Recaps

Su Er took the suspected Horcrux locket from Grimmauld Place as the Weasleys explained why Percy had broken with his family. That night, Dumbledore secretly met Su Er and Hermione and asked Su Er, who was believed dead after surviving the Killing Curse, to help him.

• Sirius gave Su Er an old, rusted locket from the Black family collection, and Su Er suspected it was one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.
• The Weasleys revealed that Percy had accepted a promotion in Fudge’s office, argued with his parents over their support for Dumbledore, and left the family.
• Harry learned about Percy’s break with his family and was outraged that Percy had ignored the truth about Voldemort’s return and Su Er’s near-death.
• Su Er and Hermione traveled by Fawkes to a private room where Dumbledore confirmed that Su Er had learned to become an Animagus.
• Dumbledore explained that Fudge and Voldemort were watching him and asked for help from someone powerful who was publicly believed to be dead.

Su Er recovered the locket Kreacher had been searching for and persuaded the house-elf to explain its connection to Regulus Black. Kreacher revealed how Regulus sacrificed himself to replace Voldemort’s locket, leaving the group with the truth of his death.

• Sirius found Kreacher rummaging through Su Er’s belongings and attacked him, but Su Er stopped Sirius and revealed the locket Kreacher wanted.
• Kreacher began hurting himself when he tried to explain the locket, so Su Er restrained him and learned that Regulus Black had entrusted it to him.
• Kreacher recounted how Regulus offered him to Voldemort, who forced him to drink a potion in a cave guarded by Inferi.
• Kreacher escaped by obeying Regulus’s earlier order to return home, then later led Regulus back to the cave.
• Kreacher explained that Regulus drank the potion while Kreacher switched the locket, then began sobbing as he described watching Regulus die.

Kreacher revealed how Regulus Black had replaced Voldemort’s locket and asked Su Er to help destroy it. Dumbledore identified the locket as a Horcrux and led Su Er, Harry, Sirius, and Snape to the seaside cave where Voldemort had hidden a decoy, leaving them at its entrance.

• Kreacher told the group that Regulus had taken Voldemort’s locket, and he begged Su Er to help destroy it.
• Su Er gave the locket to Mr. Weasley, and Dumbledore examined it, identifying it as Slytherin’s Locket and a Horcrux.
• Dumbledore explained Horcruxes to Harry and said they should investigate the cave where Voldemort had hidden the locket, even if it was likely a fake.
• Dumbledore asked Snape to join them, and Fawkes transported Su Er, Harry, Sirius, Dumbledore, and Snape to the black-rock coast.
• The group found a fissure in the cliff with black seawater swirling inside, apparently marking the cave entrance.

Dumbledore led Harry, Sirius, Snape, and Su Er through the hidden entrance to Voldemort’s cavern, where they discovered a lake filled with Inferi. The group prepared to cross toward the center, leaving the threat of the undead army directly ahead.

• Dumbledore guided the group through the sea passage to the cavern, where Su Er detected the concealed door in the rock.
• They opened the door by feeding it magical blood from Snape’s supply, then entered a vast, light-blocking lake chamber.
• Dumbledore conjured a boat, but an Inferius attacked it and dragged it beneath the water.
• Su Er explained that the lake held a huge army of Inferi, and Dumbledore said he intended to weaken Voldemort’s forces.
• Dumbledore found a hidden chain and used the Elder Wand to draw a small green boat up from the lake.

Dumbledore’s group reached the island in Voldemort’s cave, found Regulus among the Inferi, and prepared to escape. Dumbledore unleashed Firestorm, engulfing the island, the Inferi, and the lake in golden-red flames.

• Dumbledore had Sirius summon Kreacher, who Apparated the group to the island despite the Anti-Apparition Jinx.
• Snape examined the green potion and determined it had to be drunk; he sampled it, then Dumbledore drank the rest and endured its painful memories and thirst-inducing effects.
• Su Er conjured a deer to lure the Inferi from the lake, and Dumbledore trapped them between rings of fire.
• Sirius searched the Inferi but failed to find Regulus; Kreacher found him, and Sirius brought the bound Inferius back to the group.
• Dumbledore told Kreacher to prepare to Apparate everyone to Grimmauld Place, then cast Firestorm as the Inferi surged onto the island.

