Chapter Summaries

As the crowd outside the Ministry grew, Fudge decided to redirect public attention by paying Rita Skeeter to write about Dumbledore. Rita published an article portraying Dumbledore as a calculating manipulator who knowingly put Hogwarts students at risk, leaving the wizarding public with fresh accusations to consider.

• Fudge refused to face the growing crowd outside the Ministry and decided to involve Rita Skeeter.
• Rita received Fudge's payment and a request to write about Dumbledore, then prepared a manuscript she had already been working on.
• The Daily Prophet published Rita's article, which claimed Dumbledore knew Quirrell was possessed by You-Know-Who and had used Harry to destroy him.
• Rita accused Dumbledore of endangering Hogwarts students and exploiting Harry, calling him selfish and unscrupulous.

Rita Skeeter’s Daily Prophet article turned public opinion against Dumbledore, while Cornelius Fudge welcomed the distraction from the Ministry’s failures. Dumbledore entrusted the Philosopher’s Stone to Nicolas Flamel, who warned that the loss of Dumbledore’s reputation could undermine resistance to Voldemort; Grindelwald read the article from Nurmengard and condemned Dumbledore’s methods.

• Wizards across Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and other places debated Rita Skeeter’s article and questioned Dumbledore’s treatment of Harry Potter.
• Cornelius Fudge celebrated the public criticism of Dumbledore because it diverted attention from the Ministry’s failures in the Quirrell incident.
• Dumbledore gave the Philosopher’s Stone to Nicolas Flamel for safekeeping, and Nicolas agreed to keep it.
• Nicolas urged Dumbledore to defend his reputation so the Wizarding World would trust him if Voldemort returned.
• Grindelwald read Rita Skeeter’s article in Nurmengard and remarked that Dumbledore still believed just causes could excuse any means.

Hogwarts students argued over Rita Skeeter’s accusations against Dumbledore, while Harry defended him and Malfoy insulted Harry and Hermione. Dumbledore denied deliberately endangering students and announced he would take Veritaserum at a public Ministry inquiry in three days.

• Ron and other Gryffindors discussed the Daily Prophet article, while Malfoy told the Slytherins that Dumbledore was a hypocrite and might be replaced as headmaster.
• Harry challenged Malfoy for calling Dumbledore a user and hypocrite, and Hermione joined in to question Malfoy’s claims.
• Malfoy called Hermione a “Mudblood,” and Snape ordered him back to his seat and took twenty points from Slytherin.
• Dumbledore addressed the Great Hall, denied that he had intended to put anyone in danger or treated Harry as a tool, and announced he would take Veritaserum at a public Ministry inquiry in three days.

Fudge rushed to Hogwarts to stop Dumbledore from taking Veritaserum and revealing that Voldemort had returned. Dumbledore admitted he planned to fake the potion’s effects and persuaded Fudge to approve extra funding and a permit for outside security hires.

• Fudge read about Dumbledore’s promise to take Veritaserum, canceled his meetings, and hurried to Hogwarts.
• Snape questioned Dumbledore about how Veritaserum could work through his Occlumency, and Dumbledore revealed he intended only to make people believe he was telling the truth.
• Fudge confronted Dumbledore about the planned inquiry and begged him to soften what he would say about Voldemort’s return.
• Dumbledore claimed he had no choice but to reveal the truth, then proposed Hogwarts receive additional security funding and permission to hire outside personnel.
• Fudge approved the funding and permit, and Snape called Dumbledore a showman after Fudge left.

The Wizarding World reacted to Dumbledore’s plan to answer questions under Veritaserum at a public Ministry inquiry, with opinions divided over whether he was innocent or cornered. As the inquiry drew near, official observers and three respected Potions Masters were appointed, leaving many convinced the proceedings would be difficult to manipulate.

• Wizards across Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, Hogsmeade, and Honeydukes debated Dumbledore’s decision to undergo a public inquiry and whether the books about Harry Potter and Quirrell were true.
• Amelia Bones announced that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would oversee the inquiry, and the International Confederation of Wizards said it would send an observer.
• The Wizengamot announced that three senior members would attend as independent observers.
• Wizards questioned who would brew and verify the Veritaserum, and the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers announced that Damocles Belby, Horace Slughorn, and Chilli, Madam Plunkett, would handle it.
• Customers at the Leaky Cauldron praised Dumbledore’s willingness to face scrutiny, while one young wizard wondered whether he had chosen the Potions Masters because they would favor him.

