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Your Nickname: Jenn
Have you read and do you agree to the Code of Conduct?: Yes
Are you over thirteen? Yes
How did you find us and decide to write with us? Other
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Scirey Riven, Aureliane Vandailer
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary

Full Character Name: Gertrude "Gertie" Marie Lemon 
Character Birthday & Age: December 1, 2009, 13
City & Country of Birth: Oxfordshire, England,
Pureblood, Halfblood or Muggleborn: Pureblood
House & Year: Hufflepuff, 2nd

Wand: apple wood, Unicorn hair, springy, 8 inches

Physical Description:
Little Gertie Lemon has recently "stretched" she's currently five three, practically towering over her older sister. There is a awkward lankiness about her, as if she'd grown tall too fast and the rest of her body has yet to catch up to her. This is often evident by her tripping, or losing her balance.  She's on the thin side, her body still childishly flat and flabby. Recently, she's entered that iffy stage of adolescence where things are changing. The pretty little cherub with the doe like blue eyes and golden curls is still there but she's turning into a pretty young woman, although her features are still too big for her face.

Despite the fact that she is entering her teenage years, Gertie still dresses like a child, in bright colors and dresses. She likes colors and experiments, wearing what she wants because she likes it, not yet thinking about whether it is cool or not. Her hair is a golden yellow that many envy but she doesn't really get it. It's just hair. It can be a rather pain too since it's curly and some days likes to just be a big birds nest.

Personality Description:
Gertie is a sweet kid, very trusting, perhaps too much. She has this tendency to see good in everyone. She just doesn't believe that someone could be truly evil even if they have done bad things. Everyone needs  a chance to prove that they are still good and they need someone to believe in them. She's more than a little naive . It's caused her older siblings to be rather protective of her. She's the type of kid who has to be warned constantly not to talk to strangers because she forgets and she just doesn't see people as mean, minuplative. Gertie isn't very good at reading people and she's rather oblivious to social cues. She can tell if someone is annoyed, sad or angry but it's because that person is obviously so. She doesn't understand the difference between someone laughing at you or with you. Really she just also doesn't care.

In large crowds she's rather shy. She doesn't know what to say and she'd rather just observe. She's friendly though and is willing to talk to anybody, even if they are scowling. Scarcasim often goes over her head and she isn't good at telling jokes.

She's usually very optimistic and often tries to point out the bright side of life to people. There is always a way, you just have to find it. She's a curious creature and often asks questions that others would think are rude. She doesn't mean to she just hasn't really learned how to filter herself. There is also an adventurous side to her personality. She likes trying new things and will often  explore with little prompting.

It isn't often that she's sad. She's naturally a happy person and if she is moody it won't last long. Her temper can flare up at the oddest moments, but it's like a pan fire, a quick hot flash and then gone. She's rather restless, can get fidgety in class and doesn't like sitting still for very long. She can be quite careless, forgetting to do things she's promised because she got distracted by something.

She has a habit of idolizing people and often spies or follows people around. As a little kid she'd often imitate people, quoting them like a parrot. At first it was endearing, but her family found it to be rather annoying. She tries not to do it as much as she use to but it's almost a compulsion. She typically does it to annoy Angie now.

History:

The youngest of three, Gertie's the stereotypical baby. Her parents hadn't planned her since they were poor and already had two children but they were overjoyed when Gertie came into the world. She's their, joyful, wanton surprise, not that she actually knows what the word wanton means. Practically from the minute she was born she was a happy cheerful baby. While her older sister had been a nuisance as a newborn, Gertie was  a blessing. By six months she slept through the night and was nearly always happy. Except when it came to naps. She'd always give a fuss when it was nap time because she wanted to see everything.

From a young age, Gertie was running after her older siblings. She'd often imitate them, wearing a similar outfit to Angie, repeating what her brother had said. A curious and charsiamatic child, Gertie made friends with nearly everyone she met, young or old. In fact, she'd had to be kept a close eye on when she was in a store because she'd often stop to talk to someone about something. She wasn't afraid of people and since she'd been a baby she'd just walk right up to people. A few times she'd gotten into trouble because she accidentally started a conversation with a banshee.

Gertie lived a sheltered existence on her parent's farm. Her chores were usually feeding the animals. She can often get lost in the task, talking to each creature as she feeds them. More than once someone had to go fetch her because she doddered. When she wasn't feeding the animals, she was playing with Angie. They were only two years apart and despite Angie being a bossy prat, they were good friends. Like many younger sisters, she allowed Angie to boss her around, but she could also wheedle Angie into being her model or science experiment.

