As the matriarch of one of the most popular and rambunctious wizarding families in Britain, Molly Weasley is well-loved. However, there was so much more to her than her role as a loving (if exasperated!) mum. This is why you shouldn’t overlook her.

Molly’s magical ability

So, we all know that Mrs Weasley was a total legend – her takedown of Bellatrix in the Battle of Hogwarts was superb. However, outside of that moment, a lot of her other magical abilities were overlooked. Molly was a whizz when it came to household and healing spells, but they weren’t often acknowledged because of their domestic nature. Her most used spells may not have been as flashy as the ones used by other prominent characters, but they were still complex and skilful. Nobody was able to pull off a mouth-watering meal quite like Mrs Weasley and Harry certainly appreciated her efforts.

By seven o’clock, the two tables were groaning under dishes and dishes of Mrs Weasley’s excellent cooking, and the nine Weasleys, Harry and Hermione were settling themselves down to eat beneath a clear, deep-blue sky. To somebody who had been living on meals of increasingly stale cake all summer, this was paradise, and at first, Harry listened rather than talked, as he helped himself to chicken-and-ham pie, boiled potatoes and salad.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

She stood up for what was right

Molly wasn’t in the first iteration of the Order of the Phoenix but that doesn’t mean she hadn’t consistently opposed Voldemort. Her resolve never wavered, despite losing her brothers Fabian and Gideon when Voldemort was first in power. She instilled that resolve in her family (though Percy took longer to come around). When Voldemort returned, she joined the Order and stayed at the headquarters in Grimmauld Place – despite knowing the possible risks. Even the death of her son Fred, during the Battle of Hogwarts, was not enough to stop her from fighting to help bring an end to Voldemort’s reign of terror.

Mrs Weasley loved fiercely

Mrs Weasley had a lot of love to give. Though sometimes she may have seemed to be as ferocious as a Hungarian Horntail, there was no doubt that she was dedicated to her family and loved them with that same ferocity. She was also willing to extend that love to others. After all, she was the consistent mother figure in Harry’s life. From his first year at Hogwarts, she made him feel wanted. She knitted him sweaters, invited him to stay, supported him and loved him like her own. There was one moment in particular that stood out to us. When Cedric was killed in front of Harry, she was the one to bring him the most comfort. Knowing he would have been traumatised, she hugged him like a mother would, which reminded him that he was loved.

Molly was often (unintentionally) hilarious

When you think of the funniest characters in the Harry Potter books, Mrs Weasley probably doesn’t spring to mind. However, Molly could be funny. It wasn’t always intentional, but the relationship she had with her family (especially Fred and George) often provided relief when the story became intense. For instance, when Ron was very unhappy about the… interesting dress robes she had given him, her response was a classic Molly comeback…

‘I’m never wearing them,’ Ron was saying stubbornly. ‘Never.’

‘Fine,’ snapped Mrs Weasley. ‘Go naked. And Harry, make sure you get a picture of him. Goodness knows I could do with a laugh.’
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

She learnt from her mistakes

Nobody is perfect and neither was Mrs Weasley. She could sometimes be judgemental and got situations wrong, but she was also willing to being corrected and showed that it’s ok to change your mind. In Goblet of Fire, she believed the rubbish that Rita Skeeter was writing about Harry’s love life and turned against Hermione. Yet, as soon as Harry told her the rumours weren’t true, she believed him and changed her opinion.

She also jumped to conclusions about her daughter-in-law Fleur and her relationship with Bill. In Half-Blood Prince, when he was attacked by Fenrir Greyback and left scarred, she seemed to assume that Fleur wouldn’t want to be with him anymore. Fleur quickly put a stop to that nonsense and stood up for their relationship. Yet again, Molly was corrected and even offered her the use of Great Auntie Muriel’s tiara for their wedding as an olive branch. Yes, Mrs Weasley was wrong in both scenarios, but ultimately she didn’t allow her stubbornness to get the better of her.

Do you agree with our thought on why Molly Weasley shouldn’t be underrated? Do you have different reasons for why she shouldn’t be overlooked? Or do you have a different opinion entirely?