Recaps

Dumbledore had Sirius Black identify the rat as Peter Pettigrew, and Amelia Bones’s spell revealed Pettigrew’s human form before he confessed to betraying the Potters. The Ministry released Black and arrested Pettigrew, while Fudge realized Dumbledore had exposed the Ministry’s twelve-year mistake; he then asked how Dumbledore had discovered Pettigrew was alive.

• Dumbledore asked Sirius Black why he had broken into Hogwarts, and Black claimed the rat was Peter Pettigrew, an Animagus.
• Remus Lupin confirmed Pettigrew’s Animagus ability, and Amelia Bones used Restore Human Form to turn the rat back into a man.
• Pettigrew awoke confused in the Headmaster’s Office, denied the accusations, then confessed after Dumbledore produced a bottle of Veritaserum to frighten him.
• Fudge realized Pettigrew’s confession exposed the Ministry’s wrongful conviction of Black and the Ministry’s deception for twelve years.
• Fudge released Black and had his subordinates take Pettigrew into custody, then asked Dumbledore how he had discovered Pettigrew was alive.

Fudge accepted that Sirius Black had been wrongly imprisoned and sought to protect his position by offering an apology and promising compensation. Dumbledore revealed that Su Er had discovered Peter Pettigrew, whose furious reaction left him subdued by an Auror.

• Dumbledore told Fudge that he had suspected problems with Sirius Black’s case and noted that Black had been imprisoned without a trial.
• Amelia reminded Fudge that Barty Crouch Sr. had been responsible for sending Black to Azkaban, and Fudge apologized to Black and promised justice and compensation.
• Dumbledore identified Su Er as the first person to discover Pettigrew, and Su Er explained how Scabbers’s age and his observations with Ron led him to suspect the rat was an Animagus.
• Pettigrew recognized Su Er’s role and shrieked that it had been him, but two men restrained him and an Auror subdued him with a spell.

Su Er explained how he traced Peter Pettigrew through the Marauder’s Map and helped uncover the truth about Sirius Black’s arrest. With Pettigrew taken into Ministry custody and Sirius cleared, Dumbledore approved Sirius as Lupin’s assistant Defence Against Dark Magic professor, but refused to let Harry stay with him over the summer.

• Su Er told Fudge that the Marauder’s Map showed Peter Pettigrew’s name and that he had traced Pettigrew to Ron’s rat, Scabbers, with Dumbledore’s help.
• Fudge said the Ministry would gather further evidence and might reopen the trial, then took Pettigrew away under guard.
• Amelia Bones praised Su Er, and McGonagall left to visit the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Lupin suggested that Sirius teach Defence Against Dark Magic alongside him, and Dumbledore approved the arrangement.
• Sirius asked to visit Harry and have him stay at Grimmauld Place during the summer, but Dumbledore refused and insisted Harry remain with his relatives.

Dumbledore explained why Harry had to remain with his blood relatives, then discussed the Hogwarts founders' legacies with Su Er. Su Er learned that the Hogwarts Kitchens might hold clues to Lady Hufflepuff's trials and that her research focused on souls and bloodlines.

• Dumbledore explained to Sirius that Lily's blood magic protected Harry while he stayed with blood relatives, and Sirius stopped insisting that Harry live with him.
• Black returned to his Animagus form to await Ministry of Magic action in the Shrieking Shack, and Professor Lupin accompanied him.
• Su Er asked Dumbledore about Lady Hufflepuff's trials and the legacies left by the four great figures.
• Dumbledore produced Gryffindor's sword from the Sorting Hat, and Su Er unsuccessfully tried to use it as a wand.
• Dumbledore told Su Er that the house-elves in the Hogwarts Kitchens would only reveal Lady Hufflepuff's secrets to someone bearing a token, which he suspected was a Hufflepuff emblem.
• Dumbledore suggested that Su Er investigate the Hogwarts Kitchens and revealed that Lady Hufflepuff had studied souls and bloodlines extensively.

