In-Character
Full Name: Walter Jameson BrownhillNicknames: Walt
Birthdate: 13 October 1842
Current Age: 48 Years
Occupation: Asst. Head, Department of Magical Accidents & Catastrophes
Reputation: 8; he had an office romance and intends to marry a woman whom society would consider "beneath him"
Residence: South Bartonburg
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
Wand: 10 1/2 inch willow and unicorn hair, springy.
Blood Status: Halfblood
Social Class: Middle
Family: Walt's natal family is large, boisterous, and merry; he is the oldest but not the only boy.
His late wife left him with one child, Lucy, but he has always wanted more; he hopes his household can be as busy and happy as the one in which he grew up.
Appearance: Walt is on the taller side but utterly unimposing. The word that comes to mind, looking at him, might be something like mild. He has thick dark hair which he keeps trimmed in fashion. He typically wears suits but can also be seen in robes on occasion. He writes and wields a wand with his right hand.
Childhood 1842 — 1853 | From the earliest days of his childhood, Walt idolized his father. Mr. Brownhill was a muggleborn wizard who had not only overcome the handicap of growing up away from magic, but had gone on to a celebrated career as a potioneer and had published several books, including a guide book on where to find rare potion ingredients in the English countryside and several potion recipe guides. As a child, Walt was towed along to book signings and events, and on his father's frequent outdoor trips in search of new herbs and ingredients. He wants to grow up to be Just Like Dad, even though he doesn't really get enthused about potions and herbology the same way the older man does. He shows his first sign of magic after his younger sister, which is... fine. It wasn't like he was that invested in making a big, impressive display, or anything. Besides, his dad doesn't seem disappointed. |
Hogwarts 1853 — 1861 | Walt goes off to Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat attempts to make him a Hufflepuff, but he pleads to be placed in Ravenclaw, like his father was. Begrudgingly, the Hat grants his request, though it informs him he would be much happier in Hufflepuff. Walt is delighted to be a Ravenclaw, however, and sends ecstatic letters home. He only gets locked out of the common room because he can't figure out the riddle a couple of times. It's fine. In third year he adds Ancient Studies, Muggle Studies, and Ghoul Studies. He likes things with the word 'studies' in the title, apparently. What he really wants is to be good enough at potions that he's recommended to take Alchemy, but it's not looking good, so far. A few friends encourage him to get into clubs or maybe try for Quidditch, but he feels a little intimidated just keeping up with his coursework. Aside from potions club, he mostly sticks to homework. And prefecting, because that's a thing that happens to him that he certainly didn't ask for and doesn't much care for. He's not really the confrontational sort, which makes policing his peers rather difficult. His OWLs come off well, though he doesn't get as high of marks as he'd hoped. Which is fine. Who needs NEWT classes, anyway? He never wanted them. He certainly didn't want to be able to take Alchemy, and he didn't go to the professor in question and beg for a second chance, or anything. He doesn't end up taking Alchemy. He does take Ancient Studies, Charms, Ghoul Studies, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, and Transfiguration. Dropping potions was difficult, but after some tough-love chat from his academic advisor, Walt realizes he's never going to be his father, and it's probably about time he decided who he was going to be as a person. And he's actually never liked potions that much, to be honest. Walt decides to throw himself into his remaining classes (still a full course load!) and his prefect duties and hope to get Head Boy and make his father proud that way. He doesn't get Head Boy, but that's fine. It's whatever. He didn't really want that extra work, anyway, and his dad probably wouldn't really care that much. |
Young Man 1861 — 1871 |
Heading out into the world with an impressive but eclectic collection of NEWTs in hand and a burning desire to find a career that at least rivals his father's level of prestige, Walt heads to the Ministry, taking a job in the Muggle Liaison Office. Despite his father's example, Walt had never been passionate about his job, but rather saw it as a means to an end; the end being to provide for a large and boisterous family like the one he grew up in. He invests in establishing a household for himself and begins looking for a wife. He meets a charming woman in 1869 and loses no time in asking to court her, and would have lost no time in marrying her, either, except that her family seemed less enthused about the match than he did. After some months he does manage to convince her father, though would forever after be convinced the man still disliked him. They are married in 1871. |
