Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes

• Type: Joke Shop
• Location: Number 93, Diagon Alley, London, England
• Owner/Residents: Fred Weasley and George Weasley (Founders); Verity (Employee)
• Key Features: An exceptionally bright and colourful shop front; a crowded, chaotic interior packed with merchandise; a highly successful business venture specializing in joke items, sweets, and practical defensive magic.

Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was a joke shop founded by the identical twins Fred Weasley and George Weasley. The enterprise began as a small, mail-order service operated by the twins during their time as students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where they developed and tested their products on themselves and fellow students. The formal establishment of their physical shop was made possible by a generous gift of one thousand Galleons from Harry Potter, who gave them his winnings from the Triwizard Tournament. After their dramatic departure from Hogwarts in defiance of High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge, Fred and George secured the premises at Number 93 Diagon Alley. The shop officially opened in the summer of 1996 and was an immediate and phenomenal success. In a period when Diagon Alley was growing dim and gloomy due to the public return of Lord Voldemort, Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was a beacon of light and defiance. Its storefront was described as a fireworks display, so dazzlingly bright that it hurt the eyes, starkly contrasting with the boarded-up shops nearby. The interior was just as vibrant, constantly crammed with customers and merchandise stacked floor to ceiling. Products ranged from their famous Skiving Snackboxes (containing Fainting Fancies, Puking Pastilles, Nosebleed Nougat, and Fever Fudge) to the WonderWitch line of products aimed at young witches, including powerful Love Potions and the Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher. Other popular items included Pygmy Puffs, Decoy Detonators, U-No-Poo constipation-by-confectionery pills, Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, and a selection of Muggle magic tricks. As the Second Wizarding War intensified, the twins demonstrated their serious side by developing a range of practical defensive items, such as Shield Hats, Cloaks, and Gloves. These were so effective that the Ministry of Magic placed an order of five hundred Shield Hats for its support staff. During the height of Voldemort's power, when Diagon Alley was no longer safe, the business reverted to a discreet owl-order service. Following the death of Fred Weasley during the Battle of Hogwarts, George Weasley continued to run the shop.

Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes serves as a powerful symbol of humour, resilience, and rebellion against oppression. It represents the fulfillment of Fred and George's lifelong ambition, showcasing their extraordinary talent, creativity, and business acumen, which had often been overlooked. The shop's existence and success stand in direct opposition to the fear and despair spread by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Several products from the shop played significant roles in the plot:

• Extendable Ears: An early prototype was used by the Weasley siblings to eavesdrop on meetings of the Order of the Phoenix.
• Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder: Used by Draco Malfoy to create a diversion, allowing Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts via the Vanishing Cabinet. It was later used by Harry and his friends to aid their escape from the Ministry of Magic.
• Decoy Detonators: Used by Harry Potter to create a diversion for Dolores Umbridge during the trio's infiltration of the Ministry of Magic.
• Love Potion: A sample purchased from the shop inadvertently caused Ron Weasley to become infatuated with Romilda Vane, leading to his accidental poisoning.
• Pygmy Puff: A miniature Puffskein named Arnold, purchased by Ginny Weasley from the shop.

The funding of the shop by Harry solidified his status as an honorary member of the Weasley family and demonstrated his generosity and trust in his friends' abilities.

• The Main Shop Floor: This is the primary area accessible to the public. It was consistently crowded and packed high with shelves groaning under the weight of countless products. Notable displays included a large stand for Skiving Snackboxes, a corner dedicated to WonderWitch products, and an area for Muggle Magic tricks. A counter near the back was staffed by the twins and their assistant, Verity.
• Back Room: Though not explicitly described in the novels, a back room for stock, product development, and managing the owl-order business is presumed to exist. This would have been the operational hub for creating new “wheezes” and fulfilling mail orders.

• Following the end of the Second Wizarding War, George Weasley successfully continued the business. Ron Weasley worked with him at the shop for a time before joining Harry as an Auror. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, the shop is depicted as a multistory, wildly kinetic environment, dominated by a giant, automated figure of a Weasley twin that tips its hat to customers. The visual design emphasized the magical chaos and inventiveness of its owners. (film)