|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: TheGov Story: Redefining Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 10 Words: 47,960
A/N: Hi guys! I’ve been quite busy, but I’m trying to keep up for you! Doing this helps keep me sane. Special thanks to Dancinginmagic for her Pre-beta Britishisms check. Thanks to Arnel for “doing her thing”. She rocks the free world. And, as always, thanks to my better half for her undying support at this rough point in life. -- -- -- -- “Whewe we goin’?” Arthur asked. “I don’t know,” Penny admitted, for the fourth time. She had never been entirely comfortable with the idea of bringing Arthur along tonight, but Chris had been adamant that he thought Arthur should come along.
Chris was waiting in the bookstore, sitting at a café table sipping a frosty drink of some kind, and wearing a brightly patterned shirt. “Hey, there,” he said cheerfully, downing the rest of his drink and standing up. “How are you both doing?” “Doing fine, thank you,” Penny said. Arthur, perhaps a bit taken aback by Chris’s friendliness, held on tight to her trouser leg and buried his face in her knee. “Arthur, you remember Inspector Collins, don’t you.” Chris grabbed the chair that was nearest to her, and sat back down in it, getting closer to Arthur’s level. “Hey there, Arthur,” he said. “Want to see something cool?” He pulled out a Metropolitan Police embroidered patch he taken off his old patrolman’s uniform. Arthur perked up a little at the proffered item. “What is it?” he asked. “It’s a patch. It came off one of my old uniforms.” Penny watched the curiosity on her son’s face. “What’s a…a…unform?” Arthur asked, looking up both at her and Chris. “A uniform,” Chris repeated. “It’s what policemen wear on the job. We catch bad guys, like your Uncle Ron.” “Unca Won is an Auwah!” Arthur exclaimed. “Yes, yes, he is. And a very good one,” Chris continued. “So policemen are like Aurors.” “I want to be an Auwah, like Unca Won!” “Well, how about you start out with policeman?” Chris said, offering Arthur the patch. Eagerly Arthur took it. “And what do you say to Inspector Collins?” Penny prompted. “Thank you, Inspectow Cowlins,” Arthur said. “How about you just call me Chris?” Chris suggested. “It’s a lot shorter,” he said with a grin. Arthur nodded eagerly. “Chwis!” Chris smiled up at Penny. “So, are we ready to go then?” he said, as he carefully stood up. “I think so,” Penny replied. “You’re a big hit,” she whispered as Arthur turned his patch over in his hands, studying the embroidery. Chris shrugged. “I wanted to make as good an impression on him as I made on his mum.” He gave her a half smile. Penny’s heart gave a little flutter as he did so, and she felt herself blushing furiously. “What dat?” Arthur asked, pointing at Chris’s cane. “It’s a cane, it helps me walk,” Chris explained. “Why?” Arthur asked, sticking his fingers in his mouth. “Because my leg got hurt, and I need a little help sometimes.” “Did Dawk Wizawd huwt youw leg?” Arthur asked. “Arthur!” Penny scolded. “Chwis walks like Madee!” Arthur said in defence of his question. “Who?” Chris looked a Penny with a puzzled, bemused expression on his face. “Constant Wigilance!” Arthur shouted. People turned to glare. “Shhh! Arthur!” Penny scolded, and then turned to Chris. “There’s a man named Alastor Moody. He was in the same line of work as Ron. He’s retired now, and he’s a little…well, not quite right anymore. Most of us call him Mad-Eye, because he’s got a replacement eye,” Penny said, picking her words carefully. “He lost a leg in a fight with a suspect, and he’s got a wooden leg and a cane.” Chris nodded up and down. “Ahhh…” he said. “I see now.” He turned to Arthur. “No, Arthur, I hurt my leg in an accident. It didn’t have anything to do with ‘Dark Wizards.” Penny heard him put a degree of humour in his voice in the last part of the sentence, probably for the benefit of anyone listening. “I don’t deal with “Dark Wizards” in my line of work,” Chris continued. “Just regular old bad guys.” “Oh.” “So, it’s a hot day out,” Chris announced, smiling at Penny as he subtly changed the subject. “So I thought what better way to spend a hot summer evening than by getting some ice cream, and taking a walk in the park?” “Ice cweam!” Arthur shrieked. “Arthur!” Penny scolded as the other patrons of the bookstore shot them another dirty look. “Indoor voice!” “Sowwy, Mummy.” Arthur looked suitably penitent, but Penny couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for his