Voldemort met with his followers in Azkaban, discussing Dumbledore, a search Lucius Malfoy was conducting, and plans to recruit new supporters. He ordered Lucius to bring his son Draco to him before Hogwarts began, promising a personal gift for Draco’s coming-of-age.

• Voldemort questioned Lucius about Dumbledore and heard that Lucius had found a lead on the person Voldemort wanted located.
• Voldemort asked Bellatrix to select worthy recruits from among those seeking to return to his side.
• After the other followers left, Voldemort examined Lucius’s Dark Mark and asked about his son.
• Lucius told Voldemort that his son was named Draco and would soon turn seventeen.
• Voldemort ordered Lucius to bring Draco to him before Hogwarts started and promised him a coming-of-age gift.

At Regulus Black’s funeral, Dumbledore returned the fake locket and its hidden letter to Kreacher, revealing Regulus’s sacrifice to destroy a Horcrux. The mourners honored Regulus by adding an epitaph to his headstone, remembering him as a brave and kind Slytherin.

• Sirius, Kreacher, Dumbledore, Su Er, Hermione, the Weasleys, and several Order members buried Regulus in the backyard of 12 Grimmauld Place.
• Dumbledore gave Kreacher the locket he had retrieved from the cave.
• Kreacher opened the fake locket and found Regulus’s letter addressed to the Dark Lord.
• Dumbledore read Regulus’s confession that he had stolen the real Horcrux to destroy it and hoped Voldemort would eventually be killed.
• Sirius confirmed that R.A.B. stood for Regulus Arcturus Black, and Dumbledore praised Regulus’s courage.
• Dumbledore used the Elder Wand to add an epitaph honoring Regulus as a fearless and kind Slytherin whose heart turned toward the light.

After Harry was cleared at his hearing, he enjoyed the rest of the holiday at Grimmauld Place until Snape arrived on Dumbledore’s orders to test his Occlumency. Lupin stopped Sirius from interrupting the test, leaving Harry alone with Snape behind a closed door.

• Kreacher recovered after mourning and began performing his duties, while Ron suffered several dangerous encounters with the house’s strange creatures and objects.
• Arthur Weasley took Harry to his hearing, where Dumbledore’s evidence helped secure Harry’s acquittal.
• The Weasleys celebrated the hearing’s outcome with a lavish dinner.
• About two weeks before the holiday ended, Snape seized Harry and took him into a room to test his Occlumency.
• Sirius tried to intervene, but Lupin restrained him and reminded him that Snape was the better Occlumency teacher and would not endanger Harry.

Snape tested Harry’s Occlumency and argued with Sirius, who offered to take over Harry’s training. Later, the Weasleys received delayed exam results and prefect badges, leaving Hermione and Ron celebrating while Fred and George complained.

• Harry emerged exhausted from Snape’s Occlumency assessment, and Snape told him he had forgotten how to defend his mind.
• Sirius confronted Snape over his insults, then offered to take over Harry’s Occlumency lessons; Snape left after telling Su Er he would teach him Apparition.
• Harry collapsed into Ginny’s arms, and Lupin said he was only exhausted and needed to rest.
• Mr. Weasley brought the students’ delayed exam results and letters to 12 Grimmauld Place.
• Hermione learned she had earned all O’s except in Potions and had been named Gryffindor’s female prefect; Su Er congratulated and kissed her.
• Mrs. Weasley celebrated Ron’s prefect badge, while Fred and George complained that neither of them had been chosen.

Ron became a prefect, and Mrs. Weasley celebrated by doting on him and promising him a reward. Su Er explained that Dumbledore had chosen Ron partly to keep Harry from attracting more attention, and Harry congratulated Ron before offering to pay the difference for a better broomstick.

• Mrs. Weasley showered Ron with praise and kisses after learning he had become a prefect, while Fred and George complained about being overlooked.
• Fred and George wondered why Harry had not been chosen instead, and Harry struggled with his disappointment over Ron receiving the badge.
• Su Er explained that Dumbledore wanted Harry to keep a lower profile now that Voldemort had returned and that Ron had long wanted attention.
• Hermione listed two new books for the school year, and Su Er noted that Hogwarts would have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
• Harry sincerely congratulated Ron on becoming a prefect, then offered to pay the extra cost for a better broomstick as a Christmas and congratulations gift.

The Weasley family and Harry went to Diagon Alley early under protection, and Hermione slipped away from the group to confront Su Er, who had secretly ridden there hidden inside her clothes. The chapter ended with Su Er innocently enjoying Hermione’s embarrassment.

