Potter Entire Family

Template:Family

> 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, Pottermore

**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 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***, ***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.

Harry survived and went on to be the youngest ***Seeker*** in a century.

## History

### 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, Pottermore

 File:Potterfamilytree-pottermore.jpg
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.

 File:Tumblr m4eabyXx1j1qcd6r7o4 r1 250.gif
***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.

***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.

### Recent history

 File:1971 sorting.jpg
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 ***Seeker*** 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.

 File:MoonyProngsPadfootWormtailPM.png
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.

### First Wizarding War

#### Service in the war

> It's a secret society. Dumbledore's in charge, he founded it. It's the people who fought against You-Know-Who last time.
>
> Lily and James joined the original Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

James and Lily were married immediately after Hogwarts, sometime around ***1978*** and ***1979***. The wedding was kept very quiet because of the First Wizarding War that was taking place. The war was the result of Dark wizard Lord Voldemort's (a distant Potter relative) rise to power. Voldemort spawned a dark rebellion and gained followers known as ***Death Eaters***. Also, in the fall of 1979, Lily became pregnant with their future son.

The Dark Lord sought to recruit the Potters to his cause as well, possibly due to Snape who joined the Death Eater ranks and urged his master to do so in spite of Lily being ***Muggle-born***. However, the couple refused and defied him three times, instead joining the Order of the Phoenix. The order was an organisation led by Albus Dumbledore designed to oppose Voldemort's regime directly.

By 1979 ***Fleamont*** and ***Euphemia Potter*** died of ***Dragon Pox*** within a few days after each other, leaving James to inherit the vast family fortune. This enabled him to comfortably support the family without the need for a paying job, and also used this wealth to support Lupin, who was unemployable due to his ***werewolf*** status.

#### Near-extinction

> The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies
>
> Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter, James and Lily's son, was born during the height of the war on ***31 July***, ***1980***. At the same time, Dumbledore witnessed a prophecy made by ***Sybill Trelawney*** at the ***Hog's Head Inn*** which predicted that a child with the power to defeat the Dark Lord would be born to parents who had defied him three times "*as the seventh month dies*". Voldemort was only told part of the prophecy, because Severus Snape, who was eavesdropping on the interview, was caught by ***Aberforth Dumbledore*** (Albus' brother) and thrown out of the pub.

Even though two infants were born at the end of July, Voldemort picked Harry as he believed their shared blood status made them equal. Severus Snape and Dumbledore made arrangements for the Potters to go into hiding by using the Fidelius Charm over the Potter cottage in Godric's Hollow.

James and Lily made Peter Pettigrew their Secret-Keeper, but he betrayed them when he secretly defected to the Death Eaters as a spy within the Order's ranks and, as a result, betrayed the Potters' whereabouts about a week after the Fidelius Charm was performed. They originally intended for Sirius to be the Secret-Keeper, but he suggested Pettigrew instead thinking he would be less obvious.

Lily and James were murdered by Voldemort with the Killing Curse at their cottage on 31 October, 1981. He gave Lily the chance to step aside at the request of Snape, but she refused. Her death invoked ancient magic that protected Harry when Voldemort tried to kill him. The Killing Curse rebounded, leaving Harry its only known survivor and Voldemort temporarily defeated. The incident also caused a piece of Voldemort's soul to be embedded in the lightning-bolt-scar on Harry's forehead, inadvertently turning the boy into one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Harry was taken by Rubeus Hagrid by the request of Dumbledore, to the care of his maternal relatives, the ***Dursley family***. He spent the next ten years without any knowledge of his wizarding heritage and was treated poorly by his aunt and uncle, ***Petunia*** and ***Vernon Dursley***. Dumbledore believed Harry would benefit from being with blood relatives in order to preserve the protection his mother gave him with her death.

 File:The Potters' House.png  The Potter's cottage was kept in its ruined condition and made invisible to ***Muggles***. There was a sign outside the cottage that commented on the state of the house and what happened to the Potters. Witches and wizards often wrote words of support for Harry on the sign. The messages were "*long live Harry Potter*", "*if you read this, Harry, we're all behind you!"*, and "*good luck, Harry, wherever you are*". Others wrote their name in ***Everlasting Ink***, as proof that they've visited the cottage.

