Recaps

Minister Soros learned that Grindelwald was searching for Gregorovitch, while William and Hermione reached the wandmaker’s secluded workshop in Salzburg. Gregorovitch panicked at their questions about the Elder Wand and cried that Death was coming for him.

• An Auror told Minister Soros that Grindelwald had asked a wizard where Gregorovitch lived, and Soros realized Gregorovitch had retired to Salzburg.
• William and Hermione traveled to Salzburg and followed a hidden path through the trees to Gregorovitch’s workshop.
• William recognized the wand Gregorovitch was making as resembling Dumbledore’s and asked whether it was the Elder Wand.
• Gregorovitch denied knowing about the Elder Wand or Ollivander and repeatedly insisted he was taking out the rubbish.
• Gregorovitch dropped the rubbish and cried that Death wanted his soul because the eldest of the Three Brothers had died.

William and Hermione questioned wandmaker Gregorovitch about the Elder Wand, and he recounted its bloody history and how he stole it from Arcus. Gregorovitch explained that he publicized his research to improve his reputation, leaving the wand’s fate after his ownership unclear.

• Gregorovitch admitted that he had once possessed the Elder Wand but had lost it.
• Gregorovitch traced the wand’s recorded owners from Emeric and Egbert to Godelot, explaining that the wand could teach its owner Dark Magic.
• Gregorovitch recounted how Godelot’s son Hereward took the wand, followed by its later owners Barnabas Deverill, Loxias, and Arcus.
• Gregorovitch said he stole the wand from the elderly Arcus, who had wanted to take it to his grave.
• Gregorovitch explained that he studied the wand and publicized his ability to reproduce its properties to compete with Ollivander, after which William suspected the wand had manipulated him into revealing it.

William and Hermione learned that Grindelwald had stolen the Elder Wand from Gregorovitch, who feared Death would eventually claim him for having once possessed it. They decided to take Gregorovitch to Austria for protection, but as they prepared to leave, someone approached.

• William used Legilimency to see Gregorovitch’s memory of a young Grindelwald stealing the Elder Wand and escaping.
• Gregorovitch said he feared being killed because he had once possessed the Elder Wand, and pleaded with William and Hermione to take him to Hogwarts.
• William and Hermione decided to bring Gregorovitch to Austria and have Missandei hand him over to Soros, warning the minister that Grindelwald was looking for him.
• William told Hermione that Grindelwald was the thief in the photograph at Mrs. Bagshot’s house, and that Dumbledore must have gained the Elder Wand by defeating him.
• Hermione sensed someone approaching as Gregorovitch packed to leave.

William and Hermione left Gregorovitch’s house before the Austrian Aurors arrived, while Minister Soros took Gregorovitch into custody and set a trap for Grindelwald. When Grindelwald appeared and defeated the Aurors, William and Hermione confronted him, and he demanded that they let him pass.

• Hermione sensed the Austrian Ministry of Magic Aurors approaching, and William and Hermione vanished before Gregorovitch finished packing.
• Minister Soros found Gregorovitch pretending to be dead, learned William and Hermione had visited, and ordered the Aurors to disguise one of their own as Gregorovitch and wait for Grindelwald.
• Grindelwald entered Gregorovitch’s house, then emerged as the building collapsed behind him.
• Grindelwald struck down the Aurors who tried to stop him, and William and Hermione appeared before him.
• William recognized Grindelwald as the white-haired man he had met in Braunau, and Grindelwald demanded to know whether Gregorovitch was at the Austrian Ministry.
• Grindelwald told William to get out of his way, and the two faced each other amid the rain.

William battled Grindelwald on the island, discovering that the elderly wizard remained formidable with wandless magic but could not sustain a prolonged fight. The duel ended when Grindelwald asked after Dumbledore, and William answered that he was well enough.

• William attacked Grindelwald with a sword, and Grindelwald dodged before countering with a waterspout.
• William led Grindelwald away from the ruins, while Hermione stayed behind to treat the injured Aurors and search for valuables.
• On the elder-tree island, William attacked with black eagles, but Grindelwald dispelled them and hurled lake water at him.
• William uprooted elder trees to block Grindelwald's attack, and the two wizards paused after damaging the island.
• William recognized Grindelwald's immense wandless skill and his physical weakness, while Grindelwald suspected William might possess a Deathly Hallow.
• Grindelwald asked how Dumbledore was, and William replied that he was well enough.

