Fred and George Weasley

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.

• Magical Invention: The twins' greatest talent was their genius for creating magical items. Their products, such as Extendable Ears, Decoy Detonators, and Shield Hats, demonstrated a level of skill in Charms and Potions that was extraordinarily advanced, even impressing Hermione Granger. Their Shield Hats, for example, effectively blocked minor jinxes and were purchased by the Ministry of Magic for their support staff.
• Dueling: As members of Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix, they were competent and brave duelists, fighting in several major battles of the Second Wizarding War.
• Flying: Both were exceptionally skilled flyers and served as the Gryffindor team's Beaters for five years.
• Apparition: Both successfully passed their Apparition test on their seventeenth birthday.
• Patronus Charm: Fred's Patronus form is unknown. George was deeply affected by Fred's death and reportedly could no longer cast a Patronus, as all of his happiest memories were connected to his twin (J.K. Rowling interview). His Patronus was a coyote (Pottermore).

• Wands: The specific details of their wands, such as wood, core, and length, are not mentioned in the novels.
• Marauder's Map: A magical map of Hogwarts they “liberated” from Argus Filch's office. They later bestowed it upon Harry Potter.
• Broomsticks: They played on Cleansweep Fives for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
• Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes Stock: They were the creators and owners of a vast inventory of joke products and defensive magical items.

• Each Other: As identical twins, Fred and George shared an unparalleled bond. They were rarely seen apart and worked together seamlessly. Fred's death left a permanent void in George's life.
• Weasley family: They were close to their family, particularly their younger siblings Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley. They frequently teased their ambitious brother Percy Weasley, but were overjoyed at his return to the family during the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Harry Potter: A very close friend whom they respected and protected. Harry provided the funding that launched their joke shop, and they gave him the Marauder's Map in return.
• Lee Jordan: Their best friend and accomplice in pranks at Hogwarts.
• Hermione Granger: They respected her intellect but often found her rigid adherence to rules a source of gentle mockery. She disapproved of their methods of testing products on unwitting first-year students.
• Ludo Bagman: The head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports who cheated the twins out of their life savings after they won a bet during the Quidditch World Cup.

• Fred: A common name of German origin, meaning “peaceful ruler.” This is ironic given his chaotic nature, but perhaps reflects his desire to fight for a world free from Voldemort's tyranny.
• George: A name of Greek origin, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker,” which aligns with the Weasley family's humble, unpretentious status in the wizarding world. Saint George is also the patron saint of England, famous for slaying a dragon, a fitting name for a brave Gryffindor.
• Weasley: J.K. Rowling has stated the name is derived from the weasel. In Britain, the weasel has a poor reputation, which she felt mirrored the unfair prejudice the pure-blood Weasley family received from families like the Malfoys due to their poverty and pro-Muggle stance.

• In the film adaptations, Fred and George are portrayed by real-life identical twins James and Oliver Phelps.
• The twins' birthday, April 1st, is April Fools' Day, a day for pranks and jokes, which perfectly reflects their characters.
• J.K. Rowling has stated that she always knew Fred would be the twin who died, and that she considers his death one of the most difficult to write.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it is George who asks Angelina Johnson to the Yule Ball, foreshadowing their future marriage. In the book, it is Fred who asks her.
• In the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Fred's death occurs on-screen, but the circumstances differ from the book. He is shown being disarmed by a Death Eater and then killed by a curse, rather than being caught in an explosion.