BIOGRAPHY // dis_mods
OOC
Name: Laura
Age: 23
AIM: lies and jests
Time Zone: central
Experience: I spent a lot of time snuggling with Cate. Does that count? (Also: I am Stephen)
OOC Journal: onethingreal @ ij; also onethingreal here, but I don't really use it.
IC
Name: Jane Beatrice Dorny
Blood Status: Halfblood
Age/Birthday: 17 / May 20 1980
House/Year: Gryffindor / 7th
Classes: Muggle Studies, History of Magic, Dark Arts, Charms
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Appearance: The nickname "plain Jane" fits Jane rather well (at least, in her opinion). She has never been a fashionista like Parvati and Lavender, and was never considered one of the prettiest girls in her year (that honour was given to the Patil sisters). Her face is mousy and pinched, her nose a bit too narrow and pointy, her lips thin, her eyes small and close together. Her dull brown hair emphasizes the paleness of her skin, making her look washed out and occasionally ill, even if she isn't. She considers herself a plain-looking girl, nothing special about her aside from her blue eyes. In reality, she is sort of pretty, in an interesting sort of way. She doesn't smile very often, so she tends to look more serious and severe than she means to be, which is unfortunate. She's much prettier when she lets down her guard to smile and laugh. Her serious, calm nature only emphasizes her pointy features, but she also doesn't care too much about changing it. Sometimes, she lets Lavender and Parvati do her make-up and hair, but not often. She isn't trying to impress anyone.
She's also terribly skinny. She's perfectly healthy, and eats much more than her dormmates, but she can't manage to gain any weight. She'd like to, but she can't. She's a petite girl, of average height (about 5'4"), and she looks like a strong wind might blow her over. Jane is not athletic whatsoever and never has been, so she doesn't even look as though she's thin from being active. But don't let appearances be deceiving: she's stronger than she looks.
When not in her Hogwarts uniform, Jane wears... well, plain-looking clothing. She doesn't wear flashy clothing and doesn't wear clothing that shows off her (small) figure. She likes to be comfortable, so she wears jeans, t-shirts, trousers and soft jumpers. Her clothes have cat fur on them constantly, thanks to her grey British Shorthair named Agatha (Aggie).
PB: brunette!Kristen Stewart
History:
Mother: Cecilia Dorny -- Halfblood
Father: Hugh Dorny -- Halfblood
Brother: John Dorny, Hufflepuff 6th
Cat: Agatha (Aggie), British Shorthair, 3 years old
When Hugh Dorny and Cecilia Ollerton met at the Gryffindor table during their first year at Hogwarts, they didn't speak. At all. That didn't change for several years. Hugh was much too shy and not at all interested in girls; Cecilia thought he was just plain weird, and later, was offended that he didn't pay any attention to her, even after she (and other girls) began throwing themselves at him. When they finally began dating during their seventh year, no one was surprised. The pair had a tumultuous relationship through their last year and beyond. When they eventually moved into a tiny flat above a shop in Diagon Alley, Cecilia thought that their arguments would cease, and he thought that he would be able to trust that his beautiful girlfriend was not out with other boys. The arguments didn't stop, however, nor did the loud make-up sessions. Cecilia frequently threatened to move out, or was frequently seen tossing Hugh's belongings out the window. Despite it all, the pair loved each other deeply and eventually got married, bought a house in Cecilia's home town near Liverpool, and began to start their life together. Things did settle down, surprisingly. They had begun to grow up a bit and learn how to deal with each other. Their marriage wasn't perfect, by any means, but it was improving.
In October of 1979, Cecilia announced to her husband and her family that she was expecting a child, due in May, much to the delight of everyone. Cecilia hoped that a baby would heal the remaining cracks in their relationship and bring her closer to her husband. Hugh just hoped that they would have a boy. In late May of the following year, their first child, a daughter they named Jane, was born. Jane was not a pretty baby at first, much to the dismay of her mother. Her features were pinched, her head a bit lopsided from birth, and she was completely bald. Her parents often lovingly called her their little alien baby, but secretly hoped she would grow into her looks. She did, and by her toddler years, she was as cute as a button, a head full of light brown hair.
