Happy Birthday, Bill Weasley!

Harry Potter may be the rock star of the fandom (and the wizarding world), but Bill Weasley is the official rock star of the book series. At least, J.K. Rowling describes him as such.

Tall and handsome, long red hair pulled back into a ponytail (before the man bun became fashionable), a fang hanging from one ear, dragon leather boots, and clothes fit for a metal concert–he was unquestionably cool. The bad boy persona wasn’t a put on; he was simply happy in his own skin (much like Tonks, we imagine), and we love him for that!

So we’re celebrating the birthday of this rebel with a cause (we just can’t help the puns and asides–deepest apologies) with a review of his contributions to the story we all love.

The films may have traded the dragon hide boots for a leather vest and opted to forego the ponytail, but as Fleur Delacour soon discovered, there’s far more to him than appearances anyway. Bill was an accomplished wizard, earning 12 O.W.L.s in his fifth year at Hogwarts, and went on to become both a prefect and Head Boy, so he had the intellect to back up the charm. But he wasn’t the type to suit up for an office job at the Ministry of Magic.

He became a Curse Breaker for Gringotts, putting his technical skill and knowledge of goblin-wizard relations to use in the exotic lands of Egypt. As described in Half-Blood Prince, “Bill’s not that down-to-earth. He’s a Curse Breaker, isn’t he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour…”

But Bill also grew up as the eldest child of the Weasley clan, a pureblood family who put little stock in it, championing muggle and muggle-born rights within the wizarding community. They were a happy, humble lot–growing up with enough and contented to have it. Bill may have been an adventurer at heart, but he knew the importance of family and priorities, and he accepted his greater responsibilities, relinquishing his dream job to take up a position with the Order of the Phoenix when called upon to do so.

Bill fought alongside other senior members of the Order in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, which left him scarred for life after fending off the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. He later gamely assisted Harry’s escape from Privet Drive, though they expected a heavy attack from Voldemort’s Death Eaters.

After his marriage to Fleur, they took up residence in Shell Cottage, assisting the Order from there. Though it was incredibly dangerous, Bill sheltered many fugitives as the fight against Voldemort went on–including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Griphook–and Dobby, the free elf, was buried in the peaceful repose of his garden.

When the final call to arms came, Bill bravely rejoined the Order at the Battle of Hogwarts, surviving the deadly assault on the castle and helping Harry to fend off Voldemort’s assembled army of Death Eaters, miscreants, and magical creatures. Though the aftermath of that victory was bittersweet after the death of his beloved brother Fred (we still can’t even…), Bill and Fleur celebrated that day by naming their first daughter, born on the anniversary of the Dark Lord’s defeat, Victoire.

They went on to have two more children, and we are glad that he, like Harry, was able to look to a future in which “all was well.”

We raise our mugs of butter beer (though Bill may prefer something stronger) to honor his birthday. His inclusion in the series made it a richer and more exciting journey for us all!