Author's Note: Hello folks! I need to apologize, I have a slew of reviews in my in-box which I have not answered. My goal is to finally get to them today, but I am so sorry it has taken me so long. There are many things to which I could ascribe it to, but in the end it was simply the day ended and I hadn't gotten there. Real Life is a tad crazy right now. We are nearing the end of the story, only five chapters after this. There will be a sequel, but I need to finish some other projects before I can dedicate my time to this future fic. Thanks to my team, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, even though none of you have heard from me in weeks...I swear I'm alive and writing, just buried under paper right now. The song is by Arcade Fire, and I can't recommend their music enough. Thanks to all of you who've stuck with me this far. MNF

Chapter 35:

Crown of Love

Monday, May 24, 1999

Harry POV:

"I don't know how she's going to feel about everyone ganging up on her," I calmly stated. "The last thing I need to do is make her angry again or let her think her own family isn't on her side." All the Weasleys, plus wives, girlfriends and fiancées were around Seph's massive dining room table. She and Connor were here, along with Luna, Hannah and Susan. Hermione and Luna had employed Neville's help to sneak away tonight. The masses had been brainstorming ideas how to convince Ginny I would never again break a promise to her. The letter writing had gone well, now I needed to woo her back.

"Harry, she's utterly miserable without you," Hermione explained. "She's been very impressed that you've not attempted to smother her, but she misses you. At least ten times a day, she brings you up, and then remembers you're not together."

"Then why doesn't she tell me she wants me back?" I sort of whined.

"'Cause you de one who upswet her, Harwy," Connor piped up. I was being told by a two-year-old how to behave. Maybe I should take his advice, he seemed to have all the women in the room wrapped around his little finger. They laughed, cooed, ooohed and aaahed at every little thing he said. "You had the mister ache."

"When did he stop calling him Uncle Harry?" Hermione asked Ron, who just shrugged. I hadn't noticed until it was pointed out to me that I was just Harry now. It made no difference to me, or to his mum, so we'd never corrected him.

"You're right, Connor, it was my mistake. I've written to her and apologized, which she's accepted. I just … I can't seem to ask her to be my … I don't even know what it is I'm asking her to be. Would she be my girlfriend? Would we go back to being engaged? I can't imagine she'd want to still get married in two months, but … argh!" I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated by the lack of anything else to do.

"Harry, dear, you've got to stop over-thinking this," Mrs. Weasley said. "Women aren't that difficult to figure out." The men in the room, save Connor and Mr. Weasley, all made some sort of remark or noise to show their disagreement with her statement. "I'm glad there's one man in the family," she rebuked our attitudes while wrapping her hand through Mr. Weasley's bent arm. "Arthur, why don't you give all these boys a lesson in how to ask for forgiveness."

Mr. Weasley nodded and then began speaking. "Harry, all of you, it's not just about the words; it's about making the words come alive. One of the worst agreements my dear Mollywobbles and I ever had occurred just after she had found out she was pregnant with the twins. We already had the older three, and she wasn't happy she was having two more. Two days later, I mistakenly assumed it would be all right if I worked over the weekend as I had been for the last few months. That was a poor assumption on my part. Being at home all day with our children was as taxing on her, if not more so, than my being in the office.

"Molly dearest had explained what exactly it took each day to care for the three of you. I had no idea how difficult you could be," he stated while looking from Bill to Charlie to Percy. "How she survived once the next two came along I still don't understand." I'd noticed that the family rarely said Fred's name, although he was referred to often. I'm guessing the name was just too painful.

"I didn't realize some simple household tasks were made that much harder when she was with child, so I got up early the next morning and did them while I let her have a lie in," he calmly explained.

"It was more than just a simple lie in," Mrs. Weasley contradicted. "He got all three boys up, bathed them, fed them breakfast, did the laundry and then got in touch with family and friends asking them to make a casserole or stew for us. My freezer was filled with weeks' worth of food so all I would need to do is charm to eating temperature. I was so excited and impressed with his effort I never brought the incident up again." Fleur, Seph and Hermione all made the same cooing sounds towards Mr. Weasley that they'd made for Connor.

"Isn't that when Heather Lovegood came over to play with us in the afternoons?" Bill asked and we all looked at Luna.

"My mum?" Luna asked and Molly nodded. "What did my mum do for you?"

"You know your father's house isn't far from ours, correct?" Luna nodded. "Your mum was just married and she as yet hadn't settled on a career. Arthur hired her to come over to take care of the boys after their afternoon naps and do some light housework. I had completely forgotten about that," Molly muttered. "Remind me when you're at the house sometime that I have a whole case of things she made with the boys."

"That would be wonderful," Luna gushed.

