in my dreams, i'll be thumbelina
drifting away down the stream
sailing on a fallen leaf |
1876 | The firstborn child of Deryn and Alys Baughan is a welcome sight in mid-November of their first year of marriage, even if she is a girl. Her father, a muggleborn, has higher expectations for her than his wife, who was raised a witch. They name her Gladys Elena. |
1877 | The Baughan family shelters in their country home, rarely interacting with their muggle neighbors, during the turmoil of the year. Little Gladys knows nothing. |
1879 | Deryn gets his dearest wish and, when Gladys is only two, Alys gives birth to her first brother, Edwyn. As a toddling babe, Gladys knows not what this means for her. |
1881 | Gladys's first little sister, Seren, is born. |
1883 | Over Christmas, Gladys finally begins to understand that being the firstborn means little if you're not also the firstborn son; she throws a massive tantrum that results in her first act of magic, which, unfortunately, involves turning her brother Edwyn's hair bright, glowing blue. |
1884 | Another baby sister is born, named Tesni. |
1886 | The fifth and final of Gladys's generation of the Baughan household, Owain, is born. |
1888 | Gladys's acceptance letter to Hogwarts arrives, and she is taken shopping for her school supplies. It's her first time in London, and she thoroughly enjoys it. She convinces her mother to purchase her a female barn own, justifying the purchase by explaining the owl's presence would motivate her to write home more often. |
i will be the flower queen
it's a wondrous dream
but tomorrow |
1888-90 First Years | When Gladys arrives in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, she is promptly sorted into loyal Hufflepuff — her mother's house, in her day at the school. Gladys is proud to carry that legacy. She quickly takes to her lessons, and works to build friendships with her peers, both in Hufflepuff and beyond. |
1890-93 OWL Years | At her mother's suggestion, Gladys takes the highly impractical Divination — a class in which she does not thrive. In fact, being in Divination initially causes her other grades to suffer, as she spends excess time focused on the work for that class. By the time her fifth year rolls around, Gladys has decided to give up on the subject and only do the bare minimum, to give herself a chance at her other classes. |
1893-95 NEWT Years | Somehow, Gladys manages to net an Outstanding in her Charms and Transfiguration classes; she opts to take Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Transfiguration for her final two years. She is eager to fulfill her duty and destiny and become a bride, mother, and socialite, but deep inside, she fears her future. Will she actually be happy? |
i'll be taken away high up in the tree
how frightened i will be
when tomorrow i'll be high up in the tree |