Chapter Summaries

After Karkaroff gave Linley Rory only four points for the first task, the young wizards protested until Dumbledore replaced Karkaroff’s score with a vote. Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch Sr. then invalidated the score and warned Karkaroff that further bias could cost him his referee position.

• The stadium erupted in protest after Karkaroff awarded Linley Rory four points, and Karkaroff defended the score by claiming Rory had taken too long to get the Golden Egg.
• The young wizards resumed cursing Karkaroff, and Dumbledore quieted them before asking them to vote on Linley Rory’s score.
• The young wizards displayed their votes, and nearly all of them gave Linley Rory ten points.
• Karkaroff challenged Dumbledore’s authority to remove his scoring power, but Dumbledore said Karkaroff had incurred public outrage.
• Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch Sr. invalidated Karkaroff’s score on behalf of the organizers and warned they would revoke his referee qualification if he showed bias again.

Linley received a perfect score for the first Triwizard task after defeating the dragon, while Irina defended him against Karkaroff’s low rating. After learning the date and clue for the second task, Linley warned Rita Skeeter not to publish false reports about him.

• The students’ ratings gave Linley a score of ten, bringing his total to fifty and putting him far ahead of the other Champions.
• Ron and Hermione learned that Irina had insulted Karkaroff to defend Linley, and they worried about the trouble she might face.
• Charlie and the dragon handlers discovered that the Hungarian Horntail was still alive and carefully removed Linley’s black spear from its body.
• Ludo Bagman told Linley, Harry, Fleur, and Krum that the second task would begin on February twenty-fourth and that the golden eggs contained clues.
• Rita Skeeter approached Linley for an interview, and Linley warned her against publishing unrealistic reports about him.

Linley intimidated Rita Skeeter into conducting a favorable interview about his dragon challenge. As Christmas approached, Professor McGonagall explained the Christmas Ball and told Linley that Champions traditionally opened the dance with their partners.

• Linley warned Rita against using her Quick-Quotes Quill, and she agreed to report only positive facts about him.
• Rita interviewed Linley about facing the dragon and Judge Karkaroff's score, then left with her notes.
• Professor McGonagall told her class that the Christmas Ball would be held on Christmas night and explained its rules.
• After class, Professor McGonagall told Linley that Champions and their partners traditionally opened the dance, so he needed to find a partner.

As Hogwarts prepared for the Christmas Ball, Dumbledore summoned Linley and Irina to tell them that Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Professor Moody, had asked to go home for Christmas. They suspected Voldemort had given him a hidden objective, but could not openly stop him without risking that he would realize his disguise had been exposed.

• Professor McGonagall told Linley to find a dance partner for the Christmas Ball, and he assured her he would.
• Hogwarts students and staff decorated the castle and practiced dancing as they prepared to host the Christmas Ball.
• Dumbledore summoned Linley and Irina and reported that Barty Crouch Jr. had asked to leave Hogwarts for Christmas.
• Irina and Linley wondered whether Voldemort had ordered Barty Crouch Jr. to use the holiday as an opportunity to escape or pursue another purpose.
• Linley warned that Dumbledore could not refuse Professor Moody's request without alerting Barty Crouch Jr. that his identity might be exposed.

Linley and Irina agreed to let Barty Crouch Jr. leave Hogwarts for the holidays without disrupting their plans, then went to practice magic by the Black Lake. There, Fleur asked Linley to be her Christmas Ball partner, but he asked Irina instead.

• Dumbledore told Linley and Irina they had no reason to stop Barty Crouch Jr. from leaving school before his identity was exposed.
• Linley and Irina left Dumbledore’s office and went to the Black Lake to practice magic.
• Fleur approached Linley and asked him to attend the Christmas Ball as her dance partner.
• Linley declined Fleur’s invitation and asked Irina to be his dance partner.

Linley asked Irina to be his dance partner for life, and she happily accepted, making their relationship official. Fleur left in tears after realizing Linley loved Irina, while Linley and Irina shared a long kiss before walking together to breakfast.

