Recaps

Shawn disguised himself as Voldemort to intimidate Lucius and retrieve Tom Riddle’s diary, then gave him orders to gather supplies, reconnect with Death Eaters, and restore Shawn’s position at Hogwarts. Lucius returned to Narcissa convinced that the Dark Lord was more dangerous than before and asked her to fetch Draco.

• Shawn confronted Lucius, demonstrated his power by destroying a tree with the Killing Curse, and demanded the diary.
• Lucius handed over Tom Riddle’s diary, which Shawn confirmed was a Horcrux but chose not to absorb yet.
• Shawn ordered Lucius to gather rare alchemy materials and find the Death Eaters still loyal to Voldemort.
• Shawn told Lucius to stop targeting Shawn and secretly restore his Hogwarts governorship, explaining that they were partners.
• Shawn Apparated away, and Lucius returned to Narcissa, warned her that the Dark Lord had become more frightening, and asked her to fetch Draco.

Lucius instructed Draco to follow Shawn loyally and taught him the Malfoy family’s methods for building connections. Shawn studied alchemy runes for five days before receiving a Christmas invitation from the Malfoys, but he changed course when Alice arrived with a mysterious purple bird.

• Lucius pinned the Malfoy family crest to Draco and told him to serve Shawn faithfully, even if ordered to kill someone.
• Lucius explained the Malfoy family’s history and taught Draco how to cultivate useful friendships through adaptability and exchange.
• Shawn decided to delay approaching the young Voldemort in the diary and began studying alchemy and magical runes.
• Shawn spent five days practicing runic engraving and received a letter from Lucius and Draco inviting him to the Malfoy home for Christmas.
• Shawn spotted Alice outside carrying a blue-flamed birdcage with a purple bird inside and told Kreacher to welcome her.

Shawn welcomed the Violet Lightning Kite, which bonded with him immediately, and heard Alice report that Old Fawley would help them obtain Grindelwald’s legacy. After declining the Fawleys’ Christmas invitation, Shawn planned to visit Draco’s home, while Snape noticed a gift from Shawn among the presents in his Hogwarts basement.

• Alice gave Shawn the Violet Lightning Kite as a Christmas gift from the Fawley family, and Shawn freed it from its cage.
• The Violet Lightning Kite flew to Shawn’s shoulder and readily bonded with him, though he did not realize its true origins.
• Alice told Shawn that she had reconciled with her grandfather and that Old Fawley would help them obtain Grindelwald’s legacy.
• Shawn praised Alice, declined Old Fawley’s invitation, and said he would spend Christmas at Draco’s home.
• Shawn sent a reply to Malfoy Manor and went to the basement with the Violet Lightning Kite.
• Snape noticed a Christmas gift bearing Shawn Black’s name among the presents in his Hogwarts basement.

Snape watched a flipbook of his childhood friendship with Lily before Dumbledore summoned him to help prepare Harry for battle. The chapter ended with Dumbledore receiving a signal as Grindelwald met Vinda Rosier in Nurmengard.

• Snape watched the flipbook recount his friendship with Lily, then hid it away after Fawkes delivered a note.
• Dumbledore learned from Shawn's note that a fragment of Voldemort's soul was attached to Harry's scar.
• Dumbledore asked Snape to pose as one of Voldemort's followers and train Harry to become a fearless fighter.
• Snape left without agreeing after Dumbledore explained that Harry needed to grow up quickly.
• Grindelwald welcomed Vinda Rosier to Nurmengard, while Dumbledore's coin suddenly grew hot.

Grindelwald sent Vinda Rosier to Hogwarts to teach Shawn Black how to wield his power and authority, offering to make her Shawn’s godmother. After opening his Christmas gifts, Shawn dressed for an evening outing and left home with Purple Shadow.

• Grindelwald asked Vinda to infiltrate Hogwarts as a professor and personally teach Shawn, then suggested she could become his godmother.
• Vinda agreed to enter Hogwarts and promised to help Shawn become great, while Grindelwald warned her not to attract Dumbledore’s attention.
• Grindelwald discovered that Shawn’s scrambled Rubik’s Cube concealed the Chinese characters “Violent old man” and found no Christmas gift from Albus.
• Shawn opened gifts from his friends and professors, including Dumbledore’s First Milk Tea of Winter, and tried the drink.
• Shawn dressed in a tailcoat, pinned on his family crest, and left the house with Purple Shadow after telling Kreacher to enjoy a lavish dinner.

