Chapter Summaries

Umbridge tried to force Harry to reveal who he had contacted, but Snape refused to give her Veritaserum. Hermione tricked Umbridge into following her into the Forbidden Forest, where centaurs attacked; Darren protected Harry and Hermione, and Grawp arrived as the centaurs turned on Darren.

• Umbridge demanded Veritaserum from Snape, who claimed he had none and left after hinting that she could poison Harry.
• Umbridge admitted that she had sent the Obscurus, then threatened to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry.
• Hermione pretended to confess her feelings for Harry and told Umbridge that he had contacted Dumbledore about a finished weapon.
• Hermione led Umbridge, Harry, and the others into centaur territory, where the centaurs attacked Umbridge after she insulted them.
• Darren shielded Harry and Hermione, but the centaurs accused him of using magic against them.
• Grawp arrived, called for Hagrid, and the centaurs threatened Darren as Harry and Hermione tried to explain.

Darren rescued Harry and the others from the centaurs, though he was badly wounded. When Harry insisted on going to the Ministry of Magic to save Black, Darren and the others joined him, and they set off on Thestrals with Darren fearing someone might not return.

• Darren used a barrier to drive back the centaurs and carried Harry and the others to safety.
• Harry and Hermione saw blood on Darren’s robe, and Darren claimed it was the centaurs’ blood despite their suspicion that he had been injured protecting them.
• Neville, Luna, and Ginny arrived with Harry’s and Hermione’s wands, and Neville said he had been unable to reach his grandmother.
• Harry announced he would go to the Ministry of Magic to save Black, and Darren promised to go with him.
• Ginny, Luna, Neville, Ron, and Hermione joined Harry, and Luna pointed out that the Thestrals could carry them to the Ministry.
• Darren agreed to go with the group, warned that he feared something would happen, and they flew away from Hogwarts on the Thestrals.

Darren and Harry led their friends into the Department of Mysteries to find Sirius, while Darren tried to keep everyone away from the dangerous Veil. The group discovered the Veil, which began drawing Harry’s attention, and Luna sensed someone beyond it.

• Harry and his friends landed near the Ministry, collected Special Agent badges, and entered the empty building.
• Harry led the group to the Department of Mysteries, where they searched for Sirius.
• The group entered a room full of brains, and Luna marked the doorway so they could recognize it later.
• Darren approached the Veil, but Hermione warned him that Professor Victor believed he could disappear through one, so Darren backed away.
• Harry heard voices from the Veil and tried to approach it, but Darren stopped him and reminded him to find Sirius.
• Luna said someone was inside the Veil.

Darren and Harry found a trap in the room of crystal balls, where Death Eaters captured Harry and bound the others with poisonous ropes. Darren took the ropes into himself so his friends could escape, then stood against the Death Eaters while Malfoy secretly urged him to stun him and run.

• Luna watched Darren sadly as Harry, Darren, Hermione, and the others searched the Department of Mysteries for Sirius.
• Harry found a crystal ball bearing his name and touched it, triggering ropes that bound him as Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix, and other Death Eaters appeared.
• Malfoy revealed that Sirius was safe at home and threatened to let the ropes poison Harry and the others unless Darren surrendered the crystal ball.
• Darren absorbed the ropes through a cut in his palm, freeing his friends while suffering severe pain.
• Darren gave Harry and the others a signal to run, then blocked the Death Eaters as Bellatrix tried to attack him.
• Malfoy stopped Bellatrix and silently told Darren to stun him and escape.

Darren rescued Harry, Hermione, and the others from the Death Eaters, but the battle ended in tragedy when he saved Harry and Sirius from the Veil and fell through it himself. Harry was left devastated as Lupin told him Darren was dead.

• Darren escaped Malfoy, fought the Death Eaters, and rushed to rescue Harry and the others.
• A spell struck Darren, and he pretended to be blinded by the poison while Hermione guided him through the darkness.
• Sirius, Moody, and Lupin arrived to fight the Death Eaters, while Harry and Darren were threatened over the Remembrall.
• Darren overpowered the wizard holding him hostage, but Sirius was struck by a spell and began falling toward the Veil.
• Darren pulled Harry and Sirius away from the Veil, then fell through it himself, and Harry tried to reach him despite Lupin's warning that he was dead.

