snapetoy (snapetoy) wrote in churchofsnarry, @ 2006-01-08 22:12:00 |
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Current mood: | cranky |
Chapter One
Original poster: occasus_crisis
Author:: occasusvenustas/occasus_crisis (posted at the latter coz my original journal was stolen)
Title:: In This Blood
Rating:: R
Chapter:: 1/?
Characters/Pairings:: Severus/Harry, Draco/Remus, Draco/Blaise, Lucius Malfoy, Tom Riddle
Summary:: Based off one theory of the Knights Templar, The blood of Jesus Christ flows through Harry Potter's veins and Tom Riddle wants it to stop.
Warnings:: Blasphemy, Perversion of the Church ideals, Sexual Situations, Adult Language, A/U Non-Magic.
A/N:: I came up with this idea whilst studying for one of my many religion classes. I know I've archived this elsewhere but since all of my fanfic accounts have been stolen, I'm not sure where I've posted this. I know it wasn't here, and sorry if you've read this before. It's about seven chapters into the fic so I'll be posting one a day (assuming) until I'm all caught up. Feedback is muchly appreciated.
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James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, all Knights of the Order of the Phoenix, stood before Cardinal Dumbledore. They had been summoned for one particular reason. The reason the Knights existed in the first place. Their only raison d'être.
“I believe we have found the Holy Grail,” Dumbledore said.
There was a collective gasp amongst the four Knights. “Where?” James asked. “Where has it been all this time?”
Dumbledore spread his hands and smoothed out his red robes. “That, my boy, has always been the question. Where. And the second question being what.”
Sirius snorted. “We know what it is. It’s the Grail.”
The other three Knights looked horrified at Sirius’ audacity, but Cardinal Dumbledore merely chuckled. “Ah so we thought, my son, so we thought.” Dumbledore folded his hands into the sleeves of his robes and stood up. Taking up a slight pace, he said solemnly, “In order to understand this fully, you’ll have to change your perspective almost completely.”
“How so?” James asked reverently, already believing.
Dumbledore turned to face them and after a long moment’s pause, said simply, “The Holy Grail, my sons, is a person.”
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After the initial shock and disbelief amongst the four men, Dumbledore called a quiet meeting between himself and James. James was the Knight with seniority, though not much over the other three men. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter had all gone through their education, training and oaths together.
Still, James had been the most dedicated, the most God-fearing one of them, and had always triumphed in everything he’d done.
And now, as it would become clearer to the man, there was a reason for that. Dumbledore had tea served as they sat in his private quarters. James was clothed in his common white robes, Dumbledore in his red, and they looked quite the pair.
James was a rather attractive man in his own right. His black hair was always messy, whether he was in his battle helmet or not. His eyes were a rich brown and his smile was friendly yet held a certain air of power in it.
“I don’t understand how the Grail can be a person,” James said as he nibbled on the corner of a biscuit politely. “It honestly makes no sense to me.”
Dumbledore nodded and took a careful sip of his tea. “My son, I’m afraid when I said you’d have to alter your perspective almost completely…”
“You didn’t just mean on the Grail,” James finished in a hollow tone. Then, shaking his head, he whispered, “Only you can shake the foundations of my faith to their very core.”
Dumbledore chuckled. “Yes I’m known to be quite good at such things.”
Taking a deep breath, James set his biscuit aside and looked the Cardinal in the eyes. “So explain it. I do not fear and have faith in my Lord.”
“As well you should,” Dumbledore said. He took another long drink of his tea before he began. “Imagine, my son, that Our Lord and Saviour was sent to this earth for a purpose. Imagine now, James, that said purpose was far greater than living a few years, teaching a few obscure parables, healing men and then dying a spectacular death.”
James’ eyes were wide and he gave a short nod. “Go on.”
“Imagine that Our Lord was sent to this earth to continue a line of warriors so great as to save us all.”
James’ face fell and he frowned. “Sorry?”
“Jesus Christ did not die on the cross as is so widely believed,” Dumbledore stated plainly. “In fact, he was a Rabbi, he married and had a family.”
“Blasphemy,” James gasped. “It’s not possible! That destroys the entire belief of the Church! How can you even think such things?”
Dumbledore, having anticipated such a reaction, merely looked on calmly. “Because it is the closest thing to the truth that we can find.”
James let out a sharp breath and sat back roughly. “I suppose there is more,” he grumbled. “With you there is always more.”
“You know me all too well,” Dumbledore said with a grin.
“Oh what I would give to pretend you didn’t just say that,” James muttered. “Well, out with it.”
“The Holy Grail is not a cup, or an object with powers or the ability to heal or produce faith in unbelievers. The Holy Grail is a warrior who carries the blood of Jesus Christ, and is meant to carry on and save us.”
“And you know who this Grail is?” James asked in an almost fearful tone.
Dumbledore nodded. “Yes, I do. The Holy Grail, James Potter… is you.”
