Chapter Text
Chapter 1
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. Malfoy looked at him waiting for an attack, Nott seemed annoyed he wasn't reading, Crabbe and Goyle had their arms crossed, Zabini and Parkinson sat watching him closely. Whereas all Gryffindors were here, only half of Slytherin showed up. However, only half of Ravenclaw came, when all the Hufflepuffs did.
He was sure the Gryffindors came out of loyalty. The Hufflepuffs because they were invited, Ravenclaws 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 Eagles, 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, Eagles 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 just nodded.
"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." Nott'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.
"Slytherin wasn't a Dark wizard?"
"No he wasn't." Harry said bluntly. "That's what I'm getting to next. Over the years of the war with Grindelwald, people saw that Dark wixen seemed to follow Grindelwald more than Light wixen. There's an explanation for that, so stop glaring at me." He huffed as dozens of eyes lowered in shame. "Anyway, this was noticed, and the Ministry and Dumbledore decided this meant all Dark wixen were evil." Gasps and surprised faces rang through.
"This led to the banning of Dark rituals, as well as Dark Arts. Does anyone in this room actually know what Dark rituals and the Arts are?" Nobody raised their hands, and he sighed. "This is purely academic, and I'm planning on explaining several. Seriously, if you know, share with the class." Tentative hands raised in Slytherin. Harry called on Blaise Zabini.
"One Dark ritual is done on a holiday called Samhain." He said blankly. "A person lights a fire to honor their dead, and pray to Lady Magic for good health. During the ritual, the wixen will stand in a circle and embrace the magic." Harry nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, Zabini." The boy looked surprised for some reason. "Zabini is correct. Samhain is a magical holiday, but is considered Dark since the First Wizarding War. It sounds kind of interesting, doesn't it?" Nods and smiles followed. "Dumbledore had it declared illegal about 20 years ago."
"WHAT" Ah, that was Hermione.
"Hermione please raise your hand." Hermione ducked her head and hid her face in her hands with a squeak. "Continuing, most Dark rituals are perfectly safe, and used to be celebrated by all three categories of wixen. It was a time of celebration and forgiveness. Even blood feuds are set aside during ritual hours." Slytherins nodded.
"So as I've been saying, Dark is often used to describe 'evil' nowadays. Have you noticed?" Nods all around. "This is because of Dumbledore. He's tried to erase Dark culture entirely, shoving it aside and replacing it with Muggle holidays. Have any of you questioned why we celebrate Halloween, Easter and sometimes Valentine's Day at Hogwarts?" Slytherin didn't answer, but the other Houses nodded and looked frustrated.
"Muggle-borns." Harry declared. "How many Muggle-borns do we have here today? I'm not judging, I promise, just raise your hand." Several hands went up, including Hermione. "Now, I'm going to call on a few of you and ask some questions. Put your hand down if you don't want to participate." He pointed at a Ravenclaw all the way down at the back.
"Hello," Harry called. "Has anyone ever explained the Wheel of the Year to you?"
"No, they haven't. I've never heard of it." The girl admitted.
"Well, there are books in the library that will tell you, but it explains all the Wizarding Holidays there are, and it also shows that half of them are banned." The Ravenclaw looked almost ravenous at the thought of a book. Harry resisted a laugh, pointing at a front row Puff.
"Have you ever been celebrating at the castle, and some students gave you dirty looks because of it?" He asked gently to the small girl, probably a second or third year.
"Yeah." The girl said quietly, "I'm not sure what I was doing wrong." Several Slytherins looked uncomfortable. Harry nodded.
"Thank you. Now, Hermione, put your hand down, yes I'm picking you." She beamed and Harry huffed. "If a Slytherin came up to you and complained about Christmas, how would you respond? Be honest." She frowned.
"I'd assume they were teasing me like they always do." She answered finally.
"They wouldn't be." Harry declared. "The Slytherins, and myself," he got some bewildered looks, "believe it's wrong that Muggle-borns aren't taught Wizarding culture. Wixen and Muggles live in very different worlds. Muggle-borns didn't get primary Wizarding schooling. They're completely in the dark." He meaningfully gestured around the room, to everyone.
"How much more united would we be if we all took a class on Wizarding Culture? On Wizarding etiquette? On Wizarding Holidays?" Everyone looked startled, and Harry sighed.
