Chapter Summaries

Ron, Harry, Hermione, Zhang Xiao, and Malfoy cleared the enchanted chessboard, but Hermione began to suspect that the obstacles had been arranged to guide them. Malfoy confidently argued that the gauntlet was only a student test, and the group opened the door to the next obstacle.

• Hermione directed the chess match while Ron relayed moves, and Zhang Xiao's powerful pieces defeated the opposing King.
• Hermione recovered from the strain, and the group discussed how the earlier obstacles matched their skills and seemed unusually convenient.
• Hermione asked Zhang Xiao whether the obstacles had been deliberately designed, leaving him uneasy.
• Malfoy claimed the gauntlet was a student test rather than protection for the Philosopher's Stone, and mocked Harry and Ron's suspicions.
• Zhang Xiao urged the group to continue, and they opened the next door, prompting him to exclaim in Chinese.

Zhang Xiao and the others discovered that only Harry could pass through the water curtain to face the apparent Voldemort, and Harry went ahead after saying goodbye to his friends. Inside, Harry found Professor Quirrell, recovered the Philosopher’s Stone, and faced the revealed Voldemort as Quirrell cast the Killing Curse.

• Zhang Xiao found an invisible force stopping everyone but Harry from approaching the water curtain.
• Harry put on the vest Zhang Xiao gave him, said goodbye to his friends, and passed through the curtain alone.
• Harry discovered Professor Quirrell in the final room and retrieved the Philosopher’s Stone from the Mirror of Erised.
• Quirrell removed his turban, revealing Voldemort’s face on the back of his head.
• Quirrell pointed his wand at Harry and shouted, “Avada Kedavra!”

Quirrell's Killing Curse failed to kill Harry because Zhang Xiao's Anti-Avada Kedavra Vest absorbed the spell, and Harry destroyed Quirrell by touching him. Zhang Xiao searched Quirrell's ashes and secured a leather-bound book just as Dumbledore arrived and noticed him beside the remains.

• Quirrell cast a Killing Curse at Harry, but the vest packed with mice protected him, leaving Voldemort and Malfoy astonished.
• Harry recovered, grabbed Quirrell, and burned him to ash while Zhang Xiao realized the vest had worked.
• The Water Screen vanished, and Malfoy questioned Zhang Xiao about what had happened before Zhang silenced him.
• Zhang Xiao checked that Harry was safe, searched Quirrell's ashes, and sealed a leather-bound book inside his bag.
• Dumbledore arrived and gave Zhang Xiao and Quirrell's ashes a grave look.

After Quirrell’s death, Zhang Xiao searched the scripture book he had recovered and discovered hidden sheets of writing. He began reading Quirrell’s letter, which opened by saying Quirrell was already dead.

• Zhang Xiao performed a Huaxia farewell ceremony for Quirrell, and Dumbledore scattered Quirrell’s ashes.
• Dumbledore carried Harry to the Hospital Wing and told the young wizards his account of Quirrell and the Philosopher’s Stone.
• After Madam Pomfrey sent him away, Zhang Xiao went to the Room of Requirement to examine the book he had taken from Quirrell.
• Zhang Xiao initially thought the book was an ordinary exorcism scripture, but realized its excessive writing was suspicious.
• Zhang Xiao cut apart stuck-together pages and found numbered sheets of hide hidden between them.
• Zhang Xiao read the first sheet, which began with Quirrell saying he would already be dead when the letter was read.

Zhang Xiao read Quirinus Quirrell’s hidden diary and learned how Voldemort deceived Quirrell, possessed him, and gradually took control of his body. Quirrell’s surviving self hid the diary among exorcism scriptures and hoped to reach Dumbledore for help.

• Zhang Xiao read Quirrell’s diary entries describing his appointment as Hogwarts’ Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and his journey to Albania for practical experience.
• Quirrell met a talking snake who claimed a dark wizard had transformed him, and Quirrell agreed to learn dark magic from him.
• Quirrell realized that the snake was Voldemort and discovered that his mind had split between his original self and a twisted persona.
• Quirrell wrote that Voldemort possessed his body and that he needed to return to Hogwarts without alerting Voldemort or his other self.
• Quirrell hid copies of his diary and notes among exorcism scriptures to preserve his sense of self, then wrote that he had seen Dumbledore.

Zhang Xiao read Quirrell’s final diary entries and learned how desperately he had resisted Voldemort’s possession and pleaded for Dumbledore’s help. He confronted Dumbledore, who admitted he had known from the beginning that Voldemort possessed Quirrell.

