scrimgeour, Dumbledore, and Albert, while Sirius challenged Snape over a prophecy that he would kill Dumbledore.

• Draco Malfoy complained to Snape that he could not repair the Vanishing Cabinet, but Snape refused to help and Malfoy stormed out.
• Snape went to an emergency Order of the Phoenix meeting, where Moody reported Voldemort's plan to assassinate Scrimgeour and warned that the Ministry could fall to the Death Eaters.
• Snape said Yaxley was handling the assassination plot and suspected Voldemort would kill Scrimgeour personally.
• Sirius pointed his wand at Snape after revealing Albert's prophecy that Snape would kill Dumbledore, but Snape argued that he could have killed Dumbledore when he treated his cursed hand and had not.
• Moody asked who was plotting against Dumbledore, and Snape named Bellatrix Lestrange, then warned the Order that Voldemort also wanted to kill Albert and hunt down the Defense Association.

Snape confronted Dumbledore after learning that Albert had foreseen Snape killing him, and Dumbledore confirmed Albert knew about the plan and had agreed not to harm Snape. The chapter ended with Kingsley, Moody, and Professor McGonagall questioning Dumbledore about the prophecy, while Dumbledore defended Snape and promised to clarify the prophecy with Albert.

• Snape left 12 Grimmauld Place fearing that Albert’s prophecy had nearly cost him his life, then returned to Hogwarts instead of attending the Death Eaters’ gathering.
• Dumbledore told Snape that Albert had foreseen the plan and would not harm him, and described Albert as a safeguard if Harry failed.
• Snape warned Dumbledore that Albert was gaining influence and might become known as the White Lord, but Dumbledore insisted Albert was trustworthy.
• Snape left for the Death Eaters’ gathering after his Dark Mark summoned him.
• Kingsley, Moody, and Professor McGonagall arrived to challenge Dumbledore about the prophecy, but Dumbledore defended Snape and said he would speak with Albert to confirm the details.

Draco Malfoy complained to Snape that he could not repair the Vanishing Cabinet, unaware that Dumbledore and Snape were delaying its repair until the end of term. At an Order of the Phoenix meeting, Snape reported Voldemort’s plans against Scrimgeour and Albert, while Sirius accused him of being destined to kill Dumbledore.

• Draco Malfoy failed to persuade Snape to help repair the Vanishing Cabinet and stormed out of Snape’s office.
• Snape went to 12 Grimmauld Place, where Moody told the Order that Voldemort planned to assassinate Scrimgeour and that Albert’s prophecy predicted the Minister’s death.
• Snape said Yaxley was handling the assassination plan and believed Voldemort would personally kill Scrimgeour, while the Order discussed how to protect the Minister.
• Sirius pointed his wand at Snape and accused him of being destined to kill Dumbledore, but Snape argued that he could have killed Dumbledore when he treated his cursed hand and had not.
• Snape said Bellatrix Lestrange was planning to murder Dumbledore and warned the Order that Voldemort was also targeting Albert and searching for members of the Defense Association.

Albert met Scrimgeour to discuss Snape, Dumbledore’s secret plans, and the Ministry’s preparations against Voldemort, then helped secure a shelter for Ministry families with the Fidelius Charm. The chapter ended with Dumbledore confirming that Snape was trusted with the plan while Scrimgeour left frustrated by the secrets kept from him.

• Albert told Scrimgeour that Snape might kill Dumbledore, though the future could still change, and advised him to speak with Dumbledore directly.
• Scrimgeour invited Albert to inspect a converted hotel that would shelter Ministry employees’ families and serve as Shelter No. 1.
• Dumbledore cast the Fidelius Charm on the hotel, with Albert as Secret Keeper, and Albert gave Scrimgeour a parchment that allowed him to share the shelter’s location with residents.
• Albert Apparated away, and Scrimgeour questioned Dumbledore about his secret plan and his trust in Snape.
• Dumbledore said Severus had always been his man and that he believed Snape had changed, while Scrimgeour angrily left.

