"I walk a crooked road to get where I am going, And only when I'm looking back I see the straight and narrow"
//Theme: Sound the Bugle//
"Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart
I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here"
- Name -
- Aled MacNeill -
Professor MacNeill - Used by his Students and Co-Workers in professional situations.
Commander - Used by his comrades at the Auror office before he left, although they still call him that when he comes to visit.
Old Bear - Another more affectionate nickname he picked up at the Auror office. It seems to have travelled to hogwarts as well somehow.
Warlock MacNeill - A title he is often addressed by when visiting the Ministry, awarded to him for services rendered.
Warlock Commander Aled 'Somerled' MacNeill, Order of Merlin First Class - Used either in hearings or when someone wants to make a sarcastic comment.
- Age -
54 years
- Gender -
Male
- House and Year -
- Gryffindor -
Head of House || Professor
- Teaches -
Defense Against the Dark Arts
- Species -
Wizard
- Blood Status -
Half-blood
"What if I'm far from home?
Oh, brother I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh, sister I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
- Personality -
- Introspective//Solitary -
Aled very rarely expresses his personal feelings on a subject, tending more towards self-sacrifice and 'baring the load'. With age he has recognised this as a failing in himself and is endeavouring to master it but he is still a more solitary person than most, preferring to do something on his own than bother others. He is thoughtful and considerate, taking alot of time to think an action through before doing it and when in a philosophical discussion, he often pauses for quite some time to gather his thoughts and express himself properly. He's the type to sit in on a heated debate, remaining very silent for a long while, until suddenly speaking up and expressing something very profound which tends to bring the conversation to a stop, not because of the profundity of his statement, but more that everyone is so surprised he spoke at all.
- Tough//Dependable//Determined -
Aled is a survivor. No matter how rocky his path becomes in life, nor how confusing or conflicted he becomes, he always continues on diligently and bull-headedly until the situation is resolved. You can trust Aled to his very core to get the job done, no matter what comes in his way. This quality has earned him quite a few nicknames in his life, but generally people appreciate his tenacity. These qualities apply to his physical characteristics as well, Aled surviving situations which would have had other men blown to pieces.
- Chivalrous//Protective -
Aled has quite an old world reaction to alot of things. His chivalry is comparable to true knightly conduct and his opinions tend towards protection and nurturing. This does mean he is slightly unconsciously sexist, generally considering it his duty to defend and protect women over men and treating them, not necessarily as weaker, but perhaps frailer and more precious. But overall his protective qualities extend to everyone, especially his students, and he takes it as his solemn duty to ensure they are all healthy, happy and prepared for the life ahead of them.
- Empathetic//Pure Spirit -
Aled has always been a very good reader of people. He can quickly pick up on the emotional stability of a person and through talking to them he can take whatever pain or joy or confusion they might be feeling and experience it himself. He is very open to other's opinions and experiences, mostly because he never has any ulterior motive or agenda, a 'pure heart' some might say. He just creates an atmosphere around him of comfort and ease. Aled is very easy to trust.
- Tactical//Wise//Controlled -
In the wars, both incarnations, Aled proved himself to have a tactical and forward-thinking mindset. He kept his cool under intense situations and always kept a handle on a situation, no matter how much was going on at once. He would plan for every eventuality, an ambush or a screw up or a discrepancy in information, he would have a counter measure. While at his Auror office he became somewhat of an unofficial mentor to the younger, newer Aurors coming into the precinct. He just naturally had a face to trust and he had a way of letting people tell him of their problems and get them to listen to his advice without infringing upon their self worth or masculinity. A very useful quality in a confidante.
- Warm//Charismatic -
When Aled was young he seemed like one of those people who had everything sorted in their life, it was a facade, but at that time it was a good one. People naturally gravitated towards him and throughout his university years he had a large friendship group. He was jolly and loud and added life and laughter to any situation. Older now, some of his charisma has made way for a slower, more gentle character, but he still enjoys laughing and drinking and making merry to abominable hours of the night. Nowadays he is more tactile and affectionate with his friends than loud or aggressively cheerful, enjoying warm and comfortable conversation to shouted lurid jokes while intoxicated.
