Magical fireworks, particularly the line known as Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs, are spectacularly powerful and brilliantly colored pyrotechnics enchanted for entertainment and chaos. Developed by the Weasley twins, they were sold in two distinct ranges: the Basic Blaze-box for five Galleons and the more impressive Deflagration Deluxe for twenty Galleons. Unlike mundane Muggle fireworks, these enchanted versions take on complex and animate forms. Known varieties include:
These fireworks are notoriously resilient and designed to be difficult to remove once set off.
The primary magical property of Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs is their extreme durability and powerful resistance to removal charms. The Weasley twins enchanted them specifically to defy simple magical solutions, making them a perfect tool for pranks and large-scale disruption.
Their removal required advanced magical skill. When the twins unleashed them at Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick had to personally vanish them one by one. He found the charm-work so impressive that he left one of the persistent, word-writing sparklers in place above a window, considering it “a really good bit of magic” and a fitting tribute to the twins.
The fireworks were developed by Fred Weasley and George Weasley during their later years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as part of their research and development for their future joke shop. They funded their experiments with the Triwizard Tournament winnings given to them by Harry Potter. Their most famous use occurred in 1996, when Fred and George set off their entire stock within Hogwarts Castle as a grand act of rebellion against the oppressive authority of High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. The fireworks wreaked havoc, setting off a chain of chaotic events that Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad were completely unable to control. This act preceded the twins' dramatic departure from Hogwarts on their broomsticks. The chaos continued for some time, with enchanted fireworks remaining active in various corridors until Professor Flitwick could deal with them. After leaving Hogwarts, the twins commercialized their invention, and Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs became a flagship product at their successful shop in Diagon Alley.
The magical fireworks are a potent symbol of creativity, joy, and rebellion in the face of tyranny. Their deployment against Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a pivotal moment of defiance that boosted student morale and inspired a wave of pranks and resistance against her rule. This event cemented the Weasley twins' status as Hogwarts legends and demonstrated their exceptional talent for inventive and powerful magic, which was often underestimated due to its playful nature. The commercial success of the fireworks later underscores their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.