a/n: This story ties along with my other Harry Potter story "Mom, Dad; I Wanna Get A Summer Job. . ."

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Molly Abroad

Chapter 1

She was here. Well, almost, she was only four people away from officially passing through customs.

At long last, Molly had escaped the endless red hair and constant popping in of random family members to say that one cousin had gotten her first kiss, the other had received his OWLS, and yet another needed to borrow a spare set of dress robes because James had once again managed to set his pair on fire.

But Molly was finally away.

After seven hours on a muggle airplane (Grandpa Weasley had insisted because he wanted to see what a muggle airport looked like), Molly was a little bit worse for the wear. She wore old trainers, a ragged blue and yellow jumper, and a pair of well-worn jeans. She knew that her grey eyes must look lackluster with exhaustion, and she could feel her long red ponytail pressed into strange patterns along the right side of her head where she had tried in vain to sleep on the flight. Her wand had been magically shrunk and placed in her back pocket so that she could get through the rigid security. Her luggage had also been magically shrunk at the insistence of Aunt Hermione who said that airports were infamously known for losing luggage. All her belongings were now nestled quite comfortably in her back pocket.

Despite these negligible hardships, Molly could not be happier. She was in America! She was a seventeen year old girl alone in a foreign country. There were no parents, there were no siblings, there were no little cousins running around. For the first time in her life, Molly was on her own. The one bad thing about a large family was the same as the best thing about a large family. There was always somebody around. There had been few moments in Molly's life when she had had the house to herself, but usually those peaceful times were disrupted by someone flowing into the room, disrupting Molly's designated reading time.

But this adventure would be different. Molly had applied to be a student tutor at the Boston Institution of Modern Magic. She would make a small salary while benefitting from student services such as a library and courses that were not available at Hogwarts. Her only job was to tutor a few students who had struggle during the school year, mostly fourth and fifth years. There would be no family popping in. The American Flow Network was not designed for anything more than head to house conversation. While she could talk to her family, they couldn't bombard her in her new dorm room.

Molly was through the customs line. The agent had said a gruff "Welcome to the US" without sounding welcome at all, and after putting her perfectly forged passport away, Molly was completely alone.

Out on the streets of Boston, Molly made a painful observation. People moved faster in the USA. Everyone was rushing as if they all had somewhere crucially important to go. And suddenly, Molly did not feel so adult and independent any more, suddenly she had a very childish urge to call out for her mother. She yearned for the grandmother who would see her distress and give her a gentle hug. She wanted her little cousin Lily who always wanted to hold the older girls' hands. She even wanted her little sister who, despite sabotaging her make-up, was adorable and cute anyway.

With a deep breath, she calmed down and laid her faith upon the good head that she knew she had on her shoulders. Her father had drilled her a hundred times on the direction to the school. She had to get to Showa Park by way of a cab.

Molly quickly hailed a cab from the airport and told the driver the directions. Molly had enough muggle money to pay the cabbie and still have a little extra. Soon, she found herself in the park. She looked for the distinct tree that had come on a photograph with her acceptance letter. Once finding it, she whipped out her want and whispered the simple charm that restored it to its normal size. She tapped on a star shaped knot on the tree three times, and then four more times. A feminine voice whispered through the tree.

"Name, please."

"Molly Weasley"

"Thank you. Please stand back. When the trunk moves, quickly descend the stairs. Your teacher's assistant will meet you in the main hall."

Within seconds, the tree magically jumped aside and Molly carefully but cautiously stepped down the stairs. She may not be as lacking in grace as her father, but she was no prima ballerina.

Without a doubt, this American magic school was significantly newer than any magic institution she had been in back home. Wizards and witches had not established a ministry in America until 1945, after the end of WWII. Because of that, many of the buildings had to be creatively compressed so that they could fit under the existing structures of the American public.

The main hall was well designed. The tree from which she had entered now made the canopy like ceiling of the room. The leaves were skylights that allowed green shoots of light to pierce the room. There were supernaturally bright torches along the six walls of the hexagon shaped room. The walls were painted rich colors of purple and gold horizontal stripes. Six hallways extended from each of the walls. Each hallway had a label over it in ivory letters: Administrative Offices, Lower School, Upper School, Library, Multi-Purpose Hall, and Student Residence. The trunk of the tree extended at least fifty feet above the walls. The trunk was an intricate maze of tubes with rolled pieces of parchment zooming all around going down the six hallways.

