Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Fred and George Weasley 's fireworks terrify Umbridge Prior to their departure, they offered a discount for any Hogwarts students who would swear to use their products to eliminate Umbridge. Argus Filch banned all of Fred and George 's products from Hogwarts in 1996 . However, as no one paid much attention to things Filch banned, this had little effect. They opened a branch in Diagon Alley shortly after leaving Hogwarts in April 1996 , employing a shop assistant named Verity . They also intended to buy Zonko's Joke Shop in Hogsmeade in order to extend their business. However, because of Hogwarts security being raised to the point that all Hogsmeade trips were cancelled, they saw no point to this. The twins were strict with their businesses, as they threatened a boy for attempted shoplifting and charged their younger brother Ron full price for all the products. However, they allowed Harry to take anything he wanted, free of charge, which was because of his being their investor.

They also accepted patronage from Draco Malfoy (whom they hated), allowing him to buy Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder , which he would use against Dumbledore's Army later, something Ron would resent the twins for. Their mother, despite not initially approving their dream, was glad to see they managed to make such success and joy in their career. The Second Wizarding War The inside trio, Ginny, and Mrs Weasley inside the shop In the summer of 1997, the Death Eaters seized control of the British Ministry of Magic . In the spring of 1998, it was discovered that the Weasleys had been helping the fugitive Harry Potter , and the family went into hiding. Although forced to close the shop in Diagon Alley, Fred and George continued to sell their products via mail order while at their Aunt Muriel 's. Fred and George both fought in the Battle of Hogwarts , where Fred was killed in an explosion whilst fighting alongside Percy Weasley . After the War George continued to operate the business after Fred's death, despite never fully getting over the loss of his twin.

[2] Two years after Ron became an Auror he left the job, stating that he wanted to help his brother George with a shop he had always loved. Already a highly successful emporium, together they were able to successfully turn Weasley's Wizard Wheezes into an even more enormous money-spinner. [2] Products All employees at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes wear a magenta robe. Location The first official premises of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was at 93 Diagon Alley. During 1997 , the founders, Fred and George Weasley were known to be looking at buying Zonko's Joke Shop after it closed. However, due to various complications such as Fred 's death and the return of Voldemort , it is unknown whether this purchase was actually made or not. It is assumed that it was purchased, as the business was highly successful after Voldemort's death. If this second location was purchased, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes could also have a branch located in Hogsmeade .

Behind the scenes Filch 's ban on the store 's products did not span to Pygmy Puffs , as Ginny Weasley takes her Pygmy Puff, Arnold , in to Hogwarts . The Half-Blood Prince film's graphic designer, Eduardo Lima revealed that there are more than 300 names of products they had invented just for the film adaptation of "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes". [3] Because Harry did not give his Triwizard Winnings over to Fred and George onscreen in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , it is not clear just how the Weasley twins were able to establish Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in the first place in the film adaption of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince . The cash register used in the sixth film was bought off on eBay.[ citation needed ] Despite the rebellious nature of some of these products, the twins were nevertheless subject to certain Ministry regulations . Fred and George's latter skill with their shop was actually foreshadowed in the video game versions of the series.

In the PC/MAC version and console versions of the Philospher's Stone the twins trade Harry Bertie Bott's Beans for Famous Wizard trading cards; the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube versions in particular they set up a shop in Gryffindor tower, which is only open at night in a secret bathroom (past a portrait with a password) that must be accessed by sneaking through the Study Room past Percy. The Game Boy versions had the boys setting up shop in Classroom 5B with two shops; Weasley Supplies Bargain Basement and Weasley Candy Emporium . This is the only time in the games where the boys have two shops with individual names. In the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube versions, there is also a chest that Harry can pay beans to for a random item, good or bad. The PC/MAC version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has the boys set up an economic system of merchants throughout the school, while the other console versions the location is the same as before (only the randomization chest is removed). In the GBC version it is a shop in Diagon Alley and not connected to the Weasleys in any way. Ironically the boys would end up opening their own shop there four years latter.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban the twins' shop somewhat differs; in the console versions, it is a similar bathroom on the sixth floor, only much larger with a challenge room beyond it for the Marauders' Map ; while on the GBA version, it is instead a shop similar to the GBC games that can be accessed on the seventh floor instead. Their inventory has expanded significantly from the second game, including Cauldron Cakes , Pumpkin Pasties , Passwords for the portraits around the castle, and special Chocolate Frog Cards . Most notably, at the back of the shop is a card with the wizard's image blocked out, which Fred and George promise to give Harry for free if he collects all other cards in the set. Collecting all of the Wizard cards unlocks Harry's own wizard card and opens the Bean Bonus Room with an unlimited timer. This is the only time in the series Fred and George have displayed the ability to access the room.

Appearances The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) CATEGORIES The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) £14.50 The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) £14.50 This is a required field. Quantity: Share Add to Wish List Click the button below to add the The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) to your wish list. Product Description Description The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 1) Box set of 20 postcards, 10 designs, 2 of each. Info Artwork originally created by MinaLima for the Harry Potter films, to include details of 10 Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes store graphics. Skiving Snack Box advert, Weasleys' playing cards and packaging designs.

Box size 13 x 18 x 1 cm (5.25 x 7 x 0.5 inches) Card size 12 x 16.5 cm (4.75 x 6.5 inches) Made in England Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes™ | Diagon Alley™ Shops Fred and George Weasleys’ colourful shop offers a cornucopia of magical jokes, tricks and toys including Pygmy Puffs, U-No-Poo, Skiving Snackboxes, and more. About This Shop In the Harry Potter™ stories, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes is the novelty joke shop run by identically ingenious prankster twins Fred and George Weasley. It offers patrons all manner of mischief, from Extendable Ears to love potions and much more. Enter your email address to print your Map Favorites.

