Bashing

[Kitty279]

Good point, Blackrose. I could even imagine that Sirius took care of the darker stuff, for Molly may know how to cook and clean the floor, but she's useless with dark objects. Actually, I think it highly irresponsible of her to force the children to help her cleaning out all that stuff when she has no idea whatsoever what is dangerous and what not and how to deal with it if one of them gets hurt by something. On the one hand, she's so hell-bent on keeping reality from the children, but on the other hand, she expects them to handle objects on which could be dark curses? Really?

[kumainpink]

They could have been bitten by doxies or some random poisonous spider that happened to be lurking around...

[Kitty279]

That, too. Or what about that .... grrr ... what was that thing that nearly put them to sleep, until Ginny closed the lid? Some musicbox? Still harmless so far, but how would have that continued? What if there was something that would harm anyone not of the Black family?
You know, I wonder if Sirius had to take down some of the wards to make sure that all these people could get in without being harmed. I could see the Blacks putting wards up to keep everyone not on their access list out.

[blackroses77]

Your right and wasn't it Sirius who saved Ron from being strangled by the robes. What if he or another adult hadn't been there Ron could of died before Harry or Hermione could get help. Same goes for the kids cleaning out the cabinet what if that thing that crawled up Harry's arm had managed to punture him before Sirius got it off him. And there were times when the kids WERE cleaning alone with no adult supervision, anything could have happened to them.

[Kitty279]

Hm, I think that was Mundungus, redeeming himself a bit in Molly's eyes. But you have a point, definitely.
Yeah - and *if* something had happened, then it would have been Molly's fault, as she was the one who forced the children into doing the work.

[physicssquid]

Cleaning the house with magic would have been a lot easier, that way Harry and his friends wouldn't have been in as much danger.

[Chameleon]

Well... Apparently Molly wanted to distract the children. What a way to make them fight again dark curses instead of getting knowledge..

[blackroses77]

Ah, right Mundungus, I forgot about him. But yeah the fact that Molly had the kids cleaning out the house completely contradicts her stance on keeping the kids safe and wrapped in wool. If she wanted the kids to help out they could of helped with meal preparation and clean up after meals. Or they could have cleaned (in the sense that they would have been removing dirt and grime) rooms that had already been thouroughly gone through and any possible dark objects/creatures removed

[G. Novella]

Yes, but this is the twins and Harry we're talking about, I bet anything Molly thought waging war on the house aided by adults was safer than waging real war.

[blackroses77]

Jul 21, 2012 14:45:35 GMT -5 G. Novella said:

Yes, but this is the twins and Harry we're talking about, I bet anything Molly thought waging war on the house aided by adults was safer than waging real war.

But as previously stated the 'war on the house' was just as dangerous as the real war. And they weren't always aided by the adults. The trio did some cleaning by themselves with no adult supervision meaning no one there to help them if attacked by a dark object or creature as I'm sure it wasn't only doxies that had taken up residents.

[Kitty279]

Probably. She just forgot that it wasn't the Burrow, but the house of an extremely dark family. Sirius is the white sheep of the Black family, after all, it may now be his house, but that doesn't mean it's harmless. Or Molly really thought she would be able to deal with anything - which I rather doubt.

[G. Novella]

But an adult is right around the corner. And yes, a doxie bite is as dangerous as Death Eaters. Get the idea? It's dangerous in it's own way, but a danger that can be managed.

[Kitty279]

Yeah, I understand what you mean.

Just imagine, she was off making some sandwiches and had taken Sirius with her so he can't tell them about the big bad world, and then they open some cupboard, take something out and get hit by a dark curse, scream for help, but it's too late. What would our dear Molly then say?

[Chameleon]

She would blame Sirius.

[Kitty279]

That's what I fear. He'd get blamed for the dangerous house, despite her willingly bringing all her children in and forcing them to clean in the first place ...

This discussion is really making me want to write some Molly bashing. I need to get back to my story ...

[G. Novella]

She'd blame everyone and anyone, including herself, and become doubly protective, sticking her children on leashes, (including Bill and Charlie) build walls around them and station herself like a bodyguard/tiger in front. Then she'd yell "Not my daughter/son you Bitch" to anyone who comes near and attack.

