Chapter Summaries

Pomona and Severus visited a jewelry exhibition, where she recounted stories about ancient Rome, Sicily, and Croesus while he listened and studied a ceremonial sword. The gentleman who had rescued Pomona appeared with another girl, and Severus pulled Pomona close and Apparated away after asking whether she still found it strange to go out with him.

• Pomona explained Sicily's history and the restaurant owner's views while Severus asked about the Sicilian man's temper.
• Severus examined the jeweled Sword of Offering as Pomona discussed Roman censors, slaves, and Cato's financial dealings.
• Pomona recounted Croesus's oracle and his defeat by Cyrus, whose camels unsettled the Lydian cavalry.
• Severus pointed out the gentleman who had rescued Pomona chatting with another girl, then asked whether she still found their outing strange.
• When Pomona would not answer, Severus put an arm around her shoulders and Apparated with her.

Pomona read about the history and geography of Lydia, Cappadocia, and Rome’s eastern provinces, considering how Caesar’s possible campaign against Parthia could affect the region and its finances. At dinner with Severus in a Sicilian restaurant, their contrasting answers about being colleagues made the owner suspicious, and Pomona changed the subject to Sicilian oranges.

• Pomona’s book described Lydia’s history, the rise of the Persian and Parthian empires, and Cappadocia’s strategic terrain and Roman connections.
• The account explained Rome’s client kings, provincial debts, tax system, and the possible consequences of Caesar’s rumored conquest of Parthia.
• Pomona and Severus went downstairs to dine at a Sicilian restaurant, where the owner served them sweet wine made in the Roman style.
• The owner asked whether they would stay long, and Severus said they were traveling until summer vacation ended.
• Pomona told the owner that they were teachers at a school in Scotland, but Severus denied that they were colleagues.
• Pomona asked when Sicilian oranges ripened, redirecting the owner’s suspicious attention.

Pomona tried to explain to Snape why cultivating dependable allies mattered, then left him to meet her the next morning. Georgiana sent Lyra Brick to London with the Vanishing Cabinet, but Brick questioned her motives and feelings before departing, leaving her hoping he would return.

• Pomona arranged furniture in the apartment and discussed with Snape where and when they would meet the next day.
• Pomona used Roman history and a Sicilian custom to explain to Snape that having reliable friends opened more paths, then left for the night.
• Georgiana called Lyra Brick to her and asked him to travel to London, while Brick questioned the danger and purpose of moving the Vanishing Cabinet.
• Georgiana urged Brick to conceal the Cabinet and asked him to protect them, but refused to tell him whether she still loved Bonaparte.
• Brick agreed to go and said he would return, and Georgiana found herself hoping he would come back.

The chapter recounted the First Servile War in Sicily and Rome’s response to the slave revolt before Pomona woke at Hogwarts to Snape urging her to hurry for an early departure. It left her reluctantly getting ready to go with him.

• Eunus led Damophilus's abused slaves in a revolt, seized Enna, and was chosen king of the new state Antioch.
• Corleone joined Eunus, and the rebel forces grew to two hundred thousand while gaining support from local farmers.
• Rome sent troops to Sicily, and Governor Minerva halted an investigation into slaves born free after accepting bribes from slave owners.
• Marius's army defeated the rebels, and Rome returned to normal while Sicily's double tithe continued to impoverish its farmers.
• Pomona woke at four o'clock to Snape's urgent knocking and began washing up after he gave her ten minutes to get ready.

Pomona waited at a London airport during an opening ceremony, where she encountered Lucius Malfoy and learned that an Auror was following him. She refused to help the Auror board Malfoy’s plane and left her post to find proper food.

• Pomona read in the waiting lounge before the airport’s opening ceremony while guests enjoyed food and staff ate meager meals.
• Lucius Malfoy asked Pomona where the makeup room was, and Draco Malfoy insulted her before leaving with his father.
• A waitress revealed herself to be an Auror assigned to follow Malfoy and asked Pomona to help her board his jetliner to Europe.
• Pomona refused to get involved, abandoned her post, and headed toward the harbor restaurants for a real meal.

