Recaps

Minister Fudge and Umbridge discussed their cover-up of the graveyard battle and Fudge’s fear that William Stark could become Minister for Magic. At the Ministry, Fudge offered Arthur Weasley a promotion, but Arthur refused and took Percy away, leaving Fudge and Umbridge irritated.

• Umbridge told Fudge that Aurors had found no evidence of a battle at the graveyard and claimed the deaths came from a natural landslide.
• Umbridge suggested Dumbledore was promoting William so he could become Minister for Magic, and Fudge worried William’s fame could threaten his own political ambitions.
• Percy greeted Fudge eagerly in the lift, while Arthur hesitated before joining them and worried Percy might reveal sensitive information.
• Fudge asked Arthur why he was on the seventh floor, and Arthur lied that he had come to ask about Gobstones matches.
• Fudge offered Arthur the vacant leadership of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, but Arthur refused and pulled Percy out at the department’s floor.
• Umbridge called Arthur ungrateful, then accidentally spat on Fudge’s shoe.

Umbridge helped Fudge recruit Percy Weasley to spy on Dumbledore and Stark, then suggested stripping Dumbledore of his position as the United Kingdom's representative to weaken his power. Fudge chose to fight Dumbledore rather than risk losing his own office.

• Mrs. Edgecombe found Umbridge wiping spit from Fudge's shoe, and Umbridge made her promise not to reveal that Fudge wore Muggle contact lenses.
• Umbridge persuaded Fudge to recruit Percy, who recited passages from Fudge's book and revealed that Arthur had visited Ludo Bagman about Gringotts and the International Confederation of Wizards.
• Fudge offered Percy a promotion in exchange for gathering information about Dumbledore and Stark, and Percy agreed after Fudge warned that Arthur could be implicated.
• Umbridge explained that Fudge could revoke Dumbledore's qualification as the United Kingdom's representative, which would cost him the presidency of the International Confederation of Wizards.
• Fudge decided to move against Dumbledore rather than give up the minister's position.

William, Hermione, and Anne arrived at the Order of the Phoenix’s hidden headquarters at 12 Grimmauld Place, where they learned the meeting location had changed because of a traitor. William joined the Order’s meeting and found that the only empty seat was between Sirius and Snape.

• William, Hermione, and Anne bickered on a gloomy London street before William explained that the Order had moved its meetings to keep information from a traitor.
• William showed Hermione and Anne the address of Sirius’s house, hidden by Dumbledore’s Fidelius Charm, and burned the parchment after they read it.
• The three entered 12 Grimmauld Place, where Tonks greeted them and told Hermione and Anne that Ginny was upstairs cleaning.
• Tonks led William to the Order’s meeting room, where Dumbledore welcomed him and the assembled members watched him enter.
• William saw that the only vacant seat was between Sirius and Snape, and Dumbledore sat down before William could ask him for another place.

At the Order of the Phoenix meeting, William argued that the group had to confront Minister Fudge and control public opinion before it could defeat Voldemort. He revealed that Fudge had removed Dumbledore as the United Kingdom’s representative to the International Confederation of Wizards.

• Snape mocked Shidake for arriving late, while Sirius taunted Snape about his smell, and Dumbledore kept them from fighting.
• Professor McGonagall reported that the Order’s efforts to recruit allies had met resistance because many people doubted Voldemort had returned.
• Kingsley, Tonks, Mr. Weasley, and Emmeline Vance explained that the Ministry had covered up the graveyard evidence and altered Muggle accounts of it.
• Mundungus Fletcher and Sturgis Podmore urged the Order to avoid provoking the Ministry, but William argued that they had to confront Fudge and fight for public opinion.
• William warned that newspapers would smear Dumbledore and announced that Fudge had stripped him of his position as the United Kingdom’s representative to the International Confederation of Wizards.

William laid out a plan to use the press and international allies to expose Voldemort’s return, counter Fudge, and secure control of Britain before dealing with threats abroad. Snape reported that Voldemort was recruiting allies, including the Goblins, leaving William concerned about his Gringotts fortune and considering moving his assets.

