Chapter Summaries

As Hogwarts prepared for the start-of-term feast, Dobby welcomed the return of Chet Brian while McGonagall and Sprout worried about Dolores Umbridge’s arrival and planned to resist her proposed reforms. Hagrid then arrived with an urgent message from Dumbledore: Umbridge needed Mimbulus mimbletonia pus, and the feast might be delayed.

• A Hogwarts house-elf ordered Dobby to move a table away from a lamp-post base, then rebuked him for seeking wages.
• Dobby looked forward to Chet Brian’s return and decided to rule out Dolores Umbridge as a potential friend after hearing how she had once cursed a house-elf.
• McGonagall and Sprout discussed Umbridge’s past misconduct and her plan to impose a return-to-basic-principles teaching approach.
• Sprout and McGonagall planned challenging lessons to test Umbridge’s knowledge of Herbology and Human Transfiguration.
• Hagrid rushed in with Dumbledore’s request for Mimbulus mimbletonia pus to save Umbridge, warning that the feast might be delayed.

Brian and Sirius brought captured Dementors and two bodies from the train attack to Hogwarts while Pomfrey fought to save Umbridge. The witch was revealed as a Death Eater who had infiltrated the Ministry, and Umbridge’s ghost appeared to protest Sirius’s accusations.

• Sprout brought a Mimbulus mimbletonia to the Hospital Wing, where Pomfrey used its contents to help treat Umbridge while Dumbledore worked to hold her remaining soul in place.
• Chet Brian explained that a toad’s hallucinogenic secretion may have disrupted the Dementor’s Kiss and given Umbridge a chance of survival.
• Brian and Sirius showed McGonagall and Hagrid two captured Dementors and the bodies of a witch and a wizard found after the train attack.
• McGonagall and Brian removed the dead witch’s false face, revealing scars that Sirius recognized as belonging to a Death Eater from the Lestrange family.
• Sirius warned that Death Eaters might still be hiding within the Ministry, and Umbridge’s ghost appeared to angrily demand to know who was slandering it.

As Hogwarts students traveled to the castle, Ginny and Hermione learned that they could see Thestrals because they understood and accepted death, while Ron could not. Ron’s frustrated questions turned into an awkward declaration of affection for Hermione, and the chapter ended with Dolores Umbridge returning as a ghost determined to carry out her Ministry assignment.

• Remus Lupin took charge of the students traveling by boat after Hagrid left with Professor Brian and Sirius Black to transport the dead and dying from the Hogwarts Express.
• Luna told Ginny that Thestrals were carrying Hagrid, Professor Brian, and Sirius, and explained that people who understood and accepted death could see them.
• Hermione explained the Thestrals to Ron and Harry, then read them a note saying that witnessing death alone was not enough to see the creatures.
• Harry and Hermione could not put their understanding of death into words, and Ron angrily complained that they kept information from him.
• Ron blurted out that he found Hermione’s hair and scent appealing, leaving Hermione embarrassed and Harry speechless.
• Dolores Umbridge died in the Hospital Wing, became a ghost, and vowed to complete her Hogwarts educational-reform assignment.

At Hogwarts’ start-of-term feast, the students encountered Dolores Umbridge as a ghostly High Inquisitor with an oversized head and tiny body. The Sorting Hat began singing about her and an unwelcome presence, but Umbridge flew into its mouth and took control before it could finish.

• Students mistook Dolores Umbridge’s ghostly form for a strange creature as she sat at the staff table with the High Inquisitor sign.
• Professor McGonagall objected to Umbridge addressing the feast, but Dumbledore allowed her to speak and explained that she retained her position until Fudge confirmed her death.
• The Sorting Hat delayed its song while Brian whispered to Professor Sprout, then began singing about Umbridge’s large head and tiny body.
• Umbridge misunderstood the song, briefly denied that it described her, and then accepted Brian’s explanation.
• The Sorting Hat started warning that something unwelcome had come to Hogwarts, but Umbridge launched herself into its mouth and ordered the sorting to begin.

