The Man Who Lived
Chapter 9
When Harry had asked Festus why he needed to get baptized, the pastor had responded, "Well, primarily, to be in obedience to Jesus. He commanded that His disciples - those who would learn from Him and follow Him - be baptized. So, if you want to be an obedient Christian, then you need to do it. It's that simple. But baptism is also an opportunity for you to bring glory to Christ by sharing your testimony with others. By telling them just how much He's changed your life."
Once Harry had heard that, he'd decided that he definitely wanted all of his loved ones in attendance. However, given that all of his friends were magical, he was hesitant to invite them to Grace Bible Church. It wasn't that he was afraid that they wouldn't be accepted. He simply wanted to avoid an awkward situation if he could, and he had no doubt that both Mr. Weasley and Ron would probably cause a scene simply through their ignorance of the Muggle world in general and of Christianity in particular. And that didn't even take into account what the reaction of the congregation would be if Hagrid showed up.
He'd asked Festus if he had to be baptized in a church, and Festus had said no – that it didn't truly matter where a believer was baptized. At that point, Harry had decided on the pond behind Andromeda's house. It would be perfect, he'd thought. Like the Weasleys, she too lived in Devon, less than an hour from Newton Abbott. Thus, it would be a short drive for Festus.
Harry had arranged the baptism for Thursday evening, two days before the next World Cup match, and he'd invited a couple dozen of his friends to attend: all of the Weasleys and their significant others; Andromeda and Teddy; Neville and Luna; his agent, Tracey; Hermione's parents; Barnabas, Burley, and a few others from the Cannons' organization (though, not Constance Goodbottie – for he was no fool. He knew how Ginny would respond if he invited his former flame); Minerva and Hagrid, and finally, Festus and his wife, Susan. He'd pulled Hermione, her parents, and Professor McGonagall aside prior to Festus arriving and asked if they could remain within ears-reach of the two Muggles. That way, if Ron, Mr. Weasley, Hagrid, or someone else said something awkward, then they'd be there to escort them away and cover up any potential gaffes. He'd also asked Hagrid not to bring any magical creatures along. Seeing a nearly twelve-foot-tall man was going to be a big enough shock for Festus and his wife. He didn't need the half-giant showing them a hippogriff or baby dragon, as well. Thus, fortunately, Hagrid's only escort was his puppy, Rufus.
The celebration started around six, and things couldn't have gone smoother. When Festus and Susan arrived, nobody made a spectacle of themselves. Though, Harry was happy that he'd warned his pastor about Hagrid's size beforehand. Even so, the two Muggle's eyes went wide upon seeing the half-giant. The food that Harry had ordered was tasty, and, to his eyes, everyone enjoyed the meal and fellowship. Andromeda had an elevated, covered porch running the length of her house that overlooked the back pond, and on it were several smaller tables with chairs where many of Harry's friends ate their supper. Down below, in the backyard, Minerva had transfigured some logs into a long, wooden table and benches for everyone else to sit and eat. Harry sat next to Festus and Susan to ensure that all nearby conversation steered clear of magical topics. Though, he did overhear the word 'Quidditch' coming from somewhere down the table a few times.
The only thing keeping Harry from having a completely joyful experience were his thoughts about Ginny. His conversation with Festus from Tuesday was still weighing heavily on his mind. He'd re-read several times the verses from the Bible that seemingly stated that Christians should not marry unbelievers. In addition, Festus had showed him other verses of Scripture that seemed to support that interpretation. Thus, to Harry's mind, there really was no talking his way out of what was written in black and white. He just had to – as Festus had said – ask himself, 'Do I really trust God? That He knows best?'
But in the past two days, Harry had done more than just read his Bible. For the first time in his life, he'd actually prayed, as well. But since he'd never prayed before, he'd asked Festus how to do it. The pastor's response had been, "Just talk to Him. Like you would anyone else. Tell Him what's on your heart and mind. Ask Him for His help. That His Holy Spirit will lead you. For His glory and your good." So that's what he did.
As Harry discussed his thoughts and feelings with God, he realized that there were only three real options from which to pick. First, he could simply ignore God's commands and marry Ginny anyway. But the more he prayed, the more he knew that he wouldn't choose that option. He didn't know if it was the Holy Spirit leading him or not – because the truth was that he never heard any kind of audible voice - but every time that he thought of disobeying God's explicit instructions, he felt a sharp prick in his conscience.
