I've increased the chapter rating to M for explicit, sexual content at the end of this chapter. Please disregard the last section (beginning with Arthur's POV), if you do not wish to read that. If you do, enjoy! :)

Year Six: Fall 1966

"Arthur, where are we going?" She questioned breathlessly as he pulled her along the corridor.

"You'll see!" He breathed out excitedly, practically jogging up another flight of stairs.

In the split second he turned to face her, she caught a cheeky grin paired with a sparkle of intrigue in his eyes. He told her they had plans this evening, but he hadn't been specific. Just that she was to wear something smart, and place all of her trust in him that he knew what he was doing.

Of course, the timing of such an outing had been suspect. But she refrained from mentioning that this likely had something to do with her seventeenth birthday, an event that would take place in two days' time.

"You're being rather mysterious," She deduced, unable to suppress a giggle as they jumped to another staircase right as it started to move in the opposite direction. Molly took a step ahead of him, standing on the step above him so that they were nearly standing eye to eye. Quirking a brow, she tossed her arms over his shoulder and probed sweetly, "So, you're not going to tell me a thing?"

"Nope," He shook his head enthusiastically before wiggling his eyebrows at her. "You'll see soon enough." The staircase ceased all movement and he placed his hands on her hips as he side stepped her, taking back her hand as they pressed on.

"You know I don't like surprises!" She huffed, feeling the nerves bounce around in her stomach as her mind worked to draw conclusions as to what his plans for the evening involved.

"I didn't know that," Arthur answered, soon following up with a taunt of, "But for some reason it doesn't surprise me."

She pouted up at them as she slowed down their progress, "Are you suggesting that I'm predictable and boring?"

He moved his head from side to side, clearly weighing the weight of her words. She gawked at this momentary pause and lightly shoved his shoulder.

"Predictable?" He feigned contemplation on the matter before angling his face a few centimeters from hers before disclosing boldly, "Maybe."

"Arthur…!" She reproached, feeling her defenses immediately begin to rise. She took a step back, removing her hand from his.

"Boring?" He stepped forward, closing the space between them, his light blue eyes illuminating playfully. "Furthest thing from it," He shook his head, beaming down at her in a way that made it damn near impossible for her not to smile.

She felt herself attempting to suppress the curl of her lips while her eyes lifted up to the ceiling before she let out a low chortle, "Always the charmer, you are."

Arthur seized her hand and remarked with another wink, "I certainly try."

She snorted at this, allowing him to take her down the corridor. Their clasped hands swung between them as they made their way to the end of it. Everything felt lighter when she was with him. She felt like she could face anything with him beside her. Even something as mildly frightening as whatever good intentioned surprise he had in store for her.

Once they reached the end of the corridor, they suddenly stopped in front of a great stone wall. She glanced right and left in order to see what direction he would head next. But he merely faced the wall, and muttered as if to himself, "Ah here we are."

Frowning and knitting her brow together Molly thought, this was it. He had truly lost it. The Muggle obsession was one thing. But standing in front of a stone wall was his idea of a good time?

She informed him plainly, "We're standing in front of a wall."

His hand tightened around hers and he replied with an impatient air, "Give me a minute."

Molly watched as he closed his eyes, muttering something inaudible to himself.

Suddenly the sound of stone being cut brought her attention back to the wall. A stone archway appeared in the outline of a door. And then seconds later a solid oak door appeared inside, complete with a round knocker for a handle and metal rivets that ran across it width wise.

Her eyes widened and she asked, "Wha-what just happened?"

Arthur turned to her with a proud look on his face and explained quickly, "The Room of Requirement. It shows itself to anyone in need."

Still perplexed at how such a thing could exist in the castle, her brain tried to formulate the right question, but all that came out was. "How…how did you even…?"

"Rose told me about it."

"So…what's inside?"

"That's the surprise," He intimated with a wry grin. He placed his hand on the knocker, knocked three times, and then waited for a few seconds before pushing the door open.

As soon as she stepped inside, it really looked no different than a larger version of the Gryffindor Common Room. But before she could adequately assess her surroundings, her senses were overloaded with a chorus of: "Surprise!" followed by "Happy Birthday Molly!"

Several firecrackers went off ceremoniously, prompting her to jump as red, orange, and yellow sparkling dust littered the air.

