Chapter 12 – Dedication
Bright next morning Harry gingerly limped into the kitchen to find George tucked into a plate of bacon and eggs, "By the looks of you, my lil' sis' played rough last night." The smile on his face was contagious. Harry couldn't help but grin back as he nicked a piece of bacon off his mate's plate, "Your sister is going to kill me. She and her Mum are in a battle of wills and I'm stuck in the middle."
"It's likely a battle worth being in the middle of...and you can't deny that you are a willing casualty. Either way, it won't end well for you so you might as well enjoy the trip to the slaughterhouse."
"How can you be so calm about this? Your Mum and Ron are on needles. If Percy or Bill knew about it I'd be dodging curses. You sit there making jokes about it while you eat my bacon," mused Harry.
"Aye, I couldn't design a better prank. You are a young man with impeccable morals who wouldn't dare let our Mum down so instead you choose to be tortured nightly...a strangely wonderful torture, most men would say, might I add...and if you don't bear it and knowingly be complicit in the whole affair, then you will surely suffer the wrath of the only member of the fairer sex that I find as scary as my Mum. There are worse things my sister can do besides tease you into submission and you and I both know it," George grinned. "May Merlin save you."
"All the same..."
"Harry, Ginny loves you. All a brother really wants is for his sister to be happy and safe. I think with you she will be both. She's the one acting the fool so why be cross with you? Particularly when it's so amusing."
Harry decided to change the subject, "You taking Angelina to Hogwarts?"
"I dunno. It seems odd taking the girl my brother fancied to a Memorial and Dedication for him."
"She probably won't go unless you take her."
"I know, Harry, but people are already talking. I want tomorrow to be about him...not people's wandering eyes watching every move we make."
"George, I agree. But your brother would want her there. I think he'd like to see that you have helped her through this. If he could see you right now he'd be happy, I promise."
Ginny and her two best mates stepped down the steps giggling. When they saw George their conversation came to an abrupt halt. George's eyes twinkled, "So Hermione, have you made my brother into a man yet?"
"I...that's none...how did you get in? And why would you ask?" Hermione huffed at Ginny, "Why does your brother have to be such a prat sometimes?"
"Mum and Dad had too many boys. Bill and Charlie were blessed with all the good, the others from Percy down..." Ginny gestured to George "...were left with this."
The number of awards given was staggering. Order of Merlin, Third Class, was given out to all of those that fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. All that were killed in battle were given the award posthumously. Currently being awarded were Order of Merlin, First Class. Already Hermione, Neville and Professor McGonagall had been given awards. Harry was just now returning to his seat in the Great Hall with his medal and a sack of five thousand Galleons.
Those winning Order of Merlin Third Class were given a smaller sum of five hundred Galleons. The Galleons were not from the Ministry but from an unnamed benefactor who'd requested that the sums be either spent or invested in some way before the end of Holiday. Harry imagined by the way Slughorn stroked his coins that he'd already decided how to spend his reward. Shacklebolt was already calling out the next name as Harry sat down.
"Severus Snape...Severus is yet another that will receive his award posthumously. Please come up Mrs. Snape...Professor Snape ignored doubt and derision for nearly seventeen years as he quietly served Albus Dumbledore and the fight against Voldemort. Professor Snape was forced to kill the only man that was aware of his true allegiance and risked possible death every day from both sides." Harry watched as a tall woman with thick grey eyebrows and stringy grey hair accepted Snape's medal. No tears, but a look of sadness all the same.
"Ron Weasley...Ron has often been overlooked as the third member of our little group. I've been told that Ron has often done the little things to get the job done and he provided the gel that kept the group together. Unfortunately, under the shadow of such a famous mate, he has rarely received the credit due. Well, today he will be given that credit. Not only is he receiving the Order of Merlin First but he is also receiving a promotion as Head Auror Trainee. Since he has joined the Ministry as an Auror Trainee he has received many accolades from his Trainer Ewan Duncan. In particular, he has been invaluable during tactical operations. Congratulations Ron."
As the crowd cheered Ron walked back to his seat with a sheepish grin. He was met by his girl who promptly planted a kiss on him that turned his ears bright red.
Harry had known about the promotion. It was more symbolic at the moment as the Auror Trainees would end service the final week of August. Those that wished to proceed with the program would be required to attend Hogwarts and at least sit their NEWTS. A few like Angelina had already finished school but had decided not to continue the program. Angelina and Katie had decided to take the Auror position as a temporary post while the Wizard economy stabilised. Both of them took great joy in bringing in the Death Eaters but had no plans to treat law enforcement as a career.
