Chapter 68

The place had been elaborately decorated with crystal glasses placed on every table, large and eccentric chandeliers hung from the rafters, and the enchanted ceiling reflected a snowscape to go with the theme of the room.

It reminded Ron very much of the Yule Ball back in his fourth year, but on a much grander scale.

To mark the event, Ron had bought himself some brand new — and kind of expensive — dress robes. They were plain black with a white undershirt and even a bowtie. They looked very much like Muggle suits, but a lot more comfortable.

Order of Merlins were only given out once every ten years, and considering they had more than usual to award this time around due to people's contribution to the war (mostly to the people who died), they'd made the decision to hold it on its six year anniversary.

Earlier that day, Ron, along with his family, paid their usual respects at the Hogwarts remembrance, where the attendance had decreased significantly over the five years since the first one had been held.

Beside Ron, where he sat at a large, round table with a sparkling tablecloth and crystal plates, was Hermione. He couldn't help but keep looking at her every few seconds, because she looked absolutely beautiful. She was smiling so brightly, her eyes wide and excited about being able to attend such an event.

On the other side of Hermione was Harry, then Ginny next to him. Unsurprisingly, Harry had received a letter, too. What had surprised Ron was that Neville, Ginny and Luna also received awards. Not first class, like himself, but second class ones.

Neville, who was dressed up finely in what also appeared to be new dress robes, beamed at them when they'd arrived, declaring that he'd been granted permission by McGonagall to leave Hogwarts for the evening to receive the award. Hannah was attached to his arm, looking so proud and thrilled over everything.

They were sat next to Ginny, and next to them was Luna and a bloke she'd introduced as Rolf Scamander.

"You mean," Hermione had said, eyes wide, "the grandson of —"

"Oh, yes," Luna had replied, apparently predicting Hermione's question. "Yes, we've been working a lot together." She stared at the man with curiosity more than anything else. The man's features were taut and a little off-centre, but Ron supposed he was handsome enough.

When Luna didn't elaborate on her relationship with the fellow, the conversation drifted to other things, though Ron caught Hermione stealing the odd glance Rolf Scamander's way.

"Steady on," he said. "My robes are better than his."

At that she smiled, turning to him. "That's Newt Scamander's grandson," she said.

"Who?" Ron asked. Though, the name did sound familiar. He just didn't know where from.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Hermione said. "Famous magizoologist… I've never met someone so famous before…"

"You see Harry and Ginny three times a week," Ron reminded her, and she flushed, turning apologetically to the aforementioned couple.

Neither appeared to have heard.

"Quite handsome, isn't he?" Ron commented.

"I think it makes perfect sense that he's with Luna," Hermione replied, ignoring his comment.

"You mean, he's with her, or he's with her?" Ron asked.

At that, Hermione had no response, but she continued studying the pair as if trying to work it out for herself.

In Ron's opinion, Luna was at her best when she was alone. She'd not shown an ounce of interest in any form of romantic relationship in all the time he'd known her. Well, unless he counted the time she'd cornered him in a Hogwarts corridor alone and told him she found his many freckles attractive. And he tended not to count that, because he was still not quite sure what to make of that moment. He'd never bothered to mention it to Hermione or Harry, afraid they'd laugh at him.

And Hermione had never mentioned that feature about him, so he supposed it had just been Luna being Luna.

"You know what?" Hermione said, drawing Ron from his thoughts. Her voice was low. "I think they're together."

"Really?" Ron said, returning his gaze back to Luna and Rolf. "Luna… with a… Luna not being single?"

The idea baffled him more than he cared to admit. He'd just assumed Luna would travel the world on her own until she no longer could.

"Have some faith, Ron," Hermione said, looking amused. "Some people said the same thing about you once."

"Who?" Ron demanded. "Seamus. It was Seamus, wasn't it? No, probably Fred and George. They'd say something like that." He frowned, folding his arms across his chest and resting them on the table.

"It's really beautiful, isn't it?" Ginny commented, and her eyes were looking around the room in awe.

"Haven't you been to Quidditch functions?" Ron asked her.

"None of them have been like this," she said.

"Yeah, they're all pretty dull in comparison," Harry agreed. "I mean, the last one…" He looked at Ginny. "It was as if they'd held the last one on a handful of Galleons' budget. The food was good, though."

The room was almost full now. There were only three tables in total — one dedicated for the officiators of the ceremony, including past recipients of the award, as well as Kingsley Shacklebolt and a few others Ron didn't recognise.

