Chapter Summaries

Draco subdued Victor with an Imprisonment Charm, ending the vampires’ resistance and leaving the council under Kahn’s control. Kraven chose exile, while Selene left with Hermione and Trillian as Draco took Victor and Kraven away.

• Victor accused Draco and the others of invading vampire territory, but Draco said they would not harm the innocent.
• Draco struck Victor with an Imprisonment Charm, and Kahn ordered the vampires to stand down.
• Kraven decided to leave the vampires, and Draco told him to leave the country.
• Selene entrusted Kahn with overseeing the vampires and said she had never belonged there.
• Draco teleported away with Victor and Kraven, while Hermione followed with Trillian and Selene.

Draco and Hermione brought the bound Viktor to the Werewolves, where Lucian arranged a public trial instead of revenge. As the procession entered the judgment hall, several Werewolves lost control and charged at Viktor, leaving Raze and the guards struggling to stop them.

• Hermione and Draco accepted that ending the ancient vampire-Werewolf feud was beyond their reach and focused on bringing Viktor to justice.
• Draco, Hermione, Trillian, Selene, and Kraven teleported into Lucian’s office with Viktor bound in magical chains.
• Lucian ordered Raze to assemble the wolf guards and escort Viktor to the judgment hall for a public trial.
• Twelve Werewolf elites arrived, restrained their hostility at Lucian’s command, and escorted Viktor through the gathered Werewolf crowd.
• Two Werewolves and several young members broke from the crowd and lunged at Viktor, so Raze and the guards rushed to block them.

Lucian and Selene executed Viktor in front of the werewolves, ending his centuries of rule and oppression. As the hall mourned the dead, a bat-shaped monster arrived and transformed into a human.

• Raze and the guards restrained the enraged werewolves, and Lucian restored order before announcing Viktor's public execution.
• Selene asked to join the execution, and Draco explained that Viktor had destroyed her family and forced her to become a vampire.
• Lucian acknowledged the werewolves' objections but allowed Selene to take part, then ordered the execution to proceed.
• Lucian pierced Viktor's chest with his claws, and Selene drove a sword through his heart, killing him as the werewolves mourned.
• A large bat-shaped monster landed at the hall's entrance and transformed into a human.

After the Werewolves executed Viktor, Marcus arrived and asked to take his body, prompting Draco to secure a possible truce between the vampires and Werewolves. Marcus then invited Selene and Kraven to leave with him, but both refused, leaving him visibly angered.

• Lucian recognized Marcus at the hall entrance and ordered the Werewolves to form a defensive line, but Marcus said he had not come to start a war.
• Marcus asked to take Viktor's body, and the Werewolves objected, insisting that the remains should stay as evidence and a memorial to their fallen clansmen.
• Draco asked Marcus how he would govern the vampires, and Marcus promised to end Viktor's enslavement policy and maintain mutual nonaggression if the Werewolves did not invade vampire territory.
• Draco urged Lucian to give Marcus the body, and Lucian agreed before Draco used a Summoning Charm to send Viktor's remains to Marcus.
• Marcus invited Selene and Kraven to join him, but Selene declined because her revenge was complete, and Kraven refused because he wanted to part peacefully and pursue his ambitions elsewhere.
• Marcus's expression darkened after Selene and Kraven both rejected his offer.

Marcus escaped the judgment hall in a new winged form, while Draco and the werewolves concluded that Singe had defected to him with the means to create half-bloods. Draco prepared to visit the vampire elders’ manor, Kraven left the country, and Lucian warned that William must remain imprisoned if Singe escaped.

• Marcus transformed into an enormous black bat and flew away, and Lucian realized he had never had wings before.
• Draco noticed Singe was missing, and Lucian and Hermione suspected he had defected to the vampires with his bloodline-modification research.
• Lucian ordered the werewolves to tighten security and keep the incident confidential, then discussed the threat with Draco and the others in his office.
• Draco said they would visit the vampire elders’ manor, while Kraven chose to leave the country and Selene refused to go with him.
• Draco Apparated Kraven to a human airport, then returned as Lucian asked him to keep William imprisoned if Singe escaped.