"I would now like to ask Headmaster McGonagall to continue with the Dedication portion of this ceremony."
Professor McGonagall stepped up to the podium and quickly tapped her throat with her wand, "We have gone to great lengths to decide how to best memorialise those that were lost to the Battle of Hogwarts. While statues and monoliths have a sense of permanence to them, we did not feel we could properly portray the events of the past few years with stone. We instead chose a medium that has served Hogwarts well in the past."
Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and a grand canvas appeared behind her. The canvas was so large that those sitting in the back rows could easily make out most of the subjects. At first each of the figures fought with wands against unseen enemies outside the view of the canvas. Harry could see Dumbledore, Colin, Fred, Tonks, Lupin and Snape. There were a few wizards Harry only knew from stories. There were three centaurs with bows drawn and two house elves with kitchen knives. The centaurs scowled when the humans stopped fighting to wave to the crowd. "This painting is to commemorate those that fell during the Battle of Hogwarts." She read the names of those lost including the elves and centaurs.
With a flourish of her wand the painting hovered over to a large stand that appeared from nowhere and it gently set itself down. McGonagall continued, "A second painting will hang in the Minister's office until the end of this year. This painting includes everyone that fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. We decided it might be a little distracting to have students staring at themselves in the halls." This one included all that fought and again they were fighting an unseen enemy. The Centaurs rode around the edges of the painting and would come in and out of view. Wizards and witches fought hard. The house elves stormed out of the entrance of the castle. Professor McGonagall had a difficult time getting everyone's attention once Hagrid was thrown through a window by Grawp. Finally she gave up and set it gently on a stand like the other painting.
"The last painting is made up of what will always be affectionately known as Dumbledore's Army. All of the members are included in the painting." Apparently the artist had a sense of humour because with each sudden movement Zacharias Smith would jump back and yell "Ack!" In addition, whispers were heard from the crowd when Marietta Edgecomb's face popped out in boils. Harry thought he heard Cho grumble "Totally uncalled for" from the back. Personally he thought the added touches were brilliant.
"I hope that all of you are as happy as I am with the paintings. I believe they will allow us to remember the sacrifices made by all for years to come. I do hope all of you will give a round of applause to the artist, Blanca Lienza. She hails from Sevilla, Spain." Miss Lienza stood up to accept the applause with a bow and sat back down.
With that the ceremony came to end and tours of the grounds and newly rebuilt castle were offered to family and friends. Many of the students wandered around on their own happily catching up with their schoolmates. Harry took the time to walk with Neville and Hanna as Ginny, Ron and Hermione stood admiring the portraits. "Were the accommodations adequate? You were my first official guests. We didn't see you for breakfast."
"Oh yes," Hannah beamed.
"How was the bed? Did it sleep well?"
Hannah and Neville shared a look, "Erm...I fell asleep in Neville's bed." She gave Neville another glance and he blushed scandalised. "Nothing happened. I promise. I don't know how it happened but I ended up in his room and we talked and..."
"You fell asleep," helped Harry. "No harm in that. I'm happy the two of you enjoyed yourselves. Both of you were brilliant on the dance floor. It's all any of the others talked about at the party." Harry noticed Hannah squeeze Neville's hand and Neville smile down at her. "I hope the two of you don't mind but I think I'd like to walk the halls in the quiet before heading back. Neville, you should show her Gryffindor Tower. I'm sure the fat lady would let you in if you tell her you want to show Hannah the damage to the roof." Neville thought that was a "brilliant idea" and they separated after shaking hands.
Harry walked the halls for a while. The portraits would occasionally bid him hello or ask how he was. Mostly he enjoyed the silence. He still hadn't truly decided whether to return for a final term but the Headmaster and the Minister were doing their best to convince him. He did miss the castle but he was afraid he'd outgrown the place. Secretly, he didn't want to return to the Ministry as an Auror. He'd returned for appearances for the new Ministry which he believed in. He was amazed at how true Shacklebolt's words were, "If England sees you take a position as an Auror they will immediately show us respect. You are the only person left that nearly every good wizard or witch trusts."
As Harry continued down a hall he though he saw George speaking with a ghost. The two were animated. The ghost recognised Harry, pointed to him, and George turned around and walked quickly as the ghost darted off in the other direction. "Harry! You are just the bloke to see!"
"Who was that?" asked Harry.
George looked full of mischief. "A confidential informant. I've got some ideas for pranks this year. That's unimportant though. I'd like to make an acquisition and I need your help."
"What kind of acquisition?" asked Harry.
"I want to open a joke shop in Hogsmeade and I want to have it ready to open by the first Hogsmeade Visit of the term."
