Before the Beginning

The holidays came upon them quickly and most students quickly forgot the strange things happening about the castle. Arthur usually would have gone home from Christmas, but Molly had invited him home to meet her family and he couldn't possibly refuse.

He had known Molly was well off, but how well off he had no idea. The carriage pulled up in front of the manor and two men graciously helped Molly out. Arthur knew right away that these two men were the brothers Molly had spoken so fondly about previously. Just by looking at them he could tell they were every bit as brilliant as she described.

"Arthur, these are my brothers, Gideon and Fabian. Boys, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Arthur Weasley," Molly stated.

"Ah, a Weasley, aye? Well, at least you're a pureblood. That means Mum and Dad won't hate you," Gideon said with a grin.

"Cut it out, Gideon. You'll scare him," Molly said lightly thumping him on the chest.

Arthur studied the two men carefully. They we obviously twins and he wouldn't have been able to tell them apart to save his life if Fabian didn't have longer hair that he tied back in a pony-tail. However, they both had the same fair colored hair with a bit of a curl in it and the same deep brown eyes and boyish faces, but not so that they looked like children; just good looking. Even their smiles were identical as they both embraced their sister at the same time.

"Gideon and Fabian are five years older than me and training hard to become the best aurors ever," Molly said, interrupting his thoughts. He suddenly understood why Molly seemed so worried about the dangers of being an auror.

"Oh, stop, Molly. You flatter us so. But if you insist on it..." Fabian began.

"They're also the biggest jokers in our family," she finished with a chuckle.

"How big is your family, Molly?" Arthur asked, nervously. He suddenly was feeling quite self conscious of his fading cloak and scuffed shoes.

"Oh, not too big. That's why I've always dreamed of having several children. I love children so much. I always dreamed of having tons of younger siblings, but Mum and Dad didn't seem to share my enthusiasm. But I want a big happy family no matter what!"

Arthur couldn't help but smile at her radiance. He was glad neither of her brothers were mind readers because he was thinking some seriously dirty thoughts about the woman standing before him and how he'd love to make scores of children with her. Well, he at least hoped neither of them had telepathy. It kind of worried him when they both started grinning at him queerly.

"Well, better now than never I always say," Fabian said, taking Arthur's trunk and starting toward the house.

"I'm the one always saying that, you prat," Gideon said taking Molly's trunk in suite.

"You're also the one that likes to dance around his room in Aunt Winifred's mink cloak," Fabian pointed out.

"Hey, it's soft! And you were dancing too. In her high heels none the less," Gideon retorted. Arthur couldn't tell if they were just pulling his leg or really did enjoy a good romp around the house in women's clothing.

"Boys, boys! Please, let's not scare Arthur with our family quirks before he even gets inside!" Molly exclaimed. They must have been joking, Arthur decided, because Molly was having trouble hiding her grin.

"Sorry," the two exclaimed in unison.

"My luck I'll have two just like them," Molly whispered to Arthur.

"Don't jinx yourself," Arthur whispered back.

Arthur was lead up the path to the door of the large manor. And if the outside was a sight to behold, the inside was like a heaven just for the rich. However, before he could examine the house further, two figures came toward them.

"Oh, Molly, darling! You're home!" the woman, obviously Molly's mother, gave Molly a kiss on each cheek.

"So, you must be Arthur," the man, who must have been her father, said, shaking Arthur's hand firmly.

"Yes, Sir. It's a pleasure to meet you," Arthur said, anxiously.

"Arthur, these are my parents, Rupert and Rosalie Prewett. Mother, Father, this is Arthur Weasley," Molly said gently.

Rupert suddenly released Arthur's hand as if it were on fire.

"A Weasley you say?"

"Er, yes, Sir. Is that a problem?" Arthur asked. He began feeling as though he might vomit on their nice oriental rug. Why was it that his surname caused him problems in all pureblood homes?

"No, of course not, Dear," Rosalie quickly said as she began fussing with the blonde bun I her hair even though not even a hair was out of place. "Nothing wrong with the Weasley's, right, dear?"

"Er, right," Rupert said in agreement. However, the look on the stout man's face told Arthur a different story.

"Well, supper is ready," Rosalie said, obviously embarrassed. "Gideon, why don't you show Arthur to his room. Fabian, come help me with the table."

"Sure thing, Mother," Gideon said. "Locomotor trunk!"