After Darren fell through the veil, Harry blamed himself and shattered the Prophecy Orb before attacking Bellatrix with the Cruciatus Curse. Voldemort arrived, learned Darren was dead, and fired the Killing Curse at Harry.

• Harry tried to reach Darren through the veil, but Hermione and Dumbledore told him Darren was gone.
• Harry smashed the Prophecy Orb, then attacked Bellatrix with the Cruciatus Curse for striking Black.
• Harry recalled ignoring Darren’s warnings and kindness, while his scar began to hurt intensely.
• Voldemort appeared and tortured a Death Eater who confirmed Darren had fallen through the veil.
• Voldemort declared he would kill Harry and cast the Killing Curse.

Harry returned to Dumbledore’s office after Darren fell through the Veil, but he was overwhelmed by guilt and grief. Dumbledore tried to comfort him and began to explain how Darren had worried about him, but Harry asked him to stop talking about Darren.

• Dumbledore shielded Harry from Voldemort, but Harry suffered intense pain from his scar and lost consciousness.
• Fudge arrived with a crowd, and Dumbledore sent Harry to the Headmaster’s Office using a Portkey.
• Harry waited in the office, thinking about Darren and listening to the portraits talk about him.
• Dumbledore told Harry that his classmates had survived and been taken to St. Mungo’s, but Harry remained focused on Darren’s death.
• When Dumbledore began explaining that Darren had worried about him, Harry asked him not to talk about Darren.

Harry confronted Dumbledore over Darren’s apparent death, blaming himself and refusing to hear explanations. Dumbledore revealed how the Order’s plans and his own decisions had burdened Darren, then began explaining the choices that led to Darren’s injury as Harry angrily cut him off.

• Harry smashed silver objects in Dumbledore’s office and demanded to leave, but Dumbledore kept the door shut so they could talk.
• Dumbledore admitted that he should have explained the plan to Harry and said his failure to do so had helped Voldemort lure Harry to the Department of Mysteries.
• Dumbledore explained that Darren had been exhausted by his many duties, had acted out staged conflicts with Snape to deceive Voldemort, and had gone after Harry without waiting for Severus.
• Dumbledore told Harry that the Order had distrusted Darren at first, tested him over the years, and later recruited him despite his serious injuries and worries about the school’s security.
• Dumbledore said Darren should have chosen a safer way to escape the centaurs, and Harry sobbed, defended Darren, and angrily ordered Dumbledore to stop talking about him.

Dumbledore explained why he had kept Harry and Darren in the dark, recounting how his suspicions and delays shaped their lives. He revealed that Kreacher had worked for Narcissa and lured Harry to the Ministry, then showed him the prophecy that Voldemort had heard only in part.

• Harry blamed Snape’s poor Legilimency lessons for leaving his mind open, while Dumbledore admitted that he had delayed telling Harry and Darren the truth.
• Dumbledore recounted suspecting Darren after discovering Voldemort’s influence in his mind, but choosing to raise him rather than kill him.
• Harry broke down over being unable to block the dreams and realizing that Kreacher had lied to him.
• Dumbledore explained that Kreacher had gone to Narcissa after Sirius ordered him away and had used Harry’s love for Sirius to lure him to the Ministry.
• Dumbledore revealed that the prophecy orb held a prophecy made by Professor Trelawney and began showing Harry her words.

After Harry learned that Darren had sacrificed himself, Darren survived by entering a Time-Space Corridor and emerged in a past battle at Hogwarts. He encountered Harry and his companions, who did not recognize him, and urged Harry to save Snape if he ever faced mortal danger.

• Dumbledore told Harry that Voldemort had chosen him as the prophecy’s target and that Darren knew the prophecy and had vowed to help defeat Voldemort.
• Darren heard the system offer to merge a Time-Space Corridor with the Chamber of Secrets, fell into the corridor, and chose a free random door.
• Darren emerged during a battle at Hogwarts and shielded Harry, Hermione, Ron, Percy, and Fred from an Explosion Curse.
• Darren called Harry his brother and recounted their supposed shared history, but Harry and the others did not recognize him.
• Harry told Darren that Dumbledore had died and Snape had killed him, and Darren begged Harry to save Snape if he ever faced mortal danger.

