Recaps

On his eleventh birthday, Argus Grindelwald maxed out his magical talents and resolved to claim leadership of the Acolytes despite their doubts and the Ministry of Magic's threat. Vinda Rosier accepted his determination as he prepared to face the gathering.

• Argus used achievement points to raise his Dark Magic talent to 100, then drew Legilimency and Fiendfyre from the system lottery.
• Vinda Rosier reminded Argus that his eleventh birthday had arrived and that he was expected to inherit the Acolytes.
• Vinda and Abernathy urged Argus to reconsider because the Acolytes were divided and the Ministry of Magic was watching the gathering.
• Argus refused to back down, insisting that he would carry on Grindelwald's unfinished undertaking.
• Vinda accepted Argus's decision, and Argus declared, "For the Greater Good!"

Argus addressed the Acolytes at Nurmengard, using visions of Muggle technology to rally them behind his leadership and their cause. As the crowd pledged itself to him, Auror Nice abandoned his colleagues and walked toward Argus, while the Auror director cast a killing curse.

• Argus entered Nurmengard with Vinda Rosier and Abernathy and addressed the gathered Acolytes, thanking them for their sacrifices.
• Argus rejected hatred of the wizarding world’s opponents and said he hoped they could coexist peacefully despite their differing ideals.
• With Vinda’s skull-shaped pipe, Argus showed the crowd images of Muggle weapons, technology, and a satellite view of Nurmengard.
• Argus warned that Muggle power threatened the Wizarding World and called on the Acolytes to resist; the crowd rallied behind him and shouted, “For the greater good!”
• Auror Nice became convinced that Argus was worthy of allegiance and walked toward him, but the Auror director cast Avada Kedavra at Nice.

Argus took control of the Acolytes after surviving an Auror attack and revealing that he could cast Protego Diabolica. He told Grindelwald he planned to go to Britain and attend Hogwarts, and Grindelwald gave him the acceptance letter he had withheld.

• The head Auror killed a middle-aged Auror, then ordered a sneak attack on Argus, but Vinda Rosier and Abernathy helped defeat the attackers.
• Argus stopped Vinda from killing the captured Aurors, dodged the head Auror’s second Killing Curse, and cast Protego Diabolica to rally the Acolytes.
• Vinda, Abernathy, and the Acolytes walked through Argus’s flames and Apparated away; Argus’s system awarded him 500 achievement points for taking control of them.
• Argus and Grindelwald discussed the Acolytes’ next move, and Argus chose Britain and Hogwarts rather than taking over the Austrian Ministry or hiding at Durmstrang.
• Argus suspected Grindelwald had hidden his Hogwarts letter, and Grindelwald released an owl carrying it.

Argus received his Hogwarts letter and hurried to Britain with Vinda Rosier, ordering the Acolytes to relocate before the German and Austrian Ministries of Magic could act. While viewing a manor, he met Lucius and Draco Malfoy, introducing himself as Argus Grindelwald.

• Argus declined Vinda Rosier’s offer to obtain his school supplies and ordered the Acolytes to sell their holdings and move to Britain that night.
• Argus said goodbye to Grindelwald, who reassured him that he would be fine and named him his successor.
• Vinda brought Argus to Britain, where she reported that the Acolytes had sold about seventy percent of their holdings and nearly all had escaped.
• Argus told Vinda he had a plan to support their expenses and went with her to view a luxurious manor owned by the Malfoys.
• Lucius Malfoy greeted Vinda cautiously, and Draco eagerly asked Argus about Hogwarts and Quidditch.
• Argus introduced himself to Lucius and Draco as Argus Grindelwald.

Argus bought a manor from Lucius Malfoy and invited Draco to stay so they could visit Diagon Alley together, while planning to use the Malfoys to enter pure-blood society. After drawing new spells and Occlumency, Argus learned that the German and Austrian Ministries had launched an operation against his group, then set off for Diagon Alley with Draco.

