Fleamont Potter

Fleamont Potter was a pure-blood wizard, the father of James Potter and the paternal grandfather of Harry Potter. Married to Euphemia Potter, he was a gifted potioneer who invented the popular Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, a creation that quadrupled the Potter family's already considerable fortune. While his existence as James's father is established in the original novels, his name and detailed backstory are primarily derived from supplementary materials released by J.K. Rowling.

Fleamont was born into the wealthy, pure-blood Potter family. He was named 'Fleamont' at the dying request of his mother, in order to carry on her maiden name, which had a tradition of dying out. This unusual name led to him frequently having to duel classmates at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who mocked him for it. (Pottermore) He was sorted into Gryffindor House. (Pottermore) After graduating from Hogwarts, Fleamont created the magical Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, famously proclaiming it “two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet.” The potion was immensely successful and he sold the company for a vast profit upon his retirement, adding significantly to the family's gold in their Gringotts Wizarding Bank vault. (Pottermore) He married a witch named Euphemia Potter, and for many years they were unable to conceive a child, causing them great sadness. Just as they had given up hope, Euphemia became pregnant, and they had their only son, James Potter, late in life. (Pottermore) This is corroborated in the novels, where Sirius Black tells Harry that his parents were “getting on a bit” and “thought of him as a little treasure.” Fleamont and Euphemia were known for their kindness, taking a sixteen-year-old Sirius Black into their home and treating him like a second son after he ran away from his own family. They lived long enough to see James marry Lily Evans, of whom they were very fond, but they never met their grandson, Harry Potter. Both Fleamont and his wife contracted dragon pox in their advanced age and died within days of each other, before Harry was born.

The novels provide no physical description of Fleamont Potter. When Harry Potter sees his grandparents among his ancestors in the Mirror of Erised, they are simply described as part of a crowd of smiling relatives. Based on his history, Fleamont was a proud and capable wizard, not afraid to defend his family's honour through duelling. He was also exceptionally kind and generous, demonstrated by his welcoming of Sirius Black into his home. As a father, he was doting and loving, having waited so long for his son James Potter.

• Potion-Making: Fleamont was a highly talented and innovative Potions master. His invention of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion is a testament to his skill in this field. (Pottermore)
• Duelling: He was an accomplished duellist, having gained considerable practice defending his name during his Hogwarts years. (Pottermore)

• Invisibility Cloak: As a direct descendant of Ignotus Peverell, Fleamont would have inherited the Invisibility Cloak as a family heirloom before passing it down to his son, James Potter.
• Sleekeazy's Hair Potion Company: He was the founder and owner of the company that produced his famous potion before selling it upon retirement. (Pottermore)
• Potter Family Vault: He inherited the family fortune stored at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which he then quadrupled through his business success. This fortune was eventually passed down to his grandson, Harry Potter.

• Euphemia Potter (Wife): Fleamont had a loving and devoted relationship with his wife. They shared the sorrow of being childless for many years and the immense joy of finally having their son, James. (Pottermore)
• James Potter (Son): As their only and long-awaited child, James was treasured by Fleamont and Euphemia. They were described as spoiling him, and they lived to see him happily married.
• Lily Potter (Daughter-in-law): Fleamont and Euphemia were very fond of Lily and approved of her marriage to their son. (Pottermore)
• Sirius Black: Fleamont acted as a surrogate father to Sirius, offering him refuge and treating him as a member of the family when he was rejected by his own parents.
• Harry Potter (Grandson): Fleamont died before Harry's birth and therefore never met him. Harry only ever saw him as a smiling figure in the Mirror of Erised.

• Fleamont: According to J.K. Rowling, this name was his grandmother's surname, carried on as a first name to preserve it. (Pottermore) The name is unusual and its components could be interpreted as “flea” and “mont” (from the French word for mountain or hill).
• Potter: This is a common English occupational surname for one who makes pottery. J.K. Rowling has stated this name was chosen to evoke a down-to-earth, craftsman-like quality, reflecting the family's grounded nature despite their wealth and pure-blood status.

The character is never named in the seven-book series. His name, “Fleamont,” and his detailed backstory concerning Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and his relationship with his wife were first revealed by J.K. Rowling in an essay titled “The Potter Family” on the Pottermore website. This information provided canonical explanations for the Potter family's wealth and why James Potter was an only child born to elderly parents. In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, actors portray Harry's grandparents in the Mirror of Erised scene, but they are uncredited and their appearance does not necessarily reflect later descriptions.