"To Understand and To Be Understood" (Molly Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks)

[friendshipmods]

Author: Anonymous
Prompt/Prompt Author: "They appear to be close-ish in canon. What kind of friendship is it? A few ideas: Maybe Molly sees Tonks as the woman she might have been if she'd made different choices. Does she urge Tonks to pursue Lupin, and maybe get pregnant, out of supportive friendship, or is it something else? Or take the opposite

Comments

[ext_1054020]

Excellent work. Loved the details others have already noted--Tonks impersonating different characters, Molly not being familiar with Muggle fairy tales, her many occupations, the anti-Horcrux--and some of the droll one-liners ("--he taught us that spell," "Lucky for us..."). Really great job integrating the quoted scenes and giving extra impetus to Molly's vengeance, and the overall tone felt very positive for both these characters, which was great.

[delphipsmith]

Integrating stories into canon is something I really enjoy -- showing a different view of a scene, or fleshing out things that are sort of mentioned in passing. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for taking the time to comment!

[magnetic_pole]

Aw, Tonks and Molly! I'd wondered about these two since noticing Molly's matchmaking attempts in the books--I was impressed by the fact that she seemed so open to someone so different from her. Enjoyed! M.

[delphipsmith]

I was so happy to get this prompt and have a chance to flesh out their relationship a bit -- glad you enjoyed it!

[therealsnape]

"I don't know anyone else I could have said that to," she admitted. "Thank you for that." The very essence of friendship. And Tonks reaction is wonderful, allowing Molly a good laugh.

"Why would anyone tell a story about pigs?" Good point. And Molly's (and Hermione's) comments on Little Red Riding Hood are wonderful.

"Have you tried dressing up as Little Red Riding Hood? He might find that irresistible." Dear god, yes. Also, the alternation between serious subject and banter and laughter is so telling of the warm, supportive bond between these two.

The final scene, and the other reason for the "not my daughter' scream, are wonderfully done.

Great story, and such a great depiction of a BFF friendship.

[delphipsmith]

What are friends for if not to make you laugh when you need it, and listen to things that other people would be shocked by, right? Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the nice detailed comments!

Brilliant. Brilliant.

[wemyss]

(Frankly, better written than the excerpts from La Rowling.)

And, in passing ... that is just what Hermione'd've said.

[delphipsmith]

::blushes:: Thanks :)

[kellychambliss]

An expert characterization of both women: you keep their canon outlines, yet make each much more complex and interesting than she is in the books. And I love the believable way you weave everything into canon. These are the sorts of stories I love best: the ones that could easily be canon. I can so easily hear both Molly and Tonks having these conversations. The cameos from others fit in well, too.

"No, Fred, upon due consideration, I feel much more like a question."
Haha! Perfect.

Excellent ending -- you neither shirk the truth/sadness nor turn it into something sappy or implausibly happy.

[delphipsmith]

Thanks! I was really pleased when I got this prompt -- a great chance to flesh out two characters that are a bit one-dimensional in the books, and dig into some interesting concepts about friendship, magic, and choices. Two people I know have recently lost dear friends, so the ending was much on my mind throughout :/