Sirius and Molly...

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 71383

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Melanie Black 
<princessmelabela at y...> wrote:
>  
> Anyways with that said I'm going to be very harsh on Molly right 
now.  She bothered me a lot in this book.  Mainly because of how hard 
she was on Sirius....The one comment that bothers me the most was the 
one where she implied that he could not look after Harry while in 
Azkaban.  I'm sorry, but before age 11 Molly did not have much to do 
with Harry either.  Honestly, I dont think she knew much of Harry at 
all except by stories, and the only reason she became his "mother" is 
because of his relationship with Ron.  Not that this makes her less 
caring but really that comment about Azkaban was not uncalled 
for...especially considering it's not like sirius wanted to be 
there.  Or even deserved to be there.  

Molly does at times treat people at face value.  Remember how her 
behavior to Hermione changed in GoF once the article about her 
breaking Harry's heart came out.  And this was a girl she met before, 
yet somehow Molly seemed willing to believe the worst of her.  Maybe 
this is simply Molly being overprotective, but it's not very fair.  
In OoP she also glares at Sirius in a scene (the silver goblet 
discussion?) because of something Mundungus says or does in front of 
her.  The impression I got was sort of a silent "How can you (Sirius) 
allow him (Dung) to behave like that?" That somehow since Mundugus is 
something of a shady character, that is somehow Sirius' fault.

And, yes, I thought the Azkaban comment was low.

> The next thing that bothered me is the scene on the platform.  
Sirius embraced harry by putting his paws on him.  And Molly told him 
(called him Sirius too) to act more like a dog.  I'm sorry but it was 
one of the few embraces that Sirius ever got to give Harry...he loved 
Harry....he had every right to hug is Godson.  As much of a right as 
Molly does.  And why did she call him Sirius?  I mean waht a way to 
blow a cover!
>  
> I am thinking I wonder if Molly ever truly trusted Sirius (or 
perhaps, only partly did).  Part of me wonders if she still thought 
that he might have done it ((I doubtr this is true..especially 
considering she left her children in his care...but I mean it's a 
thought).  I just wonder what all of your thoughts are?  Why do you 
think Molly was so hard on Sirius?  

Two other comments. One is I think Molly's character was used to 
provide the reader a signal to Sirius' imminent demise.  She harps 
several times on his recklessness and rashness. Now, what history do 
these two have?  Molly wasn't in the original Order, and at the end 
of that Sirius was sent to prison. Yet, she seems very confident 
about her comments on how Sirius has been known to act recklessly. 
What makes her the expert in analyzing Sirius' beharvior or 
character, except that that's one of the functions her character has 
been set up to play?

The other opinion I have is that Molly, a surogate mother-figure for 
Harry, sees Sirius as something of a rival for Harry's affections. 
She has spent more time with Harry. She worries about him. I don't 
doubt that she loves Harry. And now, here comes the godfather with a 
lot of personal baggage who can now interact more easily with Harry 
than he ever could. And, Harry obviously likes him.  I think that was 
part of the basis of her Azkaban comment. "I was here trying to help 
Harry, while you were off in prison, so of course, my opinion should 
carry more weight in deciding what's appropriate."  She certainly 
thinks she has Harry's best interests at heart, but rather than 
concentrate on that aspect, she chooses to verbally chastise Sirius.  
She doesn't seem willing to accept that Sirius also cares about 
Harry, or, that if he does, he can't possibly care as much as she 
does.

Marianne