Chapter Summaries

Harry suspected Vaughn had orchestrated Sirius's escape to weaken Fudge and avoided telling him what had happened, while Amelia and Vaughn worked to reform the Auror Office and strengthen her position in the Ministry. The chapter ended with Amelia rejecting Umbridge and other officials' attempts to interfere with her reforms.

• Harry spent a sleepless night suspecting Vaughn had engineered Sirius's escape and decided not to tell him what had happened.
• Hermione told Harry that Amelia had furious over the Wizengamot vote and was planning to overhaul the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
• Vaughn visited Amelia at the Ministry, where she explained that she was reforming Azkaban's oversight and the Auror Office while pushing Scrimgeour aside.
• Amelia admitted feeling that she was becoming like Fudge, and Vaughn reassured her that she acted for the Ministry's future.
• Umbridge offered Amelia time off and tried to assert her authority, while Barty Crouch and other officials proposed involving the Ministry in the Auror reforms.
• Amelia invoked the Wizengamot's authority, refused outside interference, and sent Umbridge and the officials away.

Vaughn explained to Dumbledore that his actions at the Ministry targeted the Dementors, not Scrimgeour, and that Amelia needed control of the Aurors to become Minister. Dumbledore took Vaughn to Ireland to meet Akinbade, whose support could affect the revived Eight-School Tournament.

• Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts and found Vaughn sitting in the Headmaster's chair, where they discussed Vaughn's actions at the Ministry.
• Dumbledore questioned why Vaughn and Amelia had targeted Scrimgeour, and Vaughn said their real objective was to address the danger posed by Dementors.
• Vaughn assured Dumbledore that he had nothing against Scrimgeour and that Amelia would welcome him leading the Aurors again when the time was right.
• Dumbledore offered to arrange a meeting with Akinbade, and Vaughn immediately accepted his apology so they could go.
• Dumbledore took Vaughn by Phoenix travel to a small town in Ireland, where he said Akinbade had gone after Greyback's death.
• Vaughn and Dumbledore headed toward the town to meet Akinbade and discuss the Eight-School Tournament.

Vaughn and Dumbledore met Akinbade in Ireland to discuss the Resurrection Tournament, while Jacob and the pure-blood families used forbidden ritual magic to turn twenty-seven relatives into hostile ghosts tasked with finding Voldemort. After cleaning up the ritual site, Jacob and Lucius sensed a powerful magical battle nearby.

• Vaughn and Dumbledore saw the devastation left by Greyback's Army in an Irish town, and Vaughn clarified that C's Executive Council had executed Greyback.
• Vaughn and Dumbledore met Akinbade at his home and prepared to discuss the Resurrection Tournament.
• Jacob and representatives of nine pure-blood families sacrificed twenty-seven relatives in an ancient ritual that transformed them into ghosts capable of casting wandless magic.
• Jacob sent the ghosts to search for Voldemort, while the pure-blood representatives left cautiously and Jacob and Lucius erased the ritual's traces.
• Jacob and Lucius noticed powerful magical fluctuations at the end of the street and realized two powerful wizards were likely fighting.

Lucius and Jacob suspected that the wizard battle on a Muggle street was connected to their pure-blood gathering, but left without investigating. At the Shrieking Shack, Lupin went to signal Vaughn after Sirius returned from a staged fight, while Fred and George continued working on a device.

• Lucius and Jacob wondered whether an informer had exposed the pure-blood families, then decided to leave without checking the battle.
• Kreacher served Lupin a snack while thinking about Walburga, Vaughn, and his conflicting prejudice toward Lupin.
• Sirius returned to the old Black house injured, and Lupin healed his arm with an externally applied potion.
• Sirius told Lupin that his fight with a Death Eater had gone smoothly, then agreed not to visit Harry yet.
• Lupin went to the Shrieking Shack, where Fred and George were tinkering, and touched the marked stone to signal Vaughn.

