Keller Myles Battersea
 | ||
| Keller Myles Battersea | ||
| Biographical Information | ||
| Full name | Keller Myles Battersea | |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 14 August 1942 | |
| Birthplace | Galway, Ireland | |
| Residence | Sligo, Ireland | |
| Nationality | Irish | |
| Blood Status | Pureblood | |
| Education |
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| Class | 1960 | |
| Physical Information | ||
| Species | Human | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Hair colour | Dark blonde with some grey present | |
| Eye colour | Deep blue | |
| Skin colour | Fair | |
| Family Information | ||
| Spouse |
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| Children | ||
| Parents |
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| Siblings |
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| Other Family Members |
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| Magical Characteristics | ||
| Wand | Yew, with a phoenix-feather core. 14½ inches. Rigid flexibility | |
| Patronus | Black swan | |
| Affiliation | ||
| Occupation |
| |
| Former Occupation(s) | DADA Professor | |
| House | Ravenclaw | |
Contents
Biography
We’ve boarded a ship on its way to Egypt, and while I’m excited, I think I’m also a little seasick. I don’t know why I feel like this, but I think it might have something to do with the lack of food in my stomach. Alexandra chided me about it, to which I rebutted with how I would finally see the Sphinx! Mom’s taken us across Europe and even Asia to sites where ancient rituals might have been conducted. However, I’ve never been to Egypt; Mom says it could have been home to some powerful Wizards in its day! Since we left, I’m currently doing a crash course in hieroglyphics that way I can understand what it is we’re looking for. Gotta go, it’s time for supper and I’ve just been threatened to within an inch of my life that I would eat or else. Ah well… ~ Journal Entry: Keller Myles Battersea- June 6, 1950
Life can be one big adventure, constantly shifting from one direction to another, always in change. You never know what’s going to happen next, which makes it all the more exciting. At least that’s how Keller Myles Battersea saw it all. The youngest of three, Keller was born to Peter and Julianne Margaret Battersea on August 14, 1942, in Galway, Ireland. Tucked away in the country outside the city limits was a large villa he lived in, due in part to three children, but also need for significant library space and room to store various artifacts. The result was two libraries and a private museum comprised of rare and ancient relics collected across the world. For as their father worked at the Ministry of Magic as an Auror, their Mother was an Archeologist sponsored at the time by various parties, but typically and preferably independent of any one particular group. It was through her, which came Keller’s spark for life and the unknown.
"Mom wasn’t kidding when she said the jungle was hot, but what she didn’t say was that it was full of bugs! Luckily, Mom created an insect-repellant shield around us before we started on our journey. Of course, that’s not the half of it. Our objective is this Mayan Temple out in the middle of nowhere. The guide said we’d probably reach it by tomorrow. The party suggested that we could apparate, but Mom objected saying that getting there was only half the fun. I suppose she’s right, after all, it’s not every expedition you have a large snake staring at you hungrily… among other things. But I suppose that’s just part of the adventure. Well, we’re about to break camp, here’s hoping we make it! ~ Journal Entry: Keller Myles Battersea- July 28, 1951"
His mother’s occupation, more than anything else drew Keller’s interest at an early age. Ever since he could read, the boy rigorously searched their libraries for any of his mother’s publications. What was even more exciting than reading was the chance to live those experiences with his mother. Unwilling to leave her children behind except in case of illnesses, she often brought them along with her. He quickly began to learn the ins and outs of her work. Having his father’s passionate affinity for learning, he often stayed by her side intently learning everything he could on these expeditions. Those bright, intelligent blue eyes gleamed when an old pot was found, or tablets were turned up. Sometimes he ventures off on his while at a site, carefully exploring the area, meanwhile making sure he doesn’t touch anything that might look significant. Sometimes something turned up, sometimes not, but either way, he learned from it.
