So I kept the rating at T, but please be advised that there is some physical intimacy in the last section of this chapter. If you don't want to read it, just stop at the dinner scene. If you do, carry on.

Summer Break 1966

Arthur's stomach pained him as he took The Floo to the Prewett's house. It was Molly's idea to join her family for dinner in order to meet her parents. He was amenable to the idea as he knew how important it was to her, but the thought itself was a bit daunting. When he was her friend, he'd come into contact with her mother here and there, but Mr. Prewett was another matter. Not to mention, every since it became known that they were a couple, Gideon and Fabian had been regarding him a bit suspiciously each time they passed the corridors at school.

He wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this evening. But he prepared himself for difficult questions from her parents and ridicule from her brothers and Rose like she warned him in her owl. But the moment he arrived, standing in the fireplace in their sitting room, all the nerves washed away as she leapt to her feet.

Her hair was softly curled, half pulled back on either side by bronze flowered clips as it tumbled down her shoulders. She wore a white, long sleeved blouse that was tucked into a red, white, and black tartan high waisted skirt that barely graced her knees. Before he could appraise her appearance further, she rushed towards him, pulling him from The Floo with both hands.

"You're here!" She gushed excitedly, dusting off the residual soot from his shoulders before tossing her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Dipping his chin until it rested atop her shoulder, his arms encircled her waist and he murmured, "Good to see you too Molls."

"Ooh! Look who it is!"

Arthur looked up and saw Gideon and Fabian leaning over the staircase railing from the sitting room entryway. Both of them were smirking, their brown eyes twinkling with a sort of magical mischief that suggested there was more they wanted to say in the moment.

He pulled away from Molly waving over her shoulder at both of them with a broad grin.

"Look at that jumper," Fabian cracked an amused smile, clearly poking fun at the variety of colours mingled with geometric shapes. He hopped the last few stairs before practically skipping into the sitting room. Pinching his sleeve, he examined it and remarked, "Artie, did you knit that yourself?!"

"I'm not that talented, I'm afraid," Arthur commented wryly.

"Shove off, Fab," Molly pushed him in the chest, her eyes flashing dangerously.

He backed off, holding his hands up in mock surrender. But Arthur caught him winking as he passed by into the adjoining room.

"Looks like something Molly would've made for you," Gideon continued teasingly, earning an open palm slap between his shoulder blades from her.

"Out! The pair of you!"

As they both sauntered out of sight in the next room, she turned to face him, her hands cupping his forearms. Her gaze swept over his front, and she beamed, "You look nice."

"So do you," He complimented, bringing a thumb up to stroke the side of her face.

"Thought we heard someone arrive!" Came the trilling tone of Mrs. Prewett as she swayed back and forth with arms wide open and outstretched to hug him. She pulled his tall frame into her shorter one, squeezing all the air out of his lungs. "Good to see you Arthur!" She greeted warmly, pulling away to look up at him. "How is your mother? I haven't seen her in ages!"

"She's good," He offered with a weak smile.

Tilting her head to one side, she wondered brightly, "Enjoying her retirement?"

"I guess," His shoulders lifted as he answered uncertainly.

She released him and took a step back. Arthur felt Molly hang back onto his arm, her hand curling around his.

"So, this is Cedrella's boy?"

He looked up and spotted whom he presumed to be Mr. Prewett. He stood half a head shorter than Arthur, his hair, thinning and a ruddy orange brown. His eyes were slanted and a deep, rich brown, very much like all his children's. And he puffed on a pipe thoughtfully, his gaze scanning up and down Arthur as though he might be up to something nefarious just by standing in the middle of his sitting room.

Molly reprimanded stiffly, "Arthur, Dad."

"Right," He took another puff on the pipe before blowing out a slow breath, tendrils of smoke curling around him.

This was his moment. He took a step forward and extended his hand, "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Prewett."

Mr. Prewett nodded in response, regarding him and then his hand with an air of suspicion.

Arthur felt all the blood rush to his face, his heart hammering mercilessly as they stood there, neither one of them making a move.

After what felt like an eternity, Molly's Dad clapped a hand on Arthur's shoulder. He gripped him tightly, and then steered him back through the sitting room, towards the other doorway. "Let's have a quick chat, shall we?" He proposed firmly.

