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| − | '''Potter''' is the surname of an old wizarding family. They were once [[pure-blood]]s, but [[James Potter I|James Potter]] married [[Muggle-born]] witch [[Lily Evans]], thus their son [[Harry Potter|Harry]] was [[half-blood]]. The Potters have traditionally been [[Sorting ceremony|sorted]] into [[Gryffindor]] house at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]<ref>In Chapter 33 of ''Deathly Hallows'', it is stated that James' father was a Gryffindor. James, Lily, Harry |
+ | '''Potter''' is the surname of an old wizarding family. They were once [[pure-blood]]s, but [[James Potter I|James Potter]] married [[Muggle-born]] witch [[Lily Evans]], thus their son [[Harry Potter|Harry]] was [[half-blood]]. The Potters have traditionally been [[Sorting ceremony|sorted]] into [[Gryffindor]] house at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]<ref>In Chapter 33 of ''Deathly Hallows'', it is stated that James' father was a Gryffindor. James, Lily, Harry, and Ginny were all Gryffindors as well.</ref>, and are very wealthy, with a [[Vault 687|vault]] at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]] containing a great deal of gold<ref>''Philsopher's Stone'', Ch. 5</ref>. |
During the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s, the Potters supported the [[Order of the Phoenix]] and opposed [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. James and Lily Potter were both Order members who defied Voldemort three times, and their son went on to be the leader of [[Dumbledore's Army]] and the one to defeat Voldemort once and for all. |
During the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s, the Potters supported the [[Order of the Phoenix]] and opposed [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. James and Lily Potter were both Order members who defied Voldemort three times, and their son went on to be the leader of [[Dumbledore's Army]] and the one to defeat Voldemort once and for all. |
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==Known members== |
==Known members== |
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*[[James Potter I|James Potter]] - A [[pure-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who joined the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Married [[Lily Evans]], and they had one son, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. He and Lily were [[Killing Curse|murdered]] by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] on the night of [[31 October]], [[1981]]. |
*[[James Potter I|James Potter]] - A [[pure-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who joined the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Married [[Lily Evans]], and they had one son, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. He and Lily were [[Killing Curse|murdered]] by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] on the night of [[31 October]], [[1981]]. |
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| − | *[[Lily Evans|Lily Potter (née Evans)]] - A [[muggle-born]] [[Gryffindor]] who joined the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Married [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and had one son, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. She and James were murdered by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] on the night of [[31 October]], [[1981]]. She has one [[Muggle]] [[Petunia Dursley|sister]], who is [[Vernon Dursley|married]], as well as a Muggle [[Dudley Dursley|nephew]]. |
+ | *[[Lily Evans|Lily Potter (née Evans)]] - A [[muggle-born]] [[Gryffindor]] who joined the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Married [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and had one son, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. She and James were murdered by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] on the night of [[31 October]], [[1981]]. She has one [[Muggle]] [[Petunia Dursley|sister]], who is [[Vernon Dursley|married]], as well as a Muggle [[Dudley Dursley|nephew]]. Married into the Potter family. |
| − | *[[Harry Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who famously defeated [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Son of [[James Potter I|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter]]. He |
+ | *[[Harry Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who famously defeated [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Son of [[James Potter I|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter]]. He was the leader and teacher of [[Dumbledore's Army]]. Married to [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] and father of [[James Potter II|James]], [[Albus Potter|Albus]], and [[Lily Potter]]. |
| − | *[[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter (née Weasley)]] - A [[pure-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who is the wife of [[Harry Potter]]. She is originally |
+ | *[[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter (née Weasley)]] - A [[pure-blood]] [[Gryffindor]] who is the wife of [[Harry Potter]]. She is originally descended from the [[Weasley family]] and has six brothers, along with several nieces and nephews. She was a member of [[Dumbledore's Army]]. Mother of [[James Potter II|James]], [[Albus Potter|Albus]], and [[Lily Potter]]. Married into the Potter family. |
| − | *[[James Potter II|James Sirius Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] [[ |
+ | *[[James Potter II|James Sirius Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] [[Griffindor]], who is the eldest child and first son of [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter]]. He has a [[Albus Potter|younger brother]] and [[Lily Potter|sister]]. He is named for his [[James Potter I|paternal grandfather]] and [[Sirius Black|his father's godfather]]. |
