Chapter 15: What is Magic?
Brief Author's Note: I recently checked my messages, and imagine my surprise that there were nearly half a dozen people with the same idea. Normally I would give some thought to this in order to make the story more enjoyable, but I was astounded at what the central theme of the idea seemed to be. Various circumstances were proposed to me, but without fail, each person actually wanted me to use Harry's duel against Malfoy in order to write a one-shot of them. In this chapter is my answer to their pleas. Rest assured my dear readers, that I would never subject you to such.
On the same note, I've read hundreds of fanfics on this site, before and since the purge of erotica from the site. I've noticed a very common them. Nearly any and all hetero erotica has been eliminated, but to the same of the rest of us writers, seems to have not deleted as single slash fic, chapter, or account period. What does this say? Are they really trying to keep the site safe for children to make parents happy as they say, or simply using this as an excuse to keep the site 90%+ all slash?
Okay, I do apologize for my rant.
Updated Author's Note at end. 6/4/14
Great Hall, Hogwarts, Northern Scotland
Harry continually cursed himself. Never again would he willingly attend one of those Wizengamot sessions. It went well, of course, but all the hours of staring off, while pretending to be listening to the other Lords chatter about petty, nonsensical things had left him with a severe migraine. Smirking, Harry made a note to himself to drop by the hospital ward to ask Madam Pomfrey for a headache reliever potion. He'd be surprised if Dumbledore himself hadn't already gone.
Either way, here he was, already making his way quickly to the Great Hall, where his rumbling stomach would finally be answered. It seemed he was just in time. He passed many other students also heading the same way.
On his way to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry met up with Parvati and Lavender, who informed him that the night might not be entirely safe as he would have thought. Hermione didn't end up spending half the day crying in the girl's lavatory, but apparently Su Li did. Ron had apparently mouthed off to her about all 'chinks' being know-it-alls, and that nobody wanted 'slanted-eyed freaks' around.
Harry was already seeing a haze of red in his fury as they entered the Great Hall, but this wasn't the time, as he quickly squashed his raging emotions.
As always, the Professors had outdone themselves in decorating for the feast. There were thousands of live bats fluttering around from the walls and ceiling while thousands more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles within the pumpkins placed every few feet along the center of the House tables stutter and more than a few of the younger witches scream. The House banners themselves had been replaced with thick black drapes, and a low eery mist floated just above the hundreds of candles floating a dozen feet or so above their heads. It was actually quite grand, Harry thought as he noted all the rest of the decorations giving the Great Hall a rich, yet haunted, appeal.
Just as it had at the start of term banquet, the feast appeared suddenly on the lavish golden plates. Harry realized that he would have to eat quickly, remembering the events of the night.
Unsurprisingly, Harry barely made it mid-meal, just helping himself to a dinner roll when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban half fallen off his head and tremors of terror making the man barely able to stand. Harry had to hand it to the man, his acting was quite skillful, but for someone who already knew what was expected to happen that night, Harry was able to see through Quirrell's façade quite easily. The same was the case with Sirius, Professor Dumbledore, and Snape, who had already planned this night out with Harry.
Even knowing Quirrell's target, it had been decided that they must allow the events to play out as it was a pivotal event where Quirrell went to inspect the traps laid by the other teachers in order to protect the Philosopher's Stone.
By this time, Quirrell had reached the Head Table, right in front of Professor Dumbledore, who hid his expectant demeanor behind a curious gaze at his 'panicked' teacher's antics. There would be a time to confront Tom, but here, especially in front of every student, in the middle of a feast, was definitely not it. He knew for certain that he had damage control enough already to ensure a long night.
"Troll- in the dun- geons- thought you ought to know."
Quirrell's words immediately brought Harry out of his thoughts as he watched the man sink to the floor dramatically in a dead faint. The uproar by students and staff together was immediate, and it took a wide area silencing spell cast by Dumbledore to bring the attention of everyone in the Great Hall to himself.
"Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to their dormitories immediately! Make haste and stay together and you shall be safe! Professors, with me!"
Harry snickered as Percy immediately reacted with pompous glee.
"Follow me! Stick together and you have no reason to fear the troll! Come now, I'm a prefect!"
Already students were gossiping between one another, curiously wondering about the troll.
"How could a troll get in?"