- Sensuous//Liberal//Flirtatious -
Aled has always seemed the wise and mature counselor whilst at Hogwarts. He emits an aura of calm stability which people cling to and it makes him seem timeless and aloof. It also somehow makes him appear sexless. This is very far from the truth. In actuality Aled is a very sensuous Bisexual person and sex is something he has always treated as pleasurable, necessary and light. Romantically he is technically what one would call Polyamourous, perhaps a reason why married life never suited him, meaning that he loves widely and openly and isnt constrained to only feeling things for single individuals. He has on many occasions been in love with multiple people at one time. After divorcing his wife he really explored this part of himself, taking multiple lovers at one time or another although always ensuring everyone involved knew the situation. After his injury his promiscuity dropped to nothing, first because of his depressed state and then later because suddenly his body felt fragile to him. This feeling dissapated eventually but still he feels slightly cautious around the idea and has abstained ever since.
- Biography -
||Young Life: 1969 - 1989||
"I've been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I've been worryin' that I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I've been worryin' that we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear."
[spoili]Edward was born on the isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland. His family wasn't poor as most people believe scots crofters are, in fact they were quite well off in comparison, probably something to do with his mother's witchery. His parents had a very strong relationship, having survived both the revelation that his mother was a witch and that his father had been a Drag Queen in his youth. They had both met in Edinburgh but the young family fled the mainland before Voldemort caught them and Aled grew up quietly and happily amongst towering mountains and treacherous seas along with his younger sister, Moira. Skye became somewhat of a refuge for wizards and witches fleeing the war and Aled's parents risked much to house them and find places for them to lie low. Aled was very aware of these occurrences growing up and their bravery effected him in many ways. However throughout all this he still had to go to school. It became obvious to his parents and his pre-school that he had a good and inquisitive mind and he generally excelled in most things relating to learning. When his magic was discovered at a young age the move from home to Hogwarts was not a difficult one, challenges and new experiences coming easily to him and giving him greater goals to strive for. He was excessively thoughtful of others though, keeping his own problems completely to himself and dealing with them that way as well which eventually became a problem with most of the relationships he had later on in life.
After graduating from Hogwarts with very high OWL scores, especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts, he very quickly decided he wanted a career in the Aurors, the war still raging and he wanting very desperately to be a part of it. However his parents were discouraging, considering it a waste of his mental capabilities as well as a path that might get him killed. So with this in mind he instead pursued a Muggle degree in Criminal psychology in the University of St Andrews, able to stay relatively unnoticed by possible death eaters and using his cover as a muggle student to help smuggle other less fortunate wizards and witches to Skye and a few times foiling or killing death eaters who came sniffing around. Before he left university however, the war ended and by the time he graduated many of his rescue-es had returned to thank him for his bravery.
His university days had also lead him to the career path he wished to pursue. His undergraduate tutors recognising both his abilities as well as his wishes and very quickly recommending him a career in Police negotiation and, after some consideration and discussion with his family, he dedicated himself fully to this path, though admittedly in a more magical setting. He finished university in the year 1989 and entered a Auror Academy to continue his pursuit of his career, gaining deeper magical combat experience along with a sturdier mindset and an even more hardened exterior. He was very good at empathy, it was discovered, very good at watching a person and understanding their motives and actions. His tutors allowed him special opportunities to meet with experienced negotiators and be present at Auror interrogations of suspect criminals. [/spoili]
||Love and War: 1989 - 2004||
"A warning to the people,
The good and the evil,
This is war.
To the soldier, the civilian,
The martyr, the victim,
This is war."
[spoili]It was in Auror academy that he me
t his wife, Catelyn. She was a fiery and passionate person and basically swept him off his feet within months of them meeting. They laughed together and were excited together and generally their romance was pretty average as romances go, having its ups and downs and dramas but remaining steady and durable. She had an adventurous heart at that time and wanted to go to america and after that travel the world once they had finished their training, however Aled did not like the idea, prefering to settle and make a home for themselves somewhere close to his family. But he never properly expressed this, again putting his feelings aside for the sake of others. When they Graduated, both with merit, Aled said goodbye to his family before taking the flight to New York in 1992, his new wife having already bought a house for them in the city. Aled wasn't happy in the city, it was far too busy and loud for his taste. But again he never said anything and finally began his Career as a Auror negotiator for the American Branch of the Ministry of Magic. The district department was very glad to have him, having very few trained Auror's from the Ministry of Magic headquarters, and they eagerly gave him the job and put him to work.
