Chapter Summaries

Harry interrupted the Three Broomsticks gathering to question Lupin about his father and the Secret Keeper, and Will returned to Hogwarts. Will asked Lupin to teach him the Patronus Charm, then searched for happy memories and wondered whether Emotion Weaving could help him succeed.

• Harry confronted Lupin about his father and asked whether Black had been the Potters' Secret Keeper, but Snape and McGonagall escorted him back to Hogwarts.
• McGonagall demanded an explanation from the Weasley twins, and they warned Will that they would talk later before returning to school.
• Will reunited with his friends at dinner and distributed presents while Fudge dined with Dumbledore and promised to address the Dementor issue.
• Will asked Lupin for help learning the Patronus Charm, and Lupin arranged a lesson for the following evening and advised him to recall happy, hopeful memories.
• Will reflected on his past and his limited happy memories, then considered whether Emotion Weaving could help him cast the Patronus Charm.

Will tested whether Emotion Weaving could strengthen his own happiness and found that it produced only a cloud of silver mist when he attempted the Patronus Charm. In the Library, he read the story of Ellius and his mouse Patronus, whose true power was revealed when Dementors attacked his village, and the chapter ended as Lachidian summoned a Patronus to confront him.

• Will used Emotion Weaving on himself, but his attempt to cast a corporeal Patronus failed.
• Will reread a paper about Andros and went to the Library to find more material on the Patronus Charm.
• Will found The Tale of Ilius, which described a village whose people used Patronuses to defend themselves from Lachidian and his Dementors.
• Lachidian threatened to destroy the village unless Eliana's parents gave her to him, and the villagers prepared to fight.
• When the villagers were overwhelmed, Ellius's tiny mouse Patronus drove back the Dementors.
• Lachidian entered the battle and summoned a Patronus to oppose Ellius's mouse, and something terrible happened.

Will read a fairy tale about a wizard whose Patronus Charm summoned maggots that devoured him, and wondered whether evil wizards could cast the charm. Meanwhile, Harry told Ron and Neville that McGonagall had banned him from Hogsmeade, then began revealing a secret passage before Ron chased Crookshanks away.

• Will finished The Tale of Ilius and concluded that joyful memories, rather than a wizard’s goodness, were key to casting a Patronus, though he could not explain Lachidian’s deadly spell.
• Will packed books and papers into his Book Trunk after Madam Pince announced that it was nearly eight.
• Neville and Ron realized they had forgotten to buy the sweets Harry had asked for, then met him on the way to the Common Room.
• Harry told Ron and Neville that McGonagall had forbidden him from visiting Hogsmeade until Black was caught and required a professor to supervise his Quidditch practice.
• Harry explained how he had been caught at the Three Broomsticks and began telling Ron and Neville where the secret passage was.
• Ron kicked at Crookshanks as the cat approached Harry, interrupting Harry’s explanation.

Will’s new runes drew acclaim from the Rune Association and astonished readers across the wizarding world. At Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall summoned Will to meet someone.

• Professor Flitwick eagerly read newspaper reports announcing Will’s new runes, while the Rune Association praised him and sent members to Hogwarts.
• Fernando read the news and realized that Will had created an entirely new set of runes, making his accusations of misconduct seem foolish.
• Molly and Arthur Weasley discussed Will’s achievement, then Arthur received McGonagall’s letter and learned George and Fred had taken Harry on a dangerous adventure.
• George and Fred carried tools to serve detention by helping Professor Sprout tend the Whomping Willow.
• Professor McGonagall called Will over and told him someone wanted to see him.

George and Fred learned how to safely subdue the Whomping Willow while tending its roots, then noticed an opening near it linked to the secret passage on the Map. Will accepted the Rune Association’s invitation to visit over Christmas and began practicing the Patronus Charm with Lupin and Harry.

