What Does the Sneak Peek of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Reveal?
We recently posted an article revealing a sneak peek inside the definitive edition of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The new edition will include a Potter family tree and a timeline of events for the Harry Potter series! The family tree seems to be drawing from the information that Pottermore has released about Harry Potter’s ancestors. Perhaps the authors are acknowledging Pottermore and the events of the series in an effort to verify the canon status of Cursed Child.
Let’s start with the “Harry Potter Family Tree.” The description states that the Potters’ ancient wizarding line stretches back to the 12th century and has extended to include the Peverells, Weasleys, and Dursleys. I can’t have been the only person to feel my heart swell with warmth when I saw the Weasleys connected to Harry’s family line!
The Potter line starts with Linfred of Stinchcombe, who earned the surname Potterer by pottering around his garden. The Potter family tree has some gaps throughout the years, but most of the known couples seem to have one child listed. We know from Pottermore that Ignotus Peverell bequeathed the Invisibility Cloak to his eldest daughter, Iolanthe Peverell, who married Hardwin Potter. The other daughters’ names aren’t provided on the timeline. Hardwin Potter’s six brothers were also omitted. Were they unable to get the information? Or did the creators of the timeline forget?
Pottermore also revealed that Fleamont and Euphemia Potter (Harry’s grandparents) had a hard time getting pregnant; James Potter was miraculously conceived later in their life. Was the Potter family’s struggle to conceive an heir an epidemic for generations? Is there a magical reason behind the lack of siblings for a few centuries? If so, it might explain Harry’s complete lack of family from his father’s side. You would think Harry would have some sort of distant relative. Since the Invisibility Cloak is passed down to the eldest child, the absence of Potter siblings might have helped keep the Hallow a secret. Such a precious item could fuel jealousy that I’m sure Albus and Lily Potter feel at the best of times. However, Harry seems to have broken the mold with his trio of children. He created a new era for the Potter family and himself.
I spotted another item of interest in the timeline underneath “September 2017.” The description chronicles the “nineteen years later” scene from Deathly Hallows. Ron and Hermione were described as “Ron and Hermione Granger-Weasley.” Could this mean that Ron uses the same surname as the rest of the family? That would definitely be an innovative decision for Ron, the husband, to hyphenate his name as well. The name change could help create a more cohesive family unit. Rose does say, “I’m a Granger-Weasley” with pride (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 17). To her, the family identity seems to encompass both names. It’s hard to adjust to different names for either Ron or Hermione, but I think it’s an interesting concept for them to create a new surname to pass on to future generations.
The family tree and timeline are great additions to the definitive edition of Cursed Child, even if there are inconsistencies. Sometimes fans feel the need to gaze upon a physical page of information instead of a computer screen. As someone who won’t be able to see the play for the foreseeable future, I’m excited to see if the new edition will provide more details for me to enjoy.
Did you spot any interesting information in the sneak peek of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Don’t forget! Tickets to MuggleNet Live! 2017: Nineteen Years Later are still available for purchase, and we would LOVE to meet you in Orlando for an amazing Potter fandom experience! Check out our website for details and then get your ticket to have a private, magical evening with MuggleNet and the awesome talent from the Potter films!