| − | *[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] who is to be [[Sorted]] in [[2017]]. He is the second child and son of [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter]]. He has an [[James Potter II|older brother]] and a [[Lily Potter|younger sister]]. He is named after [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Severus Snape]]. |
+ | *[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] who is to be [[Sorted]] in [[2017]]. He is the second child and son of [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter]]. He has an [[James Potter II|older brother]] and a [[Lily Potter|younger sister]]. He is named after [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Severus Snape]]. Both former and latter were Headmasters of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], their houses were [[Gryffindor]] and [[Slytherin]], respectively. |
*[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] who is the youngest child and only daughter of [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter]]. She has two older brothers. She is named after her [[Lily Evans|paternal grandmother]] and [[Luna Lovegood|one of her parent's oldest friends]]. |
*[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] - A [[half-blood]] who is the youngest child and only daughter of [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Potter]]. She has two older brothers. She is named after her [[Lily Evans|paternal grandmother]] and [[Luna Lovegood|one of her parent's oldest friends]]. |
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*[[Dorea Black|Dorea Potter (née Black)]] - The wife of [[Charlus Potter]]. Daughter of [[Cygnus Black II]] and [[Violetta Bulstrode]]. A member of the [[House of Black]]. She has [[Charlus Potter's son|one son]]. |
*[[Dorea Black|Dorea Potter (née Black)]] - The wife of [[Charlus Potter]]. Daughter of [[Cygnus Black II]] and [[Violetta Bulstrode]]. A member of the [[House of Black]]. She has [[Charlus Potter's son|one son]]. |
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It is unknown who [[James Potter I|James Potter]]'s parents were. They may, however, be [[Charlus Potter]] and [[Dorea Black]], who are shown to have had [[Charlus Potter's son|one son]] on the [[House of Black|Black family tapestry]]. |
It is unknown who [[James Potter I|James Potter]]'s parents were. They may, however, be [[Charlus Potter]] and [[Dorea Black]], who are shown to have had [[Charlus Potter's son|one son]] on the [[House of Black|Black family tapestry]]. |
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| − | It is known that James's parents were older when they had him, and Dorea would have been forty years old when she had a child if James was her son. However, it is also known that the Potters died of natural causes when they were old in wizarding terms, but Dorea Potter was only fifty-seven years old when she died, although, going by the ages that members of the Black Family - from which Dorea descended, did die - she lived to |
+ | It is known that James's parents were older when they had him, and Dorea would have been forty years old when she had a child if James was her son. However, it is also known that the Potters died of natural causes when they were old in wizarding terms, but Dorea Potter was only fifty-seven years old when she died, although, going by the ages that members of the Black Family - from which Dorea descended, did die - she lived to "old age" since most of them died in their fifties, possibly due to incest within the pureblood families.<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling]</ref> |
| − | " since most of them died in their fifties, possibly due to incest within the pureblood families.<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling]</ref> |
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If Charlus and Dorea Potter were James's parents, James and his best friend [[Sirius Black]] would have been first cousins, once removed. Harry and Sirius, his godfather, would have been second cousins. Also, Harry's best friend/brother-in-law, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] and wife, [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] would be his third cousins. Harry would also be related, albeit distantly, to the [[Malfoy family|Malfoys]], [[Longbottom family|Longbottoms]], and [[Lestrange family|Lestranges]].<ref>[[House of Black|Black family tree]]</ref> |
If Charlus and Dorea Potter were James's parents, James and his best friend [[Sirius Black]] would have been first cousins, once removed. Harry and Sirius, his godfather, would have been second cousins. Also, Harry's best friend/brother-in-law, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] and wife, [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] would be his third cousins. Harry would also be related, albeit distantly, to the [[Malfoy family|Malfoys]], [[Longbottom family|Longbottoms]], and [[Lestrange family|Lestranges]].<ref>[[House of Black|Black family tree]]</ref> |
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==Recent family history== |
==Recent family history== |
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===First Wizarding War=== |
