J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000) highlights the importance of mothers. Harry Potter’s fourth year at Hogwarts begins and ends with the comforting presence of his friend Ron’s mother, Mrs. Weasley. Harry’s own parents are dead, and his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia consistently show him that they despise him. Harry’s beloved godfather, while he has Harry’s best interest at heart, remains in hiding and largely unavailable. With such a void of trusted adults in Harry’s life, Mrs. Weasley’s existence becomes even more important. Over the summer and for school holidays, Mrs. Weasley sends Harry packages to make him feel loved and included. In this way, Mrs. Weasley treats Harry as her own son. Mrs. Weasley sends letters, cooks, and runs errands for Harry. She also goes out of her way to be present for Harry at important moments. As Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts illustrates, Molly Weasley serves as the one person who supports Harry in the many ways children need support.

Gifts

Throughout the year, Mrs. Weasley sends Harry homemade gifts. At home with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia for the summer, Harry does not care for the diet that Aunt Petunia enforces upon the family. Harry sends a request for snacks to Ron’s house, and “Mrs. Weasley…had sent the family owl, Errol, with an enormous fruitcake and assorted meat pies” (p. 11). When she learns what Harry wants, Mrs. Weasley acts immediately. Mrs. Weasley takes responsibility of the request, and sends Harry a large amount of hearty sweet and savory food. That winter, Mrs. Weasley sends Harry Christmas gifts. On Christmas morning, Harry sees: “There was also, of course, Mrs. Weasley’s usual package, including a new sweater (green, with a picture of a dragon on it - Harry supposed Charlie had told her all about the Horntail), and a large quantity of homemade mince pies” (p. 165). As Mrs. Weasley always sends Harry a Christmas sweater, he comes to expect the gift from her. Mrs. Weasley makes the sweater herself, and she makes the same gift for her own sons. This year, Mrs. Weasley customizes Harry’s sweater. She sews a dragon on Harry’s sweater to commemorate an important victory in Harry’s life. She also takes the time to send Harry some more homemade food. In the spring, Harry receives “…a package of Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley had sent. Both Harry’s and Ron’s were the size of dragon eggs and full of homemade toffee” (p. 221). Again, Mrs. Weasley ensures that Harry has an edible treat for the holiday. The gift she sends for Harry is the same as the one she sends for her own son, Ron. While with the Dursleys or at Hogwarts, Harry can consistently rely on special homemade deliveries from Mrs. Weasley.

Acts of Service

Besides gifts, Mrs. Weasley also organizes trips, experiences, and errands for Harry. During the summer before school starts, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia receive a letter from Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley introduces herself to the Durselys and asks if Harry can accompany the Weasleys to a Quidditch match. Mrs. Weasley writes to the Dursleys: “I do hope you will allow us to take Harry to the match, as this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…We would of course be glad to have Harry stay for the remainder of the summer holidays, and to see him safely onto the train back to school” (p. 12). Mrs. Weasley takes the time to write and send a letter in a way that is unfamiliar to her - the muggle way - to advocate for Harry. She not only invites Harry to a special Quidditch match, but tells the Dursleys she can also care for him and send him to school when the time comes. At her house, Mrs. Dursley prepares a memorable meal for Harry. The night Harry arrives, “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…this was paradise, and at first, Harry listened rather than talked as he helped himself to chicken and ham pie, boiled potatoes, and salad” (p. 24). The atmosphere and the food that Mrs. Weasley creates for her entire family, and Hermione and Harry, truly moves Harry. As he recognizes the special moment, Harry seems to pause to absorb the present. He quietly appreciates the environment, the company, and the specific food on the table. Before Harry and the others leave for the quidditch match, Mrs. Weasley says, “Harry, if you leave your school list out, I’ll get your things tomorrow in Diagon Alley. I’m getting everyone else’s. There might not be time after the World Cup, the match went on for five days last time” (p. 26). While the rest of the Weasley family, Hermione and Harry leave to attend a quidditch match, Mrs. Weasley stays behind to run errands. She treats Harry as one of her own children, and thinks ahead for him. While Harry has fun at a sporting event with the others, Mrs. Weasley secures for Harry his school supplies. Mrs. Weasley plans Harry’s visit to her house, arranges special meals for him, and prepares Harry for the new school year.

Care

Mrs. Wealsey gives Harry gifts, works on his behalf, and also devotes time to care for Harry. Towards the end of Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley comes to the school. When Harry sees Mrs. Weasley, she says to him: “Surprise! Thought we’d come and watch you, Harry!” (p. 249). Mrs. Weasley comes to the school to surprise Harry and support him in the tournament in which he must compete. While the other competitors enjoy their families, Harry happily welcomes Mrs. Weasley and her oldest son, Bill, to spend time with him and cheer for him. Harry becomes especially grateful for Mrs. Weasley’s presence when the tournament ends in disaster. After the devastating events of the tournament, Mrs. Weasley comforts Harry. Mrs. Weasley “…put her arms around Harry. He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother” (p. 288). Mrs. Weasley offers Harry motherly, physical comfort. Harry realizes that this sort of support is foreign to him. Mrs. Weasley’s heartfelt hug brings Harry out of his daze and back to reality. At the end of the school year, Harry says goodbye to his friends at the train station, before he rejoins the Dursleys for the summer. As Harry says goodbye, “Mrs. Weasley was close by him. She hugged Harry very tightly when she saw him and whispered in his ear, ‘I think Dumbledore will let you come to us later in the summer. Keep in touch, Harry.’” (p. 296). Mrs. Weasley is the last adult from the wizarding world that interacts with Harry before he returns to the Dursleys at the end of the school year. Again, her physical presence supports Harry. Mrs. Weasley gives Harry hope when she tells him she trusts that he can come back to the Weasley household soon. Finally, Mrs. Weasley tells Harry that she wants to hear from him over the summer. She leaves Harry with the knowledge that an adult outside the Dursley home cares for him. Mrs. Weasley’s physcial presence and comforting words provide Harry the support he needs at especially difficult times.

Around the time of fourteen-year-old Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry needs more support than ever. Harry remains an orphan under the guardianship of his abusive aunt and uncle and over the summer holidays, he endures almost complete isolation from the wizarding world. He has only a few opportunities to interact with his godfather. In his fourth year at Hogwarts, a new challenge emerges. Decision makers force Harry to compete in the Triwizard tournament, a dangerous competition in which he must compete against older students. Harry’s place in the competition garners him even more unwanted attention than usual. Lies and criticisms about him spread throughout the wizarding community. Even Harry’s best friend, Ron, comes to mistrust him for a period of time. Thankfully, Ron Weasley’s mother, Molly Weasley, has enough compassion to care not only for her own seven children, but for her child’s friend as well. At a time when Harry desperately needs a parent, Molly Weasley steps in to fill the role.

References

Rowling, J.K., (2000), Harry Potter and the goblet of fire. Pottermore Limited.