Chapter 1- Portkey of the Lord
Harry Potter grumbled as he stepped into the darkened cave of the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't know why Hermione insisted on searching the cavern... no one knew about it, and all it contained was the now-rotting corpse of the basilisk. Idly poking through the rubble, he watched Hermione root through the debris with fervor, and watched Ron watch Hermione with about the same fervor. Suddenly, Harry tripped over something, slamming his face into the rocks. Cursing, he shook off the dust and glared at the item that tripped him. However, it was no ordinary rubbish. It was an ornate golden cross, with a man pinned to it with stakes.
"Ron, Hermione... come take a look at this." Harry yelled. He heard them scrabbling across the rocks to his location as he peered curiously at the object.
"Harry..." Hermione breathed as she finally got a close look at the cross. "Do you know what this is?"
"Er... some sort of jewelry?" Harry responded quizzically.
Hermione glared at him. "No. Honestly, haven't you lived with muggles for your whole life? You mean to tell me you've never seen this?"
Harry shrugged apologetically. "Well... to be fair, I was in a cupboard for most of that time."
Hermione waved him away impatiently. "This object is a symbol, Harry. Christianity is a belief system subscribed to by the majority of Muggles on this planet. They place their faith in an omnipotent God and the man depicted here, is Jesus Christ. According to their mythology, he was the son of this God who was sent to redeem the corrupt humans. He was killed for his messages, and his sacrifice is what allowed humanity to enter into Heaven, their idea of paradise."
As Hermione continued her discourse, Harry sat, eagerly listening to every word. Neither one of them noticed Ron's disinterest in the conversation, nor his growing fascination with the cross as he inched closer towards it.
"There's no truth to it, however. Every educated wizard or witch knows that the Muggle legend of Jesus is completely false, and used by the more powerful Muggles to control the masses." Hermione finished.
"Well, that's quite interesting, but what is something like that doing down - Ron, what the hell are you doing?! Don't touch it!" Harry broke off mid-sentence as he attemped to grab Ron and stop him from grasping the cross. In the attempt, Harry caught the tip of Hermione's robes, and they tumbled towards Ron, just as he took hold of the cross with his fingers. Harry felt a familiar pulling sensation at his navel...
Harry stumbled, looking around. A Portkey, just his luck... He had no time to consider his surroundings, however, as he saw a throng of people approaching him. At their head was a man with a large wooden cross on his back, being whipped and scourged by men in bronze armor. Harry grabbed his still dazed companions and hurled himself as best he could out of harm's way. He just narrowly made it, and watched wordlessly as the crowd stormed past him. The beaten man looked around, and Harry locked eyes with him. Mesmerized, Harry watched helplessly at the man's sorrowful eyes and the cruel torture he was enduring. He was startled back to reality by a sharp hiss behind him.
"Harry!" Ron whispered. "We have to save that guy!"
Harry looked at him askance. "Ron, he's most likely a criminal, on his way to being executed for whatever crime he's committed. I can't believe they would treat an innocent man like this."
Ron scowled. "Harry, how thick are you? That man! He's the man on the cross back in the Chamber!"
Hermione finally joined them, looking disheveled. "But... no. That's not possible, Ron. He just looks like him. Jesus didn't exist... He's just a myth..."
Ron rolled his eyes. "We thought the Chamber was a myth too! It turned out to be real! What if this is in fact that man? According to you, he was innocent! We have to save him, and I'm going to." With that, Ron took out his wand and forced his way into the crowd.
"Ron! Wait. We can't take out this many people by ourselves. We need a plan." Harry told him. "This is what we'll do- I'll go behind the crowd, and summon the cross to me. When I do, that should create enough of a diversion for you two to grab him and then we'll get out of here."
The other two nodded tensely.
"Alright... as soon as I summon the cross, that's your cue." Harry said. With that, he rushed to the back of the crowd as Ron and Hermione readied themselves for the rescue.
"Accio Cross!" Harry shouted. The massive wooden cross flew backwards through the crowd, throwing people aside. Ron and Hermione dashed into the middle, and hoisting Jesus up onto their shoulders, ran out of the crowd. Harry followed suit. As it turns out, they had no need for the escape. The soldiers, seeing the flying cross as an act of God, refused to chase after them. Harry and his cohorts didn't realize this, however. The three teenagers and their escapee rushed out of the city of Jerusalem, not stopping until they had cleared the walls of the city. Once outside the walls, they paused to recoup.
"Harry... this man is quite badly wounded. I don't think he'll make it unless I help him." With that, Hermione muttered an incantation and slowly, some of the wounds began to heal. The man looked up at them, wearily.
"Why... why have you saved me?" Jesus spoke as his deep blue eyes scanned his would-be rescuers.
"Uh... why? You were being beaten and whipped. Why wouldn't we save you?" Ron replied.
Jesus looked at him. As he gazed at Ron, Ron felt uncomfortable and yet serene at the same time. He felt that he could not hide anything from this man, but also that he didn't want to.
"Perhaps... this is my Father's plan." Jesus nodded. "Well then, friends... I thank you. I am Jesus, of Nazareth."
