((Hello all my faithful reviewers! Next chapter up! Hope you enjoy it! ~
Kay))
Chapter 17: A funeral and a few awards
Ron's breath caught his throat. Harry's hand was holding so tightly to Ron's wrist, he was loosing feeling in his fingers, but he didn't care. The tears started to fall harder, no one else was looking at Harry now, only Ron. Just Ron and Harry. Harry looked like he was in serious pain, but his eyes were smiling. The tears just came harder from Ron. Harry was alive, right there, alive, right in front of him. Finally he found his voice
"Harry"
He whispered, he could barely see his friend now, water was blurring his vision. At Ron's voice the entire group turned towards him. They stared at Ron for a moment, then turned to Harry. Ginny gasped
"Harry!"
She suddenly shrieked, falling to the ground beside him and hugging him so tightly Ron could see she was causing him more pain. Harry never let go of Ron's wrist though. Then Hermionie hugged him, then Dumbledore, Mcgonagall, Sirius, Daniel, Remus, even Draco. And Harry never let go, like Ron was his life line or something. Then the rest of student's seemed to realize something was happening and began coming closer. Shouts form the closer student's echoed through the hall
"He's alive! Harry Potters alive!"
Cheers went up in the hall, so loud they were deafening. Ginny and the rest of them released Harry and Ron pulled him to his feet. Harry' arm was around Ron's shoulder's. He couldn't stand alone, Ron was supporting him. Random student's ran up and hugged him. The cheering was still going on. People were smiling and patting Harry on the back. The dark lord was gone, and the hero of the wizarding world was alive, standing before them. Finally Ron and Draco managed to wedge their way out, taking a very weak Harry through the quiet halls, away from the celebration, towards the hospital wing. Ron was still practically sobbing. Harry turned his head towards his best friend
"Ron, if you wanted me to stay dead, I understand"
Harry said, grinning
"Shut up Harry"
Ron said, sniffling
"It's not funny. You try having your best friend die in your arms, there is no humor in the situation."
"If I hadn't done what I did I would have had my best friend die in my arms"
Harry replied. Ron didn't reply. Harry turned to Draco. He was still very pale, like more than normal. His clutch on Harry's wrist over his shoulder was painful. Harry didn't tell him that
"All right there, Malfoy?"
"As good as I'll ever be Potter"
Draco replied, smiling. He kicked the hospital wing door open. Madam Pomphrey was asleep in her office. She knew nothing of what had just happened. The bang from Draco's foot brought her out of her reverie.
"My Goodness!"
She cried, running over
"What happened?!"
Ron and Draco lowered Harry into a bed. With a wave of Madam Pomphrey's wand Harry's robes were gone and he was in only a pair of flannel pajama pants. He laid on top of the covers while Pomphrey healed his open wounds, there were quite a few. Ron and Draco explained everything they saw, from Voldemort showing up, to right now. The nurse nearly had a heart attack when she heard what Harry had done.
"Why do you do it Potter?!"
She mumbled, still bent over him in attempt to heal him.
"I told you not to do anything straining last time you were put into my care and here you go, getting yourself killed!"
Harry had to snort, he earned a smack from Pomphrey on the arm, which was now just scars.
"I'm sorry...but if I didn't I would be dead now, along with Ron and many other students, and Voldie would still be alive"
Madam Pomphrey obviously didn't agree with that name, she gave him a glare
"What? Madam Pomphrey, Voldemort is all you can and should call him! Not You-know-who or something else pathetic!"
The woman shrugged and grabbed a potion from the bedside table. She poured it into a rather large gash in his shoulder. Harry hissed in pain
"Shit! That hurt!"
"Language Potter"
Pomphrey said, though a smile was creeping onto her lips
"You'll be in here until Saturday, then I think you'll be able to go free, that will give you all weekend and your last week at Hogwarts"
She muttered, her smile fading. She tapped his shoulder with her wand then strode off
"I'll be back to check in a bit"
She said over her shoulder before entering her office and closing the door.
~*~
Harry slept for an entire day and a half. Ginny, Ron, Hermionie, Draco, Sirius, Remus, Daniel, Cassi, and Laura never left his side. Finally Saturday rolled around and Madam Pomphrey let Harry go, after making him and his friends promise to come see her before leaving Hogwarts. That's when Harry got the entire over view of what happened and was going to happen.
"Fudge tolled the papers, they've been at the gates for days, he's pulled back on the whole Avada Kadavera thing, thank god. Monday there will be funerals for everyone lost this year, on Tuesday there will be an awards ceremony, Wednesday there will be a all star quidditch match, your the staff seeker, on Thursday there will be a ball for 4th years and up, and on Friday, Graduation..." ((Ok, earlier in the story Dumbledore told Harry some of this, but it's different here. Ignore what he said earlier, all right? I'll fix it all later!))
Ron said as he, Harry, Hermionie, Ginny, and Draco strolled around the lake, avoiding the gates of Hogwarts.
"You're in everything that's going to happen you know"
Hermionie said, grinning
"Yeah"
Draco added
"You have to speak on behalf of all the students at the funerals, you have to receive and give awards, your on the quidditch team...there will be professional scouts there you know... you're going to the ball, and your making a speech at graduation, along with actually graduating!"
He said. Harry shrugged. He was very nervous about speaking at the funerals, playing Quidditch, receiving his awards, and his speech at graduation...it had to be him, didn't it? They re-entered the great hall only to be met by Sirius who was there talking to Professor Mcgonagall.
"Harry!"
He cried happily, bounding over to his god son
"I get the job as defense teacher next year!"
