Physical Description

A hippie child is how most would describe Lua. The girl has proudly been growing her mane of wild, dark brown waves since the tender age of three, and stubbornly (but politely!) refuses to cut it beyond the occasional trim. Her brows are equally thick and dark. The decidedly untamed character of her hair sometimes gives impression that Lua just stepped out of the forest.

Named for the moon, Lua has never had a problem with the sun. In the summer months, she tans nicely, possessing olive undertones. In the winter, she tends to live up to her name a little more, but her angular cheeks are constantly bright with excitement.

Lua was blessed with a rather full pair of lips. They hide her teeth, which are on the larger side, and not perfectly straight. If Lua has ever been shy about her smile, it does not stop her from grinning often.

Lua's eyes are large, a slightly greenish blue, with a honeyish light to them, and a roundness that seems to compliment animated brows and bunched cheeks. They are oddly serene and innocent in their disposition in comparison to her untamed hair. Along with her nose, they soften the oval of her face.

The fourteen-year-old has long legs and knobby knees often poking out from gathered socks. She is still growing, but it mostly the rest of her catching up with her legs. She is not, however, exceptionally tall, though she doesn’t qualify as ‘petite.’ She does possess a modest pair of hips, which are rather noticeable on her otherwise skinny, girlish figure.

Personality Description

Raised on a diet of peace and art, it's not hard to imagine Lua as being tranquil but quirky. While she'll never fail to speak up when needed, she tends to be passive rather than aggressive. The great leaders of the past have proven to Lua that violence is overrated, and that words are priceless. She chooses her battles carefully, and they are few and far between. She would much rather immerse herself in a verbal debate, or fight for a cause that no one else cares about.

While the other kids were flashing their brand name t-shirts (arguably a fashion crisis of its own) and pricy striped trainers, Lua was wearing tie-dye and flares, faded jeans from her sisters and homemade necklaces. Her taste is eclectic, but not fussy, and this tends to extend to all facets of her life. However, people may raise eyebrows at the things about which she’s most passionate; though she is not high-maintenance, her priorities can seem niche-like to others.

Lua loves many types of music, art from all spectrums and eras, and old film (though for many years her parents refused to allow a television in the house). She loves yoga, tofu recipes, and rain dances. She most especially loves giving homes to stray animals. Despite their hyper-urban location, Lua’s family has always hosted an ark’s worth of scruffy, friendly mutts, fat, lazy cats, the occasional rabbit and little chirping birds. Her parents were never the kind to say ‘no’ to this sort of thing-- or most things-- and in fact encouraged their children to be passionate (and compassionate) over practical. This, of course, led to the occasional questioning eyebrow from neighbors, and can sometimes inspire looks in Lua’s direction among her peers (particularly those more acclimated to life with one pet, a sibling or two, ground rules, and a curfew). She thrives in the Scottish outdoors and loves woodsy areas, despite having been raised in the city. Her love for and devotion to animals can be a bit problematic at times, as Lua has the habit of adopting strays even while at Hogwarts.

You won't find her hitting up a Chocolate Frog card collector for what she’s owed, or betting on the next Quidditch match-- though she does love flying, even if she’s not particularly polished a flier. Gambling and violence tend to make her frown. She will, however, gladly participate in Exploding Snap, dance in the open without reservation, get dirty running through mud and puddles, and “forget” curfew for a good cause (or simply in the name of fun.)

While Lua is utterly vivid with her use of language, she sometimes makes little sense to anyone but herself. Her ideologies stem from a mixture of her parents' beliefs, things she's read, and things she dreams. In the end, she forms her own opinions, but her idealism can be blink-worthy, too. Her perfectly candid manner of speech can be somewhat intrusive, if not puzzling to others. While she believes she is a good judge of human emotion, and can usually surmise someone’s overall character, she’s hard-pressed to see only the bad in people, and she is often oblivious of people’s initial intentions or judgement of her. Others might find her overwhelming, at turns naive, and harmless if a bit chatty. When she is disappointed in another person, it’s usually very obvious.