Your Name Please enter a valid name Your Email Please enter a valid email address Yes, I would like to receive Universal Orlando Resort special offers and deals The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) CATEGORIES The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) £14.50 The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) £14.50 This is a required field. Quantity: Share Add to Wish List Click the button below to add the The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) to your wish list. Product Description Description The Weasleys’ Series - Postcards (Collection 3) Box set of 20 postcards, 10 designs, 2 of each. Info Artwork originally created by MinaLima for the Harry Potter films, to include details of 10 Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes store graphics. Peace Disturber, Demon Dung and other firework designs.

Box size 13 x 18 x 1 cm (5.25 x 7 x 0.5 inches) Card size 12 x 16.5 cm (4.75 x 6.5 inches) Made in England Weasley family | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia "Red hair, and a hand-me-down-robe? You must be a Weasley" —The Weasleys are financially poor [src] Arthur Weasley was born on 6 February [8] , 1950 [9] to Septimus and Cedrella Weasley (née Black ). [10] Arthur had at least two brothers. He attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1961-968 and was sorted into [Gryffindor House . In his third year in 1963, he probably chose to take Muggle Studies , due to his interest in Muggles . While at school, he met and began dating fellow Gryffindor Molly Prewett . The Burrow Shortly after graduating from Hogwarts, Arthur and Molly married.

Their marriage was rather rushed, as Lord Voldemort was gaining power during that time and the First Wizarding War began. [11] Arthur and Molly were not members of the first Order of the Phoenix ; it is unknown if he was otherwise involved in the war. During the course of the war, he and Molly had seven children: Bill in late 1970, Charlie in 1972, Percy in 1976, twins Fred and George in 1978, Ron in 1980, and Ginny in 1981. The war ended soon after Ginny's birth, but not before Molly's brothers Fabian and Gideon Prewett , both Order members, were murdered by Death Eaters . [12] The family was upset when some Death Eaters, such as Lucius Malfoy , were able to get off scot-free by claiming that they had been under the Imperius Curse . Arthur believed they were lying, and he and Lucius were hostile towards one another whenever they crossed paths. Some members of the Weasley family The Weasleys' views led to their support to the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army during the Second Wizarding War .

During the height of the latter conflict, the Weasleys were placed under surveillance by the Voldemort -controlled Ministry of Magic because they had been in close contact with Harry, and eventually had to go into hiding. The Weasleys took part in the Battle of Hogwarts . During the battle Fred was killed, deeply upsetting the rest of the family, [13] and his death was enough to make his mother commit murder to save her daughter from the same fate. The families financial status likely changed with the great commercial success of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and the successful careers of various family members. By the twenty-first century, many Weasleys and their relatives worked for the Ministry of Magic, including Arthur, Percy, Ron, and their in-laws Harry Potter and Hermione Granger . [14] Family members Main family Arthur Weasley , one of three sons of Septimus Weasley and Cedrella Black [15] , met Molly Prewett while they attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1960s . They married soon after finishing school and went on to have seven children, whom they loved but did not spoil.

All of those who were of age, except Percy, eventually became members of the reinstated Order of the Phoenix . Wizard(s) Lily Potter Etymology There appears to be a pattern in the Weasley family of members having names that may possibly allude to figures in medieval history and Arthurian legend: Arthur Weasley , shares a given name with King Arthur , the central character of Arthurian legends. The eldest son, Bill , has the same given name as William Marshal . Between the mid 12th and early 13th centuries, this knight rose from obscurity by serving four Plantagenet kings of England ( Henry II , Richard I , John and Henry III ), and eventually became Regent of England. At times, he is referred to as "the Flower of Chivalry." In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Bill marries Fleur Delacour , whose name translates as "flower of the court". Charles Weasley 's name may be a reference to Charlemagne . Fred Weasley 's name is a diminutive of the name Frederick, which may be an allusion to Frederick Barbarossa . Frederick was an Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, served in both the Second and Third Crusades.

His nickname, Barbarossa, means "red beard." George Weasley 's name may be a reference to St George. Percy Weasley 's name is a diminutive of the name Percival , which was the name of one of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. Ron Weasley connects into this pattern of medieval and Arthurian naming in three ways: Firstly, he shares his name with King Arthur's spear Rhongomyniad, which Geoffrey of Monmouth called "Ron." If one were to take the name Ronald and switch the "n" and "l," they would have Roland . Historically Roland was a military leader under Charlemagne and was responsible for defending the Frankish Kingdom 's border with Brittany. Brittany is considered a potential place of origin for many of the Arthurian legends. Later, he became the subject of a chanson de geste , which is considered one of the earliest pieces of French literature, and was popular throughout the medieval era. The name Ronald is derived from an Old Norse name that was a cognate of the name Reginald .

This connection is supported when Ron uses Polyjuice Potion to masquerade as Reginald Cattermole while infiltrating the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . During 12th century, there were two Reginalds that this cognitive naming may be an allusion to: Reginald of Durham was a monk who chronicled the life of Saint Godric of Finchale , who shares a given name with Godric Gryffindor , founder of [Gryffindor House . Raynald of Châtillon (Raynald is also a cognate of Reginald), served in the Second Crusade and ruled as Prince of Antioch until he was captured and executed by Saladin . While discussing the Deathly Hallows with Harry and Hermione, Ron states that he favours the Elder Wand , whose original wielder was Antioch Peverell . Ginny Weasley 's full name is Ginevra , the Italian form of the name Guinevere , who was Arthur's queen.

Also, Muriel had a cousin named Lancelot , who was one of Arthur's knights , though it should be noted that Muriel is only related to the Weasleys by the marriage of her niece Molly . Author's comments Ron , Ginny , and Fred and George Weasley J. K. Rowling has said that unlike with many other characters, Ron Weasley 's name always remained the same in various drafts of the series. She has remarked that the surname Weasley is derived from the weasel , which is also Arthur Weasley 's Patronus . About the family's name and characteristic red hair, she commented: "In Britain and Ireland the weasel has a bad reputation as an unfortunate, even malevolent, animal. However, since childhood I have had a great fondness for the family mustelidae; not so much malignant as maligned, in my opinion.

