Aftermath - Chapter 17 - The Hogwarts Memorial
After having fun all afternoon in London on Sunday, it was time to return to the Burrow. They were dreading it, not only because their fun day was over, but they would also have to face Ron and Ginny's mother.
They were in Westminster Abbey, looking at the graves of the famous people in British history, when Hermione suggested it was time to return to the Burrow. All of them were still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, they had done a lot of walking, and Hermione and Ginny's feet hurt from their high heels. And they were now getting quite hungry and had no money left. Harry had told Kreacher he would not be back so they could expect no meal waiting for them at Grimmauld Place.
"She didn't say anything when we left," said Ron, trying to sound encouraging, referring to his mother. "She doesn't know what we…you know…I mean...she…"
"She knows," said Ginny and no one disagreed with her, not even Ron.
"Nothing to do but head back and face the music," said Harry. They all silently nodded and then found a quiet corner of the abbey with no tourists around and they Apparated back to the Burrow, Ginny going with Harry first, with Ron and Hermione appearing soon after. They all appeared a hundred yards from the house so they could walk there together and face the wrath of Mrs. Weasley in a united front.
To their surprise she greeted them with a warm smile. "Have a nice date?" she said as she busied herself cooking in the kitchen. Percy, Charlie, George and Mr. Weasley were in the living room listening to the Wizard Radio Network.
"Ah, yeah," said Ron. "Had a grea…good…yeah, good time. Right guys?"
They all quickly agreed with Ron, Harry feeling his face flush even though he really had nothing to be guilty about.
"Good," Mrs. Weasley said. "Now Ron and Harry there is still a few hours before dark. Change your clothes and go mow the grass and trim the hedge around Fred's grave please before dinner. Hermione and Ginny, change also and come lend me a hand."
They all scurried upstairs and right away Ginny was suspicious.
"She's going to drown us in work," she said in disgust. "That's going to be her punishment for us being like normal people for once. Rather she yelled."
"I wouldn't," said Ron.
"Me, neither," said Hermione. They all knew Hermione wouldn't have to do much anyway as she was set to return to Gosport tomorrow.
Ginny had been right and for the next week, Ron and Harry barely had a free moment at the Burrow after work. Ron had it worse since Harry still had to study at night and Mrs. Weasley let him off early. She had them cleaning the chicken coop, collecting eggs each morning, repairing the roof, (with Charlie and George's help) painting the garage, de-gnoming the garden, planting the vegetables, mowing the grass, and cleaning their room. They used magic of course, but it was still a pain in the neck for two guys who had spent all day working.
But Ginny had it the worst of all, since she was home all day. She barely had a free moment. Every night she collapsed into Harry's arms when he came home and her wrist was sore from waving her wand so much. Her mother taught her all the spells a good housewife needed, as Mrs. Weasley had said. Ginny told her mother she needn't bother to teach her this stuff as she was going to have a career when she finished Hogwarts. What career she said she didn't know, but she was not going to be stuck raising a bunch of kids, not for a few years anyways. Mrs. Weasley took this as an insult to her life choices and despite Ginny's apologies she didn't talk to Ginny for two days except to order her to do this or that.
Hermione escaped all of this as she left for Gosport before sunrise on Monday so she could Apparate in the darkness to her parent's backyard. She told Ron her parents wanted him to come visit next weekend and as he had never been there she said she would arrive next Saturday night and they could Apparate together. Ron was nervous about this, facing the parents on their ground.
"I have to do it every day," said Harry as they stood by the garage, watching two paint brushes moving up and down the side, turning the garage a dull red color, as they held their wands on them.
"Yeah, but you're a wizard too and you're like family," Ron said and it made Harry feel warm all over when he said that. "Besides, Mum and Dad have always liked you. What if the Grangers hate me?"
"Won't happen," Harry encouraged him as he moved his wand and his paint brush moved to a can on the ground and picked up some more paint. "Just try not to use magic around them and try not to seem shocked at all the Muggle stuff and you'll do fine."
"Right, right," Ron replied. "No magic and no being shocked. Got it."
That Saturday came and Ron and Hermione went off to Gosport. After dinner they left and then Ginny went immediately upstairs and came back down twenty minutes later with a small luggage bag in her hand and told her mother and father very directly that she and Harry were spending the night in London.
