Chapter Summaries

After the Riddle family recovered, Tom worried they would blame him, but Dumbledore reassured him that they loved him and urged him to visit them. Li Weide was invited to share his first-aid methods with St Mungo’s healers, and the chapter ended with Tom backing down from a planned spar after Li Weide suggested using a hospital visit as an excuse to see the female healers again.

• Dumbledore told Tom that the Riddle family had awakened without lasting injuries and urged him to visit them rather than assume they blamed him.
• Dumbledore explained that the St Mungo’s healers wanted to meet Li Weide and discuss his emergency treatment methods, and Li Weide agreed when he realized his teaching could earn Merit Points.
• Li Weide spent the next few days getting along with the healers while Tom learned that his grandparents did not resent him.
• After the Riddle family was discharged, Tom challenged Li Weide to spar, but Li Weide described ways to get Tom sent back to St Mungo’s and Tom put away his wand.

Li Weide visited Tom at Riddle Manor, where Tom avoided a duel but still ended up being beaten during practice. After leaving, Li Weide traveled to Dorset and learned that Senior Sister had regained the ability to speak to him directly and was close to developing a way to convert emotional power safely, though she remained far from emerging.

• Li Weide toured Tom's secret base, then agreed to help Tom train after Tom pleaded to avoid a sparring match.
• Li Weide beat Tom during their practice, and Tom's screams echoed through the grove.
• Li Weide declined Mr. Riddle's carriage and left the manor, while Tom chose to stay with his family and said he was beginning to understand love.
• Li Weide rode the Knight Bus to Dorset, became sick from the journey, and checked a road sign to confirm where he had arrived.
• Senior Sister spoke to Li Weide directly through his mind and explained that her research into converting emotional power was nearly complete.
• Senior Sister told Li Weide she had reclaimed some things that belonged to her, then mourned that things remained while people had changed.

Li Weide confided in Senior Sister about the dangers ahead and suggested she seek Dumbledore’s help if anything happened to him. At Riddle Manor, Tom discovered his father’s love of books and received Dumbledore’s Dark Arts notes, then realized Dumbledore believed Li Weide no longer needed them.

• Li Weide empathized with Senior Sister’s grief and urged her to trust Dumbledore if he ever died.
• Senior Sister left, and Li Weide picked up his suitcase and flew away as a black shadow.
• At Riddle Manor, Tom found Old Tom’s room crowded with books and read alongside his father in a quiet, companionable silence.
• Fawkes delivered Tom a letter and a black notebook from Dumbledore, who approved guided study of the Dark Arts with strict precautions.
• Tom read that Dumbledore thought Li Weide no longer needed the notes and concluded that Li Weide’s disguise had been exposed.

Li Weide arrived at Newt Scamander’s home with Nagini and met Newt, Tina, Jacob, and Queenie, who had mistaken him for a threat. As Queenie’s mind-reading revealed Li Weide’s connection to Tom Riddle and his invention of the Flying Charm, he explained Nagini’s condition and how he had traveled there.

• Li Weide landed outside Newt’s house with Nagini and nearly left to find somewhere to stay, but Newt and the others opened the door and pointed their wands at him.
• Newt, Jacob, Tina, and Queenie recognized Li Weide, lowered their wands, and welcomed him inside.
• Li Weide introduced Nagini to Newt, who examined her and explained that her body had changed so much that she could no longer eat like a human.
• Li Weide translated Nagini’s Parseltongue, and Queenie revealed that she had read his thoughts and learned he knew Tom Riddle.
• Queenie discovered that Li Weide had flown to the house using his Flying Charm, which he had invented.

Li Weide and Newt planned how to weaken Nagini’s Beast Soul without harming her body, and Newt introduced Li Weide to his magical creatures. The chapter ended with the two planning to sneak a look at a depressed dragon, despite Tina’s warnings.

• Queenie and Jacob reassured Queenie about her mind-reading ability while Li Weide discussed the Gaunt Family and Ominis Gaunt with Newt and Tina.
• Li Weide explained that his Transfiguration might gradually weaken Nagini’s Beast Soul and allow her human soul to regain control, while Newt worried about the effects on her body.
• Li Weide and Newt began designing a recovery plan, including observations and experiments with Li Weide’s nutritional potion.
• Tina stopped Newt from keeping Li Weide up late, and Newt showed him the room he had prepared.
• After breakfast, Newt introduced Li Weide to his magical creature friends, then agreed to sneak with him to observe a depressed dragon and bring the Zouwu along.