He didnt have a perfect record of success, no one did, but the large majorities of high risk situations he was put into ended well without many casualties and this was definately what Aled enjoyed doing. In 1995 suddenly his job became even more crucial. The second rise of lord voldemort came upon him and as a half-blood he was ever more in the crossfire than most. America was just as beseiged and Death Eater camps and attacks rose within days of the Dark Lord's return. Aled was one of the few Auror's ready for the siege, urging his superiors to make proper preparations while referring back to his experiences in the first war and thankfully he was listened too. Because of this the Aurors were somewhat prepared for the following years as one of the Dark Lord's closet servants took charge of the Death Eater ranks in America and lead them in an assault against the Ministry of Magic. Eventually in a heated and thick battle, Aled dueled him in an intense and lengthy battle and won with help from his comrades, although his wand was destroyed in the process. He took the man's wand and kept it safe but it would be years before he would make use of it.
Aled and Catelyn had fought side by side in the war, excellent dueling partners and incredibly in sync with Catelyn as the aggressor and Aled providing extremely strong defensive spells. Once the war was over they settled back down together and finally started a family with all the joy and happiness a victory had brought them. They had a daughter, Rhona, and Aled doted on her like she was the sun and loved every minute of fatherhood. He was a good father, except for his continuous absence because of his job, which eventually put a strain on his marriage even though he was always there for Rhona when she needed him. Even after their connection in the war, gradually Catelyn and he began to drift apart, sometimes there were rows, sometimes there was silence, but mostly they just began to ignore each other. Once the battles were done, Aled was back into a life in a city and in a country that always ran too hot for him. He disliked everything about his life at that time, except his job and his daughter, and eventually Aled finally expressed it. He ranted about his hatred for their home and his misery at having been dragged halfway across the world from all his family and friends and how much he wrongfully blamed Catelyn for it.
It was the end of their marriage. Catelyn was horribly bitter at having been lied too and pushed away for so many years and Aled was just tired of the whole facade. It was an amicable divorce in general and they determinedly tried to work out the best way for them to still raise Rhona together as a mother and father. It was well thought out and Aled and Catelyn had as much of an equal involvement in her life as possible. Nothing was perfect but they all moved forward together, the first thing they did being moving back to Scotland since Catelyn had lost a lot of love for America while living there as well. During his career, and his deeds in the war, Aled had made quite a name for himself as one of the most daring and successful and brave Auror Negotiators of his generation, many Auror's owing them their lives and reports from his superiors glowing with praise. Therefore it was easy as anything for him to get an Auror Job at the Ministry of Magic, Scotland branch, and he made many allies and friends there, his Scots accent quickly returning with renewed fervour.[/spoili]
||Veteran Years: 2004 - 2019||
"It's time to strap our boots on
This is a perfect day to die
Wipe the blood out of our eyes
We are the ones who will never be broken
With our final breath
We'll fight to the death
We are soldiers, we are soldiers
Woah woah woah whoa
We are soldiers"
[spoili]Through his years at the Scottish branch he gained more renown and greater experience along with a few more scars to prove it. Since he lost his last wand he had never found one he particularly wished to continue with. He no longer needed a wand as a trusted companion, one to replace his first, that felt wrong to him. Now he wished for a wand to challenge him and a few months into his job he remembered he still had the wand of his enemy in the wars of america. It was a yew wand containing a dragon's heartstring, a very dangerous and volatile mix and one that only very strong willed individuals could control. But somehow Aled felt confident in his ability to command its power and so he had a go. The dragon heartstring seemed to very eagerly accept him as its new master at first, Aled having killed its previous owner, but at that first try it tested him violently, still feeling the influence of its dark hearted ex-master. Aled kept very cool throughout the initial contact and eventually claimed control over its raucous power. He made it his project to pull it back from the dark arts and he eventually succeeded some years down the line, the wand completely accepting his rule in the end. This was another fame point to his name among his colleagues, gaining the joking title of 'knight' MacNeill for having 'tamed the dragon'. He accepted the teasing genially and just continued working to bring down the last vestiges of Death Eaters and supporting his daughter, whom entered hogwarts in 2015.[/spoili]
||Wounded 2019||
"Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light I fear that I will stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on
-
I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here"
[spoili]15 years into his position in the head office of Scotland, Aled had been working for some months to infiltrate and route one of the last Death Eater safehouses in scotland. The final attack, that Aled had been planning for weeks, began on a still winter night. He knew he really didnt need to go in himself but he felt obligated to see it through until the end so he lead his own battle-hardened team into the lair. The battle was bloody and visceral but any casualties on Aled's side were quickly dealt with as per his instructions. However in the end, cruel irony meant his cleverness helped everyone but himself. He and some others got cornered by a particularly crazed and powerful witch and in the ensuing firefight Aled was hit multiple times by strange and warped spells while defending his comrades whom had bunkered down behind a rock formation. Aled and his team all made it out alive but the ferocity and chaotic nature of the spells crippled his leg and damaged his nervous system beyond repair and he had to be carried off the battlefield.