During the Sorting Ceremony, Dolores Umbridge’s ghost possessed the Sorting Hat and tried to abolish Hogwarts’ four houses, while the staff and students struggled to restore order. The Hat prepared to use a secret measure to force Umbridge out as the houses competed to quiet down first.

• The Sorting Hat spoke in its own voice and Umbridge’s voice, but Umbridge refused to leave its stomach and proposed replacing the four houses with a class named after herself.
• Brian recalled a memory of feeding pigeons and a puppy as Professor Sprout gave him her homemade flavored sunflower seeds before hurrying to manage Hufflepuff.
• Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick tried to calm their houses, and Flitwick explained that gifted ghosts could immerse their minds in other beings or objects.
• Professor McGonagall projected the house-point hourglasses and offered points to the houses according to how quickly they became quiet.
• Gryffindor and Slytherin students restrained their noisy classmates, while Harry covered Ron’s mouth when Ron asked him to find out whether all girls smelled nice.
• The Sorting Hat warned Umbridge that it would use a special measure if she would not leave, then prepared to act.

Brian put on the Sorting Hat and was transported into a memory of the Founders’ time, where he woke during a forest fire with no memories. After Helga Hufflepuff rescued him, Brian discovered he could use wandless magic and extinguished a burning tree as the Founders prepared to confront the fire.

• The Sorting Hat asked Brian to put it on, then sang that he would enter a vision of the past and fight alongside Hogwarts’ four Founders.
• Brian woke in a burning forest with no memory of who he was, and Helga Hufflepuff told him she had found and rescued him.
• Helga explained that she and her three friends were battling the fire, while Rowena Ravenclaw called her to help create and defeat an enormous Fiendfyre.
• Brian decided to help and used wandless magic to make a burning tree and its flames vanish, astonishing Helga.

Godric Gryffindor and his companions fought a forest fire while Brian, an amnesiac wizard, joined them and revealed unusual magical skill. As Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff proposed extinguishing the blaze with rain, Gryffindor insisted they needed to summon Fiendfyre to preserve the forest’s vitality and recalled a legend.

• Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin pushed back the forest fire while Gryffindor declared he would duel the Fiendfyre.
• Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff arrived with Brian, whom Ravenclaw had rescued, and Brian helped drive back the flames using a branch as a wand.
• Brian recognized Slytherin’s concealed Legilimency, admitted he had lost his memory, and asked the wizards to help him learn about his identity.
• Gryffindor challenged Brian to duel after he defeated the Fiendfyre, and Brian agreed while asking to learn dueling spells.
• Hufflepuff proposed bringing down a heavy, magically fire-suppressing rain, and Ravenclaw said she could prepare it with water from a nearby source.
• Gryffindor rejected the alternative, explaining that they needed Fiendfyre to appear in the forest to preserve its vitality, and asked Ravenclaw whether she remembered a legend.

Brian joined Gryffindor’s plan to duel Fiendfyre after hearing the legend of a forest destroyed by magical flames, and introduced himself as Hogwarts. The flames gathered into a Fiendfyre creature on their own, culminating in the emergence of a huge fire toad with a twisted human face.

• Ravenclaw recounted a legend in which an ambitious wizarding expedition unleashed Fiendfyre, and the surviving exiles later defeated the Flame Monsters and restored their burned forest.
• Gryffindor insisted on testing the legend by dueling Fiendfyre, and Brian agreed after recognizing Gryffindor’s words as a quotation connected to Hogwarts.
• Brian chose the name Hogwarts, while Slytherin joined the plan to observe him and determine whether the legend was true.
• As the group pushed the forest fire back, Ravenclaw discovered that their magic had been absorbed by the flames, causing Fiendfyre to form naturally.
• The Fiendfyre gathered into a growing fireball, then burst apart to reveal an enormous toad with a twisted human face and a flaming pink bow.

