Chapter Summaries

Abigail recovered memories revealing the Scourers’ secrets, triggering a curse that killed her before she could speak. Braun carried her away to bury her, while Cloak kept the memories she had extracted.

• Abigail’s memories returned, and she realized the Scourers had planted a curse over her heart to kill her if she betrayed them.
• Braun poured a Potion into Abigail’s mouth, but she used her last strength to extract her recovered memories into a wisp of silver light.
• Cloak caught the memory in a Crystal Vial as Abigail died in Braun’s arms.
• Braun told Cloak that he had known restoring Abigail’s memories would kill her and that Wade had warned him of the curse.
• Braun carried Abigail out of the warehouse to dig her grave, leaving Cloak with the collected memories.

Wade returned to Hogwarts carrying Hughes’s baby, Ezra, so Dumbledore could help treat him. Hawthorne and Antoine stayed behind in Hogsmeade, where Hawthorne worried about whether Ezra was safe.

• Hawthorne and Antoine arrived at the Three Broomsticks and rented a quiet room under cloaks.
• Hawthorne asked Antoine whether Ezra was safe with the person taking him to Dumbledore, and Antoine assured him that the plan was reliable.
• Wade changed his appearance on the snowy road and continued toward Hogwarts with the baby in his arms.
• Filch opened the gates for Wade, then mistook the baby for his child before Wade explained that Ezra belonged to a friend.

Wade brought Baby Hughes to Hogwarts, where Madam Pomfrey diagnosed severe damage from disordered Time Magic but devised a difficult treatment using the Time Adjustment Kettle. After Hawthorne agreed to the treatment, Wade stayed with Dumbledore to discuss his journey before he might no longer want to talk about it.

• Wade delivered Baby Hughes to the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey examined him and found that Time Magic had fractured the flow of time within his body.
• Madam Pomfrey explained that Hughes's condition was too complex for St. Mungo's and that his treatment would depend on the Time Adjustment Kettle, though she had less than a fifty percent chance of success.
• Wade explained the prognosis to Hawthorne, who chose to keep Hughes at Hogwarts for treatment.
• Madam Pomfrey planned to adjust Hughes's body region by region with the kettle, stabilizing him with Spells and Potions over an extended period.
• Dumbledore invited Wade to discuss his journey that night, and Wade agreed, saying he might not want to discuss certain matters later.

Dumbledore met with Wade in his office, where Fawkes healed him and Dumbledore revealed that Wade had been honored with a Chocolate Frog Card. Their conversation then turned to Egbert Fontana’s removal from the cards and the accusations against him.

• Fawkes gave Wade a healing tear, and Dumbledore offered him tea and sweets.
• Wade opened a Chocolate Frog box, and Dumbledore caught the lively frog after it leapt onto the desk.
• Wade discovered his portrait and biography on a new Chocolate Frog Card, and Dumbledore congratulated him.
• Dumbledore told Wade that Egbert Fontana had been removed from the cards over accusations of persecuting Muggle-born Young Wizards, political conspiracies, and violating the Statute of Secrecy.
• Phineas Black secretly watched Wade and Dumbledore from his portrait as snow fell outside.

Wade explained how the American Wizarding World’s history shaped Fontana’s hostility toward Muggle-borns, while Dumbledore insisted that history could not excuse injustice. As Wade recounted the crises and power struggles he had witnessed in the United States, Dumbledore recognized his growing influence and urged him to consider how tolerance could reach beyond Britain.

• Wade described Fontana’s divided treatment of those he considered allies and enemies, linking his beliefs to the Salem Witch Trials and the legacy of Rapaport Law.
• Dumbledore said historical forces could shape people but could not excuse leaders who inflicted injustice in the name of protection.
• Dumbledore urged Wade to consider how Britain’s relatively tolerant society could be protected and its principles extended more broadly.
• Wade warned that few people would sacrifice their own interests for a wider responsibility, then recounted the schemes, tragedies, and organizations behind the upheaval in the American Wizarding World.
• Dumbledore listened as Wade revealed the breadth of his actions and influence, seeing him as a rising force in a wider world.