• Mrs. Weasley and Sirius argued over whether Harry should be allowed to shop in Diagon Alley, and Alastor Moody decided he could go early with Tonks and Sirius protecting him.
• The Weasley family, Harry, and their companions reached Diagon Alley, where Mundungus Fletcher reported that the street was quiet before leaving for a supposed deal.
• The Weasley Brothers recognized Mundungus Fletcher’s unusually detailed remarks and exchanged a knowing glance.
• Hermione asked to visit the Magical Menagerie, then turned into an alley and pulled Su Er, disguised as a badger, from inside her clothes.

Hermione, Harry, Ron, and the Weasleys shopped in Diagon Alley while Su Er posed as Hermione’s shy pet badger. Ron chose a discounted Cleansweep Eleven over a Nimbus, and the group reunited with Fred and George at Flourish and Blotts, where Mrs. Weasley suspected the twins had been up to something.

• Hermione returned to Quality Quidditch Supplies with Su Er, and Ginny mistook him for a new pet badger.
• The shop assistant promoted the Cleansweep Eleven’s features and sale, and Ron chose it over the Nimbus while Harry accepted his decision.
• Mrs. Weasley noticed Fred and George were missing as the group headed to Flourish and Blotts and threatened to scold them later.
• Mrs. Weasley found Fred and George at Flourish and Blotts with a basket of the required books, and Hermione confirmed they had bought the right ones.
• Mrs. Weasley spotted that the twins were breathing hard, and Fred and George tried to hide their involvement in whatever they had been doing.

Lupin Obliviated Harry and the Weasley children so Su Er could secretly attend Hogwarts in Animagus form as Hermione’s pet. Before the group left for King’s Cross, Su Er learned that Fred and George were considering buying a shop at 93 Diagon Alley, and Moody secretly gave him a photograph of his parents.

• Lupin told the group that Dumbledore wanted to see Sirius, then asked Hermione to leave the sitting room and Obliviated Harry and the four Weasley children.
• Lupin told the confused Harry that he would have another pet to stay close and protect him, while Hermione secretly took Su Er with her.
• Su Er spent the remaining days at the Black Family Home with Hermione and overheard Fred and George arguing over whether to buy the shop at 93 Diagon Alley for 2,000 Galleons.
• At a feast, Moody gave Harry an old photograph and secretly gave Su Er an identical photograph showing Su Er’s parents.
• Ginny fell down the stairs after Fred and George enchanted their trunks to fly, but Mrs. Weasley treated her and she was able to travel.
• Moody arranged a large escort to accompany the group to King’s Cross Station as the new school year approached.

Sirius traveled with Harry and the others to King's Cross, while Su Er accompanied Hermione on the Hogwarts Express. At a prefects' meeting, Malfoy taunted Hermione about Su Er's supposed death until a black-and-white shadow attacked him.

• Sirius played with the group in his dog form as Mrs. Weasley hurried everyone to King's Cross.
• Moody, Lupin, and the Weasleys saw Harry and the others onto the Hogwarts Express.
• Hermione and Ron attended the prefects' meeting, where Hannah said Su Er should have been Hufflepuff's male prefect.
• Malfoy mocked Hufflepuff and cruelly reminded Hermione and Hannah that Su Er was supposedly dead.
• Hermione drew her wand as Malfoy called her a Mud-blood, and a black-and-white shadow rushed past before he screamed.

Hermione, Ron, and Hannah left Draco Malfoy humiliated after Su Er attacked him, then returned to Harry's compartment for the rest of the journey to Hogwarts. At the castle, Su Er slipped away to find food while Hermione and Luna headed to the Great Hall, with Hermione realizing she had overlooked the risk that he could get lost.

• Hermione told Draco Malfoy she could defend herself, while Ron secretly immobilized him and Su Er attacked him in badger form.
• Hermione, Ron, and Hannah left the prefects' compartment, and Ron let the curious students outside see Malfoy sprawled on the floor.
• Hermione and the others returned to Harry's compartment, where Luna read The Quibbler to Snuffles and Hannah sat beside Neville.
• Professor Grubbly-Plank greeted the students in Hagrid's absence, and Harry rode a Thestral-drawn carriage to Hogwarts with Hermione and Luna.
• Hermione told Su Er to find dinner in the kitchens, and he disappeared into the castle; Luna asked whether he might get lost, prompting Hermione to realize she had not considered that possibility.