Shawn visited Malfoy Manor, where Lucius and Narcissa warmly welcomed him and tried to rebuild the family’s relationship with him. Lucius offered to return the Black family properties, but Shawn asked him to keep managing them while Kreacher collected the profits.

• Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco waited outside Malfoy Manor to welcome Shawn, who arrived with a purple bird.
• Lucius and Narcissa greeted Shawn formally, while Draco struggled to understand his parents’ unusually careful behavior.
• Lucius showed Shawn around the estate and tried to make him feel at home, but Shawn’s polite responses left the conversation awkward.
• Narcissa served tea, and Lucius presented contracts for properties he had managed on behalf of the Black family.
• Shawn thanked Lucius and told him to continue managing the properties, with Kreacher collecting the profits regularly.

Shawn joined the Malfoys for Christmas dinner, accepted the Black family’s business profits, and discussed Harry and the house-elves with his hosts. When Cantankerus Nott arrived and tried to take Lucius aside, Shawn stopped them, turning the gathering tense.

• Shawn accepted a Gringotts key containing ten years of profits from the Black family’s businesses.
• Shawn praised Narcissa’s meat sauce apple pie and agreed to let Kreacher teach the Malfoys’ house-elves China cuisine, while privately resolving to discipline Dobby.
• Draco mentioned that Harry had given him a Nimbus 2001, and Shawn said he had given Harry a valuable Christmas gift in return.
• Dobby announced that Cantankerus Nott had arrived, and Lucius left the dinner to greet him while Narcissa entertained Shawn.
• Cantankerus Nott froze when he saw Shawn, then told Lucius he had important information and headed for the study.
• Shawn rose and ordered Lucius and Cantankerus Nott to stop as the Violet Lightning Kite circled above the tense hall.

Shawn punished Old Nott for disrespecting him, using the confrontation to reclaim Black family properties managed by the Nott family. He left after dinner, while Draco and Narcissa were shaken by what they had witnessed.

• Shawn blocked Old Nott's Killing Curse, then used his magic and Purple Shadow's lightning to defeat him.
• Shawn threatened Old Nott with further punishment until he signed a contract returning the Black family's properties.
• Lucius accepted the contract and took the injured Old Nott to St. Mungo's, ignoring his demand to see the Dark Lord.
• Draco and Narcissa watched Shawn return to dinner, shaken by his conduct.
• Shawn wished Draco a Merry Christmas and hoped the new year would bring a new him before leaving.

Shawn tried to manipulate young Tom Riddle through the diary, answered a letter from Pailier Rouge, and spent the holiday studying alchemy and other magic. When Purple Shadow returned from Austria, Shawn came up with the idea of teaching it Apparition.

• Shawn wrote complaints in Tom Riddle's Diary to disguise his identity, then put the diary away when young Tom did not respond.
• Shawn read a New Year's letter from Pailier Rouge about upheaval in Eastern Europe and the nature of good and evil, then wrote a reply and sent it to Austria with Purple Shadow.
• Shawn practiced alchemy, ruined a playing card, and reflected on the Philosopher's Stone and other magical paths to immortality.
• Shawn followed a holiday routine of reading, alchemy, charms, and Transfiguration while considering whether he could become a fantastic beast as an Animagus.
• Purple Shadow returned from Austria, pecked Shawn's hair in annoyance, and inspired him to consider teaching it Apparition.

Shawn failed to teach Purple Shadow Apparition and decided to seek Fawkes’s help, while using Tom’s diary to draw out its presence. Meanwhile, Vita cautiously considered how Grindelwald’s Army could respond to upheaval across Eastern Europe, and she reviewed candidates for Hogwarts staff.

• Shawn’s instructions left Purple Shadow dizzy, and Kreacher explained that house-elves Apparated by instinct rather than through a method.
• Shawn chose to seek Fawkes’s help teaching Purple Shadow and considered offering Dumbledore the blank diary in exchange for time with the phoenix.
• Shawn wrote complaints and false details into Tom’s diary to encourage little Tom to reveal himself, then practiced making communication Playing Cards.
• Vita heard reports that new Eastern European Ministries of Magic wanted Grindelwald’s Army’s support and recommended cautious action rather than an immediate return.
• Vita told Abernathy to direct the Polish Minister for Magic to Austria’s minister and continued reviewing prominent British wizards for potential Hogwarts hires.

Theodore Nott discovered that Old Nott had been gathering rare alchemy materials for Voldemort, then left to report to the Chief. Shawn punished Old Nott for delivering only half the goods and ordered him to break Bellatrix out of Azkaban.

