Recaps

William and Hermione investigated Merlin and the Founders while William and Dumbledore decided they had more urgent problems to deal with. As the O.W.L.s approached, Hogwarts students struggled with exam stress, and Cho was caught by Professor McGonagall during a test review.

• William and Hermione shut themselves away to study books about Merlin and the Founders, while William discussed Vivian’s revelations with Dumbledore and concluded they were not an immediate concern.
• Hermione contacted Bathilda Bagshot to help organize manuscripts for a history of modern magic, and Dumbledore arranged for William to skip most classes so he could investigate.
• As the O.W.L.s neared, stressed students broke down over exams, and Madam Pomfrey’s Calming Draught injections became popular until she stopped giving them to prevent addiction.
• Professor Snape extended his final class of the day, while Professor Moody taught students to detect surveillance by hiding Dungbombs in gifts.
• Professor McGonagall gave the fifth-years a surprise diagnostic test, then caught Cho Chang raising her hand to avoid being picked to answer a question.

Fifth-years faced mountains of Easter homework and growing anxiety about future employment as career leaflets appeared around Hogwarts. Marietta considered becoming a healer or joining the Ministry, while Cho remained focused on her studies and her future at Akali's Mystery Shop.

• The professors assigned extensive Easter homework, keeping fifth- and seventh-years studying through the holiday.
• Hogwarts posted a notice requiring fifth-years to meet their heads of house for careers advice, and career pamphlets appeared in the common rooms.
• The chapter described fierce competition for wizarding jobs and the low pay offered by the Ministry of Magic.
• Marietta considered a career as a healer, and Cho encouraged her that she could meet St. Mungo's exam requirements.
• Marietta said her mother wanted her to work at the Floo Network Authority, but she wanted a well-paid job with little work near home.
• Cho continued following Cedric's revision plan and explained that her grades still mattered despite her plans to work at Akali's Mystery Shop.

After returning from Easter break, William attended his career consultation and learned that Hogwarts professors wanted him to continue every subject and earn twelve top N.E.W.T.s results so he could become a teacher. Professor Flitwick also hinted that William might one day lead Ravenclaw House, while William privately preferred becoming headmaster.

• Fifth-year students panicked over career consultations and O.W.L.s, while Professor McGonagall exposed a Slytherin exam-cramming scam led by Gorilla Captain.
• William and Hermione returned from their Easter holiday seclusion, and several professors hinted that they wanted William to take their advanced classes.
• Professor Snape taught an unusually difficult potion, and William realized Snape wanted him to find rare ingredients.
• Professor Flitwick asked William about his career plans, and William said he might teach Ancient Runes after graduating.
• Professor Flitwick suggested William could teach Charms and become Ravenclaw's next head, then said the professors expected him to earn twelve N.E.W.T.s certificates with O grades and keep every subject.

William learned about the maze planned for the Triwizard Tournament’s Third Task and began mapping its paths with Hermione. Their conversation with Krum was interrupted when a disheveled, seemingly mad Barty Crouch appeared and pleaded to see Dumbledore, just as a green spell shot at them from the reeds.

• Hagrid showed William the Quidditch Pitch maze and explained that the Third Task would include Magical Creatures and spells to overcome.
• William drew the maze from memory by the Black Lake, where Hermione joined him and Krum asked to speak with her.
• Barty Crouch staggered out of the reeds, muttered about Percy and his family, and begged William to take him to Dumbledore.
• William sent a silver sea eagle to fetch Dumbledore while Hermione and Krum stayed with Crouch.
• A streak of green light shot out of the reeds toward them.

William stopped an assassin from killing Crouch and fought the gray-robed wizard, who escaped after losing both legs. Before Crouch could reveal his warning about the Dark Lord, a curse killed him, and Dumbledore took the others to his office.

• William blocked the Killing Curse aimed at Crouch and, with Hermione's help, exposed a wizard hiding in the reeds.
• William fought the gray-robed wizard with wind, light, and water magic, severing his legs when he tried to attack Crouch.
• The gray-robed wizard escaped by flying away as Crouch tried to warn William about the Dark Lord and ask to see Dumbledore.
• A curse sealed Crouch's mouth and killed him before he could reveal what he knew.
• Hermione identified the cause of Crouch's death, and Dumbledore summoned a silver phoenix and led William, Hermione, and Krum to his office.

