[HPforGrownups] Mothers and Fathers (was: Re: James gave his life, why no protection from him?)

[Janet Anderson]

No: HPFGUIDX 107772

SSSusan sssaid:

>You know, Iggy, this makes me think of another of my pet peeves in
>this general subject area.  HOW many people have suggested that
>*Molly* will betray The Order because of her love/concern for one of
>her children?  And then contrast that to how many people have
>suggested that *Arthur* will betray The Order in the same
>fashion....  Interesting, isn't it?
>
>If someone wants to argue that there is something in Molly's
>*specific* temperament which makes this likely AND that that same
>thing is *NOT* in Arthur's specific temperament, then I'll listen.

Okay, I'll argue that, because it's what I said before after Molly showed us 
her ugly side in OotP.

Arthur's theme in my opinion is "I could not love thee, dear, so muchl/loved 
I not honor more."  (quoting from memory).  That's why he jumped all over 
Percy when he brought home his promotion -- he realized the long view, that 
Percy would be asked to betray his family for the money and prestige the 
Ministry was offering.  He also realizes that in a war, things are different 
than in time of peace; any person who wants to fight and can fight should at 
least be given some part in it, because you need everyone you can get.  
Lastly, he realizes that someone *will* die during a war, and that even if 
you're willing to die yourself to protect others, you may not be granted 
that wish.

Molly, in my opinion, takes the limited or short view.  She hasn't, I think, 
realized the whole ramifications of Percy's departure -- she's still 
focussing on his leaving his family -- not on his transferring his loyalty 
to the corrupt Ministry and all that implies.  She's still trying 
desperately to run her life and her children's lives as if it were 
peacetime.  And she hasn't been able to put aside her determination to 
protect people who neither need nor want to be protected (Fred and George), 
nor to gauge how much protection even underage people should have when 
they're in a wartime situation (Ron, Ginny, and of course Harry).

There are things Arthur wouldn't do, even to protect his children, because 
he can see past that desire to the war as a whole.  In my opinion, Molly is 
not at this point able to do that.  This may be because of her two dead 
brothers in the last war.  However, by the description of their deaths, she 
should be proud of them and point to them as role models, instead of trying 
to wrap up her children in swaddling clothes.

If Voldemort or his agents are looking for a weak link, they may well choose 
Molly and threaten her through one of her children -- I think Percy is the 
most likely since they've got him where they want him and Molly knows this.  
I don't *know* whether or not she would fold under such pressure, but I 
think it's much more likely than Arthur doing so.  For one thing, Molly 
might well be capable of convincing herself that Voldemort would keep his 
word.  Not Arthur, not for one moment.


Janet Anderson

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