Pottermore relaunch reveals extensive look at the Potter family tree!
Pottermore is back after an extensive site relaunch and JK Rowling is celebrating by giving fans something big– Details on the Potter family tree!
The important moments of Harry Potter‘s family line are broken down by the author, starting with the original Potter, a man named Linfred whose surname sprung from his profession as a “potterer”.
Rowling also delves into how the Potters and Peverell’s became intertwined, earning Harry one of his most prized possessions:
Linfred’s eldest son, Hardwin, married a beautiful young witch by the name of Iolanthe Peverell, who came from the village of Godric’s Hollow. She was the granddaughter of Ignotus Peverell. In the absence of male heirs, she, the eldest of her generation, had inherited her grandfather’s invisibility cloak. It was, 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.
Of course, there were also several other distinguished members of the family, including Ministry officials who sat on the Wizengamot:
Ralston Potter, who was a member from 1612-1652, and who was a great supporter of the Statute of Secrecy (as opposed to declaring war on the Muggles, as more militant members wished to do) and Henry Potter (Harry to his intimates), who was a direct descendant of Hardwin and Iolanthe, and served on the Wizengamot from 1913 – 1921. Henry caused a minor stir when he publicly condemned then Minister for Magic, Archer Evermonde, who had forbidden the magical community to help Muggles waging the First World War.
Among the more recent Potters is an ingenious entrepreneur who crafted a popular wizarding product seen in the books!
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’ ). He sold the company at a vast profit when he retired, but no amount of riches could compensate him or his wife Euphemia for their childlessness. They had quite given up hope of a son or daughter when, to their shock and surprise, Euphemia found that she was pregnant and their beloved boy, James, was born.
That explains where Harry got his small fortune!
We should expect even more from Pottermore in weeks and months to come, so keep looking out for new details.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2giCyqGNXQo