Chapter Summaries

Charles welcomed the chance to meet Horace Slughorn and make use of his extensive network, while Harry returned to Quidditch practice on Ginny’s Nimbus 2001. The chapter ended with Charles spotting a group of outsiders near Hagrid’s hut and going to investigate because his superior was among them.

• Dumbledore visited Charles in the Alchemy classroom and invited him to arrange a private room at his restaurant for Slughorn’s interview and meeting.
• Charles returned to Gryffindor’s Common Room and saw that Ginny had lent Harry her Nimbus 2001, lifting his reluctance to fly after his broom was damaged.
• Harry rode Ginny’s broom at Quidditch training and handled the maneuvers with ease.
• Charles chatted with Cho Chang in Starlight Garden before noticing outsiders heading toward Hagrid’s hut and going to see what they were doing.

Ministry officials investigated the hippogriffs that injured Ron, then left Hogwarts for a departmental meeting at a restaurant. Charles later returned to Dumbledore with plans to recruit Hogwarts staff.

• Mr. Scamander and Ministry officials questioned Ron, Hermione, the other students, and Hagrid about how the hippogriffs escaped and attacked Ron.
• Amos Diggory and Dumbledore suspected that someone had deliberately released the hippogriffs, possibly Black, and Charles agreed that they should question him once he was captured.
• Mr. Scamander invited Charles to a full departmental meeting at the Dancing Grass Restaurant, leaving Dumbledore unable to attend.
• Dumbledore told Professor McGonagall that the Department of Magical Sports and Games planned to inspect Hogwarts, while the professors worried about further Ministry inspections.
• Charles returned to Hogwarts and went to find Dumbledore, intending to poach Hogwarts's staff.

Charles accepted the Ministry’s appointment as director of the Werewolf Support Services Office and planned to recruit help for next year’s large-scale Werewolf Antidote trials. He persuaded Percy to consider joining the office, while Dumbledore agreed to find someone to help Charles and Lupin.

• Charles told Dumbledore that the Ministry had made him director of the Werewolf Support Services Office, and Dumbledore protested that the Ministry was placing all the danger on him.
• Charles asked Dumbledore to start looking for next year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts professor so Lupin could help with werewolf affairs.
• Charles explained to Percy that European countries planned to send werewolves to large-scale antidote trials and that he needed staff to coordinate the work.
• Charles offered Percy a chance to join the office and said he could recommend an excellent employee for a position in another department after one or two years.
• Percy remained conflicted but appeared persuaded by Charles’s offer.

Charles spent the day answering correspondence and developing ideas for communication research, artificial intelligence, and Air Fryer recipes. Professor McGonagall found him still working late at night and told him it was time for bed.

• Harry showed Seamus and Ruby his stag Patronus and said Dementors would no longer frighten him.
• Charles advised Kytov on communications methods and suggested that Louis Mantz try multi-core processing for his artificial intelligence research.
• Charles replied to letters from Lily Smith, Yamada Hakko, and Gabrielle, then received Jack's news that Vernon's Air Fryer samples were ready for testing.
• Charles began writing recipes and publicity ideas for the Air Fryers while Seamus joined students playing Fred and George's Magical Tetris in the Common Room.
• Professor McGonagall sent the late-night gamers and Hermione back to bed, then found Charles still working on Air Fryer designs during her dormitory inspection.
• Professor McGonagall told Charles to go to bed, and he was startled to learn how late it had become.

At a Slug Club dinner, Slughorn praised Charles for helping develop the Werewolf Antidote and arranged for Damocles Belby to advise on its European trial. Slughorn then learned that Charles headed both the Werewolf Support Services Office and the Centaur Liaison Office, and that he had to return to Hogwarts before the Dementors searched for Black.

• Slughorn hosted a dinner with Slug Club members, where Barnabas Cuffe interviewed him about the Werewolf Antidote.
• Slughorn credited Charles with finding the ingredients that made the Werewolf Antidote research possible, while Charles modestly credited earlier researchers.
• Slughorn explained to Damocles Belby why he had not joined the research and said he had recommended him as a consultant for the upcoming European trial.
• Slughorn asked Tiberius McLaggen who was leading the Ministry's trial, then learned that Charles headed both the Werewolf Support Services Office and the Centaur Liaison Office.
• McLaggen explained that Charles had to return to Hogwarts before dinner because Dementors would search Hogsmeade for Black after sunset, and Slughorn reacted with surprise.

Charles explained his plans for the werewolf antidote trial to Slughorn and won his approval, then found a security client for his company in Dalia. After arranging help for Dalia, he returned to testing alchemically processed lead wire and found its resistance remained stable over time.

