Chapter twelve

Trisha kept gazing around at the room, the ceiling and the people in the great hall of Hogwarts. Apart from the way some are dressed she realised that witches and wizards were just people like so many she had met or seen before, whether they were magical or non-magical. One thing she did notice was the people that kept looking at Harry, so even as they ate people kept gazing at him and some of the kids seemed to be staring at him with awed looks on their faces.

She had gasped when all the dishes and cutlery on the tables had vanished in one go. Then she noticed a stage at the end of the hall. She watched as the minister and the headmistress step up on the stage and the hall fell silent.

'One year ago our war ended, a war that started many years before, a war that saw most of us lose people we care about,' Kingsley flicked his wand and the wall behind him light up with pictures, 'Each person you see behind me is now gone. They were mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, even grandparents.'

Kingsley flicked his wand again to stop the pictures moving, 'When Lily and James Potter died it ended up a turning point in our world. We all know the story, we all know how Voldemort turned up at Godric's Hollow so he could kill a small baby boy. He took care of the boy's parents with ease as he took care of all his enemies. Then a miracle happened, when Voldemort tried to kill Harry Potter his body was destroyed as he vanished. The-boy-who-lived,' Kingsley looked down at Harry who was lit up for all the see, 'became our hero, became a symbol of hope. If a fifteen month old baby can survive when many powerful witches and wizards died, that meant there was hope for all of us. Harry, would you join me on stage please?'

Harry turned to his fiancée, kissed her then headed up on stage, 'Minister,' he bowed.

'Harry Potter was only a baby, his scar that all of us know and have seen many times told us what took place that night, that he was touched by evil yet survived. Not only did Harry Potter survive but he survived with love in his heart and a pure soul. But what else happened that night, yes, Harry had a miracle that saved his life which makes us all believe in miracles. What else happened, well this young man beside me lost his parents, became an orphan.'

Kingsley flicked his wand again, 'James and lily fought Voldemort in the hope they would survive, but they mainly fought to protect their son, their baby boy,' another picture of James and Lily appeared but one where they were holding baby Harry in their arms and all three were waving at the camera, 'That night might have stopped our war, but it also said goodbye to a wonderful family,' Kingsley gestured for Harry to speak.

'Miracles can happen, I am living proof of that, but sometimes our miracles come with a price. I am one of many who lost someone due to Voldemort. Some like me who lost his whole family, some might have lost one person, but that one person was one too many. I would say everyone or almost everyone here was touched by the war in one way or another.

'Over the years all I could think about was the evil that took my family, that tore apart many families, some I know, others I have only heard about. Some families suffered for many years because of Voldemort, some are still suffering. He may be gone and our world is at peace once again but to those who lost someone will always remember. We live our lives, we go about our business every day, but there is always a moment during the day where those we lost are in our thoughts.

'I was a baby, very small, young, and as sad as it is, I do not remember my parents, but that doesn't mean I do not miss them or think of them any less than others. One thing I learned by going through a war and surviving, people die, it does not matter how hard we fight, how much we love, people die. That just makes us appreciate life more and fight harder to have a life. We will never forget those we lost for they do live in our hearts and if you concentrate on them you will feel them because they are part of you. So even though I do not remember my parents, I know they are with me and will always be with me and it was thanks to the love they gave me which lead to the end of our war.

'Lily and James Potter are two names that are well known in our world,' Harry glanced behind him as Kingsley flicked his wand, 'But every one of these people meant something to someone, they deserve to be remembered and recognised for their sacrifice. I urge everyone to take the time to find out who these people are, who they left behind and remember them,' Harry stepped back beside Kingsley.

'Tonight we honour those we lost, so I'll start with the two people that gave us our saviour. The recipients of the Harry Potter bravery award will be presented to a family member, so let's start by giving Harry Potter the Harry Potter bravery award for his parents, Lily Potter and James Potter.'

Kingsley took two pins, they were a stag and a doe joined, he pinned them to Harry's chest, then shook his hand.

'Since Harry is on stage,' Kingsley flicked his wand so the laughing face of Sirius Black stopped, 'I will present him the award for Sirius Black, godfather to Harry, member of the Order of the Phoenix and to all that knew him, a prankster and a bit of a trouble maker but a wonderful human being,' Kingsley went to pin the award on Harry who was still staring up at the picture of Sirius, 'Harry.'

'Yeah, sorry Minister,' Harry turned back to allow the minister to pin the award to his robes. He shook Kingsley's hand then made his way through the tables to sit beside his fiancée.

'Are you okay love?'

'I'm fine, Sirius,' Harry took a couple of deep breaths, 'I just miss him.'

'Of course you do, you always will,' Trisha lifted Harry's hand and kissed it, 'Like you said, they are in your heart, they never leave you, not really.'

'No, they don't,' Harry kissed Trisha again then turned to watch all the family's that lost someone receive their award, 'That's Teddy, my godson.'

'He has purple hair.'

'His a metamorphmagus, he can change his appearance at will. His mother loved to have either bright pink or purple hair. When I visit Teddy he usually ends up with black messy hair, sometimes he even gives himself a small scar. If you saw him do that you would swear he was mine. You can meet him later.'

'I'd like that.'

After the Harry Potter bravery awards were handed out Minerva McGonagall called out the names of everyone that stayed to fight in the battle of Hogwarts. This time it was a pin shaped like a phoenix, a tribute to Albus Dumbledore. After that was the Order of Merlin: second class, which was awarded to the Order of the Phoenix and the DA, the ones that stayed to fight.

Finally it was the Order of Merlin: first class. First came as a surprise, not only to him but to everyone, Severus Snape could not stop showing how surprise he was as he stepped up on stage. He was asked to stay as Harry Potter was again called, so he too received another award, the highest away the magical world offered.

Harry and Severus stood side by side, but a picture flashed behind them, a picture of a young Lily Evans and a young Severus Snape. The two men shook hands before both returning to their tables. Like with others that go through a war, Harry and Severus realised it's not worth holding grudges. So the two men who were brought together by a young red headed girl were now joined in ways that no one or anything can separate.

'One year ago Harry Potter killed Voldemort,' Kingsley pointed, 'Right there is where he fell which signalled the end of our war. One year ago all of us could breathe, we could finally step out of the darkness we had lived in for so long and step into the light. We will always remember those we lost and as Harry said, they will always remain with us. A memorial wall with the pictures of those we lost will be on the gates outside Hogwarts. Even if you have just a minute, take that minute to visit the memorial and say thank you to those we lost,' Kingsley flicked his wand making the large curtains behind him drop, 'Now it's time to celebrate that we live in a free and safe world, enjoy.'

'Care to dance my love?'

'I would love to Harry.'

Harry led his fiancée out onto the dance floor, their arms went around each other, and their eyes remained on the other. Before they were lost from sight by many other partners everyone could see that Harry Potter had found happiness, had finally got a new family, one very different from what everyone in the magical world would believe. So even though everyone could see how happy their saviour was, some were not happy that Harry Potter was about to marry a muggle.

Harry didn't care what anyone thought or said. He loved Patricia and he was going to have a wonderful life with her. Then in a few years they would have kids and the Potter family will emerge once again.

The end:

I wish to thank everyone for reading, and hope I can continue to bring interesting stories for the fans of fanfiction.