"That's nice, have fun," said Mr. Weasley as he fiddled with an old computer printer connected to a battery in the living room. Harry was helping him, not expecting to be departing, as Ginny had not told him of her plan. To Harry's surprise the printer actually seemed to be working. He had already told Mr. Weasley the printer could not print without being hooked up to a computer. That had set off an argument with his wife about getting a computer and finally getting electricity hooked up to the house. She said she had gone almost thirty years without it, she could go another thirty years and not even care. Besides she said, computers and electricity cost money and after Harry confirmed that it was a bit expensive, Mr. Weasley dropped the subject.
"So, Harry," Mr. Weasley continued as if Ginny hadn't spoken at all. "The parchment goes in this end, right?"
"Muggles use paper," said Harry as he looked at Ginny with surprise.
"London again?" said Mrs. Weasley sharply from where she was sitting and doing some knitting while listening to the Wizard Radio Network.
"Yes," said Ginny defiantly. "Come Harry. I've pack your toothbrush and pajamas."
Mrs. Weasley let out a small yelp as she had jabbed her knitting needle into her palm when she heard the word 'pajamas'. Thankfully it didn't bleed.
"Is this going to be a regular thing?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking from Harry to Ginny.
Harry had stood up and was standing besides Ginny. He was too befuddled to answer while Ginny let out a very positive "Yes."
"Then maybe its time you two were married," said Mrs. Weasley very calmly as she returned to her knitting, as if suggesting her daughter and her boyfriend get married was an everyday thing.
Harry and Ginny were too shocked to speak and thankfully Mr. Weasley came to their rescue. "Now, Molly, let them have some fun. I'm sure they are wise enough to be careful. We certainly weren't married when we…"
"Arthur!!" Mrs. Weasley suddenly shrieked. "This is different! She's our daughter! They are too young!"
"As old as we were," her husband countered with a grin and Mrs. Weasley went slightly pink, looked like she was about to say something and then just slumped into her chair.
Harry knew it was time to say something. "I love Ginny," he said directly to Mrs. Weasley. "And she loves me. And we...well…we are young, you're right, but…we love each other."
"Harry's right, Mum," Ginny said, taking Harry's hand and giving him a grin. "And if you think working us to death all week is going to stop us, forget about it. And marriage is the farthest thing from our minds right now. Give us time to get to know each first, for Pete's sake."
"Well said," Mr. Weasley said from where he was still fiddling with the printer and Ginny beamed at him for this compliment and he winked at her.
Mrs. Weasley just shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said to Harry. "But I'm a mother and…and.."
"I understand," Harry said quietly. "And you've been a mother to me too, more than any person in the world. I'll be good to your daughter, I promise."
Mrs. Weasley let out a small cry and then stood up and hugged Harry very hard and then pulled Ginny toward them and hugged her, too. After a few teary moments she pulled back. "All, right, all right," she said with a sniff. "Be good and be careful and don't work that old house-elf too hard."
After that things were much better. Mrs. Weasley let up on the tyranny of house chores and said nothing more on the subject of Ginny and Harry's romance. They went to London every Saturday night and spent Sunday doing fun things in town, when Hermione and Ron were there of course, since the rules about being cautious about other things were still in place.
Ron came back late Sunday evening after his weekend with Hermione's family and said he had a good time, although Mr. Granger was crazy about a sport called cricket and Ron had to endure a boring few hours on Sunday afternoon watching a match on TV while Mr. Granger tried to explain it to him. The Grangers were also church going people, something Hermione had never mentioned, so Ron found himself on Sunday morning at the local Anglican Church service. Hermione was not a big believer in it, but her parents were so she attended. Harry had been to church only once as a child with the Dursleys, which he later imagined had been another attempt of theirs to squash the magic out of him. But they gave up on it after Dudley had squealed and complained so loudly about missing TV that after the service the vicar had politely asked them to not come back until they were able to control their son. The vicar had also eyed the over large, ripped, and wrinkly clothing Harry had been wearing which was in sharp contrast to Dudley's little suit and bowtie. Harry's Aunt Petunia had never gotten over the embarrassment of all that so they never went back to church.
