The Lestrange Family Tree From Harry Potter Explained

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In the “Harry Potter” series, a significant number of unsavory characters originate from the Lestrange family. The Lestranges made their debut in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” although they were first mentioned in the book. This family is notorious for its wickedness and is associated with other “pureblood” magical lineages. They swiftly join forces with Voldemort, a role portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the movies. However, let’s delve into their background before the fourth “Harry Potter” movie. Additionally, were any of the series’ popular characters connected to the Lestranges by blood?

As a Harry Potter fan, I’ve stumbled upon an interesting connection in the series. Two beloved characters, Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman) and Nymphadora Tonks (portrayed by Natalia Tena), are surprisingly linked to the Lestranges. Her sister Andromeda Black left the Black family after marrying a Muggleborn wizard named Ted Tonks and giving birth to their half-blood daughter, Nymphadora. Although Narcissa Malfoy (the late Helen McCrory) was also born into the Black family, she turned towards evil deeds like most Lestranges. However, there’s an exception to this trend that we’ll discuss soon. So, let’s untangle the Black family tree!

The first notable Lestrange was a Minister of Magic — until Leta

It wouldn’t be incorrect to suggest that while the Lestrange family originated in France and had multiple burial sites in the renowned Père Lachaise Cemetery, they didn’t have a consistently negative reputation throughout their history. However, Rodolphus Lestrange, who served as Minister for Magic around 1800, did not start off on a positive note. His most significant action during his brief tenure was an attempt to close down the Department of Mysteries. Unfortunately, his ambitious plan didn’t gain support, and he resigned after only six years in the role.

In the Harry Potter saga, it’s worth noting that the next significant Lestrange character is tied to the Fantastic Beasts series. This is Corvus Lestrange, who charms Laurena Kama (a member of the influential Kama family) into loving him. They have a child named Leta Lestrange, but tragically, Laurena passes away during childbirth. Corvus then marries Clarisse Tremblay and has a son with her, also named Corvus. However, before this son grows up, Leta exchanges Corvus with another child and sends him on a voyage that ends in a shipwreck. We’ll delve more into Leta later on.

Eventually, Leta matures and enrolls at Hogwarts. In the movie “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” we encounter Leta as an adult, portrayed by Zoë Kravitz. (She appears briefly in a picture in the initial film titled “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”) In the same movie, Leta perishes during an altercation with Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), her final words to her fellow student and companion Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) being an expression of love.

Bellatrix Black marries into the Lestrange family and allies it with Voldemort

Returning to Bellatrix Black, we find that she exhibited quite malicious inclinations even prior to her marriage into the Lestrange family. Her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange (not the one who became the Minister for Magic), often socialized with Bellatrix while they were both students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This group of friends included future Death Eaters like Evan Rosier, as well as Avery and Wilkes, characters who never received official first names. Among them was also Severus Snape, the secret turncoat famously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman. Given this company, it’s not shocking that upon graduation from Hogwarts, Bellatrix and her companions aligned themselves with Voldemort. Although we don’t encounter many Lestranges in the storyline, their shared belief in pureblood supremacy, a tenet also held by Voldemort, likely played a significant role in this decision.

As a devoted “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” fan, I recall a captivating moment when I found myself alone in Albus Dumbledore’s office (portrayed by Michael Gambon in the movie). Intrigued by his Pensieve, I decided to take a peek. Inside, I stumbled upon a memory that chronicled the trial and arrest of Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr., played by David Tennant in the film. These individuals were on trial for tormenting Aurors and Order of the Phoenix fighters, Frank and Alice Longbottom, the missing parents of my Hogwarts companion, Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis). It was in this moment that I truly grasped the horrific capabilities of the Lestranges.

Bellatrix and Rodolphus are imprisoned in Azkaban but eventually escape

In “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” Helena Bonham Carter debuts as the chilling character Bellatrix Lestrange, who, along with Rodolphus, breaks free from Azkaban due to Voldemort’s resurgence. At this point in the story, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge (played by Robert Hardy) denies Voldemort’s return, which seems to enable Azkaban guards, the dementors, to side with Voldemort, potentially releasing many high-risk prisoners. This action of Fudge’s certainly doesn’t help. Bellatrix is a frightening character who thrives on chaos, anarchy, and unquestioning loyalty to Voldemort. She will go to great lengths to execute his orders and bring down Harry Potter and anyone associated with him.

