J.K. Rowling gave a bit of history about the
Order of Merlin award given to those wizards and witches who showed great achievement and honour - most of the time - in the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Pottermore Tuesday. Among those are of course Albus Dumbledore.
Three levels of Order of Merlin awards are given out:
- First Class Order (green ribbon, after Merlin's Slytherin Hogwarts House): ‘for acts of outstanding bravery or distinction’ in magic
- Second Class Order (purple ribbon): achievement or endeavour beyond the ordinary
- Third Class Order (white ribbon): have made a contribution to our store of knowledge or entertainment
Quote:
The Order of Merlin, commemorating the most famous wizard of his time, has been given since the fifteenth century.
While nobody argued when Albus Dumbledore received his O.M. (First Class) for defeating the Dark wizard Grindelwald, there was a good deal of muttering in the wizarding community when Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, awarded himself an O.M. (First Class) for a career that many considered less than distinguished.
Other less worthy recipients of the highest class of order include Arcturus Black, Sirius Black’s grandfather, who was widely believed to have bought it by loaning the Ministry a large amount of gold.
Others in the series who received an Order of Merlin include:
- Remus Lupin (first class), who received it after his death for his assistance during the Battle of Hogwarts (he was also the first werewolf to get the honour)
- Peter Pettigrew (first class), awarded after his "death" for taking down Sirius Black during the end of the first war (after the Potters died) when he supposedly confronted Sirius for killing their best friends (of course all found to be untrue in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
- Newt Scamander (second class), author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, "in recognition of his services to the study of magical beasts, Magizoology".
- Gilderoy Lockhart (third class) for his alleged work against fighting dark creatures (which of course was wholly untrue, and unfolded in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Undoubtedly others involved in the Battle of Hogwarts, including of course Harry, Ron and Hermione, received Order of Merlin first class honours for their heroic work.
J.K. Rowling updates on Order of Merlin three-level awards, Dumbledore, Fudge honours 