• Zhang Xiao realized Quirrell had practiced unusual mannerisms to alert Dumbledore and had tried to stop a troll attack from harming Hogwarts students.
• Zhang Xiao read that Quirrell had bought armored trolls from the goblins and left them in the Forbidden Forest, hoping the centaurs would warn Dumbledore.
• Zhang Xiao read Quirrell’s final notes, which showed his despair, hatred of Dumbledore, and intention to kill Harry as a way to free him from control.
• Zhang Xiao summoned Fawkes and traveled to Dumbledore’s office to ask about Quirrell.
• Dumbledore took back the tail feather and admitted he had known from the start that Voldemort possessed Quirrell.

Zhang Xiao and his friends celebrated the end of the school year as Dumbledore awarded House Cup points for their role in stopping Quirrell, leaving Gryffindor and Slytherin tied. After the students left Hogwarts, Zhang accepted the Weasleys’ invitation to visit the Burrow and reunited with his parents at King’s Cross.

• Zhang Xiao questioned Dumbledore about why he had not saved Quirrell, and Dumbledore said there had been no way to separate Quirrell from the Dark Lord except to kill him.
• Malfoy and Ron told students competing versions of the events beneath Hogwarts, while Zhang Xiao and Hermione exchanged study notes and planned to study spells together next term.
• Dumbledore awarded points to Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and Zhang Xiao, leaving Gryffindor and Slytherin tied for the House Cup.
• Zhang Xiao signed the holiday restriction notice, and his wand burned away the magical threads that appeared when he signed.
• Ron invited Harry, Zhang Xiao, and Hermione to visit the Burrow, and Mrs. Weasley thanked Zhang Xiao for looking after Ron.
• Zhang Xiao reunited with Li Qingshu and Zhang Chengdao at King’s Cross Station.

Zhang Xiao moved with his parents into a luxurious Chinese-style garden home in London and learned that he could not return to China until he qualified for talisman investiture. The next morning, Zhang Chengdao told him he would assess his year of self-study and begin teaching him new skills over the summer.

• Zhang Xiao read about British tycoons returning more than a hundred Chinese cultural artifacts and asked whether the family would go back to China that summer.
• Li Qingshu and Zhang Chengdao explained that Zhang Xiao could not return until he was ready for talisman investiture, which required mastering ten talismans and extending his golden light three inches beyond his body.
• Zhang Chengdao drove the family to their new home, where Zhang Xiao explored an elaborate Chinese garden, cultivation room, study, and martial arts training ground.
• The next morning, Zhang Chengdao told Zhang Xiao to come to the training ground so he could assess his progress and teach him new things.

Zhang Chengdao began Zhang Xiao’s summer training by teaching him about Daoist cultivation, the Golden Light Spell, and close-combat techniques. Zhang Xiao was left wondering whether close combat had once been common among wizards.

• Zhang Xiao answered his father’s question about what a Daoist was, then asked about the difference between Daoism and the Daoist Order; Zhang Chengdao said he could not explain because of his father’s gag order.
• Zhang Chengdao had Zhang Xiao attack him with spells, then blocked them all with his Golden Light.
• Zhang Chengdao explained that the Golden Light came from cultivating one’s nature and life, and that Zhang Xiao’s control-focused spells lacked the power to break through it.
• Zhang Chengdao admitted that Zhang Xiao would have to find his own way to combine magic and Daoist cultivation, since no one had taught him how to unite the two paths.
• Zhang Chengdao demonstrated sword techniques and explained that practiced movements helped the body counter attacks instinctively; Zhang Xiao wondered whether wizards had once used close-combat techniques.

Zhang Xiao experimented with transforming a bamboo brush holder into a wand-hiding weapon and discovered he could cast spells through it. After Zhang Chengdao raised concerns about durability and speed, Li Qingshu suggested she knew an item that might meet his requirements.

• Zhang Xiao asked Zhang Chengdao whether he could choose more than one weapon, then hurried to the study to test an idea.
• Zhang Xiao transformed a bamboo brush holder into a wooden sword, then a spear, and cast Stupefy from its tip.
• Zhang Xiao changed the spear into a paper umbrella while Li Qingshu summoned a brief drizzle for him to stand beneath.
• Zhang Chengdao questioned the transformed weapon's durability and the time needed to change its shape, prompting Zhang Xiao to consider stronger, lighter materials.
• Zhang Xiao explained his requirements to his parents, and Li Qingshu said she knew of something that might work.

Zhang Xiao learned that discarded cloud gold could suit his needs and settled into a productive routine of training and study. During a sword practice with Zhang Chengdao, he entered the clear-minded state, which his parents recognized as an unusual achievement for someone his age.

