The Ministry Ball
Saturday, 19 December 1998
“Harry James Potter!” Hermione yelled, barging into his living room.
“Hermione Jean Granger!” Harry yelled back from his bedroom, “what are we yelling about!”
“I need to know what you’re wearing.”
“Why?” Harry asked, stepping into the living room in only his pajama pants.
“Because the three of us are being honored and there’ll be pictures, and I think we should look cohesive.”
“It’s not just the three of us,” Harry said, really not wanting to get forced into his dress robes five full hours before they needed to leave, “Neville, Fred, and all the surviving Order members are being honored too.”
“We’re the sodding ‘Golden Trio’ so you know we’ll be separated out no matter what,” she argued.
“Fine, you win,” Harry said, throwing up his hands, “I know you’re not here to ask what I’m wearing, you’re here to tell me what I’m wearing, so let’s move this party to my wardrobe.”
Hermione smiled and patted Harry on the cheek as she walked past him into his room, “hello, Theodore.”
“Hermione,” Theo greeted, still half asleep, “why are you in my room?”
“I’m picking out your boyfriend’s clothes.”
“Oh, perfect, that saves me time.”
“I’m capable of dressing myself!” Harry argued.
“Sure, love,” Theo said, rolling over and falling back to sleep.
Harry huffed and turned back toward Hermione, “what am I wearing, Granger.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with the Slytherins,” she teased, “and I think we should all wear gold.”
“Isn’t that a touch on the nose?”
“Maybe,” she said with a shrug, “but it’s also one of the Yule colors, it’s a Gryffindor color, and the ribbons on our medals are green so if we wear green it’ll be too matchy and if we wear red it’ll clash.”
“Alright,” Harry sighed, “what’re you wearing?”
“I have a gold gown, Ron has black robes with a gold lining, and I think you should wear this,” Hermione said, pulling out Harry’s classic black trousers and white button down along with a beautiful, intricately woven dress robe in his favorite style; open, held together by a clasp, and only falling to mid-thigh rather than floor length.
Harry stared at the robe in silence and took a deep breath before nodding. It was one of Sirius’; the twin to Regulus’ robe he’d worn to the bank that summer. Black instead of green, but otherwise the same; deep black silk with the night sky woven in fine gold thread. The only other difference was the full moon woven over the left shoulder and the wolf paw Sirius had obviously embroidered himself on the inside of the fabric where it would rest right above his heart.
The clasp Hermione had grabbed wasn’t one of Sirius’, though. It was one Harry had found in James’ jewelry box in the Potter vault; a thin gold chain held on either side by a lily.
“Do we wear our medals or pin them somehow?” Harry asked, knowing Hermione would understand he appreciated her choice and all the emotions that went along with it without him actually having to say anything.
“Wear them, I think,” Hermione said, wrapping an arm around Harry’s waist and resting her head against his shoulder, “have I told you recently how proud you make me?”
“You have,” Harry said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, “have I told you recently how much I love you?”
“You have,” she said, wrapping her other arm around him and pulling him into a tight hug, “we won, Harry. It’s over and tonight is just more confirmation that we actually did it. The three of us made it through a war and we’ll make it through everything else and, better yet, it’s not just us anymore. We have people to lean on now. I’m proud of you, I’m proud of us, and I love you forever.”
“You know you’re the first person I can actually remember telling me they loved me?” Harry whispered against Hermione’s hair, “and the first person I can remember giving me a hug? You’re my person, Hermione Jean. Always.”
“And you’re mine, Harry James,” she whispered back against his chest, “always.”
“Thank you for picking out my clothes,” Harry said after a moment, clearing his throat, “you think I should wear any jewelry or anything beyond what I wear every day?”
Hermione took a step back and looked Harry over. The rings and single gold hoop were always visible, along with the golden bracelet that was actually the holster from Godric which peeked out below his right sleeve. Hermione tilted her head back and forth, thinking, before she tapped the ring that settled over Harry’s sternum and said, “if anything, leave this on the outside of your shirt instead of tucking it in.”