Draco and the others returned to the villa and found Michael talking with Alexander Corvinus, who revealed that he was Michael’s ancient ancestor. Alexander discussed the burdens of immortality with them, and the chapter ended as Trillian asked Hermione whether she would want to live forever if her family and friends could do so too.

• Draco brought everyone back to the villa to make sure Michael was safe.
• They found Michael arguing with an old man who introduced himself as Alexander Corvinus, father of Marcus and William and ancestor of Michael.
• Selene and Hermione recognized Alexander’s significance, and Michael struggled to accept that he had met his living ancestor.
• Alexander explained that immortality meant watching generations of loved ones die and that long life could make people avoid change.
• Draco, Hermione, Trillian, and Alexander discussed the costs and appeal of immortality.
• Hermione said she did not want immortality, and Trillian asked whether she would reconsider if her family and friends could live forever with her.

Hermione, Draco, and Trillian debated whether immortality would enrich or diminish life, and whether people were better off having a choice. Alexander then offered Michael a choice of his own, asking whether he wanted power, which made Michael wary of becoming a half-blood life-form like Singe.

• Hermione argued that finite life made relationships and experiences precious, while immortality risked diluting their meaning.
• Draco said sudden, unchecked gains could make people lose control, and suggested gaining longevity only near the end of life.
• Hermione warned that immortality could tempt people to avoid suffering and erode their courage to face fate, though she preferred having a choice.
• Draco turned to Alexander and asked why he had come.
• Alexander said he had come to offer Michael a choice and asked whether Michael wanted power.
• Michael recalled Singe and asked warily whether Alexander planned to turn him into a half-blood life-form.

Alexander explained that Michael had to choose between hiding from the werewolves and vampires or modifying his bloodline, and Michael accepted the change using Alexander’s blood. Alexander also offered Selene blood to increase her strength and remove her weakness to sunlight.

• Alexander told Michael that both factions would try to recruit or fear him, and offered him escape or bloodline modification as ways to protect his independence.
• Alexander revealed that he had informants, had captured Singe, and wanted to prevent the conflict from escalating into extinction or spilling into the human world.
• Michael decided to undergo bloodline modification after recalling how powerless he had been, and Alexander gave him a bag of dark-gold blood.
• Alexander admitted he had never interfered in private conflicts between the two races unless humans or their survival were threatened.
• Alexander offered Selene a second bag of blood, saying it would greatly increase her strength and let her face the sun without fear.

Alexander gave Selene and the others blood bags for dangerous bloodline modifications, while Michael and Selene completed the process. Draco then went with Hermione and Trillian to the vampire elders' castle to find William, but Marcus said no one knew where his dungeon was after Viktor's death.

• Alexander gave Selene a blood bag and prepared three more for Trillian and the others, warning that they would need to become vampires or Werewolves before modifying their bloodlines.
• Michael and Selene underwent the bloodline modifications while Hermione and Trillian stood guard, and both emerged pale and exhausted.
• Selene asked whether Alexander's blood could restore William's reason, and Alexander explained that it could not repair the humanity destroyed by the wolf venom.
• Alexander said Marcus was considering releasing William, so Draco teleported with Hermione and Trillian to the vampire elders' castle to find out where William was held.
• Marcus told Draco that Viktor was dead and that no one knew where William's dungeon was anymore.

Marcus revealed that he had accepted Singe’s wolf blood because Singe promised to save William, but Draco and his companions remained suspicious. Marcus transformed and attacked Draco, whose shield stopped his strike before Draco launched a spell at him.

• Marcus admitted that Viktor had built and controlled the hidden dungeon where William was kept.
• Marcus confessed that Singe had promised to save William in exchange for allowing research and accepting wolf blood.
• Draco produced Veritaserum, and Trillian challenged Marcus to tell the truth, provoking him to transform and attack.
• Draco teleported Hermione and Trillian out of danger, then blocked Marcus’s wing-blade strike with Ultimate Shield.
• Draco pointed his wand at Marcus and cast Incendio.

Draco defeated Marcus in a fierce duel and immobilized him with magic. After vampire guards surrounded Draco, Hermione, and Trillian, Marcus ordered the guards to withdraw, leaving the hall silent.