There are also many superstitions associated with redheaded people and most state that they are in some way unlucky (Judas Escariot was supposedly red-haired), but this is nonsense; I happen to like red hair as well as weasels." [19] The mark of Fred and George Weasley Behind the scenes In the Harry Potter film adaptations, the Weasleys are portrayed by: Bonnie Wright , who portrays Ginny Weasley in all film adaptations. Hermione Granger 's Patronus is an otter , which is in the same family as the weasel, Mustelidae. This, as well as the fact that the Weasleys live in Ottery St Catchpole , may have foreshadowed her marriage into the family. Her nephew Albus Potter owns a pet ferret, which is also in the same family as the weasel. Weasley sounds like weaver, convenient considering that Mrs Weasley loves to knit, or at least charm her needles to do it for her.

The Weasley wax seal (emblem) used in their mails or Howler The only sons of Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley that do not have any known children are Fred Weasley and Charles Weasley , the former because of his death and the latter because he is much more interested in studying dragons. The Weasleys own a tractor . Harry Potter has saved several lives of members of the Weasley family, something Arthur and Molly gratefully pointed out, and believed it was lucky that Ron chose to sit in the same cabin on their first day at the Hogwarts Express. He destroyed Tom Riddle's diary before Ginny had her life force drained away. He saw Arthur being attacked by Nagini and reported it in time to save him. He gave Ron a Bezoar when he was poisoned. He shielded Molly when Voldemort turned on her after she killed Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of Hogwarts . Along with the Muggle Granger family , the Weasleys are also related to the Muggle Evans family and the Muggle Dursley family . They are related to the Evans and Dursleys through Harry Potter , who married Ginny.

The only children who may call the Weasleys their "maternal family" are the children of Ginny: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter. It is possible that Victoire Weasley , Bill and Fleur's daughter, might marry Teddy Lupin , making the Weasleys related to the Lupin family in two ways: from the marriage of Victoire and from sharing distant ancestry through the Black family . J.K. Rowling said in an interview that Molly Weasley educated her children in the basics (reading, maths, spelling, grammar, etc.) before they went to Hogwarts. [21] If the young man seen beside Tonks in the wedding scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is in fact Charlie, that would mean that this is the second film (along with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ) in which all nine Weasleys appear. The oldest child, Bill has his father's first name, Arthur, as his middle name and the youngest child, Ginny, has her mother's first name, Molly, as her middle name. Orange hair was considered a sign of witchcraft in medieval times.

According to houseofnames.com, the Weasley family originally hailed from Normandy in France Notes and references ↑ Ron and Hermione's children are half-bloods ; Bill and Fleur's children are one-eighth Veela , and the most outspoken pure-blood family in Britain in favour of Muggle-born rights. Harry and Ginny's children are half-bloods as well. Fred and George Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - YouTube Fred and George Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Dec 5, 2009 Fred and George's Joke Shop Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. This is one of my favorite scenes in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I'm so glad that they put the Joke Shop in the film. Property rights go to Warner Brother Pictures and J.K. Rowling.

Category Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Percy Weasley - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Percy Weasley From Wikibooks, open books for an open world Overview[ edit ] Percy Ignatius Weasley is the third son of Arthur and Molly Weasley . He is two years older than the twins Fred and George . He became a Prefect in his fifth year at Hogwarts, which was Harry's first year, and Head Boy in his seventh year. After graduation, he went to work in the Ministry of Magic . According to the author, Percy's birthday is 22 August. His birth year is not given, but internal series evidence suggests 1976. Role in the Books[ edit ] Beginner warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level. Philosopher's Stone [ edit ] Percy first appears at the train station with the other Weasley family members as they are leaving for Hogwarts. He is a Prefect , and seems inordinately proud of the fact; Fred and George try to take him down a few pegs, without success.

Once Harry is Sorted into Gryffindor House, he ends up sitting next to Percy; Percy does tell him a few things about what is going on, but the feel is very much parent-to-child, rather than student-to-student as we would expect to see with any other student. After the arrival feast, he leads the Gryffindor first-years to the dormitory and tells them the password. We don't see much of Percy for the rest of the book. He appears at Christmas, briefly, and he is seen at the Leaving Feast telling people that Ron is his brother, but otherwise appears very little. Chamber of Secrets [ edit ] While Percy is a prefect again this year, he doesn't spend so much effort publicizing the fact; apparently, as he has been a prefect for a full year now, he no longer feels the need to broadcast this fact. He does seem to have gotten a lot stuffier over the summer, though. Harry spends the latter part of his summer break at The Burrow , the Weasley's home. While he is there, the other Weasley brothers mention that Percy is acting oddly, remaining shut up in his room.

Ron mentions that he had wanted to send a message using Percy's owl, Hermes , because the Weasley family owl, Errol , has gotten old and unreliable, but that Percy had refused him, saying that he needed Hermes himself. At Christmas, the twins have bewitched Percy's Prefect badge so that it reads "Pinhead". Percy is oblivious to this change, but does wonder why everyone is laughing at him. When Harry and Ron are disguised as Crabbe and Goyle , and are looking for the Slytherin common room, they run into Percy, who threatens them with detention for wandering the corridors. Percy also gives Ron and Harry a House points penalty when he sees them leaving Moaning Myrtle 's bathroom. Harry asks Percy for help selecting courses to take for his third year. Percy is very little help; his attempts to advise Harry, though presumably meant well, are so full of pomposity that Harry can't get anything useful out of them. When Hermione and Penelope Clearwater are Petrified by the monster in the Chamber, Percy is apparently very deeply shocked. Fred and George suggest that this is because Penelope was a Prefect as well, and Percy had thought that Prefects were invulnerable.

