Chapter Summaries

Luke watched Professor Quirrell closely during Defense Against the Dark Arts and later learned that Voldemort planned to teach future classes while targeting Luke as a potential servant or body. Luke warned Taylor not to spy on Quirrell, then arrived at Charms class with her, where someone asked who she was.

• After class, Professor Quirrell hurried to his office, where Voldemort rebuked him for worrying about teaching and explained that he wanted Luke Gaunt as a servant or a body.
• Voldemort promised Quirrell freedom and rewards after he was reborn in Luke’s body.
• On the way to Charms class, Taylor asked Luke why he had stopped her, and he told her not to use her talent to spy on Professor Quirrell or tell anyone what she knew.
• Taylor chose to trust Luke and did not activate her talent, which left Luke feeling moved.
• Luke and Taylor sat together near the front of Charms class, where someone asked Luke who she was.

Luke introduced Taylor to Hermione and arranged for them to work together, while Taylor secretly stopped Malfoy from insulting Hermione. Luke then sat with Malfoy and praised him for defending a half-blood student, though he also recalled Malfoy’s earlier behavior and questioned how Slytherin had become so arrogant.

• Luke introduced Taylor to Hermione, who sat beside him and greeted Taylor.
• Taylor used a spell to stop Malfoy from speaking, leaving his ears in pain; Luke told Taylor to be careful with him.
• Luke suggested Hermione pair up with Taylor, then moved to sit beside Malfoy.
• Luke asked Goyle to switch seats so he could pair with Malfoy, and Goyle agreed.
• Luke apologized to Malfoy for judging him too quickly, then recalled Malfoy’s bullying on the train and praised him for speaking up for a half-blood student.
• Luke told Malfoy that he felt troubled by Slytherin’s current state and asked how the house had become so arrogant.

Luke won Malfoy’s support by presenting a vision of Slytherin nobles who protected the weak and treated others equally, then asked him to unite like-minded students. Dumbledore considered whether Luke’s beliefs offered hope for a different future, despite the warnings of a former headmaster’s portrait.

• Luke told Malfoy and the nearby Slytherins that Salazar Slytherin had wanted to cultivate noble wizards who protected the weak and faced danger without fear.
• Luke declared that Malfoy was his natural partner, and Malfoy enthusiastically agreed that they would restore Slytherin to glory.
• Luke asked Malfoy to contact like-minded members of noble families while warning him not to provoke those who opposed them.
• Professor Flitwick began Charms class, while Ron explained to Harry that Luke and Malfoy could form a new force among the nobles.
• A former headmaster’s portrait urged Dumbledore to stop Luke, but Dumbledore wondered whether he could hope that Luke’s ideals would lead to equality rather than oppression.

The Heads of House discussed Luke Gaunt’s growing influence and the easing conflict between Slytherin and Gryffindor, leaving McGonagall and Sprout worried about his direction. Later, Harry and Ron arrived late to Transfiguration and discovered that the tabby cat on the teacher’s desk was Professor McGonagall.

• McGonagall joined Flitwick, Snape, and Sprout for lunch and learned that Luke Gaunt had brought Slytherin and Gryffindor students together.
• Snape, Sprout, and McGonagall worried about Luke’s striking leadership, while Flitwick argued that teachers should guide him and trust Dumbledore’s judgment.
• Harry asked Ron whether McGonagall’s Transfiguration class would be difficult, and Ron guessed it might be easier than Snape’s class.
• Harry and Ron rushed into Transfiguration late, and Luke, Neville, and Hermione tried to warn them about the tabby cat on the teacher’s desk.
• McGonagall spoke as the cat and warned Potter and Weasley that she might turn one of them into an alarm clock if they were late again.

Luke excelled at Transfiguration, turning a matchstick into an intricately engraved needle while Hermione managed only a partial transformation. After class, Professor McGonagall gave Luke her notes and questioned his conduct, but he insisted he would follow his own path.

