Harry, Dean Thomas, and Hermione nodded knowingly.
In a few minutes, they were all seated at the table while Hagrid passed out his famous chocolate-chip cookies. They munched on the delicious morsels as Hagrid poured the tea.
"How's school going?" Hagrid asked.
"Quite well," Harry replied.
Just then, the timer buzzed.
"More cookies!" the little ones cried in delight as Hagrid got up to get them.
While Hagrid was getting the cookies, Harry's eyes fell on a newspaper Hagrid had left open. The headline on the front page read, "VOLDEMORT SPOTTED AT HOGWARTS?"
"Would you look at that," Dean Thomas murmured observantly, picking up the paper and scanning it. As he read, he whispered the article's terrible words: "Voldemort was spotted by several students yesterday at Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles. This is the man who is trying to put a bill through congress to stop Christians from practicing their beliefs. If passed, homeschooling will be illegal. Christians will be put in jail—maybe even killed—unless they say the Bible says what Voldemort wants it to say. Saying "Merry Christmas!" or hanging up the Ten Commandments will put you in a "re-education program"."
When Dean Thomas was finished, Hermione burst into tears. Harry gave her hair an innocent, friendly pat.
"How could anyone be so angry at God?" Hermione sobbed.
"I don't know," Harry declared tentatively. "He's a horrible person."
Dean Thomas nodded sagely and muttered to himself in disgust, "First they try to change the Pledge of Allegiance. Now they don't want us to be Christians. Next they'll be killing us all. It's a bad time to be a true Christian in America."
Ronald sat in guilty silence as he watched his new friends fearing for the future. He was beginning to wonder just what sort of Hat it was that he had chosen.
John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Chapter 11: A Challenge!
Author's Note: Hello, friends! The writing class is going quite well; and I stayed after this time to talk to the teacher about my little story, which he has been so kind about helping me with. He has had lot's of very helpful suggestions; and I truly think that I have been guided to this class by a purpose greater than my own =)
Another thing that I have gotten many messages about—the Slytherins. People are saying that, somehow, this means I hate Catholics. Friends—I do not hate Catholics at all! All I want is for Catholics and everybody else to go to heaven and be happy with God! Do you want to know who truly hates Catholics? The so-called Catholic Church. Ironic, hmm? But think about it—why else would they lie to Catholics about salvation? And did you know their leader is a Socialist? It seems like a certain someone doesn't know much about the Bible or the Constitution! And what about there only being one God, and no others? So, if any Catholics are reading this….. I am asking you this in love….. consider which is more important: your so-called religion, or the Truth?
Harry, Hermione, Dean Thomas, and Ronald all walked solemnly back to the main campus. They could hardly believe what they had just read. Voldemort, on their campus? What would they do if they ran into him? They quickly went to their dorms and got to sleep.
The next morning, the four little ones sat together for breakfast. The spread today was truly delicious: fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, home fries, grits, waffles, apples, orange juice, and ice tea. Truly, the blessings today were abundant!
"I still can't believe Voldemort has been seen on our own campus," Harry whispered after swallowing a bite of bacon.
"Neither can I," Dean Thomas commented perceptively.
"I'm scared," Hermione murmured, and fidgeted with her fork. "What if he tries to kill Harry?"
"It will be fine," Harry declared boldly, and then gave her hand a reassured squeeze, and then they both blushed.
"What are the four of you gossiping about?" a voice said. It was smug and it came from behind them.
Harry turned around and he saw Draco standing behind him. Draco's hands were folded and rested on his stomach. Behind him stood a two other young men, dressed the same as Draco—tan pants, brown sweater vests, and white button up shirts.
"We were just discussing something we read in the newspaper," Harry said friendlily. "Would you like to join us?"
Draco chortled pompously, "I think not. You may be comfortable dining with women outside of your family, but I am not. I know that I am better than women. Why would I want to talk to one?"
Harry gritted his teeth. He had had enough of this! So—called feminists these days call everything sexist. A man respecting his woman and providing for her and giving her the children and home that she truly desires is called woman-hating! Such silliness can make us forget what real sexism looks like. The truth is—women are just as smart as men; and God made us as their equals; but equal does not mean the same; and when we treat men and women as being the same and tell women to go to work all day and forget about her true calling as a wife and mother; then that is the real woman-hating! And then there are people like Draco, who think that God messed up and made women worse than men. And neither is okay.
"That is a mean thing to say!" Harry screamed bravely, and he banged his fists on the table so hard that the plates bounced.
Mr. Snape looked over in their direction and he saw the commotion that was going on at that moment. He was dressed very dapperly today in a freshly pressed dress shirt and practical pants that complimented his long, muscular legs perfectly. Above the top button of his shirt a hint of the thick carpet underneath was visible. He carried with him a big, heavy, King James Version of the Bible as he sauntered across the cafeteria.
"What exactly is going on here?" he questioned, folding his arms over his chest.
"Nothing," Draco muttered in the embarrassed voice of one who knows he has done wrong, but Harry boldly and honestly retorted, "Draco was being a bully to the ladies!"