Su Er told Hermione that Sirius Black would become a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and Harry’s godfather, while keeping the news from Harry. The morning’s surprise arrived when Harry received a Firebolt, and Su Er and Hermione made plans for the day.

• Su Er told Hermione how the previous night had ended and revealed that Black was Harry’s godfather, asking her to keep it secret from Harry.
• Ron proudly described Scabbers as a heroic rat who had saved him from Black, while Su Er and Hermione discussed how he might react when he learned the truth.
• Owls delivered a Firebolt to Harry, and Su Er guessed that Black had sent it.
• Oliver Wood carried Harry away to try the broom, while Ron and a crowd of students followed them.
• Hermione asked Su Er about his plans, and he said he was meeting Professor Flitwick before Hermione went to the Library.

Su Er went to Professor Flitwick for help controlling his excess magic, and experiments showed that even basic spells released more power than they could direct. Flitwick advised him to tame the magic by repeatedly casting basic spells, leaving Su Er with a practical way to manage his growing power.

• Su Er told Professor Flitwick that he was struggling with excess magic and had been sent by Dumbledore.
• Professor Flitwick explained the dangers of uncontrolled magic, then tested Su Er by having him repeatedly mend a shattered teacup.
• Su Er's excess magic distorted the cup during the Mending Charm, and further experiments with spells left Flitwick's office in disarray.
• Professor Flitwick explained that magic was chaotic energy and that spells organized and tamed it, while Su Er's spells released excess power through their casting.
• Professor Flitwick advised Su Er to practice basic spells rather than pursue powerful or ancient spells, and invited him to lunch.

Su Er joined Professor Flitwick’s discussion club, where he learned advanced dueling techniques and studied the Patronus Charm. After demonstrating his own Patronus, he spent the afternoon answering questions and learning from the older students.

• Su Er shared tea with Professor Flitwick, who taught him tricks for casting spells and recounted his dueling experiences.
• Cedric Diggory, Percy Weasley, Miss Clearwater, and other students arrived for Professor Flitwick’s club session about the Patronus Charm.
• Professor Flitwick explained the Patronus Charm’s three stages and demonstrated how a corporeal Patronus could act as a wizard’s second body.
• Su Er demonstrated a recognizable Patronus, concealing that he had already reached the third stage or possibly the fourth.
• The older students questioned Su Er about his Patronus and shared knowledge from their own studies with him.

Su Er discussed Patronus Charm advancement with Cedric, then visited Snape to ask for help controlling his excess magic. After Su Er accidentally destroyed Snape’s chair and then made it worse with Reparo, Snape ordered him out.

• Cedric asked Su Er how his Patronus had advanced, decided he needed to face his fears, and stayed in the common room that night.
• Su Er considered where Hufflepuff’s third ornament and the required token might be, deciding to wait until he had absorbed his excess magic.
• Su Er woke to sunshine and saw that the Dementors had withdrawn from the mountains west of Hogwarts.
• Su Er visited Snape to thank him for saving his life and ask for help with his excess magic.
• Su Er demonstrated the problem by destroying Snape’s chair with a Floating Charm, then shattered it further with Reparo.
• Snape told Su Er to get out.

Su Er and Hermione visited Hagrid after the Dementors left and learned that Buckbeak and the other Hippogriffs would be taken in by Mr. Scamander after Buckbeak's final hearing. The chapter ended with their departure planned for just after Christmas.

• Su Er told Hermione that he had fainted during his punishment in Snape's office before receiving the full beating.
• Su Er and Hermione watched Harry fly his Firebolt, and Hermione spotted a large black dog beneath the stands.
• Su Er and Hermione visited Hagrid, sampled his tough, overly sweet biscuits, and heard about the Ministry's decision on the Hippogriffs.
• Hagrid told Su Er and Hermione that Buckbeak's life was safe, but the herd would leave the Forbidden Forest with Mr. Scamander after the final hearing, just after Christmas.

Su Er received a summons from Snape and read the Daily Prophet’s report clearing Sirius Black while blaming Barty Crouch. The chapter left Ron reeling over the revelation about Scabbers, while Harry gained the prospect of a family bond with Sirius.

