Chapter Summaries

Harry celebrated his seventeenth birthday with the Order of the Phoenix, receiving practical gifts before Ginny confessed her feelings and kissed him. After the gathering, the group discussed their plans, and Hagrid refused to leave Grawp despite warnings about the danger.

• Ron gave Harry a wand holster, and Hermione gave him duelling gloves for his birthday.
• Ginny confessed that she had always liked Harry and kissed him, but Harry said they should wait until the war was over to discuss love.
• Fred interrupted the moment and gave Harry supplies, then Harry joined Hagrid, Sirius, and the others for his birthday celebration.
• Sirius gave Harry a gold watch, and Harry opened gifts from Hagrid, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, and the Order members.
• The group shared Harry's birthday dinner and discussed their next plans, but Hagrid refused to leave Grawp.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron visited the shelter for expelled students before continuing their search for Horcruxes. Harry urged the residents to prepare for the war and keep training, then refused their requests to join his secret mission or rebuild Dumbledore’s Army with them.

• Hermione and Ron discussed the group's plans to visit Godric's Hollow and Hogwarts, where they hoped to find the Sword of Gryffindor, Basilisk venom, and information from Snape.
• Moody, Sirius, and Kingsley cleared Ministry watchers from the shelter before leading Harry, Hermione, and Ron inside.
• Dean brought Harry upstairs, where the shelter residents greeted him excitedly and asked whether he would help them drive Snape out of Hogwarts.
• Harry warned the students that Voldemort, not Snape, was the greater danger, and urged them to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts while explaining the risks of fighting too soon.
• Hannah told Harry that she and Neville planned to rebuild Dumbledore's Army, but Harry refused to join them and kept Dumbledore's secret task undisclosed.

Albert discussed how to improve life for the refugees, who complained despite having been rescued from the Search Team and Azkaban. He proposed rebuilding Dumbledore's Army as a small, well-supported group whose example might persuade others to take responsibility, and began gathering its first recruits.

• Fred, George, Shanna, Lee Jordan, Cedric, and Ted Tonks discussed the refugees' complaints and Albert's efforts to help them.
• Albert called the group to a meeting and learned that Hannah had found seven people willing to join Dumbledore's Army, including herself.
• Albert proposed cleaning up rooms for DA meetings and rest, and having Dobby teach the members to cook while supplying limited meat and eggs.
• Albert explained that members would contribute a small amount toward their benefits so they would value them and others would see that following DA improved their lives.
• Hannah gathered the other willing recruits for the private meeting Albert had arranged.

Albert recruited Harry’s supporters into Dumbledore’s Army and helped them improve their refuge through cleaning, practical magic, cooking, and training. He left them with a path toward joining the Defence Association, while warning Lee Jordan to watch a newly activated communicator for two days in case it was a trap.

• Albert told the group that Harry was destined to face Lord Voldemort and that they could help him by resisting and preparing themselves.
• He explained that the newcomers were peripheral members of the Defence Association and that rigorous training would be required before formal membership.
• Albert persuaded Hannah and the others to clean their rooms, then demonstrated how they could use Transfiguration to make beds and furniture.
• Albert treated them to a meal made from wheat and potatoes and gave Hannah Shanna’s cookbook to help them prepare better food.
• Albert promised lessons and combat training for those who practiced their spells, and the group welcomed the prospect of improving their lives and joining Dumbledore’s Army.
• Lee Jordan reported that a communicator had lit up, and Albert told him to observe it for two days in case its user had been controlled or was luring them into a trap.

Nelson Tobin’s family was attacked by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission’s Search Team after they had refused to leave their home. Albert and his companions rescued Nelson from the surviving attackers, but Nelson killed them in revenge and prepared to leave with the rescuers.

• Nelson tried to persuade his parents to flee, but they agreed only to hide for a few days around September.
• A Search Team member killed Mrs. Tobin, and the attackers killed Mr. Tobin and beat Nelson while setting the house on fire.
• Albert, Cedric, Fred, and George subdued the attackers, extinguished the fire, and Albert woke Nelson.
• Albert questioned the attackers with Veritaserum and learned that the Commission had tracked the family through owl mail.
• Nelson stabbed both attackers to death with a kitchen knife, and Albert buried their bodies while Nelson gathered his belongings.

Nelson described how Death Eaters murdered his family and how he avenged them, while the DA discussed the danger facing Muggle-born wizards. Albert rejected a plan to intercept a Ministry convoy and suggested attacking Azkaban instead, though he said the group was not ready; meanwhile, Harry and his friends prepared to visit Godric's Hollow.

