A/N: English is my second language and this chapter didn't pass through a beta.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"This wasn't supposed to be 'by invitation only''?" Hermione asked while Ron, Harry and her tried to walk through the packed atrium of the Ministry of Magic.
"They only forgot to tell us that they used every last owl on England to send invitations to the entire Wizarding society," Ron answered with an annoyed tone, shoving an eager and shorter wizard out of their way.
The big group, formed by the members of the Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts's staff, the Weasleys, plus Hermione and Harry kept walking, following the crowd toward the elevators and then the stairs so they could get to Level 10 of the Ministry and Courtroom 10, the biggest room the Ministry had and the one adapted for the awards ceremony. The sitting area was magically expanded and the centre of the room lost the prisoner's chair to receive a small stage where, probably, the awards and honours should be given away.
"We should have reserved seats right in front," Arthur guided the group forward.
"It was nice of Minister Scrimegour to do this," Hermione commented.
"He wants this to be wellremembered," Arthur informed. "After all, it's what he has to show when running for re-election."
"I'm counting on this to be one of my best memories too," said Harry smirking.
"Harry, not to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but… you will behave, right?"
"Behave?" Harry asked with a mischief grin. "What do you mean by 'behave', Remus?"
"You know what I mean, Harry. You won't do anything to anger the Minister, will you? You are already one of his least favourite persons. Don't make it worse."
"What can be worse, Remus?"
"I don't know! I don't want to know! I just want things to go smoothly and nothing else happening to you."
"Thanks for the kind thoughts but you realise that this isn't possible, right? I'm really getting used to things happening to me, even with all my efforts against it."
"You shouldn't have to get used to it, Harry," Hermione said sadly.
"I think we already discussed this, Hermione," Harry turned to face his friend. "We agreed that this is not a question of choice. So, I've accepted it and I'm learning to deal with whatever flies in my direction."
"Enough of this chit-chat! Let it go, Remus. The kid will do whatever he wants and you know it," Moody said with a smirk of his own.
"And we will be there to watch his back," Ron said. "As always," he smiled.
"Please, Harry, no more comments like this. I do want to live to see what you've planned," Remus said, one hand over his heart.
The group around him laughed at the theatrics but moved along to find their places and be seated.
It took some time to accommodate the crowd. Everybody was getting a bit bored by the long wait and one of the twins pulled out a deck of cards from a hidden pocket.
"Any one interested in a game of Exploding Snap?"
Molly slapped him over the head while Remus confiscated the card deck with a murmured "Later" to the mischief-maker.
"Fred Weasley! What are you thinking?" she complained indignantly.
Fred massaged the place where he'd been smacked. "I was only trying to pass the time, mum. This is really boring."
"And I'll starve before this ceremony even begins!" Ron contributed.
Between laughs and outrageous cries from all in the group, an amplified voice was heard calling for attention.
"Wizards and witches of England, the Minister of Magic, Mr. Rufus Scrimegour!"
Ron made a face because of the over the top announcement made by his stray brother, Percy. Applause filled the room, while the Minister walked to climb on the stage. The front rows of seats, filled with Order of the Phoenix members and Hogwarts's staff, clapped politely but without enthusiasm.
"We are here today to celebrate the end of dark times and to honour those who fought alongside the Ministry to make this day possible," Scrimegour started.
"Alongside!?" commented George Weasley in a not so low voice. "Try more like alone."
Percy shot a repressive glare toward his brother and the Minister took a deep breath, pretending he hadn't heard the comment.
"There are the Aurors, risking their lives to make sure the Wizarding society would be protected," Scrimegour continued. Applause was heard all around and a line of Aurors entered the room and arranged themselves around the stage with the politician.
"There are the concerning wizards and witches that took to themselves the role of protectors," and the Minister gestured toward the Order of the Phoenix members. The group stood up and bowed toward the Minister and the rest of the audience.
"There will be honours and register of all the efforts of these good wizards and witches, but some of them went beyond of what might have been expected and helped in a more profound way in these dark times."
The line of Aurors moved away from the stage and went to find some place to seat and watch the rest of the ceremony.
Harry started to squirm, getting nervous about the situation despite all his previous bravado.
"So, first I would like to call Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Ronald Weasley, two young people that put loyalty to their friend and the Wizarding society over all else and risked their lives again and again in the pursuit of the destruction of You-Know-Who!" Scrimegour announced, gesturing toward Ron and Hermione.
The couple stood up and bowed to the applause that filled the room. They walked toward the stage, Hermione holding Ron's hand in a death grip. The young man was getting really red-faced, rivalling with his Weasley hair.
