Year Six: Spring 1967
The corridor was backlogged with more students than usual as they strolled toward their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They were stopped by the statue of Franciscus the Ferocious who was hanging off the back of a dragon in mid flight.
Molly rose up on the balls of her feet, trying to catch a glimpse of anything that might explain the backup in foot traffic, but all she could see were the back of everyone's heads and shoulders.
"What d'ye think is going on?" She wondered momentarily before peering up at Arthur. "Can you see anything?"
He was similarly craning his neck over the sea of heads in an effort to see further down the corridor. "No, not really. Everyone's just stopped outside of the classroom."
Just then a ripple moved throughout the crowds as some students were moving closer to them, against the general flow of traffic. Professor McGonagall barked out, "Make way! Clear the corridors! To the sides if you please! We need some room!"
The majority appeared reluctant to heed these orders without being able to witness the cause for this sudden commotion. Soon after, a deeper, more authoritative voice boomed louder than was natural, "Everyone to their dormitories immediately! Defense Against the Dark Arts classes are canceled and the fourth-floor corridor is off limits to all students until further notice! Away with you now!"
The Headmaster's demands seemed to echo throughout the entire castle, and the corridor suddenly came alive. Students were pushing and shoving past one another, scurrying away from the corridor like frightened mice. Arthur grabbed Molly's hand and she fell in step behind him, using his body as a shield as they wove in between their classmates.
Her heart beat frantically, but with Arthur's warm, strong hand in hers, she felt secure. He would lead her to safety.
They reached the end of the corridor where the channels opened up for students to go down a side corridor that led to the Charms wing or up or down the main, marble staircase. Suddenly, Molly felt someone tread on her foot.
"Ow!" She cried out, prompting Arthur to whip around.
They both noticed Ted Tonks bustling past them downstairs with an apologetic grin, "Sorry Molly! Crazy isn't it?"
"What is?" Curiosity pulled her after him, and she called back after plopping down a few stairs, abandoning Arthur on the landing above her.
"Didn't you hear?" Ted turned to face her, trying to swim against the current of students moving downstairs rather unsuccessfully. He shouted, "Professor Tofty had some sort of fit in the middle of class! Had to be taken up to the Hospital Wing! Doesn't look too good for him!" He was soon swept away with the rest of the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins attempting to make their way down to their respective common rooms.
Feeling her stomach drop at the notion that something terrible could happen to one of their most beloved professors, Molly then shouldered her way back up the stairs towards Arthur, who was currently pressed up against the railing of the upper staircase that would take them to Gryffindor Common Room. She nearly reached the top step whenever she knocked into the last person she'd have liked to.
"Too bad class was canceled, eh Prewett?" Damian Travers' dark eyes glittered coldly as he blocked her route. "I heard we were going to start Unforgiveable Curses."
"You'd know all about those, wouldn't you?" She retorted curtly while attempting to shove passed him, only to be caught on the arm.
Her heart stopped, and her jaw tightened. Surely, he wouldn't dare try anything with so many people around. But that didn't stop him before, a tiny voice argued in the back of her head. Even so, she held her breath and felt her body go rigid. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking she was afraid of him in this moment.
Pulling her nearer until she could feel his hot breath against her ear, he growled, "If only I'd known the Imperius Curse ages ago, you'd never have the chance embarrass me."
Shoving him squarely in the shoulder, Molly remarked pointedly in a way that surprised even herself, "Still not over it? My, how delicate you are."
His nails dug into her arm as she attempted to twist away from his grasp. And he informed her in a steely tone, "I'm over it just fine, thank you."
"Oi! What'd you think you're doing to my girlfriend, you prick?!"
Her heart leapt at the sound of Arthur's indignant voice. Travers released her arm as though it burned him. He puffed out his chest in spite of the height Arthur had on him. Arthur placed his hand on the banister in front of Molly before inserting the rest of his body between them.
She felt herself filled with relief and also a sort of terror at knowing how an altercation like this could possibly end. The thought of Arthur getting hurt because of her was almost too much for her to realize. Especially now that she loved him as she did.
Arthur was quick to remind Travers of the moment she was recalling, "Have you forgotten what happened the last time you wouldn't leave her alone?"