The Weasley family decided to move into the Ministry’s protected shelter after Bill stressed that the Death Eaters could threaten Order of the Phoenix families. They arrived at the enormous hotel and learned about its security rules and shared facilities.

• Arthur and Molly discussed the Ministry’s offer, and Bill persuaded Molly that the family should move for safety.
• The Weasleys used a Portkey to reach the Ministry’s staging area, where Kingsley issued their residence permit and Aurors searched them for Dark Magic.
• Arthur encountered Amos Diggory, who said his family had been given a place because Cedric had been targeted by Dark Wizards.
• Moody gave the Weasleys a parchment with the secret needed to enter the Fidelius-protected shelter, revealing a vast hotel.
• Tonks showed the residents the shelter’s designated Apparition area, security procedures, cafeteria, shops, and other facilities.

Albert warned the Defense Association that Voldemort might target its members and laid out plans to protect them while concealing their headquarters. The group prepared to stop using Zoko as a route, move threatened members to a hidden refuge, and distribute secure communications tools.

• Fred and George woke late and discussed the Daily Prophet report that the Ministry had completed Shelter No. 1, questioning whether the shelters could accommodate everyone.
• Albert told the group that Voldemort knew about the Defense Association and might target its members, using Peter Pettigrew as a precedent for turning people against him.
• Albert ordered the group to abandon the Zoko route and said he would inform the Ministry that Zoko was safe; Fred and George planned to ask Ron to help deliver joke-shop orders.
• Albert proposed that members in danger Apparate to a temporary refuge protected by the Fidelius Charm, while a decoy headquarters diverted the Death Eaters' attention.
• Albert gave Fred Communication Bookmarks for the members and asked Lee Jordan to establish a daily information channel, rejecting a shared Communication Pen because it could expose the entire group if someone was captured.

Truman was ambushed by Dark Wizards seeking to capture him, but Fred, George, Cedric, and Lee Jordan rescued him with a Mandrake root. The group worried that Voldemort might target others who had attended Albert’s wedding.

• Truman realized the missing person in the Daily Prophet had attended Albert’s wedding, then received an alarm from his Scrying Mirror.
• Dark Wizards broke into Truman’s home, tricked him into revealing himself, and captured and tortured him.
• Fred, George, Cedric, and Lee Jordan trapped the attackers and used an immature Mandrake root to knock them unconscious.
• The rescuers tied up the Dark Wizards, took their wands, erased their memories, and planned to notify the Ministry.
• Fred, George, Cedric, and Lee Jordan worried that Voldemort might target everyone who had attended Albert’s wedding.

After Truman recovered from a Death Eater attack, Cedric, Kenneth, and Lee Jordan discussed why the Death Eaters targeted him and how the Defense Association should prepare. They remained in hiding while Albert prepared for a major operation against the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters.

• Truman woke in the Defense Association's temporary infirmary, learned the Ministry had arrested his attackers, and considered resigning and helping Albert with a greenhouse.
• Cedric explained that Truman had been an easy target because he was a Muggle Wizard, while Kenneth said the Death Eaters were desperate and using increasingly extreme tactics.
• Lee Jordan brought Truman a potion for his lingering Cruciatus pain and said Albert had warned everyone to stay put because something major might happen.
• Cedric suggested using a Portkey to escape ambushes, and Lee Jordan said Albert was developing similar magical items.
• Lee Jordan urged the Defense Association members to practice their existing lessons and protect themselves until Albert resumed teaching.

After Truman survived a Death Eater attack, Cedric and the others urged him to keep a low profile while Albert prepared for a major move against the Dark Lord. The chapter left the Defense Association focused on staying safe and training until Albert’s next operation.

