Chapter Summaries

Luke secured the representatives’ agreement on terms for opposing the Followers, and the allied Auror forces gathered in the American Wizarding World. The chapter leaves the Followers facing overwhelming numbers as Orson warns that their Fortress’s defenses cannot withstand the coming attack.

• Luke explained each representative’s interests to Samuel and refused to loosen the negotiated terms, prompting Samuel to coordinate with the American Wizarding Congress.
• Luke told Fleur that the Ministries would keep trying to revise the agreement, then learned that the operation to capture Bater Envy had failed but had still disrupted his followers.
• Samuel and the other representatives finalized the terms in writing, and Luke stamped the three sheets of Parchment.
• Auror forces from every side assembled in the American Wizarding World within a week and marched toward the Followers’ front lines.
• Orson warned that the Followers’ defensive formation was already outmatched by the allied forces’ numbers.

Fridrik Blom proposed that the joint Auror force focus on the Followers while Dumbledore held Grindelwald back, but the Aurors questioned why Dumbledore would take that risk. Luke then asked Dumbledore to probe Grindelwald's strength, and Dumbledore resisted.

• Aurors from different countries argued that fighting Grindelwald directly would waste their lives, and several rejected a human-wave tactic.
• Fridrik Blom said the force should target the Followers while Dumbledore occupied Grindelwald, giving them a chance to eliminate the other enemies.
• A bespectacled Auror questioned why Dumbledore would confront Grindelwald now, given their unequal ages and Dumbledore's past reluctance to face him directly.
• Luke returned to Hogwarts and asked Dumbledore to probe Grindelwald's strength.
• Dumbledore pointed to his age and workload and said he did not think he could do it.

Luke asked Dumbledore to help him confront Grindelwald, arguing that their stalemate threatened the Wizarding World and the reforms he had established. Dumbledore agreed to help, though he questioned why Luke did not simply defeat Grindelwald and leave him isolated.

• Dumbledore recognized Luke’s extraordinary power and doubted that Grindelwald could easily overpower him.
• Luke asked Dumbledore to help lure Grindelwald into an ambush, then proposed attacking him while Dumbledore distracted him.
• Dumbledore said his relationship with Grindelwald would not make him effective bait, but Luke insisted he needed help because Grindelwald might be stronger than ever.
• Luke argued that delaying the fight would weaken the Wizarding World and risk destroying his reforms, while Dumbledore questioned why Luke would not simply isolate Grindelwald.
• Dumbledore hesitated, then agreed to help Luke.

Professor McGonagall confronted Dumbledore about his choices and the harm caused by his refusal to take responsibility, while explaining how Luke had changed her perspective. She left determined to guide Luke and prevent him from becoming like Dumbledore.

• Professor McGonagall brought Dumbledore wine and said she had come to speak honestly rather than persuade him not to go.
• Professor McGonagall criticized Dumbledore for failing to lead the International Confederation of Wizards and allowing its authority to weaken.
• Professor McGonagall told Dumbledore that he should have become Minister of Magic after Voldemort fell, which might have enabled a more thorough purge of the Death Eaters.
• Professor McGonagall questioned whether Dumbledore could have defeated Voldemort himself and condemned his decision to rely on others while the Order of the Phoenix suffered losses.
• Dumbledore asked whether Professor McGonagall wanted him to make a final stand, but she said his choices were his own and went inside to focus on guiding Luke.

Frederick, Cook Varis, Arinas, and Hector planned an assault on Dain Castle after learning Dumbledore would arrive to hold Grindelwald back. The Followers launched a surprise attack on the Auror camp, and as the camp descended into chaos, Derrick found himself face-to-face with Grindelwald.

• Frederick, Cook Varis, Arinas, and Hector discussed surrounding Dain Castle from three sides and leaving the Followers an escape route lined with traps.
• A sudden attack struck the command tent and the rest of the camp, injuring Arinas and killing Aurors in the ensuing confusion.
• Cook tried to rally the camp, but many Aurors panicked and fled west toward the lake as Followers attacked from three directions.
• Hector, Cook, and Arinas moved to gather their scattered forces, while Cook questioned whether the company had let the Followers through its eastern defenses.
• Leon hid behind Gaom as Derrick faced Grindelwald and greeted him nervously.