June seemed to fly by after the slowness of May. Charlie returned to Romania after another week of caring for the dragon at Gringotts. Percy was spending more and more time seeing his new girlfriend and finally said he was moving back to London and moved out in the middle of June. All except Mrs. Weasley were happy about this because Percy had been more of a prat than ever lately. Harry still saw him at the Ministry, but just for the occasional lunch and one day finally met the mystery woman, who was very nice but a little plain and a few years older than Percy. Bill and Fleur showed up every now and then and one glorious weekend they were all invited to Shell Cottage where they had a wonderful time, swimming, barbecuing, and going for long walks on the beach. Harry cleaned up around Dobby's grave and with Ginny's help they placed more white stones around it. The Monday after that George and Ron finally cleaned out Fred's things from the joke shop and gave them to a charity. The joke shop was doing a marvelous business and Diagon Alley was back to its old ways at last.
On a Tuesday at lunchtime Harry went back to Diagon Alley and got his old pair of glasses fitted with a few enhancements for his Auror work. One day at the Ministry he had forgotten to take them off after he and Charlie George had retuned from the training ground in Scotland and he quickly snatched them off his head after looking directly through Lucy McMullan's robes. Thankfully she had had her back turned to him at the time, but wondered why his face was red after she turned around.
Harry had also stopped by Flourish and Blotts and enquired about a respectable historian. They pointed him toward Hamish McNeil, who had written a respectable history of the first war with Voldemort. Harry was put in touch with McNeil and he was quite delighted to meet Harry and they had a long talk over lunch in the Leaky Cauldron. The author told Harry that he wouldn't write the book unless he could interview as many people connected with the story as possible to check and double check facts. The only thing they couldn't discuss was the break in at Gringotts, Harry said. McNeil pondered this and then said not to worry as he had his own source in the bank. He then confessed he had already started the book and was just making sure he had as much of the story straight as possible before approaching Harry.
Harry also found time to see Mrs. Tonks, and Ginny and he spent an evening at her house for dinner, playing with little Teddy. Some of Mrs. Tonks Muggle relatives were there and as they knew nothing about the wizarding world their Ted had married into, it was a strange sort of evening, with Harry and Ginny having to listen as Mrs. Tonks relatives went on about the car accident that had killed Ted, Remus, and Nymphadora. Thank God little Teddy had been home with his grandmother, said Ted Tonks' sister, as she wept. How Mrs. Tonks explained the fact that her husband's body had never been found Harry didn't know. Mrs. Tonks said that Harry and Ginny were friends of her daughter and not much was asked of them. She seemed quite relieved after they left and immediately got out her wand and started cleaning up the kitchen. She told Ginny and Harry to relax and go into the living room with Teddy. He was crawling a bit and he came right to Harry on the floor and Harry picked him up and held him tight.
"Poor little fellow," Harry said to him. "Don't you worry about a thing. I'm your godfather and it's my job to make sure you have a good life now."
Ginny smiled at him. "You'll make a great father, too." She saw his eyes widen a bit and she laughed. "Not yet! Don't be silly." Harry couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
At the end of June one breakfast a letter arrived at the Burrow from Hogwarts addressed to Mr. Weasley. This was quite odd as the school had never sent him mail since he had been a student there. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, had received dozens of letters, mostly regarding discipline problems with her children, with more letters about Fred and George than the rest combined. As everyone waited in anticipation Mr. Weasley opened the letter and quickly read it.
"As I thought," he said and then put down the letter and seemed about to go back to his breakfast.
"What is it?' Mrs. Weasley finally asked what they all wanted to know.
"Oh, yes, sorry," said Mr. Weasley. "The Hogwarts Memorial will be held on July 3 at 4 PM, to be followed by a feast at the school. We are all expected to attend. Dress robes and all. Want to look sharp. "
As July 3 was a Friday no one went to work and George closed the shop for the day, not trusting his assistants for more than a few hours at a time. Hermione wanted her parents to attend but they were so busy with their dental practice it was not possible. In fact, it made things easier for Hermione because she had no idea how they would get there. She and Harry and the Weasleys were going to Apparate right to Hogsmeade and she wasn't even sure if Muggles could Side-Along Apparate.
It was a fine day and after a successful blink of an eye trip to Hogsmeade, they joined the growing crowds moving up towards the school. As they got their first view of the school they all stopped and stared. Hogwarts had been repaired and it looked as if there had never been a battle there at all.
"Well done," said Mr. Weasley. "You should get the same firm to look at your home in Godric's Hollow, Harry."
Harry agreed with him as they made their way onto the school grounds. Down by the lake near the same place where Dumbledore was buried was a raised stone platform with a set of three steps leading up to it and a podium on its right side. In front of it and facing it in neat rows were hundreds of white chairs. Also, there was something else, a large stone obelisk, about forty feet high. Standing next to it was Hagrid in his horrible hairy suit with yellow and orange tie.
