Fred and George Weasley were identical twin wizards, the sons of Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley. They were renowned for their irrepressible humor, their ingenuity in magical invention, and their bravery. As members of both Gryffindor house and Dumbledore's Army at Hogwarts, and later the Order of the Phoenix, they were staunch opponents of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Their lifelong ambition was to open a joke shop, which they successfully realised with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley. While they provided much-needed levity during dark times, they were also formidable wizards. Fred's death during the Battle of Hogwarts was one of the most significant losses of the Second Wizarding War and had a profound and lasting impact on the Weasley family.
Fred and George were born on April 1st, 1978, a date befitting their prankster nature. They grew up at The Burrow with their five siblings: Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, Ron Weasley, and Ginny Weasley. Their mischievous streak was evident from a young age; at five years old, they turned Ron's teddy bear into a giant spider after Ron broke Fred's toy broomstick, and at seven, they nearly succeeded in getting Ron to make an Unbreakable Vow with them. They were a constant source of both exasperation and amusement for their parents.
The twins began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1989 and were sorted into Gryffindor house. They quickly became popular for their humor and rebellious spirit. Both were talented Quidditch players, serving as the Gryffindor Quidditch team's two Beaters from their second year until their departure. In Harry's third year, they gifted him the Marauder's Map, a magical document they had stolen from Argus Filch's office in their first year, believing Harry would have greater need of it. During their sixth year, they attempted to fool the Goblet of Fire with an Ageing Potion to enter the Triwizard Tournament, which resulted in them growing long white beards. This period marked the beginning of their entrepreneurial venture, as they began developing and testing joke products for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, using Harry Potter's Triwizard Tournament winnings as their start-up capital. During their final year at Hogwarts, under the tyrannical rule of Dolores Umbridge, they joined Dumbledore's Army to learn practical defensive magic. Their resistance culminated in a legendary act of rebellion where, after being cornered by Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad, they summoned their broomsticks and flew out of the castle, leaving a Portable Swamp in a corridor as their parting gift.
After leaving Hogwarts, the twins opened Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes at Number 93, Diagon Alley. The shop was an immediate and immense success, selling everything from Skiving Snackboxes to Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. They formally joined the Order of the Phoenix upon turning seventeen. They participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, an operation to move Harry Potter from Privet Drive. During the battle, George's ear was permanently severed by a Sectumsempra curse cast by Severus Snape, which had been aimed at a Death Eater. The twins later contributed to the resistance effort by co-hosting the secret radio show, Potterwatch. Fred was a frequent broadcaster, using codenames such as “Rapier” and “Rodent”. Both brothers answered the call to defend Hogwarts during the final battle. During the fighting, Fred was killed in an explosion while fighting alongside his estranged brother, Percy Weasley, who had just reconciled with the family. Fred's death devastated his family, particularly George.
George continued to run the highly successful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He married former Gryffindor teammate Angelina Johnson, and they had two children: a son named Fred, in honor of his late brother, and a daughter named Roxanne (J.K. Rowling interview). Ron Weasley assisted him at the shop for a time before becoming an Auror (J.K. Rowling interview).
Fred and George were identical twins, described as being shorter and stockier than their brothers Percy and Ron, with the trademark Weasley flaming red hair. They were virtually inseparable, often finishing each other's sentences and speaking in unison. Their personalities were defined by their sharp wit, boundless creativity, and rebellious spirit. While primarily seen as pranksters, they were also ambitious, brave, and fiercely loyal to their friends and family. They held a deep-seated contempt for prejudice and injustice, as shown by their defiance of Dolores Umbridge and their support for Harry. Though nearly identical in demeanor, Fred was generally portrayed as the more outgoing ringleader, while George was slightly more reserved. The loss of Fred had a profound effect on George, who was said to have never truly recovered from the grief.