Spoils of War – Rating
Chapter05 – Honours of War
Warnings – Contains Swearing, Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Violence
Inspired by and uses text from After The Battle: The Summer of Romance
-Spoils of War-
Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
8th May 1998
Defeated, Harry got up, motioning for everyone to leave him to get dressed. Ginny just stood there, looking at him.
"I'm going to help you Harry, then you can help me," she said, unbuttoning his trousers. "You've got me for the long haul."
"Little Harry eh?" Harry would remember saying later on when Ginny would describe his member. He had just given his girlfriend his virginity and now his face going as red as Ginny's hair.
Eventually they both got their robes and accompanying clothing on when Harry looked at her. "You realize you are a little minx?"
"Yes, and I like it!" Ginny replied, smiling. They walked out of the Hospital Wing where everyone was waiting for them. They made their way through the corridors, smiling and laughing at each other.
Eventually they got to the Great Hall, Ginny holding Harry's hand with Hermione, Luna and Neville behind him. He barely got through the door when suddenly everyone who was sitting down stood up and started to applaud.
Kingsley walked over to them, shaking their hands warmly. He motioned for them to follow them over to a table that was placed in front of the staff table where they could sit. Kingsley stood next to Harry and smiled. "Well done my friend," he said, shaking his hand, "Well done."
"I did my best, you should know that Royal." Harry said, winking at Kingsley.
Kingsley went to the lectern and smiled at Harry. He turned to face everyone and raised his hands for quiet.
"Thank you everyone. I have an announcement to make before our Headmistress, Professor McGonagall allows everyone to get the train home. These past few years have been, for everyone, the most challenging ones. With the Dark Arts affecting everyone, everyone in Hogwarts, everyone in the Ministry and everyone everywhere else, be it Muggle, Squib or Wizard, there are a few people the Ministry would like to recognize proudly as the people who have made a contribution to defending our world.
"Firstly I would like to say that in the words of Albus Dumbledore, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Those people who have provided us happiness, and hope, are present here today. That's why it gives me the greatest honour to award various Order of Merlin awards to some of the people who have provided us hope and happiness.
"The first award is the Order of Merlin, Second Class. This is awarded to those who have not just fought because of the call to battle, but those who have, for the past four years, since the death of Cedric Diggory, fought in some way against the Dart Arts. These people are members of the Order of the Phoenix, members of Dumbledore's Army. There are six members of the group known as the DA who will not be getting this medal, as we have a special award for them."
The members of the Order and the DA stood up from the various tables to explosive applause, making their way over to the lectern. Firstly, the posthumous awards were given out first, with George Weasley taking his brother, Fred, award, Dennis Creevey taking Colin's award and Andromeda Tonks taking the awards on behalf of Remus Lupin and her late daughter, Nymphadora. Then the DA came up to collect their awards, with the Order following behind them. They took their seats to allow Kingsley head back to the lectern. Applause continued until Kingsley raised his hands again.
"Now, the highest award Wizarding Britain can give, the Order of Merlin, First Class. This award is not given lightly, but for the six people that I am about to award them to, they deserve them. The first three people led the resistance within Hogwarts whilst Death Eaters ran the school, suffering harassment, torture and for one person, being kidnapped because their parents fought for what they believed in, I am proud, and honoured to call Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and, I know she will never forgive me for calling her this but for the sake of formality I must, Ginevra Weasley."
Ginny gave Kingsley a blazing glare when he called her Ginevra, pulling her hand to her wand when Harry put his hand on hers. "Don't hex him, yet," Harry whispered to her, kissing her on the cheek. "I shall talk to him when I get five minutes."
The three of them stood up from their table to thunderous applause and headed over to shake hands with Professor McGonagall and Kingsley, then collected their awards. They then headed back to their table whilst Kingsley motioned for quiet. Ginny leant close to Harry, kissing him on the cheek. "It's your turn in a bit Potter," she whispered, smiling at him. She winked then continued, "I'll make sure it's painless."
Kingsley looked at the pair of them and laughed. He then turned to everyone to speak. "Looks like she knows what she wants. It's good to see plenty of love in the world!" Harry and Ginny went red at that, whilst Kingsley continued.
"The next Order of Merlin, First Class, is to a young lady who, according to Albus Dumbledore, is "the brightest witch in her age". She showed outstanding knowledge in the fight against Lord Voldemort, working out the answer to riddles set by the late Headmaster. Furthermore, she helped form the organization known as the DA. Her other achievements include being one of three people willing to take on Bellatrix Lestrange, having suffered at her hands in a prior meeting and, indirectly, showing the Ministry its security procedures are lax, all whilst being persecuted because of that fact her parents were Muggles. I am proud to bestow this award on the person who has accepted the appointment of Hogwarts newest Muggle Studies Professor, Hermione Granger."
Hermione stood up, tears in her eyes to another bout of thunderous applause, and headed over to where Professor McGonagall and Kingsley were. Professor McGonagall hugged her and Kingsley shook her hand and handed her the medal. She took her seat back at the table whilst Kingsley motioned for silence again.
"And now for the award everyone has been waiting for, the final Order of Merlin, First Class. Suffering persecution by Voldemort since he was only one-year-old, he has fought him since his first year here at Hogwarts. From fighting the darkest magic in the Chamber of Secrets to witnessing the death of his mentor, Albus Dumbledore, this person has fought for our freedom a number of times. He is the only person to survive the Killing Curse, not once but twice, he never wavered from what was right. He is known as The Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One, The Saviour and even the New Dumbledore, I'm sure his girlfriend would even call him Desirable Number One." Everyone laughed as Harry went completely red at that.
Kingsley looked at him and smiled before continuing. "Yes Harry, I know you and Ginevra are together. Anyway, he was the one who was the leader of the original Dumbledore's Army, suffered persecution this last year by the Ministry and even had time to break into Gringotts to collect an object which had more Dark Magic in it. He has even been so kind as to accept the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor here at Hogwarts next year, I am proud and extremely honoured to award the Order of Merlin, First Class to Mr. Harry Potter."
Harry didn't even get up before the applause belted out of the Great Hall. Ginny kissed him on the cheek, then allowed him to stand up. He walked over to Professor McGonagall who gave him a bone-crushing hug. He went over to Kingsley who shook his hand. "I'll get you for embarrassing me." Harry whispered, smiling.
Kingsley looked at Harry, and smiled back, "I know you will Harry, I know you will." He laughed and pinned the medal on Harry's chest. Harry smiled for the camera and walked back over to the table he was sitting at.
Professor McGonagall replaced Kingsley at the lectern, motioning for silence for one final time. "I would like to say a big well done to all of our staff, students and the people who helped us in the crusade against evil. Once luncheon has finished, the Hogwarts Express will be ready to take people back to London so they can get home. The school will be undergoing works until the 1st September, where we will reopen. Again, I would like to say thank you to everyone." Everyone applauded and then lunch appeared on the tables.
-Spoils of War-
A/N – Coming Up in Chapter 06 - Spoils of War.
The next chapter will be uploaded in the next couple of weeks (As I still need to write 90% of it, especially as I have mainly prewritten the first five chapters.
Disclaimer
This story uses themes and characters from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, whose rights as author are respected.
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Chapter Publish Date - 23/09/2016