A/N: Terribly sorry about the long wait. School completely takes up 90% of my time. I was on vacation during the winter holidays so I couldn't update then. HOWEVER, I PROMISE this story is not going to be forgotten. Besides, during the summer, I'll definitely update more regularly.

Chapter 12- The Current State of Matters

"Okay," said Molly in a hushed voice. "You have to go now."

"Why?" Arthur replied.

"Because someone's going to come soon. You leave, and I'll leave a bit after you."

"No…just a little more time…"

"No, Arthur."

"Molly…" Arthur's voice become pleading.

"Someone's going to catch us!"

"No one's going to be walking around in the prefects' bathroom in the dead of the night."

"Hmm…maybe someone will. I don't know, perhaps a prefect?" Molly hissed.

"Mol-ly…"

"No! Now go, hurry up."

Arthur got up and fully clothed, walked around the bathroom.

"Go!" Molly said. She pulled on her sweater.

"I don't know, Molly, I mean, why don't we just stay here the rest of the night?"

"I'm going to kill you Arthur Weasley!" Molly said for the first, but not the last time of her life.

"Okay, fine, fine…"

"Hey! Who's here?" A voice sounded into the prefects' bathroom.

Arthur and Molly froze.

Footsteps approached and then Arthur and Molly ran smack into Kingsley.

"Ahhh!" Kingsley screamed, pointing at them.

"Ahhh!" Arthur screamed, trying to hide Molly behind his back.

"You two were doing it!" Kingsley accused.

"Go away!" Arthur said.

"Merlin's Beard!"

"Kingsley! GO AWAY!"

"I can't believe this!"

"Kingsley!" Molly said, tripping over Arthur's foot.

"You're not even a prefect!"

"Shhhhh!" Arthur said all of the sudden.

"What?" Molly said alarmed.

The three of them stopped speaking. Kingsley was still looking at Arthur in a mixture of bewilderment and awe.

Footsteps walked outside of the bathroom and then down the hallway and disappeared.

"How long have you been doing it?" Kingsley asked.

"Go away," replied Arthur.

"Is it your first time?"

"Go away."

"Here, I thought I was going to catch Malfoy and Narcissa, but nooooo…I had to find you two lovebirds---"

"Okay Kingsley," Molly interrupted harshly. "This is what you are going to do. You are going to pretend that you never saw this and erase it from your mind."

Kingsley gave a doubtful snort.

"Goodbye, Kingsley, and keep your big mouth shut." Molly took Arthur's hand and headed for the door.

"Arthur and Molly, sitting in the tree…D-O-I-N-G-I-T…" Kingsley sang.

* *

"My owl is back!" Molly said jubilantly, eagerly opening up her letter at the breakfast table.

She retrieved her letter, swallowed some bacon, and then read it.

My dear Molly,

It was wonderful to receive an owl from you. I count the days for you to return home! I also want to discuss some very important issues with you now that you are almost a woman.

Honey, you know that your mother and I love you, but you must understand that it is not in your best interest to be fooling around with boys like Arthur Weasley. He might be a very nice boy with a caring heart, but Molly, you're almost eighteen now, and must think of your future in relationships. This isn't all fun and games and you must start dating wisely because it might affect your future.

Molly, dear, we Hattingfields run the Gringotts bank and have a reputation! If you are to choose a boy, then may I suggest Kingsley Shacklebolt or David Connerly? I know their fathers very well and they are both respectable young men.

Arthur's family owns a shoe shop and if you were to become seriously involved with him, then there are many hardships to endure.

Molly, you know that I love you and you are my only child, but I ask you to please follow my advice and tell Arthur you just want to be friends.

Love,

Dad

Molly stared at this letter and then tore it up into tiny little pieces.

"Molly, what did it say?" Alice asked, gently, fearful for Molly's temper.

"I hate him!" Molly cried and then stormed out of the Great Hall.

"What happened?" Emmeline asked.

"Her father owled her. The news wasn't too pleasant I guess." Alice said slowly.

"Oh," Emmeline replied. "What was the news about?"

"Her relationship with Arthur, but I don't know what for sure."

"Arthur? He's a nice guy, is her dad overprotective?"

"Maybe." Alice answered, feeling a little confused.

"A month until graduation!" a cheerful voice broke through. Kingsley Shacklebolt strolled up to the two girls and messed with Emmeline's hair.

"What are your plans for the summer?" Kingsley asked them.

"I'm going to get a job." Alice replied.

"Oh, so am I!" Emmeline exclaimed. Alice let out a startled gasp.

"Are you serious?" Alice asked, excited. "Where?"

