"Dry Her Eyes"
By Loki Palmer
Author's Note: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The Avengers belong to the MCU and Stan Lee.
Happy New Year 2022! Don't y'all worry, I'm still alive and still kicking, glory to God! What a crazy year 2021 has been! I've been spending most of 2021 working on "Gargoyle Willie" and preparing it for publication. The good news: the cover is done and the book is in the printing stage. The printing should be done by mid-to-late January 2022, by my best estimate. I should be expecting a release date soon after.
What to say regarding the politics of 2021? G.K. Chesterton was accurate (and is still accurate) when he said, "Men are ruled, at this minute by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."
I could not have said it better myself. Opening up the southern border of the United States was one of the dumbest things the country could have done, and in the middle of an accursed pandemic, no less. As hospitable as I can be, simple logic says that if I am to have a visitor, I have to know that the visitor is someone I can trust. Yes, this would limit my visitors to being my friends first, but, yes, the bondage of trust is an absolute requirement. Even Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer would probably agree with this logic, in spite of their love of open borders. Would they accept anybody into their homes? As liberal as they may be, I doubt it.
Yes, America is supposed to be a welcoming nation, and we are a nation of immigrants, but at the same time, we don't welcome everybody regardless of background. In China and Japan, you have to have your visa BEFORE you arrive, and to get your visa, you have to go through an interview with the local consulate in your home nation. Perhaps that should be a policy worth our consideration, but it's unlikely Joe Biden and his allies would consider it. No, they love their open borders!
I would nominate three songs to describe this present time period in the United States:
1. "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield
2. "The Times, They Are A-Changing" by Bob Dylan
3. "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle (also known as the theme song to "Cops")
There is something of a revolution in the air, like unto a Second American Revolution. Unlike the first (1775-1781), this is not a revolution of guns and bullets, but rather a revolution fought on a higher level than we mortals normally recognize – a spiritual level, if you will. I'm talking God-versus-the-Evil-One, and while the nations rage and make their plans of rebellion, God laughs at their plans, and then He smites them in His anger (see Psalm 2). To quote President Thomas Jefferson: "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His Wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His Justice cannot sleep for ever…."
What happened to such enemies? I can give two examples: the Pharaoh of the Exodus saw Egypt wrecked, he lost his firstborn son on Passover night, and he lost his life and army in the Red Sea chasing after the Israelites (see Exodus 1-14). King Sennacherib, a king of Assyria, lost 185,000 soldiers in one night to an angel invading his camp, and he fled home (II Kings 19:35,36 and Isaiah 36-37).
How much longer will it be before this revolution is done? Who can say for certain when, except God Himself? The least I know is that it is God who will complete it in such a way so He will receive all the glory, therefore the people of God will have reasons to rejoice, for He will bring to pass what He has spoken through His prophets of today, prophets like Pastor Hank Kunneman (of Lord of Hosts Church), Amanda Grace, Manuel Johnson, Kat Kerr, Robin Bullock, Timothy Dixon, and others. The evangelist Smith Wigglesworth said that he saw a future vision of the earth being covered in glory, and it was a greater glory than he saw in all of his ministry. When God says He will do something, He will do it. The Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, made a covenant with Him in 1620 by way of the Mayflower Compact. It's a document I highly recommend reading.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," so goes the saying. I would add an addendum to that: Heavier is the head that is not anointed to wear the crown. Is it any wonder that Joe Biden has been losing his mind, in the sense that his brain is leaking like a dementia patient? I may not agree with his politics – nor do I agree with Senator "Grinch" McConnell's political stinginess toward the poor and unfortunate of society – but I feel bad for him.
Well, enough of my political and theological lecture. Let's continue with the story!
Chapter 16
As Harry and his fellow champions came to the front of the makeshift stage above the Black Lake, Cedric said, "Again, I have to ask: what's the big idea of having us in winter clothing instead of swimsuits? I presume our hostages are underwater."
"You're correct," said Harry with a smile, "but who wants to stare at a body of water for an entire hour, waiting for us to come back?"
"Headmaster, he makes a good point," said Professor Snape.
"Indeed, Severus. If I understand him correctly, he plans to alter the parameters somewhat."
"Only a bit, Professor Dumbledore … with permission. As far as I can explain without spoilers, the hostages will still be underwater until we rescue them. The ultimate point is their rescue within an hour, right?"
Igor Karkaroff nodded. "I will be most curious to witness how Mr. Potter will change this up. Permission granted."
"I say ze same as 'Eadmaster Karkaroff," said Olympe Maxine.
"And I, too, will grant permission," said Albus Dumbledore.
"I hope everyone is bundled up," said Harry, "but, for safety's sake, Warming Charms wouldn't go amiss for the spectators."
"We shall handle that end," said Dr. Strange. "A ward, perhaps?"
"An excellent idea, Dr. Strange. We shall start the timer when the champions have left the platform, and they will have one hour maximum to rescue their hostages."
Harry gave him a thumbs-up in response. When the ward was erected behind them, he took a deep breath and went into a meditative trance as music started to play [music: "Into Eternity" from the soundtrack of "Thor: The Dark World"]
"Whoa!" said Cedric. "Viktor, are you seeing this?"