"Wait, what?!" She blurted out, trying to take in the finer details of the room within a matter of seconds.

There was a long table laden down with food (stolen from the kitchen by Gideon and Fabian no doubt, both of whom were currently stuffing their faces with chicken wings and pizza) behind a long settee that was near a roaring fireplace. Next to it were various chairs and sofas where many of the students had retreated back to following her sudden appearance. Games of cards were laid out, and Molly noticed a couple sets of Wizard's Chess arranged. But some of her peers were lounging about chattering excitedly in smaller clusters.

A fluttering overhead prompted her to look up and she saw black, paper bats flying about overhead. Jack-o-latterns hovered a few feet off the ground at various points throughout the room. And she looked down as a cool fog that swirled about at her feet to add to the atmosphere of the season. To her right there was a fountain of what appeared to be cherry sour spritzer, her favorite drink, flowing endlessly.

Her mind whirled from the overwhelming notion that all of this was done up for her. At least fifty students from their year and below were present. Because like all student organized to do's Hogwarts, once word of such an event got out it was difficult to maintain the guestlist. Some no doubt were present simply because it was a party, not because they actually knew her. But this hardly mattered to her because at the forefront of the crowd that gathered were Rose, Mary, and Reg all wearing paper hats of various shapes, each holding enchanted kazoos that shot out puffs of glittering confetti each time they blew on them.

Which they currently blew in her direction after circling her and Arthur. Molly's squeezed her eyes shut tight, tucking herself into Arthur's chest to shield herself from getting a face full of glitter.

Rose rushed up to her, pulling her away from Arthur and embracing her. "We've decided as the first in our group to come of age while at school, it was our duty to throw you a party!"

"Yes! A proper party!" Reg chimed in, placing a glass of cherry sour in her hand.

Feeling completely stunned, she tried to object, "Oh, honestly this isn't…"

Mary shoved a paper chain of flowers on her head and asserted, "Well it's all done Molls, so you really can't argue with us it." She pulled her into a tight hug, placing kisses on both her cheeks.

"Yeah," Arthur agreed with a crooked smile, his hands in his pockets. Rose jumped up to place a pumpkin shaped crown atop his head. "Ow! Rose, bloody hell!"

"Nope Artie!" Rose tore his hands away as he tried to protest. "We're all going to wear them and look ridiculous together!" She exclaimed in a way that was overly cheery for her. Molly wondered precisely how many drinks she already indulged in.

Laughing at this she took a sip of her drink before shaking her head in astonishment. "I can't believe you all. I mean…I would have been fine with…"

"Well you can be fine with this!" Rose twirled around with her hands outstretched, sloshing what appeared to be half a gin fizzy on the floor.

"Yeah, I can't be the only one we threw a party for, now can I?" Mary huffed with her hands on her hips, allowing Reg to cover them with his own and place a kiss at her cheek.

Rolling her eyes at this, and still feeling rather undeserving of a surprise of this magnitude, she promised, pointing a finger at Reg, Rose, and Arthur in turn. "I am so getting the rest of you back for this!"

"Good!" Arthur slung an arm over her shoulders, pressing a kiss at the top of her head. He looked to the rest of the group and added, "We look forward to it. Don't we?"

Rose lifted her glass and whooped, "Do your worst!"

Reg shrugged and then chuckled, his chin resting atop Mary's shoulder.

Smirking up at Arthur, Molly took another sip of cherry sour. Before she could add another smart remark to challenge him, Polly Melifua was shrieking and pulling her away from the group.

"We must dance to this song, Molls! And where's Xeno bloody Lovegood at? He's always brilliant for a turn!"

She glanced over her shoulder, giving Arthur an apologetic look. But he merely shook his head and smiled at her encouragingly.

Rose came up on Molly's other side, "I want a turn with the birthday girl too!"

Following a few hours of beating Reggie at Wizard's Chess, they decided that they had enough. As Reggie and Mary sidled up together on one of the sofa's in the corner, Arthur suddenly felt a pang of longing for Molly. He scanned the room of students in search of her.

And then he caught her standing by Ted Tonks near the exit. Ted had his arm wrapped around another girl's waist. She had long, chestnut brown hair and wore a reserved look appeared to harbor a flicker of discomfort. He watched them chat amicably, drinking goblets in hand. And then Molly touched her arm, prompting a soft sort of smile to appear across the other girl's face while both her and Ted burst into raucous laughter.

