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Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:42:57 GMT

While Beauxbatons is clearly the superior institution in countless ways, I am beginning to realize that Hogwarts does possess one advantage. That is, its offering of Muggle Studies to the curious student. I feel that my own otherwise remarkable education has done little in the way of granting me any insight into the world of those born sans magie. I am afraid my father-in-law has more than once sought to remedy my ignorance over Muggle life and inventions, but I've never paid him the least attention. He has the unfortunate habit of bringing them up while one is in the midst of enjoying a meal. Now however, I'm beginning to regret my former lack of interest.

I am planning on purchasing A Wizarding Guide to Muggle London tomorrow and passing the day in study. Assuming Victoire consents and actually naps, of course. I am sure the intellectual stimulation would do me good, I have been at rather loose ends for too long. Does anyone have any other reading recommendations for a novice in the ways of Muggles? Or perhaps le petit conseil? A word of advice?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:36:40 GMT

PLAYER INFORMATION
Your Name: Laura
Email, Aim: luxurious_lola@yahoo.com, lightoughlola

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Full Name: Fleur Isabelle Delacour Weasley
Nicknames: None
Age: 22 (birthday is October 18, 1977)
Alumni/House: Beauxbatons alum
Wand: Rosewood, 9½", veela hair core
Affiliation: The Order
Blood Status: Part-veela
Magic Status: Fleur’s magic has certainly dwindled, but not disappeared. Transfiguration spells seem to have completely stopped working for her. She will lose nearly all of her ability for brief periods of time, only to have it return again. However, the length of these periods when she is without magic is slowly increasing.
Family (relation with each):

(Husband) Bill Weasley: Fleur simply adores her husband and he is one of the few individuals who can moderate her strident personality in any small way. She will actually consider his advice rather than summarily dismissing it as she does with most people. She is devoted to him and fiercely protective, watching him constantly risk his life during the war with Voldemort was harder than any task during the Triwizard Tournament in Fleur's opinion.

(Daughter) Victoire Weasley: Fleur believes her daughter is quite perfect-- she is brilliant and adorable and anyone who fails to see these things is sadly blind. The quotidian tasks of having a child, Fleur is less thrilled about.

(Parents) Antoine and Apolline Delacour: She has always been the apple of her parents’ eyes and they rather spoiled her growing up, impressed by her early showing of talents and ambition. Out of her family, Fleur was always the dominant personality and they encouraged their bright, confident child in anything she did with few reprimands or rules. Fleur adores her warm, good-natured parents and rarely comes into conflict with them--mostly, because they tend to accede to her wishes.

(Sister) Gabrielle Delacour: From the first, Fleur has felt responsible for her younger sister and currently writes her faithfully in France. The nearly ten year age gap between them meant Fleur was half mother, half sister to Gabrielle growing up and she continues to baby her quite a bit, treating her as if she was perpetually a small child utterly dependent on Fleur's guidance.

(In-Laws) Molly, Arthur, Charlie, Percy, George, Ron and Ginny Weasley: Fleur considers all of her in-laws perfectly amiable--most of the time, at any rate--and assumes that they all find her charming at all times. In general, she seems to have a better tack record with the male members of the Weasley household than Molly or Ginny. She and her mother-in-law certainly have their differences, but Fleur respects Molly deeply.

PERSONAL HISTORY

~~Hogwarts:~~ Beauxbatons:

Blesssed with a natural aptitude for magic, a healthy stock of ambition, and a pretty face, Fleur found the transition to life at Beauxbatons an easy one. Her nearly unshakable self-confidence (arrogance, really) made life relatively stress-free. She never really encountered the many trials and tribulations or doubts of awkward adolescence. At school, she had a wide array of friends and male admirers, but looking back on it realizes that her friendships at school tended to be more remarkable in their numeracy than in the depth of feeling. Popular and the leader of many student groups, everyone at least pretended to admire Fleur, even if more than one female student was dismayed by the heights of her self-regard.

