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James and Lily Potter were a married couple and the parents of the famous Harry Potter. They were both Gryffindor students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and members of the Order of the Phoenix. They were both murdered by Lord Voldemort on Hallowe'en in 1981, while trying to...
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- Lily Potter (II)
Lily Luna Potter (b. c. 2008) was an English half-blood...
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- Overview
- History
- Family members
- Heirlooms
- Etymology
- Behind the scenes
- Appearances
- Notes and references
"The Potter family is a very old one, but it was never (until the birth of Harry James Potter) at the very forefront of wizarding history, contenting itself with a solid and comfortable existence in the backwaters. Potter is a not uncommon Muggle surname, and the family did not make the so-called Sacred Twenty-Eight for this reason; the anonymous compiler of that supposedly definitive list of pure-bloods suspected that they had sprung from what he considered to be tainted blood."
— Early description of the Potter family
Potter was the surname of an old wizarding family descended from Ignotus Peverell and Linfred of Stinchcombe. The Potters were, for many generations, Pure-blood, up until the birth of Harry Potter in 1980, but they were excluded from the Sacred Twenty-Eight due to their egalitarian stance on blood purity. The Potters have traditionally been sorted into Gryffindor House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The family also had a branch in the United States, whose members presumably attended Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The most prominent member of the American branch was Auror Abraham Potter, one of the first in his profession on American soil. The family was also very wealthy, with a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank containing a great deal of gold.
The Potters were related to the Peverell, Fleamont, Black, Evans and Weasley families, and more distantly to the Gaunt, Riddle, Flint, Bulstrode, Riddle family, Crabbe, Dursley, Prewett, Delacour, Johnson, Granger and Granger-Weasley families. It is unknown who the family was related to through the American branch.
During the First and Second Wizarding Wars, the Potters supported the Order of the Phoenix and opposed Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. James and Lily Potter were both Order members who defied Voldemort three times and fought in the First Wizarding War. On 31 October, 1981 James and Lily's fourth encounter with Voldemort was their last. He murdered them as they attempted to protect their infant son, Harry.
Early history
"The wizarding family of Potters descends from the twelfth-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, 'the Potterer', became corrupted in time to 'Potter'." — The beginning of the use of the name Potter The Potter family descended from a twelfth-century wizard named Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, 'the Potterer', became corrupted in time to 'Potter'. Linfred was a vague and absent-minded fellow whose Muggle neighbours often called upon his medicinal services. None of them realised that Linfred's wonderful cures for pox and ague were magical; they all thought him a harmless and lovable old chap, pottering about in his garden with all his funny plants. His reputation as a well-meaning eccentric served Linfred well, for behind closed doors he was able to continue the series of experiments that laid the foundation of the Potter family's fortune. Historians credit Linfred as the originator of a number of remedies that evolved into potions still used to this day, including Skele-Gro and Pepperup Potion. His sales of such cures to fellow witches and wizards enabled him to leave a significant pile of gold to each of his seven children upon his death. Hardwin Potter, Linfred's eldest son, married a beautiful young witch from the village of Godric's Hollow who went by the name of Iolanthe Peverell. She was the granddaughter of Ignotus Peverell and as the eldest of her generation in the absence of male heirs within the Peverell family, inherited her grandfather's Cloak of Invisibility. It was, as Iolanthe explained to Hardwin, a tradition in her family that the possession of this cloak remained a secret, and her new husband respected her wishes. From this time on, the cloak was handed down to the eldest in each new generation. The Potters continued to marry to neighbours, occasionally Muggles and lived in the West of England for several generations, each one adding to the family coffers by their hard work and by the quiet ingenuity that had characterised their forebear, Linfred. Occasionally, a Potter made it all the way to London. Ralston Potter, a later descendant of the Potter family, served as a member of the Wizengamot from 1612 to 1652. He was a supporter of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, instead of wishing to declaring war on Muggles like the more militant members of the Wizengamot.
American branch
At some point prior to 1693, a branch of the Potter family emigrated to the United States of America. Abraham Potter was among the original twelve Aurors trained and appointed by the first President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, Josiah Jackson. Abraham had descendants which were given particular respect in America ever since. Abraham's relation to Harry Potter was uncovered by eager genealogists centuries later.
