Author's Note: This is a story I thought of for Harry Potter. Warning: this is unashamedly Christian! I hope you all enjoy! This is set in fourth year, and is set in 2016 so that I can include some of my favorite artists!
Rose knew something was wrong with Harry when he sank down next to her, a frown on his face. Sighing, the boy muttered, "How can you be so calm about this, Rose? There's a crowd that's hoping I'll die in this blasted Tournament!"
"Well," Rose replied as she thought about what words to use, "I have faith. Faith and hope."
Harry snorted, then scoffed, "There is no hope here."
"That's not true," Rose quietly disagreed, and said, "There's always hope, Harry."
Harry stared at her, clearly not believing her, so Rose breathed in.
"There's a story that started on Christmas
When a baby was born in the night
And those who came far who followed the star
Were seeing a heavenly sight
A heavenly sight" she sang, her eyes fixed on her friend, who scoffed again.
"Well, the years hurried by and the boy, now a man
Could make the blind see with a touch of His hand
He was born to be King, He was Rabbi and Priest
But the best that He had, He gave to the least
He gave to the least"
"He was born and He died, almost 2,000 years ago
He laughed and He cried, He felt all the fears we know
But what does it matter? A story so strange
Even if it is true, what does it change?
What does it change?"
"Though He spoke like a prophet, like no one they'd heard
This simple young carpenter, crowds hung on every word
He hated injustice, He taught what is right
He said, "I'm the way and the truth and the light"
"His friends soon believed that truly He was the one
The Savior, Messiah, God's one and only Son
But others they doubted, they did not agree
So they took Him, they tried Him
He died on a tree, He died on a tree"
"Where's the hope in that?" Harry spat, and Rose smiled, "If that was the end of the story, there'd be no hope. But, Harry, it isn't."
"God has made a way
For all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
If you just believe"
"There is nothing left to fear
Nothing Heaven knows
For He died for us to give us life
And to give us hope He rose"
The two fell into silence, and then Harry asked, "Do you honestly believe that? That someone rose from the dead?"
"Yes," Rose replied, "I do. I firmly believe that Jesus rose from the dead."
"How can you, though?" Harry pressed, and the girl breathed in, before saying, "Harry, the proof is in my heart. I know He lives."
"Can you see this Jesus you're talking about?"
"No," Rose stated, "but, I can see the proof that He exists. Harry, the entire Earth is His. The air we breathe, the animals we see, the ground under our feet- all of it- is His."
"Why does this Jesus allow war then?"
"God gave us all free will, Harry. Humankind causes war, not God. God simply wants us to return to Him, to His love."
"Love?" Harry muttered. "What kind of God would allow bad things to happen to good people?"
"Nothing happens without God's permission, Harry. I think God allows bad things to happen so that His plan for us can show."
Catching her friend's hand, Rose said, "Harry, evil results from mankind running away from God."
"Does this God have any rules I would need to follow?"
"No, He just wants you to come as you are. Second Peter 3: 9 says 'the LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.'"
Harry hummed, and Rose glanced out at the water. "You know," she commented, "I actually have some music if you want me to get it for you."
"Um… sure," Harry muttered, and stood.
Several hours later, Rose slipped something into Harry's bag with a whisper of, "Don't let anyone see."
"Why?" Harry questioned softly, and Rose muttered, "Most witches and wizards don't like Christianity. Here, take this." Harry felt a piece of paper in his hand, and started to look down, only to be stopped by Rose's murmur of, "Not here. Later. Passcode is written down on the paper."
Once he was alone, Harry checked the paper, and sighed. He wanted to know more, but Rose's words rang in his head: Most witches and wizards don't like Christianity.
Why? He wondered, why don't they like it? Glancing down at the paper again, Harry decided that he was going to give Rose a chance to explain this faith of hers.
To him, Thursday night couldn't come fast enough. He found the Room of Requirement, and knocked on the door the way the note had told him to, and a girl poked her head out. She glanced both ways, and then whispered, "Jesus is Lord."
"He is our High Priest," Harry whispered back, and the door swung open as the girl said, "Welcome, brother."
Stepping in, Harry glanced around the room, and saw students from all four Houses in various seats. Rose saw him, and smiled, gesturing for him to join her.
"Rose!" someone called, and Harry saw, much to his surprise, Draco Malfoy standing nearby. When he saw that he had Rose's attention, the blond asked, "What are we studying tonight?"
"We'll continue with the parables of Jesus," the Hufflepuff replied, and Draco nodded. The group continued talking for several minutes, and then Rose stood.
"Brothers and sisters," she said, "remember that it is not I who should be glorified here, but God."
Harry listened as she spoke, and questions began to rise.
"Please stand, and join me as we praise Him," Rose finished, and the others stood. They sang a couple of the songs Harry had listened to, and the boy listened quietly.
"I know it isn't Christmas time yet," Rose stated, "But I'd like to sing Baby Boy by For King and Country."
"If you told me all about your sorrows
I'd tell you about a cure
If you told me you can't fight the battle
There's a Baby Boy who won the war
The war was won by a Baby Boy" Those words hit Harry hard, and he felt tears in his eyes.
"Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven's ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy"
"Oh, before that silent night
No Savior and no Jesus Christ
The world cried out so desperately
And the Baby Boy was the reply,
Yes, Heaven's reply was a baby boy" Harry bowed his head; why would this God care about him?
"Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven's ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy"
"See, the King is coming down
And He's here without a crown
The Baby Boy without a bed
Giving life back to the dead
And hear the angels shout it out
As the people come and bow.
Unexpected majesty
Alleluia, what a King"
"Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven's ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy"
"Alleluia, we can sing it!
Alleluia, yeah, Heaven's ringing!
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy"
After everyone started to leave, Harry stayed behind.
"Rose?" he asked, "can you tell me more about Christianity?"
"Sure," the girl said, "What do you want to know?"
"Well, what does your faith say about divination?"
"Divination is abhorrent to Him, Harry. That's why I have refused to take that class. Will you come back next week?"
"I think so," Harry responded, and Rose smiled.