Not even six months after Jane's birth, Cecilia got pregnant again. They had hoped to wait until Jane was two or so before having another child, so the pregnancy was a surprise, but a welcome one. Cecilia was glad that her children would grow up so close in age. In July 1981, their son, John was born. Due to some complications during birth, Cecilia hemorrhaged and in order to save her life, she had her uterus removed. The fact that John would be the last child she would ever carry made her very protective of her two children. If she lost one, that would be it, no more.
Hugh and Cecilia doted upon Jane and John from the start, giving the children anything they wanted (as long as they could afford it). The family was fairly well off, benefiting from the Cleansweep Broom franchise that Cecilia's father, Bill, started with his brothers, Barnaby and Bob. Hugh always felt slightly worthless and insignificant next to the Ollerton family because he didn't have very much to offer. He thought Cecilia could have done much better. Cecilia would have fared well on her own, just from her family's wealth, but she wanted to be with him regardless. Growing up, Jane and John were expected to be smart, athletic, sweet, charming children, and for the most part, they lived up to expectations... except Jane really didn't understand Quidditch whatsoever. Oh, she tried, for the sake of her father and maternal grandfather and extended family, all of whom were deeply invested in Quidditch. She didn't mind watching that much, and the history of Quidditch was actually quite fascinating to her, but she lacked the strength to control a broom. While disappointed, her father couldn't ignore feeling relieved that his baby girl wouldn't partake in what could be a dangerous sport.
Jane preferred quiet activities: reading, drawing, playing with her dolls, making up bedtime stories for her brother. For years, her parents thought she was shy, but she never really was. She was just... quiet and calm, and never had very much to say. She was more thoughtful and observant of the world around her. As the elder child in the Dorny household, she also became the mediator and the buffer between her brother and their parents' arguments. She was the one who would calm John down when they heard angry whispers or raised voices from their parents' bedroom. Jane never really thought much of their parents' relationship until she began attending Hogwarts, where her classmates all seemed to have... normal home lives, Muggle or not. Her early teen years were full of frustration towards her parents. Jane didn't understand why they didn't just separate, go their own ways. Wouldn't that be better than all those blasted fights? She tried to not let it bother her, because in the end, she and John had turned out pretty well.
Jane was sorted into Gryffindor upon her arrival at Hogwarts. She didn't think much of it at first; though she knew Gryffindor had a reputation for being the bold and courageous students, she was glad to follow in her parents' footsteps. She was too wrapped up in all of the new people around her that she barely noticed Harry Potter being sorted into her house too. She knew about Harry. She'd heard the stories about the war from her parents, heard the rumours. She didn't think there was anything special about the boy. He was scrawny, had bad hair, and wore glasses. He wasn't as interesting as everyone else thought he was.
Her first few years at Hogwarts were relatively uneventful, aside from Harry Potter's various exploits. It certainly kept things interesting around the Gryffindor Common Room, and their Quidditch team was good with Harry on the team. Life was good as a Gryffindor! Her brother arrived at Hogwarts the year after Jane did, sorted into Hufflepuff for whatever reason, Jane didn't know. They didn't see each other very much - different houses, different years, different classes - but Jane made a point to check up on him from time to time. She was a good student, though less practically minded than her professors would have liked. It took her longer (though not as long as Neville) to pick up on basic charms, spells, hexes, jinxes, and so on, but she always managed. Among her dormmates, she fell somewhere in the middle of all of them. She wasn't nearly as bookish and intellectual as Hermione, but not nearly as outgoing and peppy as Lavender and Parvati. She knew how to dress herself well - though conservatively - but was not as interested in fashion and make-up and hair and nail polish and all that like some of the other girls. She tended to be, just as at home, a calming influence on the girls. Her years of mediating at home served her well between the hot-headed tempers of the Gryffindor girls at Hogwarts - though she was often helpless to fix anything that involved Lavender and Ron's relationship.