The third was a table of some other guests of recipients. Arthur and Molly had been invited by Ron and Ginny, but they were unable to invite anyone else in the family. Neville's grandmother sat beside Arthur, beaming and looking incredibly proud at her grandson. Luna's dad was also there, and Hagrid — a guest of Harry's.

Ron liked the intimacy of this. It was most people he knew aside from some Prophet photographers standing against the walls and journalists waiting to write about what happened.

Ron spotted Rita Skeeter in the shadows of one corner.

"She never gives up, does she?" he said.

"She's not writing for any reputable paper or magazine, though," Hermione said with an air of disdain.

Noticing them watching her, Skeeter offered a timid smile, to which neither Ron, nor Hermione, returned.

"Whoever she writes for, I bet Harry will have made a fool of himself from her eyes," Ron said.

They were only a few moments away from beginning when Ron spotted Neville and Hannah looking affectionately at one another. They kissed lightly on the lips and smiled at one another.

Ron turned back to Hermione, grinning. "Six years ago," he said, "you kissed me, and it is still the kiss I remember more than any other. My favourite. I finally got to know what it was like to kiss you."

Hermione smiled at him, giving him a similar look to the one Hannah had just given Neville. Ron couldn't help himself. He leaned forward and kissed her.

They rarely liked to acknowledge this date as being the one where they had officially become a couple. It felt wrong celebrating a day where so many people had died, especially now that they had their wedding anniversary to celebrate instead. But Ron never forgot it either — a time where they believed they would probably die by the end of the day and finally finding each other, finally getting to know what it was like to kiss her, to hold her properly against him… to outwardly love her.

He didn't think not having the war would have stopped them in the end, but it had accelerated it, that was for sure.

When he pulled away, Hermione rested her hand over his and left it there as Kingsley got to his feet, using his wand to project his voice over the room.

"Thank you, everyone," he said, his booming voice catching everyone's attention immediately. All eyes were on the Minister for Magic now. "I am honoured to be presenting my very first Order of Merlin ceremony. This marks a special occasion for many of us, for it is the first awards we have given since the end of the Second Wizarding War.

"As all of you would be aware, today marks the sixth anniversary of the end, where on this day, we lost many brave and wonderful witches and wizards who fought to the end to help create the world that we live in now. Please, join me in a minute's silence as we remember those who have left our lives, but never our hearts."

All fidgeting ceased immediately and everyone fell into a thoughtful silence. Ron had no doubt everyone in this room would have lost someone to the war, and all were reflecting on the pain the losses still caused.

Ron took the moment to think of his brother and the hole it had forever left in his family. Even six years on, he found himself missing the infectious laughter Fred always brought — the humour, the jokes, the brilliant ideas. Life had moved on, life was good, but there'd always be a part of Ron that would miss his big brother. Always.

He then thought of Remus and Tonks, causing him to think of Little Teddy, who was growing up so fast, only knowing about his parents through stories. Harry was ensuring that Teddy wasn't abandoned, that he wasn't growing up not knowing where he came from.

Finally, he thought of how grateful he was to be here. Not just in this room, but alive, happy, and with the opportunity to make the most of how his life had turned out.

Those six years seemed so long ago, yet at the same time, it felt like only yesterday he'd been fearing for his life.

Hermione squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, but he didn't look at her. He kept his eyes firmly on Kingsley.

"Thank you," the Minister said after the minute had passed.

Everyone's bodies relaxed.

"And now that we all have those brave people on our minds, I'd like to open this ceremony with sharing with you another honour awarded to everyone who fought and didn't make it. We have the two memorials at the Ministry and at Hogwarts, and the school is now filled with books and history for our current and future students. As of today, every single one of those people who died will be awarded the highest of honours — an Order of Merlin, First Class. This is officially the largest number of awards we have ever given, but I'm sure no one will argue that it is unwarranted."

Loud applause followed this revelation. Ron looked to Hermione who beamed at him. He smiled back. And then she gripped his hand even tighter.

The applause died down after a while, Kingsley waiting patiently at the front.

"And now on to awarding the other much deserved medals to those sitting with us." Kingsley flashed a smile at Ron's table.

"We will begin with the Order of Merlin, Second Class awards, considering we have no Third Class medals to award this time. Second Class medals are given to people who demonstrate achievement or endeavour beyond the ordinary. Please come to the front to accept your medal once your name has been called."

