Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: 12 HUGE Changes To The Battle Of Hogwarts
9. Percy Weasley And Fred's Final Moments
Percy Weasley is far from being a major character in the book series, but the films essentially wipe him off all of his conflicted personality. Aside from a single shot in Order of the Phoenix is which Harry recognises he is being restrained by Percy - now a Ministry official - in Dumbledore's office, he is not clearly seen again, nor does he have a single line of dialogue.
In the book series, Percy's dedication to the Ministry of Magic almost entirely alienates him from his family, and it is only his participation in the Battle of Hogwarts that starts him on the path of mending his relationship with them.
A lot of this occurs moments before Fred Weasley's death, which Harry actually witnesses in the book as opposed to just seeing his dead body in the Great Hall during the peace interim granted by Voldemort to nurse the wounded.
Percy and Fred trade playful insults back and forth as they run from Death Eaters, and Fred's last words were: "you actually are joking, Perce... I don't think I've heard you joke since you were-" before being cut off by an explosion that kills him, and the narration notes that he died with "the ghost of his last laugh etched upon his face". Percy refuses to leave Fred's side until they can move his body to safety, and he is hidden behind a suit of armour.
The chapter following Fred's death begins with the most beautiful line to emphasise Fred's importance: “The world had ended, so why had the battle not ceased, the castle fallen silent in horror, and every combatant laid down their arms?" In the film, you'd be forgiven for not even realising which twin had died if you didn't look too closely at whether the corpse had two ears or not.
There is a short shot of Fred duelling with a Death Eater prior to his body being found by Harry in the Great Hall, and it is implied he was simply killed by Avada Kedavra in the film. The death of a twin was even given away in the film's full length trailer prior to release, which is as much ceremony as the death gets even in the finished film.