Darren met Harry and the others in a different time-space, then returned to his own world after the corridor integrated into a Portable Time-Space Corridor. A month had passed, and Hermione and Ginny wondered whether to tell Harry that Darren might still be alive.

• Darren told Harry that they were twins, then joined the battle and helped Lupin.
• Darren asked Snape whether he had killed Dumbledore, and Snape realized that Darren came from another time-space.
• Darren followed Snape toward Voldemort, but the Time-Space Corridor countdown made him vanish just as Voldemort demanded to know who he was.
• Darren returned to the corridor, learned that a month had passed, and asked the system to drop him in London.
• Hermione and Ginny watched Harry leave to visit Hagrid, then wondered whether to tell him that Darren might not be dead.

Harry struggled with Darren’s disappearance and sought reassurance that his twin could return as a ghost, but Nick warned that few wizards chose to remain. Snape ordered Harry to pack Darren’s belongings before leaving Hogwarts, and Harry broke down in Darren’s dormitory.

• Hermione explained that Darren’s Ministry portrait had not awakened, suggesting he might still be alive, while Ginny and the others kept the news from Harry.
• Harry visited Nick and asked whether Darren could return as a ghost, then was left devastated by Nick’s warning that only a few people stayed behind.
• Malfoy confronted Harry about his father’s punishment, but Snape interrupted and ordered Harry to pack Darren’s belongings and leave Hogwarts after the feast.
• Harry packed Darren’s clothes and books, collapsed in tears, and accused Snape of being absent when Darren disappeared.
• Snape told Harry not to blame others and said he had heard plenty from Harry’s godfather.

Harry grieved Darren’s death and blamed himself for not opening Sirius’s gift, then returned to the station with Darren’s belongings. Sirius was freed, and Harry concealed his grief while preparing to return to the Dursleys.

• Harry realized Sirius’s package might have contained Two-way Mirrors and blamed himself for Darren’s death.
• Harry returned Darren’s library books and belongings, and Luna said Darren would come back because she had heard him behind the Veil.
• Harry traveled home with Darren’s trunk, endured questions about Darren, and helped drive Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle from the compartment.
• At the station, Harry saw Sirius, Moody, Lupin, and Tonks, and Sirius happily announced that he was free.
• Harry insisted he was fine and changed the subject when Lupin tried to discuss Darren, then said the Dursleys treated him well.

Harry left the Dursleys with the Weasleys and the Order, but chose to return to his aunt and uncle after explaining that Sirius had been falsely accused. The chapter then shifted to the Prime Minister, who waited anxiously for another meeting with the Ministry of Magic after recalling years of alarming reports and facing crises of his own.

• Mrs. Weasley reunited with Ron and Ginny, then hugged Harry, who felt the absence of Darren.
• Sirius frightened the Dursleys, but Harry explained that Sirius had been acquitted and apologized for his godfather.
• Harry told the Dursleys that Darren was at St. Mungo's, and Lupin warned them not to bully Harry.
• Mrs. Weasley and Sirius argued over where Harry should stay, but Harry said goodbye and went to stand with the Dursleys.
• The Prime Minister recalled Fudge's past visits about Sirius Black, the Dark Mark, dragons, and escaped Death Eaters as he waited for another meeting.
• The Prime Minister worried that the wizarding world's troubles would add to the political crises already facing his government.

Fudge warned the Prime Minister that Voldemort had returned, while Rufus Scrimgeour took over the Ministry’s dealings with the Muggle government. Later, Narcissa sought out Snape at night, and Bellatrix challenged his loyalty and his failure to kill Harry or Darren Potter.

• Fudge told the Prime Minister that Voldemort had returned and that the Ministry’s Aurors had suffered heavy losses searching for him.
• Fudge revealed that the Azkaban guards, the Obscurus, had rebelled and joined Voldemort, with giants suspected of causing the riots.
• Rufus Scrimgeour met the Prime Minister, insisted Kingsley would remain as his protector, and said the assistant minister would be sent to St. Mungo’s.
• Fudge asked the Prime Minister to help find the missing Darren Potter, suggesting he might strengthen the Ministry if found before Dumbledore.
• Narcissa entered Snape’s hideout with Bellatrix, where Peter Pettigrew was also present, and Snape secretly stopped Peter from eavesdropping.
• Bellatrix accused Snape of disloyalty for not killing Harry or Darren, and Snape claimed Darren was too powerful to target under his protection.