Pomona walked along Victoria Pier toward the airport, reflecting on Roman stories, public favor, and the brutal history of slavery and revolt. She spotted a propeller plane leaving a trail of smoke and hurried back to catch the air show.

• Pomona recalled a Roman fable about a comedian and a farmer, and considered how public favor could shape an audience’s judgment.
• Pomona bought a salted pork and ham sandwich from a food cart and continued toward the airport.
• Pomona reflected on Roman slavery, the failed uprisings led by Spartacus, and later laws that offered some protections to slaves.
• Pomona tossed the rest of her sandwich into the water, where fish gathered to eat it.
• Pomona saw a propeller plane trailing smoke across the sky and hurried back to watch the air show.

Pomona and Snape attended the airport opening ceremony, where they watched the Queen arrive and discussed Lucius Malfoy, power, and the royal family. Amid the crowd, Snape kissed Pomona, leaving her startled and wondering what he had been thinking.

• Pomona returned to the airport and saw security turn away a glamorous woman who claimed the dress code had not been posted.
• Snape used his work ID to get Pomona inside, ignored the woman’s plea, and asked who had taken Pomona’s place; Pomona said an Auror was following Lucius Malfoy.
• Pomona told Snape that Lucius had bought a jet and planned to take Draco somewhere, but Snape said he did not know where they were going.
• Pomona and Snape followed the Queen through the airport crowd and watched her speech and the aerial display.
• Pomona reflected on power and the royal family, then Snape suddenly kissed her before calmly looking ahead.

After the Queen toured the airport, Pomona and Severus shared lunch with the staff and received royal gin. A female Auror told Pomona that Snape worked in MI13 and asked for her help following Lucius Malfoy; Pomona then left the airport with Severus.

• The Queen stayed after the opening ceremony to inspect the airport apron and its tow tractors before leaving with the guests.
• A liaison gave Pomona and Severus bottles of gin, and the staff opened one to toast the Queen.
• A female Auror asked Pomona about Snape and Lucius Malfoy, then revealed that Snape belonged to MI13 and sought Pomona's help.
• Pomona agreed to the Auror's request, then reflected on family, loyalty, and the danger of the Mafia while alone at the table.
• Severus returned and said they could leave, so Pomona took her coat and gin and left the airport with him.

Pomona and Severus investigated reports of a haunting at Buckingham Palace, where a ghostly boy had left a message attributed to the notorious intruder Jones. They agreed to investigate, but Pomona left Severus to search the vast palace alone, unconvinced that Jones was responsible.

• Pomona and Severus waited at Buckingham Palace until Mr. A arrived to brief them on the haunting.
• Mr. A explained how Boy Jones repeatedly broke into the palace in the nineteenth century and was eventually deported to Australia, where he later died.
• Mr. A showed them the charcoal message “JONE IS HERE” and described reports of a filthy boy appearing after the palace closed.
• Severus agreed to investigate the sightings, while Mr. A pointed out that guarded areas were off-limits.
• Pomona said she was tired and left for Severus's flat, doubting that Jones's ghost had traveled from Australia to cause trouble.

Pomona tried to trade Severus a lead about Lucius Malfoy’s plans for a secret, but he refused to answer until he had tested her information. After dinner, she reflected on ghosts, identity, and the possibility of Voldemort returning, while wondering whether Severus might poison her.

• Pomona brought dinner to Severus and confronted him about not eating all day.
• Pomona offered Severus a direction in exchange for a secret and told him how the Allies used Major Martin’s body to deceive Hitler.
• Pomona asked whether Lucius Malfoy planned to leave Britain, but Severus said he would wait to test her information and dismissed her concern.
• Severus wiped sauce from Pomona’s mouth, tasted it, and called it poison before she explained that it was Sicilian sumac.
• Severus took the documents into the master bedroom, leaving Pomona to eat alone and reflect on ghosts, Voldemort’s return, and whether Severus might poison her.

