Chapter Summaries

Li Weide, Tom, and Dumbledore traveled to the Gaunt family home, where Tom confronted the family’s squalid decline and his hostile uncle, Morfin. Dumbledore stopped Tom from escalating the confrontation, forced Morfin to apologize, and opened the way for a proper conversation.

• Dumbledore led Li Weide and Tom from a wizarding pub to the remote Gaunt family shack in Little Hangleton, explaining that the family had fallen into decline.
• Tom saw the ruined home and the hexes around it, and his idealized image of Slytherin’s descendants was shattered.
• Morfin Gaunt opened the door, and Dumbledore introduced Tom as Merope Gaunt’s son.
• Morfin insulted Tom and his mother, then charged at him, but Tom blasted Morfin away with his wand.
• Li Weide stopped Tom from attacking again, and Dumbledore took responsibility, disarmed Morfin, and demanded an apology.
• Morfin apologized under Dumbledore’s pressure, while Tom recognized that he might have been in danger and could have gotten himself into serious trouble.

Tom confronted Morfin Gaunt over his insults toward Merope and challenged him for the Gaunt family ring, defeating him in a duel and claiming the Slytherin relic. He left Morfin 500 Galleons to sever Merope’s ties with the family, then walked away with Dumbledore and Li Weide.

• Tom argued with Morfin about Merope and accused him of disgracing Slytherin’s descendants.
• Tom challenged Morfin to a duel for the family ring, and Dumbledore agreed to witness without interfering.
• Morfin tried to cast the Killing Curse, but Tom disarmed him; Tom defeated him again when Morfin picked up his wand.
• Tom took the ring and left Morfin 500 Galleons as payment for Merope formally severing ties with the Gaunt Family.
• Tom thanked Dumbledore for letting him settle the matter, then bickered with Li Weide after revealing he had taken Li Weide’s Galleons.

Tom learned that his father had been forced to marry his mother, but he still went with Li Weide and Dumbledore to visit the Riddle family. His grandfather recognized him, while his father hid from the visitors, leaving Tom angry and hurt.

• Li Weide persuaded Tom that his blood status did not matter, and Tom agreed to ask about his father.
• Dumbledore and the boys learned that Old Tom had once disappeared for a year and returned muttering about witches and magic.
• Tom decided to visit the Riddle residence despite fearing rejection, and Dumbledore accompanied him to keep him safe.
• The old butler fetched Mr. Riddle, who recognized Tom as his grandson and invited the visitors inside.
• Mr. Riddle explained that Old Tom had hidden because he feared Tom's mother had returned, and Tom called his father a coward.

Tom learned from Mr. Riddle how his father had been bewitched by his mother and returned to the Riddle estate to face his family. Though Tom’s father initially refused to meet him, Mr. Riddle offered him a place at the estate, and Tom agreed to try family life after asking about the family’s wealth.

• Mr. Riddle used Dumbledore’s magic demonstration to confirm that wizardry was real, then recounted how Tom’s father had been bewitched by Tom’s mother before she released him and revealed she was pregnant.
• Mr. Riddle welcomed Dumbledore, Li Weide, and Tom into Riddle Manor, where Mrs. Riddle learned that Tom’s mother had died after giving birth to him.
• Dumbledore explained wizard society to Mr. Riddle, while Li Weide observed that armed guards had watched them during the journey.
• When Tom’s father refused to come downstairs, Tom prepared to leave, but Mr. Riddle stopped him and offered him a chance to make Riddle Manor his home.
• Mr. Riddle admitted he wanted Tom to help secure the family’s future, and Tom asked whether he was rich before saying he wanted to experience family affection.

Tom accepted Mr. Riddle’s proposal and received money as the Riddle Family’s legal heir, while Li Weide teased him about his negotiation tactics and agreed to study his ring. Meanwhile, Grindelwald learned from Annie’s manuscripts that the remaining magical power lay beneath Hogwarts and began planning an operation, though he insisted they first locate it and draw Dumbledore away.

• Tom accepted Mr. Riddle’s proposal, improving Dumbledore’s opinion of him and earning a large cheque, then credited Li Weide’s way of thinking for making the decision easier.
• Li Weide advised Tom that claiming to long for family affection might have earned him an even larger cheque, and Tom agreed to let Li Weide study his ring.
• After returning to Godric's Hollow, Tom considered building a laboratory at Riddle Manor, while Li Weide borrowed his ring for research in the Safe House during Christmas.
• Annie returned to Nurmengard and told Grindelwald she had absorbed magical power from the ruins; Grindelwald accepted her explanation and took her manuscripts.
• Grindelwald and Vita learned that the remaining magical power was hidden beneath Hogwarts, and discussed striking during Christmas while luring Dumbledore away.
• Grindelwald decided they should first pinpoint the power and prepare carefully, warning that Dumbledore must not absorb it.

