Chapter Summaries

As Isabelle’s due date approached, Albert and Katrina discussed the worsening war in Britain and whether to remain abroad after the baby’s birth. Albert explained his plans to help people resist Voldemort, while Katrina questioned his motives and he argued that the wizarding world had to choose to fight for itself.

• Katrina asked Albert whether he was ready for Isabelle’s delivery, and he assured her that the Healer and preparations were in place.
• Albert agreed that after Alice was born, they would return to life aboard the ship rather than rush back to Britain, though he would continue watching the war.
• Albert reviewed reports of Death Eater attacks, massacres, and Inferi, noting that foreign Ministries were unwilling to send help to Britain.
• Katrina said her mother had agreed to their plans after the war, and Albert predicted that Voldemort would intensify his actions once he controlled the Ministry.
• Katrina questioned whether Albert was secretly driving the chaos, and he said he had founded the Defense Association to help his friends survive and resist Voldemort.
• Albert said Scrimgeour had chosen his own course and that he could only guide people toward resistance; if they refused, they would have to endure the consequences themselves.

Albert and Isabelle welcomed their daughter Alice in France, and Albert prepared to leave the country with his family. He learned that the Ministry of Magic had fallen into a Death Eater trap in England and was asked to attend Bill and Fleur’s hastened wedding.

• A healer announced that Isabelle and Alice were safe, and Albert arranged their care before paying the healer and preparing to leave France by ship.
• Albert told his family about Alice’s birth, then shared the news with George and Fred through the Two-way Mirror.
• George and Fred reported that the Ministry had found Bubage, but a Death Eater ambush killed an Auror and three Crisis Response Team members; Bubage had been tortured into madness.
• Albert told the twins to strengthen the Defense Association and warned them to keep Alice’s birth quiet from the Dark Lord and Death Eaters.
• George said Bill and Fleur had moved their wedding forward and wanted Albert there; Albert agreed to perform a Divination and contacted Scrimgeour.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed keeping the Horcrux secret, finding a safe base, and searching for clues to the remaining Horcruxes. They planned to approach Albert at Bill’s wedding and, if he could not help, use Liquid Luck to investigate Hogwarts.

• Harry burned his notes and warned Ron and Hermione that revealing the Horcrux secret could endanger everyone, while people outside the room listened.
• Harry learned that Death Eaters had killed Professor Bubage at St. Mungo’s, and he planned to explain the danger to Sirius Black.
• Harry agreed that the Order of the Phoenix headquarters could serve as their base, and the trio discussed how little Liquid Luck remained.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione chose to search places associated with Tom Riddle and planned to contact Albert at Bill’s wedding for help locating the Horcruxes.
• Harry said he would use Liquid Luck to investigate Hogwarts and ask Ravenclaw’s ghost for clues if Albert could not help.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed their search for Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes and examined the items Dumbledore left them. Harry discovered a message on the Golden Snitch, but its meaning remained unclear as the trio turned to The Tales of Beedle the Bard for clues.

• Harry worried that finding the remaining Horcruxes could take years, and Hermione reassured him that Albert would help if they could not find them.
• Ron wished Albert would search for the Horcruxes with them, but Harry explained that Albert had other responsibilities and would attract Voldemort’s attention.
• Harry examined Dumbledore’s Golden Snitch and realized it might respond to the first person who touched it, but kissing it produced no result.
• Hermione spotted the words “I open at the close” on the Snitch, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione puzzled about how to open it.
• Harry asked Hermione about her translation of The Tale of the Three Brothers and wondered what Dumbledore intended to tell them through The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed the difficulty of finding Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes and examined the objects Dumbledore had left them. Harry unlocked a message in the Golden Snitch but could not decipher it, then asked Hermione about Dumbledore’s copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

• Harry worried that finding the remaining Horcruxes could take years, and Hermione reassured him that Albert would help if necessary.
• Ron wished Albert would search for the Horcruxes with them, but Harry explained that the three of them were less likely to attract Voldemort’s attention.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione examined Dumbledore’s Golden Snitch, and Harry kissed it to trigger a message: “I open at the close.”
• Harry asked Hermione whether the story of the Three Brothers differed from other versions, and she said the contents were basically the same.
• Harry asked Hermione and Ron what Dumbledore intended to tell them through The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Harry warned Sirius Black and Lupin that Bill and Fleur’s wedding at The Burrow could attract Death Eaters, then revealed that he, Hermione, and Ron were carrying out a secret mission against Voldemort. He left Mrs. Weasley asking the Order to trust them as they prepared to fight.

