A/N: Thanks to Zoey and Becca, who looked over this for me and were a huge help. *squish* To all my other TGS friends as well, for always supporting me and being so damn great!
Molly surveyed herself in the mirror. Big blue eyes, just like her father's rimmed by dark eyelashes. Dark red hair, red like any Weasley but toned down by her mother's own dark brunette hair. It fell around her shoulders in smooth waves, tamed by an hour with iron, brush, and assorted hair products. In sharp contrast, her skin was milky white; no manner of hours in the sun would darken it. Her dress was dark blue, matching her eyes and setting off her colouring perfectly. It was also Clayton's favourite colour. She liked to dress to please him, though he'd never ask it of her specifically.
Her small hands, neatly manicured, smoothed her dress. She slipped into her sensible but attractive pumps that matched her dress and stood straight. From the top of her dresser she picked up her jewellery box and surveyed the options before her. One finger rested on her favourite necklace, one she hardly ever wore. On a silver chain, it was a teardrop shaped crystal in a silver setting. Giving a shake of her head, she passed it over for a different necklace, a sapphire she'd gotten from her sister for her sixteenth birthday. Onto her ears she fastened small diamond earrings, a Christmas gift from Clayton last year.
Clayton. She'd met him through Rose's boyfriend Nate, with whom he worked at the Ministry of Magic. He was a legal assistant in the same department as her Auntie Hermione. His boyish good looks, wholesome and adorable, had drawn her to him. He was a comfortable fit for her strictly regimented life. His clothes were always a bit rumpled, his hair sticking up in back and his papers never neat or orderly. He had a sharp mind though, and was brilliant in his field. Molly, even with her carefully organized, neat as a pin image couldn't help but become fond of him. They had met at a party of Nate's and spent the evening talking. When he'd called two days later to ask her out, she'd only hesitated a moment, before saying yes with a smile on her lips.
After fixing the earrings, she arranged her hair carefully around her shoulders, grabbed her purse, and walked down the hallway. When she entered the living room of her small house, the two men within stood and the one woman came to give her a hug.
"You look smashing, Molly." Dominique said with a smile, kissing her cousin on the cheek; behind her stood her husband of three months, Matthew Healey. A tall man with dark colouring directly in contrast with Dominique's, the Irish curse-breaker had stolen her heart the first time her father had introduced them. He was an affable sort of person, but looked dangerous, and Dominique said he could be, if the situation called for it. On the other side of the room was Clayton. Of average height and non-descript looks, brown hair and eyes, tonight he was well pressed and had his hair neatly combed and tamed.
"Hello darling." Molly greeted him, reaching up to give him a quick kiss. He smiled down at her, tucking her into his side as she turned to face Dominique and Matthew.
"Are we all ready to go?" She asked.
"Yes, I think so. Do you have the wine, honey?" Dominique asked her husband. In answer he held up a bottle of fine wine, wrapped in gold paper.
"Yes, all set."
"Let's go." Molly said, letting the other three precede her out and locking the door behind her. They all piled into Matthew's car and started the drive for Appleby and James' house. Never one to pass up an opportunity for a party, James was throwing one for his latest girlfriend's birthday. None of his cousins particularly liked Sophia Posey, but were prepared to put up with her for James' sake. She, unlike him, had a bit of class though. So rather unlike the last party of his Molly had attended, three years ago, this was a nice dinner at his fancy house, not a raging beer fest.
The women slid into the backseat so that Clayton and Matthew could continue their debate from earlier. Molly buckled in then twisted slightly to face Dominique. Taller than Molly by at least four inches, Dominique had inherited her mother's stunning looks, though her hair was more strawberry than pure blonde. She had not, however, inherited her mother's proper nature. Nana Molly had commented on more than one occasion that she was 'just like her father'. Molly still wondered sometimes how she and Dominique had come to be such good friends. Beside the fact that they were cousins and spent much of their time growing up together, they were so different. But right from the time they were toddlers they, along with Roxane, who was also their age, had been the best of friends. Now, at twenty-six, nothing had changed about that.
"How's work going Molls?" Dominique asked as they headed down the road. Molly lived just twenty minutes from James'.