Ginny , at breakfast one day, seems to be deeply disturbed about something, and is about to tell Harry and Ron something, but Percy arrives and scares her off. He says that he knows what Ginny was going to say, and that it had nothing to do with the Chamber. In the Chamber, after the defeat of Tom Riddle , Ginny tells Harry that she had meant to tell Harry that she thought she was the one who was opening the Chamber, but Percy's appearing at the table had driven her away – she simply couldn't tell Harry that while Percy was there. Finally, on the train home, Ginny reveals that the thing Percy had thought she was going to reveal was the fact that he had a girlfriend. She had walked in on them in an empty classroom once, and Percy had made her promise not to tell. The girlfriend was Penelope Clearwater, which explains why her being Petrified was such a shock to Percy. Prisoner of Azkaban [ edit ] Harry receives a birthday card from Ron. Included in the card is a clipping from the Daily Prophet regarding the Weasleys winning a prize and vacationing in Egypt. In the picture, Harry sees Percy wearing his new Head Boy badge.

Ron says that Percy is, if possible, even more pompous and insufferable than before. Harry spends the last few weeks of his vacation in Diagon Alley , in the Leaky Cauldron. On the last day before school starts, the Weasleys and Hermione show up to do their school shopping. When they meet in the Leaky Cauldron later, Percy is as pompous as a Lord Mayor; the twins are trying to take him down a few pegs by imitating him, but it doesn't seem to work. Later, Percy is upset because he thinks someone has damaged his picture of Penelope Clearwater; in fact, she has developed some spots and is trying to hide under the picture frame. He then starts tearing the room he shares with Ron apart because his Head Boy badge has gone missing; it turns out that Fred and George have nicked it so that they can "improve" it. When Fred shows it to Harry, it says "Bighead Boy". When Harry is unable to visit Hogsmeade, Percy tries to console him by telling him that he won't be missing much. Harry does not find Percy's brand of consolation much use.

After Sirius Black 's first attempt to break into Gryffindor Tower, all the students are returned to the Great Hall to sleep while the school is searched. Percy is mentioned as being one of the prefects patrolling the Great Hall to ensure that nobody misbehaves. After this, Harry finds that there is almost always a teacher within earshot of him, and that Percy seems to be following him around. He already understands the reason for this, as he overheard Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley talking about how Black wants to kill Harry. But he still finds the rather heavy-handed guard a bit oppressive. On the second occasion that Black breaks in, it is Percy that initially orders everyone back to bed, an order that is ineffective. Finally, at the end of the book, it is revealed that Percy has received decent NEWT scores, and graduates. Goblet of Fire [ edit ] Percy has graduated from Hogwarts and begins working for the Ministry of Magic, where he is an assistant to Bartemius Crouch .

When we first see him, he is closeted in his room at The Burrow , and complaining about the noise everyone is making as he is working on a report about substandard cauldrons being imported from overseas. At dinner, he keeps dropping hints about some top-secret project he's involved with. It appears that he hopes that someone will ask him about it, so that he can make himself seem more important by refusing to divulge information. Percy Apparates to the Quidditch World Cup with Bill and Charlie , joining Harry, Hermione, Mr. Weasley, and the younger Weasleys. While waiting for the start of the match, Percy sees his boss, Mr. Crouch, walk by, and dashes up to offer him a cup of tea. Mr. Crouch accepts, but calls Percy "Weatherby"; the twins in particular make fun of Percy because his boss doesn't even really know his name. In the riots after the match, Percy assists Bill, Charlie, Mr. Weasley, and the Ministry wizards working to quell the riot. Afterwards, once everyone has returned home, Mr. Weasley says he's going to have to head in to the office to handle the fall-out from the riots.

Percy officiously decides to go in as well, saying something about Mr. Crouch wanting his cauldron bottom-thickness report. It appears that Percy has been moved from cauldron bottoms to general damage control, because he later laments the number of claims for compensation that have been coming in, and that exploding Howlers have scorched his desk. At the Yule Ball , Percy is present, filling in for Mr. Crouch, who he says is ill and has gone home to rest. He also tells Harry that he has been promoted to be Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and that Mr. Crouch is sending in instructions by owl. Mr. Crouch is still incapacitated in February, when it comes time for the Second Task , and Percy fills in for him as judge. Percy's pompous pose somewhat cracks when Harry comes to the surface of the lake with Ron; Percy runs out into the water to help Ron ashore. Shortly after this, Ron, Harry, and Hermione visit Sirius Black , who has returned and is living in a cave outside Hogsmeade . Sirius comments how odd it is that Mr.

Crouch is sick, he had never taken time off work before, and asks Ron to ask Percy for any additional information he might have about Mr. Crouch's illness. Percy, when he finally replies around Easter, is quite testy, and provides no additional information. Some time after Mr. Crouch appears on the grounds at Hogwarts asking for Dumbledore, and then disappears, Percy is reportedly "called in for questioning", presumably by Aurors . There is some question whether Percy should have been able to detect the severity of Mr. Crouch's ailment from the tone of his messages. We don't hear about the end result of that questioning, though when the Third Task occurs, Percy is no longer judging in Mr. Crouch's stead. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic , is there in his place. Order of the Phoenix [ edit ] Percy is promoted again, this time to the post of Assistant to the Minister for Magic. This ends up being a sticking point, as the rest of the Weasley family sees this as Percy being seconded to spy on his family, all of whom are notorious for their support of Albus Dumbledore , and presumably share his belief in Lord Voldemort 's return.

