Chapter Summaries

Hermione, Susan, and Hannah descended through the guarded passage beneath the trapdoor, treating the badly injured Three-Headed Dog and overcoming Devil’s Snare with torches. They reached a room full of Winged Keys and began looking for the key that would open the far door.

• Hermione, Susan, and Hannah found a severely wounded Three-Headed Dog guarding a trapdoor and gave it Blood-Replenishing Potions.
• Hermione led the girls past Devil’s Snare using torches, while Susan marked their starting point with cream cake.
• The three girls followed the stone corridor and heard strange sounds ahead as they descended.
• Hermione, Susan, and Hannah entered a brightly lit room filled with Winged Keys and saw a heavy wooden door.
• Hermione tested the keys and suggested they inspect the lock before searching for the right one.

Hermione, Hannah, and Susan passed the flying-key and enchanted-chess challenges while pursuing Quirrell. They reached Snape’s potion room, where Hermione used Fire Protection Potions she had brought herself, and the three prepared to cross the flames.

• Hermione summoned the battered key with an Accio spell, and the girls unlocked the door and escaped the attacking keys.
• Hermione shrank the giant white chess pieces with Reducio and tossed them off the board, opening the way onward.
• The girls entered a potion room sealed by walls of purple and red fire and found a riddle identifying one Fire Protection Potion among the bottles.
• Hermione suspected Quirrell might have tampered with the potions, so she gave Hannah and Susan Fire Protection Potions from her own supply.
• The three girls drank the potions, readied their magic and weapons, and crossed the wall of fire together.

Hermione, Hannah, and Susan reached the final room and killed Quirrell with Hermione’s God Metal Bullet. Voldemort emerged from Quirrell’s body and threatened them, but Hermione shot him dead as well.

• Hermione, Hannah, and Susan crossed the flames and found Quirrell trying to take something from an old mirror.
• Hermione shot Quirrell, and the God Metal Bullet pierced his Iron Skin Charm and mortally wounded him.
• Quirrell died after Voldemort emerged from the back of his head and revealed himself.
• Voldemort threatened the girls, and Hermione shot his head apart with the shotgun.
• Hermione reloaded and told Hannah and Susan that she had not meant to shoot Voldemort in the head.

After Quirrell died, Hermione, Hannah, and Susan recovered from the encounter and searched the final trial room for the treasure. Hermione found a black ring instead of the expected Red Stone and decided to report Voldemort’s return to the Head of House or the Principal.

• Quirrell’s corpse crumbled to ash as the black smoke from his neck vanished into the sea of fire.
• Hermione, Hannah, and Susan discussed Voldemort and eased their fear by joking about Professor Wilson and Snape.
• Hermione inspected the mirror, resisted its vision of her future through Occlumency, and demanded that it give her the stored treasure.
• Hermione found a black ring in her pocket and showed it to Hannah and Susan, who questioned whether it was the Red Stone.
• Hermione put the ring away and led the others to leave so they could tell the Head of House or the Principal that Voldemort had returned.

Hermione, Hannah, and Susan escaped the well with the ring, and Professor Wilson identified it as the Resurrection Stone rather than the Philosopher’s Stone. Dumbledore concealed the truth about Voldemort’s return and arranged for the girls to swear secrecy, while Su Ming realized Dumbledore’s plan had confirmed Voldemort was alive and decided to seek extra payment.

• Hermione led Hannah and Susan out of the Devil’s Snare well and showed Professor Wilson the ring they had recovered.
• Professor Wilson identified the ring as the Resurrection Stone and took the girls to Dumbledore’s office to learn what he had planned.
• Hermione and her friends recounted how they had confronted Quirrell and destroyed the face on the back of his head, which the professors recognized as evidence of Voldemort’s return.
• Dumbledore told the girls to claim they had protected the Philosopher’s Stone and made them swear a Fidelius Charm to keep Voldemort’s return secret.
• Su Ming concluded that Dumbledore had used the ring as bait to confirm Voldemort was alive and decided to ask him for extra benefits, possibly Felix Felicis.

Hermione received recognition for her role in the Halloween events and spent the following weeks weighing whether to go home or stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. As term neared its end, she studied an annotated potions textbook and wondered about its mysterious former owner, the Half-Blood Prince.