Harry was already climbing the stairs heading towards the second floor girl's bathroom, keeping Gabby following closely behind him while the rest of Emrys House had been ushered quickly out by Sirius.
"Don't ask me," he heard Ron answer. "They're supposed to be really stupid. Maybe Peeves let it in as a Halloween joke."
If all went according to plan, Harry would deal with the troll himself and save Su Li, while Sirius would meet up with Snape, who had already made a bee-line for the third floor corridor to head off Quirrell, or at least make it appear as if were doing so.
Ducking down, Harry quickly disillusioned them and carefully wove between the Hufflepuffs going the other way, slipped down a deserted side corridor, and hurried off toward the girls' bathroom. They had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them.
Turning, Harry saw Snape and Sirius quickly cross the corridor, the latter giving him a small, nod, and quickly disappeared from view as they took off in pursuit of Quirrell to the third floor.
Quickly as possible, Harry and Gabby hurried along the next corridor, before Harry held up his hand to caution her.
"Do you smell that?" Harry asked sniffing. "We barely made it in time. We need to hurry."
"Ugh!" Gabby gasped. "It smells like sewer! Disgusting!"
The foul stench reaching their nostrils was a mixture of old gym socks and the kind of public toilet no one seems to clean. And then they heard it — a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Gabby pointed in shock — at the end of a passage to the left, where the shadow of something huge was lumbering toward them. Weaving the shadows around them like a cloak, Harry caused them to fade from sight while they watched as it emerged into a patch of moonlight.
It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long.
Unfortunately, the troll decided to stop right next to the doorway Harry had hoped that it would bypass and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room.
Dispelling their disillusionment, Harry beckoned Gabby to follow. "You remember the plan right? Get her and get out immediately. I'll deal with the troll."
Gabby nodded and grabbed his hand, hurrying toward the girl's bathroom. A high, petrified scream sounded from the room behind the door right as they arrived.
Twirling his wand, Harry blasted the door off it's hinges, causing it to rocket back and slam into the troll before splintering into dozens of broken pieces of wood.
Su Li was directly ahead as they ran inside, shrinking against the opposite wall, cowering beneath the sinks and looking ready to faint. The troll, having been distracted momentarily by the door slamming into it, was now advancing on her, smashing the sinks off the wall as it went.
"Impedimenta!" Harry cried at the troll, who was now in mid swing. This caused the troll to be nearly knocked off balance as it felt like it was literally hit a wall and the deflection caused it to bounce back. Harry grabbed Gabby's hand, motioning her to the side where Su Li was. "Hurry! Take her! I'll deal with the troll as planned."
For it's part, the troll was confusedly lumbering around, blinking stupidly, trying to figure out what attacked it. Spotting Harry, it made to attack him instead.
Fortunately for Harry, Gabby had quickly rescued Su Li and evacuating her to the hospital wing. Now he had no reason to hold back and no distractions. He didn't want either of them to see the effects of what he was about to do.
As the troll approached him, raising it's club as it went, Harry raised his wand and closed his eyes. "Cæcus lucem!" The resulting flash blinded the troll, causing it to howl in agony and distracting it long enough for Harry to dart back to where the door had once stood, turn back to face the beast, and cast his spell. The troll, for it's part, was twisting around and flailing it's club in every direction, attempting to find and smash Harry into the floor with all it's might. Directing his will towards the shattered pieces of the wooden door, Harry began. "Surgere! Et congregabit!" The shattered pieces rose and gathered, orbiting around him. "Neque ad ferrum! Ut Exacueret!"
The troll was now shaking it's head, the effects of Harry's blinding spell worn off, but it was too late. Now, Harry's arms were spread wide, the shattered pieces of the door having been transfigured into solid steel spears. As the troll roared in a berserker fury and once more advanced on him, Harry flicked his wand with a muttered "sternit!" and the orbiting spears stopped, turned with their sharpened heads toward the troll, and rocketed forward. The force of the spears was enough to knock the troll back over a dozen feet, impaling it messily against the far wall. Dark blue blood oozed steadily from the many puncture wounds, quickly pooling on the stone bathroom floor.