"Oh, alright. Mr. Underhill is as demanding as ever."
Dominique rolled her eyes. "I don't understand why you insist on working for that pompous asshole, anyway. You have potential you know."
Molly smiled, as she always did when Dominique aired her opinion of Molly's less than glamorous job. "We can't all be professional socialites Domi. I like my job." She cut Dominique off before she could disparage her job any further. "Despite what you may think, Mr. Underhill is actually quite generous. I never have to work overtime and I get all holidays off with a bonus."
"He's still an ass."
"Of course he is, that's why he's so rich and powerful." Molly's boss, Harvey Underhill, ran a very lucrative candy making business. He had been recorded as saying, on more than one occasion, that there was no room for sweetness in his position. He left all that to his brother, Daniel, who was the actual candy maker. Daniel came up with all of the recipes and Harvey made sure they sold. While Harvey was known for being a hard-nose, Molly knew he and his younger brother were quite close.
"And I'm not a socialite Molly." Dominique sent her a mock glare. "I'm a social secretary. It's quite different."
"You're the only secretary I know who's in the papers so much." Molly rebutted. She smiled, softening her words, knowing that Dominique really did do a lot of work. Employed by Hansen International, a well known fashion designer, it was her job to schedule and organize every event the company put on. Her job was high profile and she had dated her share of celebrities but she certainly earned the generous wage Tyler Hansen paid her.
"Well at least neither of us is a barmaid."
"Be nice. Roxy loves her job." Both women started giggling. One of their favourite topics to tease Roxy about was being a barmaid. She actually owned her own pub in Ottery St. Catchpole that she'd worked hard to buy from the previous owner. While she did occasionally serve customers, most of her time was spent working on the books or socializing with customers.
"I'm actually a bit jealous, sometimes." Dominique said with a wry smile. "To have a place that's all your own and there's no risk of losing it to the next up-and-coming."
"Yes, that's true. But you'd have a bevy of other things to worry about. Besides, what are you talking about? No one could outshine you, Domi. You're indispensible and Tyler Hansen knows it."
Dominique waved it off with one hand. "I know. I'm just saying, wouldn't it be nice to know that something is yours and yours alone?"
"Buy a house."
"We're thinking of it actually." She grinned a little at Molly's shocked look. "Yes, I know. Us? Settling down? Daddy says he felt the same way at first, but we have to think of the future. As much as we love the city, it's not where we want to raise a family. Not," she said quickly, cutting off any questions. "that there are any munchkins in the near future, but it's something to keep in mind."
"Yes, that's true. A penthouse suite would be a terrible place to raise kids." Dominique sent her a long look. "I'm just kidding, you know I really do mean that. I guess I just never thought of you guys moving. I know that someday, when I have my family, I certainly want to have that little house in the country with the white picket fence and all."
"You know." Dominique said, after a thoughtful moment. "I never pictured you doing that."
"What do you mean?"
"The whole white picket fence thing. I mean, it just seems too neat, you know?" Molly shot her a raised brow. "Yes, yes, I know you are very neat and all, but it just doesn't fit you. Oh, I don't know. It's just always seemed that rather than dreaming of that, you're ready to settle for it."
"What gave you that impression?"
Dominique shrugged. "I don't know. Just think so."
Matthew spoke up then, including the women in his next statement. "Here we are."
The lights in front of the huge house James had purchased last winter were all lit up and there were twinkling fairy lights along the walk leading to the front door. There was a security guard standing in front of the door that recognized them on sight and let them in. Molly cast him a nervous look, a big bloke who towered over her and had huge muscles and a bulging neck. James really knew how to pick his employees. Molly was still unsure how necessary this guard was, or the bodyguard, Heinrich, that went everywhere with James; she had to admit though, his stardom over the last three years had soared and the fact that he was Harry Potter's son did nothing to tone it down.
Behind her, she heard Dominique mumble something about over the top as they came into the foyer. James' housekeeper, Mrs. Taylor, took their coats with a solemn expression on her face, it seemed to Molly her expression never changed. With Clayton's arm at her waist, Molly led the way into the front room, where everyone had gathered. There were many familiar faces and she was carried away from her boyfriend by a tide of greetings and gossip. After kissing several cheeks and receiving more hugs, she found herself sitting on the corner sofa with a very pregnant Lily.
