Theme 21: Plans
October 3, 1969

Seventh year was both the most rigorous and most liberating year that Molly had yet to experience at Hogwarts. Her N.E.W.T. level classes were not any more difficult than they had been in sixth year, and there were more scheduled free periods. However, the work load that the Professors assign seemed to triple. On top of it all, Molly was planning a wedding.

She set aside two free periods each week to make plans and arrangements. Sometimes Arthur would sit in on these planning sessions. One Friday afternoon in October, they staked out a table in the Gryffindor common room and Molly started spreading out her supplies: a calendar, a day planner, a box of collected wedding photos, and stack of Enchantments for Brides magazine.

"We need to pick a date," Molly said. "I was thinking some time towards the end of July. "

"The nineteenth is a Sunday," Arthur said, pointing towards the calendar.

"July 19th," Molly repeated. "I like it. It sounds like an anniversary.."

"Then that's our date," Arthur said, drawing a large star on the calendar. He grinned up at Molly. "This wedding planning stuff is easy."

Molly raised her eyebrows at her. "Then I suppose you'll take care of the food, guest lists, seating charts, invitations, music, ceremony, cake, not to mention the clothing-"

"Okay, I get it. You can stop," Arthur said with a chuckle. "Let's start with a a guest list."

As Molly and Arthur were writing down their family and friends, Ted Tonks stumbled down the stairs from the boy's dormitories. His face was unshaven, his hair mussed, and his robes looked like they had been slept in. He noisily made his way across the common room, tripping over a footstool. He turned and kicked the stool several times, then stalked away from it to drop onto a vacant couch.

Puzzled by his behavior, Molly turned to Arthur and nodded towards Ted. "What's going on with him?"

"He and Andromeda broke up last night," Arthur said. Molly couldn't stop herself from smacking his arm.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded. "They're my friends too!"

"I figured they'd be back together by now," Arthur said, raising his hands in defeat. "That's what they usually do."

"Not this time. She's done with me," Ted said loudly. He dug a flask out of his pocket and started to fiddle with the cap. "You know, you really should lower your voishes when you t-talk about shomeone." Arthur got up, a look of concern passing over his face.

"What are you drinking, mate?" Molly followed Arthur. As they drew closer she could smell the firewhisky on their friend.

"Have you ever tried a pumpkin-whishky before?" Ted asked, looking up at them. "Two parsh pumpkin juish and one parsh firewhishky- it'sh delish-i-oush." He swirled the flask, then took a drink, smacking his lips. "I haven't got any pumpkin juish, though."

"Ted, is that the firewhisky you brought in your trunk?" Arthur asked.

"What'sh left of it," Ted confirmed. Molly didn't know how much firewhisky Ted had consumed, but by the look on Arthur's face, she was sure that it was quite a large amount. She kneeled next to Ted, taking his hand.

"Ted, what happened with Andy?" she asked gently.

"What do you shink happened?" Ted slurred. "The Lady Andro-me-da chowsh the mosht Heinous and Noble Housh of Black over me."

"Her family got in the way? Why?" Molly asked. Ted didn't answer her. A clock on the mantel chimed the hour. He lurched to his feet, sloshing firewhisky on Arthur's shoes. He turned towards the portrait hole. "Where are you going?"

"Ashtroniminy," Ted said.

"You're not taking Astronomy," Arthur said, grabbing Ted's arm. "And it's daytime, mate."

Ted looked out the window, concentrating for several moments. "Oh yeah," he said. "Then I guesh I'm going back to sh-shlip sheep... bed."

"Good idea," Molly said, taking the flask from him and passing it to her boyfriend. "You'll feel loads better if you get some rest."

He stumbled away. Arthur turned to Molly. "I'm going to make sure he get to his bed, and then I'll go over to the hospital wing for a Pepper-Up potion. He'll be wanting one after he sleeps off all that firewhisky." Molly nodded.

"It's lunchtime, so Andromeda should be in the Great Hall. I'm going to talk to her and try to get to the bottom of this." Arthur kissed her cheek.

"See you in Transfiguration," he said, rushing to stop Ted from walking into a wall.

Molly banished her wedding planning stuff to her dormitory with a quick spell and then set off for the Great Hall.

Andromeda Black was sitting at the Slytherin table, her face buried in an essay. Her plate was pushed aside, the food barely picked at. Molly sat down across from her.

"I heard you broke up with Ted," she said. When Andromeda looked up Molly noticed how rough her friend looked. Her face was unmade, with dark circles beneath her eyes, and her brown hair was pulled into a messy knot behind her head. Andromeda was as upset about the breakup as Ted was. Molly softened her tone. "What happened?"

Andromeda looked around the hall to see who might be listening.

"I'm engaged," she said softly.

"What?" Molly asked, shocked. Andromeda sighed.

"I found out that my parents have arranged marriages for my sisters and I. Bella was married this past summer, and Narcissa is to marry Lucius Malfoy when she's done with Hogwarts."

"Who is your betrothed?" Molly asked.

"David Crabbe," Andromeda said, naming an unsavory Slytherin seventh year student. Molly sat quietly for a moment. She couldn't imagine not having a choice who she married.

"What if you don't marry him?" Molly said. "Finish school and then just be with Ted."

"My family would never allow that. He's muggleborn," Andromeda said. "You know I don't care, but my family would. They'd disown me."

"Maybe that would be for the best, if your world-views differ that much," Molly said.

"They're my family," she insisted.

"Ted could be your family. And you'll always have your friends. Why don't you tell Ted the truth?"

Andromeda raised a hand to stop Molly. "It's easier on Ted this way. Now he can move on and forget about me."

"But you love him," Molly said quietly.

"I'll just have to learn to love Crabbe," Andromeda said with a tone of finality. Molly opened her mouth to counter the statement, but was cut off my Andromeda's sister.

"Aren't you going to help me study for my History of Magic exam?" Narcissa asked, ignoring Molly entirely.

"I'm coming, Cissy," Andromeda said. She looked back at Molly. "I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be."

Then she walked away, leaving Molly with the feeling that she was severing connections with more than just Ted.