Su Er returned to Hogwarts and discussed Umbridge, the Ministry, and the growing threat from Riddle with Hermione and Dumbledore. Dumbledore assigned Su Er the task of persuading the Forbidden Forest’s centaurs to support Hogwarts, though there was no need to hurry.

• Hermione told Su Er that Umbridge had become the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and that many people doubted Harry’s account of the Dark Lord’s return.
• Su Er met Dumbledore in the headmaster’s office and criticized the Ministry’s involvement in Hogwarts.
• Dumbledore explained that werewolves, Dementors, and former pure-blood supporters had joined Riddle, leaving Hogwarts short of allies.
• Dumbledore revealed that the Forbidden Forest housed many fantastic beasts and asked Su Er to persuade the centaurs to support Hogwarts.
• Su Er accepted the mission, and Dumbledore assured him that there was still time.

As Umbridge turned Defence Against the Dark Arts into a theory-only course and punished students who challenged her, Su Er accompanied Snape to a desolate place for his first Apparition lesson. The chapter ended as Snape began explaining how to perform the spell.

• Umbridge defended her theory-only Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons, leaving students angry about lost points and Harry's detention for mentioning Voldemort's return.
• Fred and George promoted their Skiving Snackboxes to the frustrated students.
• Su Er arrived early for his Saturday appointment with Snape, who used a Disillusionment Charm before taking him away from Hogwarts.
• Snape brought Su Er to a deserted patch of land, set out two circles with his wand, and began teaching him Apparition.

Su Er learned the basics of Apparition from Snape, practicing until he could move between two marked circles despite an initial Splinching mishap. After sleeping off his exhaustion, he reunited with Hermione in the Room of Requirement and stole a kiss.

• Snape taught Su Er the three Ds of Apparition and instructed him to focus on his destination, determination, and deliberation.
• Su Er’s first attempt left a few hairs behind, but he repeatedly Apparated between the circles and gradually increased the distance.
• Snape stopped the lesson near eleven, and Su Er returned to the Castle exhausted and fell asleep in the Room of Requirement.
• Hermione arrived while Su Er slept, and he later told her that he had spent the morning learning Apparition with Snape.
• Su Er leaned on Hermione and seized the chance to kiss her, prompting her to swat him with her book.

Umbridge’s lessons were disrupted by strange illnesses caused by the Weasley Brothers’ products, while Ron tried to rein in his brothers as a prefect. Harry arrived in the common room with a wound from Umbridge’s enchanted quill, and Ginny urged that Professor McGonagall be told.

• Students suffered mysterious nosebleeds and vomiting in Umbridge’s classes, and the professors recognized the Weasley Brothers’ products as the cause but kept quiet.
• Professor McGonagall tasked Ron with controlling Fred and George, who mocked his authority while handing out experimental sweets to first-years.
• Ron threatened to write to Mrs. Weasley, and Fred and George dragged him away to avoid a Howler.
• Harry entered the common room pale and thirsty, with a raw wound on his hand from Umbridge’s enchanted quill.
• Harry explained that Umbridge had made him write “I must not tell lies” with the quill, and Ginny demanded that Professor McGonagall be informed.

After Harry told Ginny and the Weasleys about Umbridge’s blood-quill detention, Fred and George devised a plan to steal the quill by getting Ron to act. Meanwhile, Hermione began planning to free the House-elves by making them clothes, and Su Er realized she had misunderstood how wizard gifts could free them.

• Harry stopped Ginny from reporting Umbridge because he thought she would deny the accusation and make excuses.
• Ginny told Ron, Fred, and George about Harry’s detention, and Fred and George focused on how to get Umbridge’s quill.
• Fred and George persuaded Ron to take part in a plan to steal the quill, despite his initial protests.
• Su Er noticed Hermione had been distracted and learned that she planned to make clothes and gifts for the House-elves to free them.
• Su Er realized the House-elves would need to accept the gifts willingly from their own masters, but decided to ask Kleis to make sure they treated Hermione’s efforts kindly.

Su Er enlisted Kleis to encourage the house-elves to accept Hermione’s hat-making efforts, then watched the Weasley brothers’ scheme unfold as Ron lured Umbridge into chasing a Slytherin student. The plan appeared to be succeeding, though Su Er was left gagging from the Dungbomb’s stench.