Molly exclaimed, clearly horrified, "Dad!"

"Oh hush, Molls," He casually remarked over his shoulder. "This will only take a minute."

"Mum!" She groaned through gritted teeth.

Arthur heard Mrs. Prewett remark softly to Molly, "Come along dear."

"Ooh Artie's getting…" He heard either Fab or Gid begin to remark before being silenced.

Arthur suppressed a peal of amusement, suspecting that it may have been Molly to deliver another sharp smack to whomever it was trying to goad them into embarrassment. But Mr. Prewett took no notice of this as he led him into what appeared to be a small study.

There were bookshelves laid into one wall, a worn-out desk situated just in front of it with three scratched leather armchairs that appeared to have seen better days. Once in the room, Arthur heard the door close behind him and then felt Mr. Prewett walk around him while thoroughly studying him up and down in a rather pointed manner that made his stomach clench and unclench anxiously.

He took another drag on his pipe before blowing smoke out of the corner of his mouth and remarking. "So…you and Molly've been going out for a while now?"

Arthur nodded in reply, swallowing the knot in his throat, "Erm…about six or seven months or so?"

Mr. Prewett tilted his head to the side before asking, "Well, which is it?"

"Erm…nearly seven months, I'd say," Arthur offered weakly as he quickly attempted to calculate the particulars.

Nodding, he went on in a neutral tone, "She's very happy."

It was difficult for Arthur to decipher where he was headed with this conversation. And so he settled on an appropriate response of, "I hope so."

"I think it's a credit to you being with her," Mr. Prewett chewed on the end of his pipe before setting it down on the desk behind him.

Flashing a quick smile, Arthur replied, "Erm…thanks."

When the two men faced one another again, he noticed a ruddy brow quirking up at him. His mouth drawn into a tight line, Mr. Prewett informed him tersely, "Molly's a very special girl."

There was a definite pause, and Arthur felt his chest tighten as the other man's eyes darkened in front of him. He opened his mouth to grapple for an appropriate response to this, but Molly's father had other ideas. After what felt like a few very painful seconds, Mr. Prewett folded his arms in front of him, and took a step closer towards him, "She has a good heart. She cares for people very easily."

"Yes, I, uh…" Arthur fumbled for the right words.

Jutting his chin out, Mr. Prewett's next words came out almost like a growl, "Don't you ruin that bit of her."

Eyes widening Arthur immediately began, "I, uh, I won't. I really do care for your daughter, Mr. Prewett." He hoped he sounded as genuine as he felt and not merely terrified.

Angling his head off to one side he went on, "And you respect her?"

"Of course," Arthur bobbed his head enthusiastically. "Absolutely."

As he continued examining his expression as though it might suddenly morph into something less than desirable, Mr. Prewett nodded curtly. "Good. See to it that that doesn't change."

"Yes, sir."

"Because you know," His voice was losing its hardened edge now. Some note of gratitude was beginning to ring through as he reminded him, "I heard what you did to that Travers boy."

Arthur felt lighter somehow. Of course, he would know about that. How he had defended Molly's honor and taken a punch to the face for her. His own sons also received detention for that incident. It was only naturally it would have been mentioned.

But all that lightness floated away, and he felt heavier as Mr. Prewett turned back on the threatening tone, "Don't think I won't hear about anything else."

Swallowing his mouth that suddenly felt dry, Arthur croaked, "Right."

Another awkward pause full of staring transpired between them. Arthur felt beads of sweat forming at his temples under the pressure of Mr. Prewett's gaze. And suddenly, the harsh expression dissipated.

"Good!" He clapped another hand on Arthur's shoulder, his voice borderline cheery now. "Now, shall we join the rest for dinner?"

Not wanting to disrupt the momentary peace, Arthur followed him out of the study.

Molly was only half paying attention as her mother instructed her and Rose to set the table up. She knocked over one of the water goblets as she lay down a bowl of steaming veggies. Thankfully, Rose evaporated all evidence of it, and was quick to refill it.

"Thanks," Molly mumbled with an anxious smile.

"It'll be fine, Molls," Rose placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before passing by.

