Chapter Summaries

Lin Ze’s team publicly curtailed its operations to satisfy pressure from the Wizengamot while secretly investigating the Malfoy family. After finding a major gap between Malfoy’s declared potion output and known sales, they received a witness’s account of a suspicious shipment moved through Knockturn Alley before the Dark Lord fell.

• Lin Ze noticed the Malfoy family’s emblem on crates found at an illegal potion site, but Kingsley said the case had been assigned to the Auror Office.
• Moody told Lin Ze that Crouch had backed a motion to restrict the Special Operations Team’s enforcement powers, and Lin Ze proposed complying publicly while pursuing Malfoy in secret.
• The team shifted to paperwork-heavy operations as Lin Ze collected Malfoy’s financial, tax, and import records and found that at least sixty percent of its declared potion output had no known destination.
• Moody reported that an accomplice had confessed to helping Malfoy move a shipment through Knockturn Alley’s underground channels a week before the Dark Lord fell.

Lin Ze went to Sirius Black’s trial, suspecting Black had been framed, and watched as Sirius pleaded guilty to the charges. The trial remained unresolved as Crouch asked Sirius to describe his crimes.

• Moody told Lin Ze and the others that Sirius Black’s trial was taking place that day, and Lin Ze decided to attend.
• Lin Ze reflected on his belief that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed the Potters and framed Sirius, and suspected someone had arranged Sirius’s fate.
• Lin Ze went to the Wizengamot courtroom, where Kingsley joined him in the public gallery.
• Aurors brought Sirius into court in magical shackles, and Barty Crouch read out the charges against him.
• Sirius pleaded guilty, and Crouch asked him to state the details of his crimes.

At Sirius Black’s hearing, he pleaded guilty and refused to explain himself, prompting Lin Ze and Kingsley to suspect he was hiding the truth. Lin Ze confronted Sirius in his cell, suggesting Peter Pettigrew might still be alive and urging Sirius to speak at court the next day.

• Sirius pleaded guilty at his hearing and laughed uncontrollably when Crouch asked his motive, so Crouch postponed the hearing until the next day.
• Kingsley told Lin Ze that Sirius’s behavior seemed suspicious, and the two obtained Crouch’s permission to visit him.
• Lin Ze asked Sirius whether he blamed himself for the Potters’ deaths and accused him of staying silent because he felt responsible for choosing Peter as Secret Keeper.
• Lin Ze suggested that Peter Pettigrew might still be alive, asking whether Sirius had seen his body or only a finger.
• Sirius questioned why he should believe Lin Ze, who urged him to tell more of the truth when court resumed.

At Sirius Black’s hearing, he denied betraying the Potters and named Peter Pettigrew as the real Secret Keeper, prompting the court to investigate his wand. Afterward, Lin Ze returned to the Special Operations Team’s office and considered what he had learned about Fudge.

• Sirius told the Wizengamot that Peter Pettigrew had been the Potters’ Secret Keeper and might still be alive.
• Crouch asked Sirius for evidence and witnesses, but Sirius argued that the prosecution had to prove its case against him.
• Crouch ordered an examination of Sirius’s wand and adjourned the hearing until the court had gathered more evidence.
• Lin Ze and Kingsley left the courtroom, and Lin Ze said the wand examination would find nothing.
• Ben told Lin Ze and Kingsley that Crouch had approved their operations but required advance notice and detailed reports afterward.
• Lin Ze reflected on Fudge’s reputation as a harmless Ministry peacemaker and on records suggesting he was not as harmless as he seemed.

Lin Ze met Barty Crouch Jr., the Ministry’s promising new Auror, and recognized him as a future devoted Death Eater. He considered using Karkaroff as leverage with Barty’s father before bringing Barty to Scrimgeour.

• Scrimgeour summoned Lin Ze to meet a newcomer whose special background called for a senior Ministry representative.
• Lin Ze recognized the newcomer as Barty Crouch Jr. and recalled his future as one of Voldemort’s most capable followers.
• Barty Crouch Jr. greeted Lin Ze warmly and said his father had often praised him.
• Lin Ze considered finding Karkaroff and using him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Barty Crouch.
• Lin Ze escorted Barty Crouch Jr. through the Ministry, where the young Auror greeted several familiar employees.
• Scrimgeour welcomed Barty Crouch Jr. enthusiastically while Lin Ze stood aside.

