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18 Mar 2018, 07:21
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student
Image
Image

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Contents
one. Basic Information
two. Background
three. The Trunk
four. Relationships
five. Durmstrang iNPC
Last edited by Adam Harringtom on 21 Feb 2023, 16:33, edited 13 times in total.

18 Mar 2018, 07:28
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student
Basic Information
Full Name:
Adam Christopher Harringtom

Age:
Seventeen

Species:
Human

Height:
Six feet one inch

Weight:
One hundred sixty pounds

Hair Color:
Blond

Eye Color:
Pale Green
Image
School Year:
Seventh

House:
Ravenclaw

Wand:
Cherry wood and unicorn hair,
twenty-four centimeters


Patronus:
none (yet)

Date of Birth:
November 8, 2005

Hometown:
Nottingham, England
Last edited by Adam Harringtom on 10 Jul 2023, 04:00, edited 18 times in total.

18 Mar 2018, 07:30
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student
Background
Adam Harringtom was born on November 8, 2005, to wizards Kristine and David Harringtom. Growing up, Adam learned the ins and outs of wandwork and wizardry, whether it was in lessons from his parents or teachings from his brother Dean. Though he was never allowed to use the magic himself, due to some ancient decree Adam didn't really understand, the lessons gave him even more reason to look forward to his eleventh birthday, when he'd finally attend Hogwarts like the rest of his family. Hogwarts, however, always seemed to be a long way off – in the meantime, he settled for games that were just as magical. The summers offered Quidditch scrimmages in the yard, he and his brother attempting to cover every position on beat-up broomsticks and tossing around an old volleyball for a quaffle. In the wintertime, when Dean was off at school, Adam and his parents would huddle over a wizard chess board or a deck of Exploding Snap and dedicate the afternoon to a family tournament. It was a simple, nice life with a simple, nice family.

This carefree routine carried Adam through the years until his tenth summer. Only days after the older son returned on the Hogwarts Express, Adam's father received a letter from Bordeaux, the final residence of his elderly mother. Her death sent him into a sort of manic spiral, inconsolable despite the best efforts of his wife and sons. It took only a week for him to find transportation to Bordeaux, and with barely a word of his intentions to the rest of the family, David was gone to France. Adam's mother was furious, frightened, and above all else, determined to bring her husband back from the edge of insanity. She could not, however, leave her children alone. Pressured by time and worry, she made a quick decision and reached out to an old friend. Adam and Dean would indeed have a place to stay while their parents chased each other down: Edinburgh, Scotland, 360 kilometers from home.

Neither boy was thrilled with the prospect of the travel: Adam was sad to see his mother go, and Dean was insistent on his own independence (being 15, he didn't see a reason for a babysitter). The only positive to the experience was their new guardian. Bridgit Morrey was the closest thing Adam had to an aunt, though unrelated by blood. She was an old schoolmate of his mother's, and had remained her best friend years after graduation. Bridgit was a fierce, competitive woman with a love for games and challenges to rival Adam's. In short, he loved every second he spent with her. The summer seemed to fly by, spent in a whirlwind of exciting adventures and lightning rounds of cards and chess. Bridgit taught Dean a few tricks in duelling, and even took the long trip to Loch Ness with Adam one day to look for the famous kelpie in its depths.

It was during the Scottish summer holiday, also, that ten-year-old Adam wielded magic for the very first time. To hear him tell the story, it happened like this: he, Dean, and Aunt Bridgit were wrapped up in a fierce game of Gryffinball in the backyard. Gryffinball was a game invented by his aunt and her Hogwarts friends; it was, in essence, Quidditch, on the ground, without a quaffle. Astride an ordinary, non-flying broom, Adam chased the Golden Snitch and beat bludgers towards Bridgit and Dean until victory presented itself. He’d spied the Snitch dead ahead. It hovered in place just at Adam’s eye level; it almost looked confused, like it had lost sense of its flight path. Seeing nothing but the glimmer of sunlight off gold, Adam lowered his shoulder and began to charge the Snitch, stretching his hand out to grasp it tight.

