In-Character
Full Name: Desmond Amadi ShackleboltNicknames: Des/Desi, Amadi (only by Mum and Georgie)
Birthdate: January 8th, 1883
Current Age: 11
Gender: Male, perceived male
Occupation: Incoming Hogwarts student
Reputation: 9, his parents are a mixed-everything couple and his mother's upper class family does not associate due to being Muggles
Residence: London
Hogwarts House: TBD
Wand: Redwood with a unicorn hair core, 13" and solid flexibility
Blood Status: Halfblood
Social Class: Upper
Family:
- Father: Cornelius Shacklebolt né Sizemore (b. 1843)
- Mother: Deborah Adaeze Shacklebolt (b. 1861, m. 1882)
- Sister (half): Claribel _____ née Sizemore (b. 1870)
- Sister (half): Eugenie Sizemore (b. 1872)
- Sister (twin): Georgianna Adaku Shacklebolt (b. January 8th, 1883)
At first glance, Desmond's lean frame and trim figure make him stand out above his peers at 5 feet tall. He exudes self-assurance, carrying it even in his posture when he's on his feet. His face is commonly seen sporting an easy grin, as befits this happy-go-lucky child. He takes the world in eagerly through dark brown eyes, and always chin-on, never hunched or skulking in the presence of others. His dense, coiled hair takes regular maintenance to keep the close trim around his ears, above which he might shape or style it up into a masculine approximation of a pouf. He uses his right hand for wandwork, usually cuffed in embroidered sleeves like the rest of his ornate wardrobe. He wears his finery not unlike his school robes, casually and without much fear of damage or stain.
History:
[pre-1883] Cornelius Sizemore, of the unprestigious, unremarkable, pureblood Sizemore family travels to Africa on the whims of ambition and in pursuit of fortune. His journey caused some whispers when his wife and two daughters were left alone in England to fend for themselves. When his wife died tragically, those whispers circled furiously around the image of an uncaring father who would not even send for his abandoned children. Only after he returned home, three years and one new bride later, did a scandal break wide open. Deborah Shacklebolt had enough new money to heal what time might not, though her Muggleborn origins and African heritage still leaves ripples around their blended family years later.
[1883] Desmond is born on January 8th, feet first. The family story is that he was so eager to take on the world that he didn't bother to look. The private story with his twin is that it was Georgianna so eager to take it on that she pushed him out, and followed just three minutes behind!
[1884] Of the twins, Desmond is the first to walk while Georgianna is the first to talk. By the time Des is talking, he's learning more words of their mum's native Igbo from his sister than from Adaeze. Their father doesn't care much to bother learning non-European languages, teaching them English and small bits of French and German in their early years.
[1885] Growing up in a loving household, the twins are never far from the comfort of their parents, or each other. Their half-sisters do receive as much attention or adoration, however, having moved in with their grandparents shortly after their mum's death. They see their siblings for outings and special occasions, as well as holidays. Adaeze dotes on both of her children, telling them stories of her homeland in Sierra Leone. To her, Desmond is Amadi, which means Freeborn Man in Igbo, and he grows up embracing this as a point of pride.
[1886] The twins are inseparable and conspiratorial, which sometimes pits them against the designs of their parents. Cornelius, especially, takes a shine to the son who fulfills a familial ambition for him. He tries to take Desmond for special lessons or excursions, who will throw a tantrum if his sister isn't allowed with. Their father has unending praise for Desmond, who does his best to keep up and seem attentive, but it is often Georgie whom he learns the most from afterwards, granting her the attention she is doesn't often receive.
[1888] Invited to a garden party among Magical London's elite families, Desmond's parents try to instill him with a sense of good behavior. When he is refused a balloon pet for asking in the wrong manner, Des throws a tantrum that not even Georgie can assuage. Crying turns to sneezes, which in turn results in Des himself puffing up like a balloon and starts to float above the heads of the party attendees. The brief embarrassment and haste in getting him down and deflated is overshadowed by recognition of Desmond's first display of magic.
