Sacraments and Sanctuary
Harry considered the wall. The spray paint that marred the surface was ugly. He carefully looked at both the painted and unpainted surface – well, the spray-painted and non-sprayed areas. There was no help for it. It couldn't be washed off. It had blended too well – it had cured.
He moved to speak to the priest. "It's going to have to be painted. The spray paint is physically the same as the areas around it now."
Father Ken sighed. "We'll have to cover it was something. If we paint it now, it won't dry fast enough for tonight."
Harry was curious. "You're planning on having services?"
Father Ken nodded. There was no uncertainty in that gesture. "We need to get things back as soon as possible. We've already lost several days and the parish is feeling it. We WILL have Mass – they need it."
Harry thought about it. "Have you considered getting primer tinted? It dries much faster than paint. While it's not as good as a full painting because it gathers dust easier, it would be good enough for tonight. And then you can finish with a correct covering of paint after."
Father Ken considered that. "That sounds like an excellent idea." He turned and called out, "Lilly!"
The attractive brunette who was arranging the few undamaged statues of saints around the altar looked up and then made her way over.
"Up to making a run to the hardware store?"
Lily said, "Sure. What do we need?"
"Harry suggested getting them to tint primer instead of trying to get painting fully done today. It will dry sufficiently to have Mass tonight."
Lilly considered that. "Huh. That's an idea."
Harry moved back to the wall and found an area that wasn't as visible. He asked for a utility knife. Lilly took one from her pocket – she happened to have been working with it earlier. Harry carefully removed a small square. "This is the color."
Lilly looked at it and then back to Harry. "Why don't you come with?"
Harry shrugged. "Okay."
The two returned an hour later, several cans of primer and paint in hand.
Father Ken considered that. "Okay. We have," he looked at his watch, "six hours. How long does the primer take to dry?"
Harry looked at the can. "It says 45 minutes. But at least eight hours before you can paint over it. It will be dry to the touch but not fully set after that first hour."
"Good enough. We have a few volunteers that will help."
When Father Ken returned from an errand a couple of hours later, he was surprised at the progress made. Instead of having every volunteer paint, Harry had one preparing pans and rollers and other equipment. One was managing the tape that had been used for edging. One was moving from painter to painter, cleaning up any messes as soon as they were made.
As a result, there was no large cleanup that would have to be done. The walls were almost indistinguishable from walls that had not been defaced. The only difference was that they were slightly off-color – the product of the primer not having fully dried yet.
Lilly, who had been working in back, was just as surprised. "Wow. It looks almost exactly the same." She turned and looked at Harry with some amusement. "I guess there's a difference between supervising community service delinquents and driven volunteers."
Harry shrugged. "I've had some experience. We'll have the equipment cleaned up within the hour. Where should we put the stuff we haven't used yet and the tools?"
Lilly showed him the area which held the tools and the supplies. There was a sink to clean the tools as well. With three hours left, the walls were as ready as they could be.
Father Ken walked up to Harry. "We hadn't actually planned beyond this today. Do you want to come back tomorrow or will you attend Mass with us tonight?"
Harry smiled with some embarrassment. "I'm actually not Catholic." He paused. "I'm not even Christian. My relatives that I grew up with claimed to be good Christians – even if they in no way reflected that in their normal life. I wouldn't want to offend your parishioners."
Father Ken considered the man before him. He was obviously a good man. That he wasn't even Christian was a surprise. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
Harry shrugged. "Sure."
"What faith do you follow?"
Harry considered that. "I would say that I don't follow any faith. Although I have unshakable certainty in my belief in God – the same God you believe in – I don't find any religious rituals or practices particularly useful to me."
Father Ken considered that. Before he could reply, Lilly – the former nun – interjected, "You could become Catholic. We could help with that. Although they might not seem 'useful' – many people find them comforting."
Harry turned to Lilly. Father Ken, he noticed, restrained his urges to admonish the woman. "I appreciate the offer. However, it's not a matter of comfort to me – it's a matter of … belief." He looked around. "I feel the sanctity of this building. I feel the hurt that it experienced – even though it's healing now." He looked at Lilly. "I feel your anger about this travesty. I feel your righteous indignation. You find strength in your faith and its practices and for someone to defile that is … painful."
