The Speaker and His Wraiths

Career Advice

Chapter 44

Umbridge VS McGonagall
Harry wasn't sure what he was expecting when he returned from Break, but he wasn't complaining about what greeted him. He expected some fallout from the twins' exit from the many many students who remained behind during Break, maybe following in the twins' footsteps and causing mayhem wherever they went, but somehow it was better than that.

Instead of rioting or using Joke products to make chaos wherever they went, they actually kept their wits about them. Additionally, they caused trouble so well it left the situation without anyone to blame for it. Harry's Wraiths got back at Umbridge by making trouble and then complaining to her.

When Harry returned from Break, he saw the pattern and the mischief clear as day. All hours of the day someone was knocking on Umbridge's door to ask for her help with something that they had surely caused. The bathrooms were flooded! (They exploded a toilet by flushing fireworks.) Their classroom had been robbed and all their shiny stuff was gone! (They removed their own belongings and released a Niffler to do as he wanted.) The suits of armor were attacking! (They bribed the ghosts to fly around wearing the armor.)

It was as beautiful as it was chaotic. The best part was that Umbridge couldn't do anything about it! There was no way to tell who had done what, and none of the other Professors seemed the least bit concerned about the issues because they could still teach relatively peacefully. As long as some productive work was done, or really any, it was deemed a success.

When Harry returned and showed no sign of contempt or disapproval, all the Wraiths who'd chosen to go home over the holidays joined the chaos enthusiastically at the first opportunity. Harry just sat back and peacefully watched the beauty of it all happen right in front of him.

Still, Harry had to organize a meeting to let everyone know they'd finally succeeded. They'd made their first official step towards making a real difference. It was the morning of the 20th, the day after they got back from Break. Everyone gathered in the Room of Requirement before breakfast, and Harry could see the anxious hope in all of them. Of course, the different Houses approached that anxiety a bit differently.

The Slytherins were blank-faced and completely still, though some of them sat closer to their neighbors with their thighs touching or subtly holding hands. The Hufflepuffs were much more obvious, some even sitting in each other's lap or linking elbows in their seat, whispering quietly to each other and smiling comfortingly. The Ravenclaws looked like they were having a heated debate where they were seated in the back, whispering furiously to let out their pent up energy as they waited for everyone else to arrive. The Gryffindors, of course, were fidgeting and refusing to sit still as they bumped their friends' shoulders and grinned despite their nerves.

It was beautiful to see them all coexisting together, especially when a Gryffindor ruffled a Slytherin's hair to make them smile, or when a Hufflepuff spoke gently to a Gryffindor and made them sigh in relief, or when a Ravenclaw turned to a Slytherin and demanded their attention until they gave up on remaining stoically silent. Watching it all, Harry was once again thankful for the chance to bring the school together the way he did.

When Harry cleared his throat, everyone slowly settled down enough to pay attention.

"We did it, Voldemort is gone." Harry declared first, "The ritual was a complete success, and Tom Riddle has been completely restored." Harry didn't bother trying to say anything else as the students broke out in noise, some whooping some crying some laughing some sighing in relief. When they'd calmed, he spoke again. "Everything went to plan-" And then he was immediately interrupted.

"And what exactly was the plan?" Draco spoke up, raising a hand as well as an eyebrow. Harry grinned at the annoyingly teasing tone.

"I'm so glad you asked that." Harry tilted his head and said, "Because I was just about to go over it before you interrupted." Because it was Draco, he didn't look the least bit embarrassed.