• Luke transformed a matchstick into a silver needle during Professor McGonagall's class, impressing her and earning Slytherin five points.
• Hermione partially transformed her matchstick and received three points, while Taylor encouraged her and went with her to eat.
• Professor McGonagall told Luke that the Lans Family would deliver his compensation the next day and gave him her Transfiguration notes.
• Professor McGonagall warned Luke that his behavior resembled that of two dangerous people, but Luke said the professors could stop him if they judged it inappropriate.
• Luke told Professor McGonagall that he trusted himself and would walk his own path.

Worm Lans reprimanded Lec and Katharine for agreeing to dissolve the Lans Family’s Contract with the Gaunt Family without consulting him, then prepared to meet Luke and honor their promise. Luke and Professor McGonagall awaited the Lans family’s arrival, with Luke eager for the meeting.

• Worm Lans returned after learning Lec had agreed to dissolve the Contract and slapped him for making the decision without consulting him.
• Worm criticized Katharine for neglecting noble etiquette and told her to stop running her pet shop and learn the rules.
• Worm warned Lec that the Gaunt Family might regain power and ordered him not to speak during their meeting with Luke.
• Luke told Professor McGonagall he had not investigated the Lans Family because he considered them unimportant once the Contract was dissolved.
• Professor McGonagall spotted the Lans family approaching, and Luke greeted their arrival with a polite smile.

Luke Gaunt met Worm Lans and Lai Ke at Hogwarts to dissolve the ancient Contract binding the Lans Family to the Gaunts. After the Contract burned to ash, Worm raised the question of the Gaunt Family’s reputation.

• Students watched the Thestral Carriage arrive, and Harry learned that only people who had faced death could see the Thestrals.
• Taylor told Hermione that the Lans Family had come for Luke, and Luke greeted Worm Lans and Lai Ke before leading them into the castle.
• Luke and the Lans representatives met Dumbledore in Professor McGonagall’s office to dissolve their Contract.
• Luke and Worm tore the Contract apart, and crimson flames reduced it to ash, freeing Worm and Lai Ke from its binding.
• Worm told Luke that they needed to discuss the matter of the Gaunt Family’s reputation.

Luke received the Lans Family’s promised rewards and discussed forming a new alliance with Worm. He rejected Worm’s proposed terms, leaving them to continue negotiating.

• After Professor McGonagall left, Luke confronted Worm about the Lans Family’s concern for its reputation.
• Worm had Lai Ke deliver the promised rewards, including a notebook bearing Godric Gryffindor’s name, Luke’s appointment as a School Board Member, and property deeds transferred to Luke.
• Worm asked Luke to state his conditions for a new alliance, proposing that the Gaunt and Lans Families treat each other as equals.
• Luke considered the alliance’s benefits and risks, then told Worm he could not accept the proposed condition.

Luke secured the Lans Family’s willingness to consider an alliance, and Worm left to persuade the rest of his family. Taylor revealed that Worm had shifted from seeking favorable terms to planning the family’s allegiance, while Luke prepared for the next day’s Potions class.

• Luke let Worm know that the Lans Family could terminate their Contract at any time, and Worm said he would send their decision by Christmas after consulting his family.
• Worm and Lai Ke left Hogwarts, and Luke saw them off with Book in his arms.
• Professor McGonagall comforted Luke and told him to eat and rest for the day.
• Taylor told Luke that Worm had begun planning to secure his family’s allegiance and help remove obstacles within the family.
• Luke explained that he showed people the side of himself that best suited their needs, then worried about his upcoming Potions class.

Worm told Lai Ke that he wanted the Lans Family to side with Luke Gaunt for the benefits Luke could offer, while lamenting that his family had kept him from joining Grindelwald's Followers. Luke prepared for Potions Class and planned to show Snape that his struggles came from a lack of talent, then woke to the lesson beginning.