With a gasp, Greg covered his mouth with his delicate, long-fingered hands. "Detention, Draco! We as Christians must be respectful of women and treat them with the gentleness they deserve as our mothers and sisters and daughters."
Mr. Snape grabbed Draco's wrist and led him out of the cafeteria. Harry smiled holily at the sanctimonious fool. Draco shook his fist.
"I'll get you for this, Potter! Tonight, after dinner, in the courtyard—we will have a pray-off!"
Author's Note: Blessings!
Chapter 12
Author's Note: Hello, friends! I had this chapter all ready to go a week ago after class last Saturday; but then of course things got in the way like they always seem to. But now that things have (slightly!) settled down here at Fort Parsons; I thought I would finally post this.
The campus was dark when Harry, Hermione, Dean Thomas, and Ronald walked out of their dormitories. It was completely silent, because all the other little ones were asleep. The bright, shining stars twinkled approvingly at the righteous young Christian trio.
"I'm nervous," Ronald uttered shakily. "Isn't this against the rules?"
Harry, Dean Thomas, and Hermione exchanged a knowing look. It wasn't Ronald's fault. It was just how he had been raised. Slytherin Hats do not usually question authority. They think they just need to do what the head Slytherin Hats tell them to do. They never think that maybe the Lord's work is important.
"This is the Lord's work," Harry explained patiently. "This is more important."
"That's right," Dean Thomas said wisely, and not a single word was mispronounced. He had dressed quite respectably for the occasion. His face was scrubbed quite cleanly. Any mommy would be proud to have him for her son.
"Oh," Ronald murmured wonderingly. He had never thought that anything could be more important than following rules. Not even the Lord's work. Ronald was starting to ask the big questions—questions which just might lead him to salvation. Just think what would have happened if Harry h
ad not known to love the sin and not the sinner!
Just then, Draco stepped out from behind a tree. He was wearing yet another sweater vest; and he was proudly sporting a Ravenclaw Hat.
"Well, well, Potter," Draco drawled smugly. "Looks like you came to the pray-off after all."
"That's right," Harry answered courageously.
"Well then," Draco grinned self-righteously. "Let's pray."
Harry and Draco got down on their knees and raised their hands to the sky.
"I'll go first, because God loves me best," Draco declared confidently. With that, he shouted, "Dear Lord, if you agree with me that women are stupid and Potter is wrong, please strike him down where he kneels."
Dean Thomas and Ronald gasped. Hermione began to cry. But Harry did not flinch. He knew that he was a man of the Lord.
Draco grinned viciously as he looked to the sky for a bolt of lightning; but none came. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He began to cry.
Now, it was Harry's turn to pray.
He raised his hands far higher than Draco's had been; and he screamed, in a voice far louder than Draco's had been, "Dear Lord, if you agree with me that women are just as good as men but just different, please….." For a second he thought about asking for Draco to be struck down. But then he was overcome with mercy. "Please make him a Gryffindor Hat!"
In that moment, the hat on Draco's head changed into a red and yellow one with a lion on it; and the tears rolling down his face were not sad tears. They were happy tears. The crowd of onlookers burst into applause; but Harry did not notice all the cheering students and teachers. He was bathing in the love of the Lord.
Author's Note: Blessings!
Chapter 13: A Visitor to Hogwarts!
Author's Note: Hello, friends! Many of you have notified me about the typo in the last chapter... Oops! I was feeling so confident in my newfound writing skills last class; and I didn't think I needed to ask the teacher to full proofread. Once again: oops! I guess this just goes to show that Proverbs 16:18 applies to us all =) And that, friends is why this chapter is so late going up... I waited to post until Greg had had a chance to look over it in detail. He says I am definitely improving; but he did still have some suggestions. Hope you all enjoy!
The cheering crowd converged on the two righteous boys. They were led by Dean Thomas, Hermione, and Ronald. Hermione reached Harry first. Joyful tears were streaming down her face and her lacy pink skirt was swirling around her legs. When she reached Harry, she wrapped her delicate arms around him in a chaste hug.
"I was so scared," she whispered tearfully.
Harry pulled away and patted her reassuringly. He told her, "There is nothing to be afraid of. Not when we are on the side of righteousness."
Hermione grinned admiringly. She exclaimed, "You're so brave!"
Harry smiled humbly and blushed and rubbed the back of his neck like a shy schoolboy. He didn't know why, but he felt so different around her than other people. Perhaps it was because she was so godly. But Harry felt that it might be more than admiration that he felt. What was the word? He could not quite put his finger on it!
Dean Thomas stepped forward and gave him a very polite handshake. "Amazing job out there," he commented intelligently.
Harry smiled humbly. "It was the work of a power greater than my own."
Dean Thomas shook his head in admiration at how humble Harry was being. Truly, a light was shining in this little one!
Ronald was next in line. Tears were streaming down his face and his nose was running down to his chin. He wiped his face with a big freckled hand. He stuck out the other one for Harry to shake. Harry generously returned the action.
"That was amazing," Ronald sobbed honestly. "How do I be as holy as you?"
Harry, Dean Thomas, and Hermione exchanged a knowing look. "Maybe," they suggested, "it has something to do with the hat on your head."
