Summary
The tragic death of Fred Weasley is undeniably one of the most devastating parts of theHarry Potterfranchise. The Weasley Twins were inseparable, and the untimely death of Fred had a catastrophic impact on the Weasley family. A devoted and mischievous prankster, Fred was the favorite character of manyHarry Potterfans. As Ron’s older brother, he was present in the series since the beginning, making his death in the franchise’s final installment truly shocking.
Whilst it’s known that the character’s death occurred inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,details about Fred’s death are hazy, leaving fans with an abundance of questions. Whilst it’s obvious that Fred was killed by one ofVoldemort’s Death Eaters, little is known about the killer’s identity. This is largely because Fred’s death in the movie greatly differs from the book. As a result of this, fans have often been left wondering who killed Fred Weasley.
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When Did Fred Weasley Die?
Fred’s death occurred in the Battle of Hogwarts, which was the final conflict of the Second Wizarding War. The Battle of Hogwarts saw the Wizarding School’s staff and students go head-to-head against Voldemort’s villainous army of Death Eaters. Whilst the brutal Battle ultimately culminated inHarry’s iconic defeat of the Dark Lord, there were many casualties on both sides.
The Battle of Hogwarts was responsible for the deaths of multiple significantHarry Pottercharacters, includingRemus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Bellatrix Lestrange. However, the death of Fred Weasley is arguably the most devastating of all, largely due to the death’s lasting impact on George.
Fred Weasley’s Final Words
Book
“You actually are joking, Perce … I don’t think I’ve heard you joke since you were —
Movie
“Yeah.”
InDeathly Hallows’ movie, it’s unclear when and how Fred died. Unlike the book, Harry only discovers Fred’s death after the Battle is over. In an emotional scene, Harry spots the Weasley family huddled around Fred’s body in the Great Hall. The family are struck by grief, and Ron is desperately clinging to his brother’s body. At this point, it’s unclear to audiences which Weasley twin has died. Next to Fred, Harry spots the bodies of Remus and Tonks. The pair’s hands are reaching out for one another, indicating that the couple died together. Whilst it’s unclear how Remus, Tonks and Fred died, the Battle’s devastation is apparent. However,Deathly Hallows’book offersmore information about Fred’s tragic death.
Who Killed Fred Weasley?
InDeathly Hallows’book, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all present at the time of Fred’s shocking death. Moments before the character’s death, Fred is seenfighting against the Death Eatersalongside his older brother, Percy. However, in mid-conversation with Percy, the unthinkable happens. The following passage captures the cause of Fred’s shattering demise:
The air exploded. They had been grouped together, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and Percy, the two Death Eaters at their feet, one Stunned, the other Transfigured; and in that fragment of a moment, when danger seemed temporarily at bay, the world was rent apart.
The explosion sent Harry flying through the air. At first, the young wizard was confused about his surroundings, but he is quickly brought back to his senses by the sound of a “terrible cry that pulled at his insides”. Harry then hears Percy crying out “No! Fred! No!”, and it’s apparent thatFred has been killedin this unexpected explosion. The book then hauntingly describes Ron and Percy hunched over their brother’s body:
Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred’s eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.
Harry is devastated by Fred’s sudden death and is unable to comprehend how this tragedy happened. The book captures Harry’s disbelief, stating that: “Fred Weasley could not be dead, the evidence of all his senses must be lying”. Due to Harry’s shock, it’s unclear exactly which Death Eater caused the explosion. However, some fans have offered their own interpretations of who killed Fred Weasley.
It has been widely suggested that Fred was killed by Augustus Rookwood, one of Voldemort’s loyal Death Eaters. Whilst Rookwood is absent throughout the movies, the character hasa large presence within the books, particularly during the Battle of Hogwarts. He is framed as one of the Dark Lord’s most brutal and malicious Death Eaters, leading some fans to conclude that he was responsible for the explosion which killed Fred.
An interesting detail inDeathly Hallows’bookfurther incriminates Rookwood. Shortly after Fred’s death, Harry and Percy attempt to move the beloved character’s body. However, Percy then becomes consumed by an overwhelming rage:
Percy let out a bull-like roar: ‘ROOKWOOD!’ and sprinted off in the direction of a tall man, who was pursuing a couple of students.
It is interesting that Percy actively pursues Rookwood, rather than one of the many other Death Eaters who were present at the time. Because of this detail, it is presumed that Percy witnessed Rookwood casting the explosion. As a result of this,Percy then chases after the Death Eater, clearly in pursuit of revenge for his brother’s death. As the books are written from Harry’s perspective, it’s clear that the ‘Chosen One’ didn’t catch who caused the explosion, which explains why Rookwood was not incriminated in greater detail.
Ultimately, Rookwood is defeated by Aberforth Dumbledore,the younger brother of Albus Dumbledore. It is significant that Rookwood was killed by Aberforth. Like Percy, Aberforth also tragically lost his brother as a result of the Second Wizarding War. By having Aberforth kill Rookwood, the wizard gains revenge on behalf of Percy Weasley. Because of the parallel between Aberforth and Percy, Rookwood is further incriminated for the death of Fred Weasley.
Despite these details, it is not conclusive whether Rookwood was truly responsible for Fred’s death. As a result of this uncertainty, the Battle of Hogwarts is shown to be a merciless fight between two sides. The uncertainty surrounding who killed Fred also showcases the limitations of Harry’s narration and demonstrates the complete unexpectedness of the explosion.
The Impact of Fred Weasley’s Death
It is interesting that Fred’s death occurred off-screen inDeathly Hallows: Part 2.In contrast, it is evident that Fred’s death was a prominent feature ofDeathly Hallows’book. Because of this, the movie’s interpretation of Fred’s death has evoked some criticism from fans.As suggested byScreen Rant,audiences were furious at the fact that the movie failed to identify Fred’s body. Although the character’s body is seen in the Great Hall, it is difficult to determine which Weasley twin has died. Because of this, Fred’s death inDeathly Hallows’movie has been criticized forfailing to do the character justice. As a result, Fred’s off-screen death has been deemed as trivial.
Instead, the book captures the true devastation and unexpectedness of Fred’s death, as well as exploring the lingering impact of the character’s death on his family and friends. Regardless of thedifferences between the book and movie’s interpretationsof the character’s sudden demise, Fred’s death remains to be the most shocking part of the entire franchise, and the uncertainty surrounding Fred’s killer only emphasizes this devastation.
Harry Potter
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
