The Speaker and His Wraiths

The Meeting

Harry's First Meeting

His friends sat patiently in front of him. Ginny was watching with rapt attention, Hermione was sitting with visible curiosity, Ron sitting cross-legged watching close, Luna smiled serenely with Neville next to her. All of Gryffindor (plus Luna) fanned out in front of him nicely.

Slytherin sat carefully. Each one eyeing him suspiciously. Draco looked at him waiting for an attack, Theo seemed annoyed he wasn't reading, Crabbe and Goyle had their arms crossed, Blaise and Pansy sat watching him closely. Whereas all Gryffindors were here, only half of Slytherin showed up. However, only half of Ravenclaw came, when all the Puffs did.

He was sure the Gryffindors came out of loyalty. The Puffs because they were invited, Ravens because Harry said they'd learn something if they showed up, and the Slytherins because they wanted to report back to Umbridge. Harry didn't care, he just wanted somebody to listen. Anybody.

"I'm here to tell you about a man named Tom Riddle." Harry said softly for all to hear. "He was a half blood born in 1926, and lived at Wool's orphanage where his mother died in childbirth. He was treated badly by his peers and guardians for his accidental magic. So badly, he nearly died from their abuse over the years."

Harry noticed the Slytherins were perfectly still and composed, compared to the awed Puffs, calculating Ravens, and fidgeting Gryffindors. He continued.

"When it was time for him to come to Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore himself went to retrieve Tom Riddle. While he was there, he learned Tom Riddle was very special. He was proficient at using accidental magic however he wanted. In adults, this is called wandless and wordless magic."

Slytherin eyes widened, Raven's looked excited, Puffs still looked awed, and Gryffindor looked on with rapt attention.

"Dumbledore decided the child was a danger." Gasps and scowls rung out. "It was horribly unfair, but for the rest of his following years at Hogwarts, Dumbledore watched him and tried to prove he was doing wrongs he never was. So to say, Dumbledore tried to frame him."

Gryffindors looked betrayed, Slytherins looked impressed, Hufflepuffs looked doubtful, and Ravenclaws were just nodding.

"When he was 16, he decided on his goals. He wanted to fix the Wizarding World." Eyes widened all throughout the room, especially Slytherins. "He noticed that Dumbledore had stopped teaching about true magic. Would anyone like me to explain, or skip this topic?" Hands went up and Harry called on Theodore Nott.

"I'd like to hear more on this subject." Theo's eyes were calculating. Harry just nodded.

"All in favor, please raise a hand." Nearly every hand went up, and so Harry dug around behind him until he found the book he wanted. "Magic is Magic by Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor." Harry held the book up high. "I found this here, in the Room of Requirement." He said, taking a deep breath as he set the book, still closed, in his lap.

"There are three types of magic. Light, Neutral, and Dark. You're born this way, and there's no way to change it. It's hereditary, and your magical core alignment is passed down to your children. Everyone following?" Nods.

"If a Dark and a Light get married, their children will always be Neutral. However, if a Neutral marries a Dark, their children will be Dark. The opposite is true as well. Children of a Neutral and a Light will always be a Light. Can someone tell me why?" A few hands from each house, Harry called on a Hufflepuff, Susan Bones.

"Because the Dark or Light cores override the Neutral kind?" She asked nervously, yet determined. Harry smiled.

"Exactly. Now because everyone has a specific type of core, some magic is easier or harder for them. Helga Hufflepuff was a Light witch, and she struggled with the Darker spells. Rowena Ravenclaw on the other hand was a Dark witch, and couldn't cast some Light spells. Gryffindor and Slytherin were both Neutral, and could do all magic equally." A hand went up. It was a Ravenclaw he didn't recognize. He nodded to the boy.