I’m going with Mom on one of her expeditions by myself! It seems Mom has done some back-digging on one of her former digs and uncovered a bit more information than she anticipated. Excited herself, she didn’t have time to explain, only told me to pack for Australia. I hope we get to stay with the same… Aboriginal Tribe, we stayed with last time! You know, that’s the best part about making these trips with mom. While I can’t deny that I like my bed, it sure feels good to… rough it sometimes, particularly if you’re having fun. I’ve already got my stuff packed and ready to go and it seems mom’s already charted us a plane. As she always likes to put it, apparate when you can save your magic for other things! After all, getting there is just part of the journey. Gabriel and Alexandra should be home by the time we get back- hopefully, I can find some souvenirs from the trip! Well, gotta go, mom’s waiting downstairs. Here’s to discovering what lies ahead! ~ Journal Entry: Keller Myles Battersea- April 7, 1952
Though his travels began at the age of four, he quickly matured becoming a fast learner and hanging on to everything that took place. Perhaps it was because of his travels that Keller developed an affinity for the Celtic Languages (Welsh, Cornish, Breton, Irish, Scots Gaelic, and Manx.) Possibly inherited from his Grandmother, or maybe just the Battersea Family as a whole was his affinity towards Conjuring and Summoning. Unfortunately, he lack major talent in Charms, for while he was able to pull off the most rudimentary of conjurations his father taught him, the Lumos Charm was uttered twenty times before he gave up. His dad was a tad disappointed that his son was unable to pull it off and feared he wouldn’t be able to join him in his work as an Auror. However, Keller neither realized nor cared about that little fact, his mother’s profession interested him more.
"We finally returned home from India, and I found my dad waiting in the living room with a smile on his face. In his hand, he held an unopened letter; the envelope, white, was addressed to me. Now, mind you, I’ve gotten mail before, but nothing that would give my dad such an expression as that. It was also one of the few times mom failed to ask dad how work was. The only other times I could remember this fact was when Gabriel and Alexandra got a similar letter and began to attend school. As I slowly began to open the letter and read the contents thereof, I felt both excited and sad at the same time. I guess, because everything was going to change… ~ Journal Entry: Keller Myles Battersea- August 14, 1953"
It was the day that things would change, for not only did he have a birthday to celebrate, but an acceptance letter into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lay before him. Up to this, he had gone everywhere with his mother even while his siblings were attending school. Now he would be doing the same, missing the digs his mother went on. Noticeably bothered by this revelation, his parents attempted to turn his dreariness around with stories of their time at school, catching one or two from his siblings. Feeling he could stand no more regalement, he went to his mother and asked a promise of her: that when the summer months set in they would go to some new, uncharted land and explore even if it was just for fun. Her affirmation turned his mood around. Keller settled into his situation somewhat, though his attempts at friends were a bit lacking as felt a little bit like an outsider, spending his time in the libraries or on the grounds exploring the area. However, the coming of the end of each term sent his excitement soaring as once more he would be out among the world once more prepared for another adventure…
"After the antics of last term, heading to the Congo will be a breeze! If my Grandmother knew half the things that happened, she probably would have led an army of Aurors to Hogwarts. I can say this much, Dad got word of some things that happened and wasn’t the least bit amused. He mentioned something about upping the security at Azkaban to Mom, but I didn’t catch all of it. But enough about that, Mom and I are heading for the heart of Africa. She said there was a possible sight hidden deep within the jungle that she wanted to explore. She said it would be dangerous, as if that ever stopped me before! Oh, well, can’t wait for the journey to begin! ~ Journal Entry: Keller Myles Battersea- June 2, 1955"
Things began to shift when in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, when in Defense Against the Dark Arts; an exercise did something it shouldn’t. A ring that appeared to seek out the darkest memories induced a rippling effect within a set of destabilized mental blocks and triggered the increased waning of their strength. The result brought forth a memory, half real-half/half-lie, leaving the boy to determine which was which. This slow, but steady process brought ranging from physiological to psychological upsets. First, was a coma after seeing his Grandmother perform an oddly familiar effect. His next major blow dealt with actions occurring at a Duel; the Confundus Charms performed better than expected.
Unfortunately, it also added further degradation to the Mind Blocks keeping his memories in check. The result allowed, for a brief instant, the memory of what was to take over just long enough to use the curse. A stranger development was the inexplicable feeling of a spell used under maximum power, leaving Keller with odd sensations as a result. And perhaps the most famous thing this youth has ever done was during a duel. There, under the effects of a Confundus, and made to believe he was a Dark Wizard, attempted a Crucio; the curse would have been successful if not for the Wards and Guards protecting the area. Other blackening outs brought about inexplicable cases of amnesia, as his mind attempted to reconcile the truth from a lie. His body suffered periodic bouts of hemorrhaging, along with growing fevers and headaches. His argument with his sister held unnatural discourse in it, along with the beginnings of hallucinations that began to increase in intensity.