He heard the crack of a bat. He heard Aunt Bridgit let out an alarmed cry and fumble for her wand. He turned to see what was the matter — and he saw a bludger rocketing towards him on a collision course with his head.

Instinct alone made Adam throw his hands up in front of his face. He was bracing for immense pain and the humiliation of being knocked on his butt. Instead, he felt a whoosh, as if he’d been struck by a gentle breeze. Cautiously, he lowered his hands to see the bludger hovering an inch from his nose. A chill ran down his spine. He didn’t know what he’d done; in fact, he’d barely been aware of doing anything at all. But a strange feeling deep down tickled him as he stared wide-eyed at the bludger, and it told him that he had saved himself. He had done his own magic at last.

Bridgit, pale as a ghost, flicked her wand, dropping the bludger to the ground, and ran to hug Adam close. The rest of the day was a gratifying blur: his aunt chewed out a truly shame-faced Dean (“I said no head shots!”) and then bought both boys ice cream to celebrate Adam’s milestone. In the following weeks, Nottingham barely crossed the boys' minds, and by the time August rolled around, they never wanted to leave.

The end of summer meant the start of another school year, however: Adam's last spent at home before he could attend Hogwarts himself. It was time to return to England. His parents were upset to hear that they’d missed his first use of magic, but grateful that he wouldn’t wind up a squib. He was just glad to see them both in one place — both back at home. Yet even that didn’t last long. Dean was gone seemingly in an instant, his father not long after that — this time busy with a new job, somewhere closer to the Muggle community, where he could find some escape from the lingering memories of his beloved mother. Adam's mother was splitting her time between reorienting her rattled husband and taking care of her remaining son. Things were different among his family; not bad, not suspicious, but different. The teenage disease had taken Dean, who now treated Adam like a nuisance rather than a friend. Even the games that Adam had always been delighted by were starting to get boring. At least Aunt Bridgit had promised she’d visit more often.

Hogwarts became the shining point on the horizon, and somehow Adam got through the rest of the year with it in his sights. Before long, it was his turn to visit Diagon Alley, slipping through the secret wall and getting his very own everything: scales, books, a cauldron, even a wand! New friends and new experiences started to pop up everywhere, relighting a spark in Adam that could only grow. Hogwarts was clearly where he belonged.
Last edited by Adam Harringtom on 11 Jul 2023, 03:33, edited 4 times in total.

21 Apr 2018, 07:52
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student
The Trunk
STATS:
Stamina: 12 | Evasion: 5 | Strength: 7
Wisdom: 9 | ArcPower: 10 | Accuracy: 9
SPELLS LEARNED:
Reducio
Aer Calidus - The Hot-Air Charm
Alarte Ascendare - The Ascension Spell
Alohomora - The Unlocking Charm
Animosus - The Bravery Charm
Aqua Fervens - The Water-Heating Spell
Arania Exumai - The Spider-Repelling Spell
Avifors - Object-to-Bird Transfiguration
Bullarum Immortalem - The Bubble-Making Charm
Caeruleus Inflamarae - The Bluebell Flames Spell
Colloportus - The Locking Spell
Colorvaria - The Color-Changing Charm
Conmutocus - Matchstick-to-Needle Transfiguration
Consigno - The Sealant Charm
Crinus Muto - The Color-Changing Charm (hair)
Descendo - The Descension Spell
Diffindo - The Severing Charm
Expelliarmus - The Disarming Charm
Extinguo- The Extinguishing Charm
Ferula - The Bandaging Charm
Finite Incantatem - The General Counter-Spell
Flipendo - The Knockback Jinx
Fumos - The Smokescreen Spell
Glacius - The Freezing Spell
Immobulus - The Freezing Charm
Incendio - The Fire-Making Spell
Incendio Duo - Advanced Fire-Making Spell
Inhaeresco - The Gripping Charm
Lumos - The Wand-Lighting Charm
Lumos Duo - Wand-Lighting Charm II
Lumos Maxima - Radiant Wand-Lighting Charm
Mimblewimble - The Tongue-Tying Curse
Mucus ad Nauseam - The Curse of the Bogies
Multicorfors - The Color-Changing Charm (clothing)
Nec Divinos Crepitus - The Cracker Jinx
Nox - The Wand-Extinguishing Charm
Obscuro - The Blindfolding Spell
Orchideous - The Flower-Conjuring Spell
Pack - The Packing Charm
Periculum - The Red Sparks Charm
Petrificus Totalus - The Full Body-Bind Curse
Pluvia Velo - The Umbrella Charm
Point Me - The Four-Point Spell
Relashio - The Revulsion Jinx
Reparifarge - Untransfiguration
Reparifors - The Minor Healing Spell
Reparo - The Mending Charm
Rictusempra - The Tickling Charm
Riddikulus - The Boggart-Banishing Spell
Scourgify - The Cleaning Charm
Serenate - The Cheering Charm
Slugulus Eructo - The Slug-Vomiting Charm
Spongify - The Softening Charm
Steleus - The Sneezing Hex
Tarantallegra - The Dancing Feet Spell
Ventus - The Wind Jinx
Verdimillious - The Green Sparks Charm
Wingardium Leviosa - The Levitation Charm
POTIONS LEARNED:
Reducio
Antidote to Common Poisons
Antidote to Uncommon Poisons
Babbling Beverage
Bruise Removal Paste
Burn Healing Paste
Confusing Concoction
Cure for Boils
Dizziness Draught
Dogbreath Potion
Drowsiness Draught
Forgetfulness Potion
Grand Pepperup Potion
Herbicide Potion
Muffling Draught
Murtlap Essence
Pepperup Potion
Sleeping Draught
Valerian Sprigs (ingredient)