The last few years have been more difficult. The return of You-Know-Who changed the dynamics at Hogwarts, particularly in Gryffindor House. Harry became something of a saviour, once people actually began to believe him. For her own part, Jane had trouble believing him at first, not because she didn't trust him or Hermione or Ron, but because she'd seen all three of them grow up. She'd watched them go through their awkward growth spurts, through puberty, through spots and cracking voices, and she had a hard time picturing Harry fighting a powerful wizard because of that. Still, when it came down to it, she'd much rather believe Harry than succumb to something truly evil. Her choice became even more clear when, before the start of her final year at Hogwarts, her paternal grandmother was forced to face the Muggle-Born Registration Committee for crimes (notably, stealing magic). Unfortunately, even thorough geneology research couldn't save her, and the old lady was carted off to Azkaban immediately following her interview. It terrified and infuriated Jane. The thought of her grandmother being punished for something like that was beyond comprehension.
With Harry, Ron and Hermione gone from the start of her seventh year, Jane thinks that she has grown closer to the remaining Gryffindors in her year in response. They had no choice, really, but to bond together in solidarity, missing their three most notorious housemates. In some ways, their absence has been good for her. She has had to force herself to interact more with other people because there are fewer of them, and because she's afraid something might happen to those left and she'd always regret not getting to know them better. Now, Jane is desperately hoping that Harry (and Ron and Hermione) are successful in whatever they're doing, because if the Hogwarts she and her classmates are experiencing under the Carrows is any indication of the things to come, she doesn't want to see what the world will be like under You-Know-Who.
Personality: (Please be as detailed as possible, sharing your character's strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.)
Unlike many Gryffindors in her year, Jane is a calm and collected person. She is not as serious as she might appear at first glance, but she is a very stable person. Years spent soothing her family and calming them down from tense situations has given her an aura of responsibility. It might even come off as boring, which suits Jane just fine. She doesn't think she's very interesting, anyway. In reality, she's not boring once you get to know her. Inside that calm, collected shell is a bright, observant and sweet young woman. She just happens to be a bit more practical and less hot-headed than most Gryffindors. This makes her a good Prefect. She does not break easily under pressure and does not get frazzled very easily. Though she's petite, she can take charge and sound intimidating when necessary. She is very good at raising her voice and sounding commanding, something that always takes her off guard for a moment. Even though she spends much of her time exercising incredible patience, she does have her limits, and is not afraid to stand up to anybody. She usually regrets snapping immediately after, the responsible side of her reminding her that it's not always wise to talk back. Still, she's usually a straight-forward girl, not one to beat around the bush.
She's a loyal friend, and as long as someone's secrets aren't life-threatening for whatever reason, she'll take those secrets to her grave. Jane is the person to go to when you need to vent about whatever problem, from boy troubles to how long that bloody essay for History of Magic is to anything involving the Carrows. She's the person to go to if you need to be soothed and calmed down, and she's very good at it. And though she might not have much to say, that doesn't mean she isn't listening or paying attention. She listens to everything and spends a lot of time analyzing what other people say and do in her head. More likely than not, she'll be able to point out little inflections in someone's voice or twitches in their body language that might give away more than they'd like. Of course, she is perfectly incapable of reading her own body language, and is unable to change the way she often sounds like she thinks she's superior or bored. She's especially bad at reading the body language of boys who are interested in her, leading her to believe that all of the boys she knows are more interested in Lavender or Parvati, rather than her.
Though she is not an open book, and though she is quiet, that doesn't mean she's shy or insecure. One of her more Gryffindor-like traits is her confidence in who she is and ability to stand up for herself. She knows who she is, and does not want to be changed. If someone doesn't like her, that's their own perogative. She doesn't spend time dwelling on it, though she does have a deep desire to be liked and accepted by those closer to her (namely, other Gryffindors). It's easy for her to slip into Just A Friend mode, or the soothing, mothering friend role, because that gives her a way to feel needed and wanted. Lately, she's become more frustrated with the situation at Hogwarts, which is not an emotion she's used to feeling. When things aren't going well at home, she can usually fix it - or at least find a way to distract herself until it blows over. Because she can't fix it, she spends more time letting people talk to her now than before.
Questions (To be answered briefly and completely, in about 100 words.)
What does your character think of the current situation at Hogwarts, especially the Carrows?