===First Wizarding War=== |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Godric_flash.PNG|thumb|left|250px|The Potters' home in [[Godric's Hollow]].]][[Harry Potter]] was born during the height of the [[First Wizarding War]]. His parents, [[James Potter I|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter (née Evans)]], were both members of the [[Order of the Phoenix]], an organisation created and led by [[Albus Dumbledore]] for those who wanted to battle [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and his followers, the [[Death Eaters]]. In [[1979]], Dumbledore witnessed a [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|prophecy]] made by [[Sybill Trelawney]] that predicted that a child with the power to defeat the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]] would be born to parents who had defied him three times "as the [[July|seventh month]] dies". Voldemort was told part of the prophecy by [[Severus Snape]], who had been caught outside the door after the prophecy was heard.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref><ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref> |
At the end of July in [[1980]], two infants were born matching this description: Harry Potter and [[Neville Longbottom]]. Voldemort went after Harry, resolving to kill him, and thus marked Harry as his equal, as the prophecy foretold. The Potters went into hiding through use of the [[Fidelius Charm]], first choosing their close friend [[Sirius Black]] as [[Secret-Keeper]], but Black persuaded the Potters to use [[Peter Pettigrew]] instead, thinking that this less obvious choice would further protect the Potters. Pettigrew, however, betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, who attacked the family in [[Godric's Hollow]] on [[31 October]], [[1981]]. Voldemort slaughtered James and then Lily with the [[Killing Curse]], but he first gave Lily the opportunity to save herself, at the request of Snape, who had been in [[love]] with Lily for years. When she refused, Voldemort killed her, unknowingly invoking ancient magic that protected Harry when Voldemort then attempted to murder 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 [[Harry Potter's scars|scar]] on Harry's forehead, inadvertently making him into a [[Horcrux]].<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref> |
At the end of July in [[1980]], two infants were born matching this description: Harry Potter and [[Neville Longbottom]]. Voldemort went after Harry, resolving to kill him, and thus marked Harry as his equal, as the prophecy foretold. The Potters went into hiding through use of the [[Fidelius Charm]], first choosing their close friend [[Sirius Black]] as [[Secret-Keeper]], but Black persuaded the Potters to use [[Peter Pettigrew]] instead, thinking that this less obvious choice would further protect the Potters. Pettigrew, however, betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, who attacked the family in [[Godric's Hollow]] on [[31 October]], [[1981]]. Voldemort slaughtered James and then Lily with the [[Killing Curse]], but he first gave Lily the opportunity to save herself, at the request of Snape, who had been in [[love]] with Lily for years. When she refused, Voldemort killed her, unknowingly invoking ancient magic that protected Harry when Voldemort then attempted to murder 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 [[Harry Potter's scars|scar]] on Harry's forehead, inadvertently making him into a [[Horcrux]].<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref> |
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Despite his relatives' efforts to force him to be "[[Muggle|normal]]", Harry was a [[Wizardkind|wizard]], and was informed of this fact by [[Rubeus Hagrid]] when it came time for him to attend [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in [[1991]]. He entered the [[wizarding world]], learned his family's history, and once again became a target of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was still alive but in non-corporeal form and seeking to return to power. |
Despite his relatives' efforts to force him to be "[[Muggle|normal]]", Harry was a [[Wizardkind|wizard]], and was informed of this fact by [[Rubeus Hagrid]] when it came time for him to attend [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in [[1991]]. He entered the [[wizarding world]], learned his family's history, and once again became a target of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was still alive but in non-corporeal form and seeking to return to power. |
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| − | [[File:HarryPotter5.jpg|thumb|left| |
+ | [[File:HarryPotter5.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Harry Potter|Harry James Potter]].]] |
Voldemort's inability to touch Harry, due to the lingering protection from his late mother, continued all the way up to his resurrection in [[1995]]. [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]], acting as host to Voldemort's soul, attempted to attack Harry to gain the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1992]], but was prevented from stealing the Stone when he came into contact with Harry's skin, leaving Voldemort forced to return to his non-corporeal state.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref> |
Voldemort's inability to touch Harry, due to the lingering protection from his late mother, continued all the way up to his resurrection in [[1995]]. [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]], acting as host to Voldemort's soul, attempted to attack Harry to gain the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1992]], but was prevented from stealing the Stone when he came into contact with Harry's skin, leaving Voldemort forced to return to his non-corporeal state.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref> |
