Chapter Summaries

Mrs. Longbottom watched Neville and his parents reunite after Loren’s treatment awakened Frank and Alice, and Dumbledore praised Loren for making it possible. Back at Hogwarts, Loren and Hermione shared an awkward romantic moment before Loren hurried them away from a farewell luncheon after Trelawney warned that thirteen people dining together foretold death.

• Mrs. Longbottom recalled Frank and Alice’s courage and vowed that Loren would be a benefactor of the Longbottom family if they woke.
• Neville awoke in distress from the illusion, and Frank and Alice regained consciousness and embraced their family.
• Loren and Dumbledore left the sealed ward, and Loren asked Dumbledore to keep the treatment secret before they returned to Hogwarts.
• Hermione showed off her newly learned Apparition, then accidentally pulled Loren into a kiss on her forehead while inspecting his pendant space.
• At a farewell luncheon for Silvanus, Kettleburn recommended Hagrid to teach Care of Magical Creatures, and Trelawney warned that thirteen diners meant the first to rise would die.
• Loren counted the diners, stood up, and left with Hermione before Trelawney sat down; Dumbledore and Snape noticed that the prophecy might be true.

Loren left Hogwarts with Hermione after Professor Trelawney’s prophecy unsettled him, but Hermione argued that it might simply predict Dumbledore’s natural death. Back with the Grangers and Bates, the two friends spent a peaceful afternoon together before news of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 stirred a strange sense of connection in Loren, leaving him wondering what the comet had to do with him.

• Loren explained that he feared Professor Trelawney’s prophecy because some of her predictions had proved true, but Hermione pointed out that Dumbledore might naturally be the first of the diners to die.
• Loren and Hermione went to the Granger house, where Loren made fried egg noodles and the two of them fell asleep on the sofa.
• Loren dreamed of a raging, lifeless world as a television report described Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and its fragments orbiting Jupiter.
• Wendell’s evening paper prompted Hermione and Wendell to discuss whether wizards could stop a comet, while Loren sensed that Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was somehow connected to him.
• Hermione asked Loren about working for the Ministry of Magic after graduation, but he said he was not interested.

Loren returned home for summer and discussed his ominous dream of a comet striking Jupiter with Flamel, who could offer no way to prepare. As the holiday unfolded, Hermione and Loren bickered and spent time with their families, while Dumbledore visited Colin Creevey’s family and Harry began the summer with the Dursleys.

• Loren asked Bates about his Werewolf Disease, then showed Flamel a dream of Jupiter being struck by a comet; Flamel suspected it was prophetic but said they could only wait.
• Dumbledore visited Colin Creevey’s home to discuss compensation for Colin’s attack, and Colin told his parents his camera could be repaired.
• Hermione used Apparition to enter Loren’s bedroom, woke him, and argued with him before they went shopping for clothes.
• Loren, Bates, and Wendell went sea fishing near Brighton, where Loren caught several sharks while Wendell returned empty-handed.
• Harry worked on his History of Magic essay at 4 Privet Drive, and Aunt Petunia offered to install a light in his room as the Dursleys treated him more kindly than before.

Harry received a call from Ron, who told him the Weasleys were going to Egypt, and wrote to Loren about missing his friends and struggling with the Dursleys. After Loren and Hermione replied, Hermione suggested they travel to Egypt too.

• Harry spoke to Ron and Ginny on the telephone, learning that the Weasleys would spend the next month in Egypt and asking Ginny to take pictures of the ruins.
• Harry complained in a letter to Loren about his friends' silence and his difficulty accepting Aunt Petunia's care.
• Hānhan helped Hedwig deliver Harry's letter to Loren, who replied that Harry could treat the Dursleys as strangers and return their care without feeling indebted.
• Hermione appeared in Loren's room, added her greetings to Harry's reply, and suggested that she and Loren visit Egypt during the holiday.

Hermione and Loren traveled to Egypt with Hermione’s parents and Grandpa Bates, where they explored the country’s history and magical remains. After Loren explained why wizards had withdrawn from human affairs, Hermione decided to help the poor in a small way, while the group’s visits revealed how deeply magic had shaped ancient Egypt.

• Harry read Hermione’s letter saying she and Loren were traveling to Egypt and watched Hānhan fly out of the Dursleys’ house.
• Hermione and Loren arrived in Cairo with Wendell, Monica, and Bates, and their guide Caleb warned them about poverty, crime, and unlicensed guides.
• Hermione worried about the children they had seen in Cairo, and Loren reminded her that wizard intervention could make people dependent, so she planned to donate old books and clothes.
• Caleb took the group to the Egyptian Museum, where Hermione recorded symbols, Loren and Flamel examined magical traces, and the group viewed ancient artifacts and mummies.
• During visits to several Pyramids, Flamel told Loren that Egyptian rulers had sought immortality after learning that ghosts existed, and Loren recognized wizardly influences throughout Egypt’s ancient history.

