Chapter Summaries

Kingsley decided to prioritize stability as temporary Minister of Magic and quietly let the foreign Dark wizards leave Britain after Albert refused to help. He planned to divert public attention toward Umbridge while postponing other problems, and remained determined to use his position to reform the Ministry.

• Percy reported that Albert had refused to help, and Kingsley accepted that Albert disliked politicians and would not be pressed.
• Kingsley told Percy to discreetly leave the foreign Dark wizards an opportunity to leave Britain, prioritizing stability over pursuing them.
• Kingsley rejected owing Albert a difficult-to-repay favor and decided to give the Ministry time to address its problems.
• Percy proposed using Umbridge to distract the public, and Kingsley agreed to arrange a Daily Prophet interview and put her on trial if needed.
• Kingsley reflected on how office had changed his thinking and resolved to keep his position and pursue changes to the Ministry.

Albert expected Dolores Umbridge to receive life imprisonment at her Wizengamot trial, believing the Ministry would not risk sentencing a former senior official to death. But Kingsley's use of Veritaserum exposed the full extent of Umbridge's crimes, and the verdict caused an uproar.

• Albert told Isobel and Katrina that Umbridge would probably receive life imprisonment in Azkaban, despite many people wanting her executed.
• Albert received a Ministry notice summoning him to Umbridge's trial and went to the Judgment Chamber with Bard.
• Kingsley had an Auror make Umbridge drink Veritaserum, exposing her brutality and crimes before the Wizengamot.
• The Director of Magical Law Enforcement realized that neither a death sentence nor life imprisonment offered an easy resolution.
• Kingsley announced Umbridge's sentence, and the verdict sparked an uproar throughout the magical community.

After Umbridge received a life sentence, public anger erupted, and Kingsley used the backlash to shift blame onto the Director of Magical Law Enforcement and expose pure-blood families opposing him. The Director was later found tortured in a supposed Death Eater hideout, while Kingsley publicly vowed to crack down on Death Eaters.

• Several Wizengamot members questioned Umbridge’s life sentence and suspected Kingsley had engineered a trap for the Director of Magical Law Enforcement.
• After the Daily Prophet published Umbridge’s crimes, the public erupted in anger over the Ministry’s verdict.
• Three nights later, Kingsley found his home burned beneath a Dark Mark and blamed the attack on Death Eaters.
• Lee Jordan framed Kingsley as an innocent victim of the trial, directing public blame toward the Director and exposing pure-blood families who opposed him.
• The Director of Magical Law Enforcement disappeared and was later found tortured in a hideout the Aurors claimed belonged to Death Eaters.
• Kingsley held a press conference and vowed to crack down on the Death Eaters.

Nelson Tobin joined the former victims of Umbridge at the abandoned Shelter and admitted their alliance had burned down Kingsley’s home and attacked the Director of Magical Law Enforcement. The group debated how to avoid suspicion and pursue revenge, leaving their plans against Umbridge and the Death Eaters unresolved.

• Nelson Tobin brought midnight snacks to the Shelter, where Susan Bones warned him that the attacks had put him under suspicion.
• Nelson explained that former victims of Umbridge had formed a secret alliance and carried out the attacks because they no longer trusted Kingsley to deliver justice.
• Nelson said he had an alibi for the attacks and claimed the alliance could break into Azkaban if Umbridge survived.
• Hannah and Susan urged the group to lie low, while Neville Longbottom offered to provide intelligence without joining their operations.
• Nelson told the group that Mr. Anderson would not interfere with their revenge as long as they did not harm unrelated people.

Harry and Ron returned to the Burrow after their first Auror assignment, where Percy brought news that Kingsley wanted to contain the fallout from attacks connected to Umbridge. Harry agreed to speak with Nelson Tobin, while Ron raised concerns about Hermione's absence and Ginny served Harry a painfully hard meat pie.

• Harry and Ron arrived safely at the Burrow and discussed their first Auror assignment with Mrs. Weasley.
• Percy arrived and said the Ministry suspected Nelson Tobin of being behind the attacks, prompting Harry to point out that Nelson had been with them when Kingsley's home burned.
• Percy explained that Kingsley wanted a mutual understanding with Nelson to prevent the conflict from escalating, and Harry agreed to speak with him.
• Ginny said Hermione was spending time with her family, who planned to settle in Australia, then offered Harry one of her meat pies.
• Harry nearly broke his teeth on the meat pie, and Ron compared it to Hagrid's rock cakes.