'Jesus, I know that You love me. Because You died the death I deserve - to save me from my sins and into a relationship with You,' he'd prayed the night before. 'So, to consciously and deliberately disobey would be like spitting in Your face. If I love You at all – which I do - then I can't do that.'
Harry's second choice was to simply trust in God and His Word and end his relationship with Ginny. But the thought of doing that made him feel as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest. So, as he turned everything over his mind, he thought that there might be a third option - that he could postpone the wedding in the hopes that God would save Ginny and make her a believer in Christ, as well. If He did that, then the two of them could get married after all – just later. He considered this third option to be a wonderful idea and a great compromise. He would be obeying his Father's commands while at the same time not ending his relationship with Ginny.
Once he'd made that decision, he'd spent almost all his waking moments pleading with God to save her. He knew that he had to speak with her soon about the situation for the wedding was now less than a month away, but he'd also told himself that morning that he would wait until after the baptism was over before he told her.
'I mean, I can't really do it beforehand,' he'd rationalized to himself. 'I've already invited all her family.'
Plus, he hoped that perhaps he could say the right words at his baptism so that Jesus would invade her heart and mind as He had Harry's. And if Christ did that, then he wouldn't even have to bring up the topic with her. Just how incredible would that be, he thought. Because the truth was that he was terrified of talking to Ginny about it. He had no idea how exactly she'd respond to a postponement of the wedding, but he knew that she obviously wouldn't be happy about his decision – especially when he told her the specific reason behind it. She was already leery of the whole Christian thing. Telling her that the postponement was due to commands in the Bible just might turn her skepticism into full-blown hatred.
All those thoughts were swirling in the back of his mind as he sat next to Ginny and across from Festus at the picnic table. He reached under the table and squeezed her hand that was resting on her thigh.
"I'm glad you're here," he said, looking into her eyes.
"Me, too," she said.
After the meal was finished, Harry requested that everyone join him down at the water's edge. Since he knew that the majority of the people there had very little knowledge of Christianity, he asked Festus to give a short explanation of Jesus' identity, the purpose of His death on a Roman cross, and so forth. After giving a short summary of the Gospel, the pastor went on to explain what baptism represented – that it was an external, symbolic gesture signifying an internal change in Harry's heart. Once Festus was finished speaking, Harry pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and took a step forward, facing all of his friends.
"I was told that this was an opportunity to tell all of you what Jesus has done in my life. So…here goes. I'll try to make it quick.
"Without meaning to sound arrogant, I know that, from the outside, my life probably looks perfect. I'm successful at my profession. I'm well off financially. I've clearly got great friends that care about me." He then found Ginny in the crowd and gave her a warm smile. "And I've somehow convinced the love of my life to marry me.
"But despite all of that, inside, I've felt empty. Like my life was missing something. Something vital. I didn't even realize it at the time, but now I see – I felt unlovable. That no one could ever truly love someone like me. And, then, through a crazy set of circumstances, Jesus just invaded my life. And He's changed everything. Not just in how I view God, but also in how I view myself, and others, life itself. That empty, hollow feeling that I felt inside has been filled perfectly by the love of Christ. I finally feel truly and completely loved. And having a relationship with Him is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Now, for the first time in my life, I have real and lasting peace and contentment in my soul - due to the knowledge that I have been forgiven. He has given me salvation and redemption, and I'm filled with joy and hope, knowing that I get to spend eternity with Him.
"This week, I came across a psalm that I thought summed up my thoughts better than I could…" At that point, he unfolded the piece of paper in his hands. "…so, I figure that I'll just read it to you. It's from Psalm 63. It says that it's by a guy named David, when he was in the Desert of Judah.
"He says, 'You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your Name, I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.'
"There are a few more verses, but they don't really apply to me. But…verses three and four…those are the words of my soul. 'Because Your love, Lord, is better than life, my lips will glorify You forever.' That's exactly how I feel now. Jesus…and His love are better than life. He's what my heart has always longed for."
Harry then folded up the paper and put it in his pocket before looking over at Festus.
"I guess that's it."
Festus smiled, walked over to Harry, and placed his hand on his shoulder. After offering a short prayer of thanks to God, the two of them walked out into the pond. They stopped once the water was about thigh high, and Harry knelt down so that the water was up to his chest.
"It is my honor," said Festus, "to baptize you, my brother in Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. You and your old life have been buried with Christ in death…" He then dunked Harry completely beneath the water before, a moment later, lifting him back up. "…and you have been raised in Him, into the newness of life."
Immediately, Harry stood and wrapped Festus in a fierce hug.