Lin Ze asked Archibald Pick to investigate Igor Karkaroff, then learned that Sirius's wand examination had weakened the case against him. Sirius refused to leave prison until he could speak with Lin Ze about Peter Pettigrew, whom he now believed was still alive.

• Lin Ze told Ben and Kingsley that Barty Crouch Jr. had joined the Auror Office as a trainee.
• Lin Ze asked Archibald Pick to look into Igor Karkaroff's whereabouts, and Pick agreed to ask his contacts.
• Moody summoned Lin Ze to Crouch's office, where Crouch explained that Sirius's wand had not cast a Blasting Curse in the past week and that the evidence against him was insufficient.
• Crouch told Lin Ze that Sirius would not leave prison unless he could see him.
• Lin Ze met Sirius in his cell, and Sirius said he believed Peter Pettigrew was still alive because he had always been terrified of dying.

Lin Ze made a deal with Sirius to help find Peter Pettigrew in exchange for information about Order of the Phoenix plans involving him, while promising Sirius Peter’s transport details after the trial. Lin Ze sought a legitimate way to visit the Burrow and wondered whether his neighbor Ignatius Prewett was related to Molly Weasley.

• Lin Ze agreed to help Sirius find Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius agreed to inform him about Order of the Phoenix activity involving him.
• Sirius demanded Peter’s transport route and date after the trial so he could kill him, and Lin Ze accepted the condition.
• Lin Ze decided to find a legitimate reason to visit the Burrow and asked Ben Frick about Arthur Weasley and the Weasley family.
• Ben told Lin Ze that Arthur worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and that his wife, Molly Prewett, came from a diminished pure-blood family.
• Lin Ze remembered his neighbor Ignatius Prewett and considered checking family records to see whether he was Molly’s uncle.

Lin Ze visited the Burrow with Old Prewett, claiming he wanted to consult Arthur Weasley about Muggle objects. He met Molly Weasley and her young twins, Fred and George, and entered the chaotic house, where Molly called for Percy to put away his cauldron.

• Lin Ze visited Old Prewett and asked whether he knew Molly Weasley, then persuaded him to take him to the Burrow.
• Old Prewett revealed that Molly was his niece and agreed to accompany Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze and Old Prewett found Fred and George wrestling in the yard, and Molly came outside to stop them.
• Molly recognized her uncle Ignatius, embraced him, and eyed Lin Ze suspiciously when he introduced himself.
• Old Prewett and Lin Ze claimed they had come to ask Arthur about Muggle objects, and Molly let them inside.
• Lin Ze entered the cluttered Burrow as Molly shouted upstairs for Percy to return his cauldron to the kitchen.

Lin Ze visited the Burrow with old Prewett to secretly investigate someone’s whereabouts, then met Molly Weasley and the Weasley children. He left the boys impressed by his Auror stories and hinted to Fred and George that they should find their own fun.

• Molly served Lin Ze and old Prewett tea, then returned to the kitchen to cook for the children.
• Lin Ze told old Prewett that he was secretly looking into someone’s whereabouts, but refused to say who.
• Fred and George chased Percy through the living room over a History of Magic Primer until Molly threatened to withhold their pudding.
• Old Prewett introduced himself as the boys’ great-uncle, and Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George introduced themselves in turn.
• Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie questioned Lin Ze about his Auror work, Death Eaters, and dragons.
• Lin Ze described the dull routine of patrols and paperwork, then winked at Fred and George about finding fun.

Lin Ze discovered that Percy's pet rat, Scabbers, was an Animagus and claimed him for the Ministry of Magic to help solve cases. After stunning Scabbers and taking him, Lin Ze went to explain himself to Mrs. Weasley.

• Percy showed Lin Ze his pet rat, Scabbers, and proudly demonstrated the rat's tricks.
• Lin Ze used detection magic on Scabbers and saw a golden glow beneath his fur, confirming he was an Animagus.
• Lin Ze told Percy the Ministry was requisitioning Scabbers and gave him Galleons as compensation.
• When Scabbers struggled, Lin Ze bound and stunned him, then tucked him into his pocket.
• Lin Ze reassured the young Weasleys and went to speak with Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.