[blackroses77]

Jul 21, 2012 14:55:04 GMT -5 Kitty279 said:

Yeah, I understand what you mean.

Just imagine, she was off making some sandwiches and had taken Sirius with her so he can't tell them about the big bad world, and then they open some cupboard, take something out and get hit by a dark curse, scream for help, but it's too late. What would our dear Molly then say?

Exactly! If Harry's arm had been punctured by that thing it might of killed him instantly. And you hear a lot about people dying because they where attacked by tons of bees, I imagine being bitten by several doxies (for which an antidote is needed there bites are so severe) would have the same effect. And who's to say that any other creatures that have taken up living there aren't worse.

[Chameleon]

Molly is a simple-minded woman after all. Nothing can be her fault... And as it's Sirius' house, she blames them. It makes me wonder how she didn't blame Harry for Fred's death.

[Kitty279]

Jul 21, 2012 15:02:53 GMT -5 G. Novella said:

She'd blame everyone and anyone, includinf herself, and become doubly protective, sticking her children on leashes, (including Bill and Charlie) build walls around them and station herself like a bodyguard/tiger in front. Then she'd yell "Not my daughter/son you Bitch" to anyone who comes near and attack.

*snicker* I can *so* see that!

Jul 21, 2012 15:03:52 GMT -5 Chameleon said:

Molly is a simple-minded woman after all. Nothing can be her fault... And as it's Sirius' house, she blames them. It makes me wonder how she didn't blame Harry for Fred's death.

Though that doesn't sound wrong, either.

[G. Novella]

Actually, I'd think she blames herself, women like Molly tend to be very self-critical. They may shower blame on others verbally, but they'd always blame themself most. (My grandmother was very much like that)

[Chameleon]

I get a great picture in my head, Gnovella, showing that xD

[teflonbilly]

I understand wanting to follow the rules, but the Weasley Parents being so strict about not letting their kids not use their wands just MAKES NO SENSE! Being the hidebound to such an idiotic rule just makes them come off as total idiots. Particularly when taken into account that every other pureblood family probably ignores it since the only kids that'd get caught are muggleborns.

If there is one thing I'd love to bash into the ground are the idiotic laws in Wizarding Britain, with the first being the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery.

Next is the idea that a wizard needs governmental permission to create a portkey.

Part of the problem is that JKR wrote the Ministry of Magic in this very overarching satirized 1960s-1970s involved and regulating every facet of life British Governmental Bureaucracy. It's funny, it's for a laugh, but it makes absolutely no sense if you try to extrapolate it outside of what is explicitly said in the stories.

I mean, the entire idea that Molly's first expectation is for ALL of her children to get jobs at the Ministry. Seriously? Can any of us expect a parent to expect all of her children as first choice and a metric of success be that her children go on to be bureaucrats? No, never. But look at all of things that the Ministry is involved in and you'd start to understand. Theres a governmental office for Gobstones for God's sake. That'd be the equivalent of a governmental directorate for video games!

TB

[Kitty279]

With Molly I could imagine she thinks that way she can keep the twins under control easier.

It would make more sense to give the parents of muggleborns a way to contact the Ministry to get help in case of accidental - or normally cast - magic going wrong. Besides, what do they with all the accidental magic of pre-Hogwarts age muggleborn? What if the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad (or whatever the name was) has to come and undo stuff? Do they just obliviate everyone? Why not explain to them what is happening? If emotions play a huge role in causing accidental magic and they know what's happening, it would cause less distress and thus fewer accidents to begin with. To me it doesn't make much sense to wait till they get their Hogwarts letter.

IMO, Molly thinks these Ministry jobs would be nice, harmless, well paid desk jobs, keeping her babies safe and respected. She really should know better, how long has Arthur worked there for her to still believe that rubbish?

[G. Novella]

To be fair on Molly though, its the twins. With magic they'd reach new levels of mayhem. And I suspect they used magic in their rooms and Molly ignored it. The reason I say is is because when did they make all those products? And small explosions coming from their rooms sounds suspicious. And if they were using magic, I bet Molly ignored it because it's a bloody explosion. Your bound to check, unless you don't want to know, and if you don't want to know, you generally have a fair idea of what's going on.


