Chapter Summaries

Irina told Linley that Professor Trelawney's prophecy seemed to warn that his magic in Peter Pettigrew could lead to Peter's escape, and Linley decided to let Peter survive long enough to resurrect Voldemort before killing him. While Harry, Ron, and Hermione prepared to visit Hagrid, Irina secretly took Peter Pettigrew from Ron's dormitory and returned to the group.

• Hermione told Harry, Ron, and Irina that Minister for Magic Fudge would assess whether Hagrid could remain a professor, and they planned to visit Hagrid after dinner.
• Irina secretly met Linley in the Room of Requirement and relayed Professor Trelawney's prophecy about the Sword of Damocles.
• Linley explained that he had cast the Soul Insertion Charm on Peter Pettigrew, identifying the implanted vision as the prophecy's Sword of Damocles.
• Linley and Irina agreed to capture Peter and clear Sirius Black's name, then let Peter escape during transport to Azkaban so he could resurrect Voldemort before Linley killed him.
• Irina returned invisibly to the Gryffindor Common Room, took Peter Pettigrew and his alchemical cage from Ron's bed, and reappeared as though she had just come from the girls' dormitory.

Irina, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Hagrid’s Hut while Ministry officials arrived to assess him, but Harry spotted Sirius Black and chased him to the Shrieking Shack. Sirius disarmed Harry and his friends, leaving them at his mercy as Irina followed behind.

• Irina joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Hagrid’s Hut, where Hagrid said he expected the Ministry to restore his teaching qualifications.
• Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, and Ministry officials approached Hagrid’s Hut, so Hagrid sent the four visitors out through the back door.
• Harry saw Sirius Black, attacked him, and chased him toward the Whomping Willow as Ron and Hermione followed.
• Irina took the direct route to the Whomping Willow, while Sirius led Harry, Ron, and Hermione through its passage to the Shrieking Shack.
• Sirius disarmed Harry, Ron, and Hermione, collected their Wands, and told them they were the ones with nowhere to run.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione mistook Sirius Black’s intentions until Irina brought Peter Pettigrew to the Shrieking Shack and revealed that she was helping Sirius. When Professor Lupin arrived and embraced Sirius, Hermione was left believing that Lupin had betrayed them too.

• Harry punched Sirius, who disarmed him and tried to explain that Harry did not know the whole story.
• Sirius asked Irina to bring Peter Pettigrew over, and she set the sleeping man down from her alchemy cage.
• Harry accused Irina of betraying them, but she said they needed to understand the truth and froze all three students’ feet in ice.
• Hermione called for help when footsteps came up from below, and Professor Lupin entered the shack.
• Lupin ignored Harry’s pleas, asked Sirius if he had really changed, and hugged him after Sirius nodded.
• Hermione protested that Lupin had betrayed them, believing he had helped Sirius enter the castle to kill Harry.

Harry and the others heard Sirius and Professor Lupin explain that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed James Potter and framed Sirius, while Irina revealed she was an unregistered Animagus. The explanation was interrupted by Snape, whom Harry, Ron, and Hermione disarmed together, leaving him unconscious as the truth about Pettigrew remained unconfirmed.

• Sirius explained that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed James Potter and framed him, and Professor Lupin identified Scabbers as Pettigrew.
• Ron and Hermione doubted that Scabbers could be Pettigrew, but Professor Lupin explained that many Animagi were unregistered.
• Irina revealed that she was an unregistered Animagus by transforming into a Snow Fox, then urged Professor Lupin to turn Pettigrew back into a human.
• Snape emerged from under the Invisibility Cloak and threatened to have Professor Lupin expelled and Sirius sent to the Dementors.
• Harry stood up to Snape, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione jointly hit him with Disarming Charms, knocking him unconscious.

Linley stopped Peter Pettigrew from escaping and helped capture him, while arguing that using the Dark Arts against evil was justified. The group prepared to take Pettigrew to Dumbledore and use magic or alchemy to force him to reveal the truth.

• As Harry and the others focused on the apparently unconscious Snape, Peter Pettigrew tried to escape, but Linley appeared and hit him with the Cruciatus Curse.
• Linley stopped casting and put on his snow-lotus pendant, then defended his use of the Unforgivable Curses to Lupin.
• Sirius used the Animagus counterspell to turn Pettigrew from a rat into a frail-looking man weakened by Linley's alchemical cage.
• Lupin greeted Pettigrew, while Sirius nearly attacked him before Lupin, Linley, and Irina restrained Sirius.
• Linley suggested taking Pettigrew to Dumbledore and using Legilimency, Veritaserum, or alchemy to make him talk.