"Thank you, Festus, for everything."
Harry heard some clapping coming from his left so he turned to look at his friends standing along the shoreline. His smile slowly faded when he looked at everyone's faces. The clapping was coming from Susan, Festus' wife, who also had a beaming smile on her face. He noticed that the Grangers were also smiling, and Hagrid too looked very pleased for Harry. But everyone else was just staring at the scene either stone-faced or with furrowed brows. He saw several people making not-so-discreet side-glances at one another. The overall general vibe coming from the group was one of, 'What in the world did I just witness?' He then found Ginny in the crowd and he swallowed hard, confused by what he saw. For she was actually glaring at him.
oOo
"Okay, Ginny, we're home now. So, will you tell me what's wrong? Why you're so angry?"
The baptism had ended an hour earlier, and after helping Andromeda clean up the back yard, the two of them had made their way back to Grimmauld Place. They were down in the kitchen, having just stepped out of the floo network.
"I'm not angry," she hissed.
"Yeah, right. Of course, you're not."
"I'm not," she repeated. "I'm hurt."
"Hurt? Why?"
"Because you humiliated me tonight."
"When? How?"
"You honestly don't know?" She sounded incredulous.
"No, I don't. I called you the love of my life in front of a huge group of people. I thought you'd like that."
"Yeah, you called me the love of your life, but you lied."
Harry didn't immediately respond - mostly because he didn't even know what to say.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he finally said.
"You stood there in front of all of my family, in front of our friends and told them that you have felt hollow inside. That, even though you're with me, your life has felt empty. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Like dirt. Like my love means nothing. I'm clearly not the love of your life. Your little imaginary friend is. 'He's the best thing that's ever happened to me,'" she said in a mocking tone. "That's what you said, isn't it?"
Harry just stared at his fiancée for a moment. She was visibly upset - for she was breathing deeply and the blood had rushed to her face. The truth was that he could feel his own heart beating a bit faster than normal as well, and he knew a fight was about to start. But as he continued to look at her, from out of nowhere, a thought came to mind. And, fortunately, it was a thought that calmed him.
'Lord, please give me the right words to say,' he whispered in his mind before swallowing hard and giving a small nod of his head.
"It wasn't my intention to hurt you tonight, and I'm very sorry that I did. But, yes, that's what I said," he answered.
"And did you mean it?"
He nodded again.
"And just how would you feel if I said that I loved someone more than you, huh?"
"As long as you said that the person was Jesus, I'd be okay with it. In fact, that's what I actually want for you. For you to know Him and His love like I do." Before she could respond, he continued. "Because, Ginny, as much as I'm grateful for your love – as much as I am amazed that you even love me at all – it doesn't compare to the love of God. I wish you could see that and know that for yourself."
"Well, I don't see it," she said. "And I don't understand it. I don't understand any of this!"
"I'm sorry that you don't understand, but…I still love you. In fact, now that I know what true love really is – God's love – I think that I can love you better and deeper now than I ever did before. So, isn't that all that matters? That I still love you?"
"I don't know, Harry," she said, shaking her head. "I just don't know. I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore. I mean, do you expect me to start coming to church with you? Once we have kids, do you expect that they'll go, too? Are you going to raise them to…believe in this Jesus-guy?"
And with those words, suddenly, Harry saw the truth. The truth of God's commands. 'Do not be yoked together with unbelievers,' he repeated the verse in his mind. 'For what do believers have in common with unbelievers?' The previous week, he'd read in Ephesians that God called men to love and lead their families like Christ loves the church, and he knew that, as part of that leadership, he would always point his wife and children toward Jesus. To encourage them to follow Him and His teachings. But how could he do that if he was married to someone who was actually antagonistic towards Christ? It would be next to impossible, he thought. So, he knew that he could no longer hold off on what he needed to say. He sighed deeply before speaking.
"Ginny…we…we have to postpone the wedding."
He held his breath waiting for her response because, with her fiery temper, he had no idea how she'd react. As he stared into her face, he first saw confusion pass behind her eyes. But it was quickly replaced by hurt and then fury.
"Are you serious? You're actually cancelling the wedding because we're having a fight?"
"No, Ginny, no. I'm not cancelling it. I still want to marry you. We just…we just have to postpone it."
"Why?" she asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because of something I found out on Tuesday night."
Suddenly, he saw understanding come to her eyes.
"When you were with Festus, right?"
