Chapter Two – Hogwarts, Year Five

"Margaret, I would like to speak with you," Molly's mother said.

"Mum, you do realize that you are the only person on earth who calls me Margaret, don't you?"

"That is the name I gave you, therefore that is what I shall call you," her mother answered sternly.

Molly sighed. These days, the only time her mother wanted a word was when Molly was in trouble. Currently, Molly was helping her mother cook dinner. Her brothers were out playing quidditch in a near-by field. Even though Molly had never picked up a broom since first year flying lessons, she would have loved if she had been asked to play, just once.

The house was quieter than it ever had been. Maddox, Marvin and Matthew all moved out as soon as they graduated, which left only four siblings left. Molly couldn't wait for the start of her fifth year, which was in two little weeks.

"What Mum?" she asked politely.

"I overheard you talking with Magnus about your future career," her mother started.

Molly wondered where this was going. She had given her future a lot of thought. She didn't excel in any of her classes, but still received overall good grades. She had decided she would like to work in Magical Law Enforcement.

Mrs. MacKenzie set down her wand and looked at Molly, "I just don't know if Law Enforcement is appropriate for a woman, Margaret."

Molly felt some blood rush to her cheeks. "Not appropriate? Mum, it's 1964! Women can do whatever they like. I would make a great Enforcer, I know I would."

"Margaret, I'm not saying you wouldn't, you certainly seem to be developing the right personality for it. But what about a family?"

"I can still have a family and have a job, Mum. Lots of women do." Molly did not like where this conversation was going. "Mum, I'm only going to be fifteen this year. I still have plenty of time to think about this."

"Margaret, sit down," her mum said, pointing at the kitchen table.

Sighing, Molly did what she was told. "You may think I'm being harsh, but I'm looking out for your best interests. You are going to have a large family, they will need a mother."

"Mum, I have that all planned out. I want two girls, one year apart so they can be friends," Molly said wistfully, thinking how nice it would have been to have a sister.

Mrs. MacKenzie gave a short laugh. "Two girls. How nice. That's what I wanted too."

"Really?" Molly asked, dumfounded.

"Margaret, how many brothers do I have?" Mrs. MacKenzie asked.

"Well, you have six," Molly answered.

'How many sisters do I have?"

"None."

"What about your grandmother, my mother, how many brothers and sisters does she have?"

Molly had to think for a moment.

"She had, well," Molly paused, thinking it out in her head, "She had six brothers and no sisters." Slowly, Molly was understanding what her mother was trying to tell her.

"Are you saying that no matter what I do, I'll have six sons and one daughter?" Molly asked in horror.

Her mother nodded. "Your father and I tried every known birth control on the planet, Margaret. Yet here I am with six sons and one daughter. And when you grow older, you'll learn that abstinence isn't an option in marriage."

Molly opened her mouth in horror, "Mum, I do not want to think about you and Dad like that!"

"The women in our family have been like this for the last seven hundred years, Margaret. It was a curse, apparently. However, no one knows what it was, so there is no way to break it. You will be pregnant seven times. No more, no less. You just need to know this when you're thinking of your future." With that Mrs. MacKenzie stood up, grabbed her wand and continued making dinner.

Molly sat at the table until dinner, lost in her thoughts.

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"He's singing again," Aelecia muttered under her breath.

It was a beautiful day in early November. The sun was shining brightly, and Molly and her friends decided to take advantage and spend the day outdoors.

"She loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah," Arthur was singing.

"Is that the Butterflies you're singing?" Molly asked him, trying to sound interested.

"No, it's the Beatles, the greatest muggle band of all time!" Arthur said enthusiastically.

It was hard to say when Arthur's muggle obsession began. Over the summer, Arthur spent a weekend with a cousin, who was a squib. Apparently, that weekend changed his life.

"Why do you like them so much?" Aelecia asked, rolling her eyes. "You sing their songs every single day."

"What's not to like?" Arthur asked. "I wish I had a recory player. Then I could buy their recors, and play them."

Aelecia gave Molly a look that clearly said, "Not again."

"Recory players use ele-electriste to run. We're learning all about it in Muggle Studies. Look, Professor White gave me a plug/" Arthur pulled out a strange object that had two small prongs. "Muggles use all different kinds of plugs. I might start collecting them. Isn't it beautiful?"

Molly held out her hand and he gave her the plug to look at. It was strange, this plug. Imagine that Muggles needed this little object to accomplish something a simple spell could do.

Aelecia's wand made a loud popping noise. "Oh, I have to go, I've got a study group." She gave them a long look. "I really wish you joined this group with me."

"Aelecia, I have no need for a extra study group in potions," Molly laughed. Potions was by far her worse subject now. "Trust me, just taking the class is plenty."

Aelecia waved and headed back towards the castle. Molly and Arthur were alone again. They were finding themselves alone a lot this year. Emma and Michael were both on the quidditch team, and Aelecia always had a club or study group to go to.

"Would you ever go to a muggle music concert?" Arthur asked suddenly.

Molly laughed. "I've never even thought about it. I like Wizard music well enough, why bother with muggle music?"

"I would love to see the Beatles. I'm hoping this summer that I can go to America and see a concert." His excited face turned sour. "But there probably won't be enough money, I mean time for me to go."

Molly briefly wondered about Arthur's financial situation. There have been a couple times when he's mentioned something he'd like to do, but then worry about the cost. She decided it wasn't her place to ask any questions. If he wanted to talk about it, he would.

After a long silence, Molly asked, "What do want to do when you get out of here?"

"Please don't laugh, but I'd love to work in muggle relations. I think I would really like that."

"I would never laugh at you, Arthur," Molly said quietly. "But what about drawing? You're very, very good."

