slowfox | Work in progress

The work network got taken down about an hour ago. With nothing else to do, I started work on the TTK:R chapter Summary. We're back live, now, so I'm posting this for safekeeping, and then work beckons muchly:

The Trail of the Dying, The Trail of the Dead

Being a chapter summary of Harry Potter and the Third Key: Reloaded

Prologue

The Founders feel that their genocidal campaign against the Magi has reached a satisfactory conlcusion, and the schools of witchcraft and wizardry are established to ensure that the Magi can never again pose a threat:

Angstometer: low

Fluffometer: zero

Bodycount: moderate (for off-screen genocide)

Chapter 1

Privet Drive, and Harry gets to enjoy his summer... by doing Dudley's homework. His life is brightened a little by a message from Cho:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 2

Hogwarts Express, Welcoming Feast, staff appointments, including the unanticipated revelation that Filch will be standing in for Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures:

Angstometer: zero

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 3

Lessons: Trelawney predicts that Harry will be vanquished by a Dark Witch, Filch gets the Gryffindors and Slytherins to construct holding pens for their domestication projects in Care of Magical Creatures:

Angstometer: zero

Fluffometer: pretty low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 4

Quidditch trials: Ron makes Keeper, Ginny is Reserve Seeker. Cho passes on the Ravenclaws' suspicions about the new DADA teacher, Professor Vellum:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 5

More lessons, and the Gryffindors finally get their first DADA session: Vellum attempts to explain that magic in itself is not Dark or Light; the distinction is drawn from how the magic is put to use:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 6

The Twins test their latest Wheeze on the Gryffindors, Neville demonstrates skill in Herbology, Madam Pince impresses upon her class the idea that knowledge is power, and Vellum announces a Muggle Fencing class:

Angstometer: zero

Fluffometer: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 7

We get re-introduced to the Hogwarts Soakstone of the Prologue: the DADA classes combined efforts on trying to effect any kind of change on the stone prove unsuccessful. Harry wonders what happens to all the energy the Soakstone has absorbed to date:

Angstometer: zero

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 8

Harry protests, rather inefectually, that there's 'nothing happening' betwixt his good self and Cho to his (somewhat sceptical) fellow Gryffindors, whilst the Trio try to get to the bottom of who the Magi were, and why they were eliminated by the Founders:

Angstometer: zero

Fluffometer: medium

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 9

Harry gets paired up with Parvati in the Fencing Club, and they end up going to Hogsmeade together the following weekend, establishing themselves as a couple:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: waaaaaaaaay high

Bodycount: still zero: when do we get to the good part?

Chapter 10

Harry does his MLK impression: I had a dream! Lucius Malfoy demonstrates the power of ~~the Force~~ the Subsumatum course on a convenient, expendable OC. Voldemort is teh impressed, Dumebldore seems fallible, Snape mixes up partners in Potions.

Angstometer: medium

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: one OC (Jonas Renguard)

Chapter 11

Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw is the opening Quidditch match of the season. Harry is volunteered for a very special demonstration in DADA, and comes off Very Badly Indeed.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: pretty low

Bodycount: just about zero, depending upon your perspective

Chapter 13

Hermione PoV: we rewind time a bit to the beginning of the Fateful Day that closes Chapter 11, and have her musing on boys in general (mainly Slytherin ferrets). We see Harry's duel against Vellum, and the repercussions.

Angstometer: medium

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: since this is a replay of Ch 11 from a different viewpoint, zero

Chapter 14

Harry's in the hospital wing, and when he learns that not only have Ron, Hermione and Parvati been keeping watch in shifts, but that Dumbledore summoned Sirius and Lupin too, he realises that things are bad. His wizarding abilities drained, Dumbledore informs Harry that his mind's magical structure has reorganised itself into that of a Mage. This is not all Good News.

Angstometer: medium

Fluffometer: almost zero, but there's some token fluff

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 15

His decision made to pursue a secret life as a Mage, Harry travels with Dumbledore by Portkey to Azkaban to meet Lucas, last of the Magi, who tutors Harry in the basic elements of his powers, and gives us readers a few more clues as to what the Magi can do, exactly.