He nodded before quickly glancing at the wand-holster on his left forearm. He'd seen her fire off curses at people in anger before. In fact, she was a bit infamous for using the Bat-Bogey hex when ticked off. He'd never been on the receiving end of it before, and he wasn't about to start now. If she attacked him, he wouldn't attack her back, but he was definitely going to protect himself.
"What did he tell you?" Her voice was ice cold.
"He didn't tell me anything. But he did show what the Bible says."
"And what does it say?"
"That a Christian shouldn't marry a non-Christian."
For a second, she didn't say a word. She just stared at Harry, clenching her jaws.
"You've known this for two days, and you're just telling me now?" she finally asked.
"I was hoping that, tonight, my words at the baptism might change your mind. That you'd be convinced to give Jesus a chance."
"Well, they didn't."
Harry wasn't exactly sure what to say so he just nodded.
"So, your plan is that we just postpone the wedding until I finally decide to believe what you believe, is that it?"
"That's my hope."
"And if I don't ever believe?"
"Then, we can't get married."
"Don't you dare say we can't!" she suddenly yelled. "As if this is somehow out of your control. This is your decision. At least be a man about it and own it."
She was clenching her fists tightly, and he could see that her entire body was trembling.
"You're right, Ginny. You're right. We could get married – even if you never became a Christian. But I would be disobeying God if I did, and I won't do that. So, to answer your question, if you never believe in Jesus as I do, then I won't marry you."
She glared at him, but she didn't pull her wand. After a moment, she strode past him toward the fireplace. After grabbing some floo powder from the bowl on the mantle, she turned back toward him.
"You are such a liar," she said coldly. "Do you know that? What does your precious god think about lying? Isn't that a sin, too?"
"What are you talking about?"
"When you told me that you'd become a Christian, I asked you if anything would change between us. And you lied. You said no. Remember that."
As she turned to leave, Harry asked, "Where are you going?"
"Home. To think."
"But…you are home."
She glanced over her shoulder.
"I'm not so sure anymore," she said before calling out the name of a tavern in Holyhead and stepping into the floo.
oOo
Harry was incredibly grateful for Quidditch and that he was right in the middle of the World Cup. He knew the last thing that he needed was to sit at home, wallowing in sadness and self-pity. Nothing good would come from that. And, fortunately, competition always focused his thoughts on the task at hand. Therefore, during the hours on his broom at practice the next day, he welcomed the respite from fretting over his fractured relationship with Ginny.
But he'd also discovered something else that helped him handle the negative emotions that he was feeling inside, and that discovery was even more helpful than flying his broom. It was prayer. Festus had told him that his key to walking with Christ would be reading the Bible and praying, and Harry had taken that advice to heart. He'd even looked up the word 'prayer' in the concordance in the back of his Bible, and he'd found dozens of verses dealing with the topic. Two verses in particular had resonated with him.
'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'
When he'd first read the verses, a couple of things had jumped out at him. First, he was reminded of how often the Bible spoke of anxiety and fear. He'd first noticed that while reading the book of John two weeks earlier. Jesus spoke to his followers about fear several times, and, invariably, his response would always be something along the lines of, 'Don't be afraid. Turn to Me. For I have overcome the world.'
The second thing he noticed was that the apostle Paul was telling the readers of his letter that the answer to fear was praying to God. The answer wasn't pretending that the anxiety – or the circumstances that was causing it – didn't exist. He wasn't stating that the key to overcoming fear was to simply put on a happy face and repeat inane, self-affirming mantras like, 'Don't worry. Be happy.' The solution wasn't to simply suppress it by distracting yourself with other things – like competing in a World Cup match. No, according to the Bible, the way to alleviate one's fears was through prayer – specifically, prayer to God.
The final aspect of the verse that really spoke to Harry was what God's response to prayer would be. Most people would think that after telling his readers to pray, Paul would then say, 'And, then, God will answer your prayers and change your circumstances, fixing whatever problems are causing you to have anxiety.' But the verse didn't say that at all. In fact, nowhere in that section of Scripture could Harry find Paul talking about God ever 'fixing' one's circumstances. The apostle simply said, 'Pray, and God will give you His peace.' But how could that be, Harry asked himself. How could one have peace even through the worst of circumstances? And secondly, how could one possibly pray with thanksgiving during those same harsh trials? And those questions had led him to other verses on prayer in 1st Thessalonians.
'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.'
The 'pray without ceasing' part made sense to Harry. For he had discovered that that's what he'd been doing for the past couple of days – ever since his last conversation with Festus. Not formalized prayer while on his knees and with his hands clasped in front of him. But, rather, simply talking to God constantly throughout his day. Whether he was in the shower, getting dressed, eating, or wherever, Harry found himself constantly speaking to God about what was on his mind – specifically, his relationship with Ginny.