[1889] After Georgie demonstrates her own magical ability with a piano, Adaeze is adamant that her children start learning about magic. New lessons are added to their tutoring, teaching Desmond and Georgianna the early basics of magic along with memorization of terms. They also learn some self-control to avoid any future accidental magical outbursts.
When a verbal outburst occurs between his sisters, Georgie and Claribel, a distraught Desmond actively ignores his newfound instruction. His cup of tea spills onto the table, mirroring what Gia spilled into Claribel's lap, though it doesn't diffuse what escalates into a tense situation. Desmond learns many new words that day from his eldest sibling, most of them unflattering about his color and intelligence. Seeing how much they hurt Gia made Des understand his role better, that day was the last that he would suffer an attack on his twin unanswered.
[1890] Desmond receives extra tutoring in dancing lessons, while Georgie is busy with piano and voice. He sometimes struggles until she joins in, counting the rhythm under her breath to keep them on beat. Over time, it is enough that she is simply present, and while Desmond is graceful enough, his interest wanes when Georgie spends more time at the piano than on the floor. For a brief time, he is asked to assist with Eugenie's dance practice for her Debut, but their size difference makes the pairing disastrous.
[1891] To help prepare his son for a well-rounded future, with hopes that Desmond will follow in his ambitious footsteps, Cornelius ensures his son receives non-magical training as well. Enlisting an auror friend helps teach Desmond the benefits of physical fitness and instills him with an appreciation of endurance to help outlast his failures.
Desmond applies his lessons to riskier endeavors than his dad might appreciate. Georgie seems happy to let him try many of his ventures first, only following when he proves the concept —or tree branch— solid. Even when he gets hurt and cries, Des eventually prefers to get back up and try again.
[1893] At another garden party, Desmond is challenged by other boys to a broomstick race. His confidence turns to boasting when they're unable to beat him in more and more harrowing objectives. When Des wins against the youngest, scrawniest of the pack, he initially turns to boasting until Georgie points out the other boy's obvious distress to him. His victory doesn't taste quite as sweet after that, until Des decides to offer some pointers to the younger boy. It starts to feel good to see someone else achieve what comes so easily to him, and future social events finds him acting more of a motivator to others who aren't quite as skilled.
[1894] The arrival of his letter and Georgie's prompts a flurry of renewed activity in the Shacklebolt household. For Desmond's part, he works up a whole list of ideas and goals he has to accomplish in his first year. When Georgie finds it, they discuss the impracticalities of some of them, such as captaining the quidditch team in his first year. He is determined to try out for his team, however, and dip his toe into as many clubs as he can handle.
He and Georgie pick up their wands, as well as the rest of their school books and necessities, in a trip to Diagon Alley in March at Georgie's insistence. When their wands are quickly locked away, Des talks up a pouting Gia, reminding her that they only have half a year left before Hogwarts when they will have their wands all the time. It to help his twin, who puts renewed effort into domestic learning that seems trivial to Des. Nonetheless, he chips in from time to time, letting himself be ordered around so Gia can practice her skills, and enjoys seeing her thrive.
With their childhood ending, Des spends some quality time with his parents and friends before parting at the end of summer. He knows there are large shoes to fill from his father, and much of his heritage to honor for his mother. Achieving that will take work, but Desmond faces it unafraid. He knows there are great things ahead of him, all he has to do is wait for them, learn what he can, and be the best Shacklebolt the world has ever known.
Personality: Determined. Confident. Hard work, hard play. Destined. Justice > Fairness. Motivator. Builder. Goal-oriented. Naive. Optimistic, but pragmatic.
Other: He and his twin, Georgie, are extremely close. He will only share his most private feelings with her, and has his own name for her (Gia is most often, Adaku when things get serious).
May sometimes sneeze when he cries, which is a rarity in the first place.
Has a Tawny Owl named Ozzie. She doesn't mind the name as much as sharing a roost with Georgie's Eagle Owl, Ikwikwi.
Sample Roleplay Post: N/A
Out-of-Character
Name: JordanAge: 30+
Contact: Discord
Other Characters: Millie Potts, Charley Goode
How did you hear about us?: Existing Member
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Courtesy of the lovely Lady!
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