Chapter Summaries

Albert spent Christmas Eve with Isobel, discussing their future and the LeMay couple, then returned to Hogwarts before dawn. While he slept on Christmas morning, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan opened his many gifts and schemed over how to handle the sweets they suspected might contain Love Potion.

• Albert and Nia discussed his Christmas gifts and his plan to spend more time with his family after the holidays.
• Albert and Isobel returned to their Hogsmeade home, where they talked about his dangerous plans, their future, and Isobel writing about the LeMay couple.
• Albert and Isobel decided to publish Ancient Runes Guide under both their names and spent Christmas Eve together.
• Albert returned to Hogwarts at five in the morning and went back to sleep while Fred, George, and Lee Jordan opened his 138 Christmas gifts.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan suspected some of the girls’ sweets might contain Love Potion and planned to share them later and send some anonymously to Montague and Ludo Bagman.

Albert learned that girls had sent him more than a hundred Christmas Gifts, then attended the Christmas Ball with Katrina as his dance partner. The Champions and their partners entered the Great Hall and took their places before the judges.

• Albert learned that more than thirty parcels of snacks sent by girls contained Love Potion, and he let Fred, George, and Lee Jordan decide what to do with them.
• Albert sorted through his Christmas Gifts, including presents from Nia, the LeMay Couple, Dumbledore, Morg, Bard, and his friends.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan tried to hit Albert with a snowball, but his Defence Bracelet sent it back and struck them instead.
• Albert met Katrina before the ball and told her she looked beautiful; Yanila mocked their pairing and criticized Fleur's choice of Roger Davies.
• Albert and Katrina joined the Champions, whose partners were Davies, Parvati, and Hermione, before entering the Great Hall and taking their places before the judges.

At the Christmas Ball, Albert warned Percy about his future prospects and encouraged Katrina to consider leaving Britain, then spent much of the evening dancing with her. The ball continued with friends joining them, while Albert’s attention turned to the other people waiting to dance.

• Percy told Albert he had become Mr. Crouch's Private Assistant, and Albert predicted he might soon become the Minister of Magic's Assistant.
• Albert advised Katrina to think about traveling after graduation and warned that Britain and the Ministry of Magic would soon be unsafe.
• The Weird Sisters performed at the ball, and Albert led Katrina onto the dance floor, dancing with her through several songs.
• Albert took Katrina to rest and shared Butterbeer and cake with her, Lee Jordan, and Luna.
• Yanila arrived with Gabrielle and asked Albert to dance, but he said Katrina had booked him first.
• George arrived with Aylia and Shanna and teased Albert for dancing so much.

At the Christmas Ball, Albert danced with Luna and offered her the chance to inherit the Wizard Card Club, which she accepted. He also gave Percy cryptic advice about his future and warned Yanila to stay away from Britain for the next few years because something bad would happen.

• Albert joked about the Weird Sisters before taking Luna to dance, where he encouraged her to make friends and told her she was cute and pretty.
• Albert asked Luna to inherit the Wizard Card Club, explaining that he feared the club would be neglected; Luna agreed and promised to keep its gatherings and tournaments going.
• Yanila offered Albert Butterbeer and asked him to dance, while Luna questioned whether Yanila was pursuing him and confirmed that she and Albert were friends.
• Percy asked Albert to explain his earlier hints, and Albert advised him to be patient, value people who listened to him, and wait for his opportunity in the coming years.
• Albert danced with Yanila and warned her not to come to Britain for the next few years because something bad would happen there after the Triwizard Tournament.

Albert escaped the Christmas ball after dancing with several girls, told Krum how to discover the Golden Egg’s secret, and used a Time-Turner to join Isobel at home. They spent the night together discussing their future and the danger posed by Voldemort’s followers, leaving Albert asleep beside Isobel.

• Albert danced with Shanna, Angelina, Aylia, Fleur, and Hermione before asking Krum to help him escape the girls pursuing him.
• Albert led Krum to an empty classroom, revealed that the Golden Egg’s secret could be found underwater, and warned him not to risk his life in the Tournament.
• Albert slipped away through the Vanishing Cabinet, used the Time-Turner to return several hours earlier, and reunited with Isobel at Hogsmeade Cottage.
• Albert and Isobel danced together, then discussed Katrina’s plans, their family, and the danger they might face because of Voldemort.
• Albert and Isobel shared a late-night meal, and Albert fell asleep before waking briefly beside her and returning to sleep.

