Chapter Summaries

Snape and the Death Eaters learned from captured students that the Room of Requirement and the Hog’s Head Pub were connected to Dumbledore’s Army, but their targets escaped before they could be caught. The D.A. regrouped at the Shelter, where Kingsley treated the injured students and Aberforth arrived after fleeing the Death Eaters.

• Alecto revealed that the captured students had disclosed how to enter the Room of Requirement and that Aberforth had been supplying them with food.
• Yaxley sent Death Eaters to arrest Aberforth, while Snape said they should wait before moving against Hogwarts’ professors.
• The Death Eaters found the Room of Requirement empty, and Yaxley failed to catch Aberforth, then burned the Hog’s Head Pub.
• The D.A. members reunited at the Shelter, where Kingsley tended to the students injured by Dark Magic.
• Neville worried that the captured students had exposed Professor McGonagall and Aberforth, but Kingsley reassured him that Aberforth had escaped.
• Aberforth arrived at the Shelter, furious that the Death Eaters had destroyed his pub.

Aberforth abandoned his wish to return and torment the students after seeing their condition, while the Order of the Phoenix brought them to Hogwarts for treatment. Madam Pomfrey treated the rescued students despite Death Eater surveillance, but she worried about their mental state and lacked enough Potions to relieve the lingering pain.

• Aberforth saw the tortured students in Albert's suitcase and gave up on returning to torment them.
• The Order of the Phoenix brought the injured students to Hogwarts, avoiding St. Mungo's because Death Eaters had set a trap there.
• Alecto searched the School Hospital while a disguised Order member posed as Madam Pomfrey; the real Madam Pomfrey treated the students elsewhere.
• Madam Pomfrey treated the students' wounds and lingering Dark Magic, but warned McGonagall, Kingsley, and Lupin that excessive Veritaserum could have harmed them mentally.
• Madam Pomfrey ran short of Albert's Potions for easing the Cruciatus Curse, and Sirius failed to reach Albert for help.

Albert visited Babajide to discuss cooperation and asked him for a way into Nurmengard. Babajide agreed to help and stayed hidden until the war ended, while Albert prepared to visit Grindelwald.

• Albert refused to help treat the injured and Apparated away after Isobel reminded him to be careful.
• Albert found Babajide at a decoy safe house and explained that he had located the Secret-Keeper through Divination.
• Babajide said the International Wizarding Federation had blamed Albert for turning them against Lord Voldemort and admitted they had intended to set him up.
• Albert proposed cooperating after the war, which he predicted would end within the year, and Babajide agreed.
• Albert asked Babajide for a way into Nurmengard so he could visit Grindelwald, and Babajide agreed to provide one.

Albert visited Gellert Grindelwald in Nurmengard and told him that Dumbledore had died and that Voldemort was searching for the Elder Wand. Grindelwald recognized the danger and guessed who wanted the wand.

• Albert used Babajide’s credentials to enter Nurmengard and controlled an Auror with the Imperius Curse.
• The Auror led Albert to Grindelwald’s cell at the top of the prison.
• Albert told Grindelwald that Dumbledore was dead and had asked him to apologize for dragging Grindelwald into their conflict.
• Albert explained that Dumbledore had found all the Deathly Hallows and had conquered death by choosing to face it.
• Albert said that the person seeking the Elder Wand called it the Deathstick, and Grindelwald guessed who was looking for it.

Albert visited Grindelwald in prison to discuss Voldemort, Dumbledore’s plans, and Grindelwald’s beliefs about Muggles. Grindelwald promised not to let Voldemort learn useful information from him, then agreed to share his knowledge with Albert.

• Albert explained how Dumbledore had spent much of his life studying Tom Riddle and preparing to defeat Voldemort.
• Grindelwald realized he was part of Dumbledore’s plan, asked about the Elder Wand, and called Albert pitiful for being guided by a dead man.
• Albert rejected Grindelwald’s ideas about wizard rule, arguing that wizards should integrate into the Muggle World and coexist peacefully.
• Grindelwald promised to die without giving Voldemort much information.
• Albert stayed to talk with Grindelwald, who refused to write a biography but agreed to share his knowledge.