• The Principal announced the agreed-upon story of the previous night and awarded Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff points, giving Hermione more than the other two girls combined.
• Hermione noticed Harry envying her points, while she struggled to sleep after remembering Voldemort's death.
• Hermione watched the start of a snowbound Eagle House–Badger House Quidditch match before leaving early, and the match continued until the next morning.
• Hermione considered whether to spend Christmas at home or remain at Hogwarts, and Professor Flitwick offered her a place in the teachers' compartment if she chose to go home.
• Hermione studied the Sports Professor's annotated textbook, tried its improved potions and spells, and learned that its unnamed former owner called himself the Half-Blood Prince.

Su Ming told Hermione she would remain at Hogwarts over Christmas for her safety and explained the dangers of Voldemort’s Horcruxes and the Deathly Hallows. He then led her to a hidden door on the eighth floor, and Hermione entered the mysterious room armed with her wand and shotgun.

• Su Ming told Hermione that she would stay at school over Christmas, reassured her that her parents were safe, and explained that the Resurrection Stone created tormenting echoes rather than bringing the dead back to life.
• Su Ming revealed that Voldemort had made seven Horcruxes and that the group had removed the soul fragment from the ring, while the Principal hid the ring itself.
• Su Ming assured Hermione that a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would arrive after winter break and encouraged her to learn practical Muggle skills, prompting her to ask about learning welding.
• Su Ming asked Hermione how she would hide a priceless treasure, then led her back and forth before a tapestry until a previously unseen door appeared in the wall.
• Hermione cast Lumos, gripped her shotgun, and entered the dark room with Su Ming.

Dumbledore awarded Hermione one hundred House points for recovering Ravenclaw's Diadem, which Professor Wilson had cleansed, and considered other Hogwarts heirlooms that might be Horcruxes. As students prepared for Christmas, Hermione and two Hufflepuff girls made plans with the Sports Professor to go dragon-slaying that night.

• Dumbledore announced that Hermione had recovered the Diadem and awarded Ravenclaw one hundred points.
• Dumbledore reasoned that Slytherin's Locket and Hufflepuff's Golden Cup might also be Horcruxes, while the Resurrection Stone and Diadem had been cleansed by Professor Wilson.
• Ron brooded over Hermione's fame, his missing pet Scabbers, and Ginny's wish to join Ravenclaw rather than Gryffindor.
• Dumbledore reminded students to pack for the Christmas holiday and said they would leave by carriage the following morning.
• Hermione saw the Sports Professor's signal and agreed with two Hufflepuff girls to go dragon-slaying that night.

Su Ming taught Hermione, Hannah, and Susan how to think through a Basilisk encounter before leading them into the Chamber of Secrets. After opening the hidden entrance beneath the girls' bathroom sink, he left the students facing the passage below.

• Su Ming told Hermione, Hannah, and Susan that their lesson would be about dealing with a Basilisk, and the girls discussed its dangers and possible weaknesses.
• Susan suggested using roosters or a Blinding Spell, while Hannah said she would seek help from the Principal or a Professor.
• Hermione reasoned that a Flashbang could force the Basilisk to close its eyes, and Su Ming praised all three girls' different approaches.
• Su Ming entered the girls' bathroom with the students and sent Moaning Myrtle back into her toilet.
• Su Ming hissed at the snake-shaped faucet, causing the sink to sink and reveal the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

Hermione and Su Ming easily killed the Basilisk, after which Su Ming encouraged her to break the law by going dragon hunting. During the holiday, Hermione received a second wand and later spotted Snape arguing with Professor Wilson on a bridge, but she could not hear what they were saying.

• Hermione killed the Basilisk with a Flashbang and shotgun, and Su Ming collected its hide and flesh.
• Hermione insisted on seeing a real dragon, so Su Ming took her and the other girls toward Wales despite the Ministry's laws.
• Ollivander sent Hermione an identical second wand that she could use without Ministry monitoring.
• Dumbledore retrieved the Golden Cup for the Sports Professor to purify, while Hermione heard that Harry Potter had cried himself unconscious over a case involving the professor's mouse.
• Hermione spotted Snape and Professor Wilson talking heatedly on a bridge but could not make out their conversation.

Hermione spent the second term training intensely with the Sports Professor and ended the school year as Ravenclaw’s leading student. During summer break, she realized she missed their daily target practice and began visiting his shop’s shooting range while waiting for Hogwarts to reopen.

