Hestia Jones (lionmouthed) wrote in fiftyfourdiagon, @ 2016-05-02 11:58:00 |
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Who: OPEN
When: Monday, May 2nd, 11:00 AM
Where: Hogwarts
What: Memorial Service
Rating: Low
Status: OPEN and In Progress (Please feel free to create subtreads)
If I could reach the stars, I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart, so you could see the truth
That this love I have inside, is everything it seems
But for now I find, it's only in my dreams
That I can change the world
I would be the sunlight in your universe
You will think my love was really something good
Baby, if I could, change the world
The memorial plans had been created and executed perfectly. At 11:00 AM, those attending the memorial gathered on the banks of the Black Lake. Employees of the Ministry were expected to attending and all Hogwarts professors and students were required to attend. Bleachers had been constructed for the occasion, ensuring that everyone had a space to sit. Seating towards the front was reserved for families who lost someone during the war. A row of chairs in front of the bleachers were reserved for Order members. Four chairs were arranged facing the crowd, one for the Minister, one for Hestia Jones, one for Minerva McGonagall, and one for Harry Potter. Each attendee was handed a white rose upon their arrival. Exactly at 11:00 AM the Hogwarts choir began to sing a well known, magical hymn. Once the hymn finished, Kinglsey began to speak, his deep voice carrying towards the castle and over the calm waters.
"Two years ago on these grounds a victory was hard won. Witches and wizards fought, some with their lives, to give us freedom from tyranny and hate and to ensure that we had a chance at a peaceful and promising future. The sacrifices made by so many will never be forgotten. It is our duty and our honor to hold the memories of these individuals close to our hearts, but we must also carry their message for generations to come. We must not allow the fear and hatred to darkened our hearts once again. No, we must stand up for equality, freedom, and tolerance. We must strive to make our world the best world it can be.
I stand here, your Minister, not because I am the only person capable of doing this job. I stand here as your Minister because I see beyond the job. I see that I can and I must continue to work to bring about change. Without change, without bettering ourselves and our world, we are doomed to repeat history once again.
Today, we remember those who gave their lives so we can be free. We thank them for their sacrifice, we mourned them, but more than anything we remember them. We remember their laughter, their love, and their joy. We hold them close to us, we tell tales of their bravery, we sing of their accomplishments. Every single person who gave their lives to defeat Voldemort will be honored by the Ministry of Magic.
So, it is my great honor to announce that all victims of the Second War will be awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class. The Ministry of Magic thanks these brave souls and their families for their sacrifices.
I leave you now with words from my friend, Albus Dumbledore. 'We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.'"
The Minister took his seat. After several moments, Hestia Jones stood up and stepped forward. Her voice was unsteady, wavering as she spoke.
"Thank you all for coming today. It has been two years since our lives changed. Two years since we said our goodbyes, gave our last hugs, shared our last smiles. Two years since we've seen our friends and family members. Two years since once again, evil was put to rest.
It's been two years since the Order of the Phoenix led the charge against Voldemort and his followers. Two years since we were shattered, broken, and nearly beaten. Two years ago today, we would have failed, if it had not been for the students of this very school. Without being asked, without being told, witches and wizards of Hogwarts stood alongside the Order and fought. Many of them gave their lives. The Order lost friends. We lost family members. But we gained so much as well. We have gained the knowledge that we are not alone.
Two years ago today, I saw the impossible. I saw students, strangers, friends, and family join together. I saw Slytherins charging out to fight, even though they knew they might face their families. I saw students not even thirteen stand up with their wands out, refusing to let fear push them down. I saw my best friend and her husband sacrifice themselves in the hopes that their son would have a better future. I saw a boy give everything, including his life, to grant us peace. And I saw us come together in a way I've never seen before.
The Order of the Phoenix was created with one purpose. We were created to fight evil. None of us could have ever realized what Albus Dumbledore actually accomplished, however. That brilliant man created hope. Hope is powerful. Hope can never be taken from you. Hope is the answer to everything in life. For with hope comes a fight. A fight to always keep trying, always keep loving, and always keep pushing for better.
There aren't as many of us in the Order these days. You, all of you, have made us irrelevant. Hope was given to us by the first generation of the Order and in turn, we've given it to you. I ask you all to continue to pass it along for generations to come. Let us never let hope die."
Hestia took her seat, wiping at her eyes. Harry Potter spoke next, his words filled with sincerity and emotion. Once Harry finished, Headmistress McGonagall stood. With her head held high, she addressed the crowd.
"On May 2nd, 1998, our battle with evil ended. Voldemort was defeated. But victory does not come without sacrifice. In honor of the victims of the Second War, a memorial has been built to remind us all for years to come that fear and hate cannot be tolerated."
With a wave of her wand, the Headmistress removed the concealment charms hiding the new memorial sculpture. The name of each victim was carved onto the sculpture. The wind coming off the lake blew through it, playing a beautiful song. The four speakers then stood, laying their roses at the base of the sculpture. Each row of guests followed suit. After a long moment of silence, McGonagall lifted her wand once again, turning the hundreds of roses into a large wreath and hanging it on the sculpture.
The speakers then turned and began to walk towards the castle, into the Great Hall where a full meal had been laid out.