• Charles told Slughorn how the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's Hospital would divide responsibility for the werewolf antidote trial, and described his plans for staffing and a dedicated werewolf ward.
• Charles explained his security inspection business to the Slug Club, and Dalia said thieves had broken into her home three times and stolen jewelry.
• Charles agreed to take Dalia to Farbaton Castle, where Jeff and the others volunteered to investigate her home.
• Charles read the letter from his teacher, then decided to let his relationship with the Slug Club develop naturally.
• Charles measured the resistance of alchemically processed lead wire and found that it did not change over time.

Charles made Hermione take a sleeping potion, while Dumbledore worried about the Ministry’s visit and the Dementors. Grindelwald and Jack met Black at the Dancing Grass Restaurant and revealed their plan to change the relationship between wizards and goblins.

• Charles gave Hermione a dose of an improved Draught of Living Death, and she slept until lunchtime before returning with her Time-Turner and angrily stomping on his foot.
• Dumbledore worried that Ministry officials would inspect Hogwarts during the Quidditch match and that Dementors might fly over again.
• Grindelwald and Jack found Black in the Forbidden Forest and took him to the Dancing Grass Restaurant for a meal.
• Grindelwald asked Black about nearly extinct prominent families, then offered to help him find a future wife and preserve the Black family fortune.
• Grindelwald asked Black what he thought of goblins and Gringotts, then declared that wizards should reclaim what belonged to them and reshape their relationship with goblins.

Black ate breakfast with Grindelwald and Jack Spinola, who challenged him about his past and discussed Grindelwald’s goal of ending wizarding secrecy. Jack left Black with a clue about the Potters’ deaths, while Grindelwald promised to explain the goblins’ role at breakfast the next day.

• Jack Spinola reminded Black that he had once lured Snape to the Shrieking Shack without considering what would happen to Lupin, and Black admitted he had wanted Snape dead.
• Grindelwald said he had lost before because he feared the future, but remained committed to helping young people find a better path and ending wizarding secrecy.
• Grindelwald told Black that the divide between wizards and Muggles had caused McGonagall heartbreak and left her uncertain about Jack Smith’s grandfather’s courtship.
• Black warned that abolishing the International Statute of Secrecy could cause chaos, and Grindelwald compared the change to opening a window for fresh air before departing without explaining the goblins’ connection.
• Jack told Black to return for the answer about Gringotts’ goblins and mentioned that the Divination professor knew an important clue about why Voldemort had killed the Potter couple, then Apparated away.

Dumbledore took Lupin to exhume Peter’s grave and had a forensic expert examine the finger bone buried there. The evidence suggested it had been cleanly cut off rather than left by an explosion, and Dumbledore and Lupin left with several troubling possibilities about Peter and Black still unconfirmed.

• Black returned to Grindelwald’s compartment, found Muggle books and breakfast, and began reading the books Charles had recommended.
• Dumbledore and Lupin met Axel Prewett and his family at the wizarding cemetery, where Axel said he had accepted Charles Smith’s invitation to work at Farbaton Castle.
• Dumbledore opened Peter’s grave and retrieved the copper box containing the finger bone Lupin had buried there.
• Dr. David Hunter examined the bone and concluded that it had been severed in one clean stroke, while noting that an explosion would rarely leave only a tiny fragment behind.
• Dumbledore told Lupin that Peter might still be alive and outlined possibilities involving Peter’s betrayal, Black’s involvement with Voldemort, and Black’s flight from prison.
• Lupin urged Dumbledore to find Black before the Dementors and Aurors did, and Dumbledore considered pretending to kidnap Charles to contact him.

Jack planned to provoke a conflict between Gringotts and the Death Eaters while Grindelwald focused on recruiting allies. Back at Hogwarts, Charles received Jack’s letter and joked with his friends as they discussed Christmas, sweets, and Harry’s plan to beat Seamus in the Dueling Club.

• Jack asked Grindelwald about the Centipede of Flower Branches and said he planned to use it on the Death Eaters because he expected trouble in Azkaban.
• Jack proposed using his two Horcruxes connected to Voldemort’s life to spark a conflict between Gringotts and the Death Eaters, and he and Grindelwald agreed to pursue separate plans.
• Dobby delivered Jack’s letter to Charles, explaining that Jack was going abroad to check on Vernon’s work in Shunde and would bring back Lun Jiao Cake and chicken biscuits.
• Seamus teased Charles about Gabrielle visiting Hogsmeade for Christmas, and Charles said he planned to take her to Honeydukes.
• Harry claimed Charles had taught him a way to beat Seamus, prompting the others to ask what the method was.
• Charles joked that he had taught Harry everything from washing his hands to counting, while Ruby tore apart a Cinnamon Snail to eat its filling.