Arthur couldn't help but smile at this exchange, admiring how lovely Molly appeared to be in that moment. She was always so open, so warm with people. It was a trait of hers that made his insides feel sunny and his heart swell with an indescribable emotion.

He watched her as she casually cupped a goblet of something, her delicate fingers curving around the stem. Her arms were casually folded in front of her, just beneath her chest. Her maroon jumper clung to her body in all the right places before tucking neatly into the waistline of her knee length, boldly printed skirt. It was so very like her to wear something so vibrantly colored and full of several contrasting patterns that consisting of flowers, geometric shapes, and stripes. The material hung over her broad hips and fell perfectly at her knees. And her lower legs were clad in a neutral brown stocking that made the rest of it work together somehow.

Perhaps she had a knack for coordination wild colors and prints, or perhaps she just didn't care what people thought. Either way, he loved looking at her out of her school uniform. She was wholly unique. And she was his.

She tossed some hair over one shoulder, looking over in his direction. She was about to turn back and continue her conversation with Ted and the mystery girl when she caught him staring. A knowing smile twitched at her lips and she then quickly made an excuse to depart from the group.

Crossing the room to where he sat in one of the high-backed armchairs, her eyes swept downward, and he noticed a sort of demure air descend upon her.

"Hello, you," He chuckled as she slid onto his lap. One of his arms half circled round her waist, the other grabbing onto her lower legs that hung over the arm of the chair.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her brow inverting out of concern.

He inhaled deeply as her one arm went behind his neck and she drew herself closer to him. She would be his undoing if he wasn't careful. He tried keeping his thoughts on anything else outside of how wonderful her soft body felt against his bony one. He tried not to notice the spicy and citrusy scent that filled his senses as her hair tickled his cheek before she tossed it back over her shoulder.

"Of course," He beamed at her before redirecting his focus to something particular on the party. His gaze finally settled Gid and Fab who were seemingly chatting it up with a couple of Ravenclaw girls from a safe distance across the room.

Molly followed his line of vision, taking a thoughtful sip from her goblet. Snorting she turned back to him, leaning back every so slightly to place the empty glass on a nearby round table. When she sat back up on his lap, she continued with a reassuring air, "Don't worry. They're far too busy to notice us."

Nodding, his smile merely deepened. Arthur probed curiously, "Having fun?"

"Yes," She returned with a happy look that suddenly transformed into a somewhat sulky one, "but I missed you."

He felt his insides warm at her admission, and he reached for a strand of curly hair, running it between his fingers. He confessed, "I know the feeling."

"Thank you for this," She murmured touching her forehead against his.

He smelled the familiar scent of sour cherries on her breath, but it was faint enough that he felt like there wouldn't be a repeat of what transpired at Mary's party. As much as he enjoyed touching her hair, he preferred not to be holding it back while she got sick in a toilet.

Twirling the lock of hair between two fingers he reminded her, "It wasn't just me."

Angling her face back to assess his full expression she asserted with a teasing edge, "I know but…I know you. You are dreadful at taking credit for anything. Whether four other people helped you or not."

He smirked out of self-deprecation, lifting his eyes to the ceiling momentarily. Then as he felt himself begin to give into the sensation of her sitting so close to him, Arthur quickly repurposed the conversation. Jerking his head back to the direction from where she just came, he questioned, "Who was Ted with?"

"Oh, some third year called Andie," Her shoulders rose. "Nice girl though."

"Mmm…" Arthur remarked thoughtfully.

She kept her gaze trained on him, the corners of her mouth twitching a bit deviously. He wasn't entirely sure how much longer he could stand it. Not only that but when he factored in the two drinks that loosened him up a bit and just how delightful she smelled at present, something inside his lower abdomen was beginning to spark.

Clearing his throat, Arthur grappled for a change of subject. "So uhm…I was going to wait until later but…do you want your present now?" He suggested.

She sighed deeply, utter disbelief shining through her bright, brown eyes, "You got me a present?"

"Well, it is your birthday," He moved his head from side to side, and lifted his brow.

"Yes, but this party…" She gestured around them, still looking amazed by the entire thing. "I mean…it would have been enough." She glanced back at him with a pleasant look that also doubled as one of slight reproach. A look that was entirely unique to her alone. A look he found himself on the receiving end a great deal these days.