• Worm told Lai Ke that his greatest regret was never becoming one of Grindelwald's Followers, and explained that he supported Luke Gaunt for the benefits he could bring the Lans Family.
• Worm criticized Lai Ke's performance and said he needed to teach him how to pursue their family's interests.
• Luke considered the Lans Family's limited value to his camp but accepted that their willingness to risk their future made them worth taking in.
• Luke reviewed the Hell Broth instructions and decided to prepare two sets of notes to prove to Snape that he was trying despite his poor potion-making talent.
• Luke fell asleep over A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and woke when Potions Class arrived.

Luke attended Snape’s Potions class, where Snape singled out Harry with questions he could not answer. Luke answered all three questions correctly, earning Slytherin three points and leaving Snape scrutinizing him.

• Luke told Taylor he struggled with Potions, and Taylor offered to help him if they were paired together.
• Snape opened the lesson with a stern warning and then quizzed Harry on three potion-related questions, which Harry could not answer.
• Luke stopped Hermione from answering and kept the Slytherin students from openly laughing at Harry.
• Snape asked Luke to answer the questions, and Luke named a Draught of Living Death, a Goat Stomach, and Aconite as the answers.
• Snape awarded Slytherin three points, ordered the students to take notes, and continued studying Luke with a thoughtful look.

In Potions class, Luke watched Taylor brew Snape’s improved boil-treatment potion while Snape pressed him to try it himself. Taylor used her potion to cure Neville after his cauldron accident, earning Snape’s praise and ten points for Slytherin.

• Snape assigned the students to brew a boil-treatment potion, and Taylor recognized that his recipe differed from the version she had learned at home.
• Taylor began brewing the potion while Luke told Snape he lacked confidence in his own attempt.
• Snape praised Malfoy as he prepared his potion, and Malfoy glanced smugly toward Luke.
• Neville accidentally added Porcupine Quills while his cauldron was still over the fire, causing an explosion that covered him in boils.
• Taylor poured her potion over Neville and quickly cured him, earning Snape’s praise and ten points for Slytherin.

Taylor impressed Snape with her Potions talent, while Fred and George told Luke they had seen Quirrell leave the forbidden Room on the Fourth Floor injured and speaking to himself. Luke urged them to inform Dumbledore, but Quirrell overheard them and asked what they wanted to tell a professor.

• Taylor brewed an effective potion under Luke’s guidance, impressing Snape and their classmates.
• Snape asked Taylor to stay after class to discuss her talent, while Luke left the classroom.
• Fred and George told Luke they had seen Quirrell enter the Room on the Fourth Floor and emerge injured, talking to someone they could not see.
• Luke advised the Twins to report what they had witnessed to Dumbledore and avoid getting caught up in Quirrell’s affairs.
• Quirrell appeared and asked Luke what he had to tell a professor.

Luke used his encounter with Quirrell to test his suspicions, and Quirrell gave him an unfamiliar spell that could harm or destroy Ghosts. After Quirrell left, Luke suspected the spell might be tied to Voldemort's Horcrux research and decided not to try it.

• Luke pretended he wanted help dealing with Peeves while George and Fred criticized Dumbledore to make Quirrell more comfortable.
• Quirrell disparaged Dumbledore and praised Luke's ambition before giving him a spell that could harm Ghosts.
• Quirrell ignored George and Fred as he left, and Fred shuddered after watching him go.
• Luke examined the unknown spell and suspected Voldemort had created it while researching Horcruxes, so he refused to cast it casually.

Luke discovered that he had gained the Emotional Control talent after sensing Voldemort's emotions, but he could not yet control it reliably. At dinner, he learned that he had never seen Peeves, despite Neville's complaints about the poltergeist, and wondered whether Peeves was avoiding him.

• Luke noticed the new Emotional Control talent on his skill panel and struggled to recreate his earlier perception of people's emotions.
• Taylor told Hermione that Snape had invited her to help in the Potions storeroom and assist with brewing during the holidays, while Ron and Harry discussed Snape's hostility toward Gryffindor and Harry.
• Neville complained that Peeves had pranked him again, and Harry said there was little anyone could do about the ghost.
• Luke asked whether the others had seen Peeves and revealed that he had never encountered him, even while sneaking around at night.
• Hermione scolded Luke for breaking school rules, while Harry and Ron admired his nighttime explorations; Luke wondered if Peeves was avoiding him.