“Alright,” Harry said, laying his hand on top of Hermione’s for a moment.
“Have you ever thought of piercing both ears?” Hermione asked.
“You think I should?”
“I think it’d look nice if you wanted to,” she responded, shrugging one shoulder, “I’m not saying do it now.”
“You have more self-control than Theo over there,” Harry said, nodding his head toward his snoring boyfriend.
“I can’t believe you let him and Luna pierce your ear with no protest.”
“I really wasn’t given a chance to argue.”
“Makes sense,” she said with a laugh, “do you want to head over as a group?”
“Sure, meet in your common room at 5:30?”
“Alright,” Hermione said, pulling Harry into one last tight hug, “see you then.”
“See you later, ‘Mione.”
Harry watched her leave before going into Teddy’s nursery.
“Hi pup,” he greeted when he realized Teddy was awake and just happily babbling to himself, “what are you talking about?” he asked, running a hand through his currently bright blue curls. When he saw Harry, though, his hair flashed jet black and his eyes turned green. Harry laughed and turned his hair own hair and eyes to Teddy’s natural brown in response.
* * *
That was how Theo found them a half hour later, both giggling and turning their hair, eyes, and skin various colors.
“Wow, that’s certainly a look” Theo said, taking in Harry’s neon yellow eyes, orange hair, and green skin. “I honestly forgot you could do that.”
“I forget sometimes too,” Harry said with a laugh, “it’s not as second nature to me as it was to Tonks or is to Teddy because it was blocked for so much of my life, but I can do it when I focus. I’m guessing it’ll get easier with time. It’ll be great for the disguise and stealth component of Auror training.”
“That’s a good point,” Theo responded, walking over to press kisses to the tops of Harry and Teddy’s heads, “how are my boys?”
“We’re good,” Harry said, letting his eyes, hair, and skin fade back to colors actually found in nature, “did you see the robes Hermione laid out for me?”
“I did.”
“Do you like them?”
“I do,” Theo said, kissing Harry’s forehead and then the tip of his nose, “I think you’ll look great, do you two want to help me pick out my robes before we take the cub to Mary’s for the night?”
“Sure.”
By 4:45, Theo and Harry were both showered and ready and Teddy’s bag was packed to spend the night with Mary.
Theo had finally mastered taming Harry’s curls, which was slightly harder now that he’d cut his hair shorter again instead of letting it fall to the tops of his shoulders. Harry was in the outfit Hermione had picked out. His Order of Merlin, First Class hanging around his neck, the chain with Lily’s ring peeking out underneath.
Theo was in black trousers, a pale blue shirt, and a full black dress robe that had the Nott crest embroidered over the left breast in thread the same pale blue as his shirt.
They got Teddy to Mary and took a short cut back up to the 3rd floor where they found their entire class and the several 7th years who’d been invited waiting in the common room.
“Alright!” Harry called, clapping his hands, “party back here as soon as the adult shit is over! Move out!” he yelled over everyone’s cheers.
It was hardly controlled chaos getting everyone out of the tower and to the Ministry. Harry hung back until only it was only him, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Ginny. They’d sent Rolf, Hannah, Theo, and Blaise through and were all sort of just staring at each other until Hermione finally spoke, “I already told Harry this earlier. It’s over. We won. This is just another reminder we did it. Stick together, watch out for each other, and everything will be fine.”
Harry took a steadying breath and nodded.
Ginny reached out and intertwined her fingers with Harry’s, “she’s usually right. Might as well listen to her.”
“Right,” Harry said with a nod looking around the group as a crooked grin took over his face, “at least we’re not riding thestrals this time.”
Hermione shook her head and shoved Harry lightly as she stepped toward the fireplace, “let’s go.”
If getting everyone through the floo was chaos, arriving in the ministry was bedlam.