"Well it isn't much," He shifted around a bit, fishing a small, square box out of his pocket. "But last time I was at Hogsmeade, I saw it and thought of you."

She took it from him and opened it to reveal a multicolor square of fabric full of noisy geometric patterns. He thought it suited her and based on the way her eyes lit up upon first glance, he saw her take a liking to it. Arthur couldn't help but feel a surge of pride that he made the right decision.

As she lifted it from the box, unfurling it, he felt the need to explain, "Its a neck kerchief. It changes color according to your mood."

"It's lovely," Her eyes glittered with appreciation, fingers running over the smooth fabric before she draped it over her neck. "Thank you," Molly leaned in and quickly kissed him.

It was a simple gesture that likely could have ended there. But he took in her steady expression, surveying him with a combination of emotions. Her eyes were soft, full of admiration while her mouth curved deviously to one side. It was like she was taunting him in some fashion, whether she knew it or not. He watched the original multicolor neck kerchief shift to a deep set purple.

Passion, he thought to himself as he ran through the list of colors and their corresponding emotion that the shopkeeper quickly went through with him.

His heart beat faster, and suddenly the room felt as though the temperature rose several degrees. He swallowed the knot that was beginning to form in his throat. There was something bouncing around in his stomach as he stared back at her.

Flashing another smile as if to not only reassure her, but also himself, Arthur slowly wrapped a hand around both ends of the small scarf before pulling her in for another kiss. This time he took his time, slowly prying her mouth open with his tongue. She responded in kind by following his lead with her lips.

Her fingers ran across the back of his scalp, the other hand digging into his shoulder as her mouth slowly grew bolder. His hands then came up to either sides of her face, his lips fitting over hers with a fervent heat that grew with each passing second. The paper hat fell back off his head as her hands continued roaming over his hair and around his neck as she angled his face back to find easier access to his mouth. He sunk into her silent demands, feeling a spring of desire in the depths of his belly beginning to uncoil.

Arthur's mouth hung open as her tongue slid over hers, and he wasn't entirely sure when she gained control of this moment, but he found it more intoxicating than any spirit he ever tried. If she noticed him slowly grow hard beneath her, she didn't stop to comment on it.

When their mouths finally disengaged, he panted in a quiet tone, "You're lovely."

She blushed, her breathing hard and shallow as she whispered back, "I wish we were alone."

This admission made the spark inside of him slowly catch fire. The way she was looking at him right now made him nervous yet excited at the same time. The desire in her face was plain as she studied him from behind heavy lidded eyes. The urgency in the way she clung to him made him want to be closer to her than they currently were.

He hadn't planned on this happening just yet. He knew there were likely a myriad of roadblocks preventing him from giving himself to her so completely. And he made peace with that. He would wait years if he had to be with her. But a part of him had hoped. And it was this same part of him that had the foresight to create a room within this room. A room that only they'd be privy to. He would be lying if he said that he hoped they would have a use for it. But he would leave it up to her as to how they might.

With this in mind, he tentatively mumbled, "Well we can be." Casting a look off into the distance, towards a quiet corner of the room that the party seemingly didn't touch.

Her eyes followed his and then she looked back at him with a wry grin, "Where does that lead?"

"Want to find out?" His heart was now bursting as he tried to sound lighthearted and adventurous. Deep down he felt mildly terrified of doing something wrong just now.

But just like everything else he suggested, Molly readily agreed, "Sure, let's go." She scrambled to her feet and dragged him by the hand in the direction of the door.

He brought a hand down the front of his trousers, scanning the edges of the party to see if anyone might notice and miss them. But everyone seemed engrossed in their individual festivities. This made him hurry along with her to the side room. She pushed open the door and he swiftly shut it behind them.

Once inside, it looked precisely like one of their dormitories, except for the fact that only a single bed sat in the center of the room. And instead of a tiny stove in the middle there was a small fireplace off to the side. Candles hovered above the mantle and above a small table that existed beside the bed. The room was illuminated enough to see everything while creating a certain ambiance that made his heart race.

Arthur watched her take it all in and then she asked, her gaze landing on him, "What is this place?"