After some months in hospital, Aled was released, however he continued to suffer a limp on his left leg along with sporadic seizure-type events that wracked him with uncontrollable pain up his arm and down his side. The shock of how much this effected him settled in some weeks later and he fell into quiet depression, so traumatised by his sudden weak, frail and useless state. He also suffered with some PTSD events from the attack which could have been manageable, however he never sought advice or treatment so it only continued to get worse. He hit a very low point in his life, retracting from his daughter and most of his family and not going outside for weeks at a time. Eventually his colleagues were so worried about him not turning up for work that they called his sister and she fully came to his rescue. She became the lifeline he needed to begin dealing with his situation. She forcefully came to see him everyday, pushed him to come and live with her again in the Hebrides, pushed him into therapy and generally took care of him whether he wanted it or not. She bought him a Dog, Leeda, a massive Irish Wolfhound trained in seizure prediction, so that he could prepare himself before the pain hit. Finally, after months of boisterous, Scots care and attention, he took her suggestion and began looking for a job once more.[/spoili]
||Professor Aled MacNeill: 2020-2023||
"Then from on high - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls, "Remember who you are"
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow
So be strong tonight - remember who you are
Yeah you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle
To be free once more - yeah, that's worth fighting for"
[spoili]As the Aurors most closely related to Hogwarts, the scottish branch had alot of dealings with the school and he and Professor McGonagall had slowly gained a close trust and friendship with each other over his years on the force. Minerva particularly appreciated his fearless and open attitude to problems and generally hands off approach to the school, allowing her to choose the type of security she required rather than forcing draconian measures on her staff. So when his condition made him incapable of going on missions requiring legwork, he was given the choice between becoming the section head of Auror's in the region, or taking up a seat as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at the school. His old colleagues were very eager for him to return, missing him terribly and finding themselves very concerned for him throughout his period of solitude. Even though Aled had great affection for his team-mates, being behind a desk sounded like a very special circle of hell for him and in any case he enjoyed teaching and interacting with young people. So he took the Professorship in 2020 and ever since has been happily engaging himself in teaching, finding the change of pace a great balm for his various issues and discovering an aptitude for teaching and mentoring young people that gives him great contentment. However he is a slightly unreliable tutor, often his skills in negotiation and tactical affairs are so needed and unmatched that Ministry's will request him from all around the world to come and consult with them on various potentially dangerous situations. Therefore supply teachers are often required for his absences, which can sometimes be exceedingly long.[/spoili]
- Relationships -
"May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold;
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
You're just like great strong brother of mine;
You're just like a good close sister to me,
And you know that I love you true.
And you never talk dirty behind my back,
And I know that there's those that do.
Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
Now please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me."
Adamina - Battleaxe - Mother
[spoili]His mother is now 97 years old and yet still going relatively strong. She keeps a very good check on her son and often insists he apparate to see her every week or at least come to stay with his daughter over the holidays. She was always a very important influence on his life, pushing him to stretch himself and being there for him whenever he was scared or overwhelmed. She was a steady rock of dependability in his life and as she draws close to the end of her own, Aled begins to feel that while he loves her, he no longer needs her here, he can stand on his own. She on the other hand, appears to have a different idea about things, especially since his father died.[/spoili]
Garrett - Clown - Father
[spoili]Deceased. Always a much more lighthearted and flamboyant person than his mother, Aled's father was the one who indulged his son's odd interests and showed him a more eclectic lifestyle. He was always jolly and ready to laugh, however he was also never particularly emotionally available so when he died Aled found that he regretted not knowing him properly and not asking him more about himself.[/spoili]
Moira - Dragon Tamer - Sister
[spoili]Aled and his sister always got along well, he being well past 8 by the time she was born and so becoming more of a protector than a competitor. Moira on the other hand, had absolutely no need of his assistance and was always a boisterous and tough person with the same determination and strength that Aled himself showed. She knew very quickly that she wanted to go into the research and preservation of Magical creatures, her interest in the natural world growing from the long walks she and Aled took around their island home. Their parents always had a close relationship with the MacFusty Clan and Moira married into the family, taking up the responsibility of managing the dragons native to the Hebridean isles as though it was her calling in life. During the second rise of Voldemort, Moira had to defend the dragons from Death Eaters who sought to enslave them for their cause and in the battles that ensued she lost her eldest son and her Husband was crippled beyond help. She forgave Aled for not being there to save them, but Aled never forgave himself.[/spoili]