Albert visited Grindelwald in Nurmengard, gained his memories and knowledge, and arranged for him to receive a dignified end by confronting Voldemort. Albert later explained his decision to Isobel and stored the memories and information about Grindelwald’s secret bases for after the Wizarding War.

• Albert visited Grindelwald over several days, brought him food, and listened to him talk about Dumbledore.
• Grindelwald gave Albert bottles of his memories, including the locations of abandoned secret bases, as thanks for his company.
• Albert left Grindelwald with his wand and a Golden Potion Bottle, asking him to clear out Nurmengard’s prisoners before Voldemort could recruit them.
• Albert left Nurmengard after erasing traces of his visit, intending for Voldemort to face Grindelwald and give the old Dark Lord a more dignified end.
• Albert sealed Grindelwald’s memories and knowledge of the bases away until after the war, then explained his reasoning and Grindelwald’s history with Dumbledore to Isobel.

Albert explained to Neville and Hannah why the Wizard Lookout Station had revealed the International Wizarding Federation would not aid Britain, then taught the Shelter practical dueling advice. He guided Nelson Tobin in learning Dark Magic and reassured Hagrid and the others that Voldemort's takeover of the Federation would draw other countries into the fight.

• Albert told Neville and Hannah that people needed to face reality rather than rely on foreign aid, and agreed to teach a lesson at the Shelter.
• Albert warned the Shelter residents that Shield Charms could fail against Dark Magic and advised them to disarm opponents instead of relying on Dark Magic themselves.
• Nelson Tobin asked to learn practical Dark Magic, and Albert taught him while cautioning him against becoming extreme.
• Hagrid asked Albert why he had taught Nelson and whether the outside situation was truly bad, and Albert explained that Nelson would seek revenge regardless.
• Albert told Hagrid and the eavesdroppers that Voldemort's control of the International Wizarding Federation would create more enemies for him, and urged them to believe in Harry and share responsibility for defeating Voldemort.

Draco Malfoy sought Snape’s help to regain his place among the Death Eaters, but Snape urged him to leave the organization and survive. After Alecto revealed that Voldemort was sending many Death Eaters out of Britain, Snape and Dumbledore suspected the Dark Lord was searching for the Deathstick.

• Draco Malfoy asked Snape for help returning to the Death Eaters, but Snape told him he lacked the ability and should give up his status.
• Alecto told Snape that Voldemort was planning something and that she would lead a team of Death Eaters out of Britain.
• Alecto said Yaxley was worried about keeping the Ministry of Magic under control while many Death Eaters were away.
• Snape speculated that Voldemort might be gathering Death Eaters to hunt Albert Anderson, but Dumbledore doubted they knew Anderson’s whereabouts.
• Dumbledore told Snape that Voldemort might be searching for the Deathstick, and Snape questioned whether Dumbledore’s wand had truly been the legendary weapon.

Voldemort learned that Grindelwald might possess the Deathstick and invaded Nurmengard to claim it. Grindelwald freed himself with a hidden wand and confronted Voldemort, challenging him to a duel for the Deathstick.

• European Ministries feared Voldemort would obtain the Deathstick and arranged for British rebels to take the lead against him.
• Voldemort received information suggesting Grindelwald had once possessed the Deathstick and decided to search Nurmengard.
• The European Ministries realized Voldemort was attacking Nurmengard, but their promised reinforcements failed to arrive.
• Grindelwald drank Felix Felicis, freed himself from his chains with a hidden wand, and changed into clean clothes.
• Grindelwald confronted Voldemort and challenged him to defeat him before claiming the Deathstick.

Grindelwald used Felix Felicis and the Deathstick to keep Voldemort off balance while destroying Nurmengard. He gave Voldemort the wand before allowing the Magic Flame to consume him, warning that Voldemort still could not defeat his true enemy.

• Voldemort tried to kill Grindelwald, but Grindelwald used a flying door and Fiendfyre to disrupt him and his Death Eaters.
• Grindelwald destroyed the stairway and retreated to Nurmengard’s top floor while Voldemort floated past the wreckage and broke through a wall.
• Grindelwald set the tower ablaze, and a torrent of Magic Flame forced Voldemort to confront him amid the flames.
• Grindelwald handed Voldemort the Deathstick and warned him that he could never defeat his true enemy.
• Grindelwald was swallowed by the surging Magic Flame before Voldemort’s Killing Curse could strike.