• Professor Sprout showed George and Fred how to strike the Whomping Willow’s knot and secure it with magical tape.
• George and Fred cleared debris from the Willow’s roots and learned that Fire-boring Moth larvae were damaging it.
• After Professor Sprout left, Fred and George spotted a wide opening beneath the Whomping Willow and recalled the secret passage on the Map.
• Members of the Rune Association invited Will to visit during Christmas, and he accepted after confirming he could consult most of its collection.
• Will spent time with the Hippogriffs, then joined Lupin and Harry for a Patronus Charm lesson.
• At Lupin’s request, Will raised his Wand and began casting, “Expecto Patronum.”

During Lupin’s Patronus lesson, Will’s spell transformed into a swarm of black snakes when the Boggart became a Dementor, revealing a dangerous reaction tied to his cold rage. Will visited Dumbledore to explain what happened, and Dumbledore listened with a troubled expression.

• Will’s Patronus produced only a brief wisp of silver mist, while Harry also managed to conjure a cloud of mist during practice.
• Lupin released a Boggart that became a Dementor, and Will cast a Patronus before Harry could act.
• Will’s spell formed black snakes that lunged at everyone before dissolving, while Lupin’s silver Patronus drove the Dementor back and he shut the Boggart away.
• Will calmed down and explained that the Dementor had stripped away his Joy and triggered a cold rage that changed his Patronus; Lupin told him to stop practicing and consult Dumbledore.
• Will visited Dumbledore and described the incident, leaving Dumbledore looking troubled.

Will asked Dumbledore about his unusual Patronus, and Dumbledore revealed that he had long suspected Will possessed extraordinary affinity for people and magic. Dumbledore suggested Will might be partly an Obscurial, leaving Will to connect the theory to the former Will’s death in a magical outburst.

• Dumbledore explained that Patronus mutations were rare and discussed the cases of Andros the Invincible and Lachidian with Will.
• Dumbledore admitted he had once distrusted Will, used Legilimency on him, and worried that Tom’s Diary might influence him.
• Dumbledore told Will that he had an exceptional affinity for both people and magic.
• Dumbledore said Will’s strong soul and traces of dark magic made him suspect Will might be half an Obscurial.
• Will recalled that the former little Will had died in a magical outburst.

In 1985 London, young Will Behrens endured abuse and imprisonment at the hands of his alcoholic mother, Dorothy. After she locked him away again, a strange force lifted him from his body before he fell back and lost consciousness.

• Will Behrens grew up surrounded by alcohol and tobacco, while Dorothy repeatedly locked him in a dark storeroom as punishment.
• After being freed from a two-day confinement, Will wished Dorothy a happy birthday, but she reacted with anger and blamed him for ruining her life.
• Will accidentally knocked a bottle off the table, and Dorothy beat him and locked him in the storeroom again.
• As Will cried in the darkness, a strange force made him float out of his body before he dropped back into it and passed out.

Will discussed his possible connection to an Obscurus with Dumbledore, while George and Fred planned to explore the passage beneath the Whomping Willow. Sirius waited in the Shrieking Shack for Lupin, who arrived looking furious.

• Will considered how his painful childhood and possible death and return might have shaped his Patronus, and Dumbledore advised him not to rush the spell.
• George and Fred discussed how to reach the Whomping Willow’s knot, and Hermione suggested using magic before telling them they had detention with Snape.
• Sirius searched for a Christmas gift for Harry and hoped Lupin would join him to help catch Peter Pettigrew.
• Sirius transformed into a Black Dog when someone approached the Shrieking Shack, and Lupin entered with his Wand and a furious expression.

Remus Lupin heard Sirius Black’s account of how Peter Pettigrew betrayed James and Lily and framed Sirius, then joined Sirius in deciding to catch Peter and protect Harry. Their reunion was interrupted when Severus Snape approached the room.

• Remus confronted Sirius and bound him while demanding to hear his account.
• Sirius explained that Peter had been made Secret Keeper, betrayed James and Lily, framed Sirius for the explosion, and survived as Scabbers.
• Remus realized Peter might be Ron Weasley’s pet rat, freed Sirius, and embraced him.
• Remus and Sirius agreed to catch Peter and protect Harry, but hid Sirius as a dog when Fisher arrived with food.
• Remus saw Severus Snape approaching and grew wary.

