[HPforGrownups] Re: Was Percy! now Percy/Molly/Hermione

[Sandi Steinberg]

No: HPFGUIDX 35970

Like Laura Huntley, I "(also) happen to love Molly."  She's the witch 
equivalent of a true earthmother...always room for one more at her table and 
in her heart.


>Penny wrote:
>I do dislike the way she interacts with her children in some ways.
>With  Bill, she seems fond but a bit meddlesome; with Charlie ... hmmm,
>no real opinion here; with Percy, she is fond & doting to the point
>of fairly obvious favoritism; with the Twins, she is definitely
>bossy, interfering & unappreciative of their strengths & ambitions; with 
>Ron, she seems to be largely uninvolved or "absent" (she pays *far*
>more attention to Harry than to Ron, and someone wrote a really nice
>analysis  some point back about how Molly's favoring Harry over her own son 
>Ron might cause problems in the Harry/Ron ......

To this I add: any parent knows his/her child's strengths and weaknesses.  
Who is independent, industrious, lazy, michievous, etc. and who needs to be 
pushed.

Bragging about your kids is not just British; it's universal!  I call it 
one-upmomship and the mothers of daughters do it even more, in my experience 
than the mothers of sons.  Nevertheless, Bill and Percy have given Molly a 
lot of Mom-bragging rights, both having been prefects and head boys.  It 
seems neither has given their parents a true moment of worry.

Ron does seem shortchanged.  I'm not certain why.  It doesn't seem too much 
for her to pay him a bit more attention.  I get the feeling that he has also 
never spoken up about the endless maroon Christmas sweaters.  He just sighs 
and grouses a bit.  I think the kid needs to make a suggestion that next 
year's sweater be blue or green, cuz' he has sooo many maroons and he needs 
more colors in his wardrobe.  I don't see Molly being distressed by that.

The baby is always overprotected in large families and is frequently spoiled 
and not held to account.  Such people often grow up expecting to be forgiven 
all and "covered for" in adulthood.  (Think: Sen. Ted Kennedy)  I don't see 
any of that in Ginnie, thankfully.  She's just a feminine little girl trying 
to grow up in a male-dominant household.  If Molly holds her close, I 
suspect it's because she was probably delighted to have a little witch of 
her own after 6 wizards.

Harry brings out the total loving mom in her.  As Arthur's wife, she 
undoubtedly know more about his abusive, loveless childhood.  Certainly that 
fact that he's an orpha--and orphaned so young and violently--makes her want 
to smother him with affection and nourishment whenever he's in her home.  
Arthur too, is always patient with Harry and Hermione as well, in explaining 
the wizardly world and its history.
I see them as exceptionally warm and hospitable.  Very generous and warm.  
(And a direct contrast to that other old wizardly family, the Malfoys.)

As to the twins:  I agree with those who have pointed out that they are the 
ones who need the strong guiding hand.  I believe a 2x4 was suggested.  
Since Arthur is a bureacrat in the MoM, I think Molly is guilty here of 
wanting the boys to follow in some sort of bureacratic/professional mold and 
not broadening her vistas.  In this regard, she's like most parents who seek 
security for their kids and aim them toward traditionally "safe" careers.

The twins however, are very good at what they do and show a lot of promise 
IMHO, for their chosen career.  They execute their magical pranks alone from 
drawing board/design phase to production and sales, and these creations are 
really hysterically funny and popular with their target audience: the 
Hogwartys.  (Ten-tongue toffee, anyone?)  It's time for Molly to begin to 
face that G and F are bright and entrepreneurial, not scholarly or 
bureaucratic.  I do think, however, that they might be good at 
cursebreaking, like Bill.  They need a good, active challenge.

I hope we see more of Charley.  I think he's cool.  I've always loved 
dragons, hate that the rotten kid is named DRACO, and would love to know 
more about Charley's research in Rumania.

As to the unmentioned relationship--that of Molly and Arthur.  They 
obvioiusly adore each other.  In GoF, Arthur immediately thinks to notify 
his wife so that she won't be worried should she hear about the Death Eaters 
sign before the family returns to the Hollow.  And Molly gets a bit girlish 
and nostalgic in the same volume, remembering their Hogwarts courtship.

Sandi

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