"Lils! How are you?" Molly embraced her younger cousin and took in the younger woman's glowing visage.
"I'm great! Mutt and I went to see Healer Grisham today and she told us it's really only a matter of time now."
"Where is the happy father, anyway?"
Lily waved her hand vaguely toward the door. "Oh, James dragged him off to show him something. It's a relief to be honest; the man has been smothering me with concern for the last nine months." She spoke wryly, but there was love for her husband in her eyes. Molly couldn't help but smile, though she felt a bit jealous. They'd gotten married the year before and showed no signs of letting go of the newlywed bliss.
"Of course he's concerned; you're pregnant with his child woman." Molly laughed.
"There you are!" They looked up as a short blonde in a short skirt came over to them. "I saw Clayton and knew you must be around somewhere."
"Lucy!" Molly jumped up to hug her younger sister. "We didn't think you were going to be able to make it."
"I wasn't." She said, sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of them. "But Ambassador Hinkle decided to cut the trip to Hungary short, so we got back just before noon this morning."
"How was the trip?" Lucy's job with the ambassador's office required a lot of travel on her part, but the restless young woman loved every minute of it.
"It went well, nothing too exciting. You look great Lily, when are you due?"
"Any day now." Lily replied, rubbing a hand over her swollen stomach, a smile stretching her features.
"I'm surprised not to find that husband of yours hovering over you like a mother hen."
"James took him to look at something, I'm sure he'll be back at it soon." Lily said with a laugh. "I think Clayton is looking for you Molly."
Molly looked up to see him coming toward them with a genial smile on his face. She stood, and just as he reached them, James came into the room, Sophia by his side. Mutt slipped through the crowd to help his wife to her feet as James announced that dinner was served. The crowd filed down the hallway into the dining room, with a table that would seat at least thirty people. It was nearly filled by the time everyone had taken their seats, and nearly half the guests were family.
The dining room, like the rest of the swanky house, which really ought to be deemed a mansion, was slightly overstated and, as Dominique complained, over the top. Sophia had helped James choose it, and her taste really played into it. There was a chandelier made of gold hanging low over the centre of the table, just above eye level. The chairs were padded with green and gold brocade and their oak legs sank into the plush gold carpet. Tall windows, at least eight feet high, looked out over the pool in back. French doors led out onto the patio that was set with full patio furniture set. On both ends of the table there were bowls full of fake ornamental fruit in crystal bowls, their place settings were fine china that Molly recognized as some of the finest to be had. She was also sure that the gold trim on the wine goblets and plates was real. She wrinkled her nose a bit in distaste at all of the opulence. It just didn't seem quite like James. Roxy was peeking at the underside of the china when Molly came up behind her.
"From Bloomingdale's?" Molly questioned.
"Something more expensive than that." Roxy replied with the same tone Molly was thinking in.
Clayton pulled out a chair for Molly beside Roxy, who was without her boyfriend, Tate, that night. Not that Molly minded, she and Dom both agreed that Roxy had terrible taste in men. Tate was one in a long string of jerks, as far as they were concerned. Across from them were James' Quidditch mates Jake Cahill and Lance Brown, a chaser and beater respectively for the Arrows. Cahill was blatantly flirting with Roxy and Molly could only hope something might come of it. She actually liked the tall, Scottish blonde. James was at the head of the table, Sophia beside him, laughing loudly at something Mutt had said. Albus was missing, as were Victoire and Ted, Rose, and Louis.
She actually found herself enjoying the dinner as talk flowed around the table easily, changing from light subjects, like quidditch, to a lively debate about who would win the next election for Minister. Molly wasn't shocked when her father's name came up as he'd always been ambitious and desired the position from what she could tell. It would be her mother with reservations, Audrey Weasley, née Templeton, was a quiet, private sort of person and having her husband in such a high profile position would doubtless put her in the spotlight as well. Lucy, on the other hand, shared their father's ambition and would love the advantageous position of minister's daughter. As an administrative assistant (a glorified secretary that made good money, really) Molly could see it affecting her as well.
