Chapter Summaries

William completed his Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Ancient Runes exams, impressing the examiners with his magical abilities. Afterward, he arranged for Snape to warn them about Death Eater movements toward Durmstrang and gave Snape the antidote formula for Voldemort’s poison.

• William demonstrated his Water Tornado during the Charms exam while Professor Tofty chatted with him, and Marietta accidentally enlarged a cat’s testicles instead of freezing it.
• William finished his Transfiguration exam early, then used Human Transfiguration to make Professor Marchbanks look younger before other examiners coaxed him into showing more skills.
• The examiners praised William as the last all-round magical talent of the twentieth century, and he hired his Ancient Runes examiner after discussing his alchemical items.
• William told Sirius, disguised as Karkaroff, to imitate Karkaroff more closely, then discussed the disguise with Snape, who had noticed the substitution.
• William asked Snape to alert them if Death Eaters moved toward Durmstrang, and Snape left with William’s antidote formula for Voldemort’s poisoned arm.
• When Sirius asked what Snape wanted, William quietly called Snape a good person.

At the end-of-term feast, Dumbledore announced that Voldemort had returned and urged the students and visiting schools to unite against him. He honored William for saving Harry and others, leaving the Great Hall with a call for solidarity as darkness approached.

• Ravenclaw won the House Cup for the fifth consecutive year, while the Great Hall was draped in black.
• Dumbledore praised the friendships formed between the three schools and led everyone in a toast to unbreakable friendship.
• Dumbledore told the students that Voldemort had returned on the night of the Triwizard Tournament final, despite objections from people who feared the announcement would frighten them.
• Dumbledore admitted that he feared war and loss but said he did not fear Voldemort, and he praised the power of love and kindness.
• Dumbledore said William Stark had rescued Harry, fought Voldemort, and saved many lives, then the students drank in William's honor.
• Dumbledore urged the schools to unite against Voldemort and ended by saying that the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.

After Voldemort’s return, Hogwarts students left for the summer while William and Hermione prepared to attend the International Confederation of Wizards in Vienna. Elsewhere, Tom resurrected himself, sent Wormtail to remain undercover, and planned to return to the United States as a mysterious tree neared maturity.

• Hogwarts students departed amid rumors about Voldemort’s resurrection, while William and Hermione said goodbye to Gabrielle, Phoebe, and Trene.
• On the train, Cedric and the others speculated about Hagrid’s summer plans and asked whether they could join the Order of the Phoenix; William said he had a mission after the conference in Vienna.
• Hermione remembered Vinda Rosier’s letters as she and William discussed the conference being held near Nurmengard Prison.
• Wormtail found the bone, and Tom used it with the flesh of the servant and the blood of the enemy to restore his sixteen-year-old body.
• Tom took Harry’s blood for a separate purpose and told Wormtail to remain undercover beside Voldemort until Tom could take him to the United States.
• Tom concluded that Dumbledore and Stark had likely taken the Horcruxes and anticipated that a tree he had been waiting for would soon mature.

Voldemort struggled with the poison Stark had inflicted and pressed Snape for news about obtaining an antidote. He then sent Lucius Malfoy and Avery to steal a Prophecy Orb about himself and Harry Potter from the Department of Mysteries.

• Voldemort recalled carving the words “touchRT” into the wall fifty years earlier while Snape treated his poisoned arm.
• Snape told Voldemort that Stark was cautious and had not received Potions instruction from him outside class.
• Voldemort refused Snape’s suggestion to take another body because he wanted to keep Harry’s blood and its protective power.
• Voldemort summoned Lucius Malfoy and Avery and ordered them to steal something from the Department of Mysteries.
• Avery proposed using Malfoy’s connection to Minister Fudge to place Broderick Bode under the Imperius Curse, and Voldemort gave them two months.
• Voldemort revealed that they had to steal a Prophecy Orb about him and Harry Potter.

Voldemort recruited Gray Rosier and planned to free Grindelwald to help counter Dumbledore and Stark. At the Death Eaters’ meeting, he ordered the Carrow siblings to kill Igor Karkaroff and return with his skull as a goblet.

• Voldemort welcomed Gray Rosier into his service and told him to go to Nurmengard to offer Grindelwald a share of territory in Berlin.
• Voldemort seated Gray beside him at the Death Eaters’ meeting and instructed Nott to tempt the Goblins with freedom in exchange for their support.
• Amycus and Alecto Carrow tried to shift Voldemort’s attention toward Malfoy by claiming he had ties to Karkaroff.
• Voldemort revealed that Karkaroff had sided with Dumbledore and ordered the Carrow siblings to kill him at Durmstrang.
• Voldemort said the Carrows could call on Giants and demanded that they return with Karkaroff’s skull made into a goblet.

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.