• Harry decided to use the remaining Liquid Luck to get information from Albert and went to speak with Sirius Black.
• Sirius Black and Lupin told Harry that Bill and Fleur’s wedding had been moved to The Burrow and would take place in about a week.
• Harry warned them that Death Eaters might attack the wedding and urged them not to rely on protective spells or luck.
• Harry explained that he, Hermione, and Ron were on a secret mission concerning Voldemort and warned that the secret could not be shared.
• Mrs. Weasley asked why Harry was involved, and Harry said he intended to fight Voldemort and urged her to trust them.

After Death Eaters attacked a French village while searching for Anderson, Scrimgeour prepared to use Bill and Fleur's wedding to draw them into a trap. He also warned Kingsley that the Ministry might fall and urged him to lead its remaining resistance with Anderson's support.

• Death Eaters raided a remote French house, abducted a woman, and left the Dark Mark above the ruined home while searching for Anderson.
• Scrimgeour told Robards that the French Ministry would not join the war and ordered him to spread false rumours that it was preparing to send Aurors against the Dark Lord.
• Scrimgeour agreed to Kingsley's proposal and asked for invitations to Bill Weasley's wedding, intending to use the gathering to lure Death Eaters into an ambush.
• Scrimgeour told Kingsley that he might become Minister after the Dark Lord's defeat and urged him to align with Anderson if the Ministry fell.
• Scrimgeour explained that he trusted Kingsley and Anderson's judgment and hoped Kingsley could unite the Order of the Phoenix with the Ministry's remaining forces.

Albert and Isabelle attended the Weasley wedding despite the danger, where Albert discussed the Ministry’s preparations and the risks to the celebration. The chapter ended with Minister Scrimgeour appearing and commenting on Isabelle’s presence.

• Isabelle left Alice in Katrina’s and their mother’s care, and she and Albert traveled to the Weasleys’ wedding.
• Albert spotted Ministry Aurors at the wedding and told George that stronger defenses would not prevent an attack, advising him to keep the celebration short.
• George asked Hermione to look after Albert and Isabelle, and Hermione led them to Hagrid’s table.
• Madame Maxime asked Albert about healer Laura, and Albert said he had warned her about the risks before leaving France.
• Scrimgeour sat with Albert and Isabelle and said their situation seemed more optimistic than he had expected; Albert disagreed.

At Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Albert warned Scrimgeour that his plan might fail and urged Hagrid and Madame Maxime to leave Hogwarts before the Death Eaters could target them. The wedding proceeded, though Albert and Isabelle expected it to become a battlefield soon.

• Scrimgeour asked Albert for advice, and Albert told him to hurry while implying that his plan was unlikely to succeed.
• Albert warned Hagrid and Madame Maxime that staying at Hogwarts under Snape would put them at risk, and predicted that Hagrid could be imprisoned in Azkaban.
• Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Madame Maxime urged Hagrid to heed Albert’s warning, while Hagrid worried about leaving Grawp.
• Mr. Delacour and Fleur walked down the aisle, and Bill and Fleur exchanged rings as the guests watched.
• Albert and Isabelle applauded the couple and hoped their gift would bring them luck despite the danger ahead.

Albert and Isabelle attended Bill and Fleur’s wedding, where Albert gave the newlyweds Liquid Luck before the guests watched Fred and George’s fireworks. As the danger of a Death Eater attack drew closer, Isabelle returned home to Alice, while Albert reassured Cedric that the situation was not yet too dire.

• Albert and Isabelle danced at Bill and Fleur’s wedding while Harry spoke with Hagrid and Ron looked gloomy.
• Albert gave Bill a vial of Liquid Luck, which Bill and Fleur shared because they expected Death Eaters to disrupt the wedding.
• Albert and Isabelle watched Fred and George’s fireworks before a house-elf took Isabelle home to Alice.
• Albert told Cedric he did not know exactly when the danger would come, but that the situation was not too terrible yet.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan offered Cedric discounted wedding fireworks, and Albert suggested they later invite a fireworks maker to join their business.

Harry sought Albert to ask about the Horcruxes, Dumbledore’s message, and the Deathly Hallows, while Albert urged him to uncover the truth for himself. Their discussion ended when Dementors approached the Burrow.

• Harry asked Albert for Liquid Luck and help understanding Dumbledore’s message in the Golden Snitch, but Albert refused to give him direct answers.
• Albert exposed two Aurors who had followed Hermione and Ron, then told Harry that the Elder Wand would not by itself defeat the Dark Lord.
• Albert explained the Deathly Hallows and gave Hermione Dumbledore’s annotated copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
• Albert said Harry was likely descended from Ignotus and the Gaunt family from Cadmus, linking Harry and the Dark Lord through the Hallows.
• A cold wind swept over the group as numerous Dementors approached.

Yaxley led the Death Eaters in taking over the Ministry of Magic, but Voldemort discovered that Scrimgeour had escaped and left a fake in his place. As Voldemort hurried toward the Weasley wedding, Draco realized his father might be in danger, while Yaxley began installing a new Ministry leadership.

• Yaxley briefed the Death Eaters on their assault, explaining that they would seize the Ministry and use Gawain Robards to draw Aurors back from the Weasley wedding.
• Voldemort and the Death Eaters found a bound man posing as Scrimgeour, but Voldemort exposed and killed the substitute.
• Yaxley realized Scrimgeour had likely gone to the Weasley wedding and warned that the Death Eaters sent to the Burrow might be walking into a trap.
• Draco overcame his fear and rushed to warn his father, while Yaxley assigned Pius, Umbridge, and himself leadership roles in the Ministry.

Albert stayed at Bill’s wedding as Death Eaters and Dementors attacked, helping the Ministry and guests turn the ambush into a battle they were winning. With Voldemort absent and a barrier trapping everyone at The Burrow, Albert guided Harry and the others as the fighting continued.

• Albert sent Harry, Hermione, and Ron to join the others while he stayed behind to support the defenders and ambush the Death Eaters.
• Scrimgeour’s Anti-Apparition measures and a massive Protective Barrier trapped the wedding guests and attackers inside The Burrow.
• Aurors, the Order of the Phoenix, and the guests fought back, driving off the Dementors and gaining the advantage over the Death Eaters.
• Albert joined the Defense Association, bound a fallen Dark Wizard, and praised Cedric and Cho Chang’s group for fighting effectively.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron found Albert, who warned them to watch for ambushes and not rely on Shield Charms against Dark Magic.

Albert warned Harry and the others that Voldemort had likely taken the Ministry of Magic and might come to the wedding, then helped the Ministry defeat the Death Eaters. He urged everyone to evacuate before Voldemort arrived, while Scrimgeour stayed behind to retake the Ministry.

• Albert warned Harry and his companions to leave the wedding quickly, explaining that Voldemort might come after the Ministry fell and that Harry should avoid confronting him before completing Dumbledore’s task.
• Albert cast a glowing Patronus to drive back the Dementors, while the magical barrier trapped Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters as Aurors overwhelmed them.
• Albert used the Disillusionment Charm to strike down Dark Wizards, then told Scrimgeour that Voldemort had captured the Ministry and killed his decoy.
• Scrimgeour ordered Kingsley and Delacour to evacuate the guests and clear the battlefield before moving to retake the Ministry.
• Albert opened a gap in the Anti-Apparition barrier and urged Harry, Sirius, the Weasleys, and the others to leave; he then Apparated away.

Scrimgeour killed Lucius and several other Death Eaters to rally the guests and Aurors after Albert left. As Scrimgeour ordered the remaining captives executed, Voldemort arrived with Death Eaters and trapped them.

• Scrimgeour realized Albert had refused to join his planned confrontation with Voldemort and decided to follow Albert’s advice to survive.
• Scrimgeour woke Lucius and killed Rowle and several other Death Eaters in front of the guests, urging them not to fear their enemies.
• Scrimgeour executed Lucius with Avada Kedavra after rejecting his offer of Galleons.
• Scrimgeour ordered the Aurors to gather the remaining Dark Wizards so he could burn them, while the guests remained stunned.
• Voldemort arrived with a group of Death Eaters and blocked Scrimgeour and the others in.

Scrimgeour challenged Voldemort to a duel, hoping to spare others and give them a chance to escape, but Voldemort killed him. The Aurors carried soil from the spot where Scrimgeour fell to fulfill his wish, leaving the remaining guests alone with Voldemort.

• Voldemort shattered the barrier and confronted Scrimgeour, who offered a duel to settle their conflict and prevent further deaths.
• Scrimgeour and Voldemort exchanged Killing Curses, while Kingsley urged the Order of the Phoenix and the guests to escape.
• Voldemort attacked Scrimgeour with snakes, Devil's Fire, and the Cruciatus Curse, but Scrimgeour cast one final Killing Curse before Voldemort killed him.
• Gawain Robards declared that the Aurors would remain loyal only to the Minister for Magic, collected soil from where Scrimgeour fell, and led them toward the Black Lake at Hogwarts.
• Voldemort let the Aurors leave, and the remaining guests were left facing him alone.

Albert learned that Scrimgeour was probably dead and that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been captured and taken toward Azkaban. He calmed George and prepared to coordinate with the Order of the Phoenix to plan a rescue.

• Albert returned home and told Isabelle and Katrina that Scrimgeour was probably dead after confronting Voldemort.
• George told Albert that Scrimgeour had dueled Voldemort so the others could escape, but many guests, including Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, had stayed behind.
• Albert used his Crystal Ball and saw Azkaban, then told George that his family was likely alive and that he would help.
• Albert went to the Defense Association headquarters, where Cedric and the others had put an impulsive George to sleep; Albert woke him and gave him a Calming Draught.
• George agreed to follow Albert's plan, and Albert arranged to take him to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters while George stayed behind to help protect the Defense Association headquarters.

After learning that Scrimgeour had likely died and the Weasleys had been captured, Albert used a prophecy to find that they were being taken to Azkaban. He organized a response with George and the Defense Association, preparing to meet the Order of the Phoenix and gather information for a rescue.

• Albert returned home, told Isabelle and Katrina that Scrimgeour was probably dead, and discussed the Defense Association’s plans with them.
• George contacted Albert to report that Voldemort had arrived, Scrimgeour had dueled him, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were among the guests who had not escaped.
• Albert used a Crystal Ball and saw Azkaban, then told George that his family was likely alive and that Voldemort might be using them as bait.
• Albert went to Defense Association headquarters, where Cedric and the others had stunned George to prevent him from acting rashly.
• George agreed to follow Albert’s plan, and Albert arranged to go with him to Order of the Phoenix headquarters while George stayed behind to help protect the Defense Association headquarters.

After Voldemort’s attack on the Weasleys’ wedding, Albert organized the Order’s response and tasked Kingsley with finding where the captured wizards had been taken. The Order mourned its dead and began preparing to locate Azkaban and rescue the prisoners.

• Kingsley found the Burrow devastated beneath a Dark Mark, with wedding guests and Aurors dead, and learned that Scrimgeour had been killed.
• Albert arrived with a group from the Order, removed the Dark Mark, and asked Kingsley to find out where the Weasleys and other captives had been taken.
• Bill mourned Charlie’s death, while Fleur grieved for relatives killed in the attack; Albert knocked Bill and Fleur unconscious and ordered them taken to headquarters.
• Albert warned the group that Dementors were watching the area, and Kingsley left under Potter’s Invisibility Cloak to investigate.
• At headquarters, Albert told Fred to keep Charlie’s death from George because George was the Secret Keeper, then discussed finding Azkaban with Moody and asked him to bring Black.

After the wedding attack, Moody saw Albert as a possible leader for the Order, but Albert focused on offering advice without taking responsibility for everyone’s choices. He and Moody scouted the Ministry’s hidden harbor and marked its ship to track, planning to wait for it to sail toward Azkaban.

• Moody asked Albert what the Order should do as Voldemort prepared to take control of the Ministry and Hogwarts, and Albert told him to believe in Harry.
• Albert refused Fred’s request to join the scouting party, then left with Moody, Sirius, and Dobby for the Ministry’s hidden harbor.
• Moody explained that Azkaban was vacant because Voldemort had freed its prisoners, and he gave Albert the password that opened the harbor entrance.
• Albert placed a Tracking Charm on the harbor’s ship and cleared away the group’s traces so they could wait for news.