Catelyn - Shieldmaiden - Ex-Wife
[spoili]Aled's and Catelyn's relationship has been an up and down rollercoaster of an adventure and by now they are both very happy to remain friends. The years and years of history between them has gotten to such a level that it doesnt even matter to them anymore. All they both want to do is support their brilliant daughter through her life and always be there to catch her when she falls. This, they can both agree completely on.[/spoili]
Rhona - Little Lion - Daughter
[spoili]Rhona had always been a constant source of both joy and worry throughout Aled's life. She went through her rebellious phase which was particularly violent and aggressive in its intensity. She revolted against the world she had grown up in and her father's absence and her mother's unpredictability and generally the family she was gifted with. She and her father lost touch a little after she entered Hogwarts but eventually, by her seventh year, the father and daughter had found eachother once more. Rhona suddenly found talking with her mother and getting advice from her completely impossible and liable to make her scream, however her father still seemed reliable and workable with. As a result, in the years before she left home, Rhona moved out of her mother's house and lived with Aled instead. A few years later she had moved out completely and started her career in magical healing.[/spoili]
Caia Watkins - Ginger Fury - Friend for life
[spoili]Aled had known of Caia from her father. He had fought beside the man in many battles and worked quite a few cases with him and the one subject he couldnt get enoug of was his amazing daughter. Aled and he had related their fatherhood joys and terrors on many stakeouts or long nights at the office, it was both their favourite topic of conversation. Having heard so much about her Aled had been eager to meet her when he came to hogwarts. Caia had not disappointed. In her he had found a comradeship and friendship he hadnt thought to see in somewhere as peaceful as Hogwarts. She keeps his life lively and her determination and stubborn personality match his perfectly. They have become the closest of friends, thick as thieves and when allied a force to be reckoned with by anyone. [/spoili]
Professor Balthazar Morgenstern - Drinking Buddy - Colleague
[spoili]Balthazar seems quite a youthful individual to be teaching at Hogwarts in Aled's opinion but he respects the man's enthusiasm for his subject and enjoys his genial company. They both find the other an amiable drinking partner and Balthazar sometimes asks Aled's advice upon various subjects.[/spoili]
Professor Clementine Ashton Flamel - The Mystery - Colleague
[spoili]Aled is aware that there is a Potions master in the castle... however he only knows this because he read the register. The lady has been strangely elusive to him and he hasnt spoken two words to her for the whole month she has been in residence. Sometimes he will catch a glimpse of her in the corridors and her face with light a spark of recognition in his mind, however before he can confirm his suspicions she is fled from him and he and his gammy leg have no hope to keep up. For the moment he is respecting her apparent wish for privacy but he is quietly making inquiries as to why she might be avoiding him.[/spoili]
Jack Edgar Sullivan - Trusted Ally - House Prefect
[spoili]Aled has had a good relationship with Sully from the very start of his years of teaching at Hogwarts, the lad being very vocal and enthused in all his lessons. In the beginning, his understanding and experience with troublesome wands made Aled an ideal mentor for the struggling student and his close tutorage helped greatly as Sully tried to gain control over his errant wand. After that their relationship grew in strength very quickly, they both being of like personalities and both enjoying each other's company. Sully learnt more of Aled, his condition and his habits and Aled discovered more of Sully's interests and did all that he could to encourage and support him through it. They already had a very open and trust based relationship with Sully helping Aled with whatever he could so this year the choice of Prefect for Gryffindor house was not difficult, Sully being the perfect candidate. Among other things, Sully is very good at aiding Aled through his mobility difficulties and knows when and what Aled needs help with at the time. Sully is also very well versed in Aled's condition and knows how to prepare and deal with his seizures when they come on, a very useful trait and somewhat of a lifeline for Aled at times. With Sully's expressed interest in Dragons, Aled has promised to take him up to the Hebrides with him in the holidays (parents permitting) so that the lad might see firsthand what dragon management is all about and gain experience to further his chosen career path. As a Prefect and Aled's trusted student, Sully has keys to his office and permission to use them whenever he needs to and he often comes late at night after he has finished his patrol so that the pair can sit and chat about this and that or Aled can reminisce about his younger, more active days. He even gets along well with Leeda. All in all they have a firm and dependable relationship built on trust, respect and loyalty.[/spoili]
Kiyoko Oshiro - Friend - Student