Voldemort discovered that Grindelwald had apparently tricked him with an ordinary wand and set Fiendfyre loose inside Nurmengard. As Voldemort and a few surviving Dark wizards emerged, European Aurors ambushed them and launched a lethal assault.

• Voldemort took Grindelwald's wand, found it seemed ordinary, and suspected Albert Anderson or Dumbledore had deceived him.
• Voldemort realized Grindelwald's Fiendfyre had trapped his followers and the freed prisoners, then used the wand to suppress the flames and save a few survivors.
• Kingsley persuaded the International Wizarding Federation's Aurors to ambush Voldemort and the escaping prisoners while Apparition was impossible around Nurmengard.
• The Aurors bombarded Nurmengard and the Dark wizards with Charms, collapsing the prison after the Fiendfyre had destroyed its protective magic.
• Voldemort pulled Dark wizards away from the initial bombardment, and both sides began exchanging lethal spells.

Voldemort escaped the Aurors’ massacre at Nurmengard, despite their belief that they had killed him. As Kingsley faced questions over the operation, Albert correctly guessed that Voldemort had fled with a House-elf, whom Voldemort then killed.

• The Aurors surrounded the Dark wizards at Nurmengard and killed them with Killing Curses, but Voldemort’s body was missing.
• The European Ministries of Magic announced the operation’s success, praised Kingsley, and donated money to the Order of the Phoenix.
• Fred asked Albert how Voldemort had escaped, and Albert suggested he had used a Portkey or a House-elf.
• Voldemort was revealed to have escaped with a House-elf after using rubble and Dark wizards as shields, then killed the House-elf who saved him.

Voldemort took the wand he had recovered from Dumbledore’s grave to Ollivander, who said it closely resembled the legendary Deathstick but could not confirm whether it was genuine. Ollivander explained that the wand might change allegiance to whoever defeated its master, leaving Voldemort to suspect that Snape had become its true master by killing Dumbledore.

• Voldemort visited the frightened Ollivander and asked him to appraise the wand he had taken from Grindelwald.
• Ollivander identified the wand as a recently made replica and said Gregorovitch had once claimed to replicate the Deathstick.
• Voldemort gave Ollivander the wand from Dumbledore’s grave, and Ollivander said its elder wood and Thestral tail hair closely matched the Deathstick’s legends.
• Ollivander explained that the Deathstick might change allegiance to a wizard who defeated its previous owner.
• Voldemort concluded that the wand was genuine and suspected that Snape, who had killed Dumbledore, was its true master.

Voldemort doubted that the wand he had obtained from Ollivander was truly the Deathstick and feared Albert had arranged another trap. After failing to uncover the secrets hidden in Ollivander’s memories, Voldemort killed the wandmaker and left without proof.

• Voldemort wondered whether Albert had deliberately left the Deathstick in Dumbledore’s grave to lure him into killing Snape and weakening his followers.
• Voldemort suspected that Ollivander’s concealed memories involved Albert and intensified his Legilimency to search them.
• Ollivander’s mind broke under Voldemort’s assault before he could uncover the hidden memories.
• Voldemort killed Ollivander with Avada Kedavra and left, convinced that the affair had been a trap.

Albert confided in Isobel that he feared becoming like Dumbledore by doing whatever it took to achieve his goals. He worried that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were not ready for the planned Gringotts raid, but remained determined to defeat Voldemort and claim the victory he had pursued for years.

• Isobel found Albert fishing alone on the deck and asked what was troubling him.
• Albert told Isobel about Ollivander and admitted that he felt he was becoming like Dumbledore, willing to do anything to achieve his goals.
• Albert explained that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were struggling with Dark Magic and might not be ready to break into Gringotts and destroy a Horcrux.
• Albert feared that delaying the plan could let Voldemort uncover the Deathstick deception, but also worried that rushing the trio could get Harry killed.
• Albert reflected on his ambition to finish off Voldemort and claim the final victory, then Isobel stopped him from fishing and urged him to rest.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron learned that Albert had ended their Fiendfyre training early and might soon send them to infiltrate Gringotts, leaving them worried that the final battle had come before they were ready. Ginny summoned them to a meeting called by Kingsley about the events at Nurmengard prison.

