Ronald Bilius Weasley

Ronald “Ron” Bilius Weasley is a pure-blood wizard, the sixth son of Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley, and a key member of the renowned Weasley family. He is best known as the best friend of both Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. A loyal and brave member of Gryffindor house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ron is an indispensable part of the central trio. Despite struggling with personal insecurities, his unwavering loyalty, humor, and courage were crucial in the fight against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the Second Wizarding War.

Ron was born on March 1, 1980. He grew up in his family home, The Burrow, near the village of Ottery St Catchpole. As the sixth of seven children, and the youngest son, Ron was often overshadowed by his five older brothers and frequently received their hand-me-down possessions, including his robes, books, his first wand, and his pet rat, Scabbers. This fostered a deep-seated insecurity about his family's financial struggles and his own achievements. A memorable childhood incident involved his brother Fred transfiguring his teddy bear into a giant spider, instilling in Ron a lifelong arachnophobia.

Ron began his education at Hogwarts in 1991. He met Harry Potter on the Hogwarts Express, and they quickly became firm friends, bonding over their shared excitement and Ron's extensive knowledge of the wizarding world. Both were sorted into Gryffindor house. Initially, Ron and Harry found Hermione Granger to be arrogant, but the three became an inseparable trio after they saved her from a Troll on Hallowe'en. Ron's strategic brilliance was showcased during the quest to protect the Philosopher's Stone, where he won a dangerous, life-sized game of Wizard's Chess. In his second year, Ron helped rescue Harry from the Dursleys in his father's enchanted Flying Ford Anglia. After breaking his first wand, his spellcasting became unreliable, memorably causing a slug-vomiting charm to backfire on himself. Despite his intense fear of spiders, he accompanied Harry into the Forbidden Forest to seek out Aragorn and later helped discover the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. During his third year, Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, was revealed to be the Animagus Peter Pettigrew, who had betrayed Harry's parents. After Pettigrew's escape, Ron received a new pet owl, Pigwidgeon, from Sirius Black. In his fourth year, Ron had a serious falling out with Harry, believing he had cheated his way into the Triwizard Tournament. They reconciled after Harry's harrowing first task. Ron's growing feelings for Hermione became apparent at the Yule Ball, where he displayed intense jealousy towards her date, Viktor Krum. Ron was made a Gryffindor Prefect in his fifth year, much to everyone's surprise. He was a founding member of Dumbledore's Army, training in practical Defence Against the Dark Arts. He also joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Keeper, overcoming his nerves to help secure the Quidditch Cup. He later fought bravely in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where he was incapacitated by a spell that left him confused and disoriented. In his sixth year, Ron's romantic life became complicated. He entered into a relationship with Lavender Brown, partly to spite Hermione, though the relationship was superficial and short-lived. He was nearly killed on his birthday after drinking poisoned mead but was saved by Harry with a bezoar. By the end of the year, following the death of Albus Dumbledore, Ron pledged to forgo his final year at Hogwarts to help Harry hunt and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Ron participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, and the Horcrux hunt began in earnest after the Ministry of Magic fell. The negative influence of Slytherin's Locket preyed on Ron's insecurities, causing him to abandon Harry and Hermione. He instantly regretted his decision and was guided back to them by a mysterious light from the Deluminator left to him by Dumbledore. He returned just in time to save Harry from drowning and destroy the locket Horcrux with the Sword of Gryffindor. He later fought at the Battle of Hogwarts, where he conceived the idea to use Basilisk fangs to destroy the remaining Horcruxes. During the battle, he witnessed the death of his brother, Fred Weasley.

Following the Second Wizarding War, Ron and Harry joined the Ministry of Magic as Aurors, revolutionizing the department. Ron also spent time helping his brother George Weasley run the highly successful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He eventually married Hermione Granger, and they had two children: a daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley, and a son, Hugo Granger-Weasley. (J.K. Rowling interview, Pottermore)

Ron is described as being “tall, thin and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.” His most distinctive feature is the fiery red hair common to the Weasley family. Ron is fiercely loyal, brave, and has a sarcastic sense of humor that often provides levity in dark times. He is a devoted friend, willing to face his greatest fears—such as his severe arachnophobia—for those he cares about. However, he is also prone to bouts of insecurity, jealousy, and anger, often stemming from his family's poverty and his position as the youngest brother. While not as academically gifted as Hermione or as naturally talented at some magic as Harry, Ron possesses a sharp strategic mind, best exemplified by his mastery of Wizard's Chess.

