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Chapter 17- The Summer Term

First Letter

Dear Harry,

WELL DONE! I just got an owl from Dumbledore! It's wonderful! You've beaten You-Know-Who again! I always thought you'd do it! An' the Unbreakable Link an' all! Olympe and I will be returning this summer- we're getting married you know. She's going to come to Hogwarts an' teach. Well done with your exams and best wishes to Ron and Hermione.

Hagrid.

Second Letter

Dear Harry Potter,

Will you marry me?

Yours hopefully with much Love,

Egredia St. George xxx

Third Letter

Dear Harry,

I'm sorry I have not been replying to your letters recently. My new job has kept me very busy. I've dropped out of my Auror course and I'm working in 'The Leaky Cauldron' instead. It's very interesting- especially when we get customers like hags coming in! I've read the article in the Daily Prophet about your defeat of the Dark Lord. However, it seems very patchy and has great gollups missed out! I'm sure you'll tell me the true story, however. My congratulations both you and Hermione.

Imagine your mother being alive! This is very unexpected but I'm sure you're pleased. The reason given by the newspapers for this doesn't seem to hold water but I'm sure that isn't the real reason! Have Hermione and Ron stopped fighting? You will have the Laurels' Ball in the next few months and the ceremony is on Friday, am I right? I hope to attend the ceremony, so I'll see you then.

I don't know what you and Ron are thinking of doing when you leave Hogwarts, but I have just started renting a lovely, two bedroomed flat in Diagon Alley and I wondered if Hermione would be interested in sharing it. The rent is very reasonable- 450 Galleons a month and I would be delighted to have her. Please mention it to her, however I'll be seeing you soon so it's not of vital importance.

Love Cho

Fourth Letter

Dear Mr. Potter,

We at 'The Most Charming Smile Awards' are pleased to announce that you have won first prize in this year's competition. Well done!

Yours sincerely,

Anne Bobbins (Head Secretary at 'The Most Charming Smile Awards' offices)

These were just a few of the mountains of letters that Harry received in the days following his return to Hogwarts. And he wasn't the only one. Hermione had her share of post, though hers consisted mostly of job offers to join certain agencies dealing with making new spells rather than proposals of marriage. Ron counted the number of these that Harry received, and at Thursday supper announced to the school that, "Harry Potter had received 547 offers of marriage in four days including 129 from Hogwarts and 23 from witches he (Ron) knew to be already married."

The main event of Tuesday was the arrival of Marisa Goldfinger. For most people this was the first time that they had seen their new Minister. She was quite tall, had fluffy golden brown hair and dark brown eyes. She looked sympathetic even though she had her aunt's glare. This was the only resemblance that she bore to Professor McGonagall. She seemed very friendly with Percy, and Harry was reminded of what Ron had said when they had been in Yorkshire- that Percy was in love with her. When he put this suggestion to his friends, Hermione said in a peeved voice that of course he was! Wasn't it obvious? Harry couldn't see why she could be offended.

Hermione herself seemed to have a lot of dealings with the Minister and Professor Dumbledore. She didn't let on to them about what until Wednesday evening after she had sent another long missive to the Grangers. She had already sent one and had a reply. Favourable, if Harry could judge from her behaviour.

Professor Dumbledore, Marisa and Hermione had all realised that the muggle Marisa had met at King's Cross, Mia, was actually the real Hermione Granger. Estella must have swopped the two babies and left Mia in the same orphanage that Tom Riddle had been brought up in with a name as like 'Hermione Granger' as she could dare. Hermione had written to her parents explaining this. She hoped they would except Mia. "I shall always think of her as my sister," she said.

Her parents replied soon. They would never abandon Hermione, she was as much their daughter as Mia could be. They were however going to see Mia who was staying at The Leaky Cauldron.

Harry and Ron were both amazed to hear of this odd twist, even though Ron's first query about Mia was 'if she was pretty'. Hermione admitted that she had considered the possibly that there might be a real Hermione Granger somewhere, but that she had never thought seriously about it.

The week before the Laurels's Ceremony was very frantic. Somehow Harry managed to have his first apparition lesson (all paperwork and pretty boring), his first dancing lesson (boring without the paperwork) a careers talk (too much paperwork and very boring), a quidditch practice ("We'll flatten those Ravenclaws in the finals!") and a practice ceremony.

Soon the big day came. At lunch time the guests started to arrive. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George and Katie Bell came bringing the exciting news that 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' had finally got off the ground, and that George and Katie were getting married in the autumn!

Cho came, looking splendid in dark red. Her comments about working in the pub being harder than her auror course puzzled Harry, but she gave no explanation. He had mentioned her offer of accommodation to Hermione and after some thought, she decided to except it. Remus Lupin turned up unexpectedly, alarming most of the pupils and delighting Sirius, Arabella and Lily with whom he went off into a corner for most of the lunch hour.