After a tremendous argument, in which Percy says that Arthur Weasley 's lack of ambition is why they never have enough money, Percy packs his things and moves to London. Percy is the scribe at Harry's trial before the Wizengamot for underage use of magic. After Harry is cleared of all charges, Harry is talking to Mr. Weasley outside the courtroom. Percy walks by and does not notice, or pretends not to notice, his father. Shortly after the start of the school year, Percy sends Ron a letter, scheduled to arrive late at night rather than with the morning post. In this letter, Percy congratulates Ron on becoming a prefect, and says that Ron may want to cut Harry loose as a friend because Dumbledore's time in power at Hogwarts may be limited, and it might be a good idea to start getting in touch with the new power structure. If he has any questions, he can always ask Dolores Umbridge , a "thoroughly delightful person". He also suggests that Ron should check the Daily Prophet the next morning, because he might see someone there he knows. Ron, angrily, tears the letter into bits and throws it into the fire.

The next issue of the Daily Prophet does have a picture of the Minister for Magic and Dolores Umbridge, on a story about Educational Decree number Twenty-Three, and Percy is in the background. Mrs. Weasley is upset at Christmas, first because Percy has sent back his Christmas present unopened, and second because he doesn't seem to have cared that his father was injured. When Fudge comes to the school to witness the arrest or expulsion of Harry for running an illegal student group, Percy tags along as scribe. Percy is present when Dumbledore claims responsibility for the organization known as Dumbledore's Army , and once Fudge has heard Dumbledore's "confession", he sends Percy off to forward a copy to the Prophet. Although Percy will remain Fudge's assistant, presumably, we don't hear from him again through the course of this book. Half-Blood Prince [ edit ] New Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour , wants to recruit Harry Potter as the Ministry of Magic's "Poster Boy." Knowing that Harry is staying with the Weasleys at the Burrow, he uses Percy as an excuse to visit them over Christmas.

When they arrive, the Minister tells Molly and Arthur that they were in the area, and Percy wanted to stop in and see his family. Claiming he doesn't want to intrude on the family reunion, Scrimgeour asks Harry to show him around the garden. He then attempts to persuade Harry to help the Ministry of Magic improve its public image. When Harry refuses, Scrimgeour departs, taking Percy. Percy has evidently not done too well reconciling with his family; as he departs, apparently he is wearing mashed parsnips, for which Fred, George, and Ginny all claim credit. Deathly Hallows [ edit ] When Harry and Ron are in the Ministry of Magic, we see Percy briefly. He steps onto an elevator ("lift" in the UK edition), then notices that he is sharing an elevator with his father and quickly leaves. Percy redeems himself and admits he was wrong during the final battle for Hogwarts. He even jokes and tells Voldemort 's puppet Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse , he "resigned", immediately after Jinxing him.

At Fred's death, he throws himself over the body to shield it from any further harm, then, with Harry's help, drags the body out of the way from danger. He then sprints off to save a group of students who were being chased by a Death Eater. In the epilogue, Harry thinks he hears Percy expounding about broomstick regulations as he walks along Platform Nine and Three Quarters , and is quietly glad that the enveloping steam makes it unnecessary for him to stop and say hello. The author created a family tree for the Weasley children as part of a television show highlighting her work. There, it was revealed that Percy married a woman named Audrey and the couple had two daughters, Molly and Lucy. Strengths[ edit ] Percy is very committed to be perfect in whatever it is he is doing and is a hard worker for the Ministry of Magic. Much like the rest of the Weasley family, he seems to be a talented wizard, evidenced by his appointment as prefect and Head Boy. Weaknesses[ edit ] Percy appears blind to his work superiors' failings. He is also so obsessed with rules that he never questions the reason behind them...he just obediently follows.

Relationships with Other Characters[ edit ] Percy Weasley's pompous and arrogant behavior often allowed for criticism and taunts. However, he did manage to get a girlfriend during his 6th year, Penelope Clearwater. Though details are few, he did spend the summer of 1992 in his room, writing to Penelope. His affection for her was reiterated when she was petrified by the Basilisk, when he showed deep shock. Towards his superiors in the Ministry, Percy is almost fawning, rushing to get a cup of tea for Bartemius Crouch, despite Crouch not even correctly recalling his name, and sycophantically praising each utterance from Fudge. Percy seems to be the typical bureaucratic yes-man, destined to remain forever an underling, though perhaps ending up as second fiddle to the top man, in this case the Minister for Magic. We believe this is meant to indicate Percy's ambition, and perhaps illustrate also the shallowness of his character, as he climbs the career ladder at the Ministry in the only way he knows.

We are led to believe that it is this ambition, and Percy's inability to understand that there are things in life other than job hierarchy, that lead to the estrangement between him and the rest of his family. Percy reportedly says as much when he leaves the family home between Harry's fourth and fifth year at Hogwarts. We are never absolutely certain what causes Percy's change of heart; possibly the distastefulness of the work he finds himself doing in a Death-Eater controlled Ministry of Magic makes him homesick. However, it is true that he is reconciled with his family by the end of the final book, though Harry's comments in the epilogue suggest that his stuffy and pompous personality remains largely unchanged. Questions[ edit ] Study questions are meant to be left for each student to answer; please don't answer them here. J. K. Rowling's New Harry Potter Story Takes You to Diagon Alley David Levenson—Getty Images J K Rowling poses on Day 2 of The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Oct. 6, 2012 in Cheltenham, England. On the second day of Christmas your favorite author gives to you ... a bottle of love potion On the second day of J.

K. Rowling’s new Harry Potter 12 Days of Christmas ‘series,’ the best selling author plays Cupid. Well, if you can solve the riddle to unlock the day’s story anyway. If one thing is clear about this ‘series,’ it’s that it’s not for casual fans. While the riddle answers have been fairly simple, those who’ve read the books only once might not know the answer immediately. Today’s goes as such: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes is a marvellous place, Full of jokes and potions by the box and the case. The premises are stuffed with people, ready to pop, But on what magical street can you find this fun shop? Diagon Alley, obviously. Solve the riddle and head inside, where you’ll see Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny surrounded by balloons and toys you can pop and spin. There’s one measly paragraph about the shop, but hit the right balloon and you’ll be granted a love potion. Well, it is Christmas. Seeing as this “story” takes place during the Half Blood Prince, before the final battle at Hogwarts, several key characters have yet to be killed off by Death Eaters. Watch out for Lavender Brown, Ron.