• Su Er asked Kleis to persuade the other house-elves to treat Hermione’s planned gifts as a gesture of goodwill, and Kleis agreed.
• Su Er encountered Ron escorting Umbridge and heard Ron flatter her while she complained about animals in the castle.
• A student threw a Dungbomb into Umbridge’s office, and Ron chased the supposed thief with spells while Umbridge pursued them.
• Su Er hid and recognized the chase as part of the Weasley brothers’ plan to trouble Umbridge and Slytherin, help Harry escape detention, earn Gryffindor points, and obtain Umbridge’s quill.
• After Umbridge ran past, Su Er emerged from hiding and retched from the Dungbomb’s overpowering smell.

Su Er visited Hermione in the Room of Requirement, where she was knitting hats for house-elves and their families, then heard the Weasley Brothers recount their successful scheme against Umbridge. Umbridge eventually identified the Weasley Brothers as the makers of the Dungbombs but found no evidence tying them to the attack, and she vowed to retaliate.

• Su Er found Hermione knitting hats for house-elves and their children in the Room of Requirement, and Hermione remembered she still had an Astronomy essay to write.
• The Weasley Brothers told Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Su Er that their plan had disrupted Umbridge's office, ended Harry's detention, and earned Ron fifty points.
• Hermione warned Fred and George that Umbridge might uncover their involvement, and they agreed to keep a lower profile.
• Umbridge moved to another office after Dungbombs made her Defence Against Dark Magic Office unusable and ruined several portraits.
• Umbridge traced the Dungbombs to the Weasley Brothers but found no evidence that they had attacked her office, then vowed to get even.

Fred and George improved Umbridge’s enchanted quill so that anything written with it appeared on the hair’s owner, then gave Harry Umbridge’s hair to complete his revenge. Harry used the quill to humiliate Umbridge and destroyed the evidence, while Hermione worried about the consequences.

• Harry helped Angelina look for a new Gryffindor Keeper and practiced with Ron as Ron prepared to try out.
• Fred and George showed Harry how their modified quill made written words appear on the face of the person whose hair it had absorbed.
• The brothers gave Harry Umbridge’s hair and urged him to use the quill for revenge, then dispose of it without leaving evidence.
• Harry wrote with the quill during a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson and burned it after class, leaving “I’m a toad, ribbit, ribbit~” on Umbridge’s face.
• Hermione suspected Harry was responsible and warned him about being caught, but Ron defended the plan and Su Er stopped Hermione from arguing further.

Umbridge became Hogwarts High Inquisitor and searched the Gryffindor Common Room for evidence against Fred and George Weasley. Unable to prove their involvement in her humiliation, she questioned them and left to find Harry, while Su Er took the opportunity to go meet Hermione.

• Students heard that Umbridge had left Hogwarts, then learned she had been appointed High Inquisitor by the Ministry of Magic.
• Umbridge claimed authority to enter any Hogwarts room and searched the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Umbridge questioned Fred and George about dangerous inventions, but they denied wrongdoing and asked which rules they had broken.
• Umbridge asked where Harry was, and a student told her he was at the Quidditch Pitch.
• Umbridge left without evidence against Fred and George, while Su Er watched her lose her pleasant expression.
• Harry and Ron returned scowling after Umbridge interrupted their Quidditch practice, and Su Er left the common room to find Hermione.

As Umbridge’s intrusive searches and useless Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons frustrated Hogwarts students, Hermione proposed forming a self-study group and persuaded Su Er to teach it using Polyjuice Potion. At the group’s first meeting in the Hog’s Head, Su Er recognized a hooded witch by her distinctive feet and familiar cheap tobacco scent.

• Umbridge continued investigating Hogwarts professors and searching students’ common rooms while teaching only from Defensive Magical Theory.
• Hermione suggested a self-study group so students could prepare for their O.W.L.s and learn practical Defence Against Dark Magic.
• Hermione revealed that she had brewed Polyjuice Potion in an abandoned bathroom so Su Er could secretly serve as the group’s instructor, and he agreed.
• Hermione arranged the group’s first meeting at the Hog’s Head during Hogsmeade Weekend.
• Su Er noticed a witch sitting by the fireplace and recognized her as someone connected to the Black Family Home from her large feet and cheap tobacco scent.