[spoili]Kiyoko and Aled met very early on in the year, before term started. Both of them arrived early for various reasons, Aled in particular merely setting up his room and dealing with the backlash from the change in scenery that generally put him in bed or in a more vulnerable state for a few days. He always wanted to be fit and ready to teach before term started. At first they met in the library, Aled curious to see a student here so soon and Kiyoko needing a tour around the school and a bit of help getting started on the new syllabus. In the two weeks their chats went from passing comments to Kiyoko coming up to his office for tea and pleasant conversation. Once the school term started the pair found they enjoyed their chats so much that they just simply continued them. They got to know and like eachother better, Aled eventually finding out that Kiyoko was both and animagus and daughter of the Japanese ambassador. Aled knew the Japanese Ambassador quite well, not personally, but the file on him was extensive and he had had quite a few dealings with the man in relation to visits of foreign dignitaries and policy discussions he had mediated or guarded. Throughout his career as an Auror he had met all the foreign ambassadors at least once, Takashi Oshiro much more than that and he did not like the man, not a bit. He was aggressive, a wife beater in everything but law and a bigot for everyone with a Muggle parentage. But that wasnt something he would take to Kiyoko, that wasnt fair, he was more worried about her and especially the fact that she was an Illegal Animagus, not for any criminal reason, but just simply because her parents were forcing her to do so. So after understanding that without her parents knowing she would gladly register, Aled has started careful and quiet investigation into how to let her register ithout her parents discovering, difficult given her father's high status, but to Aled's mind not impossible necessarily.[/spoili]
Sethen Damon Lockett - Mentee - Student
[spoili]Aled recognised early on that Seth could use some personal support from him. Throughout their acquaintance Aled has become a manner of father figure for Seth, encouraging him in whatever way he can and making sure he is available for Seth to talk to when in need of cheering up. Leeda has also taken quite a shine to him, flomping down onto his feet whenever he is in one of Aled's lessons and keeping him company during the full moon.[/spoili]
Alexandra Ashwood - Prodigy - Student
[spoili]Alexandra is quite a reticent person but throughout Aled's teaching of her they have grown gradually closer and he discovered her love for dueling and intention to become an Auror once leaving Hogwarts. With a view to both expanding her spellwork and ensuring that she doesnt exhaust herself by trying to learn more advanced magic alone, Aled gives Alexandra some private tuition tailored to Auror-work. Alexandra is a great listener and Aled often relates memories of great battles or secret infiltration to her with a focus on their tactics, planning and strategy. This summer he also has decided she is ready for hands on work and his contacts in the Auror office were more than happy to accept a holiday intern who was one of Aled's personal students. All in all Aled respects and enjoys Alexandra's enthusiasm and dedication to her aspirations and does all he can to further her ambitions in the ministry.[/spoili]
Scorpious Malfoy - Previous Acquaintance - Student
[spoili]Scorpious and Aled have a strange history. Malfoy as a known deatheater sympathiser was under alot of surveillance for a very long time after the end of the war with Voldemort. At one point Aled was given some charge over their monitering and after a few very brief visits to the House Aled got quite annoyed at the ridiculous amount of manpower being wasted on essentially taking revenge. The Malfoys were now perfectly respectable people and actually seemed genuinely sorry for their involvement. Mister Malfoy had after all only been a child and he seemed to be admirably trying to protect his family from the bad influences of his father. After seeing this Aled returned to the Ministry in a blustering huff and berated administration and eventually higher level ministers to drop the surveillance on the Malfoy house. This earned him quite alot of trust from young Scorpious and Aled found the boy to be a very trustworthy and incredibly loyal person, loyalty being something he has always valued highly. Scorpious has some difficulty keeping interest in class but rather than seeing this as a problem or a frustration Aled takes it as a challenge, endeavouring to engage Scorpious in different and tailored ways as much as possible.[/spoili]
Zoey Victoria Black - Mentee - Student
[spoili]As the captain of the Gryffindor Duelling team, Aled and Zoey have quite a bit of contact nowdays. He arrived during her third year, a confusing time for the girl, and Aled tried his best to support her through this troubling year. He became somewhat of a rolemodel for her, his word having more weight than her father's in her opinion.[/spoili]
Melinda Geralds - Conflicted Relationship - Student
[spoili]Melinda and Aled have a very rocky acquaintance. Her generally patronisation and disregard for him due to his half blood status causes some bad blood between them and Aled worries for her adult life if she does not drop her bigotted point of view, having seen what such opinions can do to a person. He tries to persuade her against such prejudices in a calm manner but sometimes her words snap him back to a more dangerous and more painful time and he loses his temper.[/spoili]
Andromeda Grace -
- Patronus -
[spoili]
[/spoili]
Polar bear's in native tribal history have been thought to have abilities to navigate along the earth's magnetic lines. They are introspective and able to survive in barren landscapes. They have a great purity of spirit and purpose and a strength in the face of adversity. They are solitary animals and their capabilities in the water have been expanded to them being expert swimmers through emotional waters and finding their way back from the brink. They are creatures of defense and protection and have chivalrous hearts, but they are also associated with revenge. Polar bears are considered intelligent and fearless against all battles, though it also conserves its strength and knows when to fight and when to retreat.