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In a quiet rage, James paced the inside of his meagre quarters. Dumbledore was asking him, not only to give up everything he based his faith on, but that he was part of a bloodline descendant from Jesus Christ.
Impossible. It was just utter madness. And the worst part, something rang true. Giving up this faith was damn near impossible for James, but when Dumbledore explained how the bloodline had been traced, James found his resolve wavering.
And it was true, the Knights of the Order of the Phoenix did have a slightly odd, if not unorthodox view on traditional Christianity. Their view of Jesus was different, seeing him as an entity rather than a man. But this entirely new twist was almost too much.
And James had been sworn into silence. There were too many threats within the Church and Dumbledore assured him he was not the sole carrier of the particular belief that the Grail was a person. They just didn’t know whom.
After days of meditation, fasting and prayer, James was ready to begin anew. It seemed surreal to him that he accept such a belief, but oddly enough, it was right. It was right for him.
James met with Cardinal Dumbledore after he’d rested, eaten and bathed. “I’m ready to accept your belief,” James said carefully, “if not for one small thing.”
“Yes?” Dumbledore asked, quirking a curious eyebrow.
“It can’t be me,” James said simply. “I can accept the belief that Jesus, in all of his glorious humanity, took a wife and produced his own heir. But the heir can’t be me. I am nothing more than a humble servant of God. I am not a great warrior.”
“Ah but you are,” Dumbledore said with a slow nod. “In that humble nature is the very essence of the heir, James. You are our warrior.”
James bowed his head and let out a sigh. “It’s almost too much.”
“It is worse in these dangerous times,” Dumbledore said. “The threat to the papacy grows stronger. Cardinal Riddle is growing more corrupt and the Pope is growing weaker. The nominees will be decided soon and we can’t have Riddle assuming power.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” James asked.
“The fate of our Order, of the Knights and of the Church is not to be decided in these times. It is up to a future warrior to lead us into the fight and destroy all those who would oppose us. That, my son, requires you to bear an heir.”
James gasped. “No! No! I won’t, I can’t. I will not break my vow!”
Dumbledore clasped his hands. “I’m afraid there is no other way. You must bear a son in order to carry on this bloodline. Above all James, the blood of Christ cannot die out. It is the only thing that will save us when the dark begins to take over.”
“And how do you know it will happen?” James demanded.
“Right now,” Dumbledore said solemnly, “Cardinal Riddle has been in talks with the Kings of the Lands. Pope Armando is far too easily swayed by their influence and if my spy is correct, there will be an order of mass extermination of the Knights of the Order of the Phoenix within the next three years. I’m sorry James, but this has to be done now.”
James swallowed thickly. “I can’t keep this secret to myself. I can’t.”
“You must,” Dumbledore insisted. “We do not know where anyone’s true loyalties lie. We can trust no one.”
“We can trust Peter, Remus and Sirius,” James insisted. “They would not betray me.”
Dumbledore scratched his beard. “For now we tell no one. I have found you an appropriate wife and you will break your vows and marry. The child must be conceived within the year, James. It must be.”
James bowed his head. “If it is the only way.”
“It is.”
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Though Sirius, Remus and Peter were mortified that James had broken his vow and left the Knighthood, they found happiness for their friend. James had been married to a Lady in Waiting called Lily and not too long after had conceived their child.
James was quiet about things, but as the birth grew nearer, he began to crack and eventually decided to spill his secret. Choosing his closest friend, Sirius, James let out the entire tale in one breath.
Sirius listened carefully and after a few moments of shock, accepted the story James had to offer. “It does make sense,” Sirius said with a shrug.
James gapped at him. “If only you were me, Sirius. I could not accept it so readily.”
“Well I’ve always had my own suspicions,” Sirius explained easily. “And if it would have been any of us, it is clearly you. You are the most faithful.”
“Not anymore. I’ve broken my vows,” James mourned. “I’ve married a woman I cannot love, a woman I cannot touch in a way she wants to be touched because I belong to God. I may have broken my vows to bring this child into the world, but I am a Knight, and I will always be one.”
“No one will ever doubt that, my friend,” Sirius said, clasping James’ hand.
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Toward the end of July, the child that now carried the title of Holy Grail was born to Lily and James Potter. He was a healthy boy and James vowed to bring him up to be exactly as he was meant to be. A warrior.
Times were not so easy, however. Riddle was gaining power with the Kings of the Land and the Pope could do nothing to stop him. The Knights of the Order of the Phoenix were thriving, but only just. The threat to their Order was growing steadily each day and Dumbledore eventually went into hiding.
He kept in contact with the Knights as often as he could, ready to declare war when the time called for it. During these months, the child grew and developed just as any other child would have.
James found that little Harry was worth breaking his vow. He was in love with his son as he never thought he could be. James had an almost impossible time imagining that there could be a danger posed to his son.
The threat, however, became too real when the apprentice to Cardinal Riddle, fifteen year old Severus Snape burst into James and Lily’s home one night. Harry, just past his first birthday, was playing on the floor with Sirius and Remus whilst Peter, James and Lily sat round their small table chatting.