"Anything you say, Mum," Fabian said. "Locomotor plates!"

"Oh please be careful, Fabian! Those are quite expensive!" Rosalie exclaimed, following quickly behind her one son.

"What was the deal with your father back there?" Arthur asked Gideon when they had made it safely up the stairs.

"Well, the truth is, Art, your family is poor. He's just worried about Molly. But hey, it's not like you guys are going to get married or anything. You're just kids," Gideon said with a quick chuckle as he dropped Arthur's trunk in a corner of the room.

"And why wouldn't we get married?" Arthur said a bit annoyed.

"Well, I suppose it isn't too far fetched. Getting approval from Pops might be an obstacle though. I don't think he'd be to keen on his daughter marrying a blood-traitor."

Arthur didn't respond. He didn't understand why money or not thinking muggles were a disease was more important than the fact that he and Molly loved each other.

The whole holiday was not one Arthur enjoyed, but he knew it meant a lot to Molly that he came. However, when it was all over, he was not upset. He would miss the twins a bit, being that he found he enjoyed their antics. But Mr. Prewett was one he doubted he would ever like. He might as well have been a Black or a Malfoy. He couldn't believe sweet Molly had come from such a foul man.

After several hours of silence in the carriage, Molly finally spoke. "What's wrong, Arthur? You've been acting strange all holiday."

"Let's just say I didn't have the time of my life," Arthur said with his hand cradling his head against the window.

"What do you mean? Did you not like my family?" Molly asked quietly.

"Oh, they were just keen, Molly. Between your mother asking me if my mother actually used patches to fix our clothing and your father asking how I could ever manage to support a family, I felt very welcome." He didn't mean to be so harsh, but he was completely fed up and needed to vent. Of course, it probably wasn't right to vent to Molly about her own family, and he immediately regretted it.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I wouldn't have made you come if I knew you'd be miserable..."

Arthur felt his heart breaking when he looked up at her. Tears were forming in her eyes and her head was drooped unbearably low.

"Oh, Molly," he said pulling her into his embrace. "I'm sorry for that. Your family wasn't all that bad; they just want the best for you. And I guess that's what I'm not."

She pulled away from him furiously. "Don't say that, Arthur! You mean the world to me! I can't imagine my life with anyone else!" She buried her face in his chest. "I don't want you to ever leave me!"

"I promise I won't, Molly; I promise..."

When they got back to school, Molly and Arthur vowed to try and take a moonlit stroll once a week for the rest of the school year. However, something would soon complicate that vow.

"Students, I am afraid that we can no longer allow you to roam the school grounds except to go to your outdoor lessons in which you will meet your professor at the main doors of the castle and be escorted out," Headmaster Dippet announced one morning at breakfast.

"What exactly is going on, headmaster?" Elijah asked.

"That is none of your concern Mr. Hall," the headmaster replied.

"But isn't it?" Cap interjected.

"Excuse me, Mr. Collier? I don't remember asking your opinion."

"If something is affecting our safety here at Hogwarts," Cap continued, ignoring the aging man, "then I think we have a right to know why we can no longer enjoy outdoor activities."

A few murmurs began through out the Great Hall.

"And I think everyone would like to know if this is going to affect the remainder of the quidditch season," Cap stated, knowing that reminding everyone about quidditch would cause an outcry.

"Yeah! What about quidditch?!" Mycroft Smallwood called from the Hufflepuff table. He was a beater for their team.

Several students began to chant "Why? Why? Why?"

"ENOUGH!!" Headmaster Dippet shouted. The whole hall became silent. "The reason you are no longer outside is because a small group of hooligan dark wizards have been causing trouble lately and are targeting muggle-borns. I cannot afford any students to be put in jeopardy! Please understand that! There have been several deaths already as it is!"

"You are much safer within the castle than you are around it," Professor Dumbledore interjected. "And, to answer your question, Mr. Collier, quidditch will not be affected, however all practices must have a staff member present."

No one argued after Dippet's outburst, but not many students agreed with it.

"I guess that's the end of our moonlit walks," Molly said sadly.

"Says who?" Arthur asked.

Molly gave him a queer grin.

"Sometimes I wonder if you are trying to get us killed, Arthur Weasley."

"Not get us killed, just live a little," Arthur said with a smile. "See you tonight!"

"That boy has been hanging around Caphis Collier for far too long," Molly said shaking her head as he ran off. However, she still was smiling at his retreating form.