After an all-night conversation, Dumbledore asked Wade why he had chosen to help Ezra Hughes and urged him to learn from Ezra’s recovery. Dumbledore then considered the risks of trusting Wade with responsibility but resolved to keep supporting the possibility that he would choose well.

• Dumbledore asked Wade whether he planned to heal Ezra Hughes to use him as a bridge to Hawthorne, and Wade said he had acted because Ezra had fought to preserve peace and deserved help.
• Dumbledore encouraged Wade to observe Ezra’s recovery and offered him advanced lessons in memory magic after the holiday; Wade eagerly agreed.
• After Wade left, Dumbledore stayed up to organize his notes while the portraits debated whether Wade’s ties to Dark Wizards made him a danger.
• Delis Dewent defended Dumbledore’s decision to trust Wade, and Dumbledore said he would persist even if Wade disappointed him.

Wade woke in his Hogwarts dormitory after a long sleep and caught up on what had happened while Wiser impersonated him. He declined Wiser’s offer to keep standing in for him and prepared to return to school life and see his friends.

• Wade woke in his dormitory and found breakfast prepared by Zoe, Phil, and Hobby, who happily welcomed him back.
• Wiser emerged from Wardrobe Space and greeted Wade, then complained that being human and dealing with social interactions had been exhausting.
• Wade asked what had happened at school, and Wiser gave him a notebook recording events from the months Wade had been away.
• Wade learned that Wiser had avoided classes, relied on Michael at lunch, and attended only select school events without arousing suspicion.
• Wade thanked Wiser for covering for him but declined his offer to take another day off, saying he wanted to see the school and his friends.

Wade returned to Hogwarts and reunited with Michael in the Great Hall, where Michael worried that the dangers Wade had faced might have changed him. Reassured by his friends’ support, Wade joined the students’ Christmas preparations and exchanged a silent welcome with Luna.

• Wade sat in the decorated Great Hall and read Transfiguration Today as students arrived for breakfast.
• Michael recognized Wade, joked with him, and asked whether people had died during his time away.
• Michael urged Wade to remain himself and not try to solve every problem alone, and Wade said he knew his limits.
• Anthony Goldstein announced that students would decorate the North Tower corridor, and Michael warned Wade that Anthony had been volunteering for many jobs since his aunt died.
• Wade agreed that Christmas decorating sounded interesting, and Luna silently welcomed him back.

Wade returned to Potions class after being away for most of the term, reassuring his friends that his problems were mostly resolved. Snape noticed him and greeted his return with a sarcastic challenge in front of the class.

• Michael saw Wade's extensive Potions notes and moved to another table after learning Wade had written them in his third year.
• Padma asked Wade whether his problem had been solved, and he said it had been resolved more or less.
• Theo and Ryan were surprised to see Wade in class, and Wade apologized for missing lessons and SSC activities.
• Ryan corrected Ernie Macmillan's speculation that Wade had received private lessons from the professors.
• Theo prepared ingredients for a review of the Calming Draught, but Snape arrived and sarcastically questioned Wade about returning to class.

Wade returned to Potions class, impressed Snape with his brewing and handed over his study notes. He then chose to sit in on Divination, where he watched Professor Trelawney read a girl's palm before Harry and Ron arrived.

• Wade apologized to Snape for missing classes and offered his study notes for review.
• Wade brewed a Calming Draught flawlessly while answering Snape's questions, and Snape grudgingly called it acceptable.
• Snape took Wade's notes and ordered Mr. Rivers to start his potion over after it boiled.
• After class, Wade checked his timetable and decided to attend Divination.
• Wade watched Professor Trelawney give a vague palm reading before Harry and Ron entered the classroom.

Harry and Ron saw Wade attending Divination Class after a long absence, and Wade said his research had temporarily ended. As they left, Trelawney dropped her teacup and delivered a strange prophecy about two shadows fighting over an extinguished sun.