"All right, everyone?" he asked through the moving crowds as everyone greeted him.
"Great," said Harry, happy to see his old friend. "Where's Grawp?"
"Didn't want ter scare folks not used ter him, so he's havin' a lie in up in his cave."
"What's that, Hagrid?" Ginny asked, pointing to the obelisk.
"It's the Hogwarts Memorial," Hagrid said with a touch of pride. He stepped back and they all got a view. At the mid point on one side of the obelisk in large gold engraving was the school emblem. Below it also in gold was printed a citation and then a long list of names of the fallen. As Harry read it he felt a chill run through him and he heard a few sniffles around him as others caught sight of a name they recognized.
The Battle of Hogwarts May 1-2, 1998
On these grounds and in the school on the night of May 1-May 2 Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters and other followers were vanquished by a combined force of Hogwarts students, teachers, parents, house-elves, centaurs, Hogsmeade residents, and one giant. Below are the names of those who gave their lives so that this school and all it represents remain a place where all are welcome with open arms.
Then Harry read the list. At the top were the adults and below were the students. The first three names he knew made him gulp and fight back the tears: Professor Severus Snape, Professor R.J. Lupin, Auror Nymphadora Tonks. Why he felt sad when he read Snape's name he did not know, but he did all the same. He was glad they put "professor" in front of Lupin's name. He was one of the best teachers Harry had ever had.
Then his eyes found Fred Weasley's name at the very bottom of the list. This time a few tears did come. Mrs. Weasley walked forward and kissed Fred's name and muttered. "Well done, my brave son." And then she stepped back and they were all fighting their tears now and Mr. Wesley finally said it was time to sit down.
Soon they moved to the chairs and a wizard directed Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the front row on the left where Neville and Professor McGonagall were already sitting. A large chair was placed there at the end of the first row for Hagrid, who wanted to move to the back but was told his place was here. Hagrid and Harry exchanged looks, and both seemed a little puzzled to be placed so close to the main platform. Also in the front row on the left at the far end where Hagrid was sitting were Mrs. Tonks, and two older women Harry had never met.
"That's Lupin's mother," Hermione said quickly as they sat down, pointing to one of the women. The other woman looked slightly familiar, but they couldn't place her. She had grey hair and wore black and had a plain, sad face.
"Why we up here?' Harry asked Neville.
"No idea," Neville said. "They told me to sit here and my Gran just hugged me and said she'd never been prouder in her life. She knows what's happening." Then he looked to the back and Harry turned and could see Neville's grandmother back there. Then Harry looked to Professor McGonagall. "Patience, Potter," was all she said.
Also sitting in the front row, but on the right side were Kingsley Shacklebolt and many old and dignified wizards and witches. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were directed to the second row on the left where most of the Hogwarts professors plus Dean Thomas, Seamus, Luna, Lavender Brown, Cho Chang, and a few other Hogwarts students from the DA were sitting, all of them with puzzled looks on their faces. Except the professors, of course, who seemed to know what was happening.
"Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley said as her husband and George, Percy, Bill and Fleur walked toward the back. "What's going on?"
He just smiled. "You'll know soon." She got that scowl on her face that told Harry a furor was building and she probably would have whipped out her wand if so many people weren't here.
"Why are we sitting here?" Ginny whispered to Harry from the second row.
"No one's telling us," Harry said in frustration. Just then Kingsley got up and made his way to the platform with a few other witches and wizards. Some of them were carrying flat boxes which they placed on chairs on the platform and opened them so that no one from the audience could see what was inside them.
As everyone settled down, Kinsley began his speech from the podium. It was wonderful, brief and to the point speech on the battle and all that had been accomplished and all the hopes they had for a peaceful future.
"And now," Kinsley said in his deep voice as he turned to the stone obelisk behind him. "We dedicate this stone obelisk and henceforth it shall be called the Hogwarts Memorial. We honor the names of the heroic fallen."
Then he was handed a roll of parchment and he read out each name. As the names were called there were some cries, and shouts of anguish and Harry found he could not stop the tears and Ron and Hermione were sniffing beside him and so were many others. Again the last name was Fred Weasley and behind him he could hear gasps from Mrs. Weasley and Ginny and knew he would completely break down if he turned and looked at them.