"How could I forget an oaf like you and your idiotic Muggle sparring?" He scoffed, drawing his face closer to Arthur's. Brandishing his wand, he pointed it towards Arthur's stomach and taunted, "If you were a real man, you'd duel me good and proper."
Molly felt as though she might faint. Her breathing came in shallow waves as she watched Arthur simultaneously point his wand below Travers' right arm.
"I'd best you any day," Arthur challenged in a gravelly tone that startled Molly. "Just name the time and…"
"Arthur no," Molly found the words bursting forth from her. She placed a hand on his wand arm, urging him to lower it as she muttered in his ear, "Please don't. You don't have to prove yourself. Not to me anyway."
His face remained stony, and his arm resolute. Travers and him kept staring one another down, their wands pointed at one another.
"Arthur come on," She urged again, seeing the flow of students begin to dwindle. "If we're caught…"
"I'll lower my wand when he does," Arthur rejoined sharply.
Her mind grappled for another way out of this. If Arthur wouldn't listen to her pleas, she'd have to find another way. And then a flash of shiny green and silver plastered on Travers' robes gave her an idea.
"Don't be stupid, Damian," Molly berated with an irritable edge. "They'll have your badge if you're caught dueling," She nodded at the gleaming Prefect's badge he wore. For whatever reason, he'd been chosen for this honor. She supposed it had something to do with the lack of choices from his year and house.
Pressing on what she believed to be the only nerve that might cause him any pain, Molly then taunted, "And then what would Daddy have to say?"
Catching her eye, she noticed the hostility residing in his gaze. But just as she suspected, there was also a flicker of anxiety at the mention of his father. Regarding them both with an air of disdain, Travers cocked his head and slowly brought his wand away.
Arthur soon followed suit, and Molly found herself able to breathe a sigh of relief. He rotated on the step, and she slowly pulled him into a reassuring embrace. Her eyes remained on Travers' as he glared at them. Before she could relax against him, Arthur brushed her off and hurried back up the stairs without so much as a word or glance at her. Startled by this jarring release, Molly remained rooted on the spot, which gave Travers the opportunity to jeer.
"Best be careful with Weasley. Don't want your family name to be stained as well, do you?"
Furrowing her brow at him, she spat back in response, "What the hell are you talking about?"
He merely chuckled knowingly, slowly backing away into the departing ocean of students. Stunned by this ominously cloaked remark, Molly felt herself being jostled as people continued brushing past her.
What did he mean as well? Had something happened that Arthur was keeping from her about his family? They never kept secrets from one another. At least, she never kept secrets from him.
Her mind weighed heavily on the issue as her legs mechanically worked to take her back up to Gryffindor Tower. As she distractedly muttered the password and climbed through to the entryway, she noticed Arthur sitting on one of the stone benches in the dimly lit atrium.
She was about to settle down on a space beside him, but the sullen expression he wore quickly disarmed her.
"Catching up on old times with Travers?" He snapped in a way that made her blood freeze inside her veins.
Blinking back at him, she shot back, amusement flooding her words, "What? Don't make me laugh!"
"I'm not laughing," He stated acridly.
Molly frowned and folded her arms across her chest, "What's wrong with you?"
"Oh I dunno," He shrugged, leaning his head back against the well before going on sharply. "Perhaps, you being all chummy with Travers all of a sudden."
"I was doing no such thing!" She felt a sort of rage flare up inside of her from his misled accusation. What was he going on about?
Arthur scoffed, "Could've fooled me."
"What? You don't trust me now?"
"I didn't say that," His jaw clenched as he spoke.
"Well you certainly implied it," She heard her voice rising with anger now before retorting. "Just as he did many times when I was with him."
"What? Are you saying that I'm like him now?" Arthur cocked his head to one side, his eyes narrowing.
"I dunno," Her hands waved about wildly before gesturing towards him. "You're certainly acting in a way that he would've."
"Really Molly?!" He was practically shouting as he scrambled to his feet.
She stumbled back a couple of paces, not expecting him to stand so abruptly. Fists clenched at her sides, she stomped her foot and countered, "Yes, really Arthur! Don't tell me you feel threatened by him after everything we've...!"