The Owls of Harry Potter | Laura Erickson's For the Birds Laura Erickson's For the Birds By Laura Erickson (a.k.a. “Professor McGonagowl”) (SPOILER discussion of Hedwig in Book 7—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—is here .) No spoilers beyond this point: Now that five Harry Potter movies and all seven books have been released, people have become very familiar with owls. This website will give you facts about owls both in the real world and in J.K. Rowling’s magical world. I live in the United States, but Harry Potter lives in England. Some owls live in both places, and some are found on only one side of the pond. I’ve studied owls for a long time and read all seven Harry Potter books and seen the movies, but I simply couldn’t have written this and made it authoritative without a lot of help from a lot of people. If you have information I should add, corrections, or other comments, please email me . In J.K.

Rowling’s wonderful universe, owls bridge the magical and muggle world, carrying messages, packages, and even Nimbus 2000s with ease as they make it clear to muggles that when a message needs to get through, it WILL get through. One Snowy Owl named Hedwig also provides warm companionship when a lonely wizard named Harry needs it. If you have questions about owls, first look to see if you can find the answers here. If not, you can email Professor McGonagowl . As always, if you have questions, comments, or corrections, please let me know. To get more information, see: American Humane Association’s review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Movie #5) (Thanks, Katty!) Hedwig Harry’s owl Hedwig is a Snowy Owl . She’s a female but, in the movie, the actors playing her are males. (One of the owls playing Hedwig was also the very first cast member to be chosen!!) You can tell that the owl playing Hedwig in the photo is really a male because his plumage is so white—female Snowy Owls have dark markings.

Females are also bigger and heavier, and so would be a little harder for human actors to handle. Healthy males average about 4 pounds, females almost 4 1/2 pounds. They have powerful talons. You can’t see in the photo that Daniel Radcliffe is wearing thick leather protection on his arm. Claws that can kill a large duck through thick feathers can be pretty hard on human arms, too, even when the owl is just trying to balance itself. Seven different owls played the role of Hedwig. Their names are Gizmo, Kasper, Oops, Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo and Bandit. I found out some interesting things on The Pet Place site about Harry Potter . Real Snowy Owls live in the arctic tundra, in North America, Europe, and Asia. A few breed in the northern British Isles. Long ago, when the Arctic climate extended farther south than now, Snowy Owls lived much farther south. Cave art by Paleolithic people of Europe includes an etched outline of two Snowy Owls and their chicks on a cave wall in Ariege, France.

This particular prehistoric drawing happens to make the Snowy Owl the first recognizeable bird species to be depicted in art anywhere in the world. Snowy Owls are predators, and eat only animals, never plants. Their main prey species is the lemming, a fierce little rodent smaller than a chipmunk. Lemmings have enormous population fluctuations from one year to the next. When lemmings are abundant, Snowy Owls may eat hardly anything else. They usually swallow each lemming whole, head first, but if they’re not too hungry, they sometimes bite off just the head, or even eat parts in small bits. But when lemming numbers are down, Snowy Owls eat a lot of other things. Depending on where they live, they may eat a lot of snowshoe hares, grebes and ducks (especially Horned Grebes), ptarmigans, ground squirrels, rats, partridge, and even fish. When a Snowy Owl’s face gets gooped up with blood and guts, it sometimes cleans up by wiping its face in the snow.You can see more photos of wild Snowy Owls on my Snowy Owl flickr photostream .

Global warming is expected to hurt Snowy Owls over much of their range. Hedwig is lucky she lives in a magical world! Errol The Weasley family has a very clumsy owl named Errol. In the movies he’s a Great Gray Owl . I don’t think his species is actually mentioned in the books, but my friend Katty from Belgium found that he IS called a Great Gray Owl on J.K. Rowling’s Web site. Measured from head to tail, the Great Gray Owl is the biggest owl in the world. But even though they’re an inch or so longer than Snowy Owls and look just as big, they weigh much less than Snowy Owls—sometimes less than half! Also, their wingspan isn’t as long as that of Snowy Owls, probably because their wings don’t carry nearly as much weight. Great Gray Owls specialize on mice and voles, and have very thin toes compared to other huge owls. In North America, wild Great Gray Owls live in Alaska and much of Canada down to northeastern Minnesota, and down into the mountainous areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

In Europe and Asia, they are found in northern Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia, northern Mongolia, Northern Manchuria, Amurland, and Sakhalin. They make it to Great Britain only in the magical world of Harry Potter. Real Great Gray Owls cannot carry very heavy items because they themselves are so light (usually less than 3 pounds!), and their feet are fairly weak. When I was taking care of injured birds, I once had to go rescue a Great Gray Owl that I then transferred to a raptor specialist. I had it for a little while, and was amazed at how innocuous its feet were. I normally took care of songbirds, so didn’t have the heavy gloves normally worn when doing raptor work, but this owl’s talons didn’t hurt my bare hands at all. Normally over 90% of a Great Gray Owl’s diet is one species—meadow voles. When they eat larger prey, such as rabbits and squirrels, they must sit on the animal for many hours, biting off small chunks of meat. The Weasley’s Great Gray Owl, Errol, is very clumsy. Real owls simply cannot crash the way Errol does in the movie.