Vaughn brought Lupin to the Hog’s Head after Fred and George’s fake wand nearly struck Lupin with a volley of poisonous-looking spines. There, Lupin reported that his friend had attacked a former Death Eater and revealed the truth about an old incident, though no wizard witnesses could confirm it.

• George accidentally activated his unfinished fake wand, sending sharp spines at Lupin, and Vaughn stopped them with a Banishing Charm.
• Vaughn told Lupin that he had asked Fred and George to mass-produce fake wands with jinxes for use against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
• Vaughn and Lupin went to the Hog’s Head, where Aberforth challenged them for entering on a school night but let them pass after recognizing Vaughn.
• Vaughn invited Lupin to report privately, and Lupin said his friend had attacked a former Death Eater and exposed the truth about an old incident on a Muggle street.
• Lupin explained that no wizards had witnessed the attack and doubted the former Death Eater would tell anyone what had really happened.

Vaughn told Aberforth that Sirius had been framed by Peter and explained Dumbledore’s dangerous use of the cursed Resurrection Stone. He brought the estranged brothers together, but they argued bitterly, leaving Dumbledore shaken and Aberforth gone.

• Vaughn sent Lupin away with Butterbeer for Fred and George, then told Aberforth that Sirius was innocent, Peter was hiding at Hogwarts, and their staged attack would help reveal the truth.
• Vaughn explained that Voldemort had made the Resurrection Stone a Horcrux and that Dumbledore risked dying by using it to reach Ariana, urging Aberforth to speak with his brother.
• Aberforth closed the Hog’s Head, entered the secret passage behind Ariana’s portrait, and reached the Room of Requirement.
• Dumbledore saw Aberforth in the Room of Requirement, and Aberforth confronted him about using the Resurrection Stone to see Ariana.
• Aberforth left after insisting Ariana would never want to see Dumbledore, while Vaughn listened from the Headmaster’s Office and judged the meeting’s outcome favorably.

Dumbledore accepted that the Resurrection Stone could not truly bring Ariana back and kept it as a memento, then questioned Vaughn about Sirius's staged attack on Corban Yaxley. Vaughn explained the plan to expose the pure-bloods and draw Voldemort out, while Dumbledore continued delaying their meeting with Nicolas Flamel because he feared the aether's dangers to Vaughn.

• Dumbledore kept the Gold Chain beneath his robes after deciding not to use the Resurrection Stone to summon Ariana.
• Aberforth remained wary of Vaughn's ambitions and wondered why Dumbledore continued supporting him.
• Dumbledore confronted Vaughn in the Laboratory about Sirius's public duel with Corban Yaxley, and Vaughn explained that it was meant to pressure the pure-bloods into seeking Voldemort.
• Vaughn revealed that the supposed Yaxley elites were Irish Dark Wizards whose memories he had altered, and confirmed that Corban was one of his people.
• Dumbledore asked about Rita Skeeter's Animagus form and invited Vaughn to the Great Hall, but Vaughn said it was not yet time to meet Harry.
• Vaughn pressed Dumbledore to arrange his meeting with Nicolas Flamel, while Dumbledore privately worried that the aether gods and fate posed a danger to him.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione read Rita Skeeter’s report claiming that Peter Pettigrew betrayed Harry’s parents and framed Sirius, then sought Remus Lupin to learn the truth. Hagrid brought them to C’s Forbidden Forest office, where Barnard said Lupin was waiting for them.

• Rita Skeeter’s Daily Prophet article showed Sirius fighting Corban Yaxley and reported that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed Harry’s parents and survived after framing Sirius.
• Harry questioned the report, while Ron doubted it and Hermione presented notes about Harry’s parents that she had gathered from Hogwarts professors.
• Hermione said meeting Lupin could confirm whether Sirius was the informant and revealed that a former colleague had agreed to pass along her request.
• Hagrid arrived and led Harry, Ron, and Hermione through the Forbidden Forest to C’s office, where Dire Wolves and centaurs lived alongside one another.
• Barnard greeted the group, recognized Harry, and told them that Mr. Lupin was waiting.