Pomona investigated why Spartacus turned back from Gaul, learning that Roman influence, Germanic incursions, and local conflicts would have made it a dangerous refuge. In the Forbidden Forest, Snape tested Random’s skills and fear of snakes before Pomona encouraged the boy to enjoy the rest of his summer holiday.

• Pomona discussed Gaul’s history with Professor Binns and concluded that Spartacus would have faced Roman auxiliaries and Germanic threats if he had crossed the Alps.
• Random visited Pomona in the Forbidden Forest and said he missed home but had his father’s support.
• Snape arrived and challenged Random to show what he had learned from the Centaurs.
• Snape attacked Random with venomous snakes, exploiting his fear, while Random dodged them for about ten minutes.
• Snape stopped the attack, and Pomona offered Random Sicilian ice cream and urged him to enjoy his summer holiday.

Pomona took Random to meet Alastor Moody, hoping to find him an Auror mentor, but learned that he wanted to protect animals like Scamander instead. Moody rejected the arrangement, and Pomona took Random home to finish his summer homework.

• Pomona spent the day showing Random around London before bringing him to Alastor Moody's home.
• Random refused to enter and told Pomona he did not want to train as an Auror.
• Severus explained that Moody was approaching retirement and that keeping him occupied would benefit everyone.
• Random said he wanted to become like Scamander and protect animals rather than become an Auror.
• Moody defended Random's choice but told Pomona and the others to leave.
• Pomona took Random home and ordered him to do his summer homework.

Pomona reflected on the burdens of protecting others and spoke with the Fat Friar about her loneliness and doubts. After a mysterious encounter in her office, she left to invite Dumbledore to stargaze.

• Pomona considered the Ministry's actions, Dumbledore's influence, and the conflicts between Hogwarts' houses before turning away from the headmaster's office.
• The Fat Friar found Pomona and listened as she questioned whether her House members were fools and worried she might grow old and isolated like Alastor Moody.
• Pomona told the Fat Friar that frequent trips to London had left her unable to feel calm, and he reminded her that she was not alone.
• After the Fat Friar left, a voice and unseen hand appeared behind Pomona, touching blush to her cheek and speaking to her as she resisted the presence.
• Pomona found no one behind her and left the office, planning to invite Dumbledore to stargaze.

Pomona asked Dumbledore why he wanted Moody to retire, and he explained that Moody’s prolonged anger and wartime passion threatened his health and judgment. Dumbledore admitted he had encouraged Pomona to send Random to Moody, leaving her troubled by having used the student and wondering whether she could still trust Snape.

• The chapter described Marius’s rise, his restraint after triumph, and how Crassus and Pompey kept their armies near Rome while the commoners mistook their standoff for competition over a triumph.
• Roble Shacklebolt kept the Aurors active because he believed Voldemort might return, while the Minister thought he should relax.
• Pomona invited Dumbledore to stargaze and asked whether his friendship with Moody was intact after Moody mistook her for a lobbyist.
• Dumbledore said Moody’s intense anger and exposure to dark magic were harmful, and he wanted Moody to retire for the sake of his health and mind.
• Pomona confessed she had sent Random to Moody without asking him first, and Dumbledore confirmed that he had advised her to do so.
• Pomona wondered whether she should still trust Snape as she and Dumbledore looked at the stars.

Pomona reflected on love, contentment, and compromise while reading Descartes and thinking about Pride and Prejudice. Her quiet time ended when Grubbly-Plank asked her to help control the owls bringing Harry Potter birthday presents, since Lily’s protective magic would not stop them.

• Pomona compared Descartes’s ideas about love and reality with the choices facing Elizabeth and Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice.
• Pomona wondered whether anyone besides Charlotte would marry Collins and rejected the idea that people had to compromise in every matter.
• Grubbly-Plank called to Pomona from the lawn and asked for help controlling the owl postmen.
• Grubbly-Plank explained that Harry Potter’s birthday was approaching and Lily’s protective magic would not prevent the owls from finding him.
• Pomona agreed to help Grubbly-Plank stop Harry from being buried beneath birthday presents.