• Old Nott returned home and attacked Gloria when she tried to protect Theodore, who used the Cruciatus Curse against his father.
• Theodore found a magical ring containing rare alchemy materials, learned Old Nott had contacted Voldemort, and immobilized him with Petrificus Totalus.
• Theodore told Gloria to return to Hogwarts, then left to find the Chief.
• Shawn waited in the woods for Old Nott, who arrived with only half the requested materials.
• Shawn tortured Old Nott with the Cruciatus Curse, then ordered him to find a way to break Bellatrix out of Azkaban.

Shawn sent Old Nott to prepare to break Bellatrix out of prison, then took in Theodore after he brought over supplies meant for Voldemort. After weeks of training, Shawn and Theodore arrived at King’s Cross for the new term, where many recognized Shawn as the Chosen One.

• Shawn ordered Old Nott to prepare for a prison break within ten days, intending to either obtain Bellatrix’s Gringotts cup Horcrux or leave Theodore in control of the Nott family if Old Nott failed.
• Theodore waited in the snow outside Shawn’s home and gave him a ring containing supplies he had seized from Old Nott, warning that Voldemort had returned.
• Shawn brought Theodore inside, claimed that he and Voldemort were working together to make Playing Cards, and promised to teach him the Killing Curse.
• Shawn trained Theodore in dark magic and Apparition while studying alchemy and making finished items.
• The day before term began, Shawn and Theodore Apparated to King’s Cross, entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and drew attention from parents who recognized Shawn as the boy who had defeated Voldemort.

Shawn returned to Hogwarts with Theodore and Draco, then learned that Cantankrous Nott had failed to escape Azkaban and ordered Lucius to take over the Nott family’s businesses. After half a month of school passed quietly, Shawn resumed his efforts to contact Tom through the diary and greeted him directly.

• Shawn boarded the Hogwarts Express with Theodore and Draco, reminded Lucius about the school governor’s seat, and saw Draco speak cordially with Hermione.
• At the start-of-term feast, Shawn searched for the Grey Lady, noticed Dumbledore’s exhaustion, and wondered whether he could get Fawkes as an advance.
• Alice showed Shawn a newspaper report that Cantankrous Nott had been caught trying to escape Azkaban and sentenced to life imprisonment; Theodore left the Great Hall, followed by his sobbing sister Gloria.
• Shawn told Alice not to comfort Theodore and instructed her to send Lucius orders to take over the Nott family’s businesses with help from her grandfather.
• Shawn worked on communication Playing Cards, then opened Tom’s Diary and wrote, “Hello, Tom-or Voldemort!”

Shawn tried to force Tom Riddle’s Diary to submit, but Tom resisted and Shawn put it away to look for a way to break his defenses. During Potions class, Snape mocked Shawn and punished Harry, who complained to Shawn afterward.

• Shawn threatened Tom with Fiendfyre until Tom answered, then learned Tom had exposed his disguise through his knowledge of the Nott family and Legilimency.
• Shawn demanded that Tom open his mind and submit or die, but Tom closed the Diary and refused to react to the threat.
• Shawn went to Potions class and asked Snape how to win over someone proud and intelligent; Snape warned him about poison, and Shawn handed him a stack of photographs in thanks.
• Snape criticized Shawn during class and repeatedly deducted points from Harry for his potion work.
• Harry complained to Shawn that Snape was unfair and that he had cost Gryffindor House Cup points, while Draco asked Shawn to rein Snape in.

Shawn devised a plan to exploit the young Voldemort’s emotional weaknesses and sought a potion from Snape. Meanwhile, Cantankerus Nott arrived at Azkaban, where he secretly prepared to follow a Pure-blood Old Man’s plan and eventually free the Death Eaters.

• Shawn reassured Harry about Snape’s hostility, and Draco encouraged Harry to keep trying.
• Shawn reflected on Voldemort’s need for affection and power, then went to Snape’s office to ask about advanced Hallucinogens that could affect a soul.
• An Auror escorted Cantankerus Nott to solitary confinement in Azkaban, where the Dementors failed to feed on him.
• Cantankerus Nott recalled the Pure-blood Old Man’s advice to hide in Azkaban until Voldemort’s anger cooled, then rescue the Death Eaters together.
• Bellatrix recognized Cantankerus Nott from a nearby cell and asked how he had ended up in Azkaban.