From her third year onwards, Fleur began to notice the strange effect her proximity had on many of the male students at Beauxbatons. It all began with her Potions partner adding three times the designated amount of sneezewort into their potion--so busy was he gawking at her--that the result nearly blew up the classroom. Several frantic owls back and forth with her maternal grandmother quickly resolved this momentary panic this incident, and others liked it, evoked. In general, she was mostly bored with the attention her veela charms attracted, but was certainly not above taking advantage of them when it suited her. Fleur enjoyed flirting, but only with boys that she herself deemed worthy of her attention. Anyone else momentarily ensorcelled by her veela heritage would receive a cold, dismissive stare and nothing else.

She was something of a pet to her professors, and a star pupil in several courses. If there was a demonstration to do or prize to be won, it was easy to bet that Fleur's name would be mentioned. Madame Maxime particularly doted on her. Fleur took the praise and accomplishments in stride, fully expecting to be brilliant at everything she encountered. Her parents, professors, and fellow students had certainly never given her any reason to suppose otherwise.

The Triwizard Tournament was thus something of a shock to her. Fleur, so confident in her judgment and opinions, found herself not only struggling in the tournament but ultimately saw the boy she had initially dismissed so summarily rescue her beloved sister. While Fleur will never be mistaken as modest or unopinonated, she became slightly less hasty in her judgments in the following months and began to appreciate that others might even have gifts or abilities that she lacked. Her gratitude and affection for Harry gradually developed into a curiosity about the English in general (their cold weather and terrible food, not withstanding).

This period at Hogwarts matured Fleur greatly, especially the death of her fellow champion Cedric Diggory. From the first, she firmly believed Harry's report that Voldemort was back and the one responsible for his death. This was truly the first sign of trouble in what had previously been her fairly halcyon existence. Fleur renewed her studies, but now mixed in with her desire for success for success's sake was a feeling that she should learn as much as possible in light of the uncertain future that loomed ahead.

Adulthood-Present:

Upon the completion of her studies, Fleur returned to England during the summer of 1995, taking up a part-time job at Gringotts. While her marks were high enough to have secured her a position at the French Ministry, she rather enjoyed the idea of living in a foreign country and improving her English. She had lived a fairly sheltered life, and relished the novelty of living so far away from her family and everyone she knew. Strangely enough, she got along quite well with the majority of her goblin employers, who rather appreciated her blunt, direct manner and capable, brisk nature toward her work. She also met (properly that is, excluding blatant ogling during the tournament) Bill Weasley and began dating him around this time. Utter infatuation on her part quickly turned to love, especially when she eventually discovered his bravery in joining his family in resisting Voldemort and his followers.

To her considerable delight, Bill proposed a year later and she enthusiastically accepted. Despite hesitation on her part, he convinced her to spend some time the following summer with his family at The Burrow. However "cooking and chickens" failed to hold her interest, and her critical, rather tactless behavior, did little to endear her to the female members of his family. She eventually returned to her flat in London, but passed Christmas with the Weasleys as well. While happy working at Gringotts and being engaged to Bill, Fleur still dreaded what the future would bring. Her worst fears were confirmed when Bill was savagely attacked by Fenrir Greyback. Fleur was a devoted and surprisingly competent nurse to her fiance in the wake of this attack, and was finally able to convince Mrs. Weasley that she truly loved her son.

From then on, Fleur took an active role in battling Voldemort, finally putting her dueling skills from her time as president of the Beauxbatons dueling club to good use. She was a fully committed member of the Order and, despite her fears over her own safety and that of Bill, Fleur has never questioned that risking their lives to protect Harry and fighting the Death Eaters were the right things to do. She served as one of the Harry decoys, and she and Bill almost perished that night after being chased by a half dozen Death Eaters.

Fleur and Bill were married on August 2, 1997 at The Burrow, but terror and violence again consumed their lives as word came that the Ministry of Magic had fallen to Voldemort. She and Bill set up their home, Shell Cottage, as a refuge for anyone who resisted Voldemort. For weeks, Fleur unexpectedly took on a nurturing role, looking after Hermione following her torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, as well as Dean Thomas, Mr. Ollivander, and (with some convincing) Griphook. Ultimately, Fleur joined the others in the Battle of Hogwarts. While she survived the battle, she was horrified by the deaths of so many of her comrade in arms, particularly that of her brother-in-law.