William and Hermione investigated Barty Crouch’s death by reviewing memories and concluded that his son, Barty Crouch Jr., had survived by switching places with his mother. They left to tell Dumbledore and Minister Fudge, while William claimed he had evidence to prove their theory.

• William and Hermione used a Pensieve to review the hostages’ memories and discovered that Crouch had not been in the room during the kidnapping.
• William and Hermione considered whether Crouch had escaped earlier or been the kidnapper, but William rejected the idea that Crouch would free Death Eaters.
• William and Hermione reviewed memories of Crouch’s son’s trial and his parents’ visits to Azkaban, noticing that Mrs. Crouch acted strangely after seeing her son.
• William and Hermione deduced that Mrs. Crouch had switched places with her son, allowing Barty Crouch Jr. to escape while Crouch imprisoned his wife.
• William and Hermione concluded that Bertha had discovered the secret and that Crouch had erased her memory, then set off to tell Dumbledore and Minister Fudge.

William and Hermione argued that Barty Crouch had been murdered and that Barty Crouch Jr. was still alive, while Minister Fudge resisted their claims. William used Judy Crouch’s inability to summon Winky to show that another Crouch had inherited the family estate, leaving Fudge confronted with evidence that Barty Crouch Jr. survived.

• Fudge dismissed William and Hermione’s claims, insisting Barty Crouch had died naturally and Barty Crouch Jr. had died in Azkaban.
• Hermione identified a curse on Crouch, while Fudge speculated that Karkaroff or another wizard might be responsible.
• William brought Judy Crouch to the Headmaster’s Office and asked her to summon Winky, but she could not.
• William explained that Judy would have inherited the Crouch estate and Winky if Barty Crouch Jr. were dead, so her failure to summon Winky indicated that another Crouch had a stronger inheritance claim.
• Dumbledore praised William’s reasoning as Fudge fell silent.

After Barty Crouch Jr.’s survival was confirmed, Fudge ordered a search but refused to cancel the Third Task, while William and Hermione worried that Voldemort had found Crouch. Crouch’s death was leaked to the Daily Prophet, prompting Fudge to suspect Krum and Karkaroff as Krum felt wrongly blamed again.

• Fudge sent Kingsley and a team of Aurors to search Barty’s house and look for Winky.
• Professor McGonagall urged Fudge to cancel the Third Task, but he refused and said Ludo had been found.
• William and Hermione discussed the possibility that Voldemort had discovered Barty Crouch Jr. and warned that the tournament could be used for an attack.
• William decided to inspect the grounds and the Third Task trophy in case Voldemort had made it a Portkey.
• Rita published the news of Crouch’s death in the Daily Prophet, and Fudge suspected Krum and Karkaroff had leaked it.
• Krum read the report, felt accused despite knowing nothing, and decided he was better off leaving Hogwarts.

As Hogwarts students prepared for exams and the Champions trained for the Third Task, Ludo returned and persuaded Ron to undergo special training. He asked Ron to bring Harry along, then shut them inside his room.

• Crouch's death and Rita's reports stirred public anger at the Ministry, but Hogwarts students soon focused on exam week.
• Hermione applied to take her exams despite being a Champion, determined to maintain her first-place streak.
• William's Akali's Intensive Class sold eight practice papers, while Karkaroff and Madame Maxime secretly tried to learn the Third Task maze and train their Champions.
• Ron gave up on competing and enjoyed watching Harry study until Ludo returned and apologized for missing the Second Task.
• Ludo told Ron he had collected hundreds of thousands of Galleons in unpaid bets and offered him a gift, easing Ron's resentment.
• Ludo persuaded Ron to train for the Third Task and asked him to bring Harry along, then led Ron into his room and shut the door.

William woke before dawn to Hermione’s message and spent the morning keeping her company before the Third Task. He later faced questions from their families, then showed the visiting parents around Hogwarts ahead of the competition.

• Hermione’s cat woke William, but she went back to sleep, so William found Hermione waiting in Ravenclaw’s common room.
• William answered the door knocker’s riddle, and the Grey Lady told him that Sir Cadogan had lived in Merlin’s time and had been one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.
• William took Hermione to the Room of Requirement to help her relax, and they missed breakfast.
• Lyanna and Iris questioned William and Hermione about where they had been, while Roy helped deflect suspicion by asking William to show the visitors around Hogwarts.
• William greeted the visiting families of the Champions, including Cedric, Krum, Phoebe, and Draco, before leading the group away from the meeting room.

