Eugene Bryce
 | ||
| Eugene Bryce | ||
| Full name | Eugene Henry Bryce | |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 3/12/1928 | |
| Birthplace | Chicago, IL | |
| Nationality | American | |
| Blood Status | Halfblood | |
| House | Hufflepuff | |
| Parents | Henry Bryce & Helen Bryce (née Torrio) | |
| Siblings | Half sister, Marcella Bryce | |
| Wand | Larch wood & Kelpie hair core | |
Contents
Eugene Bryce
Biography
Childhood
For the first eleven years of his life, Eugene grew up in Chicago like his mom and dad before him. His dad was Henry Bryce, a friendly muggle who worked at a bakery rather close to Wizarding Chicago, while his mother was Helen Torrio, a pureblood and recent graduate of Salem who was disowned from her family for marrying Henry. The two were very much in love, and aside from the occasional small squabble, never fought. With Helen's eye for business and Henry's experience, the two bought a near-by building and started their own shop-- Bryce & Co. Bakery. They did well and continued to do so, and it was not much later in March of 1928 that Eugene was born.
He was named after his paternal grandfather, Eugene Bryce I, an extremely friendly muggle with a very large family who lived out on a farm. Eugene's middle name was taken from his father-- at Helen's insistence.
Growing up, Eugene was what he would consider Nothing Special. He held on to his baby fat, he was quiet, and for the longest time he didn't show a gleam of magical ability. Helen and Henry enrolled him in muggle school early on in anticipation that maybe he never would, and it was there that Eugene learned how cruel some kids could be. He was often picked on for his weight, for how slow he was, and how he didn't have any friends. Helen, however, was quick to put a stop to the bullying of her son whenever she could, whether it meant a rage-fueled trip to the parent's house or a well hidden transfiguration spell sent the bullier's direction. But despite their actions, Eugene also picked up on his love of learning. He found companionship in books, both fiction and nonfiction, and could always be found reading.
Unfortunately when Eugene was nine, his father and his father's family were among the muggles who disappeared in the timewarp on New Years day. With Helen still abandoned by her family, the two Bryces suddenly found themselves very alone in the city, but they coped. Helen attempted taking the mantle of Bryce & Co. Bakery to less success than they once had, while in 1940, Eugene found himself accepted to Salem Institute.
Education
Salem
It was here that Eugene was placed in the Knight Society and started believing in his first year there that maybe his interests would lay in magical healing. It wasn't a passion that lasted long, as he realized rather quickly that he was a bit too squeamish towards it. He did, however, find himself enjoying the art of Transfiguration thanks to the current professor of it at the time, Geryon (Crow) Crowley.
Hogwarts
His following year of magical schooling found Eugene transferring to Hogwarts for what his mother believed would be a better education. She couldn't go with him as she still had the bakery to take care of, so she let Eugene take his favorite of the alley cats that hung around the shop as a companion. This particular cat had been around a few years and, seeming to be smarter than the average cat, ran the little heard. But Helen had never let the cat stay inside the shop, believing that if she did then the other cats would want in too. Eugene had named him Mik, but not even he is really sure why or where the name comes from.
Sorted into Hufflepuff, Eugene's second year went by in a blur. He still hadn't really made any friends, but he did have a familiar face. Crow had also left Salem for Hogwarts that year as well, where he had retaken up the mantel of Transfiguration professor. Eugene's interest in the subject soared and with it sparked a new passion after seeing Crow transform: Animagi. With the eccentric professor's blessing and tutelage, Eugene began his extra studying in the subject. It was at this time that Crow confirmed what Eugene has suspected in his cat for a while-- that Mik was half-Kneazle. That summer he did not go home to Chicago, but rather he went to Camp Loki.
Third year would probably be what Eugene would describe as his best year. It was on this years train ride to Hogwarts that Eugene met one Jackson Ross-- also known as the day Mik attempted to eat Jackson's owl, Ic. It was a bumpy start, but they met again in the library not long after the term started and realized they had a lot in common, such as their parents were both bakers, they both had a passion for Transfiguration, and they both wanted to become Animagi. He and Jackson Ross became inseparable best friends after that, even considering one another blood brothers. In the year that followed you could find the two of them geeking out over some comics or books in the library, or causing trouble with Lucille Hopland and Calypso Galanis in-between intense study sessions. Eugene even took on dueling despite his aversion to fighting and sports, because it meant more time spent with Jackson. That summer he went to Camp Loki with his friends, and was even deemed a Counselor.
It was in this time that he learned that his feelings for Jackson went beyond friendship, and at the end of fourth year, Eugene confessed that he loved the other boy to Jackson in the library. Jackson, however, did not return the same feelings and was quick to shun the Hufflepuff. Eugene stayed with his mother that summer, who had in the previous year moved to Wizarding London to take up shop of Bryce & Co. in Diagon Ally. Here, Eugene worked with his mother in assisting in baking smaller items, cleaning the shop, running the register, and delivering goods. He wrote to Jackson constantly in hope the other boy would reply but received nothing until the end of the summer, when all of his letter were returned open.
Fifth year will always go down for Eugene as being the worst year. Eugene made attempts to find Jackson, but the other boy avoided him until one particular night in the library when Eugene was studying at a table. Jackson-- a prefect-- was starting his curfew patrol at the time and confronted Eugene. Jackson made it known that the two of them would never be friends, and Mik attacked him. Eugene kept his distance from the other boy after that, but Jackson wasn't finished. That Halloween, 1943, a Spellbound article was released detailing the dangers of homosexuality and what to look for, specifically naming Eugene. It wasn't long after that Eugene once again found himself on the receiving end of bullying; name calling, pushing in the hallways, cruel laughter, disgusted looks, food being thrown at him... He lost the friendship of many and suffered from anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks throughout the year.
Pets
Mik
Mik is a an alley cat that used to hang around the American branch of Bryce & Co. Bakery. Where he comes from and what his age is is currently unknown, however it was confirmed by Geryon (Crow) Crowley that he is half-Kneazle, and therefor shows Kneazle-like qualities, such as a heightened intelligence and a rather leonine appearance. He is protective of Eugene and will attack those who he senses will not take kindly to the boy. Mik can often be seen trailing after his owner, laying inside of or on top of his books, or stalking those who have done Eugene wrong.