He shrugged, shoving his hands inside the front pockets of his trousers. His face flushed as a sudden wave of heat took over him. The words danced on the tip of his tongue, but he refrained from speaking them out loud.

This is the place where I hope we fall in love.

"Just a…private room," He informed her plainly.

Molly nodded, inhaling and exhaling a steadying breath. Her arms wrapped around her chest as her eyes flickered towards the closed door behind him. "And no one can…?"

"No one else can see it," He finished, trying to discern if she was entirely appalled by his creation of this or if she would soon be grateful for its existence.

"A room within a mystery room," She concluded with a slight smile playing across her face. As she continued looking about the room, she teased, "Suppose we get stuck in here?"

He took a few steps closer to her, slowly, not wanting to spook her. As his feet shuffled forward, Arthur divulged in hushed voice, "I'd gladly be stuck with you in here."

His eyes snuck up to find hers, and he found a strained smile peering back at him. Her crossed arms moved a bit as she chewed on her bottom lip.

Was he being too presumptuous? Seeking to reassure her, his hands rested on her shoulders.

"But that won't happen," He muttered before placing a chaste kiss at her forehead.

Arthur was about to release his hold on her and suggest perhaps they go back to the party if she didn't wish to be in her. They explored the room like he suggested after all. There wasn't anything else left to do except one of two things. And he didn't want to place unnecessary pressure on the thing he longed for if it didn't match up with what she desired.

But Molly responded in the manner he'd been hoping for. Her arms slowly unfolded; palms flat against his chest. She kept her focus forward and began fiddling with the collar of his shirt absentmindedly.

A smile flickered across her visage, and her brown eyes rose behind heavy lids as though granting him the permission he was seeking to close the space between them. Arthur threaded a hand through her hair, tilting her face back fully until he found her lips with his. He felt her hands at either side of his face as she returned the kiss. He drew his other arm around her lower back, and his mouth opened hers with his tongue. Their lips continued languidly and then with more heat as their hands grew bolder.

His hand traveled downward before cupping her bottom over the skirt, tightening in a way that made her yelp. Immediately he jumped, pulling his face away from hers, his eyes widening out of fear.

"Molly I-I-I'm sorry," He stammered as he searched her gaze, feeling his heart stop for a second.

Her lips rolled inward and then she began snickering with her head bowed forward until the crown of her head met the middle of his chest. He felt a note of laughter bubbling inside of him, relieved that she hadn't taken the gesture the wrong way.

When she lifted her face upward once more, her paper crown falling to the floor and wisps of hair swinging back over her shoulders. He discovered a beautiful blush painted across her cheeks, her dark eyes twinkling. "I'm sorry," She gushed with another light peal of nervous laughter. "I-I didn't expect…"

"It's alright," Arthur chewed on his bottom lip, uncertain of how to reclaim the moment.

He didn't need to worry about that for much longer though as she was licking her lips and leaning in to kiss him again. This time it escalated faster, their mouths crashing against one another's, tongues battling for control. Arthur teeth found her bottom lip and sucked, prompting her to gasp out of delight.

Their hands continued exploring over their clothes, the urgency of their breathing and kissing dictating the tempo in which they moved. Arthur grabbed her from behind again, shoving her hips into his, feeling himself growing with want for her.

Molly moaned in a high pitched, breathy sound in between open-mouthed kisses. Her fingers blindly found the top buttons of his shirt as she continued ravishing his mouth with her own. And his hands traveled to the waist of her skirt, playing with the elastic band before cautiously pulling the maroon jumper out from under it. His palms passed over her smooth stomach, and she moaned longingly. He felt her fingers fumbling downward, working faster now, before her hands came up over the bare expanse of his body, seeking to relieve him of his shirt. He disengaged his hands from beneath her top, shrugging out of it.

Her lips pulled away, and he watched her eyes taking in the sight of his pale, freckled body. Suddenly, he felt rather shy underneath her studious gaze. He breathed hard, feeling his ribs nearly crack from the ferocity of his heart beating.

Molly rose on the balls of her feet, placing a string of kisses along the length of his neck, down to the hollow of his shoulder, to the front of his chest. He sighed, feeling his entire body shutter from the warmth of her breath dancing across his skin. Her hands gripped the belt loops of his trousers as she slid her tongue across one of his nipples.