• Li Qingshu reminded Zhang Chengdao about cloud gold, a lightweight, strong material discarded after its creator failed to build a flying battleship, and Zhang Xiao realized Transfiguration made its flaws manageable.
• Zhang Xiao spent half a month practicing with his parents, studying spells and talismans, and meditating, which slightly improved his spellcasting capacity.
• During sword practice, Zhang Xiao entered a slowed-down, highly intuitive state and nearly struck Zhang Chengdao before his father evaded.
• Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu identified Zhang Xiao's state as the clear-minded state and explained that it helped organize what he had learned and could be entered again.
• Zhang Chengdao invited Zhang Xiao to continue their practice, and Zhang Xiao agreed.

After Lucius berated and struck Malfoy for embracing Zhang Xiao’s ideals, Malfoy left confused about whether his father or Zhang was right. Lucius retrieved a dangerous black notebook from a hidden compartment, while Malfoy began writing to Zhang for advice.

• Lucius scolded Malfoy for his choices during the school year, and Malfoy defended taking responsibility as a noble pure-blood.
• Lucius struck Malfoy with a conjured whip and ordered him out, while Narcissa comforted her son and confronted Lucius.
• Narcissa sent Dobby to bring food to Malfoy’s room, and Lucius read a warning that the Ministry would search for privately held Dark Magic artifacts.
• Lucius retrieved a black leather-bound notebook from a hidden compartment but hesitated to touch it, saying he had to protect Narcissa and Draco.
• Malfoy wrestled with his father’s arguments and wrote a letter to Zhang to ask for help with his doubts.

Zhang Xiao answered Draco Malfoy’s letter and received an invitation from the Weasley family, which his parents accepted. The family set off for The Burrow in a flying Small Boat, leaving Zhang Xiao amazed by their journey.

• Zhang Xiao wrote Draco Malfoy a Chinese reply to keep him occupied with looking up its meaning.
• Zhang Xiao read the Weasley parents’ invitation to visit The Burrow and Ron’s note about picking Harry up in the flying car.
• Zhang Xiao found Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu competing in a Paper Puppet Duel and learned they had faced a Wolf Demon together as children.
• Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu agreed to visit the Weasleys and prepare generous gifts for them.
• Li Qingshu chose the Small Boat as a modest way to travel, and Zhang Chengdao propelled it into the sky with a Bamboo Rod.

Zhang Xiao and his parents visited the Weasleys at the Burrow, where Arthur welcomed them and received a calligraphy gift from Zhang Chengdao. The families went inside together, and Arthur eagerly questioned Zhang Chengdao about Muggle inventions and their Flying Boat.

• Zhang Xiao asked his father why the Flying Boat had no wind inside, and Zhang Chengdao explained how difficult it would be to shield a flying sword from the wind.
• Zhang Chengdao landed the Flying Boat near Ottery St Catchpole, and the Zhang family met Arthur and Molly Weasley at the Burrow.
• Arthur welcomed the Zhang family and explained how the Weasleys had expanded their crooked home as their children arrived.
• Zhang Xiao praised the Burrow and hurried inside to reunite with Ron and Harry.
• Zhang Chengdao gave Arthur a calligraphy piece bearing the saying, “A family that does good will be blessed for generations to come!”
• Arthur led the families inside and enthusiastically asked Zhang Chengdao about Muggle inventions and the Flying Boat.

Zhang Xiao spent time with Harry and the Weasleys, learned that Dobby had intercepted Harry’s letters, and joined the twins in clearing gnomes from the garden. The gnomes wandered away, and Zhang Xiao called Fred and George over to share an idea.

• Zhang Xiao listened as Harry and Ron described how the twins had rescued Harry after Dobby intercepted his letters and got him locked up.
• Fred and George offered Zhang Xiao a new invention, then invited him and Harry to help clear gnomes from the garden.
• Ron demonstrated how to swing a gnome by its ankles and throw it over the hedge, while Zhang Xiao conjured scoring hoops.
• Harry cast a Minor Jinx on a gnome, and Zhang Xiao, Fred, and George built a giant slingshot to launch petrified gnomes across the garden.
• The gnomes trudged away in a line, and Zhang Xiao called Fred and George over to tell them he had an idea.

Zhang Xiao proposed a magical auto-chess game to Fred and George, then became unsettled by what he read about household magic. He tested his understanding of magic by casting Lumos, and a soft glow appeared at his wand tip.

