Chapter Summaries

Albert led students to investigate Umbridge’s screams and found her transformed into a toad-like state. After Umbridge fainted at the sight of her reflection, she was taken to the hospital, where Dumbledore and Snape considered the cause and agreed the Ministry would be told it was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor’s curse.

• Albert led a group of Gryffindor students to investigate the screams and joined Cedric’s Hufflepuffs outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts office.
• Cedric told Albert that Umbridge had turned into a toad, and Albert revived her before giving her a mirror.
• Umbridge saw her reflection, screamed, and fainted again, while Peeves claimed he had found her rushing from the office.
• Albert arranged for Umbridge to be carried to the School Hospital and asked Filch to notify Dumbledore or another professor.
• Madam Pomfrey said Umbridge’s condition might be a skin disease and recommended transferring her to St. Mungo’s.
• Snape suggested Umbridge’s appearance resulted from Polyjuice Potion, but Dumbledore said the Ministry would be told it was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor’s curse because they had no evidence.

Umbridge’s transformation into a toad made her a target for pranks, publicity, and torment while she remained in the Hogwarts hospital. After a nighttime scare led Professor McGonagall and Filch to investigate Classroom Eleven, they found Albert discussing Astrology with Firenze and chose not to interfere.

• Madam Pomfrey treated Umbridge’s distress and concealed her toad form, while students crowded the School Hospital hoping to see her.
• Fudge visited Hogwarts, argued with Dumbledore over Umbridge’s transformation, and allowed her to remain at the school for treatment.
• Umbridge received enchanted prank gifts that repeatedly reappeared, and Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Albert spread a Defence Reporter issue featuring her toad form and arranged a broadcast of students’ blessings.
• Umbridge tore apart the magazine and was stunned by Madam Pomfrey, then later screamed that she had seen a giant in the School Hospital.
• Professor McGonagall and Filch investigated Classroom Eleven and found Albert with Firenze, who said they had been discussing Astrology; McGonagall let them continue, and Albert soon left.

Harry explained to the DA that Voldemort’s return, an Azkaban prison break, and a coming war threatened the wizarding world, especially Muggle-borns. He urged them to use their remaining time to train and announced that he would teach them the Patronus Charm.

• Harry, Hermione, the Weasley Twins, and Cedric increased DA meetings from once to four times a week and reorganized the group.
• When Angelina objected that the meetings conflicted with Quidditch practice, Harry and Hermione explained that Umbridge would likely recover and resume targeting them after Christmas.
• Hermione and Cedric warned the DA that Albert’s Self-Defense Guide was intended to help Muggle-born wizards prepare for serious trouble ahead.
• Fred and George said a prison break was coming, and Harry told the DA that Voldemort had returned and would soon free the Death Eaters in Azkaban.
• Harry warned that Voldemort’s forces would eventually bring down the Ministry of Magic and endanger Muggle-born wizards, then announced that he would teach the DA the Patronus Charm.

Albert and the DA helped stage a Christmas prank that exposed Umbridge as the target of the Anti-Toad Alliance, while Harry’s group celebrated their success. The chapter ended with Professor McGonagall urgently summoning Fred and George, and Albert suspecting something had happened to their family.

• Katrina complained to Albert about the Defence Association occupying the Room of Requirement and said she planned to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, but Albert reminded her that Isobel wanted her home.
• A girl told Katrina and Albert that Umbridge had disappeared from the School Hospital, and Professor McGonagall asked the Prefects to organize a castle-wide search.
• The DA members revealed Umbridge atop a Christmas Tree in the Great Hall, where she spun to a song as students joined in; Harry had led the prank with help from the Weasley Twins and Cedric.
• Professor McGonagall had Hagrid place a Christmas Tree topped with a pink toad beside Umbridge’s hospital bed, while the DA celebrated in the Room of Requirement.
• Professor McGonagall woke Lee Jordan and summoned Fred and George to the Common Room; Albert suspected their family was in trouble and wondered whether Arthur Weasley had been attacked.