They disappeared back into the kitchen, gathering more accoutrements for the table. When they returned to the dining room, Molly saw her father returning with Arthur following close behind. She quickly set down the butter dish and strode over to him.

Her brow inverted and she probed quietly, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," Arthur assured her easily. "Everything's fine."

"I hope it wasn't too horrible." She winced, trying to imagine what sort of things her father threatened him with.

"No," He chuckled softly, clearly thinking her concern was something to laugh about. Arthur reached for her hand and squeezed, "He just doesn't want anything bad to happen to you."

Of course not, she thought with an urge to roll her eyes at this notion. But Arthur admitted something that made her stop and feel as though her heart might take flight.

"Truth be told, neither do I."

Her mouth curved into an appreciative smile at this, and she squeezed his hand in response.

"Are you two going to keep making eyes at each other or do you plan on tucking in?" Fabian remarked, stepping in between them to set down a basket of dinner rolls.

They broke apart and glanced away, taking seats side by side. Rose sat on the other side of Molly, and on her right, at the end of the table sat Marvin Prewett. Gideon and Fabian were across from Molly, Arthur, and Rose, and Demelza took the other head seat with Arthur and Gideon on either side of her.

They all placed napkins on their laps, with the exception of Gid and Fab, who took great care in tucking them into the front of their polo shirts. Molly glanced over and saw Arthur suppressing a laugh at this, especially after Mrs. Prewett merely exhaled heavily and shook her head at them.

"At least they're minding their manners," Mr. Prewett mused, catching his wife's eye.

They soon began passing around dishes and helping themselves to the steamed veg that came in a rich, cheesy sauce that smelled divine, buttered potatoes, and sliced roast.

"So, Arthur," Molly heard her mother remark, "I hope you like rib roast."

He nodded and replied politely, "Yes, it all looks very good."

"Mum pulled all the stops for you," Fabian stabbed a potato before shoving it into his mouth.

Gideon, who was pouring a river of gravy over everything, added slyly, "Yeah, feel special, we never use the fancy china."

"That's not true," Demelza argued with a slight frown. Then she beamed over at Arthur before remarking, "Don't you listen to them, Arthur." As she went on loading up his plate with extra potatoes.

Feeling a bit of irritation creeping up inside of her Molly informed her mother plainly, "Mum…he can get his own plate."

"I was just being nice." She shrugged, setting the serving dish down in surrender.

Fabian taunted, "How come you never get our plates for us, Mum?"

"Yeah, what's that all about?" Gideon echoed.

"You're right," Demelza remarked sarcastically, "I haven't taken the time to feed you at all for the last fourteen years."

A round of snickers descended upon the table at this.

Soon after, Marvin cleared his throat, dispersing the twins from any additional theatrics. "So, Arthur, Molly tells us that you're working at The Leaky Cauldron this summer?"

"Yes," He replied, leaning forward to look over at her father. With a shrug he added, "Just cleaning up the tables and such."

Inclining his head before taking a sip of wine, Marvin replied, "Now that's work that will keep you honest."

"Artie's already honest," Fab chaffed.

"Yeah being a Perfect Prefect," Gid practically sang.

Molly's gaze shot daggers at both of them, her jaw clenching tightly in an effort to suppress the harsh words she wanted to hurl at both of them.

"Yes, so Molly's told us," Demelza remarked excitedly, completely ignoring the twins remarks. "What an achievement. Isn't it, Marv?"

"Yes," He didn't look up as he cut into his meat.

A moment of peaceful silence descended upon the table, and Molly's hand snuck under the table to offer Arthur's thigh a reassuring squeeze. Their eyes met momentarily, and she smiled over at him. He returned the gesture, clearly more at ease than she felt at present.

It wasn't that she was worried per se about her parent's liking Arthur. He was nearly impossible not to like. But she couldn't help but worry that perhaps there would be something deficient about him that she was too blind to see. Something that might impact the future of their relationship. She'd been prone to poor judgment in the past. She hoped he was an exception to this.

Demelza cut through the quiet again, this time pondering through a realization of her own, "But Diagon Alley from your Essex…now that's quite a far jaunt, isn't it?"

"Uhm well," Arthur finished chewing and swallowing his food, "I'm actually staying with my brother, Bilius, this summer. He lives in Hogsmede Village."