• Linley asked Irina to be his lifelong dance partner, and Irina accepted with joy.
• Fleur realized Linley had given his heart to Irina, then left and ran back to Hogwarts Castle in tears.
• Ron asked Fleur to be his dance partner, but she rejected him with a cold, disdainful look, and he fled in embarrassment.
• By the Black Lake, Irina asked whether Linley's proposal counted as a confession, and he offered to confess properly after the Christmas Ball.
• Linley and Irina kissed for nearly half an hour before heading to Hogwarts Castle together for breakfast.

After Ron was rejected by Fleur, Harry asked Hermione to be his Christmas Ball partner. Hermione agreed to help Harry fulfill his duty as a Champion and expected to watch Irina dance with Linley.

• Ron told Harry and Hermione that he had impulsively asked Fleur Delacour to the ball and fled after she ignored him.
• Hermione urged Harry and Ron to find dance partners, and Harry complained about being expected to lead the Champions’ dance.
• Harry asked Hermione to be his partner, and she agreed because he was a Champion and needed to avoid embarrassment.
• Hermione said she expected Irina to choose senior Rory, showing she had guessed Irina’s plans with Linley.

Irvin told Linley that Astoria Greengrass might become a valuable ally because she opposed the Dark Lord’s brutality and could challenge her sister for the Grindelwald Family heirship. Linley approved the recruitment plan after learning Astoria had extraordinary magical talent, while Irvin prepared to attend the Christmas Ball with her.

• Irina caught Hermione, Harry, and Ron gossiping about her and carried Hermione off to the girls’ dormitory while Harry and Ron pretended not to hear her pleas for help.
• Irvin told Linley that Astoria Greengrass rejected the Dark Lord’s brutal actions, despite her family’s extreme pure-blood beliefs, and that her sister Daphne worshipped the Dark Lord.
• Irvin explained that he had invited Astoria to the Christmas Ball and hoped to recruit her, since helping her become heir could give them influence over the Grindelwald Family.
• Linley teased Irvin about his interest in Astoria, then agreed that he should try to recruit her.
• Irvin revealed that Astoria had cast Diffindo and Confringo with Silent Spellcasting despite having no extracurricular tutoring, and that her magical talent seemed second only to Linley and Irina.

Lynn discovered that Astoria Greengrass had remarkable magical talent and told Irvin to assess whether she could be recruited. Irvin made a breakthrough in learning Lightning Strike, and the chapter ended on Christmas morning at Hogwarts.

• Lynn praised Irvin for learning about Astoria Greengrass and told him to spend more time with her before Lynn and Irina considered meeting her.
• Irvin explained that his Lightning Strike still depended on thunderclouds summoned by the Weather Spell.
• Lynn helped Irvin realize that lightning power lingering on his Wand let him sense and control lightning without casting the Weather Spell.
• Irvin summoned small arcs of lightning from his palm, and Lynn deduced that their strength depended on how much lightning power remained on Irvin's Wand.
• Irvin left the Slytherin common room to practice, and Christmas arrived as students at Hogwarts opened presents and played in the snow.

Irina opened Newt Scamander’s notebook on the Undetectable Extension Charm and Portkeys, then tried on Linley Roll’s enchanted gown, Ice Phoenix Flies. Meanwhile, Linley unwrapped presents in the Slytherin dormitory, with only gifts from Valison Green and Irina Lowell left unopened.

• Irina received Newt Scamander’s notes on the Undetectable Extension Charm and Portkeys and carefully put the notebook away.
• Irina read Linley Roll’s note explaining Ice Phoenix Flies’ three effects and used it to improve her control over ice and change its form.
• Hermione woke, admired Irina’s gown, and admitted she was jealous when Irina said Linley had given it to her.
• Linley unwrapped presents in the Slytherin dormitory beside the matching gown Fire Phoenix Seeks, leaving only gifts from Valison Green and Irina Lowell.

Lynn received an improved Time Loop Formation blueprint from Valison Green and an Apparition Key from Irina, then prepared for the Christmas dance with Irina. As the students gathered outside the Great Hall, Fleur arrived with Roger Davies while continuing to glance at Lynn.