This is the "Game Master" account. Please do not owl this account, unless specified. This account is not moderated actively and therefore, you may not receive a response.

Contact a Head of House or the Headmaster if you need anything.

29 Jun 2019, 22:33
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student
Relationships
An asterisk (*) denotes an absent/inactive user
Gryffindor

Eris Fawley*
A proper description of Eris Fawley would take a thousand rolls of parchment and all the time in the world, but Adam has neither of those things. He met his best friend and closest confidante, while buying school robes, and since then they've rarely been apart. Adam has shared adventures with the fiery Gryffindor girl while travelling on the Hogwarts Express, stealing brooms from the Quidditch Pitch, and celebrating both summer and winter breaks at each other's houses. Though there have been some rough patches, silly arguments over this or a stupid fight over that, Adam couldn't imagine life without Eris, and wouldn't have made it into third year if she hadn't been by his side. Recently, Adam's feelings towards Eris have gotten the slightest bit confused, but he was quick to dismiss it as the first symptoms of the teenage disease and tries not to think about it very often. Eris and Adam are an unstoppable team, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Anatole Evans*
Adam's friendship with Anatole was defined mostly by competition -- friendly competition, of course. The two boys met when they ran into each other in Hogwarts' corridors and set up a little challenge that took them all around the school, later finding themselves on opposite sides of a snowball fight and a few other games. Anatole was the director of the short-lived original musical Sergei and the Beast, which died mercifully before Adam had to sing anything, and even worked his way up to Head Boy, becoming Adam's boss for a brief stint of time. Unfortunately, Adam hasn't been in close contact for Anatole in some time. After a year with little communication between them, Adam was sad to see the friendship fade, and hopes to still see Anatole again.

Rhea Bishop*
Though Adam shared only a few experiences with the bold Gryffindor girl, his feelings for Rhea reside in a comfortable spot between admiration and fear. The two met each other in passing at Anatole Evans' first rehearsal of Sergei and the Beast, but Adam didn't talk to her very much. At the kick-off of the old Dueling Club, Adam and Rhea faced off in a bitter battle that ended in severe burns and probably some psychological damage. Luckily, the battle didn't poison things between them -- Adam was put on the guest list for many Rhea-hosted events, and he appreciated having another prefect to work through the job's responsibilities with. After the conclusion of first year, Adam mostly heard about Rhea through stories with Eris, their shared friend, but hasn't seen her in quite a while. Like Anatole, Adam fears that this potential friendship has faded, but would love to see her again someday.
Slytherin

Avalon Sylvester*
Avalon was the first classmate that Adam met, introducing herself to him at Madam Malkin's and reconnecting in Compartment 7 of the Hogwarts Express. Avalon seemed much different than all of the things Adam had heard about Slytherin from his brother, and was nice enough to buy her friends an entire snack trolley on the train. Avalon's friendship made Adam a lot less nervous to interact with other Slytherin students, and he'll always remember her as one of his first Hogwarts friends.