Sirius was practically bouncing with happiness. Mcgonagall walked up behind him
"I personally think Albus is making a rather terrible mistake"
She said, grinning. Sirius glared at her and the group laughed. They spent the rest of the weekend screwing around. Harry felt much better walking around without the hood and not having to worry about much, other than what was coming up the following week. On Monday morning the sun seemed to rise too quickly. Harry pulled himself out of bed and dressed in his Hogwarts robes...black....that was all he owned, though it had a different meaning when worn to a funeral. He ran a comb through his hair and left the room. The funerals were taking place in the gardens, in about 40 minutes. Harry hadn't written a speech, he didn't feel he needed one...there were so many people he had to acknowledge. Cho, Seamus, Lavender...though she didn't die, they had to make it look like she did...Professor Vector, along with so many others. He was just glad he didn't have to say anything about Ron, Hermionie, Ginny or Draco. That would have been impossible. He reached the gardens. There were hundreds of chairs set up and a light mist hung in the damp, dim air. A stage draped in black cloth was set up in front with a podium. Dumbledore and Mcgonagall were standing there, talking in hushed voices. Pictures of every person that died, student or teacher, lined the front of the stage. His eyes fell on Seamus' picture, beside Lavenders. Harry sighed, he really felt sorry for Lavender, he knew she didn't want to kill Seamus, and hopefully, they would go easy on her. He knew what it was like to want sacrifice anything for family. And if it would keep everyone he held dear alive, and he had to kill one of his close friends, he might, but he wouldn't know, and hopefully it would never happen. His eyes then landed on Cho. Guilt swept over him. He brought her here, it was his fault. Though everyone said it wasn't, he knew deep down it was. He turned his head away, this was going to be difficult. He suddenly felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. He turned slowly and nearly dropped over in shock. Snape was staring at him, his eyebrow raised
"Don't blame yourself Potter, you did nothing wrong"
He said, before gliding off. Harry stared after him, his mouth dry, and his eyes holding confusion. Finally he jumped up onto the stage beside Dumbledore and Mcgonagall. Dumbledore grinned at Harry, as did Mcgonagall
"All right, Harry?"
She asked kindly. Harry took a deep breath
"I've been better"
He whispered. People were starting to poor onto the grounds. From the gates, from the school. Some were reporters, he could tell. That made Harry mad, had they no hearts? He took a seat on the stage behind the podium, Mcgonagall to his left, Dumbledore to his right. The minister of Magic showed up and sat beside Dumbledore. The seats were filling fast. It was a sea of black. Many people were already crying. Harry sighed again. Some of the biggest names in the wizarding world were speaking, himself, Dumbledore, Fudge...but these people really needed someone small who knew their children better. Though, having your child receive the Order of Merlin from the minister, a blessing and sentiments from Dumbledore, and of course sorrys and stories from Harry Potter, must mean more to anyone, then someone they never have heard of, a true friend should mean more. The crowd began to grow silent. Every seat was filled, people stood in the back. Harry saw the entire Weasley Family in the fifth row, all dressed in black. Ginny had silent tears running down her cheeks. Hermionie sat between Ron and Draco on the end. Her head was resting on Draco's shoulder, she to was crying. Ron held her hand in his. Dumbledore suddenly rose, walking slowly to the podium.
"The wizarding world has suffered great losses in the past few weeks..."
He began, his voice soft and full of emotion
"Everything that has happened, every life lost, has brought the greatness our world held down ever so slightly. So many families left without sons, daughters, brothers, sisters. What has happened has ruined our faith, our hope in a peaceful place. Watching my friends, my students leave this world nearly brought me to my knees. I knew everyone of them, every face I remember, and each loss hurts me just as much as the next. I could stand up here and tell you all how horrible I feel, and how much I wish I could change the past. Though I feel these things, I doubt anyone who lost their life in these troubled times would want to be remembered with tears, they would want to be remembered with smiles and laughter, they want to know that the people they left behind will remember their happiest moments, not their darkest. I'm an old man, I may not understand what all of you are feeling, though I try, I guess my thoughts are all to different from yours. I want you all to know I would have given my life for anyone who died, anyone, if I'd had the chance. I know many of your children did, I saw it with my own eyes. But now, that this is all finished, we must morn for the lost, and prepare for newer and better times"
He smiled wistfully at the crowd
"Thank you"
Fudge stood up immediately after Dumbledore seated himself. Mcgonagall was crying silently. Harry hated watching her like this. Fudge's speech was much less sentimental. He expressed his thoughts and his sadness, he read every name of each person that had died. He told them all about the Order of Merlin's they would each receive. When Fudge sat Harry shakily approached the podium. He knew of nothing he could say to make anyone in the audience feel better. Oh! Good start! He thought
"I know of nothing to say that would ease any of your pain"
Harry said
"I lost many friends in this war, and I, like the Headmaster would have died for any of them..."
You did die, for all the one's living Came an annoying voice from Harry's head
"I've faced Voldemort and his death eaters so many times in my life you can't count it on one hand...I know how all their minds work. They want nothing but to cause chaos, and to kill. In the recent attacks they succeeded in what they wanted to do."
Harry felt tears threaten his eyes, he blinked them back
"I watched so many of my peers die at the hands of Voldemort, and now, I would have given anything to go back and save them...but I cant. Someone once told me, that 'It does not do to dwell on dreams'."
A proud smile grew on Dumbledore's face then
"And wishing that this all never happened is dwelling on dreams. So I ask you all to take my advice, and the man that told me this, and not dwell on your losses. The last things your friends and family want is for you to let your life go on without you because of them. I give all of you my love and I'm always free if you ever need to talk"
There were scattered chuckles
"Harry smiled
"Thank you"
Harry smiled weakly then returned to his seat. The service carried on, and after about an hour more, it was over. Harry was in the crowd being thanked and hugged by random people, some who he didn't know at all. Finally at about 2:30 everyone had left that was going to leave. Some stayed at Hogwarts. Harry finally detached himself from Seamus' parents, and found his friends. Seamus had some very interesting parents. They had made Harry cry, much harder than he had when he discovered Seamus had died. Ginny, Ron, Hermionie, and Draco were sitting at the empty Gryffindor table, talking quietly. Harry slid into a seat beside Ginny. Hermionie was first to notice his red eyes
"What's wrong?"