A sudden gasp made Harry turn around, where loud footsteps were quickly approaching behind Professor McGonagall's shocked form. She hadn't been informed of the night's events ahead of time, in the event that Quirrell might have somehow caught wind of what was planned, and the racket caused by the troll attacking Su Li, and it's subsequent defeat by Harry was surely enough to draw her attention. After all, how could anyone within a floor or so of the bathroom have missed the troll's roars, the sound of Harry blasting the door apart, or the crashes of the sinks and the floor as the troll's club destroyed half the bathroom.
A moment later, Snape burst into the room, brushing past McGonagall's stupefied form, clutching at her heart at the site of an eleven year old Harry and a twelve foot mountain troll impaled against the wall behind him, very obviously dead.
Seconds after Snape arrive, Quirrell appeared, panting and wheezing. Something was wrong. Sirius should have been with Snape to cut off Quirrell, who should now have been forced to retreat and recover, and act sooner than Voldemort had initially planned. Though, here he was, looking exhausted, but none the worse for wear. Where was Sirius? If something had happened to Sirius, then why was Snape here, looking fine?
Harry glanced subtly at Snape, locking eyes with him in query. He received a look in return that plainly said 'later'.
A whimper caught Harry's attention as Quirrell caught site of the troll. Quirrell quickly sat on the toilet, clutching at his heart in fear. He was a fair actor, Harry had to admit. Although, any looking for the signs could easily tell that his reaction was fake and heavily dramatized.
As Snape inspected the troll, Professor McGonagall was looking at Harry in anger and disapproval.
"While I must admire your transfigurations skills, Mr. Potter," she began, "What in sweet Morgana's name were you thinking! Skilled though you are, a right protégé I'm forced to admit, you are only eleven and have less than half a year of magical education!"
She looked down her nose at him, glaring with cold fury in her eyes, silently waiting for his answer.
"Su Li had been here since before the feast, Professor. Gabby and I came to inform her of the troll and accompany her back to our House common room," Harry responded coldly. "Obviously, the troll found her first. It was attacking her when Gabby and I arrived. While I caught it's attention, Gabby grabbed Su Li and took her away while I dealt with the troll myself."
Professor McGonagall stared at him in disbelief. "You sent them away? You felt confident that you could survive a full grown troll alone, and with such a meager magical education?"
Harry glared at her. "What else would you have had me do, Professor? If they had stayed, they would have distracted me, and we would have all been in danger. This way, only my life was risked. Only I was in danger. Without having to worry about defending them, the risk to my person was greatly reduced."
Professor McGonagall just stared, her mouth opening and closing without a sound coming out for a minute until she seemed to gather her senses. "I see. You sent them away for your own safety, not theirs."
"Are you truly that stupidly blind, Professor?" Harry asked, gritting his teeth in anger. "I would rather die myself, than to allow innocents come to harm. Contrary to your opinion, I value life greatly. Still, sometimes we must make hard choices in how to discipline those who are being led along the wrong path, be it because of their inability to see and understand the path they walk, or by their sheer stubbornness making them unwilling to acknowledge any kinder disciplinary actions."
Immediately she looked affronted, but Harry's reply to her implying that he had acted the same way tonight as he had acted towards Malfoy during flying practice was quickly caught by her keen mind, and she immediately understood.
"I believe, Mr. Potter," she began slowly, "that I may have misjudged you. You act with wisdom beyond your years. So much so, that even those of us who are decades your elder, at times do not understand at first. You should not have to make these choices. You are merely a child. Still, you called me I quote 'stupidly blind'. While I admit that in your eyes, and mine now that I understand, this, as ineloquently as you put it, was true. In fact, I would probably have worded it with just as sharp a tongue. However, I am your Professor, and as such, demand your respect. Ten points from Emrys. Take ten points each for yourself and Gabrielle rescuing your classmate, and ten more for your defeat of the troll. The only reason you are probably still alive is by sheer, dumb luck."
"Yes, Professor."
"Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. Hurry now back to your dorm. You may go."
Harry quickly left the bathroom, and as soon as he turned the corner, drew back into the shadows and disappeared.
Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts, Northern Scotland
Harry was feeling quite irritable, and had been since Halloween night.
Sirius, it seemed, had underestimated Quirrell. When Snape and Sirius cornered Quirrell right outside the door in the third floor corridor, Quirrell had disillusioned himself before they spotted him. Stunning Sirius from the back, Quirrell had quickly opened the door and banished Sirius into the room, not bothering to see what lay beyond.