"I feel temperature colder than Stalin's heart now. Temperature this cold in Siberia, maybe, but here?"
"Regarde le lac – il gèle!" said Fleur. (Look at the lake – it's freezing!)
Indeed, the lake was freezing over, and snowflakes were falling.
He opened his eyes, and they had changed color to an icy blue. "Well, I guess everyone is ready, right? Except for Fleur – what happened to your winter boots?"
"Il ne fait jamais si froid à l'école de Beauxbatons," (It's never so cold at at the school of Beauxbatons.)
Harry smirked. "Aww, don't worry your pretty French head about it. You can sit this one out, if you like."
"Vous hommes aimeriez ça, n'est-ce pas? 'Les hommes sauverons les otages pendant que la petite demoiselle française reste chez elle!' Pas question!" (You men would like that, wouldn't you? 'The men will save the hostages while the little French lady stays home!' No way!)
Before Harry could give a snarky response, Fleur transformed into her avian side with a couple fireballs in her hands. With a couple flicks of his tongue and a Road Runner's "Beep, beep!" Harry sped off into the air, Fleur sending insults and fireballs in his direction as she flew after him. [music: Title track/Theme from "Thor: The Dark World"]
Viktor looked at Cedric. «Почему стоим тут?» (Why are we standing here?)
"Right. After them!"
So Cedric and Viktor ran out onto the ice, keeping an eye on Fleur and Harry up in the air, the latter of which had conjured a whirlwind to protect himself from the former's wrath.
~DRY HER EYES~
Some distance out onto the ice, a few lightning bolts struck down, carving lines into it ahead of them.
Harry and Fleur landed next to them as Fleur calmed down. "The hostages are under that sector," said Harry. "I put a tracking charm on Hermione."
Cedric and Viktor lifted the pieces of ice off the water below.
"You ever hear of Polar Bear Plunge?" Viktor said.
"Not before, but I can see where this will be going, and it will be bloody cold," said Cedric as everyone stripped down to their swimsuits and sent their outer clothes back to the stage. "Ready … set … GO!"
Everyone dived in. Seconds later, Harry conjured up another whirlwind and sent everyone else, Hermione excepted, back to the stage, where Dr. Strange and Albus Dumbledore cushioned their fall.
Hermione kissed Harry as he held her in mid-air. "My hero! I knew you'd come for me."
Harry waved to the people below. "Bye, everybody! We're off to celebrate!" With that, the happy couple sped away.
Back at the stage, Loki said to Professor Snape, "You might not like him, Severus, but even you can't deny it: My boy's got style!"
A split second later, Professor Moody dropped to the ground on the stage and writhed around like he was in pain. His artificial eye fell out and his peg-leg fell off. As his body re-assumed its original form, he saw everybody pointing their wands and weapons at him.
"Make one false move, Dr. Who," said Iron Man, "and you will find yourself exterminated."
A red bolt of light from Professor Snape's wand knocked out the stranger. "Mr. Stark, though you may presume this stranger resembles an incarnation of the famous Doctor from the TV series, the Doctor he is not. Rather, he is a Death Eater sentenced to life in Azkaban for attacking the Longbottoms: Barty Crouch Jr." He grabbed the hip flask, opened it, and sniffed it. "Hmm …. Polyjuice Potion. Now that I know what happened to the Boomslang skin and Lacewing flies missing from my stores, I have to ask an additional question: why would he impersonate your best friend, Headmaster?"
Headmaster Dumbledore looked around. "Well, what is everyone standing around for? Back to your dorms!"
Dr. Strange conjured a couple mystical ropes to bind Barty hand and foot. "These should hold him for now."
"Yes, thank you. We'll question him later."
Moments later, they heard a scream that sounded like Harry, and the Avengers made a run for Gryffindor Tower ….
~DRY HER EYES~
As Harry and Hermione came into the Gryffindor Boy's Dorm room, he laid her on his bed.
"Before you do anything else, Harry, there's something you have to know," she said.
"What's that, dear?"
He saw the movement of an Invisibility Cloak, and Hermione revealed herself. "Surprise, Harry! Aren't you glad I was safe all this time?"
"Wait a minute … Hermione? You've been here? All this time? What did you say to me, first year, in the third-floor corridor before I went to face off against Quirrellmort?"
"I said, 'Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh, Harry, be careful!'"
Harry grabbed Hermione – the real Hermione – off his bed and hugged her for all she was worth. "Oh, I am grateful and relieved that you've been safe!" He kissed her.
"Looks like you didn't do too badly yourself," she said with a smile.
"At the same time, if I've confirmed that you're Hermione, then who is –"
The features of the other "Hermione" melted to reveal none other than the same skinny girl from his dream. [played by Maisie Williams] She smiled at him and said, "Hello, dearest brother."
Harry backed up in horror – not of Hermione, but of his sister Hel – and he shuddered for a few seconds. When he had processed the full impact of the prank the latter had played on him, he responded the only way he knew how to respond in such a bizarre situation:
He screamed.
Author's Note: Another chapter done! Read and review!
Smiles and laughter,
Loki Palmer