And several different plot threads advance and interweave. You're doing a very good job with this and I look forward to future chapters. I do wonder if Shaymal is going to be able to keep juggling all that he has going (I wonder if his phoenix is capable of flame-jumping in time to help deal with all of it?). In any case, there's clearly a lot going on and it's going to get right interesting if Edward ever admits as to what really happened that day. Mind you, I think Tom knows more than others suspect and is using the "Dark Heir", whoever may be in that costume, as yet another way to demoralize and confuse the Light and the undecideds. The truth coming out should definitely upset a lot of plans, schemes, and applecarts (mangled metaphors, anyone?) when it occurs.
Author's response
This chapter sets up CH25 which sets up the sequel. I wish the phoenix was capable of flash-time jumping. I could just skip a good number of months and get straight to the faster plotlines. Oh, Tom definitely knows a lot more than Dumbledore. It just depends on what. Thanks for the review!