Grindelwald visited Derrick’s camp and promised not to harm its soldiers if they stayed put, then joined the battle against the Aurors. His arrival shifted the fight in the Followers’ favor and left the Aurors despairing over how freely he could act.

• Grindelwald appeared in Derrick’s camp, where Derrick and his subordinates held their positions despite their fear.
• Grindelwald told Derrick he did not want to hurt them and promised to leave them alone if they stayed in camp that night.
• Derrick ordered his people to clean up and sleep rather than help the Aurors, while Gaom encouraged Leon to grow strong enough to change what he disliked.
• Grindelwald appeared on the battlefield and struck the Aurors with spells as Orson directed the Followers’ attacks.
• The Followers seized the initiative, and the Aurors despaired at Grindelwald’s unexpected freedom to fight.

After Grindelwald shattered Luke’s plan by routing the Auror United Forces, Luke went to the front and ordered all available divisions to prepare for combat. Grindelwald’s Followers celebrated their victory, but Orson admitted they might not withstand the company without Grindelwald’s help.

• Luke learned that Grindelwald had attacked the Auror United Forces and realized that the unexpected move had disrupted his planned stage.
• Derrick advised Luke that Grindelwald’s Followers needed to keep advancing rather than retreat, and Luke ordered scouts to track their movements.
• Taylor and Hermione offered to accompany Luke, but he told them to continue their work and traveled alone to the front lines.
• After arriving and recovering from the long-distance Portkey, Luke ordered every available division into combat readiness and called a joint conference.
• Orson reported that the Auror United Forces had been scattered, and Grindelwald asked whether the Followers could face the company without him.

Trippcard learned that Grindelwald had nearly destroyed the joint Auror force and was advancing on his family, forcing him to plan a resistance that could preserve his standing without risking his life. He contacted Lucius Malfoy to ask for help persuading Dumbledore to intervene, and Lucius appeared ready to hear his request.

• Trippcard's subordinate reported that Grindelwald had killed nearly all the joint Aurors and was approaching the Trippcard Family.
• Trippcard ordered his family to resist, though he privately intended to surrender if Dumbledore did not arrive to stop Grindelwald.
• Trippcard reasoned that preserving his life and the Trippcard Family mattered more than sacrificing himself for appearances.
• Trippcard contacted Narcissa Malfoy and asked to speak with Lucius Malfoy urgently.
• Lucius appeared in the mirror and asked Trippcard whether he was calling about Grindelwald's sudden actions.

Lucius told Lord Tripcard he could not promise reinforcements and later revealed Tripcard’s plan to betray his family to Grindelwald at a secret meeting. Luke convened the gathered departments as the conflict neared its final offensive.

• Lucius explained that Dumbledore had agreed to fight because Luke Gaunt persuaded him, and said he could not contact Luke directly.
• Lord Tripcard asked Lucius to seek help, while Lucius advised him to preserve himself and then ended their conversation.
• Lucius joined the secret meeting, where he spoke with Draco and heard Mr. Weasley urge George and Fred to write to their mother.
• Luke and Derrick arrived, and Luke opened the meeting by asking everyone to share information.
• Lucius reported that Tripcard intended to stage a brief resistance before joining Grindelwald, then blame Dumbledore if Grindelwald lost.

Luke’s allies discussed Grindelwald’s move against the Trippcard Family and accelerated their plans to reshape the Wizarding World. After the meeting, Luke instructed Derrick to protect ordinary people and named Taylor as his successor if anything happened to him.

• Luke and his allies decided to exploit the Trippcard Family’s predicament, while telling Trippcard that Dumbledore would arrive and urging him to hold out against Grindelwald.
• Luke declined to alert Dumbledore immediately but told Luna to support him if he learned of the crisis and chose to go to America.
• Luke ordered his departments to deploy their new work, eliminate hostile operatives, and accelerate reforms, with the British Ministry of Magic serving as an example.
• After the meeting, Lucius saluted Luke, and Luke told Derrick to monitor Grindelwald’s Followers and prevent them from harming ordinary people.
• Luke told Derrick that Taylor should lead the Operations Department if anything happened to him, and Derrick agreed to follow his instructions.