Harry and Ron searched for Albert in the Wizard Village and at Hogwarts, hoping to learn what happened to Hermione. They found no word from Albert, and Hagrid left them with reassurance about Hermione and an unexpected question about Harry and Ginny.

• Harry, Ron, and Ginny visited the rebuilding Wizard Village, where Shanna told Harry and Ron that Albert was likely at Hogwarts.
• Harry and Ron found Hogwarts sealed to outsiders, then went to Hogsmeade and met Aberforth, who explained that rebuilding homes there required substantial Galleons.
• Fred and George told Ron he could work in their joke shop if he could not afford a home, and Ron left with Harry.
• Hagrid let Harry and Ron into the grounds and said Albert had visited to inspect the castle repairs, but he did not know whether Albert was there now.
• Harry and Ron told Hagrid that Hermione had gone with Albert to find her family and had not returned; Hagrid reassured them that she was probably with her family.
• Hagrid invited Albert to lunch and asked Harry when he and Ginny planned to marry.

Harry, Ron, and Hagrid found Albert at Hogwarts and learned Hermione was visiting her family in Australia. Albert discussed the Ministry’s political constraints and the nature of law, while Ron remained eager to know Hermione’s plans.

• Harry, Ron, and Hagrid searched Hogwarts for Albert and found him talking with Cedric in the library.
• Albert told Ron that Hermione was in Australia with her family and expected to return to Hogwarts in September, leaving Ron relieved.
• Hagrid invited Albert, Harry, Ron, and Cedric to lunch, but Cedric declined because he had plans with Kingsley.
• Harry asked about suspicion that Nelson Tobin was behind Umbridge’s attack, and Albert explained why Kingsley would avoid accusing him without evidence or defying public opinion.
• Cedric explained that Kingsley could not legally sentence Umbridge to death, and Albert argued that laws primarily served rulers and warned Harry about politics.
• Ron asked where Hermione lived, while Albert invited Hagrid to consider settling near him after retirement; Hagrid said Hogwarts was his home.

Albert discussed Kingsley’s proposed secret deal with him, then advised Nelson Tobin about the risks of cooperating in his revenge against Umbridge and Voldemort-aligned families. Nelson remained determined to pursue revenge, and Albert suggested he pretend to accept Kingsley’s proposal.

• Kingsley asked Albert to mediate with Umbridge’s avengers, hoping to secure their cooperation and preserve his political plans.
• Albert told Kingsley that Harry would likely manage the negotiations, while warning that Kingsley had lost the trust of many former supporters.
• Harry and Ron approached Nelson Tobin, and the two sides reached a tentative understanding despite Nelson’s denial of involvement in the Umbridge incident.
• Nelson’s group sought Albert’s explanation, and Albert warned Nelson that cooperating with Kingsley could leave him dead or forced to disappear after taking revenge.
• Nelson refused to abandon revenge and asked Albert for help, so Albert advised him to pretend to accept Kingsley’s proposal.

Isobel encouraged Katrina to pursue Albert before Catherine and Valeria arrived in Britain, then comforted Albert after he returned home troubled by political struggles. Albert agreed to spend the night with Katrina, while Isobel chose not to join them.

• Katrina worried that Catherine and Valeria were coming to Britain to pursue Albert rather than exchange knowledge.
• Isobel urged Katrina to be more proactive with Albert, and Katrina agreed to prepare extra dishes for that night.
• Albert returned home upset and told Isobel about the political struggles surrounding his work as Kingsley's Senior Advisor.
• Isobel reminded Albert that he could walk away from his responsibilities, but Albert said he could not ignore them.
• Isobel told Albert that Catherine and Valeria planned to visit Britain, and she prompted him to make time for Katrina.
• Albert agreed to spend the night with Katrina, while Isobel declined to join them.

After Isobel confronted Albert about Katrina’s feelings, the three of them discussed their future and how to live together without exposing Katrina to scrutiny. Isobel encouraged Albert to follow Katrina, who had finally worked up the courage to be with him.

• Albert faced the tension over Katrina’s feelings and Hermione after Isobel exposed the issue, and the three shared an awkward but warm candlelit dinner.
• Albert told the sisters he planned to write books, pursue projects such as recreating the Philosopher’s Stone, and live peacefully, while Isobel said she wanted to help him.
• Albert and Isobel discussed moving to the Wizard Village, and Albert proposed linking their homes with the Floo Network so they could keep their real home private.
• After Katrina went to take a bath, Isobel urged Albert to follow her, and Albert left to join Katrina.