Angstometer: not too bad, all things considered

Fluffometer: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 16

A weary Harry and a seemingly distracted Dumbledore return to Hogwarts. Dumbledore gives Harry a two way Portkey that alternates between Azkaban and Hogwarts. Harry starts to develop his Mage abilities and learns a bit about when to tell your girlfriend that you're looking for other women.

Angstometer: lowish-medium

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 17

Harry twigs that Voldemort is after the Magi's Keys to drain their powers for himself using the Subsumatum curse, as introduced to him by Malfoy. The Trio set off to determine the other two Keys' locations, but come up empty-handed. As a Mage, he discovers that the Marauders' Map is useless to him, Slytherin play Hufflepuff

Angstometer: moderate

Fluffometer: not bad, all things considered

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 18

The Twins spike what was supposed to be Dumbledore's goblet with Exploding Hair, but the jape backfires a tad, and their victim turns out to be Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, who's sacked the Headmaster, and taken the position himself. Which wouldn't have mattered so much, Wheeze-wise if the same bloke hadn't also been Arthur Weasley's boss...

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero (but wait until Molly Weasley hears about this one...)

Chapter 19

Aftermath of the Exploding Hair Incident, and although Hermione's cheered up a bit, Harry's life takes a turn for the worse, when he discovers that he can't fly his Firebolt anymore, being a Mage 'n all that (hey, you've got to take the rough with the smooth in this life, and it can't all be good news all the time for Harry...). Oh yeah, the invisibility cloak is also useless, and he starts to realise just how excommunicated he's about to become (he thinks)

Angstometer: medium

Fluffometer: some token fluff, but pretty miserable

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 20

Pansy indicates that she knows that Harry's now a squib, Snape also seems to be in on the expected consequences of Vellum's attack. He meets the Order of the Phoenix, tells Ron and Hermione that he's a Mage, and starts to drain the Hogwarts Key.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: very low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 21

Draco PoV, in which we start to see some of the motivation behind the Slytherin's actions to date, and we learn that Narcissa Malfoy was subjected to Subsumatum by her husband over the summer. He's expecting to receive his summons to the Dark Lord's service within the year.

Angstometer: low (c'mon, it's Malfoy, he doesn't do angst!)

Fluffometer: low (c'mon, it's Malfoy, he doesnt' do fluff!)

Bodycount: zero (c'mon it's Malfoy, he doesn't do... oh, wait...)

Chapter 22

Lessons, where Dean shows some skill in Transfiguration, and everyone sits silently through the reinstated Vellum's DADA lessons. Harry and Cho have a tender chat, interrupted by a suspicious Parvati.

Angstometer: medium

Fluffometer: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 23

Hermione's Party! Yay! Also, Harry and Parvati get to have some *cough* alone-time *cough* in the girls' dorm. Unfortunately, and due to just plain rotten luck, Harry then connects to Voldemort's first stab (no pun intended. Much) at Key Draining at Beauxbatons, and tumbles out of Parvati's bed to be discovered by Hermione and Lavender. And then he gets a subsequent grilling from Pomfrey that traumatises him all over again (because your author cares, and wants to make sure that if The Boy Who Lived is going to engage in... well... then, he's at least going to engage in it safely).

Angstometer: moderate (we have a dream vision, after all)

Fluffometer: Up and down somewhat

Bodycount: One (another token expendable, this one French)

Chapter 24

What went on between Harry and Parvati the night before is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows. Harry meets with the Order of the Phoenix, Moody continues to get under his skin, and he, Hermione and Ron make the deduction that if there's a Key at Hogwarts and another Key at Beauxbatons, then The Third Key is at Durmstrang! And yay, verily doth this fic reflect its title...