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| − | Voldemort eventually overcame this by using Harry's blood to regenerate his own body in [[1995]].<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> Unbeknownst to Voldemort, this act also anchored Harry's life to his own. This was brought to light when Harry and Voldemort had their final confrontation in [[1998]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]]. Harry had spent almost a year destroying Voldemort's [[Horcrux]]es with his best friends [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]], only to discover during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] that he himself was a Horcrux Voldemort made accidentally that fateful |
+ | Voldemort eventually overcame this by using Harry's blood to regenerate his own body in [[1995]].<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> Unbeknownst to Voldemort, this act also anchored Harry's life to his own. This was brought to light when Harry and Voldemort had their final confrontation in [[1998]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]]. Harry had spent almost a year destroying Voldemort's [[Horcrux]]es with his best friends [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]], only to discover during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] that he himself was a Horcrux Voldemort made accidentally that fateful Hallowe'en night in [[1981]]. Harry willingly stood before Voldemort and was struck with the [[Killing Curse]]. Because of this, the part of Voldemort's soul within him was destroyed. Because Voldemort had taken some of Harry's blood -- and thus Lily's blood, with its magical protections for Harry -- within himself, Harry survived the Killing Curse for a second time. |
The two [[duel]]led one last time, and Harry defeated Voldemort once and for all.<ref name="DH"/> |
The two [[duel]]led one last time, and Harry defeated Voldemort once and for all.<ref name="DH"/> |
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==Etymology== |
==Etymology== |
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*"{{wplink|Potter}}" is a very common surname of English origin.<ref>[http://surnames.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=potter Behind the Name: Rankings for 'Potter']</ref> It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery. |
*"{{wplink|Potter}}" is a very common surname of English origin.<ref>[http://surnames.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=potter Behind the Name: Rankings for 'Potter']</ref> It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery. |
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*{{wplink|Beatrix Potter}} was a well-known English children's author. |
*{{wplink|Beatrix Potter}} was a well-known English children's author. |
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*{{wplink|Potter's Field}} is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family had many members that fit that description. |
*{{wplink|Potter's Field}} is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family had many members that fit that description. |
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| − | |||
*The {{wplink|Potter Box}} is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. [[J. K. Rowling]] has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood.<ref>[http://www.mugglenet.com/books/name_origins2.shtml MuggleNet: Name Origins]</ref> |
*The {{wplink|Potter Box}} is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. [[J. K. Rowling]] has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood.<ref>[http://www.mugglenet.com/books/name_origins2.shtml MuggleNet: Name Origins]</ref> |
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**[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] is played by [[Arthur Bowen]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''. |
**[[Albus Potter|Albus Severus Potter]] is played by [[Arthur Bowen]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''. |
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**[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] is played by [[Daphne de Beistegui]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''. |
**[[Lily Potter|Lily Luna Potter]] is played by [[Daphne de Beistegui]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | *It is seen so far that Potter children inherit their mother's eyes, as James Potter I, Harry Potter, James Sirius and Lily Luna, but Albus Severus instead inherited his father's eyes although this is due more to how recessive the gene for green eyes is, where if one parent has green eyes the odds of a child inheriting the eyes is one in four. |
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| ⚫ | |||
==Notes and references== |
==Notes and references== |
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[[es:Familia Potter]] |
[[es:Familia Potter]] |
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[[fr:Famille Potter]] |
[[fr:Famille Potter]] |
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| + | [[pl:Rodzina Potter]] |
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[[Category:Potter family| ]] |
[[Category:Potter family| ]] |
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[[Category:Wizard families]] |
[[Category:Wizard families]] |
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Revision as of 03:51, 28 June 2014
|
We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere —
This article is lacking a section listing all of its known appearances in canon. Please help the Harry Potter Wiki by adding such a section, so that it conforms with our layout guide. |
Potter is the surname of an old wizarding family. They were once pure-bloods, but James Potter married Muggle-born witch Lily Evans, thus their son Harry was half-blood. The Potters have traditionally been sorted into Gryffindor house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry[1], and are very wealthy, with a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank containing a great deal of gold[2].