Tom visited Old Tom and tried to understand him by reading Plato’s The Republic while Old Tom read Tom’s magic books. Their discussion of Dumbledore and Grindelwald left Tom questioning whether a wizard’s strength mattered more than the magic they wielded.

• Tom went to Old Tom’s room to read, and the two exchanged books so they could learn about each other’s interests.
• Old Tom read Tom’s History of Magic and Advanced Spell Analysis while Tom struggled through The Republic.
• At lunch, Old Tom explained why Tom had found Plato difficult to understand, and Tom said the magic books were mostly practical manuals.
• Tom argued that the Dark Arts were a wizard’s strongest weapon, though some powerful wizards, including Dumbledore, never used them.
• Old Tom pointed out that Dumbledore had defeated Grindelwald without the Dark Arts, suggesting that the person, not the magic, was powerful.
• Tom fell into deep thought over Old Tom’s question.

Tom realized that improving his fundamentals mattered more than learning powerful spells, and he asked Old Tom to help him practice. In Dorset, Newt and Li Weide found someone beside the depressed dragon and hurried toward them.

• Old Tom explained to Tom that a wizard’s skill mattered more than the spells or equipment they used, prompting Tom to rethink his dueling training.
• Tom decided to focus on quick-casting defensive spells and improve his fundamentals, then asked Old Tom to practice with him using thrown rocks.
• Newt and Li Weide released the Zouwu in the woods, where Li Weide quickly befriended it with his creature affinity and a cat teaser wand.
• Newt and Li Weide rode the Zouwu deeper into the woods and spotted the motionless, depressed dragon.
• Li Weide noticed a person crouching beside the dragon, and Newt panicked and hurried toward them on the Zouwu.

Newt Scamander, Li Weide, and a giant nine-year-old Rubeus Hagrid narrowly escaped a dragon after Hagrid accidentally pulled out one of its whiskers. After Hagrid left to find his father, Newt confronted Li Weide for giving Hagrid a handwritten copy of Newt’s book.

• Newt hurried toward the dragon and found Li Weide beside a towering boy who claimed to be nine years old.
• The dragon roared, and the Zouwu grabbed Li Weide and the boy, carrying them away just as dragonfire grazed their heads.
• Li Weide discovered the boy had accidentally pulled out the dragon’s whisker and recognized him as Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant.
• Newt warned Hagrid about approaching dragons, while Li Weide gave him a handwritten copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• Hagrid ran toward his father’s distant call, and Newt asked Li Weide whether he had copied the book instead of buying the official edition.

Newt offered to adopt Li Weide after learning he had copied books from memory as a poor child, while Tom discovered a faster way to use the Shield Charm during practice with Old Tom. The chapter ended with Old Tom reading that Germany might target France, putting Li Weide and the others who had sailed there in danger.

• Newt learned that Li Weide had memorized books in bookstores and copied them down at home, then offered to adopt him and buy him books.
• Tom struggled to cast the Shield Charm quickly enough while Old Tom threw pebbles at him.
• Old Tom suggested that Tom protect only part of his body with the Shield Charm, and Tom used the idea to block the pebbles more quickly.
• Tom thanked Old Tom for the training and realized that spending time together had given them both comfort.
• Old Tom read in the newspaper that Germany might target France and warned Tom that Li Weide and the others had sailed there that morning.

Tom and Old Tom worried that the Riddles were headed into a German invasion and sent a letter asking Dumbledore for help, but Grindelwald brought the family home before the owl could arrive. Tom distrusted Grindelwald’s sudden kindness and turned to Li Weide for help, while Li Weide recognized that Grindelwald’s attention meant he considered someone useful.

• Old Tom predicted that war was imminent after Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, so Tom sent Newborn to ask Dumbledore for help bringing the Riddles home.
• Grindelwald arrived at Riddle Manor with Mr. and Mrs. Riddle, explaining that he had stopped their journey to France as part of the Ministry of Magic’s evacuation efforts.
• Tom told his family that Grindelwald was the Dark Wizard who had nearly killed him and suspected that Grindelwald had ulterior motives for helping them.
• Tom resolved to inform Li Weide and Dumbledore, confident that they could handle any danger, and declared, “My big brother is Li Weide!”
• Li Weide read Tom’s letter and concluded that Grindelwald’s special attention meant he considered someone useful, recalling how Grindelwald had treated Credence.

Li Weide warned Tom how to handle Grindelwald and continued trying to cure Nagini, discovering that her recovering body was also restoring the Beast Soul. Tom decided to visit Li Weide, while Dumbledore confronted Grindelwald at the Ministry and warned him against targeting Tom or Weide.

