Were the Weasleys (particularly Molly) in the 1st OOP?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 187817

Janelle:
> 
> I agree with Lynda's thoughts on this, but I also wanted to add something else about how Molly and Arthur came to be recruited to the Order the second time around.  
> 
> I don't think Dumbledore necessarily would have sought them out had they not already become such a large part of Harry's life.  Harry and Ron becoming friends gave the Weasley's a much larger role in the whole war than they might have had otherwise.  Harry had already spent time with the Weasleys in COS, POA, and GOF: they had to have been let in on certain aspects of what was necessary to protect Harry while he was in their care, which would have meant forming a closer relationship with Dumbledore.  
> 
> I think that Dumbledore grew to trust Arthur and Molly more and more as he observed their interactions with Harry and so, when the time came to re-form the order, they were at the top of his list of new recruits.
>
Carol responds:
I agree. And Dumbledore can use as many spies as possible at the MoM, so it makes sense to recruit the absent Arthur. But also since he intended to (re)recruit Sirius Black and induct his faithful spy, Snape, into the Order on the spot, it was common courtesy to induct the also-faithful McGonagall and the Weasleys at the same time. Expressing faith in Ron's family would also help cement (or reward) Ron's loyalty to Harry.

I find it interesting that DD doesn't actally mention the Order. He only states that there's work to be done and asks if he can count on Molly and Arthur. Bill more or less recruits himself by offering to take the message to Arthur. Then he sends McGonagall on an Order-related errand (asking Hagrid and Madame Maxime to come to his office as soon as possible--more new recruits with a specific mission) and then sends Madam Pomfrey to look after Winky (it's not clear whether that's just her job or whether she's also a member of the Order). Only at that point does he ask Black to assume his usual form and shake hands with Snape and send them on their respective missions, Black's first. Molly, in short, is placed on the same level of trust as HRH. She must be the one who informs Arthur and Bill that both Snape and Black are helping DD, too. (Of course, she and Bill, along with McGonagall, have already witnessed Snape's revealing his Dark Mark to Fudge.)

At any rate, the missions seem to be assigned in order of secrecy, with Snape's last, and Molly watches him leave along with HRH (but, of course, none of them knows where he's going). For DD, who usually operates in absolute secrecy, that's a high level of trust.

Carol, just wondering whether anyone else perceives these events this way