Why Fred?

Harry Potter fans were most likely surprised and angry that Fred died -- possibly even more upset than when Dobby died -- because he's a Weasley, the family we love most. More than that, he's one of the twins -- the dynamic duo we love to pieces and can't see split apart


Logic says that there are nine people in the immediate Weasley family, so one of them was bound to die at some point.

     First, it was meant to be Ginny after she opened the Chamber of Secrets, but Harry found a way to save her.

     Second, it was meant to be Mr. Weasley after being attacked by Nagini in the Department of Mysteries. Luckily, Harry was able to save him as well by sharing Voldemort's mind.

     Third, it was Ron Weasley who drank a powerful love potion and poisoned wine. Harry was quick in grabbing a bezoar and shoving it down Ron's throat to save him.


Who is up to die next?


Admit it. Secretly, we all wanted it to be Percy, especially after everything that happened Voldemort's return in Goblet of Fire. But no. It was the Weasley fighting next to him in the Battle at Hogwarts:

Our beloved FRED WEASLEY.

Ironically, Fred was a character Rowling knew was going to die in the series from the very beginning. So the question must be asked, why? What makes Fred destined to die when Harry was able to save all of the other Weasleys? Rowling has been recorded as claiming it was because Fred is the stronger of the two, but does her work back up her claim?

To answer this, we must turn to the books themselves as well as search for material from Ms. Rowling herself regarding Fred and George Weasley.  *see bottom of post for evidence from the books*

After reading the series, Fred appears to be the stronger one. He is more light-hearted and "fun-loving" (mischievous). He is the leader; George follows his twin loyally. Fred has more dialog than George. Fred is more annoyed with Percy than the other Weasley children, even before his betrayal -- transforming both his Prefect and Head Boy badges. Fred is also the first Weasley to forgive Percy.


George, on the other hand, is strong in his own way. George worries about money -- for his family. George worries about blackmailing Ludo Bagman. George's anger at Percy stems from what it did to his mother and family. George forces Percy to eat with them at Christmas rather than letting him eat with his friends. George isn't as adamant about fighting back against Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. George appears to be the one responsible for buying Mrs. Weasley expensive Christmas gifts because they had to do their own laundry now. George's concern is primarily his family.


More than that, it's always written "Fred and George." Alphabetically, it makes sense. Birth order, it might even make sense (I have not found record of which twin was born first; I would guess Fred -- there is a debate about it). But, character-strength wise, Fred is also supposedly the stronger of the two.


But, secretly, I think George is the stronger of the two. He puts more value on his family than Fred did and is more serious. That seriousness allows him to not to be completely crushed by Fred's death -- he was serious enough to stay sane after losing his other half. He is also allowed to rely more on his family to help him through the grieving process. Fred seems to have put his faith solely in George (the only time he stops joking is when he is worried about George at the beginning of Deathly Hallows), and, on occasion, Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson.

At the same time, however, Rowling does try to throw her readers off (of course). George is hit with Snape's curse during the flight of the seven Potters -- something that could have easily killed him. More than that, however, Fred is the one mentioned having a date to the Yule Ball -- he has a person he loves outside of his family to lose. This is emphasized more while the boys are seating guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding. Fred talks about how he won't let Mrs. Weasley act like this at his own wedding -- he's planning a future -- while George remains silent on the subject. 


And just to be "fair" to other points of view . . . 

At the same time, the story is told through Harry's eyes -- his observations and whatnot. It could just be that Harry notices Fred more than George. I could make the proposition is that Harry notices Fred more because he has a man crush on Fred -- completely stupid, but the lit crit in me recognizes that some people will and probably already do believe this is true. Ridiculous. It's not true at all -- even if it were, I would refuse to recognize it. I'm just saying it's a theory -- a dumb one, but it exists all the same.



Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

     FRED makes name joke before getting on the platform. George follows silently.  (92)
     GEORGE helps Harry with his trunk, but NOT without Fred. (94)
     FRED asks Harry about the scar. He also wants to ask Harry about Voldemort (97)
     GEORGE jokes (97)
     GEORGE eats booger flavored jellybean (104)
     GEORGE is responsible for Scabbers' spell (106)
     FRED lies about the Sorting Ceremony (115 and 118)
     GEORGE congratulates Harry on being a Seeker first, BUT Fred talks more (153)
     FRED starts quoting Wood. George follows (185)
     FRED helps Harry during the Quidditch game (187)
     GEORGE makes "Gred and Forge" joke and makes Percy eat with them (203)
     FRED and Harry break the Wizard Cracker (203)