In the climactic moments of “Order of the Phoenix,” as I, Harry Potter, find myself locked in a fierce battle with Bellatrix Lestrange and her band of Death Eaters within the Department of Mysteries, it’s a grueling struggle over an enigmatic orb containing a prophecy that binds me and Voldemort. Just when hope seems lost, reinforcements from the Order of the Phoenix arrive, led by my dear godfather Sirius Black. The confrontation between Sirius and Bellatrix becomes a spectacle of its own, with the outcome uncertain – it’s unclear if her curse felled Sirius or not. What is certain, however, is that she hurls him through a sinister veil in the Death Chamber, a fatal journey even without the curse’s touch. In that instant, I swore to avenge Sirius and bring Bellatrix to justice, but the Order intervenes, leaving an indelible mark on my soul.

Bellatrix is killed during the Battle of Hogwarts, but her husband survives

As a devoted Harry Potter fan, I can’t help but feel Harry’s unwavering animosity towards Bellatrix Lestrange throughout the series. However, her identity becomes crucial to Harry’s quest to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. When my friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) uncover that one of Voldemort’s soul fragments is hidden within Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, concealed in the Lestrange family vault at Hogwarts, they come to a startling realization: they must impersonate Bellatrix.

After an incredibly terrifying encounter with Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor where she cruelly tortures Hermione for being a Muggleborn witch, we manage to obtain a strand of her hair – a Death Eater’s relic. We brew the Polyjuice Potion using this hair and transform Hermione into Bellatrix, enabling us to infiltrate the heavily guarded Lestrange vault.

In essence, the trio find that their strategy, albeit with a few hiccups like battling a dragon, proves somewhat effective – culminating in the Battle of Hogwarts depicted in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”. During this battle, Bellatrix attempts to harm Ginny Weasley, Ron’s sister and Harry’s girlfriend. However, before they can protect her, Molly Weasley, portrayed by Julie Walters, steps in and slays Bellatrix, eliminating the wicked witch. In J.K. Rowling’s original storyline, that seems to be the end of Bellatrix. Yet, the stage play of the Harry Potter series reveals an extraordinary twist about her afterward. (It is not explicitly stated, but it is strongly implied that Rodolphus, who was with Bellatrix in the story, manages to survive and is imprisoned in Azkaban once more.)

Delphini becomes the last remaining Lestrange

If you consider “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the London-premiered play (later moving to Broadway), as an authentic addition to the Harry Potter series, then the latest information about Bellatrix Lestrange reveals that she had a child before her death in the Battle of Hogwarts. Interestingly, this child’s father isn’t her husband Rodolphus but rather Voldemort himself, and her name is Delphini.

In “Cursed Child,” Delphi, who pretends to be Amos Diggory’s niece, establishes friendships with Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, despite being portrayed by Jeff Rawle in the film series. In “Goblet of Fire,” Cedric Diggory, played by Robert Pattinson, meets a tragic end at the hands of Voldemort. This event stirs resentment within Albus Severus towards his father for numerous immature reasons, prompting him to steal a Time-Turner in an attempt to resurrect Cedric. Over time, Delphi, who goes by the nickname Delphi, keeps appearing in various timelines, causing suspicion, especially after Scorpius notices a suspicious tattoo. Eventually, they uncover that Delphi is not Amos’ niece but a formidable adversary, working in secret for Voldemort, and seeking to reestablish him as a powerful figure (even using the Time-Turner in her plans). Scorpius, Albus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco Malfoy (Scorpius’ father and Harry’s school nemesis) eventually uncover that Delphi is actually Voldemort’s secret child, driven to regain his power at any cost.

Delphini’s defeat essentially ends the Lestrange family line

Delphi intends to journey back in time via Draco’s potent Time-Turner to prevent Voldemort from attempting to kill Harry as a baby, an action ultimately leading to his demise and absence for a decade. Accompanied by Scorpius, Albus, and others, they traverse various timelines aiming to foil Delphi’s sinister scheme. The storyline involves Harry disguising himself as Voldemort to deceive Delphi, causing him to witness the real Voldemort murder his parents once again. Eventually, Delphi is captured, leading authorities to decide that she should be imprisoned in Azkaban for her transgressions.

In simpler terms, it seems that J.K. Rowling, the author of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” has created a storyline for Delphini Lestrange that feels excessive or unnecessary to some fans. The issue is that Delphi’s existence, as the supposed last member of the Lestranges, is questionable because it’s hard to believe Voldemort and Bellatrix could have had a child together. This idea raises many logical concerns, especially since we don’t know much about Voldemort’s reanimated form and whether it was capable of reproduction. If Delphi remains in Azkaban, it might bring an end to the Lestrange line despite the complications surrounding her inclusion in the story.

The “Harry Potter” films are available to stream on Peacock now.

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2025-01-06 00:30