Chapter Summaries

Harry and Hermione discussed how the Ministry of Magic’s public mockery of the Inyashadibasta prison escape could spread fear of Voldemort, while Harry reflected on the dark magic he had practised over the holidays. The chapter left Harry more aware of Voldemort’s terrifying abilities as the students prepared for exams and the Quidditch match.

• Qiu worried that she had not practised enough for Ravenclaw’s match against Slytherin, but Harry reassured her before she returned to studying.
• Katie Bell complained about exams but became angry when Hogwarts suspended the Hogsmeade visit because of the Death Eaters’ actions over the holidays.
• Harry criticised the Ministry of Magic for allowing the Daily Prophet to publish extensive mockery of France after the Inyashadibasta prison break.
• Hermione explained that publicising the escape could cause greater fear because Voldemort had shown himself capable of plots as well as force.
• Harry said that he and Ron might fear Voldemort more because improving their magic had helped them understand his power.
• Harry described practising dark magic from Voldemort’s memories at Weasley Manor and finding it sinister and astonishingly powerful.

After Hermione noticed that Pansy had been absent from Draco’s side during three Quidditch matches, she suspected that someone had used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate him. Harry went to investigate and saw Draco leave the Slytherin stands alone.

• Hermione pointed out that Pansy was missing from Draco’s side again, as she had been during the previous two matches.
• Hermione suggested that the Draco in the stands might be an impostor, possibly Pansy disguised with Polyjuice Potion.
• Harry used a Confundus Charm to slip away through the crowd and reach the Slytherin stands’ exit.
• Harry waited by the exit and saw Draco come out alone, despite his place on the Slytherin team.

Harry and the others learned that Hogwarts’s new Common Room security rules made their plan to impersonate Crabbe and Goyle difficult. The group then noticed Neville’s worsening mood, and he revealed that something might have happened at home.

• Harry and the others proposed using a Polyjuice Potion disguise to get into the Slytherin Common Room, but Cedric explained that only current students of a house could enter.
• Cedric recalled the Common Room break-in in Harry’s third year, and Harry remembered that Sirius had entered Gryffindor Tower while hunting Wormtail.
• Harry and Ron considered tying Draco up to get answers, but everyone else rejected the idea.
• Qiu, Ron, and Hermione noticed that Neville had seemed troubled since Christmas, and Harry recalled that Neville had left the Burrow with his grandmother the day after Christmas.
• Neville admitted that something might have happened at home, though he was not sure what.

Britney Longbottom refused Joker’s effort to persuade her to cooperate with the Lestranges, while Nalan challenged the group’s interpretation of Zou’s prophecy. Nalan vanished from the castle, leaving Dismask relieved and the others facing Britney’s continued opposition.

• Joker confronted Britney Longbottom about her refusal to cooperate with the Lestranges, but she said the matter crossed her bottom line.
• Britney and Joker saw her hair repelled by the sealing magic on her doorway, and Joker left after saying he would return in a few days.
• Nalan asked whether Britney had compromised, then criticized Joker and Ulysses over their plans and Ulysses’s past killing of Australian wizards.
• Nalan warned that Zou’s Heavenly Evolution was vague and that they might have misunderstood it before vanishing from the room.
• Dismask drew several quick breaths after Nalan disappeared.

Harry and his friends kept up their studies and magic practice while watching Draco, who began swaggering again after Lucius Malfoy escaped. As Ron’s seventeenth birthday approached, Harry prepared a special Quidditch gift, and the chapter ended with the dormitory waking early on the day of the celebration.

• Harry decided not to share his suspicions about Neville's aunt and returned to his usual routine with his friends.
• Draco began strutting around Hogwarts again with Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle after Lucius Malfoy escaped from prison.
• Harry received Sirius's advice to get stronger and continued studying magic with the others.
• Ron looked forward to turning seventeen and receiving birthday presents, including possible gifts from professional Quidditch teams.
• Harry took out the signed Chudley Cannons jersey he had obtained for Ron's birthday.
• Harry and the other boys in the dormitory got up early on Saturday, Ron's seventeenth birthday.

