Command of the Phoenix?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 54934

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> wrote:

> 
> > Another thought that ..., is related to "The Order of the British 
> > Empire" which is an award or honor given by the British government
> > to citizens who have served the country in  some
> > outstanding way. ...edited...
> > 
> > B... I don't see anyway to make that represent a challenge
> > Harry has to face.
> 
> Well, wizards have "Order of Merlin" for award, so Order of Phoenix 
> might not be one, as such has not been mentioned yet - Harry and Ron 
> gained "special award" for their actions against basilisk and Diary!
> Tom Riddle - if it's official award, I don't see why Dumbledore Order 
> of Phoenix isn't mentioned in Dumbledore's titles...
> 
> -- Finwitch

bboy_mn:

someone else made this same comment to me off-line. I responded by
email but the email address they used wasn't working, so I'll take
this opportunity to respond to the subject.

Via Email Lillian M. said:

   Of everything that I have heard on the subject this sounds most 
likely. It can even be backed up by Canon, in PoA there is mention of 
the 'Order of Merlin' which sounds like 'Order of the British Empire' 
in that a great service to the wizarding world had to be done. Cool, 
huh? So if we assume that the Order of the Pheonix is an honorary 
title then what kind of service would one have to do to earn such a 
title? And what's the difference between 'Order of Merlin' and 'Order 
of the Phoenix'?

Lillian

I (bboy_mn) responded:

True in the real world their is the Order of the British Empire but
there is also-

# Order of Garter
# Order of St Michael and St George
# Order of the Thistle
# Royal Victorian Order
# Order of St Patrick
# Order of the British Empire
# Order of Merit
# Commonwealth: Orders of Canada, Australia and New Zealand
# Companions of Honour	
# Order of the Bath
# Royal Family Orders

More Information at -
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page490.asp

So, it's not unreasonable that there could be other wizard honors.
Order of Merlin could be a general civilian honor for wizards; Order
of Phoenix could be for someone who distinguished themselves during
wartime. Or it could be the next honor above Order of Merlin - First
Class; the grandest honor held only by an extremely small number of
people in history.

In yet unpublished fan fiction Harry is awarded Order of Merlin -
First Class  and -

"(Dumbledore raised his finger and emphasized the word 'and' so people
didn't break in with applause before he was finished. Dumbledore
opened the wooden box held by his assistent, and removed a wide green
ribbon that had a large gold Maltese cross overlaid with crossed wands
attached.)

...for his outstanding courage, bravery, and heroism, for virtue,
honesty, loyalty, integrety, nobility, valor, honor, and for his
selflessness, we award him our highest honor, the Wizard's Cross of
Honor. "

While Hermione are awarded Order of Merlin - First Class and the
Wizards Wand of Valor. (a medal made of medium blue ribbon with two
thin vertical white strips and a gold medalion bearing the symbol of a
wizard's wand.) Ron was also awarded the Wizards Wand of Valor but
with an added Silver Star.

[sorry about bringing fan fiction into this, but fan fiction is
someone's (in this case mine) opinion of the logical extention of the
Potterverse.]

The point is that there could be more 'honors' beyond Order of Merlin.

Of course, I am making all this up; I really don't have any proof, and
we must remember that all the other titles represented challenges that
Harry had to face.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn/Steve