Chapter 171: The Potter Family Should Not Be Underestimated
Draco glared at Harry and said coldly,
"If I were you, Potter, I'd be more careful. You should learn some manners—unless you want to end up like your parents. Ungrateful, reckless... If you surround yourself with the wrong kind of people, like the Weasleys, you'll only be dragged down."
Phineas narrowed his eyes.
"Draco, I'm seriously starting to question the Malfoy family's upbringing. You've said enough to make me reconsider any cooperation with your family. And I doubt you're even aware that Harry is Sirius's godson. That means he has the right to inherit a portion of the Black family estate. Not to mention the wealth of the Potter family."
Draco's face flushed red, his expression frozen in shock.
Phineas turned to Harry and continued calmly,
"I was going to wait until you were older to explain all this, but since the topic has come up, I'll say it now. The Potter family is one of the older pure-blood families in the wizarding world. While not counted among the Twenty-Eight Sacred Families—mostly because they never practiced blood purity and because 'Potter' is a common Muggle surname—their roots run deep."
"In fact, the Potters trace back to the twelfth century, to a wizard named Linfred of Stinchcombe. Eccentric and brilliant, he was nicknamed 'The Potterer,' which eventually became 'Potter.' He invented several of the potions still used today—like the Skele-Gro and Pepperup Potion. Harry, you should know the magical community technically owes you royalties for their continued use. You could take it up with the Ministry if you wanted."
He smiled faintly and continued,
"Later generations of Potters continued that legacy. For instance, they created the shampoo nearly every wizard uses today. The original Potter Shampoo Company was eventually sold—part of it was acquired by the Black family."
"But the real reason the Potters are historically significant is that you, Harry, are descended from a witch named Iolanthe Peverell. Her maternal line bore the surname Freer—once a powerful name in magical history. That line has vanished, and the Potters are the last known descendants."
Harry looked stunned.
"I've never heard of the Peverells or the Freer family…"
Phineas gave him a knowing smile but didn't elaborate.
"Most haven't. The Potters, Weasleys, Malfoys—none are part of the current sworn families of the Pureblood Council."
"The what?" asked Ron.
"Sworn families?" added Draco.
All three looked at Phineas expectantly, but he simply smiled and changed the subject.
"Anyway, Draco, you should remember this—Harry doesn't need to rely on anyone for status or power. Aside from the Black, Selwyn, Riche, and Lestrange families, the Potters are among the wealthiest."
Harry thought of the piles of gold galleons in his Gringotts vault and blinked.
So I'm actually that rich?
Phineas turned to him again.
"Regardless of which house you're sorted into, Harry, I hope you take Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions seriously. That's not just for your own sake. Both the Potter family and your mother were especially gifted in those areas. Lily Evans—your mother—had talent that rivaled Professor Snape's. If not for her untimely death, she might have become a Potions Master in her own right."
Maybe that will change how Harry sees Snape, Phineas thought.
Of course, he also knew Professor Quirrell was returning this year, and that the noseless Dark Lord would be coming along as well.
I promised Dumbledore I'd tell him about one Horcrux a year, Phineas recalled, but I forgot last year… I suppose I'll tell him two this year and try to finish revealing all of them before graduation.
To Phineas, Voldemort wasn't much of a concern. Yes, he was dangerous—powerful even—but his ambitions were narrow. Compared to Grindelwald, Voldemort lacked vision. Grindelwald may have been slightly weaker in sheer magic, but as a Dark Lord, he was far more significant.
Yet in the eyes of the Council of Elders, even both of them were small players. Nearly all legendary witches and wizards belonged to the Council—except Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort. Even Nicolas Flamel was a member.
For a family to become a sworn family of the Council, it either had to be sponsored by another, or produce a new legendary wizard of its own.
The Black family had produced nearly ten legendary witches and wizards. That's why Phineas didn't take Voldemort seriously.
Watching Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle leave with dark looks on their faces, Phineas chuckled and stood.
"It's time you all changed into your robes."
He stepped out of the compartment—not because the boys needed privacy to change, but because he had work to do.
The fact that Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle arrived together and seemed to act in unison told Phineas that the Goyle and Crabbe families had aligned themselves with the Malfoys. Perhaps because all three families were former Death Eaters—or because Malfoy was one of the few pure-blood families that survived Voldemort's fall without being punished.
Either way, their loyalty to Lucius Malfoy was clear. In the eyes of the Council, Malfoy's strength was an extension of Black's influence. Phineas couldn't turn a blind eye to that.
But what truly troubled him was that Draco's confrontation with Harry didn't seem orchestrated by Lucius.
Lucius saw Harry with the Weasleys on the platform. He'd know that confronting him now would make Harry an enemy. So… why did he let it happen? Or did Draco act on his own?
Either way, Phineas needed answers.