Shawn obtained a powerful custom hallucinogenic potion from Snape and planned to use it to weaken Tom’s defenses and seize control of his soul. While studying Legilimency, he accidentally probed Percy, then gave him a calming potion and money for his work and family.

• Snape read Shawn’s silence as confirmation that the potion concerned someone important to him, then brewed and gave him a custom hallucinogen.
• Shawn searched his dark magic books for spells to inspect or alter memories, then realized he could use Legilimency as part of his plan against Tom.
• Shawn went to the Knowledge Sea Repository and studied Legilimency while Percy read nearby.
• Shawn accidentally used his rough Legilimency on Percy, apologized, and gave him a Calming Draught.
• Shawn asked Percy about Gryffindor, praised the students’ Knight’s Salute, and gave Percy two hundred Galleons for his work and Christmas gifts.

Shawn raised his Legilimency to level five by forcing his way into the memories of intelligent Fantastic Beasts, then slept off the backlash. After recovering and preparing for a confrontation, he opened Tom's Diary and began by insulting Tom.

• Shawn spent the night practicing Legilimency on Acromantulas and Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, reaching level five but suffering severe emotional aftereffects.
• Shawn returned to the Dormitory at dawn, and Draco covered him with a blanket before leaving for Morning Study with Goyle and their other companion.
• Shawn slept for a day and reflected that entering the beasts' memories directly had overwhelmed his usual mental protections.
• Shawn woke to hear his roommates' and Purple Shadow's thoughts, then reassured Purple Shadow and drank two Energy Potions to ease the pressure in his head.
• Shawn prepared Tom's Diary and a jade-colored potion, planned his approach, and insulted Tom as he began their psychological battle.

Shawn provoked Tom by boasting of his power, achievements, and connections, then used documents to convince him the claims were true. With Tom's confidence shaken, Shawn poured a Hallucinogen potion onto the diary and entered Tom's memories with Legilimency.

• Shawn taunted Tom about being less talented than Dumbledore, provoking an angry outburst from the diary.
• Shawn displayed a Lightning Long Halberd and claimed he had reached the threshold of Legendary at twelve and killed Voldemort after his main soul's resurrection.
• Shawn mocked Tom's school achievements and claimed he had united Hogwarts's Four Houses, become Gryffindor's Deputy Headmaster, and gained control of Grindelwald's Army and half of Europe.
• Tom demanded proof, and Shawn showed him newspapers, school administration documents, and Grindelwald's Correspondence.
• After Tom examined the documents and began doubting himself, Shawn poured Hallucinogen potion onto the diary and entered Tom's memories with Legilimency.

Shawn explored Tom Riddle’s deepest memories, witnessing the loneliness and betrayals that shaped his descent into darkness. As Tom broke down after killing his father, Shawn finally used Soul Lock on him.

• Shawn watched young Tom envy a girl adopted from the orphanage, then saw the other children flee after Tom revealed he could command snakes.
• Tom hid his disappointment in Dumbledore after being scolded at the orphanage, and later overheard Dumbledore warning Slughorn against taking him as a godson.
• Shawn watched Tom claim Salazar’s legacy and later create a Horcrux after killing Moaning Myrtle, but held back from using the Puppet Art.
• Tom killed Tom Riddle Sr. after hearing him insult his mother, then wept in the rain and vowed to make the world fear him.
• Shawn recognized that Tom’s memories had reached their most vulnerable point and cast Soul Lock on him.

While Shawn secretly built a new body for Tom in the Room of Requirement, rumors about Shawn spread through Hogwarts and Draco struggled to pass along an urgent message from his father. Tom entered the body and immediately attacked Shawn with a powerful Killing Curse.

• Goyle's loose remark about Shawn's disappearance grew into a rumor that Shawn was a murderous, cake-eating ghost, while Draco reassured Goyle and worried over letters from his father about seats and cooperation.
• Harry noticed Ron had begun studying enthusiastically after Percy gave him new robes and a wand and promised another reward if he passed his subjects.
• In the Room of Requirement, Shawn engraved the final runes on a body made for Tom as Tom reviewed files on the Death Eaters and British Wizarding World events.
• Tom's soul entered the black cocoon surrounding the body, and Shawn explained that the body could handle power at the threshold of legendary and had room to develop.
• After Tom's new body sat up, he pointed at Shawn and cast a powerful Avada Kedavra.

Shawn defeated Tom’s attempt to kill him, sent him to Hogsmeade to await orders, and learned that a rumor about him was spreading through Slytherin. After receiving urgent letters from Lucius, Shawn ordered Tom to act and sent Lucius a reply whose contents left him stunned.