• Li Weide wrote Tom that he should accept Grindelwald's benefits, ignore his requests, and turn to Dumbledore if Grindelwald tried to force him into anything.
• Li Weide examined Nagini and discovered that nourishing her body and suppressing the Beast Soul had also caused the Beast Soul to recover.
• Li Weide promised Nagini he would find a way to keep her from returning to her former state and decided to ask Dumbledore or Senior Sister about soul magic.
• Tom burned Li Weide's letter, considered the scumbag principle, and packed to visit Li Weide so he could check on Nagini and continue training.
• Dumbledore entered Grindelwald's office and warned him not to target Tom or Weide, while Grindelwald defended his motives and challenged Dumbledore's fairness.

Tom arrived at Newt's home after a miserable ride on the Knight Bus and learned that the plan to cure Nagini had failed, though Li Weide could keep her stable. The group considered seeking help from Dumbledore and Grindelwald, while Tom suspected Li Weide had deeper plans and resented being drawn into adult problems at twelve.

• Tom blamed Li Weide for tricking him into riding the Knight Bus, and Li Weide defended the bus as convenient and fast but not comfortable.
• Li Weide welcomed Tom to Newt's home, where Tom noticed the family was worried and asked whether Nagini's treatment had gone wrong.
• Li Weide explained that their recovery plan had failed, but he could keep Nagini stable while they searched for a cure.
• Tom, Li Weide, and Newt discussed purifying the bloodline curse that caused Nagini's condition, and Tom suggested asking Dumbledore for help.
• Newt said Dumbledore's earlier search for a solution had been interrupted by Grindelwald's attack, and Li Weide revealed that he had also written to Grindelwald for advice.
• Tina warned Li Weide that Grindelwald might have ulterior motives, and Tom suspected Li Weide was planning ahead as he complained about facing such problems at twelve.

Li Weide and Tom returned to Hogwarts on September 1, 1939, as war began in the Muggle world, and learned that Grindelwald had taken a Senior Undersecretary position at the school. The chapter ended with Tom fearing Grindelwald’s arrival and wondering if he could still transfer schools.

• Li Weide recalled Senior Sister’s warning that vampires might understand Bloodline Curses and speculated that vampirism could itself be a curse.
• Tom stayed with Newt, spoke with Nagini, and trained with Li Weide until his dueling skills improved.
• Li Weide and Tom traveled to King’s Cross as Germany invaded Poland and passed Aurors guarding the entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
• Henry reunited with Li Weide and Tom, and Annie arrived at the platform looking haggard but unharmed.
• Henry told Li Weide and Tom that Grindelwald had entered Hogwarts as a Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, frightening Tom.

Dumbledore and Dippet struggled to prevent Grindelwald from influencing Hogwarts after his appointment as a Ministry official, and considered using Li Weide and the Mutual Aid Society to counter him. On the Hogwarts Express, Li Weide confronted Annie about her role in Grindelwald’s plans and realized she was still useful to him.

• McGonagall learned Grindelwald had been appointed to Hogwarts and urged Dippet and Dumbledore to stop him.
• Dippet proposed that Dumbledore become Minister for Magic and dismiss Grindelwald, but Dumbledore refused because he feared what power might make him.
• Dippet suggested that Li Weide and the Mutual Aid Society could counter Grindelwald’s influence, and Dumbledore agreed to speak with Li Weide about their future.
• On the Hogwarts Express, Annie asked Li Weide when he had discovered her identity, and he said he had known since she first entered his compartment.
• Li Weide asked why Grindelwald had let Annie go, and her defense of Grindelwald led him to conclude that she remained useful to him.

Li Weide confronted Annie with evidence that Grindelwald had betrayed his followers, shattering her faith and leaving her unsure how to escape his influence. He offered her a place at his side as a chess piece, and she accepted because she no longer trusted Grindelwald.

• Li Weide pressured Annie to face Grindelwald's ruthless actions, and she struggled to reconcile them with the ideals she had believed in.
• Tom questioned Li Weide about Annie's distress, and Li Weide explained that her faith in Grindelwald had collapsed.
• Annie broke down over her doubts and fear that Grindelwald would punish her if she stopped helping him.
• Li Weide told Annie to join him, while Tom reluctantly admitted that he had already joined Li Weide.
• Annie realized Li Weide had used her to influence Grindelwald and had maneuvered Grindelwald, his followers, and Dumbledore as pieces in a larger plan.
• Annie accepted Li Weide's offer, deciding that his blunt promise to protect her was safer than trusting Grindelwald.