"To get back on track, Tom Riddle saw all of this and he didn't like it. He wanted Muggle-borns to know our culture, and he wanted Dark wixen and Light wixen and Neutral wixen to stand together without fault. Does everyone understand?" Nods. "Any questions?" A few Slytherin hands. He pointed. "Parkinson!"
"Why should we even let Mudbloods into our world?" Several glares went her way, and the Muggle-borns shrank.
"Miss Parkinson, do you know where the word 'mudblood' derived from?" She shook her head, and Harry smiled. "It's German. Rowena Ravenclaw called Muggle-borns 'Mutbluts' spelled M-U-T-B-L-U-T and it means courageous blood." Parkinson froze. "Purebloods at the time were afraid of diluting their magical blood. They were recycling old magic and many Purebloods were born squibs." The Slytherins looked aghast, and some deathly pale. "When Mutbluts started being born, popping up from seemingly nowhere, their magical signatures were pure. Rowena Ravenclaw saw these magical children, lost in the Muggle world and said they showed so much courage to grow up surrounded by people who called them freaks and unnatural." Parkinson frowned.
"So we need them?" She said doubtfully. Harry smiled triumphantly.
"Yes. Without new blood, Purebloods would eventually have to start inbreeding, because their magic energy would be so low. Half-bloods and Muggle-borns are necessary to the magic world." He smiled at the group. "So if anyone calls you a Mudblood, smile, and thank them. Because they are uneducated or misinformed." Slytherins glared at him, but they didn't seem mean, just intrigued.
"Moving on, Tom Riddle knew all this, and he wanted to change it. But while he was at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was working against him. Does anyone know which magical categories are taught at Hogwarts?" A Puff raised her hand shyly.
"All of them?" She guessed, Harry smiled sadly.
"Only Light magic is taught here, with perhaps a splash of Neutral." People looked downright murderous as Harry continued. "No Dark magic is taught at Hogwarts, an entire category of magical learning. I don't need a show of hands, but how many of us had a really hard time learning Charms? How many of us had the technique and the pronunciation absolutely perfect, and still only managed a barely passable spell? How many of us were told we were magically hopeless?" People looked deep in thought.
"This was done to make sure only Light or Neutral wixen could succeed at Hogwarts and I think that's despicable." Harry declared. "Dumbledore has wronged the entirety of the magical community, and I can't stand it. Neither could Tom Riddle. Now, does anyone know what happened to him?" Heads shook slightly.
"He died in 1943." He said bluntly. "He destroyed himself." A tentative Malfoy raised his hand. "Malfoy?"
"Why is he relevant to us, now?" Malfoy asked slowly.
"I'm glad you asked. You see, Tom Riddle created these things called Horcruxes. They're illegal magics that require a sacrifice." Eyes widened impossibly. "You may be wondering, 'why would he kill someone to do a ritual?' well, he was afraid. He was being threatened by Dumbledore, and he didn't want to die before he could help our world. He was desperate. Now, when you create a Horcrux, you have to kill someone and then imbue an object with a piece of your soul. That object then permanently holds a piece of you, and unless it is destroyed you are unkillable." Hands shot up, and he smiled while calling on Nott.
"If he had a Horcrux, how did he die?" Harry grinned.
"Because Tom Riddle died, and Lord Voldemort was born." Shouts rang through and Harry raised a hand for silence. "Tom Riddle created his first Horcrux when he was 16, using the murder a girl he killed at Hogwarts. Anyone know Moaning Myrtle?" Faces paled. "Regardless, there's one thing about Horcruxes Riddle didn't know. Can anyone guess?" Hermione's hand shot in the air.
"It took a piece of his soul, could it take his sanity as well?" Harry grinned at her.
"Yes it did. When he was 16 he created his first, and he was still mostly stable. But after he created his second using the murder of his father that following summer, there wasn't much left of Tom Riddle except his hatred of one Albus Dumbledore." Malfoy raised his hand again. Harry nodded to him.
"So he's unkillable because he has these two objects? That's why he's back?" Harry paused.
"Almost. He doesn't have two. He has seven Horcruxes." People around the room looked sick. "Yes, imagine how insane he has to be right now, with so many pieces of himself splintered away." He admitted sadly. He turned away and brought out a bag, pulling it open.
