After what became known as the Battle of Hogwarts, the wizarding world began the process of healing. The fallen were buried, some in their family plots but most in the Hogsmeade Cemetery with their comrades in arms. The leaving feast was for the second year running a somber occasion of mourning. During the summer the grounds and castle were repaired.
A week before the start of the new term a small painting of a stool was hung in the great hall. On September 1st the students returned to the school. The castle and the grounds bore the scars of the battle, and the first years were excited and scared as they were sorted into their houses. Everyone was aware of the empty places at the house tables where the fallen had once sat, noticeable even though the great hall had been expanded for a ceremony to honor the heroes of the battle.
Professor McGonagall welcomed everyone with the usual announcements. After her speech she introduced Kingsley Shaklebolt the official Minister of Magic. As he rose to speak, the wizarding wireless moved into place to broadcast his speech. "It is firstly my pleasure to announce the appointment of Professor McGonagall as the Headmistress of Hogwarts." There was a great deal of applause. As you know, the ministry has chosen the site of the defeat of Voldemort as the place to honor the heroes. As he spoke all the ghosts, elves, and portraits of the castle gathered in the hall. One wall had been charmed so that the centaurs could be seen. One by one the heroes were acknowledged and honored. First Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley were awarded the Order of Merlin First Class. Next came fellow Gryffindor Neville Longbottom, whose grandmother stood proudly by. Few noticed the portraits as all eyes were focused on the dais. Yet one of the larger paintings was filled with the former headmasters and mistresses of the school. Near the back beside Phineas Nigellus stood a dour figure in a black frock coat, whose nose wrinkled as the awards were called. Next the posthumous awards were given and crying family members accepted them. Teddy Lupin was confused and wanted to play with his parents awards and the entire Weasley family accepted Fred's. The contributions of the elves and centaurs were acknowledged. Next the minister announced the construction of a monument to the fallen on the grounds next to Dumbledore's restored tomb. Then he turned the ceremony over to Headmistress McGonagall. She montioned to Phineas Nigellus who walked through the paintigs over to the stool in the small new painting and lifted an object off the stool. Then she spoke, "We have honored many heroes today without whose sacrifice our world might be very different today. But we owe thanks to one who worked thanklessly for many years to defeat Voldemort. While most in this room, myself included, reviled him he took great personal risks and paid the ultimate price. We now know much of the story, but will never know it all. I now ask Phineas to award him the Order of Merlin First Class. Thank you Headmaster Snape." The applause built slowly as the black figure moved through the many figures in the paintings to the front of the hall where the award was conferred. He bowed and saw Professor Dumbledore nod his head mouthing well done.