Author's note: Sorry for the delay in updating. Things have been hectic around here. I've been super busy at work as well as feeling kind of off due to being pregnant. Also, I only outlined the story through the battle, so all of this is newly created in my mind! I plan on this story continuing through graduation. I will most likely write a short epilogue story with what happens to all of them after graduation. I just may decide to add it to the end of this story… either way I still have some things to wrap up after graduation. I hope you all enjoy and I'll try to get back on the once/week update. Redfrog
Chapter 51: Hero's Banquet
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked the group gathered in the heads common room. "She wanted me to look over some new merchandise and I haven't seen her all day."
"I have that over here," Neville told him pulling a folder from his bag. "The girls are on a 'girl's day out' to prepare for the awards banquet. We can discuss it instead if you like."
"What's it about?" Harry asked as he sat down next to his friend.
"We're expanding Potter Inc. We have miniature Silver Phoenix brooms and want to sell figurines of Xavier to Quidditch shops for a few months before you announce who you really are. We thought it would be like a limited edition and figure we'll sell quite a few. There are also t-shirts and other novelties." Neville told him blushing.
"What do the shirts say?" Harry asked curiously. He had seen what catchy slogans Hermione had come up with for the Gryffindor stuff and wondered what she had decided on for this.
Neville showed him her ideas of: 'X marks the spot', 'Loopy for Lupin', 'X-cited for Xavier', and the one that made Neville blush, 'Catch My Snitch'. "We can make banners of any of these as well as buttons and flags incase you decide to continue playing as X. I think she is hoping you reveal yourself so we can sell the 'Harry's My Hero' banners."
"Are you going to have time running this business with your university studies?" Harry asked his friend hoping that Hermione hadn't forced him into helping her.
"I'm actually skipping university and apprenticing with Professor Sprout. Since I want to concentrate solely on Herbologry and the universities look at overall scores and don't offer exactly what I want she offered to help me get the education I need." Neville told him proudly. "Plus it will keep me close to Luna next year."
"That's great Neville!" Harry told him grinning. "Are you and Luna coming to stay with me this summer?"
"I think so," Neville said with a smile that Harry still wanted everyone there even with the Order's work officially being over. "I would love to continue my research in the greenhouse. But I'm sure we'll have to argue with my parents who are excited that they finally get to go home. My gran is ecstatic to have her family at the manor again."
"You know you're always welcome at my place and I understand if you want to stay at your place and just come and work in the greenhouse." Harry told him happy that people's lives seemed to be working out finally.
"It seems weird that everything is over," Neville confided in him. "We spent all those years worrying about the death eaters and the last few training for the battle. Now the battle is won and school is almost over. It just seems unreal."
"I hear you," Harry told him shaking his head at all the changes that would be taking place. "Everything is going to be different now. We'll be adults, living our own lives in a world free of terror. It's what I always dreamed of and now it's finally within my grasp and I'm both excited and terrified."
"Yeah," Neville said understanding. "Wondering if we're actually ready to face the big world on our own, leaving Hogwarts behind, it's overwhelming."
"Hey, let's go find the guys and play a game of Quidditch while the girls are having their alone time." Harry said, glad he had talked to Neville.
The girls all gathered in Hermione's room to get ready. They had all done their hair and nails at the 'spa' and had discussed everything from the war, to their love lives, to what their plans for the future were. The spa day had been a success and they decided they needed to meet once a month for a girl's day only. They loved hanging out with the boys, but you could gossip so much better when it was only girls.
They were all going to wear their less dressy of the two gowns they had bought in Diagon Alley. Hermione loved her gown and felt like a princess with her hair swept up off her face and the pretty jewels her mother had given her to wear. There was a stunning star sapphire pendant necklace with silver chain. It had matching earrings and even a deep blue sapphire bracelet. She wasn't normally one for fancy jewels but even she had to admit that the sapphires made her dress look that much better.
