Brandon Carmichael

[Brandon Carmichael]

In Character

Full Name: Brandon Owain Carmichael
Nicknames: n/a
Birthdate: 23rd September 1828
Current Age: 55
Occupation: Wizengamot Interrogator
Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff
Wand: Cedar, unicorn hair, 12 3/4", unyielding
Blood Status: Halfblood
Social Class: Upper
Family:

• Colwyn Carmichael | Father | 1794-1882
  Margery Carmichael née Jernigan | Mother | c. 1807
  
  Elizabeth Carmichael née Moran | Wife | c.1840
  Elliot Carmichael | Son | c. 1859
  Virginia Carmichael | Daughter | c. 1863
  George Carmichael | Son | c. 1866
  
  James Carmichael | Brother | c. 1830
  Morwenna Carmichael née Vaughan | Sister-in-law | c.1839
  Gawain Carmichael | Nephew | c. 1858
  Tegan Sterne née Carmichael | Niece | c. 1860
  Gwenda Carmichael | Niece | c.1864
  Elaine Carmichael | Niece | c. 1866
  Tristan Carmichael | Nephew | c. 1867
  
  Dylan Carmichael | Brother | 1836-1852

Appearance:

• Brandon has dark brown hair - not yet altogether greying - and greenish-blue eyes. He is right-handed, and, at 5’9, he is a touch stockier in stature than his brother James, not that that has given him a moment of anxiety. Rather, he has good posture and a general confidence. In his youth, he was fair-looking, though with lines of age taking form over the years he has become a little more ‘rugged’, and he has also been through many a phase of having facial hair. He takes care to be well-groomed and smartly dressed without placing too much stock or pride in his appearance beyond presenting a cool, calm and controlled front to the world.
  

History:

