The Greengrass Family

The Greengrass family is a pure-blood wizarding family and one of the “Sacred Twenty-Eight” (Pottermore). While they are established as part of the Slytherin house social circles, their direct involvement in the major events of the Second Wizarding War is not documented in the primary novels. The family is most notable for its connection by marriage to the Malfoy family in the generation following the war.

Only two members of the Greengrass family are named in the original seven novels.

• Daphne Greengrass: A witch in Harry Potter's year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She is confirmed to be a Slytherin, as she is in the same house as Pansy Parkinson. Daphne's only direct mention occurs during the Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.s) examinations, where her name is called for the practical Charms test immediately before Hermione Granger.
• Astoria Greengrass: Daphne's younger sister. In the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it is revealed that she married Draco Malfoy and is the mother of their son, Scorpius Malfoy. Ron Weasley refers to her as Daphne's sister, which confirms their relationship.

As an ancient and respected pure-blood family, the Greengrasses hold a significant place in wizarding society. Their inclusion on the “Sacred Twenty-Eight” list, a directory of supposedly truly pure-blood families published in the 1930s, cements their long-standing status (Pottermore). Unlike other prominent Slytherin-associated families such as the Malfoys or the Lestranges, no member of the Greengrass family is ever identified as a Death Eater or a known supporter of Lord Voldemort. This suggests they likely maintained a position of neutrality during the Second Wizarding War, or at least avoided public allegiance to the Dark Lord.

• Malfoy Family: The Greengrasses' most significant connection is to the Malfoys through the marriage of Astoria and Draco Malfoy. This union was initially seen as suitable by Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy, as Astoria was a pure-blood from a respectable family. However, tensions later arose due to Astoria's refusal to raise her son Scorpius Malfoy with the belief that Muggles were inferior (Pottermore). This indicates a post-war shift in the Greengrass family's ideology, or at least in Astoria's personal values, away from traditional pure-blood prejudice.
• Potter Family: While there are no direct relations in the original novels, the Greengrass lineage becomes linked to the Potters through the deep friendship that forms between Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Severus Potter during their time at Hogwarts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).

The surname Greengrass is of English origin. “Green” can be associated with the colour of Slytherin house and can also connote ambition or envy. “Grass” suggests something common, rooted, and foundational, possibly alluding to the family's ancient and established presence in the British wizarding world.

• In a post on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website, J.K. Rowling provided additional backstory for Astoria Greengrass. She revealed that Astoria was afflicted with a blood curse passed down from an ancestor, which left her frail and shortened her life. Her decision to have a child with Draco was made out of love, despite the significant risk to her own health. She passed away before Scorpius Malfoy's third year at Hogwarts.
• The story of Astoria's illness and her more tolerant views are central plot points in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
• The “Sacred Twenty-Eight” list, which includes the Greengrass name, was not mentioned in the books but was published by J.K. Rowling on Pottermore as an example of pure-blood elitism within the wizarding world.