Hermione and William reunited with Grindelwald after the battle, and Grindelwald explained that he had left Nurmengard to protect Gregorovitch from forces sent by Death. Before William decided whether to help him, Hermione delivered an urgent message that Vienna had been attacked.

• Hermione gathered the injured Aurors and recovered Gregorovitch's notes and Potions ingredients from the ruins.
• William returned with Grindelwald, pretended to have hurt his waist, and teased Hermione before she went back to the ruins.
• William asked Grindelwald why he had sought Gregorovitch, and Grindelwald said he had wanted to save him from Death's forces.
• Grindelwald revealed that he planned to use Gregorovitch as bait and asked William to help remove him from the Ministry of Magic.
• Hermione brought William a letter from Missandei announcing that Vienna had been attacked.

A North Sea Kraken attacked Vienna, destroying a whaling ship and charging toward the Hofburg. Minister Soros led the Aurors to stop it while Missandei sent a message to Stark and Granger for help.

• A Kraken seized a whaling ship on the Danube and dragged it beneath the water, then emerged and began advancing toward Vienna.
• At the Ministry of Magic, Gregorovitch complained to Minister Soros and clung to him after hearing the monster’s roar.
• Soros went outside, saw the Kraken tearing through buildings, and ordered the wizards and Aurors to drive it out of Vienna.
• Missandei ran to help Muggles swept away by the river water and sent a letter by Golden Snidget to Stark and Granger.

The North Sea Kraken rampaged through Vienna while searching for Gregorovitch, killing Aurors and destroying landmarks. William rescued Missandei and a boatful of Muggles, sent Hermione to help Gregorovitch escape, and then confronted the Kraken with black flames.

• The North Sea Kraken shrugged off most spells, killed several Aurors, and tore through Vienna as it headed for Gregorovitch.
• William and Hermione arrived at the Rome Gate, where William stopped a tentacle from crushing Missandei’s boat and kept it afloat with magic.
• William sent Missandei and Hermione to the Ministry of Magic to get Gregorovitch out, while Minister Soros ordered the Aurors to withdraw and help the Muggles.
• William faced the Kraken alone and formed black flames into a fire dragon that struck the creature and engulfed the river in fire.

William fought the seemingly indestructible North Sea Kraken on the Danube, using Fiendfyre and powerful water magic to hold it off. Grindelwald returned with his old wand and joined William, and together they froze several kilometers of the river.

• William realized Fiendfyre could not kill the North Sea Kraken and concluded he could not seal it with the Holy Grail.
• William used rain, runes, and magic to bombard the Kraken with a barrage of water droplets.
• The Kraken submerged itself and sent massive columns of water crashing toward William.
• William summoned a giant silver shield to withstand the Kraken’s attacks.
• Grindelwald returned with his old wand and stopped the water columns in midair.
• William and Grindelwald froze several kilometers of the Danube together.

Hermione fought off Umbridge and three Aurors while Missandei took Gregorovitch toward William. Hermione escaped the Ministry on Hagrid’s motorcycle and told Missandei she had demolished her home.

• Hermione sent Missandei ahead with Gregorovitch and stayed behind to confront Umbridge and three Aurors.
• Hermione defeated the Aurors with spells and close combat, then dodged Umbridge’s Cruciatus Curse and knocked her unconscious.
• Hermione took Umbridge’s wand as evidence and blasted through a wall to escape on Hagrid’s motorcycle.
• Missandei carried the unconscious Gregorovitch toward William after he refused to go see the North Sea Kraken.
• Hermione caught up with Missandei and confessed that she thought she had demolished Missandei’s home.

William and Grindelwald failed to contain the North Sea Kraken, which escaped into the Danube before Grindelwald took Gregorovitch north of the North Sea to use as bait. William stayed behind with Hermione and Missandei, then realized Grindelwald had tricked him about the landlady and forgotten to pass on Vinda Rosier’s letter and Dumbledore’s message.

