JUST WHO IS THE MYSTERIOUS JAMES POTTER?

[Guest]

[sueb34]

Has anyone noticed how very little we know about James Potter?  Apart from him being Lily's husband, Harry's dad and Sirius and Remus's friend, that's about it.  

It is assumed he is pure-blood but does it actually say so anywhere?  If so, where?  If he is, is he related to any other characters in the story (see Sirius's family tree in OoP) and, if so, which and how?  This begs the question, is he merely Sirius's friend or is he cousin, perhaps?  (SPOILER COMING UP!!)

We know nothing at all about Harry's grandparents on either side although I understand there is to be something about this in Book 6.

I know the bit about James being a Quiddich seeker was an invention for the PS movie because elsewhere in the books he is mentioned as the Griffindor chaser.

Apart from the scenes with Snape and the Patronus sequence (Godricks Hollow and the Mirror of Erised give no information) are there any other scenes involving James which give clues about who he is?  Are there clues which come from other characters?

[Roz]

Hmm some excellent questions there!

I wouldn't have thought that he would have been related to Sirius, first off he wasn't on the "Black family tapestry" in book 5. And when Sirius escaped his family he went to stay with the Potters - that wouldn't generally have remained unresolved within a family would it?

Also Sirius seems to regard Tonks as the only half decent member of his family (although I do remember someone who left Sirius money when he died who he liked?? I'll have to check on that).

But ... who ... indeed IS James Potter?

[garage]

Could James Potter be the half blood Prince? Perhaps we have all assumed that the half blood Prince is living and that Book 6 deals with Harry's past. Perhaps that might help to explain why Harry is so rich.

[st_jimmy]

i see wot ur saying about james and thats some good thinking although we r always told that harry is half blood which shud mean james is pureblood, although it woz also stated that to remain pureblood all wizarding families had to marry into each other

[rns91294]

I know the bit about James being a Quiddich seeker was an invention for the PS movie because elsewhere in the books he is mentioned as the Griffindor chaser.

Really?  I remember when Harry became a seeker, they showed him his Dad's trophy, which was a seeker trophy, and Ron and Hermione told him it was in his blood.

The theory of James being the Half Blood Prince is interesting.  However, I always assumed James was pureblood, as Lily was a muggle making Harry half blood.   Interesting theory though.  I just wish we knew when the book was coming out.

[kbmum]

I remember when Harry became a seeker, they showed him his Dad's trophy, which was a seeker trophy, and Ron and Hermione told him it was in his blood.

In the movie or in the book?  In the movie, the title engraved until James' name was seeker.  In the book, it's chaser.

JKR said on her website that the HBP is neither Harry nor Voldemort.  I've been wondering if it's Peter.  Unless someone has a link to an article/online chat/info on Rowling's website that says he's a pureblood?

[rns91294]

In the movie it said seeker. Sorry to have confused you.

Are you talking about Peter Pettigrew?  My theory is that it is Neville.

[kbmum]

I meant Peter Petigrew.  But, Neville can't be the HBP because he's a pureblood.

[rns91294]

Are you sure about that?  I thought there was one parent of Neville's that we didn't know that much about.

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I remember when Harry became a seeker, they showed him his Dad's trophy, which was a seeker trophy, and Ron and Hermione told him it was in his blood.

In the movie or in the book?  In the movie, the title engraved until James' name was seeker.  In the book, it's chaser.

But the strange thing is that in OotP Harry sees James (in the Pensieve) playing with a Golden Snitch. I just assumed he was a Seeker - I always hear he was either a chaser or a seeker and never knew which one. But why would James have such brilliant reflexes (as described in the book - 'Snape's Worst  Memory') and nick a GS if he was a Chaser?

This has always confused me

[kbmum]

I knew I read both pieces of info somewhere, and I finally found them this morning:

Neville is a pureblood -- In OOTP, American edition page 842, Dumbledore explains to Harry why he is the boy described in the prophecy.  "And notice this, Harry.  He chose not the pureblood...but the half-blood, like himself."

James was a chaser -- In a Scholastic.com online chat October 16, 2000, JKR was asked what position James played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.  "James was Chaser."

The Harry Potter Lexicon has all of JKR's interviews and chats transcribed on the site, and a nice search engine in the "Quick Quotes" section to look for specific info.

[sueb34]

Still no closer to knowing anything about James though....

Jo's kept so quiet about him perhaps its a REALLY relevant question?  We know more about Lily because of Petunia.

Come to think of it though, we don't know a whole lot about Remus Lupin either?  He got bitten by the werewolf as a boy.  What were the circumstances?  Hermione read out his name off his case on the train as R J Lupin - what does the J stand for?  Could it tie him to James? (Long shot!!!!)

How many times have I read and re-read these books?  Don't ask??!!

[kbmum]

Have you looked at JKR's website?  She has answers to lots of questions there.  In one of her web chats after OOTP came out, she revealed that Lupin's middle name is John.  If you click on the paperclips, then click on the envelope "About the books," she answers the questions whether Remus and James switched bodies.

By the way, according to the site, today is Molly Weasley's birthday.

[sueb34]

Have you looked at JKR's website?  She has answers to lots of questions there.  In one of her web chats after OOTP came out, she revealed that Lupin's middle name is John.

No - I hadn't seen this - thanks for pointing it out.  Time to go and take another look.

[Roz]

Surely not John!

Remus John Lupin?

That does fit in with the initials inscribed on his trunk in Chapter 5 of PoA (page 60 of the deluxe Bloomsbury edition) ... but JOHN???

It sounds... so ... so normal!

[sueb34]

Have you looked at JKR's website?  She has answers to lots of questions there.  In one of her web chats after OOTP came out, she revealed that Lupin's middle name is John.  If you click on the paperclips, then click on the envelope "About the books," she answers the questions whether Remus and James switched bodies.

Right...I'm back again now..

Yes...  Another interesting thought occurred from something I read on JKR's site.  If Sirius was 22 when he was sent to Azkaban, what did he do between then and the end of school when presumably he would have been 18?  Same for James, Remus, Peter etc.    There are so many potential 'spin-offs' from HP!!!

I'm looking forward to finding out how Hagrid ends up with his motorbike.

I thought I might end up with some answers but I seem just to be getting more and more questions - H E L P ! ! !

[samwise16]

He gets the motorbike because when sirius regrets making peter the potters secret keeper or whatever he was   he goes straight to the the house where the potters where hiding to find it in ruins and all dead but harry. He knew no one else knew about him switching with Peter because that was the plan, to bluff Lord Voldermort, he knew everyone would think he sold the potter to he who must not be named   so gave his bike and went on the run whilst trying to track peter  

[Morningangel-Iola]

Surely not John!

Remus John Lupin?

That does fit in with the initials inscribed on his trunk in Chapter 5 of PoA (page 60 of the deluxe Bloomsbury edition) ... but JOHN???

It sounds... so ... so normal!

Lupin's a half blood maybe the John came from his muggle heritage.