Chapter Summaries

Sean read a newspaper report that cast doubt on the Wizarding United Guard’s account of Grindelwald’s arrest and suggested that several supposed victims had faked their deaths. The report began shifting public opinion in Grindelwald’s favor, while Sean concluded that the conflict’s outcome depended on Dumbledore and Newt Scamander.

• Sean read Merlin's Weekly Prophet's report questioning whether Grindelwald had committed the crimes attributed to him during his arrest.
• Sean saw a photograph identifying Cyril Marshall and Rosha Onassis in Belgium, despite both having been declared dead.
• The report questioned the Guard Corps' testimony, the deaths of two Aurors, and whether Grindelwald had been framed.
• Fred and George celebrated the report, while Hermione said further revelations could help Grindelwald clear his name.
• Sean pointed out that the Guard Corps was divided between conservatives and radicals as it elected its first leader.
• Sean recognized that Newt Scamander's testimony and Dumbledore's decision could determine whether Grindelwald could clear his name.

The Wizarding United Guard captured Cyril Marshall and Rosha Onassis, who were under Grindelwald’s control, and tried to question them. Onassis died after Marshall’s cursed ring killed him, but Thief’s Downfall freed Marshall from the Imperius Curse and stopped another curse from killing her.

• The Guard pursued Cyril Marshall and Rosha Onassis through the mountains, and a black-robed wizard stopped Marshall’s escape and helped capture both of them.
• The Guard confirmed that Marshall and Onassis were real, then used Gringotts’ Thief’s Downfall to wake Onassis and reveal that he remembered being controlled by Grindelwald.
• As Onassis began answering questions, Marshall killed him with a Killing Curse stored in her ring.
• Cadwell tried to remove Marshall’s ring and was reduced to dust by its triggered curse, while a second spell began spreading blackness across Marshall’s body.
• Creel poured Thief’s Downfall over Marshall, which halted the curse and freed her from the Imperius Curse; she explained that removing the ring had triggered the spell.

Marshall returned from Grindelwald’s control and revealed that he had anticipated the Guard Corps’s plan, while the Black-Robed Wizard removed the ring from Onassis’s corpse. A photograph of Onassis’s death then triggered a newspaper scandal, leaving Creel under investigation and the Guard Corps preparing to use Marshall again.

• Creel had Marshall examined and freed from her ropes, and she explained that Grindelwald had expected the rescue and arranged the rings as a trap.
• The Black-Robed Wizard sent Marshall away for treatment, changed Rosha Onassis’s name on a nameplate to Mopsus, and removed the ring that turned Onassis’s body to dust.
• An anonymous photograph of Onassis being killed reached Merlin's Weekly Prophet, whose editor published a report accusing the Guard Corps of murdering a witness.
• At Hogwarts, Sean, Daisy, Harry, Hermione, Fred, and George discussed the report and questioned how the photograph had been taken unnoticed.
• A Guard Corps superior ordered Creel to detain everyone from the mission for questioning over the photograph, then privately told the Black-Robed Wizard to place the recovered Marshall in an ordinary ward without guards.

Marshall recovered in a secret Guard Corps infirmary after losing her left leg, while Guard Corps members questioned whether she had betrayed them. Sean experimented with Fire Dragon Animagus forms in the Ring Space before encountering Grindelwald in the Room of Requirement, where he learned that Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s apparent confrontation had been improvised.

• Marshall told Young Clayton that she had killed Mr. Onassis while under Grindelwald's Imperius Curse, and Young Clayton urged her to remember the Guard Corps' goal.
• After leaving Marshall, Young Clayton reported that he could not determine whether she had joined Grindelwald, and an unseen voice said it would handle what came next.
• Sean discovered that Dragon Heartstring wands let him transform into different Fire Dragon forms, though other wand cores did not grant him other creature forms.
• Sean returned to the Room of Requirement and hid when its entrance opened mysteriously, then reacted when an unseen visitor placed a hand on his shoulder.
• Grindelwald revealed himself to Sean and explained that his confrontation with Dumbledore had been improvised rather than planned.

Sean learned from Grindelwald about the Returners, Dumbledore’s secret involvement, and Grindelwald’s plans, then received a bottle of Thief’s Downfall. The chapter ended with Barty Jr. reporting that the Blood Pact had the Ministry of Magic’s highest danger rating, level ten.

• Grindelwald told Sean that Dumbledore had set the trap alone and that he would wait for Dumbledore’s explanation.
• Grindelwald explained that the Returners were dead wizards who had returned to reality, and Sean learned that they might be connected to the stolen key and his power within him.
• Grindelwald revealed that he had founded Merlin's Weekly Prophet and had planted a mole who reported a Returner was under surveillance after helping rescue Marshall.
• Grindelwald gave Sean Thief’s Downfall and left the Room of Requirement, saying he was going to finish unfinished work but keeping his changed dream secret.
• Barty Jr. contacted Sean through the Dark Mark and revealed that he had placed his father under the Imperius Curse and learned the Blood Pact was classified at danger level ten.