• Lucius was shocked to learn Argus was Grindelwald's heir, then showed him and Vinda around the manor, which they bought.
• Argus invited Draco to stay overnight and planned to use him to gain an opening into Britain's pure-blood circles.
• Argus used the system to draw five rewards, gained several spells and level-seven Occlumency, and merged the spell experience to improve his magic.
• Vinda told Argus that the German and Austrian Ministries had launched a joint operation and that the Daily Prophet accused him of killing Aurors.
• Argus dismissed the accusations and told Draco to get ready for their trip to Diagon Alley.

Argus and Draco shopped for their Hogwarts supplies in Diagon Alley, where Ollivander recognized Argus as a Grindelwald and helped Draco choose a wand. After the boys ordered school robes, a timid boy arrived with a giant, and Argus suspected who they were.

• Vinda noticed furtive figures in Diagon Alley and left Argus and Draco to deal with them while she investigated.
• At Ollivander's, the wandmaker examined Argus's qilin-nerve wand and realized Argus was a Grindelwald.
• Ollivander helped Draco choose a hawthorn wand with a unicorn tail hair core after a redwood wand shattered the shop window.
• Argus and Draco ordered Hogwarts robes at Madam Malkin's, and Argus planned to buy the rest of their supplies while they waited.
• A timid, frail boy entered Madam Malkin's shop with a giant, prompting Argus to suspect their identities.

Argus introduced Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, then corrected Draco after he insulted Hagrid. Draco apologized to Hagrid and Harry, and the boys became friends before parting.

• Harry entered Madam Malkin's shop, where Draco eagerly questioned him and Argus introduced himself as a friendlier companion.
• Draco insulted Hagrid, prompting Harry to leave with him and Argus to challenge Draco's pure-blood prejudice.
• Argus urged Draco to value character over bloodline, and Draco agreed to apologize to Hagrid and Harry.
• Draco sincerely apologized, and Hagrid and Harry forgave him after hearing Argus's words about true nobility.
• Harry and Draco asked to write to Argus, while Argus resolved to bring the Malfoy family into his plans.

Argus and Vinda Rosier planned to undermine Scrimgeour’s surveillance and build a business empire to replace Diagon Alley. By late August, Argus had advanced through his Hogwarts studies while Draco struggled to focus, and Lucius watched Argus’s growing influence among pure-blood families.

• Argus learned that Rufus Scrimgeour had sent Aurors to watch the Acolytes, and he told Vinda Rosier to leak news to Fudge so Scrimgeour would face trouble.
• Vinda Rosier reported that Diagon Alley’s shops were difficult to acquire, and Argus revealed his long-term plan to replace Diagon Alley and expand the Acolytes’ business worldwide.
• Fudge confronted Scrimgeour for mobilizing Aurors without permission and ordered him to withdraw them, forcing Scrimgeour to back down.
• By late August, Argus had finished studying Hogwarts textbooks through fourth year and was working through The Standard Book of Spells’ fifth-year volume.
• Lucius observed Argus’s growing standing among pure-blood families as Argus reminded restless Draco to finish his homework.

Argus Grindelwald helped Hermione find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, then taught her a Shrinking Charm aboard the Hogwarts Express. After Fred and George joined them, Argus’s extensive magical knowledge made them eager to use him to finish their homework.

• Argus met Hermione Granger at King's Cross and explained that the oddly dressed people were wizards who could show her Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
• Argus shrank Hermione’s trunk with Reducio, led her through the barrier, and taught her the Shrinking Charm on the train.
• Fred and George Weasley entered the compartment and admitted they were rushing to finish their homework.
• Hermione corrected George about bezoars, and Argus confirmed the answer and demonstrated his knowledge of third-year material.
• Fred and George squeezed Hermione aside and asked Argus to help them with their potion homework.

Argus broke up a confrontation after Ron accused Draco of stealing Neville's toad, then used the Summoning Charm to find Trevor and prove Draco innocent. Neville apologized to Draco, and Argus stopped Ron from slipping away without apologizing.