Lin Ze told Molly Weasley that Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew, the Death Eater who betrayed the Potters, and explained that Sirius Black had been wrongly accused. After securing Molly’s agreement to keep Pettigrew’s identity secret, Lin Ze left the Burrow with the rat and Percy’s gift.

• Lin Ze privately told Molly that Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew, an Animagus and the Potters’ Secret Keeper who betrayed their hiding place.
• Molly reacted with alarm but thanked Lin Ze for catching Pettigrew without frightening the children, and he explained that Sirius Black’s main charges had been withdrawn.
• Lin Ze asked Molly to keep Pettigrew’s identity secret, including from Arthur, until the Ministry spoke with him.
• Lin Ze said goodbye to the Weasley children and accepted Molly’s invitation to visit again as a friend.
• Percy gave Lin Ze an Andros Chocolate Frog card to thank him for letting Scabbers help solve a Ministry case, and Lin Ze Apparated away.

Lin Ze brought an unconscious rat to Barty Crouch’s office and revealed it was Peter Pettigrew, proving Sirius Black’s claims. Crouch arrested Pettigrew and sent Lin Ze to deliver him to the Auror Office, while grumbling that Lin Ze had kept the truth from him.

• Lin Ze revealed the rat on Crouch’s desk as Peter Pettigrew, an Animagus who had been hiding in rat form.
• Crouch questioned Pettigrew, who admitted he had been the Potters’ Secret Keeper and betrayed them because he feared Voldemort.
• Lin Ze challenged Pettigrew’s claim that he had not framed Sirius Black, reminding him that he had caused an explosion that killed Muggles before escaping as a rat.
• Crouch formally arrested Pettigrew and told him to save his defense for the Wizengamot.
• Crouch accused Lin Ze of knowing Black was innocent and withholding it, then ordered him to take Pettigrew to the Auror Office.

Lin Ze delivered Peter Pettigrew to the Auror Office and told Sirius Black that the Wizengamot would retry his case soon. He agreed to help Sirius learn when and where Peter would be transferred, though Lin Ze realized the plan could draw danger from both Sirius and the Death Eaters.

• Lin Ze handed Peter Pettigrew to rookie Aurors Weiqi Lasigehuoen and his partner, warning them not to kill him.
• Lin Ze visited Sirius in the detention area and told him that Peter had been caught and would be held nearby.
• Lin Ze said the Wizengamot would retry Sirius’s case in a few days, and Sirius insisted Peter deserved to die.
• Lin Ze agreed to find out Peter’s transfer date and route in exchange for Sirius sharing relevant information about the Order of the Phoenix, even if Dumbledore wanted it kept secret.
• Lin Ze checked on Peter, found him securely detained, and worried that Sirius and the Death Eaters might both try to intercept him during the transfer.

Lin Ze went to the Poison Dragon Bar in Knockturn Alley to buy information about Karkaroff and unexpectedly met Benjy Fenwick, who was also seeking Mr. K. Mr. K revealed that Karkaroff was hiding in Tromsø, Norway, and gave Lin Ze a map to his location.

• Lin Ze received a note directing him to ask Mr. K at the Poison Dragon Bar about Karkaroff's whereabouts.
• At the bar, Lin Ze encountered Benjy Fenwick, who had just returned to London and was looking for his Order of the Phoenix contact.
• The bartender revealed that he was Mr. K, and Lin Ze paid him for information about Karkaroff.
• Mr. K told Lin Ze that Karkaroff was hiding in a warehouse basement in Tromsø, Norway, and showed him its location on a map.

At the joint Wizengamot hearing, Peter Pettigrew denied betraying the Potters and killing Muggles, while Sirius Black demanded Veritaserum for them both. Under the potion, Peter admitted that he had betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort and explained how he faked his death after killing thirteen Muggles.

• Barty Crouch added Peter Pettigrew as a co-defendant in the hearing against Sirius Black.
• Peter denied the charges and claimed Sirius had chased him and Voldemort had forced him to betray the Potters with the Imperius Curse.
• Sirius requested Veritaserum for himself and Peter, and Crouch granted the request.
• After drinking the potion, Peter admitted that he had been the Potters' Secret Keeper and had told Voldemort where they were hiding because he wanted to survive.
• Peter admitted that he caused the Muggle street explosion with an Exploding Charm, detonated his wand to fake his death, and escaped as a rat.