Voldemort explained how he had used Harry Potter’s dreams and heroism to manipulate him, while aiming to exploit Harry’s connection to Dumbledore. After Arthur Weasley survived the snake attack, Voldemort ordered Lucius Malfoy to secure the Prophecy Sphere and organize a prison break from Azkaban.

• Voldemort reflected that he had used dreams to make Harry Potter believe the attack on Arthur Weasley was real and draw him toward the Department of Mysteries.
• Voldemort considered Harry Potter a pawn and a potential weakness for Dumbledore, whom he viewed as his true enemy.
• Lucius Malfoy told Voldemort that the Order of the Phoenix had rescued Arthur Weasley and that Arthur had killed the snake.
• Voldemort warned Malfoy that he still had a chance to deliver the Prophecy Sphere, despite his previous failures.
• Voldemort ordered Malfoy to tell Avery to arrange a January attack on Azkaban with help from the Dementors and Luke Wood.
• Malfoy left to contact Avery and planned to deal with Broderick Podmore before he could expose their plans.

Albert and Katrina left Hogwarts for Christmas and joined Isobel and Mrs. MacDougal at the Flamel family’s Fidelius-protected safe house in Devon. During the holiday, Albert gave Isobel notes on Centaur healing magic and passed Mrs. MacDougal Phoenix tears from Dumbledore to help Arthur Weasley recover from a venomous snake bite.

• Albert and Katrina used Dobby to travel from Hogwarts to Nicolas Flamel’s safe house in Devon, which Dumbledore protected as Secret-Keeper.
• Isobel welcomed Katrina and had her and Albert help decorate the hall for Christmas.
• Albert gave Isobel his notes on healing magic he learned from Firenze, but Mrs. McDougal later succeeded in using the technique and took the notebook.
• The family celebrated Christmas with food, snow activities, and a discussion of Umbridge’s condition and her abuses at Hogwarts.
• Mrs. MacDougal told the family Arthur Weasley remained ill from a venomous snake bite, and Albert gave her Phoenix tears from Dumbledore as a possible antidote.

Sirius used Wizard Lookout Station’s Christmas broadcast to warn the wizarding world about werewolves, an Azkaban breakout, and Voldemort’s return while mocking Umbridge and discussing Fudge’s possible successors. After the broadcast, Albert confirmed that he had made the prophecy and reassured Isobel and Mrs. McDougal that he had a plan to keep them safe.

• Sirius warned listeners that Fenrir Greyback had recruited werewolves and urged families to protect themselves, then reported that the Anti-Toad Alliance had claimed responsibility for Umbridge’s illness.
• Umbridge searched the hospital for the hidden radio, destroyed a Pink Toad ornament, and returned to bed when Madam Pomfrey stopped her from leaving.
• Sirius broadcast a prediction that Death Eaters would escape Azkaban and Dementors would join Voldemort, prompting Rufus Scrimgeour to consider whether he could prevent the breakout and become Minister.
• Sirius said he was seeking an interview with Harry Potter and promised to reveal the truth about Voldemort’s return and hidden Death Eaters before the broadcast ended.
• Albert confirmed to Katrina and Mrs. McDougal that he was the anonymous Prophecy Master, and he told them he had an escape plan if events became dire.
• Mrs. McDougal urged Katrina to avoid trouble after graduation, and Katrina replied that her mother was the more worrying one.

At Grimmauld Place, Sirius and the Order discussed Albert’s grim predictions about Fudge, the Ministry’s collapse, an Azkaban prison break, and Amelia Bones’s likely death. After the meeting, Fred and George asked Bill to secure a shop in Diagon Alley, while Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked about their future careers.

