Physical Description:

Balfour Spectre is wily in his handsomeness- why, with ears that stick out and an impishly toothy grin, it is obvious that he had once been a sweet but awkward wee boy. A phase he has since outgrown with startling capacity.

At 6'3'' there is little he hasn't yet outgrown. He is a far cry from that boy now. Balfour's hair has darkened to a deep auburn with age. While not an especially vain man, Balfour likes to take care of himself and defers to his husband's preferences where grooming is concerned. Johann likes him with a little scruff, so he keeps a little scruff.

Spectre's wardrobe is tasteful - well-tailored suits, crisply ironed shirts, vests, sleek robes. His job does not require him to don his old beast handling clothes as often but he still keeps them in good condition for a rainy day. He enjoys dressing up in both his social and personal life. 

His body language is fluid and light-footed without the intention of either. He has many scars though none on his face; they are most notably from dragons or other beasts. Balfour was born with airy graces and with the mannerisms of a trickster, although his open personality dispels sinister inferences.

Bal's right shoulder blade is marked by a medium sized tattoo of a Hungarian Horntail. It sometimes moves across his back, wings flexing and nostrils smoking.

Personality Description:

A difficult man to hate.

Balfour's undemanding and spirited character makes him exceedingly easy to like. He is forward without being rude, understanding without being passive and charming with only the slightest trace of pretentiousness. His upbeat personality fuels a diligent work ethic and disguises an acerbic, perceptive sense of humour.

Naturally, Balfour enjoys the company of creatures but does not restrict himself to those of an intensely magical nature. He keeps the company of three cats (that are more than meets the eye), several newts, an eagle owl, a black German Shepherd named Whiskey and two white huskies named Ivoire and Sangre. Above all, he treasures the companionship of his family.

In social situations Balfour is quick to refill drinks, recall anecdotes and listen to politic. Many of his stronger opinions do not leave his lips - except perhaps to loved ones. He worries a great deal, internally, and tries very hard to leave that negativity in a place where it cannot effect those around him. Only those close to him can read the signs.

Becoming a husband and father has tempered Balfour's quick temper. He is more patient than he used to be, less likely to react impulsively or violently. Bal has really taken to family life, to his own surprise, and enjoys domesticity.

History:

Balfour Siobhan Alexander Spectre is the illegitimate son of pureblood William Spectre and his American mistress, one Mrs Eleanor Cradle. He is also William's youngest and only pureblood child as the other Spectre siblings are halfbloods, on account of their muggleborn mother: Katrine (née MacFusty) Spectre. He has never met his biological mother- she left soon after his birth.

CHILDHOOD

In a family of three older half-siblings, Balfour was always eager to please. He had been entrusted with the knowledge of his origins from a young age and was especially self-conscious of it for all of three or four months. The other Spectre children did not much care if their baby brother was illegitimate, pureblood, mudblood, goblin-blooded or even a house elf. He had their father's cheeky smile and their mother's good favour. That was family and family was good enough. It was a lovely childhood.

HOGWARTS (1986 - 1993)

To the discontent - but not surprise -of his parents, wee Balfour was sorted into the house of Slytherin. He did not fit in and yet he was not offensive enough a presence to merit the dislike of his fellow housemates. It was a curious dynamic that would take years to reach an equilibrium; only in his fourth year at Hogwarts did the youngest Spectre earn any measure of popularity.

And it came in the form of the Care of Magical Creatures.

Here was a young Slytherin with great capacity for the subject- not simply in theory. He wasn't afraid to roll up his sleeves or get right down to meeting the introduced animals; most importantly he extended a feeling of great respect to the creatures.  This was rare in youths and even rarer in his house. A darling-faced boy with a flair for beasts? Balfour enjoyed some favouritism from his female classmates as a result of his talents. Popularity wasn't what spurned him to continue. The Spectres were among the handful of families whose members frequently cared for Hippogriffs in their breeding and welfare. They have also been known in the past to handle Dragons, as the MacFusty clan does, although not many Spectres go into such work today. After taking his O.W.L.S, it was all Balfour could think to do with life. 

In his final years at Hogwarts, the wizarding world was growing shaky. Harry Potter's presence at the school was destabilising though not yet alarming. When Balfour graduated, the Boy Who Lived had only just discovered the Chamber of Secrets hiding beneath their beloved castle and the second Wizarding War loomed vaguely in their distant future.

With four N.E.W.T.s under his belt (Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Potions, Herbology), the youngest Spectre was well on his way to New Zealand for training.

ADULTHOOD

The Antipodean Opaleye is not a terribly aggressive beast and as far as first experiences with Dragons go, it isn't a bad choice. Balfour spent the first four years of his 'education' by travelling between New Zealand and Australia. He handled, tracked and studied this particular breed of Dragon while being mentored by more adept operatives of the profession.

In the following years - between 1996 and 2006 - Balfour travelled to various other countries. Peru, Romania and Sweden, notably. He initially travelled as an apprentice or handler; in the early 2000s this reputation took off to higher waters. Even during the Wizarding War much of his time was spent abroad and he had not the pleasure of being urged home by the Order's recruiters, such as Charlie Weasley. This would later come to be interpreted as cowardice. His lack of political participation and action during a time of need is something that Balfour deeply regrets.

By the end of the war the wizard had become a learned, experienced man whose advice was valuable and whose presence reassured other Dragon handlers. It was not a status that Spectre had anticipated. Still, he ran with it.

He ran far enough, coming full circle to the United Kingdom in 2006. This time Balfour was not at home in the Highlands but in Wales, where he began to work as part of the Dragon Research & Restraint Bureau. He favoured fieldwork, rarely visiting the Ministry in London.

