Chapter Summaries

Cornelius Fudge presided over Sirius Black’s trial and used leading questions to make Sirius’s answers sound incriminating. As the court prepared to reach a verdict, Harry mocked Fudge’s tactics and Barty Crouch’s career.

• Harry embarrassed Barty Crouch by bringing up his son’s Death Eater past and Crouch’s role in sending Sirius Black to Azkaban without a trial.
• Fudge opened Sirius’s trial with Amelia Bones and Dolores Umbridge as interrogators and Percy Weasley as recorder.
• Dumbledore appeared as a defense witness while Fudge questioned Sirius about the deaths of Muggles, his family, and his role as the Potters’ Secret-Keeper.
• Sirius confirmed that he had said “I killed them” after his arrest, and Fudge treated the answer as proof of guilt.
• Fudge signaled that the court should reach a verdict, and Harry criticized his questioning while addressing Crouch, who had moved away from him.

Dumbledore exposed Wormtail Peter as the real traitor, and the tribunal found Peter guilty and Sirius Black not guilty. Dumbledore then demanded 8.35 million Galleons from the Ministry for Sirius’s wrongful imprisonment, leaving the courtroom stunned.

• Dumbledore challenged Fudge and the tribunal for ignoring the key questions about the Fidelius Charm, Voldemort, and the deaths of thirteen Muggles.
• Wormtail Peter confessed that he had been the Potters’ Secret-Keeper, betrayed the resistance, and murdered the Muggles.
• Amelia Bones held a vote, and the tribunal unanimously found Peter guilty and Sirius not guilty.
• Dumbledore argued that Sirius deserved compensation for losing more than ten years of freedom in Azkaban.
• Dumbledore demanded 8.35 million Galleons in damages, and a voice shrieked that he was insane.

Dumbledore persuaded the assembled wizards to approve eight million three hundred and fifty thousand Galleons in compensation for Sirius Black and ordered the return of House of Black's stolen property. Fudge and Umbridge were left unable to prevent the judgment.

• Umbridge denounced Dumbledore's compensation proposal and insisted Sirius Black should receive only one thousand Galleons.
• Dumbledore challenged the wizards to endure thirteen years in Azkaban and argued that Sirius's suffering justified the compensation.
• Amelia Bones supported Dumbledore's proposal, and more than seventy percent of the wizards agreed.
• Fudge accepted the judgment, and Dumbledore ordered the Ministry to deliver the Galleons to Sirius Black within one day.
• Dumbledore demanded the return of House of Black's manors, land, shops, house-elves, and other assets, and Lucius Malfoy objected that they had been mixed with his family's property.

After being freed, Sirius Black felt lost and disoriented, but a glimpse of his shabby reflection and a meal helped him decide to move forward. He reached 12 Grimmauld Place, where the hidden house appeared before him, and approached its front door.

• Sirius Black left the Ministry after his trial, unable to decide where to go or use magic to Apparate.
• A Muggle mistook Sirius for a beggar and gave him a five-pound note, prompting him to notice his disheveled appearance.
• Sirius bought bread and milk tea, then continued through London toward Grimmauld Place.
• Sirius arrived at the spot between Numbers 11 and 13 and caused the hidden Number 12 to appear.
• Sirius hesitated before walking toward the front door of his childhood home.

Sirius returned to the neglected Black family home and found Harry with Kreacher in the sitting room. Harry repeatedly tested soul-repair spells on Sirius until Sirius said his head felt ready to burst, and Harry concluded that his soul was full.

• Sirius entered the decaying Black family home and climbed to the second-floor sitting room, remembering his childhood and family.
• Sirius found Harry being served tea by Kreacher, who ignored his returning master and insulted him as he left.
• Harry struck Sirius with the Anti-Avada Kedavra Curse and explained that he had invented it to heal damage to the soul.
• Harry cast a series of other soul-repair spells on Sirius, repeatedly knocking him unconscious as Sirius recovered between attempts.
• Sirius finally shouted that his head felt full and ready to explode, and Harry stopped after confirming that Sirius's soul was full.

