Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he grows up without his parents Lily and James around. And, with godfather Sirius Black incarcerated in Azkaban, he has only horrible relatives like Petunia, Vernon and Dudley Dursley around to keep him company. However, his luck changes when he meets Molly Weasley on his first journey into Hogwarts in The Sorcerer's Stone. She immediately grows fond of the Boy Who Lived and, throughout the series, stands by him thick and thin - treating Harry as if he's one of her own red-headed clan.
Julie Walters did a brilliant job at bringing Molly to the big screen but, understandably, not every piece of information was given to movie fans with so little time at Warner Bros' disposal. So here's things only fans of the source material know about the beloved character.
She Was Naughty At School
Molly is always warning her children about keeping their nose squeaky clean at Hogwarts. With good reason, too, considering sons Fred and George are some of the biggest troublemakers around. She's fierce whenever any of her family members act up, and even husband Arthur Weasley isn't immune to her wrath. But book fans will know she was occasionally prone to breaking the odd rule herself.
In the Goblet of Fire novel, she recalls how she and Arthur once got caught by caretaker Apollyon Pringle for going on a late-night stroll around Hogwarts. The pair started dating during their time at the castle and seemed pretty reckless in their youth. Pringle was unhappy, punishing the duo for their flouting of the rules, but all worked out well in the end.
She Disapproved Of Bill And Fleur
Bill and Fleur start dating after the events of the Goblet of Fire and they end up becoming romantically involved. During the events of the Half-Blood Prince book, they become engaged. But Molly, rather than feeling thrilled, instead feels wary.
Molly is spiteful towards Fleur, believing she doesn't really love Bill at all. That is, until her oldest son is savagely attacked by Fenrir Greyback at the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. He's left horrifically disfigured and there are fears that he could become a werewolf but Fleur, true to form, insists she has enough beauty for the both of them. This wins Molly round and she even offers her future daughter-in-law the opportunity to wear Aunt Muriel's old tiara on their wedding day.
She Eloped
Also in the Half-Blood Prince book, Molly expresses her unhappiness at the way people in the wizard world are acting following Lord Voldemort's return to power. She's half referring to Bill and Fleur, insisting too many were rushing into decisions they wouldn't normally make out of fear they could be dead soon enough. And, while she's ranting, daughter Ginny Weasley cuts in.
Ginny reveals that Molly and Arthur eloped during the first wizarding war, making her mother a hypocrite. Of course she objects, insisting they were very much in love. But it seems that her own words aren't supported by her past actions nonetheless.
She Interacted With The Dursleys
Fans of the Potter movies can be forgiven for pining for a scene where Molly and Arthur meet the Dursleys. But book devotees will know they do actually interact on numerous occasions. Mrs. Weasley sends a letter via muggle post to request having Harry for the Quidditch World Cup during the Goblet of Fire, attaching hundreds of stamps. The postman is amused, but Vernon certainly isn't.
And Molly is also part of a group who confront Harry's horrible relatives at the end of the school year, shortly after Voldemort's return. They warn Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley that they'll be over to 4 Privet Drive the minute they get wind of their friend being mistreated. This doesn't exactly help matters for the Boy Who Lived, but it would still have been awesome to see in live action.
She Supported Harry At The Triwizard Tournament
Shortly before the third task of the Triwizard Tournament in the fourth book, the four champions are invited to meet with family members for support. Cedric Diggory has father Amos and his mother present, Viktor Krum's two parents are there, and the Delacours jet over from France to give Fleur their backing.
Harry feels as though he'll have nobody, before Molly and Bill turn up. The pair both lift his spirits and make him feel at ease which, when competing in a tournament as dangerous as the Triwizard Tournament, represents quite a feat. It's actually also the first time Bill and Fleur are in the same room together, with the latter 'eyeing up' Molly's oldest son.
She Believed Rita Skeeter (For A Little While)
In the Goblet of Fire movie, Rita Skeeter publishes an article littered with inaccurate information. She says Harry is 12 years old rather than 14, that his eyes well up with the 'ghosts of his past,' and the article in the book of the same name actually goes one step further, saying the Boy Who Lived cries himself to sleep every night. But while everybody close to the Gryffindor student knows this is a load of nonsense, Molly is an exception.
Charlie Weasley tells Harry of how his mother was an emotional wreck when she came across the interview, believing every word to be true. The Boy Who Lived later explains this isn't the case and Mrs. Weasley feels somewhat embarrassed. Harry finds it sweet, however, and loves how protective she is.
She Was Heartbroken By Percy
Percy Weasley's betrayal of his family isn't really mentioned in the Order of the Phoenix movie. It's a different story in the book, though, and it's revealed that his decision to choose the Ministry of Magic over the Weasleys breaks Molly's heart. She's crushed that he could be so vile, especially when he accuses his family - and Arthur specifically - of holding him back for many years.
Molly is struggling mentally during the early moments of the book and struggles to get rid of a Boggart that shows Percy, Harry, Ron and more people she cares about dead in 12 Grimmauld Place. She puts on a brave show but, during Voldemort's time back in power, is emotionally distraught. Percy would later revert back to the right side and take place in the final battle against the Dark Lord at Hogwarts in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 blockbuster.
She Warned Ron About Dumbledore's Army
Harry, Ron, and Hermione can't stand having Dolores Umbridge as their Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher during their fifth year at Hogwarts. Consequently, they decide to create their own group named Dumbledore's Army, which teaches the subject practically. But Ron is warned against doing this by Molly, who gets a message to her son via Sirius Black.
Sirius tells Ron that his mother has banned him from being in Dumbledore's Army - but Harry's godfather is relaxed and amused. He expresses his own view that they're doing the right thing and Molly's intervention ultimately proves pointless, with Ron joining anyway.
She Banned Ginny From The Battle Of Hogwarts
In the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the Battle of Hogwarts starts when Harry returns to Hogwarts and confronts Severus Snape in the Great Hall. Yet in the Deathly Hallows book, it begins under somewhat different circumstances. Everybody from the Order of the Phoenix and good side of the wizarding world flock into the Room of Requirement to get ready for battle.
And it's at this point where Molly orders Ginny to stay put because her youngster isn't of age. She stays inside the Room true to her mother's word, but is thrilled when Harry, Ron, and Hermione force her out. Ginny then joins the fight and is devastated like the rest of the family when Fred Weasley perishes in battle.
She Killed Bellatrix In Front Of Voldemort Himself
Deathly Hallows: Part 2 did a brilliant job at showing Bellatrix Lestrange's death. She's obliterated by Molly in the Great Hall, which also happens in the books. But things are better in the source material, because Mrs. Weasley actually slaughters the Death Eater in front of Lord Voldemort himself.
It's truly epic and Voldemort, in his anger, turns his wand on her. That's when Harry springs into life, saving Molly from a killing curse aimed at her by the Dark Lord.