• Nelson told the shelter’s young wizards that two Dark wizards had killed his family and that he had stabbed them to death, leaving the others frightened and wary of him.
• Hannah explained that Professor McGonagall and Mr. Anderson had protected Hogwarts and Ministry student records, while Nelson and Dean considered how someone might have betrayed Muggle-born families.
• Nelson joined Dumbledore's Army and was accepted there, but he refused to practise the Patronus Charm because his hatred made him fear what he might do to those he blamed.
• Albert learned from Kingsley that the Ministry planned to escort Muggle-born wizards to Azkaban and identified the convoy as bait, proposing a direct prison assault instead.
• Albert warned the DA members that they needed to practise their Patronuses against Dementors before attempting an Azkaban rescue, and they discussed training together.
• Harry, Hermione, and their companion prepared to visit Godric's Hollow after waiting for Voldemort's suspected ambush to become less likely; Harry had accidentally fallen asleep.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron infiltrated Godric's Hollow using Albert's Shielding Badges and ambushed two Death Eaters monitoring the village. Ron looted the unconscious wizards, saying the money would help cover the Defence Association's expenses.

• Hermione detected three possible Dark wizards in Godric's Hollow, and the trio decided to follow their plan and eliminate them.
• Hermione gave Harry and Ron Shielding Badges from Albert that concealed them from tracking and alarm spells.
• After scouting the village, the trio rested until nightfall and approached a Muggle house where Dark wizards were hiding.
• Ron distracted the wizards at the front door while Harry slipped inside under the Invisibility Cloak and stunned both men.
• Hermione took the wizards' wands while Ron searched their pockets for loot, explaining that the Defence Association needed money.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron searched for the last red dot and discovered it led to Bathilda Bagshot, who was being used in a trap by Voldemort. They escaped his attack and took refuge in Albert's safe house.

• Ron took the Floo Powder from the safe house, and Hermione wiped the memories of the two Dark wizards guarding it.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron found a memorial to the Potters and Harry revealed the hidden, Fidelius-protected ruins of his childhood home.
• The trio followed the Detection Pocket Watch to Bathilda Bagshot, who saw through their Disillusionment Charm and invited them inside.
• Harry recognized the danger and Hermione Apparated them away just before Voldemort's attack struck Bathilda's doorway.
• Harry and Hermione fled with Ron to Albert's safe house to avoid Death Eaters waiting at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.

Albert discussed Rita Skeeter’s exploitation of Bathilda Bagshot and encouraged Shanna to expose or punish her, then reviewed the Defence Association’s problems and toured its village. Fred’s group returned after rescuing two Muggle-born wizards from a Search Team, and Albert offered to help adults flee Britain in exchange for repayment.

• Albert told Sirius through his Patronus that Harry, Hermione, and Ron were safe after the Order feared they had gone missing near Godric’s Hollow.
• Shanna showed Albert Rita Skeeter’s note to Bathilda Bagshot, and Albert explained that Rita had likely obtained Dumbledore’s secrets improperly and suggested publicizing the evidence.
• Albert urged Shanna to act if she wanted to teach Rita a lesson, then handled pending Defence Association issues and reinforced plans to protect the village.
• Fred’s group returned with Dobby after taking the Search Team’s wands and rescuing two captured Muggle-born wizards.
• Albert offered to arrange for adults in a squalid shelter to leave Britain for fifty Galleons, repayable over ten years, while explaining why the Association supported its students without charge.

Albert reunited with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, helped them defeat a Death Eater search team, and escorted them into Hogwarts with Dobby. Harry began searching for Ravenclaw’s Diadem while Albert went to meet Professor McGonagall.

• Albert surprised Harry at the group’s shelter, and Hermione explained that she had asked him for help reaching Hogwarts.
• Harry accidentally said Voldemort’s name, drawing a five-wizard Search Team to the shelter; the group ambushed the Death Eaters and subdued them after a prolonged fight.
• Albert transformed the five captured wizards into amnesiac vagrants, and agreed to accompany Harry, Ron, and Hermione to Hogwarts.
• Albert summoned Dobby, who Apparated the group to Hogwarts; Albert explained how the Fidelius Charm could be exposed when its Secret-Keeper entered the protected shelter.
• Harry checked the Marauder’s Map, confirmed Snape was absent and McGonagall was in her office, then drank Felix Felicis and set out with Ron and Hermione to find Professor Flitwick and ask about the Diadem.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron returned secretly to Hogwarts to ask Professor Flitwick about Ravenclaw's Diadem, which they sought as part of Dumbledore's task to defeat Lord Voldemort. Flitwick led them toward Ravenclaw Tower, while Albert went to see Professor McGonagall about the expelled students.

