Post by Devin Baines on Sept 23, 2007 13:58:04 GMT -5
[Full Character Name:] Devin Agatha Baines
[Character Gender:] Female
[Age:] 14
[Birthday:] 28 February 1995
[Hometown:] Cardiff, Wales (District of Llandaff)
[Height:] 4'11" (150 cm)
[Hair:] Dirty Blonde
[Eyes:] Green
[Father:] Giles Baines, Daily Prophet photographer
[Mother:] Cara Platt Baines, full-time mother
[Heritage:] Pure-blood
[Siblings:] Dylan (Age 23, Quidditch Player); Alan (Age 21, Ministry of Magic); and McKenna (Age 19, Leaky Cauldron waitress)
[Pet:] A small calico cat named Nia
[Wand:] 10 1/2" Olive and Unicorn Hair
[Country of Citizenship:] United Kingdom
[Physical Character Description:] Devin’s most recognizable characteristic is her height. She has been short all her life, and even a recent growth spurt has not ended this precedent, only landing her at 4’11”. This means that many people often think her younger than her years. Her constant energy and quick metabolism have resulted in a lean frame. She has very long hair that reaches down her back. It is sometimes styled, but it is usually left to its own devices, simply because she has other things on her mind. The color stands on the border between brown and blonde, and it baffles most who try to classify it. Her eyes are green, with a blue-ish tint from her father. They clearly show her youth and innocence, and they reflect her emotions easily. Her skin is rather fair, providing a nice contrast with her hair. When she smiles, it truly lights up her face. Devin is naturally rather lean. She likes the color purple, but is unable to wear it often, because it clashes with Hufflepuff yellow.
[Personality Character Description:] Devin is a kind and tolerant person. She has nothing against those who come from muggle families and tends to treat everyone the same. Her respect for authority is difficult for some teachers to grasp, because she believes everyone is more or less equal. She is an eternal optimist and quite naïve, always believing the best of everyone and very willing to give second chances. Because of an easy home life and lots of parental attention, Devin is sure that things will turn out for the best. She is a quiet girl, preferring to watch those around her and shying from conflict. She often spends much of that time with a pencil and notebook in hand, drawing most things she sees. A curious girl, she pays attention in class, but she has a tendency to doodle through those that frustrate her, especially Transfiguration. Devin’s temper is extremely long, often staying silent through situations that require conflict and allowing problems to compound over time. This is especially true with her sister, McKenna, who holds a one-sided sibling rivalry with Devin. She is loyal to friends and forgiving to enemies, taking her the few problems in her life with calm acceptance. However, she has yet to be truly tested by any serious hurdle in life, and changes may occur if and when those hurdles appear.
[History:] The Baines family has been in existence as a pureblood family for more than 200 years. The first wizard, Pryce, was a muggle-born wizard from Cardiff, who took pride in his heritage. He was successful in business, and in 1811, he moved his wife and two sons to the town of Llandaff, outside of the city. They were affluent but still required a steady income, rather than being independently wealthy. Their home, not far from the cathedral, was surrounded by muggles through the coming years, but the Baines did not move. Instead, they settled for limited contact with their (in their view) strange neighbors.
Giles Baines was the younger son of his father, Davis. The family publishing business went to his brother, Monroe, who had a head for business. Giles was more creative and spent a good deal of time admiring the beauty of life and of spells. He was sorted into Hufflepuff at Hogwarts and married Cara Platt, a yearmate from Ravenclaw, in 1982. Their wedding gift from his father was the Baines family home, which neither Davis nor Monroe wanted. Giles, on the other hand, had fond memories and willingly accepted. The couple’s first child, Dylan Grant, was born in 1985. His birth was followed by another boy, Alan Bryant, in 1987, and a girl, McKenna Cassandra, in 1989.
Six years later, the couple was blessed with another child. Devin Agatha was born 28 February 1995. Because she was significantly younger than her siblings (Dylan went to Hogwarts when she was a year old), Devin received a good deal of her parents’ attention from a young age. This spurred some sibling rivalry, particularly from McKenna, a more fiery personality than her little sister. Dylan took a particular shine to Devin, and when he was home, he was her protector. Oldest and youngest soon shared a special bond.