Recent history
"It was Fleamont who took the family gold and quadrupled it, by creating magical Sleekeazy's Hair Potion ('two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet')." — Fleamont invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion Henry Potter (known as Harry to his friends), also served in the Wizengamot from 1913 to 1921. He condemned the Minister for Magic at the time, Archer Evermonde, for forbidding the magical community from helping the Muggles fighting during the First World War. His outspokenness on behalf of the Muggle community, along with the fact that Potter is also a relatively common surname in the Muggle world, led to the exclusion of the Potter family from the 'Sacred Twenty-Eight' list. Fleamont Potter, Henry's son, attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he was Sorted into Gryffindor House. Most of his classmates there teased him about his name, goading him into later attributing his dexterity at duelling to the fights he made in return. After graduating, Fleamont took up a potioneering career in which he invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, the sale of which quadrupled the family gold and enabled him to woo even American witches by 1926. He retired with his wife Euphemia a few years later, but sold the company at a vast profit. Dorea Black, born into the House of Black, one of Britain's oldest, largest and wealthiest wizarding families, married Charlus Potter, with whom she had a son. This meant that, despite being branded "blood traitors" for their openness to Muggles, the Potters were considered a respectable family with a certain status, on a par with others such as the Macmillans, the Longbottoms and the Prewetts. In any case, the union of Dorea and Charlus connected the Potters with many other British wizarding families. James Potter, Fleamont and Euphemia's only son, was born late in the couple's lives on 27 March, 1960. By that time, his parents were both elderly (even by wizarding standards), but they pampered and cherished their child accordingly to the point where he became a proud yet arrogant boy. However, James was still considered a good person. James attended Hogwarts from 1971 to 1978, and was sorted into Gryffindor like his father. While there, he became leader of a small gang of Gryffindors in his year known as the Marauders, along with Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin. He played as Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and was very aware of his talents. While at Hogwarts, James met Lily Evans who was also in Gryffindor. He developed a crush on her, but James was somewhat an obnoxious youth due to his love of showing off and his exceptional self-confidence. He often hexed other students with Sirius out of boredom, including Lily's friend. James was also an accomplished Animagus, along with Sirius and Peter as they sought to accompany Remus each month when he became a werewolf. James' Animagus form was a shining red stag with pronged horns, from which his nickname "Prongs" was derived. They also made the Marauder's Map, a small piece of parchment enchanted with a Homonculous Charm which displays a map of the Hogwarts Castle and grounds, and all the school's inhabitants — including all staff, ghosts and students — in great detail. By the end of his time at Hogwarts, James lost the less savoury aspects of his personality and was appointed Head Boy. The Potter family welcomed Sirius to their home one summer after he was disowned by his own pure-blood supremacist family, making him an unofficial member of the Potter family. Sirius himself was later provided a home after his uncle Alphard Black left him with some of the Black family gold (which saw Alphard disowned from the family as well), but Fleamont and Euphemia would often welcome him back to their home for Sunday lunch.
Main family
James Potter was the only child of Fleamont and Euphemia Potter. James married Lily Evans and they had one child, Harry, who famously defeated Lord Voldemort. Harry eventually married Ginny Weasley and they had three children: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter.
Potter relatives
After James Potter married Muggle-born Lily Evans, the Potters were then related to the Muggle Dursleys and Evans families. Through Harry Potter's marriage to Ginny Weasley, the Potters gained many relatives as the Weasleys were quite a large family. Also, through Charlus' marriage to Dorea, the Potters gained several relatives from House of Black.
Cloak of Invisibility
The Potters descend from Ignotus Peverell, whose Cloak of Invisibility is one of the three Deathly Hallows. Unlike most Invisibility cloaks, it has remained intact for centuries, and has been passed on from generation to generation until it reached Harry Potter. Harry temporarily became the "Master of Death" in 1998, as he was in possession of the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand. The last item's loyalty to Harry was crucial to his defeat of Lord Voldemort, as the Elder Wand refused to harm its true owner and caused Voldemort's Killing Curse to backfire. Of the three Hallows, Harry only kept the Invisibility Cloak for himself, as it rightfully belongs to his family. Through the Peverell family, Harry and Voldemort were distantly related, as the House of Gaunt descended from Ignotus's brother Cadmus Peverell, who passed the Resurrection Stone to his descendants in a signet ring.
Vault 687
"Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts." — Description This vault in Gringotts Wizarding Bank belongs to the Potter family. It appears to be of moderate depth and deeper underground than the vault of the Weasley family, but not as deep as Vault 713. It is accessible only by a cart operated by one of the bank's goblin employees and by the use of a small gold key. The vault contains a small fortune, heaps and mounds of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. Most of the fortune derives from Fleamont's invention of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, in which its sales quadrupled the family gold. Upon retirement, Fleamont sold the company at a vast profit.
•"Potter" is a very common surname of English origin. It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery.
•Beatrix Potter was a well-known English children's author.
