Chapter 225: The Ring of Myriad Forms and the Order of Merlin
After a busy but fulfilling Christmas holiday, Leonardo returned to Hogwarts.
The Great Hall.
The start-of-term feast.
"…Hogwarts will be joining Beauxbatons and Durmstrang in a three-school alchemy exchange competition. Further details will be announced in due course…"
Dumbledore, resplendent in sweeping purple robes, made the announcement from the staff table.
It set off a wave of murmuring among the students. Most of them were genuinely curious, having never even heard of the other two schools.
As the feast drew to a close, Dumbledore rose once more.
"Today, we will be receiving a number of distinguished guests."
Most of the students exchanged confused looks, unsure who these "distinguished guests" were supposed to be.
A handful with better-connected families seemed to understand what the Headmaster meant. Their gazes gradually drifted towards the Ravenclaw table, searching for the evening's guest of honour.
A heavy, resonant sound echoed through the hall.
The great oak doors swung open, and more than a dozen witches and wizards filed inside.
It didn't take long before someone recognised one of them and called out his name. Cornelius Fudge. The Minister for Magic appeared in the papers often enough that he was hard to miss.
As Dumbledore stepped forward to shake Fudge's hand, photographers moved into position to capture the moment.
"Allow me to introduce our Minister for Magic, Mr Cornelius Fudge!"
Dumbledore's voice carried clearly to every corner of the hall.
Applause broke out at once. Fudge returned it with his practised politician's smile and a wave to the students.
"The President of the Transfiguration Society, Madam Celere Vilistrata!"
"The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Amelia Bones!"
"…"
Some students recognised faces in the procession. A few even knew them well. Susan Bones, for instance, was the niece of that very Head of Department, so she already knew what awards were being given tonight and to whom. She was whispering to Hannah beside her.
Each introduction drew a fresh round of applause. It wasn't often that students saw this many important figures in one place, and the atmosphere in the hall rose steadily.
Dumbledore's gaze found a certain curly-haired old man doing his best to blend into the background, and he raised his voice slightly.
"The renowned magizoologist and author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Mr Newt Scamander!"
A brief hush fell over the hall before the loudest applause yet erupted.
The Hufflepuff table, especially, exploded with excitement. The Badgers had gone completely wild. That unassuming old man was Newt Scamander!
To Hufflepuff students, Newt was practically an idol. Several were already thinking about how to approach him afterwards for an autograph.
Leonardo clapped along with the rest. Newt's arrival hadn't surprised him. A few days earlier, in a letter, he had mentioned something he knew Newt would find interesting: a certain large serpent sighted in the forests of Albania…
"We are all gathered here for something truly worth celebrating."
At Dumbledore's voice, the hall fell quiet once more.
"Let us first invite Mr Leonardo Grafton to the stage!"
Under every eye in the room, Leonardo stood.
His school robes shifted in an instant into elegant dress robes, a deep midnight blue that looked like the night sky itself, understated yet refined.
Leonardo walked between the long tables with steady steps, heading for the high table.
Floating candlelight fell across him, gilding his dark golden hair with a soft glow.
"Mr Grafton's published papers have charted a new path for the field of Transfiguration… and he will now receive the Ring of Myriad Forms, awarded by the Transfiguration Society!"
The woman named Celere Vilistrata stepped forward. A small case appeared in her hands and opened on its own, revealing a silver-white ring set with a clear, luminous green gemstone. She smiled at Leonardo.
"An extraordinary achievement. The future belongs to the young."
Leonardo replied politely.
"I only saw further because I stood on the shoulders of giants."
He accepted the Ring of Myriad Forms and slipped it onto the index finger of his left hand.
Below the stage, some students were simply enjoying the spectacle. Others were asking what the Ring of Myriad Forms was. Others still were stunned that someone their own age had already earned the highest honour in the field of Transfiguration.
Susan gently nudged Hannah and whispered, "It's not over yet. The best part's still coming."
She had barely finished speaking when Madam Vilistrata stepped back into the group of guests, and Fudge took her place. He carried a small case of his own, his smile warm and bright.
Dumbledore's voice rang through the hall once more.
"I'm sure you all remember the events of last term, and the contribution Mr Grafton made. In recognition of his bravery in slaying the basilisk, protecting the students of Hogwarts, and safeguarding the future of the wizarding world…"
"The Wizengamot has decided to award him the Order of Merlin, First Class!"
The hall exploded.
The Ring of Myriad Forms belonged to a single academic field, impressive but niche.
The Order of Merlin was different.
It was, without question, the most celebrated honour in British wizarding society.
And a First Class, at that. Receiving this was the kind of thing that got written into the history books.
Fudge opened the case, revealing a gold medal on a green ribbon, the distinctive mark of the First Class.
He hung the Order of Merlin around Leonardo's neck and gave his shoulder a light pat.
In truth, Dumbledore could have presented the award himself as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. But Fudge was not about to let such a rare opportunity pass him by. How often did a Minister get to personally decorate the youngest First Class recipient in history?
He gestured for Leonardo to face the cameras. The click of shutters filled the air without pause.
In the flash of the bulbs, Leonardo's dark green eyes shone bright. The Order of Merlin at his chest and the Ring of Myriad Forms on his left hand caught the light and gleamed, but neither outshone the young man wearing them.