"Do you think your dad will go for it?" Roxy asked Molly quietly, as the rest of the table moved on to another subject.
Molly shrugged. "If he can, I suppose. He's not exactly one to surpass an opportunity, is he?"
"What do you think of that?" Roxy asked with real concern in her voice. Of the three friends, she'd always been the one to pick up on feelings first.
"Oh, you know. Couldn't hurt, I suppose. Mum wouldn't like it much, but she'd pretend she did, for Dad's sake."
Roxy nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose so. You're a lot like her you know." When Molly shot her a questioning glance she elaborated. "I mean that you both tend to step aside for others. Let someone do something that you might not really want, because you know that they really want it."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Of course not! And your mother would never think it was either, she never regrets her decisions. But I don't know, it just seems like you are meant for something a little different." Before Molly could ask her what she meant, two catering servers dressed in white wheeled in a huge cake ablaze with candles and Roxy's attention was diverted.
After Happy Birthday had been sung, the group moved into the drawing room for cake and wine. It was here that James unveiled his grand gift for Sophia. Kent Harrison, an up and coming wizard singer, came out on the small stage in the corner with his guitar and serenaded the birthday girl. There was lots of clapping and even though Molly and all the other Weasley women disliked Sophia, they too joined in the 'ahhing' as Sophia smiled and kissed James tenderly. Kent Harrison stuck around for an hour, playing his well known songs, and a few covers as requested. As the hour came to an end, he called for everyone's attention.
"Can I get everyone's attention please? Now, I know we are all here tonight to wish Sophia a very happy birthday." More clapping. "But there was a special request made that Mr. Potter here approved and his lucky lady did too. Molly? Will you come up here sweetie?"
Molly's jaw dropped in shock. What the hell? She looked around for Clayton, but he was lost somewhere in the crowd that had grown after dinner. A grinning Dominique gave her a shove forward, getting a helpless look from Molly. Roxy, too, was grinning broadly. Molly's eyes narrowed, they were a little too aware of what was going on. Helpful hands of everyone who knew her, and a few who didn't really, were propelling her toward the stage, where Kent Harrison was smiling his million-galleon smile that was breaking the hearts of every young witch in the U.K. It was James' grinning face she saw last, handing her up the stairs to where the handsome young singer was waiting in the spotlight. She stumbled up, squinting against the light that was shining down on them.
"Now, Molly here is a very lucky girl." There were some cheers and a few hoots and catcalls, but Molly was still staring at Kent, bewildered. "See, it seems there's this very lucky boy who seems to like her rather a lot." His grin was huge now and as Molly looked out at her cousins, and best friends, Dom and Roxy, he motioned to someone behind them. "Now, Molly, this bloke here has a few things he'd like to say."
Molly turned around to see a very nervous looking Clayton step into the light. "Clayton? What are you doing?" She asked him. The crowd was quiet except for a few titters running through. Her boyfriend of three years took her hand in his own clammy one and nervously looked into her confused blue eyes.
"Molly. We've been together three years now, you know." He cleared his throat in the deafening silence that had fallen over the room. "And, well, I love you very much." Understanding spread across her face as he pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and sank to one knee before her. He refused the microphone someone offered him and gazed up with soulful brown eyes at the girl before him. Slowly, he opened the small box and revealed the sparkling diamond ring within.
"Molly Weasley, will you marry me?" Molly swore she could hear every person in the room take a deep breath and hold it as she stared at the man kneeling before her. To him, it must have felt like ages, when in reality it was only a few seconds.
"Molly!" A fierce whisper came from the edge of the stage. Dominique. "Answer him!"
"Oh!" She exclaimed, not even realizing that in her shock, she was silent. "Yes! Of course, yes!" A great cheer went up throughout the room as Clayton slipped the ring onto her finger and stood, kissing her soundly on the mouth. Not even the vain Sophia seemed to care that they had stolen her spotlight as Kent Harrison played one last song and they danced on the stage, alone in their own little world.
"I still can't believe it." Molly murmured quietly, her head tucked under his chin as they embraced on the step outside her small house. Clayton smoothed her hair with one hand, planting a kiss on top of her head. "I'm so happy Clayton."