Brian and the four founders fought a giant Fiendfyre toad while Salazar Slytherin revealed Rowena Ravenclaw’s painful past to argue that their school should admit only children from wizarding families. Ravenclaw refused, and after Godric Gryffindor destroyed the toad, Brian pointed out that their battle had created a cliff and a dry lakebed resembling the features in Ravenclaw’s dream.

• Godric Gryffindor challenged the giant Fiendfyre toad to a duel and parried its attacks with a spell-forged sword.
• Rowena Ravenclaw explained how Gryffindor’s sword combined magic with swordsmanship, and Salazar Slytherin exposed the story of Ravenclaw’s childhood friend to press his case against admitting Muggle-born students.
• Ravenclaw rejected Slytherin’s demand and insisted that the school admit every child with magic, while Helga Hufflepuff tried to calm the dispute.
• The Fiendfyre toad tried to flee, so Brian and the founders raised earthen walls to trap it while Gryffindor prepared a final strike.
• Gryffindor’s sword destroyed the toad, whose explosion extinguished the forest’s flames and left a deep pit and towering earthen walls.
• Brian observed that the battle had formed a man-made cliff and a dry lakebed, recalling the features in Ravenclaw’s dream.

Brian recovered his memories after the Sorting Hat ended its illusion and learned that the Founders’ memories depicted real events from Hogwarts’s early history. Back in the Great Hall, he joked that he would choose Azkaban, and the Sorting Hat unexpectedly announced that as his house.

• Brian realized the Sorting Hat had used his and Umbridge’s memories and thoughts to simulate an encounter with the Four Founders, then asked whether the events were historical.
• The Sorting Hat explained that the Founders had rescued a wizard called Hogwarts from a burning forest, and that his suggestion led them to create the lake and site where Hogwarts Castle was built.
• Brian wondered whether his Magic Coating connected him to the Founders, then learned he was not their descendant and accepted that he might have to face any connection as it emerged.
• When Brian asked which house he would join, the Sorting Hat said it could not reach a unanimous decision and asked him to choose for himself.
• Brian joked that he would choose Azkaban, and the Sorting Hat announced that name aloud in the Great Hall after Umbridge flew out of its rip and struck Peeves.
• Brian questioned the Sorting Hat about its announcement, and it apologized, claiming it had acted on reflex.

The Sorting Ceremony began as Brian discussed Hufflepuff with Professor Sprout and discovered The Quibbler’s sensational headlines. Meanwhile, Dumbledore confronted Fudge about Umbridge’s death and the Dementor attack, leaving Fudge alarmed after learning that Umbridge had been killed by the Killing Curse.

• Professor Sprout explained that Hufflepuff valued every student and hoped her house would receive twenty-eight of the new students.
• Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey were sorted into Gryffindor, while Luna Lovegood went to Ravenclaw.
• Professor Sprout gave Brian a copy of The Quibbler, and its outlandish headlines persuaded him to subscribe.
• Dumbledore told Fudge that Umbridge had died and that Dementors had attacked the Hogwarts Express, while Fudge blamed Umbridge and denied knowing about her actions.
• Dumbledore revealed that Umbridge had been killed by the Killing Curse, shocking Fudge, and invited him to Hogwarts for a face-to-face conversation.

Brian agreed to help Dumbledore keep Dolores Umbridge’s ghost at Hogwarts by capturing her in a special Poké Ball before the Ministry’s team could take her away. As the feast ended, Brian recruited the Hogwarts house-elves to help locate her.

• Fred Weasley and George Weasley tricked Colin Creevey into trying to finish an ever-refilling communal platter, and Angelina exposed their prank.
• Dumbledore told Brian that Fudge had revoked Umbridge’s position and might send Ministry staff to capture her, but Dumbledore wanted her kept at Hogwarts for further investigation.
• Dumbledore gave Brian a ghost-catching Poké Ball and explained how it would capture Umbridge if it touched her.
• McGonagall announced that Peeves had set traps along the students’ routes back to their dormitories.
• Brian decided to use the house-elves’ communication network to find Umbridge, and he spotted Dobby among them.