William and Hermione showed their parents around Hogwarts before the Champions prepared for the Triwizard Tournament’s final maze event. The Champions entered the maze, with Hermione leading the standings and Fudge, Karkaroff, Snape, and Malfoy each carrying their own worries.

• William and Hermione showed Roy, Lyanna, and their companions around Hogwarts, where they gave gifts to Hagrid and several professors.
• At dinner, Fudge took Crouch’s place as a judge and privately blamed Karkaroff and Krum for leaking information to Rita.
• Dumbledore announced the final event, and the Champions went to the Quidditch Pitch, where staff prepared to patrol the maze and rescue anyone who sent up red sparks.
• Lee announced the Champions’ scores, with Hermione in first place, Fleur second, and Cho third; Ron remained last with zero points.
• Karkaroff expected Krum to win after his special training, while Snape assured Malfoy that Draco would be safe and Malfoy worried about the Dark Mark on his arm.
• Lee explained the maze’s scoring rules, and the Champions entered through separate entrances when he blew the whistle.

Hermione used potions, an Invisibility Cloak, and summoned Acromantulas to cross the maze, while the other Champions relied on mounts or luck. Cedric abandoned a dangerous obstacle to find Ron and arrived as Ron and Krum cast spells at each other.

• Hermione used a recorded Basilisk call to summon five Acromantulas and rode them through the maze.
• Phoebe planned to summon an Abraxan, while Cho detoured to find Fluffy and Malfoy stayed at the entrance after drinking Felix Felicis.
• Marcus Flint encountered a Romanian Longhorn, fainted after it licked him, and the dragon vanished.
• Cedric fled from a Blast-Ended Skrewt after hearing Ron scream and searched the maze for him.
• Cedric found Krum using the Cruciatus Curse on Ron, then saw Ron and Krum cast Dark Light Crossbow Bolt and Avada Kedavra at each other.

During the Triwizard Tournament’s final task, Cedric returned with Ron’s body and said Krum had killed him, while evidence confirmed the use of Avada Kedavra. As the tournament ended, the Dark Lord returned and summoned the Death Eaters, leaving Malfoy to go to him and Karkaroff to flee Hogwarts.

• Cedric emerged from the maze carrying the news that Krum had killed Ron with Avada Kedavra, and Dumbledore confirmed the spell with Krum’s wand.
• Fudge ordered Krum’s arrest, while Mr. Weasley reached Ron’s body and mourned him; Dumbledore called William over as the Triwizard task ended.
• Malfoy felt the Dark Lord’s summons and told Narcissa to find Draco and remain at Hogwarts before deciding to go to Voldemort.
• Karkaroff saw the Dark Mark turn black and urged Snape to flee with him, but Snape refused and stayed at Hogwarts.
• Karkaroff ran, and Snape watched him leave before quietly saying, “Lily.”

After Ron, Krum, and Harry were found dead, the wizarding world faced the sinking of the Durmstrang ship and a mounting crisis for Minister Fudge. Dumbledore then sent Snape to meet Voldemort, assuring him that claiming he had returned on Dumbledore’s orders would protect him.

• Fudge decided to detain Krum’s parents and pursue Krum, who was believed to be hiding in the maze.
• Professor McGonagall reported that Harry had left the students to search for Krum and was found dead beside Krum in Moaning Myrtle’s Bathroom.
• Fudge concluded that Harry had pursued Krum after Ron’s death and that the two had killed each other.
• Ludo spotted the Durmstrang ship sinking in the Black Lake, and Fudge feared the deaths would cost him his position as Minister.
• After the others went to the lake, Dumbledore told Snape to visit Voldemort and say he had returned on Dumbledore’s orders.

William learned that Voldemort had returned and was tasked by Dumbledore with investigating Harry, Ron, and the Durmstrang students’ deaths. Snape went to meet Voldemort as Dumbledore’s openly declared spy, while privately reflecting on his enduring grief for a girl he had loved.

• Dumbledore sent Snape back to Voldemort and instructed him to make clear that he was acting as Dumbledore’s spy.
• Dumbledore told William that Voldemort had summoned the Death Eaters, and that Karkaroff had fled while Malfoy had gone to his master.
• Dumbledore asked William to investigate the deaths of Harry, Ron, and the Durmstrang students, and warned him not to make stopping Voldemort’s return his goal in the time loop.
• Dumbledore assured William that Snape could resist Veritaserum and conceal his thoughts from Voldemort, then said Snape gave him courage when he was afraid.
• Snape privately prepared to meet Voldemort, remembered his lasting pain, and left an unsent letter to a girl in his desk.

