Chapter twenty one

At the ministry's freedom ball, all the aurors were in their uniforms. They checked everyone's invitation, Harry mainly stayed watching everyone but mostly the minister who was greeting every person that arrived. Once the last person arrived, Harry sealed the doors, then the aurors went into a small room they had set up to change into more casual but dressy clothes. Harry gave Severus a smile as he walked past and could see Lily trying to reach for him and he hated the fact he had to ignore his daughter and partner. But very soon he would never have to hide his family again.

All the aurors started to mingle, Harry mainly staying close to the minister even though everyone had been thoroughly checked.

'Harry.'

Harry turned, 'Hello Ginny, you look very nice.'

'Thank you, I brought you a drink,' she smiled sweetly.

'No thanks Ginny, I'm not thirsty. So how are you and the family,' Harry knew that drink was spiked, only aurors could see the very subtle difference in colour.

'We're good, but can't you at least have one drink with an old friend.'

'I'll be drinking with everyone soon, for now I'm just not thirsty. Oh but it looks like the minister is ready for his speech, I need to go,' Harry hurried away and stood casually near the stage keeping an eye on everyone and knew his aurors were doing the same just in amongst the crowd. But he did notice that Ginny was talking to her parents and family who all seemed agitated.

'Tonight we're here to remember the ones we lost due to Voldemort and his supporters, but we are also here to celebrate our freedom. One year ago today our war came to an end, one year ago today, Harry Potter killed Voldemort in the great hall at Hogwarts. One year ago today, all of us were finally able to have a free and safe lives for the first time in more years than most of us know. Tonight everyone that fought in the battle of Hogwarts are receiving an award,' Kingsley pulled his wand and small medals floated to the ones that fought, 'The Harry Potter bravery award is for all of you that turned up to fight because it took a lot of courage to fight. Some of you were young yet you were willing to go up against experienced and sadistic dark witches and wizards, that is a brave thing to do,' Kingsley had noticed Harry's face harden and scowl, 'I never told Harry that I was naming an award after him, if I did, he would have refused to turn up tonight.'

Everyone laughed, 'You're right about that minister,' Harry said which made everyone laugh louder, everyone but the Weasley's and Hermione, along with who Harry believed were her parents.

'Then you're probably going to hate me, but for now let me finish,' Kingsley smiled as he looked back at the crowd, 'The next award is for a group of young people that called themselves the DA or Dumbledore's army. This group of kids, they were kids at the time, from the age of twelve to Seventeen, they all started to learn in secret. They learned how to fight, they learned what they needed in the hope it would keep them alive. They learned from their leader Harry Potter. So if the DA would please make your way to the stage to receive the Order or Merlin: second class,' Harry was first on stage then the others all joined him, but Harry noticed that Ron looked angry and overheard him tell Hermione they should have received first class, not second. After shaking hands with the minister and receiving their awards, they left the stage.

'This next award is for everyone that lost their lives due to Voldemort. Now some have no family to accept them, so they will be in our war museum that has been built in the atrium of the ministry of magic. We have been donated a lot of items to put in our museum, I donated a book that belonged to my brother who died during the first war, his book on how to fight the evil. Mr. Severus Snape donated his black robes that everyone knows he used to wear. It was his way of making everyone believe one thing when he was really fighting against Voldemort. Harry Potter donated Lily Potter, James Potter and Sirius Black's wands. Minerva McGonagall donated Albus Dumbledore's pensieve because it was this pensieve that he used to learn what he needed to about Voldemort then he passed that information onto Harry Potter. So that pensieve became an important instrument in the fight against Voldemort. Minerva also donated a piece of the Hogwarts wall, so everyone will remember what it took to win our war. So as I read the name of the deceased, I will then read the name of the person who will receive that award. I think everyone will agree on this first one. So for the Order of the Phoenix award for Lily and James Potter is not going to be received by their son, Harry, he's wishes are that his daughter Lily Eileen Snape Potter receive her grandparents awards.'