• Harry and Ron joked about reading each other's palms before Harry spotted Wade sitting in the classroom.
• Ron worried that Wade had become distant, but Harry said Hermione expected things to return to normal when Wade finished his work.
• After class, Wade told Harry and Ron that his research had temporarily ended and he planned to rest for a few days.
• Trelawney warned Wade that gloom had settled over his fate, and Wade promised to take her advice under consideration.
• As Harry, Ron, and Wade were leaving, Trelawney dropped her teacup and prophesied, “Two shadows... fighting over... an extinguished sun...”

Trelawney delivered a cryptic prophecy about shadows, creation, and Wade, then warned him that prophecy did not have to come true. Harry and Ron joined Wade in the Great Hall, where they found Hermione and their friends gathered together.

• Trelawney prophesied about two shadows and a figure who stood on reflections, warning Wade about an abyss and blazing light.
• Trelawney returned to herself and told Wade that focused meditation could help restore his spiritual sight, then cautioned him that prophecies could be avoided.
• Harry stopped Ron from questioning Trelawney and suggested they ask Hermione to help interpret the prophecy.
• Wade insisted they eat lunch before seeking Hermione, and Harry and Ron followed him to the Great Hall.
• Harry spotted Hermione and their friends gathered at the Hufflepuff table and hurried over to join them.

Wade reunited with his friends, but Harry and Ron remained troubled by a prophecy they had heard from Trelawney. In the Umbrella Room, Ron read out his muddled notes, leaving the group unsure what the strange words meant.

• Wade joined his friends at the Hufflepuff table, where they welcomed him and shared food and conversation.
• Hermione noticed Harry and Ron's unease and brought everyone to the Umbrella Room to hear what had happened.
• Harry told the group that he and Ron had heard a prophecy from Trelawney, whose voice and manner had changed dramatically.
• Ron read his hurried, confused transcription of the prophecy, which included phrases about shadows, graves, flames, and a bridge.
• Wade realized Ron had likely misheard parts of the prophecy but chose not to correct him, especially since some of it might concern Wade.

After Trelawney delivered an obscure prophecy, Harry, Ron, and their friends debated its meaning and brought it to Dumbledore. He warned them not to spread or investigate it too deeply, then asked Wade to stay behind.

• Fred examined Ron's poorly written notes, and the students tried to interpret Trelawney's prophecy, including guesses that it might involve Grindelwald and Voldemort.
• Hermione stopped the discussion and insisted they tell Dumbledore about the possible prophecy.
• Harry and Ron presented the prophecy and their theories to Dumbledore, who cautioned that its symbols could have many meanings.
• Dumbledore told Harry and Ron to warn everyone who knew the prophecy to keep it secret and avoid investigating it further.
• Dumbledore dismissed Harry and Ron for class and asked Wade to remain in the office.

Harry and Ron left Dumbledore’s office unsettled by his vague answers, while Harry struggled with jealousy over Wade’s closeness to the Headmaster. Ron realized that Voldemort’s return might be at stake, prompting Harry to recall Dumbledore’s explanation of the memory-warping charm and why he had been told not to reveal the truth.

• Ron questioned why Dumbledore had kept Wade behind, and Harry suppressed his resentment over Wade receiving the Headmaster’s trust.
• Harry reflected that Wade was more capable than him and resolved to support his friend, while wanting to become worthy of similar trust.
• Ron realized the prophecy might concern Voldemort and Grindelwald and feared Voldemort could return to life.
• Harry remembered Dumbledore explaining that Voldemort’s Notice-Me-Not Charm made people forget him and believe he was dead.
• Dumbledore had warned Harry that revealing Voldemort’s survival could reinforce fear, while collective forgetting might weaken Voldemort’s power.
• Harry had told Dumbledore that people might have resisted Voldemort more effectively if they had treated him as an ordinary dangerous wizard.

