Soul Mate - Chapter 15:
By the time the four enchanted carriages landed at the site of the awards ceremony,
a swarm of reporters was already waiting. Fortunately,
the Ministry had anticipated the chaos and deployed a full squad of Aurors to keep order.
Without them, the so-called young war heroes would never have made it through the crowd.
Harry took a deep breath. It had been months since he’d last seen such a frenzy of flashing cameras
and shouting voices, but the memory of those exhausting days was still vivid.
He couldn’t help glancing enviously at Draco Malfoy, who looked perfectly composed as always.
Malfoy had hidden away in his family manor the moment the
war ended untouchable behind those wards. Meanwhile,
the rest of them had been hunted by reporters day and night.
Keep calm, Potter. Draco tucked his stack of papers into his robe pocket
with a quick Shrinking Charm. You’re the star of the day, after all.
I’m not even that nervous, Harry muttered under his breath,
straightening his robes before stepping out of the carriage.
The moment he opened the door, blinding white flashes exploded in his face.
If not for the Aurors’ barrier spells, the crowd of journalists would have swallowed them whole.
Even so, microphones and quills jutted dangerously close to his nose.
The frenzy doubled as Draco exited his own carriage.
After all, this was the first public appearance of the new Lord Malfoy since the end of the war.
The reporters who had been denied entry to Malfoy Manor for months
now lunged at the chance to get a word, a photo, anything.
The scene descended into near-madness.
Mr. Potter, is it true you’ll be joining the Auror Department after graduation?
Mr. Malfoy, does your stance during the war mean the
Malfoy family no longer supports pure-bl00d ideology?
Miss Granger, we’ve heard the Ministry has accepted your application for employment
which department will you be joining?
Mr. Weasley, you once mentioned plans to run a joke shop with your brother after graduation.
Is that still true?
On and on it went, until the group of seven heroes finally fought their way inside,
moving at a snail’s pace under a barrage of flashing lights and shouted questions.
Hermione exhaled sharply as she tried to smooth her wrinkled dress.
Honestly, when will their enthusiasm die down? I’ve had enough of it.
Face it, Hermione, Harry said, we’re going to be living like this for at least another year or two.
He was wrestling with his robe, which had been twisted out of shape, to little success.
A bunch of ill-mannered idiots, Draco muttered, running a hand through his hair.
You’ve all done well, said Kingsley Shacklebolt, the newly appointed Minister for Magic,
striding toward them. He looked as rumpled as they did clearly,
he’d survived his own share of reporters. Come with me. We’re short on time.
Sorry we’re late, Kingsley, Harry said.
No harm done, Kingsley replied with a reassuring nod.
Honestly, he was just grateful they’d made it safely.
Take a seat here. The Order of Merlin representatives are already present.
Hermione’s eyes lit up. I’ve always been fascinated by the Order of Merlin, she said,
almost bouncing with excitement. They’re some of the greatest witches and wizards in the world.
Imagine learning under one of them their mentorship would be invaluable.
Harry didn’t know much about the Order. He looked up at the raised platform
where five elderly witches and wizards sat. He didn’t recognize any of them,
but there was a sense of calm wisdom about them,
something that reminded him faintly of Dumbledore.
The ceremony began. Naturally, the first name called was
Harry Potter the hero of the war.
For his extraordinary service and sacrifice, the Order of Merlin is proud to award
Mr. Harry Potter the First Class Order of Merlin.
As applause thundered through the hall, Harry walked up to the stage.
The elder wizard presenting his medal smiled warmly at him,
and for a brief moment, Harry could almost imagine Dumbledore standing there.
And now, to honor the immense contributions of the late Professor Severus Snape,
the Order of Merlin awards him the First Class Order posthumously.
Accepting on his behalf his godson, Mr. Draco Malfoy.
As Draco ascended the stage, Ron’s jaw dropped. His godson?
That ferret was Snape’s godson all along?
No wonder the professor always favored him.
Draco returned to his seat and, catching Ron’s muttered disbelief, gave him a sharp,
smug smile the kind only a Malfoy could manage.
Ron rolled his eyes skyward.
The ceremony continued smoothly. Draco, Hermione, Ron, and Neville
each received Second Class Orders, while the rest of their classmates were awarded Third Class.
For students who had only just graduated or hadn’t yet
these honors were more than anyone could have imagined.
When the medals had all been presented, the crowd shifted
toward the adjoining hall for the celebratory luncheon.
Draco, uninterested in food or festivities, began looking for Kingsley to
offer his thanks before heading home. But before he could reach him,
a loud, magically amplified cough echoed through the hall. Every head turned.
It was the same elderly wizard who had presented the awards
except now, his expression was strange. The other four Order members exchanged confused
glances, clearly unaware of what he intended.
Smiling faintly, the man raised his wand to his throat and spoke.
Today, you gather here because you defeated the Dark Lord.
It fills me with great emotion and pride to see such courage…
What’s he rambling about? Ron muttered under his breath.
No idea, Harry murmured. Maybe something important?
The old man’s voice dropped lower. Yes… great emotion and pride…
but you must understand. Killing my master comes at a price.
The words had barely left his mouth when chaos erupted.
Harry! Malfoy!
In an instant, both of them vanished from sight.
Hermione was the first to piece it together. Portkeys! she shouted.
The medals they’ve been tampered with! Delayed Portkey activation!
Aurors stormed the stage. Catch him! Kingsley roared.
The impostor made no attempt to flee. They seized him easily
but he only laughed, wild and unhinged.
Where are Potter and Malfoy? Kingsley’s voice was like a thunderclap,
his fury barely contained. What should have been a triumphant ceremony had turned into disaster.
Two of the wizarding world’s most famous heroes gone,
snatched away under their very noses.
The captured Death Eater threw back his head and laughed.
You think I’ll tell you? They’re as good as dead! Even if you find them, it’ll be their corpses!
Hahahaha!
Take him away for interrogation, Kingsley ordered coldly.
The Aurors dragged the madman out, but the air in the hall remained heavy and silent.
Somewhere far from the noise of applause and speeches,
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were falling through darkness.