• Professor Flitwick read about Bathilda Bagshot's death and worried that Hogwarts would not remain peaceful under Voldemort's control.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron entered the Charms Office and told Flitwick they had escaped after nearly encountering Voldemort.
• Harry asked Flitwick where Ravenclaw's Diadem was, explaining that they needed it to confirm something connected to defeating Voldemort.
• Flitwick said the Diadem had disappeared centuries earlier and offered to show them the bust of Ravenclaw in the common room.
• Flitwick explained that generations of Ravenclaw students had failed to learn about the Diadem from the Grey Lady and led the trio toward Ravenclaw Tower.
• Flitwick revealed that Umbridge had once come to Hogwarts seeking the expelled Muggle-born students' addresses and had threatened to use Veritaserum on Minerva.

Harry and his friends learned that McGonagall had resisted Umbridge’s attempt to seize information about expelled students, then searched for Ravenclaw’s Diadem. The Grey Lady concealed what she knew, leaving Harry to suspect her connection to Rowena Ravenclaw and seek answers from Professor Binns.

• Flitwick told Harry, Ron, and Hermione that McGonagall had burned the expelled students’ addresses and resisted Umbridge’s interrogation until Snape intervened.
• Flitwick led the trio into the Ravenclaw Common Room, where Harry saw a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing a replica of the Diadem and received a photograph of it.
• Harry used the Marauder’s Map and Felix Felicis to catch up with the Grey Lady and asked whether Voldemort had obtained the Diadem.
• The Grey Lady denied knowing the Diadem’s whereabouts, though she knew Albert had it in safekeeping and kept her promise not to reveal this.
• Harry suspected the Grey Lady resembled Rowena Ravenclaw and decided to find Professor Binns to investigate her identity.

Albert confronted Dumbledore’s portrait over Harry’s search for Ravenclaw’s Diadem and challenged Dumbledore’s secretive plan for Harry. He left Dumbledore to explain the truth to Harry, while warning that deception could make Harry resist his fate.

• Albert entered the Headmaster’s Office and told Dumbledore that Harry had come to Hogwarts to find Ravenclaw’s Diadem.
• Albert warned that Harry and Hermione might uncover the Grey Lady’s lie and infer that Voldemort had hidden the Diadem at school.
• Albert told Dumbledore that Rita Skeeter had exposed his history with Grindelwald and urged him to tell Harry the truth about his plan.
• Albert revealed that Harry had already worked out much of the Deathly Hallows’ secret, including that the Resurrection Stone was inside the Golden Snitch.
• Albert described Draco Malfoy’s fall and his own disgust with the recent deaths and hypocrisy, then told Dumbledore to explain matters to Harry himself.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione uncovered clues to Ravenclaw’s Diadem and discussed where Voldemort had hidden the other Horcruxes with Albert and Dumbledore’s portrait. They left with a plan to search the Room of Requirement and the knowledge that the real Sword of Gryffindor was hidden behind Dumbledore’s portrait.

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione failed to enter the Headmaster’s Office because Snape had changed the Stone Beast’s password, so Albert led them inside with a masterful Confundus Charm.
• Harry told Dumbledore’s portrait that he suspected Ravenclaw’s Diadem was hidden in the Room of Requirement and reasoned that Hufflepuff’s Cup might be in a Death Eater’s vault.
• Albert identified the Lestrange family as the likely keepers of the Cup and warned that searching the Room of Requirement would be dangerous, suggesting Fiendfyre as a way to destroy its accumulated rubbish.
• Albert refused to join the Gringotts mission but promised that Dobby would help Harry, Ron, and Hermione escape if they succeeded.
• Harry asked to take the Sword of Gryffindor, and Dumbledore revealed that the real sword was hidden behind his portrait.

Albert and Isobel spent a quiet evening on Elba Island discussing Muggle life, the changing future, and the end of the Second Wizarding War. They returned to their ship, where Katrina told Albert that foreign wizards were standing aside while Britain faced Voldemort.

• Albert and Isobel walked along Elba Island’s crowded beach and discussed Muggle life and the idea of writing books about it.
• Isobel asked Albert when the Second Wizarding War would end, and he said it would end soon and urged her to trust his prophecies.
• Bit picked up Albert and Isobel by boat, and they returned to their ship so Isobel could see Alice.
• Katrina told Albert that wizards in other countries knew what was happening in Britain but seemed unwilling to intervene.
• Albert said foreign wizards were avoiding the conflict because Voldemort’s trouble usually remained confined to Britain, and Katrina mentioned that Mrs. McDougal preferred a boy.