• Stan delivered Snape’s note summoning Su Er to his office on Wednesday after dinner and warned him that Snape was in a bad mood.
• Su Er and Hermione read the note, and Su Er decided the coming Wednesday would probably be unpleasant.
• Justin and the students in the Great Hall reacted to a Daily Prophet report clearing Sirius Black and exposing Barty Crouch’s blunder.
• The report said Barty Crouch would resign, Dolores Umbridge would take charge of Quidditch World Cup matters, and Peter Pettigrew’s Order of Merlin would be revoked.
• Ron heard the news about Pettigrew and realized Scabbers might be the illegal Animagus, while Harry tried to comfort him.

Su Er followed Snape to the Quidditch Pitch, where Snape ordered him to drink a bubbling purple potion and attack him with his wand. The chapter ended before Su Er learned what the potion would do.

• Su Er heard Snape was in a foul mood after he had deducted points during Potions classes.
• Snape took Su Er from his office to the Quidditch Pitch without explaining why they were going there.
• Snape ordered Wood and the Gryffindor Quidditch team to leave their practice.
• Snape deducted five points from Gryffindor after Harry looked questioningly at Su Er.
• Snape handed Su Er a bubbling purple potion and told him to drink it, draw his wand, and attack.

Su Er drank Snape’s strange potion, which intensified his magic and improved his control, then sparred with Snape and managed to cut a lock of his hair. Snape took the duel seriously and caught Su Er with a vine from behind.

• Su Er drank the purple potion and endured intense pain until its effects passed.
• Snape threatened Su Er with the Cruciatus Curse, then attacked him with spells as Su Er scrambled to defend himself.
• Su Er noticed his Shield Charm and magic control had improved, and he countered Snape with several spells.
• Su Er used a double-casting technique that cut a lock of Snape’s hair, provoking Snape to intensify the duel.
• Snape warned Su Er to watch what was behind him, and a dark green vine wrapped around Su Er’s ankle.

Fred and George mistook Snape's training of Su Er for an attack and summoned Professor Sprout, who interrupted the session. After Su Er explained what had happened and learned the brothers had discovered Hagrid's Acromantula secret, they planned a Forbidden Forest trip for Friday.

• Fred and George spied on Snape hanging and striking Su Er at the Quidditch Pitch, then rushed to find Professor Sprout for help.
• Professor Sprout arrived and blasted Snape away before the misunderstanding was cleared up; Snape left, and Sprout let Su Er down.
• Fred and George confronted Su Er in the Castle and learned that they had misunderstood Snape's attempt to train him, though they remained unconvinced.
• Fred and George told Su Er they had spent 36 Galleons on Firewhisky to learn about Hagrid's Acromantulas and hoped to earn the money back.
• Su Er agreed to meet Fred and George at the Quidditch Pitch on Friday and said he would bring someone; George guessed it was Hermione Granger.

Professor Dumbledore escorted Su Er to the Ministry of Magic for Peter Pettigrew’s trial, where Su Er learned the Order of Merlin brought substantial prestige and practical benefits. They arrived at Courtroom Three as the trial was about to begin.

• Professor Sprout sent Su Er to Dumbledore’s office and told him Hufflepuff was proud of him.
• Su Er suspected Fudge planned to award him the Order of Merlin to gain something from him.
• Dumbledore took Su Er to the Ministry of Magic, where Mei Si Bathilda Bagshot greeted them.
• Mei Si explained that the Order of Merlin was the wizarding world’s highest honor and brought an annual reward and a guaranteed Ministry job after graduation.
• Mei Si led Dumbledore and Su Er to Courtroom Three for Peter Pettigrew’s trial.

Sirius Black was cleared after Peter Pettigrew confessed, and Pettigrew was sentenced to life imprisonment. Su Er received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and the chapter ended with him accepting the medal at the Ministry ceremony.