"A minute of silence for the honored fallen," Kingsley said, and as silence descended, punctuated by some cries, Harry's mind drifted back over the years the first time he had met Fred and Lupin and Tonks, and the many run-ins he had with Snape, which now seemed so trivial in the face of all this.
"Now," Kinsley said after the minute of silence had ended. "We have some awards to hand out. Those whose names are called come to the platform. If the name of one of the honored fallen is called, will the family representative please come forth."
Then Kingsley took another roll of parchment and began to read the names. With a shock the first name was Lavender Brown, followed by Cho Chang, Seamus Finnegan, Professor Flitwick, Luna Lovegood, and then several other DA members, more Hogwarts professors, and then Horace Slughorn and Dean Thomas' names. More names were called, and Harry recognized them as members of the Order of the Phoenix. As they all stood and started toward the platform more shocks came as the last names read were Ginny and Molly Weasley.
As they all got up on the platform and faced the crowd, Kingsley spoke again, "For heroic deeds in the Battle of Hogwarts and for playing a role in the resistance in the face of Lord Voldemort's confederates taking over the school and the wizarding world these last few years, we award the Order of Merlin, Second Class to these brave witches and wizards."
A loud round of applause rang out as from the flat boxes came their awards. A large silver engraved medallion on a white silken ribbon was hung around each of their necks. Harry and Ron clapped loud and hard, but no one clapped louder and harder than the Wesley men at the back when Ginny and her mother got their awards. They all stood there for a few moments facing the crowd, as many photos were taken and Ginny and Mrs. Weasley looked very astonished as did the others. It seemed as if the sadness had gone away from the depressing introduction to the service. After they came off the platform Harry got up and hugged Ginny and her mother, and shook hands with many others and he even got a hug from Cho Chang, which Ginny saw and Harry caught a scowl from her and sat down immediately.
Then Kingsley began to speak again. "The following people will come up one by one to be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class."
A shock ran through Harry and as he looked at Ron and Hermione and Neville and saw the looks on their faces he knew why they were in the front row. Then the first name was read. "Professor Severus Snape."
The old woman in black at the far end stood up and walked slowly toward the platform. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm. "It's Snape's mother, Eileen Prince!"
As she reached the top of the platform Kingsley handed her an open medal box in which a large gold medallion and gold ribbon was clearly visible. He shook her hand and spoke briefly to her but no one could hear what was said. She turned around and a few photos were taken. Then Kingsley spoke as she stood there.
"As is well known by now, Professor Snape played a very vital role in the resistance against Lord Voldemort. In the end he paid for his bravery with his life. We honor the memory of Severus Snape, his bravery and dedication to this school, and his ultimate sacrifice by posthumously awarding him the Order of Merlin First Class."
The there was loud and long applause and Snape's mother just stood there as tears ran down her face and then she was escorted back to her chair by a young wizard. As she passed Harry he saw her look at him and their eyes made contact and she briefly nodded at him and he returned the nod.
The next three names called were for Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye Moody. Lupin's mother and Mrs. Tonks took the awards, but no one was there for Moody so Kinsley said it would remain at the Ministry in Auror Headquarters where a small memorial was being planned for Moody. Then McGonagall was called to the stage to receive her reward and she went up, serious as usual, accepted the award and let pictures be taken as Kinsley read her citation.
"For unswerving duty in stopping Lord Voldemort's return to power for many years and for remaining at Hogwarts during dark times to protect the children of our wizarding community, for bravery and leadership during the Battle of Hogwarts, we award Headmistress Minerva McGonagall the Order of Merlin First Class."
This time there was plenty of loud, long applause and cheers from the many Hogwarts students there. Then came a surprise no one expected. "Rubeus Hagrid," shouted Kingsley.
There was a stunned silence. Then enormous cheering broke out from all the students, soon joined by many wizards and witches who had known Hagrid over the years they had been at Hogwarts.
"No, no," said Hagrid in disbelief, shaking his big shaggy head. "Musta made a mistake, can't be me!"
"It is you," said Harry as he and Ron ran to his chair and tried to lift him up, which they couldn't of course. Finally he got up, looked at Ron and Harry, grinned and patted them on the back, which almost sent them sprawling, and then he was walking to the platform. He stood on the ground before it or otherwise Kinsley could not have placed the gold medallion around his neck, which barely fit anyway.
"For extending the hand of friendship to an orphaned boy named Harry and being his friend and protector for many years, and for unswerving loyalty and bravery in the fight against Lord Voldemort and his followers, we award the Order of Merlin First Class to Rubeus Hagrid."