She asked
"Don't talk to Seamus's parents, they'll break your heart"
Harry said, rubbing his eyes. Ron smiled slightly
"Already did, they broke me to"
He said. Harry smiled
"Right"
They spent the rest of the afternoon in the Great Hall, occasionally talking to people, including Cho's and Lavender's parents. Harry was surprised to find that Ron, Ginny, and Hermionie thought the same thing as he did, about Lavender. They had already forgiven her, and hoped the ministry would be lenient. They ended up camping out in Harry's room that night, all bundled in sleeping bags on the floor. They stayed up late, thankful the awards ceremony didn't start till six the following evening. They all slept till noon the following day, and were still tired when the awoke. The group trudged to lunch. They were greeted by and empty hall, all the teachers were present, but no students. Dumbledore smiled as the entered and all the teachers waved. They sat down and helped themselves to what was left of lunch.
"Time has really flown"
Hermionie suddenly said, taking bite of her role. Everyone nodded.
"Yeah, it seems like only yesterday you came barging into our car asking about Neville's toad"
Ron said
"Or when stuck up brat over here tried to take you over the 'dark side'"
Hermionie said. Draco smacked her arm, glaring fiercely at her
"Or when we defeated that damn troll"
Harry said. The group laughed.
"The chess game"
"Fluffy"
"Those spiders"
"The flying car"
"Ginny's love letter!"
"Dobby"
"The Chamber of Secrets"
"Lockhart"
"The boggart"
"Meeting Sirius"
"You falling 50 feet from your broom"
"Ack! Bad memory!"
"The summer's you spent at my house"
"The World cup"
"Moody"
"Fighting a Dragon"
"Being so damn noble and trying to save all four hostages"
"Shut up"
"The maze..."
"Cedric..."
The group drew silent. There were so many memories in this place. Hermionie suddenly sniffled
"I don't want to go!"
She whined, burring her head in Ron's shoulder. He patted her back and looked questioningly at Draco, Harry, and Ginny. They all shrugged, feeling just as put out as Hermionie. Finally Mcgonagall shooed them all out of the great hall because they were about to begin decorating it. Draco went back to the Slytherin common room and the others started towards the Gryffindor common room. Ron said the password the four of them entered. Every Gryffindor was in the common room. They all looked up and smiled. The number of times they'd seen those three barge through that portrait together. Anyone who wasn't graduating would sourly miss the trio. Most of all Ginny. The group walked over to the their old corner and sat in silence. Finally Neville ran up
"You do know half the ministry is going to be at the awards ceremony tonight?"
He said excitedly, taking a seat beside Ginny
"How could we forget?"
Harry asked. He didn't want to accept that award, that was all his reputation needed, an Order of Merlin.
"Oh come now Harry, you deserve the award, you were willing to die for us all! Accept the damn thing happily or we'll all kill you on the spot"
Ron snapped, rolling his eyes. Harry grinned
"Right Ron"
He said simply. Ron raised his eyebrow
"And your agreeing with me because...."
"Because if I didn't we'd all have to hear you rant for a few more minutes and I'm going to save everyone the torture."
That earned him a smack in the face with a pillow. Harry sat stunned for a minute while Ron laughed
"Why you..."
Harry said, grabbing a pillow and taking a swing at Ron. Ron ducked and Harry hit Hermionie instead. She glared at him and walloped him with the pillow she was sitting with. Harry hit her back, Ron hit Ginny, Ginny hit Neville. Harry hit some 3rd year he didn't know, the third year timidly hit him back. And soon the entire common room was in a full out pillow fight. Harry was being mercilessly beaten by everyone. The only person that stuck by him was Collin, who seemed to have gotten over the fact that Harry had stolen his girl friend. Collin eventually gave up and grabbed his camera, snapping pictures of everyone. It was great. Harry hadn't laughed so hard in ages. At about four thirty everyone gave up. Harry had won. He charmed all the un-used pillows to fight with him, and they were pretty brutal. Harry left the common room and headed back to his room to get dressed. He threw open his trunk and began digging through it. He had a pair of brand new dress robes that he'd never worn from his fifth year. They were way to small. Harry, being to lazy to go borrow some, changed the sizes so that the robes fit him perfectly. They looked better on him now then they did when he'd bought them. He removed the robes after he'd gotten the right size and took a shower. He got his hair to calm slightly, but it was still pretty wild to any normal person's standard, but, he was, as most people knew, no normal person. At five thirty he put on his robes and headed towards the Gryffindor common room to pick up his date....Ginny, naturally. When he entered through the portrait he was immediately attacked by one of the more vicious pillows that he'd forgotten to fix. After a minute he finally managed to get it back to normal. All the Gryffindor boys emerged from behind couches and smiled thankfully at him. He sat with Ron, Neville, Collin, and a fifth year boy who introduced himself as Devon Rocky. They chatted happily for a while until the girls started to arrive. Harry turned around just in time to see Hermionie coming down the stairs. She looked gorgeous. Her robes were deep red and her hair was pulled up into a French twist, two ringlets hanging over her cheeks. Ron shot up in his chair. The two had agreed to go with each other, as friends of course. Ginny finally came. Harry nearly dropped dead. She was wearing beautiful fitting silver robes. Her hair was up on her head with curls falling everywhere. Glitter was shinning from her cheeks and in her hair. Every guy in the room was stunned. Much like they had been when Hermionie came down. Harry took Ginny's arm and led her out of the room, Ron and Hermionie following closely behind. The four chatted happily until they reached the great hall. Hundreds of small tables that sat about 5 or 6 were set up around the hall. It looked much bigger than before. A stage was set up where the teachers table would have been. The room was already crowded with people. Ron, Hermionie, Harry, and Ginny took the table near the front. Draco and his date, Celestine, joined them moments later. Celestine was tall and thin, only a few inches below Draco. She had long jet black hair and dull, cold, gray eyes. She was pretty, yes, but to say the least, Harry thought she looked like a bit of a ass...kind of like Draco was only years ago. They exchanged a few words before Harry dragged Draco off to the side to go get drinks for everyone.
