Potter Family History: J.K. Rowling Reveals Lineage Of Popular Wizard In New Pottermore Essay

J.K. Rowling has released a new essay on the Pottermore website, providing a glimpse into the lineage of Harry Potter’s family.

The vast world of Harry Potter has grown exponentially since the last book was released, providing room for an expanded universe to be explored and written about in the future. Tuesday, J.K. Rowling released a “newly imagined” version of Pottermore, along with an essay that reveals the lineage of Harry Potter, as well as the inheritance of the popular Invisibility Cloak.

Entertainment Weekly revealed that the lineage dates back to the 12th century, beginning with the wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, and continues forward to the point in which the family obtained the Invisibility Cloak. The essay also reveals how the name “Potter” came to be.

The name “Potter” originates from Linfred of Stinchcombe, whose nickname was “the Potterer.”

“[He was a] locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, ‘the Potterer,’ became corrupted in time to ‘Potter.’ “

More interestingly, the Invisibility Cloak’s origins within the Potter family are revealed, providing a glimpse into the amount of detail the newly designed Pottermore site will reveal over time.

“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.”

Along with the tidbits of Potter family lore, it was announced that Pottermore will feature news content from a “Pottermore correspondent” that will reveal all of the latest news from the Wizarding World, although the correspondent’s identity has not been revealed.

Pottermore was launched in 2012, with only minor adjustments conducted since. The newly redesigned site promises to offer a completely different way in which fans can obtain information, including the ability to be responsive to mobile devices.

J.K. Rowling’s dedication to Harry Potter, his family, and the entire wizard realm has kept fans captivated by her seemingly random announcements and updates. Many wonder what is next in store for the wizard realm, and if Harry Potter will hit the big screen again, possibly in a different role than before.

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