1883 | Culpurnia is born and is immediately a disappointment to both of her parents. Her first year of life is spent under the care of an attentive nanny, and, occasionally, her Aunt Temperance.

1885 | Boris buys his wife and daughter a London townhome separate from their own. It is not a result of any argument or separation—Boris simply cannot stand his wife's constant renovations and would rather she have her own space to fuss over. Not that two-year-old Culpurnia cares very much.

1887 | Her parents somehow forget to buy her a Christmas present. This is not the only eventful thing that happens this year—both of her grandmothers pass away from sudden illnesses, her father gets a promotion at work, and the family estate in Bath suffers damages from a small fire—but it's the only thing she cares about at age four. It also prompts her first sign of magic: causing the family Christmas tree to shrivel and die right there on Christmas morning. Happy holidays everyone.

1888 | A governess is brought on just shy of her fifth birthday to start taming her. She doesn't consider herself the wild child that everyone makes her out to be. Loud, maybe, and a little reckless when left to her own devices for too long, but not a terror. Not intentionally.

1890 | Culpurnia is removed from a birthday celebration after accidentally knocking over the cake. She is deeply distressed by this—both from the embarrassment of making a scene in front of the other girls, and also because she never got to eat any cake.

1891 | After nearly succumbing to a terrible cold in the winter, Culpurnia leaves the house less than ever. Her mother lets her play in the gardens when it is sunny out, but the minute there is gust of wind or chill in the air she is corralled inside.

1893 | Feeling particularly rebellious one day, Culpurnia escapes her governess and goes to climb the oak tree in front of their London home. She falls after her mother's yell startles her and breaks a wrist. It heals after a few months, but it is never the same.

1894 | Culpurnia receives her Hogwarts letter. She gets her wand, her supplies, and all of her new robes, but can't seem to quell the anxiety about leaving home. What if she can't make a single friend? What if she catches a chill and dies? What if her Mama heard about her grades and shows up at the castle gates? She tries not to fixate on it, but her anxiety only makes her even more of a handful.