11

Divination Eleven: Tragedy in Diagon Alley

Harry started to laugh. He heard a weak sort of moan beside him and looked around to see Mrs. Weasley gazing, dumbfounded, at the poster. Her lips moved silently, mouthing the name ‘U-No-Poo.’ ‘They’ll be murdered in their beds!’ she whispered. ‘No they won’t!’ said Ron, who, like Harry, was laughing. ‘This is brilliant!’ (HBP6)

Into the Pensieve: The trio’s return to Hogwarts is marred by a terrible tragedy for the Weasley family on Halloween. Having learned from Malfoy of the useful products available there, a squad of Death Eaters (including Amycus and Alecto Carrow) attack Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in an early morning raid. Surprised by intruders just before dawn, Fred and George (who are sleeping in a flat above the shop) put up a courageous fight, but like their uncles Gideon and Fabian Prewett, they stand little chance against superior numbers. Fred dies heroically trying to protect his brother; George is seriously injured. As in a nightmare, Mrs Weasley awakens to the striking of her family clock, which denotes death. The twins laughed at danger and provided much of the light relief of the series; now one of them is no more, we realise we are in a much darker book. Fred’s death desolates his family and Harry, but the tragedy does bring Percy back to the Weasley fold. Reconciled at last, he resigns from the Ministry and tells his family of Rufus Scrimgeour’s plan for the imminent release of twelve Death Eaters from Azkaban. The Minister of Magic is close to announcing his deal with Lucius Malfoy, as the only viable option for the wizarding world. Hermione uses her contact with Rita Skeeter to broadcast this betrayal to the public but shortly afterwards Scrimgeour shuts down the Daily Prophet and arrests leading members of the Order: including Arthur Weasley. Others such as Remus Lupin and Molly Weasley seek asylum at Hogwarts, under the protection of the Headmistress. Diagon Alley is abandoned and witches and wizards from all over Britain flock to the relative safety of Hogsmeade. Meanwhile Death Eaters take control of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, enslaving the goblins. The final crisis is about to begin.

Omens & Portents: Canonical Clues & Questions

1. Concerning Fred’s doom…

• ‘Half the f – f – amily’s in the Order, it’ll b – b – be a miracle if we all come through this … and P – P – Percy’s not talking to us … what if something d – d – dreadful happens and we’ve never m – m – made it up with him?’ (OOtP9) Like many of you, I am worried that the Weasley family won’t survive intact – we’ve had too many hints about ‘mortal peril’. Poor Molly Weasley was convinced back in OOtP that she would lose some of her family. Currently living above their shop in Diagon Alley, which we know is not safe, Fred & George are prepared to take risks and to laugh at death. Their mother is terrified for them, but they will not have it any other way. Malfoy has purchased Instant Darkness Powder from their shop, so we know that the Weasleys’ new range of Defence Against the Dark Arts products are of interest to Voldemort’s supporters… It’s not difficult to imagine that the next time the Death Eaters come to call it will be an early morning raid. I could see Fred (the more dominant twin) dying heroically to protect his brother.

• In plot terms, this tragedy might fulfil a few purposes … Fred & George have already realised their destinies in running a successful joke shop. If one of them died near the beginning of Book 7, the absence of their humour would darken the mood in preparation for the rest of the novel (Mercutio effect). Our final image of them together would be at Bill & Fleur’s wedding on the ‘last golden day of peace’. Moreover, this grief would reunite the Weasley family, with Percy finally asking for forgiveness. There is just a suggestion in Book 6 that he is beginning to come round … ‘There was a moment’s painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, ‘Merry Christmas, Mother.’ (HBP16)

• There are strong parallels between Fred and George and their uncles, Fabian and Gideon Prewett. Keeping one twin alive would be even more tragic in a way – terrible for the survivor. However, with the love of his family and his new girlfriend, George will come through and (eventually) continue with Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in tribute to his brother.

• JKR has recently confirmed (summer 2006) that in Book 7, Voldemort ‘finally gets the legroom for which he has been aching during all those years in exile’. At the moment, in real-time (!), ‘his Dark plans are unfolding in all their grisly glory.’ Does this suggest that the wizarding world is about to come under his sway?

Legilimency… what is JKR thinking?

‘Let’s go again … on the count of three … one – two – three – Legilimens!’ (OOtP24)

• Fred and George did not have foreknowledge of the Quidditch World Cup outcome; they simply gambled on a hunch and won. They “were prepared to risk everything.” [JKR, Mugglenet/TLC interview, 2005 – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• Gideon and Fabian Prewett were indeed Molly’s brothers, but their history is not particularly significant in terms of the overall plot, except that their deaths do provide some explanation and excuse some of Mrs Weasley’s fears and her over protective stance towards Harry. [JKR, website – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• Voldemort “prefers his henchmen to do his dirty work.” [JKR, World Book Day, 2004 – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• Percy is acting entirely of his own accord. [JKR, World Book Day, 2004 – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• “There more deaths coming.” [JKR, "Harry Potter and Me," 2001 – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• JKR: “A couple of characters I expected to survive have died and one character got a reprieve.” [JKR, RCMH-pressconf, 2006 – Madam Scoop’s Index]

• Rita Skeeter is “morally horrible,” but tough and determined; “there is more to come on Rita.” [JKR, Edinburgh Book Festival, 2004]

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