Harry assessed Sirius Black's damaged soul and unstable mental state, then prescribed a Muggle journey to help him recover. Before leaving, Harry took a locket from Sirius's dangerous collection of Dark objects.

• Sirius asked whether Harry's magic had restored the part of his soul lost to Dementors, and Harry explained that his soul was still damaged and difficult to heal.
• Harry described a theory that souls could recover through new experiences, then used questions from a Muggle psychology book to assess Sirius's condition.
• Harry told Sirius to travel around the world without using magic, immerse himself among Muggles, and gave him five hundred pounds.
• Harry told Sirius he had silenced the portrait of Sirius's mother, then asked permission to take an object from the display cabinet.
• Harry subdued the cabinet's dangerous Dark objects and took a locket, then Apparated away after advising Sirius to read more books.

Harry destroyed the soul fragment inside Slytherin's Locket, while Dumbledore became Minister for Magic after Fudge was removed. As Hogwarts prepared to begin term, Harry appeared in Dumbledore's office and handed him two books.

• Harry destroyed Voldemort's soul fragment in Slytherin's Locket with a bolt of black lightning, disrupting BT Tower's communications in the process.
• On January 5, Dumbledore prepared to leave his Hogwarts office as portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses bid him farewell.
• A wizard woke Fudge and told him that a public vote had removed him from office and made Dumbledore Minister for Magic.
• Fudge raged at the news, while the wizard who had informed him left to join Dumbledore's celebration.
• Harry Apparated into Dumbledore's office and handed him two books he had forgotten to give him before.

Harry gave Dumbledore two Muggle political works to guide his plans as the new Minister for Magic, while Dumbledore explained the challenges ahead and Sirius Black’s recovery. At Hogwarts’s welcoming feast, McGonagall announced that she was acting headmistress and Snape had become deputy headmaster.

• Harry gave Dumbledore Selected Works of Mao Zedong and Marxist Philosophy and urged him to study their ideas before attempting reforms.
• Dumbledore told Harry that Sirius Black’s compensation had been deposited at Gringotts and that Sirius was traveling to France to help heal his soul.
• Dumbledore said McGonagall would manage Hogwarts while he served as Minister for Magic, and reassured Snape that he had proposed him for deputy headmaster.
• McGonagall announced Dumbledore’s new position and her temporary leadership at the welcoming feast, then named Snape deputy headmaster.
• Snape toasted Lupin from across the staff table, leaving Lupin puzzled by Snape’s sudden friendliness.

Astoria clung to Harry after returning to Hogwarts, while Helena secretly kissed him and was caught. In London, Dumbledore read Mao Zedong’s Selected Works and resolved to pursue a socialist magical society.

• Astoria reunited with Harry at the Hogwarts Express and stayed close to him, missing the comfort of his embrace.
• Astoria asked Harry about Helena before falling asleep in his arms at Harry’s Cottage.
• Helena returned to Harry’s bedroom, kissed him while he slept, and fled after Harry revealed he had noticed her.
• Dumbledore read Mao Zedong’s Selected Works and decided that the magical world should follow a socialist path with British magical characteristics.

Snape secretly killed Wormtail Peter while disguised as a Death Eater, but suffered severe injuries in the fight. Harry later visited Snape and left him a Unicorn Tear to help heal his carbonized arm.

• Hagrid warmed the students' winter Creatures lesson with bonfires and Fire Salamanders, while Dumbledore abolished Divination and reassured Harry that choices determined fate.
• A disguised Snape followed the Aurors escorting Wormtail Peter and ambushed them near Azkaban, leaving the Aurors and Wormtail badly injured.
• Snape killed Wormtail with Avada Kedavra, then conjured the Dark Mark in the sky before Apparating away.
• Snape returned to his own appearance, called the Auror Headquarters to report the attack, and was dismissed as a prank caller.
• Harry visited Snape's office, told him Wormtail had died, and left a vial containing a Unicorn Tear to help heal Snape's arm.

Ravenclaw defeated Gryffindor, prompting Wood to reconsider what Quidditch meant to him while still demanding more training. As the term grew busier, Hermione struggled under her workload, and Cho discovered Hermione’s Time-Turner before Harry barged into their bath and was thrown out.

