Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes is the joke shop founded by Fred and George Weasley in Diagon Alley, which becomes a thriving business selling both humorous novelties and serious defensive merchandise during the Second Wizarding War. The shop, located at number ninety-two, stands out against the dull, poster-muffled storefronts around it, its windows hitting the eye like a firework display. It represents the twins' entrepreneurial triumph and their unique contribution to the wizarding world's defense against Lord Voldemort's forces.

Location and Appearance

The shop is situated in Diagon Alley, between numbers ninety-two and ninety-four. Its windows are dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolve, pop, flash, bounce, and shriek. The right-hand window is covered with a gigantic purple poster emblazoned with flashing yellow letters advertising "U-No-Poo — The Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!" This bold, irreverent marketing immediately catches the eye of passersby, some of whom stop, transfixed. The shop itself is packed with customers, with boxes piled to the ceiling.

Products and Merchandise

The shop offers a vast range of products. The Skiving Snackboxes, perfected during the twins' last year at Hogwarts, are popular, with Nosebleed Nougat being particularly sought after. There are bins full of trick wands, the cheapest turning into rubber chickens or pairs of briefs, the most expensive beating the unwary user around the head and neck. Boxes of quills come in Self-Inking, Spell-Checking, and Smart-Answer varieties. A "Reusable Hangman" game features a tiny wooden man ascending steps to a gallows. Patented Daydream Charms, described as offering a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, are also on display. Near the window is an array of violently pink love potions, the best range anywhere, according to Fred. Pygmy Puffs, miniature puffskeins in shades of pink and purple, are bred and sold in a cage. The shop also stocks Muggle magic tricks, which Fred describes as novelties for "freaks like Dad" who love Muggle stuff.

The Serious Line

Behind a curtain, the twins have developed a more serious line of defensive merchandise. Shield Hats, originally conceived as a joke, were bought in bulk by the Ministry of Magic for its support staff, leading to massive orders. This success prompted expansion into Shield Cloaks and Shield Gloves, which offer protection against minor to moderate hexes or jinxes, though not the Unforgivable Curses. They also import Instant Darkness Powder from Peru, handy for making a quick escape, and sell Decoy Detonators, which run off and make a loud noise to create a diversion. The twins give Harry a couple of Decoy Detonators for free, refusing payment because he gave them their start-up loan.

Significance and Reception

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes represents Fred and George's flair for business and their ability to capitalize on the wartime climate. The Ministry's purchase of five hundred Shield Hats demonstrates the practical value of their inventions. The shop's success is a source of pride for the family, though Molly Weasley is initially disapproving, particularly of the "U-No-Poo" poster. The shop also becomes a point of connection for Harry, Ron, and Hermione during their visit to Diagon Alley, and it is from here that they follow Draco Malfoy into Knockturn Alley. The shop's products, such as the Extendable Ears, prove useful for spying, and the love potions sold there become a concern for Hermione, who warns Harry about Romilda Vane's intentions. The shop's existence highlights the twins' independence and their contribution to the war effort in their own unconventional way.