Ministry officials, guests, reporters, and photographers were swarming the lobby. The group of six wordlessly fell into rank with Harry at the head, Ron and Hermione flanking him, and Neville, Ginny, and Luna falling to the back.
“You’re joking,” Ginny muttered when they’d made it halfway through the crowd.
Harry looked up to see what she’d noticed and found Draco, Blaise, and Theo entirely cornered by Rita Skeeter.
“Oh, for fucks sake,” Harry muttered.
Ginny stepped forward to link her arm with Harry’s and looked up at him with fire in her eyes. Harry nodded and they took off. The crowd parted as they saw the pair coming; you didn’t have to know Harry Potter or Ginny Weasley to understand that the looks on their faces meant pain for anyone who got in their way.
“Hi Rita,” Ginny said in a sticky sweet voice.
“Bugging anyone?” Harry quipped, one eyebrow raised.
“Oh, hello,” Rita said, trying to sound casual but obviously thrown off by Harry and Ginny’s arrival, “we’re just chatting, do you know these three?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone is well aware I know these three,” Harry responded, “what business do you have with them, though?”
“Nothing,” Rita said quickly.
“So you won’t mind if I vanish that vile quill and whatever you’ve written with it?” Ginny said, still sounding disarmingly sweet.
“Oh, of course not,” Rita said before she fully realized Ginny had asked. Ginny’s wand was in her hand and the spell was off her tongue before Rita could fully react.
“Have a good night, Rita dear,” she said, slipping her wand back into the holster strapped to her thigh, “ta ta.”
Rita took one look at Harry, saw murder in his eyes, and let her self-preservation instincts take over, fleeing into the crowd.
“That was kind of hot,” Blaise said, checking Ginny out.
“Keep it in your pants, Zabini,” Harry said, rolling his eyes.
“As if you’ll make it to the end of the night without dragging Theo through the first unlocked door you find, Black.”
“Fair play.”
“Alright,” Draco cut in, “everyone’s fine, Rita’s gone, and no one is going to take off any clothing while we’re in public. Good? Good.”
“Great,” Harry said with a lopsided grin, “let’s go mingle before I decide it’d be easier to just die again.”
“Enough with the you dying jokes,” Ginny said, pinching Harry’s side, “if you die again I’ll bring you back and kill you myself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ginny started pulling Harry back through the crowd with Blaise, Draco, and Theo in tow. About ten feet away from where they’d left Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Luna, Harry tripped over his feet and reached out to steady himself by grabbing Draco’s shoulder.
“Harry,” Draco said, brushing off his shoulder as if Harry had left some mark behind, “is there anything you are actually capable of doing?”
“Putting up with you?” Harry snarked back.
“Are the two of you able to get through one day without fighting?” Blaise asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“No,” Theo responded, “not even a little.”
“We’ll be good,” Harry said, raising his hands in surrender, “promise.”
“Harry!” Kingsley’s deep voice called, “Neville! Get over here.”
“Are we in trouble?” Neville asked, coming up behind Harry.
“I can’t imagine how we’d already be in trouble,” Harry whispered back, “we’ve only been here ten minutes.”
“One time we showed up, broke in, and destroyed the entire Hall of Prophecies within ten minutes. I really don’t think there’s a time limit.”
Harry paused for a moment, trying to come up with a response but when he realized he couldn’t, he just shrugged and said, “let’s see what he wants.”
“Minister,” Neville greeted as they approached, “what can we do for you?”
“Enough with the Minister shite, Nev,” Kingsley said, reaching out to straighten Neville’s medal. He’d received an Order of Merlin, Second Class for leading the student resistance while Ron, Harry, and Hermione were on the run along with the role he’d played during the final battle, “I just wanted to see my nephews.”
“You mean you want an official picture with your nephews wearing their official medals so you can brag to everyone you speak to?” Harry said.
“Enough of your cheek, Hazza,” Kingsley said with a grin, tweaking Harry’s nose, “even though you’re right. Smile pretty for the camera, boys.”
