Remus returns to Hogwarts after a summer of successful burglaries with Craig Newman's gang, his trunk now filled with stolen cigarettes to sell. The marauders reunite on the Hogwarts Express, but tension arises when James, Sirius, and Peter hint at a secret plan they won't share with Remus. At the welcome feast, Dumbledore's ominous warnings about unity against darkness reflect growing concerns about dark magic and a mysterious Dark Lord that Sirius's family supports. Despite the unsettling political climate, the boys find comfort in being back at school together.