There was silence as everyone waited in anticipation.

"Neville Longbottom, Order of Merlin, Second Class."

Neville jumped to his feet, looking surprised to be the first one called. Hannah wished him luck and a polite applause erupted as he walked towards Kingsley, red faced, but smiling.

The medal was handed to him by Kingsley, a shining, gold thing attached to a white ribbon that sat elegantly in a glass case. Neville bowed to Kingsley, beaming, as lights flashed from multiple photographers around the room.

"Luna Lovegood, Order of Merlin, Second Class," Kingsley said, and once again, applause broke out.

Luna walked to the front a little more gracefully than Neville had, walking as if she'd always known she'd receive one. She accepted the medal with a bow and then waved to her father at the table. Xenophilius waved back proudly.

"Ginevra Potter, Order of Merlin, Second Class."

In Ron's opinion, Ginny accepted her award more gracefully than any of the others so far. Like Luna, she walked up like she deserved it. There was an applause as the medal was passed over.

Ron thought back over the past two weeks since they'd received their notification of the award and smiled at Ginny's acceptance of the letter. She'd not questioned it like Ron or Harry, but had declared that everyone who had received a letter, deserved it.

Oh, Ginny.

There was more applause as the three recipients of the Second Class awards returned to their seats (after more flashes from cameras) and Kingsley waited for everyone's attention again.

"Congratulations to the three recipients. It's an incredible honour, of course."

Ron shot Ginny a wide grin, to which she returned. She seemed so proud of herself, so honoured.

Hermione's hand tightened around his even more and for the first time Ron wondered if she was nervous about the next few minutes. Hermione Granger, the woman who'd successfully written and passed laws for magical creatures, given them rights, strongly influenced the way the Ministry and wizarding world functioned, was Head of an important and newly created office, and had addressed the media on more than one occasion, was nervous about receiving an award she had more than earned.

He turned to her. "You're not scared, are you?"

"No," she said, a little too quickly.

Ron smiled. "You deserve this," he said. "More than anyone."

He saw her visibly swallow, but her eyes turned back to the front.

"And now," Kingsley was saying, "we move on to the next lot of awards that I'm sure you are all eagerly waiting for."

There was complete silence. Ron felt many eyes burning into the back of his head, but he was determined to not look. If he caught his parents' eyes, he'd probably lose his own resolve.

"The First Class is the highest honour of award one can receive in the wizarding world. Now, I'm sure no one here will argue with me when I say that the three people selected to receive this award this decade are more deserving than any other we've ever seen.

"Not only did these three people give a lot to the wizarding world six years ago as children, they have continued to do so into their adult lives, contributing ideas and changes that our world has never seen before. This award is given to people who demonstrate acts of outstanding bravery in magic, and it is my greatest honour as Minister for Magic to award it to these three very deserving people."

Ron still found it difficult to agree with him deserving such an award, but he waited, still, for the next part.

"Hermione Granger," Kingsley said. "Order of Merlin, First Class."

Hermione let go of Ron's hand, albeit a little reluctantly, and made her way to the front like the others had before her. She was extremely nervous, but in Ron's opinion at least, elegant and beautiful as she approached Kingsley.

He didn't take his eyes off her as she was handed a medal almost identical to the others', but hers was attached to a green ribbon. As she was given the medal in its case, all tension seemed to leave her. Kingsley whispered something that Ron couldn't hear from where he sat, and she relaxed, smiling up at the Minister as she shook his hand.

The cameras were going off, everyone desperate to get a shot of her from every angle.

Kingsley brought his wand back to his throat, his smile so wide now. "Ronald Weasley," he said. "Order of Merlin, First Class."

Ron stood up slowly, his palms covered in sweat that had nothing to do with the fact that Hermione had been holding it for the last twenty minutes. He followed Hermione's path to the front, where Kingsley waited with the medal.

He couldn't help but feel like a small child standing up there — like he'd made some effort in a subject at Hogwarts and he was being forced to stand up in the Great Hall so everyone could acknowledge him. He felt so small, when really, he should have been bursting with pride.

"Well done, Ron," Kingsley said, offering a hand for Ron to shake.

Ron did. "Thanks."

Kingsley passed him the glass case with the medal, identical to the one Hermione had just been given, aside from his name engraved on a tiny plaque underneath.

Ronald Bilius Weasley.

