* The following summary contains spoilers from the previous books. You should probably read them first. *

The story thus far…

Harry Potter and the Vault of Time

During his first trip to Gringotts, Harry discovers a small box with a few odds and ends from his parents. He randomly grabs one item, a small wooden box, and later finds that it is, in fact, a shrunken trunk. Inside the trunk is a vanishing cabinet that can be used to access a small training facility his parents had built, where time goes much faster than normal.

Taking advantage of this opportunity to learn some magic on his own before starting Hogwarts, Harry spends his nights in the facility, and, in addition to studying, begins to read his mother's diary. He learns that his parents had been a bit suspicious of Dumbledore, and so, wanting to learn more, he returns to Diagon Alley. He meets Florean Fortescue, a kind old man who owns an ice-cream shop. Florean confirms some of Harry's concerns, and encourages him to keep his eyes open when he goes to Hogwarts to avoid being fooled by Dumbledore's manipulations.

Harry is not overly impressed with the classes at Hogwarts, especially Potions, where the professor seems to be going out of his way to pick on Harry. After Harry is punished for fighting in the halls (while defending himself from Malfoy and his goons), he is shunned and isolated. He eventually quits the Quidditch team. At the end of the year, Harry realizes that someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone from the forbidden corridor, so he, Neville and Hermione try to protect it. They make it through the obstacles, but Harry is the only one to enter the final room. He discovers that the would-be thief is Quirrell, who is possessed by Voldemort. He manages to kill Quirrell, but wanting to avoid possible punishment, deliberately injures himself and takes a potion to temporarily erase the memory.

His deception works. Dumbledore has no idea that Harry has recovered the Stone from the mirror. Now, realizing that Voldemort is still around, Harry is determined to prepare for the war to come. But whatever he does, he'll need to be careful to keep it a secret, because he's still not sure how much he can trust the headmaster.

Harry Potter and the Hands of Justice

Over the summer, Harry tries to get himself emancipated, freeing himself from Dumbledore's control, but this backfires when the headmaster instead arranges for an apprenticeship, which gives him even more control over Harry. When the 'heir of Slytherin' begins attacking students, Harry is able to quickly determine that Ginny is behind the attacks, and finds the enchanted diary that was controlling her. With this crisis averted, Harry turns his attention to the narcissistic professor Gilderoy Lockhart, eventually proving that the man is a fraud. Remus Lupin is hired in his place, and proves to be a much better teacher. Harry realizes that Lupin had been friends with his parents, but is disappointed when his new professor doesn't have any interest in his friends' son.

Harry is surprised when the attacks on muggle-borns resumes a few months later. After obtaining the Marauder's Map from the Weasley Twins (without their knowledge) he identifies the culprits. He also learns the truth behind the attack on his parents, when he discovers that Ron Weasley's pet rat is in fact, the traitor Peter Pettigrew. With assistance from Peter Wilson, an associate of his parents, and an American Technomancer named Chad Pfluegerman, they are able to expose Pettigrew's crimes. To Harry's dismay, however, the ministry refuses to release his godfather, Sirius Black, instead holding him pending an investigation into other possible crimes.

When the culprits behind the attacks on the muggle-borns are given a slap on the wrist as punishment for the brutal assaults, Harry decides to take matters into his own hands, capturing and torturing the Slytherins responsible. This draws an immediate reaction from the Ministry, and a number of innocent students are arrested on flimsy evidence. Harry teams up with several other students, including Cedric Diggory, to prove that the students who have been arrested are innocent. They are successful, but Harry learns that his godfather has been killed, supposedly while trying to escape Azkaban.

Harry, Peter and Chad, along with an old hitwizard named Henry MacArthur, enter the Chamber of Secrets and kill the basilisk, which they sell for a substantial sum. Now, with some real money to use, Harry vows that he will destroy those who were responsible for the death of his godfather.