Post by Professor Schmidt on Oct 23, 2010 9:15:22 GMT -5
Name: Alexandra Schmidt
Age: 63
Birthdate/place: 31st January 1957 (London, England)
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Family: Blood Status: Pureblood
- Albert Schmidt – Father (Deceased) – Auror
- Christine Schmidt nee Toth – Mother (Deceased) – Auror
Appearance:
Build/height- Alexandra prefers the motif “never judge a book by its cover” and as such is quite unassuming when it comes to her appearance. She has no bulging muscles or outstanding veins to show any prodigious strength and due to her age most people assume she is quite slow. Whilst the first is true – in a physical fight she would lose most of the time hands down – she is still quite fit for her age and capable of running a distance when necessary. She stands at five foot eight and weighs only one hundred and forty eight pounds, adding to the misconception that she is incapable of defending herself from adversaries.
General Description- Alexandra's hair is something of a dirty blonde, this being that it is lighter in places and darker in others. Only now, as she nears her sixty fourth year, are hints of grey beginning to show. Her hair is shoulder length and generally parted to one side, always in pristine condition regardless of the situation. Her eyes are a light blue colour and many have commented that they are capable of both conveying emotion and hiding it completely, a unique trait when one wishes to hide one's emotions. She has nothing in the way of scars or markings that could distinguish her.
Possessions-
- Nimbus 2018
- Snowy Owl, Lucy
Personality:
Temperament/Mental Attributes- Alexandra is considered by many to be very similar to the female who held her positions before her: Minerva McGonagall. Extremely strict but always fair, Alexandra has a penchant for finding out about things happening in Hogwarts that shouldn't be, and she always ensures that those activities stops. Unlike McGonagall she is not willing to tolerate bad behaviour even if the person against whom it is directed deserves it: she would not, for example, have allowed Peeves to chase Dolores Umbridge out of the school.
Generally keeping her emotions close to her chest, Alexandra has shown bravery and determination when it comes to defending Hogwarts and her students, going as far as to duel with those who might wish them harm. Wise and experienced, it is considered that she balances the leading positions of the school: the headmaster has youth and exuberance whilst she brings the caution and wisdom of age. She is respected and in some cases feared by most of Hogwarts students because of her strict nature.
There have been instances, however, when Alexandra has shown a more caring side. It is not often that this side is seen - some of the professors at Hogwarts have never seen this side and there are very few students who have - but one or two individuals have. It usually comes out on the few occasions she has a drink, which isn't often, and one or two professors whom she trusts implicitly. She avoids bias to the students but there are, unbeknownst to most, a couple of students have received something of preferential treatment, but not to a degree where it would become obvious.
Amongst one of her traits is inquisitiveness. She has gone through stages in her life solely dedicated to study, even after attending Hogwarts, because the slightest bit of interesting or intriguing information piques her interest in that subject. For example, she visited Gellert Grindelwald in Nurmengard to learn more about the dark arts and ways to counter them because, as an auror, she felt it imperative that she know all about the most dangerous of spells. She also spent some time in Hogwarts after her graduation in an attempt to learn more about the castle itself.
Amongst the many witches and wizards in the world the Ministry of Magic has a list of those most unlikely to ever fall to the dark arts and be corrupted by it. This list is kept as a means of giving the Minister of Magic the knowledge of who he can hopefully trust. Alexandra Schmidt is on that list: she is considered pure and uncorruptable, to a degree.
Alliance- Good (Hogwarts)
Strengths/Weaknesses-
Strengths
- Duellist: Raised by two aurors, a job she went on take herself for a time, Alexandra is considered by many to be a master duellist. Capable of matching and besting those much younger and energetic than she, Alexandra combines her extensive knowledge of magic with her own intelligence when duelling, coming up with spell combinations that others might not even have considered.
- Nonverbal Magic: After an incident where a wizard silenced her using a spell, leaving her defenceless, Alexandra realised that the art of nonverbal magic was something she needed to learn. Though it took a great deal of time she has come to master this art, though she prefers to voice her spells when she can. Some spells, however, like the Unforgivable Curses, must be voiced despite her skill with nonverbal magic.