"So, who is she?"
Harry asked, pouring some punch in a glass
"She's in her sixth year. My family and hers used to be very close, her father's a death eater"
Draco hissed back
"And you brought her with you because..."
"I know her very well, and she was the only Slytherin girl who would have me. All the other's think I sold them out."
"Oh please"
Harry muttered, rolling his eyes
"Yeah, Dudderhead number one and Dudderhead number two have completely disowned me"
"That's not a bad thing Malfoy, I would have thought someone as..er..superior as yourself would be embarrassed to be caught in public with morons like them"
Draco chuckled and walked back towards the table. Ron and Hermionie were talking to each other, laughing stupidly at something unknown. Celestine and Ginny were glaring at each other. Harry looked at Draco and they immediately began distracting their dates. After about forty five minutes the group had eaten and were waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin. Finally, Fudge stood and walked to the front of the stage. He pointed his wand at his throat
"Sonorous"
Harry saw him say.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! if you would all please take your seats we would like to get this show on the road!"
He cried happily, grinning. Harry rolled his eyes. The minister disgusted him, and he could give a few reasons why
"Now, we have some very special awards to give out tonight. Albus, please"
He said, motioning to his right. Dumbledore suddenly emerged from the crowd and walked up onto the stage. His voice was magnified quickly
"First and foremost I would like to thank each and every Auror, teacher, student, or Phoenix member that assisted us in the fight against Lord Voldemort"
Most people in the audience shuttered
"Everyone played a small part in it, weather they only shot one stupify, or managed to kill one of the most evil wizards of our time..."
He smiled fondly at Harry
"These terrible times have brought out the darkest part of some people who live amongst us now. We have seen what we have dreaded in our nightmares all our lives. But at times like these, we also see the best in people. Some of my students fought so bravely. They gave there lives to save others, and when I saw this, I was so proud the be the Headmaster of this school."
He grinned again
"To feel the rush to want to die to save someone you love, or even someone you don't..."
Again he glanced at Harry
"If you see what I've seen, what so many others have seen, you know what it's like to feel hopeless, helpless, but you also know what it's like to feel power, the power when you save someone's life from another, the power to tell yourself that you DID do something, you DID help....and that's why were are giving these awards tonight, for anyone who put out the energy to fight, who put it all out to save anyone they knew didn't deserve to loose their life..."
He took a deep breath
"The first person I would like to recognize is Ginny Weasley"
Ginny looked shocked as Dumbledore looked strait at her
"She was the first to be taken by Voldemort as he waged war on this school. She went with him and was willing to let him take her life so that someone she loved wouldn't be lost...come up here child"
He grinned and the hall broke into applause. The Weasley's were hooting and howling from the back as their daughter approached Dumbledore. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Draco were on their feet. Ginny reached Dubmledore and he gave her a golden medal with two wands and a phoenix engraved on it. He smiled and whispered something to her. She smiled back at him, bowed slightly then left the stage, returned to her table. Ron looked at her medal
"Wow Gin, you really proved yourself"
Ginny blushed
"Next, I would like to honor William Right..."
Dumbledore gave the same medal to that man (an Auror) and quite a few others before someone else Harry knew was called up
"Mr. Ronald Weasley"
Ron's eyes widened and Harry grinned.
"He was face to face with Voldemort and did not fall to his games. He was willing, just as his sister was, to stand tall and die instead of giving into Voldemort's wishes....for that I honor him"
Ron staggered to the front of the room, accepting the medal from Dumbledore and blushing terribly all the while. When he sat back down Harry was sure his head was going to explode he was so red. A few more awards rolled by, both Draco and Hermionie received an award, smaller than both the Weasleys, but an award well enough. Then it came
"The final award of the night is only a piece of gratitude we have towards this last person. He has faced Voldemort many times in his short life, defying the man every time, and risking his life to do it. He went straight after Voldemort when he attacked the first time, and followed him to the Chamber of Secrets where he fought for Ginny Weasley's life, nearly getting himself killed in the process. He also fought Voldemort only days ago, fighting for his best friend, and willing to die doing it. He knew what would happen if he was to attack Voldemort with the killing curse, he knew there was very little chance he would live...but he did it to save us all, and he lived, for his heart, for his loyalty, for his never ending will, I award Harry Potter the Order of Merlin First Class, Student of the year award, and the hero's medallion"
Applause like nothing Harry had ever heard. Everyone was on their feet, and I mean EVERYONE. Every person was cheering their heart out as Harry approached the stage. He stopped beside Dumbledore
"I'm proud of you, Harry"
He said, grinning. Harry grinned back
"Thank you Professor"
He said
"And I know your father is proud of you, just as well"
Harry smiled wider
"Thank you again Professor"
"Albus"
"Albus"
Dumbledore slid the medal for the student of the year award over Harry's head, and handed him the other two. The Order of Merlin was a plaque, and engraved on it was
Harry Potter, Order of Merlin first class ~The defeat of lord Voldemort~
Then it was signed by all the high ranking officials in the ministry and Dumbledore. The hero's award was a small golden ball, about the size of a snitch, engraved on it was
~A hero to us all, a savior to the world. We own him our lives and love and protection~
Harry smiled and turned to the crowd. They were all still cheering. He bowed slowly and started off the stage, but Dumbledore spoke again
"I would like to thank you all for coming to the awards ceremony held here tonight. Remember, an all star Quidditch match tomorrow at noon, a ball the night after, and finally graduation, we ask you all to attend, good night"
He to bowed to the crowd and followed Harry off the stage.
((And that was that chapter! The following chapter will be the Quidditch match and the ball! Hope you liked it, please review! I'll have the next chapter up asap!!))
