Accepted! - Sarah/Niobe

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Full Character Name: Gawain Robards
Character Birthday & Age: September 28, 1950- 57
City & Country of Birth: St. Mungos: London, England
Pureblood, Halfblood or Muggleborn?: Pureblood
Alma Mater: Hogwarts; The house of Ravenclaw
Job: Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DoMLE).

Wand: The wand chooses the wizard, and in this particular case, the saying couldn’t be more true. Gawain’s wand just happens to be Vine, the Celtic wood choice for his birth. His core: Dragon Heartstring, a core for the strong-willed, for someone set in their ways. The eleven inch shaft is rigid, with a worn and tattered appearance. It has been through many battles, seen many hardships. With his promotion, he attempts to keep it more polished, more presentable, but it proves difficult.

Physical Description:

In his younger years, Gawain’s hair was jet black, and thick. It was always combed back, creating a wavy look. Though it’s now flecked with streaks of gray, the style hasn’t really changed much. He has bushy eyebrows, now mostly gray, and any stubble that happens upon his face is gray as well. He has blue eyes, brought out by his thick lashes. His nose is long and slender, with sometimes overly long hair, which he trims daily. His mouth is slim, but full.

Herman weighs 131 pounds, though the look isn’t pudgy, simply muscled. He stands at exactly six feet, a rather large height for someone so thin. He is muscled by the intense training he went through as an Auror and tries to keep it up. There is a scar streaking across his chest. It starts right above his left nipple and descends to his hip bone.

When not wearing his perfectly tailored wizard robes, Gawain can be found wearing perfectly tailored muggle suits. Through years of working in a field where muggles seemed to be unavoidable, one tends to learn what they wear. Gawain finds their garb to be constricting, and oddly comfortable. When in robes, he tends to wear the darker colors: emerald green, royal blue, dark purple, even black. He doesn’t like patterned robes, no prints or frills, just plain, solid colored robes.

Around his waist there is a wand holster. It’s always there, unless he’s in bed. His shoes are sensible and comfortable, a nice flat. 

Personality Description:

Although he likes to think otherwise, Gawain is very unpredictable. With the new changes going on in the wizarding world, no one can really afford to be predictable. 

Sometimes, he moves too fast for his mind to catch up. Meaning, he leaps before he thinks. Sometimes he does the wrong thing and he gets in major trouble for it. Other times, he opens his mouth, inserts feet, and then remembers, oh yeah, that wasn't very well thought out.

Despite that fact, he is very well organized. He is so organized that it is almost to a point of OCD. A place for everything, and everything its place is his philosophy. Because of this, he is very detail oriented and can spot things that many can't, helping him solve many cases.

Sometimes he can be rather hot-headed. Not exactly a good quality for a leader, but it helps to intimidate and keep order. He speaks with an authoritative voice, never having to yell, because with his position, people automatically quiet when he enters the room. Even without the position, people would hush, mostly because his voice dominates those around him.

Many feel that he is a great leader. He possesses many of the things that leaders should have. One of those being responsibility. No matter what, if someone gives him something to do, it gets done. I guess that makes him reliable too. He is very trustworthy, and will speak his mind whether you want to hear what he has to say or not. That being said, you can always trust in him to let you know what needs to change, what is being done well, and where things should be going.

Sometimes he has been misconstrued as being rude and insensitive, though that’s never the case. He just feels that things should be laid out plain, with no need to sugar-coat things. He knows the power behind his position and doesn’t mind using it, not to be confused with misusing it. He knows exactly how much to push and when to back off.

History: Gawain's story isn't like most. He wasn't born to Muggles and he didn't have to grow up knowing nothing about magic. He wasn't born to one Muggle and one Witch, his parents were happily married and they both could perform spells just as well as everyone else. His childhood was mundane, filled with cool brothers that teach you the important things in life, like how to spit and belch and a sister that babied him, pretty normal, right?

Having brothers that loved to pick on you and a sister that could do nothing but dote over him was, if possible, worse than if they had hated him. His parents, although not bad people, were, if possible, worse. Both of them had jobs at the Ministry of Magic, not a big surprise, much of the Magical Community is employed there. Because of their jobs, they were never around, and so never got to bond with their children. Though some may argue the point, material possessions mean nothing to a child, they want attention.

Unlike his siblings, however, Gawain never felt the need to be cruel and act in a way that would bring dishonor to his family's name. Although weak in stature, Gawain was determined and open minded. Even after being beaten up numerous times, Gawain would always speak his mind.

He, of course, knew all about Hogwarts when he finally came of age to be accepted. The first experience of Diagon Alley never came, as it was a routine thing for him, and the train station he found to be rather anticlimactic. The train ride didn't PHASE him, but when he got there, he found something that did. He never expected the place to be so large, nor so intimidating. After being accepted into the fair house of Ravenclaw, Gawain got to the dorms and settled in.

Right away he started making friends. He knew much of the material being taught and what he didn't already know just came natural to him. He acquired a hobby for reading, something he now does quite often. At the end of the year he was already top of his class.

The other years of his Hogwarts career flew by. The only thing he couldn't do was find a career for after school. The only ambition he really wanted to achieve was to become an Auror, he just knew he couldn't handle it. So instead, in his seventh year, he took an internship to become a Hitwizard. That was easier, and he could probably sit at a desk all day and do nothing.