 File:Pottermore-Potter-Memorial.jpg  Sometime later, a memorial was placed in the village square in honour of James, Lily, and Harry. From a distance, it appeared as an obelisk, carved with the names of people who died in a war (presumably ***Muggle*** casualties of one or more previous conflicts). The memorial actually depicted a siting James and Lily, looking down at an infant Harry, with Lily holding him. In the winter snow would gather on the heads of the statues, they looked like they were wearing white caps.

### Between the wars

Template:Dialogue a-b-a

Harry was finally informed he was a wizard on his eleventh birthday by Rubeus Hagrid when the time came for him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991. Harry was sorted into Gryffindor house. During his education, he proved to be highly talented in the areas of Defence Against the Dark Arts and Quidditch. He also proved to be a wizard of superior magical ability, as he was able to conjure a corporeal stag Patronus at the incredibly young age of thirteen.

Harry's time at Hogwarts was met with the return of Lord Voldemort, in which Harry prevented him from obtaining the Philosopher's Stone in 1992. Harry also received the Cloak of Invisibility and saw his family for the first time in the Mirror of Erised. He was also the youngest ***Seeker*** in a century, due to playing for his house team in his first year.
In his second year, he solved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, saved Ginny Weasley's life, and slayed Slytherin's basilisk. He would eventually find out the truth about his parents' death and learn of Sirius Black's innocence.

### Second Wizarding War

> I am the chosen one. I have to kill him.
>
> Harry Potter's future regarding Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 File:Tumblr n29413O6t71rzvuwqo4 r1 250.gif

 File:Voldemort vanquished.png

### After the war

> Harry and Ron utterly revolutionised the Auror Department in — at the Ministry of Magic. So they — I mean, they are now the consummate — they are experts... And by the time — 19 years later — I would imagine that Harry is heading up that department, which is not corrupt in any way.
>
> J. K. Rowling regarding Harry's career after the war, Accio Quote!

 File:Potter family.gif
## Family members

### 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.

## Heirlooms

### Cloak of Invisibility

 File:Cloak of Invisibility PM.png  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, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

 File:Potter vault.jpg
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.Etymology

* "Template:W" is a very common surname of English origin. It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery.
* Template:W was a well-known English children's author.
* Template:W 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 Template:W 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*.
	+ Harry's great-grandfather and his possible namesake, ***Henry Potter***, had a name derived from Old French *Henri* or *Henry*, whose more concrete meaning is *ruler*. Henry was an important member of the ***Wizengamot***, the wizarding ***Britain***'s high court of law and parliament, in theory a governing body for British wizarding society, so his name fits the role he played. Henry is also the name of several kings and other authority figures throughout history.
	+ ***Charlus Potter***'s name, a member of the family whose ancestry is unclear (being a sort of relative of James's), could refer back to the name *Charles*. It is derived from the Germanic *Karl* or *Hari*. It can mean *man*, *army* or *warrior*. This can relate to many members of the Potter family.
	+ James Potter's name is derived, through Old French *James*, of Vulgar Latin *Iacomus*, a derivative version of Latin *Iacobus*, Latin form of the Hebrew name *Jacob*. Their meanings are *supplanter* and *one who follows*. James shares a given name with two of the more loyal Apostles of Jesus, Template:W and Template:W. James the Great was beheaded during the persecution of Christians ordered by the king of Judea, Herod Agrippa I (he is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles), while James the Less was stoned to death on the orders of the High Priest Ananias, who had him and others tried by the Sanhedrin for having "transgressed the law". James Potter was one of the most loyal members of the original Order of the Phoenix, led by Albus Dumbledore, his former headmaster, and he died in similar circumstances to his namesake apostles, trying to protect his family and, more specifically, his son, who was being persecuted by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. James is also the namesake of the ***eldest of his grandchilds***. Similar to Henry, James is the name of several kings and other famous rulers.
	+ Harry Potter shares possibly a given name with his ***great-grandfather***, *Harry* being in fact a spoken form of *Henry* in medieval England. However, Harry's name has the Norse meaning of *war chief*, which fits his role as leader of ***Dumbledore's Army*** and head of the faction opposing Lord Voldemort and the ***Death Eaters***, as well as their respective allies, during the ***Second Wizarding War***.

