Happy Birthday, Fred and George Weasley!

It’s no joke, Potter fans, today we celebrate the birthdays of two of Rowling’s most unforgettable characters, our favorite twins, Fred and George Weasley! Rather than take a risk with skiving snackboxes, puking pastilles, or any of the other questionable and possibly explosive treats offered by Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, we’re opting for a trip down memory lane with the duo.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Fred and George, elder brothers of Harry’s best friend, Ron, roundly welcomed the youngest seeker in Hogwarts history to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They could have been snarky about it, but they weren’t. What was good for the team was good enough for them! And Harry never had to worry about a bludger (except for the pesky cursed ones) with Fred and George, arguably the best beaters on the pitch, at his back.

In Chamber of Secrets, they proved their loyalty by joining Ron in a little grand theft auto (our first hint at their proclivity for mischief!) to rescue Harry from his barred bedroom in the Dursley’s 4 Privet Drive home.

Upon returning safely to the Burrow, Fred and George were all tight-lipped nonchalance, willing to incur their mother’s wrath, and their father’s amused curiosity, for their friend.

They went even further in Prisoner of Azkaban. They were attentive enough to notice Harry’s frustration at being excluded from the Hogsmeade visits and were considerate enough to give up a very special magical artifact for his benefit. Without much ado, aside from their evident delight, they gifted Harry with the Marauder’s Map, originally enchanted by Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, to aid him in future evasions and rule-bending adventures.

In Goblet of Fire, we were given so many things to appreciate about the boys, who were quickly developing into the most interesting minor characters of the lot. They were secure and confident in themselves–probably the only two teenagers who could pull off the sweet 70s-throwback muggle clothes Mr. Weasley dug up and act like it was any other day at the Quidditch World Cup.

And then they turned around and attempted to outwit the greatest wizard of the age, Albus Dumbledore, so they could compete in the Triwizard Tournament regardless of being underage. Was it bravery or sheer stupidity? Either way, we’ve got to admire their unapologetic boldness.

And the beards. Not many could pull those off–or procure a date with a nod and a wink!

By the time we got to Order of the Phoenix, the tone had changed. The world seemed a different place now that Voldemort had returned and murdered one of their own. The story took a darker turn, and the characters with it. The boys began to prove their mettle (though we never doubted it.)

In some ways, they were the same–still wearing their mother’s knitting without complaint.

And shopping their wares about school.

They’d also joined Dumbledore’s Army and were staunch supporters of Harry. They defended him to friends and were humble enough to learn from a wizard a year younger than themselves.

They understood the importance of taking Defense Against the Dark Arts seriously and were compassionate with the students who weren’t able to handle Dolores Umbridge’s reign of terror with as much strength and fortitude.

In fact, they took her open attacks on the students as a call to arms and decided that their skills lay outside of the “traditional” wizarding education and career track.

It took a lot of courage to leave Hogwarts behind, but they did it with a characteristic bang, leaving Umbridge and the cheering student body in the dust of their brooms as the Great Hall filled with fireworks.

By Half-Blood Prince, they were full-fledged entrepreneurs, owners of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes joke shop, and unafraid to strike a hard bargain (especially with their brother).

They had fully taken up the mantle of adult-hood, and in Deathly Hallows were members of the Order of the Phoenix in their own right, called upon to participate in Mad-Eye Moody’s dangerous mission to extract Harry from Privet Drive in spite of expected Death Eater attacks.

George lost an ear in the ordeal, but didn’t lose his sense of humor. Holey Holy as ever, as he said.

And though they had already tasted rejection and ridicule from the likes of the Malfoys, torture under Dolores Umbridge, and the pain of injury, they gamely joined the final battle–fighting for Hogwarts, fighting for Harry, fighting for good, fighting for the safety and freedom of wizards everywhere.

We can’t neglect to honor Fred, now, who laid down his life for all those reasons, and for his family and friends, particularly. He made the greatest sacrifice one can be called to make in war and bore it bravely.

We can’t fault Rowling for any part of the journey. We’re grateful she gifted us with two such amazing characters, who were unfailingly generous, wonderfully witty, and demonstrated the sheer joy of living, even to the point of dying for it. It’s a bittersweet trek we’ve been on, but one that makes the heart swell in thankfulness that you got to know them, page after page, scene after scene.

It has been a delight, Fred and George Weasley. May every laugh uttered today be full, just as yours would be!