Katrina followed Isobel’s guidance and became intimate with Albert, who tried to make her first experience gentle and reassuring. After Katrina fell asleep in his arms, Isobel checked on her and left ointment, expecting her sister to be sore the next day.

• Katrina nervously embraced and kissed Albert in the bath, and he carried her to the tub to help her relax.
• Katrina told Albert that Isobel had taught her, admitted she had once resented her sister for being with him, and asked whether he liked her; Albert said he did.
• Albert carried Katrina to the bedroom, where they became intimate, and she fell asleep exhausted in his arms.
• Isobel quietly entered, checked on Katrina, and left a bottle of ointment on the bedside table.
• Isobel told Albert that Katrina would probably be sore the next day, kissed him good night, and left him to rest.

Albert spent the morning with Isobel discussing Catherine’s Beauty Potion formula, then cared for an exhausted Katrina after their night together. Katrina returned to bed to recover, while Isobel reassured her that she would have time with Albert in the days ahead.

• Albert joined Isobel for breakfast and described his night with Katrina as having ruined another pretty girl.
• Albert reviewed Catherine’s Beauty Potion formula and told Isobel that it had little potential without deeper work in Potions, Herbology, and alchemy.
• Katrina woke feeling exhausted and was disappointed that Albert was not beside her until he brought her Creamy Corn Milk Soup.
• Isobel helped Katrina bathe, gave her ointment, and encouraged her to sleep while she recovered.
• Katrina said she wanted to make the most of her time with Albert, and Isobel assured her that no one would compete with her for him over the next few days.

Harry and Ron took leave from Auror training to travel with Albert to Australia and bring Hermione back to Britain. Hermione returned with them and agreed to stay temporarily with the Weasley family while she considered where to live.

• Godwin Robards approved Harry and Ron's time off, reminding them that they still needed to catch up on Auror training.
• Albert took Harry and Ron to Australia by Apparating in stages, leaving them badly nauseated when they arrived to meet Hermione and her family.
• Hermione said her family planned to settle in Australia, but she intended to return to Britain and might live in Albert's Wizard Village.
• Harry and Ron discussed their busy Auror work with Hermione, while Harry suspected their quick promotions had made other Aurors resentful.
• Ron suggested Hermione stay with the Weasley family until her house could be cleaned and checked for Dark Magic, and Hermione reluctantly agreed.

Albert brought Hermione back to the Weasleys after she returned from Australia, then took her to a private spot and discussed their secret relationship and her future. He planned for her to stay with the Weasleys, work in the Wizard Village, and keep her distance from him in public, while Hermione considered how to reject Ron.

• Mrs. Weasley helped Harry and Ron recover from long-distance Apparition sickness and arranged for Hermione to stay in Percy's old room.
• Albert took Hermione to a secluded cliff, where she kissed him and learned that Isobel knew about their relationship.
• Hermione guessed that Albert had other mistresses, and Albert admitted his relationships with Katrina McDougal and Cho Chang.
• Albert advised Hermione to stay with the Weasleys, conceal their relationship, and accept a job and house in the Wizard Village.
• Albert warned Hermione to handle Ron's feelings carefully, and Hermione resolved to find a way to reject him without exposing her secret.

Hermione and Ginny discussed electricity, the village construction, and Ginny’s upcoming wedding before Ginny asked about Hermione and Ron. Hermione explained why she had once considered Harry but stepped aside, leaving Ginny embarrassed about trying to set her up with Ron.

• Hermione explained Albert’s plans to bring electricity to the village while she and Ginny sampled red bean pies.
• Mrs. Weasley said Ginny and Harry’s wedding was set for August fifteenth, despite the village homes not being finished for another six months.
• Ginny told Hermione she cared more about being with Harry than having a grand wedding.
• Ginny asked whether Hermione and Ron were more than friends, and Hermione realized Ron had sent Ginny to find out how she felt.
• Hermione said she had considered a future with Harry but stepped aside so Ginny could encourage him to survive the war, leaving Ginny embarrassed.

Harry and Ron reported that Inferi had killed Muggles in a village, and the Aurors suspected Death Eaters had staged the attack to trouble the Ministry. As the family worried about further unrest and Kingsley’s handling of justice, Harry and Ginny discussed their upcoming wedding, while Hermione took away documents about the village’s power grid.