• William explained why the Order of the Phoenix had to shape public opinion and use sensational evidence to persuade newspapers to report Voldemort’s return.
• William said he and Hermione would lead the publicity campaign, with support from French and Italian contacts, and Dumbledore assigned him the task.
• Dumbledore said he would stay behind to speak with old friends instead of traveling to Austria, after Fudge had arranged to revoke his conference eligibility.
• Snape reported that Voldemort was approaching Pure-blood families and seeking alliances with Giants, Werewolves, vampires, and the Goblins at Gringotts.
• William worried that the Goblins might side with Voldemort because of their resentment over Ludo Bagman’s unpaid debt, and considered moving his fortune from Gringotts.

The Order of the Phoenix planned how to counter Voldemort and protect Harry, while William urged Dumbledore to recruit younger members and give Neville the Gryffindor Prefect position. Dumbledore gave William letters to deliver before the International Confederation of Wizards Conference, and William left after asking whether he should carry a message to someone at Nurmengard.

• Dumbledore assigned Order members to counter Voldemort’s strategy and arranged secret shifts to protect Harry, forbidding them from telling Harry about the Wizarding World or the Order.
• Mundungus objected to guarding Harry until Sirius gave him a silver goblet to sell, and Mrs. Weasley demanded he take the duty seriously.
• Dumbledore asked William to deliver letters to influential wizards before the International Confederation of Wizards Conference.
• William urged Dumbledore to admit Phoebe, Cedric, George, and Fred to the Order and suggested that Neville become Gryffindor’s fifth-year Prefect.
• Dumbledore agreed to consider William’s suggestions and handed him the letters; when William asked whether to deliver a message to someone at Nurmengard, Dumbledore replied, “Neither thought nor longing.”

After the Order meeting, William stayed for dinner at the Black house, where Sirius and Snape traded insults and Tonks accidentally revealed Sirius’s screaming mother’s portrait. The chapter left William questioning Sirius’s plan to travel to Austria after learning that Hagrid and Durmstrang students were aboard a ship near a force-sixteen typhoon.

• Sirius and Snape exchanged insults while Mrs. Weasley invited Snape to dinner, and Lupin told Sirius to stop provoking him.
• Dumbledore left with Snape, and Mrs. Weasley invited William to stay for a meal to thank him and Hermione for rescuing Ron and Harry.
• Tonks tripped over the Troll-made umbrella stand, causing Sirius’s mother’s portrait to scream until William silenced it and Mrs. Weasley closed the curtain.
• Sirius said he wanted to remove the portrait and was pleased that Anne and Hermione were cleaning the house.
• William asked where Sirius had left the ship for their Austria trip, and Sirius revealed it was near a force-sixteen typhoon with Hagrid and Durmstrang students aboard.

William, Hermione, and Anne searched the Black family home for the locket connected to R.A.B. After matching Regulus Arcturus Black’s handwriting to the parchment, they left Anne to search the house while they were away, and an old House-elf appeared.

• After dinner, William and Hermione discreetly left the living room, and Anne followed them upstairs.
• Hermione identified the handwriting on Regulus Arcturus Black’s door as matching the parchment from the locket.
• William and Hermione asked Anne to search the house for the locket and to alert Professor Dumbledore if she found it.
• An old House-elf appeared in the darkness as the three stood upstairs.

William, Hermione, and Anne confronted Kreacher at the Black family home, where William used the elf’s attachment to the house and his mistress to stop his insults. After they left, Hermione urged Anne to treat Kreacher kindly and learn where the locket was, and the chapter ended with Hermione and Anne playing in the rain.

• Kreacher insulted William, Hermione, and Anne until Sirius arrived and ordered him to stop.
• William threatened to alter the Black house and its portraits, frightening Kreacher into leaving them alone.
• Sirius reflected on his estrangement from his family, and William reassured him that the Black family could change.
• William, Hermione, and Anne Apparated to the cottage in Ottery St Catchpole, where William asked Anne to spend time with Kreacher and find out where the locket was.
• Hermione argued that Kreacher needed kindness, and she and William agreed that Anne should treat him better.
• Anne teased Hermione about her affection for William, then splashed her with rain and chased her around the courtyard.

Hagrid searched for Karkaroff in a violent storm while William, Hermione, and Sirius waited on shore. After they reached the ship, William told Sirius to change course for Azkaban before they went to France.