Loren and Hermione toured Egypt with their families, shared a sunrise hot-air-balloon ride, and then found the entrance to the Egyptian Alchemy Research Center in Hurghada. They learned its alchemical products had sold out because wizards were exploring a newly discovered tomb, and Loren left the visit’s purpose open as he began asking for directions.

• Loren enjoyed Egyptian food with the group, and Bates declined to ride in a hot-air balloon because of his age.
• Hermione and Loren rode together at sunrise, while Wendell and Monica took another balloon and shared a kiss.
• The group toured Karnak Temple before traveling to Hurghada, where Hermione steered Wendell away from fishing and toward the local wizard gathering place.
• Loren used his Magic Power sight to find a hidden shop called Hermes Goods Shop, and Flamel identified it as the Egyptian Alchemy Research Center.
• The old shopkeeper explained that the alchemical goods had sold out because wizards had rushed to explore a newly discovered tomb, and Loren began asking him for directions.

Loren and Hermione explored Hurghada’s wizarding district and went to Gringotts to sell Unicorn Hair for shopping money. There, Hogwarts Ancient Runes professor Bathsheba Babbling intervened in the goblin’s low offer, leaving it flustered as it tried to count the hair.

• An old shopkeeper gave Loren and Hermione a map and warned them away from unexplored Pyramids, then they found the Obelisk gateway into the wizarding district.
• Loren and Hermione explored the Egyptian shops and birds, and Hermione chose a broom-maintenance kit for Harry and a signed retired Bludger for Ron.
• When they realized they lacked Galleons, Loren led Hermione to Gringotts, intending to sell valuable materials from his pendant.
• A goblin offered only three hundred Galleons for Loren’s dirty, aged Unicorn Hair, prompting Bathsheba Babbling to criticize the offer.
• Hermione declared Bathsheba could represent them, and the professor’s Rune unsettled the goblin as it began recounting the hair.

Loren and Hermione sold Unicorn Hair at Gringotts, opened a vault, and met Professor Babbling, who invited them to assist in exploring an Ancient Magic ruin in Egypt. They agreed to join her and, three mornings later, waited outside Gringotts in Hurghada for the expedition to begin.

• Professor Babbling helped Loren secure a 5,400-Galleon valuation for the Unicorn Hair, and Loren deposited 5,000 Galleons in a new Gringotts vault.
• Professor Babbling explained that she was seeking Curse-Breakers to help explore a newly discovered Ancient Magic ruin and invited Loren and Hermione to assist her.
• Loren and Hermione agreed to join the exploration after Professor Babbling assured them she could keep them safe.
• Hermione read about Moses the Wizard and the history of Egyptian magic while Loren slept, then Loren greeted his parents as they returned from fishing with a thirteen-pound catch.
• Loren and Hermione arrived early at the wizarding district in Hurghada three mornings later and waited for Professor Babbling.

Loren and Hermione joined Professor Babbling, Bill Weasley, and goblin Lockhart on an expedition into a newly revealed Egyptian Pyramid. As they descended through its dangerous tunnel, a magical mechanism transported Loren and Hermione away from the others.

• Loren and Hermione bought brass magical goods and Egyptian-style Crucibles before meeting Professor Babbling, Bill Weasley, and Lockhart at Gringotts.
• Lockhart used a Portkey to take the group to a desert tent, and they walked through the sand to the enormous white Pyramid with a pure-gold apex.
• Babbling warned Loren and Hermione not to use flight magic as the group climbed to the Pyramid's entrance and began descending its dark tunnel.
• Bill explained that hidden mechanisms could transport explorers to other rooms, where Sphinx Mummies posed riddles and guarded treasures.
• A magical force surrounded Loren and Hermione, and they grabbed each other's hands as Babbling warned them not to answer questions they could not solve.

After Professor Babbling’s magic separated Loren and Hermione, they escaped a Sphinx Mummy’s chamber by solving its riddle and found themselves deeper inside the Pyramid. They reunited with Babbling and Bill in the Second Burial Chamber, where Loren noticed Babbling seemed confused that he and Hermione were unharmed.

• Loren and Hermione discovered that a Sphinx Mummy guarded the sealed chamber and demanded they answer its riddle to leave.
• Hermione identified the High Priest and Pharaoh as the figures in the riddle, and Loren answered that power was what they both possessed.
• The Sphinx Mummy opened the chamber, revealed that its promised treasure was in the First Burial Chamber, and refused to answer Loren’s questions.
• Loren and Hermione followed the Sloping Corridor upward, but the route led them into the Second Burial Chamber as something pursued them.
• Bill and Professor Babbling arrived with a goblin, and Bill explained that the Pyramid’s corridors formed a Y-shaped route deeper into the structure.
• Professor Babbling checked Loren and Hermione, and Loren noticed her confusion that neither student appeared to be hurt.

