Recaps

Neville unexpectedly produced a powerful shield Patronus, and Harry used Magic Perception to examine the students’ magic and soul projections. He discovered that Ron’s golden soul projection was shrouded in black and seemed to react to Harry, leaving him alarmed and uncertain.

• Neville cast Expecto Patronum and formed a bright silver shield, impressing the other young wizards.
• Harry used Magic Perception and saw magical flames around Neville, along with a large golden soul projection.
• Harry compared the students’ magic and soul projections, noting Hermione’s human-shaped projection and Lavender’s glowing ball.
• Harry noticed that Ron’s golden soul projection was wrapped in black mist.
• Ron’s soul projection appeared to glance toward Harry, then Harry realized it was moving and speaking in sync with Ron.

Harry’s Patronus lesson helped most of the young wizards improve, and Luna astonished them by producing a corporeal Patronus. After practice, Hermione officially established the activity group and invited everyone to choose a name, leaving them to debate suggestions.

• Harry taught the young wizards a technique that helped most of them improve their Patronuses.
• Luna conjured a corporeal Patronus in the form of a silver rabbit, astonishing everyone.
• The students practiced for over half an hour, and Hermione ended the lesson when they grew tired.
• Hermione announced that the activity group was officially established and asked everyone to suggest a name.
• Angelina, Alicia, Winnie Hopkins, Fred, and Katie Bell reacted to several proposed names, but the group had not settled on one.

Harry established the Dark Magic Defense Group, R.B., and helped its members improve their defensive magic. At the next meeting, Ron taught the Disarming Charm, and Harry demonstrated its value by defeating Zacharias Smith ten times in a row.

• Harry established R.B. as its temporary leader and helped the group practice the Patronus Charm before everyone returned to their Common Rooms.
• Qiu told Harry that the members trusted his guidance and urged him to keep leading the meetings.
• At the following week's meeting, Ron taught the Disarming Charm after Hermione and Qiu persuaded him not to teach Transfiguration.
• Zacharias Smith questioned whether the Disarming Charm needed practice, so Harry challenged him to cast it simultaneously against him.
• Harry disarmed Zacharias ten times in a row and pointed out recurring flaws in Zacharias's technique.

As Halloween passed without its usual entertainment, Hogwarts students looked forward to the start of Quidditch, with Gryffindor set to face Slytherin. Angelina warned Harry, Ron, Fred, and George to stay out of trouble, while Professor McGonagall gave regular players time off homework so they could train and win the cup for her.

• Hermione received praise for R.B.'s discreet communication system, and Harry recalled that the Sorting Hat had considered placing her in Ravenclaw.
• Hogwarts held a subdued Halloween feast without entertainment, and students turned their attention to the upcoming Quidditch season.
• Angelina warned Harry, Ron, Fred, and George not to risk detention before Gryffindor's match against Slytherin.
• Fred and George had repeatedly used Sirius's trick for breaking Umbridge's magic to get through detention with ease, prompting Hermione and Qiu to delay teaching it to all of R.B.
• Professor McGonagall waived homework for regular Quidditch players so they could train and keep the Quidditch Cup in her office.

Draco and Bletchley’s plan to get Harry and Ron detained went wrong when Bletchley’s spell hit Lavender and Ron beat him up. Umbridge gave Bletchley a week of detention and Ron three days, leaving Ron and Bletchley both set to miss the Quidditch match; Ron then comforted Lavender.

• Draco’s plan called for Bletchley to attack Ron so Harry would retaliate and Umbridge would detain Harry.
• Harry, Ron, Hermione, Qiu, and others arrived to find Ron beating Bletchley while Harry stood aside and Lavender had been struck by a spell.
• Qiu and nearby students told Umbridge that Bletchley had attacked Ron with magic and hit Lavender, and Harry challenged Draco’s account.
• Umbridge assigned Bletchley one week of detention and Ron three days, starting that night.
• Ron went to Lavender, reassured her, and lifted her into his arms.

After Ron returned from detention, he learned that Gryffindor had crushed Slytherin in the Quidditch match. The next morning, Harry and the others discovered that Educational Decree Number Twenty-Five gave Umbridge supreme authority over student punishments, leaving them wary of what she might do.

• Gryffindor defeated Slytherin 390–110, with Harry catching the Snitch and the twins dominating as Beaters.
• Ron returned to the Common Room and told his friends that Umbridge’s writing punishment had not hurt him, though he had pretended to suffer.
• Angelina warned the others that Professor McGonagall had told her to be careful, but said they would understand why the next morning.
• Harry and the others read Educational Decree Number Twenty-Five, signed by Cornelius Fudge, which gave Umbridge control over student punishments and privileges.
• Angelina confirmed that even McGonagall could not overturn Umbridge’s decisions, and warned that future trouble could bring worse than detention.