Aravis Escanora*
Another distant friend of Adam's, the two students met on rocky terms when Adam nearly knocked Aravis down in the hallway. The two talked things over and Adam returned a letter of hers after finding it on the ground, feeling much better about the girl when he left. Adam and Aravis met in a similar fashion once more, and he helped her investigate a strange letter from someone pretending to be a friend. Since then, things have been quiet between Adam and Aravis. He hopes to see her again, and that she finally figured out the truth of the letter!
Ravenclaw

Eri Windstone*
Adam first encountered Eri Windstone in Compartment 7 of the Hogwarts Express, where she was nice enough. He practiced spellwork with Eri a bit in the early days of their first year, but their relationship showed signs of suffering after an accidental injury to Kaegen Deathmote occurred at her hands. Adam doesn't blame Eri for what happened, and was able to talk it over with her in the Ravenclaw common room a few weeks later. He still fears that she feels guilty about the incident, but if she does, he hasn't heard about it. In fact, he hasn't heard a lot from the girl recently.

Kaegen Deathmote*
Kaegen and Adam met in Compartment 7 of the Hogwarts Express, and became loose friends after Kaegen's salamander Vortigern wreaked havoc on the train car. Adam and Kaegen met a few times after that, but never really had a close experience again until he was cut at the Ravenclaw table. Adam, thinking that Kaegen needed to be stopped from a tirade, attempted to tackle his friend to the ground but ended up with a bruise and a concussion. Several odd conversations later, Kaegen ended up on the run from Adam's older brother before vanishing into the bushes. Adam and Kaegen didn't reconnect a lot in second year, but he heard plenty more about the boy, even if they were only tall tales. The start of third year leaves Kaegen as a mystery -- but really, what else is new?

Cecily Quinn
Adam couldn't quite tell you where or when he met Cecily Quinn -- just that she's one of his closest friends in Ravenclaw. The two can most often be seen walking through the halls together in the depths of an often confusing or frivolous argument, the stubborn logic of their house making it impossible for either to give in. Adam and Cecily both enjoy the company of their third friend Amadea Campbell, a Hufflepuff girl that they met in an abandoned classroom on the fifth floor. The three of them have experienced a wide variety of adventures together, from a journey to clean up spilled ink to the Great Maze of BlossomFest to the Blossom Ball. Adam, Cecily, and Amadea rode the train to Hogwarts together at the start of second year and exchanged letters over Christmas break. Adam loves to cheer for Cecily on the Quidditch Pitch, when he makes it down there -- when he doesn't, he just cheers mentally. Whatever third year might bring, he's certain that they'll stay friends!

Phaedra Stavrou
Adam's former fellow prefect and leader extraordinaire, Phaedra is one of the people that Adam respects most in the castle. After two years, Adam still doesn't know much about Phaedra, as their only connection was their shared job, but he'd like to become her friend. Adam and Phaedra were signed up to spend the month of July together in the Cabin of the Hippogriff along with shared friend Eris Fawley, and passed the summer calmly as most acquaintances. Adam knows that Phaedra is capable of a whole lot, and hopes to finally get to know her better in third year!
Hufflepuff


Michelle Lynch*
The final passenger of Compartment 7, Adam met Michelle on the train and appreciated her kindness. He knew she'd be a perfect fit for Hufflepuff, but unfortunately, they didn't see much of each other until they both wound up injured in the hospital wing. Adam and Michelle talked sparsely then, and the next time they met was in the breaking-up of a brutal fistfight between strangers. Though probably unlikely, Adam hopes to meet up with Michelle again soon; after all, it's been a while, and a Hufflepuff almost always makes for a good companion.