Neville's grandmother arrived, looking just as the Snape/Boggart image had done in their third year. Snape looked livid about this, and wouldn't speak to her. At two twenty Harry donned his pointed hat and made his way to the quidditch pitch. The stands had been lowered to ground level and at one end there was a large table with chairs behind it. The centre chair was for Marisa and in front of it was a row of certificates and silver Laurel wreaths. On her left sat Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and six of the school governors. On her right was Percy and the other six governors. To the right was a block, marked 'STUDENTS' where Harry sat. Each place had a name marked- you had to sit in registar order.

At exactly two thirty the ceremony started. Marisa Goldfinger opened it. "I am very pleased to be here with you for the first time since I left Hogwarts myself!" she said. "And I would just like to say a few words about last year." She paused before continuing, "Last year has been an outstanding year for academic achievments, as I am sure Professor Dumbledore would agree, and we have a new record for NEWTs results. Every single pupil has passed with very high marks and I am certain they will all go on to have very deserving careers. I will now give out the certificates."

As if on cue, the pupils removed their pointed hats. Marisa picked up a roll of parchment and called the first name, "Abbott, Hannah!"

Hannah Abbott, now a pretty, fair haired young woman, left the stands and made her way to the table, collected her certificate from Marisa, shook her hand, received her Laurel wreath and returned, blushing furiously, to the stands to a burst of heavy applause.

They crept down the registar, past Lavender Brown, Vincent Crabbe and eventually Gregory Goyle. Then they came to Hermione, who was looking noticibly more confident than anyone else. A whisper spread through the crowd when she received a gold Laurel wreath.

Harry was too nervous, when it came to him, to notice that the clapping had increased about ten fold in volume. He did notice though, that the wreaths were heavier than they looked. Hermione said afterwards that they were made of real silver, or in her case, gold.

After the certificates, Marisa answered everybody's unspoken question. "I am sure you have all noticed the difference in colour between the wreaths of the majority of you and that of Miss Hermione Granger. Yes, we do have a new record." Here she smiled warmly at Hermione, who's face somewhat resembled a beetroot. "Previously the highest mark for NEWTs was held by the late Tom Riddle with 119%. Miss Granger beat this mark by 2% bringing the record up to 121%! I think she deserves a round of applause for this. Very well done, Hermione."

The quidditch stadium gave Hermione a very suitable tribute, though perhaps not as loud as if they hadn't been told to.

There was a pause after that and everyone wondered what was going to happen next. Marisa looked round the pitch and then said, "The events of last week cannot be ignored. However I will not embarrass those concerned by making a fuss over their courage. They will probably like to know all the same that most of the Death Eaters of old are now in Azkaban. Only a few have escaped detection." Harry wondered who the few were. Marisa was speaking again, "I know you all know what Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley achieved last week, and it seems fitting to acknowledge it here. On behalf of all the magical community I bestow on these three students the highest possible mark of distinction in the wizarding world- The Order of Merlin." Harry felt himself go numb- the Order of Merlin!

"Firstly, to Mr. Ron Weasley I award the Order of Merlin Second Class for the use of cool logic in the face of the Imperius Charm and good sense in front of danger contributing to defeat of the Dark Lord." Harry picked out Mrs. Weasley's face in the crowd, stunned and proud.

"Mr. Weasley, please collect your medal." Ron walked to the front again and picked up a large mounted certificate and had a badge pinned on his robes. Harry couldn't see the details from that distance. When he returned to his seat Marisa continued, "To Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Harry Potter I award the highest medal of all- The Order of Merlin First Class. Both these students are the youngest in magical history to receive this medal-" Harry caught sight of Hermione, who had nodded her head at this point. Sometime Harry also must have learnt this fact in History of Magic. "The courage and perseverance of these two young persons is of the highest calibre and we have honoured them accordingly. Will Mr. Potter and Miss Granger please receive their medals?"

Slowly Harry stood up and Hermione did the same. They went back to the desk where Marisa picked up a velvet box, opened it and took a small round badge. It had a twisted pattern in silver metal round the edge which glimmered with some magical charm. Inside was royal blue velvet padding and written in gold on it was

ORDER OF MERLIN 1st CLASS

25/04/2003

Marisa pinned the badge on Harry's chest and then did the same to Hermione. She handed them their certificates to great applause and they sat down again.

The formal ceremony was over. Dumbledore then took the chair and announced that they would sing the school song to tunes of their own choice of course. Because Harry had sung it at the beginning of every school year he now knew the words off by heart, however they appeared in front of the school in silver letters at a flick of Dumbledore's wand.

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

They started singing. Harry, who knew nearly no music, sang it to the tune of Three Blind Mice. Sally-Anne Perks, the Ravenclaw astronomist next to him sang it to Jupiter. He knew that Hermione would sing hers to the tune of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus as she always did. Ron, who wasn't musical either, just sang whatever the person next to him sang. At the end only Fred and George were singing (as usual), this time to Barber's Adagio for strings.

When the twins had finished they sang God Save the Gracious Queen fortunately to only one tune and the ceremony was over.