Fortunately, being such a skilled wizard, Snape was easily able to fend Quirrell off, but when Voldemort made himself known, quickly acted subdued. As decided beforehand, there would be another day. For the mean time, such major must still unfold as far as possible along the lines that Harry had lived through before.
Whilst Quirrell fled, Snape quickly rushed in the door. If he were just seconds later, Sirius would never have awoken from being stunned. As it were, Sirius was bedridden. While stunned, Fluffy had bitten and clawed the man in several places. It was amazing luck that no major organs had been damaged, but he still required several days to rest and recover.
"Welcome, everyone. Please take your seats," Professor Dumbledore said calmly, as he watched the 1st year Gryffindor, Emrys, and Slytherin students arrive.
"Today, due to Professor Black falling ill, I have decided to take it upon myself to get back to what means the most to me, teaching," Professor Dumbledore said, smiling serenely at them all. "It has been many a year, far too long in my opinion, that I have had the time to impart some of my not insubstantial knowledge to young wizards and witches, and the hopes that they would treasure that knowledge, as I have. Indeed, it is a magnificent gift to be able to impart my life's learnings to the younger generations."
"Now, I have notes here on what Professor Black has been going over with you, but I have decided that I would like to teach you all something a bit different today. Regardless, it is just as, if not more important than learning to defend yourselves against the Dark Arts."
For all his faults, Albus Dumbledore was a gifted speaker and magnificent teacher, and nearly the entire class were learning forward in their seats, eager to hear.
"Today, I would like to begin teaching each of you how to connect to your magic," Dumbledore said, glancing around at the class, most of whom were utterly confused. "Learning to connect to your magic can be very beneficial. Not only will you be able to feel your magic channeled as you cast spells, your knowledge retention will increase, your body's natural immunities and healing will heighten, and your spells will even be more powerful. But to do this, we must first answer a question. What is magic, and why are witches and wizards able to use it, whilst muggles are not? Can anyone answer this?"
Ron scoffed at Hermione as she immediately answered. "Witches and wizards are able to use magic because they are born with a magical core, and possess magical blood. Magic is the energy produced by the cores of witches and wizards and allow us our abilities."
Harry smiled. "Only you would give it word by word from a book, Hermione, but that only gives an outline, while most who read or hear it would understand nothing you said. However, that answer is incorrect."
Hermione gasped and even Professor Dumbledore looked confused for a moment, though he quickly hid it.
"Well then, Mr. Potter, please enlighten us."
Harry grinned. "Look around us, Professor. To ask yourself what is magic, is to ask yourself how everything in the world came to be, and is sustained. It is to ask yourself what gives nature it's power, and maintains the balance in the universe. Magic is life. Magic simply is. It is the essence which forms each soul, and gives new life to everything. To make it simpler to understand, you would ask yourself the second question of why witches and wizards are able to perform magic whilst muggles can't."
"The answer to the second question is of course our magical cores, however, every sentient creature in the world, muggles included, have one. Muggle cores, though, do not possess the ability to attune to magic. Understand, our magical cores do not produce magic, they are simply reservoirs that attune to the magic that is all around us, in each plant, creature, person, and even the air we breathe. A witch or wizard's power levels are determined by the size of their natural magical reservoirs, and their core's ability to attune to magic. There is ambient magic everywhere, and our magical cores are the conduits, but as reservoirs, can also store certain amounts of magical energy, and create channels throughout our body for our magic to circulate. We can cast magic because we are more attuned to the forces of nature and energy which binds all life and creation. Remember, this is not physical. Our souls themselves are born of magic. Each soul is individual, but also a part, and still connected to, the source of magic in this world. Magic is the very essence of life that give makes each of us who we are. To lose that… is inconceivable."
Professor Dumbledore smiled softly. "Very aptly put, Mr. Potter. Might I add for you all that such theory is extremely rare, and only very few individuals I have met throughout my life have understood the theory of magic to the depth that Mr. Potter explained. Magic is a gift to each of us, to be treasured and preserved. One must always remember that there are actions that can lead to our very own magic turning against us. Let's see if you can tell me three of these ways."
Hermione's hand shot into the air. "Breaking magical Oaths."
"Correct, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore praised, causing Hermione to beam. "Not all magical Oaths are as severe, true, but Sworn Oaths made on your magic will take your magic if broken. It is the nature of magic to take such things very seriously. Can anyone give me a second way?"
