Chapter Summaries

Tom and Minerva visited Orphanage No. 7, where Avery complained about being made to teach the young wizards. Remus, who had found comfort there after being bitten by a werewolf, asked his mother how he could repay Tom.

• Tom told Dumbledore that he and Minerva were visiting Orphanage No. 7, and Minerva criticized those who had failed to help the children.
• Tom and Minerva arrived at the orphanage, where Avery complained that teaching and serving the children was agonizing.
• Tom assigned Dolphin Rohl and Evan Rosier to take over Avery's work, and Avery left the orphanage.
• R.L. Lupin read fairy tales to the youngest children while Remus helped his mother in the kitchen.
• Remus asked Hope how he could repay Tom, and she told him to call his father to use magic to carry the food to the dining table.

Tom visited Remus and Minerva, who was moved by the suffering of abandoned young wizards. After Minerva asked about helping and Madam Smith’s collection, Tom warned her to stay away from Dumbledore.

• Tom arrived at Remus’s home and asked about his schoolwork.
• Minerva met Remus and became emotional as she thought about the children who had been abandoned.
• Tom walked with Minerva and said they could only minimize the harm caused by prejudice.
• Minerva offered to contribute her savings, then asked whether Madam Smith’s collection and Hufflepuff’s golden cup were with Tom.
• Tom warned Minerva to stay away from Dumbledore.

Tom and Dumbledore brought the three Deathly Hallows together, opening a Mirage Realm that showed each of them a vision of the deceased they most longed to see. After they escaped, an attacker ambushed them with a Killing Curse, and both wizards fought back.

• Tom gave Dumbledore the Resurrection Stone ring, and Dumbledore assembled all three Deathly Hallows while calling on Thanatos.
• The Hallows transformed into a black cloak bearing the Resurrection Stone and Elder Wand, while Tom and Dumbledore were drawn into a rising river.
• Tom pulled Dumbledore away from an arched bridge and splashed him with river water to bring him to his senses.
• Dumbledore explained that the Mirage Realm showed people the deceased they most longed to see and the happiest moment in their hearts.
• An unknown attacker cast a Killing Curse at Tom and Dumbledore, who dodged and retaliated with Killing Curses of their own.

Tom confronted Gellert Grindelwald after finding him with Fawkes, but Gellert escaped before Tom could attack him. Gellert then told Dumbledore he had left his cage to return to his followers, and promised they would meet again.

• Dumbledore restrained Tom and recognized Fawkes on Gellert Grindelwald’s shoulder.
• Tom broke free and attacked Gellert with repeated Killing Curses, but Gellert provoked him and escaped with Fawkes.
• Tom returned to the Headmaster’s office, summoned his ring, and left after Dumbledore urged him to calm down.
• Dumbledore dropped his friendly expression and demanded the truth about Gellert’s plans.
• Gellert said he had left his cage to return to the Wizarding Supremacy Party and told Dumbledore he looked forward to their next meeting.

Dumbledore wrestled with Gellert’s warnings about the future and considered protecting the Malfoy family’s Patriarch. The next morning, after the Board of Governors sent him a warning letter, he approached Tom for help and was rebuffed.

• Dumbledore reflected on Gellert’s claims, Horcruxes, and whether he would have to protect the Malfoy family’s Patriarch.
• Gellert visited the barn in Godric's Valley where he and Albus had formed the Blood Pact, then decided to visit Nicolas Flamel in France.
• Dumbledore received a warning letter from the Board of Governors and worried that he could not afford the consequences of their inspection.
• Dumbledore asked Tom to pass a message to the Board of Governors and stop the inspection, but Tom pushed him away.

Tom joked with Dumbledore and enjoyed his popularity among the students before leaving Hogwarts for Christmas break. He returned home eager but worried about how Abou would receive him.

• Tom convinced Dumbledore that the Board of Governors could inspect Hogwarts, and Dumbledore went to collect honey in the garden.
• Tom and Dumbledore's prank cost Hagrid Acromantula venom and unicorn hair, while the students thanked Tom for their new flying brooms.
• Slughorn joked with Tom about becoming Head of Slytherin and sympathized with him over Dumbledore's lectures about love.
• Tom left Hogwarts through the Headmaster's fireplace for Christmas break, and Lucius remarked that Tom had gone straight to see his father.
• Tom paused outside the study, wondering whether Abou was angry and how he could coax him.

Tom returned to Abraxas and the two reunited, while Severus and Lucius bickered over potion practice. Abraxas then confronted Tom about the consequences of Grindelwald escaping Nurmengard, leaving the threat of Grindelwald and Dumbledore joining forces unresolved.

• Abraxas mocked Tom for returning instead of confronting Grindelwald, and Tom pulled him close to answer.
• Severus left the study with Lucius and asked him to take him to the potions room to practice.
• Severus praised Tom's annotated potion notes while insulting Lucius, and the two young wizards traded insults until Brutus shielded them from an exploding cauldron.
• Tom supported Abraxas downstairs after their reunion, and Abraxas questioned the impact of Grindelwald leaving Nurmengard.