As long as no one gets hurt, Lua loves a good joke. She loves to have fun, really. She isn't opposed to skipping class from time to time to run about with her schoolmates and wreak (innocent) havoc. She especially loves making a statement, like the time she tied a giant web or colorful ribbons in front of the entrance to the Great Hall, to signify house unity. Unsurprisingly, the muggleborn is passionate about equal rights for everyone, regardless of blood status. How could any human be worth more than another, after all? That's just silly.

In class, Lua leaves much to be desired. She does better in her electives than in the core lessons. Of her core classes, she is rather enamored with Astronomy being that it is hands-on, and does fairly well in Herbology most of the time. But electives like Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Ancient Runes have won her heart, with the first being her absolute favorite class. She is not so great in Transfiguration, despite her large imagination. It is much easier for Lua to squint and change a cloud that looks like Queen Elizabeth into a cloud that looks like a giant moose. Her Charms work is a tiny bit better, but not enormously. Lua isn't one to procrastinate, though, and does most of what she assigned. Still, academia is probably not what one would associate with the girl.

Lua's habits include playing with the belt loops of her jeans, curling her hair around pencils, and laughing that things which aren't particularly funny. She means no harm by the latter, she simply tends to find humor in the oddest of places. While Lua believes that milk and eggs are gifts from animals, she is skeptical about meat, having been raised by parents who never allowed it in the house.

Overall, Lua is happy with her life, and with herself. She is not the sort of person who struggles to find a true identity: she know exactly who she is, and she would never strive to be anything different. She is content with her progress in Hogwarts, with her family, and with her all-over-the-map interests. She is rarely one to mope or dwell. Generally any anger she displays is out of passion, and, along with her Gryffindor bravery, Lua has an innate sense of what she finds right and wrong-- one that allows for shades of gray, but which always compels truth. She does not try to force her beliefs on others, but she does love to share; fewer things bring about Lua’s big, bright smile than someone showing interest in something she’s mentioned or sharing their own stories.

History

Elizabeth ("Call Me Liza!") Woods met Otis Taylor at a Led Zeppelin concert in London, in 1974. Nine months later, Freddie Blue Taylor was born. Freddie had her mother's eyes, her father's nose, and a rockstar's name. Her parents never felt the need to get hitched, citing that marriage was a government and church conspiracy to lock people into their social classes (classes which they also opposed).

Six cats, five houses, four schools, three children (Elliot, Georgia, and India Rae), two vans, and a rainy day later, Miles Cash and Lua Bee were brought into the world. The twins were not like most stereotypes: in fact, Miles took an immediate liking to Freddie, while Lua tended to be content on her own (in other words, chasing after cats and finding her way into neighbors’ gardens). Their mother encouraged their individualism. Otis, however, swore that his youngest children shared brainwaves, like a proper pair of psychedelic twins should.

Lua did not attend school until the age of seven. Her parents believed that home was the heart of intellectuality and identity, and that if their children preferred it to the confines of the classroom, then that was perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately, the local government did not agree, and when Lua was forced into class, she was a year older than everyone else for a few weeks, until they decided her hippie upbringing had included the basics (and any weirdness would not get in the way of benchmarks).

Art was Lua's favorite subject. She had spent countless afternoons at home with her mother, splattering paint on the living room walls. There were so many layers of dried paint that the room seemed to grow more narrow over time. But it never bothered any of the Taylors/Woods. Lua was so excited to experiment with things like markers and crayons, that on the first day of school, she sneaked into the art room during lunch. Needless to say, the headmaster was not at all pleased with her wall murals.

From that point on, Lua was a fairly obedient student. She didn't dislike school, and she never paid much attention to the horror stories that India Rae told with such passion. Lua's teachers liked her well enough, and she never failed to turn in her work, unless she had a legitimate excuse. Still, Lua was not as competitive or obsessive as most of the other "good" students, and her thirst for knowledge only reached to the subjects she cared about (art, poetry, literature, and history). She positively dreaded arithmetic. Science was neat, but the specifics were beyond her.