• Tom launched a weakened Killing Curse at Shawn, who blocked it with a small shield and gave Tom a Communication Card, Galleons, and a wand before sending him to Hogsmeade.
• Shawn freed Draco from Tom’s Petrificus Totalus, told him to keep Tom’s identity secret, and took urgent letters from Lucius.
• After reading the letters, Shawn sent Tom an order and postponed his visit to the Headmaster’s Office.
• Draco told Shawn that a rumor about him had spread among the students, and Shawn ordered him to have Alice investigate how it began and whether anyone had deliberately embellished it.
• Shawn soothed Purple Shadow, wrote a reply to Lucius, and sent Kreacher to deliver it after Purple Shadow refused to carry the letter.
• Lucius read Shawn’s message about the Dark Lord taking charge of the School Governor matter and wondered whether Shawn had more influence than he realized.

The Order of the Phoenix met at the Tonks family home to review intelligence and discuss the lack of leads on Voldemort’s allies. After the meeting, Mundungus Fletcher secretly sold their intelligence in Knockturn Alley and went on to another rendezvous.

• Moody questioned the Order about pure-bloods collecting alchemy materials, Lupin’s whereabouts, and Amelia Bones’s refusal to join them.
• Moody caught Mundungus copying the Order’s intelligence, and Mundungus claimed he needed the notes to remember his work among dark wizards.
• Kingsley asked Tonks whether Shawn Black had contacted her family, but she dismissed the idea of currying favor with rich relatives.
• The Order’s routine meeting ended, and Mundungus stole a silver trinket before leaving the Tonks home.
• Mundungus Apparated to Knockturn Alley, sold handwritten intelligence to a concealed buyer, and then headed toward another shabby door.

Tom summoned the Death Eaters to Riddle House, where the gathered followers were unnerved by his changed appearance and controlled demeanor. He called Selwyn forward first, leaving Selwyn fearing that his past betrayal would cost him his life.

• Lucius and the other Death Eaters argued over his support for Black and his purchases of alchemy materials, while Borgin and Burkes traded information with Yaxley.
• The Death Eaters received Tom's summons through their Dark Marks, donned their cloaks and masks, and hurried to leave the area.
• Shawn arrived at Riddle House under concealment and watched Tom await the gathering as streams of black smoke carried the Death Eaters to the courtyard.
• The Death Eaters crawled forward to kiss Tom's robe and knelt around him, growing uneasy at how young and composed he appeared.
• Tom surveyed the gathered Death Eaters and ordered Selwyn to step forward, making Selwyn fear that Tom knew he had betrayed his followers to the Ministry.

Tom punished Selwyn by demanding his family’s fortune and Hogwarts governor seat, then ordered the Death Eaters to expand their influence and prepare for his return to power. Shawn watched from behind Tom, intending to use him as a shield while he continued building resources and influence.

• Tom demanded 100,000 Galleons and Selwyn’s Hogwarts governor seat within ten days, threatening the Selwyn family if he refused.
• Tom ordered Lucius to discreetly transfer the Hogwarts governor contracts held by seven Death Eater families within ten days.
• Tom told the Death Eaters to infiltrate the Ministry, consolidate their resources for economic expansion, and recruit allies, warning them against reckless actions.
• Tom blasted the courtyard gates with a Killing Curse to intimidate the assembled Death Eaters.
• Shawn noted Tom’s magic had limits and considered how to expand his own influence while keeping Dumbledore occupied.

Shawn approved Tom’s plan to capture Voldemort’s main soul by turning it into a Horcrux, then returned to Hogwarts and learned that Ron, Cormac McLaggen, and Pansy Parkinson were spreading suspicious rumors about him. He ordered Alice to investigate Cormac further and headed to the Seventh Floor to find a teacher for his Purple Shadow.

• Tom told Shawn that he could sense Voldemort’s location and proposed using their shared soul origin to imprison the main soul as a Horcrux.
• Shawn gave Tom authority to use the Death Eaters’ resources, but warned him to put his own safety before capturing Voldemort.
• Shawn returned to Hogwarts and joined the Slytherin table for dinner, where Alice reported that Ron, Cormac McLaggen, and Pansy Parkinson were implicated in the rumors about him.
• Shawn ordered Alice to investigate Cormac McLaggen’s background thoroughly.
• Shawn declined to walk with Draco and went toward the Seventh Floor to find a teacher for his Purple Shadow.