Jane doesn't like it very much at all. Though she was glad to have Hermione gone at first and glad to be Prefect (a position she always coveted), she has grown to miss her dormmate quite a bit over the last six months. She also quickly discovered that being Prefect under the Carrows was not all it was cracked up to be. The Gryffindors in her year have been getting a lot of attention, which makes it more difficult for her to slip by unnoticed, but she's also starting to realise that maybe her housemates have a point. Maybe they should fight back, more than they have been, and maybe she should too.
What's your character's deepest, darkest secret? Who might know this? Every night, Jane prays silently to God or whatever higher power there is up there (she doesn't know, so she just prays to all of the deities she knows) to either make her parents happy and normal, or to help them realise that they should separate and stop fighting. She has been praying since she was a little girl, but so far, she hasn't had any luck (which in turn makes her question the existence of God and the like). When she was little, she used to pray that they would get divorced so her mum could move somewhere cooler and bigger, or so she and John could go stay with their grandparents more. Sylvia, Lavender and Parvati might know some bits about her home life and how much her parents bicker, and they might have caught her mumbling to herself at night, but otherwise, she doesn't talk about her wishes and prayers. Jane thinks it's sort of embarrassing that a seventeen year old girl such as herself would still care.
She has also never been kissed. The girls would also know that. And she's had an on-and-off crush on Seamus for a few years, but no one would know about that!
Describe your character's Sorting. What about them caused them to go in their house? Jane was absolutely terrified during her Sorting. She thought she might pass out, or wet her trousers, while waiting for the Sorting Hat to make a decision. Though she thought it took the Hat ages to decide, it was only a few minutes. It debated between sending her to Hufflepuff, sensing her loyalty and strong sense of duty, her desire to follow the rules and be the responsible caretaker. Instead, it sent her to Gryffindor (just like her parents, it noted, a point that she did not miss or appreciate). The Sorting Hat sensed a quieter courage within her, one that might go unnoticed around the louder Gryffindors, but one that was there never-the-less.
Samples
We require samples fresh and relevant to this RPG.
First Person:
Helloooooo Hogwarts. I see you are all still whinging about this or that. But what else is new? I'm guilty of it too & I really can't blame any of you. The Carrows are crackers. Shouldn't say that. But please please please don't get stupid.
Does anyone know how to put a photo in here? I can't remember. I can just use Spell-o-Tape, right? I don't have anything to say, so I was thinking about showing off photos of my cat, Aggie. She's ruddy adorable, swear to Merlin. Sort of tubby, though. Someone must be sneaking her treats somehow. Or maybe she's just eaten Mrs. Norris. Now that's a fight I'd pay to see.
I heard some fourth years blathering on about Valentine's Day. Ergh. Is that really next week? I miss when the castle used to Dumbledore always seemed to love holidays
Third Person:
Jane picked at her food, pushing it around her plate with her fork. Before the Carrows' reign at Hogwarts, she would have piled her plate up just as full as Ron Weasley used to, and she would have finished it all, too. Now, she couldn't be bothered to do so. She glanced over at the "best" table: the one full of Slytherins and Purebloods from other houses. She was hungry, dammit, but she didn't complain. The rest of the students did that enough for her. She kept telling herself that it could be worse. Survivors of the Holocaust went through much worse, she reminded herself. At least she had a roof over her head, a warm bed at night, some sort of food, an education (albeit one that she didn't think was going to be worth much once the year was out). It could be worse.
She had some time to kill before her first class of the day, so she decided to write a quick letter home to her parents. She hoped they were all right. Jane worried a lot when she was away. Without her around, who would make sure everything was a-okay? She was about to start for the owlery when she realised she was running out of time - and she knew that the letter would be inspected by the Carrows, anyway, so why not hand it off to them to deliver it? Ultimately, she decided that it was all a waste. She didn't want to get anywhere near either of them, but particularly not the male one, who always seemed to leer at her. She lit the letter on fire and watched it burn on her plate. The first class on her plate that day was Dark Arts - not one she was looking forward to at all.
She noticed one of the Slytherins sneering at her from the other table, and laughing. What, she wondered, was so funny? She ignored it. She didn't want her Prefect badge taken away like Seamus's had been.