• Ravenclaw beat Gryffindor in a hard-fought Quidditch match, ending Gryffindor’s hopes of winning the championship.
• Wood apologized to Harry for speaking badly about him, but Harry ignored him and continued reading.
• Hermione overloaded herself with classes and assignments, while Cho helped ease her stress and Harry teased them about their future daughter.
• Cho recognized Hermione’s Time-Turner while bathing with her, and both girls cried out in surprise.
• Harry Apparated into the bathroom to check on them, saw them naked, and was ordered out by Cho and Hermione.
• Hermione pushed Harry from the bathroom, and the girls muffled their conversation while he complained that they were guarding against him.

Slytherin defeated Hufflepuff in a Quidditch match after Harry helped Draco Malfoy locate the Golden Snitch hidden in his broom. Draco caught it while falling, and the chapter ended with him standing up to Cedric Diggory after the match.

• Flint warned the Slytherin team to watch out for Hufflepuff captain and Seeker Cedric Diggory, while Malfoy thought about Cedric pursuing a Ravenclaw Seeker.
• With Slytherin leading 130–120, Harry spoke to Malfoy and told him the Golden Snitch was caught among the twigs at the back of his broom.
• Malfoy stood on his broom to reach the Snitch, and a Hufflepuff Chaser alerted Cedric to its hiding place.
• Cedric rammed Malfoy's broom as Malfoy caught the Snitch, sending Malfoy plunging toward the ground with the winning Snitch in his hand.
• Malfoy landed safely on an Elasticity Charm; his teammates and Pansy celebrated, while Snape realized someone else had protected him.
• Cedric accused Malfoy of winning by luck, but Malfoy said Lucius Malfoy had returned as a Hogwarts governor, and Cedric backed down.

Cho Chang decided she wanted to quit Quidditch so she could spend more evenings with Hermione and Harry, and Hermione took her to discuss it with Harry. Harry supported her decision, then proposed nightly group exercise, prompting Hermione to drag Cho Chang away while Harry misread her reaction.

• Cho Chang told Hermione that she wanted to quit Quidditch because training left her wishing she could spend more time with her friends.
• Hermione reassured Cho Chang that quitting was not selfish and brought her to speak with Harry.
• Harry happily accepted Cho Chang's decision and said Ravenclaw's training had disrupted their evening plans.
• Harry proposed nightly group exercise with Hermione and Cho Chang, and Hermione angrily led Cho Chang away.
• Harry consulted A Witch's Thoughts: Wizards Have to Guess and concluded that Hermione's objection meant she secretly liked the idea.

Hermione explained Harry's suggestive idea of “group activities” to Cho Chang, who was unbothered, and Cho confirmed she would leave Quidditch after helping Ravenclaw compete for the championship. At Ravenclaw, they met Luna, and Hermione quickly forgot her plan to ignore Harry when he served her dinner.

• Hermione explained that “group activities” referred to the promiscuous mating practices of an extinct Dark creature called Xiang, and Cho Chang said she did not mind Harry's intentions.
• Cho Chang told Hermione she planned to help Ravenclaw win the championship before leaving Quidditch the following year.
• Hermione and Cho Chang met the blonde girl Luna at Ravenclaw's entrance after Luna correctly answered the bronze eagle's question about a Murtlap.
• Cho Chang informed the Ravenclaw Quidditch team of her decision to leave after the season, and the team accepted it without pressuring her.
• Hermione abandoned her plan to give Harry the cold shoulder when Helena served dinner, and she happily ate the dishes Harry placed on her plate.

Harry took Astoria into the Forbidden Forest to visit Big Black, where they witnessed the dragon awaken a mountain giant and Harry destroy it. Big Black gave Harry a giant essence, and the group returned to the forest entrance with the dragon injured.

• Hermione and Cho Chang awkwardly discussed Hermione's experience with Harry after Harry and Astoria left the cottage.
• Harry agreed to let Hagrid borrow Big Black for a class and went with Astoria to find the dragon.
• A hidden Dark wizard tried to attack Harry and Astoria, but Harry restrained him and a black snake killed him.
• Big Black's clawing and fire awakened a mountain giant, which attacked the dragon and broke its neck.
• Harry struck the giant with three rays of light, causing it to collapse, and Big Black retrieved a giant essence from its skull.
• Harry rejected the essence's promise of immortality, returned it to the mountain, and rode Big Black back to the forest entrance.