Harry and his friends visited Hogsmeade, where they met Jacob Covenas and learned more about his plans to stay near Hermione. Harry noticed a sudden, powerful fluctuation in Jacob’s emotions, but could not identify what it was.

• The boys laughed about Romilda slipping Harry a love potion, then headed to Hogsmeade without the girls.
• Harry and his friends ran into Jacob Covenas, who had refused Minister Scrimgeour’s request to take another job and planned to become Hogwarts’ Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching assistant.
• Jacob asked whether Hermione had come with them, and Ron teased him about watching for her.
• Harry sensed a violent emotional surge from Jacob and noted that Jacob’s Occlumency was exceptionally strong.
• Harry recalled that Neville had trained in Occlumency while seeking a way to heal his parents, before a skilled healing wizard cured them.

Jacob explained the European Dark Council’s history, structure, and powerful members to Harry and the others, including the evidence linking Gilderoy Lockhart to its highest ranks. He left them with the report that the Council had at least three Queens, one of whom had been active recently.

• Harry and Jacob compared the European Dark Council with the organization from Jacob’s homeland, noting that the two were probably unrelated.
• Jacob described the Council’s playing-card ranks, with two Jokers and four Aces at the top, and said its members were powerful Dark Wizards.
• Jacob identified Gilderoy Lockhart as a likely Ace, citing his Egypt expedition, the deaths of its other powerful wizards, and his research into soul magic.
• Jacob explained that the Council’s Face Cards included Kings, Queens, and Jacks, and said the Queens were all witches.
• Jacob said investigators believed the Council had at least three Queens and that one had been active recently.

After Harry and his friends discussed the Dark Council and Jacob’s suspicions about Curilta Brach, they returned to Hogwarts and found the Castle under strict security. Professor McGonagall warned them to check their belongings and remain in the Common Room, leaving the cause of the incident unclear.

• Harry felt proud of killing Europe’s only Lord-class Werewolf while Jacob discussed the Dark Council’s activities and the unexplained invasion of Nagudinnaf.
• Jacob told the group that Curilta Brach might have ties to the Dark Council, and Neville questioned the significance of Brach’s association with one of its members.
• Jacob left, and Harry and his friends visited Honeydukes and other shops before returning to the Castle.
• Professor McGonagall inspected everyone entering Hogwarts and warned Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Thomas to check their belongings and stay in the Common Room.

Harry and the others returned to the Common Room and learned that Ron was patrolling the Castle with Natalie, while Lavender worried about him. Parvati described the large dinner party where Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick had drunk too much, but the cause of their hospitalization remained unclear.

• Harry and the others returned to the Common Room, where students discussed the incident and Hermione and Ginny were absent.
• Harry found Parvati and Lavender and told Lavender that Ron was safe and patrolling with the other prefects.
• Parvati explained that Professor Slughorn's dinner party had drawn dozens of guests, including several professors.
• Parvati said Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick had talked and drunk too much, but she did not know exactly what had happened.

Harry questioned Cedric about whether Professor Slughorn’s drinks had been poisoned, but tests found nothing harmful in the liquor or the professors’ glasses. Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick recovered from immediate danger and were sent to St. Mungo’s, while Instructor Monet appeared disillusioned with life after learning he would take over classes.

• Harry apologized to Cedric and Yi Qianqian for questioning Cedric, then teased Yi Qianqian about being protective of Cedric.
• Harry explained that he suspected the Dragon Blood Wine Draco and Pansy had given Professor Slughorn might have poisoned the drinks.
• Cedric said Professor Sprout and he had tested the base liquor, the Dragon Blood Wine, and the drinks left in the two professors’ glasses, finding no toxins.
• Cedric told Harry that Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick were out of danger and had been sent to St. Mungo’s to recuperate.
• Cedric said Instructor Monet and Professor Kaimir would take over Potions and Charms classes, and that Monet had seemed disillusioned with life when Dumbledore told him.