After Albert left the Christmas Ball, Katrina explained why he had chosen her as his dance partner, while Hermione told Harry how to solve the Golden Egg and warned him to keep Hagrid’s half-giant heritage quiet. Harry ended the ball regretting that he had never asked Cho Chang to dance.

• Katrina told the girls that Albert had asked her to shield him from unwanted attention and that he still liked Isobel.
• Hermione told Harry that opening the Golden Egg underwater would reveal its secret, and defended Albert for charging Sirius for useful information.
• Harry told Hermione that Hagrid’s half-giant heritage had been exposed, and Hermione warned that it could cost Hagrid his position as Lupin’s identity had cost him his.
• Hermione left with Krum, while Harry considered asking Cho Chang to dance but never found the courage before the ball ended.

Albert recovered from the Christmas Ball’s exertion while discussing the magical world with Isobel and planning books and gifts for his family. Back at Grandpa Luke’s house, he promised Nia a dance and read that the Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports had been poisoned by a fan’s chocolate.

• Albert stayed in bed with Isobel, who helped him recover and discussed magical-world customs that he recorded for a book for Muggle-born wizards.
• Albert and Isobel returned to Grandpa Luke’s house, where Nia teased him about dancing with many girls and gave him massages.
• Albert promised to dance at home with Nia and agreed to make her a bag as a Christmas gift.
• Albert read that the Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports had eaten poisoned chocolate and been taken to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Dumbledore pieced together that Little Barty Crouch was alive and connected to his father, then tried to investigate while keeping Voldemort’s accomplice at Hogwarts from sending a warning. Little Barty realized Dumbledore’s plan might expose him and chose not to alert Voldemort.

• Dumbledore used Winky’s reactions to confirm that Albert’s prophecy about Little Barty being alive was true and suspected Old Barty had helped conceal him.
• Dumbledore failed to find Albert, then postponed visiting Old Barty after Ludo Bagman was hospitalized and Hogwarts students were affected by Love Potion.
• Dumbledore asked Snape to watch Moody and told Moody to prevent professors from sending messages outside after Dumbledore left Hogwarts.
• Moody suggested Snape might still be loyal to Voldemort, while Dumbledore hoped the plan would reveal any hidden accomplice.
• Little Barty suspected he was being watched, considered warning Voldemort, and ultimately decided to stay hidden.

Dumbledore and Bagman investigated Barty Crouch’s suspicious illness and discovered Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew hiding in his house. Voldemort escaped after Dumbledore destroyed Nagini, while Crouch was killed, and the Ministry struggled to accept that Voldemort had returned.

• Dumbledore and Bagman visited Barty Crouch, whose strange condition made Dumbledore suspect he was under the Imperius Curse.
• Dumbledore and Bagman returned to the house, where Voldemort attacked them and Bagman took Crouch outside; Dumbledore trapped Peter Pettigrew and confronted Voldemort.
• Dumbledore recognized Nagini as a Horcrux, killed her with the Gryffindor Sword, and forced Voldemort to flee in his disembodied state.
• Peter Pettigrew escaped after killing Crouch, and Bagman told Dumbledore that the goblins had saved him.
• Fudge and Scrimgeour arrived, learned that Voldemort had returned and Peter was alive, and decided not to report Voldemort’s return to the newspapers.

Albert read that Barty Crouch had been murdered and learned Dumbledore had killed Voldemort by cutting off Nagini’s head. As Britain faced growing danger, Albert reassured Isobel about the Triwizard Tournament and told Nia he would send her out of the country after school let out.

• Albert read the Daily Prophet report that Barty Crouch was dead and Dumbledore had killed Voldemort at the Crouch residence.
• Albert checked his Task Panel and saw that his contribution to the quest "The Dark Lord's Demise" had increased.
• Albert and Isobel discussed the likely presence of Voldemort’s agent at Hogwarts and suspected that the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor was involved.
• Albert promised Isobel he would prepare carefully and drink Felix Felicis before the Third Task.
• Albert told Nia that Britain might soon be unsafe and that he would send her abroad after school let out; Nia asked when he would dance with her and take her to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore discussed Bartie's death, Voldemort's return, and the threat posed by Peter Pettigrew and a possible accomplice with Snape and Moody. He suspected Little Barty Crouch was involved, while Moody noted that Mrs. Peter had recently visited Azkaban.