- Transfiguration Mastery: As both an auror and a professor Alexandra showed great aptitude for transfiguration: it was her skill found during her time as an auror that led her to become Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts. Over her sixty years of life she has perfected this art, using one example as a goal: when McGonagall transfigured the suits of armour across the entire castle to defend it. Now capable of that, she is considered foremost amongst her colleagues in this art.
Weaknesses
- Potions: Despite her skill in most areas of magic Alexandra has never been able to fully grasp the art of potion-making. This, in turn, puts her at a disadvantage when she comes across a situation that a potion – not a spell – is needed for.
- Strict: Her strict attitude often puts her at odds with some of the more lax or kind teachers at Hogwarts, something that doesn't really bother her. It also causes some students – not all, but some – to fear her and purposefully go out of their way to avoid her. Attendance in her lessons is never low, though.
- Bias: Though she tries not to Alexandra has been seen to show bias towards her own house, Ravenclaw. The times when this occurs are few and far between, however, and she has been stricter than is perhaps necessary on members of her own house when the situation calls for punishment.
Employment&Education:
-Adults-
Former House- Ravenclaw
Job- Deputy Headmistress, Head of Ravenclaw House and Professor of Transfiguration
Employer- The Headmaster of Hogwarts
OWLs/NEWTs-
- Charms: O
- Transfiguration: O
- Herbology: E
- Defence Against the Dark Arts: O
- Study of Ancient Runes: E
- Potions: A
- Care of Magical Creatures: E
- Astronomy: E
- Divination: E
- Arithmancy: E
- History of Magic: E
- Muggle Studies: E
Other:
Magical Skills-
- Complete mastery of transfiguration should count, no?
- Non-verbal magic
Patronus- Snowy Owl
Wand- Mahogany with dragon heartstring, fifteen and a half inches in length
Goals/Aspirations- To continue teaching at Hogwarts and keep the students safe
Other Information- None
History- Alexandra Schmidt was born in London, England on the 31st of January, 1957. Her father and mother, both pureblood members of the magical community, were unsure about the repercussions of having a child because of the dangerous nature of their work: both were serving members of the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Aurors, the magical community called them; their job was to apprehend or defeat dark witches or wizards and, if captured successfully, transport them to Azkaban Prison. Knowing that it would be difficult to raise a child in such a situation, the two never-the-less determined that they would strive to do their best, as being a mother was something Christine had always wanted despite her lifestyle.
Alexandra's life was quite uneventful until she received her letter to attend Hogwarts: her mother and father did their duties, usually being allowed to rotate who was working which days by the Minister for Magic so that someone was always at home with her. When she went to Diagon Alley to purchase her equipment for school she was accompanied by her father, using the extensive wealth of her family to buy everything that was needed. As with most wizards and witches she most looked forward to obtaining her wand: at fifteen and a half inches the wand was made of mahogany and had a core of dragon heartstring which, the shop owner said, was excellent for transfiguration, defence against the dark arts and duelling. This was a foreshadow of what Alexandra's life would later become. The weeks between purchasing her goods and heading to Hogwarts were the longest of her life.
Her seven years at Hogwarts were a mixture of emotions. An intelligent girl Alexandra was sorted into Ravenclaw house, something she was extremely proud of, as both her parents had been in Ravenclaw. She excelled in her studies and, studious and polite, got on well with almost every student and staff member she came across. As the shop owner had suggested she came to excel in Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, her intent being to become an auror like her parents. This was furthered by her father's death during her fifth year at the hands of a dark witch who he failed to defeat, leaving her mother as her sole surviving family member. Thus her fifth year was tinged by that sorrow, but lightened by her successfully passing her OWLs. By the time she had completed her NEWTs in her seventh year – and she passed them all with either Exceeds Expectations or Outstanding, receiving an Acceptable only in Potions, which she never truly grasped – her mother had her meet with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to see about becoming an auror.