He was wrong. In the times of peace, the Hitwizards were busier than the Aurors, and boy did the Aurors seem peaceful while he was busting his butt just to get half of what he needed to get done in a day done. In 1968, he was inducted as a full fledged member of the Ministry.

In 1969, Gawain fell in love and got married; Selena was a Hufflepuff, a year ahead of Gawain. They were deeply in love, and both knew their time restraints. Selena was a reporter, she had to run off at odd hours to get the scoop, and you never knew when Gawain would get a call.

One short year after tying the knot, Voldemort reigned supreme. Suddenly, his own fears didn’t seem so bad. It was in that very year that Gawain started his Auror training.

The work was harder than anything he had done his entire life, but he managed. He excelled in the entry exams. It was amazing. Never had he enjoyed his life as much, even though terror washed through the world like a plague. He finished his training in 1972. 

Death Eaters left and right. He fought, captured, and even killed. It was a dangerous life. After Voldemort’s initial downfall, Gawain settled back down, once again living life to its fullest.

Life was finally starting to go good again, and in 1991, Selena had a bouncing baby boy. Charles Devon Robards was a precious thing, always a laugh, always fun to be around. Everything was going great, until Voldemort returned.

Apparently, in times of need, promotions are given, and Gawain was looking at himself as a Senior Auror. Though he thought the job would be a cinch, just as easy as being a regular Auror, things changed.

Suddenly, he was doing things that he would normally never do. He was aware that what he was doing wasn't right, but he couldn't do anything about it. It was like he was a puppet, used for Voldemort's bidding. In a way, he was. Gawain Robards was being Imperioused.

Selena couldn’t stand it, and left, Gawain’s son in tow. She couldn’t understand why her husband was acting the way he was, and neither could Gawain.

It was the final downfall of Voldemort that brought Gawain back to his own life. Years of his life he was put under a curse, it was something that he had to deal with, but he was too strong to let it slow him down. Under the new administration of Kingsley Shacklebolt, Robards was put under careful watch, and investigation. He was charged of helping Voldemort, and though reluctant, many believed that he was seriously Imperioused, including his wife. There was nothing to show that he wasn't, and with his prior reputation, many knew that he would never do many of the things he was accused of, unless cursed into doing so. Selena finally returned home.

Life continued peacefully for a while, Charlie went off to Hogwarts, and before you knew it, the tenth remembering day was at hand. It was time for another promotion. Earlier this year, in fact, Gawain was headed up as the Department Head.

What is your job description? How do you go about your job?
How did you get your current job? How does your past and abilities justify your current position?:

Gawain is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, meaning he has to oversee everyone in the department underneath him. He answers only to the Minister himself, and works diligently in capturing criminals and the like. Being a previous Auror, he brings his tough background into the leadership position with him, making him a strong leader.

Writing Sample:
With a faint pop an elder creature apparated into the room. Apparation wasn't his cup o' tea, but it would do in a pinch. Floo left residue on clothing and flying got messy. He could not look bad today; it was to be of great importance. It was the first day in a very long time that Gawain Robards had to call a meeting for all the members of his team. It wasn't his style. When issues came up, Gawain would rather go to individuals and repeat himself numerous times than to have a large meeting. Truthfully, Minister Robards didn't really like speaking in large crowds. Sure, he would do it when necessary, but only when the situation demanded it. This time, the situation demanded it.

Large crowds seemed to get rather rowdy, and his children (or so he liked to call them) were already rowdy enough. Hopefully he could keep them from getting into full mob mode. Not to get him wrong, no, his team members were great people. Skilled at what they did and even more important, cared about what they did. Some people had amazing talent, but just didn't put in the effort. His guys put in the effort. Sure, they were slacking off, but it was a time of peace. And who was Gawain to critique?

Indeed, The Department Head was a weak man. Give him his simple pleasures and his life would be great. All that changed when he was promoted for the Head position. In many ways the man felt as if someone up there had made the wrong decision in casting him as their esteemed leader; however, when he was accepted, his entire life had to change. He now carried himself with false dignity, with power that he could barely control. No one could know that though, it was his burden to carry, and he carried it well.

The man carried himself over to the large oval table. The head of the table was adorned with a chair fit for a king. Large, throne-like, and very comfortable. That was where the great man sat himself. It was a spot reserved for one of the highest of honors bestowed upon any wizard; the higher ups in the Ministry of Magic. Pulling out his wand, Gawain sent identical messages to totally different people. He had sent a letter earlier in the week to notify his leaders of the meeting, this note was simply a reminder that Gawain was waiting. He was the first there, as was required of the man.

As he sent the notices fluttering away from him with his wand, the thought of the upcoming jury reeled in his head one more time.  The agenda was pretty full-packed, and he hoped his leaders would be as prompt as he was to get things covered and finished before evening tea. Though it could happen, because Gawain didn't really speak that much, he would just grunt and nod his approval. He would leave the talking to the people. They would need to discuss what was happening. He would, however, be cracking down. There was a new crisis in town, and Gawain would need to tighten the shift. The leaders of the Wizarding World could not have slack in their duties, not when their people needed them so much.

Sum up your character in one paragraph:

Gawain is a very strong-willed person. He runs his shift tighter than Merlin’s panties, and doesn’t take any lip from anyone. He’s very family oriented, and they will always come first, but he’s also very set on the fact that his family is only two, whereas the wizarding public is many.