| MAIN | They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense |
Character's Legal Name: Gretel Antonina Elkin
Age: 14
Hogwarts House: Transferring from Durmstrang. Ravenclaw or Slytherin?
Blood Type: Halfblood
Species: Human
Face claim: Natalia Dyer
| APPEARANCE | ...Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel - Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig |
Gretel looks remarkably like her elder sister. They both have a delicate way about them, with light skin and a slender figure. Gretel is a bit skinnier than her sister, having always been especially disposed to illnesses, and her limbs are almost twiggy in nature. She has a high, proud forehead and a slender neck that leads to a pronounced jawline and high cheekbones. Her large, blue eyes are framed by soft brown hair that curls when left to its own devices. She’s used to wearing elegant, youthful dresses, but feels just as comfortable donning a pair of jeans and a sweater.
| PERSONALITY | ......If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him |
Gretel comes off like a princess in looks and manner. Her slight figure is complimented by a graceful spirit, and etiquette is of high priority to the Russian girl. She values appearances and recognizes the importance of being in the good graces of people around her. There have been times in her life where she was completely dependent on the kindness of strangers, and being polite and unassuming has always been the best method of ingratiating herself. She was raised as though she were royalty, and the diplomatic way in which she speaks and acts reflects this.
Beneath it all is a manipulative streak as wide as the Arctic Ocean. She learned to play her guardians against each other from an early age, and having the ability to melt daddy’s heart does something to the ego when daddy happens to head up a particularly vicious branch of the Death Eaters. Gretel didn’t have company her age for a very long time, and it’s prevented her from really grasping concepts that require empathy. Making friends is a matter of use or appearance, rarely based in actual affection, and she’d politely greet anyone she considered to be an enemy. Her worldview is narrow, putting the importance on her whims and desires with little regard for how it affects other people.
There’s a spoiled streak in Gretel and, robbed of finer comforts, some of this condescension may become evident. She tries to keep it hidden, of course, but ugly vices often find their way to the light. Despite being a halfblood, she believes in preserving bloodlines and tends to forget that she is not a pureblood. She has a streak of Russian nationalism that might be off-putting to her peers, and she certainly considers her family a point of pride and power. She’s not quite sure what she wants out of this life, but is wholly unworried about securing her goals. She has complete faith in her abilities and circumstances to achieve whatever she wants.
| HISTORY | ..................Hey! My eyes aren't 'glistening with the ghosts of my past'! |
Early Years: By the time Gretel came into the world, her elder sister was already heading to Durmstrang, leaving her to enjoy the attentions of everyone left in Elkin Manor. It was an interesting home to say the least and Mikail Elkin was not a typical father. Well before Gretel was born, Mikail had reignited the Russian Death Eaters all on his own accord, controlling the western regions of Russia with an iron fist, ignoring the rise of a leader in the east. Alice, Gretel’s mother, was a halfblood who had left everything behind in England to find a new life. Drawn to Mikail’s ambition and power, she secured his attention through her devotion, even succeeding despite Mikail’s family’s disapproval of her blood status and homeland.
Alice managed to keep the English side of her firstborn intact, but the efforts of Gretel’s aunt Valerie and grandmother Anfisa to raise Mikail’s children the Russian way were redoubled with Gretel. While Mikail was out building an empire, Gretel was enjoying the heated arguments being had over her rearing and education. Valerie’s open resentment towards Alice intrigued Gretel rather than upset her, and Alice’s unending effort and refusal to show weakness taught Gretel how to smile through adversity. From her aunt, she learned persistence and the importance of tradition and from her grandmother she learned how to use perceived weakness as one’s greatest strength.
Like her sister before her, her education was mostly fielded through the three women tasked with raising her. She was a smart pupil, a voracious reader, and eager to shine. The brighter her potential, the fiercer her trio of matriarchs fought for control over her future. She knew there was no escaping their involvement, so she turned it into something beneficial for her, earning special trips and treats to turn her favor. Her father was much more distant with her than he was with Sofie, as the Death Eaters were much busier now, but she saw even more of her father’s business than her sister, as he sometimes brought visitors and often held meetings in their stately manor. She became used to her family holding what felt like all of the wealth and influence in Russia, and the dark nature of her father's business hardly turned her head.
And then it all changed. At seven years old, her father was captured during a trip to England. Whether or not they knew who he was in Russia, in England he was known as the man who kidnapped Alice Andersson, who had run away to Russia and been married to Mikhail before she was of age. Other crimes were tacked on, and it was enough to get him an Azkaban sentence.
Sofie was finishing her final year and quickly took up the helm, trying to sort out the family’s finances and claim come sort of leadership over the Death Eaters. Of course, the in-fighting was too much for a girl her age, so she turned instead to trying to find cause to extract her father. Her mother lost a significant amount of their assets, and the family had to move into the city, hiding their identities and trying to get by. Sofie took up undercover jobs, toeing her way into a life of crime to try and pull influence somewhere for her father. Gretel learned human desperation during the this time. She felt poverty and she felt shame.
