[Ficlet-HP] Through a New Year

[misanagi]

Through a New Year

Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG13
Character: Gen. Anthony Goldstein
Warnings: Religious themes.
Words: 739
Notes: Written for clever_claws' challenge: "write a drabble of no more than 750 words from a particular character's POV...without ever identifying that character by name (or nickname) within the story." Prompt: consequences.

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Usually I went home. I had done it since first year but there was nothing usual about Hogwarts now. My parent's hadn't wanted me to come back but then the Ministry's letter had arrived, telling in no uncertain terms that I was required to assist and quelling all possible arguments on their part.

"You shouldn't go," my mother had said, on the verge of tears. "You don't understand. You… you don't understand."

But I did. I had seen the haunted look on my grandfather's eyes and I'd heard the stories and interpreted the silences; I understood and though my grandfather's world and mine weren't the same I saw the similarities between what he'd lived and what we all feared was coming. The prejudices of the Wizarding world were different from those of the Muggle one, but they were also remarkably similar.

It was made clear at the beginning of the term just how much things had changed. Death Eaters had taken control of the school, students were getting hurt. And then Longbottom had gathered us all, the old D.A, and there was a little hope.

Snape wouldn't let me go home this year. Flitwick had inquired for me and brought back the news with a stony face and a regretful look. I wrote to my parents and the return letter came with a prayer book and a small flask of honey.

The bread wasn't difficult to get and a simple transfiguration spell changed a pitcher of juice into wine. In my dorm room I conjured a table, a white mantle and cutlery and placed the honey, wine and bread on the table. There were a few items missing but for this year it would have to do. I had opened the prayer book and lifted the wine cup when the door opened.

My roommates stood at the threshold, each holding and apple on one hand. "Can we be here for you?" Terry asked, tentatively.

"We can be your family this year," added Michael. "Even if we know bugger all of what to do."

But they knew. They had listened to me in previous years and read on what they didn't remember. They stood respectfully as the wine was blessed and ate the bread with honey even though I knew Michael didn't care for it. We talked for hours and even though they had heard me speak about the Holidays before they listened to me again.

I didn't tell them about my plans for the next day. I had been thinking of the different places I could go and finally decided on the Forbidden Forest. With the prayer book tucked under my arm and my wand on my pocket I left. No one spotted me as I found a place by the edge of the forest and watched the sunrise. Facing the east, towards Jerusalem, I opened the book and began my prayers.

When I returned to the castle the Carrows were waiting for me. The Cruciatus hurt more than I could have imagined and when I got back to the dorms, pain still running all over my body, my friends were waiting for me.

"What did you do, mate?" Michael looked worried.

"Where were you?" asked Terry at the same time.

I gave them a smile. "Shana tova," I said, repeating words I had spoken on the ceremony the night before.

Terry helped me to bed and Michael rolled his eyes. "Happy New Year," he wished to me, shaking his head.

Two days later, when my father sent me another prayer book I knew what I wanted to do, even if I was certain I wouldn't like the consequences.

I said nothing to my friends about my plan for Yom Kippur but when I got back after a day of prayers, hungry and thirsty the Carrows didn't seem to be aware that I had been missing and Michael and Terry had a light meal ready for me. They understood.

Usually I went home for the High Holidays but there was nothing usual about this year. There would be other battles to fight, I knew, with a wand instead of a prayer book. In the end it was all a mater of faith; faith in my friends, faith that we would survive, faith that we would make a difference, faith that there would be other Rosh Hashanahs to come, other years to begin and other, hopefully happier, things to understand.


- The End –

Comments

[allie-potter.livejournal.com]

Wonderful.

I have an enormous weakness for HP fics with religious overtones, and the themes in this story in particular were just so well woven in. Plus, the Ravenclaw boys were fantastic— open-minded and supportive as they would always seem to be. No wonder (mystery character) feels secure putting his abused faith in his friends.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you! When I saw the prompt for the drabble I knew I wanted to do something like this and seeing as it's my religion it's something that's been in the back of my head for a while. I love the Ravenclaw boys so I'm very glad that you liked them here. Thank you so much for the comment!

Also, I can't help but drool every time I see that Justin icon *drools*

[snakewhissperer.livejournal.com]

very interesting! and different. I liked it.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Cait! I'm really glad that you liked it.