Amadea Campbell*
The third member of Adam's Great Maze team, Amadea Campbell is one of the students that Adam's hung out with the most during his time at the castle. Amadea was introduced to Adam and Cecily when she spilled a bottle of ink in an empty fifth to-floor classroom. Afraid of the trouble they might get in, the three took a journey to Hogwarts' basement to clean up the stain before it was discovered, and the bond between them strengthened greatly. Adam, Cecily, and Amadea didn't get far in the Maze, but agreed to meet up again at the Blossom Ball. Other functions that Adam and Amadea have attended were the Student Ball and Amadea's surprise birthday party. When they're not partying together, Adam still likes to hang out with Amadea, whether in person (like on long train rides) or through letters (shared over Christmas break). Adam can't wait to see her again soon!

Rosie Parker
Though Adam doesn't know very much about Rosie, he considers her a good friend by this point in their education. Adam first saw Rosie in the empty expanse of the castle's ballroom, while showing off the location to Anatole Evans as part of a small competition. Since then, Rosie and Adam have cloudwatched on the grounds and met up at the Student Ball, though Rosie's distressed state made it hard for much conversation. They ran into each other in the Rehearsal Room where Adam accompanied her dancing with a bit of piano, but she seemed to vanish after that. Maybe he just wasn't looking hard enough. Adam hopes to see Rosie again someday and rekindle their friendship!
Acquaintances

Reducio
Reed Wesley
Max Avery
James Henderson
James Lachoneus
Sky Graeme
Mariah Menstil
Kreszentia Moss
Dorothy Do
Reid Kovacs
Serena Towers
Dymphna Teague
If you think I've left you out or mislabeled your character, please let me know! I'm extremely forgetful and will be happy to change it. I'm always looking for new friends both IC and OOC, so if you'd like to start a thread or a conversation, you can owl me or message me on Discord. Thanks!
Last edited by Adam Harringtom on 20 Feb 2023, 21:48, edited 2 times in total.

15 Jun 2020, 16:50
Adam Harringtom, Ravenclaw Student

Image
face claim: Wade Poezyn
Age: 17
Birthplace: Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine
DOB: January 24, 2006
School: Durmstrang
School Year: Seventh Year
Race: Human
Blood Status: Pureblood
Appearance

Rudolf is about average height, at 5 feet 10 in (1.78 meters). He weighs about 155 lb (70 kg), and is in good shape thanks to Durmstrang’s inclination towards physical activities. Dolf has short-ish hair that some have called black, but he thinks of as dark brown. He likes to keep his hair as neat as possible, and tries to look presentable at all times. His eyebrows are thin and flat, the same color as his hair. He has blue eyes that tend to narrow naturally, making him look angry or displeased even when he isn’t. Dolf doesn’t have any especially defining features, although he’s been told on occasion that he looks older than he is. Since entering Durmstrang, he’s nearly always dressed in their red-and-black robes, adding or removing layers as the weather dictates. He’s never been one for jewelery, and doesn’t wear any watches or necklaces.
Personality

Dolf’s boldness and quick temper is countered by the self-discipline that his father instilled in him growing up, though at times he has trouble keeping a cool head. The boy is daring and ambitious, and will do (almost) whatever it takes to reach his goals. That being said, Dolf values loyalty above all, a virtue that has been reinforced by his time at Durmstrang. He has lots of pride in his school and his classmates, making him a good friend once you get to know him. He knows the importance of secrets and discretion, and may be slow to trust a stranger.

Many of Dolf’s values and beliefs have been inspired by Durmstrang, such as his distrust of Nonmagi and his respect for magical prowess. Since power is encouraged and rewarded at Durmstrang, Dolf is likely to have more respect for those that can wield it adeptly, even if they might be rivals. His schooling also sharpened his competitive edge, giving him a new interest for dueling and sports like Quidditch. He speaks both Ukrainian and English, one language from each parent. Dolf looks forward to building some new connections with Hogwarts students, whether those are friendships or good-natured rivalries.
History

In the winter of 2004, amateur English monster hunter Anna Berkeley left her hometown of Brighton and Hove determined to prove herself to her family — and the world. As a graduate of Hogwarts School and House Gryffindor, she was looking for greatness, but it turned out to be hard to find. After failing to attract the fame she was searching for by tackling trolls across the UK, Anna turned her attention to a creature that was sure to bring her renown: the Ukrainian Ironbelly, the largest species of dragon in the world. She arrived in Ukraine determined to hunt down one of the beasts and take home its head, fueled by reckless ambition and bluster. Luckily, before Anna could get herself killed, she met a man who swept her off of her feet.

