Chapter Summaries

After Olivia’s death, Tom and Abraxas grieved together and reflected on her final gift to Lucius. Dumbledore tried to persuade Tom to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, but Tom stayed at Malfoy Manor to care for his infant godson.

• Leander thanked Tom for helping Olivia, and Abraxas said the Greengrass family would remain House Malfoy’s ally as they mourned her.
• Back at Malfoy Manor, Brutus broke down over losing Olivia, whom he had regarded as his own child for fourteen years.
• Abraxas told Tom that Olivia had used her last magic to carve protective spells into Lucius’s pocket watch and had asked him to keep it secret.
• Dumbledore visited Malfoy Manor to ask Tom to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Tom distracted him by showing off Lucius.
• Tom refused to leave Lucius and said the baby needed him, so Dumbledore gave up on persuading him.

Five years later, Tom struggled with his mischievous godson Lucius while meeting Ian to discuss orphaned young wizards and political favors. At Hogwarts, Dumbledore found Professor McGonagall crying over a hidden letter, and she began confiding in him.

• Tom gave Lucius to the house-elves and left the manor rather than honor his promise to take him to Albania.
• At The Hog's Head, Ian delivered a case Tom had requested and complained that a Mirkovich had kept him busy covering up a ruined Muggle company.
• Tom told Ian that the Flint family had to send people into the Muggle world in exchange for greater influence in the Ministry of Magic.
• Dumbledore discovered Professor McGonagall crying in her office, and she told him he was the only person she could confide in.

Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore shared painful memories of the Muggle loves and family tragedies that had left them lonely. Tom returned to Wool's Orphanage, where he said goodbye to the dying Mrs. Cole and buried her.

• Professor McGonagall told Dumbledore how she had fallen in love with Dougal MacGregor, accepted his proposal, and left him rather than ask him to abandon his life for her.
• Dumbledore shared the story of Ariana's suffering and his love for Gellert Grindelwald, whose Blood Pact with him ended after a fight that killed Ariana.
• Abraxas and Lucius clung to Tom as he tried to leave for the Muggle world, and Lucius was ordered to copy the family rules.
• Tom visited the dying Mrs. Cole at Wool's Orphanage, where she thanked him and asked him to take a silver coin from her drawer.
• Tom buried Mrs. Cole and stood at her gravestone as the children sobbed.

Tom reflected on his childhood in the Muggle world and his plans to cultivate loyal half-blood wizards before unexpectedly meeting Eileen Prince. Eileen fled home, where Tobia confronted her about hiding her magic, and she finally admitted that she was a witch.

• Tom considered how poverty and wartime hardship had shaped his reluctance to return to the Muggle world, and dismissed the possibility of wizards and Muggles living together peacefully.
• Tom thought about using the orphanages he funded to win the loyalty of young half-blood wizards and build influence over time.
• Tom encountered the pregnant Eileen in a park, and Eileen ran away after mistaking his intentions and insisting she needed to return to Tobia.
• Eileen reached home and denied to Tobia that she had encountered the people troubling her in the wizarding world.
• Tobia accused Eileen of hiding strange abilities, then apologized and told her he loved her regardless.
• Eileen told Tobia that she was a witch and had concealed it because of the International Confederation of Wizards' Secrecy Law and her fear of losing him.

Tobia persuaded Eileen to ask her family for money, while Tom watched and worried that she had forgotten her painful past. At Malfoy Manor, Tom and Abraxas discussed Lucius’s upbringing and the family’s political plans, then made Lucius face consequences for his mischief.

• Tobia blamed his misfortunes on losing his job and persuaded Eileen to seek funds from her family for their future.
• Tom secretly watched Eileen agree to give Tobia money and concluded that only recovering her buried memories could save her from him.
• Tom repaired the sitting room at Malfoy Manor and comforted Lucius after the boy admitted he had dyed the peacocks black to get Abraxas’s attention.
• Abraxas told Tom that he planned to remove the Muggle-born Minister and install a controllable successor to protect House of Malfoy and prepare for Lucius’s future.
• Lucius apologized to Abraxas the next morning, but Abraxas sent him to study and Tom warned him not to disrespect his father, prompting Lucius to say he hated them both.