• September 1828 | Brandon is born to Margery and Colwyn Carmichael, a witch and muggleborn Welshman. He is their first child and son. His childhood there solidifies Brandon's mentality of seeing Wales as home, no matter how much of his time has been spent at school and work in Scotland and England.
  1830 | James is born.
  1836 | Dylan is born.
  1837 | Brandon spends much of his childhood divided between outdoor and indoor pursuits (in between being tutored, of course). He is fond of the library and the selection of magical publications it contains - it becomes a later hobby, adding to the family's library collection - but outside he has a taste for horse-riding, shooting, fencing and hiking. Though primarily introspective, he gains an odd group of friends, but without company begins to fear about his magical heritage - or lack thereof - plague him occasionally as he gets older. It arrives relatively late, but just after Brandon's ninth birthday he finally shows a potential sign of magic. Whilst out walking, he trips and crashes into a large rock head-first, which ought to leave him heavily concussed, but instead of cracking his skull open the rock may as well have been a soft, springy cushion. A great stroke of luck, this is followed by more obvious signs of magical ability, which leaves him very much relieved and beginning to look forward to going away to Hogwarts, trying to refine his magical capabilities in the meantime.
  September 1840 | The time to leave to school finally comes around, and Brandon's excitement is tempered somewhat by the reality of actually leaving home, and being the first of the boys to do so. He is sorted into Hufflepuff, though also feels a pull towards Ravenclaw.
  1840 - 1846 | Quiet and reserved at first, making friends is a slow but steady process, but by the end of his time at Hogwarts Brandon has broken into a comfortable stride of sociableness, and has a generous group of friends. His exam results have been equally consistent; Exceeds Expectations all round in both his OWLs and NEWTs, though confident passing had exceeded nobody's expectations of him.
  May 1847 onwards | As the eldest son and a healthy allowance from his father in light of the generous inheritance he will one day receive, a career has not been essential, but Brandon does not like idleness enough not to settle into a routine of working. He interns first in the Department of Law Enforcement as a clerk, moves to a more hands-on role as an Investigator in the Improper Use of Magic subdivision for a number of years, and when he tires of that, easily transfers to the role of a Wizengamot Interrogator.
  1852 | Late in his school career, youngest brother Dylan's death is an unexpected blow. Brandon takes a short period of time off from the Ministry to grieve, and though he rarely recalls his brother in conversation, the loss hits him hard, particularly given the significance he has always placed on family. He is wary of water thereafter, too, and given the fact he'd never much taken to flying either, Brandon's preference of having his feet firmly on the ground only becomes a more deep-rooted trait.
  1858 | In the succeeding years, Brandon returns to the social scene, and, nearing thirty, begins to consider the thought of a wife. His parents seem pleased by the notion, and Brandon meets Elizabeth Moran at the Hogwarts Coming Out Ball. He half sets his sights upon another young lady, but she has a couple of other potential suitors to contend with, and Elizabeth's family seem especially keen to make a match. The engagement is short and the union swift, and so he and Elizabeth have time to grow truly fond of each other only after they have already been married. Fondness does come on Brandon's part with only one or two wavers over the years, but for the most part he has been a dutiful husband, and sharing in their children's upbringing certainly demanded a strengthened marital bond.
  1859 | Their first child, Elliot, is born.
  1863 | Four years later, he is followed by a girl, Virginia.
  1866 | Another boy, George, joins the family. Brandon takes to fatherhood well; he enjoys both playing with and teaching the children, offering some fun and plenty of affection, but he also feels the seriousness of such a responsibility, and holds high expectations of them from the start. It goes without saying that he is immensely proud of them all.
  1870 | Elliot leaves for Hogwarts.
  1874 | Virginia leaves for Hogwarts.
  1877 | George leaves for Hogwarts.
  1879 | There are rare moments when Brandon's heart leaps out of his chest and all the reason he holds in high regard is replaced by utter emotion, but that summer night in 1879 is one he can recall to the very palpitation. The fear. Searching the estate with his sons, seeking out any signs of his daughter when she, in uncommon behaviour, had not returned before nightfall. The frenzied fear at the thought she might not return, at the very idea of losing one of his children, so prematurely. Finally stumbling across the sight of her body, stained in blood and sprawled, unconscious. Unconsciousness was a blessing, but it had come with a curse. Then, more than ever, Brandon had needed time to breathe, time to consider the implications of that travesty. In the end, logic dictates his instructions. His family are a close unit, and an Unbreakable Vow was only in everyone's best interests, especially Virginia's. They are all dependent upon each other, and it was a secret they all have a duty to keep. The Unbreakable Vow ought not to be necessary, but erring on the side of caution is the rational move, and there is no better incentive to keep an oath than by magic. Brandon trusts, of course, in all his children and his wife, too, but his trust is complemented by that assurance that should anything threaten to break the family unit, there will be no needless fallout from the secret coming out. If the world were to know about Virginia's condition, it would do harm to all of them, and he wants nothing more than to protect his family. In the same manner, he makes the decision to have Virginia stay at home, and thinks it for the best that she does not fall into the hands of a gentleman who may not have all her best interests at heart.
  1882 | His father dies. Brandon keeps himself to himself to deal with this, removing himself from work and from Hogsmeade for a time. The news causes no real visible outburst of grief, but bottling up emotions leaves him noticeably sombre.
  Late 1883 | As does his brother James, Brandon eventually returns to work, if only to keep himself occupied. He is, however, beginning to consider retiring so as to spend more time on the Welsh family estate.
  

Personality:

• Brandon is, first and foremost, a logical man. He works equally well with theory and practice, and is pragmatic and sensible, and attempts clear-headedness as much as possible. He does not enjoy being wrong, or proved wrong, and feels best when he is granted the final word. Obedience is highly appreciated by him in all forms, just as he cannot tolerate recklessness and irrationality. He is neither a stickler for tradition nor quite as free-thinking as his younger brother; as long as he can see sense in rules and the status quo he supports them.
  Nevertheless, he feels a strong sense of loyalty and duty to his family and both affectionate towards and protective of his wife and children. However, because they are the thing he possesses that he cares most for, he is also most impatient and quick to lose his temper when he feels they are threatened, or when events slip out of his control. Whilst he has perhaps become a little more distanced from society as he has grown older - which is not to say he does not enjoy a good cigar, a touch of humour, and the company of old friends - he is intent on seeing his children lead smooth, successful lives as part of society. He has always held some ambition, but feeds this more into his family’s successes and upholding the Carmichael name than seeking out too much individual power.

Sample Roleplay Post:

• 

Out of Character

Name: MJ
Age: 19
Contact: PM or AIM (awesome.sol@hotmail.co.uk)
Other Characters: See CML (...woah where did all the names beginning with B come from? >.>)
How did you hear about us?: Clearly the devil led me astray and won't let me leave.

  

[Odira Potter]

APPLICATION ACCEPTED!

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