Chapter Summaries

Pomona remembered the damaged Hogwarts and spoke with Severus while recovering from the gunfire in a film they had watched. She wondered about emotions, life in the Matrix, and Severus’s feelings for her, then dreamed about Sun Wukong and puzzled over his anger.

• Pomona remembered that Hogwarts remained too damaged to house students over summer, and she refused a Hufflepuff boy’s request to stay on campus.
• Severus found Pomona staring into space in their cabin and asked whether the previous day’s film had frightened her.
• Pomona lay across Severus’s lap to recover, and they discussed whether they would choose to live inside or outside the Matrix.
• Severus covered Pomona with a blanket and sang to her, then said he had not sung to Lily.
• Pomona dreamed that Sun Wukong drove monsters away from her, then wondered why he had stomped off angrily.

Severus recounted Harry’s lonely infancy to try to comfort Pomona, but she remained troubled by grief, trauma, and doubts about Dumbledore’s judgment. Pomona admitted she felt lost and unable to control her emotions, then sought brief comfort in Severus’s embrace.

• Severus described how Petunia shut baby Harry in a cupboard and later found the pin troubling him, while Pomona questioned what the story was meant to show.
• Pomona reflected on how war had wounded her and others, and remembered Sinistra’s account of finding a strange sense of harmony through radio signals in Australia.
• Pomona compared suppressed emotions to a horse frightened by its own shadow and asked whether Harry had truly grown up; Severus said Harry only thought he had.
• Pomona wondered privately whether Harry was really the seventh Horcrux and whether Dumbledore had always been right, but admitted to Severus that she felt lost and unable to control herself.
• Severus offered Pomona Dreamless Sleep Potion, and she postponed taking it before kissing him to escape her thoughts for a while.

Pomona reflected over tea on emotion, poverty, Voldemort’s followers, and the social forces behind conflicts in wizarding and Muggle history. She ended by putting away the Fizzing Whizbees and settling into her quiet life in northern Scotland.

• Pomona remembered Harry’s third-year summer, when Marge insulted his parents and floated away after Pomona released Billywigs during Harry’s magical outburst.
• Pomona considered how fear and self-interest led people to submit to Voldemort, while he blamed others and failed to recognize his own cruelty.
• Pomona recalled giving Vernon a check to buy a car and take Harry to visit his parents, after which Albus stopped her from giving the Dursleys more money.
• Pomona compared Vernon’s views with the Weasleys’ poverty and examined how inequality and misread public sentiment helped fuel unrest in Gotham.
• Pomona put the Fizzing Whizbees away, took out a book, and enjoyed hot tea in northern Scotland.

Pomona reflected on Egypt’s history, Nagini’s fate, and the suffering caused by choices made for power and pleasure. When an old bat brought her a Potion, Pomona refused it, then turned their conversation into a playful duel that ended with both of them laughing.

• Pomona read the Daily Prophet and thought about the Weasleys’ trip to Egypt, Dudley’s mishap, and the difference between kind humor and cruelty.
• Pomona considered Albania, Nagini, and Egypt’s history, tracing how foreign economic pressure and debt impoverished Egyptian peasants.
• Pomona recalled the suffering of canal workers and wondered whether Nagini had felt happiness or freedom before Neville killed her.
• An old bat entered with a crystal vial and told Pomona to drink the Potion before bed; Pomona refused and challenged him over people thinking he was her father.
• Pomona cast spells at the old bat, who deflected them, and they laughed together as spells damaged the room.

Pomona reflected on history, war, freedom, and the choices that shaped lives while struggling to sleep and questioning the potion in her hand. She left the bathtub without taking it, still troubled by injustice and unable to rest.

• Pomona connected ancient sieges and plague with Napoleon’s campaigns, then considered how history and myth shaped accounts of the past.
• Pomona reflected on Hermione’s sacrifices for her friends and how severing ties with her parents might teach her what it meant to be homeless.
• Pomona thought about Severus, her own age and loneliness, and the ordinary life she had once hoped he would find.
• Pomona recalled how wars and political power turned on choices, from Napoleon’s invasion of Russia to Voldemort’s fate and Harry’s luck.
• Pomona remembered British visitors killing Egyptian farmers’ pigeons and the violent confrontation that followed, then rose from the bath without taking the potion.