Tom, Abraxas, Lucius, and Severus prepared to visit the House of Black, while Tom discussed Grindelwald and growing opposition to Muggle-born wizards becoming Minister. The group arrived at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, where Tom left Severus in Sirius's care.

• Tom admitted he had been wrong and resolved to burn down the Headmaster's Tower after returning to Hogwarts.
• Abraxas warned Tom about Grindelwald's control of the German wizarding world and the rising opposition to Muggle-born wizards becoming Minister.
• Tom told Severus that meeting other young wizards would be good for him and suggested Bellatrix could help him with spells.
• Tom sent Lucius through the fireplace to the House of Black, then followed with Severus to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
• Orion greeted Tom, who pushed Severus toward Sirius and told him to entertain his guest.

Tom told Orion that Dumbledore’s guilt bound him and that Dumbledore would support them, then revealed that Regulus had at most ten years to live. Meanwhile, Bella made Lucius repeatedly promise to stay away from Narcissa.

• Orion brought Tom to the study and questioned his plan involving Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
• Tom explained that he had used Legilimency on Dumbledore and intended to use Dumbledore’s guilt to keep him on their side.
• Tom reassured the jealous Abraxas, while Orion complained that they had forgotten their serious discussion.
• Tom told Orion that Regulus might become the youngest head of the family and had at most ten years to live.
• Orion set aside his grief and offered to show Tom memories of Regulus in the Pensieve.
• Bella made Lucius swear three times not to come within half a meter of Narcissa.

Bellatrix struggled with the expectations her father had placed on her as heir to the Black family after Lucius warned her not to provoke Severus, whom Voldemort protected. Elsewhere, Volga crushed Regulus’s attempt to save his secretly raised kitten, leaving him to retreat silently to his room.

• Bellatrix sent Andromeda and Narcissa away, then questioned Lucius about Severus’s unknown surname.
• Lucius told Bellatrix that Voldemort had brought Severus back and personally taught him, warning her not to provoke him.
• After Lucius left, Bellatrix recalled her father’s demands to protect her brothers and preserve the Black bloodline, then steadied herself by repeating her duty.
• Volga refused Regulus’s plea to spare his kitten and told him to put away his weakness.
• Regulus watched his kitten die, wiped away his tears, and returned to his bedroom without confronting his mother.

Regulus struggled with the Black family’s strict expectations, while Sirius tried to comfort him and defend him from their mother’s blame. Volga returned to the meeting room with a transfigured petal, and Tom asked why she had not used it.

• Volga left Regulus’s bedroom after reflecting on how his kindness could leave him vulnerable.
• Sirius found Regulus crying, gave him an origami crane, and offered to take him to see Severus.
• Volga scolded Sirius and Regulus for their behavior, then told Regulus never to resent his brother because Sirius could stay with him longer than their parents could.
• Regulus accepted the blame and said he was willing to be punished.
• Volga returned to the meeting room, where Tom asked why she had not used the lifelike cat she had transfigured from a petal.

Tom and Abraxas arranged Lucius’s upcoming celebration and imposed studies on him while Tom began teaching Severus magical theory. When the holiday ended, Tom gave the exhausted Lucius potions and told him not to disgrace the Malfoys.

• Volga crushed the flower petals and admitted she could not bring herself to ruin her son.
• Orion suggested introducing Sirius to a Potter child, while Tom said the Wizarding Supremacy Party would show pure-bloods the price of gaining benefits.
• Tom and Abraxas decided to hold a July banquet for Lucius, and Abraxas ordered him to memorize the family trees of noble houses.
• Tom returned to Malfoy Manor and began teaching Severus magical theory while Abraxas forced Lucius to study.
• Brutus fled the manor and planned to publish an obituary declaring himself dead.
• After the holiday, Tom handed a haggard Lucius a pile of potions and told him not to disgrace the Malfoys.

Tom met Ian and Mickey in Hogsmeade and learned how their former students were faring, then returned to Hogwarts. Dumbledore confronted him about whether he had ever made a Horcrux.

• Tom visited The Hog's Head and found Ian and Mickey together.
• Ian and Mickey told Tom that the young wizards they had helped were doing well and could blend into Muggle society, though reaching the political world remained difficult.
• Tom and Ian discussed replacing the Minister and mourned those affected by their schemes before Ian proposed a toast to peace.
• Tom returned to Hogwarts near evening, where Dumbledore found him and told him to drink a sobering potion.
• Dumbledore asked Tom whether he had ever made a Horcrux, then admitted that he had caused the situation.

Tom learned from the letter that making a Horcrux damaged the soul irreparably and stripped away the creator’s emotions, but he refused Dumbledore’s offer to examine him. At the Malfoy manor, Abraxas concealed his concern over the Resurrection Stone’s effect and told Lucius he would clear the way for him to inherit the family.