• Lynn opened Valison Green’s present and found an improved Time Loop Formation blueprint designed to fool a Demon King level wizard’s senses.
• Lynn read Valison’s letter and decided to have Gael watch for the materials needed to test the improved formation after the Christmas holiday.
• Lynn opened Irina’s present and learned that its ice block was an Apparition Key that could carry him to a destination he chose through his thoughts.
• Lynn dressed in Fire Phoenix Seeks and spent the day with Irina before they went to the entrance hall for the Christmas dance.
• Fleur arrived in a silver-gray satin gown with Roger Davies, while her glances toward Lynn suggested she had chosen Roger only as a backup.

Linley and Irina attended the Christmas Ball, where their enchanted Fire Phoenix Seeks and Ice Phoenix Flies transformed into spectacular phoenixes of flame and ice. Their dance became the center of attention as the fire and ice phoenixes soared together beneath the Great Hall’s starry ceiling.

• Irvin arrived with Astoria Greengrass, and Harry and Hermione joined the other champions and their partners for the Ball.
• Professor McGonagall led the champions into the Great Hall, where the guests feasted and listened to The Weird Sisters perform.
• When the Christmas Ball began, Linley and Irina stepped onto the dance floor, and their robes transformed into Fire Phoenix Seeks and Ice Phoenix Flies.
• Linley asked Irina to channel the Power of Cold Ice into her gown, while he infused Goblet Immortal Fire into his.
• A fire phoenix and an ice phoenix rose from Linley and Irina, then intertwined and burst across the starry ceiling in a display of fire and ice.

Linley and Irina ended the Christmas Ball together and went to rest in the Room of Requirement. Meanwhile, Barty Crouch Jr. approached Azkaban and attacked the Aurors guarding its harbor.

• Linley and Irina danced as the fire phoenix and ice phoenix appeared around them, captivating the Great Hall.
• After the Christmas Ball ended at midnight, Linley and Irina went to the Room of Requirement to rest together.
• The chapter described Azkaban’s history as a fortress inhabited by Dementors before it became a prison under a Minister named Roll.
• Barty Crouch Jr., no longer disguised as Moody, sailed toward Azkaban with Moody’s Wand.
• When two Aurors challenged him at the harbor, Barty Crouch Jr. cast Avada Kedavra at one of them.

Barty Crouch Jr. killed the Aurors guarding Azkaban and blasted open the prison gates. He persuaded the Dementors to let him pass by promising them freedom under the Dark Lord.

• Barty Crouch Jr. killed the two Aurors at the harbor and reached the island.
• More than twenty Azkaban Aurors confronted Barty Crouch Jr., but he killed nearly half of them with Killing Curses.
• The Auror leader ordered his remaining team to lift their restrictions, and the Aurors attacked Barty Crouch Jr. with Killing Curses.
• A wizard in a Daily Prophet uniform recorded the battle and escaped by Apparition as the Aurors died or were wounded.
• Barty Crouch Jr. blasted open Azkaban's gates and forced back the Dementors with black mist.
• Barty Crouch Jr. promised the Dementors freedom under the Dark Lord, and they opened a path for him into the prison.

Barty Crouch Jr. freed the Death Eaters from Azkaban and told them their Master needed them. After waking together and being summoned by Dumbledore, Linley and Irina learned from the Daily Prophet that every Death Eater had escaped.

• Barty Crouch Jr. unlocked the cells of the imprisoned Death Eaters, including Bellatrix, and said the Master had sent him to welcome them back.
• Linley and Irina woke together in the Room of Requirement, transformed into their Animagus forms, and slept until noon.
• Linley and Irina went to the Great Hall for lunch, where Fawkes delivered Dumbledore's summons.
• Linley and Irina went to Dumbledore's office, where he showed them a Daily Prophet headline reporting that all the Death Eaters had escaped Azkaban.

After learning that Barty Crouch Jr. had freed more than thirty Death Eaters from Azkaban, Linley planned how to face Voldemort’s return. He insisted on fighting Voldemort alone to push himself into the Demon King level, leaving Dumbledore, Irina, and Irvin to deal with the Death Eaters.