• Fudge reopened Sirius Black’s hearing after Peter Pettigrew was brought in and confessed to betraying the Potters and framing Black.
• Dumbledore confirmed Pettigrew’s account, and Black added no further facts.
• Fudge declared Black innocent, stripped Pettigrew of his Order of Merlin and property, and sentenced him to life in Azkaban.
• Dumbledore took Su Er to receive the Order of Merlin, Third Class, while Fudge invited him to work at the Ministry after graduation.
• Amelia Bones congratulated Su Er and checked on his health before Black joined the ceremony.
• Su Er accepted the Order of Merlin, Third Class from the elderly wizard as a camera took his photograph.

At the post-investiture celebration, Su Er received thanks from Sirius Black, who suspected Su Er had disguised himself and beaten him during Black’s imprisonment. Dumbledore announced that Black would become Lupin’s assistant professor at Hogwarts after Christmas, and Su Er later asked Hermione to join him on a trip to the Forbidden Forest for spider legs.

• Su Er avoided the adults at the celebration and privately imagined becoming Hogwarts Headmaster.
• Black thanked Su Er for helping clear his case and offered him anything in his vault, but Su Er declined the reward.
• Black told Su Er he knew Su Er had disguised himself and beaten him, while Su Er pretended not to understand.
• Dumbledore announced that Black had been appointed Lupin’s assistant professor and could move into Hogwarts after Christmas.
• Hermione examined Su Er’s Order of Merlin medal, and Su Er invited her to the Forbidden Forest to eat spider legs.

Su Er, Hermione, and the Weasley Brothers went into the Forbidden Forest to find Acromantulas, using an Invisibility Cloak and Disillusionment Charms to avoid being seen. They reached a hillside near Mountain Trolls and planned to head west, but the Trolls’ stench forced them to use Bubble-Head Charms.

• Hermione told Su Er that her Animagus preparations had given her a second heartbeat, and she decided to ask Professor Sinistra about the weather.
• Fred and George teased Su Er and Hermione about getting married before explaining that they had prepared for the trip based on Acromantula habits.
• Su Er demonstrated that his Disillusionment Charm made its target reappear in broken pieces, so Hermione brought Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and the brothers used their own charms.
• The four entered the Forbidden Forest and followed Hagrid’s directions toward the Acromantulas’ hillside near a group of Mountain Trolls.
• The Trolls’ terrible smell made the four use Bubble-Head Charms, and George led them west toward the Acromantulas.

Su Er and his companions prepared a trap to lure Acromantulas away from their nest, while Lisi sent Centaurs to escort the young guests out of the woods. Su Er set the bait and hid in a tree, waiting for the spiders to arrive.

• Su Er stopped Fred, George, and Hermione near the Acromantulas' nest and assigned them roles in a plan to lure the spiders into a trap.
• The group prepared bait and agreed that Fred and George would turn the ground into a swamp while Hermione used vines to entangle the Acromantulas.
• Lisi ordered a squad of Centaurs to escort the young guests out of the woods without bringing them to the tribe.
• Su Er transfigured the bait into a strange creature, used it to break a web strand, and waited for the Acromantulas to follow.
• Su Er transformed into his Animagus form, climbed a tree, returned to human form, and hid with his wand as he waited.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George trapped three Acromantulas and began extracting their venom to sell. After Hermione drained the first spider, Fred and George eagerly turned to the remaining two, expecting a valuable haul.

• Su Er lured three Acromantulas toward the trap using transfigured bait.
• Hermione alerted Fred and George as the spiders approached, and the group sprang their trap, binding all three Acromantulas.
• Hermione explained how to extract Acromantula venom and drained the first spider’s venom sac into a bottle.
• Fred and George looked forward to collecting venom from the other two Acromantulas and getting rich.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George were surrounded by Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest and fought their way through the encirclement. They escaped with their lives and the severed spider legs, but the Acromantulas pursued them.

• Su Er and Hermione bundled the severed legs of three Acromantulas while Fred and George collected venom.
• Su Er sensed danger, and the group found themselves surrounded by more Acromantulas.
• Su Er assigned Fred and George to blast an opening, Hermione to hold back the spiders with fire, and took the rear himself.
• The four wizards combined their spells to break through the spiders’ encirclement and escaped with the severed legs.
• A small black spider signaled the Acromantulas, and they pursued the four into the forest.