Tom raised and taught young Lucius while living with Abraxas, then agreed to visit the House of Black as Orion and Volga awaited their first child. The chapter left Orion gravely ill at Grimmauld Place, refusing help despite Volga's pleas and warning that enemies were watching the family.

• Tom healed Abraxas, then chose a book about ancient magic for Lucius while allowing him to read wizarding genealogies later.
• Tom made Lucius practice flying a broomstick close to the ground, frustrating Lucius with his excessive caution.
• Lucius stormed off after Abraxas beat him at Wizard's Chess, and Tom told Abraxas that Brutus would return around the birth of Orion's eldest son.
• Tom agreed to accompany Abraxas to the House of Black when Orion and Volga's child was due in late October or early November.
• At Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, Volga begged Orion to let her seek Abraxas's help, but Orion refused and said the House of Black's enemies were watching them.

At Sirius Black’s birth, Orion Black appealed to Tom and Abraxas to protect his child and proposed a betrothal, which Tom rejected. After Christmas, Brutus returned and later took Lucius to the Black family without permission, enraging Abraxas.

• On November 3, 1959, Orion announced Sirius Black’s birth and named him the future head of House of Black.
• Tom and Abraxas visited the Black family, where Orion asked them not to abandon his child and suggested a childhood betrothal if his next child was a girl.
• Tom refused to bind Lucius to a childhood betrothal, insisting that Lucius would choose his own future wife.
• Brutus returned just before Christmas and tried to win over Lucius and Tom with a gift, but Tom led Lucius upstairs.
• After the New Year, Abraxas told Tom that Brutus had cried all night and plotted to let him teach Lucius.
• Abraxas and Tom discovered that Brutus had taken Lucius to the Black family, and Abraxas resolved to disown his father.

Tom received and signed a teaching contract while Malfoy Manor filled with the lively noise of Brutus and the children. Elsewhere, Aileen and Tobia struggled with their newborn son, and a dispute with Alva ended with Tobia shot and Aileen unable to intervene.

• Brutus’s return made Malfoy Manor lively, and Tom praised the drawings made by the old man and child.
• Tom seized Fawkes, collected his feathers, and signed the teaching contract delivered by the phoenix.
• Aileen gave birth to Slytherin, but Tobia admitted he still feared having a wizard child and left her to return to work.
• Alva tracked down Tobia over an insurance dispute, beat him, and shot him in the calf when he refused to pay more than the contract required.
• Aileen rushed outside to help Tobia, but Mickey recognized her as Aileen Prince and dragged Alva away.

Tobia recovered from his gunshot wound with Eileen’s potion, then struck her in fear and anger. Tom spoke with Dumbledore and met Professor McGonagall before Corban summoned him to Yaxley Manor, where Dolohov had attacked Little Robert McGonagall.

• Tobia drank the Blood-Replenishing Potion, recovered, and accused Eileen of knowing the attacker before slapping her.
• Tom visited Dumbledore, and the two traded barbs while Dumbledore showed off his Patronus.
• Professor McGonagall arrived and spoke with Tom about his reputation at Hogwarts.
• Corban told Tom that Dolohov had attacked half-blood wizards, so Tom invited Dumbledore and McGonagall to Yaxley Manor.
• At the manor, McGonagall learned that Dolohov had tortured Little Robert McGonagall, and Tom seized Dolohov to search his memories.

Tom settled into family life while Abraxas discussed the political risks of his alliance with Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Tobia struggled with his failing life and Severus’s accidental magic, and Eileen left home in despair, leaving the baby behind.