He turned toward Father Ken. "You, however, are a surprise. You exude no hatred, no anger. You have confusion, and sadness, and compassion for your flock – and the people who committed this heinous act." He considered the man before him. "You, perhaps, are the most definitive example of what it means to be a good Christian – a good Catholic – that I have even seen. You do this because it's the best way you know to help."
He turned back toward Lilly, who exuded a little bit of both shame and confusion. "My faith is unshaken. I live, and I do good where I can. My method works for me, where the same life wouldn't work for you. A long time ago I attended a lecture by a man who promoted his teachings as a spiritual path. For those attending, most of them, it was a workable path. One of his lessons stuck with me. To paraphrase: You might have a solution which works. You may know that you're right, without any uncertainty or hesitation. But if in applying this solution to someone else it doesn't work – the answer you have is wrong. Because a solution is only a proper solution if it solves the problem."
He smiled. "My solution works for me. It doesn't lend itself to being an answer for others. But that doesn't matter. Your solution works for you. Father Ken here has his answers. We're all working toward a closer relationship with God – in our own way."
Lilly's confusion was not reduced. She looked over at Father Ken – and he only smiled and nodded as though that was perfectly comprehensible. She decided she needed to pray for guidance as she turned to go back to what she had been doing.
Father Ken sighed as he watched Lilly walk away. "She's going to need some guidance." He turned back to Harry with a rueful smile. "Your little talk probably knocked her around a bit spiritually – but she'll be better for it when all is said and done. Anyway, you don't need to be Catholic to attend Mass. While many of the sacraments wouldn't be available to you, the liturgy might be useful or uplifting."
Harry smiled. "I appreciate the offer. I'll keep out of sight. Lilly will be showing me the room she found for me after the service." He looked around. "You mind if I look around and get an idea of what is left to do?"
"Certainly. Feel free." Father Ken nodded and then made his way toward his office – he still had preparations to complete.
Harry walked around. He looked behind the bunting off to the side and found walls that seemed to be missing something. He looked over toward another volunteer. "What's this?"
The man walked over and sighed as he looked. "The confessional booths were damaged. Father Ken set up a curtained off area to take confessions. But it isn't as good as the booth. The damaged booths were moved into the back to be repaired." The man walked off back to his task.
Finally Harry found the room containing the booths. Harry looked over several booths. As there were different parts damaged on different booths, he got the idea of what a proper booth should look like.
He glanced around and carefully entered a damaged booth. He cast a notice-me-not charm on the booth so that he wouldn't be disturbed and then used his wand to make what would look like gradual repairs. He couldn't repair them fully, but he could make a good start. He then exited the booth, removing the charm as he left.
He moved to find the good father. He looked through a few rooms. He found one which had the boxes he had seen being filled with damaged statuary and other items. Finally he found Father Ken's office. He knocked on the doorframe to get his attention.
Father Ken looked up and smiled when he saw who his visitor was. "Harry. Can I help you?"
"You mind if I make an attempt to use different parts from different Confessional booths to try to get a few up and running?"
Father Ken was surprised. "I don't know. It's only a couple of hours until services. Will you have time to get any done?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. But I guarantee that my activities won't interrupt or delay services."
Father Ken sighed. "Well, you may certainly make an attempt. Two or three booths would be wonderful."
Harry nodded and then moved back to the room that had the booths.
He closed and locked the door and cast a repelling charm. He really didn't want to be disturbed. He carefully looked at the eight booths that were in the room. He thought he could get away with fixing four in two hours. He'd have to make the remaining ones look like he had taken them apart deliberately. He'd put them in parts and then repair the parts and let someone else put them together.
His estimates were pretty accurate. It took twenty minutes for him to "cope" with the repairs. It took an hour and ten minutes to make it look like the other booths were being used to get parts together.
However, he left them in such a condition that any reasonably competent person could put them together in a few hours. He also left "evidence" that someone had taken the time to laboriously remove paint from the stained walls.
