Chapter Summaries

Harry explained how understanding spell incantations could make learning magic easier, then revealed the meaning and effect of his newly created spell to Ryan, Penelope, and Kate. Penelope deduced that Sklupgorgio temporarily devoured sunlight, while Ryan confirmed its connection to Regulus.

• Harry told Ron that studying the origins and meanings of incantations could help people learn spells, though Ron declined to try the method.
• Sirius realized that understanding incantations could explain why some students cast spells quickly despite their accents.
• Ryan sensed that Harry had mentioned him, and told Penelope and Kate that Harry had created a spell.
• Penelope reasoned that Sklupgorgio drew on the myth of Skoll and temporarily created darkness by devouring sunlight.
• Ryan confirmed the spell's effect and connected it to Regulus, while Kate asked about the snakes Ryan kept at home.
• Ryan explained that Nagini was a Blood-cursed Werewolf and his new research subject.

Ryan explained that he had brought Nagini home to study the blood curse that had transformed her into a snake. He revealed that the curse came from Kali, the Dark Earth Mother, and the chapter ended with him describing it as divine power that only women could inherit.

• Ryan reflected on Nagini’s history, from her capture by the Arkanus Circus and encounters with Credence and Grindelwald to becoming Voldemort’s snake and Horcrux.
• Ryan told Penelope and Kate that he had abducted Nagini because he wanted to study the blood curse and prevent Voldemort from disrupting his plans.
• Penelope connected Nagini’s curse to the Greengrass Family’s female-only blood curse, while Kate wondered whether Nagini had been beautiful.
• Ryan diverted Kate by explaining Shiva and Shakti, then revealed that the curse originated with Parvati’s incarnation as Kali.
• Ryan said the curse was more accurately a power bound by blood, and that witches who could not bear divine power lost their lives or humanity.

Ryan explained how the Greengrass blood curse and Nagini’s blessing granted power at the cost of their lives, and revealed why Grindelwald and Dumbledore had both encountered Nagini. He left Penelope and Kate learning that Credence Barebone, also known as Aurelius Dumbledore, was the reason they overlooked Nagini’s curse.

• Ryan told Penelope that Nagini’s blessing and the Greengrass blood curse could overwhelm their wizard essence, causing the Greengrass women to die young if they used magic.
• Penelope asked whether Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and Voldemort had reached demigod status through Nagini’s curse, and Ryan said Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s power came from their talent and Blood Pact instead.
• Ryan explained that Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s Blood Pact evolved through their conflicting love and magic, allowing them to share each other’s perspective while remaining emotionally closed off.
• Ryan revealed that Grindelwald and Dumbledore encountered Nagini because of Credence Barebone, or Aurelius Dumbledore, whom Grindelwald wanted as a weapon and Dumbledore hoped to guide.
• Ryan said both men overlooked Nagini’s blood curse because they saw her as Credence’s ordinary companion and friend.

Ryan explained how Voldemort recognized Nagini’s potential for magical transformation before showing Kate and Penelope a Daily Prophet article attacking the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The article revealed that Voldemort had taken the post and published a book, while Ryan concluded that Sirius Black had arranged it to spite Dumbledore and protect Harry from Voldemort’s influence.

• Ryan told Kate and Penelope that Voldemort had seen Nagini as a path to reaching level 6 through magical transformation.
• Ryan showed Kate and Penelope Rita Skeeter’s Daily Prophet article criticizing Dumbledore’s new professor and the professor’s book, Magic of Muggles.
• Kate realized that the article identified Voldemort as the new professor and worried that Sirius Black had allowed Skeeter to publish it.
• Penelope became excited to read Voldemort’s book, while Ryan explained that Sirius had used Voldemort’s appointment to retaliate against Dumbledore and unsettle him.
• Ryan said he wanted the school year to remain free of trouble so he could observe Voldemort’s teaching and what he wrote about Muggles.

Ryan learned that Molly Weasley had written an angry letter about Voldemort’s new Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook, “The Magic of the Muggle World.” He explained that Molly’s feelings about Gilderoy Lockhart and news from Sirius had prompted her complaint, while the book’s mysterious contents drove him to hurry to Flourish and Blotts.