"I don't feel threatened by him at all!" He interrupted, towering over her.
Her defenses rose and her chin jutted out defiantly as she shrieked back at him, "Then why are you so cross with me?! I haven't done anything wrong!"
"No, you just made me look like a bloody fool in front of him!"
Her voice lowered to a more irritable tenor, her heart twinging at the indignation she heard in his words. "What are you saying?"
Arthur visibly swallowed as he tried to steady his breathing. "I'm saying...I could have handled him. On my own. I don't need you to fight my battles for me."
"Oh my god," She exhaled, feeling a balloon of laughter swell inside of her. "Is that really what this is about?!" She snorted dryly, lifting her eyes to the ceiling and shaking her head in utter disbelief. "How stupid are you?!" She shrieked, "That you think that...that...that you dueling him actually means anything to me?!"
He blinked at her, his nostrils flaring and eyes turning as icy as his voice, "Well...now I know it means you think I couldn't take him."
"That's not true!" Her words broke off as she felt another pang in her heart at this accusation.
"No?!" He echoed, his disbelief, stinging.
How could he possibly interpret her motives so wrongly?
"No!" She insisted, feeling her anger morph into desperation. "I just didn't want you fighting him! I don't want you fighting anyone, Arthur! You could be expelled or worse...hurt!"
Just as she reached for his hand, he pulled away from her, "Because I'm not man enough…"
"It's not about that!" She shouted, feeling the words catch in her throat.
"No?" Arthur challenged, clearly feeling justified in his argument.
"No! And you're completely delusional if you think…"
"Oh so I'm delusional now?!" He balked, leaning forward to glare down at her. "First I'm acting like Travers, then I'm stupid, and now I'm delusional...if you think so little of me then perhaps we shouldn't be together!"
"Perhaps we shouldn't!"
She hadn't meant to say the words. But he was yelling at her from such a close proximity that they spilled from her mouth before she could stop herself. Her nerves were running on edge, her emotions boiling close to the surface. Now Molly felt her throat close up and her eyes begin to swim with silent tears. She drew back as she watched the effect her words had on him.
His mouth dropped open and then closed. And he blinked at her several times, his brow lifted and then inverting as if the power behind her words struck him.
She bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering, and took a step forward to take his hands. Arthur I-I didn't mean it. The words teetered on the tip of her tongue.
Before she could say anything or reach him he was looking away, swallowing back his emotions and mumbling, "I-I have to go…I have Muggle Studies to...prepare for. And you have Potions...to worry about...so yeah. See you around, Molly."
"Arthur I…!" The rest of her words died however as he strode away from her and into the common room.
This wasn't it. This couldn't be it. Could it?
"Arthur I…" She croaked in a voice he most definitely couldn't hear now. Frozen helplessly in place, she watched him disappear from her sight, the fissure in her heart growing whenever he didn't stop or even look back at her.
Could she really blame him? Or did she only have herself to blame?
Days went by since their row that seemingly ended things between them. They saw one another, but it was always through friends or acquaintances that could make the gaping chasm of silence that stretched between them bearable.
Molly wouldn't meet his eye, in spite of all the times he silently pleaded with her to. He felt sick with guilt and fear that things were definitely finished for them. It seemed the more he tried to force her gaze or seek her alone, the more she retreated among others who would thwart his efforts.
His quiet desperation to regain her affection slowly shifted into anger at himself. How could he be so stupid to ever suggest such a thing as them breaking up? Things had been perfect between them up until this. And here he had to go and muck it all up. All because of a stupid owl he received the morning of their fight.
He would have been kidding himself if he said that he was surprised by the news that came from home. As much as his parents loved him, his brothers, and one another, they were stubborn as mules. They wouldn't concede to one another, no matter how valuable the other's argument might be. Which made it even harder for him to accept the news.
He knew he took these frustrations out on Molly in an unjust manner. But there really wasn't much he could do about it if she was intent on avoiding him.
So he put all his energies into Quidditch. The upcoming game would put them in the first seed for the Cup Final if they won it. Practice was anything short of easy though as Gideon and Fabian seemed intent on knocking him off his broom with the Quaffle every time they attempted to score. Rose, now team captain, shouted loudest at him for letting them score on him three out of their attempted five times.
