The Cross
A/N. Tonight: Harry drives his new car. Kingsley says a big speech, and gives a medal to someone you wouldn't expect

*************** Somewhere In The Countryside *************
March 3, 2007
05:56 PM

Harry was driving around the winding B-roads of the British countryside two hours after George had left. He really liked his car, and was getting quite adept at driving it.

He wondered if there was anything good on the radio, there probably wouldn't be a good signal in the hilly area, but he was getting rather bored with only the roar of the engine to accompany him, not that it was unpleasant sound, it was just monotonous. He switched the radio on, and predictably, there was only one bar of reception.

It was then that he noticed a note on the glove box. He slowed a little so that he could lean over and read it. It simply read: from Bill.

He opened the compartment, and inside he saw a stack of CDs. He looked at the first one. "Greatest Rock Songs." He read. "Might as well give it a whirl."

He put it in, and straight away he didn't get what he was expecting. His musical knowledge being below average, he had expected men screaming into the mike, and heavy music. Instead he was treated to a highly enjoyable intro. He checked the CD box. He read the back. "Track 1." He read. "Sweet Child of Mine."

Harry sank his foot deeper into the accelerator as the first verse began, and took the next corner he came to at full throttle, He slid a little, but pulled it back with help from his quidditch reflexes. He straightened out and changed lanes to overtake an old Fiat. He waved to the man as he passed, and got back on the left side of the road. He settled down for a nice long drive before he was to go back to the Burrow, get some rest and prepare for the next day, when they would be attending their reward ceremony.

As He continued to roll around the country lanes, tapping the steering wheel in time to the beat, he looked briefly through the car's documentation. There was a booklet in there with the car's details. George had obviously left it in there after he had visited the showroom. "Colour: Silver. Tyres: Pirelli recommended. Price: £132,000 including optional refinements. Top speed:" he paused, and closed the booklet. "Tell you what, let's find out."

He made it to a section of pretty straight road, and shifted up into fourth gear.

******************* Hogwarts, Great Hall ****************
March 4, 2007
10:59

The Great Hall was full of people, they were milling around the tables, drinking, eating, chatting, having a good time. It was a beautiful summer's day, and the light streamed in through the windows, (and the ceiling). A ministry official stood at the Staff Table and everyone turned their attention to him.

"It is time." he said "We must now file out into the grounds, and please, no fighting over the seats."

The crowd made their way onto the sweeping lawns, where rows and rows of white seats were assembled, just as Harry had seen on two occasions before, both of them funerals. This time was different, now was the time of the giving of medals and rewards to the people who fought, and though they had already remembered the deaths of their friends and family, now it was time to remember the downfall of Voldemort. Once they were all sitting, and their attention was focused at the front of the rows of chairs, where Kinglsey Shacklebolt was standing at a podium which had been erected by magic, the Minister of Magic began to speak.

"The Victoria Cross," He said, slowly, "The first medal for heroic actions which was ever made available to every single man and woman who fought on behalf of this nation. Made solely from the bronze of Chinese cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War. There are seven Victoria crosses sitting in the basement of a small jewellers in London. The last of a batch made thirty years ago. Once those seven are gone there is only enough bronze remaining to make eighty more. Therefore, anyone who receives one is in a very select group. "Only four persons possessing magical abilities have ever been awarded one." He paused for a second. "None of those have been issued in an action on behalf of the magical community. Save one."

"That award was issued on the order of the Head of the Auror department of the Ministry of Magic yesterday. I once knew a man, who fought off four werewolves in order to get the Minister of Magic to safety in the first Wizarding war. He held them off for three minutes while the minister escaped through a secret passageway. He realised that some very important documentation was left on the table of the room they had been meeting at, in Gloucester. He grabbed the documents, and knew that he needed to get them away intact, in order to keep the secrecy of an important operation which would take place in a few days. As he grabbed them, he relinquished the wards he had on the room, and attempted to apparate. One of the wolves, however, bit into his leg. Apparating would mean giving away the location of the hideout he was headed to. So he severed his own leg."

"Due to his efforts, the Minister of Magic escaped alive, and the operation went ahead successfully. With the forces of Lord Voldemort taking heavy losses. He was recommended for a Victoria Cross. But it was denied. Because, in saving the documents, he saved himself. And that instance of self-preservation lost him his opportunity to be among the bravest soldiers the world has ever known."

"That's how hard it is to be awarded a Victoria Cross. The wizard who was killed by Lord Voldemort after serving as a double agent for over eighteen years, passing invaluable information over to the Order of the Phoenix the whole time. Severus Snape was a vital asset in the war against Voldemort and died in the Battle of Hogwarts. He showed great courage, and little or no respect or value for his own life in the face of duty. For this, I, Acting Minister of Magic, officially award him, The Victoria Cross. For outstanding bravery, nerve, and disregard for his own safety in order to aid the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic.

A/N And on that Bombshell I'm afraid it's time to end. Please leave a review. I worked hard to get two chapters out this close together, but I owe you it for the large gap between chapters 2 and 3.

Goodnight.