Blaise Zabini nodded. "It is said that witches who had bedded wizards other than their husband go insane from their magic."
Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Not a well known fact, but essentially correct. While wizards have been known to form harems for millennia, never has the reverse been true. To understand why it is wrong for witches to do this, but not wizards, we must look at human nature itself."
"On one side we have the wizards. Wizards, men in general, are territorial beings, and highly unaccustomed to sharing their mates with other males. Indeed, when faced with this situation, I imagine the two wizards would be as volatile and violent and far more destructive than muggle men are known to be. Many of the most powerful wizards in history have formed harems, from which many of the oldest pureblood lines derived. This could not have happened if all these wizards were in the harem of say, one witch. How could one witch handle so many wizards and bearing all of their children?"
"One the other side, we have witches. Witches, women in general, are naturally more accepting of other witches. This may be naturally encoded in witches as they are often drawn to the most powerful of wizards, in order to preserve our species. Either way, the facts stand. If a witch were to bed more than one wizard and get pregnant, how could she be sure of who the child's father is? How to make sure that the child has both mother and father, since it is well known that muggle women that perform such acts are almost never married to the father? After all, the highest crime against the Laws of Nature in this situation would be to take the child away from it's father. Unless the father is physically violent and abusive, and a danger to his children, there is no higher crime. This fact is overlooked more and more each day, leading to greater and greater suffering for the children in this world. True, mothers provide much of the nurturing. However, fathers provide the protection, legitimacy, support, and teachings."
"This is the mother's and father's places in the natural order of things. The mother's place is to stand beside her husband, nurturing his children, while the father stand as the head of household, providing for and protecting his family at all costs, even his life. Already, we see the consequences of violating this becoming more widespread in the muggle world each day. Perhaps in your 3rd year, you will each take muggle studies to learn a bit about their laws, politics, economies, and social views."
"Again, magic itself has already begun to strike against muggles for such actions. There are many various new diseases that are incurable and caused by this. If muggles did as wizards have done for centuries, with each male having a harem, with each witch only ever touching her husband, such diseases would never have come to exist, and a great many children in this world would have a loving family with both of their parents. The point is, magic wants to preserve our race, but such actions go against it. They lead to harm for each future generation and are unfruitful for the preservation and expansion of humanity itself."
"Even that doesn't matter," Pansy remarked pompously. "For any true pureblood Lady it is a matter of respect and honor. To defile oneself before being wed to a pureblood husband, or with any besides him after, would show that you have no respect for yourself or your proper upbringing. Any pureblood witch that dared act in such a manner would prove herself a disgrace, unworthy of her family, her name, and shaming herself. We are taught to make more responsible decisions than giving in to our desires. After all, marriage is a duty, an honor to bring to ourselves and our family. Lust is too often mistaken for lust and is a sin which leads any foolhardy witch to the Maledicta Sterilis."
There were shrieks the other witches in the room who had obviously grown up in the Wizarding World.
"What is Maledicta Sterilis?" Hermione asked.
"It is the consequence for any pureblood witch who brings shame upon herself, her family, and the upbringing her ancestors passed down. That is all you need to know," Pansy sneered.
"Maledicta Sterilis is a passive spell that a great many of the old pureblood families place on witches when they are born," Harry stated calmly. "In essence, it is a chastity spell, but will not stop the witch if she is determined to become intimate. However, the consequences of causing it to become active are extremely severe. The witch will be in severe pain immediately, her womb cursed barren to prevent her teaching her shameful ways to any offspring, and the wizard she is intimate with will be cursed with sterility and permanent impotence. There is no cure. Also, her Head of House will be immediately informed and he is left with one of two choices, to denounce and disown her, binding her magic to the will of her Head of House for the rest of her life before banishing her or casting her into exile. The second option would be to have mercy on her and allow her the possibility of making her own life as a muggle after binding her magic completely and obliviating her of all knowledge of magic."