Bohdan Novikov was a young employee for the Ukrainian Ministry of Magic, and fate found him at the same bar in Kyiv that Anna visited on her first night in the country. The two wizards talked until the bar closed, drinking and laughing and swapping stories. Bohdan convinced Anna to pursue a less dangerous quarry, and Anna helped him work up the courage to ask for a promotion. They agreed to stay in touch until the monster hunter returned to England. Eventually, it became clear that she’d found a new home; after a year, the couple was married, and one year after that Anna gave birth to their firstborn son.

Rudolf Novikov, named for a paternal ancestor, enjoyed a magical upbringing just outside of Kyiv. Both of his parents came from pureblood families, and they raised their son with enchanted toys, miniature magic lessons, and bedtime stories like The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Growing up, Rudolf didn’t have many friends; there were very few children in the neighborhood, and he spent most of his youth with his stay-at-home mother and the family cat, Tchaikovsky. Although Anna had left her monster hunting days behind, she passed along the ambition and drive that had led her to that field to her son, shaping him into a headstrong and determined boy. Rudolf’s father was often busy with Ministry work, but he still made time for his only son, and taught him the importance of loyalty and commitment. When he was eight years old, Rudolf showed his first signs of magical capability. He’d been running through the house recklessly and tripped over the edge of a carpet, right into the open, roaring fireplace. Fearfully, Rudolf put his hands out to catch his fall, and the logs suddenly froze over, putting out the fire in an instant. His parents were scared nearly to death, but relieved at the same time; they’d been starting to worry that they’d raised a Squib. At age 10, Rudolf’s real magical training began at his father’s alma mater: the Durmstrang Institute.

The school certainly posed its challenges, as he’d been told that it would. On his very first day, Rudolf and his classmates were taken into the wilderness for “survival training”, spending a week familiarizing themselves with the landscape and how to, well, survive in it. The experience opened Rudolf’s eyes to what was really in store for him for the next eight years, but by the end of winter, his doubts and fears had been, for the most part, laid to rest. It was fulfilling to live with the rest of the Durmstrang boys, learning from each other and competing for the highest room in their tower. His classes were just tough enough to require a good effort, which Rudolf was obliged to provide. He made friends, took exams, traveled the grounds (although not very far, wary of the legend of the Stribog) and grew comfortable in the castle’s halls. It almost felt odd to be back in Kyiv every summer, as glad as he was to see his parents again.

It was in third year that Rudolf started going by just “Dolf”, especially around friends, and in that same year he found an interest for martial magic. Avid practice wouldn’t start until after fifth year, but Dolf liked to listen to the stories that the older boys told and hear about what they were learning. Martial magic was definitely more compelling than the Dark Arts, and it seemed to tie in nicely with Durmstrang’s policy of protecting one’s secrets. Magic was only good if it could do something, after all, and though the Dark Arts had their uses, martial magic was more gratifying to the boy. It called to the fighting spirit that he’d gotten from his mother. He would definitely allow for his mind to change before it came time to make the choice, but Dolf was almost certain that combat magic was his biggest interest.
Stats
~ Strength: 10
~ Evasion: 8
~ Accuracy: 8
~ ArcPower: 9
~ Wisdom: 5
~ Stamina: 10
= total of 50
Abilities
01. Monster Hunter
Reducio
Rudolf’s mother might have hung up her monster-hunting gear by the time that her son was born, but she still had an entire library’s worth of stories to pass along. Although Anna Novikov might not have achieved very much in her short-lived career, she’d done enough research to practically become an expert in the field of monsters and magical creatures. What else was she supposed to talk about when little Rudolf wouldn’t fall asleep at night?