Harry and his friends struggled to control Fiendfyre while keeping their plan for completing Dumbledore’s task secret from the Order of the Phoenix. After Harry defended his secrecy and Mrs. Weasley urged him to avoid danger, he offered to ask Dumbledore’s portrait whether the others could be told.

• Harry failed to control Fiendfyre during practice, and several Order of the Phoenix members contained and extinguished it.
• Harry refused to reveal his plan, warning that Voldemort could discover it if too many people knew, and urged the Order to train in Defence Against the Dark Arts.
• Hermione rebuffed Moody, Kingsley, and Sirius when they questioned her about the plan, and Harry thanked her for defending their secrecy.
• Mrs. Weasley urged Harry to stop practising Fiendfyre, but Harry told her he could not run from his destined final battle with Voldemort.
• Harry asked whether there was a portrait of Dumbledore at headquarters and said he would reveal the plan if Dumbledore approved.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione planned how to locate and steal Hufflepuff's Cup while avoiding relying entirely on Albert. Harry also decided to visit a shelter and rally oppressed people to resist Lord Voldemort, leaving Hermione to contact Albert for advice.

• Harry said the Order had stopped pressing him for his secret after he told them they needed Dumbledore's portrait's permission, though their conduct had disappointed him.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed finding Hufflepuff's Cup, investigating the Yaxley Family vault, and potentially using the Imperius Curse to get Yaxley's help.
• Harry rejected relying entirely on Albert and said they should first master the Fiendfyre Curse before pursuing Yaxley.
• Harry told Ron and Hermione he planned to visit a shelter and persuade oppressed people to resist Lord Voldemort, with Sirius and Lupin accompanying him.
• Harry asked Hermione to contact Albert for advice, including ways to practise the Fiendfyre Curse.

Albert warned the Defence Association that most people would not risk fighting Voldemort and urged its members to protect themselves while preparing for the coming battle. He told them to lie low for now, then revealed plans to strike Death Eaters and Dementors searching the Hogwarts trains and help rebuild Dumbledore’s Army.

• Hannah Abbott asked when the Defence Association would begin fighting back, and Albert cautioned the members against expecting others to lead or support them.
• Albert explained that the Association’s signed contract exposed anyone who betrayed them, then described Harry Potter’s failed attempt to rally persecuted wizards and the Aurors’ betrayal of Scrimgeour.
• Albert told the members to focus on training, help outsiders only when it was safe, and put their own safety first.
• Albert ordered Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to stop using Dementors for practice and to lie low after they had used an underage Slytherin as bait for the Search Team.
• Albert announced that the Association would soon confront Death Eaters and Dementors searching the Hogwarts trains, give its members confidence, and help rebuild Dumbledore’s Army.

Neville returned to Hogwarts determined to reorganize Dumbledore’s Army and unite students against the Death Eaters, with Luna and Ernie helping him recruit members and plan in secret. The students prepared to use the Room of Requirement as their headquarters, while the threat of Death Eaters searching the train loomed over them.

• Neville told Ernie that Hannah, Susan, and Justin had joined the Defence Association and asked him to help reorganize Dumbledore’s Army.
• Neville, Ernie, Luna, and students from several Houses agreed to rebuild Dumbledore’s Army and teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, with help from the Defence Association for advanced spells.
• Luna explained how the Defence Association’s peripheral membership worked and shared copies of The Quibbler, whose hidden contents could be read with a special mirror.
• Neville proposed using the Room of Requirement as the group’s headquarters, and the students discussed secret communications and how to avoid being caught by Death Eaters.
• The students wondered whether Death Eaters would search the Hogwarts Express and discussed the danger of their taking children hostage.

Death Eaters stopped the Hogwarts train and searched it while Dementors surrounded the carriages, but Albert and the other Harry Potters rescued a captive girl and left the students to deal with the attackers. Neville and his friends then received a Communication Bookmark from Dumbledore's Army as the train's defenders drove off the Dementors.

• Death Eaters halted the train, and Dementors gathered around it as Luna and Ernie summoned Patronuses to protect the students.
• A Death Eater cursed Neville and searched the compartments while his companions carried off a little girl.
• Albert and two other Harry Potters defeated the Death Eaters, offered the girl a chance to go to their shelter, and left the immobilized attackers behind.
• The students kicked the bound Death Eaters, while Anthony reported that Dumbledore's Army had driven away the Dementors and scattered the Dark wizards outside.
• An owl delivered Neville a Communication Bookmark bearing Dumbledore's Army's symbol and a message telling him to keep it secret and make contact only if necessary.