In London, United Kingdom, hidden beneath the Muggle buildings of Whitehall connecting the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street, lay the main hall of the Ministry of Magic, its headquarters lobby and reception area.
A stage thirty inches above the floor had been set up in the resplendent hall. Around it, the peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with glittering golden symbols that kept moving and shifting, like an enormous high-altitude noticeboard, cycling through phrases such as "Congratulations, Allen Harris" and "The Glory of the Magical World."
Rows of ceremonial chairs had been arranged on the dark wooden floor, polished bright enough to reflect faces, and they were already filled with wizards. Low murmurs rose through the Great Hall, blending into a buzzing hum.
"Those Wizengamot fellows approved this even faster than when Headmaster Harris received his first one. Speaking of which, Black, when your grandfather Arcturus Black applied back then, they dragged it out for ages..." Mr. Amos Diggory said to his new colleague, Sirius Black, who was wearing the uniform of the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
"Allen defeated the Dark Lord in a duel, and my grandfather? Ha!" Sirius gave a faintly mocking look when he heard that. "My grandfather received a First Class Order of Merlin for 'services to the Ministry of Magic.' People believe he bought that medal by lending the Ministry of Magic a large sum of Galleons... and they weren't wrong. He did."
"Director Harris, Dumbledore defeated the Dark Wizard Grindelwald and received a First Class Order of Merlin. Headmaster Harris defeated You-Know-Who, so receiving a First Class medal again is only right!" Percy's voice rang out beside them.
"Allen naturally deserves it." Josephine narrowed her eyes and gave Sirius a disapproving look. "The Ancestors of the Black