Lupin and Sirius revealed to Harry that Sirius had not betrayed his parents and that Peter Pettigrew was the real traitor, while Hermione helped conceal Vaughn's involvement with a carefully woven lie. Sirius offered to take Harry away from the Dursleys, and they agreed to keep in touch by owl until the summer holidays.

• Barnard brought Harry, Ron, and Hermione to meet Lupin and Sirius, who revealed that Sirius was Harry's godfather and his parents' loyal friend.
• Lupin explained that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed Harry's parents, while Sirius blamed himself for suggesting the change of Secret Keeper.
• Hermione persuaded Ron that Scabbers had been Peter in disguise and had fled because he feared Vaughn's research.
• Sirius told Harry that Vaughn had created an opportunity for his escape, and Harry wondered why Vaughn and Dumbledore had kept their distance.
• Lupin told Harry that Sirius was his legal guardian and could take him away from the Dursleys, and Harry gladly accepted.
• Sirius left with Lupin in dog form, promising to write to Harry and collect him from the Dursleys during the summer holidays.

Harry learned that Sirius was his godfather and struggled with suspicions that Vaughn and Dumbledore had withheld the truth about Peter. Meanwhile, Hogwarts students followed reports supporting Sirius’s claims, and the Central Qi Training Academy won the first faction clash, intensifying rivalry in the Potions Exchange.

• Harry heard the truth about Sirius and wondered when Vaughn and Dumbledore had learned that Peter Pettigrew was alive, while Hermione felt guilty about what she knew.
• Hagrid escorted Harry, Hermione, and Ron away from the Giant Wolf Tribe, and Harry and Ron comforted each other about Peter and Scabbers.
• Hermione watched Ron defeat Harry and her at Wizard’s Chess and wondered whether he had an undiscovered talent for leadership.
• The Daily Prophet published an interview in which Corban Yaxley confirmed seeing Rita Skeeter at the attack scene but hinted he could not reveal the truth about the past.
• The Central Qi Training Academy won the first Potions Exchange faction clash, defeating the remaining competition from Hogwarts and Uagadou as Cheng Quandao led his team.

After the faction contest, Harry learned that Vaughn was leaving with the Beauxbatons delegation to visit Nicolas Flamel and hoped to find him or Dumbledore at the Headmaster’s Office. Vaughn, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Madame Maxime, and the Beauxbatons students traveled to the Flamels’ home, where Dumbledore called out to Nicolas and Perenelle.

• At lunch, Ginny told Ron, Harry, and their friends that Vaughn had supplied her with provisions and Cedric had assigned her to brew potions during the contest.
• Hagrid told Harry, Hermione, and Ron that Vaughn was visiting Nicolas Flamel with the Beauxbatons team, and Harry decided to look for Dumbledore in the Headmaster’s Office.
• At Hagrid’s Hut, Hagrid joined Vaughn, Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, and three Beauxbatons students, bringing a parcel of Rock Cakes as gifts.
• Vaughn opened a Dimensional Gate, and the group traveled through it before Dumbledore led them on foot to the Flamels’ home.
• At the door, Dumbledore called out to Nicolas and Perenelle and announced that he had brought old friends.

Dumbledore brought Vaughn, Hagrid, and the Beauxbatons delegation to visit Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, where Nicolas promised his estate to Beauxbatons and agreed to speak privately with Vaughn. Dumbledore accepted that Vaughn would pursue alchemy, despite his concerns about the upheaval Vaughn’s plans could bring.

• Dumbledore introduced the visitors to Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, and Nicolas recognized Vaughn’s recovered mental body.
• Perenelle welcomed the group, while Hagrid presented the Flamels with a parcel of Rock Cakes.
• Nicolas told Madame Maxime he intended to leave his estate to Beauxbatons and reassured her that he had changed his mind about destroying the Philosopher’s Stone.
• Nicolas asked to speak privately with Vaughn, and Hagrid left with Madame Maxime while Dumbledore stayed to discuss his position.
• Dumbledore acknowledged that Vaughn wanted to study alchemy and decided to let him meet Nicolas, though he feared Vaughn’s reforms could cause chaos and war.