They climbed the three steps and stopped in the middle of the stage, near the Minister.
"Here I present you two with the honour of the Order of Merlin, second class," Scrimegour said, picking up the pendant from Percy's hand and downing it first over Hermione's head and then over Ron's.
Percy kept his stoic face, not even smiling. Ron and Hermione accepted the award, bowed to the Minister and turned to acknowledge the public around them.
More applause followed, with the Weasleys making the most noise. But the Order of the Phoenix members and the Hogwarts's staff were not far behind.
After the uproar died a little, Scrimegour shook their hands and the young couple got down from the stage, going back to their seats, still with red faces.
"I was hoping for a speech, Hermione," Harry complained in mockery.
"I… well… Nobody… I didn't…" the girl wasn't able to answer.
"Just get over there when it's your time, mate, and then tell me you didn't get nervous and tied lip," Ron answered, hugging his shaky girlfriend.
"I was joking, Hermione," Harry said smiling and grasped her hand in a silent apology.
"You!" Hermione recovered enough to smack Harry's arm.
The trio laughed and turned back to the stage after a annoyed "shush" from Mrs. Weasley.
"And he risked his life time and time again to help the Light side. So we call Professor Severus Snape to receive the Order of Merlin first class!" Minister Scrimegour finished his presentation and turned to applaud while Snape walked toward the stage with his usual sneer in place.
The dark man climbed the steps leisurely and approached the Minister. Scrimegour had a politician smile in place and presented the Potions Master with his award. The man gave a curt bow, almost insulting, and turned to leave. But the Minister put a hand in his arm, holding him in place.
"Please, wait, Professor. I would like to call the other recipient of the Order of Merlin first class and have the two biggest Wizarding heroes here together."
Snape froze in place and his sneer became more pronounced.
Harry stiffed in his seat and Ron let escape: "He wouldn't!"
"Let's welcome the Boy-Who-Lived, the Young-Man-Who-Won, the one to vanquish the dark lord, Mr. Harry Potter!" Scrimegour announced as if this was a Quidditch match.
"He did!" Ron exclaimed.
"Harry, my dear, please…" Mrs. Weasley said.
The rest of their group turned to look at the pale face of Harry, while the rest of the public applauded with enthusiasm.
Harry stayed in his seat, stiff and fighting to control his anger. He had warned them about this. He said he wouldn't accept to be side by side with the Potions Master. But, as always, the politician just ignored whatever he said and just went on to do what he wanted.
Harry felt Hermione's hand grasp his own and turned to look at his friend.
"Please, Harry…" she asked.
Remus put a hand over his shoulder and squeezed it to show his support.
"Mr. Potter?" The Minister Scrimegour called again.
Snape looked at the young man and let his sneer climb another notch. His posture was a clear challenge.
Harry took a deep breath, squeezed Hermione's hand in thanks and smiled back to Remus.
He walked calmly toward the stage but made certain to climb on the other side of it, avoiding passing by the Potions Master.
Harry stopped in front of the Minister and accepted the award that the man downed over his head on his neck. The medallion of the Order of Merlin First Class shined brilliantly when Harry turned to bow to his friends, the Weasleys and the Order of Phoenix.
Again, when Harry tried to leave the stage, the Minister held him by the arm.
"Not so quickly, young man. I think that some words should be said by our heroes. Please, Professor Snape," Scrimegour gave the Potions Master a short push to guide him to the front of the stage.
Snape's frown deeped and he sneered again but wouldn't let the opportunity pass him by.
"Finally all my efforts and tireless work have been recognized. I expect that from now on real wizards may be called forward to deal with any problem that might arise," Snape said, letting completely clear what he meant when he shot Harry Potter a glance during the 'real wizard' part of his speech.
Scrimegour smiled thinly, seeing the potential for problem in the Potions Master words.
Ron almost jumped out of his seat, his face redder by anger than when he'd been embarrassed. Hermione took hold of his boyfriend arm to held him in place.
Remus let go a deep growl, upsetting some people nearby. The Weasleys brothers all frowned deeply, shooting murderous looks toward the man on the stage.
Almost everybody inside the room was able to feel the bad blood flowing between the two condecorated wizards. Not one to let chance pass her by, Rita Skeeter jumped in front of the stage with her sickly green quill and notebook floating by her side, bobbing around, as if they were as excited as Rita herself.
"Hello, Harry! Any comment on Professor Snape's words?"
Percy Weasley walked around the stage from his place guarding the Minister's back toward the annoying reporter.