• Hagrid flew to shore on his motorcycle to look for Karkaroff, leaving the Durmstrang students waiting aboard the ship.
• William and Hermione spotted Hagrid, and William transformed into a sea eagle to carry Hermione to the ship while Hagrid took Sirius, disguised as Karkaroff.
• Hagrid crashed his motorcycle during the landing, and Sirius accidentally broke its taillight.
• William and Hermione joined Sirius aboard the ship and told him to change course for Azkaban before traveling to France.

William took Sirius and Hermione aboard a stolen magic ship and navigated toward Azkaban, where the Dementors were growing hungry and considering an alliance with the Death Eaters. The chapter ended as a Dementor reported that a wizarding ship had appeared nearby, prompting the leader to announce an extra meal.

• William operated the magic ship and used a map to locate Azkaban while Sirius questioned his route.
• William taught Hermione to steer the ship, leaving Sirius to think wistfully about James and Lily.
• At Azkaban, the Dementors fed on prisoners and the leader recalled how their numbers had grown and later dwindled after their abundance of food ended.
• The Dementors considered rebelling against the Ministry of Magic and had stalled over the Death Eaters' offer to let them feed on Muggles.
• The Dementor leader fed on Bellatrix while her husband watched from the opposite cell.
• A short Dementor reported a wizarding ship near Azkaban, and the leader ordered the others to prepare for an extra meal.

William used the Durmstrang ship’s approach to Azkaban to gather Dementors and send Little Black Robe back as a potential double agent, while planning to capture the Dementor leader. On the coast of Normandy, Phoebe and Madame Maxime watched the ship surface as Cregan ordered British Aurors out of French waters.

• William freed Little Black Robe and told it to return to Azkaban, target Death Eaters, and kiss Tywin if possible.
• Hermione worried Little Black Robe might betray them, but William said its fear of him would keep it obedient for now.
• William went onto the deck and faced the circling Dementors and their leader.
• Phoebe and Madame Maxime waited on the Normandy coast for the ship, while Cregan arrived with Aurors.
• The black ship surfaced as British Aurors flew toward it, and Cregan ordered them driven out of French territorial waters.

William arranged for Phoebe, Costa, and Cregan’s wife to help Mormont unite the French Werewolves and draw the Death Eaters’ attention, hoping to use them against Fenrir Greyback’s forces in Britain. He left France with Hermione after warning the team about the danger and asking Cregan to spread word that Voldemort had returned.

• French Aurors drove off the British Aurors, while William reflected on the Ministry’s purchase of Nimbus 2000s and Cregan’s political ambitions.
• William explained to Phoebe that the Aurors had chased him and Hermione after they caught Dementors, and Cregan offered to testify on Durmstrang’s behalf.
• Cregan introduced Costa and his wife, who would help William’s team with its mission.
• William reminded Phoebe of Mormont and explained that she had been gathering French Werewolves, whom the team would unite and use to draw in the Death Eaters.
• William gave Phoebe, Costa, and Cregan’s wife Goblin armor and warned them to stay away from Werewolves during the full moon.
• William told Cregan that Voldemort had returned and asked him to spread the news; Cregan agreed before William and Hermione departed.

William and Hermione traveled by motorcycle from Lake Constance toward Vienna while Hagrid and Madame Maxime continued searching the Alps for the Giants. In Braunau, Gray Rosier prepared to arrange a meeting between Grindelwald and another Dark Lord, leaving after killing two Muggles who confronted him.

• William and Hermione disembarked near Lake Constance, and Hagrid and Madame Maxime continued their search for the Giants in the Alps.
• William retrieved Hagrid's motorcycle, and he and Hermione rode toward Vienna.
• Gray Rosier waited in a Braunau bar with forged letters meant to help him contact Grindelwald.
• Two celebrating football fans mocked Rosier's robes, so he killed them with his wand.
• Rosier used magic to send the proprietress for a cleaver, took a bottle of tonic water, and headed toward the River Salzach for the meeting between two Dark Lords.

William and Hermione toured Vienna and met Missandei, who escorted them to the joint congress of wizard representatives at Hofburg Palace. The United Kingdom delegation had not yet arrived, and William wondered who would represent it in Dumbledore's absence.