• George and Fred finished their homework with Argus's help and introduced themselves to Argus and Hermione.
• Argus and the Weasley twins found Draco surrounded by students after Ron accused him of taking Neville's missing toad.
• Argus calmed Draco and asked Neville to describe Trevor, then summoned the toad from a nearby compartment.
• Neville recognized Trevor and apologized to Draco for accusing him.
• Argus asked Ron to apologize for his behavior.

Argus resolved Ron’s accusation against Draco, then encouraged Harry, Hermione, and Neville to consider which Hogwarts house suited them instead of assuming Gryffindor was best. The first years arrived at Hogwarts, where Argus helped Hagrid organize them for the trip to the castle.

• Argus exposed Ron’s baseless accusation, and Ron reluctantly apologized to Draco before returning to his compartment.
• After the crowd dispersed, Harry asked Argus whether he was useless for failing to defend his friend, and Argus reassured him that courage could take different forms.
• Argus suggested Harry consider Slytherin and explained that Neville and Hermione also showed qualities associated with multiple houses.
• Harry, Hermione, and Neville reconsidered their preferred houses after Argus challenged the idea that Gryffindor was the best.
• The Hogwarts Extra-Slow Train reached the station, and Argus used Sonorus to gather the first years into lines for Hagrid to lead to Hogwarts Castle.

Argus helped Hagrid organize the first-years and arrived at Hogwarts, where he prepared for the Sorting Ceremony while watching Dumbledore. The ceremony began with Hannah Abbott sorted into Hufflepuff, earning Argus another achievement reward.

• Argus helped Hagrid keep the new students orderly as they traveled by boat to Hogwarts.
• Professor McGonagall thanked Argus for his help and suggested he might be sorted into Slytherin.
• Argus entered the Great Hall, noticed Dumbledore, and instinctively activated his level-seven Occlumency.
• Dumbledore announced the start-of-term rules, including bans on the Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor.
• Professor McGonagall called Hannah Abbott, and the Sorting Hat placed her in Hufflepuff.
• Argus received the achievement “The Birth of the Iron Hat King” and 50 achievement points.

Neville Longbottom was sorted into Hufflepuff, Hermione Granger into Ravenclaw, and Harry Potter into Gryffindor after a long hesitation influenced by Argus. The hall fell silent when Professor McGonagall called Argus Grindelwald's name.

• Neville Longbottom chose Hufflepuff, surprising Dumbledore and delighting Professor Sprout.
• Hermione Granger was sorted into Ravenclaw, while Professor McGonagall reprimanded Ron Weasley for speaking ill of her.
• Harry Potter hesitated between Slytherin and Gryffindor as the Sorting Hat discussed Argus's influence, then the Hat placed him in Gryffindor.
• Dumbledore relaxed at Harry's sorting, but Argus noted that Harry did not seem to feel he belonged in Gryffindor.
• Professor McGonagall hesitated over the next name, then called Argus Grindelwald, silencing the hall.

Argus Grindelwald was sorted into Slytherin, where he used Scourgify on the Sorting Hat after it teased him. After the feast, Snape told Argus that Dumbledore wanted to see him in the Headmaster’s Office.

• Argus used Occlumency to limit the Sorting Hat’s access to his mind, and it sorted him into Slytherin.
• Argus pointed his wand at the Sorting Hat and cast Scourgify, then joined the excited students at the Slytherin table.
• Dumbledore welcomed the students, began the feast, and led them in singing the school song.
• Amiri Carrow gave the first-years the Slytherin common-room password and led them inside.
• Snape appeared as Argus was about to rest and told him that Dumbledore wanted to see him in the Headmaster’s Office.

Argus Grindelwald met Dumbledore in the Headmaster’s Office, where he taunted him over his estrangement from Argus’s father. Snape returned to report that Slytherin’s first-years would follow no one but Argus, leaving Dumbledore’s plan to keep him from becoming chief in doubt.

• Snape escorted Argus to the Headmaster’s Office while the Slytherin first-years prepared to select their chief.
• Dumbledore sent Snape to check on the Slytherin Common Room, and Argus suspected he wanted to stop him from competing for chief.
• Argus accepted tea and confronted Dumbledore with a story about his father’s lonely life and unanswered letters.
• Dumbledore became visibly shaken as Argus accused him of abandoning Argus’s father after their falling-out.
• Snape returned and told Dumbledore that Mr. Malfoy and the other Slytherin first-years would obey no one but Argus.