• Snape told Dumbledore that Harry's scar hurt and asked whether Voldemort would regain a body; Dumbledore said Peter Pettigrew remained at large and Voldemort was likely trying to recover his strength.
• Dumbledore summoned Moody, who reported that Potter had fallen ill and that he had noticed Snape clutching his Dark Mark.
• Dumbledore told Moody that Voldemort had controlled Bartie and named Little Barty Crouch as a possible accomplice.
• Dumbledore and Moody discussed Voldemort's baby-like body, the medicinal ingredients found at Bartie's home, and the possibility that Peter Pettigrew could provide information if captured.
• Dumbledore mentioned that Mrs. Peter had visited Azkaban, and Moody suspected Fudge had accepted her Galleons to allow it.

Peter Pettigrew found Voldemort hiding in Riddle House and offered to help him regain a physical body. Voldemort planned to leave Britain to gather ingredients and rebuild his power, unaware that Dumbledore might know more about the Horcruxes than he believed.

• Peter Pettigrew entered Riddle House and found Voldemort, who accused him of being a coward.
• Peter told Voldemort that he had killed Old Bartie while helping protect Little Barty Crouch’s plans.
• Voldemort ordered Peter to help him regain a physical body and told him to send Bartie a warning to stay concealed or retreat.
• Voldemort decided they had to leave Britain because the Ministry would monitor the movement of potion ingredients.
• Voldemort suspected Dumbledore might investigate his Horcruxes, but believed Dumbledore did not know their locations.

Sirius visited Harry in the hospital, then joined Dumbledore, Arthur, and Kingsley to investigate Voldemort’s return and the clues surrounding Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore concluded that Voldemort was likely hiding in the village where his father was born.

• Sirius told Harry that Voldemort had been defeated and that Barty Crouch had died after Peter ambushed Bagman.
• Dumbledore showed Sirius, Arthur, and Kingsley a Pensieve memory of Voldemort’s fragile body and discussed evidence that someone had used Polyjuice Potion to infiltrate Hogwarts.
• Dumbledore and the others concluded that Little Barty Crouch was alive and had likely created the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup.
• Sirius showed them Albert’s prophecy, which ended with an image of a graveyard and a gravestone.
• Dumbledore connected the prophecy’s desolate manor to the village where Voldemort’s father was born and proposed that Voldemort was hiding there.

Dumbledore confronted Voldemort at Riddle House, but Voldemort escaped as a disembodied soul and returned to hide there. Peter Pettigrew narrowly evaded the Aurors, while Little Barty Crouch weighed leaving Hogwarts as Dumbledore’s scrutiny and dwindling potion supplies threatened his plans.

• Dumbledore found Voldemort possessing a rat at Riddle House, but his spells could not harm Voldemort’s remnant soul, which escaped through the magical barrier.
• Sirius, Arthur, Kingsley, and Dumbledore discussed how to capture Voldemort and locate Peter Pettigrew, while Kingsley planned to alert the Ministry of Magic.
• Peter Pettigrew returned to Riddle House, triggered the Aurors’ alarm, and escaped before they could catch him; Voldemort later returned and hid there in a rat, waiting for Peter.
• Little Barty Crouch worried that the Ministry’s confiscation of his potion ingredients would leave him without Polyjuice Potion and considered leaving Hogwarts before the Triwizard Tournament.
• Moody put down the Daily Prophet and said he needed to make preparations early.

Albert tested how long the Bubblehead Charm would last as he prepared for the Second Task, while his friends discussed the dangers of the Black Lake. He concluded that the charm might not provide enough time during strenuous activity and continued to consider his preparations.

• Lee Jordan watched Albert test the Bubblehead Charm in the Prefects' Bathroom while Fred and George discussed the Second Task.
• Albert explained that he planned to use the Bubblehead Charm if possible and keep his underwater breathing potion as a backup.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan raised concerns about cold, slow movement, attacks, losing his wand, and getting lost in the Black Lake.
• Albert said spells and protective gear could address several risks and speculated about the creatures living in the lake.
• Lee Jordan timed the Bubblehead Charm at about an hour and fifteen minutes, but Albert warned that exertion would consume oxygen and leave him with less time underwater.

Hermione told Albert that Hagrid was suffering after Rita Skeeter exposed his giant ancestry, but Albert said Hagrid had ignored his repeated warnings and needed to handle the consequences himself. After Harry discussed the Second Task and his inability to swim, the students returned from Christmas break, and Albert and his friends signed up for Apparition lessons.

• Hermione told Albert that Rita Skeeter had exposed Hagrid's ancestry and that Hagrid was refusing visitors; Albert said he had warned Hagrid and advised Hermione that Rita was likely targeting Harry.
• Hermione relayed Albert's response to Harry and Ron, then helped Harry examine the Golden Egg's underwater song and discuss the Second Task, his inability to swim, and the cold lake.
• After Christmas break, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan faced students angry about the Love Potion cakes, but the three defeated the students who attacked them.
• Fred, George, and Albert signed up for the Ministry's Apparition course, and Albert agreed to lend the Weasley twins the money for their fees.
• When students asked whether Albert already knew Apparition, he gave them a Ministry booklet on common mistakes and returned to his dormitory.