• William and Grindelwald froze the North Sea Kraken in the Danube, but it shattered the ice and resumed its attack.
• Hermione arrived on a flying motorcycle with Missandei and the unconscious Gregorovitch, and William joined them as they flew to Nurmengard.
• Grindelwald told William he planned to take Gregorovitch north of the North Sea to trap the Kraken, then vanished without persuading William to come along.
• Grindelwald revealed that a Rosier wizard had asked him to help Voldemort, and said he planned to find and kill Death after catching the Kraken.
• William remembered he had forgotten to deliver Vinda Rosier’s letter and Dumbledore’s message to Grindelwald.
• William saw the supposedly murderous landlady alive and realized Grindelwald had sent Rosier to the Muggle police station.

After the attack on Vienna, William's fame grew while the International Confederation of Wizards concealed Grindelwald's involvement. At a press conference, William blamed Voldemort for the attack, announced his return, and condemned Fudge's refusal to acknowledge it.

• Newspapers worldwide reported the Vienna attack, and photographs of William fighting the North Sea Kraken pushed his reputation above Dumbledore's.
• The International Confederation of Wizards issued a gag order to conceal Grindelwald's escape from prison.
• Minister Soros oversaw Vienna's reconstruction and asked William to help solicit donations at the press conference.
• Minister Soros opened the press conference by praising his ministry, commending William and Hermione, and appealing for donations.
• William answered a planted question by claiming that someone had orchestrated attacks to prevent the International Confederation of Wizards' conference.
• William identified Voldemort as the culprit, declared that he had witnessed his return, criticized Fudge's denial, and called for unity against Voldemort.

Fudge celebrated his political victories over Dumbledore, but the Vienna attack and William Stark’s public statements rapidly undermined his confidence. He learned that the International Confederation of Wizards was pushing for Dumbledore to return as interim Supreme Mugwump, then discovered his own liaison had been relying on newspapers for international news.

• Fudge planned to remove Dumbledore as Hogwarts headmaster and congratulated himself on receiving the Order of Merlin, First Class.
• Percy read Fudge the Daily Prophet’s report that William had exposed You-Know-Who’s role in the Vienna attack and presented a Death Eater’s testimony about the North Sea Kraken.
• Fudge learned that William would refuse to accept the Order of Merlin alongside him and had mocked him with proposals for a Merlin Peace Prize and a Minister Mountain.
• Fudge read that William had proposed Dumbledore serve as interim Supreme Mugwump, and that Madam Picquery had gathered support for the idea.
• Fudge contacted Martin, who revealed that he had learned about Dumbledore’s removal from newspapers because official documents arrived late, prompting Fudge to curse him.

After the North Sea Kraken’s attack, the International Confederation of Wizards reinstated Dumbledore as acting president, and he helped repair Vienna with the Elder Wand. Dumbledore explained the Kraken’s history to William and revealed that Corvinus Gaunt had released it.

• At Stark’s suggestion, Picquery and other representatives agreed to reinstate Dumbledore as acting president of the International Confederation of Wizards.
• Dumbledore arrived in Vienna and used the Elder Wand to repair buildings damaged by the attack.
• William examined the Elder Wand, tested its power, and learned from Dumbledore that it served whoever defeated its master.
• William asked Dumbledore about the North Sea Kraken, and Dumbledore connected it to Slytherin, who may have trapped it beneath the sea.
• Dumbledore told William that a descendant of Slytherin had released the Kraken, and confirmed William’s guess that it was Corvinus Gaunt.

Dumbledore explained to William that Corvinus Gaunt and Grindelwald had sought Death with the North Sea Kraken’s help, and William suspected Professor Babbling was connected to Gaunt. As Dumbledore toasted his departing old friend, Sirius’s ship became trapped in ice during an avalanche.

• Dumbledore told William that Corvinus Gaunt had hidden the Chamber of Secrets and released the creature that became the North Sea Kraken while seeking Death.
• Dumbledore explained that he and Grindelwald had once planned to find Death and kill a god, but he had abandoned the plan after Ariana died.
• William asked Dumbledore about Corvinus Gaunt’s connection to Professor Babbling, and Dumbledore told him to ask her himself.
• Dumbledore raised a cup made of river water and toasted freedom, death, and Grindelwald’s journey.
• Sirius traveled with Durmstrang students through a cold Alpine river until an avalanche sent snow crashing down and froze the ship in place.

