Arthur Weasley is a character in the Harry Potter book series. He is a pure-blood wizard in the Order of the Phoenix during the Second Wizarding War. He is the husband of Molly Weasley and the father of seven children, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny Weasley.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Arthur was born to Septimus and Cedrella Weasley (née Black) in February 1950. He attended Hogwarts School in the same year of Molly Prewett, who he began dating prior to their graduation. During an evening stroll, they lost track of time. Arthur was caught past curfew by the school caretaker, Apollyon Pringle and punished.
Marriage[]
Arthur and Molly married shortly after their graduation in June 1968. He found employment at the Ministry of Magic. They had their first child, William Weasley in 1970. During the First Wizarding War, they had six other children: Charlie in 1972, Percy in 1976, Fred and George Weasley in 1979, Ron in 1980 and Ginevra Weasley in 1981.
The Weasley family were not part of the first Order of Phoenix because they had a young family at the time. It's unknown to what extent he could have gotten involved but given where he worked, he had extensive knowledge of the Death Eaters and their use of the Imperius Curse. He had two brothers-in-law, Fabian and Gideon Prewett who had joined the Order and were killed.
1981 - 1991[]
After the conclusion of the war, Arthur was angry about the Death Eaters that lied and claimed they were put under the Imperius Curse when he knew they weren't. Arthur knew Lucius Malfoy was lying and told his son Ron that Lucius never needed an excuse to join the Dark side.[1] He even suspected that Lucius was part of Voldemort's inner circle.[2]
Arthur worked for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. Throughout his career, he found at least three cursed books including Sonnets of a Sorcerer.[3] Arthur loved collecting and enchanting artefacts so he passed a new law stating it was legal to enchant an artefact if the intention is not to use it. At some point, he purchased a Muggle car called a Ford Anglia to add to his collection and enchanted it so it could fly and turn invisible. He also put the Undetectable Extension Charm on it.[2]
In December 1991, Arthur and Molly spent the holidays in Romania where Charlie worked.[4]
Chamber of Secrets[]
In the summer holidays, Arthur proposed a new law called the Muggle Protection Act. He was conducting raids at houses and businesses to find Dark artefacts which was very unpopular with wizards like Lucius who had such artefacts and were worried about Arthur carrying out raids in their houses.[5] Lucius decided to try and ruin Arthur's career to prevent the law going through. He planned to give Arthur's daughter an enchanted Diary that once belonged to Voldemort which would possess her into opening the Chamber of Secrets.[6] Lucius hoped the scandal would show how untrustworthy Arthur was and that the laws written up by him should be scrapped.[7]
In July, Ron told his parwnts that he had written to his friend, Harry Potter many times but didn't receive any replies. Arthur learned through work that Harry was sent an official warning from the Improper Use of Magic Office and agreed with Molly that if he didn't write back by the next Friday, they would go and get him.[2]
One night, Arthur conducted nine raids including one where Mundungus Fletcher tried to hex him, one with a case of shrinking keys and another involving a case of odd ferrets that he preferred to let the Committee on Experimental Charms deal with. When he returned from work the next day, Harry was in his kitchen and he learned that Fred, George and Ron had stolen his flying car to get Harry from 4 Privet Drive. Molly was very angry that Arthur thought it was interesting because he wasn't taking their law-breaking seriously enough.[2]
Arthur was very interested in hearing things from Harry about the Muggle world and kept asking questions.[5] In August, Arthur and his family shopped in Diagon Alley with Harry for school. He had to search for Harry when the Floo Network sent him to the wrong shop. During their shopping trip, Hermione Granger and her parents joined them and since they were Muggles, Arthur took the opportunity to ask them everything he could think of and took them for a chat in the pub.[5]
However, Arthur was curious to hear about the conversation that Harry overheard in Borgin and Burkes where Lucius was selling Dark artefacts. At Flourish and Blotts, Arthur saw Ron fighting Draco but when he broke the fight apart, Lucius arrived and began insulting Arthur. Eventually, Arthur snapped and began fighting Lucius and the two of them fell into a bookshelf. The heavy books also fell and cut his lip. Rubeus Hagrid had to separate them and Lucius left[5] after sneaking Tom Riddle's Diary into Ginny's copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.[6] Molly was very unhappy that Arthur had caused a scene.[5] Before the children went back to school, Harry taught Arthur how to use a telephone.[6]
- "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain [...]"