Sirius Black was cleared of the Potters’ betrayal and the London explosion, while Peter Pettigrew was sentenced to life in Azkaban. Lin Ze sought the prisoner’s transport route after suspecting an interception, and Sirius returned to Grimmauld Place and asserted his authority over Kreacher.

• Under Veritaserum, Peter admitted he knowingly betrayed the Potters, and Sirius explained he had made Peter Secret Keeper while chasing him on the night of the explosion.
• Crouch dismissed all charges against Sirius and sentenced Peter to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
• Lin Ze discussed Malfoy’s proposed Auror oversight committee with Kingsley and asked Pick for Peter’s transport schedule and route.
• Sirius left the trial under an Auror escort and returned to 12 Grimmauld Place.
• Sirius ordered Kreacher to stop insulting him and declared himself master of the house.

Lin Ze passed Sirius the route for Peter Pettigrew’s transfer, then secretly followed the escort through Yorkshire. When masked attackers ambushed the carriage, Barty Crouch Jr. protected Weiqi as the attackers surrounded them.

• Pick told Lin Ze that Peter Pettigrew’s escort would leave the next morning for Yorkshire, and Lin Ze gave the route to Sirius at Grimmauld Place.
• Feeling watched and uneasy, Lin Ze lied to Moody that he was going to Norway, then traveled to Yorkshire and waited near the Floo Network exit.
• Lin Ze saw Barty Crouch Jr. among the escort and followed the carriage as it carried the immobilized Peter north.
• Attackers struck the carriage, knocking the driver off his seat and forcing Barty Crouch Jr. to pull Weiqi inside and cast a Shield Charm.
• At least fourteen hooded figures charged down the hills and surrounded the carriage.

Lin Ze watched Barty Crouch Jr. fight off a group of Death Eaters until his magic ran low and the attackers overwhelmed him and Weiqi. A huge black dog killed Peter and escaped, but Barty Crouch Jr. and Weiqi remained surrounded as Weiqi asked whether they would die there.

• Lin Ze watched from the woods as Barty Crouch Jr. used precise spells and Shield Charms to take down Death Eaters and protect Weiqi and the other enforcement officer.
• Barty Crouch Jr. and Weiqi helped defeat nine Death Eaters, but the other enforcement officer was killed by a Killing Curse, leaving them to face six attackers.
• The Death Eater in the silver skull mask cast an Anti-Apparition Jinx and ordered his followers to take Barty Crouch Jr. alive.
• A huge black dog charged from the woods, bit Peter's throat, and fled after the silver-masked leader tried to kill it.
• The Death Eaters wounded Barty Crouch Jr. and Weiqi and surrounded them beside the carriage; Weiqi asked if they were going to die there, and Barty told him to shut up.

Lin Ze was discovered while watching the Death Eaters’ staged battle and fought his way free before Apparating away. Barty Crouch Jr. dismissed the incident and left with the surviving Death Eaters, unaware that a ginger cat had watched everything.

• Lin Ze tried to leave the woods after Peter died, but magically growing vines caught him and revealed his hiding place to the Death Eaters.
• The Death Eaters attacked Lin Ze with spells while he fought off the vines, raised a stone wall, and concealed his face with a transformed leaf.
• Lin Ze sent a venomous snake at the approaching Death Eaters and Apparated away.
• A Death Eater stunned Weiqi, and Barty Crouch Jr. stopped the attack and ordered his followers to leave, while he stayed behind with Weiqi and the bodies.
• A ginger cat watched the Death Eaters depart, then slipped into the bushes.

Lin Ze searched Tromsø’s harbor for the warehouse where Karkaroff was hiding and encountered a homeless girl with a faint magical presence. After she asked to go with him, three men burst out accusing him of harming their child, leaving him wondering if he had walked into a badger game.

• Lin Ze searched Tromsø’s harbor warehouses for Karkaroff but found no sign of him.
• Lin Ze noticed a homeless girl and sensed a faint fluctuation of magic from her.
• The girl denied being a wizard, gestured that she wanted to go with Lin Ze, and accepted two oranges without eating them.
• Three armed men rushed out of a nearby house and accused Lin Ze of doing something to their child.