Linley helped bring the bound Peter Pettigrew and unconscious Professor Snape toward Hogwarts as Sirius offered Harry a home with him. When the full moon triggered Lupin’s transformation, Linley sent the others ahead and stayed behind to face the werewolf.

• Linley bound Peter Pettigrew with Golden Binding Rope, and he and Irina floated Pettigrew and Professor Snape toward Hogwarts while Lupin led the group.
• Sirius told Harry he was his godfather and offered him a home; Harry eagerly accepted and described the mistreatment he had suffered from the Dursleys.
• The group crossed the grounds under the full moon, and Lupin transformed into a werewolf because he had not taken his potion.
• Sirius transformed into a black dog and tried to confront Lupin, but Linley threw him toward Harry and the others, then stayed behind to face the werewolf.

Linley tested his Animagus form by defeating and binding Werewolf Lupin, then headed for Hogwarts as Sirius Black’s hearing began in Dumbledore’s office. After Sirius and Peter Pettigrew gave conflicting accounts of the betrayal, Harry proposed using Legilimency and Veritaserum, and Sirius agreed to take the potion.

• Linley transformed into a snow wolf and overpowered Werewolf Lupin with three claw strikes.
• Linley bound Lupin, healed his wounds, placed him in the secret passage, and headed toward Hogwarts Castle.
• Dumbledore questioned Sirius Black about Peter Pettigrew’s betrayal while Minister Fudge insisted Sirius was guilty.
• Professor Lupin challenged Fudge’s account by pointing out that Peter Pettigrew was alive and present.
• Harry proposed using Legilimency and Veritaserum, and Sirius said he was willing to take Veritaserum and confront Pettigrew.

Linley and Irina helped persuade Fudge to permit Veritaserum, which exposed Sirius Black’s innocence and Peter Pettigrew’s guilt. After Sirius was cleared and Peter sentenced to life in Azkaban, Linley and Irina planned to arrange Peter’s escape to preserve the future they wanted.

• Fudge initially refused to allow Veritaserum, but Linley offered an alchemical alternative and Irina convinced Fudge that clearing Sirius Black could improve his reputation.
• Fudge authorized Veritaserum, and Professor Snape administered it to Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, revealing that Sirius was innocent and Peter was the real culprit.
• Fudge postponed the convictions until a formal Wizengamot trial the next day, which Linley, Irina, and their group were allowed to attend.
• The Wizengamot cleared Sirius Black and sentenced Peter Pettigrew to life in Azkaban, prompting Harry and the others to celebrate.
• Linley and Irina resolved to cause chaos during Peter’s transfer so he could escape, despite knowing that the escape and Voldemort’s resurrection would endanger many people.

Linley and Irina hid in a forest to intercept the Auror squad escorting Peter Pettigrew to Azkaban, planning to avoid using their distinctive magic. A Swooping Evil ambushed the squad, leaving the Aurors facing the creature as it covered an elite Auror’s face.

• Linley and Irina used Ministry information to reach the forest ahead of the Auror squad and agreed to conceal their identities by avoiding their signature magic.
• Linley and Irina spotted ten Aurors escorting Peter Pettigrew in enchanted chains through the forest.
• A black shadow appeared before the squad, and the Aurors halted and fired ten Disarming Charms at it.
• The shadow dodged every spell, revealed itself as a Swooping Evil, and plastered itself over an elite Auror’s face.
• The remaining Aurors recoiled and aimed their Wands at the Swooping Evil.

Linley and Irina ambushed the Aurors escorting Peter Pettigrew, using magical creatures and concealed spells to create chaos. They incapacitated three Aurors, but the remaining seven still stood in their way.

• The Swooping Evil struck an elite Auror and flew away, leaving him unharmed, while Chinese Mangle-Snappers attacked the Aurors.
• Linley and Irina revealed themselves, and Linley extinguished the Aurors' flames with a Vanishment Charm to save Irina's remaining Chinese Mangle-Snappers.
• Linley attacked the elite Auror, who dodged his spells, but the Swooping Evil knocked the Auror down and Irina bound him.
• Linley concealed a Stunning Spell behind a Blasting Curse and knocked out a rookie Auror, leaving seven Aurors still standing.