"Oi Weasley! If you can't get your head in the game I'll put Brinkley in on Saturday, ye hear?!"
No one else was threatened with being replaced by their alternate. But he suspected they all wanted him to know that just because he played alongside them on the team, didn't change the fact that they now disliked him for breaking up with Molly. And he couldn't blame them. All he could do was try harder to win their respect as their teammate. He had a feeling this sentiment would be lost outside of the pitch. It was something he supposed he would have to live with.
Stomaching his own pride on the matter, he set to work. And when the match concluded on Saturday, he helped them scrape by with a win against Hufflepuff. The Common Room erupted with its usual festivities; the Quidditch Team being hailed as heroes. And yet, Arthur scanned the many faces for one in particular.
He spotted her as he was nursing a bottle of Flamel's Flaming Red Ale and as Reg was trying to do an impression of the Hufflepuff Seeker whenever Rose knocked him off course to capture the Snitch. She was leaning against the entrance arch of the common room, peeling off the label from the bottle in her hands. She seemed more determined in tearing it off than actually drinking the ale. Her face was unreadable as people filtered around her.
Then suddenly she glanced up, their eyes meeting for the briefest of seconds. He tried offering a conciliatory smile. Her eyes immediately darted away and she retreated towards the portrait hole. Seizing the opportunity to catch her alone, Arthur set down his bottle of ale and quickly made up an excuse to Reg.
He caught the portrait before it could completely shut behind her.
"I beg your pardon," The Fat Lady huffed, and he muttered a quick apology.
"Molly!" He called out to her in a way that visibly startled her. As he touched her elbow, she drew her arm up into her side while whirling around. "Sorry I…"
"Congratulations on your win," She blurted out, her eyes darting somewhere over his shoulder.
He was stunned by this turn of conversation. He wasn't expecting this level of civility. He expected her to shout at him or tell him to shove off and leave her alone. But a compliment?
Gathering his thoughts, he bumbled through a response, "Oh I-I don't really deserve that. Rose and your brothers are the ones who won it for us." He cracked a halfhearted smile and shrugged.
Nodding in the direction of the common room she told him unsteadily, "You should...get back in there. You're missing all the fun." Her usually warm eyes landed on his for a second before taking off once more. It was just enough for him to see the hurt she was attempting to conceal.
And with this knowledge, he felt something stir inside his chest. Something he knew he had no right to feel with the way he previously spoke to her. But he just couldn't help himself.
"I'm missing you more."
When their eyes met this time, his cheeks inflamed instantly. He realized he shouldn't have said that.
He looked away at the same moment that she replied stiffly, "You see me everyday."
Arthur's hands shoved deeper in his pant pockets, and he suddenly became very interested in how dingy the floor looked at present. He mumbled with a shrug, feeling an embarrassed heat continue to bloom all over his face, "You know what I mean."
He heard the scraping of her nails against the paper plastered across her bottle. He chanced a quick glance up at her. She immediately looked away once more, recognition plain across her face. She was fighting against the same feeling he'd been, although it wasn't clear as to why until she remarked softly, "I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me."
He exhaled a long breath, feeling his stomach churn as though he might be sick. "I made a mistake," He admitted, trying to steal her eye once more. She was peering outside the nearby window, and he took a tentative step closer. "I'm sorry, Molly. I'm more sorry than you'll ever know."
His hand hovered in midair between them, but she moved to the seat below the window ledge before he could touch her. Taking a long sip from the bottle in her hand, she didn't say anything to him.
Arthur swallowed the urge to lash out at her staged indifference. That wouldn't help the situation at present. Instead he settled on the opposite end of the seat, careful to allow space between their bodies. He stared at the corridor straight ahead as she continued staring out the window.
"I was a complete arse," He went on, trying to think of what else he could say in order to justify his behavior.
Fortunately he didn't have to come up with anything else, for she suddenly came back with, "Yes, you were. And I don't understand why you felt like there was anything going on between Travers and I. Especially when you know more about our history than...well anyone really." Her tone wasn't harsh, but more wounded than anything.
