oh the war

Hi, nonny!

We’ve already taken back a number of writers from the old OTW -- including me, Marta, Monique, Shay, and Rachel. We’ll accept applications from anyone interested, regardless of past experience, and all applications will be held to the same standards as any other application. If you want to apply for a canon character, I’d suggest holding off until the bio is posted -- and you’re welcome to ask for a specific bio. If you’d rather apply for an original character, you’re welcome to do that at any time. There’s no guarantee, however, that writers from the old group will be accepted again -- all current writers who were in the old group (besides the admins, but that’s to be expected, because somebody had to start this c: ) were asked to go through some level of an application process, whether putting in an actual application or lengthy discussion with myself or Marta.

With that said, we did move from the previous group to eliminate conflict, and so our concern is having a healthy and comfortable creative environment above all else. If old conflicts are brought back -- whether it’s grudges against characters or against writers -- we’re going to take action to shut that conflict down. Our current group is working together beautifully, and we want to keep things that way.

Name: Elena Macmillan Date of Birth: 21 June 1982 Occupation: Muggle Magician Status: Registered

The Story So Far:

Blonde, beautiful, and charming, Elena Macmillan had a gift for wrapping people around her little finger almost since the day she was born. The youngest child of two loving parents who’d fought in the First Wizarding War, Elena was taught to always do the right thing, no matter how difficult it was. Unfortunately, that was a lesson young Elena never quite learned, preferring instead to do the thing that would get her out of trouble, regardless of the other consequences. Still, she grew up surrounded with love and laughter that didn’t diminish even when she became the first person in her family sorted into Slytherin in generations.

Although she didn’t share most of her House’s views on blood purity, Elena easily fit in otherwise and had no problem making friends, both inside and outside House Slytherin, effortlessly charming almost everyone around her. The friendships she’d built during her earlier years–as well as a natural inclination to downplay her intelligence and skills–helped keep her safe during the war, despite her brother’s known loyalty to Dumbledore’s Army. She was barely more than a child when the war started, and one with friends in both sides–picking a side would only result in her having to hurt someone she cared for. It was only during the Battle of Hogwarts that she picked a side, staying behind to protect her brother. As the battle waged on she was bitten by Fenrir Greyback and left for dead in the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.

Just to spite him, Elena decided to survive, and vowed to get revenge.

Recovering from a werewolf’s bite and learning that she herself was a werewolf was a long, arduous process, made even more complicated by the sudden realization that there was something her parents couldn’t love through, after all. Elena stayed just long enough to complete her education, taking off as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts. She lived amongst her own kind for a while and learned to control her powers, only returning when she could make sure no one would ever look at her with pity in their eyes again.

Coming back to her old life wasn’t that easy, though. England had changed, and not for the better–due to her previous association with Death Eaters (all of them children her own age) and her lycanthropy (something she had no control over), Elena was forced to register as a werewolf and a possible blood supremacist. Pissed at the Ministry and everyone associated with the Registration Act, she started working as a Muggle Magician, mixing actual Magic with her tricks and theatrics whenever she could get away with it. Soon, something will have to be done about the Act–but for now, she just wants to have some fun.

But how long can she keep being wild and carefree, with the rising tensions in the wizarding world? When she has no choice but to face the real world, will there be anything she can do to change things?

Attributes:

+ Charming, Enthusiastic, Self-reliant, Vivacious.

- Frivolous, Hedonistic, Manipulative, Vindictive.

Connections:

Astoria Greengrass: Friend.

Daphne Greengrass: Friend, part-time crush.

Fenrir Greyback: Sire, nemesis.

Ernie Macmillan: Brother, best friend.

Luna Lovegood: Friend.

Name: Astoria Greengrass Date of Birth: 7 April 1982 Occupation: Unemployed // Heiress Status: Registered

The Story So Far:

There were a few things which Astoria Greengrass knew to be true even before she realized what that meant. First, that as her father’s daughter with his mistress-turned-second-wife, she would never manage to meet his, or his family’s, expectations -- though that didn’t stop her from trying. Second, that as a woman in “high society,” she would be valued for her beauty more than her ambition -- though that didn’t stop her for striving to embody both. And third, that as the “spare” Greengrass daughter, she would be expected to make sacrifices the rest of her family wouldn’t dream of making.