Arthur's cheeks became so red they almost matched his hair. "Thank you," he said shyly. "But you can't make any money as an artist. I'll always draw though. I like it to much to give it up."

"Well, I think you're the best artist I've ever seen," Molly proclaimed.

"Thank you." The blushing increased, if that was possible. "What about you? You're going into Magical Law Enforcement, right?" Arthur asked.

Molly remembered the conversation with her mother and felt her heart skip a beat. "I don't know anymore."

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Christmas was wonderful this year. Instead of going home to her mum's, she stayed with Maddox and his new wife Marlene in London. Only married six months, they were expecting their first baby in four months.

Maddox always liked to joke that he never thought he could marry Marlene because of her name, not wanting to add yet another person in the family whose name started with "Ma." Molly liked Marlene, but was quite envious of her and Maddox' closeness.

On Christmas morning, Molly woke up with presents at the end of her bed. Much more than she expected.

"Miss Molly, come down, and we'll open presents together," Maddox called.

Even though Molly was now fifteen years old, she never tired of hearing her oldest brother call her Miss Molly. After putting on her dressing gown, she quickly scooped up her presents and hurried downstairs.

None of her other brothers gave her a present, which she expected. Though it always hurt a little. Every year Molly made sure that her brothers had something small to open. Even if it was only some candy.

She opened the present from Arthur last. The package was very flat and quite large. She scanned the card, "Happy Christmas Molly! Turns out I was saying the word wrong. This is a record, not a recory. Enjoy! Love, Arthur."

Molly had learned over the years not to throw away the parchment that wrapped Arthur's gifts. Today's paper was another treasure. There was Molly, in her school robes, half looking up mistletoe hanging above her. Molly looked carefully at the drawing. It didn't seem very accurate. She knew she wasn't that slender, she was the first to admit that she'd like to lose five pounds. Her hair wasn't that curly, and she had more freckles on her nose. Maybe that's how he sees you, a voice whispered in her ear.

After unwrapping the present she held in her hands a record. Molly wanted to laugh, typical Arthur. The record was for The Supremes. Molly briefly wondered if she could bewitch something to play it.

"What in the world is that, Miss Molly?" Maddox asked.

Molly giggled, "Just a present from a friend."

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"Molly, please sit down." It was months later, nearing the end of the school term.

Molly took a step in the classroom where Professor Birch and Professor Dumbledore were sitting. All fifth years had a conference with some teachers to discuss their career options.

"So Molly, according to your file, you're interested in Magical Law Enforcement."

"I was," Molly said. "No, I am. I mean, I was interested."

"Was?" Professor Birch asked kindly, "What are you thinking about now, Molly?"

"Well, when I graduate, I'll need a job, but after that…" Molly trailed off. Was she really willing to give up a career for a family that didn't even exist yet? "But then I'll get married. Married and have children. I suppose I'll have a large family, so it would be best if I don't work," Molly spoke quickly, without taking a breath.

"Do you want a large family?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"Apparently I'm not going to have a choice in the matter," Molly muttered under her breath.

Professor Dumbledore looked at her over his half-moon spectacles. "I remember your mother's career conference. She had exactly the same attitude that you do."

Molly frowned, "And look how well that turned out. Mum never worked a day in her life. She and Dad were married a month after graduating Hogwarts."

"Do you really believe that there is a curse on the women in you family?" he asked.

She was surprised that Professor Dumbledore knew anything about that. She wondered how many of her women relatives said the same thing. "That's the only thing it can be," Molly whined, "I researched my family tree. Six boys and one girl on the women's side go back since the fourteenth century! Seven hundred years, Professor. I can't compete against that."

"Molly, it could be years before you marry. Let's concentrate on now, and right after Hogwarts. What would you like to do?"

"Be a Law Enforcer," Molly said miserably. "I know I would make a great one."

"Well," Professor Birch said cheerily, "for that you'll need Transfiguration, I see your work was improved there."

"Also, keep up the good work in charms," Professor Dumbledore added. "Defense Against the Dark Arts should do it. That leaves some room for Elective work."

They continued chatting for a few minutes, and Molly felt like she might have control over her destiny after all.

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Later that day, in the Great Hall, Molly was telling her friends about her career advisement.

"I knew you wanted to be an Enforcer," Michael yelled out. "You try to enforce us all of the time!"

Emma and Aelecia laughed at this while Molly blushed. "It's not like I order you all around or anything, do I?" she asked, worriedly.

"Nah, but admit it, you are very strong in your convictions," Michael said.

"Convictions?" Aelecia asked. "I wasn't aware you knew what that term meant, Michael. I'm impressed."

Michael pouted, "I can use big words when I want to."

"Well, I've decided to drop Divination. I thought I wanted to know my future, but I'm not so sure any more." Suddenly wanting to change the subject, Molly added, "Did I tell you all, I'm an aunt!"

Aelecia and Emma sighed. "That's so wonderful," Aelecia said.

"Babies are so cute!" Emma cooed.

Michael and Arthur rolled their eyes at each other. "Girls," muttered Michael.

"It's a baby girl. Maddox decided to break the tradition and call her Elizabeth, Betsy for short. She has red hair, like me!" Molly was incredibly proud of her little niece, though she was only one day old.

The girls went on to talk about babies until Michael suddenly asked, "Molly, if you're giving up Divination with me, what are you taking instead?"

That was the question Molly wanted to avoid for now. "Muggle studies," Molly said, and suddenly her face went scarlet.

"Muggle studies?" Arthur asked interestedly. "Molly, that's great, we'll be in the class together. What made you see my point of view?"

She turned and looked at him, "You've always been so excited about muggles. I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. I might need your help with homework," she added shyly.

He smiled. "Anytime."