Pomona argued with Snape after he returned from a failed attempt to create mincemeat, and he pressed her to admit what she wanted while criticizing Dumbledore. She fled the observatory in tears and sought comfort from Minerva, leaving her doubting her own strength.

• Pomona collected students’ star-observation notes to make a gift for Sinistra after spending the day caring for owls with Grubbly-Plank.
• Snape confronted Pomona about where she had been and told her his plan had failed, after which he had been told to wait for news.
• Snape challenged Pomona to act rather than observe and urged her to confess what she wanted, but she said she wanted nothing and tried to leave.
• Snape grabbed Pomona and disparaged Dumbledore, so she slapped him before escaping the classroom.
• Pomona pounded on Minerva’s door and collapsed into her arms, sobbing and questioning whether she could ever be strong or protect anyone.

Pomona sought comfort from Minerva after Severus blamed her, and Minerva helped her consider accepting change rather than clinging to the past. Pomona left feeling somewhat calmer, though unsettled about Severus and their relationship.

• Pomona recalled Severus's accusations and the history of dark magic and political frenzy while she wept over the argument.
• Minerva gave Pomona black tea and asked what had happened between her and Severus.
• Minerva compared their argument to couples fighting over furniture and drew on her memories of Doug and Albus to discuss lost relationships and new beginnings.
• Pomona insisted she and Severus had no relationship, while Minerva pointed out that his leaving his hometown house could mark a new beginning.
• Minerva urged Pomona to accept change and reminded her that Severus had only been told to wait for notification about the trouble he caused.
• Pomona thanked Minerva for the tea, left her office, and headed toward her own office.

Pomona prepared envelope-shaped Hall Chicken Pies while reflecting on Harry’s safety, free will, and the ways people chose their lives. Flitwick took the pies, and Pomona sent a House-elf to find Random as she began making another batch.

• Pomona made envelope-shaped chicken pies as compensation for Harry and planned to cast a Shielding Charm on the Dursley family.
• Pomona reflected on resolve, marriage, Minerva’s and Queenie’s choices, and how clear knowledge could guide free will.
• Pomona considered how Grindelwald controlled Inferi and how Paul’s Trolls fought by instinct.
• Flitwick praised Pomona’s pies, took a plate to share, and left the kitchen.
• Pomona sent a House-elf to find Random and began making pastry with ice water.

Pomona sent Random to stay with Moody so he could study and learn to understand the Auror, then clashed with Snape over where she had gone the previous night. After reflecting on regret, desire, and Elizabeth Bennet’s refusal to settle for Collins, she told Snape they would return to London the next day to focus on his business.

• Pomona read about Darcy and Elizabeth at the ball, then told Random to stay with Moody and gave him chicken pies for the visit.
• Snape found Pomona by the Black Lake, questioned her about the previous night, and praised her for arranging Random’s stay with Moody.
• Snape sat beside Pomona at her picnic, but she left him behind as she reflected on regret and the choices of Albus, Dudley, Harry, and Darcy.
• Pomona continued reading about Elizabeth’s rejection of Collins and Darcy’s first proposal, then told Snape they would return to London tomorrow.
• Pomona told Snape to stop following her, but he followed her anyway as she walked away.

Pomona watched Vernon’s treatment of Harry and heard him complain about raising James’s child, then confronted Severus when he threatened Quirrell. Severus swore he would not repeat his earlier behavior, and Pomona wondered what kind of father Harry would become.

• Pomona followed Vernon to a pub, listened as he complained about Harry and James, and left pies at the Dursleys’ door.
• Pomona reflected on abandoned children, unreliable friends, and the dangers of fresh starts.
• Severus spotted Quirrell and appeared eager to confront him, but Pomona invited Quirrell to join their picnic, prompting him to leave.
• Pomona challenged Severus about bullying Quirrell and warned him not to act as he had before.
• Severus swore in Merlin’s name that he would never behave that way again, and Pomona asked who Harry would resemble as a father.