Nicolas Flamel agreed to teach Vaughn alchemy and protect him from roaming the aether until he became a Legendary Wizard. Meanwhile, Corban confronted the Pure-blood Alliance over Sirius Black’s attack and the possibility that someone had betrayed their meeting, leaving Jacob distrustful of the alliance.

• Nicolas praised Vaughn’s insight into the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life, then agreed to teach him alchemy.
• Nicolas made Vaughn promise not to roam the aether before becoming a Legendary Wizard and offered to explore it in Vaughn’s place.
• Vaughn accepted Nicolas as his teacher and received a ring that would let him enter Nicolas’s protected home.
• At a Secret Alliance Meeting, Corban rebuked Jacob and explained why he had not publicly contradicted Rita Skeeter’s report.
• Corban said Sirius Black had attacked him after their gathering and demanded to know who had revealed its time and location.
• Jacob found no clear suspect among the alliance members and worried that their once-solid group was riddled with distrust.

Jacob reorganized the Pure-blood Alliance after an attack exposed its internal distrust, unaware that Corban was secretly working for Vaughn. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron sneaked into the Headmaster's Office to investigate their suspicions about Vaughn and Dumbledore, but found it empty.

• Jacob proposed that he, Lucius, and Corban would make plans and privately assign tasks to the other six Alliance members, who reluctantly agreed.
• Jacob, Lucius, and Corban met alone and settled on a preliminary response to the Weasley Faction and plans to find Voldemort.
• Corban's thoughts revealed that he was Vaughn's hidden ally and had joined the Pure-blood Alliance undercover for the Yaxley Family.
• Harry and Ron went to the Headmaster's Office without Hermione because Harry thought she would try to stop them.
• Harry guessed that "Rock Cakes" was the password, and the Gargoyles eventually opened the way.
• Harry and Ron entered the office but found neither Vaughn nor Dumbledore inside.

Harry and Ron broke into Dumbledore's office, where Harry discovered the Pensieve and entered a memory of Dumbledore and Vaughn discussing Voldemort. The memory revealed that Harry was a Horcrux carrying a fragment of Voldemort's soul, and Harry was pulled away before he could learn more.

• Harry and Ron found the Headmaster's Office empty, but Phineas's portrait caught them and insulted Ron.
• Harry found a Pensieve and, despite Ron's warning, put his head into it to investigate Dumbledore's memories.
• Harry entered a memory of Dumbledore and Vaughn discussing why Voldemort had survived, and Vaughn answered that Horcruxes were involved.
• Vaughn revealed that Harry was also a Horcrux, with a fragment of Voldemort's soul and a connection that let them share perspectives, thoughts, emotions, and memories.
• Vaughn told Dumbledore that Harry might be able to find Voldemort through their connection, but that they should protect Harry with Occlumency; the memory then ended.

Harry and Ron interpreted a planted Pensieve memory as evidence that Voldemort survived through Horcruxes and that Harry himself was one. Meanwhile, Peter Pettigrew regained his memories and planned to flee Hogwarts with Voldemort’s Diary, while Vaughn warned Snape to stay out of the coming danger.

• Harry and Ron escaped the Headmaster’s Office after Phineas pretended to threaten them, unaware that Vaughn and Dumbledore had set the whole encounter up.
• Harry told Ron that Voldemort had survived through Horcruxes, that a fragment of Voldemort’s soul was inside Harry, and that he might be able to enter Voldemort’s thoughts.
• Peter Pettigrew saw Sirius in a newspaper photograph, regained his memories, and transformed back into human form before fleeing Filch’s office.
• Peter remembered Voldemort’s Diary at the Weasley home and decided to leave Hogwarts to find his master, but he was too frightened to enter Gryffindor Tower.
• Vaughn told Snape that Peter was the poisoned bait and warned him to stay out of the plan because his opponents were the lords of pure-blood families.