behaviour. “Come on,” Chris said, “I think we’ve overstayed our welcome for the moment.” As quickly as they could manage, they left the bookstore. Chris hailed them a cab. “Caw!” Arthur exclaimed excitedly. “Don’t take many car rides, huh?” Chris asked Penny, and she shook her head as they climbed into the cab. Arthur kept up a running commentary as they rode, and Penny watched Chris interact with him. He paid full attention to what Arthur had to say, and commented appropriately, even when it was clear that he had no idea what Arthur was talking about. She liked that. Arthur had certainly shed any remaining shyness and had happily crawled up in his new friend’s lap. If Chris was uncomfortable at all, he didn’t show it, and Penny was hardly surprised at Arthur’s boldness. Arthur lived in a huge family where every lap was fair game, from Grandpa Weasley, right through Uncle Harry. The cab dropped them off at Hyde Park, and Chris made good on his promise to buy them ice cream, stopping at the first vendor they found working the park. The three of them made their way towards the Serpentine, Arthur running on ahead and then back as Penny and Chris made their way at a more leisurely pace. “So how was your week at work?” Chris asked in one of their relatively alone moments. “Oh, the same,” she said. “Except for overabundance of meetings with Law Enforcement, you’d think nothing was going on. I guess at that level business doesn’t come screeching to a halt just for one fugitive. International business still has to be conducted; other policy has to be handled.” She shrugged. “Downstairs, I guess, things are nuts. I haven’t seen Kingsley’s secretary in the break room since Malfoy escaped from prison. And Ron’s been running pretty ragged.” “He looked tired when I saw him last,” Chris admitted. “I feel sorry for him.” “Charlie’s not sleeping either, so when he does get home, he doesn’t get much sleep,” Penny said. “It’s a rough time.” They paused to watch Arthur chase after a squirrel, which scurried up a tree. “Harry’s well out of it, I guess? I haven’t seen him,” Chris said. “He was never officially involved, anyway.” “No, Harry retired from the Ministry in June. He’s going to take a teaching position in the autumn. He’s been consulting with Ron when he can, but mainly he’s been prepping his lessons.” Penny glanced at the space between them, and wondered when it had closed up so much. She watched his free hand swinging and wondered if he might take hers. “I heard he’s keeping busy with Ron’s sister, too,” Chris said, grinning. Penny giggled. “They’ve been dancing around each other for years. I’m so happy they’re finally getting it together.” “Look! Look!” Arthur demanded, running over to them again and pointing. “Boat wide!” Arthur was pointing to the small pleasure boats punting about the Serpentine. “You want to go on a boat ride?” Penny asked. Arthur nodded vigorously. “You should ask Chris.” “Boat wide?” Arthur said, turning his wide eyes on Chris. Chris laughed. “Well, how am I supposed to say no to that?” he said. “Of course we’ll go on a boat ride.” Eagerly, Arthur ran on ahead a little, both Penny and Chris watching him carefully. “What about you?” Penny asked. “How was your work?” “Steady, unfortunately. I catch time here and there to work on the Malfoy case from our angle, but I’m still pretty busy with other things. And the heat wave isn’t helping,” he said. “People get hot, and irritated, and are more apt to do something they’ll regret.” He sighed. “I’m sure Ron’d tell you the same thing.” She nodded. “Did you…apprehend anyone this week?” Chris laughed. “Oh yes. We arrested several people. A husband killed his wife and her lover. A man stabbed another man in a pub fight over a football match. We wrapped up an old case and made an arrest – a man killed his business partner and tried to frame the secretary – so all in all, I suppose, it was a successful week.” Penny shook her head. “I just don’t understand why there has to be so much violence in the world,” she said. Chris shrugged. “I don’t know, Penny. I don’t know. Lord knows I’d love to be put of out a job by a lack of homicide.” They arrived at the edge of the water, where Arthur was watching the boatman help a young couple out of the little skiff. “Fancy a ride, then?” the boatman asked, looking up at Arthur. Arthur nodded. “You going to bring your Mum and Dad along?” the old man ask, smiling at Arthur. “My Daddy’s gone,” Arthur’s said immediately, looking confused. “I’m a friend,” Chris clarified, for