During a blizzard, Albert reviewed his long-term plans, then took Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to Hogsmeade by Side-Along Apparition. There, he discussed Sirius’s plans to expose Peter Pettigrew’s escape and agreed with his friends to tip off Rita Skeeter about Ludo Bagman’s debts.

• Albert added a plan to flee Britain by sea to his notebook, stored it in Nicolas Flamel’s alchemical box, and went back to sleep.
• Fred, George, and Lee asked Albert to Apparate them to Hogsmeade, and he raised his Apparition skill before taking them there.
• The group saw Viktor Krum dive into the Black Lake, and Albert explained that he had told Krum how to uncover the Golden Egg’s secret.
• Albert told his friends that Sirius planned to publish how Fudge had helped Peter Pettigrew escape Azkaban in Defence Guide.
• Albert described his methods for dealing with Rita Skeeter, and the four decided to anonymously tell her that Ludo Bagman was deeply in debt.

Albert and his friends discussed their joke-shop and protective-item business in Hogsmeade before Sirius confronted Rita Skeeter and revealed secrets about Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and Barty Crouch. After Sirius promoted the Defence Guide, he and Albert left to discuss pursuing Pettigrew, while Fred, George, and Lee Jordan prepared to expose Ludo Bagman.

• Albert advised Fred, George, and Lee Jordan on advertising Skiving Snackboxes, developing Wizard Cards, and expanding into protective products.
• Lee Jordan spotted Ludo Bagman arguing with goblins over his debts, and the friends guessed he wanted to settle them with a bet on Albert winning the Triwizard Tournament.
• Rita Skeeter arrived and tried to interview Bagman, but Harry and Hermione challenged her over her reporting before Sirius joined them.
• Sirius revealed that Peter Pettigrew had escaped Azkaban through a scheme involving his mother, that Voldemort had appeared as a weakened baby at the Crouch home, and that Barty Crouch's son was alive and helping Voldemort.
• Sirius promoted the Defence Guide as a source of the truth, then offered to split Pettigrew's bounty with Albert, who warned that Pettigrew might already have left Britain.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan planned to tell Rita Skeeter about Bagman's unpaid bets, while Sirius explained that Bagman owed many creditors and had resisted repaying them.

Cornelius Fudge struggled to contain the political fallout from Sirius Black exposing Peter Pettigrew’s escape and plans to revive Voldemort. Dumbledore explained Sirius’s motives and warned of dire prophecies, while Fudge took over as a Triwizard Tournament judge amid Ministry turmoil.

• Fudge faced public demands to resign after Sirius Black revealed the deal with Mrs. Peter and Peter Pettigrew’s escape, while Barnabas Cuffe redirected scrutiny toward the Ministry through the Daily Prophet.
• Barnabas Cuffe told Fudge that Sirius’s magazine would publish the news regardless, and Fudge blamed Sirius and Dumbledore for the scandal.
• Dumbledore told Fudge that Sirius wanted Peter found and killed because of Peter’s betrayal and Sirius’s imprisonment, and that Sirius had sought a Prophecy Master to locate him.
• Dumbledore warned Fudge about prophecies predicting escalating deaths, mass Azkaban escapes, and the Ministry’s eventual collapse, while Fudge rejected the claims and insisted Voldemort was dead.
• Dumbledore asked who would replace the Triwizard Tournament judges after Ministry officials ran into trouble, and Fudge appointed himself and Amelia Bones.

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan discussed Rita Skeeter’s reports, Sirius’s troubles, the Triwizard Tournament, and the products they planned to sell. Hermione arrived urgently and took Harry with her after revealing that Winky had collapsed.

• George praised Rita Skeeter’s articles, and the group discussed Ludo Bagman’s disgrace and the trouble Sirius could face.
• Lee Jordan suggested Fudge wanted to keep his mistake in Peter Pettigrew’s escape from Azkaban quiet, while Fred said the Champions could not withdraw from the Triwizard Tournament because of their contract with the Goblet of Fire.
• Fred, George, and Lee Jordan described their Wizard Cards, Skiving Snackboxes, and extensive Product Catalog to Harry and Ron.
• Hermione hurried into the Common Room, said Winky had collapsed, and pulled Harry into the corridor.