Devin’s ability to walk and talk also meant that her parents’ time was split among the siblings once again, and she received less attention than before. She drew a good bit, as do most young children, but her talent was noticeable, if not to Devin herself. However, the young girl was also highly curious and often spent a good deal of time discovering how things worked and why. She was enthralled by their muggle neighbors and became friends with several girls her age. Although she never understood their contraptions or their way of life, the friends bonded nonetheless over House and Make Believe, and it proved to be educational as well.
At the age of six, around the same time McKenna went to Hogwarts, Cara began to home-school Devin, as she had also done with the three older children. The young girl was smart enough, but she was more interested in her father’s photographs and her own doodles. The arts pulled at her, and she spent much of her free time painting and drawing. Giles, an artist in his own right, was thrilled to find that his interests were passed on to one of his children. He worked with her on those talents and encouraged her to follow others, including music.
When she turned 11, Devin received a letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. She had looked forward to this all her life, and the experience did not disappoint. She was sorted into Hufflepuff and quickly made friends. Her classes provide a strong challenge, and she struggles to focus and to understand difficult concepts. She knows her interests lie outside traditional subjects, but it still frustrates her. Over the summer, her father made the situation easier by telling her to look for the artistry inherent in the spells she was learning.
She returned to Hogwarts, full of excitement for her second year. Her friendships continued to deepen and grow, though most of them were within her own House. Learning also came more easily, thanks to her father’s idea. Several courses showed marked improvement, including Charms, Potions, and Astronomy, where she found the most opportunity for artistic embellishment and appreciation. The Winter Hols had Devin at home, despite the growing tensions, evident even to the young Hufflepuff. She returned to school, still eager to learn and make friends, but her plans were disrupted by the invasion of Hogwarts by the Deva. She has met several students in the older years and spent much of her time underneath the tables.
[Pros and Cons:] Devin is highly talented in the arts, both visual and musical. She is fascinated by finding art in magic, and it has led to her growing abilities in both Charms and Potions. She is both tolerant and forgiving. She is easy-going and easy to like, gaining her many friends through her short time at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Devin is also very quiet, keeping largely to herself and her drawing, which means that most of her friends are not close ones. She allows problems to fester and linger, rather than bringing them to light and resolving them. She has little talent in either Transfiguration or Defense. She can be a little flighty, especially when consumed in her drawings, and it frustrates most people.
[Role Playing Example:] Devin jumped from foot to foot in the common room. Today was her first ever day at Hogwarts. There had been the Feast last night, and it had been absolutely amazing. But she had been so tired; it was hard to appreciate everything properly. Now, she was up, bright and early, waiting for curfew to be lifted and breakfast to begin.
The common room was largely empty. Most people had been as tired as she last night, but few had her reasons to be excited. This was especially true of the older years, who had been here on this day at least once before. Among her fellow first years, she imagined most were unwilling to get up so early to experience everything. For Devin, the sun had always been an alarm clock, and she saw no reason for that to change, even in a new location.
The clock in the corner chimed, marking the end of curfew. Throwing her hands into the air, she rushed toward the door and headed out into the hallway. She skipped down the hallway to the nearest stairs. She went up them and, at the top, went up the Grand Staircase, eager to explore.
Devin was, by her estimation, three or four floors up from where she started before she realized that she was completely lost. Somewhere along the way, she had forgotten to keep track of which stairs she used and which way she turned. She turned around and took the first steps she could find, which unfortunately led up. Looking for another set, she ended up going in several rather large circles.
Now, she was getting a little desperate. Breakfast was only so long, and she needed her timetable for class. Devin was about to stop and try to re-orient herself when she bumped into something. It was soft, and taller than her, and…it was a person. She looked up to see McKenna standing before her.
“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked.
“I know you, squirt.” McKenna rolled her eyes. “I knew you’d be out of your room first thing, and I knew you’d get lost.” She paused. “Mum and Dad would kill me if I let you miss your first day.” She waited for a response, but Devin was still staring at her sister. “Come on, squirt,” she said with a grimace. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”
Devin smiled and nodded, following her sister toward the Great Hall and her first breakfast at Hogwarts.