It seemed like it took forever before it was Gertie's turn to go to Hogwarts. When Angie returned from school, Gertie kept pestering her with questions. Over and over again, wanting to know everything. It was a good summer. The crops were growing well. As the days grew longer, Gertie grew even more annoying as she became a bit nervous. Would she be okay without mum and Da? Would they be okay without her? Who would feed the chickens? They didn't accept food from just anyone. Eventually,  Gertie fell into her routine of following Roger around trying to intimate him and just drive Angie bonkers, when their Uncle arrived. Arthur  Lemon was a sour old man who was very grumpy. He said mean things about lots of people because of their blood status. Gertie thought he was just lonely and hurt. She tried to be his friend but he thought children were below him and she was too much of a child to be of any use. He'd look down his long nose at her and sneer, telling her something that children should be seen and not heard, especially little girls who talked too much. Gertie would just shake her head, her hands on her hips before bounding off. She'd pester him the next day until he'd run her off with something rude. Sometimes his comments hurt, but she thought she'd wear him down.

She didn't get the chance. Uncle Arthur was too bad to be saved. He'd killed a girl. Sanya Almasy, Roger's friend. Gertie had always liked the older girl because she didn't roll her eyes at Gertie when she followed them. Sometimes she'd even allow Gertie to stay and play with them for a bit. But now she was dead.

Gertie was confused. She had trusted her Uncle. Had thought he was just grumpy but not evil. He killed a girl. Gertie wasn't sure why but thought it might have something to do with status. Which was just stupid. For the rest of the summer, Gertie stayed close to her mum. Suddenly, she didn't want to leave. Didn't want to go so far away. What if Uncle came back for her. He'd often shout at her for talking too much. What if he'd just snap and kill her to rid the world of another needy mouth to feed.

September came and Gertie followed Angie onto the train. Students were still talking about the murder, telling those who hadn't heard all about it. One of their fellow students was murdered. When people found out her last name was the same as the killer, they asked questions. Gertie answered. Why lie? It was the truth. The murder was her uncle. He didn't come by often and no one knew he was going to loose it and kill someone.

Gertie was sorted into hufflepuff. Everything went rather well except for a few kids asking if she was crazy like her uncle or wouldn't she be more comfortable in Slytherin. Gertie just shrugged off the comments, explaining in her usual cheerful way that it was cold in the dungons she wasn't crazy and she didn't know what her uncle was other than a murderer.

The little girl never knew how poor her family actually was until she started Hogwarts. She thought it was normal that she always wore Angie's hand me down's and that they mostly grew their own food. Gertie had a few toys, but she'd rather spend her days outside, running around, climbing trees. When she went to Hogwart's though she realized how different her family actually was. Then she promptly forgot it and began making friends, oblivious to some of the stares she got because her clothes weren't the latest styles.

During her first year, Gertie missed her parents but it helped that she had Angie in the same house. It didn't take long before Gertie had made some friends and introduced herself to her sister's group, where she promptly began telling embarrassing stories. Being confined to the castle for a large part of the day and forced to sit still in class was not to Gertie's liking. Teacher's often admonish her for not sitting still, day dreaming, forgetting things etc. Formal school took some getting use to but she managed. Her marks were average, nothing stellar but they weren't horrible either. She did better in the more hands on classes like potions and herbology. Although more than once she'd messed up a potion because she got distracted and forgot what ingredient she'd just put in.

Gertie was excited for her first year to be over. She missed her parents and had gladly returned home to chatter on about her year away. She'd gotten average marks. Nothing spectacular but not bad either. Her parents seemed rather proud of her, since Gertie had never been fabulous at school work. She liked reading but not school books. She liked adventure stories. Mysteries. And short books. She didn't have the patience to sit for very long and it was often a chore to sit through even her favorite class.

Over Christmas break, Gertie had convinced Angie to die her hair with a potion she and her best friend had brewed. It was supposed to lighten but Angie's dirty blond locks but instead it made her a brunette. A dark one. When Angie had seen the results in the mirror, Gertie had to run out of the room before Angie could throttle her. No amount of praise or encouraging phrases like brunette's had more fun would lessen her sister's anger. Their mum hadn't been amused either, and Gertie had been grounded.

Now that school is back in session, Gertie is just trying to pass her classes. She can't wait until next year when she can have electives. For now she's making friends, annoying her sister and getting into trouble.


Classes:

Core Classes Astronomy Charms Defense Against the Dark Arts Herbology History of Magic Potions Transfiguration No

Electives No No No No No

How Do You Fit Into Your House?:

Gertie is your average hufflepuff. She's more than a little naive, a bit of a follower and loyal. She's often found in the commonroom getting into other people's business.

Writing Sample:


Sum up your character in one paragraph:

Gertie is a bundle of energy and sunshine. She's a glass is always full kind of girl and believes that everyone starts off good and there is a point where even the darkest person can be saved. She likes to see the best in everyone and is only just beginning to realize that sometimes people have to be let go because they don't want to change and will only hurt her.