• Hermione told Harry and Ginny that Albert had ended their Fiendfyre training and said they might need to infiltrate Gringotts soon.
• Harry feared the plan had been moved forward, while Ginny comforted him and left the room; Ron worried he would be a burden to the team.
• Harry, Hermione, and Ron agreed they needed to contact Albert and coordinate before attempting the Gringotts mission.
• Ginny returned and summoned the three of them to a meeting Kingsley planned about the events at Nurmengard prison.
• The chapter noted that Kingsley had become widely admired for his role in the fight against Voldemort and was expected to become the next Minister of Magic.

At an Order of the Phoenix meeting, Kingsley revealed that Voldemort was seeking the Elder Wand and warned that the Great Battle was near. Harry, Ron, and Hermione deduced that the wand was once Dumbledore’s and suspected Albert had prepared a trap for Voldemort.

• Kingsley told the Order that Voldemort had gone to Nurmengard seeking the Deathstick, and Harry identified it as the Elder Wand.
• Harry explained that Voldemort wanted a powerful wand to face Albert after a connection between their wands had caused Voldemort trouble.
• Kingsley warned that Albert expected the Great Battle to happen soon, leaving the Order unsettled.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione traced the Elder Wand’s history from Gregorovitch to Grindelwald and then Dumbledore, and guessed it might be at Hogwarts.
• Ron urged Harry to retrieve the wand, but Harry argued Albert would not let Voldemort claim it and suspected the wand’s trail was part of a trap involving Snape.

Albert gave the Defence Association its final lesson before the battle against Voldemort, reassuring the members and teaching them how to face the enemies they might encounter. He left them focused on teamwork and prepared to defend Hogwarts.

• Albert told the Defence Association that the final battle was near and urged them to trust his preparations.
• Albert promised each member Felix Felicis and warned them not to challenge Voldemort, whose duel belonged to Harry Potter and Albert.
• Albert reviewed how to fight Inferi and Dementors, stressing the importance of Patronuses when Voldemort besieged Hogwarts.
• Albert explained that Acromantulas and werewolves might join the battle and advised the members to use their training and show no mercy to enemies.
• Albert taught the members tactics for disarming or disabling giants and warned them to fight in teams rather than hunt giants alone.

Albert explained the dangers posed by Voldemort’s Dark wizards and outlined the forces expected to fight in the Hogwarts battle. Shelter One rallied enthusiastically to join Harry, while many adults remained reluctant to take part.

• Albert warned the Defence Association that Voldemort’s numerous Dark wizards could hide among the Death Eaters and catch them off guard.
• Albert explained that Hogwarts professors, some students, centaurs, Knight puppets, and residents of the two Shelters might join the Defence Association and the Order of the Phoenix, while he would not rely on Aurors or foreign support.
• Hagrid delivered Albert’s message to Shelter One, where most residents eagerly agreed to go to Hogwarts and support Harry.
• Many adults hesitated to join the battle, but Albert expected that social pressure would eventually force them to choose.

Voldemort withdrew his forces from Europe after obtaining the Deathstick, while Snape returned to Hogwarts convinced that Voldemort intended to kill him. Dumbledore revealed that Voldemort believed killing Snape would make him master of the Elder Wand, but Albert Anderson was its true master.

• Voldemort pulled his forces out of Europe, leaving Yaxley to negotiate with the European Ministries and abandon troublesome Dark wizards as scapegoats.
• Snape returned to Hogwarts after sensing Voldemort's hostility and suspected the Deathstick was connected to a trap devised by Dumbledore and Albert.
• Snape confronted Dumbledore's portrait and accused him of treating him as a disposable tool, like Harry Potter.
• Dumbledore explained that Voldemort believed killing Snape would give him control of the Elder Wand because Snape had killed Dumbledore.
• Snape realized Albert Anderson was the Elder Wand's true master and promised to keep the secret before leaving the Headmaster's Office.