Godwinson Family

The **Godwinson Family** was a wealthy British Pure-Blood Wizarding family who had connections with the last Muggle Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold II. The Godwinson's were very proud of their ancestry and it was this fact that they were labelled 'Blood Traitors' by other Pure-Bloods and denied the right of a Noble House title.

The Godwinson's made their fortune in the Broom making business and although their Brooms were not favoured in the Quidditch world but were in the Racing world, causing the Godwin Broom Company to dominate the Racing industry for centuries.

Although most members of the Godwinson Family aligned themselves with the Ministry when Voldemort returned, refusing to accept the Dark Lord had come back, Ken and Art Godwinson sided with Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, becoming heroes of the Second Wizarding War.

## **History**

The Wizarding Godwinson family started in 1060 with the birth of Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex's youngest son, Wilfred to his second wife and Queen consort, Ealdgyth. In 1065, when Wilfred was five, a servant who was a Squib bitter at being forced to live with Muggles instead of Wizards, released the Earl's son was Magical and told his master. Harold, a deeply Religious man who saw Magic as Sin, sent his son away to Hogwarts with the intention of never having Wilfred return. Harold destroyed all evidence of Wilfred's existence and told those who knew him he had died of disease. Meanwhile, Wilfred was raised by Hilda and Jethro Smithe at Hogwarts.

Wilfred's family was initially very poor and one of Wilfred's descendants in the 14th Century, Baldric Godwinson was the man servant to Nicholas Malfoy but was eventually killed by Malfoy when he discovered Baldric's Muggle ancestry. Baldric's grandson, Edric Godwinson was the Wizard who made the family's fortune, founding the Godwin Broom Company and created a range of Brooms with German Broom-maker, Leopold Wagner. Although not popular with Quidditch players, Godwin Brooms dominated the Racing industry for centuries.

Edric's son, Archard Godwinson increased the family's riches by building a state of the art Broom factory in Sheffield, England. Archard also built Wessex Place in Wareham, the Godwinson's ancestral home. Archard's daughter, Eda Godwinson, along with Harker Longbottom designed the magnificent gardens of Wessex Place.

Other notable members of the family were Bryce Godwinson, who attempted to make his family a Noble House but was denied by the Wizangamot due to their Muggle ancestry. Instead of being bitter about the result, the Godwinson's decided to be proud of their relationship with Muggle Royalty. Caedmon Godwinson was a famous Wizarding Poet, whose epic poem 'A Thestral in the Wind' was very popular. Elmar Godwinson was a Wizarding Historian who tried to claim he was related to Godric Gryffindor, based solely on the fact that Gryffindor's son was called Godwin. His claims were debunked.

Gifre Godwinson inherited all of his father's estate after his younger brother, Eamon had a falling out with their father. Gifre, now immensely rich, became increasingly paranoid someone was going to steal his fortune and eventually he was killed by his brother, Eamon.

Beowulf Godwinson was the Head Auror in the late 1880s' and his grandsons, Kendrick and Wulf were a European Wizarding War hero. His son, Sherlock Godwinson was a highly skilled Auror who was killed during the First Wizarding War by Death-Eater, Hassian Selwyn. Due to Sherlock's disinterest in the family business, his younger brother, Darwin was made the main heir whilst his little brother, Art joined the Order of the Phoenix and became a hero of both Wizarding War's before joining the Auror Office in 1998.

Darwin married Socialite, Quilla Botts and together they had three children; Dodson, Kenway and Cwen. Dodson became CEO of Godwin Broom Company whilst Ken, a Second Wizarding War hero and member of Dumbledore's Army became a Adventurer/Curse-Breaker before settling down in America, becoming the Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Cwen married four times, each husband being a successful Ministry worker before re-marrying her second husband, Ezekiel Smith after her fourth died.