This continued into his Fifth Year, where his personality changed; it seemed just a moment ago he was sweet and innocent, but now he was darker, more withdrawn. Being overtaken with whatever it was he was being possessed by, Keller did a series of atypical things: he hexed Brayden Emerson with something dangerous, spat in Charlotte Anais Nin’s face, during the fiasco that took Evelyn away from Nigel, almost turned Derek Ross into an ice cube, and seemed to be doing his best to drive everyone he ever cared for away from him. This came to culmination by the summer, when Keller, totally possessed, returned to Iran, to be used as a vessel for whatever was trying to enter into this world. Fortunately, a ritual was interrupted by his Grandfather, and all came to a head when Keller was released was the grip of this thing, the Temple sunk into the mountain, and everyone was returned to Great Britain.
Upon his Sixth Year, Keller returned; his personality had once again shifted into something more solemn. The softness in the voice, the essence of what was once Keller could be heard; he seemed calmer, thoughtful, and certainly far less immature than he was three years ago. Though hardly unaffected by the rules implemented by Headmaster Bilgewater, he wasn’t the least amused that his relatives were. For instance, he couldn’t enjoy a conversation in Gaeilge with his cousin Evelyn. By the end of term, in front of most of the student body, he encased to suspicious men clothed in brown robes in blocks of ice; and was furious when the whole incident regarding Einar’s removal was nothing more than a set of happenstances. He also all but made a vow within himself; if anything, else happened; if something was afoot and it didn’t smell right, he would play no part in helping or hindering the matter. As far as he was concerned, Keller was content to be rid of everything and just wanted to be left alone.
During that summer, Keller had stayed with his Great-Grandmother, Signild, allowing himself to be consumed in his passion for learning. Indirectly he sought a considerable amount of guidance from his Great-grandmother, in the ways of magic and life, particularly the hand he had been dealt. He remained mostly out of contact with everyone except for a select few Ravenclaw. Beyond this, he saw to his studies and when his seventh year came, Keller returned for his last year and in doing so, met the love of his life, Clara Edeson. It was slow at best; even the initial meeting was one of skipping rocks across the lake. However, things began to pick up from there. After Keller graduated, he returned to Castle Battersea to further his education and slowly accepted his part in the family legacy. In between all of this, he devoted every ounce of free time to Clara. With a bit of advice from his Grandparents, on December 31, 1961, Keller popped the question (with a nice ring to back it up,) concerning marriage, and got the answer that made him one of the happiest men alive.
On June 14, 1962, Keller Myles Battersea and Clara Edeson were married at Castle Battersea. Keller was not slacking in helping with the preparations of this wedding; much of it had been paid for by his family, which was insubstantial when you consider the assets they own. Moreover, a house was being built within several miles of Sligo, Ireland in County Sligo for the two of them, with land to spare. Everything felt right, which was probably why fate smiled upon them with a son, Nicholas, and soon after a daughter, Adeline. Though it was a cozy, relaxing existence, Keller wasn't entirely settled down. Therefore, when the kids could walk, the Ravenclaw Alumnus took his family on a five-year trip across the world. From the temples of Central America to the jungles of South America, down to Ayers Rock, and up through China, India, Russia, and into Africa, Keller took his family to see the places he had seen and showed them the life he had lived.
Unfortunately, all things must come to an end. After returning to Sligo, Keller realized he had not yet finished his adventures. Though he endeavored to be significantly closer to his children with a far more stable home life than what he had, the young Battersea realized that there were other adventures to take avenues to travel and experiences to share with others. With that thought he set his sights on Hogwarts once more, only this time, it was to teach. From 1967-1971, Keller taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, warming up and into it until that fateful day when Supra Mortalitas made their presence known at the castle. Angered by the incursion and his inability to protect those under his care, Keller stepped down as DADA Professor and returned to Castle Battersea and its vaunted institute to begin an exhaustive study to improve his understanding of Magical and Metamagical Theory in the realm of Wandless and Wordless Magic where toward the end of this he was presented with the offer to instruct.
The chaos culminating from the Timewarp found a shuffling of teachers as resources were diverted elsewhere. With the decision that the Great Britain and Ireland branches of Battersea would be sending their children to the castle to learn away from the cacophony. The offer itself was a simple one in that he would teach Conjuring & Summoning, metaphorically tasking his grandmother’s place there as Etain Momhár Battersea did years ago at Hogwarts. There would be exclusive Floo Network access—something which he already had—allowing him to go back and forth as needed with little to no interruption. With this and a few other agreements in place—namely in the application of what he was originally studying—Keller took to work instructing his kin. As for the continuation of his studies, the Matriarch of the Battersea Family—his venerated Grandmother—saw to that. She taught and by extension trained him near-identically as she had done others in her current sixty-year service as an Auror throughout his entire tenure as a teacher there at Castle Battersea.