• Marcus attacked Draco with burning magic and savage physical strikes, but Draco dodged and blasted him into the throne.
• Hermione shielded herself and Trillian from the destruction as Draco deflected Marcus's attacks and interrupted his charges with spells.
• Draco froze Marcus in midair with Petrificus Totalus, and Trillian mocked the defeated progenitor.
• Vampire guards entered and surrounded Draco, Hermione, and Trillian, accusing them of disrupting a funeral and injuring Marcus.
• Draco lifted the spell, and Marcus ordered the guards to leave after realizing they could not win against magic.

Marcus revealed that he planned to find William and use his blood to become stronger, then transform vampires and werewolves into hybrids free of their weaknesses. Hermione identified a fatal flaw in his vision, but the chapter ended before she explained it.

• Marcus admitted he had hoped to restore William's sanity and planned to fuse with his blood to gain power.
• Trillian revealed that she and the others had met Alexander, prompting Marcus to urgently ask where and when.
• Marcus explained that he wanted William to lead the werewolves while he led the vampires, uniting the races through their shared prestige.
• Hermione challenged Marcus's plan to force the races together, while Marcus argued that painful reform could end their generations-long conflict.
• Marcus revealed that he wanted to use William's blood to create hybrids who were immune to sunlight and silver, then extend the transformation to both races.
• Hermione rejected Marcus's vision and began pointing out what she saw as its fatal flaw.

Hermione rejected Marcus's plan to forcibly transform vampires and werewolves, proposing coexistence, voluntary modification, and neutral arbitration instead. Marcus challenged the wizards' suitability as arbiters, leaving Hermione unable to answer his concerns.

• Marcus argued that forced transformation could end the blood feud for future generations, despite its terrible cost.
• Hermione proposed separate governance, a deliberative council, limits on violence, a neutral force to enforce agreements, voluntary bloodline modification, and gradual reconciliation.
• Marcus questioned whether treaties and a council could restrain generations of hatred, and Hermione said peace required continual maintenance backed by arbitration.
• Trillian suggested that wizards serve as neutral arbiters, and Draco supported sending wizards to mediate between the races.
• Marcus warned that wizards could be resented as outsiders, withdraw, divide into factions, exploit vampire and werewolf bloodlines, or impose incompatible values.
• Hermione had no answer to Marcus's objections.

Draco and Hermione questioned Marcus about William’s prison, and Veritaserum forced him to reveal that the key he first surrendered was fake while the genuine key was hidden on him. He disclosed that Lucian had the other key and that Selene knew the prison’s location, leaving Hermione puzzled about why Selene had not told them.

• Marcus said Viktor had kept the prison’s location and opening mechanism secret, though two specially made circular keys were needed to open it.
• Hermione deduced Marcus had recovered a key from Viktor’s body, and Marcus handed Draco a copper key he claimed was the only one he had found.
• Draco used the Depulso Charm to force Veritaserum into Marcus, who admitted the first key was a replica and gave Draco the genuine key.
• Under the potion’s influence, Marcus revealed that Lucian had the other key, which Viktor had entrusted to his daughter.
• Marcus said Selene knew where William’s prison was, and Hermione wondered why Selene had not shared that information.

Draco and his companions obtained one of the keys to William’s prison from Marcus and learned that Selene’s bloodline concealed the prison’s location. Back at the villa, Draco discussed how to deal with people whose convictions clashed with their own, while Marcus was left furious and determined to continue his plan.

• Marcus revealed that drinking Selene’s blood could uncover her memories, and Draco retrieved the Veritaserum before leaving with Hermione and Trillian.
• Alone in the hall, Marcus smashed the throne’s armrest after realizing Draco’s group had the key and Lucian held the other half.
• At the villa, Trillian showed Alexander, Michael, and Selene the key to William’s prison and explained that Lucian had the other one.
• Alexander and Hermione explained that the prison’s location was hidden in Selene’s bloodline, but Marcus could still search for it without her.
• Draco advised Trillian and Hermione to avoid forcing their views on others, keep their distance when needed, and adapt their words and actions to prevent confrontation.

