Dinner at midnight

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and I don't make money with this story.

Arthur Weasley silently crossed through the Gryffindor Common Room. It was late on a Saturday evening and curfew had already passed. Usually Arthur would head for bed at this time, but not tonight. Tonight he had a date with the woman he loved very much. Molly Prewett. Arthur had arranged a dinner in the kitchens. Underneath a window in the moonlight. He had to go down a bit earlier so he could have a last talk with the house elves.

He climbed through the portrait hole and he was lucky. The Fat Lady was asleep aand did not lecture him about sneaking out after curfew. He went down the stairs and prayed that he would not have the bad luck to run into Peeves, the Poltergeist. Peeves would be delighted to get him into trouble.

As he went down the stairs and jumped over the trick step his thoughts wandered to Molly. Every time they had a date he was scared she would not come. Why should a Prewett go out with a Weasley? He had no money and no wealth to offer her. She came from a wealthy family. He was already planning his proposal. Arthur planned to do it next year, just before they graduated but after they had sat for their N.E.W.T.s.

He was so enthralled in his thoughts that he did not look around the corner where the entrance to the kitchens were located. The problem was that this was also the corridor where the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room was hidden. So while dreaming of Molly and not looking out he crossed around the corner and shuddered as he felt something every Hogwarts student tried to avoid. He had walked through a ghost.

But thankfully it was not Peeves. It was the Fat Friar. The Hufflepuff Ghost looked surprised at him. "Arthur Weasley! What in the name of Merlin are you doing down here at this hour? Curfew has long since passed?!" Arthur took a deep breath and looked at the ghost. "You see... This is a special day. I have a date with my lady love in the kitchens. We just want to have a quiet dinner. After that we will go back to our Common Room. So.. Please don't tell Filch or the Professors." He looked so hopeful to the ghost that maybe the ghost might not tell on him. "Well Arthur Weasley. Since you are not usually a rulebreaker I might just let you be. But you have to tell me... Who is your lady love?" Arthur smiled sheepishly. "It's Molly Prewett." He practically glowed with his feelings for the witch. The Fat Friar smiled down on him. "Then into the kitchens with you. And no wanderings around the castle afterwards or the next time will really get you into trouble." Arthur smiled relieved and nodded.

He went to the painting that marked the entrance to the kitchens and tickled the pear. The door opened and he silently slipped inside.