Harry suspected that someone was advising Draco, but he had no evidence, while tighter Hogwarts security left Hermione exhausted and drove a wedge between Ron and Lavender. The chapter left Harry's investigation unresolved and Lavender upset over Natalie's frequent patrols with Ron.

• Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick returned to Hogwarts, and Harry suspected Voldemort had arranged Slughorn's drugging.
• Harry told Hermione and Ron that someone might be advising Draco from inside or outside the school, but he had no proof.
• Hermione worked long hours on a charms paper that Professor Flitwick had encouraged her to submit to a journal.
• Hogwarts suspended Hogsmeade visits and increased patrols by prefects, teachers, and poltergeists.
• Natalie repeatedly assigned Ron to patrol with her, making Lavender unhappy and causing her and Ron to argue.

Harry searched advanced spellbooks for magic that would let him enter other people's dreams, but Qiu explained that Dream Magic had been illegal and restricted for two hundred years. She told him a wizard's failed experiment had drawn an entire county into one dream, leaving Harry curious about the incident.

• Harry searched the Library and Restricted Section for magic that could let him enter other people's dreams.
• Qiu and Marietta noticed Harry's unusual research and asked what spell he was seeking.
• Harry told Qiu and Marietta that he wanted to find magic for entering other people's dreams.
• Qiu explained that the Ministry had banned learning, researching, and using Dream Magic two hundred years earlier.
• Qiu told Harry that a wizard's botched experiment had drawn everyone in an entire county into the same dream.

Harry researched dream magic and decided to summon the evil spirit Zug to enter Draco’s dreams and learn what had happened. He carried out the ritual in the Chamber of Secrets, where Hogwarts’ barrier could not interfere, and began chanting the incantation.

• Harry found no records of dream magic in Ravenclaw’s or Slytherin’s legacies, but discovered they contained extensive material on summoning evil spirits.
• Harry decided to use Zug to enter Draco’s dreams, despite knowing Hermione and others would object, and considered where he could safely perform the ritual.
• Harry chose the Chamber of Secrets over the secret passages to Hogsmeade, then slipped into Moaning Myrtle’s Bathroom and opened the entrance.
• Harry reached the Slytherin Statue, prepared sacrifices and a magic array, and began chanting the ancient incantation to summon Zug.

Harry summoned a McGonagall Bird from the Dream Realm after the Black Man gave him the spell, forming a contract with the creature. The bird accepted his offering of two pigs’ heads, and Harry gained the ability to summon it and use its power.

• The Black Man told Harry about the McGonagall Bird and vanished, leaving Harry to decide whether to summon it.
• Harry recited the summoning spell, and a beautiful McGonagall Bird flew through the gate to the Dream Realm.
• Harry learned that the bird flew by magic, ate meat, and had formed a contract with him.
• Harry placed two pigs’ heads before the McGonagall Bird, which expressed gratitude and joy through their contract.

Harry explained to Qiu how the McGonagall Bird could make dreamers fall asleep even inside their own dreams, easing her fears about his safety. After walking Qiu back to Ravenclaw, he returned to Gryffindor and found Ron and the others studying a wizard’s chess game.

• Harry and Qiu were thrown out of the Library after laughing at the name McGonagall Bird.
• Harry explained that the McGonagall Bird could lull a dream’s owner to sleep, making dream invasions safer.
• Qiu warned Harry to be careful, and Harry walked her back to the Ravenclaw Common Room before curfew.
• Harry returned to the Gryffindor Common Room and saw Lavender, Parvati, and Sally Ann together while Ron sat with Seamus, Dean, and other boys.
• Harry joined Ron and the others as they studied a professional wizard’s chess game in a newspaper.

Harry entered the Dream Realm and used a McGonagall Bird to reach Draco Malfoy’s dream at Malfoy Manor. There, Draco greeted Harry warmly and led him toward the manor, leaving Harry puzzled by the dream’s strange behavior.