Sean learned that the Ministry of Magic ranked the Blood Pact as the most dangerous of ten poorly documented forms of magic, above even Horcruxes. Barty Jr.’s account revealed that the pact involved an immense price for an equally immense reward, leaving Sean alarmed by how little it matched his understanding of the magic.

• Sean questioned Barty Jr. about the Ministry of Magic’s list of ten dangerous magics and asked him to explain their contents.
• Barty Jr. described the Heart of Merlin, Horcruxes, the Vampire Ritual, and Qilin’s Blood, including the story of a Japanese wizard corrupted by Qilin’s Blood and an Eastern wizard who subdued him.
• Barty Jr. explained that the Ministry’s records on the seventh through ninth entries were sparse and simply classified them as extremely dangerous.
• Barty Jr. revealed that the Blood Pact was ranked tenth and described ancient records linking it to blood, ritual, Ancient Magic, and Equivalent Exchange.
• Sean realized that the Ministry and ancient scholars regarded the Blood Pact as terrifyingly dangerous, and he became troubled by the conflict with his own understanding of it.

Sean searched the Restricted Section for information about the Blood Alliance and found a disturbing account of a corrupted Blood Pact, but no clear answers. Meanwhile, Marshall returned to the Guard Corps headquarters and began recounting what she knew about Grindelwald, including that he had tried to recruit her.

• Sean searched the Restricted Section and found a book describing Baron Skinner and his wife’s altered Blood Pact, which ended with both their deaths and the destruction of much of their village.
• Madam Pince caught Sean leaving books out of place and chased him from the library with her feather duster; Sean left with the location of Baron Skinner’s Manor memorized.
• Sean met Hermione and Daisy by the Black Lake, where Hermione showed him a small newspaper report blaming the Guard Corps’ troubles on Grindelwald’s scheme.
• Cyril Marshall met Diane Allison at Guard Corps headquarters and warned that Grindelwald might have fed her false information before setting a trap.
• Marshall told Allison that she and Onassis had been sent to Belgium under the Imperius Curse and revealed that Grindelwald had once lifted the curse and tried to recruit her.

Marshall reported Grindelwald's plans to Allison, who suspected she had betrayed the Guard Corps because she failed to identify Newt Scamander as a key target. Meanwhile, Sean and Hermione visited Hogsmeade, where Sean headed to the Hog's Head Inn to observe Aberforth Dumbledore.

• Marshall told Allison that Grindelwald planned to undermine the Guard Corps and the International Confederation of Wizards, while possibly recruiting unknown allies and building his forces.
• Allison asked Marshall to testify at a press conference and take Veritaserum publicly, and she agreed to do so for the Guard Corps.
• After Marshall left, Allison told the black-robed wizard that she had betrayed them because she failed to warn him that Grindelwald might target Newt Scamander's loved ones; he sent their people to protect Mrs. Scamander.
• Sean, tired from searching the library for information about the Blood Pact, went to Hogsmeade with Hermione while Daisy returned to Hogwarts.
• Sean and Hermione entered the Hog's Head Inn, where Sean intended to observe Aberforth Dumbledore.

Sean visited the Hog's Head Inn with Hermione and found Nagini working there while Aurelius and Mr. Dumbledore were away. After catching a Niffler stealing from him, Sean discovered it had stolen valuables from Gladrags Wizardwear and planned to confront its owner, who followed Sean and Hermione after they left the inn.

• Sean met Nagini at the bar and learned that Aurelius and Mr. Dumbledore would not return until night.
• Hermione spoke with Nagini about History of Magic while Sean caught a Niffler stealing Gold Galleons from his pocket.
• Sean, Hermione, and Nagini examined the Niffler's stash and found stolen jewelry, coins, and Gladrags Wizardwear buttons.
• Sean hid the Niffler in his ring and told Hermione and Nagini he planned to use its thefts to negotiate with its owner.
• A cloaked wizard left the Hog's Head Inn and invisibly followed Sean and Hermione toward the Three Broomsticks.

Sean captured Newt Roberts West after discovering that West carried a suitcase linked to Newt Scamander, but West mistook Sean’s motives and repeatedly accused him of plotting against Newt. The chapter left Sean trying to explain himself while West remained convinced that Newt had sent him.