He leaned forward, his elbows resting atop his knees, his hands coming together anxiously. He sighed heavily, his thoughts disjointed due to the immense emotions he felt. She made a valid point. And he wasn't sure he could answer her query, not without totally losing himself in all of the feelings that swirled around inside him. "I dunno why. I just…I dunno."
"You never asked what he said to me," She shifted on the stone bench until her body faced him, prompting him to look up at her. He witnessed the muscles in her jaw tensing, and her gaze settling on his in spite of the emotion pooling in her dark eyes, "You just assumed the worst of me."
He felt a lump form in his throat, and he whispered ashamedly, "I know."
"Why?" Molly took in a shaky breath.
Staring beyond her and down the corridor, he kept his eyes on the flames dancing in the hanging sconces. "I dunno."
Releasing the breath she'd been holding in, she continued on, "I have to know why, Arthur. I have to understand. If you...I mean...assuming you don't want things to...stay like this."
He most certainly didn't. His heart surged at the opportunity she was presenting him with. He couldn't muck up this second chance. But he wasn't entirely sure how to explain himself without having to speak the painful truth.
"I suppose...there's a part of me that...thinks you might...deserve better," Was all he could manage, raking his teeth over his bottom lip.
"But why? And him? Really?" Her hand landed on his forearm, and he sat up straighter. Her voice was softer now, "You've never doubted us. You've always believed in us. What's changed?"
"I know it's stupid. I know that now...but he comes from a family with a good name and..." Arthur squeezed his eyes shut and hurriedly finished, "...my parents...they're...they're splitting up."
He heard a slight gasp from her, and felt her hand tighten reassuringly around his arm. "Arthur I-I had no idea."
Nodding, his focus remained on her hand touching his arm. She still wanted him. All was not lost. Not with them anyway. He replied anxiously, "It's not...something I...really want people knowing."
"But I'm not people." She argued lightly, leaning forward. "Or at least...I wasn't." Another moment of silence passed before she added, "Maybe that's all I am now." Her hand slowly left his arm, and he grabbed it desperately with his.
"You're not." Arthur told her and then sighing again, "I know it's no excuse for the way I behaved."
"You should have told me," She brought their hands onto her lap.
"I was afraid you might think less of me somehow," Feeling her soft palm in his gave him the courage to admit everything he felt like he shouldn't. "That you might not want to be with me."
"Arthur," She scooted closer to him on the stone seat, her hands tilting his face back to find her. Her eyes filled with admiration while she confessed earnestly, "I love you for who you are. And I love your family. But I love you first."
This sentiment struck a chord within his heart, playing a lovely melody that he'd never tire of. He felt his voice clog with his emotions while his expression began to crumble. He really didn't deserve her. "I don't want to lose you, Molls." His head bowed forward until their foreheads met. He felt his shoulders shudder unexpectedly, and the tears quietly roll down his cheeks.
"You won't," Molly exhaled softly, bringing her arms around his shoulders, hands cradling the back of his head.
"Can you...forgive me?"
He heard her murmur similarly, "If you can forgive me."
Arthur wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss at the curve of her neck before burrowing his face there.
She stroked his hair, allowing him to draw her body close to his. They sat like that for several moments until Molly found her voice again. "But Arthur, don't push me away again. Not unless you intend to set me aside for good."
His arms tightened around her, and he kissed her shoulder in mute response, not trusting his ability to speak at present. He hoped she understood that he didn't intend to let her go again.
I thought it rather unrealistic for them not to experience some "stupid fights," along the way. And I had to give a reason for Arthur suddenly being so jelly when he really had no reason to be. More on the split with his parents coming next chapter. Anyway, I hope that this fic is still enjoyable. I know I tend to drag things out, but again, the scope of this one was their school years. As you can see, they are quickly approaching the end of this chapter in their lives. But not to worry (or maybe you should if you think my writing is terrible and I'm not doing them any justice), there is a planned sequel to this one. And other possible fics that operate within this same universe. Yes, I cannot seem to stop with them.
Also, I hope that everyone is staying safe, fighting the good fight, and advocating with inclusivity and acceptance. Those are messages I always took away from this series, even if they aren't upheld by their original creator. And that is what drives me to keep writing about our favorite social justice fighting family. :)