Li Weide tested the Gaunt family ring and discovered its gemstone was the Resurrection Stone, then tried to use it to summon someone from his past. He handed the stone to Tom to test, hoping its effects might help him earn more Merit Points.

• Li Weide used a potion to show Tom that the ring held extremely powerful magic and explained that powerful magic did not have to be Dark magic.
• Li Weide removed the gemstone from the ring, and Tom began imagining founding a new family line under the Riddle name.
• Li Weide recognized the gemstone as the Resurrection Stone and learned that it was engraved with the name Peverell.
• Li Weide spun the stone three times, but the mist that appeared failed to form the image of anyone from his past.
• Li Weide gave the Resurrection Stone to Tom and told him to hold it and turn it more than three times.

Tom used the Resurrection Stone and saw his mother, Merope, whose words deepened his anger over being left in an orphanage. He gave the stone to Li Weide, who studied it and sent a letter that brought Dumbledore rushing to the Safe House.

• The Resurrection Stone summoned Merope before Tom, and she told him she was his mother.
• Tom confronted Merope about leaving him in an orphanage, rejected her apology, and put the stone down.
• Tom told Li Weide he did not want the Gaunt Family ring, and Li Weide kept the Resurrection Stone.
• Li Weide consulted The Tales of Beedle the Bard and sent a letter to Dumbledore with Toby.
• Dumbledore read Li Weide's letter and hurried through the Floo Network to the Safe House.

Dumbledore used the Resurrection Stone to reunite with Ariana and his parents, who urged him to stop blaming himself and continue living with purpose. After they disappeared, Tom borrowed the stone again to speak properly with his mother, while Li Weide wondered whether the souls summoned by the stone were real.

• Dumbledore arrived at Li Weide’s room, learned that Tom had seen Merope and rejected her, and examined the Resurrection Stone.
• Dumbledore used the stone in the Safe House yard, and Li Weide used Nightmare Magic to see the spirits gathered around him.
• Ariana and Dumbledore’s parents comforted Dumbledore and urged him to forgive himself before departing into the mist.
• Li Weide helped Dumbledore up, and Tom asked whether family bonds were hard to let go of.
• Tom borrowed the Resurrection Stone again and returned to his room to speak with Merope.

After Dumbledore used the Resurrection Stone, Li Weide helped him reconsider his guilt over his family, and Dumbledore gained a deeper understanding of love that seemed to strengthen him. Three days later, Li Weide and Tom arrived at Wool's Orphanage, where Tom had chosen to return.

• Dumbledore told Li Weide that the Resurrection Stone had shown him his family, and Li Weide encouraged him to stop assuming they blamed him for his past mistake.
• Dumbledore accepted that his family loved him and forgave him, and Li Weide sensed a surge of magic as Dumbledore seemed to grow stronger.
• The system rewarded Li Weide with 10,000 Merit Points for changing Dumbledore's fate, bringing his balance to 18,000 and prompting him to plan a system upgrade.
• Tom emerged from his room, returned the Resurrection Stone to Li Weide, and asked whether Li Weide planned to go back somewhere.
• Three days later, Li Weide and Tom arrived at Wool's Orphanage in expensive new clothes, and someone called out that Tom was almost unrecognizable.

After Tom donated supplies to the orphanage, Li Weide suspected that his sudden goodness was an act, though he chose not to expose him. At Christmas, Li Weide and Tom received matching Goblin Metal balls from Grindelwald, leaving them to wonder what he wanted.

• Tom used the Riddle Family's money to donate supplies to the orphanage, and Professor Hicks's Obliviate kept Mrs. Cole and the children from recognizing him and Li Weide.
• Li Weide told Tom that he believed Tom was disguising himself, and Tom angrily left before privately admitting Li Weide had seen through him.
• Tom and Li Weide avoided discussing their confrontation while staying at the Safe House, and Li Weide continued to involve Tom in his spell research.
• Fawkes delivered their Christmas presents to the Safe House, and Li Weide woke Tom to open them.
• Li Weide and Tom each found an identical Goblin Metal ball from Mr. G. among their gifts, and Li Weide suggested Grindelwald might be trying to win them over or recruit them.