• Hermione explained Prince Eugene's military victories and the history of the Habsburg Dynasty to William.
• William noticed a girl eavesdropping near the statues, and she introduced herself as Missandei.
• Missandei gave William and Hermione badges and escorted them by carriage, drawn by four Granian winged horses.
• William learned that ten delegations had arrived but the United Kingdom's had not, and that Dumbledore could not attend.
• William and Hermione arrived at Hofburg Palace for the joint congress of wizard representatives.

William and Hermione arrived at the International Confederation of Wizards' conference at Hofburg Palace and passed the Austrian Ministry of Magic's security checks. When their assigned guide, Missandei, promised to satisfy their requests, William asked her to tell the minister they wanted to visit a prisoner at Nurmengard.

• Missandei led William and Hermione through the magical entrance to the Austrian Ministry of Magic inside Hofburg Palace.
• A young witch checked William and Hermione's wands, registered them, and gave Hermione their room cards.
• Missandei said her minister had ordered her to look after William and Hermione and never leave William's side.
• William asked Missandei to tell the minister that he and Hermione wanted to visit a prisoner at Nurmengard.

William and Hermione tried to leave for Nurmengard while Missandei insisted on staying with them, and Austrian Minister for Magic Soros arrived to discuss their visit. At Nurmengard, Grindelwald experienced a prophecy involving death and wondered whether someone would come that year.

• Hermione explained to Missandei that her behavior around William was improper, while William spotted and caught a Golden Snidget; Missandei explained the birds lived in her family's protected garden and delivered her letter.
• Soros introduced himself as the Austrian Minister for Magic, and William used Dumbledore's letter to argue that he was visiting Grindelwald on Dumbledore's behalf and would recapture him if he escaped.
• Rosier reached Grindelwald's prison room and found the old man apparently lifeless on a stone bed.
• Grindelwald suddenly rose, immobilized Rosier with his gaze, and heard him say that the Dark Lord had sent a message.
• Grindelwald recalled a new prophecy, wondered, "So, will he come this year?" and murmured, "Death..."

William, Hermione, and Missandei traveled to Nurmengard so William could meet Grindelwald, but they found his cell empty. The chapter left them facing the mystery of Grindelwald’s disappearance.

• Minister Soros approved William and Hermione’s visit to Grindelwald, and William encountered Mera Picquery and a white-haired former American magical president before leaving.
• William, Hermione, and Missandei flew by carriage to Braunau, where William learned a bar owner named Sunny had killed two men who harassed her.
• William confused a police officer and led the group toward Grindelwald’s castle, while Missandei explained that the Aurors guarded the area mainly to keep Muggles away.
• The three entered Nurmengard and climbed through its abandoned rooms, learning that Grindelwald had once imprisoned witches and wizards there and that an Eternal Fire had burned beneath the castle.
• William opened Grindelwald’s cell expecting to meet him, but found it empty.

After Grindelwald escaped from his Austrian prison, William and Hermione searched the castle and found unconscious Aurors and a pile of ashes. The International Confederation of Wizards convened an emergency meeting, where representatives argued over restoring Dumbledore to the presidency or choosing a new leader.

• William and Hermione entered Grindelwald's empty cell, collected the ashes, and searched the castle with their companion.
• The search turned up three unconscious Aurors, and Austrian Aurors arrived as Minister Soros oversaw the response.
• Representatives from seventeen countries convened an emergency meeting because Grindelwald's escape posed an international threat.
• Supporters urged the Confederation to bring Dumbledore back, while the Russian representative objected that Fudge had disqualified him and others warned that a presidential election could take months.
• Umbridge proposed taking over the president's duties, but the French representative mocked her experience and rejected her claim.

At the International Confederation of Wizards conference, Umbridge tried to discredit William Stark and Hermione and extradite them to Britain before they could discuss Voldemort’s return. The delegates challenged her, while William examined a wand-like residue from Grindelwald’s cell and wondered whether Grindelwald might seek out Dumbledore.

• The Italian, American, French, and Argentine delegates challenged Umbridge’s claims and urged the conference to hear William and Hermione.
• Umbridge invoked her Wizengamot authority to demand William and Hermione’s extradition to Britain, preventing them from speaking at the conference.
• Picquery left the meeting, while William examined the residue he had collected from Grindelwald’s cell and Hermione contacted Anne through a Two-Way Mirror.
• William wondered whether Grindelwald had gone looking for Dumbledore, then someone knocked at the door.