• Tom told Abraxas he trusted Dumbledore’s support and would silence anyone who caused trouble.
• Tobia returned home and held Severus, whose accidental magic made the furniture shake.
• Tobia blamed Eileen and the wizarding world for his misfortunes, then left for a nearby park.
• Eileen wept over how much she had sacrificed and pleaded for Tobia not to leave her.
• Eileen wandered out without noticing Severus stirring alone on the sofa.

Dumbledore told Tom that Mulciber had secretly approached Fenrir Greyback, prompting Tom to punish Mulciber for using his name to recruit werewolves against half-bloods. Tom summoned his followers afterward, while Mulciber was left near death and had not arrived.

• Dumbledore asked Tom to deliver an appointment letter and revealed that Mulciber had approached Fenrir Greyback.
• Tom left Hogwarts and summoned Mulciber to his manor, where he tortured him with the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses.
• Tom accused Mulciber of trying to recruit werewolves in his name and threatened him with death.
• Corban, Radolphus, Augustus, Avery, and Rosier set out to answer Tom's late-night summons, unaware that Mulciber was already lying near death.

Rodolphus and Rabastan discussed their father and the powerful wizard they admired, while Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa visited Sirius at Black Manor. Their visit interrupted Tom and Abraxas, and Lucius arrived just as they were about to leave together.

• Radolphus returned home sick after seeing what had happened to Dolohov, while Rodolphus and Rabastan argued about their father and the Lestrange family.
• Andromeda invited Bellatrix and Narcissa to visit Sirius, and the sisters set off through the Floo fireplace.
• Tom recalled his intimate encounter with Abraxas and moved to kiss him again at Black Manor.
• Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa emerged from the fireplace and interrupted Tom and Abraxas.
• Lucius arrived and called to his father and godfather, prompting Tom to order him to copy the Malfoy family precepts and Slytherin rules.

Orion told Tom and Abraxas that Volga had been affected by Dark Arts from a bracelet, and Tom blamed him for the trouble. Back at Malfoy Manor, Lucius struggled with his punishment and his parents’ strictness, while Brutus comforted him and Abraxas and Tom secretly watched.

• Lucius left with Sirius in the pram, feeling wronged and vowing to roast the white peacocks at home.
• Orion coughed violently after Volga fell asleep, and Abraxas gave him a potion while Tom complained about its taste.
• Tom learned that Volga’s Dark Arts had come from a bracelet she found in a jewelry box and scolded Orion for keeping dangerous items in the house.
• Tom took Lucius to the study to punish him for resisting Slytherin and its rules.
• Brutus comforted the tearful Lucius, who asked whether he could become as outstanding as his father if he persevered.
• Abraxas and Tom secretly listened outside the study, then returned to their bedroom together.

Tom and Abraxas agreed to become Regulus Black’s godparents after Orion and Volga chose him as the true heir of the House of Black. The chapter ended with Tom and Abraxas discussing Ministry spies at Malfoy Manor, followed by a brief scene of Fleamont Potter clinging to his son.

• Orion introduced his newborn son Regulus to Tom and Abraxas, and Volga asked Abraxas to become the baby’s godfather.
• Abraxas accepted, and Tom blessed Regulus Arcturus Black’s soul and declared that the child was Abou’s godson.
• Orion and Volga admitted they had chosen Regulus as the true heir to preserve the Black family line, while planning for Sirius to spend more time with Andromeda.
• Tom and Abraxas visited the sleeping Lucius before Abraxas asked Tom to deal with Augustus and Corban’s Ministry of Magic spies.
• Fleamont Potter refused to let go of his son and would not speak with Euphemia.

Eileen and Tobia Snape’s failing marriage and finances pushed them to leave their home for Spinner’s End, while Eileen’s distress deepened. Two days later, the Evans family viewed the vacated house and decided to buy it.