• Ryan considered how Hogwarts textbooks and new professors’ required books affected students’ families, recalling the expenses caused by Gilderoy Lockhart’s books.
• Ryan wondered what secrets Voldemort’s new textbook contained and hurried with Penelope and Kate toward Flourish and Blotts.
• Kate asked Ryan who had complained about the new textbook, and Ryan identified Molly Weasley.
• Ryan explained that Molly’s lingering loyalty to Gilderoy Lockhart and Sirius’s news about the quickly produced textbook had led her to write the letter.

Ryan, Kate, and Penelope visited Knockturn Alley at night, where Ryan’s past cleanup had turned it into a busy market for restricted goods. Kate became fascinated by a stall selling unusual wands, and the chapter ended as the disguised group examined them.

• Ryan refused Kate’s request to go home, and he explained that Knockturn Alley had become safer and more legitimate after his actions there.
• Ryan and the two girls decided to explore Knockturn Alley after Penelope finished reading and Kate expressed interest in seeing the market.
• The disguised trio found stalls selling rare potion ingredients and unusual wands instead of the overtly sinister goods they had expected.
• An old stallkeeper presented his latest wand designs, and Kate excitedly told Ryan she wanted one despite knowing it was only a Transfiguration prop.

Ryan discovered that a Knockturn Alley stall was selling his weak, flashy alchemical wands, and Kate decided to buy one despite its high price. The chapter ended with Kate paying ninety-nine Galleons for a wand after bargaining down by one Galleon.

• Ryan realized that the stall's wands were his own products, which his employees had been selling as expensive display pieces.
• Kate asked the old stall owner about the wands and learned they cost one hundred Galleons, though their power depended heavily on the user's skill.
• The old man persuaded Kate that she was skilled enough to use one, and Penelope chose not to discourage her.
• Kate picked out a pine wand with a Thunderbird feather core, named Thunder Feather Looping Pine, and bought it for ninety-nine Galleons with a wand case included.

Ryan, Kate, and Penelope arrived at Smith Castle, where Jerry greeted them and Kate gave them wands she had bought as gifts. As term approached, Ryan read Tom Riddle’s book about the Muggle world and wondered how Riddle would teach it as Defense Against the Dark Arts.

• Ryan, Kate, and Penelope appeared on the path outside Smith Castle, where Jerry leaped into Ryan’s arms.
• Kate gave Ryan and Penelope wands she had bought with her own money, and Ryan protested that he had planned to pay.
• Penelope asked what Voldemort had written, but Kate showed little interest and continued lamenting the cost of the wands.
• Ryan read Tom Riddle’s book, which described Muggle society, technology, and history in detail, including atomic bombs and fighter jets.
• As term drew near, Ryan wondered how Tom Riddle would teach the book’s material in Defense Against the Dark Arts and chose not to use Thinking to predict what would happen.

Ryan returned to Hogwarts for the new term and met Luna Lovegood on the train after using magic to hide his compartment from most students. He and Luna became friends, and the chapter left them talking together as the train journey began.

• Ryan spent the days before term studying Nagini, then said goodbye to her and boarded the Hogwarts Express with Jerry.
• Ryan chose an empty compartment near the train entrance and extended his concealment magic across it.
• Luna knocked on the compartment door, noticed that other students could not see it, and asked Ryan about the magic.
• Ryan introduced himself, praised Luna as cute, and agreed to be her friend.
• Ryan reassured Luna that being different could help her avoid unsuitable friends, and Luna wondered aloud whether she should stop searching for Nargles.

Ryan and Luna became friends aboard the Hogwarts Express, sharing food and talking while the train journeyed toward Hogwarts. Luna read a Quibbler article alleging that Lucius Malfoy had acquired the Elder Wand and that the Malfoys could seek control of the Ministry of Magic.

• Ryan told Luna about imaginary Soundproofing Bats, and Luna introduced herself as Luna Lovegood.
• Ryan conjured a meal for Luna and Jerry, then helped Luna eat after she spilled soup while struggling with chopsticks.
• Luna showed Ryan a Quibbler article claiming Lucius Malfoy possessed the Elder Wand and could restore the Malfoy family's influence.
• Luna said her father edited The Quibbler and argued that the Malfoys had already shown signs of seeking power.