As a child, Astoria was happy and loud, though her happiness began to fade as the increased pressure of becoming the perfect daughter weighed her down. Her closest ally was her sister -- who lived, primarily, with her mother, and thus away from Astoria. In her sister’s absence, Astoria’s greatest solace was the daughter of a family friend -- she and Alice Reynolds grew up as close as family, and adored one another from the start. Working herself to exhaustion to try and make her father proud, Astoria was already an accomplished young woman when she went to Hogwarts and was Sorted into Slytherin. There, she slipped easily into popularity, recognizing that a pretty face and a clever tongue could get you anything you wanted. In her first year, she developed a fascination with healing, and in her second year, began volunteering in the Hospital Wing. She juggled academic success with social success, and did so with ease -- not beginning to struggle until her fourth year, when she met her cousin and godmother, Alecto Carrow, who decided to make Astoria into something great.

The summer after her fourth year, when Albus Dumbledore lay cold in his grave, Astoria was moved into the Carrows’ abandoned home in Somerset to be educated. There, she was taught both to withstand and to cast the Imperius and Cruciatus curses, and she received the Dark Mark two weeks before the beginning of term. Once at school, she was no longer the Astoria everyone had known -- she was pale, and easily frightened; she was too quiet, too thin, didn’t sleep or eat enough, and tortured her classmates on the Carrows’ order. Desperate for her safety, and for their approval, Astoria was even made to torture a close friend. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Astoria fought with the Death Eaters, freeing the Carrows from Ravenclaw Tower in the process; at the end of the Battle, she was arrested by bewildered Aurors, who wouldn’t believe what she was until she showed them her Mark and begged to be taken in, turning her wand over without argument.

Though she spent the summer in Azkaban, she was released and cleared of all charges due to the obvious proof of emotional abuse and brainwashing that she’d suffered at the Carrows’ hands. Astoria played the part beautifully, manipulating everyone around her into seeing an innocent child who’d been tainted by war -- then again, there’s only so much brokenness to be attributed to acting, after what she’d been through. Deciding that she would be safer away from her former classmates, Astoria’s mother sent her to Beauxbatons to finish her education; though she struggled academically and personally, reaching her lowest point days before her seventeenth birthday, she graduated and has returned home to England to pick up where she’d left off -- if her Registration, or the Carrows, will let her.

But will Astoria keep doing what she’s told without a fuss? Or is she angry enough to reject everyone -- the Carrows and the Ministry alike -- who’ve put her in this position? What does the good of the many matter when you’re sacrificing yourself?

Attributes:

+ Adaptable, Ambitious, Charismatic, Poised.

-  Arrogant, Cold, Manipulative, Power-Hungry.

Connections:

Beau Armitage: Ex-boyfriend, former friend.

Draco Malfoy: Boyfriend.

Alice Reynolds: Close friend.

Ginny Weasley: Friend, Roommate.

Emilia Zabini: Close friend.

Pansy Parkinson ( allegiancelies )

Harry Potter ( theboythatsurvivedmostofit )

Name: Hannah Abbott Date of Birth: 2 March 1980 Occupation: Bartender Status: Exempt

The Story So Far:

Hannah’s earliest years were filled with both laughter and sorrow. Growing up on a farm outside of Kinvarra, Ireland, she knew of her father only through photographs and silences from her mother, and her grandfather’s gruff insistence that they were better off without him. In a way, Hannah agreed -- anyone who could make her mother that miserable didn’t deserve to be in their lives -- but she couldn’t help but wish she’d known more of him than that he was a Muggle who’d left when he’d learned the truth about his wife. Despite this, her mother and grandfather gave her everything she could have wanted, and Hannah never felt as though she’d been slighted, working hard to maintain an optimistic outlook no matter how difficult things got.