Not even the owl actor who plays Errol could really crash like that—like other birds, owls have hollow bones and are much too fragile to slam into tables and windows. In the movie, they filmed a real Great Gray Owl flying gracefully through the Errol scenes. Then they substituted a dummy owl for the crashes. You can see many photos of wild Great Gray Owls on my Great Gray Owl flickr photostream . Pigwidgeon Pigwidgeon is so minute that some people have suggested to me that he might be a Little Owl , one very small owl found in England. This owl’s scientific name is Athene noctua, and it is fairly common in much of its range, in southern and central Europe and Asia, and northern Africa. Little Owls aren’t native to England, but were introduced there in the late 1800s. Little Owls are not found anywhere naturally in North America, but they are in the same genus, and closely related to, the Burrowing Owl. Like the Burrowing Owl, the Little Owl is found in open habitats, and is often active in the daytime as well as the night. The Little Owl often perches on posts and other look-outs.

Like most tiny owls, the Little Owl eats many insects, which it can catch on the wing. The Little Owl does have some interesting mythology of its own, being the sacred owl of the goddess Athene—that’s how it got its scientific name. And it is shown on coins from ancient Athens. But according to J.K. Rowling’s own website , and supported by Mary Grandpre ‘s lovely illustration in Chapter 22 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Pigwidgeon is a Eurasian (Common) Scops Owl . This owl, even tinier than a Little Owl and more closely related to the screech owls of America, has “ear tufts”—feathers that stick up on the head and look like ears. The owl illustration for this chapter clearly shows those feather tufts. We hoped the moviemakers would use a scops owl when Pigwidgeon finally appeared, but he wasn’t in the movies at all, which has been a big disappointment to me and many others! What would Pigwidgeon sound like? You can listen to recordings of various species of scops owls here . Ron seemed resentful to have such a tiny animal compared to Harry’s Hedwig.

But we bet he didn’t have to work nearly as hard to clean up after Pigwidgeon as Harry did for Hedwig! Owl poop is smelly and messy. (Unless they’re magical owls—we notice that Harry’s black cloak never has a single white spot on it!) Malfoy’s Owl Malfoy’s owl is the largest, heaviest owl in Europe, an Eagle Owl. Eagle Owls are not found in the United States—they live in Europe and Asia. Eagle Owls are not native to Great Britain, but a few pairs have escaped captivity. Scientists hope they don’t become established in the wild in England because like all introduced animals, they will almost assuredly disturb the balance of nature already there. But in their native range these magnificent birds are an important part of that balance. Eagle Owls have oranger eyes than Great Horned Owls, are slightly larger, and have heavy, vertical streaks on the front, rather than the finer, horizontal barring of the Great Horned Owl. Again, notice how it perches with the two normal front toes facing forward. (The “thumb” toe and the back toe face backward).

Percy’s Screech Owl I didn’t pay enough attention to another owl—Percy’s! Fortunately, my friend Katty writes: In the Harry Potter Lexicon about owls, they mentioned a screech owl. And in chapter 5 of Prisoner of Azkaban, you can find: “…Percy’s screech owl, …” (when Rowling described the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry leaving the Leaky Cauldron.) Considering that my very own owl, Archimedes, is a screech owl, I really should have found this on my own! Other Owls Appearing Here and There Throughout the Harry Potter movies, there are lots of owls here and there. The owl shown in many of the posters, screensaver, and other promotional material for the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is a Great Horned Owl. This owl lives in North, Central, and South America, but is not found in the wild in England or any other place on that side of the Atlantic Ocean.

I don’t know if this promotional material was used in England, but it makes a lot of sense for an American owl to deliver invitations to the movie to people in Canada and the U.S. Notice that the owl has two front claws on each foot facing forward. Owls have three front toes and one back toe on each foot. But one of the front claws is opposable, and rotates backward the way we use our thumb. So the way this owl is carrying the letter to Harry is, indeed, exactly the way a real owl would carry mail. Notice that owls prefer air mail. In real life, large species of owls sometimes eat smaller species. Real owls are extremely stressed by being near other owls. But filming the scene shown above did not stress the owls. Why? This scene was filmed over and over, with different owls each time, and then the films were digitally manipulated to make it appear that all the owls were there together at the same time. Notes about the fourth movie: My friend Katty from Belgium, who is blind so notices a great many sounds I don’t pay enough attention to, writes: Yesterday, I saw the fourth film and was lucky to hear different owl sounds.

In this movie, we entered the owlery (not a circular stone room as described in the books, but it seemed to be located outside the school). I don’t know if you can see much of the owl species during this scene, but I heard the sounds of: little owl eagle owl snowy owl ???other species I didn’t recognise. They seemed to be very active, But I don’t know if it is evening or day in the film. During the film, you can hear other owl species, but I don’t know if you can see them. I heard: little owl (on the graveyard tawney owl The only species (and owl character) I didn’t see or hear was Pigwidgeon. Frequently Asked Questions Could a real owl really carry a Nimbus 2000? Snowy Owl often kill snowshoe hares and can carry them to their nestlings. A snowshoe hare weighs over 1 kilogram. I weighed one corn broom as 0.6 kilograms, so the weight of a real broom wouldn’t be a problem for a Snowy Owl. And a Snowy Owl’s talons can easily grip a broom handle.

So yes, a real Snowy Owl could really carry a Nimbus 2000. But the Snowy Owl in this scene simply flew through, and then the filmmakers digitally added the broom. This wasn’t too hard to do. In the arctic tundra, where there are no trees for Snowy Owls to bonk into in flight, they often dangle their legs in flight. So in this scene, the real owl’s legs are already in position to be carrying something. Tiny owls can easily carry mice, so letters and birthday greetings would be quite easy for them to manage. But according to The Pet Place : Although throughout the movie, it appears the owls carry messages and even the broom, they didn’t actually hold the objects. Instead, they were attached to the birds using an invisible harness. When they reached the right point, a trainer pulled a cord, which released the message or object. Also, notice that the broom that was delivered in the movie was really made out of paper. Can real owls be happy in cages?