William adjusted to his third time loop at Hogwarts, planned more studying and dangerous experiments, and spent the day with Hermione. The chapter ended with William spotting Malfoy and Mr. Weasley arguing and deciding to use Amortentia to make Lucius fall in love with Mr. Weasley.

• William decided to use the time loop to study advanced magic, combat, alchemy, Runes magic, and Potions while seeking new ways to have fun.
• Crookshanks woke William by leaping at his crotch, and Hermione apologized for sending the cat to wake him.
• William told Hermione about the time loop, and she proposed recording the effects of the Opal Necklace by having William touch it in the Room of Requirement.
• William arrived at the Great Hall with Hermione and saw Malfoy and Mr. Weasley arguing again.
• William decided he could give Lucius Amortentia to make him fall in love with Mr. Weasley and stop their fighting.

William used the time loop to steal a hair from Lucius Malfoy during a fight and dose him with Amortentia, making him fall in love with Arthur Weasley. The chapter ends with William repeating the prank on other targets and the Daily Prophet turning Malfoy’s romances into sensational headlines.

• During the fifth loop, William brought Hermione to the meeting room and watched Charlie and the Weasleys brawl with Lucius Malfoy.
• William joined the fight and secretly pulled a tuft of red hair from Malfoy’s mouth.
• After breakfast, the Amortentia took effect, and Malfoy declared his love for Arthur Weasley, slapped Draco, and approached the Weasleys’ table.
• Mrs. Weasley threw tea at Malfoy, then beat him as he clung to Arthur and called him darling.
• Rita reported the incident in the Daily Prophet, and William later used Amortentia to make Malfoy fall in love with Karkaroff and Minister Fudge.

William trained in close-quarters combat and yoga, then used the 101st time loop to take Hermione’s place in the Third Task. He entered the maze disguised as her, relying on his experience to race through its obstacles while Malfoy struggled without his Felix Felicis.

• William began learning close-quarters combat from Charlie and practiced yoga with Hermione, which left her too exhausted to compete in the evening.
• In the 101st loop, William and Hermione took Polyjuice Potion and transformed into each other so William could enter the Third Task as Hermione.
• At the maze, William recalled his many previous runs and described sampling creatures he had encountered, including Abraxans with Phoebe.
• William said he had stolen and drunk Malfoy’s Felix Felicis in previous loops, setting a time of less than three minutes on one attempt.
• William planned to tell Hermione the maze’s safest routes after the loop ended, while Malfoy was knocked unconscious by a female zombie after losing his potion.

William stole Malfoy’s Felix Felicis and followed its guidance through the maze, using Fluffy to smash through the walls and answering the Sphinx’s riddles. After hearing a scream, William went to investigate and saw a House-elf Apparate away with Krum.

• William disarmed Malfoy, took his Felix Felicis, and left him sprawled in the grass.
• William defeated a Boggart that had taken the form of a pufferfish, then Malfoy was attacked by the Boggart disguised as a female zombie.
• William found Fluffy, climbed onto his face, and directed him through the maze, leaving Cho to find only bones where the dog had been.
• William answered the Sphinx’s riddles and learned she would lead him to the cup.
• William heard a scream, followed Fluffy toward it, and saw a House-elf seize Krum and Apparate away.

William realized that a House-elf may have taken Harry out of Hogwarts, leaving him unable to investigate Harry’s death while trapped in the time loop. He and Hermione sought Sir Cadogan for information about the Lady of the Lake, but his antics left William doubting the legends about King Arthur and Merlin.

• William recognized Winky carrying someone away and suspected that the person was Harry, possibly disguised as Krum with Polyjuice Potion.
• William realized Harry may have been taken away and killed outside Hogwarts, where William could not investigate because he could not leave the castle.
• William considered accepting the Lady of the Lake’s offer to undo Ravenclaw’s magic, despite suspecting her deal would be dangerous.
• William and Hermione went to the North Tower to ask Sir Cadogan about Vivian, the Lady of the Lake.
• Sir Cadogan challenged William and Hermione, then fell while swinging his sword, prompting Hermione and William to question his legendary reputation.

