J.K. Rowling is sorry for killing off one-half of the coolest twins you'll ever find in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
Rowling took to Twitter on Saturday to apologize to the millions of fans around the world who, to this day, are grieving the sudden death of Fred Weasley, older brother to Ron Weasley, Harry's ginger-haired best friend, and twin brother to George, who is rumored was never able to conjure a patronus ever again, no thanks to Rowling.
Today I would just like to say: I'm really sorry about Fred. *Bows head in acceptance of your reasonable ire*
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2015
As to why Rowling is apologizing for her authorial cruelty just now, she explains that May 2, Saturday, is the 17th anniversary of final Battle of Hogwarts, where Harry led the army that would finally defeat Voldemort's quest for domination over the magical world. That was also the battle where Fred, fighting with Harry, died in an explosion outside the Room of Requirement, just right after his older brother Percy decided to reconcile with his family. Of course, Rowling's apology was met with mixed reactions. It's clear that many people are still mourning the death of Fred, which was needless but only to show that war just makes losers of both sides.
@jk_rowling that one was the worst, Jo. The most unforgiveable. Picturing the phrasing on the page still brings me to tears on the spot. — Natalie Fisher (@nataliefisher) May 2, 2015
@jk_rowling i think that's the one I couldn't forgive you for :(
— Lisa Thompson (@L15AJT) May 2, 2015
@jk_rowling you need to apologize everyday for killing Fred — Zayn AF (@LashofZayn) May 2, 2015One fan responded to Rowling's apology by asking if she was also sorry for the death of other major beloved characters, including the werewolf Remus Lupin, simply the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we've ever seen, and his wife Nymphadora Tonks, to which Rowling implied that she felt sorry for killing off a lot of characters.
.@Brieuc26Rankin I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary. Fred was the worst for me, so I started with him. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2015
Plenty of favorite Harry Potter characters died tragic deaths, from Professor Dumbledore to Dobby the free elf and Severus Snape, but Rowling has until recently apologized for the death of the ice cream shop owner Florean Fortescue, a minor character who was dragged off by the Death Eaters because he refused to tell them what he knew. "He is not the first wizard whom Voldemort murdered because he knew too much (or too little), but he is the only one I feel guilty about because it was all my fault," Rowling said on Pottermore. Fans who keep clamoring for a sequel to the seven volumes of the Harry Potter series will be disappointed to know that Rowling keeps turning down the thought of an eighth Harry Potter book. However, the English author is working on the script to Warner Bros.' Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a Harry Potter spinoff movie whose title is derived from the name of a textbook Harry and his classmates were required to use during their first year at Hogwarts, making it another thing to look forward to for all the muggles out there still waiting to receive their letter from Hogwarts.