"There will be a press meeting…"
"As a matter of fact I do have some comments and an opinion, Rita," Harry interrupted the Minister's aide.
Scrimegour groaned, being able to imagine how the entire situation could go downhill really quickly.
Ron let go of a loud laugh and Hermione pressed her lips together the same way Headmistress MacGonagal was doing, but it was a bit difficult to say if they were doing it because they were upset or if they were trying to hold on the laughter.
Most of the Order of the Phoenix and the Hogwarts's staff relaxed in their seats, ready for the show. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley felt divided between let things just run along or try to intervene. Remus just shook his shoulders, accepting that whatever Harry had planned, he would go through with it, regardless the consequences.
"So, Harry, what are your comments?" Rita asked again, a malicious glee in her eyes and her voice.
"Well, first, I agree that only real wizards should be called forth to help in the direst time of need," Harry started and stop to let the surprise gasp that took almost the entire room to die out. "But, at the same time, that would left out around 2/3 of the wizards and witches here, so maybe we should re-think that idea."
Snape straighten out his torso, getting to his full height while shooting murderous glares toward the younger man.
"Maybe the better course would be more alongside the lines of giving the wizards and witches in general a sense of security and purpose, so we don't have to relay on lonely heroes to help out," Harry continued, his eyes lost at the distance, as if he was sorting through his ideas while talking.
Scrimegour let a more relaxed smile take place in his face. 'Maybe this won't be so bad,' he thought.
"I strongly believe that the Ministry should do something to prevent another dark lord to rise," Harry said looking straight to Skeeter now.
"Then they could start watching out for you, Potter," Snape sneered loudly, back to his pose of challenge.
Harry turned to look at the man and answered looking directly in his eyes? "After everything I went through to destroy one dark lord, I sincerely think that the chances of me turning dark are pretty much the same of you becoming a nice person, Snape. So, they would be around one in a zillion, so I say no one have to worry about neither of that happening."
The laughter filled the room, loud and uncontrolled. Snape went even paler than his natural vampire like skin and took two steps towards the younger man.
Minister Scrimegour quickly got in the way, fighting valiantly to hold his own laughter.
"But Professor Snape taught for so long at Hogwarts…" Rita started.
"And we all know how well this went, right?" Harry interrupted.
This time it took the Minister and Percy to hold Snape from jump over Harry.
"Everyone knows how much Snape hated to be a teacher. He always loathed to mingle with children. He made several generations of wizards and witches to give up any profession that would require knowledge of Potions. We lack Potions Master, Aurors and Healers because Severus Snape chose to torment dozens of children not sorted in Slytherin. We lost good people because of his behaviour. We even lost a great Headmaster," Harry said again looking at Snape.
"Mister Potter!" The Minister exclaimed. "Everyone here being awarded had to do things that they didn't like but were necessary to take the Wizarding society into the road to victory."
"Says the man who put Stan Shupike in prison," Harry answered in a low voice.
The Minister bristled at the comment and Percy turned toward Harry, forgetting to continue to hold the Potions Master. Snape smirked, thinking that Harry would be in a load of trouble now.
But Rita wasn't ready to dose out the flames. "What you propose for the Wizarding world, Harry? What do you think Professor Snape should do now?"
Harry turned back to the reporter. "Now he has the opportunity to dedicate himself to his true calling – research of obscure and obnoxious potions. Let him stay in his dark and dank lab, cocooning nasty new potions to offer to the Wizarding world."
Then he looked straight toward Headmistress MacGonagal. "I believe that, more than ever, Hogwarts needs to be a friendly, welcoming and warm environment to nurture the next generation of wizards and witches in a more generous and harmonic relationship. Let's bury the violent and hateful houses rivalry and let's build a more complete generation of magical people. More honourable and courageous, more hard working and loyal, more intelligent and studious, and more ambitions. Without so much discrimination or too open to be pick up by a greasy git with a prejudiced speech. Do not let another gullible generation step out of Hogwarts to fall at the hands of some sneaky politician with delusions of grandeur. All houses' characteristics have their uses; we just need to learn to appreciate each one."
The silence filled the room as much as the laughter and the applause had done early.
Hermione let out a sob and started to clap. Soon the Weasleys, Remus and the rest of the Order were at their feet also clapping. Quickly the rest of the public followed suit.
Rufus Scrimegour was fighting to conceal his anger. This was one of the best political speeches anyone could make at the moment and the brat had done it instead of him, the Minister of Magic!