Name: Laura
Age: 23
AIM: lies and jests
Time Zone: central
Experience: I spent a lot of time snuggling with Cate. Does that count? (Also: I am Stephen)
OOC Journal: onethingreal @ ij; also onethingreal here, but I don't really use it.
IC
Name: Jane Beatrice Dorny
Blood Status: Halfblood
Age/Birthday: 17 / May 20 1980
House/Year: Gryffindor / 7th
Classes: Muggle Studies, History of Magic, Dark Arts, Charms
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Appearance: The nickname "plain Jane" fits Jane rather well (at least, in her opinion). She has never been a fashionista like Parvati and Lavender, and was never considered one of the prettiest girls in her year (that honour was given to the Patil sisters). Her face is mousy and pinched, her nose a bit too narrow and pointy, her lips thin, her eyes small and close together. Her dull brown hair emphasizes the paleness of her skin, making her look washed out and occasionally ill, even if she isn't. She considers herself a plain-looking girl, nothing special about her aside from her blue eyes. In reality, she is sort of pretty, in an interesting sort of way. She doesn't smile very often, so she tends to look more serious and severe than she means to be, which is unfortunate. She's much prettier when she lets down her guard to smile and laugh. Her serious, calm nature only emphasizes her pointy features, but she also doesn't care too much about changing it. Sometimes, she lets Lavender and Parvati do her make-up and hair, but not often. She isn't trying to impress anyone.
She's also terribly skinny. She's perfectly healthy, and eats much more than her dormmates, but she can't manage to gain any weight. She'd like to, but she can't. She's a petite girl, of average height (about 5'4"), and she looks like a strong wind might blow her over. Jane is not athletic whatsoever and never has been, so she doesn't even look as though she's thin from being active. But don't let appearances be deceiving: she's stronger than she looks.
When not in her Hogwarts uniform, Jane wears... well, plain-looking clothing. She doesn't wear flashy clothing and doesn't wear clothing that shows off her (small) figure. She likes to be comfortable, so she wears jeans, t-shirts, trousers and soft jumpers. Her clothes have cat fur on them constantly, thanks to her grey British Shorthair named Agatha (Aggie).
PB: brunette!Kristen Stewart
History:
Mother: Cecilia Dorny -- Halfblood
Father: Hugh Dorny -- Halfblood
Brother: John Dorny, Hufflepuff 6th
Cat: Agatha (Aggie), British Shorthair, 3 years old
When Hugh Dorny and Cecilia Ollerton met at the Gryffindor table during their first year at Hogwarts, they didn't speak. At all. That didn't change for several years. Hugh was much too shy and not at all interested in girls; Cecilia thought he was just plain weird, and later, was offended that he didn't pay any attention to her, even after she (and other girls) began throwing themselves at him. When they finally began dating during their seventh year, no one was surprised. The pair had a tumultuous relationship through their last year and beyond. When they eventually moved into a tiny flat above a shop in Diagon Alley, Cecilia thought that their arguments would cease, and he thought that he would be able to trust that his beautiful girlfriend was not out with other boys. The arguments didn't stop, however, nor did the loud make-up sessions. Cecilia frequently threatened to move out, or was frequently seen tossing Hugh's belongings out the window. Despite it all, the pair loved each other deeply and eventually got married, bought a house in Cecilia's home town near Liverpool, and began to start their life together. Things did settle down, surprisingly. They had begun to grow up a bit and learn how to deal with each other. Their marriage wasn't perfect, by any means, but it was improving.
In October of 1979, Cecilia announced to her husband and her family that she was expecting a child, due in May, much to the delight of everyone. Cecilia hoped that a baby would heal the remaining cracks in their relationship and bring her closer to her husband. Hugh just hoped that they would have a boy. In late May of the following year, their first child, a daughter they named Jane, was born. Jane was not a pretty baby at first, much to the dismay of her mother. Her features were pinched, her head a bit lopsided from birth, and she was completely bald. Her parents often lovingly called her their little alien baby, but secretly hoped she would grow into her looks. She did, and by her toddler years, she was as cute as a button, a head full of light brown hair.
