In Defense of Molly Weasley (Long)

[Phyllis D. (P. D.) Barnes]

No: HPFGUIDX 174989

Recently there were posts questioning Molly Weasley's magical
abilities versus those of Bellatrix Lestrange, because she was
"only a housewife". I believe that there were hints to "the
real Molly" throughout the books and that the Molly that fought
Bellatrix was the real Molly. Of course Molly went after the
witch that tried to kill her daughter; but I believe Molly had
the mad skills to take on and beat Bellatrix.

We know that when she was at Hogwarts she was in Gryffindor; the
house with Courage.

We know that Molly raised six boys and Mr. Weasley who is a big
kid himself. This is not an easy feat at any time, but especially
when two of them are Fred and George. I believe Bill and Charlie
were not much different from Fred and George when they were
growing up. The first time we see Bill and Charlie is at the
beginning of GOF where they battle each other with the tables.
This is when they were grown and mature; it makes one wonder what
they were like as children. Bill is a curse-breaker; Charlie works
with dragons and both of them would have liked to have been at
Hogwarts to participate in the Tri-Wizard tournament. These are
not two meek men and I doubt they were meek, quiet boys either.
Let's see Bill, Charlie, Fred and George in the house at one time.

We've seen her as a healer. Sectumsempra is not an easy curse to
undo but Molly stems the blood flow when George is hit. He could
have been taken to Madam Pomfrey (staying away from St. Mungos
which is ministry controlled) and word sent to the Weasley's via
patronus; but he's taken home to Mom who fixes him right up.

At the end of GOF when Dumbledore asked Molly if he could count
on her and Arthur. There was no questions, no hesitation only an
immediate "Of course you can". Also, I have always wondered (though
there is nothing in canon) if Dumbledore had Molly (an ally) meet
Harry at the Hogwart's Express his first day.

When do you read of Molly speaking a command; her commands are
nonverbal. In HBP this did not appear to be an easy skill to
master.

Lastly, Bellatrix was not the first Death Eater Molly fought. The
Bellatrix fight was the only DE fight specifically mentioned in DH;
but we know that Molly was somewhere in Hogwarts in the heat of
battle against the DE's and she survived.

IMO Molly has been underestimated but I think she's a witch with
mad skills. In the interest of space I will not give my defense
of housewives, in general, whom I believe sometimes do not get
the respect they deserve.

Phyllis