Chapter 17: A funeral and a few awards
Ron's breath caught his throat. Harry's hand was holding so tightly to Ron's wrist, he was loosing feeling in his fingers, but he didn't care. The tears started to fall harder, no one else was looking at Harry now, only Ron. Just Ron and Harry. Harry looked like he was in serious pain, but his eyes were smiling. The tears just came harder from Ron. Harry was alive, right there, alive, right in front of him. Finally he found his voice
"Harry"
He whispered, he could barely see his friend now, water was blurring his vision. At Ron's voice the entire group turned towards him. They stared at Ron for a moment, then turned to Harry. Ginny gasped
"Harry!"
She suddenly shrieked, falling to the ground beside him and hugging him so tightly Ron could see she was causing him more pain. Harry never let go of Ron's wrist though. Then Hermionie hugged him, then Dumbledore, Mcgonagall, Sirius, Daniel, Remus, even Draco. And Harry never let go, like Ron was his life line or something. Then the rest of student's seemed to realize something was happening and began coming closer. Shouts form the closer student's echoed through the hall
"He's alive! Harry Potters alive!"
Cheers went up in the hall, so loud they were deafening. Ginny and the rest of them released Harry and Ron pulled him to his feet. Harry' arm was around Ron's shoulder's. He couldn't stand alone, Ron was supporting him. Random student's ran up and hugged him. The cheering was still going on. People were smiling and patting Harry on the back. The dark lord was gone, and the hero of the wizarding world was alive, standing before them. Finally Ron and Draco managed to wedge their way out, taking a very weak Harry through the quiet halls, away from the celebration, towards the hospital wing. Ron was still practically sobbing. Harry turned his head towards his best friend
"Ron, if you wanted me to stay dead, I understand"
Harry said, grinning
"Shut up Harry"
Ron said, sniffling
"It's not funny. You try having your best friend die in your arms, there is no humor in the situation."
"If I hadn't done what I did I would have had my best friend die in my arms"
Harry replied. Ron didn't reply. Harry turned to Draco. He was still very pale, like more than normal. His clutch on Harry's wrist over his shoulder was painful. Harry didn't tell him that
"All right there, Malfoy?"
"As good as I'll ever be Potter"
Draco replied, smiling. He kicked the hospital wing door open. Madam Pomphrey was asleep in her office. She knew nothing of what had just happened. The bang from Draco's foot brought her out of her reverie.
"My Goodness!"
She cried, running over
"What happened?!"
Ron and Draco lowered Harry into a bed. With a wave of Madam Pomphrey's wand Harry's robes were gone and he was in only a pair of flannel pajama pants. He laid on top of the covers while Pomphrey healed his open wounds, there were quite a few. Ron and Draco explained everything they saw, from Voldemort showing up, to right now. The nurse nearly had a heart attack when she heard what Harry had done.
"Why do you do it Potter?!"
She mumbled, still bent over him in attempt to heal him.
"I told you not to do anything straining last time you were put into my care and here you go, getting yourself killed!"
Harry had to snort, he earned a smack from Pomphrey on the arm, which was now just scars.
"I'm sorry...but if I didn't I would be dead now, along with Ron and many other students, and Voldie would still be alive"
Madam Pomphrey obviously didn't agree with that name, she gave him a glare
"What? Madam Pomphrey, Voldemort is all you can and should call him! Not You-know-who or something else pathetic!"
The woman shrugged and grabbed a potion from the bedside table. She poured it into a rather large gash in his shoulder. Harry hissed in pain
"Shit! That hurt!"
"Language Potter"
Pomphrey said, though a smile was creeping onto her lips
"You'll be in here until Saturday, then I think you'll be able to go free, that will give you all weekend and your last week at Hogwarts"
She muttered, her smile fading. She tapped his shoulder with her wand then strode off
"I'll be back to check in a bit"
She said over her shoulder before entering her office and closing the door.
~*~
Harry slept for an entire day and a half. Ginny, Ron, Hermionie, Draco, Sirius, Remus, Daniel, Cassi, and Laura never left his side. Finally Saturday rolled around and Madam Pomphrey let Harry go, after making him and his friends promise to come see her before leaving Hogwarts. That's when Harry got the entire over view of what happened and was going to happen.
"Fudge tolled the papers, they've been at the gates for days, he's pulled back on the whole Avada Kadavera thing, thank god. Monday there will be funerals for everyone lost this year, on Tuesday there will be an awards ceremony, Wednesday there will be a all star quidditch match, your the staff seeker, on Thursday there will be a ball for 4th years and up, and on Friday, Graduation..." ((Ok, earlier in the story Dumbledore told Harry some of this, but it's different here. Ignore what he said earlier, all right? I'll fix it all later!))
Ron said as he, Harry, Hermionie, Ginny, and Draco strolled around the lake, avoiding the gates of Hogwarts.
"You're in everything that's going to happen you know"
Hermionie said, grinning
"Yeah"
Draco added
"You have to speak on behalf of all the students at the funerals, you have to receive and give awards, your on the quidditch team...there will be professional scouts there you know... you're going to the ball, and your making a speech at graduation, along with actually graduating!"
He said. Harry shrugged. He was very nervous about speaking at the funerals, playing Quidditch, receiving his awards, and his speech at graduation...it had to be him, didn't it? They re-entered the great hall only to be met by Sirius who was there talking to Professor Mcgonagall.
"Harry!"
He cried happily, bounding over to his god son
"I get the job as defense teacher next year!"