Not even six months after Jane's birth, Cecilia got pregnant again. They had hoped to wait until Jane was two or so before having another child, so the pregnancy was a surprise, but a welcome one. Cecilia was glad that her children would grow up so close in age. In July 1981, their son, John was born. Due to some complications during birth, Cecilia hemorrhaged and in order to save her life, she had her uterus removed. The fact that John would be the last child she would ever carry made her very protective of her two children. If she lost one, that would be it, no more.
Hugh and Cecilia doted upon Jane and John from the start, giving the children anything they wanted (as long as they could afford it). The family was fairly well off, benefiting from the Cleansweep Broom franchise that Cecilia's father, Bill, started with his brothers, Barnaby and Bob. Hugh always felt slightly worthless and insignificant next to the Ollerton family because he didn't have very much to offer. He thought Cecilia could have done much better. Cecilia would have fared well on her own, just from her family's wealth, but she wanted to be with him regardless. Growing up, Jane and John were expected to be smart, athletic, sweet, charming children, and for the most part, they lived up to expectations... except Jane really didn't understand Quidditch whatsoever. Oh, she tried, for the sake of her father and maternal grandfather and extended family, all of whom were deeply invested in Quidditch. She didn't mind watching that much, and the history of Quidditch was actually quite fascinating to her, but she lacked the strength to control a broom. While disappointed, her father couldn't ignore feeling relieved that his baby girl wouldn't partake in what could be a dangerous sport.
Jane preferred quiet activities: reading, drawing, playing with her dolls, making up bedtime stories for her brother. For years, her parents thought she was shy, but she never really was. She was just... quiet and calm, and never had very much to say. She was more thoughtful and observant of the world around her. As the elder child in the Dorny household, she also became the mediator and the buffer between her brother and their parents' arguments. She was the one who would calm John down when they heard angry whispers or raised voices from their parents' bedroom. Jane never really thought much of their parents' relationship until she began attending Hogwarts, where her classmates all seemed to have... normal home lives, Muggle or not. Her early teen years were full of frustration towards her parents. Jane didn't understand why they didn't just separate, go their own ways. Wouldn't that be better than all those blasted fights? She tried to not let it bother her, because in the end, she and John had turned out pretty well.
Jane was sorted into Gryffindor upon her arrival at Hogwarts. She didn't think much of it at first; though she knew Gryffindor had a reputation for being the bold and courageous students, she was glad to follow in her parents' footsteps. She was too wrapped up in all of the new people around her that she barely noticed Harry Potter being sorted into her house too. She knew about Harry. She'd heard the stories about the war from her parents, heard the rumours. She didn't think there was anything special about the boy. He was scrawny, had bad hair, and wore glasses. He wasn't as interesting as everyone else thought he was.
Her first few years at Hogwarts were relatively uneventful, aside from Harry Potter's various exploits. It certainly kept things interesting around the Gryffindor Common Room, and their Quidditch team was good with Harry on the team. Life was good as a Gryffindor! Her brother arrived at Hogwarts the year after Jane did, sorted into Hufflepuff for whatever reason, Jane didn't know. They didn't see each other very much - different houses, different years, different classes - but Jane made a point to check up on him from time to time. She was a good student, though less practically minded than her professors would have liked. It took her longer (though not as long as Neville) to pick up on basic charms, spells, hexes, jinxes, and so on, but she always managed. Among her dormmates, she fell somewhere in the middle of all of them. She wasn't nearly as bookish and intellectual as Hermione, but not nearly as outgoing and peppy as Lavender and Parvati. She knew how to dress herself well - though conservatively - but was not as interested in fashion and make-up and hair and nail polish and all that like some of the other girls. She tended to be, just as at home, a calming influence on the girls. Her years of mediating at home served her well between the hot-headed tempers of the Gryffindor girls at Hogwarts - though she was often helpless to fix anything that involved Lavender and Ron's relationship.
