Chapter Summaries

Anne continued disciplining Sirius’s mother’s portrait and outwitting Kreacher in their poisoned-food contests. After she shared Fizzing Whizbees and a secret with him, Kreacher showed her a locket and asked her to destroy it, and Anne revealed that she had one too.

• Anne and Luna added Fluffy and a Blibbering Humdinger to Sirius’s mother’s portrait, frightening the portrait into promising to greet visitors politely.
• Anne visited Kreacher and recalled how he had repeatedly lost their contests over whether he had poisoned the food, leaving him fat and miserable.
• Anne offered Kreacher Fizzing Whizbees and shared a secret about Pineapple Head ruining Hermione’s book.
• Kreacher retrieved a locket from his nest and asked Anne to help destroy it.
• Anne froze and pulled a locket of her own from her pocket.

William and Hermione enjoyed their stay in Switzerland while he helped organize the Alpine Giants against Voldemort. When Anne found the locket, William and Hermione agreed to return for it after local affairs settled, and Hermione joined William in the hot spring.

• William and Hermione settled into an estate in Switzerland, where William taught Hermione and Missandei to ski and arranged sleigh rides.
• William directed Fridwulfa to unite most Alpine Giants against Voldemort and eliminate tribes that supported the Dark Lord.
• William handed further Giant negotiations to Hagrid and Madame Maxime, then studied the estate’s magical spring eye so he could recreate a hot spring at home.
• Hermione told William that Anne had found the locket and wanted them to return, and they decided to wait until affairs in Switzerland had settled.
• Hermione slipped into the hot spring, and William cut open her bathrobe with Missandei’s dagger after Hermione asked him to help her wash.

William and Hermione returned to the United Kingdom after visiting Switzerland, where they exchanged gifts with Missandei and said goodbye to Ygritte. Their attempt to leave the Ministry of Magic unnoticed ended when reporters confronted them about Jungfrau’s collapse.

• Missandei gave William her Golden Snidgets, and William gave her two Matagots while Hermione gave her a long-distance communication charm; Missandei invited them to Vienna for the winter holidays.
• Ygritte asked William for a thinner stick, and he gave her a wand and arranged for Madame Maxime to take her to Beauxbatons; Hermione also gave Ygritte her magic notes.
• Ygritte gave William and Hermione gems before they left Switzerland using a Portkey with Minister Lancel.
• Raditz recognized William and Hermione when they arrived at the Department of Magical Transportation in the United Kingdom.
• Reporters crowded around William and Hermione and asked whether they had caused Jungfrau to collapse.

William and Hermione returned to the Ministry of Magic, where William rejected Fudge’s offer of a future political career and accused him of obstructing the fight against Voldemort. As they left, William gave Rita permission to publish evidence against Fudge, setting up a public counterattack.

• William dismissed the reporters and left with Hermione, then encountered Fudge waiting for them.
• Fudge invited William and Hermione to lunch and offered to make William Minister after seven more years in office.
• William rejected Fudge’s compromise, condemned his handling of Voldemort’s return, and said he wanted Fudge gone rather than the Minister’s position for himself.
• Fudge became furious and insisted that William had forced him into this situation.
• As they left the Ministry, William told someone to tell Rita she could strike back with articles against Fudge.

William and Hermione returned to the old Black house, where Anne had transformed Kreacher and the house. After telling everyone about their adventures in Switzerland, William went upstairs to retrieve Slytherin's Locket, the fourth Horcrux.

• William, Hermione, and Anne returned to the old Black house and found Kreacher and the house dramatically changed.
• Mrs. Weasley refused Mundungus's request for leave from his duty watching Harry, and the group discussed his excuses and Percy’s estrangement from his family.
• William and Hermione told the others about encountering Giants in Switzerland and denied the newspapers’ claim that they had fought the North Sea Kraken.
• After lunch, William followed Kreacher upstairs to retrieve Slytherin's Locket, the fourth Horcrux.

William heard Kreacher’s account of Regulus Black’s betrayal and sacrifice, then used Little Grey Robe to destroy the soul inside Slytherin’s Locket. The locket revealed that Voldemort’s Horcruxes included the diary, Slytherin’s Ring, and Hufflepuff’s Cup, which he had entrusted to Bellatrix Lestrange.