the man’s benefit. The old man smiled and winked at him as Chris paid the fare, then carefully climbed in the boat, sitting next to Penny while Arthur sat forward in the bow. “We goin’ to Hogwawts?” Arthur asked excitedly. “No, Arthur, we’re not going to Hogwarts. You’re not old enough,” Penny said quickly. “Look over there at the ducks!” she pointed. “What was that?” Chris whispered, as Arthur amused himself by waving at the ducks. “First year students get taken across the lake in front of the school by boat. One of his uncles must have told him about it.” -- -- -- -- It was all Chris could do to keep from laughing. Poor Arthur wasn’t quite old enough to understand the separateness of the two worlds. But he was such a nice kid, earnest and well behaved. Penny was doing a heck of a job bringing him up on her own. “He’s a good kid,” he whispered to Penny, as Arthur waved to the people walking along the banks of the Serpentine. “You’re doing great.” “I’m trying,” she said, exhaling deeply, and slumping a little against his shoulder. “It’s hard.” “You’ve got a pretty supportive family,” he pointed out. Penny looked up at him, quirking an eyebrow. “I have very supportive in-laws. Let’s not talk about my family please.” “At least he has lots of positive male role models. Arthur! Don’t lean like that!” Chris ordered, as Arthur had leaned forward to try and reach something in the water. Arthur sat back immediately. Penny shook with silent laughter. “You’re good with him,” she whispered. “Sometimes I surprise even myself,” Chris admitted. “I’ve never been around kids very much.” “You’re a natural,” she assured him. Suddenly Chris was very aware of how close they were, how warm she was, and the faint smell of her shampoo or perfume riding in the evening air. Chris suddenly felt like a teenager again, wanting to put his arm around her, but not sure how to, or even if the gesture would be welcome. Sure, he thought to himself, just yawn, and stretch, real casual like…He chuckled to himself involuntarily. “What?” Penny asked, taking her eyes off Arthur for a moment to look up at him. “Nothing,” he said. He thought fast. “It just struck me as funny, you know? Arthur gets to go on his first date, and he won’t even remember it.” Penny laughed. “It’s not his date,” she said. “I know, but still, he came on a date. Even if it is with us, it’s still his first date.” Penny shook her head at him, rolling her eyes. “Look! Look!” Arthur demanded, pointing at the very regal and majestic swans that had just come into view. “Pwetty!” “Yes, they are very pretty. Arthur, sit down, you’re going to rock the boat,” Penny said, and Arthur sat down, but was up again in a second. “Arthur, turn around,” Chris said. Arthur turned, and Chris reached out and picked him up, setting him in his lap and holding him firmly. Arthur squirmed a little. “Do you know the story of the ugly duckling?” Arthur shook his head. “Once upon a time, there was a mother duck who had laid five eggs. One day, her mate saw a snake eating the eggs of another duck, and he drove the snake off, but was only able to rescue one egg.” “What did he do?” Arthur asked. “Well, they looked and looked for the other egg’s mother, but they could not find her. So they put the stray egg in with their eggs, and planned to raise it as their own. When they eggs hatched, they had five beautiful ducklings, but the sixth duckling....” “What ‘bout him?” “The sixth duckling wasn’t beautiful at all. Instead of a fine coat of yellow down, the sixth duckling was black! It was ugly! The mother duck tried to treat all of the ducklings the same, but the father duck didn’t want anything to do with the ugly duckling, and the brothers and sisters of the ugly duckling made fun of him all the time.” “Dat’s mean!” Arthur protested. “Yes, it was mean. The other ducklings taunted him and called him names. But the mother duck would tell him, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’re beautiful too, they just can’t see it. Someday, they’ll understand.’ And the little ugly duckling believed her. He kept believing, and one day, do you know what happened?” Arthur shook his head, clearly enraptured by the tale. “The little ugly duckling discovered that he wasn’t a duckling at all! He had become a beautiful swan! Just like those ones out there.” “Wealy? Swan?” “Yes. The ugly duckling hadn’t been a duckling all along. He was a baby swan. And all the ducklings felt bad for the way they’d treated him. But the mother duck was so very proud. She’d told him all along that someday, he’d be beautiful too, and now, he was.” “Good stowy!” Arthur said approvingly as the boatman drew them up to the shore. “Thank you,” Chris said to the boatman as Arthur scrambled out. “Anytime,” the boatman said with a smile. “Here, let me help you,” he said, taking Penny’s hand to help her out of the boat. She stepped to shore and smiled at him. It took him a moment to realize that neither of them had let go. And I don’t want to either. From the look on Penny’s face, her shy smile and lowered eyes, it was clear she didn’t mind either. They turned, hand in hand, and began strolling after Arthur. “What do you say we get some food?” Chris asked. “Preferably something deep fried and choking with calories?” “Sounds lovely,” Penny said. -- -- -- -- Carrying a sleeping three year old and walking with a cane was no real picnic, Chris realized, rather belatedly. Fortunately, Penny was right there, making sure he was all right. “Thank you for carrying him,” she said, as they arrived at the stairs up to her flat. “Do you want me to levitate him up the rest of the way?” she asked. “I’ve got him,” Chris said, knowing it was more a matter of pride now. Arthur had fallen asleep while they’d stood in line to ride the Millennium Eye, the giant eyesore (in his own opinion) of a Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames. Eyesore or not, the view from the top had been spectacular. They’d tried to wake Arthur up to see, but the combination of an exciting evening and a heavy dose of fried food had made for one tired little guy. He’d been rubbing at his eyes and yawning ever since finishing dinner. The stair climb wasn’t nearly as bad as Chris feared, and Penny let them into her flat. Chris set Arthur down on his bed, where the little guy curled on his side immediately and began snoring gently. “It’s a Weasley thing,” Penny said. “They all snore.” Chris grinned and they walked out, gently closing the door. “Do you want some coffee, or tea?” Penny asked, biting her lip. “No,” Chris said reluctantly, yawning. “I should be getting home. I have to work a shift tomorrow. One of the guys is on vacation.” “Oh, well don’t let me keep you,” she said. “No bother,” Chris said, turning toward the door. “I had a wonderful time this evening,” she said. “Really, I mean it. This was great. It means a lot to me that you went so far out of your way to include Arthur tonight. I mean, I can’t imagine most guys would do that.” Chris smiled, feeling his heart warm with pleasure. “Well, I enjoyed his company. That’s quite a boy you’re raising. I’m glad you both had a good time. I had a really great time too. Let’s do it again, sometime.” He widened his smiled. “But first, let’s go out again without Arthur.” Penny giggled. “Of course,” she said. “When’s good for you?” Chris sighed. “I don’t know yet. With this guy on holiday, I’m going to be picking up some extra shifts. I’ll get back to you. What’s a good way to get in touch with you without having to use Ron?” he asked. “You don’t have a phone, do you?” Penny shook her head. “No.” Penny paused. “Just send me a letter. Did Ron give you the address for the mail transfer point?” “He did,” Chris said, remembering. “I’ll drop you a note later this week, all right?” “Sounds good,” Penny said. They were standing in the doorway now, very close. “Well…goodnight,” she said, hesitantly. Chris took a breath to calm his racing heart. “Erm…is it all right if I kiss you goodnight?” he asked. Penny nodded. Chris leaned in and kissed her cheek very gently. “Goodnight, Penny.” Don’t want to push too fast, either, he thought. “Goodnight,” she said, and then closed the door with a soft click. Chris whistled all the way back to his flat. -- -- -- -- Wasn’t much of a kiss, one voice said in her head. He’s trying not to push you, the rational voice countered. He kissed you. Are you sure you know what you’re doing? The third voice was the one she liked to call the doubter. You told him he could kiss you, the fourth voice reminded her. “Stop!” she ordered, and tried to focus. The evening had been truly wonderful. He had gone out of his way to make Arthur comfortable, and at the same time, consciously or unconsciously, he’d been dispelling her fears that dating would be hard on Arthur. A week ago she’d been talking with Hermione about how this could be simply two people having a good time. All of a sudden it was semi-serious. And now she couldn’t tell if she wanted it that way or not! Why is my life so complicated?
|