"One of his Horcruxes was a diary." He reached in and pulled out a small black ruined book. Malfoy looked pale as milk. "I destroyed this one when I was 12. Another one was Tom Riddle's ancestral ring, the Gaunt Ring." He pulled it out of the bag, showing it was missing its setting stone and the ring was broken. "It was destroyed by Dumbledore." Reaching into the bag he pulled out a small locket. "This is Salazar Slytherin's Locket. A Horcrux." Slytherins looked murderous. He grabbed a golden cup, holding it up. "Helena Hufflepuff's Cup. A Horcrux." The Puffs looked mutinous. "Rowena Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem. A Horcrux." He showed off a dainty silver and blue tiara to furious Eagles. They were all staring at him in horror as he placed the Horcruxes at his feet. "There are all of his Horcrux objects." He was met with confused faces before a brave Ron raised his hand.
"Uh, mate? That's only five." Harry smirked.
"Congrats, you can count." Ron grinned while everyone else snickered. "Yes, I said objects. His other two Horcruxes are living beings. One is his snake Nagini." He said nothing else, picking at his nails, leaning back almost lazily in his chair. "Before we get to guessing what the last Horcrux could be, raise your hand if you don't believe Voldemort is back. I'm not judging, I genuinely want to know." Unsurprisingly, Slytherins and Puffs kept their hands firmly down, while some Ravenclaws and a few Gryffindors raised theirs. Harry nodded.
"I can accept your answers, however, I have proof that even if he wasn't resurrected, he could be someday. Would you like to see?" People looked scared but determined.
Harry reached for the locket at his feet, he held it up. "Slytherin's Locket only opens to Parseltongue. When it's opened, Voldemort's essense is shown and reflected. Do not be frightened, I will not let it hurt any of you." Harry told them firmly.
Closing his eyes, he wished the room was a little larger. The room expanded, and Harry walked backwards until he was a good 50 yards from the other students. "Be prepared!" He called to them, and opened it. 'Open, and reveal yourself.' He hissed.
The Locket flew open with a scream and darkness bloomed in a great cloud. Students cried out as a large face emerged and growled at the students, floating and chopping at the air. It dispersed into images of blood and death and promises of hardship, and Harry slammed it shut. Wishing the room was smaller, he strode towards the chair he had abandoned, and the wall behind him followed. He plopped down.
"Show of hands, how many of you think Voldemort is totally and completely gone?" Shaken faces looked back at him, and a few were crying or clutching their neighbors. Nobody raised their hands. He smiled at them.
"Now that that's over with, can anyone guess who the last Horcrux is?" Nobody raised a hand, and nobody moved.
"I am Voldemort's last Horcrux. Even if we destroyed these remaining objects as well as the snake, I would need to die before Voldemort ever could. There's no other way."
"WHAT" Malfoy was suddenly standing, eyes burning with rage, "There's no WAY Dumbledore would let that happen." Harry met his eyes, and Malfoy could see just how tired he was as he reached into the same bag and pulled out a crumpled letter and cleared his throat.
"When it is time, all the Horcruxes must be destroyed. You must understand Harry, your sacrifice will save thousands of lives. Once you have destroyed all the Horcruxes, you must give yourself up. Only then, can this war be ended." He read aloud. "With love and faith, Dumbledore." People looked outraged as Harry tucked the letter away.
"Dumbledore straight up told me that once all the objects are gone, I am to give myself to Voldemort so he can kill me himself." Every student in the room was frozen. "I could give him all of these objects right now, and he would smile, and tell me I did a good job finding them, and then he'd send me off to my death. He said it was For The Greater Good." Harry stared at the wall. "Even after stopping Voldemort from getting the Philosopher's Stone from the 3rd floor corridor in first year. Even after destroying a Horcrux and killing a basilisk in second year. Even after facing his new and twisted and insane body in fourth year and barely making it out alive." He looked out at the students in front of him. "Even after all that, he says I need to die to save everyone else." People looked devastated openly crying, some on the edge of their seats, and some watching him with burning anger in their eyes.
"Technically, I'm betraying him right now. By withholding the objects." He looked around the room. "Are any of you planning on telling him? I'd like a heads up if I'm going to die in the next week." Nobody moved, and Harry sighed.
"If everyone agrees with me that Dumbledore sucks and we won't follow him, I have two plans." He paused. "If you're going to follow Dumbledore, please raise your hand." All hands stayed down, and Harry was suddenly staring at dozens of determined faces. He grinned. "So, if everyone's on board, why don't we meet another day and talk revolution?" Students whooped and cheered, and Harry finally relaxed, safe in his knowledge that Dumbledore would have to go through 80% of the school to get to him.