"You made me nervous." He admitted with a chuckle. "You were just standing there staring at me with everyone watching, and you didn't make a sound."
Molly turned her head to kiss the underside of his chin. "You just surprised me is all. I didn't know quite what to do. There you were, with this beautiful ring, asking me to marry you and all I could think was 'Oh my god, he wants to marry me.' I'm sorry I scared you."
They stood in silence for several long minutes, his left arm holding her securely against him, the opposite hand stroking her hair. Molly had her arms wrapped around his waist, her shoes in one hand, facing the street, watching as the lights went out around them. That still moment, lost in their own little world together, she was so perfectly content. She felt warm, loved, and safe. In his arms, there were no unknown variables. He loved her, adored her, and she loved him in return. She sighed in contentment, a smile on her lips. Their future was set; she could see it in her mind. Clayton would work as hard as ever and become successful in the legal world. She would continue to be an administrative assistant until she was pregnant, then she would stay home in their house in the country, raising their three children. It was neat and perfect.
The night was almost silent around them, as if holding this moment in reverence as well. The sky above was clear, the moon shining brightly, nearly full. Here, on the outer part of town, nearly in the countryside, there were few lights to obscure her view of the stars shining above. They shone brightly that night, the sky clear and alight with the fire of them. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked, breaking the stillness.
Clayton tipped her head up so she was looking at him. "I love you so much Molly. I think I knew that we would come to this someday." He laughed a little. "The first time I saw you, it was like seeing the sun and I didn't think you'd ever give someone like me a chance."
Molly thought back to when they'd met, at a party Nate was hosting for a small group of friends. It had been a nice dinner, in celebration of his promotion. She gave Clayton a puzzled smile, wondering how he'd gotten that impression. They'd spent half the night talking after all.
"You were so beautiful. I even remember what you were wearing. Your hair falling down your back, looking wild and so beautiful. I had never seen anything like it."
She stepped back a little as he continued to talk. What was he talking about? Her hair had been up that night, she remembered him commenting on it. And she never looked wild. That was Dominique's department.
"There I was, wishing I had the nerve to go talk to you. Jealous of that bloke you were with."
"Clayton? What are you talking about? I wasn't with anyone that night."
He just nodded, a wry smile on his face. "Tall, good looking fellow. The way you looked at him, I thought for sure you were in love with him, that I'd never have a chance."
Molly pushed away. "Clayton, I was alone that night. I didn't have a date, and I most certainly wasn't looking at anyone like I was in love with them."
"Don't you remember? You were dancing and laughing, and I'd never seen anything more beautiful than you right there." He smiled, wondering why she didn't remember. "Maybe you didn't see me there. But I saw you."
"What are you talking about?"
"At James' party, when he signed with the Arrows. I was there with Nate, and that tall, dark bloke you were with. I saw you leave with him around eleven. I didn't even know you and I was burning jealous."
Molly stared at him in shock. She'd spent three years, two months, and eleven days trying to forget that night. Now he, her fiancé, remembered. He'd seen her acting like that. He'd seen that man. Gasping for air she didn't realize she'd lost, she stumbled back. Clayton's face was confused as he reached out toward her.
"Molly? Darling, what's wrong?"
"I – I'm sorry Clayton. I'm just tired. I think I drank too much tonight."
His face was lined with concern. "Okay. Why don't you go to bed then, and call me in the morning? Let me know if you're feeling better." Molly nodded, letting him lean down to kiss her. "I love you Molly."
"Love you too Clayton." He gave her one last puzzled and concerned look before turning to go. She watched as he stepped outside her wards and disapparated to his flat in London. Molly fumbled with the lock on the door; slamming it shut behind her once she was inside. She threw her jacket on the table in the entry and sprinted down the hall, dropping her shoes along the way. Breathless, her hands shaking, she grabbed her jewellery box and sat on the end of the bed. One trembling hand lifted out the necklace she'd passed over earlier. Headlights from a passing car caught the crystal for a moment, making it sparkle. Dominique and Roxy had never understood why she treasured it so much. It was a simple thing, a silver chain she'd found discounted and a crystal set in silver. She'd put it together herself, using an earring whose mate she'd lost.