Chapter 1
Molly had rather thought that her graduation from Hogwarts would have been a more meaningful event. She had been working her ass of for the last seven years and had graduated with NEWTs in Charms, DADA, Transfiguration, Runes, and Arithmacy. Not to mention she had been the president of the dueling club (and the first witch to be inducted in as well). However, she found the experience to be rather lackluster. It simply signified that this would no longer be her home. Unless, of course, she came back to teach someday after receiving a mastery.
Many of her friends and year-mates had asked her to come with them to the three broomsticks for celebratory drinks, but she had turned them down. They had groaned and teased her about being whipped, but she and Arthur had often preferred their own company since they started courting in sixth year. She did feel a pang of regret, as she would probably not see many of them again in the years to come, but she brushed it off.
She had enjoyed her private celebration with Arthur a lot. Though neither of them exactly had a lot of money, their parents had given them a nice sum to go treat themselves to dinner at Frank’s. It had been the restaurant that they went on their first date to and it held a lot of happy memories. Molly reveled in the present nostalgia of the small restaurant. It had always seemed to be glowing with warmth. It reminded her a lot of her families dining room back at home.
They indulged themselves with some very nice wine and a lovely beef Wellington. Overall, it was a perfect night. They were just pushing past tipsy and chatting about nothing in particular. Molly was happy to listen to Arthur rattle on and on about the fascinating things he had learned in muggle studies and how he was considering trying to obtain a mastery in the subject.Eventually, the sun sank below the horizon and Arthur flood her back to the Prewett house (ever the gentleman), and they shared a lingering hug. When they separated however, Arthur didn’t turn to the floo like she had expected.
Molly's hand covered her mouth as she watched Arthur take a knee in front of her. This was the culmination of everything she had ever wanted. Arthur would be a doting husband, and they would be blessed with many children who she would love and adore with all of her heart. Her father also liked him and had greatly approved of their courtship, and her mother made no secret of the fact that she already considered him to be family.
Arthur looked up at her with shining eyes. "Molly, my love, would you make me the happiest man in the entire world and do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Molly felt tears rise in her eyes. This was the perfect man for her, and they would be happy for the rest of their lives together, but something was stopping her from saying yes. A little thought in the back of her mind said that she didn't want this. Not yet.
"My love?" Arthur asked as the silence stretched on.
"Oh Arthur, I want to say yes. I really do, and I love you so very much. I just can't."
Arthur's happy expression shattered into a thousand pieces.
"Please don't cry, love," Molly pleaded, "You know as well as I do the fight that is coming. When this is all over when we're through with the war that is coming, will you ask me again?"
Arthur looked up at her. "Ask you again?"
Molly couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Something inside of her was splintering apart, but she pressed on through her tears anyway. "Yes! When this is all over. When this is all over, I'll say yes."
Arthur left without another word, and Molly collapsed onto the floor. Huge shuddering sobs wracked her chest as what she had just done hit her. It was quite possible that she had just thrown her perfect life out the window. So she cried and cried, and when her tears ran out, she lay there on the floor, heaving and wailing for the life she had just passed up. It was only in the early hours of the morning that she finally still pulled herself up. She may not have the life she had imagined for herself now, but there was a reason that she couldn't be with Arthur now. No matter how it hurt, she knew that the future was too uncertain for her to relegate herself to the sidelines.
She would have time when this was all over to decide if she really wanted to settle down. No, Molly chided herself, she would be ready to settle down when this was done. She would finally have her dream life. Arthur would wait for her, of this she was certain. There was no boy more devoted than he was, and she really did want to marry him. Just, not right now.