Chapter 26: Oh, sweet Merlin!

Arthur stood nervously in front of his door and sighed heavily. He could well imagine how his wife would react to his news. They were newlywed after all and yet his superior expected him to place his job on top of the list. The old sod had never gotten married himself, so he had no idea that Arthur would rather sell his soul to Satan than spend two weeks away from his beautiful, vibratious wife. Sighing again heavily, Arthur walked briskly up to the door and opened it. The kitchen was neat and clean, the food and plates carefully laid out for their dinner.

Arthur heard her humming a happy tune. He was definitely in love with a wonderful woman. He stood in the doorway watching her for a few moments. She stood with her back to him, her figure silhouetted through her robe, and her movements were fluid and sensual. As she tried a piece of fruit and gave a sensual 'mmmmm' he could no longer resist her.

The rhythmic sound of the knife slicing through the fruit faltered when she felt two arms encircle her waist. Molly felt her husband nuzzle her neck, and shifted her head slightly to give him better access to her neck. She wasn't disappointed as she felt his lips sear the delicate skin of her neck. His hands enclosed around hers, and took up the rhythmic beat of slicing the fruit.

"I love you so much."

He whispered in her ear and sealed his proclamation with a kiss just below her ear. She attempted to turn in his arms, but was impeded by his close proximity. Instead, she felt his hands grip hers a bit more firmly as they continued to slice up a pineapple. The mundane task soon became much more exciting than Molly ever thought a simple task could be. As the sound of their rhythmic "swish thunk, swish thunk" of the knife piercing the skin of the fruit and then coming to rest against the board filled the kitchen, Arthur began to sway against her in time to their music.

His hands moved from holding hers, to moving up her arms, caressing her. As his hands reached her shoulder, they curved around and began moving down her body. Molly enjoyed the tingle of excitement she got as his hands gently caressed the side of her breasts. But she continued their rhythm "swish thunk, swish thunk." His lips moved from her ear to her neck to the exposed skin of her shoulder. His hands found the tie of her robe and she vehemently tried to continue they rhythm of the knife "swish….swish….thunk…thunk… swish…thunk….thunk….thunkthunkthunkthunk" Molly could no longer concentrate on her hands as her husband slowly began to manipulate her with his. One hand was tweaking her breast as the other was sneaking its way south. The knife clattered against the counter as he touched her intimately. She leaned heavily against him and turned to share a kiss with him.

Molly had never felt so alive or so desired in her life. She wanted to see the look in her husband's eyes as he stoked the fire that was quickly becoming an inferno in her. She turned in his arms, and his hands both immediately moved a few inches north of their previous targets. The one that had been tending her breast gently cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him for a searing kiss. The one that had been stroking her passion encircled her waist and pulled her closer to him, allowing her to feel the passion she had invoked in him. She groaned as she felt him pulse against her. She broke their kiss and looked into his eyes. She was pleased to see the desire and flickering of lust in his eyes. She attempted to move from his embrace and suggest that they continue this in the bedroom, but Arthur didn't move. He shook his head and mumbled "here".

Her protest died on her lips as his consumed them. He pressed himself against her and she was trapped between his hard body and the hard counter. She moaned as he pressed into her, the knob of the cabinet digging into her lower spine. All she felt was pleasure as he slowly slipped off her robe, his fingers delicately caressing her skin as more and more of it was exposed to his touch. His hand fell from her back to the counter, as he blindly reached for a piece of pineapple. Once the piece of fruit was secured he leaned back from her a bit, and placed the fruit in his mouth. He then brought his lips back to hers, and they lovingly shared the piece of fruit. The cold juices of the sweet fruit were a delightful contrast to the warm heat of his tongue in her mouth. He reached for another piece and again, placed it in his mouth. He had planned to share this piece much like the other one, but was stopped by the look in her eyes. Instead, her hands gently enclosed over his hand and she brought it to her mouth. Molly slowly licked away the juices from his fingers, first running her tongue up one side of the finger then down the other. She began with his pinky, then moved to the next finger, as she reached the tip of the fourth finger, she slowly sank her mouth over the entire finger, letting her teeth graze his knuckle. They both let out a satisfied moan of the blatant erotic mimicry of a different sexual act. Her lips ascended his finger and keeping eye contact with her husband, her lips descended his finger again, this time caressing him with her tongue.