• Sirius told the gathering that Scrimgeour would succeed Fudge and that the next Minister would become a sacrifice to the Ministry’s collapse.
• Sirius and the Order discussed the danger to Amelia Bones, the Death Eaters’ possible Azkaban prison break, and the Ministry’s inability to protect her.
• Mrs. Weasley sent Harry and the other young people out of the hall while the Order continued its discussion behind a muffling charm.
• Fred and George asked Bill to investigate buying or renting a shop at Diagon Alley No. 93, using startup money from Albert.
• Hermione said she hoped to join the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, while Harry considered becoming an Auror and Ron remained undecided.

Death Eaters broke their comrades out of Azkaban while the Ministry failed to intervene, and the next morning Albert discussed the breakout and Fudge’s motives with Isobel and Katrina. The escaped prisoners remained at large, and Katrina realized she would soon have to spend time with them.

• Avery led the Death Eaters through the storm to Azkaban, where Dementors let them pass after he promised them Voldemort’s terms.
• Lucius Malfoy and the others freed their imprisoned comrades, including Bellatrix, but left the other inmates locked up.
• Stirling ignored warnings about the breakout and went to the Ministry, believing Fudge would take the blame for the escape.
• Albert read the Daily Prophet with Isobel and Katrina and said his prophecy had come true.
• Albert argued that Fudge denied Voldemort’s return to protect himself, and Katrina studied the photographs of the escaped prisoners.

Defence Reporter’s exposé intensified public suspicion of Fudge and the Ministry after the Azkaban breakout, while Sirius warned Amelia Bones that a prophecy foretold her death. As the Order discussed the Death Eaters’ plans, Harry learned Snape would teach him Occlumency, and Fred and George prepared to open a shop before returning to Hogwarts.

• Defence Reporter published Rita Skeeter’s interview with Harry and an analysis of Fudge’s actions, prompting public calls for Fudge to resign and suspicion of Lucius Malfoy and others.
• Sirius met Amelia Bones and warned that a prophecy said she would not survive the summer, advising her to seek protection; she refused to run away.
• At the Order meeting, Snape reported that the Death Eaters had poisoned Broderick Podmore, were considering controlling Fudge, and were pursuing a plan connected to Augustus Rookwood.
• Snape told Harry that he would teach him Occlumency privately once a week, while Sirius arranged for Harry to travel to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus.
• Fred and George asked Bill to find shop premises in Diagon Alley and hinted that Harry should prepare for trouble from Umbridge.

Albert returned to Hogwarts after the holidays, discussed Harry’s difficulty learning Occlumency, and helped Fred, George, and Lee Jordan strengthen the Anti-Toad Alliance. The chapter ended with Albert urging the twins to expand their campaign against Umbridge while preparing their joke shop for a later opening.

• Albert returned to Hogwarts, visited Madam Pomfrey, and reunited with Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Hermione, and Ginny in the Gryffindor common room.
• Harry asked Albert about Occlumency, but Albert doubted Harry could learn it within half a year and explained that Dumbledore expected Harry and Snape to overcome their mutual dislike.
• Harry proposed using Polyjuice Potion to turn Umbridge into a cat again, while Albert warned that Umbridge would likely blame Harry and seek revenge when she recovered.
• Albert learned that Dumbledore’s Army and the Anti-Toad Alliance had grown after the Azkaban breakout and the latest Defence Reporter articles.
• Fred and George showed Albert their Anti-Toad Alliance badges, and Albert suggested making house versions, adding features, and using the badges to unite students against Umbridge.
• Albert encouraged Fred and George to seize the moment to grow the Alliance and begin planning their joke shop, advising them to renegotiate its price after Voldemort officially returned.

The Anti-Toad Alliance grew into Hogwarts’s largest club, spreading secret information and selling discounted goods while students discussed how to drive Umbridge from the school. Albert warned Fred, George, and Lee Jordan about the risks of their plans, as Harry continued preparing to turn Umbridge into a toad.