A black-robed man led three Death Eaters in planning to kidnap Hogwarts students and use Harry Potter as leverage to force Dumbledore to surrender the Philosopher's Stone. They prepared to enter the castle through Borgin and Burkes' Vanishing Cabinet after Dumbledore left for the Ministry, while the man’s silver pendant revealed a symbol resembling the Deathly Hallows.

• The black-robed man told the Death Eaters that Dumbledore and several Hogwarts professors would leave for a Ministry inquiry the day after tomorrow.
• He explained that Voldemort needed the Philosopher's Stone and proposed taking students hostage, especially Harry Potter, to make Dumbledore hand it over.
• The black-robed man revealed Borgin and Burkes' Vanishing Cabinet and said it connected to Hogwarts through an unblocked passage.
• He ordered the Death Eaters to gather reinforcements by dark the next day and to take the students alive once Dumbledore left Hogwarts.
• As the black-robed man left, the wind exposed a silver pendant bearing a triangle, circle, and vertical line, and the remaining Death Eaters discussed his hatred of Dumbledore.

Allen accepted a system quest to tour Hogwarts, while Grindelwald foresaw a coming Death Eater attack and feared his old Vanishing Cabinets could help them breach the castle. At Hogwarts, Trelawney prophesied the invasion to Harry, then glimpsed a mysterious figure bringing hope amid the danger.

• Allen accepted a half-day Hogwarts tour quest scheduled for the morning after tomorrow and planned to conceal his face.
• Grindelwald foresaw Hogwarts under attack and suspected the Death Eaters could use one of his Vanishing Cabinets to enter the castle.
• Grindelwald saw a black-coated figure and a silver-white eagle-shaped light in his vision, then concluded there was still time to act.
• Harry encountered Trelawney after getting lost in a corridor, and she foretold that Death Eaters would attack an isolated Hogwarts.
• Trelawney pushed her vision further and saw a black-coated figure with a shining eagle, prompting her to declare that she saw hope.

After Professor Trelawney collapsed from making a prophecy, Harry rushed to get her treated and tried to warn the professors that Death Eaters would attack Hogwarts from within the next day. Filch dismissed Harry’s warning and dragged him away before he could reach Dumbledore.

• Harry carried the unconscious Professor Trelawney to the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey diagnosed mental exhaustion and gave her a potion.
• Harry hurried to Professor McGonagall’s office, but a portrait told him she had gone to a meeting in the Headmaster’s Office.
• Harry encountered Filch and warned him that Death Eaters planned to invade Hogwarts from within the next day.
• Filch rejected Harry’s warning, seized him, and dragged him away from the Headmaster’s Office.

The Ministry Atrium filled with reporters and representatives from the International Confederation of Wizards, the Wizengamot, the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, and the Ministry for a gathering with Dumbledore. After Fudge and the Hogwarts professors arrived, Dumbledore opened the event, leaving its proceedings about to begin.

• Rita boasted to reporters about her article, “Dumbledore's True Face,” while the press gathered in the Ministry Atrium.
• Representatives of the International Confederation of Wizards and the Wizengamot took their seats in the guest area.
• Damocles Belby, Horace Slughorn, and Gilly Plunkett arrived for the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, and Slughorn searched the crowd for someone.
• Amelia Bones and Ministry officials arrived, followed by Fudge, who took the central guest seat.
• Dumbledore entered with Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape, then stepped onto the platform and began the gathering.

A group of seventeen Death Eaters used a Vanishing Cabinet to enter Hogwarts and began their planned raid, aiming to seize Harry Potter and other students as leverage. After disabling the school’s Floo Network, they headed toward the Great Hall.

• The Death Eater leader briefed the group on entering Hogwarts through the Vanishing Cabinet and capturing Harry Potter and other students.
• The Death Eaters traveled through the cabinet into a ground-floor corridor at Hogwarts.
• The leader put a dozing portrait to sleep as the group moved quietly through the corridors.
• The leader poured Grey Smoke Powder into a fireplace, disabling Hogwarts’ Floo Network.
• The Death Eaters prepared to raid the Great Hall.