Will completed his transformation into a Hippogriff Animagus and flew over Hogsmeade, where Snape mistook his form for Hagrid’s creature. Snape paid Fisher to keep feeding Will’s dog and remained suspicious of Lupin, while Will continued flying toward Hogwarts.

• Snape questioned Lupin outside the Shrieking Shack, but Fisher’s arrival with food for Will’s dog interrupted them.
• Lupin told Snape he was checking on the dog for Will, and Snape left while warning that he would keep an eye on Lupin.
• Snape paid Fisher several Galleons to feed Will’s dog through Christmas and decided to prepare a gift for Will.
• Earlier, Will used the Time-Turner to complete the final stage of his Hippogriff Animagus transformation in the Forbidden Forest.
• Will tested his new body by flying and spotted Snape on the road to Hogwarts before gliding toward him.

Will kept his new Animagus form secret, spent time with Harry and the Weasley Twins, and prepared to leave for Christmas. He experimented with the Patronus Charm using an Euphoria Draught, a Cheering Charm, and Emotion Weaving, but dark memories disrupted the attempt as gray-black mist mixed with the silvery-white mist.

• Will met Harry and the Weasley Twins after Quidditch practice, agreed to buy Harry a Nimbus 2001, and joined them for a meal in the Kitchens.
• Hogwarts closed for the holidays a week later, and Will continued brewing Potions in the Room of Requirement.
• Will drank an Euphoria Draught, cast a Cheering Charm on himself, and used Emotion Weaving to intensify his positive feelings.
• Will cast Expecto Patronum and produced a powerful cloud of silvery-white mist, but he failed to give it a solid form.
• Will's happy memories faded as unpleasant ones surfaced, causing gray-black mist to pour from his Wand and mingle with the silvery-white cloud.

After his Patronus Charm left him unnaturally cold and emotionless, Will sought help but gradually recovered. As Hogwarts began its Christmas holidays, he planned to stay at school and travel to London for presents.

• Will discovered that he could slightly control the silver-gray light from his altered Patronus, but it faded when he stopped supplying magic.
• Will's friends noticed his cold demeanor, and Ron jokingly blamed Snape for turning him into a vampire-like creature.
• Will asked Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and Lupin about his condition, but none could explain it; they advised him to practise the Patronus Charm less or stop.
• Will gradually returned to normal over several days and decided to investigate his Patronus Charm during Christmas.
• Will planned to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, visit London to buy presents, and bring Harry a broomstick.
• Hogwarts' Christmas holidays began on December 18, 1993.

Will traveled to London for Christmas and spent the day in Diagon Alley buying gifts for his friends and Hogwarts professors. He ended his shopping by deciding to buy Dumbledore thick wool socks.

• Will and Sylvia shared a train compartment with Draco and Pansy, whose discomfort grew as Will and Sylvia read in silence.
• Will declined Mr. Roy Lestrange’s invitation and stayed at a Muggle hotel arranged by Hobert before visiting Diagon Alley the next morning.
• Will ordered Felix Felicis from Jiggers at twice the usual price so Snape would not learn about the surprise.
• Will bought gifts for Hogwarts professors, Neville, Hermione, Malfoy, the Weasley Twins, Sylvia, Harry, and his other friends.
• Will bought boxes of sweets for the High Tower members and classmates, then decided to get Dumbledore two dozen pairs of warm wool socks.

Will told Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anco the Wizarding World’s story of Santa Claus and his ancient struggle against Krampus. He described how Santa used gifts and children’s joy to drive the demon away, but the story ended before Will revealed what happened to Krampus.

• Will read aloud that Santa Claus had been a powerful wizard who delivered magical gifts on Christmas Eve.
• Will explained that Krampus preyed on lonely and frightened children during the darkest winter nights.
• Hermione described the Muggle legend of Krampus, and Ron compared the creature to a Dementor.
• Will said Santa tracked Krampus by sensing where joy was missing and gave struggling families food, sweets, and gifts.
• Will explained that children’s joy drove Krampus away, then Harry asked whether Santa had destroyed the demon for good.