Hermione opened her mouth, but no words came out. She finally was able to mutter a few words. "No...but... you're... I mean... you don't exist. You can't exist."
Jesus smiled at her. "Why can I not exist? Does not my presence here give credence to my earthly being?"
Hermione shook her head. "No... that's not what I meant. I mean, obviously, you're here, and in front of us, but... you can't be Jesus of Nazareth. You're a myth, a legend. Something created by Muggles to scare other Muggles into being good."
"A false threat, then?" Jesus said.
Before Hermione could answer, Harry cut in.
"This is all well and good, but those men could be back at any time. We need to get back to Hogwarts."
"I have never heard of this place... but perhaps one of my followers knows. We can reach the house of Simon-Peter, one of my apostles. He shall surely find the place you seek." Jesus told them, rising unsteadily.
"Before we proceed, however... I would like to know who I have the pleasure of journeying with."
"Ah, we're sorry. I'm Hermione Granger."
"I'm Harry Potter."
"I'm Ronald Weasley. Call me Ron."
Jesus nodded. "From where do you hail? I cannot place your manner of speech."
"Wait a minute. How do you speak English?" Hermione questioned. " If you're here, we must be in ancient Israel. You should be speaking Aramaic, or Hebrew. English hasn't even been invented yet!"
Jesus smiled serenely at them. "The Holy Spirit grants me the gift of speech. There are no barriers between my children and I."
Harry raised his head suddenly. "Wait a second! The Portkey! Where is it? We can use it to get home."
Ron shrugged. "It's probably where we left it last."
"Well, then let's backtrack to the site and use it to return home." Hermione said, matter-of-factly.
"Wait... we can't just leave him here." Ron said, glancing at Jesus. "If those men find him, we're practically killing him."
"I shall journey with you. I believe my presence here is no longer necessary." Jesus told them. He rose up. "Let us go back, and find your key."
The four of them snuck stealthily back into the city, avoiding any contact with anyone. After much sneaking about, and a few close calls, they finally arrived back to the site. Peering about the deserted road, Harry spotted the golden cross that had brought them there.
"Alright... there it is. It's time to get out of here." Harry said as he led the four of them to the cross. "Remember, everyone hold hands, and don't let go until we're safely back at Hogwarts."
Jesus looked at the cross, and grinned. "Ironic, that the object of my suffering should become a symbol to my followers."
With that, they all clasped hands. Harry reached out to the Portkey. Jesus felt a sort of tickling behind his navel.
Chapter 2- The Messiah at Hogwarts
Harry Potter grumbled as he stepped into the darkened cave of the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't know why Hermione insisted on searching the cavern... no one knew about it, and all it contained was the now-rotting corpse of the basilisk. Idly poking through the rubble, he watched Hermione root through the debris with fervor, and watched Ron watch Hermione with about the same fervor. Suddenly, Harry tripped over something, slamming his face into the rocks. Cursing, he shook off the dust and glared at the item that tripped him. However, it was no ordinary rubbish. It was an ornate golden cross, with a man pinned to it with stakes.
"Ron, Hermione... come take a look at this." Harry yelled. He heard them scrabbling across the rocks to his location as he peered curiously at the object.
"Harry..." Hermione breathed as she finally got a close look at the cross. "Do you know what this is?"
"Er... some sort of jewelry?" Harry responded quizzically.
Hermione glared at him. "No. Honestly, haven't you lived with muggles for your whole life? You mean to tell me you've never seen this?"
Harry shrugged apologetically. "Well... to be fair, I was in a cupboard for most of that time."
Hermione waved him away impatiently. "This object is a symbol, Harry. Christianity is a belief system subscribed to by the majority of Muggles on this planet. They place their faith in an omnipotent God and the man depicted here, is Jesus Christ. According to their mythology, he was the son of this God who was sent to redeem the corrupt humans. He was killed for his messages, and his sacrifice is what allowed humanity to enter into Heaven, their idea of paradise."
As Hermione continued her discourse, Harry sat, eagerly listening to every word. Neither one of them noticed Ron's disinterest in the conversation, nor his growing fascination with the cross as he inched closer towards it.
"There's no truth to it, however. Every educated wizard or witch knows that the Muggle legend of Jesus is completely false, and used by the more powerful Muggles to control the masses." Hermione finished.
"Well, that's quite interesting, but what is something like that doing down - Ron, what the hell are you doing?! Don't touch it!" Harry broke off mid-sentence as he attemped to grab Ron and stop him from grasping the cross. In the attempt, Harry caught the tip of Hermione's robes, and they tumbled towards Ron, just as he took hold of the cross with his fingers. Harry felt a familiar pulling sensation at his navel...
Harry stumbled, looking around. A Portkey, just his luck... He had no time to consider his surroundings, however, as he saw a throng of people approaching him. At their head was a man with a large wooden cross on his back, being whipped and scourged by men in bronze armor. Harry grabbed his still dazed companions and hurled himself as best he could out of harm's way. He just narrowly made it, and watched wordlessly as the crowd stormed past him. The beaten man looked around, and Harry locked eyes with him. Mesmerized, Harry watched helplessly at the man's sorrowful eyes and the cruel torture he was enduring. He was startled back to reality by a sharp hiss behind him.