Two weeks before Hogsmeade weekend, Hermione tried to make Harry take his studies seriously, while Harry teased her and insisted he was not planning to go out. The chapter ended with Harry wondering why Hermione and Cho Chang still kept their distance, as Hermione scolded him for teasing Astoria.

• Helena asked Harry, Hermione, Cho Chang, and Astoria whether they were ready for the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend.
• Hermione argued that exams were approaching and urged Harry to manage his time and study.
• Hermione gave Harry a book about time management, but Harry burned it and teased her.
• Harry told Hermione he had only asked about Hogsmeade and did not want to go.
• Astoria asked Harry what he meant by putting his time management to the test, and Hermione stopped him from corrupting her.

Harry, Hermione, and Cho Chang spent a dull day at Hogwarts playing games, until Cho won a huge card-game bet against Harry. On the first day of Easter holiday, Harry and his friends set off on Big Black to find a quiet island for their vacation.

• Hermione insisted on finishing her assignments, so Harry and Cho helped her complete them before they played Muggle games.
• Harry taught Hermione and Cho card games, and the three wagered Galleons and clothes while playing Dou Dizhu.
• Cho doubled the stakes and won the final round with a bomb and an airplane, leaving Harry owing her and Hermione 640,000 Galleons.
• On April 1, 1994, Harry, Hermione, Cho, Astoria, and their two cats rode Big Black out of the Forbidden Forest to search for an unoccupied island.
• Harry and his friends rejected the travel-guide destinations because Muggles occupied them, and chose to fly over the ocean until they found a quiet, beautiful place.

A woman enjoying a secluded holiday on Prada Island was startled when Harry and his companions landed there on Big Black. Harry claimed the island and its owner, leaving the woman terrified as she realized she had encountered wizards.

• An unnamed woman wandered and rested on Prada Island, reflecting on her public role and wishing she could live there in peace.
• Hermione spotted the island from Big Black and asked Harry to land there with Cho Chang and the others.
• A gust woke the woman as Harry and his companions arrived on the beach, and she froze in fear at the sight of the dragon.
• The woman tried to retreat, but a young girl spotted her and called her a Muggle.
• Hermione worried that the woman had discovered them and urged Harry to use a Memory Charm.
• Harry reassured Hermione, then declared that he was requisitioning the island and its owner.

Hermione, Cho Chang, and Harry met Princess Diana Francis Windsor on the island, where Harry treated her casually and asked her to guide them to her vacation residence. The chapter ended with Harry ordering Big Black to stay near the island and avoid being seen by Muggles.

• Hermione and Cho Chang introduced themselves to the frightened woman and tried to reassure her.
• Harry approached the woman, frightened her further, and used magic to take her crown and place it on Astoria's head.
• The woman revealed that her name was Diana Francis Windsor, and Hermione recognized her as Princess Diana.
• Harry dismissed Diana's status, asked Hermione if she wanted to be queen, and then asked Diana to take them to her vacation residence.
• Harry kicked Big Black toward the sea and told the dragon to learn to swim while staying near the island and out of Muggle sight.

Harry took Diana through an isolated beach retreat and revealed that Queen Elizabeth would live for at least thirty more years, while predicting Diana would break off her engagement to Charles and later die on the streets of Paris. Diana was shaken by his warning, and the chapter ended with Harry giving her his full name.

• Harry assured Diana that Big Black would not be seen by Muggles, and Big Black protested being told to swim in the sea.
• Diana told Hermione that Charles wanted to become king and only pretended to lack interest in the throne, making Harry laugh.
• Harry predicted that the Queen would live at least another thirty years and that Diana and Charles would announce the end of their engagement in two years.
• Diana imagined escaping royal life, but Harry warned that she would die on the streets of Paris, frightening her.
• Harry and his companions reached beach cabins, where Cho Chang suggested living there after graduation and Harry agreed.
• Diana asked who Harry was, and he told her his name was Harry Potter.