In-Character
Full Name: Cosmo Zabini.
Birthdate: 13th January, 1830.
Current Age: Sixty.
Occupation: Wizengamot Member & Investor.
Reputation: Eight. His children were proven to be halfbloods but he acted accordingly by divorcing their mother and remarrying a pureblood. Twice.
Residence: London.
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw.
Wand: Rosewood. 13 inches. Unicorn hair core. Durable.
Blood Status: Pureblood.
Social Class: Upper Class.
Family:
Alonzo Zabini | Father | Incantima alumni
Margaret Rosier | Mother | Heiress
Ama Zabini née Ayodele | First Wife | 1835-
Victorius Kofi Algernon Zabini, and family | Son | 1854-
Lavinia Afia Margaret — née Zabini, and family | Daughter | 1857-
Camilla Ama Cosmina Zabini | Daughter | 1864-
Bellona Akosua Rosemary Zabini | Daughter | 1867-
Zelda Zabini née Goyle | Second Wife | 1860-1883
Sebastian Zabini | Son | 1883-1884
Calliope Zabini née Browne, formerly Riley | Third Wife | 1863-
Viola Riley | Step-daughter | 1883-
Appearance: Standing at a lofty six feet in height, with blue eyes and a charming smile Cosmo is a handsome man who is ageing well. While he wasn't especially flashy in his youth, and remains much the same now in both manner and dress, he is a man that people notice when he walks into a room. His dark hair has only the slightest hint of grey at the temple and he remains a lean, active man despite his advancing years.
HistoryEarly Years 1830-1835
Being born the only child of an Italian ambassador and wealthy English heiress meant two things for Cosmo, a more cosmopolitan, enlightened upbringing than most in his social circles and learning that there was no problem in the world that wouldn't go away if you threw enough money at it. He spends his entire youth as a pampered prince and wants for nothing; he displays magic at the age of seven by way of a small explosion in the small, solitary classroom where a tutor tries to drill Latin and Greek into his brain.
School Days 1841-1848Receiving his Hogwarts letter at eleven Cosmo heads off to school and is promptly sorted into Ravenclaw. He is a quiet, thoughtful child who occasionally finds himself on the edge of his peer-group, though his pedigree means he is never entirely without friends. By his third year he had wedged himself firmly amongst a group of like-minded upper class young men who consider themselves a deal more civilised than those who concern themselves with Quidditch or social climbing. Instead they practice gentility and develop, as much as a teenage boy possibly could, a preference for the finer things in life, attempting several times to smuggle contraband into the school. They are caught, of course, but there are precious few consequences and by the time Cosmo graduates he has learnt a great deal about how to navigate life and not a lot else.
Travels 1848-1853Without much to occupy him after Hogwarts Cosmo takes the opportunity to embark on a tour of Europe, Africa and the parts of Asia and America he considers civilised. His various adventures include learning both what a kayak is and how to spell it to impress people at parties, an ill-advised dalliance with a Parisian dancer that leaves him taking a solution of Mercury for an unfortunate amount of time, and an attempt to visit Australia that ended poorly when Cosmo realised he was instead in New Zealand. All in all he has a fascinating and enjoyable time though he only relates some stories to his children or to any young lady meets along the way, though none of the latter seem to have much appreciation for his interests.
Ama 1853He does not meet his true match until he returns to England in 1853. Cosmo is immediately smitten with Ama Ayodele, a beautiful, accomplished pureblood she seems too good to be true and after a short courtship and engagement they are married only four months later. He settles into married life like a duck to water and, with his father's assistance, begins to embark upon a series of investments that soon pay dividends.
Family Life 1854-1876Their first child, a boy named Victorius without too much irony, comes along very soon and over the next decade or so is followed by three daughters. Cosmo is delighted with each and every one of them, spending slightly more time with his children than a man of his station might usually (though still relying heavily on the holy trio of nursemaids, nannies and governesses). He is indulgent to their whims, along with those of his wife, and genuinely misses their presences when one by one his children go to school. During these years Cosmo and Ama solidify themselves as being people of significance in society, hosting the usual program of balls, garden parties, card games and once a particularly extravagant fete on the lawn.