Dumbledore learned that Grindelwald had attacked the Trippcard Family and decided to travel to the American Wizarding World to confront him. Luke arranged his transport and backed his choice, while warning that Dumbledore might not win and declaring that Luke would ultimately prevail.

• Dumbledore's information channels had largely been absorbed into Luke's organization, leaving his agents reluctant to share information without Luke's permission.
• Moody woke Dumbledore and reported that Grindelwald was attacking the Trippcard Family and that the Ministry of Magic had received a request for aid.
• Dumbledore decided to go to the United States, and Luke told him to find Luna, who had a long-range transport Portkey.
• Luke warned Dumbledore that Grindelwald's strength was unknown and that Dumbledore's chances of victory were poor, but Dumbledore said Grindelwald would not kill him and offered to gather information.
• Luke told Dumbledore he would support him and predicted that Luke would be the final victor, while Dumbledore left for his battlefield.

Luna gave Dumbledore a protective Small Doll before he set out to confront Grindelwald, while Moody and Luna returned to their duties. At Trippcard Manor, Grindelwald’s Followers battered the defenses, and Don Trippcard learned that Dumbledore was on his way to help.

• Luna gave Dumbledore her Long-distance Portal Key and a Small Doll that could maintain a powerful Magic Shield, and he promised her he would return safely.
• Moody left after warning Dumbledore to be careful, and Luna went back to sleep.
• Grindelwald’s Followers attacked Trippcard Manor’s defensive barrier, while Don Trippcard hesitated to order a counterattack and waited for news from Lucius Malfoy.
• Lucius told Don Trippcard that Dumbledore had learned of the attack and was rushing to the American Wizarding World.
• Don Trippcard thanked Lucius and vowed that the Trippcard Family would protect American civilians until its members had fallen.

Grindelwald captured the Trippcard Family estate and spared Trippcard after learning that Dumbledore was on his way. Orson proposed turning the conflict into a war between Wizards and Muggles, while Grindelwald revealed that his strength had grown enough for him to destroy the Wizarding Congress and insisted that defeating Dumbledore would prove his power.

• Grindelwald shattered the Trippcard Family’s magical shield with Fiendfyre, overcame their resistance, and held Trippcard at wandpoint.
• Trippcard warned Grindelwald that Dumbledore was traveling to the estate, and Grindelwald ordered his Followers to imprison him.
• Orson advised the Followers to rest, spread fear, and then attack the Wizarding Congress before provoking a war with American Muggles.
• Grindelwald told Orson that the Fountain of Youth had greatly increased his strength and declared that the world must obey him or be destroyed.
• Grindelwald said defeating Dumbledore would be the first step in proving his power to the world.

After the Followers stopped attacking, the American Wizarding leaders arranged an evacuation and waited for Dumbledore to confront Grindelwald at Trippcard Manor. Dumbledore arrived as the Wizarding World watched, while Luke prepared to purge the Followers and left the duel to unfold.

• Wot reported that the Followers had stopped attacking, and Gladys ordered the leaders to arrange an evacuation while Samuel contacted Britain for news of Dumbledore.
• Samuel reported that Dumbledore was traveling to Trippcard Manor, but warned that Grindelwald’s rejuvenation might let him defeat the aging professor.
• At Trippcard Manor, Grindelwald waited for Dumbledore as the Followers rested and stole valuables; Orson recognized that the coming battle would decide their fate.
• Dumbledore arrived, and his overwhelming presence showed that he could match Grindelwald despite his travel-worn appearance.
• The Wizarding World watched the two men gather above Trippcard Manor, while Luke told Derrick to prepare to purge the Followers and leave the duel to him.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald reunited and began a fierce duel, with Grindelwald fighting to honor the people who had freed him. As Luke watched, Dumbledore’s unconventional attack wounded Grindelwald, who remarked on how much Dumbledore’s fighting style had changed.

• Dumbledore and Grindelwald spoke about their long separation and the different paths that had brought them into conflict.
• Grindelwald explained that he had returned because his Followers expected him to continue, and Dumbledore drew the Elder Wand.
• Dumbledore hinted that Luke Gaunt had defeated him and refused the Elder Wand, then challenged Grindelwald to defeat him to learn more.
• Dumbledore and Grindelwald exchanged dueling salutes and launched Phoenix and Fiendfyre attacks while trading spells across the sky.
• Derrick asked Luke whether he would ambush Grindelwald, and Luke said he knew what he was doing as he watched the duel.
• Dumbledore transformed his wand into a massive axe, wounded Grindelwald, and heard him remark that Dumbledore’s fighting style had changed.