Hagrid was crying when he turned around and still shaking his head in disbelief as everyone cheered. As he came back to his seat Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville and many other students came up to hug him and shake his huge hand.
"Neville Longbottom," came the next name and with trembling legs Neville walked in a daze to the platform as everyone cheered him. After he received his medallion Kingsley said, "For leadership of the student resistance in Hogwarts, for direct bravery in the face of Lord Voldemort, for loyalty to Hogwarts and to Albus Dumbledore's memory, and for the destruction of the last of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes we award Neville Longbottom the Order of Merlin First Class."
Neville received long and joyous applause as he stumbled back to his seat. Finally, after Neville sat down, still with a stupefied look on his face, Harry knew there were only three people left and he just wondered who they would call first.
"I want to call the last three people together, for they should be rewarded together for what they did, they did together and could not have done otherwise," Kingsley said. "Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley. Please come to the platform."
They looked at each other as a broad wave of cheering and shouts flooded over them and then they stood and walked to the platform. After Kingsley place the medallions around their necks and shook their hands and said well done, they turned to the crowd.
"To Hermione Granger, for the use of intelligence and wisdom on the trail of the Horcruxes, for her bravery and undying loyalty to her friends, and this school, for playing a vital role in the downfall of Lord Voldemort, we award her the Order of Merlin First Class."
Hermione beamed and was flushed as the cheers and applause lasted long.
"To Ronald Weasley, for the use of intelligence and wisdom on the trail of the Horcruxes, for bravery and undying loyalty to this school and his friends, for his vital role in the downfall of Lord Voldemort, we award him the Order of Merlin First Class."
Again cheers and shouts, loudest from the Weasley family. Finally, it was Harry's turn.
"And now we have one more name. Harry Potter," said Kingsley and the wave of shouting and applause surely must have broken a few windows in Hogsmeade Harry thought as the audience stood as one and photographers bounced around taking many pictures.
"He did not work alone, but without Harry I cannot see how we could have ever defeated Lord Voldemort," Kingsley began and Harry felt himself turn red in the face. "For bravery in the face of death, for the use of intelligence and wisdom on the trail of the Horcruxes, for undying loyalty to this school, to his friends, to the memory of Albus Dumbledore and his parents, and to the wizarding community of the world, and for the very vital role he played in the demise of Lord Voldemort, we award Harry Potter the Order of Merlin First Class."
Harry did not remember much of what happened next. It was if a dam had broken and a flood of people came toward the platform and soon he was among the crowd and everyone was congratulating everyone.
"I can't believe it!" said Mrs. Weasley as she hugged Ron and Ginny. "Two in the Order of Merlin in one day in our family."
"Three," said Mr. Weasley as he kissed her and she flushed.
"None of your brothers have ever gotten this, Ron," said Mrs. Wesley as she hugged him again and looked at his gold medallion.
"Yes," said Percy, who seemed a little miffed. "Odd we weren't included. We were in the battle too, after all."
Mrs. Weasley gave him her sharpest look. "Don't you dare spoil this!" And Percy turned red and suddenly saw someone from the Ministry he just had to talk to immediately.
"Prat!" said George. "His head's too big to get a ribbon around anyway."
"Least you should have gotten something," Ron said to George. "And you too, Bill!"
George shook his head. "Knew I would never get in the Order of Merlin. Too much of a trouble maker."
Bill laughed. "Doesn't mean a thing to me either. I think they were only allowed to pick so many and our family had enough as is. Congrats little brother. And sister. And Mum!"
"But what's with all this 'use of intelligence and wisdom' rubbish anyway?" asked George. "Ron, intelligence and wisdom? Come on!" Ron glared at him and gave him a dirty hand gesture when his mother wasn't looking because she was admiring Ginny's award.
"Let him be," Mrs. Weasley said in admonishment. "He did his part."
"I mean, come on Hermione, you were the brains of the operation, weren't you?" George continued.
"It took all three of us," Hermione said and it was the truth even though she had been the brains of the operation. Then she saw something and her face turned angry. "I don't believe it. Not today! It's their day, too!"
Everyone followed her gaze and they saw house elves appearing with many trays with drinks and snacks and despite Hermione's mutterings about 'slaves', all except her drank wine or butterbeer and ate little crackers with a variety of things on them.
"At least they got mentioned on the memorial," said Harry after Hermione shot a dirty look at a wizard who yelled at a house-elf who accidentally bumped into him.
