Author's Note: Another Thursday, another chapter! The song is by Michael Buble. Thanks to Arnel, Steph and Ben for everything. MNF

Chapter 26:

A Foggy Day in London Town

March 13, 1999

Harry POV:

"You gotta see it, Unca Harwy," Connor implored as he took me by the hand and pulled me through the cottage. "Dere's v-v-vines on de wawls and a monkey in a net over de bed." Seph had started urging Connor to pronounce his sounds more correctly, and I was proud of how hard he was trying.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming, buddy. Good pronunciation, Connor. The 'v' was very good."

"Sanks, Unca Harwy!" His eyes were bright as he looked up at me. My name had some more work to do, but at least there was an 'r' sound in it now. "Come on, Charwie say de room for me, but I share wit you if you want."

"That's the best offer I've had in a long time, Connor. Maybe I'll take you up on it someday," I told him and he jumped a little as he pulled me through the house. I knew which room was 'his', I'd helped to paint the vines on the walls and build the bunk beds. It surprised me that Charlie went to so much trouble for Connor. I thought he and Seph were just friends or maybe a bit more, but certainly not enough for him to give Connor a bedroom at his house. It bothered me a little. It felt like Seph was forgetting Sirius, and letting Connor do the same. My godfather deserved better.

"Der it is," the little boy pulled me into the green room. "I sink it's awesome!" Connor let go of my hand and went to the ladder along the side of the beds and climbed up into the top bunk. Charlie had gone all out on the 'jungle' theme for the room: green walls with painted on vines, a tiger hiding behind a bush just under the window which overlooked the back garden, and tall giraffes with their necks parallel to the door while their faces touched over it. I knew Ginny was artistic, but I had no idea she could paint this well. I hadn't noticed it before, but there were even small dragons flying around in the clouds painted on the ceiling.

"It's definitely awesome, Connor. You're one lucky boy."

"I knows," he replied while nodding. "Before I only had my Mummy, now I've got my Mummy, my Charwie, my Unca Harwy, Ginny, Mrs. Molwy and Mr. Arfur. I even get my Daddy wooking at me from heaven."

"That's a lot of people for one little boy to love," Ginny said as she entered the room. "Are you up to it?"

Connor nodded. "I work harwd to wove dem all."

"Excellent, we are all lucky to have you loving us, too. Mum just came over and I think if you go ask her, she might just have a surprise for you in her sack," she explained.

"Unca Harwy, can you hewlp me down? Mrs. Molwy surprises aways good." He put his little arms out and I picked him off the top bunk and 'flew' him down to the floor. He ran from the room, calling to Mrs. Weasley the whole way. "Hello, beautiful," I greeted Gin before kissing her.

"Hi yourself, handsome." She kissed me right back.

"Do you know what the surprise is?" Ginny nodded.

"Dragon-shaped sugar biscuits. She baked a huge tin full of them to bring over, along with soup and bread for lunch. Bill and Percy are at the Burrow with Dad, shrinking some of the furniture so that it can be brought over. I never realized Mum had all of her brothers' things up in the attic. Good thing the ghoul never got at them and broke everything to bits. They were only the size of doll furniture up there," she paused for a moment, looking around. "This room looks really good. Who knew Percy had it in him. I always thought I was the only one who could draw or paint."

"What do you mean Percy? I thought you did this?"

"I did the vines, but Percy did the tiger and the giraffes. I didn't even know he knew about Muggle animals. Apparently he and Audrey went to the London Zoo for the day, just so he could watch them," she explained. "I think it's neat Charlie went with Muggle animals, rather than magical ones. Connor explained the zoo is one of his favorite places, and he wants to grow up to live in the jungles and take care of the animals, just like Charlie takes care of dragons."

"Seems like a lot of trouble to go for a room Connor isn't going to use that often," I grumbled as I sat down on the lower bunk, my head scraping the upper bunk.

"I don't know, Harry. Now that Charlie's closer, I think he and Seph are going to spend even more time together. I'm sure that will include Connor. It's a really sweet gesture, if you ask me," she continued. I shrugged. "What's with you, Harry? In December you were all for them going to the party together and I know you convinced Seph to come over on New Years. What's different now?"

"I wanted her to have a nice evening. I wasn't expecting her to fall in love with him," I quietly replied.

"We don't even know that's what happened," Ginny quickly retorted, her voice going up in pitch. It was something which happened when she was upset with me. "Even if it is, we should be happy for them. They both have been alone for a long time."

"But her heart belongs to someone else. She told me so." Ginny's face was starting to turn red, and not because she was blushing.

"I'm quite certain part of her will always love Sirius, but he's gone. She and Connor need someone living to be part of their lives." Her pitch continued to go up.