At first, Anna's stories sounded more like fairy tales than field reports. She started with the more whimsical magical species; her bedtime tales were filled with unicorns and dragons and embellished with fantasy-like detail. Eventually, things started to get more practical. Rudolf learned about hippogriffs and grindylows, mermaids and centaurs. He giggled through Anna's profiles of flobberworms and gnomes, and huddled close to his mother's side when she turned to frightful topics like acromantulas and basilisks. They spent their days together pretending to do battle with giants and escape from dementors. When night fell, Anna tucked her son into bed and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Once he'd finally nodded off to sleep, often in the middle of her story, she'd remind him in a whisper that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Eventually, Rudolf grew out of playing games with his mother. He stopped needing her stories to fall asleep, and their discussions turned from monsters and beasts towards his upcoming first year at the Durmstrang Institute. The boy had no plans to become a monster hunter like his mother had always aspired to be, and as such he saw little point in memorizing all of her facts and statistics. Still, he couldn't deny that the knowledge could be useful. There was no telling if or when he'd run into a monster that was out for his blood. With his mother's unofficial training, he might be able to protect himself from an unfortunate end.

A year of Durmstrang education turned Anna's old stories from general knowledge into a strategic advantage. The school reminded Rudolf of where his trust was best placed: with his fellow purebloods. Perhaps he wouldn't go actively looking for monsters, but he'd definitely know what to do with them if they came his way. His mother's experience would help him find their weaknesses, their soft spots, their flaws -- and his school training would give him the tools that he needed to take the creatures down. After all, it was his duty as a wizard and as a Durmstrang student to protect himself and his schoolmates from the clawed beasts that waited outside of the castle walls.

WC: 439

02. Martial Artist
Reducio
After Rudolf’s second year of schooling, he had become a much more confident wizard than ever before. His small arsenal of spells felt like enough to take on any problem — in fact, he could hardly remember how he’d survived without his wand in hand. Rudolf's father must have been able to see his son's confidence tipping dangerously close to arrogance, because one summer evening after the family had finished eating dinner, he sat Rudolf down for a talk.

"What do you do if you lose your wand in a duel, Rudolf?" he asked evenly, peering at the thirteen-year-old boy curiously. Not sensing the trap that was hidden underneath his father's civility, Rudolf shrugged and leaned back in his chair.

"What could I do? I'd have to surrender, wouldn't I? I won't know how to do wandless magic for a long time." It seemed like a fine answer to the boy. He could hardly compete against an armed wizard; to do so would mean certain defeat.

"No!" Rudolf's father bellowed, pounding his fist against the table. Rudolf jumped, shocked to see his father react with such fire. He'd always been a calm and collected person. Had Rudolf's answer really been wrong enough to warrant that violent response. He watched his father fearfully as the man closed his eyes and took a deep breath, frowning at his son.

"You are already making the mistake that I see so much. Magic is your tool, Rudolf, but it is not your crutch. If you can't do anything without it, then you don't deserve to have that wand." Rudolf's face burned red in shame and his gaze dropped to the floor. What made his father qualified to talk about getting by without magic? He'd been raised just as pureblooded as Rudolf had been. He worked for the Ministry of Magic, even. If he didn't have his wand, Rudolf doubted that his father could get by.

"Get up," Rudolf's father ordered, and he heard the scrape of the dining chair against the floor. Slowly, the boy looked back up to see his father standing behind the table, beckoning him over. "Come on. We're going to pretend that I'm here to...kill your mother." Rudolf's eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder, wondering if Mrs. Novikov had heard anything. "What do you do?"

The boy shrugged, swaying uncertainly on his feet. "What can I do?"

"You know what!" Rudolf's father rebuked him. "I know that they taught you better than this at school. You don't have your wand. You have to protect your mother. What are you going to do about it?" Slowly, Rudolf moved around the table and faced his father. He swung his arm out uncertainly in a weak punch that cut through the air in front of his father's nose, and the man nodded solemnly in approval. "Good. Again. Don't be afraid to hit me for real, Rudolf. I won't punish you." A small smile crossed his father's lips, and Rudolf smiled back. He struck his father lightly in the chest and was shoved backwards in return. The two men wrestled for a few minutes more before Rudolf's father raised his hands in surrender.

The lesson had been learned: magic may have been Rudolf's birthright, but it wasn't going to float him through life. Eventually, there were going to be obstacles that couldn't be cursed away; as long as he kept practicing, Rudolf's fist would be just as useful as the wand that it held.