Leaving home was difficult, if only because she would have to leave her mother and grandfather. Regardless, she did well at Hogwarts -- she was Sorted into Hufflepuff, where she flourished. The hard work and dedication she’d learned from her mother and grandfather, working with them both on the farm, lent itself well to academics; though she didn’t get the top marks in the year, she always did well, despite teasing from her classmate when her imagination tended to get ahead of her. In her third year, she was the first to realize that Sirius Black was sneaking into the castle using transfiguration, though she guessed plant rather than Animagus.

Made a Prefect in her fifth year, Hannah’s loyalty and kindness grew into a warm and almost maternal character, making her a safe and comfortable leader for her Housemates. Contrary to what they might have guessed, Hannah’s kindness neither made her weak nor cowardly: despite her fears, she joined Dumbledore’s Army. In her sixth year, tragedy struck -- her mother was killed by a Death Eater, and Hannah returned home to help her grandfather, whose health was failing in the wake of his daughter’s death. Hannah did not return to school until the next year, during which time she worked hard to try and keep spirits up. It was during this year that she and Neville Longbottom got to know one another, as she helped lead the revival of Dumbledore’s Army, under his leadership. Despite the tragedy around them, Hannah always managed to bring some laughter back to the halls of Hogwarts.

That laughter faded on 2 May 1998. The Battle of Hogwarts dragged all of them into the deadliest parts of the war, and though it would have been safer elsewhere, Hannah insisted on staying, to defend her friends and to stand for what she felt was right. But battles aren’t ever as clean as they seem in stories, and if Hannah hadn’t realized just how vicious thing were becoming, and just how little they could save, she certainly did now. Watching her friends fall was horrific, and Hannah did her best to try and stay standing, though she nearly died, waking up two days later in St. Mungo’s with a plethora of healing injuries and her grandfather at her side.

Traumatized and exhausted, Hannah withdrew for some time, recovering in isolation back home in Ireland, and when Hannah Abbott came back to Hogwarts the warmth was gone from her eyes, her smiles were forced, and her hands shook. She struggled to finish school, prone to overload and unable to stand large crowds, and when she graduated, she did so with pride; stronger, now, than she’d ever been, she took a job to support herself, moving into one of the rooms above the Leaky Cauldron thanks to Tom’s kindness and helping to tend bar -- all while trying to regain her laughter.

But when does it become too much to try and pretend that everything’s going to be fine?

Attributes:

+ Amiable, Earnest, Sensitive, Sympathetic.

-  Cautious, Insecure, Reactionary, Secretive.

Connections:

Susan Bones: Friend.

Lavender Brown: Friend, coworker.

Neville Longbottom: Acquaintance, crush.

Ernie Macmillan: Friend.

Kingsley Shacklebolt: Antagonist.

Name: Ginny Weasley Date of Birth: 11 August 1981 Occupation: Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies Status: Exempt

The Story So Far:

It’s been two years since the war, and Ginny Weasley has moved on. She’s playing on an internationally renowned Quidditch team; she’s stopped trying to get in touch with her ex, Harry Potter; she has a flat, a roommate, a cat, a life. So what if she’s got more security charms on that flat than there are at Gringotts? So what if she’s shown a penchant towards aggression whenever approached by the press? She’s fine. She’s fine. But Ginny knows that some things never end - she’s known that since she was eleven years old.

Born the only girl out of seven redheaded children, Ginny grew up in a loving, but impoverished, family. Like her brothers before her, she received her letter to Hogwarts and was duly sorted into Gryffindor, but as her first year at school progressed, Ginny’s world became a nightmare. Her diary, slipped into her belongings by Lucius Malfoy, turned out to be a Horcrux, one with the power to control its owner. Young and trusting, and hoping to believe in the good of things, Ginny didn’t realize what had happened to her until she was already too far under Voldemort’s control, blacking out and behaving erratically. Her health suffered, physical and mental. Months of possession culminated in a near-death experience, and Ginny has never been the same since.