It was an extraordinarily sticky afternoon when an owl of all creatures came fluttering into the living room. Georgia screamed, Elvis reached for the nearest weapon (a glass figurine of Paul McCartney), and Otis almost had a heart attack when one of the cats sunk its claws into his knees. The creature was sopping wet from the warm rain, and the envelope attached to its feet only made matters more complicated.

Two hours later, the family gathered around one of Liza's famous (or infamous) organic birthday cakes to celebrate the eleventh year of Miles and Lua on planet Earth. It was only a cover though: the real celebration was Lua's acceptance to Hogwarts, which, up until that afternoon, none of them had known about. Unlike most muggles, who might have been baffled, the Taylors/Woods were positively delighted that one of their own possessed magic. Even though Lua had never told them about the time she sent a bucket of cat litter flying into the neighbor's window, they were all certain that she be able to bring her hidden talents to fruition. All except for Miles, who seemed rather bitter that his sister should be receiving so much attention on his birthday.

Hogwarts was definitely the antithesis of Lua's muggle school. The florescent lights, the vicious schoolyard games, and the cheap plaques were replaced by luminous candles, flying broomsticks, and moving portraits. The latter were Lua's absolute favorite, and she spent hours pouring over parchment, explaining them in explicit detail to her parents and siblings.

Lua wasn't fantastic in any of her the classes, not at first. However, she worked hard to at least pass (and earn good marks when possible). When her third year arrived, the girl was delighted to be able to take extra classes, and quickly filled up her schedule with Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Ancient Runes.

Classes




How Do You Fit Into Your House?
Lua is free-spirited and independent. She's not afraid to defy the masses, and she will always stand up for what she believes in. Lua definitely belongs in Gryffindor.

Sum up your character in one paragraph.
Lua is a promoter of peace, but an eccentric one. She loves causes, and tends to befriend or admire people who rally for them. She is equally likely to champion one on her own if no on else has yet caught on-- or even if they have. Though often idealistic, innocent (about some things), and absentminded (in other respects), she does not give up on the things she loves and believes in. She's colorful, mismatched, and very chatty (occasionally at the most inopportune of times). Not bashful in the least, but prone to animated reactions like wide eyes, loud laughs, and sometimes even blushing, Lua sends mixed signals and constantly crosses personal boundaries. Ultimately, she is a kind, naive, and harmless girl, if also a sometimes silly and occasionally feather-ruffling one.

Special Title Request
Character Name: Lua Taylor
Title Applying For: Prefect
Character Biography: LINK

What Experience has Prepared You For This Honor?:
While not the most academically successful of her peers, Lua is an enthusiastic learner and someone who loves to pick up and share life lessons along the way. She works well in groups, is always willing to offer a helping hand (even when it might not be needed), and is unafraid to approach even the most unapproachable types. While this can sometimes lead to tangents or slow things down, it also means that no on gets left behind. These are important qualities in prefects, who, in Lua’s opinion, are sort of like shepherds, cheerleaders, and shoulders to cry on in one. (And occasionally muggle fairytale characters who offer gentle cautionary advice and allude to having to take points.)

Lua is on good terms with nearly all of her classmates, and does her best to listen before judging. Lua is occasionally likely to break a rule or two herself, and so has more flexible attitude to Prefecture than others might have. If there are sterner, more no-nonsense candidates for prefect, Lua would be a good balance to those students.

Professors are likely to choose her more for her attitude and gentle brand of boldness than her strict rule-following.

What Do You Think the Most Important Aspect of This Job Is:?
Lua thinks the most important aspect of being a prefect is helping other students stay on the right path. Or, in some cases, helping them try a new path. She thinks different people need different things, and it’s important to listen even when someone is breaking rules— though she is not afraid to speak up when something is wrong.

Tell a Story From Your Past That Has Proven Your Mettle: 
Lua has stayed up in the Common Room on several occasions to encourage a friend to finish homework, has helped classmates in her better subjects, such as Care of Magical Creatures, and her not-so-better subjects, and has befriended several younger students whom she likes to mentor. Lua is also an avid practitioner of yoga and regularly tries to share this habit with friends— its calming and mind-clearing properties are obviously great for homework!