Argus returned to the Slytherin Common Room and secured the first-year chief position by defeating Klein Shafiq in a duel, then learned about Slytherin’s chief ranking battles. He challenged second-year chief Diderot Yaxley to begin climbing the hierarchy.

• Argus returned to the Slytherin Common Room, where Draco and the other first-years faced off against students from rival factions.
• Klein Shafiq challenged Argus for first-year chief, but Argus overwhelmed him with Incendio and stopped the flames before they could injure him.
• Argus reassured Shafiq after the duel, and Shafiq praised him as a powerful wizard and a noble person.
• With no further challengers, Amiri Carrow declared Argus the first-year chief, earning Argus an achievement reward of 100 points.
• Draco explained that duels between chiefs determined Slytherin’s year rankings, and Argus challenged second-year chief Diderot Yaxley.

Argus Grindelwald defeated the second- and third-year Prefects, earning achievement points and alarming the remaining challengers. When he prepared to challenge the fourth-year Prefect, Scamander stepped forward and offered him sweets instead of fighting.

• Argus defeated Diderot Yaxley with a quick Stupefy and earned 200 achievement points for beating a second-year Prefect.
• Argus challenged Alexia Slanlin, used transfiguration and Incarcerous to make her surrender, and earned 300 achievement points.
• Argus turned his attention to the fourth-year Prefect, making him nervous as Amiri Carrow prepared to continue the challenge.
• Scamander rebuked a student who urged him to fight Argus, called Argus his brother, and offered him sweets.

Argus ended the chief selection duels after Snape warned him it was late, then used his achievement points to draw and merge spells, including a low-level Killing Curse. The chapter left him stunned when Scamander delivered a provocative book as his promised gift.

• Argus and Scamander staged a duel, and Scamander conceded after Argus disarmed him.
• Snape reminded Argus that the first-years needed to sleep, so Amiri Carrow ended the chief selection duels and took Argus to his private dormitory.
• Argus spent 1,500 achievement points on two draws and merged the spells, raising several levels and receiving a level-three Killing Curse.
• Scamander visited Argus late at night and gave him a thin book he had promised as a gift.
• Argus opened the book and was shocked by its provocative image as Scamander told him they were even.

Argus slept peacefully while Dumbledore reread letters from Gellert and worried that Argus resembled him, then Argus arrived at breakfast as the school watched to see how high he had risen in Slytherin's chief rankings. He sat in Slytherin's number-two seat, leaving everyone to wonder whether he had defeated even the fifth-year chief.

• Dumbledore reread Gellert's letters and reflected that Argus was even more outstanding than Gellert had been at the same age.
• The Weasley Twins explained Slytherin's chief rankings and bet Ron that Argus had reached third year, while Ron guessed second year and Harry agreed to witness the bet.
• Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall discussed Argus's likely ranking as he walked past the first- and second-year chief seats.
• Argus continued past the third- and fourth-year seats and sat opposite Amiri Carrow in Slytherin's number-two seat.
• The crowd wondered whether Argus had defeated the fifth-year chief, since no one else could explain his place in the strict Slytherin hierarchy.

Argus led the Slytherin first-years to Transfiguration, where Professor McGonagall praised his ability to recognize her Animagus form and awarded Slytherin five points. As she began the first lesson, Argus watched her transformation of a lectern into a pig and sank into thought.

• Hermione and Cho laughed as Argus’s earlier victory left his doubters stunned, while Ron reclaimed Scabbers.
• Argus organized the first-years and led the Slytherins to Transfiguration class.
• Argus recognized Professor McGonagall in her tabby-cat form and quietly warned Draco.
• McGonagall transformed back into a woman, deducted points from the late Harry and Ron, and awarded Slytherin five points for Argus’s observation.
• McGonagall introduced Transfiguration by turning the lectern into a pig, and Argus began thinking deeply as he watched it.

In Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration lesson, Argus showed an unusual ability to grasp the transformation of an object’s essence and earned an invitation to the Transfiguration Club. He helped students from both houses with their matches, but Harry and Ron ended the lesson unable to change theirs.

• Professor McGonagall taught the first-years how to turn matches into silver needles, while Argus attempted to transform his match into a pig and alarmed her with its needle-limbed form.
• Argus explained that he wanted to learn how to turn wood into a real pig, and Professor McGonagall praised his talent, suggested easier transformations to practice, and invited him to the Transfiguration Club.
• Professor McGonagall deducted five points from Slytherin for Argus’s classroom disruption but awarded the house five points for his Transfiguration, then asked him to help the class.
• Argus coached Draco and the other first-years, helping students from Slytherin and Gryffindor make progress with their matches.
• Ron discouraged Harry from seeking Argus’s help, and by the end of class Harry and Ron were the only students whose matches had not changed.

Peeves attacked the Slytherin and Gryffindor first-years with water balloons, and Argus protected the students before saving Parvati from falling off a staircase. Professor McGonagall rewarded Slytherin with twenty points, while Parvati left with her sister for a checkup.

• Draco and the Slytherin first-years celebrated that Gryffindors had asked Argus for advice as the groups walked toward class.
• Peeves threw water balloons at the students, and Argus shielded them with Protego Totalum.
• Parvati fell from a rotating staircase while Padma tried to hold on to her, and Argus caught her with Wingardium Leviosa.
• Parvati and Padma thanked Argus, and Professor McGonagall praised him for saving Parvati.
• Professor McGonagall awarded Slytherin twenty points and took Parvati to Madam Pomfrey for a checkup.

During Harry's first Potions lesson, Snape quizzed and berated him while Argus answered the questions. A potion explosion caused a fire and injured students, and Argus helped contain the chaos before Snape confronted Ron and Seamus.

• Snape began the Potions lesson by scolding the class and quizzing Harry, who could not answer his questions.
• Snape asked Argus the same questions, and Argus answered them correctly before Snape awarded Slytherin five points and took five points from Gryffindor.
• Argus and Draco worked on the Cure for Boils in a distant corner while Snape mocked Argus for not helping other students.
• A potion exploded near Snape, splashing corrosive liquid and setting the classroom into chaos as cauldrons and furniture caught fire.
• Argus extinguished the flames, cleaned the room, and directed students to help the injured before Snape demanded explanations from Ron and Seamus.

Ron and Seamus’s disastrous first Potions lesson cost Gryffindor points, while Argus learned that Gringotts had been attacked and saw an opportunity to use Voldemort’s return to advance his plans. The chapter leaves Argus heading to Flying Class as Harry wonders about the attacked vault.

• Ron chose Seamus as his Potions partner, and their botched brew exploded, injuring nearby students and Snape.
• Snape took points from Gryffindor for Ron, Seamus, and Harry, who helped bring the injured pair to the Hospital Wing.
• Argus ate lunch with Hermione and read a report that Gringotts had been attacked by a suspected Dark wizard.
• Argus resolved to use Voldemort’s return to distract attention from the Acolytes and undermine confidence in Gringotts while pursuing his own plans.
• Harry read about the attack and speculated with Ron about the targeted vault, while Draco rushed ahead to Flying Class and Argus followed the Slytherins.

Argus discovered he could not make a broomstick fly and welcomed Madam Hooch’s offer to let him attend other lessons instead. As classmates comforted him, Ron’s jealousy boiled over, and he charged at Argus on his broom.

• Madam Hooch taught the first years to summon and ride their brooms, but Argus could not get his broom to move.
• Madam Hooch told Argus to rest and said she would arrange other lessons for him during flying class.
• Argus studied on the lawn and reassured Parvati and her sister that he was fine without a broomstick.
• Several students came to comfort Argus, prompting Ron to accuse them of favoring him and Draco to confront Ron.
• Harry defended Argus, but Ron ignored him, mounted his broom, and charged at Argus.