• Zhang Xiao showed Fred and George his Wizard Auto Chess idea and offered them Galleons as a loan to develop it.
• Fred and George accepted the funding and hurried home to begin experimenting.
• Zhang Xiao returned to the Burrow with Ron and Harry, where Molly demonstrated household magic and gave him a book about it.
• Zhang Xiao read about household magic and connected its wandless spells to his questions about how magic worked.
• Zhang Xiao cast “Let there be light,” and a soft glow appeared at his wand tip.

After discovering that magical spells responded to intent rather than specific words, Zhang Xiao struggled to understand what magic really was. On the ride home, he entered a clear-minded state and unleashed a powerful Thunder Talisman that left Zhang Chengdao stunned.

• Zhang Xiao realized that Lumos worked through intent and questioned the purpose of Hogwarts lessons on incantations and gestures.
• At dinner with the Weasleys, Zhang Xiao met Ginny, while Molly praised him for encouraging Ron and the families exchanged compliments.
• Zhang Xiao's family sailed home through the clouds, and Zhang Chengdao asked what had been troubling him.
• Zhang Xiao demonstrated that his wand responded to different spoken commands, then entered a clear-minded state and traced a Void Talisman.
• Zhang Xiao formed a Thunder Talisman and shouted, "Thunder, strike!" unleashing a tremendous thunderclap that shocked Zhang Chengdao.

After Zhang Xiao’s impossible Thunder Talisman and Sky-Drawing Talisman feats raised questions his family could not answer, he began probing the nature of magic but stopped when his thoughts threatened to make him lose control. As summer ended, he succeeded at Sky-Drawing Talisman in combat, and his parents proudly announced his achievement to the Daoist Order.

• Zhang Xiao asked Zhang Chengdao about his unprecedented Thunder Talisman, but Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu could offer no explanation and said he could not learn ritual-related arts before his talisman investiture.
• Zhang Xiao rested with his parents on their flying boat and explained that he could not yet repeat his feat, while Zhang Chengdao questioned how his nonverbal Lumos worked.
• At the Exquisite Jade Sky Villa, Zhang Xiao pondered whether incantations were necessary for magic, then stopped himself before his thoughts caused him to lose control of his cultivation; Bird Sis helped him recover.
• Zhang Xiao planned to take Voldemort’s diary from Ginny, reunite Harry with Sirius, and defeat Voldemort, then set aside those plans and focused on lighter thoughts.
• Near the end of summer, Zhang Xiao used Sky-Drawing Talisman in a sparring match and landed his first hit on Zhang Chengdao through his protective Golden Light.
• Zhang Chengdao bragged about Zhang Xiao’s achievement to their relatives, and Li Qingshu announced it to the Daoist Order with a Group Communication Talisman, embarrassing Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao readied himself for his second year at Hogwarts while reflecting on magic and learning that his father had judged Gilderoy Lockhart to be a suspicious fraud. In Diagon Alley, Zhang Xiao asked Zhang Chengdao for help with a plan involving Flourish and Blotts.

• Zhang Xiao soaked in a medicinal bath after training his magic, reflecting that he wanted freedom and to explore the mysteries of magic and Daoist magic.
• An owl delivered Zhang Xiao's second-year book list, which included seven books by Gilderoy Lockhart.
• Zhang Chengdao warned Zhang Xiao to be wary of Lockhart and used face-reading to describe him as a dubious, manipulative person who would suffer misfortune later in life.
• Zhang Xiao and his family went to Diagon Alley, where they found Flourish and Blotts too crowded to shop comfortably.
• Zhang Xiao learned Zhang Chengdao had a contact at Flourish and Blotts and asked his father to help with an idea.

Zhang Xiao reunited with Hermione and followed his parents to Gringotts, where Zhang Chengdao’s history with the goblins revealed the Daoist Order’s brutal warning against grave robbing in Huaxia. The chapter left Zhang Xiao with a deeper understanding of his father’s claim that the Daoist Order was invincible within Huaxia.

• Hermione arrived with her parents, hugged Zhang Xiao, and introduced him as her friend and classmate.
• Zhang Chengdao told Zhang Xiao that he had arranged matters and suggested they wait for the Weasleys at Gringotts.
• At Gringotts, Zhang Chengdao intimidated the goblins, who led the family to a luxurious lounge.
• Zhang Chengdao explained that the Daoist Order had wiped out a goblin branch for robbing graves in Huaxia.
• A goblin relayed Mr. Nackleck’s gratitude to the Eastern practitioner who had spared his life, and Zhang Chengdao repeated the Daoist Order’s warning to the goblins.