His hands came back up through her curls, getting lost in them before angling her head back again. His lips pressed fervently into hers, catching only half of her mouth. He groaned into her before peeling away until their foreheads touched.

"Gods Molls…" He breathed out shakily.

"Do you want me?" She asked with a throaty edge to her words coupled with an uncertainty that gave him pause.

Standing back up to full height, his hands moved down the front of her jumper, squeezing her breasts and inciting another breathless exhalation from her. Her eyes fluttered shut, mouth hanging open. He kissed the corners of her relieved smile that grew as his hands ran back over her body from beneath her wooly top.

As he took the edges of her jumper and hiked it up, he muttered hotly into her ear, "How can you not know?" He slowly brought it up over her head. Her red curls bounced before settling at her shoulders. He reached forward to tuck a few strands behind her shoulder before stroking her chin while he bent down again to kiss her swollen lips.

Her hands moved to the front of his trousers, seeking his belt. But he stilled her hands with his, silencing any protestations she might have had with a string of firm, slow kisses.

He didn't want to rush through this. He'd done that once before because he felt he had to. Because he felt entirely uncomfortable and unsettled by the prospect of having to do it at all. But with Molly, he didn't want that. With her he wanted to take his time. To fully enjoy her before that part of it transpired. He desperately wanted to and she would definitely need to. Unless of course she already…

But she was drawing herself up against him, and they both seemed to have the same idea as their bodies moved towards one another, skin touching skin. And yet, he wanted more. His hand moved behind her to find the clasp of her bra. But as he sought to relieve of this, he discovered just how difficult the clasps were. His mouth moved across the bottom of her jaw, down the curve of her neck before dipping down onto her shoulder, all under the pretense of trying to gain a better visual on the back of her brassiere. Having released one however, the others remained just as steadfast, and suddenly he wished an unlocking spell would help him in this instance. But something told him pressing his wand against it and muttering Alohomora would hardly be romantic.

A soft pearl of laughter brought his attention back to her and less so on the offending object. His eyes shot open, and he stood up again to find her grinning, eyes full of mirth. Reaching behind herself, she easily unhooked it and sighed up at him while it slowly fell to the floor.

His mouth went dry and his lower abdomen coiled as he took in the sight of her soft, round breasts. It certainly wasn't the first time he'd enjoyed parts of them but seeing her standing in front of him like this made him fully aware of how aroused he presently was. His hands moved across the plane of her stomach before reaching her chest and cupping each of them in his palms.

Molly's eyes fluttered shut in response as his thumbs brushed over her nipples in slow circles. Her mouth found his, their tongues sweeping over and under. And it was at that point, he blindly backed her up until they reached the bed, their hands caressing and mouths seeking bare skin.

They tumbled awkwardly back onto the sheets, their laughter a welcome intruder to the otherwise awkward reality of being half naked in front of the person you were trying to impress most in the world. Arthur hovered over her, trailing kisses up and down her neck before moving lower to the rise of her breasts.

This was familiar territory for them both. As he licked and sucked the soft flesh before turning his attention to her nipples, Molly brought her arms up around him, holding him close to her. She moaned his name and arched her back, thrusting her the pert bud deeper into his mouth. He groaned in response, flicking his tongue against it before releasing it. He drew his tongue across her chest finding her other breast, repeating similar action.

Her hips bucked up to meet his, and he felt as though he might burst before they could even come together.

"Oh Arthur…" She intoned as his tongue skated lower to her stomach.

His hands sought the waistband of her printed skirt. After looping his fingers beneath it, he pressed another kiss beneath her navel, glancing up as though to seek further permission. As if reading his mind, Molly lifted her hips and helped guide the skirt along with the stockings over her backside and he continued pulling them down her legs.

"Gods you're beautiful," He exhaled as he took in her near naked form.

She laughed a bit at this, keeping her eyes shut. But he made a point to convince her by running his hands over her thick thighs. His thumbs pressed into the tendons of her inner thighs, and she willingly opened her legs for him. He could smell her, the sweet dampness that accompanied everything else he found beautiful about her.

His lips laid soft kisses against the inside of her thighs, and she gasped in approval. He brushed his nose against the wet center of her white knickers, making her hips rise up. Arthur placed a palm in the middle of her abdomen, steadying her before kissing her through the fabric.

"Ohhh…" She cried out, and he gazed up at her, waiting for her signal to continue.