What surprises me is that so many fics bash Molly for everything, but act as though Arthur's a saint, abused husband, drugged, etc. When its pretty clear he loves his wife, and none of his kids seem inclined to go to him for help either, where do you get the idea he's allowed to walk away scot-free? And chances are he knew damn well what was going on and didn't try and intervene. I mean, sure he gets yelled at and such, but Molly turned to Arthur for support, and backed down when he didn't give her any. That suggests he does support her in my books.

[G. Novella]

Oh, and if the story only keeps the twins from being bashed out of the Weasleys. It makes no sense. The twins were the first to fogive Percy, they shower Molly with gifts after OOTP, they're over-protective of Ginny, and they have a pretty close relationship with Ron (albeit a slightly teasing one) and then they turn their backs on the family they always hated and are the nice Weasleys. Its just, frustrating! The twins weren't perfect for crying out loud. In fact, they were kind of mean in some ways, (brain-damaged Montague, torturing the Salamander for fun, constantly putting Ron down, judgemental and biased towards Gryffindor) And you cannot have the twins turn on their family and insist it's in character. Just, ugh, no.

[sherza]

Jul 22, 2012 8:34:34 GMT -5 G. Novella said:

Oh, and if the story only keeps the twins from being bashed out of the Weasleys. It makes no sense. The twins were the first to fogive Percy, they shower Molly with gifts after OOTP, they're over-protective of Ginny, and they have a pretty close relationship with Ron (albeit a slightly teasing one) and then they turn their backs on the family they always hated and are the nice Weasleys. Its just, frustrating! The twins weren't perfect for crying out loud. In fact, they were kind of mean in some ways, (brain-damaged Montague, torturing the Salamander for fun, constantly putting Ron down, judgemental and biased towards Gryffindor) And you cannot have the twins turn on their family and insist it's in character. Just, ugh, no.

I think where a lot of people are coming from with the not-bashing of the twins when Molly, Ron, and Ginny get it is this:

The twins? Have NO subtlety. If they hate you, you bloody well know it, instantly. Unlike Ginny, who could be brainwashed, and Ron, who could either be brainwashed or have his canon personality used against Harry with Ron none the wiser, that just doesn't work for the twins. They're too much of a wild card for either scenario, so they got left out of the whole mess.

[G. Novella]

I get that part, it's the part that they turn on their family. Heck, they were the first to forgive Percy, that says a lot, doesn't it? It just gets to me how easily people pardon the twins because they were funny.

[sherza]

Jul 22, 2012 15:02:37 GMT -5 G. Novella said:

I get that part, it's the part that they turn on their family. Heck, they were the first to forgive Percy, that says a lot, doesn't it? It just gets to me how easily people pardon the twins because they were funny.

And the turning their back part *probably* stems from the whole 'Molly comparing them to Percy and basically treating them like crap a lot' thing.

Yes, the twins love their family, but they're also ... well, free spirits. And even though they can border on cruel with their pranks, they have their own sense of honor. It's potentially possible, if their family crossed that line (especially since we're talking Molly here, who constantly sees them as ... well ... disappointments) that the twins would go 'oh, hell no.' and walk away. It'd hurt them, but ... yeah.

Well, that's my opinion anyway. And if they knew Harry was the son of a Marauder when it all went down (or that Sirius and Remus are Marauders, if they're there and supporting Harry)? Given how much they hero-worship the Marauders in canon, yeah ... I can see them siding with Harry under the right circumstances.

[G. Novella]

I guess, but so many fics don't flesh the hurt out, they make it seem like the twins are just okay with walking away. And then make the twins into saints... It's just agh. People seem to be so ready to hate Molly, Ginny, Ron, Percy, etc and then overlook any good qualities those characters have. But they act as though the twins were never wrong. Don't get me wrong, I love the twins, but not when they're so-so-so perfect and good and bah!

[kumainpink]

The only one I truly loathe from the Weasleys is Molly. Her style of mothering just irks me too much.