• Kreacher told William, Hermione, and Anne how Regulus discovered Voldemort’s Horcrux, switched the locket, and died trying to destroy it.
• William explained that Regulus had lost his faith in Voldemort and chosen to die, then vowed to finish Regulus’s mission.
• William used Parseltongue through his magic translator to open the locket and ordered Little Grey Robe to devour its soul.
• Voldemort’s soul tried to frighten Little Grey Robe with visions of William killing Dementors, but Little Grey Robe overcame his fear and destroyed it.
• Little Grey Robe recalled the diary, Slytherin’s Ring, and Hufflepuff’s Cup, then identified Bellatrix Lestrange as the person connected to the cup.

After learning that Bellatrix knew where Hufflepuff's Cup was, William planned to capture her and helped the Order respond to a Dementor attack on Harry. The Ministry moved to expel Harry and summoned Hermione to a hearing over her attack on Umbridge and three Aurors.

• William decided Bellatrix had to stay alive so he could find out where she had hidden Hufflepuff's Cup.
• Mundungus returned to Grimmauld Place and admitted Dementors had attacked Harry after he left his post to buy cauldrons.
• Hermione suspected the Dementors had been sent to frame Harry, and Tonks's Patronus reported that the Ministry had expelled him and planned to snap his wand.
• William sent Mr. Weasley to appeal to Madam Amelia Bones and gave Mundungus a letter for Harry telling him to remain at his aunt's house.
• Hermione received a Ministry summons ordering her to attend an August 12 hearing over assaulting Umbridge and three Aurors in Austria.

After Hermione revealed that she had seriously injured Umbridge and three Aurors, the Weasleys feared the Ministry would frame and convict her. William reassured them that Fudge could not yet convict her, then arranged for George, Fred, Cedric, and Cho to bring Harry to The Burrow.

• Hermione admitted that she had knocked out three Aurors and injured Umbridge while trying to reach William, and the Ministry had charged her with attacking them.
• Mr. Weasley angrily denounced the charges and left for the Ministry to deal with Harry's case after William said it was the more urgent matter.
• The family asked whether Harry could stay at The Burrow, and William explained that Harry had already spent enough time at his aunt's house for the protective charm to remain effective.
• Mrs. Weasley said the Order of the Phoenix members were busy, so William sent George, Fred, Cedric, and Cho to bring Harry to The Burrow.

After Dementors attacked Dudley, Harry received William Stark’s reassurance and a Ministry letter saying he would face a trial but would not be expelled or lose his wand. Vernon answered the door and told Harry that the Ministry had come for him.

• Vernon and Petunia blamed Harry for Dudley’s painful encounter, but Harry insisted that Dementors had attacked Dudley.
• An owl delivered William Stark’s letter, telling Harry to ignore Ministry letters, keep his wand, stay at the Dursleys’ home, and avoid magic.
• Vernon recognized William from a television report about his rescue efforts during Vienna’s flood, then contrasted him unfavorably with Harry.
• Petunia revealed that she knew about Dementors from overhearing Lily and a dark-haired boy discuss them years earlier.
• A third owl brought a Ministry letter saying Harry would not be expelled or have his wand confiscated, but still had to stand trial.
• When the doorbell rang, Vernon answered it and told Harry that Ministry officials had come to arrest him and put him on trial.

Cho, disguised as a Ministry Auror, and Cedric arrived with George and Fred to take Harry away from the Dursleys, after revealing that William had been accused of plotting against Minister Fudge. Harry was relieved to see Cho but panicked when she offered to help pack his messy room.

• A witch posing as an Auror tried to take Harry into custody, but he refused to hand over his wand.
• Petunia objected to Harry being sent to Azkaban, while a second supposed Auror gave the Dursleys chocolate that knocked them unconscious.
• The witch revealed herself as Cho, and the wizard transformed into Cedric; they told Harry that George and Fred were waiting outside.
• George and Fred hurried Harry to pack his things, and Harry rushed upstairs alone to hide the state of his room from Cho.

Harry left Privet Drive with the others and arrived at the old Black house, where he learned that the Order of the Phoenix was meeting. After lashing out over being kept uninformed, Harry discovered the meeting concerned Hermione’s trial, which could send her to Azkaban for life.

• Harry packed his belongings, left a note for his aunt, and flew west with Fred, George, Cedric, and Cho.
• Cedric used William’s unregistered Portkey to bring the group to the old Black house, where Mrs. Weasley welcomed Harry.
• Ron told Harry he could not attend the Order of the Phoenix meeting, and Harry angrily complained that his friends had left him uninformed all summer.
• Cho explained the troubles facing Dumbledore and the wider wizarding world, while Cedric described Voldemort’s likely efforts to recruit old allies.
• George revealed that the Order was discussing Hermione’s trial on charges of attacking Ministry officials and Aurors, which could result in a life sentence in Azkaban.