"Great," I groused. "We can get Luna some toddler art projects her mum supervised, but I still don't know what to do about Ginny. She doesn't need laundry or meals. The only person I could think to hire for her would be someone to sit for her exams, which I'm sure the school would frown upon."

"Harry, we can do without the sarcasm," Seph reminded me. "Perhaps you should take a page out of your father's playbook. He used to sing to your mum?"

"Huh?" My head whipped around to look at her. "What did he sing?"

"Popular songs, both Muggle and wizarding. I think his singing of "Fox on the Run" in full costume with the boys backing him was perhaps the best of all," Seph said and I looked at her, shocked.

"Fox on the Run? As in the song by The Sweet?" Hermione asked and Seph nodded. "Wait, wait, they dressed up as glam rockers?" Seph nodded again. "Do you have any pictures?"

Seph smiled wickedly. "I have something better," she explained before pulling her wand and flicking it in the direction of the back of the house. A moment later her personal stone Pensieve floated into the room and settled itself on the table in front of her. She pulled the silvery wisp from her head and let it settle into the basin. She then prodded the memory with her wand and an image grew up and out of the bowl, like a three-dimensional movie. Memories of the apparition versions of Hermione and myself which grew out of the locket when we were attempting to destroy it came to me, and I shuttered.

The memory was paused and Seph did a charm, amplifying the sound before she let it run. I had never seen Dad look so foolish, but what he was doing made Mum smile and laugh so hard she was nearly crying. She rewarded him with a searing kiss when his display was over. The memory fell back into the bowl and the room was buzzing with excitement and comments

"That was bloody brilliant," Ron cheered.

"Language, Ronald," Mrs. Weasley and Hermione said in unison, which caused the rest of us to laugh more.

"His singing wasn't very good, was it?" I asked.

"No, he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. However, it's part of what made it endearing," Seph explained. "That and the three idiots he had 'dancing' behind him. Girls heard about it throughout the school, and all four of them had more offers than they knew what to do with after that."

"What kind of offers?" George asked. He was, after all, the only brother who wasn't attached.

"For girlfriends, snogs, broom closet sessions, homework help, treats, potions and things which saying aloud would make me blush," she answered.

"Do you think it would work with Ginny?"

"Harry, you make yourself that vulnerable, yes, it will work with Ginny," her mum answered. "Unlike your dad, I think romantic is the way to my daughters heart. She already knows you'll make a fool of yourself for her." I nodded, completely agreeing.

"I know what types of music she likes," I stated, "but no song is coming to mind. Hermione, Luna, what would you say?" The pair looked at each other and nodded, beginning to laugh.

"That song!" they stated in unison.

"What song?"

"It's by this Irish Muggle band. She plays it over and over. We'll get you a copy," Hermione said.

I was excited, until I realized I had no idea when I'd do this. "Do I do this in France, in front of all of her classmates or should it be here, with family and friends around her?"

"Don't do it at school," Hermione warned. "Our relationship with most of the French students is tender and awkward. Do it here, she'll be more comfortable." I nodded, the last thing I wanted was to make Ginny uncomfortable.

"I need some reason for her to want to come back to England. Anyone have an idea for an air-tight situation they'd like to share?" I felt as if I'd deflated.

Seph and Charlie looked at one another in a strange way. All day they'd been acting like there was a secret between them, but given the possibilities of what could be making them excited, I chose not to ask them. Charlie took Seph by the hand and then leaned over to Connor, who was sitting on the other side and told him something. Connor suddenly looked very excited and raised his little hands in the air as if he'd just scored while playing Quidditch.

"Mummy and Charwie have a reason," Connor cheered. He was nearly jumping in his seat how. "Deys gonna have a baby! I's the big brofer!"

The room exploded with well wishes, questions and a rather loud scream from Mrs. Weasley before she got up so fast she knocked her chair to the floor. She almost ran to the couple and hugged them.

"How did this happen?" She was nearly scolding them. Knowing how blunt Seph was when talking about sex, I couldn't wait to see how she'd answer.

"Well, Molly dear, if you don't know how this happened, it might explain how you ended up with seven children," Seph teased and Mrs. Weasley turned bright red. "It happened by accident, again. I had some special tea which caused my birth-control pills not to work correctly."

"When did you find out?" Mrs. Weasley next asked. It was nice for someone else to be enduring her inquisition.

"We found out on Friday," Seph explained. "I'm due in January, not that far after Connor's birthday. We haven't told anyone until now because we needed to talk with Connor first and then decide a few other things."

Before Mrs. Weasley could ask another question, Charlie continued their story. "We talked it over with our little man here, and we've decided we are going to be a family, all four of us, together. Seph and I are getting married." Mrs. Weasley screamed again and this time people were up on their feet hugging the little family. I hugged Seph tightly as she was starting to cry.