"Although, if the witch and wizard are honorable in the least, they can both avoid this by marrying, but the timeframe is very short after the initial act of intimacy. You see, vaginal intercourse creates a magical bond between the witch and wizard that will affect them for the rest of their lives and magic itself screams for these bonds to be enforced and blessed by Oaths. In the wizarding world, marriage isn't just held as important, it is sacrosanct. The marriage Oath isn't just words as you may believe, but a magically binding contract the forces the couple's own magic to merge and enforce these bonds. The consequences of not doing this, from a witch's magic alone will make it impossible for her to ever make any magical binding oaths, be it for employment or otherwise, due to her magic being in a constant state of flux, impossible. Indeed, it makes being around the witch dangerous as her magic works against her for the rest of her life as punishment for defiling such sacred acts and bonds. Unlike muggles, it is not possible to rape a witch. Magic is all about intent, and in such a case, the witch's magic would protect her. This has happened several times in the course of history. For unwilling wives, or newlywed witches, it is the height of dishonor. For any and all wizards that have attempted such, except the husbands who are protected by their marriage bonds, which will not allow the witch or wizard to harm their spouse in any way, the reactions have always been violent, unpredictable, and always fatal to the would be rapist."
"That's barbaric!" Hermione screamed in rage. "It's positively medieval!"
"This is the Wizarding World, Hermione," Harry continued calmly. "Such actions could severely damage the society, morals, and values of Wizarding families that are held sacred to preserve our culture and way of life. Anyone who would bring risk to that will only cause harm in the long run and must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. Don't think that is is unfair because of the way you were raised, Hermione. Accept it as it is, and try to understand why. Pureblood witches are taught from birth about this and the reasons behind it, and there has only been one recording incident in the last three centuries where a witch was not proud to uphold such honorable values and paid the price."
Hermione frowned. "But it's legal, we have a right to do whatever we want with our own bodies!"
Harry sighed. "Legality doesn't matter, Hermione. What matters is what is right and what is wrong. Our governments are formed based off of moral and ethical values, but the problem lies in those officials in government. Instead of helping to lead and guide their countries, most officials are too concerned about public opinion, about keeping the people happy. The problem with this is that people very often want and are made temporarily happy by that which is worst for them. Giving them what they want may grant them happiness in the short term, yes, but in the long run will only bring suffering, misery, and destruction on all involved. When legality becomes an issue, and something that is very morally wrong or unnatural is made legal simply because the current laws don't take it into account, these laws must be changed and amended to protect what is right, not the will and happiness of people that lead themselves and others to self destruction. Besides, in the Wizarding World, it isn't legal at all. Even the fools at the Ministry of Magic know better than to overturn that ancient law that has protected Wizarding families for millennia. Even they know the consequences of allowing young, naïve witches the ability to act on their desires without thought to the consequences. This is exactly why you will never see an orphaned pureblood child, unless their parents have died and their godparents have been unable to take custody of them. Even then, it is extremely rare for the wills of pureblood parents not to take this into account. Families and children are of utmost importance, especially with a declining population rate."
Hermione looked down, deep in thought as Harry finished, obviously debating with herself the logic and truth of his words.
"Very good, Mr. Potter," Professor Dumbledore praised. "Your expressed viewpoints, correct as they are, tend to be highly frowned upon in many muggle societies, simply because muggles deem personal happiness and satisfaction more important than what the right thing to do is. Humans in general despise being forced to see, even more so admit to, that which does not give them what they desire. Can anyone name a third way our magic can be made to turn against us?"
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment as no one else answered. "Barnabas the Perverse."
Every Slytherin, and indeed every pureblood of the other Houses hissed in fury at the name.
"Blasphemy!" roared Blaise Zabini.
"Filth! Shame of all purebloods!" yelled Pansy with insane rage.
"To utter the name of such a disgusting, filthy abomination in my presence, Potter," Malfoy spit, white with fury. "I curse you and your bloodline for eternity! May your children rot from the womb!"
Many others yelled, while some simply stared in shock at Harry, who had expect just such a response, but for once, Hermione looked stumped.
"Harry, who is Barnabas the Per-"
"Do not utter that name, Mudblood!" Malfoy roared, before being blasted into the wall by a stunner from Harry's wand.
"Silence!" Dumbledore roared, allowing his magic to fill the room. Instantly every movement and sound stopped as the students gave him their undivided attention. "Barnabas the Perverse is an extremely sore subject, especially for those of pureblood descent, but I will not tolerate such behavior in my classroom. Now, for those among you who haven't heard of the name, mainly our muggleborn students, Barnabas the Perverse was a pureblood wizard of the Hufflepuff line, whose magic killed him because he had same sex relations with a muggle man."