Ryan spoke with Luna about the Malfoys, the Deathly Hallows, and her plans to join Ravenclaw, while Hermione overheard Ron, Harry, and Draco discussing Voldemort becoming a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Hermione realized Ron had not been joking and wondered what Ryan would advise her to do.

• Luna warned Ryan about the Malfoy family and the Deathly Hallows, then said she hoped to become a Ravenclaw like her parents.
• Hermione searched for Ryan but stopped outside the compartment where Ron, Harry, and Draco were talking.
• Harry worried that Voldemort’s book showed a humble, knowledgeable wizard whose ideas resembled Grindelwald’s.
• Draco and Ron reassured Harry that Dumbledore had the situation under control, while Ron praised his father’s efforts to improve the magical world.
• Hermione overheard that young Voldemort was becoming a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and wondered what Ryan would tell her to do.

Hermione worried that Dumbledore had allowed Voldemort to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Ryan reassured her that Hogwarts could contain the danger. Luna connected the diary’s young Voldemort to the heartless wizard in a story, and Ryan confirmed that her guess was close.

• Hermione sensed Ryan arrive and told him that Ron had said Voldemort was their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
• Ryan used Hermione’s Muggle-world analogy to explain that Dumbledore and Hogwarts could contain Voldemort and Quirrell.
• Hermione concluded that a fragment of Voldemort had been captured and wondered whether it could end the frequent turnover of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers.
• Ryan explained that he had come to Hermione through his power and consciousness, then went with her to her luggage compartment.
• Luna connected the diary’s young Voldemort to the heartless wizard from The Wizard’s Hairy Heart, and Ryan said her theory was close.

On the train to Hogwarts, Ryan helped Luna change into nicer clothes and reassured her that they would remain friends, then accompanied her to the Sorting ceremony. Meanwhile, Hermione and the other girls discussed Gilderoy Lockhart, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and their favorite pairings.

• Ryan waited outside the compartment while Luna changed, then was struck by how lovely she looked and comforted her when she worried he was an older student.
• Ryan held Luna's hand as they boarded the boats and reached the room where first-years waited for the Sorting.
• Ginny greeted Luna and excitedly told her about Harry, Ron, and their summer adventures, while Luna stayed protectively in front of Ryan.
• In Hermione's compartment, Lisa Turpin, Padma, and Parvati debated whether Gilderoy Lockhart's punishment was too severe, while Hermione held back her disagreement to comfort Ryan.
• Lisa and the other girls discussed the mysterious Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and imagined pairings involving Dumbledore, Harry, Draco, Ron, and Luna.

After the students boarded the carriages to Hogwarts, Ryan explained that Thestrals pulled them and revealed one with his wand. The group saw the gaunt creature appear between the carriage shafts.

• Hermione asked Ryan what was pulling the carriages, and Harry and Ron joined in with guesses and questions.
• Ron bragged about Dumbledore's visit to Harry and their adventures, until Harry redirected the conversation to Ryan.
• Ryan said Harry had guessed correctly and identified the invisible carriage pullers as Thestrals, which only people who had witnessed and accepted death could see.
• Ryan flicked his wand, and a skeletal, black-skinned Thestral appeared between the carriage shafts.

Ron’s scream at the sight of the Thestrals caused panic among the carriage convoy, and Fred and George exposed him as the source with a joke. At Hogwarts, Ron faced teasing and explained the Thestrals to his friends, while Neville and Lavender shared their own reactions.

• Fred and George used the Sonorus Charm to joke about Ron’s scream, calming the panicked students and leaving Ron embarrassed.
• Harry, Ryan, and Hermione studied the Thestrals as the carriages reached Hogwarts, while students recognized Ron and whispered about his scream.
• Ron confronted Cho Chang over her Tutshill Tornados badge, and Hermione explained that Cho had supported the team since she was six.
• Lupin asked Ron about the Thestrals and mistakenly connected them to the death of Ron’s uncle Bilius.
• At the Ravenclaw table, Ron described the Thestrals, Neville said he could see them because he had witnessed his grandfather’s death, and Lavender screamed that they were unlucky.
• Anthony defended the Thestrals as intelligent and useful, but Ron lamented that his reputation had been ruined.