Li Weide and Tom argued over Grindelwald’s magical power, then opened their Christmas gifts and revealed how Li Weide used presents to strengthen his connections. The chapter ended with Li Weide giving Nagini and Toby gifts while Tom asked whether Li Weide had forgotten his present.

• Tom realized Li Weide’s supposed fakes had fooled Grindelwald, and angrily confronted him about giving Annie real magical power.
• Li Weide offered Tom both metal spheres, but Tom resisted the temptation and returned them to Li Weide.
• Li Weide sorted through gifts from the Malfoy Family, other Pure-blood Families, Dumbledore, Slughorn, professors, and club members, sending Christmas cards to families that had submitted to him.
• Li Weide tied a pink bow on Nagini and gave Toby a gold ring made from the Gaunt Family heirloom, making Toby faint with happiness.
• Tom asked Li Weide where his own present was and whether Li Weide had forgotten it.

Grindelwald tried to draw Li Weide and Tom into his service by sending them magical power, while Li Weide put Tom to work cultivating Magical Plants at the Safe House in Godric's Hollow. After discovering that his Nutrient Solution made the plants grow extraordinarily fast, Li Weide began searching for a way to cultivate Magical Creatures too.

• Grindelwald told Vita to have Annie reassure Li Weide and Tom, then said the plan concerning the Magical Congress of the United States of America could begin.
• Li Weide made Tom help plant Magical Plants and teased him for failing to cast the Patronus Charm, while Tom challenged Li Weide to cast it himself.
• Li Weide explained that Professor Garrick's gift of seeds had inspired him to buy more dangerous seeds in Knockturn Alley and build greenhouses for them.
• After a week, Li Weide found that his Nutrient Solution had grown Chinese Chomping Cabbages to half a meter and made Mandrake leaves change color.
• Li Weide returned to his room and searched his formula compendium for a Nutrient Solution that could cultivate Magical Creatures.

Li Weide discovered that his potion had transformed Tom Cat after Senior Sister's Ancient Magic and Nightmare Magic had strengthened the cat's mind and body. The chapter ended with Tom finding Tom Cat brewing the potion and accusing Li Weide of making him hallucinate.

• Li Weide fed Tom Cat the Magical Creature potion, and Tom Cat woke able to understand him, walk upright, and open jars.
• Li Weide tested the potion on other Magical Creatures, but none transformed as dramatically as Tom Cat.
• Senior Sister explained that her repeated possessions had strengthened Tom Cat with Ancient Magic and Nightmare Magic, amplifying the potion's effects.
• Tom Cat independently brewed the potion after Li Weide told him to make it himself.
• Tom walked in, saw Tom Cat brewing a potion, and asked Li Weide if he had done something to him again.

Li Weide and Tom traveled toward Hogwarts while Annie tried to persuade them to pursue the power Grindelwald had taken, but they refused. Meanwhile, an American Auror asked Dumbledore to investigate disappearances at the Magical Congress, and Dumbledore agreed to go to America.

• Li Weide packed his books into an expanded suitcase, left Toby to tend the plants, and teased Tom for refusing to ask him to charm his trunk.
• On the Hogwarts Express, Tom questioned Li Weide about Tom Cat's increasingly humanlike behavior, while Li Weide noticed Tom trying to write a letter reporting him.
• Annie told Li Weide and Tom that Grindelwald's gift was the power they had been searching for, but they rejected her suggestion that they pursue it.
• Auror Achilles Tolliver told Dumbledore that Magical Congress officials, Aurors, and clerks had disappeared since Christmas Eve, and President Picquery suspected Grindelwald.
• Dumbledore agreed to travel to America, while Tolliver insisted on returning to the sealed Magical Congress despite Dumbledore's warning.

Li Weide and Tom watched Grindelwald’s scheme draw Dumbledore to America while his followers infiltrated the Magical Congress of the United States of America. After Annie began questioning Hogwarts ghosts about the castle’s secrets, Li Weide warned Tom that Grindelwald could soon act at Hogwarts as well as seize power in America.

• Dippet announced that Dumbledore had left for America and that Hicks would temporarily take over his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes.
• Li Weide explained to Tom that Annie could find the hidden location by asking Hogwarts ghosts, who knew the castle’s secret places.
• News reported continuing disappearances in America, and Dumbledore later met Grindelwald there while Annie began speaking with Hogwarts ghosts.
• Tom told Li Weide that Annie was searching, and Li Weide said Grindelwald had used the American crisis to keep Dumbledore occupied while infiltrating the Magical Congress with his followers.

