Filibuster Firework

• Type: Magical Joke Product; Fireworks
• Owners: Customers of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, most notably Harry Potter.
• Maker: Fred Weasley and George Weasley

A Filibuster Firework is a type of magical firework invented and sold by Fred Weasley and George Weasley. It is part of their “Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks” line, which indicates it can be ignited even when damp and does not produce dangerous heat, making it suitable for indoor use. They are sold via the twins' owl-order business that would later become their shop in Diagon Alley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The appearance of an unlit firework is not described, but they are sold in boxes.

The primary magical properties of a Filibuster Firework are its “wet-start” capability and its long-lasting, contained explosive effect. When ignited, a single firework shoots upwards and detonates. The most notable effect is the shower of magically-enhanced stars it produces. In the instance of Harry Potter using one, it released a cascade of red and blue stars. These stars were enchanted to be highly persistent, ricocheting noisily off walls, the ceiling, and furniture for an extended period. The display from a single firework was known to last for at least half an hour without any sign of fading, filling the space with light and sound. These fireworks are distinct from the more powerful and chaotic ones the Weasley twins later used against Dolores Umbridge, such as the Basic Blaze-box and Deflagration Deluxe, which created fiery creatures and were designed for maximum disruption on a larger scale.

Development of the Weasley twins' firework line began during Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts. Fred Weasley and George Weasley were known to be testing their early joke products on fellow students, and they set off some of their prototype fireworks in the Gryffindor Common Room. By the summer before Harry's fifth year, the Filibuster Fireworks were a perfected product available for purchase through the twins' nascent business. Harry Potter purchased a large box before leaving for number four, Privet Drive.

The Filibuster Firework plays a small but significant role at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Feeling angry, isolated, and frustrated by the lack of news from the magical world after witnessing the return of Lord Voldemort, Harry has an argument with his relatives, the Dursleys. As an act of rebellion and to vent his emotions, he returns to his bedroom and sets off a single Filibuster Firework. The firework fills his room with ricocheting red and blue stars for over half an hour, creating a chaotic and spectacular scene. This moment serves as a minor catharsis for Harry, a small way for him to assert control and connect with the magical world he feels cut off from. It also perfectly showcases the ingenuity and spirit of the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products, foreshadowing the great success of the twins' future enterprise.

• Etymology: The name “Filibuster” is a term for a political procedure where debate is prolonged to delay or prevent a vote. This reflects the nature of the firework, which creates a disruptive and incredibly long-lasting effect, thereby “obstructing” the normal state of a room for an extended time. The name perfectly captures the mischievous and disruptive spirit of its creators, Fred Weasley and George Weasley.