• Harry set an alarm for three in the morning so he could enter Draco’s dream and learn what Draco knew about Voldemort.
• Harry entered the Dream Realm through a lucid dream and summoned a McGonagall Bird to take him to Draco’s dream.
• Harry passed through a doorway into the dream version of Malfoy Manor, where Draco and Pansy appeared.
• Draco praised Harry’s formal robes, took his hand, and led him toward the manor while Harry wondered what was happening.

Harry entered Draco’s dream and used the Imperius Curse to question him about the poisoning of Slughorn and Flitwick. Draco revealed that he had targeted Dumbledore with a delayed poison, but a flash of black light appeared in Draco’s eyes when Harry asked about Voldemort’s task.

• Harry had the McGonagall Bird put Draco to sleep inside the dream, then cast the Imperius Curse on him.
• Draco said he hated Albus Dumbledore and Ron Weasley most, and that he did not know where his father, Lucius Malfoy, was.
• Draco admitted that he had poisoned Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick, though Dumbledore had been his intended target.
• Draco explained that Dragon Blood Wine contained a substance that became poisonous when mixed with Ice-Mist Snakegrass juice, then turned harmless after ten seconds.
• When Harry asked what Voldemort had tasked Draco to do at Hogwarts, a flash of black light passed through Draco’s eyes.

In Serbia, an Asian seer told Curilta Brach that his visions had faded and that a turning point was approaching, while warning that Voldemort’s rising power could bring a dangerous change. Meanwhile, Harry’s attempt to question Draco sent him into a strange vision of his parents, and the chapter ended as he recognized Lily and James Potter.

• The Asian man and Curilta Brach discussed Gilderoy’s worsening curse, the search for a new Ace of Diamonds, and the Asian man’s increasingly clouded visions.
• The Asian man predicted that Voldemort’s growing momentum could lead him to the top of Heaven, though he could not see what would follow.
• Curilta Brach and the Asian man sensed that a cage made with the Asian man’s device had been activated, but the Asian man refused to investigate the Castle himself.
• Harry dreamed that he questioned Draco under the Imperius Curse about Voldemort’s mission, but a flash of black light transported him to an unfamiliar house.
• Harry saw a red-haired woman and a dark-haired man pass through him, then recognized them as his parents, Lily Potter and James Potter.

Harry was trapped in a dreamlike scene, forced to watch Voldemort kill his parents repeatedly before remembering that he had entered Draco’s dream to uncover Voldemort’s secret mission. He recognized that he was now facing a powerful mind or soul magic effect and prepared to break it with Soul Shatter.

• Harry found himself at his parents’ cottage and watched Voldemort kill James and Lily while baby Harry cried.
• Harry relived the scene repeatedly, unable to affect events or escape the half-minute before his parents died.
• A sudden chill cleared Harry’s agitation, and he remembered entering Draco’s dream and questioning him about Voldemort’s instructions.
• Harry emerged into darkness and saw enormous, emotionless eyes staring down at him.
• Harry concluded that he was still in a dream, likely trapped by the mental block in Draco’s mind, and considered using Soul Shatter to break it.

Harry realized the prison was a construct within Draco's dream rather than an illusion, and escaped by willing himself back to the manor lawn. In Serbia, Brach and the Asian man sensed the Dream Cube had been breached and wagered over whether Harry was responsible.

• Harry concluded that the dark enclosure trapping him was part of a dream, so Soul Shatter could not break it.
• Harry focused on leaving the enclosure and returned to Draco's dream, where the McGonagall Bird was waiting.
• Brach and the Asian man sensed that someone had broken through the Dream Cube and discussed whether they had received outside help.
• The Asian man guessed Harry had escaped, while Brach doubted a child could enter the dream realm.
• Brach and the Asian man bet on whether Harry had broken through, wagering Felix Felicis against the unfinished Philosopher's Stone.