Married Life 1871 — 1882 | Being married is a vast improvement on his life, and Walt is deliriously happy. His wife shares his dream of a large family and they immediately set about trying, but it unfortunately takes them several years and half a dozen false alarms before they eventually have a daughter in 1874, whom the pair name Lucy. The pregnancy was a difficult one for his wife, and so the couple table the idea of adding to their family at least while little Lucy is still a baby. They start trying again as Lucy begins toddling, and again, it takes several years before they are able to conceive again. This pregnancy is equally hard, and the baby does not make it to term, instead ending in a late-term miscarriage in 1877. If Walt is struggling with their inability to have more children, it is nothing to what his wife is going through. She is riddled with insecurities about her role as a mother, and feeling increasingly isolated being left alone in the house while he works all day. She's started to withdraw from her friends, and every month when she isn't pregnant is another heartbreak. It's difficult to see her like this, and it's especially difficult to see Lucy trying and failing to get her mother to engage in her games of make-believe, so Walt determines something needs to change. He tries to provide more active support, but is only able to do so much while he has to be away at work all day — particularly as he receives an unexpected promotion to Head of the Muggle Liaison Office in January of 1878. Later that year, they pick up and move to the recently established Hogsmeade, where he hopes having a neighborhood full of other witches will help his wife reconnect with life and start enjoying herself once again. The move seems to have helped matters, but his wife's mental health is still a long time recovering. Walt takes a break from the idea of trying for more children because he doesn't want to introduce any undo pressure on his wife, instead focusing on supporting her and nurturing their bonds with Lucy. They start trying for children again in 1880, but without much luck. Then, in 1882, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, she dies. |
The Widower 1882 — 1891 | In the immediate aftermath of his wife's death, Walt's thoughts are entirely for poor Lucy. He devotes himself to his daughter, spending every moment he isn't working or sleeping with her and trying to fill the role of both parents. Although he misses his wife terribly, what he wants more than anything is that his daughter is still able to lead a full, happy life, and so he goes far out of his way to ensure that there are still moments of laughter and levity even in the year following his wife's death. It isn't until Lucy leaves for Hogwarts in fall of 1885 and Walt is finally alone in the house that the grief really hits him. He may be long since out of black cravats, but he continues mourning his wife whenever his daughter is absent for the next two years. Eventually, mourning the loss of his wife transforms into mourning the loss of the life they had wanted to build for themselves. He keenly feels Lucy's status as an only child and regrets that she will never have the same relationship with her siblings that he had with his, or any relationship at all. He feels wistful any time he sees young children playing in the neighborhood, or families going about their business together. He also can't help but feel that Lucy is growing up much too quickly — off at Hogwarts already, making friends and taking classes and having an entire life in which he plays only a small and almost insignificant part. He feels lonely whenever she's off at school, and knows it will only get worse with time as she keeps growing up and finding her own way in the world. Around 1888, he starts to take notice of a woman who works at the Ministry, who crosses his path from time to time during the course of his job. It starts slowly; he finds her quite pleasant and feels refreshed any time he happens to talk to her. He begins volunteering for any case in his department that is likely to interact with hers, then starts taking his breaks at the times she tends to take breaks so the two of them can chat for a few minutes over coffee. By the time he finally asks to court her in spring of 1890 it is already apparent he is smitten with her. After fretfully introducing her to Lucy during that summer, and spending a good deal of time both getting to know Miss Baker's large family and introducing her to the various extensions of his, he proposes that fall. Initially planning a wedding over the winter break, Walt has to postpone his plans when he is asked to assume the role of Assistant Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes; while he recognizes he is well qualified for the job, he would much rather be honeymooning than learning the ropes and assuming increased responsibility over the holidays, but it is what it is. After adjusting plans, the two intend to wed over the Easter holiday, so Lucy can be present for the ceremony. |
Other:
— Amortentia —
Firewood, apple cider, and old parchment.— Religion —
Walt it casually Christian (protestant) but very interested, academically, in other religions and finds their rituals and rites rather fascinating.— Transportation —
Walt prefers to walk anywhere that can be comfortably walked to, although he also has an apparition license and uses floo for any great distance. He owns a broom but hardly ever uses it unless it's while playing games with his children; he is a capable but not a graceful flier.— OWL & NEWT Grades —
| OWL Grades | |
| Ancient Studies | Exceeds Expectations |
| Astronomy | Acceptable |
| Charms | Exceeds Expectations |
| Defense Against the Dark Arts | Acceptable |
| Ghoul Studies | Exceeds Expectations |
| Herbology | Exceeds Expectations |
| History of Magic | Oustanding |
| Muggle Studies | Outstanding |
| Potions | Acceptable |
| Transfiguration | Exceeds Expectations |
| NEWT Grades | |
| Ancient Studies | Exceeds Expectations |
| Charms | Exceeds Expectations |
| Ghoul Studies | Acceptable |
| Herbology | Exceeds Expectations |
| History of Magic | Outstanding |
| Muggle Studies | Outstanding |
| Transfiguration | Acceptable |
Out-of-Character
Name: Lynn