Neville let out a huff as Harry Potter, vanquisher of Voldemort and a Lord several times over, stuck out his tongue at the Minister of Magic in the middle of the Ministry lobby. Kingsley just laughed and slung his arm around Harry’s shoulders, turning him toward the cameras as Neville took up a place at Kingsley’s left side.
“I hope you two are ready to be hounded by reporters all night,” Kingsley muttered, turning them away from the photographers after they’d been sufficiently blinded.
“Harry and Ginny already scared off Rita,” Neville said.
“Good on you,” Kingsley responded, clapping Harry’s shoulder, “go have fun with your friends, I’ll see you later.”
“Hadrian,” Narcissa greeted, appearing out of nowhere and linking her arm with Harry’s, “where’s Draco?”
“Hello Aunt Cissa, you look beautiful,” Harry greeted, “he should be right over there,” Harry said, nodding his head toward where he and Neville had left their group, “have you been looking for him?”
“I have, I heard something about him and Miss Greengrass, and I’d like to see how long it takes him to tell me himself.”
“That happened a month ago,” Harry laughed out, “I’m shocked he didn’t floo call you immediately.”
“Well, we can’t all have sons like mine,” Andromeda said, coming up on Harry’s other side.
Harry grinned over at her and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, “hello, Andi, you look lovely.”
“Why are you bragging about Hadrian now?” Narcissa asked.
“I was overheard you say that Draco hadn’t told you about Astoria yet and I was just saying we can’t all have sons like mine,” she said with a shrug. “Harry here has to mention Theodore once every five minutes or he’ll cease to exist.”
“I am not that bad,” Harry muttered, looking through the crowd for Draco.
“You are,” Narcissa said, “you really are.”
“She’s not wrong,” Neville said.
“Is this Sirius’ robe?” Andromeda asked, mercifully changing the conversation.
“It is.”
“Well, it looks great on you. And that medal,” she said with a fond smile, tapping Harry’s chest, “you are incredible, Harry. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Andi,” Harry said, pressing another quick kiss to her cheek.
“Found him,” Neville said, pointing over Harry’s shoulder to where Draco was standing slightly apart from the crowd chatting with Astoria. A devious grin took over Narcissa’s face. “Merlin,” Neville laughed out, “I thought that grin was a Potter trait. I was apparently wrong.”
“No, that one’s all Black,” Andromeda said with an identical grin.
“Poor Draco,” Harry sighed, looking not at all apologetic.
“Hello, Little Dragon,” Narcissa greeted, grabbing Draco’s face and pressing two exaggerated kisses to his cheeks. Harry turned and hid his face in Andromeda’s shoulder so he wouldn’t burst out laughing, though feeling her shoulders shake as she tried to hold back her own laughter wasn’t really helping.
“Mother,” Draco greeted, looking at Harry like he might offer any sort of help and just getting the same grin that Narcissa and Andromeda were wearing in return. He sent him a glare and then turned back toward Narcissa, “I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Astoria Greengrass. Astoria, this is my mother.”
“Lovely to meet you, Miss Black,” Astoria greeted, nodding her head.
“Please, call me Narcissa, dear,” she said with a kind smile, “it’s lovely to meet you as well.”
Neville tapped Harry’s shoulder and pointed across the room to where Ron and Hermione were frantically waving, “I’ll see you lot later,” Harry said, squeezing Andromeda’s hand, pressing a quick kiss to Narcissa’s cheek, and winking at Draco before following Neville through the crowd.
“What?” Harry asked as they approached.
“Cho just got here,” Hermione said, pointing toward the back of the room where the phone box entrance from Muggle London empties out.
Harry looked over to see Cho walking in, arm linked with Dudley. “Holy fuck,” Harry choked out with a laugh, “if only Petunia could see this.”
“I’ve never actually met him,” Hermione said.
“Then come on,” Harry said, leading the group across the room once again.