At a public questioning in the Ministry Atrium, Dumbledore drank verified Veritaserum and answered questions about Harry Potter, Professor Quirrell, and Voldemort. The questioning ended with Hector reporting that every Floo Network connection to Hogwarts had been cut off.

• Belby, Plunkett, and Slughorn certified that the Veritaserum was pure and ready, and the Wizengamot and International Confederation of Wizards approved its use.
• Dumbledore drank the Veritaserum before the questioning began.
• Dumbledore said he had placed Harry with the Dursleys for the protection left by his mother and admitted he had not intervened in Harry’s daily life.
• Dumbledore admitted he had suspected something was wrong with Quirrell but had no proof of possession, and said keeping him under observation had been an error in judgment.
• Dumbledore said Voldemort had not truly died and that Hogwarts had been preparing for his return.
• Hector burst into the atrium and warned Fudge that all of Hogwarts’s Floo Network connections had been cut off.

After the Floo Network to Hogwarts was cut off, Dumbledore and the teachers set out from the Ministry to return to the castle. At Hogwarts, Harry remained unaware of the danger as a group of Death Eaters gathered outside the Great Hall.

• Hector reported that every Floo Network connection to Hogwarts had failed, suggesting someone inside the castle had deliberately cut it off.
• Dumbledore ordered the teachers to return to Hogwarts by Apparating to Hogsmeade and flying the rest of the way, while Fudge stayed behind to manage the Ministry.
• Dumbledore instructed Snape to enter the castle through the secret passage in the kitchens, and Fudge sent Ministry personnel to investigate and head toward Hogsmeade.
• Harry sat through breakfast troubled by Trelawney's prophecy but chose not to tell Ron about it.
• More than a dozen black-robed figures approached the Great Hall, raised their wands, and prepared to break in.

Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts’ Great Hall, subdued the defenders, and seized Harry, Malfoy, and other students. As they prepared to leave, a mysterious figure in a fox mask appeared before them.

• The Death Eaters stormed the Great Hall, sealed its exits, and defeated Professor Sprout and Madam Hooch.
• The attackers disarmed Harry, stunned Ron, bound Hermione, and knocked Neville unconscious before taking Harry and Malfoy captive.
• Hagrid burst in and struck one Death Eater, but the group overwhelmed him and stunned Fang.
• A Death Eater cast the Dark Mark above Hogwarts as the attackers dragged their hostages toward the doors.
• A blue flash brought a fox-masked figure in a black trench coat before the Death Eaters, and their leader demanded to know who it was.

A representative of the International Confederation of Wizards showed the Ministry Atrium a live view of Hogwarts, where Harry Potter and other students were being taken by Death Eaters. A mysterious masked man appeared in the Great Hall and claimed he had come for a tour.

• Fudge struggled to control the panicked crowd as the Floo Network remained down and Dumbledore could not be reached.
• A tall International Confederation of Wizards representative calmed the crowd and cast the Distant Scene Revealing Charm to show Hogwarts.
• The screen revealed a wrecked Great Hall, injured students, a bloodied massive figure, and Death Eaters escorting Harry Potter and other students away.
• Lucius turned pale when he recognized his son among the people being taken.
• A flash of blue light brought a fox-masked figure in a black trench coat into the Great Hall, where he told the Death Eaters, “If I said I came for a tour, would you believe me?”

Allen used his Quirrell character card to fight a group of Death Eaters attacking Hogwarts, while wizards in the Ministry watched in astonishment. As Allen began to tire, Cho Chang noticed the Ravenclaw eagle emblem glowing and saw a blue eagle rise behind him.

• When more than a dozen Death Eaters attacked him in the Great Hall, Allen activated his final use of the Quirrell character card, whose duration unexpectedly extended to fifteen minutes.
• Allen used a nonverbal Shield Charm and advanced flight magic to evade spells, stun one Death Eater, and fight the attackers in midair.
• Fudge, Amelia, and other Ministry observers watched Allen's skills on the screen and discussed his apparent immunity to Hogwarts' Anti-Apparition Jinx and his advanced magic.
• The black-robed leader coordinated the Death Eaters' attacks, bound Allen's leg, and forced him into an increasingly exhausting fight.
• Under a table, Cho Chang noticed the bronze eagle emblem's eyes flashing blue, then saw a majestic blue eagle rise behind Allen as a voice declared, "Wisdom is where I truly belong."