Loren, Hermione, Bill, Professor Babbling, and Lockhart uncovered a magical crucible in the Pyramid, where Babbling revealed her family’s curse and lifted it. Hermione was recognized as the crucible’s master, and the group left the Pyramid with Lockhart’s memory erased.

• Hermione used a scent only she could detect to identify four safe jars, which the group placed inside the stone coffin.
• The coffin transformed into a crucible, and Professor Babbling explained that she was descended from Bathsheba and sought to end her family’s curse.
• Professor Babbling opened the crucible and released the Ten Plagues, dispersing the mummy and lifting the curse.
• Professor Babbling told Hermione that the Pyramid had recognized her as the crucible’s master, but Hermione declined to take it; the crucible later sprouted brass feet and vanished.
• Hermione recalled the Sphinx Mummy’s warning as the group left the Pyramid, and Professor Babbling asked Bill and Lockhart to keep their discovery secret.
• Professor Babbling cast Obliviate on Lockhart, and the chapter ended with the tale of a wizard forced by his father’s jumping cauldron to help his neighbors.

On his birthday, Harry spoke with Loren and Hermione, then prepared for Aunt Marge's visit to 4 Privet Drive. After enduring Marge's insults for a week, Harry lost control of powerful magic when she disparaged his parents, and the chapter ended as that energy filled the house.

• Loren called Harry on his birthday, and Harry told him how isolated and conflicted he felt living with the Dursleys.
• Hermione spoke with Harry about the Egypt trip and their birthday gifts, then Harry ended the call after learning Aunt Marge would visit.
• Harry sent Hedwig and Errol away with a note for Ron so Aunt Marge would not discover them.
• Aunt Marge arrived at 4 Privet Drive and spent the week criticizing Harry while praising Dudley.
• At dinner, Marge insulted Harry's parents, and Harry's anger unleashed powerful magic that spread through the house.

Hermione persuaded Loren to celebrate his birthday with a trip to Diagon Alley, where they shopped for school supplies and encountered the dangerous Monsters Book of Monsters. Loren then discovered that Peter Pettigrew had escaped alongside a Ministry official and Bellatrix Lestrange, leaving three fugitives wanted by the Ministry.

• Hermione surprised Loren in his bedroom, read his Hogwarts notice, and persuaded him to let her plan his birthday trip to Diagon Alley.
• Hermione's mother helped her dress up for the outing, and Grandpa Bates sent the pair off together.
• Loren and Hermione bought new robes at Madam Malkin's and visited Flourish and Blotts, where Loren showed the manager how to calm the Monsters Book of Monsters.
• The grateful manager gave Loren and Hermione two free textbook sets and a discount on future purchases.
• While Hermione shopped for stationery, Loren read that a Ministry official had defected with Bellatrix Lestrange and that Peter Pettigrew had escaped; all three were declared wanted criminals.

Loren and Hermione met Harry at an ice cream parlour, where they persuaded him that he had friends who would welcome him after he fled the Dursleys. Ron invited Harry to stay at the Burrow, while Bellatrix reunited with Voldemort and Wormtail at Ilvermorny, where Voldemort began planning his return.

• Loren and Hermione encountered Harry, who explained that he had fled the Dursleys after inflating Aunt Marge and was staying at the Leaky Cauldron under Ministry supervision.
• Loren and Hermione challenged Harry’s claim that life at the Leaky Cauldron was good and offered him places to stay with their families or Hagrid.
• Loren explained that Fudge was restricting Harry’s movements to protect his own position after Bellatrix Lestrange escaped from Azkaban.
• Errol arrived with Ron’s birthday present for Loren and a letter inviting Harry to stay at the Burrow, so Harry left to collect his things and take Errol there.
• Bellatrix Lestrange met Voldemort at Ilvermorny and pledged her loyalty, while Wormtail begged Voldemort not to send him to Hogwarts.

Loren and Hermione spent his birthday shopping in Diagon Alley, where Hermione bought Crookshanks, then she gave Loren a tie and he kissed her while she tied it. The next morning, Loren worried about how Hermione had reacted and Apparated with Crookshanks to wake her.

• Loren and Hermione bought Crookshanks from a magical creature shop after the cat escaped and clung to Loren.
• Hermione gave Loren a Gryffindor tie for his birthday and tied it around his neck.
• Loren leaned in and kissed Hermione as she finished tying the tie, leaving both of them flustered.
• Bates returned home, inspected Crookshanks, and took him to be bathed while Loren sat dazed on the sofa.
• The next morning, Loren remembered kissing Hermione, wondered whether she would avoid him, and Apparated with Crookshanks to wake her.

