Fred and George Weasley

Fred and George Weasley were identical twin pure-blood wizards, born to Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley. They were renowned for their mischievous humor, their exceptional talent for magical invention, and their unwavering loyalty to their friends and family. As members of both Dumbledore's Army and the reconstituted Order of the Phoenix, they were brave and active participants in the Second Wizarding War. Their ambition culminated in the founding of a highly successful joke shop, Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. While providing much of the series' comic relief, their story also contains great courage and ultimately, tragedy, with Fred's death during the Battle of Hogwarts marking one of the most significant losses of the war.

Born on April 1, 1978, April Fools' Day, Fred and George were mischievous from a young age. Their pranks were a constant source of both amusement and exasperation for their family. Notable early exploits include attempting to get their brother Ron Weasley to make an Unbreakable Vow at age five, giving him an Acid Pop that burned a hole through his tongue, and transforming Ron's teddy bear into a giant spider after he broke Fred's toy broomstick.

The twins attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1989 to 1996 and were both sorted into Gryffindor house. They were incredibly popular students, known for their charismatic personalities and legendary pranks. They served as Beaters for the Gryffindor Quidditch team with exceptional skill. In their first year, they stole the Marauder's Map from Argus Filch's office, a tool that proved invaluable to their rule-breaking and, later, to Harry Potter, to whom they gifted it in his third year. During their time at school, they began developing and selling their own joke products, laying the groundwork for their future careers. In their sixth year, they attempted to fool the Goblet of Fire with an Ageing Potion to enter the Triwizard Tournament, though their attempt failed spectacularly. Their seventh year was defined by their rebellion against the tyrannical reign of High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. As members of Dumbledore's Army, they actively undermined her authority. Their time at Hogwarts ended in a blaze of glory when, after unleashing a Portable Swamp and a cascade of fireworks, they summoned their confiscated broomsticks non-verbally and flew out of the castle, leaving behind a legacy of defiance that inspired the student body.

After leaving Hogwarts, Fred and George used the Triwizard Tournament winnings gifted to them by Harry Potter to open Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes at number ninety-three, Diagon Alley. The shop was an immediate and overwhelming success, selling a wide range of their inventions from Skiving Snackboxes to Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. They also developed a line of defensive magic items, such as Shield Hats and Cloaks, which they supplied to the Ministry of Magic. The twins joined the Order of the Phoenix upon turning seventeen. They participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, during which George's left ear was permanently cursed off by a Sectumsempra spell cast by Severus Snape, who was aiming for a Death Eater. Fred was an active voice on the clandestine radio program Potterwatch, using the codename “Rapier” to broadcast news and hope to the anti-Voldemort resistance. Both twins fought valiantly in the final Battle of Hogwarts. During the battle, Fred was killed in an explosion caused by Augustus Rookwood while fighting alongside his estranged brother, Percy Weasley, with whom he had just reconciled.

George was devastated by the loss of his twin. He continued to run Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, which remained a successful business, eventually receiving help from his brother Ron. He later married his 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).

Fred and George were described as stocky, red-haired, and freckle-faced, in keeping with the typical Weasley family appearance. They were identical to the point that even their mother had trouble telling them apart. After the Battle of the Seven Potters, George was distinguished by his missing left ear. Personality-wise, the twins were a dynamic and nearly inseparable unit. They were extroverted, witty, and exceptionally creative. While they shared a rebellious streak and a disdain for arbitrary authority, they were also deeply loyal and courageous. Fred was generally portrayed as the more outspoken instigator and ringleader, while George was slightly quieter and more empathetic. The loss of Fred profoundly changed George, who was said to have never been quite the same.

• Magical Invention: The twins possessed a genius-level talent for creating complex magical objects. Their products, which required sophisticated knowledge of Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration, showed a level of magical mastery far beyond their formal education.
• Duelling: Both were skilled duellists who bravely fought Death Eaters in multiple battles, including the Battle of the Seven Potters and the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Quidditch: They were highly effective Beaters for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, known for their perfect synchronization and powerful batting skills.
• Non-verbal Magic: They demonstrated the ability to use non-verbal magic, such as when they summoned their broomsticks from Umbridge's office.
• Patronus Charm: Fred's Patronus is unknown. George's took the form of a magpie (Pottermore). However, it is said that after Fred's death, George was unable to cast the charm again, as all of his happiest memories were connected to his twin (J.K. Rowling interview).

• Wands: The specific wood, core, and length of their wands are unknown.
• Marauder's Map: An enchanted map of Hogwarts showing every corridor and the location of every person within the castle. They stole it from Filch's office and later gave it to Harry Potter.
• Broomsticks: They initially flew Cleansweep Fives and used them to escape Hogwarts in their final year.
• Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes: Their shop and its entire stock of magical joke items, defensive objects, and other novelties.

• Weasley Family: They were close to their entire family, though they took particular delight in teasing their younger brother Ron and their pompous older brother Percy. Fred's death occurred moments after he had joyfully reconciled with Percy.
• Harry Potter: The twins were among Harry's closest and most loyal friends at Hogwarts. They provided him with support, humor, and crucial tools like the Marauder's Map. Harry's financial backing was instrumental in realizing their life's dream.
• Hermione Granger: They had a friendly but often teasing relationship with Hermione Granger, whose strict adherence to rules contrasted sharply with their own nature.
• Lee Jordan: Their best friend, co-conspirator in pranks, and a fellow Gryffindor. He served as the Quidditch commentator during their time on the team.
• Angelina Johnson: A fellow Gryffindor and Chaser. Fred took her to the Yule Ball, and George would later marry her.
• Dolores Umbridge: As their primary antagonist at Hogwarts, she was the target of their most spectacular and prolonged act of rebellion.

• Fred: Derived from the Old German name Frederick, meaning “peaceful ruler.” This stands in ironic contrast to his prankster nature and his death in a war.
• George: From the Greek Georgios, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker,” which may reflect the humble, unpretentious roots of the Weasley family.
• Historical Parallel: Some fans have noted a parallel to the British Royal Family. King George III lost his hearing in one ear and was said to be deeply affected by the early death of his favorite son, Prince Frederick. This mirrors George Weasley losing an ear and being devastated by Fred's death.

• In the film adaptations of the *Harry Potter* series, Fred and George are portrayed by identical twin actors James and Oliver Phelps, respectively.
• J.K. Rowling has stated that she always knew Fred would die, explaining that she wanted to show that no one was safe, not even beloved comic-relief characters. She originally considered killing Arthur Weasley in the fifth book but decided against it, leading to Fred's death in the final book.
• The twins' birthday, April 1st (April Fools' Day), was deliberately chosen by the author to reflect their personalities.