4. Awards, Jealousy, and Hermione's Secret
The first week of school went by as normal: Snape was his usual horrid self, the first and second year students whispered and pointed Harry with awe, the fifth and seventh year students were struggling with the extra workload caused by the upcoming OWLs and NEWTs, and the new DADA professor appeared to be neither evil nor especially good, at least not yet. And after five years of being the center of attention, for both good and ill, Harry was becoming accustomed to the stares and whispers. Harry's relationship with Ron and Hermione was also back to normal, though Hermione seemed to be spending more time alone in the library, and all three hoped for a normal year.
All of this changed in the second week of school. The Ministry of Magic, which had finally acknowledged the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, had been hard-pressed to find some good news to share with the wizarding world. Rumors and the fears of Voldemort and Death Eaters shook the support that Minister Fudge previously enjoyed, and he was desperate to find something to give the people hope, and at the same lessen the pressure he was feeling. He found that thing in the person of Harry Potter.
Previously ridiculed and slandered, Fudge decided to switch gears and make Harry Potter the beacon of hope. Rather than portray him as an attention-seeking celebrity, Fudge, through the Daily Prophet, turned Harry into a real-live hero for defying the Dark Lord since birth and foiling his plans before becoming of age. After all, if a 14 year child could defy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, surely the rest of the wizarding world could. To that end, Fudge decided to award Harry with the Order of Merlin (3rd Class) in a ceremony to take place at Hogwarts. Harry was informed of this the same time a few days before a general announcement was made. Suffice to say, Harry was displeased. The Order of Merlin (3rd Class)? Forgetting the fact that it was the same award Lockheart had received (and thus proving it meant nothing), Harry realized that what it did mean is more attention. He pleaded with Dumbledore to somehow prevent the award, or at the very least a public ceremony, but Dumbledore said his hands were tied. Two days before the ceremony was to take place, Dumbledore made his announcement.
"Attention students," Dumbledore said, interrupting breakfast. "Today I'd like to announce the long-due recognition of one of our own. In two days, right here in the Great Hall, to honor of his struggle against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Harry Potter will receive the Order of Merlin (3rd Class). Let us all give him a round of applause!"
A shocked silence filled the air, then was quickly replaced by a thunderous applause. Harry looked pleadingly at his two friends, hoping to convey to them that he didn't want the award or recognition. Hermione returned his look with one of sympathy, but Ron looked at him in an odd way. Harry tried to smile and acknowledge the congratulations he was receiving as Ron stared at him unhappily.
Although Malfoy and other Slytherins tried to use the occasion as a chance to mock Harry ("another attention-grabbing scheme by Potty"), the rest of school seemed to be more than impressed with him. More people then usual came up to him, some even asking for autographs. Harry tried his best to endure through it all, hoping the attention would die down, but knowing it wouldn't, at least not for awhile.
The day of the ceremony soon approached, and the Great Hall was packed with students and visiting dignitaries. The Great Hall was decked in Gryffindor colors, and the four house tables had been replaced with seats and bleachers along the side. Classes were cancelled for the day, and almost the entire student body attended to honor Harry Potter. It was without a grand experience, and Harry hated every minute of it.
With the ceremony taking place during the second week of school, Quidditch tryouts were pushed back to the following week. With the graduation of many of the long-time Gryffindor Quiditich team members, including the reigning captain, Harry was unanimously chosen as new Quidditch captain (the lifetime ban being lifted and his broom returned), despite the fact he tried to refuse the position. Harry wasn't keen on being captain, hoping to avoid anything that would create more attention. However, being the most experienced Quidditch player Griffyndor had to offer, having played every year, he was the obvious choice.
Unfortunately for Harry, the two events together festered feelings of jealousy in Ron that far surpassed those he had in fourth year, when Harry was named to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. While Ron's attitude towards Harry was cold since the Order of Merlin (3rd Class), he now refused to speak to Harry after he become Quidditch captain. Harry, who could anticipate this part of Ron's behavior, would normally have given Ron his space and been content to spend his time with Hermione. But this year something was different. Hermione's frequent absences, which were less noticeable when all three of them were together, became painfully clear after Harry and Ron stopped speaking. In fact, outside of class, meals, and a few brief conversations in the Common Room, Harry found himself without his two best friends. Sure, he had his roommates and other Gryffindors (as well as his ever-growing fan club), but it wasn't the same. Harry used his new found free-time to concentrate his Metamorphagus, Dueling, and Occlumency training, which each occurred once per week.
Soon enough, the reason for Hermione's absences became clear. Two weeks after receiving the Order of Merlin (3rd Class), Harry was returning late one night to Griffyndor tower after a particularly physical lesson with Moody in the Room of Requirements. Immediately upon entering the Room, Harry had found himself flung sidewise across the room, painfully slamming into a wall. After picking himself off the ground, he was subjected to even worse: a lecture. "Constant vigilance!" was Moody's mantra, and Moody felt that Harry showed a significant lack of it. The rest of the lesson was an "endurance" lesson, which essentially meant that Harry was to toughen himself up in taking punishment. Only allowed to cast shielding spells, Moody sent curse after hex at the teenager to test the strength of his shields and to toughen his resistance to curses. Suffice to say, it was not a fun session at all; Harry knew he would be feeling the bruises and aches for days to come.
Returning to Gryffindor tower after the lesson, Harry strode through the empty corridors. It felt strange to walk, as opposed to skulk and hide, through the castle after hours, but he had a permission slip signed by Dumbledore in the pocket of his cloak. To be honest, Harry was secretly hoping to run into Malfoy (or any Slytherin prefect would do in a pinch) and deflate the glee at finding Harry Potter out after hours.
As Harry approached the corridor that leads to Gryffindor tower, he heard a feminine giggle and the unmistakable sounds of snogging. Slowing his pace, Harry was unsure what to do. Public displays of affection always made him feel uncomfortable, after living without any form of affection for eleven years. Even the hugs he shared since arriving at Hogwarts made him slightly uncomfortable, since he was so unaccustomed to them before. He also didn't wish to intrude on what was clearly a private moment. Knowing that there was no other way to Gryffindor tower, Harry waited five long minutes in uncomfortable silence, hoping the two lovebirds would move on. Unfortunately it was late, and soon Harry's aching body screamed out for a soft bed. Wishing he had his invisibility cloak, Harry hoped that by walking along the shadows of the far wall he would be able to escape the notice of the couple. As Harry stole along the wall, he chanced a look at the two lovers (he was not above curiosity) and emitted a gasp of surprise.
"Hermione!"
Hermione and an older-looking boy, Ravenclaw by his robes, broke apart suddenly.
"Harry!" Hermione said, a deep red blush forming on her cheeks. "What are you doing here?"
"I might ask the same of you, if it weren't so obvious," Harry replied, looking at the other boy. Getting a better look, Harry was able to make out a Head Boy badge adorning his robes. Eddie Carmichael.
Eddie cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed at being caught. "Er, um…well, what are you doing out after hours?" he asked sternly, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.
"I've got permission," Harry said angrily, fishing his note out his pocket and handing it over. He looked at Hermione as Eddie took the note. Hermione seemed to have trouble meeting his eyes.
"Very well then Potter, you may go," he said dismissively. Harry nodded, and with one final glance at Hermione, headed back to Gryffindor tower. Climbing into bed, Harry was thankful he was so exhausted after his session with Moody; that way he was able to fall to sleep quickly, rather then stay up all night wondering why he was so angry.