Severus, well known as being a notoriously bitter child and had a strange sort of rivalry with Sirius and James, was out of breath and paler than he usually was.
“It’s happened,” he gasped out.
At the sight of Severus, Sirius was immediately on his feet, his sword drawn. “What are you doing here?”
Severus fished into the pocket of his robes and produced a letter. It was signed and sealed by Dumbledore. “The Kings have given the order,” Severus said in a flat voice. “The Knights of the Order of the Phoenix are to be immediately rounded up, questioned and executed. Dumbledore’s secured a place for Harry to go, but he must go now.”
“With you? Not bloody likely!” Sirius hissed.
James opened his mouth to speak but the sounds of horse hooves echoed through his stone walls. “We have to keep him safe,” James gasped out.
“Sirius, Peter, you stay with me. Lily, you and Remus take Harry wherever Severus directs you.”
Severus shook his head. “I cannot go. They will suspect me.”
“I’ll not leave the battle,” Remus declared, drawing his sword. “I do not run.”
“You must protect Harry,” James insisted.
“Riddle knows,” Severus said in an urgent whisper. “Somehow he knows the Grail Child has been born. That’s why he’s here for you.” Severus handed the parchment to Remus. “The directions are in this letter. They are printed in code.”
“Please,” James said.
Remus nodded and bundled Harry. Lily, who was shaking far too much to be of any help, allowed Remus to carry the child out of the back door and down through the field.
Just before reaching the horse paddock, two men jumped out and grabbed Lily’s arms. She screamed and in their struggle, they didn’t notice Remus slip into the paddock with the baby. Fighting his urge to protect Lily, Remus knew what he must do. Tucking the baby close to his chest, Remus mounted the horse and galloped away as quickly as he could, never looking back to see if he was followed.
The last thing Lily Potter saw was the horse galloping off into the distance. She let out a breath of relief that her child was safe, and then the sword plunged into her belly and she was dead.
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“Where is the child?” Riddle sneered as he paced in front of James, Peter and Sirius.
“There is no child,” James spat.
Riddle rolled his eyes and nodded toward an empty pram in the corner of the room. “Odd décor, that.”
James clenched his jaw and said nothing. They had not fought yet, and were unbound and armed. James was looking for an opening in which to strike Riddle. The Cardinal was flanked by ten armed men, but James had faced worse odds.
“I’m going to ask you again, and then I’m going to kill you and find the child myself. Where is the baby?”
“You’ll never find him!” Peter squeaked.
As James and Sirius both shouted in dismay, Riddle’s face melted into a twisted smile and he reached out, grabbing Peter by the hair. “If you tell me, you will live. Where did they take the child?”
“I… I…” Peter gasped. “He was taken north to…” was all he managed before Sirius dove and plunged his sword into Peter’s back. The slightly podgy Knight gave a shuddering gasp and slumped over in death.
“NO!” Riddle shouted, dropping Peter’s limp body. “NO!”
Sirius backed away, a feral gleam in his cobalt eyes. “You’re going to die tonight, Riddle.”
“I think not,” Riddle said and signalled his men to attack.
Swords flew through the air. Alone, James and Sirius managed to fight them off until it was three against two. Severus had long gone, as was expected and James was certain he was to win.
Until they pulled the dead, bloodied body of his wife into the room. In the moment of surprised distraction, one of Riddle’s men, a higher ranking official with silvery-blonde hair and cruel grey eyes, stepped forward and plunged his sword into James’ chest.
The last thing James saw before his eyes fluttered closed was the dead stare in Lily’s green eyes.
Crying out as James fell to the ground, Sirius fought with ferocity, but in the end was struck down by the same, cruel, grey-eyed man. When Riddle walked away from the carnage, he had a slight smile on his face. The baby was a Potter and knowing Dumbledore, the Grail would eventually turn up.
All Riddle had to do was bide his time.
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In ten month’s time, the entire Order of the Phoenix was dead or imprisoned. The remaining Knights left free had disbanded and joined other Orders or retreated into quiet seclusion. Pope Armando was growing weaker and the whispers of nominations had begun.
It was all going according to plan. Or so Riddle thought.
“Cardinal Tom Marvolo Riddle,” he walked forward as his name was announced to the Pope. Bowing, Riddle straightened and met the withering old man’s stare.
“I am frustrated with your actions. You were behind the exterminations of my most fierce and worthy warriors. The Knights of the Order of the Phoenix are destroyed and all it has done is make way for the Muslims to come through on their holy crusade. You have abused your power, Riddle. The time has come. You are to be excommunicated and banished from this land. Return is punishable by death.”
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Six months after that, Riddle waited on his quiet island, in his seclusion to hear of the Council’s decision. With glee, Riddle sipped on his brandy as his right hand man, Lucius Malfoy read the decree. “The new Pope has been announced. This year Fudge will take the name Cornelius.”
Riddle threw his head back. “This new Pope will serve my purposes well.
TBC