Harry Potter fans aren't the only ones paying it forward; J.K. Rowling is, too.
The beloved author has shared a story about the Potter lineage on the newly revamped Pottermore.com. So, we've learned a few things about our second-favorite boy wizard. (Because, Ron, obvs.)
His name didn't start out as Potter.
"The wizarding family of Potters descends from the 12th-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, ‘the Potterer,’ became corrupted in time to 'Potter,'" Rowling writes. Linfred had a knack with potions, laying the groundwork for potions like Skele-gro and Pepperup Potion. Take that, Snape. The invisibility cloak is a family heirloom.
As Rowling tells it, Linfred's oldest son, Hardwin, married the beautiful witch Iolanthe Peverell of Godric's Hollow. As the oldest heir to Ignotus Peverell (of the "Tale of Three Brothers" fame), Iolanthe inherited the invisibility cloak, which was then passed down to from generation to generation. Harry's got something in common with Darryl from Coming to America.
Darryl has Soul Glo; Harry has Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion, which boasts the slogan "two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet." His paternal grandfather, Fleamont, invented the hair-care product, then sold it off for a tidy profit. Oh, and did we mention he's not the first Harry Potter in the family? Way to throw some curveballs our way, J.K. (Pottermore)
"The wizarding family of Potters descends from the 12th-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, ‘the Potterer,’ became corrupted in time to 'Potter,'" Rowling writes. Linfred had a knack with potions, laying the groundwork for potions like Skele-gro and Pepperup Potion. Take that, Snape. The invisibility cloak is a family heirloom.
As Rowling tells it, Linfred's oldest son, Hardwin, married the beautiful witch Iolanthe Peverell of Godric's Hollow. As the oldest heir to Ignotus Peverell (of the "Tale of Three Brothers" fame), Iolanthe inherited the invisibility cloak, which was then passed down to from generation to generation. Harry's got something in common with Darryl from Coming to America.
Darryl has Soul Glo; Harry has Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion, which boasts the slogan "two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet." His paternal grandfather, Fleamont, invented the hair-care product, then sold it off for a tidy profit. Oh, and did we mention he's not the first Harry Potter in the family? Way to throw some curveballs our way, J.K. (Pottermore)