What really didn't make sense to Harry about that verse were the other parts. God, through the apostle Paul, was commanding his believers to 'rejoice always' and 'be thankful in all circumstances,' which meant even during the worst of times. And that seemed impossible to Harry. How could one be joyful and thankful during the loss of a relationship or the death of a loved one or finding out you've lost your job or coming down with a debilitating illness? But if this verse was a command from God, then that meant it could be done. God wouldn't command the impossible. Therefore, as Harry read the verses and thought more deeply about them, he realized that, for the Christian, true joy and thankfulness had to somehow be independent of one's circumstances. It meant that, in some way, the Christian could find joy and be grateful even in the saddest of times.
And at that point, Harry had immediately been reminded of attending the funeral of Festus' father the previous week. He'd been amazed at the time that even during a funeral, the people in attendance had been able to laugh and smile – to find joy – even through their tears. Harry asked himself how they had been able to do it, and he could only come up with one answer that made any sense: they focused on the better, eternal things. They reminded themselves that their circumstances – no matter how painful – were ultimately temporary. At least, they were temporary in light of eternity, for everything on earth – except his soul and God's Word - was temporary compared to eternity. And what was that better, eternal thing that he needed to focus on? It was his relationship with Christ. A relationship that Festus had told him he would never lose.
Once Harry had realized that, his thoughts had started to change. Yes, he still prayed that God would change Ginny's mind about Christ and reconcile their relationship, but he also began to constantly remind himself that he was loved with Christ's perfect love. That Jesus would never leave him and would get him through whatever trials might come.
'Lord, I thank You for loving me. I know that You'll always love me, and I know You'll get me through this. This won't last forever,' became his constant prayer.
And, sure enough, the more that he focused on those things, the more that he found the worry and turmoil in his mind and soul began to be replaced by peace.
That Friday night, right before going to sleep, Harry knelt down next to his bed and bowed his head.
"Father, my life is a whirlwind right now. And, frankly, a bit of a mess. My relationship with Ginny is wrecked. All of my friends think I've gone insane. I'm trying my best to be a good godfather to Teddy, but I'm not sure that I see him enough. And I've got an entire nation expecting me to catch the snitch tomorrow. To be honest, I really don't even know what to pray for right now. I mean, obviously, I want Ginny to come back to me. I'd like all my friends to come to know You like I have. I want to be a good role-model for Teddy. And, of course, I want to win the World Cup, but…I don't know if any of that is part of Your plan. Well, except for the part about Teddy. I'm pretty sure that You'd want me to love and lead him well."
Harry then suddenly recalled a verse from the Bible that he'd come across earlier that evening which said, '…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' He exhaled deeply before continuing.
"I guess, whatever happens tomorrow, whatever happens with Ginny, just…help me to trust that You're in control. And help me to please You…to live a life that honors You. Help me to love You like You deserve. Thank You for loving me and saving me. I know I don't deserve it. I pray all this in Jesus' name, amen."
Five minutes later, Harry was fast asleep.
oOo
"There's the man!" shouted Argyle Chindimple before grabbing Harry and giving him a rib-crushing hug.
Harry smiled and hugged his teammate back. The two of them had been walking in opposite directions in the hallway near the Press Corps interview room. The English National team's keeper had just finished coming off the podium and Harry would be going on soon.
"Pretty good day, huh, Argyle?"
The keeper laughed as he released his hug.
"Understatement of the year, my man. One of the best days ever."
"Yeah, but…hopefully even better days ahead, right."
"Yeah," agreed Argyle, giving a knowing nod of his head. "Two more wins, Harry. Just two more, and we make history." The keeper's smile then widened. "Well, you already have, but two more wins and the rest of us become legends, too. Just like you."
"Sounds good to me," he said with a smile, slapping Argyle on the shoulder before continuing down the hall.
Harry was still in his uniform, and it was only because he'd just cast a drying charm on it that it was no longer sticking to his skin. The coaching staff hadn't been lying – Death Valley had perhaps the hottest climate Harry had ever experienced, and he wouldn't have been surprised it he'd sweated out a dozen liters of water during each match over the last two days. Of course, his jersey hadn't simply been soaked with sweat earlier. He – and his teammates – had been drenched with champagne, as well. In fact, he still had the sweet taste of it in his mouth from their locker-room celebration. For the English team had kept their World Cup dreams alive by beating the Americans the previous day and the team from Thailand less than an hour ago.