2010 - 2012

In January of 2010, Balfour Spectre suffered an injury from an expecting Hungarian Horntail (named Nidhug) whom he had the pleasure of handling. He suffered mild burns on the right side of his body and a gash to his chest. The injuries were not critical though they prompted a duration at St. Mungo's- as well as a report to the Department Head.

A timely incident. The Head of the Beast Division had recently been obligated to step down for personal reasons (that is, the Department Head personally did not like him) and here was an ideal candidate for the position, laying in a hospital bed scribbling down observations on injuries sustained by Highland dragons. Balfour had been hesitant to accept - he enjoyed his fieldwork - but he had been living an adventurous lifestyle for many years now. He wanted time to write, to perhaps even affect policy and change those things that can't be handled in the great outdoors.

He met Johann Storm in September 2010, a wizard he would go on to describe as the greatest love of his life and his soulmate. Their romance was intense from the start, and intertwined with the doings of Ira Almasy - a criminal liaison and one of Bal's exes. Eventually, though, Ira fell ill and performed a final act of criminality that resulted in her death. It freed the two wizards to live their lives together outside her shadow.

However, in August 2011, Balfour and Johann were surprised by the arrival of Feliks Spectre at their doorstep. The two men welcomed Feliks into their life, and the three became a family unit. Balfour proposed to Johann on the anniversay of their meeting in September 2011.

In late January 2012, Balfour was promoted to department head after the death of his predecessor, Alec Carter. Balfour and Johann were married on the 14th of April 2012.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them:

Balfour leads the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He begins his day by answering messages and memos from all divisions, reviewing their reports and approving/denying various proposals (all of which first have to be approved by the division heads before he reads them).

As a hands-on head, he intends to spend afternoons in the field, observing high-priority missions in an attempt to stay current with the department's affairs. It is very likely that Balfour will work overtime, as he prefers to leave the office and its paperwork in some kind of working order before starting all over again the next day. As head, he will hold intra-departmental meetings and will also attend inter-departmental meetings, in addition to scheduling one-on-one appointments with the Minister of Magic.

Elaborate on your expertise in your field:

From conducting beast handling missions to heading the Beasts Division, Balfour has consistently moved from one point of leadership to the next throughout his career. He is on good terms with his fellow division heads, and even in his current position he has had time as well as energy to spare. Balfour has yet to hit forty but he works hard, has the right connections, and is more than capable. He has always made an effort to become familiar with the workings of other divisions and, in terms of political leanings, has kept his cards close to his chest

Summary:

Balfour Spectre is the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, a position he has held for over five years now. He is an amiable, charming wizard with a hot temper and a soft heart. Balfour is also the head of a Scottish wizarding clan, the Spectres. He and his husband, Johann, reside on the Spectre Estate in Edinburgh.

His younger years were full of risks, adventures, and romantic dalliances with dangerous wixes. He has had many brushes with death. Nowadays he balances such impulses with his role as a family man. 

How did they learn or hone this ability?:

Balfour initially began his study of Animagi through his father, who informed him at a young age that his biological mother (an American witch) had been an animagus. During his third and fourth years at Hogwarts, this study was done through the seeking of literature as well as many letters between the two wizards. It was only in his fifth year that Balfour was directed to a family friend for instruction - an old Italian gentleman, Andrea Bisignani, later to be known as one of his biological grandfathers.

The two exchanged correspondences over the years but Balfour never progressed further than a Beginner's level until he graduated from Hogwarts. At this point he was free to pursue both his training as a Dragon Keeper as well as his interest animagi. He attained the actual ability to transform at 19 years old and continued to practice throughout his time working abroad.

Describe how the Special Ability influences their life.  What do they use it for?:

In spite of the focus on Dragonology, Balfour has had extensive experience with other beasts in his travels. He utilized his ability as an animagus to roam territories or large conservatories he has visited across the world. As he is unregistered the ability has not come into great use since returning to the UK in 2006. Balfour is mistrustful of the Ministry of Magic - as he is skeptical of most politics - and accordingly believes that his animagus status is "none of their business." A paranoid part of him believes that it will come into some use in the future.

Write a description of what happens when your character is exhibiting this Special Ability:

Balfour's animagus form is that of a large wolf with a thick, russet coat. He is an alarming, aggressive figure and would find it difficult to hide in an urban setting.

While this transformation from man to wolf had been difficult - painful - in earlier years, it is now natural. Balfour has transformed many times during his travels. He often falls to all fours in the process, anticipating the instinct of the animal. The transformation occurs quickly and can be performed without his wand. The longest he has stayed in this condition was for a month, seven years ago when wandering in a desolate, boreal region of a Russian forest.

The Last Five Years...

Character History 2013 - 2017:
In the past five years, Balfour Spectre has been settling down and becoming comfortable in both his role as Department Head as well as a family man.

He and his husband, Johann, have since produced two children through magical surrogacy. Upon having their daughter Artis in 2014, the couple were joined at the Spectre manor by Balfour’s sister Nathaira... with her Unspeakable husband (Carmichael Rosier) and child Cameron Rosier.

Balthair Spectre and Camille Duerr respectively come to stay at the manor for months at a time. Balfour and Johann’s son, Lennox, was born in 2016.

In his professional life, Balfour has competently overseen a period of slightly more liberal department policy - particular in attitudes towards vampires, house elves and werewolves. It has not been a smooth road but he trusts the people who work under him and has managed to cling to his position.

Once a great risk-taker, Balfour has grown settled in his ways and is more likely to be found in his office than on the field these days.