The last few years have been more difficult. The return of You-Know-Who changed the dynamics at Hogwarts, particularly in Gryffindor House. Harry became something of a saviour, once people actually began to believe him. For her own part, Jane had trouble believing him at first, not because she didn't trust him or Hermione or Ron, but because she'd seen all three of them grow up. She'd watched them go through their awkward growth spurts, through puberty, through spots and cracking voices, and she had a hard time picturing Harry fighting a powerful wizard because of that. Still, when it came down to it, she'd much rather believe Harry than succumb to something truly evil. Her choice became even more clear when, before the start of her final year at Hogwarts, her paternal grandmother was forced to face the Muggle-Born Registration Committee for crimes (notably, stealing magic). Unfortunately, even thorough geneology research couldn't save her, and the old lady was carted off to Azkaban immediately following her interview. It terrified and infuriated Jane. The thought of her grandmother being punished for something like that was beyond comprehension.
With Harry, Ron and Hermione gone from the start of her seventh year, Jane thinks that she has grown closer to the remaining Gryffindors in her year in response. They had no choice, really, but to bond together in solidarity, missing their three most notorious housemates. In some ways, their absence has been good for her. She has had to force herself to interact more with other people because there are fewer of them, and because she's afraid something might happen to those left and she'd always regret not getting to know them better. Now, Jane is desperately hoping that Harry (and Ron and Hermione) are successful in whatever they're doing, because if the Hogwarts she and her classmates are experiencing under the Carrows is any indication of the things to come, she doesn't want to see what the world will be like under You-Know-Who.
Personality: (Please be as detailed as possible, sharing your character's strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.)
Unlike many Gryffindors in her year, Jane is a calm and collected person. She is not as serious as she might appear at first glance, but she is a very stable person. Years spent soothing her family and calming them down from tense situations has given her an aura of responsibility. It might even come off as boring, which suits Jane just fine. She doesn't think she's very interesting, anyway. In reality, she's not boring once you get to know her. Inside that calm, collected shell is a bright, observant and sweet young woman. She just happens to be a bit more practical and less hot-headed than most Gryffindors. This makes her a good Prefect. She does not break easily under pressure and does not get frazzled very easily. Though she's petite, she can take charge and sound intimidating when necessary. She is very good at raising her voice and sounding commanding, something that always takes her off guard for a moment. Even though she spends much of her time exercising incredible patience, she does have her limits, and is not afraid to stand up to anybody. She usually regrets snapping immediately after, the responsible side of her reminding her that it's not always wise to talk back. Still, she's usually a straight-forward girl, not one to beat around the bush.
She's a loyal friend, and as long as someone's secrets aren't life-threatening for whatever reason, she'll take those secrets to her grave. Jane is the person to go to when you need to vent about whatever problem, from boy troubles to how long that bloody essay for History of Magic is to anything involving the Carrows. She's the person to go to if you need to be soothed and calmed down, and she's very good at it. And though she might not have much to say, that doesn't mean she isn't listening or paying attention. She listens to everything and spends a lot of time analyzing what other people say and do in her head. More likely than not, she'll be able to point out little inflections in someone's voice or twitches in their body language that might give away more than they'd like. Of course, she is perfectly incapable of reading her own body language, and is unable to change the way she often sounds like she thinks she's superior or bored. She's especially bad at reading the body language of boys who are interested in her, leading her to believe that all of the boys she knows are more interested in Lavender or Parvati, rather than her.
Though she is not an open book, and though she is quiet, that doesn't mean she's shy or insecure. One of her more Gryffindor-like traits is her confidence in who she is and ability to stand up for herself. She knows who she is, and does not want to be changed. If someone doesn't like her, that's their own perogative. She doesn't spend time dwelling on it, though she does have a deep desire to be liked and accepted by those closer to her (namely, other Gryffindors). It's easy for her to slip into Just A Friend mode, or the soothing, mothering friend role, because that gives her a way to feel needed and wanted. Lately, she's become more frustrated with the situation at Hogwarts, which is not an emotion she's used to feeling. When things aren't going well at home, she can usually fix it - or at least find a way to distract herself until it blows over. Because she can't fix it, she spends more time letting people talk to her now than before.
Questions (To be answered briefly and completely, in about 100 words.)
What does your character think of the current situation at Hogwarts, especially the Carrows?