The only thing ruining his mood were his thoughts of Ginny. As he continued toward the Press room, his mind flashed-back to the previous evening. After the match against the Yanks, he'd been in his private tent in the Player's Pavilion, with both himself and his entire tent covered in cooling charms, when Hermione and Ron had dropped by for a visit.
"Mate!" yelled Ron. "Unbelievable match! Unbelievable! I swear – keep this up and you're gonna get yourself a second chocolate frog card!"
"Hey, Harry," greeted Hermione. "We just wanted to stop by to say congratulations. We know you need to get your rest for tomorrow's match so we won't stay long." She then looked at her husband. "Will we, Ron?" she said very deliberately.
"Oh, man! The way you swooped in and stole the snitch from Modano was brilliant, mate!" exclaimed the red head, ignoring his wife. "Absolutely brilliant!"
When his two friends had stepped into the tent, he'd looked past them and furrowed his brows.
"Is…is Ginny not with you?"
Suddenly, the smile left Ron's face, and he glanced at Hermione.
"Umm, she…well…you know…" Ron stammered out.
"She didn't come, Harry," answered Hermione.
"To the Player's Pavilion?"
"No, Harry. To the States. She stayed in England."
Harry's heart fell. This was not good at all. He knew that she said she needed time to think about their situation, but he couldn't believe that she'd actually miss his World Cup matches.
"Yeah, man, what exactly happened?" asked Ron. "When we asked, she told us to ask you."
Harry sighed because he really didn't want to get into it, not now. But he knew that they'd find out sooner or later, and he figured it'd be best if they heard it from him.
"I told her that I wanted to postpone the wedding."
"What?!"
"But why?" asked Hermione. "I thought things were great with you two."
"Are you back with Hottie?" asked Ron, which elicited an immediate elbow to the ribs from his wife. "Ouch! It was just a question, woman! I wasn't, like, encouraging him or suggesting it."
After Harry had told them of his motivation behind his decision, Ron had said, "You know, Harry, I'm not one to tell you how to live your life," he then glanced side-eyed at Hermione, "but shouldn't you have read more of that book - to find out what was in it - before you made the decision to follow everything it said? Wouldn't that have been the smart thing to do?"
Harry clenched his jaws upon hearing that. He loved Ron, but the man wasn't known for his wisdom. And, certainly, the last thing Harry wanted to hear at the moment was some type of back-handed insult from the man.
"Is that what you really think, Ron?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Well, yeah," said the red head, clearly oblivious to Harry's mood.
"I'm not going to lie, Harry," piped in Hermione. "I kind of agree with him. I mean, you've admitted that you've hardly read the Bible at all. So, your decision does seem really rash."
"So, you two actually think that, if I had known about this command of God's regarding marriage before-hand, then I never would have turned my life over to Christ to begin with?"
"Yeah, maybe," answered Ron with a shrug.
"Then, you're an idiot," snarled Harry. "If you think this teaching about marriage would've kept me from following Christ before, then why isn't it keeping me from following Him now? Huh? I could disobey Him if I wanted. Heck, I could totally change my mind and turn my back on Him completely. Say that this whole Christianity-thing was a complete mistake. So, why haven't I?" His eyes shifted back and forth between his two startled friends, but neither of them answered. "I'll tell you why – because I trust Him. I know that He's got my best interest at heart. And do you know how I know that? Because He died for me. That's why. I know you don't believe that. And I'm not asking you to, but…" Suddenly, Harry stopped mid-sentence and clenched his jaws again, breathing in and out very slowly. "You know what – just go. I don't feel like getting into this with either one of you right now. I've kind of got a big day tomorrow."
They'd left immediately. Harry had tried to go to sleep afterwards, but he'd tossed and turned in bed for hours, unable to shut his mind off. He was frustrated and disappointed that his friends hadn't even attempted to hear, much less understand, his point-of-view, and he was down-right angry that their first response was to imply that he was a fool for having surrendered his life to Christ in the first place. He realized then that, since this spiritual journey had started three weeks ago, his closest friends had really offered him nothing but resistance. They'd certainly not given any encouragement.
"Surprised that they even showed up to my baptism," he'd mumbled to himself as he'd stared up at the ceiling.