Annie found evidence of a hidden chamber beneath Hogwarts where Morgana’s magical power may remain, and told Li Weide and Tom about it. Li Weide suspected Grindelwald wanted them present when he acted, and planned to use the opportunity despite the risks.

• Annie repeatedly entered the Room of Requirement, mistook Tom Cat brewing a potion for a hallucination, and then told Li Weide and Tom that she had found magical power hidden in Hogwarts.
• Annie explained that she had questioned the castle ghosts about secret chambers and passages, and showed Li Weide and Tom her map of Hogwarts.
• Annie pointed out a chamber beneath the castle that the Bloody Baron said had once held a powerful force and witnessed a battle.
• Li Weide agreed to investigate the chamber with Annie, who said she would make further inquiries and return when she was ready.
• After Annie left, Li Weide told Tom he suspected Grindelwald had prompted her to reveal the chamber so they would be present when he acted.
• Tom worried that Grindelwald might kill them, while Li Weide admitted the plan involved gambling and said fortune came amid danger.

Dumbledore and the Magical Congress of the United States of America rescued hostages from Grindelwald’s hideouts, but Picquery feared some might be his infiltrators. Li Weide predicted Grindelwald would attack Hogwarts that night, and he and Tom waited in the Common Room with Felix Felicis and tea.

• Dumbledore helped the Aurors raid several hideouts, rescuing hostages while Grindelwald’s Followers escaped after a token resistance.
• Picquery sent the rescued hostages home to rest and asked Dumbledore to identify any who had sided with Grindelwald.
• Li Weide told Tom that Dumbledore’s interrogations would occupy him and that Grindelwald would attack Hogwarts that night.
• Annie told Tom and Li Weide to meet in the Common Room at nine o’clock, confirming the operation was set for that evening.
• Li Weide and Tom took two drops of Felix Felicis while waiting in the Common Room, then Li Weide brewed tea and Tom scalded himself gulping it down.

Tom, Li Weide, and Annie waited in the castle while Grindelwald led his Followers through a secret passage into Hogwarts. Grindelwald’s group reached the Chamber of Secrets passage, but Headmaster Dippet confronted them, and fighting broke out as the professors arrived.

• Tom used Felix Felicis to steady his emotions after Li Weide scalded him, then argued with Annie about invisibility magic.
• Annie revealed her Invisibility Cloak and told Li Weide and Tom that they should wait until after nine before setting out.
• Grindelwald led his Followers through the Forbidden Forest and into Hogwarts using the secret passage Annie had discovered.
• Vita guided the group to a collapsed passage, where Grindelwald sensed powerful magic beyond the blockage and ordered his Followers to clear it.
• Grindelwald left Vita to oversee the passage and confronted Headmaster Dippet at the exit, then the two began fighting.
• The Hogwarts professors rushed to the battle, and Grindelwald’s Followers moved to meet them.

Vita and the Followers of Grindelwald were incapacitated by sleeping gas in the Chamber of Secrets while Grindelwald defeated Headmaster Dippet outside. Grindelwald found Tom and Annie, but Li Weide appeared behind him and threatened him with his wand.

• Vita led the Followers of Grindelwald into the Chamber of Secrets, where sleeping gas knocked them unconscious.
• Grindelwald defeated the Hogwarts professors and Headmaster Dippet, then entered the secret passage.
• Grindelwald found his unconscious followers and blew away the Invisibility Cloak hiding Tom and Annie.
• Li Weide appeared behind Grindelwald and pressed his wand against Grindelwald's back.
• Li Weide called Grindelwald's guess wrong and began to say “Avada,” but Grindelwald reacted with a laugh.

Li Weide fought Grindelwald in the Chamber of Secrets, refusing his offer to join the Followers of Grindelwald and claim half the magical power. Grindelwald began to suspect Li Weide was stalling for Dumbledore, though he convinced himself the boy was merely waiting for help.

• Li Weide dodged Grindelwald's counterattacks and used Dark Arts spells against him, while Grindelwald taunted him about Dumbledore.
• Grindelwald questioned Li Weide about the sleeping draughts that had knocked out his Followers, and Li Weide claimed he had brought them to drug trolls.
• Grindelwald offered Li Weide and Tom half the magical power if they joined his cause in secret, but Li Weide rejected the deal and attacked him again.
• Grindelwald continued fighting without using lethal spells, hoping to subdue Li Weide and recruit him and Tom.
• Grindelwald realized Li Weide was unusually hard to hit and wondered whether Dumbledore had set a trap, then decided the boy was probably stalling until Dumbledore returned.