Wade told Dumbledore the prophecy’s true wording, but Dumbledore feared it might describe a terrible future more plainly than it seemed. Afterward, Professor Flitwick drew Wade into decorating Hogwarts for Christmas and urged him to step back from his worries and keep a steady rhythm in life.

• Wade recited Professor Trelawney’s prophecy to Dumbledore, who examined its images with a silver instrument and admitted he feared its meaning.
• Dumbledore said he needed to consult ancient records and consider the prophecy further, leaving Wade uncertain about what he had learned.
• Wade met Professor Flitwick, who teased him before recruiting him to help decorate a Hogwarts corridor for Christmas.
• Wade worked alongside Michael, Anthony, and other students, gradually relaxing as they finished decorating the corridor.
• Professor Flitwick advised Wade to step back from complicated problems, remember what he already knew, and enjoy the Christmas holiday.

Wade helped Neville understand a Potions assignment, then answered questions from the other SSC members about several subjects in the Umbrella Room. Hermione arrived tired and covered in snow, leaving the group’s gathering interrupted just as she came in.

• Harry told Michael that Hermione and Ron were busy managing younger students ahead of the holidays.
• Wade explained the Forgetfulness Potion assignment to Neville, who returned to his seat and began writing.
• Ryan and Theo took notes on Wade’s explanation, while Michael complained that their homework kept piling up.
• Padma asked Wade to review her work on protective spells for buildings, and the other SSC members gathered around with questions.
• Wade answered the students’ questions across several subjects until Hermione entered the Umbrella Room, cold and tired from the snow.

Hermione organized a unanimous vote on Ron Weasley’s application to join the SSC after Harry learned that Ron wanted to become more capable and help his friends face future danger. The vote ended with every member approving Ron’s application.

• Hermione returned to the Umbrella Room after repairing damage caused by second-years, and Harry presented Ron’s application to join the SSC.
• Harry recalled how Ron had learned that Voldemort might return, then secretly wrote an application because he did not want Harry to face trouble alone.
• Hermione explained that the SSC would decide Ron’s application through an anonymous vote, and the members marked their choices.
• Wade and the other members considered Ron’s sincere application before the three-minute voting period ended.
• Hermione revealed that every member had voted to approve Ron’s application, leaving the Reject column empty.

After Ron was unanimously accepted into the SSC, Harry and Neville spotted Wade heading away from Ravenclaw Tower and followed him. They discovered Wade was helping Madam Pomfrey treat a baby, then hid as he left the ward, and Wade summoned an old broomstick while pretending not to notice them.

• Harry and Neville celebrated Ron's unanimous acceptance into the SSC while Hermione left to patrol the corridors.
• Harry spotted Wade crossing a tower corridor, and he and Neville hurried after him, worried that Wade might be injured.
• Harry and Neville peered through a ward's door and saw Wade beside a baby while Madam Pomfrey treated the child.
• Madam Pomfrey told Wade that the baby's treatment was progressing and urged him to rest because he was part of the treatment process.
• Wade noticed the boys hiding behind a knight statue but did not expose them, then summoned a battered old broomstick through an open window.

Harry and Neville learned that the baby Wade and Madam Pomfrey discussed had been created by magic that turned someone into a child, and they worried it involved chaotic Time Magic. Back in Gryffindor Tower, Ron misread Harry and Neville’s troubled expressions as proof that his friends had rejected him, and he lay awake feeling hurt.

• Harry and Neville escaped to Gryffindor Tower after seeing Wade speak seriously with Madam Pomfrey.
• Neville wondered whether Wade had fathered the baby, but Harry explained that he had heard the phrase “turned into a baby.”
• Harry and Neville suspected Time Magic had transformed the child and worried that such dangerous magic was becoming common.
• Ron saw Harry and Neville return looking troubled and assumed that they had rejected him.
• Ron lost his temper during chess with Dean, then lay awake pretending not to care while Harry tossed and turned nearby.