The Weasley Family

The Weasley family is one of the most prominent and respected pure-blood wizarding families in Great Britain. Despite their ancient lineage, they are considered “blood traitors” by supremacist families like the Malfoys due to their lack of prejudice towards Muggles and Muggle-borns. Residing at their chaotic and loving home, The Burrow, the Weasleys are defined by their unwavering loyalty, bravery, and kindness. They served as a surrogate family for Harry Potter and were steadfast members of the Order of the Phoenix, playing a crucial role in the fight against Lord Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War.

The Weasleys are an old pure-blood family, but unlike many others, they have never embraced the ideology of blood purity. They live modestly in the countryside near Ottery St Catchpole and are not wealthy, a fact that sometimes causes social friction for the children at Hogwarts. Their most distinctive physical features are fiery red hair and a smattering of freckles, traits shared by every member of the immediate family. The family is known for its large size and the warm, often hectic, atmosphere of their home. Their values prioritize love, loyalty, and doing what is right over wealth and social status. All of the Weasley children were sorted into Gryffindor house at Hogwarts, a testament to the family's courage and strong moral compass.

• Arthur Weasley: The family patriarch. A kind, good-natured wizard with a deep fascination for the Muggle world and its inventions. He worked for the Ministry of Magic, first as the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and later as the Head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.
• Molly Weasley (née Prewett): The loving and formidable matriarch of the family. A skilled witch and homemaker, she treated Harry Potter as one of her own sons. Her brothers, Gideon Prewett and Fabian Prewett, were murdered by Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War.
• Bill Weasley: The eldest son. He worked as a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts in Egypt before returning to England to work for the Order of the Phoenix. He was scarred by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and later married Fleur Delacour.
• Charlie Weasley: The second son. An adventurous wizard who works with dragons in Romania. He helped transport Norbert, Hagrid's baby dragon, out of Hogwarts and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Percy Weasley: The third son. Highly ambitious and rule-abiding, he became a Hogwarts Prefect and Head Boy. He had a period of estrangement from his family due to his fervent loyalty to the Ministry of Magic under Cornelius Fudge, but he reconciled with them and fought bravely in the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Fred Weasley: One-half of the inseparable Weasley twins. A brilliant prankster, inventor, and co-founder of the popular joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He was tragically killed during the Battle of Hogwarts.
• George Weasley: The other half of the Weasley twins and co-founder of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He lost an ear to a Sectumsempra curse cast by Severus Snape during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
• Ron Weasley: The youngest son and Harry Potter's best friend. A key member of the central trio, he played a vital role in the search for Voldemort's Horcruxes and the fight against the Death Eaters.
• Ginny Weasley: The youngest child and only daughter. A powerful and talented witch, she was a member of Dumbledore's Army and fought in several major battles. She eventually married Harry Potter.
• Aunt Muriel: Great-aunt to the Weasley children, on Molly's side of the family. She is known for her sharp tongue and critical nature, but she lent her goblin-made tiara to Fleur Delacour for her wedding.
• Second Cousin: A cousin mentioned by Ron Weasley, who is a Squib working as a stockbroker.

The Weasley family was deeply involved in the fight against Lord Voldemort in both Wizarding Wars. Molly's brothers were original members of the Order of the Phoenix and were killed for their resistance. During the Second Wizarding War, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Bill Weasley, and Charlie Weasley were all members of the revived Order of the Phoenix. The Burrow was used as the Order's headquarters until Albus Dumbledore's death made its protective enchantments fade. The family made immense sacrifices:

• Arthur Weasley was nearly killed by Nagini while guarding the Department of Mysteries.
• George Weasley lost an ear during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
• The family was forced into hiding after the Ministry of Magic fell, as their status as “blood traitors” made them a primary target.
• Fred Weasley was killed in an explosion during the final stages of the Battle of Hogwarts.

The surname Weasley likely derives from the weasel, an animal with a mixed reputation in British folklore. Weasels can be seen as sneaky or ill-omened, a prejudice often directed at the Weasleys by characters like Draco Malfoy. However, J.K. Rowling has stated her fondness for weasels, which are also associated with strong family and community bonds. The family's signature red hair may also be a subversion of an old, unfair prejudice in Great Britain that associated red hair with unreliability. By making the red-headed Weasleys the epitome of loyalty and goodness, Rowling turns this stereotype on its head.

• J.K. Rowling has stated that Ginny Weasley was the first member of the family she created, and that she has always liked the name “Weasley.” (J.K. Rowling interview)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Burrow is attacked and burned down by Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback, during the Christmas holidays. This event does not occur in the novel. (film)
• The Weasley family is listed as one of the “Sacred Twenty-Eight,” a list of supposedly pure-blood families published in the Pure-Blood Directory in the 1930s. The Weasleys denounced their inclusion, stating they had ancestral ties to many Muggles. (Pottermore)