William Lancaster
 | ||
| William Lancaster | ||
| Biographical Information | ||
| Full name | William Clarence Lancaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 12 December 1899 | |
| Birthplace | St. Mungo's Hospital, London | |
| Residence | London | |
| Nationality | British | |
| Blood Status | Pureblood | |
| Education | Hogwarts, Ravenclaw (1911-1918) | |
| Class | 1918 | |
| Title(s) |
| |
| Physical Information | ||
| Species | Human | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Hair colour | Brown | |
| Eye colour | Blue | |
| Skin colour | Light | |
| Family Information | ||
| Parents |
| |
| Siblings |
| |
| Other Family Members |
| |
| Magical Characteristics | ||
| Wand | Willow with unicorn tail hair. 11 1/2". Surprisingly supple. Excellent for Transfiguration. | |
| Special Ability | Animagus (snowshoe hare) | |
| Affiliation | ||
| Occupation | Transfiguration Professor, Hogwarts | |
| Former Occupation(s) | Quidditch shop clerk, Head of Hufflepuff House | |
| House | Ravenclaw | |
Biography
Five, six… Seven.
He frowned.
Perhaps it was a symptom of his age, but he could have sworn he owned exactly eight quills. At the moment, at least, he thought that it was eight, and though they frequently ended up misplaced or otherwise out of commission, he'd always tried to be aware of how many were at his disposal at any given moment.
The man pursed his lips and pulled out the chair at his desk to sit down. He often became attached to objects that didn't matter so much in the grand scheme of things, and the quill that had gone missing had been a favorite. He sighed and picked up one of the others to load with ink, always black.
Francesca,
That was as far as he'd gotten with the other letters. What did one say to a niece who was furious with you?
What I said was for your own good.
He scratched this bit out immediately. It seemed far too... fatherly. Not that he had much experience with that, as a son or otherwise. But it seemed like something that Arthur Lancaster might have said, if he'd been alive when William was his niece's age and if William had been the sort to attend parties in the Forbidden Forest.
He was not.
Your mother is worried.
William paused for a moment before crossing this out as well. It was untrue and surely Francesca knew that. He'd been far too dishonest the last few years for a statement like that to make any headway.
And being who he was, he had to pause and consider why he was so terribly distraught at the thought of his niece's animosity. He'd been away from the school for so long that he no longer remembered what it was like there, and certainly couldn't relate to being a teenager anymore. Perhaps it was because Francesca was the very closest thing he'd had to a friend in his time away from being a professor.
The years he'd spent at the estate were surprisingly dull. Surprisingly, because he tended to box himself in as about as dull as one could get, and thought he'd benefit from the quiet of the empty halls and prudish relatives. There were no explosions or hexes thrown or potions mishaps to be had outside of Hogwarts, and he found he missed the excitement.
He set the quill back on the desk, reaching for a theory book lying open nearby. If it wasn't one of his relationships that was suffering, there was always his studies to put a damper on his mood. He wondered if, somewhere in his subconscious, he enjoyed putting himself in difficult situations. He didn't blame circumstances - he'd always attributed his failures to his own shortcomings because it seemed like the thing to do.
A finger traced over the words and they blurred before his eyes. He'd finally descended into unambiguous monotony. William flipped the book shut with a snap and put it aside, too, taking out a fresh sheet of parchment.
Headmistress, he wrote, shaking his head. This had gone on long enough.
I'm writing to inquire
He stopped.
The missing quill had shaken itself loose from behind his ear and fallen onto the letter he'd begun.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Though he is an intellectual at heart, he received decent marks at Hogwarts not through any extraordinary talent, but due to his diligence and sense of duty. Mature and down-to-earth, William is a realist and a capable caretaker. However, the man can also be incredibly uptight and closed-off, often preferring the company of books to that of people. He is oversensitive to criticism; even after receiving a very large share of it over the years from his family, he hasn't really developed a particularly thick skin, only a few different ways of coping with it. A bit of a loner, he is, occasionally, a particularly awkward person to converse with - often he either rambles endlessly on tangents or perpetuates extended awkward silence.
Physical Description
William's appearance is mostly unremarkable; he tries to blend in with the crowd and go about his life unnoticed. His brown hair is well-kept and graying in a few areas, usually combed straight back, but he can never seem to hide his cowlick quite well enough. His eyes are a deep blue, often dark and pensive, but can be bright and cheery if he is outside in the sunlight or in a particularly good mood. Will has always been tall and gangly, standing at a formidable 6'3" with lanky limbs and perfect posture born from years spent under the scrutinizing eyes of his elderly relatives. Despite his height, the way he carries himself isn't at all threatening; he seems genuinely approachable. He isn't very keen on the traditional, expensive robes of his relatives, preferring instead to wear a plain black or navy robe over a dress shirt, waistcoat, and slacks in any combination of neutrals and the occasional addition of color.
Personality
William is a very rational individual, taking the time to think things through before acting. Because of this, he is very indecisive, constantly second-guessing himself, and this sometimes drives people away and solidifies his distant and isolated nature. When speaking outside of a classroom setting, he is very anxious and forced, often piecing together strings of words that are impossible to follow. He has gotten better at public speaking and speaking in general since his time as a Hogwarts professor, but he remains perpetually awkward and difficult to connect with. For this reason, William has scarce few close friends to speak of, save for his mother and his siblings, and particularly a certain few of his nieces and nephews. He is oversensitive at times, taking things far too personally and letting them affect his work. The only thing that seems to alleviate this stress is a good novel, and William certainly has an impressive collection of them. On average, he has six bookmarked at any given time, picking up a different one depending on his mood.
| Preceded by Isabelle Valentine |
Ravenclaw HoH 1946 - 1949 |
Succeeded by Ella Galanis |
| Preceded by Timothy Vartan |
Hufflepuff HoH 1934 - 1938 |
Succeeded by Petty Thistlecomb |
| Preceded by Timothy Vartan |
Gryffindor HoH 1935 |
Succeeded by Pythagorea Proud |
