In front of the mirror she nervously straightened the pin at her throat, brushing the blonde dyed hair behind her ears. Molly tried to swallow the lump of nervousness in her throat as she stared at her reflection.

The gray cloak…

Warden…

She was a fucking Warden!

It was as crazy as them pulling Harry into it; they had to really be reaching for help if they were dragging her into things.

Behind her a door opened and she glanced to the right towards the reflection of it in the mirror. A gray cloak swayed into view and she turned with a smile to greet the person wearing it with open arms. They embraced warmly for a moment then she dragged his head down to hers, lips searing together into a kiss.

“You alright?” asked Carlos in a soft voice.

“Scared out of my skin,” she replied. Then she buried her face against his chest and murmured, “I’m not ready for this…”

“Hey, Harry thinks you are. He wouldn’t have let them give you the cloak if he didn’t think that.”

“I’m not even out of apprenticeship, Carlos!”

He smiled, lifting her chin gently up so he could press a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose.

“We need you, Molly,” he breathed. “I don’t like dragging you into this anymore than Harry does or your parents. But we need every able hand we have.”

“I’m an able hand now?” she asked, eyebrows arched. “Well that’s a shocker.”

Carlos chuckled and said, “Well, perhaps not an ‘able hand’. More of a ‘hand we don’t quite want but need’ as the Council might put it.”

Molly smiled at that. “Just like Harry, hmm?” she asked.

“Looks like. But he and I both know you’ll do good.”

“You really think so?”

“Like I said,” he intoned sternly, “Harry wouldn’t have let them approach you if he didn’t think so. Dios, girl, don’t you listen?”

A coy smile answered him then the hands connected to the arms around his waist started to wander.

“What on earth do I need to listen to right now besides my heart?” she asked.

Carlos smiled and leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers, asking, “And what is it telling you?”

“That I’m madly in love this crazy Warden for one thing.”

“Oh, I think I know this fellow. He’s a good sort.”

Molly laughed, saying, “Yeah, I think so too. And it says this is crazy too.”

“Well that crazy Warden will be right there by your side to show you the ropes,” said Carlos with a grin. “And I think he knows a certain other Warden that’ll be there too with a ready foot if the Council need it in their backsides.”

She giggled softly then tilted her head to kiss his lips, murmuring, “I love you.” He kissed her back gently then pulled her close, the gray of their cloaks mingling as he tangled his hands in her hair.

“Love you too, Molly,” he whispered into her ear. Then he smiled and asked, “Ready?”

“To face the Council?” she asked with a snort. “Heck no!” Then she smiled, tugging one hand out of her hair so she could entwine her fingers with his, and added, “Though if you’re there with me, it’ll be a lot better.”

Carlos nodded, saying, “I’ll be at your side for as long as I can.”

“That could be a long time in our years. You sure you want to?”

“Sure as the sun.”

“That was so corny,” Molly giggled as they paused at a door, ignoring the two guards standing at it. She tugged him down for another kiss then whispered against his mouth, “You’ve been hanging out too much with Harry.”

“Maybe,” he murmured back. Then he straightened and said, “Here we go, Warden Carpenter. Ready?”

“The butterflies in my stomach might me,” she replied with a nervous smile.

Carlos squeezed her hand reassuringly at that then they were stepping through the door into the area where the Council had convened. All around them were Wardens and every eye was on the two of them – more specifically on her. For one second, Molly flinched then she straightened up and strode forward with Carlos at her side to stand next to Harry.

He smiled down at her and asked softly, “You okay?”

She nodded, looking towards the man at her side. He smiled, gently squeezing her hand, and she returned it before shifting back towards Harry with a smile.

“I’m ready,” said Molly in a voice as firm as her grip on Carlos’ hand.

So long as she had him next to her – someone who would love her no matter what – she could make it through anything.