The 443rd International Confederation of Wizards Conference convened to address escalating threats and instability, with Dumbledore ordering investigations into Egypt and Britain. William and Hermione heard about the United States’ hostile relationship between its magical and Muggle governments, leaving William wondering how wizards had influenced American scandals.

• Delegates described crises including Grindelwald’s escape, the North Sea Kraken, the nuclear threat, and Death Eater terrorism, and linked many of them to Stark and Granger.
• Umbridge and the Egyptian representative denied the allegations concerning Death Eaters and Arya Grindelwald, while Umbridge glared at William and Hermione.
• Dumbledore appointed special investigators to look into Egypt and Britain despite the representatives’ denials.
• Dumbledore announced an international task force and permanent base to control the Himalayan Yetis, while the Loch Ness Monster’s mischief was also discussed.
• Picquery described the Magical Congress of the United States of America’s long-running conflicts with the Muggle government, and William speculated that wizards might have influenced American political scandals.

William and Hermione attended the International Confederation of Wizards gathering, where they faced a barrage of meetings, complaints, and disputes over magical education and representation. They skipped sessions to explore Vienna, chose a house by the Danube, and visited Gregorovitch’s ruined home to collect his magical materials.

• William and Hermione attended numerous meetings, where the Albanian representative sued them over a burned forest until William offered to search for evidence of Voldemort’s involvement and the representative withdrew the suit.
• The International Confederation of Wizards Education Office ranked Hogwarts in the middle and Uagadou School of Magic last, prompting African representatives to accuse the assessment of racial discrimination.
• A witch challenged the low number of female representatives, and Thunberg argued that magic caused global warming and called for wizards to stop using it.
• William and Hermione skipped meetings to tour Vienna, where Hermione chose a house on the Danube and Soros offered William a share of Austria’s fundraising proceeds.
• William and Hermione visited Gregorovitch’s destroyed cabin and took the magical materials buried in its ruins, including a large supply of unicorn hair.

William and Hermione were recalled from their travels to attend a meeting where Heinrich Eberstadt blamed hidden Giants in the Alps for a surge in avalanches. Dumbledore sent William, Hermione, and a small group to investigate in Switzerland, where Hagrid and Madame Maxime’s expedition might be in danger.

• Missandei sent William news that an urgent matter required him and Hermione to return to Vienna.
• Heinrich Eberstadt told the International Confederation of Wizards that Giants in the Alps had caused thirty-five major avalanches that year and threatened nearby residents.
• Dumbledore explained that the Confederation could spare few wizards, but feared Voldemort might recruit the Giants and that Hagrid and Madame Maxime’s ship could be caught in an avalanche.
• The representatives voted to send William and Hermione to investigate, despite Heinrich Eberstadt’s objection.
• Missandei volunteered to join William and Hermione, and Minister Soros provided them with a magical ship to travel to Switzerland.

William, Hermione, and Missandei searched the frozen Swiss waterways for Durmstrang’s missing ship and found it stranded with everyone aboard gone. As William examined giant-sized footprints, a terrifying roar sounded from the nearby mountains.

• William and his companions reached an impassable stretch of frozen river in Switzerland and used warmed Golden Snidgets to search for Durmstrang’s ship.
• The Golden Snidgets found the ship, so William left wizards behind to guard their own vessel and flew out with Hermione and Missandei on a Starbrusher One.
• Hermione spotted Durmstrang’s ship frozen in the ice, and William found it deserted beneath the snow.
• William noticed enormous footprints on the ship’s deck and suspected a Giant had taken Sirius and the students.
• A terrifying roar came from a snowy mountain by the shore as William prepared to track the footprints.

William arrived in the snowy mountains just as Giants attacked Ygritte and Hodor, and he intervened before they could kill them. He stopped another charging Giant with an invisible barrier, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Four Giants accused Ygritte and Hodor of hiding their quarry and decided to eat them instead.
• Hodor attacked the Giants with an uprooted cedar but was beaten and thrown through trees.
• Ygritte ran back to save Hodor and fought the Giants, but they overpowered and pinned her.
• William appeared, stabbed one Giant in the head with a poisoned Goblin-made sword, and killed him.
• William used magic to send snow swirling at another Giant, which crashed into an invisible wall before reaching him.