• Harry told Hermione and the Weasleys that Inferi had attacked a Muggle village, killing more than a dozen people, and Aurors suspected Death Eaters were responsible.
• Ron revealed that Kingsley had agreed to secretly execute Umbridge within a year, and Hermione argued that she should face a legal sentence.
• Harry and Ron said the Ministry had asked Albert to identify the person behind the attack, but it could not afford his fee of one thousand Galleons upfront.
• Mr. Weasley warned that more attacks could overwhelm the Ministry and undermine Kingsley, while the family worried that Death Eaters might target them.
• Harry told the Weasleys that Sirius was arranging a venue for his August wedding to Ginny, possibly borrowing the one Albert had used.
• Hermione collected documents about the electricity project for the village and told Mr. Weasley she was only helping with the groundwork.

Pure-blood leaders debated how to resist Kingsley’s pressure, while Kingsley and Godwin Robards considered ways to locate the Dark wizards behind the Inferi attacks. The chapter left Kingsley reluctant to enlist former allies against the hidden enemies, despite recognizing the danger they posed.

• Pure-blood leaders agreed to increase pressure on Kingsley before negotiating, though Parkinson urged them to accept defeat and limit their losses.
• Godwin Robards reported that another Inferi attack had burdened the Ministry, and Kingsley proposed searching across Britain for the creatures.
• Kingsley and Godwin Robards discussed paying Albert for Divination, since he would not help the Ministry for free.
• Godwin Robards suggested using the group that hated Voldemort’s followers to attack the hidden Dark wizards, but Kingsley feared those allies were ticking bombs.

Albert helped Kingsley capture three Dark wizards connected to the Inferi attacks, but they knew little about who was behind the scheme. Albert’s Divination revealed that powerful figures had joined forces against Kingsley, leaving the Minister facing a broader conspiracy.

• Albert told Kingsley that Godwin Robards had found three Dark wizards hiding in an abandoned house, and Aurors captured them with Harry’s help.
• Percy reported that the prisoners had supplied Inferi for the Death Eaters and had recently caused another attack, but they did not know who was directing them.
• Kingsley decided the prisoners would die rather than stand trial, while Albert declined to get involved in the Ministry’s internal affairs.
• Kingsley asked Albert to use Divination to identify the mastermind behind the attacks, agreeing to owe him another favor.
• Albert’s crystal ball showed a round table of people conspiring against Kingsley, and he warned that Kingsley had stirred up a hornet’s nest.

Kingsley and Godwin Robards traced the Inferi attacks to factional struggles among Ministry pure-bloods, but Albert refused to get involved. Negotiations failed as attacks spread and Kingsley's authority came under question, though broadcasts and newspapers blamed the violence on the Death Eaters’ last struggle.

• Albert showed Kingsley a crystal ball containing figures suspected of being behind the attacks, then warned him not to involve him and left.
• Godwin Robards suggested copying Millicent Bagnold’s postwar policy, but Kingsley argued that compromise could provoke victims and lead to wider conflict.
• Kingsley and Godwin discussed using the deaths of three suspects as a warning, but doubted it would stop their opponents from hiring more Dark wizards.
• Kingsley tried to negotiate with the pure-blood faction, but they refused to back down.
• Inferi attacks became more frequent across the country, and Kingsley’s abilities and reputation came under attack.
• The Wizard Lookout Station Broadcast and newspapers persuaded the public that the remaining Death Eaters were making a last stand.

Hermione, Albert, and Shanna discussed electricity and plans for the village, while Ginny and George helped choose Harry and Ginny’s future home. As Death Eater attacks continued and Kingsley sought temporary Aurors, Albert suggested the chaos stemmed from conflicts inside the Ministry over power and benefits.

• Hermione questioned whether electricity could be supplied reliably to the village, and Shanna gave her two backup plans for putting it to use.
• George chose a villa near the park for Harry and planted Harry’s name on the model, while Albert said the protected manor would be too troublesome to use.
• Albert suggested naming the village Avalon, and Shanna recorded the name.
• Ginny told the group that Harry and Ron were working late because Death Eaters had been causing Inferi attacks.
• George said Kingsley was seeking temporary Aurors, but Albert insisted they should not work for inadequate pay.
• Albert said the attacks reflected internal Ministry conflicts and suggested Kingsley’s effort to remove Voldemort’s people had provoked the fighting.