It took time but Alexandra did eventually become an auror. Whilst not as well known or feared as past aurors, like Alastor Moody, she was never-the-less skilled at her job and put over a dozen dark arts users behind the bars of Azkaban Prison. For many years she served faithfully. There were numerous instances in which she fought particularly skilled Death Eaters: she fought Thorfinn Rowle and succeeded in sending him to Azkaban, a place he had managed to avoid after the First Wizarding War.
There was also an instant when, in her capacity as an auror, she responded to a call intimating that dark witches or wizards were attacking muggles in York. When she arrived she found Alecto and Amycus Carrow, though she didn't know it was them as they were hooded and masked, and proceeded to duel the two. She won that duel but was not successful in capturing the two due to the interference of a third Death Eater. This was, to date, her most successful duel as an auror.
At some point she developed an interest in learning about the nature of dark magic so as to better combat it and thus visited Nurmengard. There she encountered Gellert Grindelwald and is one of the few people he entertained a conversation with, for most who came to visit he dismissed without a word. Surrounded at all times by the prisons most powerful guards she discussed numerous things with him and was one of the earliest to know of his friendship with Albus Dumbledore, though she never told a soul. From Grindelwald she learned defensive spells for some of the most dangerous dark magics, but also acknowledged that she wouldn't risk using them for fear he was tricking her.
She fought alongside other members of the magical community during the Second Wizarding War against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. A powerful auror she came across Death Eaters like Antonin Dolohov and defeated him on at least one occasion but was unsuccessful in capturing him. It was during this period that her mother died, leaving Alexandra as the final member of the Schmidt family still living.
It was at this moment that she realised that the life of an auror was not one she wished to continue, she applied for the job of transfiguration professor at Hogwarts when Minerva McGonagall became headmistress. McGonagall, perhaps noticing the similarities between herself and Alexandra, permitted her to teach at Hogwarts in the position she herself had once taught: professor of Transfiguration. She has served as Transfiguration professor since that day and, due to her dedication and her continued service, she was most recently promoted to the position of Head of Ravenclaw House and Deputy Headmistress.
Age: 63
Birthdate/place: 31st January 1957 (London, England)
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Family: Blood Status: Pureblood
- Albert Schmidt – Father (Deceased) – Auror
- Christine Schmidt nee Toth – Mother (Deceased) – Auror
Appearance:
Build/height- Alexandra prefers the motif “never judge a book by its cover” and as such is quite unassuming when it comes to her appearance. She has no bulging muscles or outstanding veins to show any prodigious strength and due to her age most people assume she is quite slow. Whilst the first is true – in a physical fight she would lose most of the time hands down – she is still quite fit for her age and capable of running a distance when necessary. She stands at five foot eight and weighs only one hundred and forty eight pounds, adding to the misconception that she is incapable of defending herself from adversaries.
General Description- Alexandra's hair is something of a dirty blonde, this being that it is lighter in places and darker in others. Only now, as she nears her sixty fourth year, are hints of grey beginning to show. Her hair is shoulder length and generally parted to one side, always in pristine condition regardless of the situation. Her eyes are a light blue colour and many have commented that they are capable of both conveying emotion and hiding it completely, a unique trait when one wishes to hide one's emotions. She has nothing in the way of scars or markings that could distinguish her.
Possessions-
- Nimbus 2018
- Snowy Owl, Lucy
Personality:
Temperament/Mental Attributes- Alexandra is considered by many to be very similar to the female who held her positions before her: Minerva McGonagall. Extremely strict but always fair, Alexandra has a penchant for finding out about things happening in Hogwarts that shouldn't be, and she always ensures that those activities stops. Unlike McGonagall she is not willing to tolerate bad behaviour even if the person against whom it is directed deserves it: she would not, for example, have allowed Peeves to chase Dolores Umbridge out of the school.
Generally keeping her emotions close to her chest, Alexandra has shown bravery and determination when it comes to defending Hogwarts and her students, going as far as to duel with those who might wish them harm. Wise and experienced, it is considered that she balances the leading positions of the school: the headmaster has youth and exuberance whilst she brings the caution and wisdom of age. She is respected and in some cases feared by most of Hogwarts students because of her strict nature.