• Tom read a letter warning Dumbledore that Herpo’s Horcrux method damaged the soul and removed the creator’s emotions.
• Tom rejected Dumbledore’s offer to examine his soul and refused to promise that he would not make another Horcrux.
• Abraxas returned to the manor exhausted and wondered whether the Resurrection Stone ring was draining his magic and energy.
• Lucius confronted Abraxas about his condition and the rapidly dwindling supply of Lumos Potion.
• Abraxas reassured Lucius that he would clear the obstacles to his becoming family head, leaving Lucius to question what he had earned for himself.

Abraxas sent Tom a letter about Abou, prompting Tom to investigate the Resurrection Stone and consider creating an heir with Abou. The next morning, Tom left the Forbidden Forest and headed to the Headmaster’s Tower.

• Abraxas comforted Lucius by promising to get him an Australian White-eyed Dragon, while Severus overheard and imagined asking Lucius for expensive gifts.
• Abraxas sent Tom his ring and a letter through his house-elf, then fell asleep from exhaustion.
• Tom read the letter and realized he had missed signs that something was wrong with Abou.
• Tom poured magic into the Resurrection Stone and heard a childish Parseltongue voice, then considered combining it with Abou’s lost magic to make an heir.
• Tom went to the Forbidden Forest to gather life force from Acromantulas, then headed to the Headmaster’s Tower the next morning.

Tom returned to Malfoy Manor after leaving Dumbledore without explanation, then reflected with Abraxas on the simple life they could never have. He ended by promising to protect Abraxas from anyone, including himself.

• Tom left Dumbledore behind and arrived at Malfoy Manor with Fawkes, while Dumbledore shouted after him.
• Tom apologized to Abraxas and reunited with him on the sofa, while Lucius watched resentfully.
• Abraxas sent Lucius to order new clothes, and Tom sent Severus to get a new cauldron and dragon-hide gloves.
• After the boys left, Tom imagined a quiet Muggle life with Abraxas and Lucius, and Abraxas said he would not let himself fall into danger.
• Tom told Abraxas he would never let anyone hurt him, including himself.

Gellert visited Ollivander and used his influence to uncover details about wands and their owners, while Lucius shopped in Diagon Alley with Slytherin. Lucius decided to return home and write to his grandfather as he pursued a dragon egg.

• Gellert questioned Ollivander, who later examined a hazel wand and an elm wand and wondered whether fate could be changed.
• Lucius teased Slytherin about his height while Slytherin bought potion ingredients in Diagon Alley.
• Lucius decided against entering Knockturn Alley alone and planned to write to his grandfather after being away for so long.
• Brutus guessed that his grandson was missing him, and Arcturus replied that the boy was probably missing his vault.

Tom learned that pure-blood supporters were wavering because of claims that he had submitted to Dumbledore and abandoned Slytherin's cause. He ordered a public campaign to establish himself as Slytherin's true heir, and the next day newspapers published his account of speaking with Salazar Slytherin.

• Radolphus told Tom that someone was inciting pure-bloods against Muggle-born wizards and spreading claims that Tom had betrayed his responsibilities as Slytherin's heir.
• Cobban and the other followers declared their loyalty to Tom, who realized many valued their power and Galleons more than glory.
• Tom issued orders to publicize who he believed was Slytherin's true heir and to counter Gellert's influence.
• The Daily Prophet and other newspapers published a front-page story showing Tom with a snakewood wand and describing his conversation with Salazar Slytherin.
• Dumbledore confirmed the story's authenticity in an interview.

After Tom was vindicated, he mocked Dumbledore for their past and for the attacker’s attempt to make him a purger, while Dumbledore offered privileges to the Malfoy heir. The two ended the chapter preparing to duel in the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid heard their commotion.

• Dumbledore complained that Tom had not told him about the attacker sooner, and Tom accused him of using the incident to boost his own prestige.
• Tom demanded a drink and mocked Dumbledore’s history with Grindelwald, prompting Dumbledore to pour him tequila.
• Dumbledore offered to grant the Malfoy heir privileges and teach him advanced magic when he entered Hogwarts.
• Tom said his vindication would strengthen his reputation and Slytherin’s, recasting the house’s traits and his interest in the Dark Arts as virtues and self-sacrifice.
• Dumbledore warned that some people might take the reversal too far, and Tom invoked Salazar Slytherin while taunting him about Godric Gryffindor’s sword.
• Dumbledore challenged Tom to a duel, and Hagrid heard the pair making a commotion deep in the Forbidden Forest.

Tom reflected on his rising reputation and rejected the idea that prophecy could dictate his choices, while the Resurrection Stone continued to demand life force. He fed it to the Acromantulas in his suitcase, then wrote to Mr. Scamander about Re'em cattle and England's climate.

• Tom read the newspapers and credited Abou's methods for turning public opinion in his favor.
• Tom wondered what Trelawney had foreseen, then decided against targeting Mr. Trelawney's family.
• Tom inspected the Resurrection Stone ring and confirmed that living creatures could nourish it with life force.
• Tom tossed the Resurrection Stone into his suitcase full of Acromantulas and began replying to Mr. Scamander about Re'em cattle.