Mera Picquery warned William and Hermione that Umbridge was trying to use an alleged International Confederation of Wizards trial to extradite them. They escaped the Ministry of Magic through a secret passage and fled by motorcycle after Hermione deflected a soldier’s shot and William disarmed several soldiers.

• Mera Picquery told William and Hermione that Umbridge had misrepresented Newt Scamander’s request and was preparing to extradite them.
• Hermione recognized that leaving before they were officially sought would not count as fleeing, so William decided they should escape immediately.
• Missandei led William, Hermione, and Mera through the Ministry of Magic and showed William and Hermione a secret passage to a Muggle parking garage.
• William and Hermione escaped on Hagrid’s motorcycle and encountered armed soldiers at the garage entrance.
• Hermione used Ventus to deflect a soldier’s bullet, and William used Expelliarmus to disarm the soldiers before speeding away.

William and Hermione escaped the Muggle police in Vienna, then learned from Cedric that the residue from a burned wand contained birch and dragon heartstring ash. Suspecting Grindelwald needed a new wand, William headed for Shadowless Street while the Austrian Ministry sealed off Vienna to search for him and the missing pair.

• William hid his motorcycle behind a tour bus to evade a pursuing Muggle police car, then stopped with Hermione near the Golden Hall.
• Hermione and William called Anne, who had found Cedric at his home in Ottery St Catchpole.
• Cedric identified the residue William found at Nurmengard as birch ash scented by a burned dragon heartstring, suggesting it came from a wand.
• William and Hermione concluded that someone had visited Nurmengard before them and that Grindelwald needed a suitable wand, so William located Vienna's Shadowless Street.
• Umbridge accused William and Hermione of fleeing because they had freed Grindelwald, but Picquery and the French representative challenged her claim.
• Soros rejected Umbridge's authority and ordered Vienna and Shadowless Street sealed off to find Grindelwald, Stark, and Granger.

William and Hermione found Shadowless Street under heavy Auror guard and flew over its wall using the Flying Cloak. At a wand shop, William learned that a thin, gray-haired old man had come looking for Gregorovitch.

• William and Hermione found Aurors inspecting everyone at Shadowless Street's Rome Gate and decided they needed another way inside.
• Hermione suggested flying over the wall, and William followed her onto the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna campus to carry out the plan.
• Art students invited William to pose as a nude model, but Hermione claimed he was her boyfriend and pulled him away from them.
• William put on the Flying Cloak, carried Hermione over the wall, and asked a wand-shop owner whether an old man had visited.
• William used Legilimency to uncover that the old man had asked where Gregorovitch had gone.

William and Hermione returned to the Austrian Ministry of Magic to find Missandei, hoping she could tell them where Gregorovitch lived. Missandei led them to her home in Hofburg Palace and revealed her Habsburg-Lorraine identity.

• William realized Missandei might know where Gregorovitch lived because her wand was the last one he had made, so he and Hermione returned to the Ministry of Magic.
• William and Hermione found Missandei waiting in Hermione's room, where she attacked William with a dagger before recognizing them.
• Missandei led William and Hermione through secret passages to her home in Hofburg Palace.
• Missandei told William that her full name was Missandei Habsburg-Lorraine and that her grandmother, Elisabeth Marie, was Princess Sisi's granddaughter.

William and Hermione stayed at Hofburg Palace after Missandei revealed that she knew where Gregorovitch was. William suspected Grindelwald was searching for Gregorovitch because of the Elder Wand, and the chapter ended with Hermione insisting that William could only use her as a life model.

• William learned that Missandei was descended from Princess Sisi and knew where Gregorovitch lived.
• William and Hermione decided to spend the night at Hofburg Palace and travel to Salzburg the next morning.
• Hermione joined William for dinner, and he explained that Grindelwald might be seeking Gregorovitch because Gregorovitch had once claimed to possess the Elder Wand.
• Hermione fell asleep in the bath, so William carried her to bed.
• Hermione teased William about wanting a life model and told him he could only use her.