Jane doesn't like it very much at all. Though she was glad to have Hermione gone at first and glad to be Prefect (a position she always coveted), she has grown to miss her dormmate quite a bit over the last six months. She also quickly discovered that being Prefect under the Carrows was not all it was cracked up to be. The Gryffindors in her year have been getting a lot of attention, which makes it more difficult for her to slip by unnoticed, but she's also starting to realise that maybe her housemates have a point. Maybe they should fight back, more than they have been, and maybe she should too.
What's your character's deepest, darkest secret? Who might know this? Every night, Jane prays silently to God or whatever higher power there is up there (she doesn't know, so she just prays to all of the deities she knows) to either make her parents happy and normal, or to help them realise that they should separate and stop fighting. She has been praying since she was a little girl, but so far, she hasn't had any luck (which in turn makes her question the existence of God and the like). When she was little, she used to pray that they would get divorced so her mum could move somewhere cooler and bigger, or so she and John could go stay with their grandparents more. Sylvia, Lavender and Parvati might know some bits about her home life and how much her parents bicker, and they might have caught her mumbling to herself at night, but otherwise, she doesn't talk about her wishes and prayers. Jane thinks it's sort of embarrassing that a seventeen year old girl such as herself would still care.
She has also never been kissed. The girls would also know that. And she's had an on-and-off crush on Seamus for a few years, but no one would know about that!
Describe your character's Sorting. What about them caused them to go in their house? Jane was absolutely terrified during her Sorting. She thought she might pass out, or wet her trousers, while waiting for the Sorting Hat to make a decision. Though she thought it took the Hat ages to decide, it was only a few minutes. It debated between sending her to Hufflepuff, sensing her loyalty and strong sense of duty, her desire to follow the rules and be the responsible caretaker. Instead, it sent her to Gryffindor (just like her parents, it noted, a point that she did not miss or appreciate). The Sorting Hat sensed a quieter courage within her, one that might go unnoticed around the louder Gryffindors, but one that was there never-the-less.
Samples
We require samples fresh and relevant to this RPG.
First Person:
Helloooooo Hogwarts. I see you are all still whinging about this or that. But what else is new? I'm guilty of it too & I really can't blame any of you. The Carrows are crackers. Shouldn't say that. But please please please don't get stupid.
Does anyone know how to put a photo in here? I can't remember. I can just use Spell-o-Tape, right? I don't have anything to say, so I was thinking about showing off photos of my cat, Aggie. She's ruddy adorable, swear to Merlin. Sort of tubby, though. Someone must be sneaking her treats somehow. Or maybe she's just eaten Mrs. Norris. Now that's a fight I'd pay to see.
I heard some fourth years blathering on about Valentine's Day. Ergh. Is that really next week? I miss when the castle used to Dumbledore always seemed to love holidays
Third Person:
Jane picked at her food, pushing it around her plate with her fork. Before the Carrows' reign at Hogwarts, she would have piled her plate up just as full as Ron Weasley used to, and she would have finished it all, too. Now, she couldn't be bothered to do so. She glanced over at the "best" table: the one full of Slytherins and Purebloods from other houses. She was hungry, dammit, but she didn't complain. The rest of the students did that enough for her. She kept telling herself that it could be worse. Survivors of the Holocaust went through much worse, she reminded herself. At least she had a roof over her head, a warm bed at night, some sort of food, an education (albeit one that she didn't think was going to be worth much once the year was out). It could be worse.
She had some time to kill before her first class of the day, so she decided to write a quick letter home to her parents. She hoped they were all right. Jane worried a lot when she was away. Without her around, who would make sure everything was a-okay? She was about to start for the owlery when she realised she was running out of time - and she knew that the letter would be inspected by the Carrows, anyway, so why not hand it off to them to deliver it? Ultimately, she decided that it was all a waste. She didn't want to get anywhere near either of them, but particularly not the male one, who always seemed to leer at her. She lit the letter on fire and watched it burn on her plate. The first class on her plate that day was Dark Arts - not one she was looking forward to at all.
She noticed one of the Slytherins sneering at her from the other table, and laughing. What, she wondered, was so funny? She ignored it. She didn't want her Prefect badge taken away like Seamus's had been.