There were gaps that went around the room, but the whole Weasley family and Grangers all looked angry, upset and murderous.

Severus walked up to Harry and handed Lily to her, then Harry kissed Snape before stepping up on the stage and held his daughter so Kingsley could gently pin two awards in the shape of a phoenix to her shirt.

'Even though you and Severus have black hair, she has your hair Harry, it doesn't lie flat,' Kingsley smiled at the little girl who tried to grab his nose.

'Yes, I was hoping that she had Severus' hair, but see her eyes.'

'Yes, she has her grandmother's eyes and her name sake, Lily Potter's eyes and your eyes. Now since you are on stage I will present you with the Order of the Phoenix for your godfather Sirius Black,' Kingsley pinned another award to Harry's chest, shook his hand then laughed as Lily grabbed his robes.

'Lily sweetheart, the minister is busy, you might be able to play with him later,' Harry kissed her cheek as everyone laughed.

Kingsley took another hour before he finally finished with the awards for all the people that had died due to the war with Voldemort.

'I have one more award and one more presentation then we can get on with our freedom party. So the Order of Merlin: First Class is awarded to Harry Potter, for ending our war when he finally killed the worst dark wizard in history,' Kingsley waited until Harry handed Lily to Severus then stepped up on stage, they shook hands then Kingsley pinned the award on his chest, 'We wish to thank you Harry, for your bravery, your courage, for doing what was right, for willing to die for us. So our tribute to you is this,' Kingsley flicked his wand and a fifty foot statue of Harry appeared beside the stage making Harry's mouth fall open in shock, 'This statue of Harry Potter is a symbol of piece, a symbol of what this young man was willing to do to ensure we all lived in a free and safe world. Now as a lot of you know, the statue of the Potter family is in Godric's Hollow and I was asked to place this beside it. But I was also asked to place it at Hogwarts and that is where this statue will sit, in the great hall of our historic school because that is where Harry Potter ended our war. Care to say a few words Harry?' Kingsley said, 'I think I've shocked Harry Potter, not easily done.'

Harry scowled but everyone in the room laughed, again apart from the Weasley's and Grangers.

'Even though I wish you never did this, I do appreciate your words Minister. As I have said countless times, so many people contributed to ending our war. The DA which I trained when I was fifteen, most of them fought, sadly we lost two members that night. The first was Colin, he was underage but snuck back to help. The other, was Lavender who went out fighting and protecting others at the same time. Many people helped, people like Albus Dumbledore who had been working tirelessly for more years that most of us know to stop Tom Riddle, or Voldemort if you prefer. Severus Snape who was working behind the scene in secret, passing Albus Dumbledore information but also ensuring the safety of me and a lot of others, they never knew the extent he went to, to ensure their safety. To people like Minerva McGonagall who rallied her staff into action that night, without hesitation. All I said was he was on his way, she trusted me, that meant more to me than you could possibly imagine. To people like Kingsley Shacklebolt, an auror who is trained to deal with dark witches and wizards. But he also risked his life for mine and he did that many times, he is a very brave man and a good friend. People like Remus Lupin who turned up because he wanted to help the son of his best friend. His wife, Nymphadora Tonks Lupin, she might have been an auror, but she just had a child and still turned up to fight. Augusta Longbottom, she turned up knowing her grandson Neville was fighting, but she wasn't going to let everyone else fight for her. A wonderful grandmother was willing to die if it was needed to help bring peace to our world. My friends all fought that night, some because it was the right thing to do, some because they just wanted it finished, one way or another and were willing to fight and die to have that just like I was willing to do as were most of you. So I wish to thank all of you for doing what was right and not what was easy, something Albus Dumbledore said to me often,' Harry started to applause then everyone in the ministry's ball room exploded into applause but also they started to chant Harry's name as he shook hands with Kingsley once more before joining his family, Severus and Lily.