[Character Gender:] Female
[Age:] 14
[Birthday:] 28 February 1995
[Hometown:] Cardiff, Wales (District of Llandaff)
[Height:] 4'11" (150 cm)
[Hair:] Dirty Blonde
[Eyes:] Green
[Father:] Giles Baines, Daily Prophet photographer
[Mother:] Cara Platt Baines, full-time mother
[Heritage:] Pure-blood
[Siblings:] Dylan (Age 23, Quidditch Player); Alan (Age 21, Ministry of Magic); and McKenna (Age 19, Leaky Cauldron waitress)
[Pet:] A small calico cat named Nia
[Wand:] 10 1/2" Olive and Unicorn Hair
[Country of Citizenship:] United Kingdom
[Physical Character Description:] Devin’s most recognizable characteristic is her height. She has been short all her life, and even a recent growth spurt has not ended this precedent, only landing her at 4’11”. This means that many people often think her younger than her years. Her constant energy and quick metabolism have resulted in a lean frame. She has very long hair that reaches down her back. It is sometimes styled, but it is usually left to its own devices, simply because she has other things on her mind. The color stands on the border between brown and blonde, and it baffles most who try to classify it. Her eyes are green, with a blue-ish tint from her father. They clearly show her youth and innocence, and they reflect her emotions easily. Her skin is rather fair, providing a nice contrast with her hair. When she smiles, it truly lights up her face. Devin is naturally rather lean. She likes the color purple, but is unable to wear it often, because it clashes with Hufflepuff yellow.
[Personality Character Description:] Devin is a kind and tolerant person. She has nothing against those who come from muggle families and tends to treat everyone the same. Her respect for authority is difficult for some teachers to grasp, because she believes everyone is more or less equal. She is an eternal optimist and quite naïve, always believing the best of everyone and very willing to give second chances. Because of an easy home life and lots of parental attention, Devin is sure that things will turn out for the best. She is a quiet girl, preferring to watch those around her and shying from conflict. She often spends much of that time with a pencil and notebook in hand, drawing most things she sees. A curious girl, she pays attention in class, but she has a tendency to doodle through those that frustrate her, especially Transfiguration. Devin’s temper is extremely long, often staying silent through situations that require conflict and allowing problems to compound over time. This is especially true with her sister, McKenna, who holds a one-sided sibling rivalry with Devin. She is loyal to friends and forgiving to enemies, taking her the few problems in her life with calm acceptance. However, she has yet to be truly tested by any serious hurdle in life, and changes may occur if and when those hurdles appear.
[History:] The Baines family has been in existence as a pureblood family for more than 200 years. The first wizard, Pryce, was a muggle-born wizard from Cardiff, who took pride in his heritage. He was successful in business, and in 1811, he moved his wife and two sons to the town of Llandaff, outside of the city. They were affluent but still required a steady income, rather than being independently wealthy. Their home, not far from the cathedral, was surrounded by muggles through the coming years, but the Baines did not move. Instead, they settled for limited contact with their (in their view) strange neighbors.
Giles Baines was the younger son of his father, Davis. The family publishing business went to his brother, Monroe, who had a head for business. Giles was more creative and spent a good deal of time admiring the beauty of life and of spells. He was sorted into Hufflepuff at Hogwarts and married Cara Platt, a yearmate from Ravenclaw, in 1982. Their wedding gift from his father was the Baines family home, which neither Davis nor Monroe wanted. Giles, on the other hand, had fond memories and willingly accepted. The couple’s first child, Dylan Grant, was born in 1985. His birth was followed by another boy, Alan Bryant, in 1987, and a girl, McKenna Cassandra, in 1989.
Six years later, the couple was blessed with another child. Devin Agatha was born 28 February 1995. Because she was significantly younger than her siblings (Dylan went to Hogwarts when she was a year old), Devin received a good deal of her parents’ attention from a young age. This spurred some sibling rivalry, particularly from McKenna, a more fiery personality than her little sister. Dylan took a particular shine to Devin, and when he was home, he was her protector. Oldest and youngest soon shared a special bond.