"What good is this?" she said, grabbing her medallion, "If things haven't changed for them."
"You've got a plan, stick to it," Ron said and Harry said Ron was right and she finally agreed with them. Just then Professor McGonagall called to Hermione through the crowd.
"Oh, Miss Granger, a word please," she said and Hermione followed her off a little ways.
"Wonder what that's about?" asked Ginny.
"Probably wants to discuss her course schedule already," said Ron as he stuffed another cracker in his mouth.
"Slow down Ronald," said his mother, who had dragged a photographer over to their little group. "Dinner is in a little over an hour. Now time for photos. Where's Hermione?"
Just then she came back and had a big grin on. "House-elves gonna get wages now?" Bill asked after he took a slug of butterbeer.
Hermione's face clouded a little. "No. But guess who is going to be Muggles' Studies professor next year!"
"No!" said Harry, catching on right away.
"Really?' said Ginny. Ron was too confused to speak and just looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Me!" she finally said with joy and they all congratulated her.
"But how?" Ginny asked. "I mean…you're still a student."
"It's just part-time," Hermione said. "Two classes a day, three days a week. Not many students take it anyway."
"That should be no problem for you," Ron said, looking at her with pride. "You were raised in a Muggle home after all. You'll get paid, of course."
"Ah...I forgot to ask," Hermione said. Then she suddenly looked worried. "I can't get paid because I didn't finish Hogwarts yet."
"Don't worry," said Mr. Weasley. "McGonagall wouldn't have asked you if she hadn't already worked it out."
After many photos were taken, with Harry seemingly posing with everyone, they started up toward the castle. As they were walking Harry heard a voice behind him.
"Mr. Potter?" Not another photo. Oh, well, smile and…oh.
It was Snape's mother. "Hello. I'm Eileen Snape."
He shook her hand. "Hello," he said and then turned to the others. "I'll catch up." And after a moment they moved on.
"Did you know my son well?" she asked him.
"I was his student for six years," Harry said, which was the truth after all. "Not many people at Hogwarts knew him very well though."
"Yes, not a very sociable boy, my son. Got that from his father."
Harry said nothing, wondering why she had stopped him. Then it hit him. She knew his mother. "Did you know my mother?"
"Yes," she said. "Lily Evans. And her sister Petunia. They lived nearby us when Severus was a boy. I knew your mother was a witch before she did. She and Severus were very good friends. Until he began to hang out with the wrong crowd here at Hogwarts."
"I know," Harry said before he could stop himself. How could he explain how he knew?
But she seemed to ignore this. "You know, years ago I once asked Severus why he never married. He looked at me and said very bitterly that the only woman in the world for him was dead. I took it to mean your mother."
"Yes," Harry said.
"He loved her."
"I know."
"Yes, it was in the papers. Was why he was a spy for Dumbledore."
"He was a brave man."
Then came the unexpected question. "How did he die?"
Harry gulped. He didn't want to tell Snape's mother how her son died with a giant snake sinking its fangs into his neck. "Voldemort killed him."
She just nodded, as if she knew this already. "He's here you know, Severus. Buried under the memorial. It's what he would have wanted. Hogwarts was the only place he ever felt happy, showing off his talent for potions and inventing new spells. He was quite bright, if slow at first to realize what Voldemort was really about. But I don't think he ever had a happy thought again after your mother died. I'm sorry. Forgive me for going on like this."
"No, it's all right. I understand." He wasn't sure how happy Snape had been as a student at Hogwarts, what with being teased and the butt of jokes from his father's gang, but as an adult Snape had seemed like a man who was confident and sure of his place in the world.
"Well, Harry Potter, thank you for killing the one who killed my son," she said. "Maybe now he can have some peace at last."
And then she walked away, heading for the way to Hogsmeade and Harry didn't even ask why she was not attending the feast.
He quickly ran into the Great Hall where the tables were filled and everyone was already eating, He joined his friends and the Weasleys, squeezing in-between Ginny and George. Then there was a feast to end all feasts, one long remembered in the history of Hogwarts. Many were staying the night in the school and long afterwards Harry kissed Ginny goodnight, and she went to the girl's dormitory in Gryffindor Tower with her mother and Hermione and he made his way to his old dorm room. Seamus and Dean and Neville and Ron were there already and it was many hours later after lots of talking and fun and still not believing they had all gotten the Order of Merlin, they finally got to sleep.