She’s been stronger. Vivacious and fiercely intelligent, Ginny grew up into a young woman capable of heading a revolution. Refusing to be defined by anyone but herself, Ginny made it clear that she wasn’t just another Weasley -- she was her own woman. Despite Umbridge’s attempt to control the school, Ginny took part in Dumbledore’s Army and, eventually, battled the Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic. This was the beginning of a pattern, rather than an isolated incident, and under Snape’s regime and with the help of other members of Dumbledore’s Army, she led a resistance against the Carrows. Despite her age, she snuck back in to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts. 

She’s earned the right to settle down, she thinks. Now with a job, doing something she loves, and a space to call her own, shared with a good friend, she’s certain that she can do just that. She’s earned the right to move on. But a war doesn’t end after its last battle, and what one deserves isn’t always what one gets. Perhaps she’s earned the right to move forward; the question now is, can she?

Attributes:

+ Compassionate, Outgoing, Resourceful, Tenacious.

- Impatient, Rebellious, Reckless, Vengeful.

Connections:

Hermione Granger: Friend, former classmate.

Astoria Greengrass: Friend, roommate.

Neville Longbottom: Friend, former classmate.

Luna Lovegood: Friend.

Harry Potter: Estranged friend, ex-boyfriend.

We’ve taken a quick break from activity requirements with everyone getting back to school and moving, but that’s going to be picked up again soon. In fact, this week. 

Anyone who has not contacted us by Saturday, September 12th, will be put on activity watch.

The following characters have been placed on hiatus for the time being:

Daphne Greengrass

Anita Salceda

Caden Scott

Cris Scott

Ginny Weasley

We’ll also be working on knocking out a few more bios, so if you have any requests, let us know!

This is a quick post to let you know there’s been a small addition to our rules. From now on, you can only be put on activity watch four times before your character is reopened.

It’s perfectly okay if you need to take some time off, and we’re very understanding about that. But please, please let us know.

Hello, nonny!

Some of our current writers are already on a GMT timezone (including admin Marta) so they are most definitely welcome <3

The following characters are on activity watch:

Pansy Parkinson ( allegiancelies )

We do have activity requirements. If you cannot be active for five or more days, we need to be made aware so that we can note that you’re taking a quick hiatus; otherwise, you will be contacted regarding your activity. Just in case anyone wants a reminder of the time frame:

After five days of inactivity without warning, we will message you privately to remind you that you need to be active. You’ll be given two days after that message to become active.

If you are not active within those two days, you’re put on a forty-eight hour activity watch.

If you are not active by the end of that watch, your character will be reopened.

If you need to take time, let us know! We’re really totally okay with anyone needing to take a break, and you can message us privately, here or via Skype, or even post in the OOC blog -- we just need to know.

Also, please make sure that your ask and submit are on, so we can get in touch with you! 

Thank you so much!!

Hello friends, please welcome Hermione Granger!

Everyone, please add Pansy Parkinson, and welcome back the lovely Tage!

Ani here, and for starters -- it’s so good to be back. So I want to jump this message off right:

WELCOME HOME

To all of our old writers -- me, Marta, Rachel, Tage, Shay, and Monique -- and new -- Aya and Marie. I’m so excited to be back with this amazing group of people, and to get to bring more in. (Also, please be patient with our writers, as some will be joining us late -- Shay, on Sunday; Aya, on Monday; Tage, within the next few weeks.) Next...

THE OOC BLOG

We’re going to have an OOC blog again, because that was a blast. To do that, I need every single one of you to send an ask from each of your accounts; the lovely Marta will be sending you invitation links later on today.

BLOG TO-DO

In case you haven’t noticed, the main page looks awesome. (Please, hold your applause.) There are still a few things that I need to do -- among them, fixing up the locations page, and updating the group page. If you’re looking around and you see anything that needs to be fixed, please let me know; staring at the same bit of code for days on end means that I miss things sometimes and it all starts looking the same.

AND A TINY THING...

I’m moving? Which is actually a big thing. Which means that my time, for the next couple of weeks, may be limited. If you need to get in touch with me immediately, tell Marta, and she’ll find some way to let me know. Otherwise, please forgive any absences; I promise to be available as much as possible!

Thank you again, and welcome back <3

- Admin Ani