Suddenly, Molly wished that her cousin Albus could be here. He loved architecture, and he would be amazed to see this room. Molly silently reminded herself to write a letter home to Albus as soon as she was settled in her room.

"Hey, it's Molly right?", a young male voice asked. Molly turned around and was facing a very handsome young man. He was tall, taller than her Uncle Ron. He wore a Boston Red Sox cap that covered most of his dirty blonde hair. His deep blue eyes were smiling and his tanned face showed the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. He was casually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. A welcoming smile was on his face as he looked down at Molly.

"Um yeah, that's me."

"Cool. I'm Liam, I'm your TA. Was your flight ok? I heard you were flying, and I thought you were crazy. Seven hours on a plane, but I guess it is better than splinching yourself as the first thing you do in the states. I splinched myself when I went to Mexico, and there wasn't a hospital down there, and my friends and I had already started on the tequila and. . . I'm sorry I'm rambling, and you are probably exhausted, I should show you to your room", Molly's TA, or Liam now said in one breath.

Molly decided he was cute as he rambled. He smiled easily, and she could tell that he was one of those people who could laugh at themselves. She guessed him to be about twenty two. Math whiz that she was, she quickly guessed that he was five years older than her. That was legal sure, but most definitely not parent approved.

"Um, yeah, I'm just a little tired. The flight was long, but you know how parents are, overprotective and everything. . ."

Liam smiled sheepishly "No, not really, my parents abandoned me when I was eight so I've been like a free range chicken since then."

"Oh, shit, oh my god, I am so sorry. I-I-I didn't know. Wow, I feel really bad now", Molly said, instantly turning a bright shade of red.

"Hey don't worry about it. It's cool. Let's go to your room, or I mean, let me take you to your room" Liam said as he put his hand on her arm comfortingly, then quickly removed it.

"Ok, that sounds good", Molly said, smiling at his Liam's innocent touch and clear embarrassment over the double meaning of his words.

"Do you have any luggage or anything?"

Molly pulled out the miniaturized suitcase from her back pocket. When Liam saw it, he laughed, "that is perfect, that is really good right there. Best thing I have seen all day."

They began to walk down the hall labeled Student Residences. Molly walked behind, silently appreciating the view. The hallway broke off into upper and lower levels. Liam adeptly guided Molly to the upper level.

"Since it's the summer break, there are plenty of rooms, so all the students are in the upper school's dorm because those rooms are nicer. You get your own room I think, unless we get any more kids who want to stay over the summer which I doubt will happen", Liam said as he opened the door to a large room.

Molly was impressed. There was a thick, wall to wall covering of ivory carpet. The walls were painted a deep purple like some of the hall and there was a large window on the wall opposite from the door. There was a wardrobe, a simple desk, a four poster bed, and what she assumed to be a bathroom in the corner. In front of the window there was a gold couch and a small coffee table.

"What do you think?", Liam asked looking at Molly.

"This is all mine, this is my own place?"

"Haha, yeah absolutely," Liam said.

"Oh my god, this is amazing. I've never had my own room like this. I usually have to share with a cousin who is sleeping over, or when one of the boys stays I'm demoted to the couch. I can't believe how cool this is", Molly said, acting like a little kid.

"Good, I'm glad that you like it, I'll leave you to unpack. If you need me, my room is literally right next to yours."

"Thanks Liam. I'm going to see you later?"

"Oh yeah, most definitely", Liam said with a smile.

As Molly reflated her bag, she looked around the room appreciatively. This was the best opportunity she had ever had. She began to unpack her clothes placing everything in the wardrobe and posting some family pictures on the corkboard attached to her desk. Molly let her mind wander to Liam. There was no doubt that she was already attracted to him. Was there a chance that this trip could be more than just an academic experience? Whatever the answer, Molly had two priorities: write a quick letter home and go to sleep in that tantalizing bed.