Percy felt divided. He really liked what he heard from Potter but he still felt his loyalty should go to the established Ministry and not to a young man, almost a boy without the proper respect toward authority.
Snape was paler still and could almost feel some steam coming out of his ears. It was worse than a Pepper Up potion. He had planned how he would behave, what he would say, he had planned everything to be able to go back to Hogwarts and continue to mould the young minds of his Slytherins. He truly hated to teach but if this was the price to control generations of powerful, rich and respected witches and wizards, he would pay it. And now the brat was blowing up his chances to do it!
Rita was smiling her vicious smile. This was good! A real speech from The-Boy-Who-Lived, his very first one and it was a masterpiece! She needed to get him to give her another interview, one she could write on her unique style.
Harry bowed his head in acknowledgment of the applause and moved to get out of the stage. He really hadn't planed it. He'd just risen to Snape's challenge. But before he could climb down the steps, Rita threw another question, loud enough to shut up the clapping and bring back the attention to the talk.
"Would you be up front this movement, Harry? Guiding the Wizarding world to an era of peace and prosperity?"
Harry jumped at the question and was quick to squash the speculation. "I am not a politician, Rita, or I am ready to guide anyone anywhere. I'm planning to study to take my NEWTs at the end of the summer and then I'll try to figure out what to do with the rest of my life."
"You could become an Auror!" A voice sounded in the room.
"He would be an excellent teacher," came a shout nearby and Harry had the chance to recognize Susan Bones seated a few rows behind the Weasleys.
"He could become the next Minister of Magic," Ron shouted happily.
"He could go to Azkaban and be reacquainted with the Dementors, leaving the rest of us to live in peace," came the angry remark from Snape.
Again the silence took the room, with the only noise audible being Rita's Quick Notes quill writing maniacally, while she observed the dispute as it was a game of throw between friendly Chasers.
Harry turned to look again at the Potions Master. "Well, Snape, I have a great respect for my soul and I want to keep it as it is. But maybe you should think about a… vacation around the Dementors since you don't have a soul to worry about."
"Gentlemen, gentlemen…" Percy was trying to keep the verbal sparring to escalate.
"Maybe we should pass to the photos now!" Scrimegour exclaimed, trying to defuse the situation.
Ron and Hermione stood up and walked toward the stage. Ron smiling and with a happy glint in his eyes, Hermione with a torn expression, completely divided between the good feeling of satisfaction about the Potions Master dress down and her innate belief about respect toward authority.
The official Ministry photographer approached the stage, followed quickly by any other representative of the Wizarding press.
Harry took a step back and waited for his friends to join him. Percy took a deep breath and rearranged his robes, trying to go back to his duties. The Minister turned to Snape and called him up front to face the horde of photographic machines.
"One step ahead, Mr. Potter," a young man shouted. "Let's have a photo with the Ministry and the two honoured with the Order of Merlin First Class!"
"No," Harry stated.
Again silence went through the public and the front rows were able to hear Percy's sigh. "What now?!"
"I warned the Minister when he arranged this ceremony. I won't be anywhere nearer of the greasy git than this." Then Harry seemed to remember something. "Unless I can curse him, of course!"
"No cursing!" came Mrs. Weasley shout.
"Mr. Potter, this seems a bit…" started the Minister just to be interrupted by Percy's body jarring him when Snape pushed the young man from his path. The Potions Master advanced with his wand at the ready and a murderous look in his face.
"As if a brat with such an inflated ego could come near enough to curse me!"
Harry stayed relaxed without any sign of his own wand. Ron and Hermione moved to flank him, one in each side. They held their wands loosely pointed at the floor, but the people closer to the stage could see their readiness.
"Snape, Snape," Harry shook his head as if he was saddened by what he perceived on the other man's attitude. "Getting senile already? A bit young, don't you think? Maybe all the fumes from your obnoxious potions finally got to your brain. Not that I believe that there was much to start with."
"How dare!" The man choked in outrage.
"The only brat with inflated ego I know is Draco Malfoy and he is loosing air as we speak in a Ministry holding cell, from what I've heard. You are a greasy git with an inflated ego, but that is a bit different. I'm a man that fought really hard to survive whatever you and your Death Eaters friends threw in my direction. And now, more than ever, I don't have, and I won't, gulp down anything you throw at me. I'll defend myself, differently from the past when that was forbidden to me. So put your slivering snake tongue back into your mouth and enjoy what you have because I just know you will make a mistake soon enough and your fame and your honours will be ripped away from you."
"Argh!" It was the only answered from Snape before he threw a silent curse toward Harry.
