Harry Potter’s HBO series can redeem a key Weasley family oversight

For all its magical triumphs, the Harry Potter film franchise had its fair share of narrative shortcuts. Some were understandable—seven hefty novels into eight digestible movies? Not an easy spell to cast. But other omissions left fans scratching their heads years later. One such oversight? The mysterious funding behind the Weasley twins’ wildly successful joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Fred and George’s explosive (literally) exit from Hogwarts was cinema gold. But when they reappeared with a swanky storefront in Diagon Alley, viewers were left wondering how two teenage pranksters from a financially struggling family pulled that off. The films never bothered to explain. The books, on the other hand, gave us a perfect answer—one that deepened character arcs and underscored the generosity that defines Harry himself.

As HBO prepares to revisit the wizarding world in a decade-long television adaptation, it has a golden chance to fix this oversight. The series doesn’t just have more runtime—it has more responsibility. And the Weasley twins deserve a little narrative justice.

Harry Potter’s quiet generosity deserves the spotlight this time

No other moment is as emotionally moving in the series as when Harry gives out his Triwizard Tournament prize money of 1,000 Galleons to Fred and George to start their business. From the gesture alone, we understand his character - kind, down to earth, and all too aware that the money would do far more good for others than himself. For characters that injected so much laughter and warmth into the tale, this was the kind of satisfaction you want to shout for.

The movies, though, chose to skip this completely. There was no mention of the winnings, no recognition of the fact that Harry gave away his entire prize for the sake of two friends’ futures. In doing so, the films undercut a vital piece of character development—not just for the twins, but for Harry, too. HBO’s longer, more serialized format means it doesn’t have to make the same sacrifice. And it shouldn’t.

A better Weasley arc makes a better series

Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes went beyond serving as a humorous aside. It stood for innovation and defiance of Voldemort’s regime. Fred and George didn’t simply run a shop for selling joke items; they ran a beacon of light in a time of suffocating despair. They were able to achieve that because of the unwavering belief Harry had in them as his best friend’s brothers, as well as real-life innovators, and visionaries.

By restoring this backstory in the new HBO series, the show can elevate the twins from lovable pranksters to revolutionary entrepreneurs who found a way to fight evil with laughter. That backstory, grounded in Harry’s support, is crucial, and it was unjustly lost in the films. The reboot can fix that and, in doing so, give fans the emotionally richer, more connected wizarding world they’ve been waiting for.

A second chance for magical details that matter

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This goes beyond gold and gags; this is about respecting the fidelity of J.K. Rowling’s characters and the concepts of fealty, companionship, and community that form the core of the series. Harry assisting the Weasleys was not a side note, it was a subtle act defiance and compassion.

HBO’s Harry Potter series has an opportunity that Warner Bros.’ films didn’t have: time, perspective, and fan hindsight. If it embraces those things wisely, it can not only redeem this key oversight but also re-enchant fans who’ve longed to see the real magic that got lost in the edit.

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