Authors speech - This is my first publication so id love feedback, this is only the first chapter more to come
22nd July 2008
(Harry POV)
"Ginny" I called "have you seen my new aftershave that I bought?"
"It's in our bathroom cabinet babe" answered Ginny from their bedroom.
Harry grinned to himself remembering what he had gone through to get the love of his life; he knew she was the one from the moment he saw her. Today was the 10 year anniversary of his defeat of the evil Lord Voldemort, and was due at a party at the atrium of the ministry of magic at 9pm. His head was swimming with what he had done and lost 10 years ago, and how much he had achieved since.
He looked down and saw his wedding ring on his marital finger. It had been 9 years since Harry had been married to Ginny after asking her to marry him 3 weeks after the final battle. He knew it was over for one of them that day, as soon as he said 'expelliarmus', he was just glad that it was him that came out on top.
Currently Harry was dressed in black dress robes, with a silver threading. He summoned the aftershave (thanks to Ginny) and applied it. Just then Ginny walked into the room with a light brown knee-length dress to match her eyes, her lovely, long, red hair sweeping around her.
"Are you ready yet" Ginny moaned "we have to be there at 8 o'clock"
"Yeh I'm ready babe" I replied.
"Good are we using the floo network too get there, or just apperating?" Ginny asked.
"Definitely floo, don't want to seem too important" I replied "You know what the Daily Prophet is like"
"Yeh I guess so" Ginny replied giving me a quick kiss.
"Grrrr you little minx" I exhaled as Ginny left the room.
I strapped on my wand holster, and picked up my speech that I would speak later that evening (due to minister Shacklbolt's request), and left the bedroom. As I entered the main sitting room I saw Ginny standing there waiting for me.
"Are you ready?" Ginny asked.
"As ready as ill ever be" I replied, feeling steadily more nervous.
Ginny picked up a bit of floo powder from a pouch on the mantle, stepped in the fireplace and said "ministry of magic" and in a flash of bright, green flames she was gone.
'better get going, ohh I hate these reminders of that day' I thought to myself. I picked up some floo power and stepped into the flames saying "ministry of magic"
After what felt like nearly a minute of spinning and seeing flashes out of people's fireplaces I was there. The atrium was full of life with people finding seats for the occasion, but first I had to speak too my aurors, "Ron" seeing him when he entered (Ronald Weasley was his second in command, and his best friend), "What is the security tonight?" I asked.
"Two aurors on each fireplace and four on the apparition point, sir" Ron replied.
"I've already told you Ron you're my best mate you don't have to call me sir just because I'm your boss"
"Sorry Harry, just habit" Ron said, slightly embarrassed.
"Well just remember I'm your best mate, plus we are family, I am married too your sister after all" I stated.
"Good point" Ron said "You ready for tonight mate; it doesn't feel like 10 years does it?"
"No Ron, no it doesn't" I replied "Something feels wrong Ron, tell Hannah to keep an eye out for trouble"
"Will do sir, I mean Harry"
"Seriously Ron, you would think after 4 years of being head auror you would have remembered by now" I exclaimed.
"Yes Harry" Ron said as I walked away towards the front seats in front of the large stage on the border of the large golden fountain of myself, Ron and Hermione (the golden trio as they called us.), next to Ginny.
Nearly 30 minutes later, all of the seats were taken up and the party began. Kingsley Shacklebolt (the minister) walked to the stage.
"Hello and welcome, this as you all know is the tenth anniversary of Voldemort's defeat at the battle of Hogwarts. Now as well as celebrating this victory, I have to remind like every year what we lost to gain it. Countless muggles, witches and wizards died in that war and the battle so I wish to propose a minute's silence to remember those that we lost" He announced.
The whole room suddenly became silent, nobody spoke and it was hard to tell people were even breathing by how quiet people were. It was almost as if the whole room was cast in a large 'muffliato' charm.
"Now" Kingsley said, once the minute was over "I ask for the head auror, the reason we are all here, and the saviour of us all too come onto the stage, mister Harry Potter." There was a large applause after that.
I slowly stood up, I always secretly dreaded these speeches, "you will be fine" Ginny whispered in my ear as I stood up and walked to the podium. Slightly nervous, even after all this time I pulled my speech out of my pocket and looked over the crowd. I saw many familiar faces, but one stuck out over all others, Draco Malfoy. He had been to everyone of these celebrations and I understood why; after his father was arrested as a death eater, he swore never to have any dealings with the dark arts and even refused to fight for Voldemort after I had saved his life during the battle. But even so I was happy to see him in the crowd every year.
"Right, you all know who I am obviously so I won't bore you with introductions, unfortunately too be here today we have lost alot of friends and family, and like every year I will say I am sorry for that. However, look how far we have come, 10 years after and we are still at peace. I will just thank you all for coming. 10 years ago today I fought and defeated, who was thought, and too some still is the darkest wizard in wizarding history. Tom Riddle destroyed alot of dreams, aswell as murdering friends and family with his followers" I paused and looked at Ginny who had tears in her eyes, I knew she was thinking of her brother Fred. "Now all that is over, and although a few 'death eaters' are still at large, even after all this time, all I can say is that it is my main priority to capture them. Now as I said happy anniversary too all of you"
Suddenly there was a large explosion and the statue head of Harry fell to the floor.
Need some ideas for how certain characters go into the past I'd appreciate your thoughts because I'm at a loss there at the minute.