• The Anti-Toad Alliance’s free badges became popular, and the club grew as students joined to access secret information, prank goods, and discounted magazines and potions.
• Albert observed students wearing House badges and learned that Slytherins felt targeted, while Alliance members discussed keeping Umbridge in the hospital.
• Fred told Albert that some students had proposed using a Memory Charm on Umbridge, but he and George preferred fighting her with prank items and offering the Alliance a discount.
• Albert suggested having Peeves harass Umbridge and warned that the twins’ plan to humiliate her on Valentine’s Day could provoke retaliation.
• Fred explained that Harry still planned to turn Umbridge into a toad and publicly blame a Defence Against the Dark Arts curse, while Albert cautioned that Umbridge would be prepared.

Umbridge tried to confiscate students’ House badges, then suffered a coordinated prank that made everyone act as if she were hallucinating birds and insults. She fled after Peeves attacked her, while Fred, George, and the others planned to repeat the scheme until she doubted her sanity.

• Umbridge stopped Dennis Creevey and confiscated his badge, then took badges from Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott after hearing they supposedly marked Anti-Toad Alliance members.
• Ernie explained that the badges were ordinary School Badges, but Umbridge declared them forbidden and refused to return them.
• Students secretly staged an attack with magical birds and pretended Umbridge was imagining the birds and the jeering voices.
• Peeves appeared, mocked Umbridge, smeared Dungbombs on her, and chased her away while singing and hitting her with a newspaper.
• Fred, George, Cedric, Harry, Hermione, and Ron discussed repeating the prank to make Umbridge believe she was going mad, while George warned them to stay cautious.

Umbridge brought Ministry Aurors to Hogwarts to expel Peeves, but Peeves and the students turned the operation against her. Peeves knocked Umbridge unconscious, and she was sent to St. Mungo’s with the defeated Aurors.

• A student warned the Great Hall that Umbridge had brought Ministry Aurors to Hogwarts, and Albert predicted she meant to deal with Peeves.
• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to help Peeves if they had the chance, then went with the students to watch the confrontation.
• Peeves emerged from a cloud of darkness and battered the Aurors with a mop handle while Fred, George, and Lee Jordan helped prevent them from intervening.
• Harry and the students wearing Toad Badges blocked Umbridge’s escape, and Peeves began beating her as the crowd chanted and sang.
• Peeves knocked Umbridge unconscious, and she and the Aurors were sent to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

After Umbridge’s attack by Peeves made the Daily Prophet’s front page, Albert proposed using an article in The Quibbler to expose the Ministry’s actions and pressure Umbridge and Fudge. His friends arranged to involve Rita Skeeter and Luna Lovegood, while Harry worried Albert’s plan hinted at a prophecy about Voldemort taking control of Hogwarts.

• Angelina, Aylia, Albert, and his friends discussed the Daily Prophet’s report on Umbridge and the possibility that Fudge wanted her to become Headmistress.
• Albert suggested exposing Umbridge’s abuses and the Ministry’s alleged plan to seize control of Hogwarts through an article published in The Quibbler.
• Albert argued that Umbridge’s Special Operations Investigation Team could help the Death Eaters gain influence over Hogwarts, and proposed that students’ families learn about it.
• Lee Jordan went to find Luna, while Fred and George approached Harry and Hermione to discuss the article and how to oppose Umbridge.
• Hermione offered to contact Rita Skeeter, and Harry worried Albert’s plan might foreshadow Umbridge becoming Headmistress after Voldemort took control of Hogwarts.

Umbridge acted as though she had reformed, but Albert warned that she was lowering everyone’s guard while preparing to target the Defence Association. The group made its meetings legal, and Hermione left with a troubling suspicion about Dumbledore’s position after Umbridge gave only a vague answer about Hagrid’s probation.

• Umbridge returned from St. Mungo’s, removed the Educational Decrees, and kept a low profile, while Harry and Albert suspected she was only pretending to change.
• Fred and George recovered their Flying Brooms, and the group renamed the Defence Association the Defence Against the Dark Arts Study Group so it could meet legally.
• Albert arranged for Hermione’s information to be delivered to Rita Skeeter and prepared an article for The Quibbler, while he warned Harry that incomplete Occlumency practice could worsen his problems.
• Hermione, Harry, and Ron questioned Umbridge about Hagrid’s probation, and she said he could remain employed as long as he did not bring dangerous Magical Creatures into class.
• Ron’s reminder that Hagrid could return unless Dumbledore was no longer Headmaster alarmed Hermione, who hurried to the Room of Requirement and found Albert teaching Katrina.