- Boggart -
A horrifying visage of a witch with crazed eyes and blood caking her head and shoulders, her wand glowing green and her mouth emitting a horrendous screeching noise. She bares down on him, somehow taller than him.
- Pet -
[spoili]
[/spoili]
Aled has a giant Wolfhound named Leeda. She is both a firm and warm friend and also an important lifeline. She senses when Aled might be going to have a seizure or a spasm and informs him so that he can sit and stop doing whatever dangerous thing it is he might be attempting and wait for it to pass. Few people know this about Leeda, therefore they assume the reason he bring the massive dog everywhere with him is simply because he wants to, which to be honest is half of the truth.
- Wand -
Aled's first wand
Wand Wood: Cypress, 13 inches
Wand Core: Pheonix Feather core.
Flexibility: Sturdy with a fair amount of pliancy in the centre.
He acquired it in the normal way, Olivander barely taking a single look at him before squirrelling back into the depths of his shop and bringing it out for Aled to take. It was a trustworthy and stalwart wand and throughout his school years and into his adult life he took great care of it. However it was destroyed beyond repair during the final battle of the Dark Lord's return in America.
[spoili]
Cypress Wand Wood Lore
Cypress is associated with valour. The great medieval wandmaker, Geriant Ollivander, wrote that he was always honoured to match a cypress wand, for he knew he was meeting a witch or wizard who would die a heroic death. Fortunately, in these less blood-thirsty times, the possessors of cypress wands are rarely called upon to lay down their lives, though doubtless many of them would do so if required. Wands of cypress find their soul mates among the brave, the bold and the self-sacrificing: those who are unafraid to confront the shadows in their own and others' natures.
Phoenix Feather Core Lore
This is one of the rarest core types. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn hair or dragon heartstring cores to reveal this. They how the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won.[/spoili]
The wand he uses today
Wand wood: Yew. 14 inches
Wand core: Dragon Heartstring
Wand flexibility: Springy
He gained it from a duel with a death eater after killing him during the final battle.
[spoili]
Yew Wand Wood Lore
Yew wands are among the rarer kinds, and their ideal matches are likewise unusual, and occasionally notorious. The wand of yew is reputed to endow its possessor with the power of life and death, which might, of course, be said of all wands and yet yew retains a particularly dark and fearsome reputation in the spheres of duelling and all curses. However, it is untrue to say (as those unlearned in wandlore often do) that those who use yew wands are more likely to be attracted to the Dark Arts than another. The Witch or wizard best suited to a yew wand might equally prove a fierce protector of others.
Wands hewn from these most long-lived trees have been found in the possession of heroes quite as often as of villains. Where wizards have been buried with wands of yew, the wand generally sprouts into a tree guarding the dead owner's grave. What is certain is that the yew wand never chooses either a mediocre or a timid owner.
Dragon Heartstring Core Lore
As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn quicker than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner.The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental. It also tends to be lethally hazardous if combined with Yew or Cherry wood. [/spoili]
- Other -
Aled is very dedicated to his students, running all manner of catch-up sessions for those students struggling, or additional lessons for those students who need more of a challenge to continue being engaged. He is the Duelling Master for the school while also running a self-defense class specially for girls.