Charles cleared snow from the greenhouses as Hogwarts prepared for Christmas, while Professor Dumbledore announced mock exams that drove older students to study. Hermione questioned Charles about his promise to Harry and his secrets, and Charles left after proposing a higher-level institution for graduate wizards that he thought would suit her.

• Charles used his wand to clear snow from the greenhouse roofs before returning to breakfast.
• Professor Dumbledore announced mock exams for the seventh-years and fifth-years, prompting students to seek past papers and study.
• Hermione deduced that Fred and George wanted her help finding old exam questions because Charles had tied their loans to their exam results.
• Charles promised Harry a Christmas gift if he answered a question in every class, but told him he could no longer sit with Hermione.
• Hermione confronted Charles about his careful promise to Harry and said she believed he was hiding things; Charles changed the subject by proposing a higher-level academic institution and then hurried away.

Charles arranged Christmas gifts for Dumbledore and others, then helped Seamus consider how to counter Harry’s fast casting. The students made their holiday plans, and Professor McGonagall said Harry, Hermione, and Ron would have to travel together to visit Hogsmeade.

• Charles gave Dumbledore Austrian Red Bull and asked Bill to make him a full-body magical massage chair for Christmas, ordering several other gifts as well.
• Bill offered Charles a gorilla stuffed toy as a backup in case the massage chair was not ready in time.
• Charles learned that Harry had beaten Seamus in the Dueling Club by disarming him before he could finish casting, and suggested Seamus try removing Harry’s glasses.
• Seamus asked Hermione about spells that could take Harry’s glasses, while Harry suspected Charles had inspired the idea.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron chose to remain at Hogwarts for Christmas, while Charles planned to go to Farbaton Castle for a company meeting.
• Professor McGonagall told Harry that he, Hermione, and Ron would have to travel together if they wanted to visit Hogsmeade during the holidays.

Charles spent the day in Hogsmeade with Gabrielle Delacour, buying her sweets and gifts while her sister was still away at Beauxbatons. After lunch, Gabrielle asked to visit Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, and Charles put her off until she was older.

• Charles spoke with Fred and George about their plans to improve magical Tetris and warned them not to neglect their studies.
• Gabrielle reunited with Charles in Hogsmeade, and he cleared up the twins’ suspicions about their relationship before taking her around the village.
• Charles bought Gabrielle a large assortment of sweets at Honeydukes and a singing yellow oriole at Zonko’s Joke Shop.
• Gabrielle took Charles to the Hog’s Head Inn for fruit juice and told him that students at Beauxbatons were studying the seventh-year curriculum early.
• Charles bought Gabrielle a swan-feather quill and an illustrated book, then refused her request to visit Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop until she was older.

Pheobe confiscated most of Gabrielle’s candy while Charles helped her hide some of it. Meanwhile, Jack and Grindelwald infiltrated Azkaban, planted magical creatures in imprisoned Death Eaters, and uncovered a woman’s skeleton in the cemetery, leaving Jack intrigued by a new idea.

• Pheobe found Gabrielle’s huge stash of snacks, turned most of it into wall images, and left her a bag of rabbit candies.
• Jack and Grindelwald entered Azkaban, overcame the Dementors, and talked about Christmas and their plans.
• Jack used the Imperius Curse to feed a Centipede of Flower Branches to Antonin Dolohov, then he and Grindelwald planted creatures in other Death Eaters, including an Invincible Hairy Crab in Bellatrix Lestrange.
• Jack and Grindelwald went to Azkaban’s cemetery, where Jack unearthed a skeleton and concluded that a woman had switched places with her child.
• Grindelwald feared Jack would make him impersonate the woman, but Jack said he had something else in mind.

Harry and his friends exchanged Christmas gifts, and Harry received a Firebolt from an unknown sender. He took it to the Gryffindor Common Room, where students crowded around to see it.

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione received gifts delivered by Dobby, including an invisibility watch for Ron and an alarm watch for Hermione.
• Harry opened Charles's gift, a gorilla plush toy that massaged his shoulders, and Dobby gave him toffee in addition.
• Harry and Ron opened Mrs. Weasley's presents, and Harry found a handkerchief from Professor Lupin.
• Harry unwrapped a Firebolt, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry debated whether it came from Charles, Dumbledore, Black, or Mr. Smith.
• Harry carried the Firebolt to the Common Room, where Fred, George, Ginny, and other students gathered around it.
• The Common Room door opened, and a large crowd streamed in.

Fudge and the Aurors searched Gryffindor House for the person who betrayed Harry’s parents, while Sirius Black and Grindelwald revealed that Ron’s rat Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was captured, and Black approached him as the shocked students and professors watched.