The cage Harry often keeps Hedwig in is way too small for any real owl, and the tiny Victorian cage used in the movie would be illegal to keep an owl in either the U.S. or Great Britain. Great Britain requires all bird cages to be big enough to allow the bird to stretch its wings fully without touching anything. To keep it in anything smaller requires a veterinary certificate. But the owl playing Hedwig is probably used to a fairly small cage when he goes places, the way dogs or cats get used to a small pet carrier or kennel, as long as they don’t need to stay in it too long or too often. Are real owls ever active in the daytime? Owls that live in the Arctic, “the land of the midnight sun,” obviously have to be able to hunt in bright conditions. Snowy Owls can hunt by day or night. And some other owls are very diurnal—the Northern Hawk-Owl and the more tropical Pygmy-Owls are active in the daytime. Many owls are crepuscular—most active at twilight. And some are active ONLY at night—the tiny Saw-whet Owl and Boreal Owl are good examples.

My own little owl, Archimedes, reminds me of a cat. He’s active when he feels like it and sleeps when he feels like it, day or night. In the wild, Screech Owls roost and nest in tree cavities or nest boxes, and are very vulnerable to jays, robins,and crows in the daytime, but they need some sunshine to produce Vitamin D, so they spend much of the day with their head poking out of the hole. If a cranky robin or jay spots one, the little owl just retreats back into the cavity. Can people really have owls for pets? In the magical world of Harry Potter, a wizard or witch can own a real owl. In the real world, in England, people are allowed to keep owls provided the bird can be shown to be captive bred or found disabled and unable to be returned to the wild—in order to show owls for money or to breed them for sale, people in the U.K. need to have what is known as an “Article 10 certificate,” which functions much as a licence for the bird. In the U.S., keeping owls for pets is always against the law.

In the U.S., owls and all other native birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and cannot be possessed by anyone who doesn’t have legal permits for research or education, or in the case of an injured owl, legal rehabilitation permits. I have permits to keep one Eastern Screech-Owl for education. I first needed to prove that I have a good reason to use an owl for educational programs, and that I could provide healthy, safe, and comfortable housing and good food, in order to apply for a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. I needed a permit from my state in order to apply for a federal permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After I had both permits, I was allowed to keep one screech owl, but wasn’t allowed to take it from the wild. I had to find a rehabilitation center that had an owl that had recovered but couldn’t be released into the wild. I’ve had Archimedes since 2000. How can I see a real, live owl in the wild? Owls are secretive in the daytime, because they are often attacked by crows, ravens, jays, robins, and other birds.

If you’re walking in the woods or in a park and hear what sounds like exceptionally angry chickadees, or a large number of extremely loud crows, check it out! They may be mobbing an owl. At nighttime you can listen for owls, especially in late winter and spring. To hear how some owls sound, you can look at Journey North’s owl dictionary . Find out if your town or city has an Audubon society or other bird club. Most bird clubs have field trips, and will have experts along to help you see all the birds. And they might have some special trips just to find owls! How can I help owls? There are several things we can do to help owls. Buy your Harry Potter books from the Canadian publisher, Raincoast . This company prints all the Harry Potter books on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. This helps many kinds of owls because so much owl habitat is cut down to make paper. Don’t waste paper. Recycle paper when you’re done with it, and buy recycled paper. How does this help owls? On average, Americans consume 738 pounds of paper per person per year.

And much of this paper is wasted—over 40% of the trash Americans throw away is paper. That adds up to a lot of trees! And when forests are cut to make paper, it hurts the birds that require older forest growth. One way you can save paper is to stop getting junk mail. Four million TONS of junk mail is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, and half is never even opened. That is an enormous waste of forests. This website has information about simple things you can do to get less junk mail. Keep your cat indoors. House cats kill millions of birds every year. Rarely, a Great Horned Owls kills a cat, but since even the heaviest owl weighs only 4 - 5 pounds, owls are at a serious disadvantage when in a fight with a cat. Even if an owl survives an attack, a cat bite or scratch can introduce bacteria leading to lethal infections. Bird lungs are on the back, making them especially vulnerable to puncture wounds. Also, cats kill a lot of mice. Except in very urban areas where rats and mice are a problem for humans, house cats destroy a lot of valuable owl food, making it harder for owls, especially smaller species, to survive.

To learn more about the importance of keeping your cat indoors, see the American Bird Conservancy’s Cats Indoors campaign page. Don’t let your dog chase birds. When an owl kills a large prey animal, it sometimes spends several minutes on the ground eating. During this time, it can easily be killed or badly injured by a dog. We know of at least one screech owl that was grabbed by a dog, and the tiny owl’s wing was broken. If people had not noticed, it would have died, but now it’s in a rehab facility. Leave dead trees standing. If they absolutely must be cut, then to do it in the late fall/early winter to ensure no babies are in the nest. Put up a Wood Duck/Screech Owl box or a Barred Owl nest platform. It’s not a good idea to build both kinds close to one another, though! Support an owl rehabilitation center near you. In Minnesota, The Raptor Center does a great job of caring for injured and orphaned raptors. This page lists many other rehabilitation facilities. If you know of a place that is not listed, please email me . Join an organization that works to protect owls.

My favorite American organization that does research and education to help all birds is the American Bird Conservancy . The Rainforest Alliance protects tropical birds, including the many owls that live there. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds protects birds of the world with special emphasis on the United Kingdom. Don’t even think about having an owl for a pet. Owls are protected by law, so it’s illegal to keep them in captivity in the U.S. without a license. But at least as important, owls are wild, natural birds requiring a wild, natural life. In cages they simply cannot do all the things their bodies were designed for and their spirits require. Also, owls are not at all easy to care for: they need to eat whole rodents or other whole animals, which must be fresh, and their droppings are messy and smelly, requiring frequent clean-up. If you yearn to handle real, live owls, volunteer to help at a nature center or rehabilitation center. If you’re buying owl stuff, buy them from Owl Stuff. Proceeds from the Owl Stuff website go to conservation organizations.

Question: In the Harry Potter series of books, what is the name of the Weasley’s Shop?
Answer: Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes