This opening post is under construction, but nearly complete.  

Hogwarts, 1480

[hider=Background] It is a time before the Ministry of Magic.  Britain is ruled by a Wizard’s Council in a much less bureaucratic manner than the Ministry that would succeed it.  Wizards are freer, with no Statute of Secrecy preventing them from casting spells in public, and no Restriction of Underage Sorcery to stop them from learning early.  

Wizards are not the only ones with fewer restrictions.  The Code of Wand Use has not yet come to pass, and creatures such as centaurs and goblins can legally use wands, though the legality does not stop it from being looked down upon by wizardkind.  Still, goblins are rising in prominence and importance with the newly formed Gringott’s Bank.  Goblins have no great protection under the law, but their own magic and ability to make amazing weapons and armor keep most wizards cautiously friendly with them.  They have answered wizardkind’s refusal to share wandlore by refusing to share any of their own metallurgical knowledge.  

The looser law and order of the country has its darker sides, however.  Pureblood fanatics like the Malfoys, Gaunts, and Blacks are able to get away with horrible acts of muggle baiting.  And on the reverse side, it’s not uncommon for less skilled wizards to be taken captive and subjected to trial by muggles.  

Muggle born witches and wizards have it the worst.  There is no institute dedicated to locating and protecting them, and far too few of them ever reach Hogwarts or have their powers explained to them.  Many are treated as freaks by their families, and some are put to trial for witchcraft for magic they weren’t even in control of.  

Around the age of eleven, children can be sent to the Hogwarts Castle, which has already been operating as a school for young witches and wizards for almost five centuries.  Without a Ministry’s oversight, the castle is a power of its own amongst the wizards of Britain.  It is a stronghold of ancient and powerful magic, and has a great influence on witches and wizards even after they leave it.  Hogwarts is under the leadership of Corvus Black, a taciturn and dour man who is more interested in the power that the post brings than he is in the education of students. 

Something is beginning to happen, this year. Some are finding sleep in the castle uneasy, and younger students are plagued by strange and sometimes frightening dreams. So far no one has been hurt, and the nocturnal anxiety has not been blamed on a magical source. But that is about to change. 
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[hider=Subjects]

Transfiguration: The changing of one thing into another.  Students often start with small twigs into needles.  Unlike charms, there isn’t much incantation or specific wandwork here.  Transfiguration is in the mind, and comes from the caster’s willpower and knowledge of the thing being transfigured.  Ingerith Nothing is the rebellious head of Transfiguration.  She is a metamorphmagus, whose innate powers give her an unusually natural grasp of the subject.  

Potions: One of the more ancient arts of the witch and wizard.  Potion making has been perfected over millennia and has reached a peak of precision and power.  In addition to being an excellent chef, the jolly Italian professor Benedict Dante is the castle’s potion’s master.  

Combat: This age has a looser definition of light and dark, and Defense Against the Dark Arts hasn’t been established as a subject yet.  Still, violence is an ever present possibility and even young witches and wizards need to be able to defend themselves, whether in a duel or against magical beasts.  Renowned German dragon slayer Markus Goethe treats his students like soldiers, and many drop his class by third year. 

Charms: Spells that alter the nature of an object, area, person, or sometimes reality itself.  Sometimes Charms are confused with transfiguration, but they are quite different.  If you bring an object to life without changing its shape, it’s a charm.  If you do so by changing it into an animal, it’s transfiguration.  ((Teacher to be filled by player))

Herbology: Hand in hand with potions, Herbology focuses on the taking care of plants that have magical uses or properties.  The castle’s glass gardens are looked after by Professor Gwendoline Galare, who teaches the classes as if they are interrupting her alone time with the plants. 

History: Some find knowledge of past wizards to be important, though most students consider the subject matter to be dry at the best of times. Young Professor Edwin Plinny tries his best to inject enthusiasm into the class, but often fails. 

Astronomy: Witches and Wizards for centuries have found the movement of celestial bodies to be relevant to the magic they work. Professor Aquila Altair roams the towers and walls of the castle tirelessly every night, pointing the constellations out to her willing students. 

Care of Magical Creatures: Animals as well as plants can have magical traits, and their usefulness makes a working knowledge invaluable.  Handsome beast tamer Ryden Ashford has an infectious affection for all living creatures.  He also keeps the school's game, and maintains the paths into the safer sections of the Forbidden Forest.  
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[hider=CS] 

When making your character, I’d rather you make a character for their own sake, rather than starting with the house you want to be in in mind.  

Feel free to use known family names, and feel free to be related to each other.  Come up with rivalries between families, or old friendships.  

Name:
Age:
Appearance: Pictures are allowed, but be warned that I reserve the right to ask you to find a new one if I don't like it.
House: Leave blank for sorting
Wand: Leave blank, the wand chooses the wizard.  
Personality:
Bio:
Plotting: Anything that might make for some interesting interactions.  Include any ways you see that your character might clash with others, or get on well with them.  
Family: Any relations you have among other characters.  If you made up your own last name, tell us a little about their family background.  
[/hider]

Rules: 

1) As always, guild rules apply.  There's no reason they wouldn't.

2) Use common sense.  You should know what won't fly.

3) Be polite.  If I call you out on attitude, and you didn't mean to have one, just say so.  Sometimes intent can't be read through text. 

4) Don't sweat post size or Cs size.  [i]Do[/i] sweat your grammar and how much sense you're making.  

5) [i]I[/i] am the goddamn headmaster.  If I tell you something, feel free to make an argument, but don't complain if I don't buy it.  And don't keep going after I've said no.  I think people who have played under me would agree that I'm diplomatic, but very firm.  

6) Number five being said, if I say something that is historically inaccurate, or that contradicts canon, drop me a PM to let me know.  There are very few places where I will be intentionally inaccurate.