"Harry!" Ron whispered. "We have to save that guy!"
Harry looked at him askance. "Ron, he's most likely a criminal, on his way to being executed for whatever crime he's committed. I can't believe they would treat an innocent man like this."
Ron scowled. "Harry, how thick are you? That man! He's the man on the cross back in the Chamber!"
Hermione finally joined them, looking disheveled. "But... no. That's not possible, Ron. He just looks like him. Jesus didn't exist... He's just a myth..."
Ron rolled his eyes. "We thought the Chamber was a myth too! It turned out to be real! What if this is in fact that man? According to you, he was innocent! We have to save him, and I'm going to." With that, Ron took out his wand and forced his way into the crowd.
"Ron! Wait. We can't take out this many people by ourselves. We need a plan." Harry told him. "This is what we'll do- I'll go behind the crowd, and summon the cross to me. When I do, that should create enough of a diversion for you two to grab him and then we'll get out of here."
The other two nodded tensely.
"Alright... as soon as I summon the cross, that's your cue." Harry said. With that, he rushed to the back of the crowd as Ron and Hermione readied themselves for the rescue.
"Accio Cross!" Harry shouted. The massive wooden cross flew backwards through the crowd, throwing people aside. Ron and Hermione dashed into the middle, and hoisting Jesus up onto their shoulders, ran out of the crowd. Harry followed suit. As it turns out, they had no need for the escape. The soldiers, seeing the flying cross as an act of God, refused to chase after them. Harry and his cohorts didn't realize this, however. The three teenagers and their escapee rushed out of the city of Jerusalem, not stopping until they had cleared the walls of the city. Once outside the walls, they paused to recoup.
"Harry... this man is quite badly wounded. I don't think he'll make it unless I help him." With that, Hermione muttered an incantation and slowly, some of the wounds began to heal. The man looked up at them, wearily.
"Why... why have you saved me?" Jesus spoke as his deep blue eyes scanned his would-be rescuers.
"Uh... why? You were being beaten and whipped. Why wouldn't we save you?" Ron replied.
Jesus looked at him. As he gazed at Ron, Ron felt uncomfortable and yet serene at the same time. He felt that he could not hide anything from this man, but also that he didn't want to.
"Perhaps... this is my Father's plan." Jesus nodded. "Well then, friends... I thank you. I am Jesus, of Nazareth."
Hermione opened her mouth, but no words came out. She finally was able to mutter a few words. "No...but... you're... I mean... you don't exist. You can't exist."
Jesus smiled at her. "Why can I not exist? Does not my presence here give credence to my earthly being?"
Hermione shook her head. "No... that's not what I meant. I mean, obviously, you're here, and in front of us, but... you can't be Jesus of Nazareth. You're a myth, a legend. Something created by Muggles to scare other Muggles into being good."
"A false threat, then?" Jesus said.
Before Hermione could answer, Harry cut in.
"This is all well and good, but those men could be back at any time. We need to get back to Hogwarts."
"I have never heard of this place... but perhaps one of my followers knows. We can reach the house of Simon-Peter, one of my apostles. He shall surely find the place you seek." Jesus told them, rising unsteadily.
"Before we proceed, however... I would like to know who I have the pleasure of journeying with."
"Ah, we're sorry. I'm Hermione Granger."
"I'm Harry Potter."
"I'm Ronald Weasley. Call me Ron."
Jesus nodded. "From where do you hail? I cannot place your manner of speech."
"Wait a minute. How do you speak English?" Hermione questioned. " If you're here, we must be in ancient Israel. You should be speaking Aramaic, or Hebrew. English hasn't even been invented yet!"
Jesus smiled serenely at them. "The Holy Spirit grants me the gift of speech. There are no barriers between my children and I."
Harry raised his head suddenly. "Wait a second! The Portkey! Where is it? We can use it to get home."
Ron shrugged. "It's probably where we left it last."
"Well, then let's backtrack to the site and use it to return home." Hermione said, matter-of-factly.
"Wait... we can't just leave him here." Ron said, glancing at Jesus. "If those men find him, we're practically killing him."
"I shall journey with you. I believe my presence here is no longer necessary." Jesus told them. He rose up. "Let us go back, and find your key."
The four of them snuck stealthily back into the city, avoiding any contact with anyone. After much sneaking about, and a few close calls, they finally arrived back to the site. Peering about the deserted road, Harry spotted the golden cross that had brought them there.
"Alright... there it is. It's time to get out of here." Harry said as he led the four of them to the cross. "Remember, everyone hold hands, and don't let go until we're safely back at Hogwarts."
Jesus looked at the cross, and grinned. "Ironic, that the object of my suffering should become a symbol to my followers."
With that, they all clasped hands. Harry reached out to the Portkey. Jesus felt a sort of tickling behind his navel.
Chapter 2- The Messiah at Hogwarts