• Linley identified Barty Crouch Jr. as the Death Eater who had killed the Aurors and freed more than thirty prisoners from Azkaban.
• Linley warned that Voldemort would use the released Death Eaters to strengthen his return, and Irina offered to accompany him to Little Hangleton.
• Dumbledore and Irina agreed to capture Barty Crouch Jr., use Legilimency to obtain his intelligence, and kill him.
• Linley told Dumbledore to hold back during the battle with Voldemort while Irina and Irvin fought the Death Eaters.
• Linley revealed that he wanted to use a life-or-death fight with Voldemort as a chance to break through to the Demon King level.

Linley, Irina, and Dumbledore agreed to resist Cornelius Fudge’s attempt to suppress news about Voldemort and considered removing him as Minister for Magic. Dumbledore gave Linley and Irina his approval, resolving to act for peace in the wizarding world.

• Dumbledore offered to be Linley’s opponent in a battle to help him reach the Demon King level, but Linley explained that facing someone who would not kill him could not force a true breakthrough.
• Dumbledore and Irina reluctantly accepted Linley’s plan to face Voldemort at the end of the school year.
• Linley learned that Cornelius Fudge was pressuring the Daily Prophet not to publish news that could alarm the public, and he planned to organize protests through Ministry employees and Daily Prophet staff tied to the Roll Family.
• Irina urged Dumbledore to use the Ministry’s Aurors against the Death Eaters and to remove Fudge from office when the opportunity arose.
• Dumbledore agreed that replacing Fudge could help preserve peace and told Linley and Irina to do what they must.

After Rita Skeeter exposed Hagrid as a half-giant, Irina told Linley that the article had left Hagrid so ashamed he planned to resign. Linley ordered Gael to have the Daily Prophet bury Skeeter for six months, warning that she had provoked someone she should not have.

• The British wizarding public blamed Minister Fudge for the Death Eaters' escape from Azkaban, while Linley's Roll Family used its influence to stop him from pressuring the Daily Prophet.
• Professor Grubbly-Plank took over Hagrid's Magical Creatures class and taught the students about Unicorns.
• Harry and Ron told Irina that Rita Skeeter had exposed Hagrid as a half-giant, and Irina learned that Hagrid planned to resign.
• Irina told Linley what had happened, and he sent her to eat in the Great Hall.
• Linley summoned Gael and ordered him to tell the Daily Prophet editor to bury Rita Skeeter for six months.

Linley arranged for Rita Skeeter to be put on paid leave for six months after she offended Irina by publishing a report about Hagrid. Rita realized the leave meant she could not publish or earn her usual income, while Irina and Harry failed to reach Hagrid and planned to search for him in Hogsmeade.

• Linley told Gael to relay his orders and decided Rita should be kept off the job for six months rather than permanently blacklisted.
• Irina, Harry, and the others found Hagrid's Hut shut up and returned without seeing him, planning to look for him in Hogsmeade on Saturday.
• Michel Anderson, acting on the Roll Family's orders, told Rita the Daily Prophet was giving her six months of paid leave.
• Rita protested that she had earned the newspaper substantial money, then realized she had been barred from publishing stories for half a year.

Rita learned that her six-month suspension from the Daily Prophet was a warning from someone connected to the Roll Family, after she published an article exposing Hagrid as a half-giant. At Hogsmeade, Irina learned that Barty Crouch Sr. had been missing for two weeks, threatening her and Linley’s plans for him.

• Rita confronted Michel over her suspension, and Michel warned that no British wizarding newspaper except The Quibbler would hire her if she resigned.
• Michel urged Rita to consider whom her recent articles had offended, and Rita realized her piece exposing Hagrid might have angered the heir of the Roll Family.
• Irina joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione on a trip to Hogsmeade to look for Hagrid, but they did not find him at the Hog's Head Inn or The Three Broomsticks.
• Ludo Bagman asked to speak with Harry, and Harry refused his offer to use his position to help him win the Triwizard Tournament.
• Ludo revealed that Barty Crouch Sr. had been missing for two weeks, and Irina worried that something had happened to the candidate she and Linley hoped to make Minister for Magic.