Allen was drawn into a white space where Quirrell confronted Rowena Ravenclaw and explained how he had changed after death. Quirrell affirmed that he would sacrifice himself to protect Hogwarts’s children, and Ravenclaw’s words empowered Allen as the battle resumed.

• As time froze around him, Allen was pulled into a white space and met Rowena Ravenclaw.
• Quirrell’s ghost emerged from Allen and told Ravenclaw that he had regretted serving Voldemort and had tried to protect the students from the Death Eaters.
• Ravenclaw questioned whether Quirrell’s self-sacrifice reflected wisdom or Gryffindor courage.
• Quirrell insisted he would make the same choice again, saying he wanted to protect the children and had found his own wisdom.
• Ravenclaw declared, “Thy courage reveals thy wisdom,” before the white space shattered and time resumed.
• A blue-light eagle appeared behind Allen as Quirrell’s voice echoed through the Great Hall, renouncing illusory power and vowing to protect the sparks in the darkness.

After Ravenclaw’s mark transformed Allen’s magical abilities, he helped Harry free the hostages and drove the Death Eaters out of the Great Hall. Allen pursued their leader to the Black Lake and, still hovering above it, raised his wand as the Ministry crowd wondered what he would do next.

• A Wizengamot elder identified the blue eagle above Allen as Rowena Ravenclaw’s mark, astonishing the Ministry crowd.
• Harry seized Madam Hooch’s broom, freed Malfoy and a Ravenclaw girl, and disrupted the Death Eaters’ formation.
• Allen repelled the Death Eaters pursuing Harry and used Finite Incantatem to extinguish their group fire spells.
• The black-robed leader ordered a retreat, and Allen chased the fleeing Death Eaters outside, stunning and petrifying many of them.
• The black-robed leader plunged into the Black Lake, and Allen hovered above the water with his wand raised.

As the black-robed figure escaped into the depths of the lake, Allen discovered Quirrell’s final gift: the knowledge needed to cast a Composite Spell. Allen began combining the Levitation Charm and Blasting Curse, while observers in the Ministry Atrium recognized the rare magic he was attempting.

• Allen sensed the black-robed figure diving deep into the lake and searched for a way to pursue him.
• Allen recalled Quirrell’s failed attempts to combine the Levitation Charm and Blasting Curse, then heard Quirrell explain that the Grey Lady’s power could sustain the Composite Spell.
• Allen realized he would have to cast the complex spell aloud because his current strength was insufficient for nonverbal casting.
• Allen chanted an unfamiliar incantation as officials and spectators in the Ministry Atrium watched and struggled to identify it.
• A tall wizard from the International Confederation of Wizards identified Allen’s magic as a Composite Spell and explained how wizards combined spells to create unique magic.

Allen completed a composite spell combining the Levitation Charm and Blasting Curse, lifting the Black Lake into the air and setting off controlled explosions within it. He left the onlookers stunned as he hovered beneath the immense mass of water.

• A representative from the International Confederation of Wizards explained that Allen was fusing multiple spells into a composite spell, astonishing the audience.
• Allen's magic surged as Ravenclaw's power and Quirrell's remaining consciousness helped him finish the incantation.
• Allen named the spell [Composite: Floating Gates of a Thousand Quakes] and cast it over the Black Lake.
• The Black Lake rose bodily into the air as controlled explosions sent waves and spray surging through the suspended water.
• Allen protected the lake's creatures from the blasts while the onlookers watched him in awe.

Allen defeated the black-robed leader at Hogwarts after lifting the Black Lake and blasting him out of its depths, then called himself a hero “for fun.” As the Ministry recognized him as the masked figure from Kent, Allen’s borrowed power faded, and he flew to the castle’s highest spire.

• Allen gathered underwater shock waves and blasted the black-robed leader out of the suspended Black Lake, leaving him badly injured on the grass.
• Allen told the defeated leader to call him a hero “for fun,” and the man realized his plan had failed because of Allen’s interference.
• Witnesses in the Ministry Atrium discussed Allen’s battle, while senior officials linked him to the masked figure who had defeated Quirrell at St Margaret’s Bay.
• Fudge told Amelia Bones to keep Allen’s identity and past appearance quiet, and she discreetly agreed.
• Allen felt Rowena Ravenclaw’s wisdom magic and the Limited Character Card’s effect vanish, then flew to the highest spire of Hogwarts Castle.