Early onward in this endeavor of learning and teaching, he fathered two more children—Killian and Alistair—who along with their older siblings would be there at the castle to learn. Perhaps then, it was equally fitting that in this time as a teacher he became a grandfather, causing him to reshuffle some of his priorities as a new chapter in his life began. He loved the teaching and the feeling that came from instruction and realized that it shouldn’t consume his entire existence. Slowly he began to make plans to retire and in doing so in 1969, was approached by his grandfather. It seemed the wily old Patriarch of the Battersea Family had a request for him, one that he felt unpleasant, but perhaps necessary in the long run. After all, no one liked politics, but if it was Grandfather making the request, who was he to turn it down? There was some consternation, namely as to why his Father or brother Gabriel couldn’t do the job, but it wasn’t as though this would take him away from the love of his life. It was merely another chapter in the life of an adventurous individual who had seen the world several times over.
Physical Description
The Ravenclaw alum stands roughly six feet two inches in height. Far from willowy, he retains a respectable degree of his lean-muscular physique, retained from years of physical activity beyond the halls of academia. While Keller is invariably a bookworm, the phrase"nerd-jock" would be a more accurate descriptor. With short to medium-length greyish-blonde hair, Keller has warm, intelligent blue eyes suffused with a preternatural calmness that ranges from soft to wry.
He has an eclectic style that might seem inevitably antiquated in some form or fashion. Much of this style subsists in the form of ties, vests, and slacks, appearing sometimes overdressed at even the most informal of gatherings. Always with him is an antique, silver watch that keeps the correct time no matter what part of the world he’s in. Ornate, a stylized ouroboros is etched on the surface, the coat of arms for House Ravenclaw on the back, and Keller’s full name on the inside.
Personality
No matter his age, Keller is an academian first and last; an intellectual who enjoys knowledge for its own sake, and he respects what it can do. Mathematics, theorems, and simple and complex postulates come naturally to him. Periodically his mind is brimming with enough thought to leave him sporadic and on whims will go to the nearest library at his earliest convenience to conduct research. Blessed with a mother for an archeologist, Keller has seen more places and studied more extinct civilizations and languages than the overwhelming majority will ever be able to do. The experience has opened his eyes and made him more aware at a far younger age that the average kid magical or mundane. He knows and understands wonders and dangers small and great; the experience has left him a bit wiser and perhaps older than he is.
It is more pertinent to say that Keller has a remarkable amount of tolerance, patience, and calm. Being around cultures both extant and extinct has taught him how to be tolerant and respectful of others, showing him the reality of how precious life is. All of his experience, since the day he could walk, has given him a great measure of patience; archeology in itself is now something to rush and even uncovering a small portion of a sight can take weeks, if not months. Lastly, he seems surrounded by a remarkable calm that on some levels seems too eerie to be real. The trauma of an expedition in Iran; the truth of what happened, his subsequent possession, and the overall story have left him with one thought- it’s been done, what can you do? Yet, mistake none of this for being weak or passive. Keller is as gentle and sweet as he is firm and daring. Consequently, it is frighteningly difficult to get him angry, and even harder to get him out of it. Unlike his Grandmother whose anger is like a Force of Nature, Keller is more like an ominous storm: less destructive in form or force, but certainly overshadowing something unpleasant.
Notable Lessons Taught as DADA Professor
Note: Some of the material taught was rehashed from lessons by Etain M Battersea. Therefore, listed below are the lessons and/or spells taught solely by Keller. In some cases, Keller taught weaker versions of upper levels spells:
Beginning DADA
The Best Defense is a Good Offense
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Advanced DADA
Face the Unknown- Dark Creatures that Inhabit Our World
Noted Spells learned by Keller as a Student
Note: The spells listed below were spells learned by Keller as an actual student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. In the case of the spell of Greek origin, he was not himself. There are more (many he learned in Geo Magic and others) and will update this as they are found.
3rd Year DADA Spells
Curia & Curulen
Elemental & Geo Magic Spells
Kalyptra abo amathis apolyti chara The only spell among these NOT learned in a class.
Skaalls Hesscor Solcre
Soronovo
Links
See Also: Battersea Family, Charles Stellus Battersea, Etain M Battersea