Will told Harry, Hermione, and Ron the legend of Santa Claus purifying Krampus with Joy Magic, then they went to bed for Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning Harry received a Nimbus 2001 from Will and discovered a Firebolt among his presents, while Will visited Snape with a large box.

• Will read aloud a legend in which Santa Claus used Joy Magic to purify Krampus and described Christmas as a possible protective ritual.
• Hermione asked why Professor Lupin had been absent, and Will said Lupin was occupied with something important until early next month.
• Harry woke on Christmas morning and opened presents, including a Nimbus 2001 from Will, a sweater and treats from Mrs. Weasley, and a Firebolt.
• Snape opened his Christmas presents before Will arrived at his door with a large box.
• Snape welcomed Will and gave him a vial of golden potion as a Christmas present.

Will gave Christmas gifts to the Hogwarts professors, including Snape, and received an unusually large increase in Charisma experience. At the Christmas feast, Harry watched Will charm the staff and wondered if he should learn from him.

• Will gave Snape a vial of Felix Felicis, and Snape later found the potion Will had hidden inside an elaborate series of boxes.
• Will received several notifications that people had developed strong affection for him, raising his Charisma experience.
• A preserved bouquet and greeting card for Professor Riddle stood at Malfoy Manor.
• Harry and Ron joined the small Hogwarts Christmas feast, where Dumbledore asked Will and Snape to pull crackers.
• Harry noticed the professors and Filch thanking Will for their gifts, then wondered whether he should learn from Will.

Will studied Lupin’s human and werewolf forms to understand the Magic behind lycanthropy and develop a Werewolf Venom Curse. After observing Lupin transform on December 28, Will identified a chaotic Magic that altered his body’s Magic and left with a promising direction for further experiments.

• Will examined Lupin after he took Wolfsbane Potion and said he needed more full-moon experiments to study his werewolf form.
• Lupin agreed to spend the Christmas holiday helping Will develop a Werewolf Venom Curse, and Will planned to observe his transformation on December 28.
• Will prepared the Room of Requirement and used the Time-Turner to observe Lupin alongside four other versions of himself.
• After Lupin transformed, Will used Wizard Sight to observe the chaotic Magic changing Lupin’s Magic and named it Werewolf Venom Magic.
• Will found that a barrier around Lupin’s brain appeared to be caused by Wolfsbane Potion and considered whether the underlying Magic could be blocked.
• Will told Lupin he expected to develop the Werewolf Venom Curse within a few months.

Will separated Hermione from Ron during their argument about Crookshanks and Scabbers, then realized Lupin had likely met Sirius at the Shrieking Shack. Back at Hogwarts, Will wrote Professor Riddle asking permission to use Peter in Ministry politics, then summoned Peter, intending to sell him out.

• Will invited Hermione to look for a book, drawing her away from Ron and reassuring her about the argument over Crookshanks and Scabbers.
• Will saw Lupin leaving the Shrieking Shack and deduced that Lupin had contacted Sirius and that Crookshanks had been pursuing Peter.
• Will visited Sirius at the Shrieking Shack with Hermione, then returned to Hogwarts and prepared the Room of Requirement.
• Will wrote Professor Riddle asking whether he could use Peter to advance his Ministry ambitions and requesting material on the Killing Curse.
• Peter entered the Room of Requirement in human form, and Will revealed that he intended to sell him out.

Will convinced Peter Pettigrew that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin would soon expose him, then persuaded him to return to Voldemort for protection. Peter agreed to meet Will in Hogsmeade in three days, leaving Will eager to see how Professor Riddle would react.

• Will warned Peter that Black and Lupin knew his identity and that he was in danger at Hogwarts.
• Will threatened to kill Peter if he was caught and risked revealing that Professor Riddle had begun to return.
• Will persuaded Peter that going back to Voldemort was his best chance of survival and protection.
• Peter agreed to return to his Master's side and meet Will in Hogsmeade in three days.
• Will watched Peter turn into a rat and slip out beneath the door.