Linley and Irina fought the Aurors while secretly creating an opportunity for Peter Pettigrew to escape. Peter fled in rat form, and the Aurors realized the two black-robed figures had targeted him.

• Linley and Irina exchanged spells with the seven Aurors, and Linley’s Diffindo severed Peter Pettigrew’s magical chains and left hand.
• Linley repeatedly aimed Cruciatus Curses at the Aurors, but the Aurors dodged and Peter Pettigrew was struck instead.
• Peter Pettigrew stole a wand from an unconscious rookie Auror, transformed into a rat, and escaped.
• Linley and Irina used Bombarda to cover their retreat with smoke, then vanished before the Aurors could catch them.
• An elite Auror realized Peter Pettigrew had been taken and ordered the others to lift the curses on their fallen comrades and prepare to explain the failure to the Ministry of Magic.

After escaping to Hogsmeade, Linley and Irina returned to Hogwarts and learned that Sirius Black wanted Harry to live with him, but Dumbledore refused. Dumbledore explained that Lily Potter’s sacrifice and love had protected Harry from Voldemort’s Killing Curse, leaving Harry stunned by the truth.

• Linley and Irina used one of Irina’s practice Portkeys to reach Hogsmeade, then returned to Hogwarts through the passage beneath Honeydukes.
• Linley apologized to Professor Lupin for beating him while Lupin was transformed into a werewolf, and Lupin accepted his explanation.
• Professor Lupin told Irina that Sirius Black was in the Headmaster’s office with Harry and Dumbledore, so she and Linley went to see them.
• Sirius Black and Harry argued that Harry should live with his godfather, but Dumbledore insisted that Harry had to remain with the Dursley family for his safety.
• Dumbledore told Harry that Lily Potter’s sacrifice had protected him from Voldemort’s Killing Curse, and Harry realized his mother’s love had saved him.

Dumbledore explained that Harry had to stay with the Dursleys to maintain his mother's protective magic, but Irina proposed ways for Harry to spend more time with Sirius. They agreed Sirius would buy the house next door, letting Harry visit him during the day while staying with the Dursleys for meals and overnight.

• Dumbledore told Harry that living with Aunt Petunia sustained the blood magic protecting him.
• Irina suggested limiting Harry's time with the Dursleys or having Sirius live next door to them.
• Dumbledore approved the next-door plan, with Harry staying at the Dursleys for meals and nights and visiting Sirius during the day.
• Linley and Irina congratulated Sirius on clearing his name, and Sirius thanked them for their help.

Linley and Irina finished the school year as top students, planned their summer training, and prepared for Voldemort’s expected return. Linley traveled to France to study alchemy with Green, who gave him the Philosopher's Stone after his grandmaster completed the Elixir of Life.

• Linley and Irina placed first in their respective years, while Hermione dropped Divination and Muggle Studies and returned her Time-Turner to Professor McGonagall.
• Professor Lupin resigned as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, leaving Harry and the others saddened.
• Linley and Irina planned to practice the Dark Arts in France in August, after Irina studied magical creatures with Newt and Linley worked on alchemy with his teacher and grandmaster.
• After the Hogwarts Express arrived at King's Cross, Linley returned to Roer Castle and Irina traveled home by Portkey.
• Linley used a Cross-border Portkey to reach Green's house in France and told him about Peter Pettigrew's trial and Sirius Black's exoneration.
• Green gave Linley the Philosopher's Stone, saying his teacher had completed brewing the Elixir of Life half a month earlier.

Linley secured the Philosopher's Stone and began learning about Illusion Formations from Green. Green explained how the Dream Weaving Spell and Dream Entering Charm enabled basic and advanced illusions, then gave Linley a notebook to study within a week.

• Linley placed the Philosopher's Stone inside a dull Magic Crystal and sealed it in the Demon God's Authority.
• Green asked Linley about the soul-related Alchemy Formations he had learned, then introduced Illusion Formations.
• Green explained that advanced Illusion Formations used the Dream Weaving Spell to project scenes and the Dream Entering Charm to uncover memories and dreams.
• Green handed Linley a notebook of his research and experiments and required him to study it thoroughly within a week.