Sirius was practically bouncing with happiness. Mcgonagall walked up behind him
"I personally think Albus is making a rather terrible mistake"
She said, grinning. Sirius glared at her and the group laughed. They spent the rest of the weekend screwing around. Harry felt much better walking around without the hood and not having to worry about much, other than what was coming up the following week. On Monday morning the sun seemed to rise too quickly. Harry pulled himself out of bed and dressed in his Hogwarts robes...black....that was all he owned, though it had a different meaning when worn to a funeral. He ran a comb through his hair and left the room. The funerals were taking place in the gardens, in about 40 minutes. Harry hadn't written a speech, he didn't feel he needed one...there were so many people he had to acknowledge. Cho, Seamus, Lavender...though she didn't die, they had to make it look like she did...Professor Vector, along with so many others. He was just glad he didn't have to say anything about Ron, Hermionie, Ginny or Draco. That would have been impossible. He reached the gardens. There were hundreds of chairs set up and a light mist hung in the damp, dim air. A stage draped in black cloth was set up in front with a podium. Dumbledore and Mcgonagall were standing there, talking in hushed voices. Pictures of every person that died, student or teacher, lined the front of the stage. His eyes fell on Seamus' picture, beside Lavenders. Harry sighed, he really felt sorry for Lavender, he knew she didn't want to kill Seamus, and hopefully, they would go easy on her. He knew what it was like to want sacrifice anything for family. And if it would keep everyone he held dear alive, and he had to kill one of his close friends, he might, but he wouldn't know, and hopefully it would never happen. His eyes then landed on Cho. Guilt swept over him. He brought her here, it was his fault. Though everyone said it wasn't, he knew deep down it was. He turned his head away, this was going to be difficult. He suddenly felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. He turned slowly and nearly dropped over in shock. Snape was staring at him, his eyebrow raised
"Don't blame yourself Potter, you did nothing wrong"
He said, before gliding off. Harry stared after him, his mouth dry, and his eyes holding confusion. Finally he jumped up onto the stage beside Dumbledore and Mcgonagall. Dumbledore grinned at Harry, as did Mcgonagall
"All right, Harry?"
She asked kindly. Harry took a deep breath
"I've been better"
He whispered. People were starting to poor onto the grounds. From the gates, from the school. Some were reporters, he could tell. That made Harry mad, had they no hearts? He took a seat on the stage behind the podium, Mcgonagall to his left, Dumbledore to his right. The minister of Magic showed up and sat beside Dumbledore. The seats were filling fast. It was a sea of black. Many people were already crying. Harry sighed again. Some of the biggest names in the wizarding world were speaking, himself, Dumbledore, Fudge...but these people really needed someone small who knew their children better. Though, having your child receive the Order of Merlin from the minister, a blessing and sentiments from Dumbledore, and of course sorrys and stories from Harry Potter, must mean more to anyone, then someone they never have heard of, a true friend should mean more. The crowd began to grow silent. Every seat was filled, people stood in the back. Harry saw the entire Weasley Family in the fifth row, all dressed in black. Ginny had silent tears running down her cheeks. Hermionie sat between Ron and Draco on the end. Her head was resting on Draco's shoulder, she to was crying. Ron held her hand in his. Dumbledore suddenly rose, walking slowly to the podium.
"The wizarding world has suffered great losses in the past few weeks..."
He began, his voice soft and full of emotion
"Everything that has happened, every life lost, has brought the greatness our world held down ever so slightly. So many families left without sons, daughters, brothers, sisters. What has happened has ruined our faith, our hope in a peaceful place. Watching my friends, my students leave this world nearly brought me to my knees. I knew everyone of them, every face I remember, and each loss hurts me just as much as the next. I could stand up here and tell you all how horrible I feel, and how much I wish I could change the past. Though I feel these things, I doubt anyone who lost their life in these troubled times would want to be remembered with tears, they would want to be remembered with smiles and laughter, they want to know that the people they left behind will remember their happiest moments, not their darkest. I'm an old man, I may not understand what all of you are feeling, though I try, I guess my thoughts are all to different from yours. I want you all to know I would have given my life for anyone who died, anyone, if I'd had the chance. I know many of your children did, I saw it with my own eyes. But now, that this is all finished, we must morn for the lost, and prepare for newer and better times"
He smiled wistfully at the crowd
"Thank you"
Fudge stood up immediately after Dumbledore seated himself. Mcgonagall was crying silently. Harry hated watching her like this. Fudge's speech was much less sentimental. He expressed his thoughts and his sadness, he read every name of each person that had died. He told them all about the Order of Merlin's they would each receive. When Fudge sat Harry shakily approached the podium. He knew of nothing he could say to make anyone in the audience feel better. Oh! Good start! He thought
"I know of nothing to say that would ease any of your pain"
Harry said
"I lost many friends in this war, and I, like the Headmaster would have died for any of them..."
You did die, for all the one's living Came an annoying voice from Harry's head
"I've faced Voldemort and his death eaters so many times in my life you can't count it on one hand...I know how all their minds work. They want nothing but to cause chaos, and to kill. In the recent attacks they succeeded in what they wanted to do."
Harry felt tears threaten his eyes, he blinked them back
"I watched so many of my peers die at the hands of Voldemort, and now, I would have given anything to go back and save them...but I cant. Someone once told me, that 'It does not do to dwell on dreams'."
A proud smile grew on Dumbledore's face then
"And wishing that this all never happened is dwelling on dreams. So I ask you all to take my advice, and the man that told me this, and not dwell on your losses. The last things your friends and family want is for you to let your life go on without you because of them. I give all of you my love and I'm always free if you ever need to talk"
There were scattered chuckles
"Harry smiled
"Thank you"
Harry smiled weakly then returned to his seat. The service carried on, and after about an hour more, it was over. Harry was in the crowd being thanked and hugged by random people, some who he didn't know at all. Finally at about 2:30 everyone had left that was going to leave. Some stayed at Hogwarts. Harry finally detached himself from Seamus' parents, and found his friends. Seamus had some very interesting parents. They had made Harry cry, much harder than he had when he discovered Seamus had died. Ginny, Ron, Hermionie, and Draco were sitting at the empty Gryffindor table, talking quietly. Harry slid into a seat beside Ginny. Hermionie was first to notice his red eyes
"What's wrong?"