There have been instances, however, when Alexandra has shown a more caring side. It is not often that this side is seen - some of the professors at Hogwarts have never seen this side and there are very few students who have - but one or two individuals have. It usually comes out on the few occasions she has a drink, which isn't often, and one or two professors whom she trusts implicitly. She avoids bias to the students but there are, unbeknownst to most, a couple of students have received something of preferential treatment, but not to a degree where it would become obvious.
Amongst one of her traits is inquisitiveness. She has gone through stages in her life solely dedicated to study, even after attending Hogwarts, because the slightest bit of interesting or intriguing information piques her interest in that subject. For example, she visited Gellert Grindelwald in Nurmengard to learn more about the dark arts and ways to counter them because, as an auror, she felt it imperative that she know all about the most dangerous of spells. She also spent some time in Hogwarts after her graduation in an attempt to learn more about the castle itself.
Amongst the many witches and wizards in the world the Ministry of Magic has a list of those most unlikely to ever fall to the dark arts and be corrupted by it. This list is kept as a means of giving the Minister of Magic the knowledge of who he can hopefully trust. Alexandra Schmidt is on that list: she is considered pure and uncorruptable, to a degree.
Alliance- Good (Hogwarts)
Strengths/Weaknesses-
Strengths
- Duellist: Raised by two aurors, a job she went on take herself for a time, Alexandra is considered by many to be a master duellist. Capable of matching and besting those much younger and energetic than she, Alexandra combines her extensive knowledge of magic with her own intelligence when duelling, coming up with spell combinations that others might not even have considered.
- Nonverbal Magic: After an incident where a wizard silenced her using a spell, leaving her defenceless, Alexandra realised that the art of nonverbal magic was something she needed to learn. Though it took a great deal of time she has come to master this art, though she prefers to voice her spells when she can. Some spells, however, like the Unforgivable Curses, must be voiced despite her skill with nonverbal magic.
- Transfiguration Mastery: As both an auror and a professor Alexandra showed great aptitude for transfiguration: it was her skill found during her time as an auror that led her to become Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts. Over her sixty years of life she has perfected this art, using one example as a goal: when McGonagall transfigured the suits of armour across the entire castle to defend it. Now capable of that, she is considered foremost amongst her colleagues in this art.
Weaknesses
- Potions: Despite her skill in most areas of magic Alexandra has never been able to fully grasp the art of potion-making. This, in turn, puts her at a disadvantage when she comes across a situation that a potion – not a spell – is needed for.
- Strict: Her strict attitude often puts her at odds with some of the more lax or kind teachers at Hogwarts, something that doesn't really bother her. It also causes some students – not all, but some – to fear her and purposefully go out of their way to avoid her. Attendance in her lessons is never low, though.
- Bias: Though she tries not to Alexandra has been seen to show bias towards her own house, Ravenclaw. The times when this occurs are few and far between, however, and she has been stricter than is perhaps necessary on members of her own house when the situation calls for punishment.
Employment&Education:
-Adults-
Former House- Ravenclaw
Job- Deputy Headmistress, Head of Ravenclaw House and Professor of Transfiguration
Employer- The Headmaster of Hogwarts
OWLs/NEWTs-
- Charms: O
- Transfiguration: O
- Herbology: E
- Defence Against the Dark Arts: O
- Study of Ancient Runes: E
- Potions: A
- Care of Magical Creatures: E
- Astronomy: E
- Divination: E
- Arithmancy: E
- History of Magic: E
- Muggle Studies: E
Other:
Magical Skills-
- Complete mastery of transfiguration should count, no?