     GEORGE almost falls off his broom. Clumsy? Hint that he might be the one to die if one of the twins HAD to die? (223)
     FRED hates the notes home about the magic ban for underage wizards. (307)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

     FRED drives car (25)
     FRED  talks about the Muggle tricks, but George does the work (26)
     GEORGE is concerned with money -- affording a House-Elf. (29)
     FRED thinks Mr. Weasley and his fascination with Muggle stuff is funny (31)
     FRED  is the one who mentions bed (35)
     FRED jokes about Mrs. Weasley and Lockhart. GEORGE just groans (35-36)
     FRED starts gnome-throwing girl (37)
     GEORGE is excited about Mr. Weasley being home (38)
     GEORGE is concerned about money -- affording school supplies (44 and 46)
     FRED leaves for Diagon Alley first (47)
     GEORGE forgets fireworks (66)
     FRED steals lizard (108)
     FRED turns Ron's bear into a spider when they were children (155)
     GEORGE whines about there being too much Quidditch training. (167)
     FRED protecting Harry from bludgers again (168)
     GEORGE calls for a time-out to save Harry (169)
     FRED bewitches Percy's Prefect Badge to say "Pinhead" (212)
     GEORGE and Percy (258)


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

     GEORGE doesn't want to be prefect (62)
     GEORGE wants to lock Percy in a pyramid (63)
     FRED changes Percy's Head Boy badge to say "Big Headboy" (67)
     Molly loses FRED (72) prediction?
     GEORGE is concerned about Harry and tries to comfort him (96-97)
     FRED needs joke supplies (145)
     GEORGE tries to catch Crookshanks to save Scabbers (146)
     FRED is annoyed about Cedric -- jealous? Angelina? Also making fun of Hufflepuff (169)
     FRED saves Harry during the game. GEORGE tells Harry about the game outcomes (179-181)
     FRED starts the map talk; GEORGE explains everything (190)
     GEORGE shows Harry how to open the map (192)
     FRED explains secrete passages (193)
     FRED "comforts" Ron about Scabbers sarcastically. (253)
     FRED has no fear of dementors (255)
     FRED wants Harry to show off at the Quidditch match. GEORGE is avenging/protecting others (265)
     GEORGE starts the party (265)
     FRED wants to break the rules to keep partying (266)


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

     FRED arrives in fireplace before GEORGE (43)
     FRED "gives" the Ton-Tongue Toffee to Dudley (47)
     FRED leaves first. GEORGE takes Harry's trunk (47)
     FRED explains the candy (51)
     GEORGE wants to know how well the candy worked (53)
     GEORGE tries to escape trouble (54)
     FRED and GEORGE are talking about the Quidditch Cup with Charlie, but only FRED's dialog appears (63)
     FRED teases Percy about the dragon dung he and GEORGE sent (64)
     GEORGE tries to sneak out candy (68)
     FRED yells about it (68-69)
     FRED officially makes the bet (88)
     FRED makes fun of Crouch (89)
     FRED asks about the "secret" (92)
     FRED is okay with hiding gambling from Mrs. Weasley (117)
     FRED is protecting Ginny (120)
     FRED jokes about death (153) -- HA
     GEORGE teases Percy about Crouch NOT knowing his name (162)
     FRED and the secret (164)
     FRED is very loud about the Triwizard Tournament (186 and 188)
     FRED comes up with the plan to sneak their names into the contest (189-190)
     GEORGE wants FRED to be careful about the letter (222-223)
     GEORGE and the letter -- he wants the money. He also asks questions to McGonagall about the tourney (237)
     GEORGE is okay with house-elves (239)
     FRED has the plan for tricking the Goblet (256) -- Tournament is deadly; he's not seventeen, but he hatches the plan. DEATH?
     FRED is first to cross the age line (259)
     GEORGE won't let Harry go to bed (285)
     FRED's dancing is full of life -- he will die 
     GEORGE jokes about the egg. (366)
     FRED tells Hermione how to get into the kitchen (367)
     FRED jokes about Canary Creams (366-367)
     FRED has no fear about getting a date (393-394)
     FRED and Bagman (448)
     FRED is okay with blackmail. GEORGE is not. (566-568)
     GEORGE talks more / is more upset about losing the money to Bagman (732)
     GEORGE is noted for being the one to say thank you (734)


Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

     GEORGE greets Harry properly; FRED makes a joke (68)
     FRED is proud of passing the Apparation test and is okay to use it at any time to save time and money (68-69)
     FRED calls Snape a "git"; GEORGE is much more delicate in speech (69)
     GEORGE is obviously ticked off about Percy; FRED is very nonchalant about it (70)
     FRED is determined to get information with an Extendable Ear (76)
     FRED is all about saving time (84)
     FRED is fighting back against Mrs. Weasley (96)
     FRED knows Ginny very well (98)
     GEORGE is in charge of waking the boys up (101)
     FRED gets caught collecting the doxy (104)
     GEORGE explains the Skiving Snackboxes (104)
     FRED is happy that Mrs. Weasley is yelling at someone else; GEORGE knows how to deal with Mrs. Weasley yelling -- almost sympathetic. (107)
     FRED is more vocal about his disbelief that Ron becoming Prefect (161)
     FRED's priorities are centered on trouble-making (162)
     GEORGE jokes about matching pajamas for Ron and his badge (163)
     GEORGE is offending at being "outed" of the family for not getting the Prefect badge (163)
     FRED regrets getting Ron dress robes because Mrs. Weasley was going to get him some as a reward -- waste of money now (164)
     GEORGE explains what Mundungus has for them; FRED handles price (171)
     FRED is making the decisions for the set of them (183)
     FRED is willing to help Ron skive, but jokes about it. GEORGE checks on the first years they are checking on. GEROGE says they aren't skipping their last year for Mrs. Weasley's sake; FRED says it is for
market research. (225-227)
     GEORGE jokes about grades (310-311)
     FRED orders drinks for everyone (338)
     FRED makes anecdote about he and GEORGE finding the Room of Requirement
     FRED is making up mean names for the DA (Dumbledore's Army) (392)
     GEORGE makes excuses for their pranks (394)
     FRED claims to have been denying that Ron is family for years (401)
     GEORGE attacks Malfoy; FRED is held back by the girls (413)
     FRED is talking about how to get there (474)
     FRED is angry about the Order; GEORGE is angry about Dad. FRED insults Sirius out of anger (477)
     GEORGE has the Extendable Ears (490)
     FRED announces no longer caring about causing/getting into trouble (627)
     GEORGE noted as laughing so hard he is crying (633)
     GEORGE wants to help Harry; FRED wants to cause trouble and applauds Ron for being okay with Harry breaking the rules (657-658)
     GEORGE guessed how long Harry had -- more calculating? (669)
     FRED talks back to Umbridge (674)
     FRED makes the leaving school decision making (674)
     FRED tells the students where to buy their stuff and GEORGE offers them a discount. FRED orders Peeves to keep causing trouble (675)



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

FRED gives Hermione a free day dream (117)
FRED comes equipped with the bruise removing paste in his pocket (118)
GEORGE threatens boy who might steal (118)
GEORGE is excited about expanding their products into DADA (119)
GEORGE goes to help Verity immediately (120)
FRED declares that Harry doesn't pay; GEORGE agrees completely (120)
FRED takes the girls to the WonderWitch products (120-121)
FRED charges Ron (122)
GEORGE "makes" Ron cut his finger (326)
Ron throws a knife at FRED (327) - deadly weapon
GEORGE flirts with the Muggle girl in the village (328)
GEORGE's excuse for expensive presents for Mrs. Weasley is because they have to do their own laundry now (339)
FRED appears to hate Percy (347)
FRED jokes about Ron, but GEORGE is more serious (399)
FRED is upset about Hogsmeade (399-400)
FRED is talking a lot more than GEORGE (400-404)


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

FRED jokes; GEORGE is more serious, but still jokes (49)
FRED jokes about beauty (51) - funny because GEORGE is about to lose his ear, changing his attractiveness
GEORGE is injured -- almost dead. He could easily be the dead twin, but Moody's death is more important at the moment. TIMING IS EVERYTHING -- George dying now would take away from Moody's murder. (64)
FRED is genuinely concerned about his twin. He doesn't joke until his twin does. (74-75)
FRED talks about his future wedding (138) 
GEORGE is talking about Mrs. Weasley and Percy -- no indication of future plans. (138)
FRED argues "Rodent" VS "Rapier." His point on PotterWatch - chill out and don't be overly afraid (442-444)
FRED loves plans that you make up as you go (582)
FRED thinks the battle is going to be fun; GEORGE is being more serious (604)
FRED insults Percy, but is first to forgive him. GEORGE just wants to know why Percy changed his mind. (606)
GEORGE makes fun of Percy. He is eager to fight before all of the "good ones" are taken. (606)
FRED says it's a good night to fight. (621)
FRED is joking/laughing/happy in death (636)