Harry and his friends visited Hagrid after learning he had returned, and found him bruised and injured. Harry gave him restorative potions, which helped, while the strange green-blooded meat in Hagrid’s hut hinted at what he had been doing.

• Ron told Harry that Hagrid had returned, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Qiu, and Lavender went to visit him.
• Harry and his friends found Hagrid battered, with bruises, burned hair, and signs of pain.
• Harry gave Hagrid three vials of Restorative Potion, and the bruises on his face began to fade.
• Ron uncovered strips of unfamiliar meat with green blood in a wooden basin in Hagrid’s hut.

Hagrid told Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Qiu about his mission with Madame Maxime to find the Giants, while Harry recounted his summer attack by a Dark Wizard and Dementors. Hagrid began explaining how Dumbledore knew where the Giants were, but the chapter ended before he answered.

• Ron asked Hagrid to tell them about his encounters with the Giants, and Hagrid learned that Harry had been attacked by a Dark Wizard and Dementors.
• Harry told Hagrid how he and Dudley had been attacked and questioned by the Ministry of Magic, while leaving out some details.
• Hagrid praised Dudley for defending Harry and grew angry that the Australian Dark Wizard had used Dark Magic against him.
• Hagrid revealed that Madame Maxime had accompanied him on Dumbledore's mission to find the Giants and praised her for enduring the difficult journey without complaint.
• After Harry and Ron shielded the girls from Fang shaking off water, Ron asked why Giants' hiding places were not as secret as people claimed.

Hagrid told Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the others how he and Madame Maxime approached the giants and began earning the Gurg Karkus's trust. He left off after describing the goblin-made helmet that persuaded Karkus to sit down and talk with them.

• Ron asked Hagrid why giants were described as ugly, and Hagrid explained that ugliness made them more intimidating.
• Hagrid said he and Madame Maxime had followed Dumbledore's instructions to approach Karkus with presents while ignoring the other giants.
• Hagrid revealed that their first gift was a branch of Gubraithian Fire, which Karkus liked after other giants explained what it was.
• Hagrid said he promised to bring more presents the next day, giving the giants time to trust them and appreciate the gift.
• Hagrid explained that the next gift was a sturdy goblin-made helmet, which Karkus liked before sitting down to talk.

Hagrid told Harry and the others about his journey with Olympe, including their clashes with Death Eaters and the news that his mother had died. As the group questioned his recent injuries, Umbridge arrived at Hagrid’s door.

• Hagrid recounted how he and Olympe fought Death Eaters and failed to persuade more giants to join them.
• Hagrid told Hermione that his mother had died years ago.
• Ron and Hermione noticed that Hagrid’s injuries were fresh and questioned why he had only just returned.
• Harry and the others saw Umbridge outside Hagrid’s hut, and Hermione identified her to Hagrid as one of Fudge’s people.
• Hagrid opened the door to Umbridge.

Hagrid calmly outwitted Umbridge when she challenged his late return, then reassured Harry and the others about his upcoming lessons. They got back to the Castle before curfew, and the chapter ended with snow covering the grounds overnight.

• Hagrid explained his excuse to Umbridge and implied that she lacked a proper understanding of language.
• Umbridge suppressed her anger, warned Hagrid that she would investigate his competence, and left.
• Harry, Ron, and the others praised Hagrid, who credited his reading and Olympe's help for his improved speaking.
• Lavender and Hermione worried about Umbridge's threats and Hagrid's lesson plans, but Hagrid said he had consulted Wilhelmina and Olympe.
• Harry and the others returned to the Castle before curfew, and snow covered it by Monday morning.

Hagrid led the students into the woods to show them Thestrals, which only some of them could see. The lesson ended with Draco mistaking the creatures for invisible demons and Ron mocking him.

• Hagrid gathered the students and called Thestrals by making a strange cry and offering them chunks of meat.
• Harry spotted a Thestral eating meat, and Ron sensed that something was approaching before he could see it.
• Harry explained to Hermione that something had arrived, and Hagrid revealed another Thestral.
• Harry, Neville, Amanda Bullohe, Winnie Hopkins, and Blaise Zabini raised their hands to show they could see the creatures.
• Draco noticed the Thestrals and called them invisible demons, while Ron mocked him and Draco denied that his family researched demons.

Hagrid taught a lesson about Thestrals while Umbridge observed, and he challenged her criticism of the creatures and the Ministry’s judgment. Umbridge questioned whether the Hogwarts Thestrals were truly tamed, leaving Hagrid to defend their safety record.