• Dumbledore allowed Fudge’s Aurors to search the Gryffindor dormitories for the person who betrayed Harry’s parents.
• Black appeared behind Ron, and Grindelwald stunned Snape and warned the Aurors to lower their wands.
• Black revealed that the Firebolt had been his gift to Harry, and Lupin recognized Scabbers as the unregistered Animagus Peter Pettigrew.
• Fudge transformed Scabbers into Pettigrew, and Scrimgeour trapped him in a net.
• Black released Ron and walked toward Pettigrew while Lupin, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione watched in shock.

On Christmas Day in 1993, Peter Pettigrew was captured and sentenced, while Grindelwald told Charles that the Death Eaters had escaped from Azkaban. Charles pressed Grindelwald about his plans, then delivered a communication parchment to Dumbledore and left the Hog’s Head, leaving Black suspicious of him.

• Peter Pettigrew was captured, tried by the Wizengamot, and given a Dementor’s Kiss, while the Daily Prophet reported the events and showed Fudge capturing Crookshanks.
• Grindelwald told Charles that the Death Eaters had escaped Azkaban on Christmas Eve, and Charles suspected that Grindelwald and the Old Man had arranged the escape.
• Charles demanded to know Grindelwald’s plans, and Grindelwald said he wanted wizards to become part of the ruling class.
• Grindelwald gave Charles a communication parchment for Dumbledore, and Charles delivered it at the Hog’s Head Inn before leaving.
• Black watched Charles leave and told the others that Smith was surrounded by mysteries.

Black asked Harry to arrange a dinner with Sybill Trelawney so he could question her about the Potters’ deaths, while Voldemort sent the disguised Jack, posing as Augustus Rookwood, to investigate Charles Smith’s company. Jack returned to Grindelwald, who implanted a fabricated escape memory in the real Rookwood, leaving the deception in place.

• Grindelwald explained to Dumbledore that he had helped Black because he had seen how tired Dumbledore was, then asked him to suggest a suitable wife for Black.
• At Malfoy Manor, Narcissa served dinner to the Death Eaters, and Augustus Rookwood thanked her while the others ignored her efforts.
• Black asked Harry to invite Trelawney to dinner, and Lupin suspected Black might have a hidden connection with her.
• Voldemort ordered Augustus Rookwood to approach Charles Smith at Farbaton Castle and learn what his company did without drawing the Aurors’ attention.
• The Death Eaters left Britain to search for the Church of Necessary Evil and 103,000 Magic Books, while Jack returned to the seaside villa disguised as Rookwood.
• Grindelwald placed Jack’s fabricated escape memory into the real Augustus Rookwood, who would believe he had escaped from Azkaban.

Charles discussed Voldemort and the Dark Mark with Jack, then recruited Augustus Rookwood to Phoenix Logistics and offered him a new identity through plastic surgery. Rookwood agreed to work alongside House-elves and Squibs, and Charles brought him to a Muggle surgeon to change his appearance.

• Jack asked whether Voldemort might carry Harry's genetic material after using Harry's blood to resurrect himself, and Charles joked about Voldemort having Harry's eyes.
• Jack explained that removing a Death Eater's Dark Mark was dangerous, and Charles asked him to deliver envelopes to prospective business contacts in Shunde.
• Augustus Rookwood came to Farbaton Castle seeking a position at Phoenix Logistics, and Charles offered him a job after confirming he would work with House-elves and Squibs.
• Charles offered to arrange facial surgery so Rookwood could abandon his old identity and evade Voldemort, and Rookwood accepted the idea.
• Charles brought Rookwood to a house near 3 Privet Drive, where he paid a Muggle plastic surgeon to arrange the operation.

Phoenix Logistics held its first official meeting after its members discussed new markets and products at the Three Broomsticks Inn. Charles became president and assigned department heads, but the company still lacked administrative staff and would not fully launch until Kytov and Louis graduated.

• At the Three Broomsticks Inn, Moss Jeff, Kytov, Louis Mantz, Pheobe, and Chris Hemsworth proposed expanding Phoenix Logistics into pest control, security services, and a Ministry of Magic communications system.
• Charles approved Chris’s Ministry communications proposal for the next day’s meeting, while the group discussed possible work in Germany and protecting farms from pests and wild animals.
• At Farbaton Castle, Charles was appointed president, Chris became Magic Director, Aix Prewett became Financial Director, and the other members received department assignments.
• Kytov and Louis reported on their preliminary work, while Aix presented the financial framework and Chris presented a draft administrative system for the Ministry of Magic.
• Charles assigned Dobby to handle administration temporarily and Chris to oversee recruitment, leaving the company’s full-scale launch until Kytov and Louis graduated that summer.