• The Principal awarded Hermione points for defeating the Basilisk, leaving Ravenclaw far ahead in the House Cup race.
• Hermione continued studying and training with the Sports Professor, who taught her underwater combat and martial arts after she struggled against merpeople.
• After finishing her exams and leaving Hogwarts for summer, Hermione grew restless at home without magic, schoolwork, or her usual lessons.
• Hermione took the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley to find the Sports Professor and learned he had gone to Ilvermorny with Snape.
• Hermione used the Automatic Wand Shop’s shooting range and realized target practice was what she had been missing, so she planned to return every day until school began.

Su Ming and Snape arrived in New York, visited the wizarding entrance to MACUSA, and explored the city while Snape tried Muggle transportation and sights. When an armed robber confronted them on Broadway, Su Ming challenged him to shoot, leaving the encounter unresolved.

• Snape complained about the flight from Britain, and Su Ming explained that they had flown because the countries' Floo Networks were unconnected.
• Snape chose to take a No-Maj taxi to MACUSA, and he watched Manhattan's skyscrapers with astonishment.
• Su Ming and Snape reached Broadway, where Su Ming promised to take Snape to Las Vegas after their business was finished.
• An armed robber emerged from an alley and demanded their money, but Su Ming stopped Snape from drawing his wand.
• Su Ming tapped the robber's gun barrel and taunted him, betting that the pistol had no bullets.

Su Ming and Snape reached Magical Congress headquarters, where Su Ming explained how he had psychologically defeated a robber and described the treatment of Half-Goblins in the United States. After registering their arrival, they were summoned to the Foreign Visitor Registration Office on the 130th floor.

• Su Ming led Snape away from the robber and explained that he had identified the man as a bankrupt hedge fund manager and frightened him into giving up.
• Deathstroke stopped traffic with his grenade launcher and guided Su Ming and Snape across the street to Magical Congress headquarters.
• The guard admitted Su Ming and Snape after checking their wands, and they saw the animated eagle statues and vast headquarters atrium inside.
• While they waited, Su Ming explained the history and status of Half-Goblins in the United States, and Snape watched them uneasily.
• The reception sign displayed Su Ming and Snape's names and directed them to the Foreign Visitor Registration Office on the 130th floor.

Su Ming and Snape traveled to Ilvermorny, where Principal Fontana welcomed them as exchange visitors. Su Ming planned to seek the Snake Tree’s healing leaves by offering the school an enemy it could not face alone, while Snape made clear he would do anything for Lily Evans.

• Su Ming and Snape registered their wands and received help from the registration chief, who warned them not to argue with Principal Fontana about which school was best.
• Su Ming and Snape used a Key to the Door to reach Mount Greylock, where Su Ming said the Snake Tree’s leaves could revive even gravely injured patients.
• Su Ming proposed giving Ilvermorny an enemy it could not handle alone, and Snape reaffirmed that he would do anything for Lily Evans.
• Su Ming and Snape entered Ilvermorny after answering the Pukwudgie guards’ questions and were shown through the castle by a Pukwudgie guide.
• Principal Fontana welcomed the visitors, reminisced about Dumbledore and other acquaintances, and asked Snape about Harry Potter.
• Snape described Harry as an untalented, troublesome student, and Fontana arranged for the professors to meet the students the next morning.

An armored stranger broke into Nurmengard to negotiate with the imprisoned Gellert Grindelwald, offering him a chance to reunite with Dumbledore. Grindelwald questioned the offer, and the stranger claimed he could resurrect Dumbledore’s sister.

• The chapter described Nurmengard as a ruined fortress prison where Grindelwald lived under guard after his defeat by Dumbledore.
• Grindelwald reflected on his past, his relationship with Dumbledore, and how he had answered questions about Voldemort.
• An unknown man in yellow-and-black armor killed the jailer, broke open Grindelwald’s cell, and offered to discuss terms.
• The stranger offered Grindelwald a chance to spend his remaining years with Dumbledore and claimed he could bring Dumbledore’s sister back to life.
• Grindelwald doubted that the stranger could do more than Voldemort’s Flesh, Bone, and Blood magic, but the stranger called himself the Sorcerer Supreme.

Su Ming enlisted Grindelwald in a plan involving Ariana's resurrection and the Serpent Tree Leaf from Ilvermorny. Grindelwald agreed to use his Dark Lord reputation to frighten American wizards, though he still did not know how the plan connected to Voldemort.