Vaughn offered the visiting school representatives the chance to remain at Hogwarts as exchange students and join his research projects, while Cheng Quandao asked for more places in exchange for arranging Vaughn’s trip to China. The chapter ended with Hermione learning that Dumbledore would likely oppose the trip.

• Vaughn taught the representatives wizarding theories on the Magic Extraction Method and magic protein, with Hermione helping explain difficult concepts.
• Vaughn invited the representatives to consider staying at Hogwarts next term as exchange students and joining his research groups.
• Cheng Quandao asked Vaughn to increase the number of exchange places, and Vaughn agreed on the condition that he could visit China through the Central Qi Training Academy.
• After the representatives left, Hermione confronted Vaughn about his China plans, and Vaughn explained that he expected Dumbledore to oppose the trip.

Vaughn discussed the exchange program and his plans with Hermione before secretly meeting Dumbledore, where they reviewed Harry, Voldemort, and the Pure-blood Alliance. Dumbledore reported that the International Confederation of Wizards had approved the proposal, while Vaughn was left to consider his agreement with Akinbade.

• Vaughn reassured Hermione that he would remain in England and said the Board of Governors would approve the exchange students, though he had not finalized which Hogwarts students would travel abroad.
• Vaughn spent the afternoon with Hermione in the Laboratory, then secretly entered Dumbledore's Office after she returned to Gryffindor Tower.
• Vaughn and Dumbledore discussed Dumbledore's Twilight, the dangers of prophecies, and whether Harry was prepared for the troubles ahead.
• Vaughn warned Dumbledore that Voldemort might seek DeSantis's help after losing patience with Peter and Harry, and suggested Dumbledore gather information through the Pure-blood Alliance.
• Dumbledore said Akinbade and Nicolas had helped secure the Confederation's approval of the proposal and reminded Vaughn to honor his agreement with Akinbade.

Vaughn and Akinbade agreed to cooperate on reviving the Eight-School Tournament and establishing an International Werewolf Association, which Vaughn viewed as a useful outward expansion for C. The chapter ended with Isabella telling Vaughn that an unknown wizard had attacked her with the Killing Curse, leaving him unable to identify the attacker among Hogwarts’ many visitors.

• Akinbade secured Confederation oversight of Vaughn’s international initiatives and proposed an International Werewolf Association, and Vaughn accepted the conditions.
• Vaughn went to the Forbidden Forest and summoned C’s core members to discuss establishing the International Werewolf Association.
• Vaughn returned to the Laboratory, where Isabella was waiting, and learned that her Trial Battlefield duties were proceeding smoothly.
• Isabella told Vaughn that an unknown wizard had attacked her with the Killing Curse while she was returning from inspecting the Trial Battlefield.
• Vaughn considered the possible attackers among Hogwarts’ staff and visiting delegations but could not determine who had attacked Isabella.

Vaughn investigated who had attacked Isabella and suspected an adult from one of the visiting school delegations. He visited Xenophilius Lovegood, who welcomed him and called Pandora downstairs.

• Vaughn suspected the attacker was either DeSantis, a Hogwarts staff member, or an adult from a visiting school delegation, then focused on the visitors after clearing Hogwarts staff.
• Vaughn proposed combining Isabella's Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons with the Dueling Club in the Great Hall, and she eagerly agreed.
• Vaughn told Isabella to pause her Trial Battlefield duties and focus on teaching and staying safe while he continued investigating the attacker and Voldemort's curse.
• Vaughn went through the Dimensional Gate to the Lovegood home and told Xenophilius that the magic protein research was progressing and that Rita's report about Peter Pettigrew was true.
• Xenophilius welcomed Vaughn and called Pandora downstairs to see him.