She asked
"Don't talk to Seamus's parents, they'll break your heart"
Harry said, rubbing his eyes. Ron smiled slightly
"Already did, they broke me to"
He said. Harry smiled
"Right"
They spent the rest of the afternoon in the Great Hall, occasionally talking to people, including Cho's and Lavender's parents. Harry was surprised to find that Ron, Ginny, and Hermionie thought the same thing as he did, about Lavender. They had already forgiven her, and hoped the ministry would be lenient. They ended up camping out in Harry's room that night, all bundled in sleeping bags on the floor. They stayed up late, thankful the awards ceremony didn't start till six the following evening. They all slept till noon the following day, and were still tired when the awoke. The group trudged to lunch. They were greeted by and empty hall, all the teachers were present, but no students. Dumbledore smiled as the entered and all the teachers waved. They sat down and helped themselves to what was left of lunch.
"Time has really flown"
Hermionie suddenly said, taking bite of her role. Everyone nodded.
"Yeah, it seems like only yesterday you came barging into our car asking about Neville's toad"
Ron said
"Or when stuck up brat over here tried to take you over the 'dark side'"
Hermionie said. Draco smacked her arm, glaring fiercely at her
"Or when we defeated that damn troll"
Harry said. The group laughed.
"The chess game"
"Fluffy"
"Those spiders"
"The flying car"
"Ginny's love letter!"
"Dobby"
"The Chamber of Secrets"
"Lockhart"
"The boggart"
"Meeting Sirius"
"You falling 50 feet from your broom"
"Ack! Bad memory!"
"The summer's you spent at my house"
"The World cup"
"Moody"
"Fighting a Dragon"
"Being so damn noble and trying to save all four hostages"
"Shut up"
"The maze..."
"Cedric..."
The group drew silent. There were so many memories in this place. Hermionie suddenly sniffled
"I don't want to go!"
She whined, burring her head in Ron's shoulder. He patted her back and looked questioningly at Draco, Harry, and Ginny. They all shrugged, feeling just as put out as Hermionie. Finally Mcgonagall shooed them all out of the great hall because they were about to begin decorating it. Draco went back to the Slytherin common room and the others started towards the Gryffindor common room. Ron said the password the four of them entered. Every Gryffindor was in the common room. They all looked up and smiled. The number of times they'd seen those three barge through that portrait together. Anyone who wasn't graduating would sourly miss the trio. Most of all Ginny. The group walked over to the their old corner and sat in silence. Finally Neville ran up
"You do know half the ministry is going to be at the awards ceremony tonight?"
He said excitedly, taking a seat beside Ginny
"How could we forget?"
Harry asked. He didn't want to accept that award, that was all his reputation needed, an Order of Merlin.
"Oh come now Harry, you deserve the award, you were willing to die for us all! Accept the damn thing happily or we'll all kill you on the spot"
Ron snapped, rolling his eyes. Harry grinned
"Right Ron"
He said simply. Ron raised his eyebrow
"And your agreeing with me because...."
"Because if I didn't we'd all have to hear you rant for a few more minutes and I'm going to save everyone the torture."
That earned him a smack in the face with a pillow. Harry sat stunned for a minute while Ron laughed
"Why you..."
Harry said, grabbing a pillow and taking a swing at Ron. Ron ducked and Harry hit Hermionie instead. She glared at him and walloped him with the pillow she was sitting with. Harry hit her back, Ron hit Ginny, Ginny hit Neville. Harry hit some 3rd year he didn't know, the third year timidly hit him back. And soon the entire common room was in a full out pillow fight. Harry was being mercilessly beaten by everyone. The only person that stuck by him was Collin, who seemed to have gotten over the fact that Harry had stolen his girl friend. Collin eventually gave up and grabbed his camera, snapping pictures of everyone. It was great. Harry hadn't laughed so hard in ages. At about four thirty everyone gave up. Harry had won. He charmed all the un-used pillows to fight with him, and they were pretty brutal. Harry left the common room and headed back to his room to get dressed. He threw open his trunk and began digging through it. He had a pair of brand new dress robes that he'd never worn from his fifth year. They were way to small. Harry, being to lazy to go borrow some, changed the sizes so that the robes fit him perfectly. They looked better on him now then they did when he'd bought them. He removed the robes after he'd gotten the right size and took a shower. He got his hair to calm slightly, but it was still pretty wild to any normal person's standard, but, he was, as most people knew, no normal person. At five thirty he put on his robes and headed towards the Gryffindor common room to pick up his date....Ginny, naturally. When he entered through the portrait he was immediately attacked by one of the more vicious pillows that he'd forgotten to fix. After a minute he finally managed to get it back to normal. All the Gryffindor boys emerged from behind couches and smiled thankfully at him. He sat with Ron, Neville, Collin, and a fifth year boy who introduced himself as Devon Rocky. They chatted happily for a while until the girls started to arrive. Harry turned around just in time to see Hermionie coming down the stairs. She looked gorgeous. Her robes were deep red and her hair was pulled up into a French twist, two ringlets hanging over her cheeks. Ron shot up in his chair. The two had agreed to go with each other, as friends of course. Ginny finally came. Harry nearly dropped dead. She was wearing beautiful fitting silver robes. Her hair was up on her head with curls falling everywhere. Glitter was shinning from her cheeks and in her hair. Every guy in the room was stunned. Much like they had been when Hermionie came down. Harry took Ginny's arm and led her out of the room, Ron and Hermionie following closely behind. The four chatted happily until they reached the great hall. Hundreds of small tables that sat about 5 or 6 were set up around the hall. It looked much bigger than before. A stage was set up where the teachers table would have been. The room was already crowded with people. Ron, Hermionie, Harry, and Ginny took the table near the front. Draco and his date, Celestine, joined them moments later. Celestine was tall and thin, only a few inches below Draco. She had long jet black hair and dull, cold, gray eyes. She was pretty, yes, but to say the least, Harry thought she looked like a bit of a ass...kind of like Draco was only years ago. They exchanged a few words before Harry dragged Draco off to the side to go get drinks for everyone.