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 their son went on to be the leader of Dumbledore's Army and the one to defeat Voldemort once and for all.
Recent generations of Potters
James Potter was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Potter. James married Lily Evans and they had one child, Harry, who famously defeated Lord Voldemort. He eventually married Ginny Weasley, and they had three children: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter.
Known members
- James Potter - A pure-blood Gryffindor who joined the Order of the Phoenix. Married Lily Evans, and they had one son, Harry. He and Lily were murdered by Voldemort on the night of 31 October, 1981.
- Lily Potter (née Evans) - A muggle-born Gryffindor who joined the Order of the Phoenix. Married James Potter and had one son, Harry. She and James were murdered by Voldemort on the night of 31 October, 1981. She has one Muggle sister, who is married, as well as a Muggle nephew. Married into the Potter family.
- Harry Potter - A half-blood Gryffindor who famously defeated Lord Voldemort. Son of James and Lily Potter. He was the leader and teacher of Dumbledore's Army. Married to Ginny Weasley and father of James, Albus, and Lily Potter.
- Ginny Potter (née Weasley) - A pure-blood Gryffindor who is the wife of Harry Potter. She is originally descended from the Weasley family and has six brothers, along with several nieces and nephews. She was a member of Dumbledore's Army. Mother of James, Albus, and Lily Potter. Married into the Potter family.
- James Sirius Potter - A half-blood Griffindor, who is the eldest child and first son of Harry and Ginny Potter. He has a younger brother and sister. He is named for his paternal grandfather and his father's godfather.
- Albus Severus Potter - A half-blood who is to be Sorted in 2017. He is the second child and son of Harry and Ginny Potter. He has an older brother and a younger sister. He is named after Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Both former and latter were Headmasters of Hogwarts, their houses were Gryffindor and Slytherin, respectively.
- Lily Luna Potter - A half-blood who is the youngest child and only daughter of Harry and Ginny Potter. She has two older brothers. She is named after her paternal grandmother and one of her parent's oldest friends.
- Dorea Potter (née Black) - The wife of Charlus Potter. Daughter of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Bulstrode. A member of the House of Black. She has one son.
- Charlus Potter - The husband of Dorea Black. He has a son.
- Charlus Potter's son - The son of Charlus Potter and Dorea Black.
- Mr. Potter - A pure-blood wizard, father of James Potter, and grandfather of Harry Potter.
- Mrs. Potter - A pure-blood witch, mother of James Potter, and grandmother of Harry Potter.
Family tree
James, Harry and Lily all aged fifteen via the use of Pensieve.
It is unknown who James Potter's parents were. They may, however, be Charlus Potter and Dorea Black, who are shown to have had one son on the Black family tapestry.
It is known that James's parents were older when they had him, and Dorea would have been forty years old when she had a child if James was her son. However, it is also known that the Potters died of natural causes when they were old in wizarding terms, but Dorea Potter was only fifty-seven years old when she died, although, going by the ages that members of the Black Family - from which Dorea descended, did die - she lived to "old age" since most of them died in their fifties, possibly due to incest within the pureblood families.[3]
If Charlus and Dorea Potter were James's parents, James and his best friend Sirius Black would have been first cousins, once removed. Harry and Sirius, his godfather, would have been second cousins. Also, Harry's best friend/brother-in-law, Ron and wife, Ginny Weasley would be his third cousins. Harry would also be related, albeit distantly, to the Malfoys, Longbottoms, and Lestranges.[4]
Gallery of members
Recent family history
First Wizarding War
The Potters' home in Godric's Hollow.