At the Sorting Feast, Tom Riddle's charm sparked a quarrel between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, while Harry wondered about the Grey Lady's fixation on Ravenclaw's diadem. Before the Sorting Hat could sing, Dumbledore announced that two new Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had joined the staff.

• Harry distracted Ron by pointing out Ginny, and Ron praised her to Michael Corner while recognizing Luna Lovegood nearby.
• Harry noticed that Tom Riddle and Lupin had taken the two extra seats at the staff table, and Riddle's smile stirred admiration among students and an inexplicable fondness in Harry.
• Nearly Headless Nick told Harry that the Grey Lady had been lingering in Ravenclaw Tower, staring at the diadem on Ravenclaw's statue.
• Riddle's charm provoked a shouting match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw until Professor McGonagall silenced them and prepared the Sorting Hat.
• Dumbledore interrupted the ceremony before the Sorting Hat sang and announced two new Defense Against the Dark Arts professors.

At Hogwarts’ opening feast, Dumbledore introduced Remus Lupin as Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching assistant and Tom Riddle as the professor before the Sorting began. Harry noticed Luna Lovegood sit beside Ryan, realizing that Ryan had made an empty seat appear for her.

• Dumbledore introduced Lupin as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching assistant, and Harry, Ron, and Draco applauded him.
• Dumbledore announced Tom Riddle as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, prompting thunderous applause from the students.
• The Sorting Hat sang about Hogwarts’ founders and houses, and Professor McGonagall began sorting the first-years.
• Jason Astra was sorted into Hufflepuff, and Luna Lovegood was sorted into Ravenclaw.
• Harry noticed an empty seat appear beside Ryan when Luna joined the Ravenclaw table and concluded that Ryan had arranged it.

Harry watched Ginny sit beside him, while Ron remained oblivious to her feelings and focused on the feast. As dinner continued, Harry asked Ron about Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ron’s praise of Professor Riddle drew the attention of the girls nearby.

• Ginny sat beside Harry, and Ron praised her without realizing she wanted to be close to Harry.
• Dumbledore welcomed the students to eat, and Ron grabbed a steak and devoured it messily.
• Harry checked on Ginny and explained that Michael Corner’s smile resembled Lockhart’s; Ginny recoiled from Michael’s grin.
• During dessert, Harry asked Ron about Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ron complained that the course might resemble Muggle Studies.
• Ron praised Professor Riddle and claimed to know his story, prompting Lisa Turpin and the girls around them to look over curiously.

At Hogwarts, Ron deflected attention from Professor Riddle by praising Professor Lupin, while Harry was stunned to see his cousin Dudley transformed into a muscular young man. Ron wrongly concluded that Harry had cursed Dudley and immediately proposed turning the supposed spell into a business, leaving Harry insisting the change had nothing to do with him as dinner ended.

• Ron claimed he had meant Professor Lupin, not Professor Riddle, and revealed that Lupin had been a Gryffindor prefect.
• Dean speculated that Lupin was filling in for Riddle and guessed that Riddle might be Dumbledore's son.
• Harry spotted Dudley at the Hufflepuff table and was shocked by his lean, muscular appearance.
• Dean and Ron suspected Harry had cursed Dudley, but Harry denied it.
• Ron proposed selling Harry's supposed curse as a commercial product, and Harry angrily insisted he had cast no curse.
• Dumbledore ended the feast and sent the students to bed before classes began.

Harry approached Tom Riddle to confirm whether the force inside him reacted to this Voldemort, then puzzled over Riddle’s cryptic remarks about Snape and his future. Back in the dormitory, Harry told Ron that Riddle felt like a brother, but Ron fell asleep before Harry could say more.

• Harry and his friends approached Lupin and Tom Riddle after the feast, but Snape and Lupin blocked Harry from getting close to them.
• Tom Riddle taunted Snape, claimed he was now on Dumbledore’s side, and left after hinting that Harry had more on his mind than anyone else.
• Harry realized that the force inside him had not reacted to Tom Riddle and wondered what Snape had to do with Voldemort’s death.
• Ron guessed that Harry’s force had not reacted, then celebrated his success as the trio’s strategist.
• Harry told Ron that Tom Riddle felt like a brother he had never met, but Ron fell asleep before Harry could continue.