Euphemia Potter

Euphemia Potter was born somewhere in England in the 20th century. Very little is known about Euphemia’s early life and her parents. She was most likely a Pure-blood witch. She was the paternal grandmother of the famous Harry Potter and the great-grandmother of James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter. It is very likely that she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when she was eleven years old. She was most likely sorted into Gryffindor house. After graduating from Hogwarts, she eventually married the Pure-blood wizard Fleamont Potter, the son of Henry Potter, and the couple lived happily and comfortably. 

They yearned for a child, but it took a very long time before Euphemia was pregnant with James Potter. Since she had a very late pregnancy, James was the only son the couple had. However, when James’s best friend, Sirius Black, was banished from his household, he was taken in by Euphemia and Fleamont, who treated him like a second son. They lived long enough to see the marriage of their son James to Lily Evans but passed away soon after due to Dragon Pox. Euphemia died almost a few days after her husband, Fleamont.

Etymology

The name ‘Euphemia’ is a name of Greek origin and roughly translates to ‘well-spoken’ or ‘good repute.’ The root word ‘Eu’ means good, and ‘phemi’ means to speak. The name Euphemia is a common name in British and Scottish families and has been the name of several European queens who went by the common nickname ‘Effie.’ Euphemia Potter shares her first name with Euphemia Rowle, the caretaker of Delphini, who was the daughter of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Euphemia and Fleamont

Euphemia and Fleamont married after Fleamont graduated from Hogwarts. It is not known for certain if Euphemia went to Hogwarts too, but it is highly likely that she did. Fleamont’s family was a very rich family, and his father, Henry Potter, was a member of the Wizengamot. Furthermore, after graduating from Hogwarts, Fleamont invented Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion, which made them very rich. Like his ancestor Linfred of Stinchcombe, who invented the Skele-gro potion, Fleamont had a knack for potions. 

The couple most likely stayed in the village of Godric’s Hollow. They had a comfortable life in the Potter household. However, the couple was unable to have a child for quite some time. To the couple’s shock, it all changed when Fleamont’s wife, Euphemia, got pregnant in the year 1959. On 27 March 1960, Euphemia gave birth to their first and only son James Potter. Despite her late-in-life pregnancy, Euphemia and her husband Fleamont took great care of James.

In the year 1976, when James’s best friend, young Sirius Black, ran away from his home because his family valued Pure-blooded wizards and witches over Muggle-borns, Fleamont, and Euphemia Potter took him in and treated him like a second son. It is possible that Euphemia and Fleamont were also close to James’s other best friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, who were also friends of James. However, the friendship with Peter would be short-lived as he would betray James.

The recently-disowned Sirius Black was never valued in the Black family again, and his younger brother Regulus Arcturus Black would also end up defying his mother’s wishes by going against Lord Voldemort’s cause by stealing his Horcrux. He was even stricken off the Black family tree but was treated like a member of the Potter family. Sirius would later go on to be Harry’s godfather and would be killed by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange.

Family 

Despite their early death due to Dragon Pox a few years before their grandson Harry Potter was born, Euphemia and Fleamont Potter had a large family, including some famous ancestors and famous descendants. Fleamont Potter was a descendant of Ignotus Peverell and Linfred of Stinchcombe and was, therefore, an heir to the Invisibility Cloak of Ignotus. He would later hand it to his son James who would do the same and posthumously give it to Harry through Albus Dumbledore. 

Euphemia’s son James Potter married Lily Potter (née Evans), and they had a son Harry Potter who would become one of the most famous wizards to ever live. He would lead the wizards and witches of his time to defeat the notorious Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter married Ginevra (Ginny) Potter (née Weasley) and had three children. Euphemia’s great-grandchildren, James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter, and Lily Luna Potter, were Harry’s and Ginny’s children.

For a while, fans of the Harry Potter series believed that Charlus Potter and Dorea Black, later named Dorea Potter, who appeared on the Black Family Tree, were the parents of James, but it was later verified by J. K. Rowling that Fleamont and Euphemia were James’s parents. However, it is very likely that Euphemia and Charlus were relatives.

The parallel of Euphemia’s actions of providing a caring family for young Sirius Black is very similar to Molly Weasley taking in Harry Potter as a mother figure in the absence of his own family. Also, Euphemia was the grandmother of Harry, and Molly Weasley was the grandmother of Harry’s kids.

Appearances in the Harry Potter Series

Euphemia Potter appears in the Harry Potter series when Harry stands in front of the Mirror of Erised. Harry sees the reflections of his parents and his grandparents, which include his father’s parents, Euphemia and Fleamont. Harry’s view presents him with a long line of his ancestors, both from matrilineal and patrilineal descent, in the mirror, and he is filled with delight to see all of them. It is sad that Harry never got to see his grandparents, as he was born only after his grandparents’ death. He also lost his parents at a young age. Harry’s ancestors from both sides of his family seem to have traits similar to his parents. Harry’s idea of grandparents is materialized by Euphemia and Fleamont’s reflection in the Mirror of Erised.

The Theme of Love and Magic

The entire premise of the Harry Potter series is strongly based on love as it is Harry’s mother, Lily’s sacrifice, and the feeling of love that gives Harry the protection that Voldemort never penetrates. Voldemort’s hatred and Harry’s love act as polar opposites in the narrative. Euphemia’s selfless acceptance of Sirius Black as one of her own children gets carried away to the point when her orphaned grandson is taken care of by Molly Weasley selflessly. Harry is the polar opposite of Voldemort in that he seeks love and to love, unlike Voldemort, who seeks power and to control others.

FAQs