"Maybe at the Ministry---"

"Oooh!" Alice gave a squeal. "So am I!"

"Ahhh!" Emmeline gave a shriek. "Are you serious?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes!"

"Or maybe at the bank…" Alice pondered.

"Ahhhh!" Emmeline gave another shriek. "So am I!"

"Ohmigod!"

"Ohmigod!"

Kingsley stared. He had actually come to ask Emmeline if she wanted to go kangeroo sight seeing with her in July, but she was too busy hyperventilating with Alice, so he decided to wait.

* *

Arthur Weasley found Molly sitting in the library reading a book. They were graduating soon, and didn't have much work. They already took their N.E.W.T. exams and the teachers have all basically let the 7th years loose. Except for Professor Wortham. She insisted on piling on extra homework because she was as Kingsley put it, "A student torturer who loves to make our lives miserable in the rain."

"Molly?" Arthur said cheerfully. He was holding his letter from his parents to show her.

"Yes?" Molly looked up to him. She was calmer now, but still very upset with her father.

"Did your parents reply?" He said smiling.

"Er….did yours?"

"Yup." Arthur gave Molly the letter. "Read this."

Molly opened up the parchment and read,

Dear Arthur,

What wonderful news! Your father and I are so excited for you. I can't wait to meet Molly as soon as possible. It sounds as if you two are in a very serious relationship. How about you have her come to dinner with us when the Hogwarts Train arrives at the end of the school year? I'll make something special.

Love,

Mom

Reading this letter made Molly felt even more depressed.

"What's wrong, Molly? My mother's really nice, I promise." Arthur said.

"Yes, I can tell." Molly answered. "Arthur," she looked up at him and tried to concentrate on his freckles. "I don't think---well---I don't think you'll be able to meet my parents any time soon."

Arthur paused. "Why?"

"Because, well, they are very….well, it'll just take a bit of time for them to get used to the idea that I'm in a serious relationship."

"That's okay, I'll wait." Arthur replied.

Molly gave a small sigh. "Arthur, I love you, I really do, but I don't know."

"Don't know about what? Our marriage?" Arthur asked, then caught himself. "Oops."

"Arthur!" Molly said, surprised.

"Sorry!" Arthur said, "That was unexpected! I swear!"

They stared at each other for a few minutes.

"Arthur, my father doesn't want me to date you." Molly said quickly.

There was a stunned silence.

"But why?" Arthur asked, bemused. "I'm…I'm not a bad person."

"I know you're not." Molly replied, feeling sorrier by the minute. "It's just that…my dad, he's very…materialistic sometimes."

Comprehension dawned on Arthur. "I see." He replied, his voice a bit cold.

"Arthur…" Molly began.

"No, it's alright really. I should've seen it coming." Arthur replied bitterly.

"It's not like that…"

"Poor Arthur Weasley. He has no money. How can he date someone like Molly Hattingfield?" Arthur went on.

"Don't think about it like that!" Molly said.

"Well, what am I supposed to think?! Your father thinks I'm just some poor kid who shouldn't be going out with a girl who's better class."

"He didn't say that!"

"Oh yeah? Well what did he say?" Arthur challenged.

Molly fell silent.

"Yeah, that's right. That's exactly what he said." Arthur fumed and then stormed out of the room.

* *

Arthur sat in his dormitory, looking at a little ring he had in a black velvet box. He had sold practically everything he had owned, even his broomstick, to buy it. He had even written to his brother Percy to borrow some gold to buy the ring. It was a beautiful ring with a diamond in the center and sapphires surrounding the stone.

He had pawned in his Muggle books and his devices. He had gone to Hogsmeade last weekend to apply for a job at the bookstore. He needed to work to pay back his brother.

'I'm so stupid,' Arthur thought to himself. 'Of course I love her! But now I know that she's too good for me. Why didn't I see that coming? Why didn't I see the differences in our families?'

Arthur sighed and laid back on his pillow. 'Molly is everything I love and even more. If she won't marry me I guess I'll go and be a Muggle. That won't be too bad.'

Arthur looked at his calendar. There were exactly 3 weeks and 4 days until graduation. He had planned to propose sometime this summer, after Molly had met his parents and vice versa. They were a little young, but Arthur didn't want to wait too long. What if someone else comes along and decides to win Molly over? Nope, better not let her go. She's the one he wanted. And besides, a lot of Hogwarts students get married the summer after graduation. He knew that Frank and Alice would marry soon.

Arthur closed the velvet box and placed it in his clothes drawer. Then, he picked up a Quiddich magazine and began to read. He wanted to take his mind off of the current state of matters.