How Did Fred Weasley Die in the Harry Potter Book and Movie?

Fred Weasley was the fourth son of the seven pure-blood Weasley siblings.

He was always paired with his twin brother, George Weasley, and they were a dynamic duo for sure. Fred was the older of the two and known as the more daring and outspoken one.

Fred was sorted into Gryffindor House (as were all the Weasley children). Although he sometimes acted childishly and pulled pranks on others, he deeply valued what the school and Gryffindor stood for.

He not only joined Dumbledore’s Army, but he also fought in The Battle of Hogwarts and was a member of The Order of The Phoenix.

However, he never graduated from Hogwarts. During Dolores Umbridge’s “reign,” the Weasley twins decided to drop out of school in a fiery display of explosions, fireworks, and more humorous pranks.

Fred and George opened a joke shop called Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

“The thing about growing up with Fred and George is that you sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”

– Ginny Weasley

How did Fred Weasley die?

The character Fred Weasley was 20 years old when he died. Sadly, during the Battle of Hogwarts, a Death Eater set off an explosion, and Fred was caught in the crossfire. He passed away in his brother Percy’s arms after they had finally reconciled.

Also read: Most Powerful Harry Potter Wizards & Witches Ranked

We don’t get to witness Fred’s death or his last words in the movie. The last time we see him, he’s standing with George as they are gearing up to fight. Then, we see Fred lying motionless on the floor with his family surrounding him.

While it’s unfortunate that the movie didn’t show the entirety of Fred’s death, it’s understandable that not everything in the book can be played out in the film.

What Were Fred Weasley’s Last Words?

Fred’s tragic death in the Harry Potter books differs from how it’s shown in the movie.

In the book, Percy Weasley is holding Fred in his arms, and Fred looks at him and says, “You actually are joking, Perce … I don’t think I’ve heard you joke since you were —” before he passes away.

“And 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.” 

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  

See more: Fred & George Weasley Character Analysis

What Happened to Percy Weasley After Fred’s Death?

Percy Ignatius “Perce” Weasley is the third oldest child of the Weasley siblings. He was the most ambitious of all of them and didn’t share in their love for jokes and pranks but had a more serious outlook on life.

Ron Weasley once said of his brother, “Percy wouldn’t know a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby’s tea cosy.”

It would be incredibly difficult for anyone to lose their family member, and Percy held his brother as he died. The Weasley family was very close, and they grew up poor but very loved and happy.

However, Percy was loyal to the Ministry of Magic and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Percy continued to deny that Lord Voldemort had returned, which drove a wedge between him and his family.

The Battle of Hogwarts was the first time Percy truly reconciled with the rest of his family. After the death of Fred, Percy did return to The Ministry of Magic, but no doubt he was a changed man.

Why Did Fred Weasley Have to Die?

Fred was on the list of least likely, which makes for a good plot twist in a story.

According to J.K. Rowling, “Fred is normally the funnier but also, the crueler of the two. So [readers] might have thought that George would be the more vulnerable one and, therefore, the one to die.”

Does J.K. Rowling Regret Killing Fred?

In an interview with US Weekly, J.K. Rowling apologizes for killing Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter series. She also said Fred’s death was “the worst for me.”

Of course, it must be hard for an author to kill off any of her characters. But for all the fighting in the series, it’s more realistic that some of the characters had to die.