Pomona and Sinistra discussed Dorothy’s claim that she had been an Egyptian priestess during Seti I’s reign, while Pomona reflected on reincarnation beneath the stars with Severus. The evening ended with Severus quietly staying beside her, and Pomona accepting his cloak as his way of being romantic.

• Pomona and Sinistra discussed the ancient comet and the story of Dorothy, who had written hieroglyphs recalling a past life as a priestess of Isis.
• Pomona considered Dorothy’s story but did not take it seriously, despite Dorothy’s help in discovering ancient Egyptian sites.
• Pomona watched the night sky as Severus draped his cloak over her shoulders.
• Pomona asked Severus whether he believed in reincarnation, but he did not answer.
• Pomona urged Severus to read poetry, then silently decided that his quiet presence and borrowed cloak were his way of being romantic.

The chapter recounts Egyptian burial customs and the hardships and exploitation facing Egyptians, then follows the Weasleys’ arrival in Egypt and Pomona’s rude awakening by Severus. Pomona eats breakfast while wondering what he has planned for the day.

• The chapter described Seti I’s burial, Egyptian funerary customs, and the hardships faced by ancient miners and later Egyptian farmers.
• Ahmad had witnessed Egyptians losing their livelihoods to taxes and foreign loans while Europeans and officials lived lavishly.
• Molly and Arthur arrived in Egypt with George and Fred, who bargained with their innkeeper for a refund on their tip.
• Severus woke Pomona with a toy horn and told her to get up because they had things to do.
• Severus served Pomona breakfast, and she carefully praised his cooking while wondering whether he believed her.

Pomona and Severus investigated the relationship between the Philosopher’s Stone and the Deathly Hallows, comparing their symbols and properties. They concluded that the Hallows symbol could be divided into parts with distinct, sometimes contradictory qualities, while Pomona went to make Severus a cup of black coffee.

• Pomona insisted that wind was entering the bathroom, but Severus found no cracks and left to continue their investigation.
• Severus showed Pomona a model of the Deathly Hallows and a related symbol, prompting them to compare it with the Philosopher’s Stone.
• Pomona reasoned that the Philosopher’s Stone was less stable than the Invisibility Cloak and suggested stability distinguished their properties.
• Severus explained that the Elder Wand symbol could be divided into separate parts representing the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone.
• Pomona and Severus discussed how the stones could have contradictory properties, then Pomona went to make the black coffee Severus requested.

Pomona reflected on honesty, deception, and Casablanca while making coffee with Severus, then connected those ideas to Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s Blood Pact. The conversation left her amused by Severus’s explanation that magic did not consider deception to be harm.

• Pomona pondered the Resurrection Stone, repeated games, and the honesty of Borgin and Burkes as she made coffee.
• Severus hugged and kissed Pomona, then asked what she had been thinking about.
• Pomona explained that Casablanca made her feel suffocated because its characters deceived one another, and she cried while discussing the film and war.
• Severus told Pomona that people needed illusions as shelters from reality, and Pomona said she would avenge Viktor instead of fleeing to find a lover.
• Pomona asked whether Dumbledore’s deception of Grindelwald had violated their Blood Pact, and Severus replied that magic did not regard deception as harm.

Pomona reflects on deception, loyalty, and the rules of magic while discussing history and potions with the former headmaster. Their lesson ends with him assigning her more study for the next day, and Pomona goes to cook.

• Pomona considered Scarlett's choices in Gone with the Wind and compared revenge, loyalty, and recognizing what had been lost.
• Pomona discussed potion-making principles, including Golpalott's Third Law, proper storage, and the risks of combining antidotes.
• Pomona reflected on Renault, Rhett Butler, and Egypt's rise as examples of choosing whether to abandon a losing position.
• Pomona explained that deception did not violate the Blood Pact and discussed how the Elder Wand's ownership passed from Dumbledore to Draco Malfoy to Harry.
• Pomona continued to suspect that Voldemort might return because she still wondered about the unexplained seventh Horcrux.
• The former headmaster ended the lesson, assigned Pomona mathematics for the next day, and she went to cook while he stayed silent.