• Sean used illusions to lure West away from the Three Broomsticks, then petrified and hypnotized him before taking him to the Shrieking Shack.
• Sean found that West’s suitcase bore Newt Scamander’s distinctive magic and questioned West about his connection to Newt.
• West revealed his name as Newt Roberts West and insisted that he would never betray Newt, assuming Sean was a follower of Grindelwald.
• West’s Swooping Evil, Grey, sprang from the suitcase to attack Sean, but Dave drove her back.
• Sean calmed Dave and fed Grey Sheep Brain, and West realized Sean’s ring and suitcase shared the same source.
• West concluded that Newt had sent Sean to capture him, leaving Sean exasperated by the misunderstanding.

Sean captured West in the Shrieking Shack and learned that the former Hogwarts student had secretly returned to conduct Magical Creature breeding research with Hagrid, despite Newt’s ban. West tried to buy Sean’s silence with rare specimens and an unknown Golden Egg, but Sean still left him immobilized and appeared to expect more.

• Sean questioned West, exposed his attempts to stall, and deduced that West had come to Hogsmeade to avoid Newt.
• West admitted he was Newt’s former student and explained that he bred dangerous Magical Creatures with Hagrid, leading Newt to forbid their association.
• West offered Sean rare materials and an unknown Golden Egg in exchange for keeping his return secret and letting him go.
• Sean inspected the bluish-green patterned egg, accepted it with the concealed bag, and looked at West as though expecting another payment.

Sean subdued West and took several valuable items from his suitcase in exchange for releasing him and returning his Niffler. West left the Shrieking Shack hoping to avoid Newt Scamander, only to spot him in Hogsmeade and hear him asking whether Jacob was sure about something.

• West tried to win Sean over by offering Hogwarts his magical supplies, and Sean used West’s spell to open the suitcase.
• Sean explored West’s suitcase, found his breeding Magical Creatures well cared for, and picked out a book, a telescope, an Invisibility Cloak, and an unusual Asparagus Fern.
• Sean lifted West’s Petrification Charm and returned the unharmed Niffler, while warning West not to seek out Hagrid.
• West proposed breeding Sean’s Swooping Evil, and Sean agreed only if the creature chose a mate freely.
• West left the Shrieking Shack and spotted Newt Scamander speaking with several professors, then heard Newt ask Jacob whether he was sure.

Sean helped a struggling Aero-Wing Bird hatch inside his ring and saved it after it accidentally choked itself with its tail. He fed the newborn fish, but it ate too much and ended the chapter with a stomachache.

• West overheard Newt ask Professor McGonagall to notify Tina and Bunty, worried something had happened to Jacob, and secretly headed for the station.
• Sean returned to the castle with Hermione, then rushed into his ring when the Magical Creature Egg began hatching.
• Sean realized the creature was an Aero-Wing Bird and, with Naja’s help, carefully broke its shell when it could not free itself.
• Sean untangled the newborn’s tail from its neck, allowing it to breathe, and Pudding determined that it was hungry.
• Sean fed the Aero-Wing Bird two small fish, after which Pudding said it had overeaten and its stomach hurt.

Sean watched the newly hatched Aero-Wing Bird demonstrate its shape-changing flight, then repeatedly faint from fright after the Basilisk startled it. He introduced the chick to Hermione and Daisy, who helped him realize he needed to find a safe way to care for it before classes began.

• Sean recorded observations as the Aero-Wing Bird changed forms, flew, and glided down to land on the Basilisk's tongue.
• The Basilisk drew in its tongue, frightening the Aero-Wing Bird into fainting; after waking, the chick repeatedly fainted again before hiding in Sean's clothes.
• Sean showed the Aero-Wing Bird to Hermione and Daisy, and the two girls eagerly petted it while Sean awkwardly tried to give them room.
• Hermione and Daisy warned Sean to handle the chick before classes, since it could cause trouble in lessons or violate rules about keeping unclassified Magical Creatures.
• Sean noticed the Aero-Wing Bird wrapping its long tail around its neck and quickly unwound it before the chick choked itself.

Sean lost the fresh Rhinoceros Horn Flounder eyes for Snape’s Underwater Visual Potion lesson and was punished, while his earlier purchase of votes for Daisy turned into a public spectacle. The chapter ended with Daisy sitting beside Hermione as Ravenclaw students teased Sean about spending so much on her.

• Snape discovered Sean had lost the potion’s primary ingredient, took five points from Ravenclaw, and assigned him detention.
• Sean recalled how Fred and George had persuaded him to buy votes for Daisy and Hermione in their Hogwarts High Mountain Flower contest.
• Snape arranged to demonstrate a potion for Sean and implicitly prompted him to buy more votes for Daisy, who rose to first place.
• Fred and George spread word of Sean’s purchase, and Ravenclaw students surrounded him with teasing when he returned to the Common Room.
• Sean tried to explain that he only wanted Ravenclaw to beat Slytherin, but Daisy moved to sit beside Hermione.

