Order of Merlin

The Order of Merlin is a great honour, an award or medal which is bestowed on Wizards or Witches who have demonstrated their devotion to the principles of living harmoniously with Muggles. The Order was created by the famous wizard of the Middle Ages, Merlin, to pass laws against using magic against Muggles.

Known recipients

Order of Merlin, First Class

• Sirius Black's grandfather

This was either Arcturus Black or Pollux Black. Awarded for his "services to the Ministry," which, according to Sirius, was another way of saying that he had given them a lot of gold.

• Albus Dumbledore
• Cornelius Fudge
• Peter Pettigrew

Awarded posthumously, or so it was believed at the time, for his "heroic confrontation" with Sirius Black. Pettigrew, not Black, was later revealed to be the one who betrayed the Potters, but whether his Order of Merlin was retracted as a result is unknown.

• The Toke Family

Awarded for saving the lives of several Muggles during the Ilfracombe Incident in 1932.

Order of Merlin, Second Class

• Newt Scamander

Order of Merlin, Third Class

• Gilderoy Lockhart

Recipients of unknown class

• Damocles

Most likely awarded for his invention of the lycanthropy-treating Wolfsbane Potion.

Possible recipients

For their contributions to the defeat of Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters, the following members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army may have been awarded the Order of Merlin at various levels:

• Harry Potter
• Hermione Granger
• Ron Weasley
• Kingsley Shacklebolt
• Remus Lupin (posthumously)
• Nymphadora Tonks (posthumously)
• Alastor Moody (posthumously)
• Neville Longbottom
• Ginny Weasley
• Luna Lovegood
• Severus Snape (posthumously)

Cornelius Fudge promised to give Severus Snape the Order of Merlin for capturing Sirius Black, then assumed to be a fugitive murderer, but Black escaped before Fudge could follow through on his word. It is still possible that Snape was awarded an Order of Merlin posthumously for his role as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix.

It is also possible that ordinary citizens who acted to protect Muggles and Muggle-borns while Voldemort was in control of the Ministry of Magic during the Second Wizarding War would be awarded Orders of Merlin.