## Behind the scenes

* 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*** 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 (film)***.
	+ 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 (film)***.
	+ 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 (film)***.
	+ 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***.
	+ ***Albus Severus Potter*** is played by ***Arthur Bowen*** in ***Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2***.
	+ ***Lily Luna Potter*** is played by ***Daphne de Beistegui*** in ***Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2***.
* It is seen in two generations that Potter men have fallen in love and married red-haired women: James Potter married Lily Evans, and their son Harry Potter married Ginny Weasley.
* Harry and his sons James and Albus are the only known Potters to have godfathers. Harry's godfather is Sirius, James' godfather is Ron, and Albus' godfather is Neville.
* The Potter family wasn't one of the ***Sacred Twenty-Eight***, though it wasn't known to have had Muggle ancestry until Harry Potter's birth in ***1980***. In spite of this, the Potters were once considered a "respectable" pure-blood family by some prominent bloodlines such as the ***Blacks***, to whom they were related. Other families belonging to the Sacred Twenty-Eight to whom the Potters were related were the Weasleys, the ***Gaunts***, the ***Flints***, the ***Bulstrodes*** and the ***Prewetts***.
* It is shown in several generations of Potters that they suffer from bad eyesight and are shown to wear full-moon glasses. It is seen in the males of the family such as: Abraham Potter, Fleamont Potter, James Potter I, and Harry Potter.
* According to their family tree published on *Pottermore*, each generation of the Potters consists of a single male child who has carried the family name through the centuries, while only two members of the family have had more than one child: Linfred of Stinchcombe, who had seven children, and Harry Potter, who has had three. It is possibly a Potter family tradition to have only one male heir in order to wear the Invisibility Cloak.
	+ It is also likely that this copy of the Potter family tree omitted the rest of the Potter family to focus solely on the heirs of each generation, as other members of the family are omitted, including ***Ralston Potter***, a prominent member of the ***Wizengamot*** in the ***17th century***, ***Abraham Potter***, one of the ***original twelve*** ***Aurors*** in the ***United States*** and the best known face of the American branch of the family, ***Charlus Potter*** and his wife ***Dorea*** and ***son***, as well as ***Hardwin Potter's own six younger siblings***.
* James I, one of the creators of the Marauder's Map, is one out of two of its creators to have children; the other is Remus Lupin. Notably, both children were orphaned at a young age in Voldemort-related battles. (Harry, James' son, was named godfather of Teddy, Lupin's son).
* The usage of the Sacrificial Protection charm has been only seen and used by two members of the Potter family: Lily Potter (nee Evans) on her son Harry Potter in 1981, and eventually, Harry himself, on the Hogwarts army in 1998. The usage of the charm hasn't been shown in any other family besides the Potter family.

## Appearances

* Template:PS Template:1st
* Template:COS
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban (film)
* Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire (film)
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist
Template:An Order-Of-The Phoenix
Template:An Head Boys and An Hogwarts' Prefects
Template:Hogwarts Quidditch Positions

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `the-potter-family`
2. ↑ Template:DH - it is stated that James' father was a Gryffindor. James, Lily, Harry were all Gryffindors as well.
3. ↑ Template:PS
4. ↑ Template:OOTP
5. ↑ Template:HBP
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Template:DH
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:PM
8. ↑ Have just heard that James S Potter has been Sorted (to nobody's surprise) into Gryffindor. Teddy Lupin (Head Boy, Hufflepuff) disappointed. posted by JKR on Twitter on 1 September 2015
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `CC14`
10. ↑ Behind the Name: Rankings for 'Potter'
11. ↑ MuggleNet: Name Origins