"You're okay, right?" I asked as the wetness leaked into the shoulder of my shirt.

"I am, Harry," she whispered in my ear even as I gave her another squeeze. Seph pulled back, but kept her arms in place. "You know this means you, too? I will always be your family, even when Charlie and I are married and this little one comes along." She was so sincere, but I hadn't honestly worried about it.

"Of course. I don't plan on going anywhere," I swore to her. I couldn't imagine my life without her. I let her go so Hermione could hug her, and then Fleur.

When the hugging and congratulations had died down, Charlie slipped into the kitchen and returned with some sparkling juice and glasses. We toasted the couple and then the questions started again.

"So, when are you planning to be wed?" Mr. Weasley asked. Charlie and Seph looked at one another and smiled.

"Sunday," Charlie announced.

"Which Sunday?" Mr. Weasley asked for clarification.

"This."

"As in six days from now?" Mrs. Weasley screeched, sounding like an owl. "How in the world do you plan on getting ready -"

"Mum, calm down," Charlie directed. "We've already got our plans in motion. Yes, we are getting married in six days. Except for all of you, the invitations went out today. We've invited our friends and business associates to a garden party this weekend. We didn't tell them it's a wedding because we want it to be a surprise. The staff here is working on the food, and Seph suggested she and Harry cover the beverages part of the event," Charlie joked and the room laughed, rather than their gobsmacked looks from a moment before.

"Seph spoke with the Regional Magical Registrar to come and preside over the service, and our only attendant will be our son here." Connor puffed up at being called Charlie's son. "Seph has planned a luncheon for Monday at the Muggle brewery to celebrate with them. This is what we want, and we are doing it our way."

"Why are you keeping it secret?" Hermione asked. "Why not tell people they're coming for your wedding?"

"Because many of these people are my employees," Seph stated. "I don't want them to feel obligated to give us a gift. We simply want them with us to share in our happiness."

"So, Harry, think it will be an important enough event to bring Ginny back for?" Bill jokingly asked and I nodded my affirmation. "You going to be okay singing in front of all those people?"

"If it gets her back, I'd go on Top of the Pops and make a fool out of myself," I honestly replied, wondering in the back of my head if I'd be able to pull this off.

Everyone promised their help and we made our final plans for my singing at the reception next Sunday. Everyone left, leaving the four of us in the house. Connor had fallen asleep on Charlie's lap, so he took the little boy up to change his clothes and put him down. I hugged Seph again as we were cleaning up the glasses.

"I know you're not such a fan of marriage," I stated. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Seph smiled sweetly, even as she glowed. "This is marriage out of love, not duty. I want to have that outward sign that I belong to Charlie, and he belongs to me. Are you okay with it? I know you've had some issues with Charlie and me in the past. Are you sad it's not happening with Sirius?"

I thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "I miss Sirius every day, but it's not as bad as it was. I realize now that you can't just hold onto the memories of what you had. You need someone living to truly be in love. Charlie makes you happy. He makes Connor happy and you're not going to let Connor forget that Sirius was a good man, and that your love with him made that sweet kid. I'm sorry I was a prat before. I had no right to be so rude, or to comment on your relationship that way."

"Thank you for apology," Seph told me. "You were slightly childish, but it must have been hard for you, too. You had only just found out about me, about Connor and about who we were to Sirius. Then you had to start sharing me. It must have been uncomfortable for you, especially since Charlie is your girlfriend's big brother. Who wouldn't have a rough time with your future brother-in-law potentially becoming your step-dad?" My mouth dropped at her words. Did she really think of me that way? Not that I wanted to dismiss my mum and dad from my life, or the Weasleys for that matter, but I had come to think of Seph like a surrogate mum. Could she possibly see herself the same way?

"Harry, I didn't mean for that to come out the way it did. I hope I didn't upset you. I know you miss your parents and I would never try to take -"

"Seph, stop," I asked even as I put my finger to her lips. "Did you mean it? Do you think of me as your son?"

"Yes, Harry. I should have been raising you all along. I have loved you since you were born. Had I been able to care for you, I would have treated you like my child all along. These last months, being able to be so close," she paused, nearly crying. "I would understand if you do not think of me that way, but know I love you as much as I love Connor." I pulled her to me and was nearly crushing her into my chest.

"I think of you the same way," I was able to utter before I let the tears fall. We were crying and hugging and I felt more at peace than I'd been in a very long time. I saw Charlie come down the stairs, look at us, and then go right back up. I'd have to thank him for that later.

"Harry, there's something else I need to ask you," she stuttered through the hiccups which had started due to her weeping.

"Anything."

"Would you give me away at my wedding?"