The Goblet of Fire Controversy: Did Molly Go Too Far with Hermione?
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, we're introduced to an international cast of new characters.
Unfortunately for Harry, that new cast includes Rita Skeeter, the most unscrupulous journalist of all time aside from _______ (insert name here. Of course the journalists on your political side of the aisle are truthful bringers of light, and the others are horrible scumbags. Don't @ me, internet!).
Rita Skeeter's articles about Harry are essentially wizarding click-bait. She starts by describing him as a tragic lil' orphan, until that story gets tired and she needs more juicy details. That's when Skeeter starts writing about Harry's supposedly romantic relationship with Hermione, followed up with a (false) story about him being callously tossed aside for Viktor Krum.
Unfortunately, Molly Weasley is one of the people who reads The Daily Prophet and buys into the love-triangle narrative. She turns on Hermione, cutting her out of presents from the Burrow and becoming surprisingly cold and rude to the teenaged girl. Hermione is taken aback, and so is the reader.
The fact that Molly believed Rita Skeeter's articles is understandable to some extent. After all, Skeeter is a well-known journalist, and her articles have a significant impact on the wizarding community 's perception of Harry. It's also not unbelievable that two teens who spend all of their time together may have started dating, or that one of them may have dumped the other.
However, Molly's reaction seems completely out of character considering she had previously established herself as an intelligent, kind, and protective mother figure to all of Harry's friends. She makes no attempt to check in with Harry, Ron, or Hermione herself about the stories.
This seems not only out of character, but downright odd considering how little Molly had trusted Rita Skeeter earlier in the book:
"Rita Skeeter goes out of her way to cause trouble, Amos!" Mrs Weasley said angrily. "I would have thought you'd know that, working for the ministry!"
Hermione, who is already going through a difficult time, is hurt and confused by Molly's coldness. It's a betrayal of trust, and understandably makes Hermione feel shamed and alone.
We love Molly Weasley, but her willingness to swallow slanderous stories and then treat a teenage girl so badly loses her a lot of points. Hermione deserved better, and Molly should have given her the benefit of the doubt and a chance to explain before passing judgment.