"That should be easy considering Zonko's is closed. It'd take no time at all to renovate the place," observed Harry.
"Better. I want Honeydukes. I spoke with the owner a month or so ago and he is looking to renovate anyway. I'd like to buy his shop and let him start fresh in another shop in town."
"Was he open to the idea?" asked Harry.
"Never asked...but I need that shop. I'm willing to pay a premium." George's eyes had that old familiar spark. Harry couldn't say no.
"Then let's do it. Go to Gringott's Monday and they'll give you whatever you need. I'll have them draw up a line of credit you may use as you need at half going market rate. No-one needs to know about it except Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," cautioned Harry. "The others'll just ask questions."
"Harry, if you don't begin calling them Mum and Dad she is going to flog you one day..." George had the look of a bear that had caught a very big fish "...but thanks Harry. You don't know how much this means to me. I've got to go!"
Harry felt great as he watched George sprint like a First Year down the hall. He imagined if he could have heard George he would have heard him say with a smile, "Mischief Managed."
After the ceremony most everyone settled into a routine. The only thing of note was an article in the Prophet dated 7 August 1998: Lucius Malfoy Turns Snitch: Potter and Company Seeks New Information
Lucius Malfoy, currently serving five years at Azkaban for "consorting and conspiring with Voldemort and the group known as the Death Eaters to enter the Ministry unlawfully and remove a prophecy without permission," will be returned to the Ministry 11 August 1998 to meet with Wizengamut 13 August 1998. He is expected to provide information that will lead to the capture of other known Death Eaters and to provide details of the organisation. In particular, Mr. Malfoy is expected to have direct knowledge of safe houses, contacts of sympathisers, and sources of income for the organisation. It is hoped that his information will help round up the last of the rogue organisation and allow the Ministry to finally focus on moving forward to a new era in governance. All involved would like to see this Chapter of Wizard England closed for good.
Lucius Malfoy is expected to be transported early Tuesday morning according to unnamed sources. Transport is expected by broom and sources claim that the Aurors should treat this transport no different than any other...
"Who would be so stupid as to inform the Prophet when an important witness was being transported?" asked Molly over her breakfast.
"Someone who wants the lot of them killed," answered Hermione. "If Malfoy is indeed agreeing to do this and he is as knowledgeable as the article indicates, then whomever leaked this is putting him and all of the Aurors escorting him at great risk."
Ron stuffed his face with eggs, "Owh, Iwt's hawppeeneng awl wight. Woort came..." Ron swallowed, "out yesterday. Lucius has been offering to talk since Harry's birthday. He said he'd tell them anything to get his sentence reduced. They had to separate him from the other Death Eaters because some were so upset even the Dementers couldn't control them."
"I guess they think it's worth letting Mr. Malfoy out early in order to wrap this all up. Strange, though, they are willing to let out one of the worst Death Eaters early in order to place lesser Death Eaters in custody." Hermione made a face at Ron, "I don't know which is worse Ron. Whether you continue to talk with your mouthful as an adult or that I'm getting used to it."
"I'm offended," claimed Ron. "I am not an adult." The cheek cost him an elbow to the ribs but she grudgingly smiled and kissed him soon after.
The Monday before the move, Auror Duncan arranged extra flight training. He wanted to see how each of the trainees were fairing in their Air Combat Training. All of the Trainees were paired up into groups for an Escort Exercise. Many of them had flown escort missions for minor prisoners either as Carriers or as Escorts. Harry and Zacharias were the most common Carriers but on occasion others would take the role. Anglelina, Katie, Susan and Ron often served in Escort capacities when the Aurors couldn't. Ewan hoped that he'd be able to faze a few more experienced Aurors out of the rotation in a year's time if a few of the Trainees panned out and returned after their final year at Hogwarts.
Katie and Angelina confirmed the Monday following the Dedication they would be trying out in a few weeks to latch on to a Professional Quidditch team. A few of the girls were certainly talented enough and could certainly play for the Canons if they couldn't find their way on another team. For that matter, there was rumour floating around that Harry would be pursued by more than a few teams now that the war was over. Ewan knew just enough about Quidditch to understand that Harry could make it as reserve seeker on any team in any league in England and that he could start today as seeker for all but a handful of teams in the British and Irish Quidditch League.
Once the exercise began, Harry didn't disappoint. He not only out-flew all of his peers but his aim seemed even steadier on a broom. They'd used spells that simulated a stun or killing curse by casting a red or green aura on the opponent. During one round Harry had single-handedly 'stunned' all of his teams opponents. He performed so well that Ewan decided to make some changes for the following morning.