• Dueling: Ron developed into a capable duelist, surviving numerous encounters with Death Eaters, including the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of Hogwarts. His later career as an Auror signifies a high level of martial magic proficiency.
• Strategic Thinking: Ron's greatest talent is his ability to think strategically under pressure, a skill first noted in his expert-level Wizard's Chess playing. This ability proved valuable throughout the trio's adventures.
• Patronus Charm: Ron's Patronus takes the form of a Jack Russell Terrier, a breed known for chasing otters. This is a likely nod to Hermione, whose Patronus is an otter.
• General Magic: While his performance could be inconsistent, particularly when his broken wand was in use, Ron demonstrated competence in a wide range of magic, including Charms, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts.

• First Wand: A twelve-inch, ash wood wand with a unicorn tail hair core. It was a hand-me-down from his brother Charlie Weasley and was broken by the Whomping Willow in 1992.
• Second Wand: A fourteen-inch, willow wood wand with a unicorn tail hair core, purchased from Ollivanders in 1993.
• Deluminator: A magical device bequeathed to him by Albus Dumbledore. It can capture and release light, and it proved to have a more profound magic, as it created a light that guided Ron back to his friends.
• Pets: Ron owned the rat Scabbers for his first three years at Hogwarts, who was later revealed to be Peter Pettigrew. He later owned a small, energetic owl named Pigwidgeon.
• Broomstick: Ron owned a Shooting Star and later a Cleansweep Eleven, which was a gift from his parents for becoming a Prefect.
• Weasley Jumper: Like all his siblings, Ron received a hand-knitted jumper from his mother each Christmas, typically in maroon with a large 'R' on the front.

• Harry Potter: As Harry's first and best friend, Ron was his introduction to the wizarding world and provided him with the loyal, loving family he had always lacked. Their bond is one of the central pillars of the series, strong enough to survive teenage arguments and the immense pressure of their fight against Voldemort.
• Hermione Granger: Ron's relationship with Hermione was defined by frequent bickering that masked deep-seated affection and mutual respect. They often challenged and balanced one another, eventually falling in love and marrying.
• The Weasley family: Ron was devoted to his family. He loved his parents, Arthur and Molly Weasley, and though he often bickered with his siblings—particularly Percy Weasley and the twins, Fred and George—he was fiercely protective of his younger sister, Ginny Weasley.
• Albus Dumbledore: Ron deeply admired and trusted Dumbledore. Dumbledore's faith in Ron was proven by his bequeathing of the Deluminator, an act which demonstrated his understanding of Ron's importance and his potential for faltering.

• Ronald: The name has Old Norse roots in Rögnvaldr, meaning “counsel” and “power.” This reflects Ron's role as a trusted advisor to Harry and a powerful ally.
• Bilius: This is likely derived from the word “bilious,” which means “ill-tempered” or “full of bile,” hinting at Ron's occasional moodiness. He shared the name with a deceased uncle.
• Weasley: J.K. Rowling chose this surname based on the weasel, an animal with an undeservedly poor reputation in Britain. She has stated that she has a fondness for weasels and wanted to redeem the name. The family's red hair also echoes the coat of a weasel.

• J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews that Ron was one of the very first characters she created, and that parts of his personality were inspired by her own best friend.
• The author admitted she considered killing Ron off partway through the series, but ultimately could not bring herself to do so. (J.K. Rowling interview).
• In the film series, Ron is portrayed by Rupert Grint. The screen adaptations have been noted by fans for giving some of Ron's key lines and heroic actions from the books to the character of Hermione Granger. For example, in the books, it is Ron who remembers Devil's Snare is afraid of light, not Hermione.