The Weasley twins could be snarky, sarcastic and relentlessly rude – but they also cared for their siblings more than they let on.

Fred and George were certifiably the comedians of the Weasley clan – which meant they could sometimes be a tad sarcastic to their brothers and sister (okay, mostly Percy). But underneath their well-intentioned tormenting, they also cared very deeply for their fellow siblings. Here are some reasons why we all wish Fred and George were our brothers…

They always said the right thing at the right time

When their youngest sibling Ginny was distraught about not being able to go to Hogwarts, Fred and George knew exactly what to say to cheer her up.

‘Hurry up!’ their mother said, and the three boys clambered onto the train. They leant out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye and their younger sister began to cry.
‘Don’t, Ginny, we’ll send you loads of owls.’
‘We’ll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.’
‘George!’
‘Only joking, Mum.’
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

They would make you feel like an important part of the family

Fred and George could be quite the terrible twosome, and delighted in making fun of their siblings’ more sensible and school-related achievements – such as Percy becoming a prefect in Philosopher’s Stone. (Or rather, Percy talking relentlessly about becoming a prefect all summer.)

But they still had a lot of affection for their siblings, and went out of their way to make sure they felt included. Whether forcing Percy to wear the patented Weasley Christmas jumper, or doing Quidditch training with their younger siblings over the holidays, the twins knew that family was important.

‘P for prefect! Get it on, Percy, come on, we’re all wearing ours, even Harry got one.’
‘I – don’t – want –’ said Percy thickly, as the twins forced the sweater over his head, knocking his glasses askew.
‘And you’re not sitting with the prefects today either,’ said George.
‘Christmas is a time for family.’
They frog-marched Percy from the room, his arms pinned to his sides by his sweater.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

They would keep you down to earth

That said, Fred and George’s teasing would also have a time and a place – mostly for helping keep egos under check. Even when it came to giving a fellow Weasley a Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes discount.

Ron: How much for this?
Fred and George: Five galleons.
Ron: How much for me?
Fred and George: Five galleons.
Ron: I am your brother.
Fred and George: [pause] Ten galleons.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

They would inspire you

It’s fair to say Fred and George advocated rule-breaking behaviour (they were the ones who bequeathed Harry a map that used the phrase ‘I solemnly swear that I am up to no good’, after all), but sometimes, the pair surprised us all by being genuinely inspiring forces.

‘The thing about growing up with Fred and George,’ said Ginny thoughtfully, ‘is that you sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.’
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

They would be proud of you

It was hard for Fred and George to end a sentence without a punchline, which could be tough when it came to, say, expressing actual emotions towards their siblings. But every now and again the reader caught a glimpse of how much the twins were genuinely proud of what their family accomplished. From Ron making it onto the Quidditch team to Ginny’s adeptness for Bat-Bogey Hexes, Fred and George would sing their siblings’ praises when they deserve it.

‘Yeah, size is no guarantee of power,’ said George. ‘Look at Ginny.’

‘What d’you mean?’ said Harry.

‘You’ve never been on the receiving end of one of her Bat-Bogey Hexes, have you?’

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

And finally… It would be handy to have a pair of evil geniuses around

Brushing everything aside for a moment, wouldn’t it be useful to be related to the geniuses who invented Puking Pastilles? You would never need to unconvincingly fake a sick day again.

Harry Potter to Fantastic Beasts