Although he valued honor and was opportunistic when acquiring resources, a gift of this magnitude—one so far beyond the reasonable scope—made him feel uneasy. He knew all too well that there is no such thing as unconditional love in this world; the more one takes, the more one eventually owes.
"It seems Moody's assessment was correct. To be so humble and content at such a young age is rare," Millicent Bagnold said, nodding in satisfaction.
"Regarding the decision to bestow the 'Combat Hero' honor, we reached it after careful consideration," Barty Crouch said, taking over the explanation.
"The wizarding world has only recently emerged from war, and many Death Eater remnants still hide in the shadows, waiting for a chance to stir up trouble. Peace has not yet been truly restored. Most wizards in Britain are caught in conflicting emotions; they celebrate the downfall of You-Know-Who, yet they remain worried that these lingering elements might endanger their safety," Director Crouch explained.
Millicent Bagnold nodded in agreement. "At a time like this, there is a desperate need for news that can boost morale. You, as an underage wizard, defeated five of them. This will silence the cowards who spend their time inflating the Death Eaters' power."
"Furthermore," she continued, "it demonstrates the Ministry's determination to resist them and puts pressure on those who still attempt to defend their actions. You are also a Muggle-born wizard. Because of the war, many Muggle-borns have been living in terror, and many have fled abroad. Our population has decreased sharply. This arrangement serves as a signal to appease those who remain and encourage those who left to return."
"I apologize if this sounds a bit too utilitarian," Bagnold added frankly, "but the British wizarding world is recovering and needs this victory to restore confidence in the Ministry."
She spoke with a candidness that Alan appreciated. Perhaps she simply disdained the idea of deceiving a bright young man.
"I understand. Thank you for your honesty," Alan said, feeling more at ease with the context. "In that case, I am honored to accept the Ministry's commendation."
In his view, this was a classic case of creating a role model, a strategy he had seen plenty of in his previous life. Whether it was showmanship or political theater, it wasn't a loss for him. For Bagnold, Alan was the perfect candidate: he had assisted the Order, his stance was unquestionable, he was powerful, and—most importantly—he had a good image. Bagnold had briefly considered putting Moody forward as a hero, but the veteran Auror looked far too terrifying and likely would have had a counterproductive effect on public morale.
"Go back and prepare yourself. The celebration banquet is scheduled for a week from now. We will announce it in the Daily Prophet. If you need any assistance, contact Moody directly," Director Crouch said, signaling for the Auror to look after the boy.
"Don't you worry about that. Come on, Alan, let's go," Moody said, excitedly pulling Alan toward his own office to go over the details.
"Isn't this a bit too grand?" Alan asked once they were settled. The guest list was staggering; nearly every member of the Wizengamot had been invited.
"To be blunt, awarding you is only half the point," Moody said, leaning in. "The main purpose is to squeeze those pure-blood families. It's a pity Torquil is gone; it makes things more complicated. We could have used the Travers family as a prime example, revoked their seats, and sent a message to anyone else harboring fugitives."
Since Moody viewed Alan as one of his own, he spoke without a filter.
"Torquil is gone? What do you mean?" Alan asked, maintaining a look of puzzled concern.
"Hmph. Just as we were about to start the interrogation, the man suddenly howled and died right in front of us. We don't know if it was a curse or a toxin. I suspect poison, but Scrimgeour hasn't found a single clue. The culprit was fast and ruthless," Moody growled.
Alan felt a wave of relief that the investigation had stalled. He had a great deal of respect for Moody's instincts, which were uncomfortably accurate, but he was confident the magical methods he'd used wouldn't leave a mundane chemical trail.
"Torquil was poisoned?" Alan echoed, shifting the focus. "Does that mean I might become a target too?"
"They wouldn't dare!" Moody's magical eye whirled. "You are Dumbledore's student and a decorated Combat Hero. To touch you, they'd need more courage than they possess. Still..." Moody paused, looking uneasy. "Maybe I should give you a two-way mirror? Just in case."
"There's no need for that. I have this," Alan said, producing a Communication Amulet.
"What's this now?" Moody asked, looking at the device as if Alan were a walking magic shop.
"Communication Amulet 2.0. I've improved the runes to include a positioning function. This is my last prototype; I'll give it to you. If I'm in danger, it will glow red and emit a signal you can track. A blue glow means a normal message."
"Brilliant! If I get a blue signal, I'll head straight to the Longbottom estate to find you," Moody said, happily tucking the amulet away.
After testing the device, Alan bid Moody farewell. He met Vanessa in the Atrium, and the two took the Floo Network back to the Leaky Cauldron, where Alan made good on his promise and treated her to an excellent meal.