- — Arthur to Ginny[src]
On the first of September, the family were running late to get the train back to Hogwarts. Arthur was running to put the children's trunks in the car when he tripped over a chicken in the garden. He looked at the time when everyone was finally in the car and wanted to use the Invisibility Booster to fly it to King's Cross but Molly would not let him do it in broad daylight. Arthur had to turn around three times and go back to The Burrow because Fred, George and Ginny forgot things. They eventually managed to get there in time and Arthur ran through the wall to the platform.[8]
However, when he and Molly returned to the car, it was missing because Harry and Ron had stolen it to fly to Hogwarts. It was witnessed flying by several Muggles and reported in the newspapers. Arthur faced an investigation at work for illegally using an enchanted car.[8] After getting a letter about it from Dumbledore, Arthur felt very ashamed which his wife told Ron about in a Howler that she sent to him.[9]
In December, Arthur was fined fifth galleons for enchanting the flying and newspapers published an article about it. In it, Lucius called for Arthur's resignation and Muggle Protection Act to be scrapped. Arthur declined to comment when reporters showed up outside his house and Molly had to tell the reporters she would set the family ghoul on them if they did not leave.[7]
In May, Arthur received a letter from Percy telling him and Molly that Ginny was missing with a warning that "HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS FOREVER".[10] They had to go up to Hogwarts and speak to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore. Harry and Ron saved Ginny and showed up with. Arthur and Moooy embraced her and Dumbledore told them how Voldemort had enchanted Ginny which shocked Arthur. They then took Ginny to the Hospital Wing.[6]
Prisoner of Azkaban[]
In June, Ron asked Arthur for help to set up a phone so he could contact Harry at Privet Drive. They set one up, but Vernon Dursley picked it up and Ron thought he had to shout to be heard. Vernon was annoyed they phoned, and shouted back at Ron never to phone again. Arthur thought perhaps Ron shouldn't have shouted.[11]
Arthur won the Grand Prize Galleon Draw, and took the family on holiday to see Bill. Their story and photograph appeared in the front of the Daily Prophet for who he delightedly gave an interview. Arthur decided to use whatever cash prize he still had when the holiday was over would go toward getting Ron a new wand.[11]
At the end of August, Arthur found out at work that Harry had run away to the Leaky Cauldron when he inflated Marjorie Dursley. He and the family decided with Hermione to join Harry for the final day of the holidays and get their school supplies. Harry asked Arthur if they had caught Sirius Black. That evening, when they had dinner and headed to their rooms, Harry overheard Arthur and Molly arguing. Arthur wanted to tell Harry who Sirius was and how he wanted to kill him. Molly worried that the knowledge would depress Harry, but conceded that he should tell Harry if thought it was the right thing.[12]
Goblet of Fire[]
Quidditch World Cup[]
Arthur was rewarded tickets to the final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup[13], in the Top Box[14], after he helped a grateful Ludo Bagman's brother, Olaf out.[15] Molly then sent a letter to the Dursleys to invite Harry to go with them, which they agreed to. Arthur then travelled to Privet Drive to collect Harry with Fred, George and Ron.[16]
Arthur falling out of the Dursleys' fireplace
Arthur wrongly thought that the Dursleys' house would be connected to the Floo Network. When they tried to enter through the electric fireplace, they got trapped inside. After getting excited to learn that the fireplace was "ecletic", Arthur used a spell to blast open the fireplace and then introduced himself to a baffled Vernon and Petunia Dursley. They did not speak in return but he apologised for the damage and told them he would fix it when they left.[16]
After greeting Harry, Arthur told the Dursleys they had a very nice house. He took an interest in the TV and video recorder which he supposed was run on "eckeltricity" and told Vernon that he collected plugs. Vernon obviously thought he was crazy. Arthur also greeted a frightened Dudley when he entered the room but Arthur thought he appeared to be peculiar. When he decided it was time to leave, Arthur used Incendio to create a new fire and threw Floo powder into it.[16]
Fred then purposefully dropped Ton-Tongue Toffees on the floor to get Dudley to eat one. After he left, Dudley's tongue started swelling up. Arthur tried to help by performing a reversal spell but the Dursleys' panicked when he drew his wand. Petunia hysterically shielded Dudley while Vernon threw china at Arthur. Harry departed to the Burrow during the chaos while the Dursleys continued to fight Arthur[16], but eventually they let him help when Dudley's tongue was four times its normal size.[15]
Upon arriving back at the Burrow, he shouted at Fred and George. When he threatened to tell Molly, he did not appear to have been serious after she walked in and he froze when she asked what they did. She started questioning Arthur and the twins, and they tried to downplay the incident to no success. Over dinner, Arthur discussed the World Cup and events at the Ministry, and said that he disagreed with Ludo Bagman's inaction toward finding the missing Bertha Jorkins.[15]