"Oh, sweet Merlin."

As she ascended the tip of his finger again, Arthur could no longer resist the taste of her mouth – it had been far too long since he had kissed her. He quickly replaced his finger with his tongue as he proceeded to taste and possess his wife.

----

Arthur and Molly spent the rest of the evening with shared smiles and soft kisses. Stroking each other, they eat in silence, feeding each other. Arthur had never been more in love with a human being than at this moment with Molly.

Molly got up reluctantly to gather the dishes and wash up. This time she wasn't surprised to feel her husband's arms around her waist. Leaning back against him, she continued to scrub the dishes.

"I have to tell you something, Mollywobbles."

"Alright, Arthur, I too have to tell you something. You go first though."

"No, you go first."

"No, Arthur", Molly giggled softly, "You tell me now and then I tell you my news."

Arthur sighed against her neck. He would have wished for Molly to go first but she had told him to go on. So he bit into the sour apple with heavy heart, dreading his wife's reaction.

"Well, you know that I plan to run the department of Abuse of Muggle Artifacts?" He paused to wait for her nod and then continued. "And the old man decided that we both should go to a technicians' convention. I hate o leave you but he made it very clear that I could …"

Molly hushed him by turning around in his arms and kissing his nose. Smiling, she explained herself.

"That's good news … Not that I mean you leaving is good", she added quickly, "But see I got a letter from Poppy and Minerva, suggesting I come and visit them. Pomona is going to the Netherlands, visiting a friend who grows tulips and magical flowers. Albus and Minerva are struggling to keep up with their daughter and their work for Hogwarts. I would love to go and take care of little Kathlyn but I felt guilty for leaving you."

"So you're right. This is working out great. I'll be gone for two weeks. Is this ok?"

"Oh yes, that should give me enough time to exercise diapering and feeding a baby … or does Minerva breast-feed? … I'll have to ask her."

Arthur was slightly overrun. He had not anticipated her positive reaction. But he was happy that she wouldn't sit alone in the house. Minerva surely could use Molly's help with the newborn.

"Good, than it's a date. You go to Hogwarts for two weeks and I go on that boring convention. You'll definitely have more fun than I have."

Molly chuckled softly and rose onto tiptoe to kiss him gently on his lips.

"Deal, I have fun and you get promoted."

----

Pomona was a little frustrated. She had been out with Poppy and they shared kisses and light touches but Poppy always shrank back from more. Pomona had really tried to be supportive and take it slow but for some reason Poppy seemed uncomfortable to go all the way. But she would leave for the Netherlands and, call her slutty or needy, but she wanted the feel of Poppy on her body to get her through the three weeks of separation.

Poppy wondered what was wrong with Pomona. She really acted strange for the last two days. Poppy knew that Pomona was a bit put off by her shyness. The truth was that she still had her doubts about their relationship.

Seeing Pomona this depressed, made Poppy's decision come even easier. She had decided to give Pomona a special farewell. They were both sitting in Pomona's sitting room and drank cool lemonade.

Slowly she leaned over to Pomona. Poppy's arms were soft as they wrapped around Pomona, softer still were her kisses which rained on her cheek and jaw. Pomona turned willingly toward her, smiling a gentle smile. Perfect, bow-shaped lips found hers, gentle and coaxing. Pomona relaxed completely under them, wondering faintly what caused the unusual behavior of her lover.

Poppy shivered with need as Pomona rose and crawled on top of her. Never before had she felt such passion. She was afraid of the new feelings Pomona awakened in her. She had not experienced these feelings before. Poppy had been a virgin when she married and her husband had never been interested in pleasuring her.

Pomona had taught Poppy things, but not only physical things. No, she had taught Poppy what love really meant.

