Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Sherlock and Mulan don't belong to me.
When the distraught Molly got home, she changed into her work dress, grabbed a basket, and went to the herb garden to gather the ingredients she need to make a calming draught. Whether it was for her father's patients or herself, she couldn't say.
As she began plucking herbs, Madam Umbridge's nasty words kept ringing in her head. Tears filled her eyes as she wondered if they were true.
She always knew she wasn't what people considered a "great beauty", with her brown hair and eyes, small chest, and petite stature. "You get your hair and eyes from me dear," Aunt Martha always said. Umbridge made Molly's features sound like something to be ashamed of.
Growing up, she never seemed to fit in with the other children. While most girls gossiped, Molly always preferred to help her father with his patients, like visiting the sick and elderly, or mixing potions. Also, while other girls would flirt with boys, Molly would study her father's medical parchments, for she wished to become a healer like him.
When Molly finished gathering what she needed, she stood, then saw her father sitting on a rock nearby, watching her. He gestures to a spot next him and Molly reluctantly sits beside him. For a moment they sat in silence.
"The garden's doing well this year,"John cheerfully commented.
Molly nodded not trusting herself to speak.
"Unfortunately so are the weeds. We'll have to start removing them. Especially over there."
Molly followed to where John's finger was pointing. A few weeds were growing around a headstone. On the headstone were these words: In memory of William Sherlock Holmes, good man and best friend. If heros existed you'd be one of them.
"He was the most brilliant man I knew," said John. "His intelligence like no other. But despite his brilliance, he had a difficult time connecting with other people. He would tell them exactly what was on his mind, without considering whether or not it would offend them. As a result people called him a freak, and he become a bit of a loner. Folks told me to avoid him. "
John shifted. "Yet, despite what people said, I saw something in him. Something good, great even. He would have denied it, of course. 'Heros don't exist' he once said. 'And even if they did I wouldn't be one of them.'
"But I never gave up on him. Exasperating as he could be, I stuck with him. And you know what? He became the greatest man I know. His loyalty to me and later your mother was nothing like I had ever seen. And all because I wouldn't give up on him. The rest you know."
Yes, Molly did know the story. Sherlock and her father went up against Count Moriarty, Voldemort's strongest ally. They won but at the cost of Sherlock's life. It had been the turning point of the Great War, and Sherlock Holmes was hailed a hero.
John placed a finger under Molly's chin gently turned her face to him. "I'm not giving up on you either, Molly. What I said last night, I meant every word of it. All I ask is that you don't give up on yourself, and be true to who you are. And someday, others will see you for the special person that you are."
Molly finally smiled. Somehow, her father always manages to lift her spirits. And if he believed in her, she could too.
John patted her on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's get that basket inside and start making potions. My patients are not going anywhere."
Molly chuckled and thought perhaps it was just as well she didn't pass the matchmaker's exam. She doubt there was a man out there who would allow his wife to work with him or mix potions like her father allowed her to.
Suddenly, they heard a commotion out front. "What's going on?" asked John. Leaving her basket, Molly ran to the front of the house and saw several people running in one direction. She followed them and saw a crowd gathered around a platform in the middle of town square. Molly joined them as Sheriff Lestrade stood on the platform and began speaking,
"Hear ye, hear ye! By order of his Royal Majesty, Albus Dumbledore, Count of Gryffindor, High Lord of the Four Regions, and King of Hogwarts; "The Accio Carta" has been enforced."
Exclamations and murmuring of shock and fear spread throughout the crowd. The Accio Carta was a summoning law set up after The Great War, to be enforced only during perilous times. "What was happening that the Accio Carta had to be enforced?" wondered Molly.
Sheriff Lestrade's men began tacking papers on the platform as he continued; "In accordance with the law, one man from each household MUST report for duty in the king's services. Everyone on this list will report at Diagon Valley."
The people gathered closer to read the papers, including Molly.
Her eyes scanned the list. Then she gasped, clamping her hands over her mouth as she stared in horror at one name that stood out from the rest.
Hooper.
A/N: Yes I know it's Diagon 'Alley' not 'Valley.' I changed it for the sake of the story. I hope I did alright with the father/daughter scene.
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