Albert and Isobel discussed their future, Isobel’s Felix Felicis, and the choices that had shaped their lives. They reaffirmed their affection while Isobel worried about the prophecy and Voldemort’s threat, leaving their wedding plans flexible.

• Isobel helped Albert stretch and persuaded him to resume morning exercise with her, while Albert joked about selling a hair-growth potion to Muggles.
• Isobel said her six-month Felix Felicis brew was nearly ready, and Albert praised her skill.
• Isobel suggested keeping their wedding simple because of the prophecy and Voldemort; Albert reassured her that they could prepare backup plans.
• Albert and Isobel discussed Percy prioritizing his career, and Albert reflected that he might have pursued wealth in the Far East if he had never become a wizard.
• Isobel said meeting Albert was her greatest luck, and they affirmed how happy they were together.

Albert arranged for Rita Skeeter to write an anonymous article linking the Ministry’s actions to Voldemort and warned Harry, Ron, and Hermione that Dumbledore’s foretold death and Umbridge’s plans were tied to a corrupt Ministry. He left them with the warning that the Ministry’s crisis of credibility could make its next leader unable to repair the damage.

• Albert negotiated with Rita Skeeter to write an unsigned article connecting the Triwizard Tournament, the Spain incident, Umbridge’s actions, and the Azkaban breakout, and he told her to include evidence about Fudge without making direct accusations.
• Albert checked Luna’s preparations to take over the Wizard Card Club and told Lee Jordan to prepare for Fred and George possibly leaving Hogwarts early.
• Albert told Harry, Ron, and Hermione that he had seen the Dark Mark in a prophecy of Dumbledore’s possible death, then reassured them that Dumbledore knew about the danger and could still change the future.
• Albert explained to Harry, Ron, and Hermione that Umbridge wanted to expel Harry, remove Dumbledore, and become headmistress, and that Ministry officials could use their own laws to constrain their opponents.
• Albert warned the trio that the Ministry’s credibility had already collapsed and that Fudge’s successor would inherit a crisis Dumbledore could not solve.

Harry continued teaching the Defence Against the Dark Arts Study Group the Patronus Charm, and Cedric became the first member besides the experienced casters to summon a Corporeal Patronus. Umbridge then exposed the group as her target and led Harry toward Dumbledore's office, while the students followed and George sent Lee Jordan to find Albert.

• Harry reassured the students about learning the Patronus Charm and explained how to practise it.
• Cedric summoned a silver swan Patronus, encouraging the other students.
• Dolores Umbridge entered the Room of Requirement and accused the group of practising Dark Magic.
• George challenged Umbridge's attempt to separate Harry from the students, and Harry agreed to go to Dumbledore's office with the group.
• George quietly told Lee Jordan to find Albert while the students followed Umbridge and Harry.

Harry challenged Fudge and Umbridge as they accused him of forming Dumbledore’s Army, exposing their use of Veritaserum on students. Dumbledore admitted to organizing the group and escaped the Aurors, leaving Fudge and Umbridge surrounded by angry Hogwarts students.

• Harry confronted Fudge over the escaped Death Eaters and challenged the Ministry’s accusations against him.
• Umbridge brought in Marietta Edgecombe and presented a book and testimony as evidence that Harry had formed Dumbledore’s Army.
• Umbridge admitted to using Veritaserum on Colin Creevey and brought in Colin and Ginny Weasley, prompting Dumbledore to send them and Marietta to the hospital wing.
• Dumbledore confessed that he had recruited students to help drive Fudge from office, then fought off the Aurors and escaped.
• Harry told the students that the Ministry had drugged students and driven Dumbledore away, and George urged them to act against Fudge and Umbridge.