“The last time I saw him his tongue was touching the floor,” Ron commented, “he looks much better now.”
Harry let out a laugh at that as they approached, “Dudley, Cho, great to see you.”
“This is insane,” Dudley said by way of greeting.
“I’d have to agree,” Harry responded, looking around the massive, gilded hall, “at least they got rid of that old statue.”
The old Fountain of Magical Brethren had finally been replaced.
“What do all the different animals mean?” Dudley asked.
“They represent the 20 original Wizengamot families,” Harry explained, “the cobra represents the Gaunts, that raven is for the Blacks, the Thestral, which is the skeletal looking horse with wings, is for the Peverells, the stag is for the Potters, and that massive snake is called a basilisk which is for the Slytherins.”
“Which one is your family?” Dudley asked Cho.
“My family’s a more recent addition, but our animal is a snow leopard.”
“Weasleys are weasels,” Ron said, “also not in the original families, but those little magpies flitting up near the Black raven are for the Prewetts which is my mum’s family.”
“How about Theo’s family?”
“The wolf,” Harry responded, pointing to the wolf that was directly next to the Potter stag, “then Neville’s got the Longbottom bear and the Gryffindor lion.”
“Huh,” Dudley hummed, “that’s cool. What did it used to be?”
Harry fell into step with Cho and let Hermione explain the absurdity that was the Fountain of Magical Brethren while they wove through the crowd.
“So,” he muttered, “Dudley?”
“I wasn’t sure how to tell you,” Cho said, sending Harry an apologetic look.
“It’s alright,” he said with an easy smile, “Angelina mentioned it and I’m really not all that surprised, you guys seemed to be getting along really well when I last saw you.”
“He’s a great guy,” she said, smiling softly, “how are Theo and Teddy?”
Harry’s ramblings about his boyfriend and son bled into Hermione’s ramblings about the insanity of the prior fountain up until they were called to sit down for dinner.
“I’ll find you again later,” Harry promised as they separated from Cho and Dudley, “we’re being forced to sit up front.”
“Oh, get over it,” Hermione laughed, “you’re a hero. Let people clap.”
“They’re going to clap for you as well, you know that right?”
“I take it back,” she said, “we’re being forced.”
“Go on,” Cho said in an amused tone, shoving them toward the front of the room, “soak in your praise.”
A grin took over Harry’s features as he approached the table, though. Either Kingsley or someone who really liked him in the public relations office had moved all of their plus ones to their table instead of putting them at a separate one like they’d initially planned.
“Hello, Theodore,” Harry greeted, squeezing Theo’s shoulder as he sat down.
“Hello,” Theo responded, shooting Harry a bright grin, “how’s your evening been so far?”
“Better now.”
“You’re such a flirt.”
“Blaise all but offered me a challenge earlier. Also, have you seen yourself? I can’t help but flirt.”
“I really don’t think Blaise was challenging you.”
“Are you really going to try to stop me?” Harry whispered against Theo’s ear.
“I take back the flirt comment, you’re a tease.”
“It’s only teasing if I don’t follow through, darling.”
“You two need to quit,” Neville said, reaching around Theo to smack the back of Harry’s head.
“Killjoy,” Harry muttered, rubbing his head as Kingsley stood to address the crowd.
“Why does everyone insist on messing up his hair,” Theo sighed, “it’s as if you all want him to look like he’s been dragged through a bush backwards.”
“I think my messy hair really adds to my personality.”
“Stop talking,” Hermione muttered from Harry’s other side, “we need to behave like adults for an hour and then we can all go get obliterated.”
“Promise?” Harry asked.
“Promise.”
* * *
“Good evening everyone,” Kingsley greeted, “thank you for joining us to celebrate both the Yule holiday and a fresh era of peace within our community. Before we get started, I’d like to take this time to recognize our most recent Order of Merlin recipients. They were each presented with their awards over the summer in a closed ceremony for their safety as we finished up the trials, but, if you ask me, it’s high time these individuals be recognized in public!”