Luke learned that Taylor’s family passed down a rare music-based Talent Magic, then discovered he could amplify emotions and asked her for ideas on developing his own ability. He planned to seek advice from the Sorting Hat and the elusive Peeves.

• Taylor explained that her family’s Talent Magic used music and Legilimency, and that her grandmother had refused Grindelwald’s invitation before fleeing Voldemort, who later killed Taylor’s parents.
• Luke comforted Taylor and realized her anger had faded because his newly awakened talent could amplify emotions that already existed.
• Luke told Taylor he had tested the ability on Ron’s rat and himself, and Taylor warned him that experimenting on himself was dangerous.
• Taylor offered to share ideas from developing her own magic and suggested divination, but Luke said he would ask the Sorting Hat and Peeves instead.
• Taylor identified Peeves as the person hiding from Luke, and Luke said he had a way to find him.

Luke questioned Bloody Baron about Peeves and the Hogwarts Founders, learning that Peeves was a special soul tied to the school and might have been created by one of the Founders. He left to seek Peeves in the dining hall, while Barrow wondered whether Luke resembled Slytherin or Gryffindor.

• Luke approached Bloody Baron in the Astronomy Tower and asked about Gryffindor’s talent, but Barrow admitted he knew nothing about the Founders besides Slytherin.
• Barrow explained that Peeves was formed from prank-loving students’ spiritual thoughts and might have been created by one of the other Founders.
• Barrow suggested Peeves was avoiding Luke because he carried Slytherin’s aura, and he said Luke’s gaze resembled Gryffindor’s.
• Barrow told Luke to look for Peeves in the dining hall and suggested he consult Helena Ravenclaw if he had more questions.
• Luke thanked Barrow and left to return to his dormitory before planning to sneak out later, while Barrow wondered whether Luke was more like Slytherin or Gryffindor.

Luke avoided Hogwarts at night and spent the morning looking for Peeves, while considering how to build influence at school and recruit Gemma Farley. The chapter ended with Neville happily reporting that Peeves had not bothered him that day.

• Luke declined Marcus Flint's invitation to watch Quidditch practice, saying he would wait until Flying Class to judge his talent.
• Luke noticed Gemma Farley watching him, and she smiled at him; he considered her a potential ally and business manager.
• Luke spent the morning wandering Hogwarts in search of Peeves but found no sign of him.
• Near the greenhouses, Luke met Neville, who said Peeves had not bothered him and complained that the poltergeist was like a demon.

Luke searched Hogwarts for Peeves with Book’s help and found a hidden passage leading to the poltergeist. He caught Peeves at the passage door and confronted him with the Slytherin Wand, ready to ask him questions.

• Luke failed to find Peeves in the castle and followed Book’s directions instead.
• Book led Luke through a hidden route to a secluded corridor and opened a concealed stairway in the wall.
• Luke heard Peeves complaining about the Gaunt family and his search before approaching the door.
• Peeves spotted Luke and tried to flee, but turned back when Luke used the Slytherin Wand to threaten him.

Luke confronted Peeves in his hidden hideout and demanded to know why he had been hiding. Peeves explained that Luke might be the result of bloodline-fusion experiments by Slytherin and Gryffindor, leaving Luke with a mystery about his origins.

• Peeves realized Book had led Luke to his secret hideout and mistook the cat for Luke’s spy.
• Luke pressed Peeves to explain why he had avoided him, and Peeves criticized the Gaunt family’s ambition.
• When Peeves mocked Gryffindor’s talent, Luke fired Incendio at the wall and warned Peeves not to become his enemy.
• Peeves clarified that he had not meant to insult Slytherin and said Slytherin’s final research concerned Bloodline Fusion.
• Peeves suggested Luke might be the result of experiments involving Slytherin and Gryffindor, with Parseltongue and Emotional Control.