He found the large wheeled platform which was used to move the booths and levitated one onto it. He took down his charms and carefully rolled the booth toward the hall.
As soon as the booth entered, he was confronted by several wide-eyed volunteers. "I got four together swapping parts and with a bit of work. I think we can get them placed on this side for tonight. The others will have to be placed after they're fixed. Can I get some help?"
There were four fairly strong men who rushed to help him place the booths. They each took a corner and lifted it while Harry pulled the platform back. Once that was done, they carefully lowered it to the floor. The bunting had been pushed off to the side.
He turned toward the person who had moved the bunting. "Can you move the platform while these guys get another booth on it? I'll get the curtains moved out of the way."
Harry's plan worked. With five minutes to spare until the doors were opened for the congregation, the four booths had been placed along one side of the hall. When Father Ken and his assistant priests arrived they were surprised to find that they had actual booths for the sacrament tonight.
Father Ken quickly inspected each and ensured that the little doors worked properly. The side where the penitent sat was in excellent repair in each booth. There were still a few imperfections on the side where the priest sat – but it was good enough for tonight. He'd get another volunteer to work on finishing those repairs. Finally Father Ken walked over to Harry who was supervising the last volunteers in moving the platform back to the room where the damaged booths were.
"Harry! You did a wonderful job. I don't know how to thank you for this. It's a miracle." Father Ken, Harry noticed, had lost some of the sadness that he had been exuding.
He shrugged and said depreciatively, "Just a judicious use of time and energy. The other four will probably take much longer. But I plan on getting them as far as I can while services are going on."
Father Ken really wished that Harry would attend, but he wouldn't force him. "Well, on behalf of the parish, the diocese, and the priests who work here, I thank you for your sterling efforts in helping us recover from the acts committed."
Harry bowed briefly in acknowledgement. "You are quite welcome."
Father Ken nodded and then moved to open the doors – he had a Mass to give.
Harry quickly made his way back and waited in the room with the booths until the services started. Harry then began searching the building for a likely stone.
He was surprised to run into a janitor in the basement – he would have thought that everyone would be at the services. "Hello," he greeted the man.
The man looked at him and smiled. "Hello. Do you need something?"
Harry shrugged. "I'm just looking around. I did some work to help clean up the damage and didn't feel it was proper to attend the service. But I like old buildings – I like looking at the architecture."
The man smiled knowingly. "Yes. These buildings are quite lovely. Even down to the granite foundations."
Harry perked up. "Granite foundations? Are there any places where you can see those?"
"Sure, sure! I'll take you there."
Great! Harry thought. This was perfect.
The man continued the conversation casually, "You did a good job last night, Harry."
Harry stopped and looked at his companion, who only gave a enigmatic smile. "I know your great-grand-daughter?"
The man smiled. "You catch on quick."
Harry continued moving, smiling ruefully. "How am I doing so far?"
"How do you think you're doing?"
Harry considered that. "Well, it's a bit of work to not make the quick repairs too obvious. I think I'm doing an okay job of that."
The man chuckled. "Yes. The other booths make an excellent erector set."
Harry paused in his speech. "I'm a little …"
"Hesitant?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. Hesitant. I'm a little hesitant in what I'm about to do. This isn't a school or a home. I don't want to put any wards up which would defeat the purpose of the building."
The Janitor didn't reply immediately, but only nodded. Finally he asked, "What's the purpose of the building?"
Harry considered. "Sanctuary. Safety. A place where people can take comfort in their religious practices. A place to think, to mend, to come to a new state."
The Janitor nodded. "So what are you going to do?"
Harry sighed through his teeth, even as he was led through a particular door. "Well, I don't want to prevent anyone with extreme anger or hatred from entering. Some people come here to work on that. I guess I want to ward it against ill intent toward the building and its denizens."
"I see. What else?"
"Well, there's no one in this world that uses magical travel so I don't have to worry about that. And it certainly doesn't need a Fidelius, repelling or notice-me-not charms."
"That's true."
Harry sighed. "I guess I'm limited to anti-hostility." He paused. "I wonder if I can change the confusion ward," he said to himself.