"Oh." Demelza's curt remark prompted Molly to look up and notice a quick look of concern transpiring between them.

There would undoubtedly be a talk later about how she failed to mention this, followed by an outline of strict rules regarding her visitation privileges to see Arthur this summer.

But for now, her father merely asked, "And what does he do?"

"He's finishing up Auror College."

"Hmm…" Marvin considered this while gathering up several pieces of cauliflower on his fork. "Noble work." He took a bite, chewed, and then swallowed before shooting Arthur a suggestive glance. "But I imagine he's not around much."

Molly tensed at this, bracing herself for whatever response Arthur was about to give and how it might unknowingly impact her ability to see him this summer. She tried to catch his eye and silently caution him, but he was intent on keeping eye contact with her father as they spoke.

"No, not much. But I manage."

Demelza provided with a saddened half smile, "Your parents must miss you though."

"I suppose," He shrugged, skewering a potato on his fork. He then admitted, "Dad's been working abroad a great deal."

"He's in the Ministry, yes?" Marvin posed, to which Arthur simply nodded while he ate. "Has he been to Albania with everything that's been happening with the giants?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," He replied before elaborating. "He's the Department Head for the Magical Reversal Squad, so they've had a lot do with fixing all the sightings."

"Strange what's happening with them, isn't it?" Marvin remarked with a slight shake of his head.

"What's happening?" Fab asked curiously.

Demelza explained simply, "Their numbers are increasing on the outskirts of several Muggle towns and villages."

Gid pressed, "But why?"

"No one seems to know," Demelza offered with a shrug.

"The standard line the Albanian Minister of Magic is giving is that they're tired of hiding." Marvin told them. "But the question is…why do they want their presence known amongst Muggles? They've sought to conceal themselves from our kind for decades. Why do they want Muggles to know they exist?"

"Doesn't that violate the International Statue of Secrecy?" Molly asked.

"Certainly does," Marvin agreed.

"But perhaps they feel it doesn't apply to them," Demezla piped up. "They don't wish to be classified as creatures, and yet, we won't give them full rights as witches or wizards…" Her voice trailed off and she shrugged, the edges of her mouth twitching.

Their news reported this matter almost daily. What started out as half a dozen giant sightings by Muggles, was now well into the hundreds. Which explained why the Albanian Minister called on to the British Minister to send additional assistance in resolving the matter. They simply could not control it alone.

Arthur's father had spent the majority of their summer break camped out in Albania, working through this issue as much as possible. Not only was his department reported to be overworked in the Ministry, but those in the International Muggle Relations Department had also been called up to try and work through something that would resolve the situation entirely.

So far, their efforts had only kept the matter under control. But no definite resolution was in sight.

After several seconds of silence, Arthur spoke up again, "Are you branching out and planning to fight for equal rights for Magical Creatures, Mrs. Prewett?"

She lifted her shoulders and waved her hand nonchalantly, "Oh no, I'm afraid I'll be dead and gone before I can branch out beyond MMA's, Witches, & Squibs. I'll have to leave that to the next generation."

Molly felt her mother's icy blue eyes land on her. And then she immediately grew defensive, pushing her potatoes around on her plate.

"Don't look at me. I'm not a leader, Mother."

Her voice was sharp and determined to hold its course. She wouldn't allow for her mother to bully her into this argument they'd been having more and more recently as Molly's time at Hogwarts was nearing an end.

Thankfully, her father was quick to insert himself in this conversation. He asked casually, "Arthur, have you given thought to what you'll do after Hogwarts?"

"Oh uhm…probably something within the Ministry," Was his vague reply.

Cocking her head to one side, she shot him something of a perplexed look. Arthur precisely knew the job he wanted if he got into the Ministry. Why he was being so shy about it now, she didn't have the fainted idea.

"More than just something," Molly coaxed gently before she proudly announced. "Arthur's very interested in the fair treatment of Muggle borns. He wants to really make a difference in regard to their rights. So he's thinking of something in the International Muggle Relations Department." She finished with a smile in her father's direction.

Marvin inclined his head and offered a lifted brow in approval to this statement.

"Well…" Demelza came round a bit haughtily, "…how interesting for you to be proud of Arthur's interest in equality. But when your dear mother discusses it, it's an annoyance."