[ceirdwenfc.livejournal.com]

This is just beautiful. This is the second fic I've read recently about the Jewish holidays and it's sad that there aren't more out there. In fact, you might be interested: The Four Questions" (http://community.livejournal.com/yay_potterkids/17235.html) on yay_potterkids.

I don't usually write the religion in since we're more secular than religious and I'm afraid of offending more religious people.

Thanks for this.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I read the fic you recommended and liked it very much! Usually I don't write much religion in fandom, mostly because most of my characters aren't religious or it isn't specified but I've been thinking a lot about Anthony here, specially since it is my religion and I do wonder how things could have been for him. I think that if you are writing religion, as long as you do it respectfully, you shouldn't offend people. One of the most beautiful fics I've read is a Hannukah fic (Gundam Wing fandom) written by a christian friend.

Thanks a lot for the comment!

[ceirdwenfc.livejournal.com]

I feel funny writing about religion because I'm afraid to get things wrong. Different people learn and practice different things within the same religion.

I'm drawn to Anthony because he is the only (as far as I know) Jewish person in the HP universe.

In that other story, I loved that they made the Greengrasses Jewish. It was able to add diversity and keep it canon (I thought.)

I think that what you did was a bit harder because those are the most religious holidays. I don't normally go to temple, but I fast and I don't do anything else (except take care of the kids). Before I had the kids, I would find something inspirational to read.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

People will always view religion a bit differently as is such a personal thing. Still, I think that if it's written with respect it will work even if the tradition written aren't exactly like those of some readers.

As far as I know Anthony is the only Jewish one and it makes me think a lot about how the magic and his traditions work together. I liked the idea of the Greengrasses as Jewish too.

I actually went with the High Holidays because they fell on the school year. I had other two ideas, Hanukah which would have fallen on the Winter Holidays and Passover which would have fallen on Easter that year so they wouldn't work with the whole managing religious freedom with the Carrows. The others didn't have the same weight as Rosh Hashanah and Kipur and then I liked the symbolism of a new year. I'm observant, I have the meals on Rosh Hashanah, go to the Synagogue on both days, fast on Kipur and go to the Synagogue to pray all day.

The story wasn't that accurate anyway. I skipped the second Rosh Hashanah meal and the evening prayers on both festivities but more than giving a recap of the traditions I wanted to show Anthony trying to juggle the situation at Hogwarts with his believes.

I've gone and rambled way too much again, right? Sorry ^^;;

[suzanne78.livejournal.com]

This was gorgeous, as, honestly, all your writings are. I love how you drew this character *wink wink*, through the clues about his religion and his friends. And you know how much I adore you writing this trio. I loved how his beliefs, above all else, were what guided him. It was perfect.

Brilliant!

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much, Suzanne! I'm so happy that you liked this! I've been wanting to try something like this for a bit so I'm really glad that you liked it ^_^

[writersblock76.livejournal.com]

Oh, I liked this! Very nice use of the drabble theme, because you made it very clear who the story was about without actually explicitly saying. The boys being each other's family warms my heart. *sniff*

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much! I'm glad that you liked the way it was written and that it met the challenge. Those boys love each other so much in head that I just had to write them that way ^^;;

[hondagirll.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, this is really good. I have never really read about religion in the Potter universe but it is done so well here. I like how you show how this war wasn't that different from WW2 and I really like how Anthony celebrated even though he wasn't home. That means he takes his faith seriously. And I smiled a bit when I saw that Mike and Terry where there for him. Very well done here. I like it a lot. :P

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! The idea of writing a but about religion, specially Anthony's since it's so close to my heart, had been in my head for a while and when I read the challenge it seemed to fit. I'm glad you caught the WWII comment there. I wanted to introduce that subtly since I think for a Jewish family specially it would be very relevant with the events going on in the Wizarding world. In my head Anthony is observant, not too much but he does keep the traditions so the High Holidays would be very important to him. Mike and Terry would know that and they would be there for him. it's just the kind of guys they are.

Thank you so much for the wonderful comment and for letting me babble a little to you ^_^

[phil-urich.livejournal.com]

I love this take on Anthony. It’s very rare to see a practicing Jew in fiction, particularly in the Harry Potter universe. This was very well done.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I've been having a story like this for Anthony in the back of my head for a while so the challenge was a great opportunity for me to write it. I'm very glad that you liked it and thank you so much for taking the time to comment!