Chapter 1 - Awards & Accolades

Close to 200 witches and wizards gathered in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic on the evening of Sunday, May 2, 1999. The date marked the one year anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, and the end of the reign of Tom Riddle.

The atrium had always served as a visual representation of the Ministry’s mission and purpose. Gone was the Dark Lord’s imposing statue of wizards trampling the backs of Muggles. In its place was a large fountain, a phoenix in its center, emerging from the ashes, its head facing skyward, and water shooting from its mouth in graceful arches. Where once three-floor high banners had hung over the walls displaying the likenesses of Cornelius Fudge, Rufus Scrimgeour and Pius Thickness there now hung the likenesses of Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and Severus Snape. A large stage was set up with a podium. Tables on either side allowed seating for a few Ministry officials, several ambassadors from other wizarding nations, and three of the evening’s honorees – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.

A magical back drape hid the Floo System to the rear from view. Displayed upon it were alternating images from the final months of the war between the Light and the Dark. A recreation of Harry and Ron retrieving the Sword of Gryffindor was replaced by a moving visual of Neville Longbottom using the Sword to decapitate Nagini. The next images showed Dumbledore and Snape in conference in the Headmaster’s Office, melding into an image of Snape as Headmaster conferring with Dumbledore’s portrait in the office. Finally, a panorama of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under siege melded into a newly rebuilt Hogwarts set against a red autumn sky.

Around the tables, family and friends of the evening’s honorees dined and mingled with dignitaries and members of the wizarding press from around the world. The jazz group The Warlock’s Wand set a pleasant mood as everyone dined and chatted. After everyone finished eating, but before the time started to drag, Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt found his way to the podium.

The Minister addressed the crowd via Sonorus, ‘Ladies and gentlemen and esteemed guests, on behalf of a thankful Ministry and grateful populace, it is my extreme privilege to welcome you to this venerable event, a celebration of the anniversary of the end of the Second Wizarding War and the bestowment of the Order of Merlin to a number of most worthy recipients.’ Many calls of “Hear, hear!” sounded through applause and cheers. As the audience quieted, the Order of Merlin Ceremony began.

The Order of Merlin, Third Class, had the largest number of recipients. Many were members of Dumbledore’s Army, but also included was Argus Filch, and memorial awards were bestowed to Colin Creevey and Lavender Brown. The Order of Merlin, Second Class, was awarded to every member of the Order of the Phoenix, including in memoriam Remus and Nymphadora Lupin along with Fred Weasley. When the final two recipients were called to the podium, both Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger received standing ovations.

The evening’s culmination finally arrived with the bestowment of the Order of Merlin, First Class. Minerva McGonagall accepted on behalf of Albus Dumbledore, and her teary-eyed acceptance speech outlined the years Dumbledore spent forced to develop a strategy so interwoven and genial in its concept to ensure the victory of the Light. Finishing, Minerva requested, ‘Let us honor not only Albus Dumbledore, but all who lost their lives to the evil of the Dark by witnessing one minute of silent reflection upon their sacrifices which ensured our freedom.’

As the solemn crowd reflected, Shacklebolt retook the podium. Claiming the crowd’s attention, he began the next introduction. ‘We have known our next recipient since infancy, and he unknowingly was fated to be the ultimate catalyst to end this war. His wand was true and his sacrifices great. It is my joyous task to award the Order of Merlin, First Class to a man I am pleased to call my friend, Harry Potter.’ The thunderous roar of approval combined with an applause so strong and sustained that after three minutes Kingsley had to call order once again using a Sonorus charm.

Harry turned to the crowd with his order in hand. Holding it high, he began his acceptance speech. ‘I’m very humbled to be given this award. Often I feel I don’t deserve any of this recognition. Our comrades who gave their life are the heroes tonight. I would have never been able to kill Lord Voldemort without their wands. I want to thank the Ministry and everyone here for attending tonight to celebrate our freedom.'

The audience went wild. Cheers and applause threatened to shatter the elf made wine goblets. Two long minutes into the cheering, Shacklebolt once again held his wand to his throat. 'PLEASE, QUIET, EVERYONE'.

He continued (grateful for the speech preparation provided by Hermione). ‘It is easy to honor the dead and the heroes – and they do deserve our gratitude. Now, I wish to address the true and ultimate champion of our cause. It isn’t easy to meet the enemy on the battle field, but it is easy to admire the white knight who charges onto that field. War often isn’t won on the battlefield, though. There are always “behind the scenes” machinations taking place. But planning and strategy only go so far. Nothing would be possible to build upon without intelligence: information regarding the enemy that only a spy could provide.

‘There is one recipient who should be here tonight and is missing. Consider that we would not be here if it were not for this person’s sacrifices to the cause of the Light during the war. Even though he was exonerated for the necessary actions he committed during the war to maintain his cover, this honoree is still vilified and ostracized by our society. Which one of us could have walked into the pit of vipers and stood their ground with Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters? Which one of us could have done things so repulsive in order to ingratiate themselves to curry favor with Tom Riddle? Certainly not me. Ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful for the Order awarded to me tonight. However, that gratitude is eclipsed by the privilege I have in accepting in absentia, on behalf of the bravest man I’ve ever known, this Order of Merlin, First Class, for Severus Snape.'

Pins dropped. The silence was tangible. No smiles broke upon faces. After fifteen seconds of the most uncomfortable silence she had ever experienced, Hermione Granger stood from her seat on the stage, looked at Harry, and began clapping in a strong clipped cadence. Ron, Kingsley, Minerva and the others at the head table glanced at each other before they decided to join Hermione in her applause. Even after a very long thirty seconds, less than one-third of the audience had risen to join the applause, and those who had were receiving glares from their table mates.

Hermione Granger was a woman who grew itchy without a purpose. The past year of peace had been somewhat tedious as she no longer had a cause to champion. Reflecting upon her past at this moment, Hermione realized that S.P.E.W., Buckbeak, and Dumbledore’s Army had only been practice. The public perception of Severus Snape was an injustice that made her prior commitments seem like child’s play. This was a man still vilified by the very country who should thanking him for their freedom. She had found her new cause.

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