Molly sighed, slowly turning her gaze towards her mother, "I never said that. I've worked at one of the MMA houses for how many years?"

Leaning forward in her seat, Demelza persisted, "But you can do so much more than look after children."

"But I like looking after them," Molly insisted, feeling her cheeks grow warm.

Her mother slowly shook her head, "I didn't fight against all this adversity for you to end up…"

"I haven't ended up anywhere!" Molly felt a spark light up inside of her chest.

The insinuations her mother cast in her direction. The constant clipped phrases full of disappointment at her being content versus wanting more for herself. She didn't want to hear it any longer.

Marvin came in with an even voice, "There's no need to shout."

"There's every need if that's all she's willing to…"

"Molly Ginevra." Her father silenced her effectively and she glanced down, feeling her face burning. This time out of shame. "Let's just…" He exhaled, bringing his hands up in the air and conducting a sort of pushing motion to suggest they shove all these excessive emotions down.

"There's still time to decide," Rose piped up, hoping to appease both of them.

"Yes," Molly agreed hotly. "See? Who knows? Maybe I'll shuck it all and become a Healer?"

Demelza's brow shot up to the middle of her forehead as she clucked rather dispassionately, "That's a new one."

"It was Arthur's idea," Molly sat up straighter in her chair, covering his forearm with her hand.

She saw her mother inhaled a steadying breath, her eyes flittering over to Arthur's before then landing on her father's. Her lips were pursed tightly together, and she appeared to be exercising a sort of self-control as she muttered, "Well."

Arthur then quickly spoke up, "Molly certainly has the right temperament for it. And she's brilliant at Potions and Charms."

"Here, here." Came a chant of agreement from the opposite end of the table. Molly looked down to see her father lifting his goblet in approval of this before taking a quick sip. "If her marks at school are any indication, she's very talented indeed." Marvin then assured his wife with a gratifying smile and a tilt of his head, "We needn't worry about Molly, Demelza."

Long after dinner ceased, Molly and Arthur found themselves alone, leaning against one of the apple trees in the garden. Legs stretched out in front of them, their hands sought one another's beneath a woven blanket that Molly's Granny knitted many years ago.

The sky above them was a deep navy outlined by black clouds that passed over the twinkling stars and the sliver of moon that occasionally made an appearance. It was a warm evening. The air was thick with moisture, suggesting that perhaps, a storm might roll in at any point in time.

Even with this knowledge, an occasional cooling breeze whipped past them. Which explained away any suspicions anyone might have regarding the blanket.

"I'm sorry about that row with Mum," Molly apologized with a lift of her eyes. She turned her face to the side, the rough bark scratching at her cheek. "She's been on me about not doing enough for WERC all summer long."

"I know," He smiled easily before telling her softly. "And you don't have to apologize."

"I do…I probably ruined dinner for you," She bemoaned, feeling utterly foolish for the way she behaved in front of him.

But he replied in usual Arthur fashion, entirely positive and void of any doubts. "Not at all. I think it went well."

"Really?" Her brow knit together, and her mouth turned down at the corners.

His eyebrows lifted and he bobbed his head, "Mhm."

"You're not just saying that?" Molly's mouth twisted to the side of her face uncertainly, and she looked down between them.

This prompted him to take in a deep breath before exhaling out her name, "Molly…"

"Well I don't want you just to say things to make me feel better," She interjected defensively, her widened eyes and heart full of nerves meeting his calmness like a tidal wave reaching shore.

His face remained soft with a touch of wisdom that suggested he was far older than sixteen. Removing one hand from beneath the blanket's cover, he stroked her chin while countering gently, "And I don't want you just to doubt everything I say in an effort to find something to worry about."

"I don't…!"

"You do." His head tilted to the other side and smiled at her with a knowing grin.

She felt her lips twisting similarly as she came to realize that he was right. All she'd done all night was worry about everything. She wanted it to be perfect. It was a hopeless cause to care to that degree when such a thing was merely impossible.

"Sorry," She replied bashfully.

He shook his head, "Don't apologize."

His hand moved to splay around her neck, thumb lightly stroking the underside of her jaw. She leaned forward until her forehead came into contact with his lips and she felt him press a reassuring kiss there. Burrowing her face into the hollow of his throat, he brought an arm around her, and they sat like that for several moments in time.