Loren woke Hermione gently with a calming Patronus before they prepared to return to Hogwarts, where they reunited with Harry and Ron aboard the Express. The four found their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin, and discussed the Ministry’s concern about Harry and the possibility that Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped.

• Loren found Hermione asleep, used a faint Patronus to keep her resting, and left her to get dressed after they joked about Crookshanks.
• On September 1, Loren and Hermione said goodbye to Bates, Wendell, and Monica before Apparating to King’s Cross with Crookshanks.
• Harry and Ron met Loren and Hermione on the Hogwarts Express, and Percy stormed off after Loren spotted that his badge read “Humungous Bighead.”
• The four entered a compartment occupied by a sleeping Remus Lupin, whom Hermione identified as their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
• Harry told Loren and Hermione that the Ministry had sent cars to escort him to the station, and Hermione said she and Loren suspected Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped England.
• Harry said he had used their reasoning to persuade Sirius Black to sign his Hogsmeade permission form, and Ron eagerly discussed visiting Honeydukes.

Loren and his friends traveled to Hogwarts aboard the rain-soaked train until a Dementor boarded and attacked the students. After Neville led it to their compartment, Loren drove it away with a powerful Patronus Charm, shocking the awakened Professor Lupin.

• Ron bought snacks for Loren, Harry, and Hermione, and Loren warmed their bacon sandwiches while Professor Lupin slept.
• The Hogwarts Express stopped unexpectedly, and its lights went out as a Dementor boarded the train.
• Neville encountered the Dementor and headed for help, but it followed him toward Loren's compartment.
• The Dementor's presence overwhelmed Harry and filled the compartment with cold and painful memories.
• Loren cast Expecto Patronum, engulfing the carriage in silver light and driving the Dementors away as Professor Lupin watched in shock.

Loren drove away the Dementors with an enormous Patronus after Harry collapsed on the train, and the students continued to Hogwarts. At the Castle, Professor McGonagall took Harry, Hermione, and Loren to her office, where Dumbledore asked Loren to walk with him and talk.

• Loren cast a huge Patronus that expelled the Dementors from the train, then quietly pocketed a Soul Stone from his wand tip.
• Lupin went to contact the train staff and Professor McGonagall, while Ron woke Harry with chocolate and the others explained that a Dementor had caused his collapse.
• The train reached Hogsmeade, where the students saw Dementors guarding the road to Hogwarts before traveling to the Castle in Thestral carriages.
• Professor McGonagall summoned Loren, Hermione, and Harry to her office, where Madam Pomfrey examined Harry and Dumbledore asked Loren to accompany him for a walk.

Loren told Dumbledore how Hermione lifted Professor Babbling’s curse in Egypt and learned that the mysterious Jumping Cauldron might seek Hermione out. As they discussed Bellatrix Lestrange’s possible return to Hogwarts and Voldemort’s plan for Peter Pettigrew, Loren grew eager to confront them, prompting Dumbledore to warn him against being consumed by darkness.

• Loren recounted Hermione’s encounter with the Sphinx mummy and the Jumping Cauldron in the Pyramid, and Dumbledore connected the cauldron to Poet Beedle’s tales.
• Dumbledore explained that the Jumping Cauldron might seek Hermione out, but would become her tool if she remained true to herself.
• Loren asked why the Ministry was searching Hogwarts and watching Harry, and Dumbledore said Bellatrix had been spotted near Honeydukes and might be hiding nearby.
• Loren suspected Bellatrix had come to deliver Peter Pettigrew to him on Voldemort’s orders, but Dumbledore said the Castle had been thoroughly searched.
• Loren considered hunting Bellatrix and Pettigrew, and Dumbledore warned him not to let darkness drown him.

Loren and Dumbledore discussed why Remus Lupin had chosen to remain a werewolf rather than be cured, then joined the Hogwarts feast after Hermione received a Time-Turner. Dumbledore introduced Lupin and Hagrid, warned students about the Dementors stationed at Hogwarts, and began the feast without revealing who had cast the Patronus Charm on the train.

• Madam Pomfrey told Dumbledore and Loren to hurry because Professor McGonagall was nearly finished speaking with Hermione.
• Dumbledore explained that Lupin had rejected the Sorcerer's Stone cure so he could keep his werewolf identity and potentially infiltrate werewolf groups aligned with Voldemort and Fenrir Greyback.
• Hermione showed Loren her Golden Hourglass Time-Turner, and Professor McGonagall reminded her to keep it secret.
• Loren and Hermione arrived at the Great Hall after the Sorting Ceremony, where Dumbledore welcomed Lupin as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and announced Hagrid as the new Care of Magical Creatures professor.
• Harry told the Gryffindors how Ron had been bitten by the Monsters Book of Monsters, prompting the students to laugh at Ron.
• Dumbledore warned that Dementors would be stationed at Hogwarts, and he declined to explain the Patronus Charm that had stopped one on the train before beginning the feast.