Linley studied Green’s Alchemy Notes and learned that Illusion Formations combined basic alchemy with the Dream Weaving Spell and Dream Entering Charm. While practicing the Dream Weaving Spell inside Green’s prepared formations, Linley found himself in a teahouse and saw a white-haired girl waiting at a table.

• Linley accepted Green’s seven-day deadline and discovered that the Alchemy Notes focused on combining foundational knowledge.
• Green explained that Linley would practice the Dream Weaving Spell and Dream Entering Charm during the day and study the notes at night.
• Green created several Alchemy Formations so Linley could test the Dream Weaving Spell without a sleeping target.
• Linley cast “Intertwined Illusory Dreams,” and the formation surrounded him with mist that dulled his senses.
• After the mist faded, Linley found himself in a cozy teahouse and spotted a white-haired girl sipping cappuccino.

Linley practiced the Dream Weaving Spell inside Green’s Illusion Formation and learned most of the Alchemy Formations needed to control it. After studying through the night, he demonstrated his new skills by creating dozens of formations on the training grounds.

• Linley visited a dream scene featuring Irina, then dispelled it and told Green that she was his best partner, not his girlfriend.
• Linley asked Green to protect him and Irina when they trained in France and practiced the Unforgivable Curse in August, and Green teased him about bringing her to meet the parents.
• Green explained that only the alchemist who crafted the Illusion Formation’s Alchemy Formations could see clearly through it, while Linley could only create its scenes.
• Linley spent the rest of the day practicing the Dream Weaving Spell until his illusions became realistic and easier to escape.
• Linley stayed up studying the Alchemy Notes, learned nearly all the Illusion Formation formations, and drank a restorative potion after waking exhausted.
• Linley used power from the Philosopher’s Stone to create dozens of Alchemy Formations beneath his feet while Green watched.

Linley mastered silent casting of the Dream Weaving Spell and began learning the Dream Entering Charm from Green. He successfully used it to draw out a cherished memory, but its crude effect showed he still had work to do before he could master silent casting and learn Legilimency and Occlumency.

• After completing the Illusion Formation, Linley discovered that crafting its Alchemy Formations let him control the illusion and rapidly improve his Dream Weaving Spell.
• By the third day, Linley could cast the Dream Weaving Spell silently, so Green moved on to teach him the Dream Entering Charm.
• Green promised to teach Linley Legilimency and Occlumency if he mastered silent casting of the Dream Entering Charm within four days.
• Linley cast the Dream Entering Charm inside the Illusion Formation, then used the Dream Weaving Spell to test whether it had worked.
• The formation recreated Linley's cherished memory of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and the white-haired girl, but Linley recognized the result as crude and his spell as imperfect.

Linley completed his Illusion Formation and asked Green to test it, then watched as the illusion placed Green in a confrontation with Grindelwald. Green activated a Mana Suppression Scepter, but it failed to fully suppress Grindelwald, leaving Green and his companion defenseless as Grindelwald attacked.

• Linley finished mastering the Dream Entering Charm and Dream Weaving Spell and independently crafted a high-level Illusion Formation.
• Linley reset the formation, silently cast both spells on Green, and watched the illusion through the white mist.
• Green saw Grindelwald and found himself carrying a Mana Suppression Scepter and a firearm beside a woman holding another firearm.
• Green activated the Mana Suppression Scepter to destroy Grindelwald's Fiendfyre, but the force only partially suppressed Grindelwald's magic.
• Green and the woman fired their guns, but Grindelwald blocked every bullet with a Shield Charm.
• Grindelwald called the pair caught in their own trap and sent Diffindo spells toward them.

Green relived the memory of his lover sacrificing herself to save him, then broke free of Linley’s Illusion Formation. Impressed by Linley’s skill, Green agreed to teach him Occlumency and began with his old Magic Notes.

• Green’s lover stabbed herself and used a blood-forged rune to break the Mana Suppression Power long enough to Apparate him to Godric’s Hollow.
• Green tried to heal her, but she died after telling him she had chosen to sacrifice herself and urging him to live.
• Linley watched Green grieve inside the Illusion Formation without disturbing him.
• Green accepted that the dead could not be brought back, broke through the illusion, and praised Linley’s Illusion Formation skill.
• Green gave Linley his Magic Notes on Occlumency and said they would begin practical training the next day.