Percy put himself in front of the Minister but they were already out of the line of fire.
Ron and Hermione raised their wands but before they could utter a shield or a counter-curse, Harry lifted his empty left hand in front of them and a shield jump into view.
Snape's curse rebounded at the shield and came back to him. The man threw himself on the floor to escape it.
And Auror created a shield that dispersed the curse toward the ceiling while others jumped on the stage and took hold of Snape, pulling him from the floor and confiscating his wand.
Beside the silence, now the room was filled with a nervous tension, and nobody seemed able to move.
"For one with such a venomous tongue, Snivellus," Harry's voice dripped sarcasm. "You should be prepared to hear what you don't like when you keep saying whatever you want."
Snape didn't fight the Aurors holding him but it was sure a case of 'if looks could kill', considering the murderous glance he was shooting the younger man.
Minister Scrimegour was the first to recover, and then he shoved Percy out of his away. After such display in front of the public, he couldn't let the man simply go.
"Mister Snape! Your behaviour was inexcusable!"
"What about that insufferable brat over there?"
"He is right, Snape. If you can say what you want, you should be prepared to hear what you don't like," one of the Aurors said.
"That's enough!" Scrimegour interfered. "That was supposed to be a happy event, a moment to share and cheer our victory!"
"Well, Minister, I did warn you about putting me in the same space as the git over there," Harry said.
"I think we can reach an understanding here," came the voice of Headmistress McGonagall. She stood up from her seat and walked calmly toward the stage. A stern look and Percy ran to help her climb the stairs.
"What Mister Snape did during the war is undisputable." McGonagall said.
Snape held himself straighter and shook off the Aurors holding him at that comment.
Ron snorted but felt silent after an elbow in the side by Hermione. Harry kept his calm face, not moving or showing his opinion on the matter.
"But it's also clear that he isn't in any emotional condition to go back to teach at Hogwarts," McGonagall continued.
"What!?" The Potions Master snapped.
"If you can't control yourself when a less than favourable comment is made, how will you behave around children and teenagers and their dislike?" The Headmistress asked.
"I can behave accordingly," Snape answered.
"Accordingly to what?" Harry asked.
"It's not your damned business, Potter! You won't be there!"
"That's what worries me more," Harry kept his calm face.
"Considering the high emotional state demonstrated in here," McGonagall turned to the Minister." I would suggest that Mister Snape keep his Potions work and research and we hire someone else for the Potions position at Hogwarts."
"And who would take care of the Slytherins?" Snape asked aghast.
"Someone with better intentions, less prejudice and no hidden agenda," Hermione answered clearly.
"And what you are talking about?" The Potions Master snapped again.
"You always called me a 'known-it-all', Professor. I think I'm in position to guess what you were planning to do. You wanted to be in position to have influence over powerful and rich purebloods and as an extra benefit, be able to torment and harass half-bloods and Muggleborns." Hermione answered.
Rufus Scrimegour was tired to turn his head from one side to the other, trying to follow the word match.
"That's enough!" The Minister finally shouted. "I think we will close this award ceremony right now."
At the protests and groans from the press, he turned toward the group.
"We will reschedule a press meeting soon," Scrimegour turned toward Snape and the Aurors. "Please follow Mister Snape to my office; I think we need to have a long talk."
Snape shook the hands that tried to hold his arms and climbed down from the stage keeping his head high and a sneer in his face.
"Mister Potter, I hope we can meet again without so much… stress," Scrimegour tried. He didn't know if he liked the young man at all, but he sure needed him at his side.
"We can try, Minister," Harry answered. "But better be warned that things did tend to happen around me, even when I do my best to prevent them."
"I'm really starting to doubt how much effort you put into prevention, Harry," Hermione commented.
"The doubt is if he tries to prevent them or if he tries to go toward them," Ron said laughing.
Harry faked a frown to his friends and then shook the Minister's hand before climbing down the stage and going back to his group of friends.
McGonagall, Hermione and Ron also got out of the stage and were reunited with the Order of the Phoenix and the Hogwarts staff. They bundled together and started to make way to leave the room. Harry was carefully shielded inside the big group of people.
Minister Scrimegour sighed and turned to leave the place too, with Percy hot in his heels.
"Not exactly what we have planned, sir," Percy tried to start a conversation with his boss.
"I should have listened to your father when he tried to warn me, Weasley," Rufus Scrimegour said in a low voice. "Looks like I will have to revise my list of trustworthy advisers."
Percy kept walking behind the Minister, unable to decide if the comment was a good or a bad thing for him.
TBC…