WC: 582

03. Fearless
Reducio
It hadn't taken Rudolf very long to learn that there was no place for fear at Durmstrang. He'd been thrown into the deep end in the very first week of his first year, when his entire class had been taken deep into the grounds for "survival training". If that didn't force Rudolf to face his fears early on, he didn't know what would. The very nature of the Durmstrang Institute strengthened the boy, making him tougher, more resilient. As Rudolf started to take an interest in martial magic, he became less and less worried about physical threats. He had the means to protect himself, and he was learning more with every lesson. The jittery nerves that had plagued him during his first few days were quickly calmed as he got to know his classmates, living with them and learning as much as he could from the older boys. Durmstrang was the fire that was forging Rudolf into a steadfast and strong wizard.

His time at school wasn't the only thing that eased his fears, however. His parents had taught him their own lessons and prepared him for survival in the magical world. Thanks to his mother's bedtime stories, Rudolf wasn't worried about creatures or beasts. He knew better than to go chasing after dragons or basilisks unprepared, and he could keep his calm in the face of animal danger. While he wasn't exactly battling monsters every day, Rudolf knew that he could, and that was enough to help him keep his composure.

His father had saved Rudolf from himself, making sure that he didn't cripple himself with a total reliance on magic. They worked hard in their summers together to build Rudolf's physical skills, keeping him in shape and teaching him the ins and outs of physical dueling -- or, like the nonmagi called it, a good old-fashioned street brawl. Rudolf didn't love the idea of resorting to such barbaric means, but at least he was prepared to come to blows.

As a graduating fourth year, Rudolf feels like he can handle anything that the world might throw at him. Monsters? No big deal. Curses? Nothing that a counter-spell couldn't solve. All-around jerks? A punch to the face should work nicely. Rudolf has been raised to take care of himself, and intends to use all of his skills and abilities to keep himself and his loved ones out of danger's way. Rudolf may only be a teenager, but he's designated himself as a protector, and protectors cannot afford to be afraid of anything.

WC: 422

04. Advanced Casting
Reducio
It was the summer before Rudolf's fifth year, just after he'd returned from London and the Quidditch World Cup, that his parents had sat him down in the kitchen and told him that it was time to "get serious" in his studies. He had to admit that he'd been caught by surprise. London had put him in a good mood (which was probably what they were planning on), and after four years of hard work at Durmstrang, Dolf had been under the impression that he was "serious". He gave more than enough of his time to reading, writing, chanting. He was attentive in all of his classes and he never missed an assignment. Hell, he could name plenty of his classmates that he knew were far less "serious" than he was. But he knew that his father wouldn't take that as an excuse. It would only anger the man. So Dolf kept his mouth tightly shut and heard his parents' rationale.

They started off with the obvious, that he was officially halfway through his Durmstrang education. No words of praise were offered, but there were no criticisms, either. Just a statement of the facts: you've completed four years. Your effort was satisfactory. That was when they started talking about the future, about success. About what he had to do to ensure it. "It never hurts to work harder," he'd been told. When it came down to it, their basis was universal: they only wanted the best for their son.

And Dolf, trusting their appraisal more than he trusted his own, promised that he would up his efforts. From the first day he returned to school in the fall, his wand never left his hand. He was practicing incantations between mouthfuls at breakfast; executing wand movements in his free time between lessons; spending his evenings sharpening his skills of concentration under pressure. His mother would delight at his conviction, he thought. His father would congratulate his form. And he wanted them to, more than he even knew why. Maybe it was just to prove that he could get better. The root of magic was innate, after all -- that was what separated Dolf and his people from the Nonmagi -- but there had to be a way to improve it once you had it. Otherwise, what was the point of all this studying? And how could Dolf become any more than he was now?

As winter turned to spring, he finally started noticing results. With his tongue sharper, his arm steadier, his will sturdier, Dolf found that his spells had lots more potential than they had a year ago. They were stronger, he thought, like he was. And as long as he kept up his work, he'd have something really impressive to show off when he got back to Kyiv in June.

WC: 469