Sean struggled to smooth things over with Hermione while Snape warned him to focus, then helped Hagrid teach Care of Magical Creatures in Professor Scamander’s absence. The chapter ended with Buckbeak carrying Hermione into the sky after Sean arranged for her to ride it.

• Sean discovered that the little Aero-Wing Bird had eaten his Rhinoceros Horn Flounder eyeballs, then tried to speak with Hermione during Potions, but she continued to ignore him.
• Snape gave Sean bottles of Underwater Visual Potion and Underwater Breathing Potion, then warned him that carelessness could turn a good potion into poison.
• Sean learned that Professor Scamander had taken leave and that Hagrid would teach Care of Magical Creatures for a week, with Sean as his assistant.
• Sean helped Hagrid lead a smooth lesson with Buckbeak and quietly persuaded the Hippogriff to take Hermione for a flight.
• Hermione bowed to Buckbeak and mounted it, and Buckbeak flew her toward the sky.

Hermione enjoyed a flight with Buckbeak to a hidden field of Evening Primrose, while Sean learned that mass prison breaks had brought Dementors to Hogwarts. He raced across the Black Lake on the giant Grindylow and reached the shore as Dementors closed in on Hermione and Buckbeak.

• Buckbeak flew Hermione over Hogwarts and carried her to a secluded meadow, where it gave her two Evening Primrose flowers at Sean's request.
• Professor McGonagall ordered the class back to the castle and revealed that large-scale prison breaks had occurred at several prisons, including Azkaban.
• Sean learned Dementors were approaching Hogwarts and ran to the Black Lake to reach Hermione before they could harm her.
• Sean summoned the giant Grindylow from the lake, climbed onto its back, and rushed toward the shore.
• Sean arrived to find rotting, black-robed Dementors closing in on Hermione and Buckbeak.

Sean used Dark Sleeper to protect himself from the Dementors surrounding him and Hermione, then discovered that his dark power could wound them and make them submit. The chapter ended with the Dementors landing by Black Lake and bowing their heads to him.

• Nearly ten Dementors trapped Hermione and Buckbeak in a flower patch, and Sean rushed in with the Divine Fire Charm to hold them back.
• Sean put Hermione and Buckbeak inside his ring, then found himself surrounded by Dementors as his fire spell began to fail.
• Sean activated Dark Sleeper after taking a Mind Purifier and saw the dark power within the world, including Sin inside his own heart.
• Sean cast Avada Kedavra at a Dementor, whose body convulsed from the attack.
• The other Dementors approached Sean in submission, landed by Black Lake, uncovered their faces, and bowed their heads.

Sean used the Dark Sleeper to investigate why the Dementors submitted to him, but nearly fell under its influence as it revealed that the first Dementor had been created by an unknown Dark Wizard. He escaped the mental pull, marked the Dementors with the Obscurus, and sent them away before ending the ability and purging his negative emotions.

• The Dementors gathered before Sean and lowered their heads, while he considered whether the Dark Sleeper or his amplified dark power had attracted them.
• Sean touched a Dementor and nearly seized the black point of light representing their power, imagining he could control the creatures and remake the wizarding world.
• Dave interrupted Sean at his prior instruction, and Sean resisted the Dark Sleeper's corrupting influence before the vision could fully take hold.
• Sean learned that an unknown Dark Wizard had created the first Dementor and reasoned that hope and joy mixed with dark power could be used to confuse and lure them.
• Sean used the Obscurus to mark the Dementors so they would not attack him, then sent them back toward Hogwarts and ended the Dark Sleeper.
• Sean took a dose of Mind Purifier and reminded himself that dark power was dangerous without firm control.

Sean returned Hermione safely to Hogwarts after rescuing her from Dementors, and Hermione discovered the Basilisk and Parseltongue he had hidden in his ring. Dumbledore announced a mass breakout from Azkaban and attacks on Muggles, leaving the school on alert as the wider crisis worsened.

• Professor McGonagall met Sean on the lake, scolded him for his reckless rescue, then awarded Ravenclaw forty points for his courage and gave him and Hermione chocolate.
• Sean let Hermione out of his ring, and she confronted him about the Basilisk; he revealed it came from a Chamber of Secrets and demonstrated that he could speak Parseltongue.
• Sean and Hermione returned to the Great Hall, where Daisy anxiously welcomed them and the students reacted to stories of the Dementors and Sean's Grindylow.
• Dumbledore told the students that a large-scale Azkaban breakout had prompted Dementors to guard Hogwarts and warned them not to approach the creatures.
• Dumbledore announced that serious attacks on Muggles had broken out across the Wizarding World.