If anyone wants to see Aled shirtless and sleeping next to his lil daughter Rhona they can here
- Appearance -
Aled stands Six foot four inches, thereby looming over most everyone else he comes across. He has broad shoulders and chest and in general his whole body is corded and thick with muscle. He has a pronounced limp on his left leg and often his wand arm seizes up with painful paroxysms. His hair is a light red, showing his true scottish blood, and usually mussy and short depending upon how much effort he feels he should put into his appearance day by day. He has a scruffy beard that can grow very long very quickly, so often one week he will have some simple stubble and then by the next week a full beard will have developed. His face is lined and creased with wrinkles of both concern and smiles and his skin is slightly freckled with quite a pale pigmentation. He has scars covering his body, varying from small burns and cuts on his face and hands, to enormous lacerations down his left leg and side that stretch up to his chest. His eyes are a light icy blue and are deepset into his brow, making him seem more miserable or angry than he actually is. His back is covered in black celtic knot patterns all the way from his broad shoulders down to the small of his back and his right arm also bares some decoration, a bear celtic knot circling his upper arm.
RP Example
[Spoili]"But you are sure he is returning to London? You are SURE Williams?"
"No Madame, no one is sure of anything, I only know he has left Valencia and is travelling North as we speak."
There was a sharp crack of shattering glass as the Lady Carmen's tightening hold caused webs of cracks to spread through her wine glass. She sighed heavily and set the glass down upon her side table, massaging her temple to try and soothe the angry and tight muscles in her brow. Of course the man would not be easy for once and actually tell anyone where he was going, he never did. He did want he wanted, the eternal and ultimate glutton. Damn him. Was it not enough that he had turned her ancestral home into a blood bath? No doubt a subtle slight to her pride. She was silent for a moment until her delicate hearing noted the anxious shuffling of her dutiful Servant. She looked up to the young man and sighed again. He was loyal for sure and clever in his own way, but he was to cautious, too frightened, too careful in every respect. He was not a bad informer but for things like this she really wished she had Adriano by her side, her ever trusted, ever faithful confidant.
But he had no business by her side right now, and that was as it should be. He needed to tend to his own matters. No she would have to do without him. In the old days she would have done it herself but by now she had far too much influence and was far too well known to pass unnoticed these days.
"That is all Williams, you have done your best, I can ask no more than that from you."
The young man bowed low and turned on his heel in relief, eager to be away from her aura of weariness and frustration. She needed to calm her thoughts, this had occupied her mind for too long. She rose from her carved wooden seat, her hands absently stroking the ornate lionhead arm rests as she swept from her private quarters at the top of her stone tower. Her covern's abode was large and grand, gothic statues gazing down on them all from above while giant fires roared in the many rooms. The grounds were even more impressive, acres and acres of woodland populated by both deer and wolves. And in the darkest parts of her forest, werewolves lived in peace, individuals whom she had deemed worthy of her protection. She was proud of what she had built here, but there always seemed more to do.
She lightly glided down her spiral staircase and into the main house, a whole room of red eyes darting to her form as soon as she appeared. Most bowed to her in reverent respect while a few greeted her with smiles and nods which she returned in kind. All her children loved her, she made sure of that, they all needed to know they could come to her, that she would protect and defend them above all else. It gave her a sense of purpose. Higgins appeared suddenly at her side, knowing that he would be wanted.
"Your orders Madame?"
He was finely dressed in butler garb, the head of all the footman as he was. So tidy and impeccable in every way, Carmen was lucky to have him.
"Inform all the staff that we leave for London Sebastian. I wish to be gone by the day after tomorrow, if possible."
He bowed low to her and turned quickly on his heel to carry out her orders. She passed through the house, quickly dipping into the conversations of her charges to tell them of their imminent exodus. She knew they all couldn't come, so she chose a few to accompany her. Some were trusted and long lasting friends, while others were new to their vampiric life and would benefit from seeing their London society. After this all was done she had a sudden thought. It took her a while to filter through her own emotions on the idea, was this a selfless exchange of useful information, or a selfish wish to have her loyal Servant at her side? Eventually she decided that whatever her own feelings on the subject, her reasons were valid enough and with that she swept out of the main doors and into the gardens. She came to a cherry tree orchard, their pink blossoms just losing their full bloom, petals littering her path. In one tree she found her quarry, a large black raven, impossible to see in the black of night for human eyes. But Carmen easily picked it out from the darkness and called it to her, cooing until it rested its knarled black feet on her arm.
"Find Adriano and tell him this. We are leaving for London and we will meet many Nobles there, Nobles who will quite possibly know of the whereabouts of Adrán's brother. Come to my house in town if you wish and we will see what we can do. End message, repeat?"
The raven cawed and then, in an eerie likeness of Carmen's own voice, repeated her message clearly and in full.
"Good, now find Adriano, go!"
The bird cawed again and took off, soaring up into the night sky and disappearing from view.[/spoili]