Pomona dreamed of Egypt’s history and its political decline while reflecting on beauty, responsibility, and her wish to remain with Severus. She woke in Paris to find the chicken replaced by tea eggs, and Dumbledore asked whether the place resembled King's Cross Station as she sat exhausted and silent.

• Pomona thought about Morea, Egypt’s military campaigns, and the European powers’ interventions that weakened Egypt.
• While making dinner, Pomona reflected on Cleopatra, Ilsa, and how beauty could attract unwanted attention.
• A voice challenged Pomona about leaving Padma in Britain, and Pomona said she did not want to go back and asked whether she could say goodbye to Severus.
• Pomona awoke from her dream in Paris as a woman urged her to return, and she found tea eggs in the pot instead of chicken.
• Pomona promised an Indian girl she would get her out, then Dumbledore asked whether the place looked like King's Cross Station; Pomona remained silent and wanted to be alone.

Georgiana reflected on Egypt’s history, archaeology, and the imaginary space Albus had used before trying to return from the Mirror World. She awoke in Brussels, but denied that she was awake and got out of bed.

• The account described how European archaeologists removed Egyptian antiquities and how Egypt’s rulers, soldiers, and veterans shaped the country’s fate.
• The account recounted the competition to excavate and display Egyptian treasures, including Ahhotep’s jewelry and questions about artificial eyes in royal mummies.
• At the opening of the Suez Canal, Egyptian monks swam aboard visitors’ boats, while spirits and the dangers of political violence were also described.
• Georgiana recalled Albus’s use of imaginary space and considered destroying Napoleon’s snow globe and scarab amulet to return.
• Margarita greeted Georgiana as she awoke in Brussels, but Georgiana said she was not awake and left the bed.

Pomona weighed whether to let go of old attachments and focus on practical concerns, especially Padma’s safety in London. She left with Matilda, considering a plan involving a female painter and a copy of the Mona Lisa.

• Pomona watched the carriage convoy and reflected that Severus loved Lily, deciding that accepting the situation and moving on could be wiser than struggling against it.
• Pomona considered Padma’s vulnerability in London, where the Witchcraft Act remained in force, and looked at the Egyptian ring she could return to its owner.
• Matilda told Pomona that the carriage was ready, and Pomona noticed how plainly the former young noblewoman was dressed.
• Georgiana remembered a skilled female painter and suggested that a copy should be displayed at the Louvre for safety, confusing Matilda.
• Georgiana hoped the painter could make a convincing copy of the Mona Lisa so Matilda and the others could earn pocket money before she left.

Georgiana explained how British financial crises and colonial restrictions pushed American plantation owners toward revolt. In a carriage, she tested Matilda’s loyalty and warned her not to betray her, leaving Matilda determined to stay and seek her fortune.

• Georgiana described how the 1772 collapse of Ayr Bank devastated Scottish trade and the Bank of Scotland’s New World tobacco borrowers.
• Georgiana recounted how British restrictions and debts helped unite plantation owners with poorer colonists against British rule.
• Georgiana asked Matilda whether she had repaid her gambling debts, then stressed the importance of women’s credit and reputation.
• Georgiana threatened to make Matilda disappear if she betrayed her, and Matilda trembled and fell into the other maids’ arms.
• Matilda said she was glad she had stayed and could endure a small test to make a fortune, and Georgiana laughed while feeling close to tears.

Georgiana reflected on war, colonial exploitation, and the people who resisted corruption before urging Matilda to get close to a man connected to General Béthier. Matilda agreed, while Georgiana worried about her and Margarita and left the man’s identity unclear.

• The chapter explained how Rhett Butler’s blockade-running challenged Lincoln’s proclamation and discussed the legal distinction between a blockade and closing ports.
• The chapter recounted how the East India Company’s tax farming, cash crops, and refusal to reduce taxes worsened Bengal’s 1769 famine, while its leaders raised dividends and pursued new markets.
• The chapter discussed disputed diamonds and contrasted wartime plunder with Jacob’s modest life and a Prussian nobleman’s refusal to pillage.
• Georgiana told Matilda to get close to a man associated with General Béthier, and Matilda guessed that Alice was involved.
• Georgiana warned Margarita about a cruel story involving sailors abandoning an orphan, then worried that Matilda might have misunderstood her instructions and wanted her farther from Jim.
• Georgiana reflected that Rhett Butler had learned Scarlett’s secret and concluded that Scarlett had good reason to dislike him.