At an Order of the Phoenix meeting, the members discussed Voldemort’s plans and the upcoming trials, and Snape volunteered to defend Harry. The meeting ended with Snape hit by Dungbombs, while William, Hermione, and Anne left after William gave Harry letters from Sirius.

• Snape reported that Voldemort had sent more forces and gifts to recruit the Giants after the failed effort in the Alps, and McGonagall warned that Hagrid and Madame Maxime should be careful.
• Mr. Weasley reported that Malfoy was close to Fudge, and Moody warned that Malfoy might be using the Imperius Curse to control the Minister.
• William promised to defend Hermione at her trial, and the group chose Mrs. Figg to testify for Harry after discussing the need for a witness who could see Dementors.
• Snape volunteered to defend Harry, and McGonagall agreed despite William’s suspicion that Snape might not help him.
• Anne and Ginny’s Dungbomb prank hit Snape as he opened the meeting-room door, and he Disapparated while the stench spread through the room.
• William gave Harry letters from Sirius, then left with Hermione and Anne by Apparition.

Scrimgeour prepared for Hermione Granger’s trial and met William and Hermione in the Auror Command offices, where William would act as Hermione’s defense counsel. He offered William a senior Auror position, but William compared it unfavorably with another wizard’s promise to make him Minister for Magic.

• Scrimgeour arrived early at the Ministry and looked forward to Hermione Granger’s trial, with William Stark defending her.
• Scrimgeour spotted Tonks with William and Hermione in the Auror work area and threatened to dock Tonks’s bonus for bringing in unauthorized visitors.
• William explained that Hermione was involved in the assault case and that he was her defense counsel, prompting Scrimgeour to let Tonks off.
• Scrimgeour told William to drop out of school if he wanted to become deputy head of the Auror Office, but William declined.
• Scrimgeour said William could work under him for five years before he considered making him Head of the Auror Office, and William contrasted that offer with a promise of becoming Minister for Magic in five years.

William persuaded Scrimgeour to use evidence of Voldemort’s return against Fudge and warned him to choose the right side, while leaving him to believe he might become Minister for Magic. After Fudge moved Hermione’s trial forward and changed its courtroom, William and Hermione prepared to make a conspicuous entrance with medals.

• William told Scrimgeour that Voldemort had returned and urged him to give the International Confederation of Wizards investigator his evidence against Fudge.
• Percy informed Scrimgeour that Hermione’s trial had been moved forward an hour and transferred to Courtroom Ten, and Scrimgeour decided to go with William and Hermione.
• William warned Mr. Weasley that his trial might also be moved forward and told him to summon Snape immediately.
• As they neared Courtroom Ten, William asked Hermione for the medals she had brought in her Safety Watch, and they opened the boxes to reveal them glittering in the firelight.

Fudge arranged a secretive trial to punish Hermione Granger and intimidate William, but William arrived with Hermione and their many international honors. After defending their right to wear their medals and affirming his faith in the law, William won the courtroom’s applause, while a Wizengamot witch announced that the Order of Merlin, First Class, remained his to accept.

• Fudge planned to use Hermione’s trial in Courtroom Ten to impose a harsh sentence and send William a warning, arranging the time and place to catch her off guard.
• William and Hermione entered the courtroom wearing their medals, and William used magic to stop the chair’s chains from binding her.
• Fudge demanded that Scrimgeour make William and Hermione remove their medals, but William challenged the Ministry’s attitude toward honors earned in service to peace.
• William explained that France had awarded them the Spain Order for rescuing children from a Werewolf Island and declared that he believed in defending the law.
• The Wizengamot jury applauded William, and a witch congratulated him and Hermione on their Austrian honor while saying the Order of Merlin, First Class, would remain his if he chose to accept it.

At Hermione’s hearing, she admitted to using magic and injuring Umbridge and three Aurors, but William challenged the Ministry’s account by questioning why the group had been inside the Austrian Ministry during the North Sea Kraken attack. His insinuations about what Umbridge and the Aurors had been doing left the courtroom laughing and Fudge glaring at her.

• Fudge opened Hermione’s hearing and read out charges of underage magic and assault, while Umbridge called for Hermione to be hanged.
• Hermione admitted to injuring the three Aurors and Umbridge, and said William had taught her to fight.
• Scrimgeour questioned the Aurors’ competence, while Fudge argued that Hermione was dangerous and proposed life imprisonment in Azkaban.
• William began the defense by arguing that Hermione had not committed the alleged assault, then established that the confrontation occurred at the Austrian Ministry of Magic.
• Umbridge said the North Sea Kraken attack had drawn the Austrian wizards away and claimed she and the Aurors had just woken up.
• William implied that Umbridge and the Aurors had been working hard at night, prompting laughter and making Fudge suspect their conduct.

At Hermione Granger’s hearing, William argued that she had acted on a secret mission and fought back after Umbridge attacked her with an Unforgivable Curse. The evidence prompted William to demand that Umbridge be shot on the spot, and she fainted before the hearing’s outcome was revealed.

• William testified that Hermione had been sent to retrieve Gregorovitch during the North Sea Kraken attack and used the classified mission to challenge Umbridge’s account.
• Hermione said Umbridge had attacked her first, and Umbridge admitted she had tried to capture Hermione and return her to Britain for questioning.
• Minister Soros and Missandei Habsburg arrived to testify that Hermione had been carrying out the mission and had held off Umbridge’s group so Missandei could escape.
• William presented Umbridge’s wand, and Percy Weasley used Prior Incantato to reveal that it had cast the Cruciatus Curse.
• William argued that Hermione had legally defended herself and accused Umbridge of obstructing the mission and using an Unforgivable Curse on an underage witch.
• William demanded that Umbridge be shot on the spot, and Umbridge fainted.

Fudge faced public humiliation after Hermione was cleared and Rita Skeeter published an article accusing him of denying Voldemort’s return. At Harry’s hearing, Snape used an unsent love letter to argue that Harry had been too distracted to cast the Patronus voluntarily, then threatened to reveal embarrassing books until Harry offered to plead guilty.

• Fudge told reporters that Hermione had been declared innocent and that Umbridge would face a Wizengamot trial in one week.
• A reporter told Fudge about Rita Skeeter’s article and its photograph of Voldemort, and Fudge denounced the story as fake before heading to Harry’s hearing.
• Snape questioned Harry about his actions before casting the Patronus Charm and produced an unsent letter to Cho that Mrs. Weasley had found in Harry’s pocket.
• Harry read the love letter aloud, and Snape argued that his longing for Cho showed he had not been in the mood to cast the Patronus willingly.
• Snape mentioned books of pictures with Harry’s handwritten notes, and Harry shouted that he was willing to plead guilty rather than let Snape show them.

William confronted Malfoy at the Ministry and used the destroyed diary to unsettle him, while Harry returned from his hearing distraught after Snape defended him in a humiliating way. The chapter left the jury’s account of what Snape had done about to be revealed.

• William and Hermione found Mr. Weasley arguing with Malfoy in the Ministry hall, and William mocked Malfoy about Voldemort’s injured hand and the graveyard.
• William asked Malfoy why he had come to the Ministry, then reminded him that Voldemort’s diary was important, frightening Malfoy into hurrying away.
• William reasoned that Malfoy might hide the loss of the diary and considered using that secret to control him and make him a potential traitor.
• Snape told Mr. Weasley that Harry was behind him, then hurried away looking pleased.
• Harry emerged from the hearing in a daze, fell into the fountain, and cried that Snape had made things worse than expulsion.
• Mr. Weasley asked a juror what had happened, and the wizard began explaining how Snape had defended Harry while humiliating him.

After Harry and Hermione won their hearings, Rita Skeeter’s reports on Voldemort’s return undermined Fudge, who retaliated against the press and protected Umbridge. At the Order’s August meeting, William discussed the threats and political maneuvering, then received his and Cho Chang’s WL results.

• Harry worried that the public hearing and Snape would expose his humiliating ordeal, and he considered leaving Hogwarts.
• The group celebrated at the Burrow, where Rita’s Daily Prophet series described Voldemort’s return and battle with Stark.
• Fudge called Rita’s photographs fake and blamed dead Ministry officials for their own misfortunes, prompting public outrage.
• At the sixth Order of the Phoenix meeting, Mr. Weasley reported that Fudge was pressuring the Daily Prophet to stop publishing Rita’s articles.
• Kingsley reported that Fudge was letting Umbridge return to work and had taken three Aurors away, possibly to frame one of them.
• McGonagall gave William his fifth-year Prefect Badge and the WL results for him and Cho Chang.