"You look great," Hermione and Ginny told each other at the same time, making the two girls laugh.
"I love the sapphires," Ginny told her as she spun to show off her own gown. She had decided on her purple gown for tonight and was saving the exquisite peach gown for the ministry ball.
"Your amethysts look like they were made for your dress," Hermione told her. It was the nice thing that Ginny loved purple so much that the gorgeous jewelry Harry had given her for her dad's inauguration still looked great with a different purple dress.
"Come ladies, let us go see if the boys are ready yet and have them escort us to dinner." Gabrielle told them and they exited to see all the EDA guys waiting for them in the common room.
"You ladies all look lovely," Draco told them suavely before offering his arm to Gabrielle.
Harry and Ginny led the precession of couples down to the great hall. Hannah/Justin, Ron/Susan, Draco/Gabrielle, Neville/Luna following them and Hermione on the arms of both Creevy brothers was the last of the group to enter the hall. The hall had been expanded to fit the large crowd that was expected. The reporters were in their element photographing everyone who entered the hall. When their group entered they were bombarded with questions.
"I have no additional comments to make at this time," Harry told them firmly. "Everything I felt needed telling was in the article by Luna Lovegood. She will be the only one who I tell my story to but thank you for coming."
Hermione and Ginny shared a smirk at the look of loathing on Rita Skeeter's face at that comment. "Hermione," a reporter she recognized as a Hufflepuff that had graduated a few years ago asked. "Is it true you found the cure for Remus Lupin?"
Hermione wasn't sure how to answer that question as she had never publicly talked about her research before. "Yes, I was fortunate to develop a cure for him in time." She told the girl thankful to the two boys on her side who kept her moving into the hall.
Harry led them to the front of the hall where there were reserved seats for all of them. They were sitting near the Order and in front of the DA and other ministry members who fought so hard. The head table held the senior ministry and Wizegammot members, the teachers were sitting among the rest of the crowd.
Arthur Weasley stood as the last few people trickled in. "Welcome to the first official celebration of our victory over Voldemort and his death eaters. Tonight we will be honoring those who fought and especially those who died. There will be many awards presented. Thank you all for coming." He sat down to polite applause.
Albus, Madame Bones and a few other ministry officials all spoke a few words before the first awards were handed out. All the DA members were awarded a newly created 'Commendable Service' award for exemplary performance while still in school. There were 40 of them that received the award. The 6 deceased students all received the award for Special Services to the School and a memorial was being set up to honor those students that had lost their lives to the dark lord. Cedric Diggory and Myrtle were also being honored with the memorial.
The Order of Merlin awards were the next to be presented. They started with the newly created 4th class award. Since there were so many deserving candidates the Wizegammot decided to create a new classification for the award. The Students who received the newly created 4th class Order of Merlin were those not in the EDA who were DA officers (Seamus Finnegan, Pavarti and Padma Patil, Blaise Zabini, Ernie McMillian, Dean Thomas, and Lavender Brown) as well as Millicent Bullstrode and Sylvester Spinnet for their valiant performances. The Order members that received the medal were those who either had not been inducted long or were not as active. Aberforth Dumbledore, Mundungs Fletcher, Irma Pince, Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Arabella Figg who was the first squib to ever be awarded such an honor. There were also many ministry officials who received this honor.
The 3rd class Order of Merlin awards were next. The only student to be awarded this class of award was Susan who was surprised to have received more than the other lesser DA officers. The order members who received the 3rd class commendation are: Sturgis Podmore, Poppy Pomfrey, Molly Weasley, Professors Sprout and Flitwick, Hagird and Olympe, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Fred and George. There were many aurors and ministry officials who received the 3rd class medal.
The next awards were the 2nd class Order of Merlin. Draco, Colin, Dennis, Justin and Hannah each received one making them even with Harry and the others for the moment. The majority of the rest of the Order received 2nd class medals: Arthur Weasley, Tonks, Remus, Frank and Alice Longbottom, and Minerva McGonagall.
