Chapter 3 Feasts and the Returning
For American Readers: Add to your list of blessings of things to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my family, with honors to Mom, ( Sister) Melissa, Aunt Judy, Uncle Steve, (and the dogs) Molly and Bella!! (and miss kitty, even though she hates everyone!) If anyone cares, I'll be at their house tomorrow, so this is why I updated today, not tomorrow.
Earlier that morning, Harry thought that his life would become normal now that his arch foe had been defeated. But Harry was older, much wiser now. It just took tonight to open up his eyes to how un-normal his life would always remain.
On the way down they ran into Cho, but she only had enough time to say, "Hi, Harry." In a dramatic, slow, loving voice before Ginny gave her the worst "don't-you-dare-steal-my-boyfriend" glare Harry had ever seen and Cho ran away.
Laughing for the first time in an hour, they entered through the double doors to some of the loudest applause Harry had ever heard. Harry had been expecting a feast, not a standing ovation. Every single person in the hall was standing up, applauding, including Ron Hermione and Ginny. The latter pulled him forward to the front of the Hall, where Kingsley was standing with a piece of paper and a bag in his hand.
Leaving him next to Kingsley, Ginny dashed away. Harry confusedly turned towards Kinsglsey, hoping that he could explain things to him. He did.
"I would like to last, but most certainly not least, award the Order of Merlin, First Class to Mr. Harry Potter." This news was greeted from even more applause from the audience and a dropped jaw from Harry. "In addition to one-thousand galleons in prize money." The onlookers were now looking like they had to yell and scream to stay alive. Harry tried to back away a little but several people turned him back toward Kinsley.
Feeling his face turning even redder Harry muttered to Kingsley, "look, you don't have to do this—" But his long speech about how he didn't deserve the award or the money was cut short by the new Minister.
"Harry, several people here have been complaining that they didn't get an award they deserved. The rest have been saying that they didn't deserve an award that high. You are the person in this hall that deserves this award the most. Actually, I'd say this is half of a one/hundredth of what you really deserve." And he handed the bag of galleons, the certificate and the gold metal to a modest looking Harry, who thanked Kingsley even though he still thought he didn't deserve it, and walked over to the Weasleys and Hermione, who all gave him either a clap on the back, or a hug. Harry noticed George wasn't present.
Ginny gave him a squeeze in his hand as he sat and whispered, "Congratulations" with a mysterious look in her eye that Harry knew only too well. "You knew?" Harry whispered back.
"Well, of course I did sweet heart. Don't ever forget: I know everything." She winked as Kingsley continued with the speech. Then McGonagall got up and did some speaking too. All Harry could think about was this metal in his hand. He already had plans about what he would do with this gold.
"…So let us enjoy our feast with the thoughts of everyone who has fought, and all who were lucky to survive." McGonagal ended her speech. Food appeared everywhere, but for once Ron did not pounce on the food like he hadn't eaten a proper meal in years, but calmly took a piece of chicken, potatoes, green beans, and offered the plate to Hermione. Ginny was the first person to notice this, who elbowed Harry and asked if anything she should know about was happening. That's when he remembered!
"So, Ron? How have you been lately? Hermione you okay?" They both looked up and turned red, Ron giving Harry a death glare. Harry suddenly noticed that they were holding hands; Ginny was starting to get it, her eyes were as big as the dinner plates.
"Oh, we're fine Harry. Just brilliant. Couldn't be better." Ron said pointedly. Harry grinned back, "That's good, because last time I saw you—"
"Who wants me to peas? I mean, who wants my pee? Whoa, I meant—woops!" Ron's distraction suddenly turned around as he dropped it on Harry's lap.
"Nice going Ron!" said Harry laughing as he stood up to shake himself off while all who were in earshot howled with laughter. As Ron leaned over to help Harry, he muttered, "Shut up or I'll tell mum and dad about you and Ginny." That pretty much kept both couples quiet during the course of the meal, though both pairs were holding hands under the table, but Ginny had gone as far as giving him a kiss when no one was looking and Ron complimenting Hermione on her hair.
Several things happened during that meal. Ramilda Vane and several other girls kept shooting Harry flirty looks and Ginny murderous, which she gladly returned. People kept coming up to Harry to thank him "for all that you do!" and congratulate him on the well deserved award (Harry responded to one person saying that all the reward he needed was right in front of him and put an arm around Ginny). Several speeches were made by official looking people, and at the very end of the meal, the death toll was given. 102 people died on their side, on Voldemort's 98. They then read the list of everyone who had died; Harry experienced several lurches as they read some familiar names, but got the biggest one at those he had already known. They held a moment of silence that actually lasted five minutes, and there was an announcement made that the dead would be buried at Hogwarts unless family members wanted otherwise.
The Weasleys all agreed that Fred should be buried at Hogwarts, and Harry heard Arthur say that Remus and Tonks would be buried at Hogwarts too, according to Andromeda. And that's when Harry realized with a stab of guilt that he had someone very, very important to meet: his godson.
A/N: And another crappie bites the dust. I'm sorry it's so short, I planned to have some action soon though, I promise! Next Chapter: A New Beginning ; we get to meet Teddy!