Molly's head tilted downward, and she smiled at him, bringing a hand through the top of his hair. He watched her chest heave from her labored breaths before falling back against the pillow.

He reached upward, finding her hand with his. "Molls…are you…is it ok if I...?"

Her eyes searched his once more and she rasped, "Yes, do that again."

Grinning up at her, he pressed his lips right between her legs, feeling her knickers growing more damp with each press of his mouth or swipe of his tongue. After several seconds of coaxing her desire from her, she suddenly lifted her hips and shucked them downward over her bottom until Arthur caught them and continued to relieve her of them.

His tongue dipped in between her folds and she groaned at the contact. He continued stroking her with his tongue, tasting her sweet heat that pooled there in response to his mouth. He moaned into her, watching her back arch in reply, and then he took her in his mouth and sucked gently.

"Oh Arthur…" Her hands gripped the ends of the bed coverings as he continued exploring her with his mouth.

He took this as her desire for more and so he opened her legs wider, licking her inner thighs before drawing his tongue over the damp curls of her mound. He parted her sex with his tongue tracing all along her opening before entering her.

"Oh!" She cried out, her face contorting with pleasure as his tongue continued moving inside of her.

He sighed throatily as she coated his tongue and then his lips closed over the hardened point of her while he swallowed her. He sucked on her loudly, their moans of ascent harmonizing as he continued pleasing her with his mouth.

He was desperate for her now. His erection pressed firm against the front of his trousers, his own need beginning to seep from it. But he couldn't stop now. Not when she was so enthralled by everything. In spite of his own needs, he wanted her to finish…no he needed her to.

And yet he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing. He never studied exclusively what a girl's particular needs were to know exactly. It was all through talking or listening to others exploits. But with Molly it was like he didn't have to study. With Molly it appeared to come naturally. He just wanted to her to feel so loved, so desired that he was willing to do whatever he had to do in order to make it happen.

As Arthur kept sucking on the bud of her sex, she began to slowly unwind beneath him. Her back arched again up to the high point of her chest and finishing at her neck. His forefinger stroked the outer edge of her opening before gently sliding inside.

"Oh gods…" She tensed ever so slightly, but her hands moved to over her upper body, clutching her full breasts and squeezing them in response.

Seeing her come undone was singularly the most gorgeous thing he ever witnessed, and it was all due to what he was doing. How could he possibly make her feel this way?

Her reaction to his movements spurred him on. His finger dove deeper inside of her, and her hips met his hand as he moved his finger about inside of her. His mouth pressed urgent kisses against her hardness as he thrusted into her with his finger.

"Oh…oh gods…" She moaned whenever he slipped a second finger inside of her, feeling how tight she was around his fingers.

He could scarcely imagine how long he'd last when he entered her fully. He was already throbbing for her. He moved purposefully but gauged her reactions throughout. He didn't want to hurt her. But from the way she reacted to him, it appeared that perhaps he might not. And then a sickening thought descended upon him. What if she'd had this before…what if…?

"Arthur…oh…" Her cries brought him back to the present endeavor. He hummed against her more urgently, his tongue swirling against her wetness while his fingers pumped in and out of her.

Her string of cries came closer and closer together as he worked to bring her to the highest of highs, "…yes…oh yes…yes don't…stop…don't…stop…don't…"

And then she cried out one final time, clenching around his fingers, her inside almost unbearably hot. His mouth stayed atop the pert bundle of nerves, tongue flicking out and sending shockwaves through her lower body.

"Oh Molls..." He breathed into her folds, removing his fingers, and replacing them with his tongue as he gently lapped up the wetness that clung to her. He couldn't get enough of her. Her legs twitched and she let out a self-conscious giggle as he continued tasting her with slow strokes. Once he was finished, he removed his mouth from there before placing another kiss against her lower belly. He rested his chin atop her navel and peered up at her thoughtfully.

How he loved her in this moment. Truly, deeply, and madly. How he longed to show her. But he wouldn't act on the impulse, no matter how close he felt to bursting at present. He couldn't do that without her wanting it as well.

Her eyes met his, and she smiled softly, her eyelids drooping heavily. She reached for the side of his face, stroking his cheek with the back of her knuckles.

"Come here," She beckoned meekly, reaching for his arms.