• Su Ming told Grindelwald that Dumbledore was planning to sacrifice himself to defeat Voldemort and explained his own plan to resurrect Ariana.
• Grindelwald tested Su Ming with the Killing Curse, which failed against his armor, then agreed to cooperate.
• Su Ming asked Grindelwald to revive his reputation by spreading fear among American wizards, suggesting he attack the Statue of Liberty with Fiendfyre.
• Grindelwald deduced that Su Ming needed Ilvermorny's Serpent Tree Leaf and learned that someone had already infiltrated the school to support the operation.
• Su Ming explained that he needed a material capable of restoring flesh to bones and hoped to settle the matter during summer break before returning to Hogwarts.

Grindelwald used Polyjuice Potion to regain his younger appearance, signed a Magic Contract with Su Ming, and left Nurmengard with him. In London, Grindelwald summoned the Deathly Hallows Symbol and a swarm of Voldemort Bats to announce his return to the wizarding world.

• Grindelwald drank Potent Polyjuice Potion and transformed into his younger self before taking a wand from his hidden box.
• Su Ming and Grindelwald agreed on their plan, and Grindelwald signed a Magic Contract to prevent them from turning against each other.
• Grindelwald changed into his old three-piece suit, and Su Ming flew him from Nurmengard to London on the Cloak.
• Grindelwald asked to gather followers in the United Kingdom, but Su Ming refused and said their performance had to fail.
• In a London alley, Grindelwald cast the Deathly Hallows Symbol into the sky, drawing countless Voldemort Bats that darkened the city.

Su Ming and Snape learned that Grindelwald had escaped and was suspected of killing more than a hundred people with a spell linked to Snape and Dumbledore. Snape chose to hide his knowledge of the escape while Fontana assured him that he and Professor Wilson had alibis.

• Su Ming and Grindelwald traveled from London to the United States after Grindelwald bought new Muggle clothes.
• Fontana told Su Ming and Snape that Grindelwald had escaped from prison and might be hiding in the United States.
• Snape realized that Su Ming had helped Grindelwald escape and decided not to tell Dumbledore because of Lily.
• Fontana said Grindelwald had killed more than a hundred Aurors and other creatures, and that investigators suspected Sectumsempra because the victims had smooth wounds.
• Snape said he would cooperate with an investigation, and Fontana assured him that he and Professor Wilson had alibis.

Snape confronted Su Ming over freeing Grindelwald, but Grindelwald persuaded him to become an ally against Voldemort. Su Ming outlined a scheme involving Ilvermorny, Fudge, and the Serpent Tree, while Grindelwald admitted he could not find the tree.

• Snape questioned Su Ming about freeing Grindelwald, who appeared from under a Disillusionment Charm and disarmed and restrained Snape when he pointed his wand at him.
• Grindelwald told Snape about his past with Dumbledore and persuaded him to join forces against Voldemort; Snape agreed to keep the alliance secret from Dumbledore for now.
• Su Ming gave Snape his hairs and asked him to brew Polyjuice Potion so he could impersonate two people and help steer public opinion at Ilvermorny.
• Grindelwald said he had searched the campus but could not locate the Serpent Tree, which might be hidden in another space.
• Su Ming explained that they would cause enough trouble to make the American magical authorities seek help from Dumbledore, while arranging for Fudge to obtain Serpent Tree leaves and conceal their intended use.

Su Ming and Grindelwald began a campaign of magical spectacle across New York, exposing magic to Muggles without killing them. Magical Congress Speaker Samuel G. Cohog watched the crisis spread and ordered the Aurors to erase the Muggles’ memories and confront Grindelwald.

• Su Ming and Grindelwald walked through New York, and Grindelwald chose Muggle landmarks as targets for exposing the Magic World.
• Grindelwald transformed the Statue of Liberty’s torch into a wand that sent blue Fiendfyre and Deathly Hallows symbols into the sky.
• Cohog watched a Muggle news broadcast cover the transformed statue before Aurors cut the live report.
• Cohog learned that Grindelwald had set the Empire State Building ablaze and painted the White House black, while the Muggle President prepared for war.
• Cohog saw Grindelwald wave at the camera after leaving a circle of Aurors collapsed, then ordered the Congress to erase Muggle memories and fight him.