To this day, she remains haunted by these deaths, and the realization of how easily Bill could have been counted among their numbers. She need only look at her husband's face to see how closely he came to death during this tumultuous time.

In May, Fleur gave birth to Victoire—named after their victory against Voldemort on that same date. While she dotes on her young daughter, Fleur is anxious to return to work again. Despite the selflessness she displayed during the war, Fleur still rather longs for recognition. Between the demands of caring for a baby and the slow but steady loss of her magic, she has felt at times as if she is losing track of her identity. Thanks to her friendly connections with many influential goblins in the financial sector and her middling grasp of Gobbledegook, she has been offered a position as an associate in the Goblin Liaison Office at the Ministry, since the former wizard in that position was promoted to replace the late Mr. Creswell. So far, she has mostly been able to hide her declining magic from everyone outside of her family.

PERSONALITY

Personality Overview:

Fleur’s best and worst qualities are really two sides of the same coin. Her careless self-confidence is an asset to her, she rarely doubts her own abilities or worth. However, it all too easily blends into arrogance. No matter what the task, Fleur is convinced she is best suited for it. This also causes her to typically underestimate others’ abilities. While not naturally unkind, Fleur's self-involvement can often mean that she is slow to empathize with others. Too often, she judges others by what she herself would feel rather than understanding their own motivations.

Self-regard does not translate into selfishness in Fleur's case. While passing only a few hours in her company will undoubtedly demonstrate the full measure of her vanity, Fleur is much more than the shallow, conceited girl she once appeared. She has a firm, nearly unshakable, sense of right and wrong and is courageous in following what she considers to be the proper course of action. Where she loves, she loves completely and blindly, and will go any length for a loved one. While just as enamored of her appearance and abilities as she ever was, Fleur is capable of great sacrifices and is truly committed to doing what is right.

An optimist at heart, Fleur is able to take bad news with a Gallic shrug and a firm belief that things will end up alright in the end. In any situation, she tends to believe the most hopeful outcome is also the most likely. She will complain loudly over anything she doesn’t like but long periods of depression or despair are truly alien to her personality.

Aside from her bravery, her most obvious virtue, if one can count it as that, is her honesty. Fleur will always tell you why your robe is hopelessly out of fashion or recount a detailed list of her many perfections. Tact does not count as a virtue for Fleur, nor does pretending to have virtues one does not possess. You can count on her total, and frequently unwanted, opinions and advice. She does not mean to come off as supercilious exactly; she simply sees no reason to hide her opinions. In general, Fleur is very open with her emotions and does not believe in playing her cards close to her chest. She may sulk or complain, but rarely will she nurse a secret resentment or grudge. In general, she forgives easily, her anger disappearing as suddenly as it appeared and soon forgotten.

Skills:
Aside from her abilities as a witch, Fleur has a rather random smattering of knowledge from the rotating door of tutors her parents insisted on hiring for her as a child, including music, drawing, and an odd collection of languages. She has a very good head for figures, especially when money is involved. Her curiosity over her own heritage has grown to an almost encyclopedic knowledge of all magical creatures, she can recite Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them practically by heart.

Strengths:
Fleur remains a talented witch; she wasn’t selected as her school’s champion for the Triwizard Tournament for nothing. She was always a very diligent student, and is particularly strong in Charms. Whatever her faults, Fleur is courageous and willing to risk her life for what she believes in. She is quite graceful and agile, and before her magic began diminishing, was an impressive duelist. Fleur, when she wants to be, can be quite charming, especially to creatures of the masculine persuasion where her veela ancestry can work wonders.

Weaknesses:
Over-confidence can be a serious weakness, especially in the midst of battle. Fleur tends to lose all focus when a loved one is in peril, which makes her sloppy and hasty. In general, she can be impatient and overly emotional, breaking into agitated French when a more measured, calm response is called for. Fleur has a short temper that she has never exerted much energy to fix. She hates riding broomsticks and is dubious of many of the Muggle inventions her father-in-law insists on parading before her on visits. Her veela charms can also act, if not quite as a weakness, certainly a nuisance. More than one besotted man has gotten agitated when she refused his advances and had to be firmly dealt with by her.

