Disclaimer – I own noting to do with the Harry potter franchise and am writing this only for my own amusement.

A/N I can here it now, "What the FRAK are you doing? Truthfully this just came to me while I was watching a history channel special on the Vatican. Plus you never see anyone write Harry as religious unless it's a crossover of some sort, at least I haven't. And no this won't be an instantly Anti-Magic situation with Inquisitions and such. You'll see why as it goes into the start of chapter 2. Chapter 1 is just the introduction of sorts. Plus the Pontiff at the time was John Paul II, probably the most kindly, understanding, and analytical Pope EVER. Just because he didn't understand something he didn't condemn it, he checked it out first. Also John Paul won't really be that big of a recurring character, at least for a while.

Harry Potter and the Paladins

Chapter 1

Feathers of White

Vatican City

July 5th

1986

Wandering around the big city wasn't how young Harry envisioned this trip would be. He had been brought to Rome by his Aunt and Uncle on a business trip after they had failed to find anyone to watch him. They had stopped for a bite to eat, naturally Harry got noting. He had turned around to watch the people out the window and when Harry had turned around to find them they had disappeared. Not wanting to cause anyone any trouble he had slipped out of the restaurant and blended into the crowd.

He was good at blending in, even at only 5; it kept his cousin from finding him when they were "Harry Hunting.

After walking for a while he found a large group pf people gathered in a large open area. He moved through the crowd. Obviously they were waiting for something. He made his way toward the front of the large mass and found a corded off path through the center of the mass of people. He knew you weren't supposed to cross the ropes, so he didn't. Coming down the center of the isle were several men all surrounding a man wearing white robes. He was obviously someone important as everyone reacted to his approach. As he neared where Harry stood a mist began to gather along the path in front of the man. A black mist that then solidified into a man wearing beep black robes and a skull shaped mask.

Harry knew this was bad

In his many years of life, and time in the church, Pope John Paul the second had seen many things. Noting however had prepared him for the sight of a man in dark robes and a skull like mask appearing from a black mist. In his hand he held a simple stick which he then pointed at the 2 Swiss Guard that had moved forward to apprehend him. With a cry of "Avada Kedavra" two bolts of sickly green light shot from the stick and struck the guards, who dropped where they had stood.

The Pontiff had lead the fight against the evils of the world for the greater part of his life. This was a whole new level. As the crowd began to scream in realization of what was happening the black cloaked "man" leveled his stick at the pontiff and loosed another bolt.

Like Leo the First before him, who had faced down Attila the Hun, the Pontiff stood his ground. He knew God was watching over him and would protect him. Just as the green bolt arrived John Paul felt a tiny body collide with his legs, then the world went white.

Seeing things as they were Harry knew one simple fact. The "man in white" was good and the "man in black" was bad. His family had always told him he was a freak and that he didn't deserve what little he was given. So if getting hit by the green light for the man in white would give him time to get away that what he would do.

He bolted from behind the corded partition and grabbed onto the legs of the "man in white", trying desperately to shield him. Even though the top of his head only came up to the man's stomach. As his closed eyes were shrouded in green light he felt warmth engulf him, driving away the cold the green light brought. He knew no more afterward, and would remain in the sweet embrace of sleep for some time.

Again the Pontiff found himself in shock. First the black cloaked "man" had appeared and killed two of the Swiss Guard. Then he had been targeted. Now he had been saved from certain death by only a child who had stepped in the way. Willing to sacrifice himself to save the life of someone he had never met.

The crowd had fallen silent. Between the black cloaked form and the boy and Pontiff was a hemispherical dome of white light.

As John Paul felt the boy slacken and begin to fall he grabbed hold of his shoulders and lowered him to the ground. As the boy fell unconscious, for the Pope could see him still drawing breath, the white light shield collapsed. With their charge now out of the line of fire the plane clothed guards that had been part of the papal entourage drew their weapons and fired.

As the cloaked man fell to the concrete of St Peters Square the Swiss Guard moved forward with their weapons still aimed. They secured the robed man, after removing his mask and the "Stick" he had used, and checked him over before calling for the coroner. The man had been shot four times in the chest and had not survived. The Pontiff rolled the black haired child over. He was mercifully still alive, just sleeping. Wondering what the half dome of light was that had saved his life, and weather the boy had caused it somehow, he moved to carry the child as his other guard had surrounded him and urged him to move back into St Peters.

The Pontiff froze in shock as he finally noticed what the shocked crowd had already seen. Lying in a semicircle around the boy, where the shield of light had been, were arrayed several white feathers. As he returned his gaze to the dark haired child the Pontiff had to wonder. He knew God would protect him, as he did all of his faithful, but had the Lord sent an Angel in the body of a child to save him? The Holy Father gathered the sleeping child into his arms and quickly followed his guard back into St Peters. From there he and a retinue of several nuns, 2 of the cardinals, and several bishops along with almost half of the Swiss Guard made their way through the secured passages towards the fortress Caste Saint Angelo. All the while young Harry, now being carried by one of the Sisters accompanying the group, slept.

Outside people gathered in the square of St Peter to pray. Among the crowd were Italian Magicals who knew what had happened. Two had been close enough to see the boys face. The black hair and scar had given away that Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, had once again resisted the Killing Curse to save the life of the Supreme Pontiff. By the time the Italian Magical authorities had arrived it was all over.

Around the world these events had been televised live and the governments of the world were paying attention. Many world leaders knew EXACTLY what had happened and would be keeping a very close eye on their own magical communities.

The International Confederation of Wizards was in an uproar and would soon be calling on their head to explain this. They were now exposed, thanks to one of the supposedly "subdued" Death Eaters from England, and there was little that could be done to repair the damage. The footage had been LIVE!

In England, Prime Minister Margaret Hilda Thatcher was preparing to call in a meeting with both the queen and the sitting Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. It was high time they answered for this and if she had her way they would be lucky to still be governing themselves at the end of the day!

A/N I know this was rather short but as I said it was just a set up for what is to come.