But when the silence became too much for her bustling mind, Molly intoned uncertainly, "I just…how is it possible to be this happy?"

"I dunno, it just is?" It was a weak argument, but how quickly he managed to say it made her try to at least believe in it.

Pulling away to look him in the face, she wondered, "Aren't you ever afraid it might end?"

"Do you want it to end?" He questioned docilely.

"No!" Her heart stopped at the thought, and she sounded utterly horrified at his question. "Of course not!"

Smiling, Arthur easily replied, "Then it won't."

Frowning she began defensively, "But how…"

He tilted back her face and kissed her firmly on the lips to silence any further objections she might have. And then whenever she allowed herself to relax and give into her feelings, their mouths moved together languidly. Time seemed to stop whenever they kept at it, fanning the flames of passion that burned deep inside of them.

Any ounce of worry or concern that may have weighed heavily on Molly evaporated as Arthur kissed her until her mouth felt swollen and she could scarcely breathe. Then he peeled his mouth away from hers, their foreheads pressed together.

The only sounds that could be heard were a symphony of crickets in between their heavy, labored breathing.

And somehow, she managed to hear his throaty request of, "Can I touch you?" His hand hovering just below her breast, his thumb wandering a bit higher than it usually did.

She suddenly forgot everything. Where they were and what had once happened to her. For she responded in kind by guiding his hand over the swell of her chest and placed her mouth to his once again. He rasped in between kisses at this new sort of freedom and she felt herself grower hotter and desperate for more.

With shaking fingers, she started undoing the high collar of her blouse, and Arthur sucked on her bottom lip before his lips moved down to the underside of her jaw. Molly tilted her head back and his mouth continued downward, planting warm kisses down the curve of her neck.

She sighed in exaltation as his hand snaked down the opening of her shirt, diving into her bra as he cupped her breast. He kissed his way across her collarbone and down the swell of her chest before slowly peeling back the fabric and taking her hardened nipple between his lips.

Molly gasped and felt a dampness pool between her legs as he continued sucking and licking her there. She moaned softly as he kissed her between her breasts before moving on to repeat the same repertoire on the other one. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her back arched and she found herself wanting this to never end. Unfortunately for them, this brief moment of heated passion was cut short by a disturbance from above.

The sound of two pairs of lips smacking and making dramatized moaning sounds made them immediately break apart and rearrange themselves for modesty's sake.

"Oh Arthurrrr!" Gideon crooned.

"Oh, kiss me again!" Fabian groaned.

Molly whirled around the other side of the tree and glanced upward to see both Gideon and Fabian on the porch overhang, which was just below their bedroom window. Both boys were making kissing sounds and swooning in a sensational manner.

Feeling her face grow hot from shame at being discovered and then from the anger of being interrupted, she scrambled to her feet and shouted up at them, "You little shits!"

"Ooh hoo hoo!" Fabian chortled, cocking his head from side to side. He turned to shout back into their open window, "Muuuum! Molly said a cuss word!"

Before Demelza could offer a reply from the depths of the house, Molly cried back just as loudly, "Mum! They won't leave Arthur and I alone!"

And then a faint shouted reply came from inside, "Boys! Leave your sister alone! Molly! Arthur needs to be home in five minutes!"

"Urghh…" She moaned in frustration, tossing back her head, and then stomping back over to where Arthur now stood on the other side of the tree.

He smiled down at her, placing a hand on her arms. "Probably for the best," He decided lightly.

"No…" She whined, wrapping her arms around his waist, and holding him close. "I don't want you to go."

"I know," He kissed the top of her head, returning the tight embrace. "But if I stay, your brothers won't stop and then your father might kill me. And I would very much like to stay alive."

She laughed against his chest at these words, silently deciding that where things stood was probably where they should remain for now. She rather liked having him alive as well.

So I thought about doing a meet & greet for both sets of family's this chapter. But when I sat down to write a dinner scene with Arthur's parents, I couldn't come up with anything. So hopefully this chapter kind of explains why we haven't seen that yet. But I have something planned with them coming up in a few chapters, so this will be a reciprocal thing.