Angstometer: low

Fluffometer: bubbling along

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 25

Worn out from nightly Key-draining, a dazed and weary Harry skips lessons, meets Dobby, learns that Winky is now working at Beauxbatons, at Fleur's request. In a bid to get some proper sleep without being assaulted by Voldemort's nightly Key-draining ceremonies, Harry goes to see Pomfrey to try and get some Dreamless Sleep Potion. Somehow, the Daily Prophet gets wind of this, and runs a nice article for him

Angstometer: moderate

Fluffometer: Low

Bodycount: sort of implied daily sacrifice of Beauxbatons' captives

Chapter 26

Hagrid returns with the Beauxbatons survivors, and the Threshers hatch in Care of Magical Creatures. Parvati suspects that Harry's been timing his secret night-time escapades to spend quality time with Cho, and summarily dumps him. The Hawks of Tempus arrive with their summons.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluffometer: we're in negative fluff for this one

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 27

The school, the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry are all clueless as to who The Order of Tempus are. Hagrid plys the trio with rock cakes and tales of his summer.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 28

Voldemort kills (Lucius) Malfoy, and Snape serves the Death Eater's still-beating heart to Draco in Potions. Draco leaves class, Hermione rushes after him. All this and Harry's attempts to urge everyone to hold off signing up to Tempus' summons.

Angstometer: low

Fluffometer: Fluff-free

Bodycount: One Lucius Malfoy: rest in pieces (body in France, heart in Scotland)

Chapter 29

Alternative Hermione and Draco PoV: Draco ruminates on his father's folly, and resents Granger's presumptious intrusion. Hermione believes that she can save Draco from himself. This isn't going to end nicely

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: low (from Malfoy's perspective), moderate (from Hermione's)

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 30

Harry breaks the news of Lucius Malfoy's death to Ron in delicate fashion. The latter takes the devastating news quite well, all things considered. Unfortunately, Ron's tact in 'discussing' Hermione's new friendship with her is less evident, and they sort of have a minor falling out. Meanwhile, Harry rescues Cho from certain detection when she's trapped outside Ravenclaw past curfew, and they spend a chaste night in Gryffindor, sharing Harry's bed, much to Ron's surprise the following morning.

Angstometer: pretty low level

Fluffometer: much with the fluff

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 31

Harry and Cho try to work out what the previous night meant, and Harry touches base with Lucas at Azkaban, to gain further instruction on how best to use his powers.

Angstometer: moderate (Cedric! Woe!)

Fluffometer: middling

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 32

Neville signs up to the Order of Tempus, Harry tries to avoid talking about himself and Cho to Ron and Hermione, and finds himself in a tight spot in Potions.

Angstometer: moderate (Cedric! Woe!)

Fluffometer: dipping slightly

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 33

Extricating himself from the Potions situation with Hermione's help, Harry later attends a meeting with the Order of the Phoenix, where Sirius and Lupin bring the group up to speed with Tempus. A little later, Harry's concerned that neither Hermione nor Parvati appear to be in Hogwarts, and convinces his fellow fifth years, plus Ginny, plus Cho, to conduct a search in case their presence is escaping his Mage-sense. The chapter concludes with the gang rewinding the Marauders' Map, and Lavender asking 'Who's Pettigrew?'

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: low

Bodycount: Hermione and Parvati are missing

Chapter 34

By the light of the silvery (full) moon (pay attention, that's important), Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean and Cho step through a portal in the Greenhouse, following Pettigrew, Hermione and Parvati's dots as they appeared on the Marauders' Map. They land in Beauxbatons, and tool themselves up with swords - Harry unwittingly choosing The Song Blade. Unfortunately, due to some rotten luck, Seamus gets bitten by a wolf-like creature (and on a full moon, too? I mean, c'mon, what're the chances...). Dean transforms into a wolf, but wrecks himself on the reversion back to human form. Ron takes Seamus and Dean back to Hogwarts and safety as Harry and Cho continue on to the dungeons, where he can sense that Hermione and Parvati are being held. At the Burrow, Molly Weasley screams.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluffometer: near zero

Bodycount: Dean incapacitated, Seamus mauled, Molly clearly distressed about someone

Chapter 35

Buckle, swash and dark magic. Harry fights his way through to Hermione and Parvati's petrified forms in the dungeon, Cho tagging along, but not being a whole heap of use. Unfortunately, Harry has to bring down the corridor behind them to prevent reinformcements joining the fray. So the only way out of Beauxbatons is with the Portkey, which will, eventually get them to Hogwarts, but via Azkaban. Bad news awaits when they finally make it to Madam Pomfrey's domain, where they learn that Ron's dead.