Harry met Ron and Hermione on the Quidditch pitch. Hermione immediately opened the conversation thus, "What did you get for your NEWTs? Everyone knows I got 121%, but what did you get? I was quite pleased with my mark, but I am disappointed that I didn't get extra credit in that Arithmancy problem. I explained it so nicely too!"

Harry had completely forgotten to look at his certificate. Trembling, he undid the red bow and unrolled it. He had got 95% over all, an excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts mark making up for a not very good Potions one. Hermione nodded and said, "Hmm, not bad, I suppose."

Ron didn't volunteer a mark, but Harry thought he was pleased. They walked in silence out of the pitch. Then Ron said quietly, "Did you expect to receive that Order of Merlin thing?"

"No, not at all!" replied Harry, "it was a complete surprise. Did you?"

"Of course not!" They walked a little further, then Ron stopped again and said, "I know you both have 1st class awards, but... do you think 2cd class is good?"

"Good?" Hermione almost screamed. "According to a book I read, only 5% of wizards receive Orders of Merlin, and only 1.5% of those are gold. It's brilliant, Ron! Absolutely fabulous!"

"It's just..." he hesitated, "none of my brothers have Orders of Merlin!"

The weeks following the ceremony were spent doing practically nothing. Only in Potions and Transfiguration were they kept working. Marisa Goldfinger's engagement was announced at breakfast the day she was due to leave Hogwarts. Ron was over the moon. "Just imagine- first I get an Order of Merlin, then one of my brothers announces that he's going to marry the Minister of Magic! Harry, can't you marry Ginny or something to raise our name even more?"

"They're not married yet," Hermione reminded Ron ominously as Harry said he preferred to do the 'something' to marrying Ginny.

Every week they would trudge down to Hogsmeade to learn Apparition and they took their exam at the of May. All the seventh years took the course apart from Neville whose Grandmother wouldn't let him.

Harry dropped out of the Careers course soon after it had begun- he knew he wanted to be an Auror and didn't see the point in listening to the qualifications you needed to run a Hippogriff breeding centre. Ron joined him but Hermione stayed for the whole course, saying that it was 'very interesting'.

One class Harry surprisingly did enjoy attending was the dancing class. After the first theoretical lesson it got much better. They were all paired off and Harry found himself with Mandy Brocklehurst, the Ravenclaw quidditch captain, a tall, sensible, brown haired girl with glasses. She was also a good dancer. Hermione was with Ernie MacMillan and Ron with Eloise Midgen whose acne had cleared up amazingly in the last few years.

In the first two weeks they learnt the tango, then they progressed to the foxtrot, the polka and the gavotte. They learnt the quadrille and the march and eventually they came to the waltz. As they practised, Harry looked around the Great Hall, where the lesson was held. Only a few couples looked happy. Hermione looked bored and was holding Ernie, who didn't seem to know what he was doing, at arm's length. Ron and Eloise were having problems as well as neither of them knew what they were doing. Hermione was definitely one of the best dancers there but Mandy was a good partner as well.

"You need to stop tensing up and looking so worried," she said. "No partner is going to kill you!"

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," replied Harry loosing his footing as he glanced over at Millicent Bulstrode.

"One, two, three. One, two, three. Well don't dance with her then. Twirl me!"

"One, two, three," echoed Harry, "can I dance with you then at the ball?"

"I've already got a boyfriend- other way, Harry! but yes, you can have a couple of waltzes. One, two, three! Only dance waltzes with people you really like. Watch out- you're going to bump into Hermione! Oh well done, you're improving, you know... ow, my toe! One, two, three..." The only other time Harry saw Mandy was in the Quidditch final against Ravenclaw, which Gryffindor won. Harry decided that next year's Quidditch captain should be Pippa Spinnet, in which decision he was backed by Ron and Hermione. She was clearly the best player on the team.

The only other noticeable event of the term took place one breakfast in June. One morning more owls than ever flew into the Great Hall. They dropped identical letters in front of most of the pupils in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and some of the pupils in Slytherin. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Pippa, Irene and the rest of the seventh years had letters.

The envelopes were white marble coloured with crinkled edges and had your name and address written on them in curly gold letters. When Harry opened it a single piece of paper fell out decorated in the same way. As Harry read it he smiled. The letter ran as follows.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of

Mr. Sirius Black and Miss Arabella Figg

on Saturday the twelfth of July 2003

at 2.00 p.m.

in Hogsmeade chapel.

The reception shall take place at the Three Broomsticks after the ceremony.

If it hadn't been for the fact that he was spending his last days at Hogwarts, Harry would have been very happy.

As it was, the term slipped by. The last Hogsmeade trip took place, the last detention was given, Snape yelled at them for the last time, the owl post arrived for the last time, Harry played quidditch with Gryffindor for the last time, the Fat Lady changed the password without telling anyone for the last time...

And then it was the last day, and the last morning, the last lunch and the last ball in the evening...