Kingsley winked over at Harry before he continued, “I’ll begin with those who received an Order of Merlin, Second Class which is for those witches and wizards who made an achievement or undertook an endeavor beyond the ordinary.
“This distinction was awarded to Neville Francis Longbottom for his efforts in leading the group who protected the students of Hogwarts throughout the 1997-1998 school year along with the role he played in ending the final battle and to Fredrick Gideon Weasley for his efforts during the final battle which resulted in near fatal injuries.”
Harry grinned down the table at Neville and Fred, who in true Fred fashion, was grinning and waving at the crowd while both George and Angelina were just shaking their heads with fond smiles.
“Congratulations to both of you and thank you once again for your contributions to our community. Now for our Orders of Merlin, First Class which are awarded for acts of distinction in magic or outstanding bravery and, let me just say, these three are certainly outstandingly brave.
“This distinction was awarded to Hermione Jean Granger, Hadrian James Potter-Black, and Ronald Bilius Weasley for their incredible efforts in ending the reign of Tom Riddle. Without their bravery, their determination, the war never could’ve been won. We thank you and we congratulate you.”
As the trio stood, Hermione reached out and took Harry’s hand with her right and Ron’s with her left, pulling them in close. As the crowd cheered, they stood as a unit as they had so many times before and Harry let out a breath he’d been holding for over 17 years. He wasn’t at the center of a war he’d been given no choice but to join, he was safe, and he finally had a family.
“Thank you,” Kingsley said, calling back the attention of the crowd, “but that’s not the end of our awards.”
Harry knew they were honoring the Order in some way, but he hadn’t heard anything about official awards. He looked up at Kingsley in confusion and just received an infuriatingly vague wink in return.
“The Ministry has elected to honor the members of the Order of the Phoenix who fought against Voldemort in both wars. We honor both those individuals still with us and those who died for the cause. Both the adults who had the opportunity to become full members of the Order and the students who fought for the same cause within the walls of Hogwarts.”
Harry grinned to himself at the realization that this is why every member of the former DA had been invited, and also at the fact that Kingsley was calling them student members of the Order instead of Dumbledore’s Army after Harry had explained that the name was more of a ‘fuck you’ to the ministry then an honor to Dumbledore.
Harry sat quietly as Kingsley read through the list of names. The Ministry had designed medals for the Order of the Phoenix much like those for the Order of Merlin; a gold coin depicting Fawkes in flight hanging from a maroon ribbon.
By the end of the list, Harry was holding not only his own award but also the ribbons that should’ve gone to James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus. He was thinking about where to store Remus’ award for Teddy when Kingsley started talking again, “and one final award before we finally let you all eat -”
If he was confused when Kingsley introduced the last set of awards, he was absolutely befuddled now.
“- In a closed session held this last week, the Wizengamot decided -”
He hadn’t been invited to a session of any sort but from the looks on his friends’ faces, they sure had.
“- to posthumously award an Order of Merlin, First Class -”
Oh.
“- to Regulus Arcturus Black -”
Oh.
“- for his act of outstanding bravery in turning against the Dark Lord during the first war and for his efforts which jump started the mission that Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and his own son, Hadrian Potter-Black would later finish. Our community is indebted to him, and the Ministry is beyond proud to honor him in this manner. Harry, if you’d please come accept this honor?”
Theo and Hermione squeezed Harry’s hands as he stood and the tables around him were full of the supportive faces of his friends and family, but the one face he wanted to see more than anything wasn’t there.
A step away from Kingsley, a breeze rose up from nowhere and brushed through Harry’s hair and ghosted across his face. He paused and took in a deep breath as his lungs filled with black coffee and pine; a scent so achingly, impossibly familiar.
“Be proud,” Kingsley said, passing over the box which displayed the golden medal on a fine green ribbon.
“I am,” he answered, “incredibly proud.”