"Confusion ward?"
Harry didn't even notice his companion as the considered it. "There's a ward you can put up which causes confusion in those that are not residents unless they've been added. However, warding is just about Runic Language. If there's a ward to create confusion, can it be changed to a ward which fights confusion?"
"You can't get rid of confusion. You can only help people to clear their mind of distractions."
Harry paused when he remembered who he was talking to. "Any suggestions?" The Janitor just shrugged and smiled that enigmatic smile. Harry laughed. "No, I guess that would be inconsistent with your nature. You're a real 'Pull yourself up and make the effort to improve yourself" kind of God aren't you?"
"Now you're just asking questions you already know the answer to."
Harry looked at the Janitor and laughed. "You REALLY annoy Joan with that, you know?"
The Janitor sighed and then said chidingly, "Harry. Omniscient, remember?"
"Oh, I know. But it really is kind of amusing. Having been as confused before as she is right now, you appreciate how much you've progressed. When you see how much effort you wasted worrying about unimportant things when you were younger, the only way to get over it is to realize that you're just like everyone else: We all go through that. Most get over it." He paused. "Except you of course. You probably never went through that stage."
The Janitor looked around to make certain that they weren't overheard and then said conspiratorially to Harry, "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure." Harry was very amused.
"I did deliberately turn off the Omniscience once to see how thinking beings dealt with it – I decided that I owed you a reward for putting up with that. That's why a number of mammals get to engage in recreational sex instead of having mating seasons. I thought you deserved some payment for that part of the process."
Harry looked at God with shock, even as the Janitor smiled at him in amusement. Suddenly he laughed long and hard. That was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
Finally, he got a hold of himself. "I think I'll keep that to myself. I can just imagine the carnage it would create if I passed on THAT little tidbit."
God just shrugged. "Yes. You humans get far too caught up mixing recreation with religion – a drawback to free will. It definitely had its place in the past, but understanding negates the need for a number of religious doctrines from the past."
Harry just grinned. "I guess I won't feel so guilty next time I get cornered into it by someone who wants to have some innocent fun … or children." He got worried for a moment. "I hope I haven't been creating too many problems with that. I've been convinced to father a few children here and there. I hope I'm not messing up your family members' plans by doing so."
"It's fine, Harry. If someone had a problem, they should have taken steps to tell you beforehand."
Harry nodded and considered the exposed section of the foundation. He started carving Runes on the stone in a number of places, being as exacting as possible as he did so. The Janitor watched and waited as he did this.
After a good hour of carving, Harry was done. Harry stood back and inspected his work. He nodded in satisfaction. He asked out of the side of his mouth, "Any reason not to do this now?" He paused and then corrected himself. "Sorry. I meant: Any suggestions for me?"
The Janitor just shrugged.
"Whew. Okay then. Here we go."
Harry gathered his magic as he prepared to charge the wards. When he was ready, he began chanting in Latin and directing energy to the stone that would hold the wards.
This kind of warding was far more taxing than the smaller, more temporary wards that he had cast the night before. Those would last probably fifty years. These? These were the type that lasted centuries – although Harry was unaware of that fact.
When he was done, he was quite drained. The Janitor moved to help him stay standing. Harry nodded in appreciation. He'd sleep like the dead tonight.
Father Ken was just reaching the final prayers for the Mass he was delivering to his flock. Even as he began the prayers, something … happened. He felt uplifted. Renewed.
He hadn't felt such a spiritual response to a Mass he delivered since the first one he gave after having completed the seminary. He was so caught up in the feeling he didn't notice that those attendees who were particularly sensitive were also feeling the change.
Lilly had put Harry up in one of the project houses she was supervising. It had electricity and plumbing and little else. Harry had insisted that it was enough.
She made very certain that she thanked him for his help. She had been just as surprised as Father Ken when four functional Confessionals had appeared in time for services. She made sure she took advantage of that. It had helped clarify what she had been feeling when dealing with her boyfriend.
After dropping Harry off (having stopped by for some fast food for him on the way) she drove over to the Girardi's house.