"So what, you think it's okay for your brother to push his way into her life? Do you think he should take the place of Connor's father?" I had stood up again, putting my hands on my hips. Ginny glared at me.

"I don't know." She'd lowered the volume on her voice to near a whisper, but the words were so clipped and her jaw so firmly set it didn't indicate a decrease in her anger. "It's really not our business, is it? They're both adults and they've been very careful with Connor's feelings."

"Sure, just push his dad out of his mind," I seethed back.

Ginny made a disgusted noise. "You don't think Charlie could fill those shoes? I don't need him to tell me to know he loves that little boy. Look around you, only someone who cares would go to this much trouble."

"A boy should have his father! Connor needs Sirius!"

"Sirius is gone, Harry."

"Only because Seph is forgetting about him and urging Connor to do the same thing."

Ginny looked at me puzzled for a moment. "Are you sure this is about Connor and not about you?"

I waved my hand at her and turned around. "This has nothing to do with me, it has to do with Seph and Connor and what they need. Anyway, Charlie is too young for her," I threw in. I saw how people looked at the pair when they were together at brewery functions.

"Harry, you know that isn't true. Maybe if they were younger it would matter, but they're both adults with their eyes completely open," she threw back. Her hand was on my shoulder and she turned me back around and stared into my eyes. I had no idea what she was looking for, but it made me uncomfortable.

"You haven't given up on going after Sirius, have you?" I turned away from her gaze.

"I haven't done anything," I told her. It was the truth. No action had been taken.

"That doesn't mean you haven't stopped thinking about it." I kept my back to her and didn't say anything. "Harry," she started but then never finished. I could hear the tears in her one word. "You know how I, and just about everyone else, feels about this. Don't ruin everyone's day with your delusions. Everybody is happy here, and they have the right to be."

Ginny left the room, sliding the pocket door shut behind her. I sat down on the lower bed again, wondering why this was so upsetting to me. Charlie made Seph happy, something so much of her life was lacking in. It just felt wrong in the pit of my stomach. It felt like she was betraying her love for Sirius and it really felt like she was trying to replace him in Connor's life. Sirius's son deserved to know just how special his daddy was.

I sat there until loud voices in the hallway alerted me that I might be needed elsewhere in the house. Sure enough, when I opened the door Ron and George were trying to move a large brass headboard into the bedroom across the hall.

"Need a hand, mates?"

"Definitely," George replied. "Ron's not keeping his end up."

"Yes, I am."

"Then why is it dragging on the floor. You've made two gouges in the planking already." I went to help Ron with his end of the bed, noting the large marks in the otherwise pristine floor. Once we had this in place I'd come back out and fix it.

"Why didn't you leave it shrunk until after we got it into the room?" I asked as we tried to navigate the corner turn.

"It wasn't ever small, Harry. Charlie wanted a larger bed, so he bought this one in town. We had to borrow a lorry from the Ministry to get it here," George explained. "We couldn't shrink it in front of the Muggles." That made sense, but why they didn't shrink it once it was in the house still puzzled me.

"I didn't know any of you had a driver's license?"

"We don't," Ron answered. "You just charm the thing to make it look like you're driving. I have to drive it back to London tonight. It's over three damned hours to get there. I hate being the youngest."

"I'll ride with you, Ron," I offered. He was my best mate and we shared a house. I could share a lorry with him for a few hours. Perhaps he'd see what I was saying about Charlie and help me with a way to remind his brother he wasn't Connor's dad.

"Thanks, mate."

We moved the brass behemoth into the bedroom and went for the footboard and then finally the mattress and springs. By the time all four parts were inside, I was hot, sweaty and thirsty. I'd left my drinking glass in the kitchen and went to retrieve it. I could hear voices inside and hesitated interrupting them.

"He's so excited," Seph said. "Thank you, for everything."

"Love, I'd do anything to see you smile like that," Charlie answered.

"I seem to be doing it much more regularly now," she answered.

"Do I have anything to do with that?" It was a playful question and whatever Seph did precipitated the sounds of snogging. I walked into the kitchen, interrupting their romantic moment. They both blushed when they heard me enter and retrieve my glass.

"Just needed a drink," I explained and they nodded.

"Harry, thanks for your help today and for the last few weeks," Charlie said as he thrust his hand toward me. "I wouldn't have gotten the house ready without you." I put my hand in his.

"Family helps with stuff like this," I told him. "It was something Sirius had taught me. I'm sure my parents would have agreed." Seph closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Charlie dropped my hand.

"You're right, Harry. Your parents were very supportive of their friends and family. They believed if someone was in need, then you helped. They also believed if someone were happy you fostered that happiness," Seph said in a strange voice.

"Of course," I answered and finished filling my glass and left the kitchen.