Georgiana rode through Belgium with her convoy while reflecting on Scarlett’s survival, wealth, and independence, and on how property and resources shaped war and political power. As the carriage entered a dark forest, she ordered Margarita to bring Fiegel to her, leaving the convoy facing an unspoken threat.

• Georgiana reflected on Scarlett’s escape from poverty, the ruined plantation, and her determination to survive without Rhett Butler.
• Georgiana discussed Fourier’s ideas about wealth and trade, then considered Lincoln’s blockade, the Lieber Code, and the role of money in war.
• Georgiana concluded that Scarlett could live without Rhett Butler because the plantation’s land remained a source of strength.
• The convoy entered a dense forest, and Georgiana ordered Margarita to bring Fiegel to her at once.

Georgiana reflected on Napoleon’s Channel crossing and the legal loopholes that had protected the mail ship Pomona from British attack. Troubled by thoughts of loss and regret, she ordered Fiegel to get her a horse and prepared to ride in men’s clothing.

• The chapter explained how Julian Ouvrard used prize-law rules and the mail ship’s temporary nationality to help Napoleon cross the Channel safely.
• The Pomona reached Dunkirk alongside British warships, whose sailors had wanted to express admiration for Napoleon rather than attack him.
• Georgiana saw Fiegel looking cheerful and reflected on how loss and changed affections had shaped Scarlett’s story and her own heavy heart.
• Georgiana told Fiegel to get her a horse and went to change into men’s clothing, which she had legally obtained permission to wear.

Georgiana considered the Atlantic cable, maritime law, and the economic pressures surrounding the coming American Civil War while riding through a snowstorm. Seeing Albus ahead, she diverted onto another road despite Fiegel’s warning, determined not to follow the path that had led Harry into danger.

• Georgiana rode through the snowy forest as she reflected on the Agamemnon’s cable mission and the importance of timely information.
• Georgiana considered how the Declaration of Paris, privateering, and Britain’s dependence on imports shaped the risks of war and trade.
• Georgiana reflected on America’s refusal to sign the Declaration of Paris and the financial pressures surrounding the coming American Civil War.
• Georgiana saw Albus ahead and ordered her horse onto another road.
• Fiegel warned Georgiana that the carriage behind them did not know about the turn, but Georgiana continued, unwilling to let the old fool lead her as he had led Harry.

Georgiana and Brick found themselves blocked by a ditch while the Mamluks followed, and Brick discovered that attackers were lying in ambush. Georgiana refused to call in the army, drew her wand, and followed Brick into the forest.

• Georgiana halted her horse at a ditch after the road abruptly changed direction, while the Mamluks struggled to keep pace through the forest.
• Brick arrived and confirmed that the path ahead was blocked.
• Brick flew up on his broomstick and spotted people lying in ambush, apparently preparing to attack them.
• Georgiana refused Brick's suggestion to summon the army and explained that she had no suitable pretext.
• Georgiana dismounted, drew her wand, and had Brick lead her into the forest.

Pomona and Dumbledore discussed the paths people chose and the Mirror of Erised while playing chess, and Dumbledore hinted that Severus might find success in London. Meanwhile, Georgiana and Brick discussed their plans as they faced an ambush on a dangerous road.

• Dumbledore questioned Pomona about her summer plans, and she offered to help repair Hogwarts rather than leave Britain.
• Dumbledore used chess moves and examples from history and evolutionary theory to argue that past choices shaped future options and that Severus might succeed in London.
• Pomona asked whether Dumbledore wanted her to watch over Severus, but he said Severus was an adult and praised her for staying in Britain.
• Dumbledore asked why Pomona had returned the Mirror of Erised to Hogwarts, and she said it was too dangerous for students.
• Georgiana questioned Brick's strange appearance and explained that the people affected by magical transformations had remained in the same space.
• Brick asked Georgiana for a plan to handle the ambush, while she hesitated to put her fate in his hands.