Brian used Dobby’s House-elf Magical Power Network to listen across Hogwarts while searching for Dolores Umbridge. He heard snippets of castle life and thought he had found Umbridge when he heard Peeves carrying something that spoke in a woman’s voice.

• Dobby explained the House-elf Magical Power Network and said Brian could join if they regarded each other as equals; they shook hands, and Dobby lent Brian his ears.
• Brian listened to the kitchens and heard elves discuss peppermints, ice cream, and students who had been sent to the Hospital Wing after overeating.
• Brian overheard elves gossiping about Percy Weasley’s argument with Penny and Ron promising to stay with Hermione throughout the school year.
• Dobby explained that the elves had connected to the network to help search for Umbridge, and Brian expanded his listening range across the castle.
• Brian heard activity in Professor Lupin’s office, near the Hufflepuff bathroom and dormitories, and outside the library, where Peeves had something in his mouth that spoke with a woman’s voice.

Brian found Dolores Umbridge hiding inside Peeves's mouth and learned that a special tooth was causing Peeves pain. He used a Poké Ball to try to capture her, but the ball shrank and flew toward Peeves's rainbow-glowing tooth.

• Brian discovered that Umbridge had crawled into Peeves's mouth and that Peeves could communicate through Quiet Ghost, who lived in his belly.
• Quiet Ghost explained that Peeves's enchanted tooth was stuffed with objects and Umbridge, leaving him with a painful toothache.
• Peeves asked Brian to fetch the Sword of Gryffindor to pull the tooth, but Brian instead showed him the Poké Ball Dumbledore had given him.
• Quiet Ghost made Peeves's tooth glow, revealing Umbridge inside, and Brian pushed the Poké Ball into Peeves's mouth.
• The Poké Ball shrank to the size of a marble and flew toward Peeves's rainbow-colored tooth.

The Ghost Office Task Force arrived at Hogwarts to capture Dolores Umbridge’s ghost, but Peeves outwitted them by revealing and recapturing her with a Poké Ball. After Peeves challenged them to chase him to the Astronomy Tower, the frustrated task force turned to Moaning Myrtle, while Brian heard Cedric Diggory protesting.

• The Ghost Office Director led five employees into Hogwarts to capture Umbridge, and Peeves blocked their way while exposing their secret mission.
• Peeves released Umbridge from the Poké Ball in his tooth, but the task force’s ghost-catching gadgets failed to capture her.
• When Umbridge fled, Peeves recalled her into the Poké Ball and swallowed it again, then taunted the task force and flew toward the Astronomy Tower.
• The Ghost Office Director decided to target Moaning Myrtle instead of chasing Peeves, while Brian heard Cedric Diggory protesting as he walked back toward the library.

Cedric Diggory’s attempt to confront Moaning Myrtle about spying on him turned into a chance to repay her for once saving him, while he reflected on his feelings for Cho Chang. The Ghost Office Director left Cedric alone with Myrtle, and Brian arrived just as Cedric’s towel flew away.

• Cedric rushed out of the bathroom when he heard Ministry employees arresting Moaning Myrtle, and the Ghost Office Director explained they had legal authority to take her away.
• Moaning Myrtle praised Cedric’s appearance, prompting him to recall how he had fallen for Cho Chang and how his evasive reply had led her to stop seeing him.
• Cedric remembered that Myrtle had once kept him conscious with her ghostly chill before Quidditch tryouts, and decided he needed to speak with her before she was taken away.
• Cedric asked the director for a private moment with Myrtle, and the director handed him the jar before leaving with Number One Employee.
• Brian arrived by the other staircase and saw Myrtle wailing as she swept Cedric’s towel off into the blue.