Needless to say, she didn’t warm to either.
She did, however, adapt. She learned to sew, keeping her nice clothes in order, and she learned to live on little. They got by with whatever they had that day and did not presume what the next day might bring. And she stoked her resentment of the people who had brought this upon them. A year passed and they managed to make allies and friends, people loyal to her father that would not see his children starve, and Sofie did what she could to bring in money without attracting too much attention. When Mikail passed in Azkaban, their fate seemed sealed. Too desperate was their circumstances for grief to make much of an impression, thinking only of what was the become of them. Sofie left for the U.K., in the hopes of gaining power and resources, and perhaps a little vengeance. Her sister was gone for a year.
Sofie returned right before Gretel entered Durmstrang and it couldn’t be soon enough. Sofie brought enough money for them to secure a permanent living situation and purchase everything Gretel would need for school. Sofie’s plan was simple: Take it all back.
Durmstrang Years: Gretel was happy at Durmstrang. She was sitting on the knowledge that her name was soon to be, once again, the most feared name in all of Russia. The professors there spoke of legacies and strength and Gretel was further inspired to take her place in history. Of course, she still had not found exactly what she could bring, and her slight figure and middling wealth wasn't exactly intimidating. She fell back onto old habits, playing small, playing weak, quietly absorbing everything her professors taught her in the hopes of becoming a strong witch.
By her second year, there was a power struggle in the east and by her third year, her sister was spreading their influence across the entire country. Their home had been reclaimed and her Aunt Valerie took it upon herself to chase down their family heirlooms and reunite the estate in full. Sofie could now afford to fund all of Gretel's whims, and she took private lessons in chess, fencing, horseback riding, ballet, Latin, anything that struck her fancy.
Only a few months into her fourth year the threats began. Right before Christmas break, Gretel was caught unawares along in the castle as three older boys attacked her, acting on the behalf of family members displaced by Sofie's reign. Gretel escaped unharmed and refused to admit fear, but Sofie and Alice immediately pulled her out of school. Over the Christmas holidays, they hatched their new plan. England had been safe for Sofie. It would be safe for Gretel.
It took a month or so to secure a home and establish new residence. Gretel relied on private tutors in the meantime, but soon she and her mother were packing their bags and moving to England. They all spoke of a speedy return, once the threats were neutralized. Gretel knew the truth. She would be a Hogwarts graduate in a matter of years.
After Hogwarts:
| OPTIONAL EXTRAS | Let us slip into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure |
Personal Information
Nickname/s: Etta by her mother
Date of Birth: May 19
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Current Address: Elkin Manor; Hogwarts
Social Status: Upper class.
Economic Status: Wealthy, though still working on reclaiming some of their wealth
Magical Information
Wand: Chesnut, unicorn heartstring, 9 and ¾ inches, brittle
Patronus: She has not produced a patronus yet.
Classes taken:
At Hogwarts -
DADA
Transfiguration
Ancient Runes
Divination
Potions
Charms
History of Magic
Classes taken at Durmstrang not offered at Hogwarts –
Dark Arts
Magical Genealogy Studies
Alchemy
History of Wizarding Wars
CurrentlyFears: -Her sister being murdered
-Being held hostage to control her sister
-Losing their home/wealth again
Desires:-More wealth
-More influence
-To be adored
-To be feared
Likes:-high waisted skirts
-horizontal stripes on sweaters
-long socks
-warm cider
-heavy coins over paper money
-old books
-the warmth from a cauldron
-stone
-chess
-the opera
-ballet
-allegories
Dislikes:-muggleborns and muggles
-rudeness
-harsh words
-idleness
-people who have a disdain for education/reading
-television
-popular music
-every type of rodent
Goals: Figure out her role in the Elkin seizure of Russia.
Other PeopleBiological Mother: Alice Andersson, English.
Biological Father: Mikhail Elkin, deceased, former leader of the Russian Death Eaters**
Siblings: Sofie Elkin, 24, current head of the Russian Death Eaters**.
**Nadia and I have spoken as we both have characters that have this established. We've decided to say that these characters operated at different places in Russia.
Other Family Members: Anfisa Elkin, paternal grandmother.
Valerie Elkin, unmarried aunt.
Pets: Ural owl named Dasha.
| Out of Character | I'm Harry's half-sister, Dumbledore's daughter, Voldemort's niece, Sirius' cousin, Snape's daughter and Lupin's great grandmother... |
What should we call you: Jackles
RP Experience: idk
How you found us: this is my dream journal
Main Character (we'll PM you on this account): Ace Longbottom
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