Ashling O'Brien

[Ashling O'Brien]

Application for Hogwarts School

→ CHARACTER INFORMATION.
Name: Ashling O'Brien

Birthday: August 10, 1924

Hometown: Hogsmeade or Galway, IE

Bloodline: Pureblood

Magical Strength (pick one):Divination

Magical Weakness (pick one):
Transfiguration

Year (pick two):6th (if held back) 7th (because this would be her final year)

Biography: 
Ashling Barrow was born to Aidan and Siobhan Barrow on June 4th, 1962 in Bantry, IE. She had never known anything other than the Muggle world, though her family did hold a strong belief in Faeries. Lost items were more likely to be blamed on a Brownie, particularly if the missing item was shiny. Likewise, she had been taught from the day she started walking to avoid rings of small stones or mushrooms. Though she did not voice it, she always assumed that anything strange that happened to her was the work of some form of Fae or other. When she turned eleven, she received a letter for a strange school called Hogwarts. When her parents asked her what she thought, she simply replied "I bet they know a lot about Faeries." thus it was decided that she should go to Hogwarts that Fall.

Shortly after the start of term, Ashling found a map belonging to one MAOB. After some investigation, she wrote an owl and sent it off addressed to M. A. O'Brien. By some fortune the owl went to Maeve O'Brien, who was the creator of the map Ashling had found. Aside from encouraging Ashling to continue the map and make changes where needed, Maeve soon became her owl post confidant. Ashling confided in Maeve that she never received post from her parents, and only received post from her brother about once per week. Soon after, Ashling's brother confided in her that their parents had all but abandoned her, pretending that they had never had a daughter, and lying that she had passed in a tragic accident too those who asked. That Summer, she found herself immediately signed up for every week of camp possible, and instructed to find accommodations nearby during weeks that there was no camp. For this, she turned to Maeve. The two bonded over the summer.

During Ashling's second year, everything changed. Seamus received his letter in November, and hid it from their parents fearing that he would be shunted out of the house if they knew. Then time stood still, or rather, slid backwards at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Ashling, at Maeve's insistence, had spent the winter Holidays in Hogsmeade at Maeve's home. The dizziness and disorientation affected them both briefly. As soon as Ashling regained her bearings, Maeve sent her back to the Castle, saying she would be safe there. Maeve told Ashling that she was going search of Seamus, and would send an owl as soon as he was safe.

Though Ashling had not expected any more than temporary shelter from Maeve, the kind young woman adopted both her and her brother. More than that, Maeve insisted that she teach them in accordance with her family's traditions.  She began schooling Ashling in elemental magic, insisting that Seamus had to wait until after his first year at Hogwarts. It didn't take long for both of them to figure out that Ashling was gifted with the element of air. The following years went by quickly. Ashling learned quickly, and became very skilled with air, and decent with fire and water, but earth always seemed to elude her.

Over time, Ashling not only grew fond of Maeve, but also of Demetri, and was overjoyed when the man asked for her mother's hand. Rarely aloud and never to his face, Ashling had taken to calling him Daddy Demetri.

Ashling's fourth year, however, brought a sudden change in her demeanor. She went from outgoing and generally friendly, to quiet and withdrawn. Silently, she blamed herself for an incident that had taken place. She had lost her head and put herself in harm's way, and ultimately been hurt for it. Behind closed doors, she beat herself up for everything that had happened, and for how things seemed to fall apart. Outwardly, she was just a quiet little Irish girl.

→ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Note: This section is optional, and is up to you to complete.

House Request: Hufflepuff

Personality: Ashling is naïve at best, and clueless at worst. She's not particularly brave, but may show an inordinate amount of courage when she thinks a faerie has her back. She doesn't like to think that anything is done by her own skill or competency, rather that she is being helped by one of the fae. She's fascinated by magical creatures, particularly faeries, and strives to learn as much about them as possible. She has a very hard time staying mad at anyone or about anything. Holding a grudge simply isn't in her nature. She can, however, be rather cruel when it comes to immediate retaliation for a wrong. Much like J.M. Barrie described Tinkerbell, Ashling only seems to be able to exhibit one emotion at a time. For the time, she seems to be engulfed in an impenetrable gloom. Could this be the year she finally breaks free?

Appearance: Ashling has auburn hair and brown eyes. She is slightly self-conscious about how she looks, and is somewhat small in stature. Normally she wears long sleeves and opaque tights with her school uniform.

→ SAMPLE ROLEPLAY.
Please reply to one of the Sample Roleplays below.

"Hey!"

Ashling hung her head as the now-familiar sound of Astrid Bixby's voice rang out through the corridor. She was truly beginning to wonder if the girl was a permanent fixture of the castle. The Irish girl knew what was coming. It had become routine. She had yet to go a single year without getting caught in the hall some time within the first month for the same question.

She always gave the same answer: "If they serve it, I will try it." They never served it, so she'd never tried it.

This year would be different. Ashling was determined that this, her final year at Hogwarts, would be the best year ever. This year, things would be different. She would be different. She was going to drag herself out of her shell by her toenails if she had to. This year would be different, and it would start here!

Ashling turned on her heal, walking toward Astrid instead of trying to escape. It would be worth it to see the girl's surprise when the answer came, and Ashling already knew what she was going to say.


“What do you think about serving frog legs at lunch? Some say it’s a delicacy, but others think it’s plain gross.”

"Yum! Are they really going to start serving frog legs? I can't wait!" Ashling's eyes widened, and her face looked genuinely excited, even though it was all an act. She had gotten good at acting over the past couple years. It was the easiest way to keep questions at bay: acting as though everything were fine. The change from quiet girl to exuberantly excited was priceless.

Best. Year. Ever.

→ ABOUT YOU.

Previous Characters (if applicable): Maeve O'Brien, Seamus O'Brien, Charlotte Cavendish

How did you find us?: The Force (I've been here off and on for a while)

[Wesley Winsday]

Miss O'Brien,

Congratulations, your application to Hogwarts School has been accepted. Term begins 01 May 2014. Currently, students have gathered at Camp Loki. Your admission is joint for both the school and Camp Loki, and we encourage you to spend your summer there. Should you choose, you may also visit our Elsewhere board via the Floo Network to visit or purchase school supplies. We look forward to seeing you at the School.

Regards,
Wesley W. Winsday,
Professor of Charms