It was his. Forever. No one could take it from him now.

There were cameras going off for him now, as he made his way to Hermione.

"Well done," she said when he reached her. "You deserve it."

"And so do you," Ron told her, smiling. "I've never been prouder of you. You're amazing."

"As are you," Hermione said in a tone that told him not to ever forget that.

Kingsley's voice was echoing around the room once more.

"Harry Potter. Order of Merlin, First Class."

The mention of Harry set the photographers into a frenzy, some even leaving their spot against the walls to get closer to the Boy Who Lived. A loud, deep sob sounded from the back and Ron spotted Hagrid with his ginormous handkerchief dabbing at his eyes.

Harry had learnt to ignore it over the years and walked silently to accept his medal. There might have been a time a few years back where Harry despised the attention, but these days, on top of being himself, he was married to a famous Quidditch player in a successful team, and he'd accepted that there was no avoiding fame. He'd just learnt to ignore it.

When Harry joined Ron and Hermione, there was a loud applause from everyone else, Hagrid the loudest of them all. They made their way back to their seats and Kingsley concluded the ceremony quickly.

Ron placed the medal in front of him, staring at it for a good, long while, barely comprehending that he now owned an Order of Merlin, First Class award. That would be going on a cabinet in their house for everyone to see.

Now that the official ceremony was over, they were treated to a delicious three course meal at the expense of the Ministry. The food appeared before them fifteen minutes later and casual chatter erupted amongst everyone.

"Have I told you tonight that you look beautiful?" Ron said to Hermione.

"Yes, many times," Hermione replied, though she smiled like it was the first time she'd heard it.

"Well, I can't help it," Ron replied. "You're really incredible, you know? I meant it before — I'm really proud of you. You've achieved so much."

"And so have you," Hermione said. "You, an amazing Auror. I hear the talk at the Ministry. You're considered one of the best there is."

Ron shrugged. "Yeah, well…" He didn't know what else to say.

Their conversation died for a bit after that as they finished their first course. Once their plates were cleared, returning a moment later with sparkling new ones, Hermione glanced around the table. Everyone else was in conversation with their respective partners.

"I didn't mention it today," she said, keeping her voice low, "because there were other things we needed to do, but today is day one of our cycle. I've been tracking it, making sure. It's definitely today."

"Right," Ron said, surprisingly not feeling all that excited about starting another month that he was now convinced would lead to disappointment. It meant another four or five days of trying to have a baby and then waiting another ten to fourteen days to be told their efforts had been for nothing.

Effort.

Ron hated that word when it came to Hermione, but that was what this part of their relationship had turned into. It sucked.

"We can start tomorrow," Hermione said, seeming to sense his lack of enthusiasm. "If you want."

"I guess it won't make much difference, will it?" Ron said.

"Don't say that," she said, her voice filled with sympathy. "We've just got to keep trying. It'll happen. And maybe today will be the day."

Ron looked at her, seeing the hopeful glint in her eye, but also the understanding of how it was affecting him. She'd always been understanding of that, always being the one trying to stay positive when she sensed Ron losing hope.

He desperately wanted to know how all this was affecting her. He'd always thought her enthusiasm and positivity had been for his benefit, but as he looked into her eyes, he saw that it couldn't possibly be just for him. This was something she'd thought long and hard about, something she'd probably gone over in her head many times, before she'd made sure it was the right time for them.

She'd bared his constant disappointment, and in that time he'd thought about how it might be impacting her, but never really stopped to ask if she truly was okay. He always took her words at face value.

But she was okay. He didn't know how he knew that, but there was something about the way she'd brought it up here, when they probably shouldn't have even been talking about it, that told him she was concerned about what would happen if they left it too late.

His chest filled with love for her in that moment. This was what he was supposed to be feeling — how he had started off feeling.

"Today will be the day," he said after a moment longer of staring at her. He reached for her hand which rested on her lap. "Today's a great day, isn't it?" He indicated the room.

She returned his smile and nodded. Ron noticed sadness in her eyes for the first time and kicked himself for not noticing it before.

Now it was his turn to be the voice of reason.

"When we get home," he promised. "It'll happen. It'll be this month, I know it will."

For the first time in months, Ron felt excited, enthused, by the possibility. His own words had convinced him. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"It will," Hermione said softly. "I know it will, too."

The description of the medals were taken directly from the HP wiki.

I hope you all enjoyed!