Draco and the others reflected on memory, regret, and the changing bonds between parents and children before Michael brought the conversation back to Marcus and his key. Draco explained that Marcus intended to transform all Werewolves and vampires into Half-blood life-forms and rule the new race he created.

• Hermione compared conflicts between parents and grown children to clashes between changing generations, and Draco agreed that children had to decide when to heed or restrain their parents.
• Draco, Hermione, Trillian, and Selene discussed memories, regret, and how people could long for the past or pin their hopes on the future.
• Alexander said people regretted losing what they had, while Hermione pointed out that returning to the past would make them miss the present.
• Michael reminded everyone that they had strayed from discussing Marcus and the key, and Trillian blamed Draco for the digression.
• Draco explained that Marcus wanted to transform all Werewolves and vampires into Half-blood life-forms and establish himself as ruler of the new race.

The group rejected strengthening Lucian because giving him enough power to defeat Marcus could put the werewolves’ future at risk. Michael agreed to mediate for now, while Selene asked to join Hermione and Draco in the Wizarding World and was accepted as a behind-the-scenes adviser.

• Selene, Draco, Trillian, and Alexander discussed Marcus’s likely plans and agreed that he would struggle to threaten Michael or Alexander directly.
• Trillian proposed modifying Lucian’s bloodline, but Selene and Alexander warned that ultimate power could test Lucian and endanger the werewolves; Trillian dropped the proposal.
• Michael agreed to mediate between werewolves and vampires and watch for Marcus, but said he would not rule the werewolves and would eventually seek his own life.
• After Alexander and Michael left the villa, Selene asked to accompany Hermione and Draco to the Wizarding World.
• Hermione explained the prejudice Selene could face, and Selene offered to advise Hermione and help communicate with dark creatures.
• Hermione accepted Selene as a behind-the-scenes adviser, and Selene looked forward to starting a new life in the Wizarding World.

Draco and Hermione applied to enter Ilvermorny's Restricted Section after learning about the mysterious wandless magic school Brakebills. Professor Luo Na reviewed their application and questioned whether their stated research goals were their only reason for seeking access.

• Hermione told Draco about Brakebills School of Magic, whose students used wandless magic and whose secretive admissions process erased the memories of rejected applicants.
• Draco suggested searching Ilvermorny's Restricted Section for more information, and he and Hermione traveled to the school.
• Professor Luo Na explained that Restricted Section access required an interview and joint approval from two professors before the librarian could review an application.
• Hermione and Draco filled out their permit forms, listing research into North American laws on dark creatures and records about unregistered magical traditions.
• Professor Luo Na examined their applications and asked whether those were truly the only subjects they wanted to research.

Draco and Hermione secured approval to consult historical records in Ilvermorny's Restricted Section, agreeing to strict limits on what they could read and share. Librarian Franklin led them to the magical vine barrier, which opened to reveal a narrow passage.

• Hermione and Draco defended their application as historical research into how North America's Wizarding World had managed dark creatures.
• Professor Hicks approved their research, and Professor Fontana signed a one-day permit after Hermione promised they would not copy or share forbidden material.
• Hermione presented the permit to librarian Franklin, who checked their approvals and escorted them toward the Restricted Section.
• Franklin warned them to obey the rules and used magic to part the glowing vines covering a stone wall, revealing a narrow passage.

Draco and Hermione entered the Restricted Section, where Hermione researched a North American magical school while Draco scanned its books and watched her. After they left, Draco revealed he had applied to Brakebills School and expected it to invite them to enroll.

• Professor Franklin led Draco and Hermione into the Restricted Section and warned them that the vine barrier would close at the library's closing time.
• Draco secretly scanned the bookshelves while Hermione read historical materials and Professor Franklin kept watch.
• Professor Franklin noticed Draco staring at Hermione, who blushed and returned to her reading.
• As closing time approached, Professor Franklin helped them put away the books, and Draco and Hermione left the castle.
• Draco showed Hermione a book about North America's secret magical academy and told her he had applied to Brakebills School for two months of further study.
• Draco predicted Brakebills would invite them after receiving an outside application, and Hermione remained amused but unconvinced.