• Umbridge asked Hagrid about her observation notice, and Hagrid introduced the Thestral lesson in the Forbidden Forest.
• Hagrid compared the Ministry’s danger ratings for Thestrals and Nifflers, then criticized the Ministry and invoked Sirius Black’s wrongful imprisonment.
• Hagrid explained that Thestrals were loyal, fast, and able to navigate to places they had visited before, prompting Ron’s interest.
• Draco questioned whether Thestrals were a better travel option than Apparition, Portkeys, or Floo Powder, and Harry rebutted him.
• Hagrid said Thestrals could be aggressive when threatened but that Hogwarts’s had caused no mishaps in twenty years, and Umbridge challenged whether they had really been tamed.

As December brought snow, homework, and Christmas preparations to Hogwarts, Hermione and Ron struggled with their Prefect duties while Gryffindor dominated the Quidditch season. R.B. held its last meeting before the holidays, where the group studied Petrificus Totalus.

• Hermione reminded Ron that he had once stayed out having a snowball fight before the Yule Ball as the Prefects dealt with students breaking the Castle rules.
• Ron complained to Harry about the workload of fifth-year homework and Christmas preparations, and Harry's Spirit-Binding Charm incantation helped the Prefects manage Peeves.
• Gryffindor defeated Slytherin and Hufflepuff, while Hufflepuff beat Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw beat Slytherin, leaving Slytherin without a win before Christmas.
• Slughorn reprimanded Draco and the Slytherin Quidditch players, who began running morning laps through the snow.
• Harry worried that Qiu would be upset if Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw after Hufflepuff had already defeated them.
• R.B. held its final session before the Christmas holidays and studied Petrificus Totalus together.

Harry absorbed another silver star in his meditation, then fell into a strange dream in which he crawled through a corridor and attacked someone with fangs. The dream ended with him biting into the person’s ribs and tasting their blood.

• Harry entered deep meditation and absorbed a silver star, suffering a brief but intense headache.
• Harry dreamed he was in a hall with Qiu before she vanished and a Dementor appeared.
• Harry fled the Dementor by crawling into a hole, moving with an unfamiliar, agile body.
• Harry emerged into a corridor and sensed an enticing smell of blood from someone sitting against the wall.
• The person woke and drew a wand from a wrist guard, and Harry lunged at them and bit into their ribs.

Harry’s dream suggested that he had seen Arthur Weasley in danger, so Dumbledore alerted Hogwarts portraits and summoned the Weasley children. Mrs. Weasley confirmed that Arthur’s family clock showed him in mortal peril, leaving the family waiting for news.

• Harry told Dumbledore about his dream of turning into a snake and attacking Arthur, and said he believed it was more than a dream.
• Dumbledore asked the Hogwarts headmaster portraits to search for an injured, balding red-haired man and sent Phineas to tell Sirius to contact the Weasley family.
• Dumbledore summoned Ginny and the twins, while Harry withheld the details of his dream from them.
• Mrs. Weasley appeared through the fireplace and confirmed that the Weasley family clock showed Arthur in mortal peril.

Harry sensed an urge to attack Dumbledore when his scar stirred, and he told Dumbledore and the Weasleys about it. Dumbledore promised to explain more in a private conversation after the immediate matters were settled.

• Harry felt the urge to attack Dumbledore return and suppressed it with Occlumency.
• Harry told Dumbledore what he had felt, and Dumbledore asked what had happened.
• The Twins asked for an explanation, so Harry recounted his dream and the renewed sensation.
• Mrs. Weasley comforted Harry, and Harry explained that Dumbledore's smile had triggered the feeling again.
• Dumbledore magically shielded the room and invited Harry to speak with him privately once things were settled.

Harry and the others visited Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo's, where he explained that a huge magical snake had bitten him at the Ministry of Magic. Ginny noticed that the latest Daily Prophet had not reported his injury.

• Harry and the others returned to St. Mungo's with Bill and Moody and found Mr. Weasley recovering in a private ward.
• Mr. Weasley thanked Harry for helping locate him and for providing potions.
• Mr. Weasley recounted that a spell had made him drowsy at work, after which a huge snake bit him twice and he Apparated away before losing consciousness.
• Mr. Weasley said the snake was a magical creature whose powerful venom had overwhelmed him despite an advanced antidote.
• Ginny searched the latest Daily Prophet for news of her father's attack and asked why it had not been reported.

Harry visited Dumbledore’s office for their arranged meeting and found Hagrid there, sporting another bruised face. After Hagrid left, Dumbledore offered Harry cream pudding, and their conversation was about to begin.

• Harry went to Dumbledore’s office after lunch but did not know its password, so the stone guardian opened the entrance for him.
• Harry entered the office and found Dumbledore eating dessert and Hagrid sitting with him.
• Harry noticed Hagrid’s bruised face and wondered whether something in the Forbidden Forest had injured him again.
• Hagrid left after Dumbledore invited him to visit more often and share dessert.
• Dumbledore asked Harry whether he wanted some cream pudding.