Li Weide recruited Annie and told her to turn herself in to Dumbledore so Dumbledore could protect her and monitor Grindelwald’s plans. Annie agreed and accepted Felix Felicis, while Tom struggled to keep up with Li Weide’s schemes.

• Tom watched Li Weide persuade Annie to join their side and wondered whether he was also a piece in Li Weide’s plans.
• Annie said Grindelwald had not given her a specific task, and Li Weide concluded that Grindelwald was guarding against him after realizing how he had been manipulated before.
• Li Weide explained that Grindelwald was unlikely to abandon his rise in the Ministry even if he suspected Li Weide’s intentions, and Tom inferred that Li Weide planned to gain Grindelwald’s trust.
• Li Weide told Annie to confess everything to Dumbledore at Hogwarts, arguing that Dumbledore would protect her and help track Grindelwald.
• Annie agreed to follow Li Weide’s advice, and he gave her a bottle of Felix Felicis to use before approaching Dumbledore.

Li Weide and his friends returned to Hogwarts as Grindelwald’s growing influence emboldened Walburga and other pure-blood students. The chapter ended with Li Weide confronting Walburga over Alphard’s injuries as the Mutual Aid Society gathered behind him.

• Li Weide advised Annie to take Felix Felicis before her planned confession, and she boarded a different carriage after taking the vial.
• Charlie and Henry told Li Weide and Tom that Walburga had injured Alphard and warned them to stay away from him.
• Li Weide concluded that pure-blood families were rallying behind Grindelwald and predicted that their supporters might retaliate against the society.
• Li Weide reasoned that Grindelwald would avoid disbanding the society because he wanted students to accept his ideas rather than hate him.
• At Hogwarts, Li Weide blocked Walburga from taking Alphard away, and the Mutual Aid Society gathered behind him as Walburga and her companions drew their wands.

Li Weide defended Alphard after Walburga and her companions injured him, then healed him while Professor McGonagall dealt with the attackers. The group headed inside for the start-of-term feast, with Slytherin losing one hundred points and Tom promising they could earn them back.

• Walburga shoved the injured Alphard forward, but Tom repaired Alphard’s enlarged teeth and Li Weide steadied him.
• Li Weide sent Walburga and her companions crashing against the castle doors and declared that he would stand by Alphard, his partner and comrade.
• Professor McGonagall questioned the students, then rehung Walburga and the others after seeing Alphard’s injuries and hearing Walburga claim the matter was family business.
• Li Weide healed Alphard with a spell, and Professor McGonagall let him remain with his comrades while she dealt with Walburga and the others.
• Professor McGonagall deducted one hundred points from Slytherin, and Li Weide and Tom reassured Alphard that their group could earn the points back.

At the Great Hall, Li Weide urged Alphard to stop accepting abuse from Walburga and explained how he could seek compensation and support through the Wizengamot Court. Alphard chose to pursue a case against his family, while Li Weide began considering how the incident could help expand and publicize the Mutual Aid Society beyond Hogwarts.

• Li Weide and the Slytherin club members noticed that Slytherin students had split into opposing groups at their House table as Walburga entered with her followers.
• Alphard told Tom and Henry that his parents sided with Walburga and that she might get him cast out of the Black Family; Henry and Li Weide offered him a place to stay and financial help.
• Li Weide explained that Walburga's curses could constitute intentional injury and that Alphard could sue her and other abusers for compensation, while demanding support from his parents if they disowned him.
• After Tom reminded Alphard that he had no reason to stay polite if his parents cast him out, Alphard decided to pursue the case, and Li Weide promised to help.
• Li Weide considered using Alphard's situation to publicize the Mutual Aid Society, and Tom realized Li Weide intended to expand it beyond Hogwarts.

As Hogwarts began its Sorting Ceremony, Grindelwald arrived unexpectedly and sat with Li Weide and Tom instead of the pure-blood students who supported him. He praised Li Weide’s method for provoking Dumbledore, while Li Weide pretended not to hear him.

• Li Weide and Tom noticed Dumbledore presiding openly while Headmaster Dippet remained absent, and Li Weide identified young Flitwick as a talented student to recruit.
• Professor McGonagall began the Sorting Ceremony, but Grindelwald arrived early and stunned the Great Hall into silence.
• Grindelwald rejected the pure-blood students’ invitations and sat beside Li Weide and Tom, making Walburga glare resentfully.
• Dumbledore introduced Grindelwald as the Ministry’s special investigator and Department of Education Director, then the Sorting Ceremony resumed.
• Grindelwald told Li Weide that his method had helped him anger Dumbledore, and Li Weide pretended not to have heard him.