"How would that cause his magic to kill him, Professor?" Hermione asked.
Harry spoke up before Dumbledore could answer. "Because such actions for a wizard are a perversion and complete violation against himself, mind, body, soul, and magic, as well as the natural order of things. It is unnatural and an abomination to commit such a twisted act. Though it is natural for women in harems to do such with each other, as it tends to be naturally allowed in order to preserve our species and allow it to flourish, as well as helping to maintain harmony between the witches. For wizards, it is nothing short of the sickest physical act possible. Remember, our magic comes from nature, and to commit such a corrupt act that defies every natural law and defiles the body so heavily, is to commit the gravest of crimes against magic. Remember, whether it makes a person happy or not, be it right or wrong, every action has a consequence. The punishment magic delivers for this is death. For muggles it is through disease, for wizards, they immediately become unable to attune to magic, becoming squibs before their very own magic very slowly tortures and kills them in the most painful of ways. No potion or spell was said to have any effect on Barnabas. To protect the natural order, magic has hardwired a natural aversion to such action in every human in history."
Dean Thomas, already well known for his pride of being muggleborn looked furious. "That isn't right! We should each have the right to love whoever we want, regardless of gender! Not everyone has the same preferences!"
Even a few of the pureblood Gryffindors made motions to move their desks away from Dean.
"Is that so," asked Harry. "True, we are born with free will, but again, every action has it's consequence. It is a modern fallacy to believe that right and wrong are based upon perception. This is not so, especially when what is viewed by society as right or correct go against the Nature's laws set since the beginning of time. Also, same sex relationships of any sort are not based on love, but lust and unnatural sexual desire. Love is spiritual, able to elicit the most powerful of emotions, strengths, and passions. It bonds couples together even at first glance, whereas lust is merely desire, compelling naught but lies and deception, even unto oneself in order to sate the urges. The question then becomes, to do what is right, or to fall to unnatural desires and suffer the consequences."
"People have the right to do what makes them happy!" Dean all but screamed.
Harry frowned. "Are you saying you are gay, Thomas? You are correct, it is your right to make any choice in your own life to be happy or miserable, to do what is right or wrong. However, with maturity any sentient being would realize that making yourself happy in the short term, even if you are violating the natural order, will only make you miserable in the end. Happiness or no, you must live with the consequences of your choice."
Dean looked down, sad. "I'm not gay, but my uncles are! They've been happily married for years!"
"Lie!" Harry scoffed, confusing the boy. "It doesn't matter what the law of any people or government says, we are still subject to the Laws of Nature, Magic, and of the Divines. This means that no matter what you hear, there is no such thing as same sex marriages. Marriage is an ancient, sacred rite that even now muggles fail to understand what it truly means. Through marriage, a witch and wizard are joined, and in the eyes of magic and nature they become one. Yin and yang, good and evil. All opposites become one when joined. They are joined in mind, magic, body, and soul. Just as two yangs could never be compatible with such a spiritual joining, neither would two wizards ever be compatible. It is impossible. Even if the law of their government acknowledged their marriage, nature and magic would not. The laws of mortal men have no power to overrule the natural order set down by the Divines, no matter what they attempt to say to delude themselves."
Dean was by now red with fury, banging his fists on the table. "That's the saddest lie I've ever heard!"
"No," Harry said sadly. "The saddest lie anyone has ever heard is when muggles began announcing to each other that children flourish greatly when in the custody of same sex couples. It is disgusting to even think of committing such a crime on innocent children, to teach them to accept defiling and violating their very nature and to destroy themselves in the long run. To allow their nurturing to overrule their natural aversion. There is no greater lie."
Dean snarled. "They give the children a home and love! That should be enough!"
"Wrong," Harry stated firmly. "It is not enough. Parents are not only supposed to provide love, but also a stable, secure home in which the environment is safe not only physically, but also psychologically, morally, and ethically. If they truly give those children love, they would teach them to accept what is right, and to reject what is wrong. Instead of teaching them that personal happiness matters above all, they would teach the children that they could still love and cherish those who gave them a home and raised them, but to still understand that what they practice as a same sex couple is wrong in every way. There is a difference between loving the person and loving their actions. You can easily love someone, but still reject their choices as being wrong, and hating such choices and actions."