Harry was suddenly brought out of his memories by a few well-wishers in the hallway saying his name and congratulating him on his win. He thanked them but moved past them quickly, the guilt from his behavior the night before souring his mood. He knew that, even though he wasn't as moody and angsty as he'd been as a teenager, his anger still routinely got the better of him – which he also knew didn't bring honor to God. Despite what Hermione and Ron believed, he had actually read quite a lot of the Bible – certainly enough to know that God didn't want His children acting out in anger. God wanted him to treat others with kindness and compassion, and when wronged, to forgive others just as he had been forgiven by his Father. Therefore, even though Harry still didn't approve of what his two friends had said, he knew that he shouldn't have lost his temper and called them idiots. And he knew that he needed to hunt them down as soon as he could to ask for their forgiveness.
Harry paused as he reached the double doors to the interview room.
'Father, please forgive me for sinning in anger last night. And please help me to control my temper in the future – especially right now, in dealing with the press,' he prayed silently before entering the room.
He had to wait a couple of minutes as two of his teammates finished up their interviews, but in no time, he was up on the stage, sitting under the bright lights and being peppered with questions from numerous journalists.
"Harry, after last weekend's miraculous victories, many fans – and even some here in the press – have started calling your English squad a team of destiny. Now, with two more wins here this weekend, have you and your teammates started to buy into that?"
"Well, I'm not sure about the whole destiny-thing, but I do know that we're a very confident group right now. We're trusting in one another…trusting in the game plan that the coaches are coming up with…and so far, it's been paying off." He paused for a second and smiled at the thought that had come to mind. "Trust is the most important key in any strong relationship – even in sports. It builds confidence, and I think this team has got that in spades right now."
"Harry, with making the final four, your team has made English Quidditch history. No English squad has ever made it this far in the World Cup before. Have you even allowed yourself to think what it might be like to lift the Cup or are you only focused on the next match?"
"A little bit of both. Obviously, as each individual match approaches, my focus is on that. However, I also think it's important to always keep the end goal – the long-term goal – in the back of my mind. It helps me stay motivated and focused as I go through the daily grind of the gym and practice and meetings. To remind myself that there's a purpose for the hard work and sacrifice that I'm putting myself through – including having to do interviews with you lot." That comment brought about some chuckles from those in the room. "To remind myself that something far greater lies ahead."
"Harry, we still don't know two of the other teams in the final four. We'll find out who they are tomorrow and Tuesday, but we do already know who your next opponent will be – the team from Egypt. Now, they do have a world-class seeker in Rawya Zaghloul. However, given that you defeated her head-to-head just three weeks ago in the BIQL Championship, do you feel that perhaps for the first time in this World Cup your English squad is the favorite in your next match instead of the underdog?"
Harry smiled. "I'll let the bookies figure that out. But, no, I don't consider us the favorite. Because did you watch that championship match? Yes, I caught the snitch but only by the narrowest of margins. Zaghloul gave me everything that I could handle that day. So, I know we're going to have to execute well if we hope to win. I'm not taking anything for granted."
"Harry, you mentioned a few moments ago that you do keep the goal of winning the World Cup in the back of your mind. I know that you still have two more matches to win, but could you tell us just what that would mean for you – how you would feel – to bring England a championship?"
"It would mean a lot. While I grew up exclusively in the Muggle world, I definitely consider the magical world more of my home now. And after everything Wizarding Britain went through four, five years ago…well, I think that a win would go a long way in healing the wounds that our country may still have from that war. I've discovered that's one of the great things about sport. It brings together fans from all types of backgrounds. People that may not agree politically…or with regards to social or economic ideas, they can still come together and temporarily put those differences aside to root for the same team. So, I'd love to win – not just for myself and my teammates but for the fans, for England itself. I think that it's unity more than anything else – unity of purpose, unity of values – that makes any group strong. Whether that group is a team, a family, a school, or a county. So, I'd love to win. To bring - even if it's just for a moment - some unity to our nation and to help us all feel grateful to be a part of something special."
"Next question is from Newsom Beekman," said the moderator, which brought about an internal sigh from Harry.
"Harry, many have noticed that your fiancée, Ginny Weasley, has not been seen at all this weekend. Rumor is that she stayed in England. Our readers are curious to know if there are problems in your relationship. Care to comment?"
Harry instantly felt anger surge through him. That was exactly the type of question he should have expected from Nuisance. But while he clenched his jaws and stared down the oily man, he didn't immediately speak. He simply controlled his breathing and said to himself, 'Lord, help me stay calm.'
"Beekman, you know my policy," he eventually responded. "I don't discuss personal matters during Quidditch interviews. So, no, I don't care to comment. So, if you don't have a Quidditch-related question, then surrender the floor to someone who does."