Devin’s ability to walk and talk also meant that her parents’ time was split among the siblings once again, and she received less attention than before. She drew a good bit, as do most young children, but her talent was noticeable, if not to Devin herself. However, the young girl was also highly curious and often spent a good deal of time discovering how things worked and why. She was enthralled by their muggle neighbors and became friends with several girls her age. Although she never understood their contraptions or their way of life, the friends bonded nonetheless over House and Make Believe, and it proved to be educational as well.
At the age of six, around the same time McKenna went to Hogwarts, Cara began to home-school Devin, as she had also done with the three older children. The young girl was smart enough, but she was more interested in her father’s photographs and her own doodles. The arts pulled at her, and she spent much of her free time painting and drawing. Giles, an artist in his own right, was thrilled to find that his interests were passed on to one of his children. He worked with her on those talents and encouraged her to follow others, including music.
When she turned 11, Devin received a letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. She had looked forward to this all her life, and the experience did not disappoint. She was sorted into Hufflepuff and quickly made friends. Her classes provide a strong challenge, and she struggles to focus and to understand difficult concepts. She knows her interests lie outside traditional subjects, but it still frustrates her. Over the summer, her father made the situation easier by telling her to look for the artistry inherent in the spells she was learning.
She returned to Hogwarts, full of excitement for her second year. Her friendships continued to deepen and grow, though most of them were within her own House. Learning also came more easily, thanks to her father’s idea. Several courses showed marked improvement, including Charms, Potions, and Astronomy, where she found the most opportunity for artistic embellishment and appreciation. The Winter Hols had Devin at home, despite the growing tensions, evident even to the young Hufflepuff. She returned to school, still eager to learn and make friends, but her plans were disrupted by the invasion of Hogwarts by the Deva. She has met several students in the older years and spent much of her time underneath the tables.
[Pros and Cons:] Devin is highly talented in the arts, both visual and musical. She is fascinated by finding art in magic, and it has led to her growing abilities in both Charms and Potions. She is both tolerant and forgiving. She is easy-going and easy to like, gaining her many friends through her short time at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Devin is also very quiet, keeping largely to herself and her drawing, which means that most of her friends are not close ones. She allows problems to fester and linger, rather than bringing them to light and resolving them. She has little talent in either Transfiguration or Defense. She can be a little flighty, especially when consumed in her drawings, and it frustrates most people.
[Role Playing Example:] Devin jumped from foot to foot in the common room. Today was her first ever day at Hogwarts. There had been the Feast last night, and it had been absolutely amazing. But she had been so tired; it was hard to appreciate everything properly. Now, she was up, bright and early, waiting for curfew to be lifted and breakfast to begin.
The common room was largely empty. Most people had been as tired as she last night, but few had her reasons to be excited. This was especially true of the older years, who had been here on this day at least once before. Among her fellow first years, she imagined most were unwilling to get up so early to experience everything. For Devin, the sun had always been an alarm clock, and she saw no reason for that to change, even in a new location.
The clock in the corner chimed, marking the end of curfew. Throwing her hands into the air, she rushed toward the door and headed out into the hallway. She skipped down the hallway to the nearest stairs. She went up them and, at the top, went up the Grand Staircase, eager to explore.
Devin was, by her estimation, three or four floors up from where she started before she realized that she was completely lost. Somewhere along the way, she had forgotten to keep track of which stairs she used and which way she turned. She turned around and took the first steps she could find, which unfortunately led up. Looking for another set, she ended up going in several rather large circles.
Now, she was getting a little desperate. Breakfast was only so long, and she needed her timetable for class. Devin was about to stop and try to re-orient herself when she bumped into something. It was soft, and taller than her, and…it was a person. She looked up to see McKenna standing before her.
“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked.
“I know you, squirt.” McKenna rolled her eyes. “I knew you’d be out of your room first thing, and I knew you’d get lost.” She paused. “Mum and Dad would kill me if I let you miss your first day.” She waited for a response, but Devin was still staring at her sister. “Come on, squirt,” she said with a grimace. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”
Devin smiled and nodded, following her sister toward the Great Hall and her first breakfast at Hogwarts.