Arthur led his four youngest children, Harry and Hermione to their Portkey the next morning. There, they met his friend Amos Diggory and his son Cedric.[17] Upon arriving at their campsite, Arthur was very insistent that they were to follow the "no magic rule" and behave like Muggles. He was very excited when he was putting up their tents and setting a fire without magic, but needed the guidance of Harry and Hermione.[18]
While he and his family were sitting outside their tents, he called over Ludo for a chat. He asked Arthur if he wanted to bet and would offer good odds, so he put down a Galleon that Ireland would win, although Ludo was disappointed he didn't bet higher. He then asked if he was setting up a search for Bertha, to which Ludo replied there was no-one to spare. Joined by Bartemius Crouch Snr., they spoke briefly about an issue at work.[18]
When they were in the stadium before the final, he took his seat in the Top Box but kept getting up to greet important witches and wizards when they arrived. Cornelius Fudge, unaware of their rivalry, introduced Arthur to Lucius Malfoy who was very surprised to find Arthur in the Top Box. Lucius patronised Arthur while wondering how he afforded the tickets. Arthur responded to their conversation with a forced politeness and strained smile.[14]
Throughout the final, Arthur expressed his opinions on the game and shared advice with Harry and Ron when veela kept dancing to entrance the audience. He told them to put their fingers in their ears to block them out, and when the veela grew angry and started transforming into ugly-beaked birds, he told them to remember "looks aren't everything".[14] After the game, he and Charlie had a spirited disagreement about cobbing. Because of the victory celebrations of the Irish outside their tents, he let the children stay up late.[19]
In the night, Death Eaters started attacking the campsites. Arthur woke the children up and told them to run into the woods while he went to help the Ministry with a counter-attack. He joined up with a group that included Amos Diggory and was led by Crouch Snr., with whom he Apparated to a forest clearing where a Dark Mark was cast into the sky. Upon arrival, the others tried to use Stunning Spells on the people standing there but Arthur realised it was Harry, Ron and Hermione and intervened.[19]
Crouch told Arthur to get out of the way so he could question the three. Arthur was surprised when Crouch started accusing them of castung the Dark Mark. Arthur asked them where they saw the caster produce it. Amos then discovered Crouch's house-elf Winky nearby who had been stunned while holding a wand. Amos tried to hold her responsible but Arthur though it was preposterous for an elf to even be considered capable of it.[19]
After the elf was revived and kept denying responsibility, Arthur asked Amos to be reasonable and consider where the elf could even have learned to cast the Dark Mark. Crouch Snr. freed Winky from servitude to punish her, sending her into hysterics. Arthur told the children it was time for them to leave and guided them back to their tents. Although he agreed with Hermione that elf rights needed to improve, he did not feel they were in the right place to discuss it.[19]
After returning to their tents, they joined Bill, Charlie and Percy who were waiting. Arthur joined in with a discussion on the night's event and clarified that Voldemort was not there, even though it was the first time anyone had cast the Dark Mark in thirteen years. He did suggest that the person who cast it had to be, or was once, a Death Eater to know how to cast it.[19] Before returning to the Burrow, he gave a quote to the Daily Prophet that nobody had been hurt. Rita Skeeter criticised his response which she felt did not address everything or soothe the fear caused.[20]
Arthur quickly returned to work to help clean up the issues the Ministry was facing, feeling guility about the negativity he created with his unsolicited public response. He worked very early mornings to late nights and missed dinner at home. Upon returning home late one night, he told his family how Rita had discovered the disappearance of Bertha Jorkins, and thought it was fortunate that she did not know Crouch's elf was caught holding a wand.[20]
Triwizard Tournament[]
The next morning, Arthur received an urgent call from the Ministry via Amos Diggory that Alastor Moody's house had been burglarised. His reaction had apparently caught the attention of his Muggle neighbours. Amos wanted Arthur to get Alastor out of trouble by arranging a minor charge for enchanting dustbins which were rocketing around the yard. He quickly returned for work and left Molly to take the children to King's Cross.[21]
Appearance[]
Arthur is thin and going bald but has little pieces of red hair.[2]
Trivia[]
- According to Ron, his father had been offered many promotions at the Ministry but chose not to accept because he liked it where he was.[21]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 12
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 16
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 2
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 8
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 6
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 11