William killed the Giants who attacked him and met Ygritte, a Half-blood Giant who could speak English, and her younger brother, Hodor. Ygritte agreed to take William to her tribe, and they set off north while Hermione and Missandei searched elsewhere.

• William killed all the Giants who had attacked him and approached the two survivors, Ygritte and Hodor.
• Hodor woke and nearly attacked William, but Ygritte told him that William had saved them.
• Ygritte introduced herself and Hodor, explained that she had learned English from her tribe's leader, and agreed to guide William to the tribe.
• Hodor asked to borrow the dead Giants' heads, and William agreed before Hodor skewered them on a cedar tree.
• William sent word to Hermione not to worry, then climbed onto Ygritte's shoulder as she carried him north toward the tribe.

William and Ygritte reached the Giants’ hidden home in the Alps, where William discovered they lived in an abandoned Swiss military bunker. Ygritte warned him to bring a gift for the chief, Fridwulfa, and William recognized the name as Hagrid’s mother.

• William rode on Ygritte’s shoulder as she climbed through the mountains, while he drank a Potion of Night Vision and mapped the route.
• Ygritte watched William and secretly planned to bring him to the tribe, knock him unconscious, and claim him as her partner.
• William and Ygritte arrived at the Giants’ settlement, which occupied an abandoned Swiss bunker marked with an equilateral cross.
• Ygritte told William to give the chief, Fridwulfa, a gift because of her peculiar temper.
• William recognized Fridwulfa’s name as Hagrid’s estranged mother and wondered if she was still alive.

William Stark was led by Ygritte into the Giants’ mountain settlement, where he met their leader, Fridwulfa, Hagrid’s mother. After William offered her a gift on Dumbledore’s behalf, Fridwulfa revealed that Voldemort’s servants had already approached the Giants and challenged William to say why she should side with Dumbledore instead.

• William followed Ygritte and Hodor through the bunker into the Giants’ settlement and saw how few Giants remained there.
• Ygritte brought William to Fridwulfa, who doubted that he had killed four adult Giants until Ygritte showed her their frozen heads.
• William introduced himself as a Hogwarts student and offered Fridwulfa an eternal flame as a gift from Dumbledore.
• Fridwulfa said she had heard rumors of Voldemort’s return and suspected Dumbledore had sent William to persuade the Giants.
• Fridwulfa recalled that Dumbledore had broken his promise to provide the Giants a place to live and asked William whether she should side with Dumbledore or Voldemort.

William left Fridwulfa without discussing an alliance and followed Ygritte through the giants’ territory, learning more about Grawp and the tribe’s treatment of him. In Ygritte’s room, William noticed the bunker map and wondered whether Sirius and the Durmstrang students were hiding in the passages, just as something swung at him.

• William concluded that the giants distrusted both the Ministry and Dumbledore because wizards had broken their settlement promises, while Voldemort’s uncertain return left them hesitant to choose a side.
• William left Fridwulfa with Ygritte and drew wary stares from the giants, while some giantesses openly beckoned to him.
• Ygritte identified the scarred, undersized Grawp as Fridwulfa’s son and explained that the chief let the other giants bully him.
• Ygritte led William to her low-ceilinged room and secretly moved toward a wooden club, intending to knock him out.
• William studied a map of the bunker and wondered whether Sirius and the Durmstrang students were hiding there before a sudden whoosh caught him off guard.

William accompanied Ygritte to investigate a fight in Karkus's tribe, while Hagrid and Maxime tried to win the Giants' cooperation and search for Death Eaters. Golgomath defeated Karkus and seized leadership as two Death Eaters exposed Hagrid and Maxime to the Giants.

• William questioned Ygritte about the stick she had raised, then agreed to go with her after Hodor reported a fight in Karkus's tribe.
• Hagrid and Maxime visited Karkus and gave him barrels of liquor on William's behalf while inviting him to cooperate.
• Hagrid and Maxime hid nearby to watch the Giants and search for the Death Eaters.
• Golgomath challenged Karkus, killed one of his followers, and tore off Karkus's leg before knocking him down.
• Two Death Eaters found Hagrid and Maxime, and Golgomath's followers moved to seize them.