Dumbledore faced Grindelwald’s immense power and used Luke’s unusual close-combat approach, but the blood pact allowed both men to believe they were helping the other by ending his life. Grindelwald unleashed a massive Fiendfyre attack at Dumbledore, then realized Dumbledore was stronger than he had expected.

• Dumbledore recognized that Grindelwald had grown much stronger and adapted Luke’s unconventional fighting style to challenge him.
• Grindelwald revealed that his recent improvement came from his subordinates’ efforts and the Fountain of Youth.
• Grindelwald’s Fiendfyre Magic Snake expanded, terrifying the observers and making them believe resistance was hopeless.
• Dumbledore and Grindelwald each believed the blood pact permitted them to harm the other because they were offering help or release.
• Grindelwald sent a colossal pillar of Fiendfyre at Dumbledore’s shield, but his expression grew grave as he sensed Dumbledore’s strength.

Grindelwald survived Dumbledore’s attack and revealed strength beyond what Luke had expected. Luke stepped forward to face Grindelwald alone, while Dumbledore withdrew from the battle.

• Grindelwald’s Fiendfyre failed to break the enormous ice sphere, shocking the audience.
• The ice sphere shattered, and Luke was revealed shielding Dumbledore from Grindelwald.
• Grindelwald told Luke that the Fountain of Youth had made him stronger than he had been in his prime.
• Luke drew his wand and said he would make full use of his advantage by fighting Grindelwald after Dumbledore.
• Luke told Dumbledore to go down and rest, declaring that the battlefield was now his.

Luke Gaunt fought Grindelwald while their Fiendfyre Magic Snakes clashed, and their exchange showed that Grindelwald still held the advantage. Luke rejected Grindelwald’s offer to wait for his death and explained that he wanted a world shaped by everyone, including Muggles, as Grindelwald declared his intent to make wizards rule the world.

• Luke’s Fiendfyre Magic Snake battled Grindelwald’s evenly matched snake as onlookers realized Luke had the strength to challenge the Wizarding World alone.
• Luke attacked Grindelwald with a longsword and wind blades, but Grindelwald blocked them and cut Luke’s throat with a rapier.
• Grindelwald praised Luke for learning his technique quickly and said Luke could not defeat him through tricks.
• Grindelwald urged Luke to withdraw and wait for his death, promising that the shattered world would then belong to Luke.
• Luke rejected the offer, saying he wanted to create a world where hard work was rewarded and Muggles were included.
• Grindelwald said his war would engulf the Wizarding World and that wizards would become the masters of the world.

Luke used Snake Transformation and a poisoned dagger against Grindelwald, but the poison could only slow him down. After admitting defeat for now, Luke escaped with a small sphere, leaving Grindelwald and observers across several ministries waiting to see what would happen next.

• Luke used Snake Transformation as Grindelwald dismissed the small boost and urged him to give up.
• Luke slashed Grindelwald's neck with a poisoned dagger, but the poison only slowed Grindelwald's movements.
• Grindelwald fortified his shields while Luke retreated and declared he would return to win.
• Luke crushed a small sphere and vanished before Grindelwald could react.
• Hermione asked Taylor where Luke had gone, while officials in Britain and France watched the screen and waited.
• Grindelwald sat inside his spherical shield to recover and prepare for Luke's return.

Luke returned to Hogwarts after failing to defeat Grindelwald and told Professor McGonagall he would use his trump card: cultivation. He traveled through the Time Tree to the past, arriving near Hogwarts in a weakened state and finding the tree’s clearing empty.

• Luke arrived at Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall sensed his immense magical power and flew to meet him.
• Luke told Professor McGonagall that he planned to cultivate, promised he would return, and vanished before she could answer.
• Luke visited the Time Tree and concluded that he was destined to travel back and bury the letter that had once appeared beneath it.
• Luke used the Time Tree and awoke in a woodland near Hogwarts, physically exhausted and nearly out of magic.
• Luke flew above the trees, confirmed Hogwarts still stood, and found that the clearing where the Time Tree had stood was empty.