Tom Riddle manipulated Percy Weasley into breaking up with Penelope Clearwater, then took control of Percy and entered the Chamber of Secrets to unleash the basilisk. Instead, the basilisk swallowed Percy, and its marked tail signaled that the trap had worked.

• Cedric Diggory was caught naked with Moaning Myrtle, and Professor McGonagall arrived as the scene escalated.
• Penelope Clearwater confronted Percy Weasley over his growing prejudice against Muggles and ended their relationship.
• Percy struck Penelope’s hand away and insulted her, then Tom Riddle took control of his body after she left.
• Tom Riddle explained how he had influenced Percy and planned to use the basilisk to attack Hogwarts students.
• Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets, but the toothless basilisk swallowed Percy and activated the magic circle on its tail.

Brian discovered that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened and hurried to investigate as Dumbledore confronted Fudge with evidence that Voldemort was returning. The chapter left Dumbledore and Fudge responding to the Chamber’s warning while Voldemort ordered Lucius Malfoy to use his son to obtain Harry Potter’s blood.

• Brian advised Cedric on how to express his feelings to Cho Chang, and McGonagall punished Cedric for wandering at night.
• Brian’s warning spell revealed that the Chamber of Secrets had opened and the Basilisk had caught someone inside.
• Fudge accidentally tried to kill Dumbledore with the Killing Curse while wearing Ravenclaw’s Diadem, and Dumbledore explained that it was Voldemort’s Horcrux.
• Dumbledore urged Fudge to prepare to fight Voldemort, but Fudge remained uncertain about the Horcrux’s identity.
• Dumbledore received a warning from the Chamber and ordered Fudge to come with him.
• At the Malfoy manor, Voldemort ordered Lucius to have Young Malfoy bring him Harry Potter’s blood.

Brian examined Voldemort’s Diary after Dumbledore brought the unconscious Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley to the Hospital Wing, discovering that the Horcrux could control people and that its soul fragment reacted to insults. Dumbledore learned Percy would need months to recover, but a message from Madam Pomfrey sent him back to the Hospital Wing, where Fudge was terrified by the Ghost Office Director and insisted Voldemort was dead.

• Dumbledore knocked Cornelius Fudge unconscious and took him and Percy Weasley to the Hospital Wing after retrieving the Diary from the Basilisk.
• Brian identified the Diary as a Horcrux, tested its resistance to damage, and provoked its soul fragment into attacking him.
• Dumbledore told Brian that Percy and Fudge had been mentally influenced and that Percy would need at least three months in the Hospital Wing.
• Brian warned Dumbledore that dark wizards might be active in the Ministry and suggested investigating how the Diary had reached Percy.
• Madam Pomfrey sent an urgent message that Fudge was in a very bad state, and Dumbledore returned to the Hospital Wing.
• The Ghost Office Director entered Fudge’s room, and Fudge recoiled in terror, crying that he was not Voldemort and that Voldemort was dead.

Brian and Dumbledore dealt with the aftermath of Voldemort’s Diary: Cornelius Fudge was left terrified and mentally broken, while Ghost Office staff drank a memory potion to avoid involvement. Dumbledore planned investigations into Percy’s Diary and Hufflepuff’s Cup, and the chapter ended with Hogwarts students gossiping about Peeves and noticing Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang sharing lunch.

• Madam Pomfrey said the Ghost Office staff had swallowed Life in a Dream potion and would sleep through the night, while Fudge and Percy remained hospitalized.
• Madam Pomfrey concluded Fudge had gone mad after Voldemort’s soul fragment terrified him, and Dumbledore asked her to keep his condition secret while he sought a cure.
• Dumbledore told Brian he suspected Voldemort had returned and might be planning to infiltrate the Ministry, and he planned to investigate the wizard who had given Percy the Diary.
• Dumbledore said he had a lead on Hufflepuff’s Cup and asked Brian to help protect Hogwarts while he visited the Ministry and Arthur.
• On September second, Ron told Harry that Peeves had been using the toad ghost as a prank, and Harry noticed Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang eating together.