She felt nervous as she made her way to the door. When Helen answered, she couldn't really maintain the "wise" façade she put up when she was counseling. She wasn't here for that tonight.
Helen invited her in. Soon, she was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee with the Girardi parents and Kevin. Luke and Joan were studying in the other room for a final.
She addressed Helen. "Hey! Thanks for sending Harry over to help out. He did an unbelievably good job today."
Helen smiled. "Actually, you have Joan to thank for that. She's the one who mentioned it to him."
Lilly was surprised. "Really? Wow. Well, I'll have to thank her then. Harry helped get the graffiti covered up before services tonight. The walls still need paint – but we actually had Mass tonight."
Helen was surprised in turn, as was Will. Will was the one to comment. "That's kind of shocking. I can't imagine the damage I saw would be cleaned enough to hold services."
Lilly replied, "I know! We were going to try to cover those areas with some type of cloth. It would have been cheesy, but Father Ken really wanted to get things back to normal as fast as possible. Instead, Harry came up with a plan to get it primed in the right color so that the damaged areas weren't obvious. He even got four out of the eight Confessional booths up and running." She sighed in satisfaction. "It was a beautiful service."
Lilly was one of those that had sensed the change at the end.
Helen, Will, and Kevin all looked impressed. Lilly even jokingly said, "Hey, Kevin. You should totally do a piece on that guy."
Kevin chuckled. "Sorry. He's asked me to refrain. He doesn't want the fame. I made a promise."
Lilly was floored, and a little upset. "Wow. So the bombing of the church was news but the work of a good man isn't?"
Will interrupted before Kevin could reply. "Oh, I'm sure Kevin would be perfectly willing to talk about the wonderful work done by volunteers." Kevin nodded sharply at that. "But Harry's name has to be kept out of it."
Lilly was confused. "Why?"
The Girardis all looked at each other. "He's a good guy, none better. But he's earned his anonymity." Will had that "Chief of Police" thing going as he said this. She knew that she shouldn't push it.
The four chatted for a bit longer. Lilly was trying to delay the talk she was going to have to have – she had a number of insecurities.
Suddenly, Helen interjected, "Oh! By the way, Will, I ran into Ryan Hunter again today."
Will suddenly looked at her. Helen, who was married to him, saw the "show interest but I'm not saying anything else" face. She'd have to ask him about that when they were alone. Even Luke, who was their smartest child, would have missed it. "What did you talk about?"
"He got himself onto the school board! He offered to help me make sure that the ArtDepartment was properly funded next year – it was a travesty what happened this year."
Will sat back. "Hmm. He's a busy guy, I guess. Member of the Watchdog Committee, owner of the newspaper, got appointed to the School board. I'm glad to see prominent citizens get involved."
Kevin, who hadn't known all of those things, had a gut feeling: Something was very odd about his new boss. He'd have to look into it – carefully.
Will would have ignored it if he hadn't spoken to Joan the night before. Now, this news raised his hackles a bit. He'd have to investigate carefully – somewhat like the investigation which brought the city government down.
Helen and Lilly just knew they were missing something.
Lilly said, "Well. Enough about all of that. Me and Kevin are going out." She glanced at Kevin as she said, "We need to talk."
Kevin got a resigned look on his face. She murmured, "Not like that," even as she grabbed her scarf and purse. Suddenly, Kevin looked less anxious.
Will stood to see them out. "By the way, where IS Harry staying?"
Lilly was taken out of her thoughts by that. "Oh! He's in that project house that your daughter helped with when she did community service. It's not fully ready, but it's got electricity and plumbing. Harry insisted he didn't need much else."
Will considered that. "Who does he talk to if he has a problem there?"
Lilly paused. "I guess that'd be me." She shrugged. "He was pretty insistent that he'd be okay."
She really didn't have the energy to think about Harry Planter when she was psyching herself up to tell her boyfriend that she WASN'T going back to being a nun … and that they would likely reach the point that they'd be having … familial relations.
Lilly was far less confident in her sexuality than she implied to others.
Will walked them out even as Helen went to check on the kids – and pass on Lilly's thanks to Joan.