• Tobia returned home drunk after his company failed and his house was mortgaged, while Eileen soothed the frightened Severus.
• Eileen went to Gringotts for money from the Prince vault, then offered the pounds to Tobia when he came home drunk.
• The next day, Tobia apologized to Eileen, then decided they should move to Spinner’s End and find work nearby.
• The Snape family moved out, and two days later Mr. and Mrs. Evans viewed the house with Lily and Petunia and agreed to buy it.

Three years later, Tom took eight-year-old Lucius along while visiting young Muggle-born wizards, then led him into a filthy district as a lesson in appreciating his privileged life. The chapter ended with Lucius stranded there, wondering where his godfather had gone.

• Tom reminded Lucius to behave properly when they visited the Muggle world.
• Tom demonstrated magic to Mr. Sweet's parents, while Mrs. Sweet dragged her horrified husband into the kitchen for a beating.
• Tom told young Mr. Sweet he would have to wait until August to buy his Hogwarts supplies.
• Lucius persuaded Tom to take a walk after their visits, despite feeling sick from Apparition.
• Tom led Lucius into a dirty district, then disappeared from his sight as Lucius recoiled in disgust.

Tom secretly watched Lucius navigate a dangerous Muggle district, then intervened when a bottle injured him. They entered a house where Tom confronted Tobia, and Lucius tried to rescue the young Severus and his mother, Eileen Prince.

• Lucius cautiously explored the factory district while Tom secretly watched and stopped an ambusher.
• Tom missed a bottle thrown from a window, and it struck Lucius, who fainted after fearing he had been disfigured.
• Tom healed Lucius, but Lucius insisted on staying to witness the attacker’s punishment.
• Tom and Lucius entered Tobia’s house, where Tobia attacked Tom and Tom subdued him with a Cruciatus Curse.
• Lucius pulled Severus away from Eileen, while Tom approached the silent Eileen.

Tom used Legilimency to uncover Eileen’s locked memories of her grandfather’s death and her decision to bury her talent and painful past. Eileen awoke and turned her attention to Tobia, while Severus remained restrained by Lucius.

• Tom searched Eileen’s mind and saw her destroy the potions room after believing she could not prevent death or protect the Prince family’s inheritance.
• Tom found Eileen beside her dying grandfather, Scarbor Prince, who urged her to return to Hogwarts and leave afterward.
• Tom discovered that Eileen had locked those memories and her talent away after meeting him near the owlery.
• Lucius restrained Severus and threatened him into silence by warning that his mother might lose her life.
• Eileen awoke, accepted Tom’s help, and approached Tobia as memories of their life together returned.

Aileen reflected on her troubled marriage to Tobia and killed him, then asked Tom to take care of Severus. The chapter ended with Aileen leaving her son’s future in Tom’s hands.

• Tobia mistook Aileen for the wife he had lost and begged to touch her, while Aileen recalled their broken marriage.
• Tobia declared himself Aileen’s most loyal knight, and Aileen killed him with the Killing Curse.
• Lucius watched Tobia die and struggled to face the Muggle’s corpse.
• Tom reminded Aileen that she had a child, but Aileen insisted her feelings for Tobia were true to her and called Severus’s birth a mistake.
• Aileen asked Tom to take care of Severus.

Tom took young Severus away from Spinner's End after Eileen Snape died, then brought him to Malfoy Manor, where Abraxas accepted the child. Severus woke remembering his parents' final embrace and wondered if he could finally have a happy family.

• Eileen gave Tom a box containing her black jade bracelet and asked him to keep Severus's surname, saying the Prince family would never acknowledge a half-blood.
• Tom carried Severus away from the burning Spinner's End and told Lucius to remember what happened and protect what he had.
• Tom returned to Malfoy Manor with Lucius and Severus and explained the events to Abraxas.
• Abraxas cleaned up the sleeping Severus and sent Tom to wash himself.
• Severus woke, remembered his parents embracing, and wondered whether he could have a happy family before someone greeted him.