Sexual Preference: Heterosexual, although she enjoys a nicely phrased compliment from everyone.

APPEARANCE
General Appearance:

Fleur considers herself a paragon of feminine beauty, but is especially vain of her long, silverly-blonde hair. Despite her formerly considerable skills as a witch and independence, her appearance is one of passivity and weakness due to her willowy build and languorous air. Clear, pale blue eyes rather dominate her face and and give her a deceptively innocent expression at all times. It is nearly impossible for her appearance to intimidate anyone. She remains pale, no matter how much time she spends in the sun or self tanners she purchases.

While much of her once characteristic snobbish airs and graces have rubbed off as she has matured, a mere glance shows that Fleur still cares a great deal about her appearance. Her hair is always perfectly styled, either falling loosely down her back or tied up in a neat ponytail. She scorns anything as pedestrian and practical as jeans, preferring simple but elegant dresses her mother still sends her from Paris. Fleur is, in a word, immaculate. From her short but painted nails to her polished shoes she always appears conscious of her appearance.

PB: Bryce Dallas Howard

SAMPLES
First Person Sample:

"Local charm" indeed! It is lucky for Bill that I bought this journal yesterday; it gives me a chance to vent while he is safely away from my wrath. Moving in together sounded like une idée merveilleuse and I suppose I was easily convinced by all of his talk of low rent and the exotic local flavor. Instead, I find myself practically living in that most disreputable of areas, Knockturn Alley. Vraiment, c'est plus de croyance! I know there is a war going on, the daily reports about Voldemort could hardly let me forget this fact even if I wished to. Still, I do have standards.

I cannot help thinking of my old flat with longing. Why do all of the witches and wizards who pass by underneath the window look so...so soupçonneux-- dodgy! Why is there a display of shrunken heads in a nearby store window as if they were a prized commodity? Why did I ever agree to move to this wretched place in the first place? Other than living with Bill, the only other redeeming quality of the new flat seems to be its proximity to Gringotts, a mixed blessing at best. Venturing into the notorious alley earlier today I ended up spending a full ten minutes trying to explain patiently to an old witch why I had no interest in purchasing any of the human fingernails proudly displayed on her tray.

Mon dieu, what have I gotten myself into?

Third Person Sample:

“Say ma maman est vraiment belle,” Fleur urged the young girl perched on her knee. She jiggled Victoire up and down so she giggled loud peals of laughter, but still no words in Fleur’s native tongue materialized from her daughter’s sweet mouth.

Shaking the delicate rattle Molly had sent her before her daughter’s upturned face, Fleur tried to school her expression into one of patience. She was certain her daughter was naturally brilliant—just look at Victoire’s impressive parents, for Merlin’s sake! Surely, becoming quickly bilingual would pose no challenge to her daughter whatsoever. Magic would forever be closed to her, but Fleur was determined that Victoire would possess such a heady wealth of other gifts that she would barely notice its absence.

“Can you say, mama est belle?” she tried again, adjusting her arm around her daughter which was quickly becoming tired from the constant jostling. Her daughter again responded with laughter, rather than the French praise Fleur had hoped.

This time, she couldn’t help but share in her daughter’s laughter. “You are un petit diable,” she confessed readily, reaching for her bottle on the table beside her.

How has your character been affected by the loss of magic?
Fleur’s natural ease with magic and love of flashy, difficult spells have always been a huge source of her self-identity. Feeling her gifts slip away from her grasp has been difficult. She cannot disguise her envy when others perform Transfiguration spells that are now beyond her. In her most shameful moments, she even finds herself rather envious of her husband who remains unaffected thus far. More importantly, Fleur is rather worried about what her daughter’s lack of magical ability will mean and is determined to protect her at all costs.

How do you see your character being involved in the game?
I would like her to step up to the plate more. I think Fleur naturally depends heavily on Bill and would like to force her to take some risks or perhaps encounter a real difference in opinion over him on what is right or what is the best course of action. I like character growth and conflict, so exploring her relationships with him, other Order members, and whoever else comes her way (hopefully more Weasleys and Harry!) would be great fun. I also think the poor girl needs a career.

Fleur Delacour Weasley

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