ImagineTheStars
Lunamaria Hawke
Stryder BC
Name: Abigail Harlow
Age: 31
House: Slytherin
Occupation: Curse-Breaker
Time on Staff: There has always been this sensation around Abigail's tenure as a teacher that she's waiting for something. Though she flourished as a DADA teacher and provided enthusiastic, practical approaches to the subject, the overstimulation of the post flared up her condition and left her sickly. She's content in her position as Potions Master and a competent professor but it's obvious to the older students that she's restless, often taking temp work over the holidays abroad and maintaining an elaborate network of friends and contacts both in the faculty and beyond it to her ex-housemates and colleagues in the Maghreb.
Rumours surrounding her name amongst the students include the often exaggerated stories of her ailment, ranging from active tuberculosis to a mummy's curse to vampirism, though none have been able to pinpoint the origin. She's said to come from a long line of pureblood supremacists yet amongst those of that political leaning it is apparent she's one of the black sheep in the family name. She'll make potions and elixirs on the sly for students too embarrassed to go to the hospital wing and her office door typically remains open, thus propagating the aforementioned ailment rumours from students witnessing her symptoms.
Appearance: Faceclaims can be misleading and far too pretty for my taste. Building off the image above (blonde hair, questionably fashionable wardrobe choices) it’s worth noting that Abigail has significantly more scars, wrinkles and wear and tear than your average adult should have. Her nose is more upturned and piggish, and her lips are marred with a split that never properly healed. When she smiles, you can see that she’s missing a tooth. She’s short but stocky. She smells of tobacco.
History:
- Grew up in the Harlow Family Estate, an ancient stomping ground for dark creatures bordering the notorious Wenlock Edge forest in Shropshire. Childhood consisted of pet ghouls, routine boggart checks, de-pixifying the attic and throwing scraps out for the beasts in the woods. Her parents worked in tandem with the ministry to preserve the site as a national heritage site as well as maintenance of the property. It was well lived in by her immediate and extended family.
- Fell victim to (and survived) various small curses, jinxes and hexes before even reaching enrolment age for Hogwarts, typically after unearthing small trinkets or allowing natural curiosity to lead her to the worst dusty places in the manor. Became a regular face in st Mungos. Began her unofficial scar collection and learnt through observation. When she wasn't getting bumped and bruised, she'd often be wrangled into the socialite dinner parties of a post-war generation keen to set aside the last twenty years. The estate's self sufficiency and the old money of the Harlow family kept them in an advantageous position against rationing. They began to carry themselves above the ranks of the muggle "warmongers". She learnt about Grindelwald from her grandparents.
- Quickly became involved in extracurricular activities during her time at Hogwarts. Made friends with most of her housemates and excelled in DADA, Care for Magical Creatures, and Potions. Founded the Knitting and Textiles Club. Exposure to half-blood and muggleborn wizards lessened her prejudices from an early age.
- Education held back a year due to severe injuries and resulting chronic condition over Christmas of 1958. Returned to Hogwarts under special circumstances, which included regular visits to the Hospital Wing and a close rapport with the Potions master.
- Began to show signs of familial difficulty and political activism, particularly with pro-muggle sympathies. Moved in with her uncle Claudius in 1960. Rumours of disownment from the family tree arose, as her uncle was a marked ‘Blood Traitor’ amongst pureblood society.
- Political activism took a sharp and sudden turn into compliance in 1962. Focused on OWLs and NEWTs without any further difficulty save for expected absences due to her condition. Graduated with mostly Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations grades.
- Transferred from Hogwarts to a position in Gringotts as a Curse-Breaker. Spent five years abroad in francophone North African countries working on Berber and other indigenous burial sites, which included ample use of counter-curses, negotiations with ghosts and manoeuvring around hostile magical and non-magical creatures. Added to her scar collection. Noticed some worrying news from Europe.
- Applied to the Defence Against the Dark Arts position in 1970 under the employment of newly appointed headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Due to her ailment, she stepped down from the post in 1971 yet remained in the faculty as Potions Master.
- Uncle Claudius moved from Lincolnshire to Hogsmeade in 1974 at his niece's request.
Personality: It's best to meet her and find out. In brief, Abigail is shrewd but welcoming. She possesses the moral ambiguity to get things done but errs on the side of caution. She both collects and keeps tabs on her friends and contacts. Doing the right thing doesn't always mean doing the good thing in her book. She has the character of an extrovert hindered by her condition, which has opened up to a nihilism that hints at her desire for martyrdom.
Goal/Motivation: Ultimately, Abigail seeks to find a way to remove the curse placed upon her in 1958. Whilst forced to withhold from political activity after increasing tensions between pureblood families such as hers and squib/muggle relations, she still remains a staunch opponent to Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Because she considers herself half-dead or terminally ill, she both pushes to do something meaningful before she dies whilst restraining herself for the 'right moment' for a 'heroic sacrifice'. She strives to leave a legacy in case she cannot find a cure.