Her lips trail down Poppy's neck, the hem of her nightgown pulled and bunched around her stomach, her hands teasing circles into Poppy's thighs. Poppy had chosen this, as Pomona's fingers slip into her, keeping rhythm, their newfound rhythm.

Poppy whispered her name repeatedly against an ear so willing to hear it that it was pressed against them, biting and whispering. Her breath came quick now, as did Pomona's, and her lips found Poppy's neck, but never long enough to leave a mark. Poppy's collarbone was now occupied with her mouth, still traveling downward, and her fingers messed into her hair.

She pulled away slightly, drew her fingers out of Poppy's. Poppy whimpered and pushed her head toward the ache at the apex of her thighs, but the sound was lost as her lips melt into hers once more, inducing another of similar proportion. Then they lifted, almost completely, and brushed slowly downward. It was a touch that was barely even existent, and yet Poppy shivered with want. She knew what would come, and their feelings seemed to mix together, melting through their flesh upon contact.

Pomona's soft, bow-shaped mouth was upon Poppy's right breast now, and she could measure the slight force which she applied to her motions, deciding that that is where Poppy would find her mark in the morning. Poppy lost herself in her lover, lifting to her and bending each way she willed her to bend.

Even as she kissed Poppy's most intimate place, as she did her best to suppress the scream which clawed up her throat, rushing forth in the form of her name, poppy couldn't stop wondering where the feelings came from. But then she was carried away on a wave of pleasure.

"Oh, sweet Merlin! Pomona!"

As they lay, by this point quite naked, their breaths slowing in unison, in the most intimate embrace imaginable, Poppy was completely relaxed in her lover's arms for the first time.

----

The two weeks with Minerva and Poppy were wonderful. Molly was enchanted by little Kathlyn and, according to Minerva, spoiled her just as badly as her father spoiled her.

"She is just so adorable, Mina", Molly tried to defend herself.

Minerva smiled benevolently and shook her head dismissively.

"You and Albus are horrible. Don't pick her up every time she cries. She just wants attention."

Minerva walked over to stand beside Molly in front of the cradle. Smiling softly, she bend over the cradle and held out her index fingers. Grinning broadly, her daughter wrapped her tiny hands around them, her tears forgotten immediately. Squawking happily, Kathlyn drew her knees up and kicked happily.

Molly saw deep love in Minerva's eyes and knew that Minerva had found her place in life. But this time no green-eyed snake rose its head. This time the image of Arthur rose in her inner eye and she smiled just as sweetly as Minerva.

But suddenly a nauseating feeling hit her like a punch in the stomach. Turning away from Minerva and the baby, she ran for the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet and threw up in it.

Minerva saw Molly going a light green around the gills and making a dash to the bathroom. She followed her worriedly, with Kathlyn on her arm.

"Molly, are you fine in there?"

Instead of an answer she heard the unmistakable sounds of someone throwing up.

"Oh my God, Molly, you're sick!" Minerva turned to the fire, roaring in her back, and threw in some floo powder. "Poppy, come to me immediately!"

Poppy came through the fireplace in a flurry of ash and skirts.

"What is wrong? Is Kathlyn all right?"

"Yes, Kathy is fine but Molly is sick in the bathroom."

Poppy went right in and bent over Molly, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Honey, what is wrong? Have you eaten anything funny?"

"No, I just sick. Happened for the last two days. Nothing to worry about … or am I contagious to Kathlyn?"

"I don't think so but come with me and we check you out."

In the Hospital Wing Poppy rummaged through her potions stock and came up with two potions.

"Take this and let's see if something happens. It's an easy potion that detects bacteria in your system that shouldn't be there."

Obediently Molly swallowed the potion and waited. Nothing happened and she wrinkled her nose.

"What is supposed to happen, Poppy?"

"Oh, it's ok. I didn't expect something to happen anyway. Now take this one."

The moment Molly swallowed the potion, she felt a tingling feeling all over her body. Whe she looked down on herself she saw a faint blue light covering her belly.

"Oh, sweet Merlin", she whispered softly.

Minerva and Poppy stared at her and grinned from one ear to the other.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant."