Molly Roper

## Molly Frances Roper

**Molly Frances Roper** (born 12 January, 1981) was an English muggle-born witch who began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on 1 September, 1992. She was a member of Gryffindor House and shared a dormitory with Aquila Black, Ginny Weasley, Maisie Cattermole, Ophelia Brown, and Matilda Corner.

Born in Birmingham in the West Midlands, Molly was the daughter of Wystan and Hazel Roper (née Pinsent) and the sister of Sophie. She was known for being a high-achieving student and enjoyed Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Before coming to Hogwarts she was a close friend of Peter Banks, also known as Peter Goyle. Both grew up unknowing of their magical heritage.

## Biography

### Early life (1981-1992)

Molly was born to Wystan and Hazel Roper, two Muggles of the Roper family, on 12 January, 1981. Her family lived in Birmingham, England. She had an older sister named Sophie, whom she was quite close to. At the age of eight, Molly became friends with a boy called Peter Banks, who lived within walking distance of the Ropers' house, at 28 Bootham Crescent.

Peter and Molly found out that they were a wizard and witch together, after two separate visits to their homes by Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. It was also then that Peter found out the reason for his magic: his father, previously unknown, was a wizard, called Gregory Goyle Sr., who had been with his mother, a muggle, in a one night stand while married. His father, interested in a spare, came to meet him and Peter told Molly all about it, how he was going to move in with the Goyles. Molly was happy for Peter but felt somewhat left behind, as he moved away from the gritty city where they grew up.

At the age of eleven, Molly bought her wand from Ollivanders in Diagon Alley. The wand was ten and three quarter inches, willow, "swishy", and according to Garrick Ollivander, good for charm work.

### Hogwarts years (1992-1999)

At the age of eleven, Molly started attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was Sorted into Gryffindor House. She became quite skilled at Potions, attracting the attention of Professor Severus Snape. She continued to force her friendship with Peter even though his other friends didn't like her because she was a muggle-born. Unfortunately, her friend Peter had been sorted into Slytherin.

She shared a dormitory with five other girls: Ginny Weasley, Aquila Black, Maisie Cattermole, Matilda Corner, and Ophelia Brown. They didn't like her at first because she was always hanging out with Slytherins, but they eventually grew to accept her. For quite some time, she was dismissed by her other dorm-mates and felt alone.

## Personality and Traits

Molly was known for being a vivacious, and talented student. She was a responsible student and many teachers liked her because she was the only one in her dormitory who didn't cause much trouble. Maisie Cattermole once described her as kind, but Ginny Weasley said that Molly caused "just as much" trouble because she would not stop trying to play by the rules. Aquila Black often dismissed her as a tattletale.

## Etymology

Molly is a Diminutive of the name Mary. Usual English form of *Maria*, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names *Μαριαμ (Mariam)* and *Μαρια (Maria)* - the spellings are interchangeable - which were from Hebrew *מִרְיָם (Miryam)*, a name borne by the sister of Moses in the Old Testament. The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child". However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from *mry* "beloved" or *mr* "love".