Ronald got a thoughtful look on his face. His many siblings that were too many for two parents to care for did not like the look of that. All together, they walked over and grabbed Ronald and pulled him away. Harry, Dean Thomas, and Hermione were sad, but they hoped in their hearts that their words of truth would plant seed and grow.
But before they could think too much about that, a car pulled into the parking lot. It did not look like the car a busy mommy or daddy would have. No, this was a small so-called eco-friendly car. Harry, Dean Thomas, and Hermione looked at it suspiciously. They did not know who would come out of it, but they got the feeling it would not be someone good.
The car stopped. The door opened. A man stepped out. He was tall and pale-skinned. He was a younger man, with only a thin layer of hair hidden underneath his shirt. He was wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants and sneakers.
No one seemed to take much notice of him. But then the reverend's wife stepped onto the scene. She screamed. She fainted. At the sound of her cry for help, the Reverend Dumbledore came running to the rescue. So many so-called "pro women's rights" people think that Ephesians 5:22-25 is just about wives being submissive. What they don't talk about is that it also tells husbands to sacrifice for their wives. Wow! Does that sound oppressive? When he saw the man who had gotten out of the car, he stopped and gasped and then he shouted, "Stand back, students! This is Voldemort himself!"
Author's Note: Blessings!
Proverbs 16:18 - Pridegoethbefore destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Ephesians 5:22-25 - Wives, submit unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore the as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
Chapter 14: Bravely Defeating the Foe!
Author's Note: Hello, friends! I have some news; and I know that it might be disappointing to the mommies out there. My husband and I had a very long talk last night; and he doesn't think that posting my writing online and going to classes is a good idea for our family. It was a hard decision for me to accept; but he does know best. I want to thank all of the many righteous believers who have supported me in this little mission of mine; and I hope that this last chapter ties up the loose ends as best as one chapter can.
Harry gasped; and Dean Thomas gasped too; and Hermione burst into tears; as Voldemort ambled through the parking lot. The enormous crowd of righteous students were nervous; but they still stood boldly in the face of such horrifying evil. Dumbledore stood in front of them protectively and manfully.
Harry looked at the depraved man walking toward them; and he thought of all the lies that he must have been told by Evolutionists and Feminists all his life; and he thought of the empty, meaningless depravedness that must he would have to have to distract him from that missing Love in his life; and he thought of how one day he would die; and that there would be no happy heaven for him, only the flames of hell. Harry wondered how anyone could be so stupid. Who would want hell more than heaven? It made Harry so angry.
Voldemort stopped walking when he was in front of the Reverend Dumbledore. He arrogantly nodded and said, "Hey, my name's Tom Riddle, and I'm here to visit my cousin. Which way is the guys' dorm?"
"Enough of your lies," Dumbledore exclaimed bravely. "We know who you are."
Voldemort blinked stupidly; and then he uttered childishly, "I'm sorry… what?"
Dumbledore smiled smartly. "You're pretending to be dumb, I see. Well I'm not stupid. We know all about how much you hate Christians."
"What? I don't hate Christians," Voldemort lied dishonestly. "What are you even talking about?"
"You're still pretending to be dumb," the Reverend pointed out truthfully. "We know all about your plot to illegalize Christianity, Voldemort."
Voldemort blinked stupidly again and questioned evilly, "Wait, this is about my Reddit account?"
"Is that what you call your godless coven?" Dum
bledore queried knowingly. "Well yes I have indeed seen your so-called Reddit Account; and just try to deny your hatred of Christianity when you post things like this—'kristians all sux. their religion is stoopid and should be illegal. i will rite to congres and tell them to make law.' "
Harry Potter laughed intelligently; because Voldemort did not even understand proper spelling and grammar.
"That was a joke," Voldemort retorted unintelligently. "That whole account is a joke. I mean, 'Voldemort_the_righteous_skeptic'?" He laughed with the nervousness of one who knows he is damned. "Of course you're not supposed to take it seriously."
"Do you think religion is a laughing matter young man?" Dumbledore demanded righteously. "Well it is not! What sort of a joke is trying to outlaw religion?!"
"Of course I don't actually want to outlaw religion," Voldemort uttered deceptively. "That would be ridiculous. I just got annoyed by the ridiculous straw man some Christians have made out of atheism, so, whenever I see someone ranting about how depraved and evil we nonbelievers are, I reply with something like that. You know, taking that stereotype to an extreme to point out how ridiculous it is.
"Also, a small but vocal minority of atheists exists that stereotypes and mocks anyone who disagrees with them. They can be just as hateful as people think we all are, and that does real damage. They bug me as much as the straw man arguments do – and they give those arguments credibility – so I do the same thing to them, replying with an extreme version of what they said to highlight the absurdity of it."
"So, you're making fun of atheism?" Dumbledore interrogated shrewdly.
"No, no – I am an atheist," Voldemort explained sinfully. "I'm just –"
"Just as I thought," Dumbledore surmised wisely; and he smiled holily in satisfaction that the Lord had worked through him. "We have been preparing for this day; and we have been preparing for it for a long time. Students!"
The holy little ones stood at attention.
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