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crack_van2007-06-28 03:17 pm
malabud.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2007-06-28 03:17 pm
Entry tags:
Molly's War by a_t_rain (G)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Length: 3,500 words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_t_rain
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:
The author describes this short fic as "a Molly-Remus friendship story, with boggarts." But it's much more than that. Molly Weasley finds herself--in the midst of the war against Voldemort--warring against boggarts, her own perceived limitations, and an unfortunate prejudice. She forges an unlikely friendship with Remus Lupin. It's a quiet friendship, and they learn much from each other. Although he is the professional teacher, he has as much to learn from her as she does from him.
Every character rings true in this story, especially Molly and Remus, and it is very canon compliant. The fic is told from Molly's point-of-view, and the reader learns to truly empathize with her. Nothing momentous happens in this fic, but many small things happen. And it is the small things that can make all the difference in the end. If you are a fan of either Molly or Remus, I highly recommend this fic to you. If you are not a fan of either, I even more highly recommend it. Neither Molly nor Remus is perfect, but it is only in our imperfections, after all, that we can learn.
* * *
The boggart turned into a werewolf when Professor Merrythought called Molly Prewett to the front of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. It had sharp claws and great fangs, and it was dragging Fabian, the baby of the family, away by the neck. He was screaming and his blood gushed out on the classroom floor.
“Riddikulus,” said Molly faintly, but Fabian lay crumpled at her feet as the werewolf howled over him in triumph.
She stood there, frozen, until their teacher stepped forward and demonstrated the spell again with practiced hand, and then called on another student to take Molly’s place. The lesson went on all around her. The boggart turned into a succession of toothless vampires and ghouls in ridiculous hats, and the shrieks and laughter of the students echoed against the stone walls, but Molly still felt slightly frozen inside.
Professor Merrythought summoned her into the office afterwards. It smelled of lavender sachets and mothballs in there. Molly stood in the doorway with her hands behind her back, feeling small and shy. Was she in trouble? “I tried my best,” she said. “I’m not very good at Defense.”
“I know you tried your best,” said Professor Merrythought. “Your trouble in this instance, I think, comes from the fact that you are mature beyond your years. This is why it is best to learn about boggarts when you are still young. Most people your age think only of themselves when they face a boggart, but you are already beginning to fear for others, and those are always the hardest fears to banish.” She seemed to be speaking more to herself than to Molly when she added, “Selfishness is a kind of innocence. Perhaps it is well not to lose it too early, for one never gets it back, but do not forget that it is still worse to lose it too late.”
Molly puzzled over this speech for some time. She supposed Professor Merrythought was trying to be kind, but she was a very old lady, more than a hundred, and she had never had any children of her own (Molly thought that must be very terrible), and she didn’t seem altogether sure how to go about it.
In the end, she decided that it didn’t matter so much that she had failed with the boggart, because if they ever had a real one in their house, she could always call one of her other brothers – Ignatius, or Constantine, or even Gideon, who was two years younger than Molly but very clever. They would know what to do.
Molly's War
Pairing: Gen
Length: 3,500 words
Author on LJ:
a_t_rainAuthor Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:
The author describes this short fic as "a Molly-Remus friendship story, with boggarts." But it's much more than that. Molly Weasley finds herself--in the midst of the war against Voldemort--warring against boggarts, her own perceived limitations, and an unfortunate prejudice. She forges an unlikely friendship with Remus Lupin. It's a quiet friendship, and they learn much from each other. Although he is the professional teacher, he has as much to learn from her as she does from him.
Every character rings true in this story, especially Molly and Remus, and it is very canon compliant. The fic is told from Molly's point-of-view, and the reader learns to truly empathize with her. Nothing momentous happens in this fic, but many small things happen. And it is the small things that can make all the difference in the end. If you are a fan of either Molly or Remus, I highly recommend this fic to you. If you are not a fan of either, I even more highly recommend it. Neither Molly nor Remus is perfect, but it is only in our imperfections, after all, that we can learn.
* * *
The boggart turned into a werewolf when Professor Merrythought called Molly Prewett to the front of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. It had sharp claws and great fangs, and it was dragging Fabian, the baby of the family, away by the neck. He was screaming and his blood gushed out on the classroom floor.
“Riddikulus,” said Molly faintly, but Fabian lay crumpled at her feet as the werewolf howled over him in triumph.
She stood there, frozen, until their teacher stepped forward and demonstrated the spell again with practiced hand, and then called on another student to take Molly’s place. The lesson went on all around her. The boggart turned into a succession of toothless vampires and ghouls in ridiculous hats, and the shrieks and laughter of the students echoed against the stone walls, but Molly still felt slightly frozen inside.
Professor Merrythought summoned her into the office afterwards. It smelled of lavender sachets and mothballs in there. Molly stood in the doorway with her hands behind her back, feeling small and shy. Was she in trouble? “I tried my best,” she said. “I’m not very good at Defense.”
“I know you tried your best,” said Professor Merrythought. “Your trouble in this instance, I think, comes from the fact that you are mature beyond your years. This is why it is best to learn about boggarts when you are still young. Most people your age think only of themselves when they face a boggart, but you are already beginning to fear for others, and those are always the hardest fears to banish.” She seemed to be speaking more to herself than to Molly when she added, “Selfishness is a kind of innocence. Perhaps it is well not to lose it too early, for one never gets it back, but do not forget that it is still worse to lose it too late.”
Molly puzzled over this speech for some time. She supposed Professor Merrythought was trying to be kind, but she was a very old lady, more than a hundred, and she had never had any children of her own (Molly thought that must be very terrible), and she didn’t seem altogether sure how to go about it.
In the end, she decided that it didn’t matter so much that she had failed with the boggart, because if they ever had a real one in their house, she could always call one of her other brothers – Ignatius, or Constantine, or even Gideon, who was two years younger than Molly but very clever. They would know what to do.
Molly's War
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