- Non-verbal magic
Patronus- Snowy Owl
Wand- Mahogany with dragon heartstring, fifteen and a half inches in length
Goals/Aspirations- To continue teaching at Hogwarts and keep the students safe
Other Information- None
History- Alexandra Schmidt was born in London, England on the 31st of January, 1957. Her father and mother, both pureblood members of the magical community, were unsure about the repercussions of having a child because of the dangerous nature of their work: both were serving members of the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Aurors, the magical community called them; their job was to apprehend or defeat dark witches or wizards and, if captured successfully, transport them to Azkaban Prison. Knowing that it would be difficult to raise a child in such a situation, the two never-the-less determined that they would strive to do their best, as being a mother was something Christine had always wanted despite her lifestyle.
Alexandra's life was quite uneventful until she received her letter to attend Hogwarts: her mother and father did their duties, usually being allowed to rotate who was working which days by the Minister for Magic so that someone was always at home with her. When she went to Diagon Alley to purchase her equipment for school she was accompanied by her father, using the extensive wealth of her family to buy everything that was needed. As with most wizards and witches she most looked forward to obtaining her wand: at fifteen and a half inches the wand was made of mahogany and had a core of dragon heartstring which, the shop owner said, was excellent for transfiguration, defence against the dark arts and duelling. This was a foreshadow of what Alexandra's life would later become. The weeks between purchasing her goods and heading to Hogwarts were the longest of her life.
Her seven years at Hogwarts were a mixture of emotions. An intelligent girl Alexandra was sorted into Ravenclaw house, something she was extremely proud of, as both her parents had been in Ravenclaw. She excelled in her studies and, studious and polite, got on well with almost every student and staff member she came across. As the shop owner had suggested she came to excel in Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, her intent being to become an auror like her parents. This was furthered by her father's death during her fifth year at the hands of a dark witch who he failed to defeat, leaving her mother as her sole surviving family member. Thus her fifth year was tinged by that sorrow, but lightened by her successfully passing her OWLs. By the time she had completed her NEWTs in her seventh year – and she passed them all with either Exceeds Expectations or Outstanding, receiving an Acceptable only in Potions, which she never truly grasped – her mother had her meet with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to see about becoming an auror.
It took time but Alexandra did eventually become an auror. Whilst not as well known or feared as past aurors, like Alastor Moody, she was never-the-less skilled at her job and put over a dozen dark arts users behind the bars of Azkaban Prison. For many years she served faithfully. There were numerous instances in which she fought particularly skilled Death Eaters: she fought Thorfinn Rowle and succeeded in sending him to Azkaban, a place he had managed to avoid after the First Wizarding War.
There was also an instant when, in her capacity as an auror, she responded to a call intimating that dark witches or wizards were attacking muggles in York. When she arrived she found Alecto and Amycus Carrow, though she didn't know it was them as they were hooded and masked, and proceeded to duel the two. She won that duel but was not successful in capturing the two due to the interference of a third Death Eater. This was, to date, her most successful duel as an auror.
At some point she developed an interest in learning about the nature of dark magic so as to better combat it and thus visited Nurmengard. There she encountered Gellert Grindelwald and is one of the few people he entertained a conversation with, for most who came to visit he dismissed without a word. Surrounded at all times by the prisons most powerful guards she discussed numerous things with him and was one of the earliest to know of his friendship with Albus Dumbledore, though she never told a soul. From Grindelwald she learned defensive spells for some of the most dangerous dark magics, but also acknowledged that she wouldn't risk using them for fear he was tricking her.
She fought alongside other members of the magical community during the Second Wizarding War against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. A powerful auror she came across Death Eaters like Antonin Dolohov and defeated him on at least one occasion but was unsuccessful in capturing him. It was during this period that her mother died, leaving Alexandra as the final member of the Schmidt family still living.
It was at this moment that she realised that the life of an auror was not one she wished to continue, she applied for the job of transfiguration professor at Hogwarts when Minerva McGonagall became headmistress. McGonagall, perhaps noticing the similarities between herself and Alexandra, permitted her to teach at Hogwarts in the position she herself had once taught: professor of Transfiguration. She has served as Transfiguration professor since that day and, due to her dedication and her continued service, she was most recently promoted to the position of Head of Ravenclaw House and Deputy Headmistress.