Snape agreed to help Draco and make an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa as Bellatrix watched. Darren appeared on a London street after falling through the Veil, then reunited with Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix, who believed he had been missing for a month.

• Snape explained his role in the Department of Mysteries mission and told Narcissa he could try to help Draco, then agreed to make an Unbreakable Vow with her.
• Darren appeared in London and used the system to recreate injuries and make himself seem unable to see.
• Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix arrived, and Darren anxiously asked whether Harry, Sirius, and the others were safe.
• Dumbledore reassured Darren that everyone was fine and welcomed him back after his month-long disappearance.

Darren returned gravely injured, and Dumbledore and Snape took him to Hogwarts while hiding his survival from Voldemort. Harry, still believing Darren had died, prepared to leave for the Burrow and struggled to care for Lezi.

• Snape arrived and took Darren to the Hospital Wing after Darren asked to keep his injuries private.
• Darren learned he had been missing for about a month and begged to see Harry before Snape's potion knocked him unconscious.
• Dumbledore warned the Order not to reveal Darren's return because Voldemort might attack St. Mungo's.
• Harry slept beside newspapers reporting the Ministry's change of leadership and Darren's presumed death, while Dumbledore's letter invited him to the Burrow.
• Harry prepared to leave and tried to feed Lezi, who had stopped eating and seemed as grief-stricken as Harry.

Harry left the Dursleys with Dumbledore, carrying Darren’s belongings and Lezi. Dumbledore gave him Darren’s vault key and explained that Lily’s blood protection would soon expire, then took Harry to visit someone before going to The Burrow.

• Harry packed Darren’s trunk and took Lezi with him when Dumbledore arrived at the Dursleys’ house.
• Dumbledore told Harry that Darren had asked him to leave Lezi in Harry’s care and gave Harry Darren’s vault key.
• Dumbledore confronted the Dursleys about their treatment of Harry and asked them to let Harry stay with them the following summer so Lily’s protection could remain in effect.
• Harry gathered his belongings, and Dumbledore took him away from Privet Drive by Apparition.
• Dumbledore asked Harry whether his scar had hurt and said Voldemort had used Legilimency on him.

Harry and Dumbledore found Horace Slughorn hiding in his ransacked house and tried to persuade him to return to Hogwarts. Dumbledore used Darren’s reputation to draw Slughorn’s interest, and Slughorn remained tempted but hesitant to openly oppose Voldemort.

• Harry and Dumbledore reached Slughorn’s damaged house in Budleigh Babberton and discovered that Slughorn had disguised himself as an armchair.
• Dumbledore revealed Slughorn and helped him clean the Dragon Blood from the walls before introducing Harry.
• Dumbledore praised Darren’s achievements to make Slughorn curious, while Harry worried that Slughorn would learn Darren was gone.
• Dumbledore urged Slughorn to return to Hogwarts, and Slughorn admitted he had been hiding from the Death Eaters.
• After Dumbledore left the room, Slughorn spoke with Harry about his parents and became interested when Harry described Darren’s resemblance to Lily and skill at Potions.
• Harry challenged Slughorn’s reluctance to return, and Slughorn paced as he considered Dumbledore’s offer.

Dumbledore told Harry that Darren had been found alive at St. Mungo’s but was still unconscious, and persuaded Harry not to visit him until it was safe. Harry arrived at The Burrow relieved but anxious to see Darren, while Mrs. Weasley warned that Voldemort could target him there.

• Slughorn agreed to help after Dumbledore persuaded him by praising Darren’s abilities.
• Dumbledore told Harry that Darren had been found at St. Mungo’s with severe injuries, and Harry’s grief gave way to relief.
• Dumbledore asked Harry to listen to Darren, share the Prophecy Orb with Ron and Hermione, study with him, and avoid reckless behavior at The Burrow.
• Harry protested when Dumbledore forbade him from visiting Darren, but agreed to wait until Darren woke and recovered.
• Harry and Dumbledore arrived at The Burrow, where Tonks asked after Darren and Mrs. Weasley warned that Voldemort might try to kill him.