He acquiesced and then her head lifted from the pillow and she kissed him deeply. Her arms wrapped around his upper body and she urged him on top of him, their warm skin sticking together.

When he pulled his mouth away, he noticed the sleepy quality in her eyes. He smiled down at her, stroking her soft curls. His heart felt like it might explode as he whispered, "I love you, Molls."

Her breath hitched in her throat and she brought her forehead to his again, "I love you too."

He kissed her slowly, drinking in these words and this moment. He never wanted it to end. When she laid her head back down, her gaze swept down between them and her hands searched for the front of his belt.

He lifted his hips further to help her with this, and then gracelessly kicked off his trousers. "Molly, are you sure?" He asked as he sat back to do the same with his undershorts.

She sat up and reached for his shoulders, a hard kiss landing at his lips. She drew him nearer to her and when their mouths broke apart, she whispered gravelly, "I want it to be you."

These words touched him far deeper than he could ever anticipate. His throat felt like it might close in on itself when their eyes met once more. He loved her more than words could convey. And to see the same love reflected back in her dark eyes convinced him that there would never be another. There simply couldn't be another as long as she existed.

Once it was over, she pulled the bed coverings up around them, and he drew her closer to him. She kept her focus downward, drumming her fingers against his chest.

Had they really just done that? She could hardly believe it. Molly relished in the comforting heat of his body, curling her head beneath his chin. There was a dull ache between her legs, but it was welcomed in the aftermath of their disjointed lovemaking. She took it as proof that they belonged to one another now. And this could only become better as time ticked on.

She was surprised how little she thought of him while Arthur and she were making love. It was almost as though it never happened. This moment replaced that painful memory with one she would cherish for the rest of her life. And she was deeply grateful to Arthur for giving her that.

He heard the rumble of his question come forth from his throat, "Are you ok?"

She nodded, burrowing deeper against him.

"You sure?" He rolled away in an effort to search her face.

Molly nodded again, keeping her eyes on the smattering of freckles that graced the front of his shoulder. She found it rather difficult to meet his eye just now.

"It didn't…hurt…too badly?"

She heard the hesitation in his words, and it made her heart fill with gratitude. His concern was sweet, and her throat constricted with emotion as he lightly ran his fingers along the round part of her shoulder.

She shook her head in reply, placing a kiss at his collarbone. The bridge of her nose grew heavier with each passing moment of silence, and he seemed a bit uneasy by this.

His hand cupped her chin, tilting back her face so that their eyes met. He nearly pleaded, "Will you say something?"

Her eyes pooled with tears now, but she found herself quipping, "Something."

He laughed at this, and she blinked back silent tears of joy as she joined him in this little joke.

"I love you," He told her again, his words edged with a ripple of amusement. His forehead touched hers, their noses brushing overtop one another's.

She smiled and exhaled, bringing a hand up to the side of his face, "And I love you."

Their lips met in another chaste kiss. They descended back into their earlier positions, his hand wrapped around her upper back, hers snaking below his to rest against his waist.

They went back and forth from studying one another's faces to actually beaming at each other. "Still not a fan of surprises?"

"Not really," She wrinkled her nose, regaining bits of her old self as her confidence bubbled back up a bit. "But this one was…alright."

"Just alright?" He jabbed, half rolling back on top of her with a fearless air.

This single act made her giggle and push up on his shoulders, "Shut up. You know what I mean."

As he hovered above her, he visibly swallowed, his eyes surveying her body appreciatively. "I do."

Encircling his neck with her arms, she brought their mouths together. She would wait to tell him that they should head back to the common room. Right now, she gave into her bodily response to his hand splaying across her hip and his mouth lowering against her neck.

She discovered that she wanted to be lost in a room within a mystery room with him after all.

I hope everyone is doing ok during these uncertain times. As we continue to forge ahead in our fight for justice & equality, I hope that you are able to find solace in little things like this fanfiction when self-care is needed. Remember to take breaks every now and again. Also, while the creator of this fandom has said some problematic things and appears to hold beliefs that are antithetical to the messages found in her stories, we have an obligation to hold her accountable. In addition to calling out problematic thinking, we can also aim to spread the positive messages found within these stories through our own writing. My stories will always be a place of love, acceptance, and fraught with themes of social justice. Thank you to everyone who has followed this story so far. We have about seven chapters remaining.