Harry Potter was born during the height of the First Wizarding War. His parents, James and Lily Potter (née Evans), were both members of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation created and led by Albus Dumbledore for those who wanted to battle Lord Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters. In 1979, Dumbledore witnessed a prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney that 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 told part of the prophecy by Severus Snape, who had been caught outside the door after the prophecy was heard.[5][6]
At the end of July in 1980, two infants were born matching this description: Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. Voldemort went after Harry, resolving to kill him, and thus marked Harry as his equal, as the prophecy foretold. The Potters went into hiding through use of the Fidelius Charm, first choosing their close friend Sirius Black as Secret-Keeper, but Black persuaded the Potters to use Peter Pettigrew instead, thinking that this less obvious choice would further protect the Potters. Pettigrew, however, betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, who attacked the family in Godric's Hollow on 31 October, 1981. Voldemort slaughtered James and then Lily with the Killing Curse, but he first gave Lily the opportunity to save herself, at the request of Snape, who had been in love with Lily for years. When she refused, Voldemort killed her, unknowingly invoking ancient magic that protected Harry when Voldemort then attempted to murder 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 scar on Harry's forehead, inadvertently making him into a Horcrux.[7]
James and Lily Potter as seen by Harry in the Mirror of Erised.
Sirius soon discovered what had happened and pursued Pettigrew, who faked his own death and escaped. Sirius was subsequently framed and imprisoned in Azkaban for Pettigrew's crimes.[8] Harry, who became known as "The Boy Who Lived" for his miraculous survival, was taken in by his mother's sister, Petunia Dursley, her husband Vernon and their son Dudley. Harry was raised in the Muggle world by the Dursleys, who treated him poorly and never told him about his wizarding heritage. Because they were blood relatives of his mother, however, Harry benefited from magical protections as long as he could call Number 4 Privet Drive "home."
Second Wizarding War
Despite his relatives' efforts to force him to be "normal", Harry was a wizard, and was informed of this fact by Rubeus Hagrid when it came time for him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991. He entered the wizarding world, learned his family's history, and once again became a target of Lord Voldemort, who was still alive but in non-corporeal form and seeking to return to power.
Voldemort's inability to touch Harry, due to the lingering protection from his late mother, continued all the way up to his resurrection in 1995. Professor Quirrell, acting as host to Voldemort's soul, attempted to attack Harry to gain the Philosopher's Stone in 1992, but was prevented from stealing the Stone when he came into contact with Harry's skin, leaving Voldemort forced to return to his non-corporeal state.[9]
Voldemort eventually overcame this by using Harry's blood to regenerate his own body in 1995.[10] Unbeknownst to Voldemort, this act also anchored Harry's life to his own. This was brought to light when Harry and Voldemort had their final confrontation in 1998 during the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry had spent almost a year destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, only to discover during the Battle of Hogwarts that he himself was a Horcrux Voldemort made accidentally that fateful Hallowe'en night in 1981. Harry willingly stood before Voldemort and was struck with the Killing Curse. Because of this, the part of Voldemort's soul within him was destroyed. Because Voldemort had taken some of Harry's blood -- and thus Lily's blood, with its magical protections for Harry -- within himself, Harry survived the Killing Curse for a second time.
The two duelled one last time, and Harry defeated Voldemort once and for all.[7]
After the War
After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Harry Potter became an Auror and married Ginny Weasley. The couple had three children — James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter — and thus a new generation of Potters were born into a more peaceful world.[7]
Family heirloom
The Potters' Invisibility Cloak.
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, 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 are 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.[7]
Etymology
- "Potter" is a very common surname of English origin.[11] 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 had many members that fit that description.
- The Potter Box is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. J. K. Rowling has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood.[12]
Behind the scenes
- In the films, the Potters are played by the following actors:
- James 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 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 is played by Daniel Radcliffe in all of the films. Baby Harry Potter 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.
- Ginny 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.
Notes and references
- ↑ In Chapter 33 of Deathly Hallows, it is stated that James' father was a Gryffindor. James, Lily, Harry, and Ginny were all Gryffindors as well.
- ↑ Philsopher's Stone, Ch. 5
- ↑ Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling
- ↑ Black family tree
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- ↑ Behind the Name: Rankings for 'Potter'
- ↑ MuggleNet: Name Origins