Pride Cometh... 1876-1880Lavinia, his precious eldest girl, enjoys a successful few seasons, securing herself a husband with aplomb. Only once he has suitably harassed her affianced does he agree to the match and when he proudly walks her down the aisle he believes, briefly, that life is as good as it can get. Two years later he is invited to join the Wizengamot, a proud moment that impresses his English mother rather more than his Italian father who mostly shrugs. Later that year Victorius marries, leaving Cosmo and Ama embarrassingly happy.
The Fall... 1881An Italian cousin, that Cosmo acknowledges for the sake of familial relations remaining cordial but will never, ever forgive for his nosiness, begins to delve into their family history. Initially it is harmless if mildly irritating (Cosmo could do without the owl updates about their great, great, great uncle's wife's impressive pottery collection) until the very worst happens and it is discovered that Ama's grandmother was a muggle. The Zabini couple are shocked, unable to comprehend that their entire married life has been based on a lie - Cosmo never doubts that Ama didn't know, it is simply inconceivable to him that she could have deceived him - and after much discussion and many tears he divorces his beloved wife.
When the scandal hits he retreats, hiding away determined to salvage his dignity and his children's - even if they're halfbloods they are still his children and he will never abandon them. Lavinia's husband takes great delight in playing on Cosmo's concern, demanding to have a large amount of money settled upon him to remain with his wife, money Cosmo pays over immediately, though he never forgives his son-in-law the treachery. Victorius' marriage seems on solider ground and as a result he never loses any affection for his daughter-in-law.
Zelda & Sebastian 1882-83He tries - Merlin know he tries - to make himself feel as deeply about Zelda Goyle as he did about Ama. She's only twenty-two years old, beautiful and as kindhearted a woman as one could ever hope to meet, but he is incapable, heart still broken without Ama by his side and reeling from how his once perfect life has fallen apart. He likes Zelda so marries her and tries to be kind to her but nothing gives him joy apart from his children and even they come with a painful reminder of their mother. Fortunately Zelda soon finds herself in the family way so, Cosmo bitterly notes to one of his few confidantes, at least the poor girl is fulfilling her duty and will have a comfortable life hereafter.
Until she dies giving birth. Cosmo begins to consider that he is utterly cursed and though he is delighted with his new son he does regret that Zelda had to die to bring him into the world and, more notably, that he, Zelda and his social pariah children wouldn't have to suffer if his thrice damned cousin had just kept his mouth shut!
From Bad to Worse 1883-1886Cosmo, two of his daughter's and his son contract the Laughing Plague and though he and the girls recover Sebastian perishes, leaving him devastated. He loved his tiny boy and was grateful to Zelda for giving him an heir and preventing others in the family from pressuring him into a new marriage. With this death he despairs even further, wishing himself ten years in the past and able to render his cousin dumb, and thus begins a period of heavy drinking. He is by turns indulgent with his children - if Camille wants to spend the servant's yearly wage on a ball then he lets her - and occasionally blind to their needs - he insists Bellona finishes her schooling rather than attending Pendergast's School for Young Roses with Angeline Malfoy as, privately, he thinks it will do her no harm to have an education just in case she cannot find a husband.
Time marches on...
Third Time's The Charm 1889-1890In early summer he encounters Calliope Riley, an attractive young widow who, thankfully, is a pureblood. He takes no chances and has this all thoroughly checked out until he is satisfied with her lineage and then, and only then, does he propose marriage. He doesn't especially love her, he barely knows her in fact, but certain members of his extended family have been applying pressure for some time now and if he is ever to conceive another son then he needs to get a move on! They marry early in 1890 and settle into married life - his children's dislike is very noticed thank you very much, but what else is he to do??
Personality: Practical. Loving. Ruthless. Thoughtful. Occasionally troubled. Sociable. Soft purist at heart. Loves all of his children deeply. Terrible joke-teller.
Out-of-Character
Name: Lauren.Age: 30.