Su Er and the Weasley twins and Hermione were trapped by Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest, and Su Er devised a plan to attack the tiny spider commanding the swarm. As Su Er cast Sectumsempra at the exposed target, centaurs arrived and fired arrows into the battle.

• The centaur captain followed the sounds of spells through the forest while the Acromantulas caught up with Su Er, Fred, George, and Hermione.
• Hermione spotted a tiny Acromantula riding atop a much larger one, and Su Er guessed that the tiny spider commanded the swarm.
• Su Er told Fred, George, and Hermione to save their strength and coordinate Exploding Charms against the tiny spider.
• As the fire wall weakened, Fred, George, and Hermione blasted apart the swarm, and Su Er cast Sectumsempra at the exposed Acromantula.
• The centaurs arrived and shot arrows toward the Acromantulas.

Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George escaped the Acromantulas with help from the centaurs and returned to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They roasted the captured spider legs, and Su Er offered Hermione the first one.

• The centaurs brought Su Er, Hermione, Fred, and George to the Black Lake and warned them not to provoke the Acromantulas again.
• Su Er recalled that Sectumsempra had killed the Acromantula commander, letting the centaurs rescue the group amid the swarm’s chaos.
• Fred and George discussed going home for Christmas and keeping their fifty Galleons secret from Mrs. Weasley.
• Su Er suggested they eat the spider legs, and Hermione’s growling stomach prompted the group to find a clearing and start a barbecue.
• Su Er credited Hermione with helping them escape and offered her the first roasted spider leg.

After eating the Acromantula legs, Su Er and the others planned how they might return to the Forbidden Forest, then headed back to Hogwarts. The next morning, Cedric Diggory and a crowd of students woke Su Er to show him a Daily Prophet report naming him the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin in history.

• Fred and George praised the spider legs and suggested returning to the Forbidden Forest with broomsticks to gather more, while Hermione warned them to tell her first.
• Su Er extinguished the campfire completely, and the group returned to bed.
• Su Er spent the night chatting with Ariana in his mind and promised to find her more books in the library.
• A crowd of students gathered around Su Er's bed and woke him.
• Cedric Diggory showed Su Er the Daily Prophet's headline about his Order of Merlin award.

After receiving the Order of Merlin, Su Er struggled with Hogwarts students’ exaggerated stories about his role in catching Pettigrew and escaped to Hagrid’s Hut. There, he corrected Harry, Ron, and Hagrid about what happened and left Harry asking about his father’s connection to Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

• Cedric returned Su Er’s Order of Merlin, and Su Er told the Hufflepuffs that Sirius Black, not he, had caught Pettigrew.
• Hogwarts students embellished Su Er’s role in the capture, while Colin Creevey took his photograph and got an autograph.
• Su Er went to Hagrid’s Hut to avoid the attention and found Hagrid, Harry, and Ron discussing Pettigrew.
• Su Er explained that Pettigrew had willingly served Voldemort and had hidden as Scabbers to escape responsibility, leaving Ron embarrassed.
• Harry asked whether Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew had both known his father.

Hagrid told Harry and Ron about James and Lily’s friendship with Sirius, Pettigrew, and Remus, explaining how the group called themselves the Marauders. He began describing Dumbledore’s plan to protect Harry’s parents with the Fidelius Charm.

• Harry asked Hagrid to explain Sirius and Pettigrew’s relationship with his parents and the betrayal.
• Hagrid said Sirius had been James and Lily’s closest friend, while Remus and Pettigrew later joined their group.
• Hagrid recalled that the four friends called themselves the Marauders and that Sirius and Remus were considered as best men at James and Lily’s wedding.
• Hagrid told Harry that his parents had fought Voldemort under Dumbledore and were brave despite the danger.
• Hagrid explained that Dumbledore warned James and Lily of Voldemort’s plans and proposed hiding them with the Fidelius Charm, whose purpose Harry asked about.