• Truman woke in the Defense Association’s infirmary and learned that the Ministry had arrested the Dark Wizards who tortured him.
• Cedric advised Truman to disappear for a while, and Truman decided he might help Albert tend a greenhouse instead of returning to the Ministry.
• Kenneth explained that the Death Eaters had targeted Truman as a Muggle Wizard, while Truman pointed out that Cedric had faced the same danger.
• Lee Jordan brought Truman a potion and said Albert had warned everyone to stay put because a major event was coming.
• The group discussed escape tactics and Portkeys, and Lee urged them to master their current Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons before Albert taught them more.

At a DA meeting, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan introduced the Defense Association’s safe headquarters, warned that Albert foresaw terrible events, and urged members to prepare for the war. After receiving the book Twelve Winning Ways to Charm a Witch, Ron planned to use Hermione to provoke Lavender into ending their relationship, but Hermione refused to help.

• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan arrived at the DA meeting in expensive Dragonhide Jackets and demonstrated how one repelled a Stunning Spell.
• George told the students that the Defense Association had a secure headquarters and that Albert had predicted many terrible events would happen that year.
• Fred offered Harry a custom Dragonhide Jacket, while Fred and George gave Ron an early birthday present and told him to open it on his birthday.
• Ron opened the present early, found Twelve Winning Ways to Charm a Witch, and later devised a plan to make Lavender misunderstand his closeness with Hermione so she would break up with him.
• Hermione refused to help Ron provoke Lavender, and she and Harry suggested he explain that he did not want to burden Lavender with the dangers of the coming war.

Mrs. Dale examined Isabelle and confirmed her pregnancy, then was captured by Death Eaters seeking Albert Anderson. Voldemort learned Albert was protected by the Fidelius Charm and ordered Mrs. Dale returned under his control so she could be used against him.

• Mrs. Dale told Albert and Isabelle that their daughter was healthy and due around mid-June, and advised Isabelle to rest and prepare for the birth.
• Mrs. Dale returned home and was ambushed by Bellatrix and other Death Eaters, who took her to their gathering place.
• Yaxley questioned Mrs. Dale with Veritaserum, but she could not reveal what she knew because Albert had bound her with Contract Magic.
• Voldemort used Legilimency to discover that Albert was hiding behind the Fidelius Charm, then ordered Yaxley to capture the other healer quietly.
• Voldemort erased part of Mrs. Dale's memories, placed her under the Imperius Curse, and ordered her returned so she could be used to reach Albert.

Albert discovered that the contract with Mrs. Dale had been triggered and suspected the Death Eaters had abducted her to use against Isabelle and her unborn child. He arranged a French healer as a backup and decided the family would go to France in late May, while he tried to free and temporarily protect Mrs. Dale and Mrs. Mary.

• While Albert listened to Mrs. McDougal advise Isabelle and Katrina about caring for a child, the contract caused red lines to appear on his hand.
• Albert used the metal book to locate Mrs. Dale and concluded that the Death Eaters had probably taken her to threaten Isabelle.
• Albert traveled to France, asked Bard to find a reliable obstetric healer, and signed a magical confidentiality contract with the healer.
• Albert returned to England and used the Marauder's Map to confirm that Mrs. Dale was home and apparently no longer being watched.
• At dinner, Albert told Isabelle, Katrina, and Mrs. McDougal that they would go to France in late May and that he would try to free and protect Mrs. Dale and Mrs. Mary.

Albert taught the Defense Association members practical combat skills, stressing cover, accuracy, improvisation, and the danger of expecting Death Eaters to fight honorably. He left them with a lesson in adapting and escaping when facing a stronger opponent.

• Albert Apparated to the abandoned village and discussed its new houses and the planned gathering with Truman, Kenneth, Fred, George, and Cedric.
• The Defense Association members gathered at the village, where Albert began teaching them how to fight rather than merely cast spells.
• Albert demonstrated how cover and movement made attackers miss, then trained the members to hit stationary, moving, and irregular targets.
• Albert warned the members that Death Eaters favored ambushes and explained ways to break a standoff, including altering cover, Apparition, using objects, and creating smoke.
• Albert demonstrated an unexpectedly angled Explosion Spell and passed through a wall, urging the members to adapt and prioritize escape when outmatched.