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Molly Weasley gave Harry a birthday present in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows books, but understanding her family history makes the sentiment all the more touching. When the Harry Potter series started, the Boy Who Lived had never received a birthday present. Of course, this all changed once he developed friendships in the wizarding world, and his past made each gift he received all the more special. However, when it came to his 17th birthday, it was Mrs. Weasley’s past that made the present impactful.
Molly Weasley was quick to accept Harry into her family. He had been half-starved for 12 years before he set foot into the Burrow, and Ron’s mother was determined to remedy this by filling him with as much home-cooked food as possible. From there, Molly continued to treat Harry as one of her own. She came to Hogwarts to support him during the Triwizard Tournament, took him to Diagon Alley to help him prepare for school, and argued with Sirius about his best interest. Harry’s heart swelled when he heard Mrs. Weasley say that he was as good as her own son—but their best moment in Harry Potter was on his 17th birthday.
Mrs. Weasley Gave Harry Her Late Brother’s Watch In The Harry Potter Books
The Harry Potter books explain that it is tradition in the wizarding world for a wizard to receive a special kind of watch when they come of age at 17. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ron was thrilled to receive a brand new golden watch from his parents. Then, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Harry came of age, he unwrapped his own gift from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and it was a tattered-looking version of the same thing:
“‘It’s traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age,’ said Mrs. Weasley, watching him anxiously from beside the cooker. ‘I’m afraid that one isn’t new like Ron’s, it was actually my brother Fabian’s and he wasn’t terribly careful with his possessions, it’s a bit dented on the back, but — ‘
The rest of her speech was lost; Harry had got up and hugged her. He tried to put a lot of unsaid things into the hug and perhaps she understood them, because she patted his cheek clumsily when he released her, then waved her wand in a slightly random way, causing half a pack of bacon to flop out of the frying pan onto the floor.” – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
This moment in Harry Potter was worth a tear or two as it was, but it becomes all the more impactful when remembering that Mrs. Weasley’s brother, Fabian Prewett, had been one of the original members of the Order of the Phoenix. He had been murdered by Death Eaters, along with his other sibling Gideon. Mrs. Weasley had kept her brother’s watch for 16 years—through each of her sons turning 17—and gifted it to the boy responsible for ending the war that had taken Fabian and Gideon from her. This likely meant even more to her than it did Harry—truly the sweetest of gestures.
Why Molly’s Family Heirloom Was Fitting For Harry Potter (While Ron Got A New Watch)
At first glance, it seems strange that Molly would have given Harry a family heirloom instead of one of her own children. However, it’s important to remember that the Weasley children rarely received new belongings in Harry Potter. The Weasleys were notoriously poor, and most of what they bought was second-hand. This was something that greatly bothered Ron. So, while he would have appreciated Fabian’s watch because of its significance, a brand-new watch was a far more personal gesture.
On the other hand, Harry had enough wealth left to him by his parents to buy several gold watches if he wanted to. What he had very little of was family heirlooms. Therefore, by giving Harry a gift that had once belonged to her brother, Mrs. Weasley made him a part of the family in a way he had never experienced before. Molly flawlessly communicated her love for both boys in the gifts she gave them for their 17th birthday. The fact that the moment in Harry Potter had a more profound significance to her regarding Harry’s role in her life made it that much better.
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