William and Hermione questioned Sir Cadogan about his past, learning how a delayed spell from his Troll-core wand led to his death and how Merlin later fought Morgan le Fay. Sir Cadogan explained that Merlin trapped two wyverns in the Holy Grail before disappearing, leaving William to connect them to the dragons from the Goblet of Fire.

• William and Hermione learned that Sir Cadogan had been a friend of Merlin and had served as one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.
• Sir Cadogan recounted how a wyvern broke his wand and swallowed him, whereupon a spell delayed for days exploded and killed him.
• Sir Cadogan said Merlin had been missing and presumed dead, but Morgan le Fay had impersonated Vivian to trap him.
• Sir Cadogan explained that Merlin returned, killed Morgan, trapped the two wyverns in the Holy Grail, and disappeared again.
• William realized the wyverns were the white and red dragons from the Goblet of Fire and concluded that Vivian had not killed Merlin.

William exhausted Cadogan’s knowledge of Merlin and then spent a year in the time loop experimenting with Hogwarts and the Triwizard Tournament. Bored with Hogwarts at last, he decided to seek Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, and make a deal so he could pursue Voldemort beyond the school.

• William learned from Cadogan that Merlin had immense prophetic and magical gifts, killed Morgan, and vanished from the Wizarding World without dying.
• William turned to Professor Trelawney for information, stole her expensive sherry, and celebrated Hermione becoming Champion.
• Over 365 loops, William tested new Triwizard checkpoints with creatures and magical hazards, causing the tournament’s highest-ever casualties.
• William ran special potions and alchemical trials on students, relying on the time loop to prevent lasting harm.
• William grew bored with Hogwarts and decided to find Vivian and make a deal that could let him loop through time outside the school.

William negotiated with Vivian for a way to extend the time loop beyond Hogwarts, then released the white dragon to activate the Holy Grail’s resurrection power. Vivian captured the dragon, while William was left with her proposed method and the danger of releasing the red dragon still unresolved.

• William persuaded Cedric to visit the Merpeople and summon Vivian, and Cedric jumped into the Black Lake with a Gillywater Potion.
• Vivian emerged from the lake and agreed to explain how William could break Ravenclaw’s magic in exchange for the Holy Grail, but William traded her one Goblin Gem instead.
• Vivian said the Holy Grail could restore its resurrection power if William released the two dragons, allowing him to die outside Hogwarts and revive within the school as long as the Grail remained there.
• William released the white dragon, which appeared above Hogwarts and smashed the Great Hall as students and Minister Fudge panicked.
• Vivian bound the white dragon with a net of light and pulled it into a whirlpool in the Black Lake.

William exposed Vivian's attempt to use the two dragons to escape her confinement and bargained with her for a way out of Hogwarts. He left holding a trident that transferred the bronze ring's magical connection, while Vivian still wanted him to bring her the red dragon.

• William realized Vivian had targeted the red and white dragons, using the Holy Grail as a distraction, and stopped her from taking both dragons.
• Dumbledore proposed another deal, and William revealed that the Goblin Gem Vivian had received was a fake made with Dumbledore's wand.
• Vivian agreed to trade a way out of Hogwarts for the real Goblin Gem and used her magic to transfer the bronze ring's connection from the castle to a trident.
• William caught the trident despite the burning pain, then gave Vivian the gem and told her she could remain trapped for another thousand years.
• Vivian warned William that he would need to bring her the red dragon in a future loop if he wanted to leave Hogwarts again, then drifted away with the gem.

William used the time loop to confront Voldemort, but reached the graveyard before Voldemort had completed his resurrection. He fought off Voldemort’s attack and left him fleeing, while Harry’s identity and Barty Crouch Jr.’s deception came to light.

• William checked that his deal with Vivian had held, then went to Hogsmeade and visited the Black Lake, where the Merpeople searched for the missing trident.
• William followed Winky as she Apparated with Krum to the graveyard where Voldemort’s father had lived.
• Krum’s disguise wore off, revealing Harry, and William realized Barty Crouch Jr. had switched the two boys and staged deaths at Hogwarts.
• Wormtail attacked William with the Killing Curse, but William blocked it and pinned Wormtail in rat form.
• William found Voldemort still in his frail, baby-like body, deflected his spell, and kicked him.
• Voldemort exploded his body to escape, vowing to kill William after his resurrection.