A few minutes later, having answered all the questions that he cared to answer, he left the interview room and headed back to the locker room. His next objective was to change and find Ron and Hermione. Even if they didn't understand his new-found beliefs, they were still his friends and he wanted to reconcile with them.
oOo
On Monday morning, Harry stepped out of the floo network and into his kitchen at Grimmauld Place, and he realized immediately that something was amiss. Ginny's coffee cup was no longer in its usual spot. In fact, it wasn't on the kitchen counter at all, and upon seeing that, his heart fell into his stomach.
"Kreacher," said Harry in quiet voice.
An instant later, the house elf appeared.
"You called, Master Harry?"
"I did. Has Ginny been here in the past two days?"
"Yes, Master Harry. She is currently in the drawing room."
"Thank you, Kreacher," he said before swallowing hard.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions as he headed upstairs. He was glad that she'd returned home, but he had no idea what she was going to say. Though, he couldn't lie to himself – the fact that she hadn't come to America to watch him in the World Cup didn't bode well. And what had she done with her coffee cup?
Once he'd stepped onto the next landing, he paused and swallowed hard again. His heart was beating so powerfully that it felt like it was about to explode out of his chest. So, he did the only thing that he knew to do. He prayed.
'Father, I trust You're in control,' he thought. 'And whatever happens, I know that You love me and desire what is ultimately good for me. Please keep me from getting angry. Please give me the right words to say. Help me to honor You.'
He stopped at the door's threshold and involuntary held his breath at the sight before him. Ginny was sitting on the couch, but she wasn't reading one of her copies of 'Witch's Wedding' magazine. In fact, there wasn't as single issue to be seen – on the couch beside her or on the coffee table in front of it. They were normally strewn all about. And at that point, he knew. He knew that she'd either thrown them away or packed them up – along with her coffee cup – and, therefore, he knew what she was probably going to say. But he knew he couldn't run from it. So, he might as well get it over with.
Harry exhaled as he walked into the room, which got Ginny's attention. The two of them didn't say a word. They just stared at one another as Harry walked over to the desk, grabbed the chair and pulled it over towards the couch. He placed it near where Ginny was sitting, and after taking he seat, he said, "Hello."
"Hi. Congratulations. I heard you won."
He nodded. "Thanks. I heard you stayed here."
"I had a lot to think about, and I didn't want any distractions."
He nodded again.
"You've hurt me deeply, Harry. Twice now. Twice now, you've chosen someone else over me."
"I didn't -"
"Let me finish!" she said, narrowing her eyes at him. After a moment, she composed herself and continued. "Three years ago, you chose yourself – trying to find yourself - over staying with me. And I did my best to understand. You told me then that you just needed to get your head right. So, I decided to give you the time and space you needed. Hoping that once you'd figured everything out, you might come back to me. But, now, you've chosen…some invisible, imaginary person over me - a real, flesh-and-blood woman who has done nothing but love you. And I've done my best to understand again. But I don't. Not at all. I don't even know who you are anymore. So, I've got a question, and I need you to be completely honest with me. No lies."
"Okay."
"If we work things out and stay together…in the future, if what I want goes against what is written in that book that you're always reading, who will you pick? The book or me?"
Harry paused for just a moment to collect his thoughts. He wanted to make sure he said this correctly.
"I promise you this, Ginny. I promise that I will love you to the absolute best of my ability. To honor you, to encourage you, to support you and be your best friend. To always do what is in your best interest and our family's best interest. But…if what you want contradicts God's commands – as He has revealed in His Word – or in how I believe the Holy Spirit is convicting me, then, as a family, we won't go down that path. I will always do my best to lead us – me, you, our kids – in a way that glorifies and obeys God."
Ginny clenched her jaws.
"At least you were honest this time."
She removed the engagement ring from her hand, placed it on the coffee table in front of her and began walking towards the door. Harry immediately stood.
"Ginny…"
She turned around to face him, and he could see tears welling up in her eyes. His heart was breaking and he wanted to hold her in his arms, but he knew her too well.
"I didn't lie to you before…when I said nothing would change between us. Saying that I lied makes it sound like I was trying to deceive you. That wasn't my intention at all. I've never lied to you. I was just wrong. I just…I just didn't know everything that the Bible said at that point. I didn't know."
"If that's what you need to tell yourself to fall asleep at night, then…you know what, it doesn't even matter anymore."
And then she turned and walked out of his life.