Harry learned that Dumbledore knew the ancient Soul-Shattering Curse and its countercurse, Soul Repair, then told Hermione and Qiu that Voldemort’s soul fragment had caused him to dream of becoming Voldemort’s snake. Harry said Dumbledore had warned him to master the dangerous spell before trying to remove the fragment, while Harry privately considered how the new soul fragment was helping him understand Aegean magic.

• Harry reflected on Dumbledore’s knowledge of the Soul-Shattering Curse, which slowly damaged a soul, and its countercurse, Soul Repair.
• Harry greeted Umbridge and avoided drawing attention while returning to the Common Room.
• Harry found Hermione and Qiu in the Library, and they took him to an empty classroom to hear what had happened.
• Harry told Hermione and Qiu that he had dreamed of becoming Voldemort’s snake because of the soul fragment in his head.
• Harry said Dumbledore had advised him to master the dangerous curse before attempting to remove the fragment, while he privately noted that Neil’s soul fragment was helping him piece together Aegean magic.

Harry and the Weasley children left Hogwarts for the holidays, but Mrs. Weasley was absent, so Sirius and the others took them to the Black Mansion before bringing them to St. Mungo's to see Arthur. On the drive, Lupin explained that the morning's Daily Prophet had reported something that made them avoid Floo Powder.

• Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lavender boarded the Hogwarts Express, and Hermione said she would spend Christmas with her parents and Jacob.
• Sirius, Lupin, Moody, and members of Phoenix House collected Harry and the Weasley children and took them to the Black Mansion instead of Weasley Manor.
• Lupin reassured Ron, Ginny, and the others that they would visit Arthur at St. Mungo's after lunch.
• Sirius drove the group to St. Mungo's, and Lupin said they had missed the Daily Prophet report that explained why they were not using Floo Powder.

Harry learned that Mr. Weasley's wounds were healing slowly because of the Demon Serpent's unusual venom, while Mr. Weasley and trainee healer Augustus Pye had tried stitches as a Muggle method. Healer Smethwyck said the venom had mostly been removed and Mr. Weasley should recover within a day, and Mrs. Weasley told Harry and the others that Neville was upstairs.

• Mr. Weasley and Augustus Pye tried stitching his wounds, but the method made little difference.
• Harry explained that the Demon Serpent's magic or venom likely caused the slow healing and that stitches would not resolve it.
• Mrs. Weasley scolded Mr. Weasley, and Healer Smethwyck examined his wounds.
• Healer Smethwyck said the venom was unusual but that Mr. Weasley's magic would expel what remained within a day.
• Mrs. Weasley told Harry and the others that Neville was upstairs, where they could visit him.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny visited Gilderoy Lockhart in the hospital and found him writing a new book despite his worsening condition. Their visit was interrupted by Gladys, whose tea made all three of them frown.

• Harry, Ron, and Ginny visited Lockhart and found him writing a manuscript called A Year at Hogwarts.
• Lockhart told them that other students had visited and said his time at Hogwarts had inspired his new book.
• Gladys entered carrying a teapot and Lockhart introduced her as his guest.
• Gladys poured tea, and Harry, Ron, and Ginny all frowned at what was in the cup.

Harry spoke with Lockhart, who warned him about a dangerous statue and hinted that a surprise might come in the second half of the school year. During the peaceful Christmas holidays, Mr. Weasley left the hospital and was ordered to recover at home before returning to work.

• Lockhart revealed that his soul was separating from his dying body and said he could sense that Harry had encountered multiple deities.
• Lockhart asked whether Harry had obtained a strange statue, but Harry hid his reaction with Occlumency and denied knowing what Lockhart meant.
• Lockhart warned Harry that the statue could help him but was extremely dangerous, then mentioned a possible surprise later in the school year.
• Harry left the ward and told Ron that Lockhart had talked rubbish, letting Ron assume the conversation concerned book signings.
• Mr. Weasley was discharged from the hospital, and Sirius, Moody, and the others insisted that he recover at home before returning to the Ministry.

Jacob Covenas visited Hermione Granger and her parents during the Christmas holidays, making a nervous but respectful first impression. The Grangers began questioning him about his education and work as they considered whether he might be a suitable partner for Hermione.

• Jacob greeted Hermione and her parents at their home, and Hermione admitted she had thought his promised visit might be a joke.
• Jacob told Mr. and Mrs. Granger that he had graduated from Ilvermorny after serving as its Champion, while modestly describing his magical abilities.
• Mrs. Granger asked what Jacob had been doing since graduation and what work wizards did in the New Continent.
• The Grangers weighed Jacob's prospects against those of Hermione's friends Harry, Ron, and Neville, whose families they viewed as unsuitable for different reasons.