"Tonight we have the privilege of honoring 10 individuals with the Order of Merlin 1st class," Arthur Weasley told them all. "First it is my privledge to present Albus Dumbledore with a second 1st class Order of Merlin." Albus had been the only one not to vote for his award. He had told them that the defeat of Tom Riddle had been enough of an award but they still decided to honor him. "It is also my privilege to honor a great auror and man who has spent his life hunting dark wizards, Alaster Moody." Moody stood with a look of shock on his face that he was being honored with such an award. His injuries were healed enough that he was able to limp to the stage to accept his award.
Albus took over announcing the awards then and presented Neville and Luna with their Order of Merlin 1st class awards for commendable services to the wizarding community. Ron and Ginny were the next to receive their award and the entire Weasley clan glowed with pride. "It is thanks to this witch that we were able to defeat Voldemort completely. She researched and developed the spell to vanquish him as well as the Patronus Shield Charm that has saved so many lives these past few months. We all owe a great dept to Gabrielle Delacour." Gabrielle shyly received her award; she had never expected a 1st class medal.
"The next witch we are honoring helped develop the cures to two unforgivable curses. She has fought against dark wizards since her 1st year here at Hogwarts. Her latest accomplishment will allow all those plagued with the curse of being a werewolf to live happy and curse free lives. She has the highest test scores a witch has ever earned. It is my honor to present the Order of Merlin 1st class to Hermione Granger." The applause was deafening when her name was announced and she prettily accepted her medal with a smile to the crowd.
"And now for the award you have all been waiting for tonight," Albus said and everyone cheered and looked at Harry. "Harry Potter survived the killing curse at only a year old. He fulfilled a prophesy by being the only one able to defeat the dark lord. He has spent all his life in the wizarding world training and fighting. It is thanks to him that we all have the chance at any future we wish. On behalf of the entire wizarding world I present the Order of Merlin 1st class to Harry James Potter."
Harry walked up to the platform and received his award. He turned to the podium. "Thank you all for believing in me. I am as relieved as you that this war is over. But it is not because of me alone that we were victorious. Those who were honored before me were an essential part of our victory as well as those who died for our cause. But is not because of them that we had the advantage in the battle. That advantage is thanks to one man who I believe deserves more than just an Order of Merlin. He has earned my respect and my eternal gratitude." The hall was silent in anticipation of whom it was their hero thought was more deserving than him. "I know many of you consider me your hero, but it is my honor and privilege to present the Order of Merlin 1st class to the real hero of the fight against Voldemort, Professor Severus Snape."
There was stunned silence for a moment before all the Hogwarts students and teachers along with the Order stood and applauded. Severus was frozen in his chair. He had assumed that since he had been a death eater at one time he was not eligible for an award. He had expected a 2nd or 3rd class award and when he hadn't been called up before Potter he assumed his dream had not been realized. He realized Minerva was trying to push him out of his chair and he made his way, still in shock, to the platform. Harry shook his hand and placed the award around his neck. "Thank you sir," Harry told him seriously. Albus was looking on with tears in his eyes.
Hermione was crying with happiness for her friend who never thought he could repay the mistake of his youth. She knew how much this honor meant to him and was so happy for him. There were many people who were confused as to how Snape had been so instrumental in the war. The story of his spy work had not been released yet; they were waiting until after the death eater trials to relate that information to the public.
After Harry and Severus sat back down it was time for the awards to be presented to the family of those who had died. "There were many witches and wizards who lost their lives to protect our future. The students, law enforcement officers, aurors, Order members and concerned citizens whose lives were taken while fighting four our cause will not be forgotten. Their sacrifices will be honored above all. We are rebuilding the fountain the lobby of the ministry of magic with a memorial to all those who lost their lives to Voldemort and the death eaters. Everyone who has been taken from us will be remembered and those who fought for us will be honored the most." Arthur told the now subdued crowd. "It is now my sad honor to present to the families of those who died Magical Medal of Valor for their dedication and their sacrifice."