•Potter's Field is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family has had many members that fit that description.
•The Potter Box is a model for making ethical decisions that was developed at Harvard University. J. K. Rowling has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood.
•There is a pattern in many members of the Potter family whose names allude to figures and ideas or positions related to leadership and war:
•Hardwin Potter, one of the earliest ancestors of the family, had a name which comes from Old English and means brave friend, a curious fact considering that many of the Potters have been sorted into Gryffindor House, where dwell the brave at heart.
•In the films, the Potters are played by the following actors:
•James Potter is played by Adrian Rawlins in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2. The 15 year old James Potter I was played by Robbie Jarvis in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the 11 year old James Potter I was played by Alfie McIlwain in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
•Lily J. Potter (née Evans) is played by Geraldine Somerville in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2. The 15 year old Lily Evans was played in a deleted scene by Susie Shinner in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the 11 year old Lily Evans was played by Ellie Darcey-Alden in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
•Harry James Potter is played by Daniel Radcliffe in all of the films. Baby Harry was played by the Saunders triplets in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and by Toby Papworth in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
•Ginevra Molly Potter (née Weasley) is played by Bonnie Wright in all of the films.
•James Sirius Potter is played by Will Dunn in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
•Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
•Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
•Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
••Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
•Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
••Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
1.Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Malfoy Family" at Wizarding World - The defining requirement of a pure-blood family is not marrying Muggles or Muggle-borns. When James Potter married Lily Evans, a muggle-born witch, the family would no longer be considered pure-blood and their child Harry was a half-blood due to his Muggle-born mother and Muggle grandparents. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17 (The Heir of Slytherin), Tom Riddle states he and Harry are “both half-bloods.”
2.FAQ at J. K. Rowling's official site (Archived) - For an individual to be pure-blood, the witch or wizard should at least have no Muggle or Muggle-born parents or grandparents. Therefore, the children of Harry and Ginny Weasley are also half-blood as Muggle-born Lily is their grandmother.
3.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 12 (Silver and Opals) - "Even as he said it, Harry remembered that his father had been pure-blood, but he pushed the thought out of his mind; he would worry about that later...."
4.Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Potter Family" at Wizarding World - "Potter is a not uncommon Muggle surname, and the family did not make the so-called 'Sacred Twenty-Eight' for this reason; the anonymous compiler of that supposedly definitive list of pure-bloods suspected that they had sprung from what he considered to be tainted blood." This implies they would have met the criteria for being a pure-blood family if their surname was not suspected of originating from Muggles.
5.Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Potter Family" at 6.In Chapter 4 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Horace Slughorn states: "The whole Black family had been in my house, but Sirius ended up in Gryffindor!" This implies that all Blacks except Sirius were Sorted into Slytherin while Slughorn was Head of House. Dorea, born in 1920, presumably attended Hogwarts c. 1931 or 1932 to 1938 or 1939, and thus would most likely have been a student of Slughorn, who was stated to have begun teaching at Hogwarts around the same time as Albus Dumbledore in Chapter 5 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in 1938 or earlier.
7.Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act One, Scene Four
Arthur and Molly were not in the original Order. They were much older than James and Lily and unlikely to have been at Hogwarts together. In the OotP, when Molly encountered the boggart - I think it was Lupin, says something along the lines to her "you don't know what it was like, you weren't part of the order then".
- Voldemort tried to recruit them as Death Eaters. In Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy about Harry and Voldemort, the Chosen One will be “born to those who have thrice defied him.”
- Neither used their wands to defend themselves the night they were murdered. On the night they were murdered, James and Lily were caught by surprise in their home without their wands on them.
- J.K. Rowling’s mother died six months after she wrote James and Lily’s deaths. A little over six years ago, J.K. Rowling donated $10 million to The University of Edinburgh for a regenerative neurology clinic to fund research treatments for diseases like multiple sclerosis.
- They married at the age of eighteen. From conversations with various characters, it’s revealed that James and Lily got married pretty much right after Hogwarts.
Jun 28, 2023 · In mid-1979, James and Lily are married. They are among the wave of young couples to wed as uncertainty around the Wizarding World grows due to Voldemort's rise in power. By late 1979, James and Lily have had multiple clashes with the Death Eaters.
Dec 30, 2023 · The most famous of the Potters – Harry Potter – was born to Lily and James Potter on July 31st, 1980. Like his mother, father, and grandfather, Harry was sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts.
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Lily Luna Potter (b. c. 2008) was an English half-blood witch, the youngest child and only daughter of Harry and Ginevra Potter (née Weasley). Lily had two older brothers, James Sirius and Albus Severus Potter.
