What is the "Order of Merlin?"

[pengolodh_sc]

No: HPFGUIDX 31890

--- In HPforGrownups, "avonlea" wrote:
> How much do we know about the Order of Merlin, other than
> Dumbledore, Lockheart, and (I think) Pettigrew are in it? 
> Is it possibly the "old order" Dumbledore spoke of, and will
> it have any similarity to the Order of the Phoenix, beyond
> its name?
> 
> ~Avonlea~

The Order of Merlin seems to be an award for merituous and 
distinguished service.  In PoA, the Minister of Magic promises Snape 
that he will receive the Order of Merlin 2nd Class, or even 1st 
Class, if Fudge can manage it.  It seems to be similar to most 
international service-orders in organisation if not in nomenclature, 
and its main differenca from the most wellknown British orders is 
that while having several classes, it does not confer the rank of 
knight for the higher classes.  

For questions of the above nature you would, btw, be well advised to 
have a look at Steve van der Ark's Harry Potter Lexicon, at

http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/  

The Lexicon contains a very large amount of information about the 
Harry Potter universe, and I dare say it contains answers to almost 
all questions of factual nature.

Best regards
Christian Stubø