"A parent's job is to guide their children and teach them right from wrong. You can't do this only partially without endangering the children's moral values, ethics, and psychological viewpoint. Imagine if a child that was raised to believe that personal happiness turned everything that would normally, as it should be, considered unnatural and wrong, decided that killing everyone they came across is what made them happy, ergo the right thing to do?"
"Certain situations in life bring up gray areas where you must decide what the right thing to do is, but in most, especially in this discussion, there are none. There is right, and there is wrong. These 'couples' are allowed their free will, of course, and will face the consequences eventually, but their free will does not involve or entitle them to endanger our children in any way. Any mature adult would realize and understand the balances in situations in our lives as they come up, as well as when to choose what needs to be done. The fault lies in human nature, which is selfish, greedy, and above all, seeks personal satisfaction."
Before Dean could launch himself out of his seat at Harry, Dumbledore again caught the class's attention, this time by setting off purple fireworks with his wand. "As much as this debate seeks to enlighten us all, I believe we have gotten quite far off topic. Since we now have an idea of what magic is to us, the possible consequences in abusing it, and how, as witches and wizards, we are able to use magic, we will begin discussion on how to connect to our magic."
"In order for a witch or wizard to connect to their magic, they must be completely at peace with themselves. Normally most believe this means to simply clear your mind of thoughts and emotions and meditate to find one's center. However, if you are not at peace with yourself; if you hide and deny who you are or have personal demons and regrets that you still have not faced, you will fail. To be at peace with yourself means to understand and accept who you are, faults and all. Only then will you be able to use the aforementioned method to learn to meditate and find your center, where your magical core resides, connected to your soul. If you ever succeed, remember to never attempt to mess with this connection. The connection our magical core, which comes from our natural beings has to our soul, which is spiritual and immortal, is that which gives us our ability rise above the laws nature has set for muggles and cast magic. To destroy such a connection is to cause immediate death. It was an experiment long ago with this connection that led to the creation of the killing curse, Avada Kedavra."
Dumbledore stood behind the desk and reached his arms out to them all, as if wishing to be able to hug and comfort each one of them and give them confidence in themselves. "I will require no essays to be written, but I would like you to each, for your own sake, attempt to reflect on yourselves and your lives in order to have that personal peace that oftentimes seems so out of reach. I assure you, the rewards and benefits are more than worth it."
With that, Defense Against the Dark Arts ended and students quickly began to pack up their things and leave.
Author's Note:
Once again, I am fairly sure I've riled up more than a few people with my response to the requests I was given. I do love good debates, so if anyone has any other points I may have missed that they would either use to argue against my points in this chapter, please feel free to mention them in your reviews. If I feel that the objection or comment is valid, or has a good point, I will gladly revise this chapter to include it, and my response to it.
I hope that my readers continue to enjoy my story, and continue to have their minds stimulated. Please review, I read them all. I also answer to some reviews in private when I feel it necessary. Any messages sent to me by PM, I WILL read and reply to.
*** I realize that I just updated this yesterday, but as I've read every review, I noticed something. Feel free to flame, it is your opinion. However, please also give a valid point in your argument if you wish to debate this. Out of the hundreds of people that have tried, I have never once had anyone able to validly dispute anything against what I wrote, but that is the nature of belief, it doesn't necessarily have to be true for someone to be happy with it.
Either way, what I wish to point out is that there are many who brought religion into it, pointing out that I myself am Christian, and trying to point out that I am going against it. This is incorrect. People point out that Christianity teaches tolerance above all, incorrect. It teaches us to love those around us as we would love ourselves, but as Jesus himself said, reject the evil and repent your actions. There is deep wisdom to be learned by simply being able to understand that you can love everyone and accept them, just as He did, but at the same time be able to reject their actions, just as He did.
For those that seek to bring up aforementioned point, please make sure you actually know and understand what you are actually saying, for your sake. Not for mine, surely, as I will be the one pointing out every mistake and flaw and making said point look stupid.
In the end, I love having people attack or defend any issues from both sides, because only then can one truly understand the full picture. I'm sure many who have flamed will not be reading this updated note, but I find it hard to respond to everyone at the same time, saying the same thing, in any other way.
Next Chapter foreshadow: Fiendfyre burns down the Forbidden Forest?