Chapter Summaries

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.

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.