"So, who is she?"
Harry asked, pouring some punch in a glass
"She's in her sixth year. My family and hers used to be very close, her father's a death eater"
Draco hissed back
"And you brought her with you because..."
"I know her very well, and she was the only Slytherin girl who would have me. All the other's think I sold them out."
"Oh please"
Harry muttered, rolling his eyes
"Yeah, Dudderhead number one and Dudderhead number two have completely disowned me"
"That's not a bad thing Malfoy, I would have thought someone as..er..superior as yourself would be embarrassed to be caught in public with morons like them"
Draco chuckled and walked back towards the table. Ron and Hermionie were talking to each other, laughing stupidly at something unknown. Celestine and Ginny were glaring at each other. Harry looked at Draco and they immediately began distracting their dates. After about forty five minutes the group had eaten and were waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin. Finally, Fudge stood and walked to the front of the stage. He pointed his wand at his throat
"Sonorous"
Harry saw him say.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! if you would all please take your seats we would like to get this show on the road!"
He cried happily, grinning. Harry rolled his eyes. The minister disgusted him, and he could give a few reasons why
"Now, we have some very special awards to give out tonight. Albus, please"
He said, motioning to his right. Dumbledore suddenly emerged from the crowd and walked up onto the stage. His voice was magnified quickly
"First and foremost I would like to thank each and every Auror, teacher, student, or Phoenix member that assisted us in the fight against Lord Voldemort"
Most people in the audience shuttered
"Everyone played a small part in it, weather they only shot one stupify, or managed to kill one of the most evil wizards of our time..."
He smiled fondly at Harry
"These terrible times have brought out the darkest part of some people who live amongst us now. We have seen what we have dreaded in our nightmares all our lives. But at times like these, we also see the best in people. Some of my students fought so bravely. They gave there lives to save others, and when I saw this, I was so proud the be the Headmaster of this school."
He grinned again
"To feel the rush to want to die to save someone you love, or even someone you don't..."
Again he glanced at Harry
"If you see what I've seen, what so many others have seen, you know what it's like to feel hopeless, helpless, but you also know what it's like to feel power, the power when you save someone's life from another, the power to tell yourself that you DID do something, you DID help....and that's why were are giving these awards tonight, for anyone who put out the energy to fight, who put it all out to save anyone they knew didn't deserve to loose their life..."
He took a deep breath
"The first person I would like to recognize is Ginny Weasley"
Ginny looked shocked as Dumbledore looked strait at her
"She was the first to be taken by Voldemort as he waged war on this school. She went with him and was willing to let him take her life so that someone she loved wouldn't be lost...come up here child"
He grinned and the hall broke into applause. The Weasley's were hooting and howling from the back as their daughter approached Dumbledore. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Draco were on their feet. Ginny reached Dubmledore and he gave her a golden medal with two wands and a phoenix engraved on it. He smiled and whispered something to her. She smiled back at him, bowed slightly then left the stage, returned to her table. Ron looked at her medal
"Wow Gin, you really proved yourself"
Ginny blushed
"Next, I would like to honor William Right..."
Dumbledore gave the same medal to that man (an Auror) and quite a few others before someone else Harry knew was called up
"Mr. Ronald Weasley"
Ron's eyes widened and Harry grinned.
"He was face to face with Voldemort and did not fall to his games. He was willing, just as his sister was, to stand tall and die instead of giving into Voldemort's wishes....for that I honor him"
Ron staggered to the front of the room, accepting the medal from Dumbledore and blushing terribly all the while. When he sat back down Harry was sure his head was going to explode he was so red. A few more awards rolled by, both Draco and Hermionie received an award, smaller than both the Weasleys, but an award well enough. Then it came
"The final award of the night is only a piece of gratitude we have towards this last person. He has faced Voldemort many times in his short life, defying the man every time, and risking his life to do it. He went straight after Voldemort when he attacked the first time, and followed him to the Chamber of Secrets where he fought for Ginny Weasley's life, nearly getting himself killed in the process. He also fought Voldemort only days ago, fighting for his best friend, and willing to die doing it. He knew what would happen if he was to attack Voldemort with the killing curse, he knew there was very little chance he would live...but he did it to save us all, and he lived, for his heart, for his loyalty, for his never ending will, I award Harry Potter the Order of Merlin First Class, Student of the year award, and the hero's medallion"
Applause like nothing Harry had ever heard. Everyone was on their feet, and I mean EVERYONE. Every person was cheering their heart out as Harry approached the stage. He stopped beside Dumbledore
"I'm proud of you, Harry"
He said, grinning. Harry grinned back
"Thank you Professor"
He said
"And I know your father is proud of you, just as well"
Harry smiled wider
"Thank you again Professor"
"Albus"
"Albus"
Dumbledore slid the medal for the student of the year award over Harry's head, and handed him the other two. The Order of Merlin was a plaque, and engraved on it was
Harry Potter, Order of Merlin first class ~The defeat of lord Voldemort~
Then it was signed by all the high ranking officials in the ministry and Dumbledore. The hero's award was a small golden ball, about the size of a snitch, engraved on it was
~A hero to us all, a savior to the world. We own him our lives and love and protection~
Harry smiled and turned to the crowd. They were all still cheering. He bowed slowly and started off the stage, but Dumbledore spoke again
"I would like to thank you all for coming to the awards ceremony held here tonight. Remember, an all star Quidditch match tomorrow at noon, a ball the night after, and finally graduation, we ask you all to attend, good night"
He to bowed to the crowd and followed Harry off the stage.
((And that was that chapter! The following chapter will be the Quidditch match and the ball! Hope you liked it, please review! I'll have the next chapter up asap!!))