Those who died in the final battle were the first to receive the award. They then followed with all those who had died fighting in smaller battles throughout the last 20 odd years. "The last three medals to hand out are to individuals whose deaths have left a mark on many of us, Sirius Black, James Potter and Lily Potter." There was silence in the hall as they all watched their hero approach the minister to accept the medals for his dead family. "Sirius Black lost his life while fighting death eaters in the department of mysteries. He was wrongfully imprisoned for 12 years in Azkaban for a crime committed by the death eater Peter Pettigrew. I present this Medal of Valor to Sirius Black's next of kin and godson, Harry Potter."
Harry stood with tears in his eyes as he was presented with the first of the three medals his family had earned by giving their lives. "Lily and James Potter were essential members of the Order of the Phoenix and had defied Voldemort three times before the fateful night they were murdered. James died protecting his family honorably. Even with Voldemort attacking his home and family he did not stoop to their level. Lily was offered the choice to live if she gave up her son to them. She died protecting her baby. It is because of this sacrifice that the killing curse rebounded off of little Harry that night and why he alone was able to vanquish the evil that was Voldemort." You could hear a pin drop in the silence that was the great hall. "I present to the son of Lily and James Potter two Magical Medals of Valor."
Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward to speak. "We will never forget those who love us and have gone before us into the next life. Those who died will always be remembered. But now is not a time for sorrow or grief. We have finally won the war that our families and friends died to win. We should not honor their memories with our pain but with our joy. We are free. Let us move from under the shadow where we have lived for so long. It is a new world, let's start it out with a celebration that our loved ones would be proud of."
The rest of the banquet was full of fun and celebration. The house elves had done an outstanding job on the food, even with the increased number of guests. "Thank you all for coming this evening. I am sure this will not be the last victory celebration and I wish you all well in this world of ours that is finally free." Albus said wishing them well to end the evening.
Severus made his way back to his rooms after being congratulated by all the staff again. He was still shocked that he was given a 1st class Order of Merlin. He had always dreamed of being recognized for his contributions to the war, but never actually expected it. To have Harry Potter be the one to recognize him was the icing on the cake. He finally felt vindicated of his life dept to the Potter family.
Harry and Ginny made their way quietly back to the Gryffindor dorms. "You did well tonight," she told him with a smile. "They would have been proud, especially Sirius. He would have loved that party. You mum would have been proud of you giving Severus the honor he deserved and you father would have been beaming at his son, the hero of the wizarding world."
"Thanks Gin," he told her giving her a kiss. "I guess I just needed to hear that." He smiled at how well she read him and knew him.
"Besides," she told him, "You're my hero."
"I'm all for you," he told her and kissed her deeply. He held her close for a few moments before he heard her yawn. "It is late and you are tired. We have the ministry gala tomorrow night so we need out rest. I love you."
"I love you to Harry," she said kissing him again before they headed to their own beds. She smiled when she heard in her head, 'You looked amazing tonight.'
"Thank you both for escorting me tonight." Hermione told the Creevy boys. "I hope your dates for the ball tomorrow were not disappointed."
"They knew they couldn't sit with us anyway so no harm done," Colin told her with a grin. "I am excited about tomorrow though."
"You seem happy Colin, that's great. I wish you both the best of luck tomorrow. Especially you Dennis, I see that first kiss on the horizon!" She told them with a smile.
"Well I am a war hero now so I guess I should have the courage to kiss a girl!" Dennis said laughing. "Goodnight!"
They left her at the door to her dorm and headed back to Gryffindor tower. Hermione had a good time at the banquet but was anxiously awaiting the ball tomorrow night. She smiled at the thought of entering on Severus' arm and dancing with him. She knew they had to keep a respectable distance from each other during the dance, not like the Valentines dance where she kissed him, but as long as she was in his arms she knew the night would be perfect. She went to bed knowing she would dream of him.