Your Nickname: Thea
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? Friend
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Liadán Whitman, Winifred Oliver, Dervla Bagnold
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary

Full Character Name: Benjamin "Benny" James Pattershaw
Character Birthday & Age: October 17, 1963 | 46
City & Country of Birth: London, England
Blood Purity: Muggleborn
Alma Mater: Hogwarts | Hufflepuff
Job/Position: Charms Professor

Wand: 12 7/8", Elm Wood, Unicorn Tail Hair Core, Springy & Smooth

Physical Description:
Benny is very tall- standing at 6'3". He has dark skin with a clear complexion. His hair is black and starting to gray- this is especially noticable in the beard that he often wears. Benny's eyes are a dark brown and almond shaped. He's in good shape for his age, and has a very solid build- almost muscular. Benny is well groomed, wearing his hair short and his beard neatly trimmed. He dresses professionally- even when he's off the clock. Dressing down is something he only does in the privacy of his own quarters or when he is involved with sports or outdoor activities. He carries himself with an easy stride and with confidence. He's often smiling and laughing. He can cut an intimidating figure, but only when he's specifically trying to.

Personality Description:
Benny has a lot of the traditional Hufflepuff traits. Hard-working, loyal, friendly, and honest he is the model member of his former Hogwarts house. He has always been the sort of person to work hard to achieve his goals. Even in Hogwarts he studied hard and put genuine effort into his classwork- he wanted to be a successful wizard. He was especially motivated by being a Muggleborn- attending school during the first war made him want to show everyone what Muggleborns were made of. He makes friends easily, he has a laid back attitude and is generally good natures. He smiles more often than not, enjoys the company of others, and always finds social events to be something to look forward to rather than dreaded. Of course, this aspect of his personality was dampened after the death of his wife- but it has come back to the forefront in more recent years. 

He does have a tendency to dwell on the past, rather than being concerned with the here and now and his future. Benny has a lot of regrets about his decisions during the second wizarding war. (Short version is that he fled when the ministy fell, while his wife stayed behind and was later killed- a casualty in the war.) He has a hard time moving on from them and realizing that everyone makes mistakes. Because of this he is very determined to instill in the youth he will be teaching the importance of courage- a trait that he believes everyone needs to possess, not just Gryffindors. Benny can have moments of pensive silence, and it is not uncommon for him to spend days at a time in a sullen mood when he dwells on the past for too long. He is highly critical of himself, and tends to focus more on his flaws as a person and his failures instead of his positive traits and achievements in the world of magic.

As an instructor and authority figure he is patient, unbiased, understanding. Though he does have rules, and expects them to be followed, he is not the sort to deduct points without first giving a warning or to dole out detentions for minor infractions. He believes that children need stability and structure, but also believes that they need to have trust in their authority figures. Benny thinks being overly harsh or too strict will only push students away. In all aspects of his life he has been careful not to show favoritism- and endeavors as an instructor to treat all houses and students without prejudice or bias. 

History:
Benjamin James Pattershaw was born October 17, 1963 in a busy London hospital. He would be the oldest of four children. His mother worked as a maid in a hotel and his father worked as a postman. Growing up, Benny was well loved and well looked after. Though his family was not overly wealthy, their needs were met and he understood the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work and success. He did well when he was in muggle school, with a special love for history. His three younger siblings are as follows: Mary Pattershaw (44); Elijah Pattershaw (41); David Pattershaw (40). 

When he received his Hogwarts letter, Benny and his parents were in shock. Magic? Real? It was a laughable notion. But Benjamin was excited. A magic school! It would explain the weird stuff. How exciting. In September of 1975, his Hogwarts career began. But it was not the time to be a muggleborn in the magical world. Of course he learned about the rising hatred toward Muggleborns. Some of the pureblood students in school teased him or were downright mean and cruel. Things were hard, but he was determined not to let it get to him. So what if he was a Muggleborn? He was good at magic. He excelled. And he was a hard working student, with some great friends. A true Hufflepuff, through and through, he worked hard and stayed optimistic about the future. Benny was especially skilled with his wand. He consistently scored Os in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense. His other classes he did well in too, but it was obvious where his natural talents were- and that was with a wand.

Voldemort was defeated at the beginning of his seventh year. The celebration was unbelievable. The idea that he would be able to graduate and have the freedom to live in the wizarding world and pusue a career there, without fear of harm or retribution from Voldemort and his followers was a dream come true. His entire Hogwarts career had been plagued with the worry of what would happen when he wasn't protected by those walls anymore. And now he wouldn't have to worry. He scored Os on his NEWTs in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense. He received Es in History of Magic and Herbology. And got an A on his NEWT for Potions. He was ecstatic. It meant he had a real opportunity to be somebody in the magical world.

He decided to take a job at the Ministry of Magic. It was still trying to rebuild, and he wanted to show his faith in the wizarding world and his pride in being a Muggleborn wizard. He joined the Spell Experimentation & Research office at the young age of eighteen. It wasn't nearly as glamorous as he had hoped... But it was a good job that he could be proud of. One that would help him hone his skills as a wizard. What else could he ask for, really? He met a beautiful witch, a fellow muggleborn, and the two were wed in 1985.

Even so, he felt relatively unfulfilled at the ministry. Like he was really missing something. He helped create a lot of helpful charms. He wrote a few books on spellcraft theory and charms theory that were well received. He even put out a couple of books for useful, every day charms. Benny was clearly one of the leading minds in the world of Charms. And he liked that recognition. 
 
But all good things must come to an end. As Voldemort rose into power a second time, Benny feared for his own safety- and the safety of his family. His wife, a fellow muggleborn witch who was working at the ministry of magic, was determined to stay and fight in the war. Benjamin just didn't have it in him. The ministry fell to Voldemort. Benny fled the magical world, returning to life as a muggle. His wife stayed behind- and would become one of the many casualties of the second wizarding war.

After the second and (seemingly) final defeat of Voldemort and his Death Eaters, Benny made a tentative return to the ministry of magic. But things were not the same. He was ashamed of himself for leaving, leaving his wife behind, and blamed himself for her death. He had a very rough few years after that, and the healing process was slow and painful. During this time he penned another book of charms- this time focusing on defensive charms and protection spells. He just wanted to do something to help somebody- in the way he could not help his wife.

Teaching wasn't something that had been his primary goal. But after working at the Department of Mysteries for so long, and writing so many books, the idea of being an instructor at Hogwarts appealed to him. He wanted to teach students more than just their wandwork- but important life lessons, traits he wished he had possessed himself when times got rough. Loyalty, bravery, standing up for those who are weak. With his impressive credentials in line, he applied for the position. With a lack of educational experience, Benjamin was surprised to find himself not only getting an interview but landing the job. He looks forward to beginning his journey as an educator, and hopes to find some redemption along the way.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
As a professor at Hogwarts, Benny's duties include: planning and holding classes, grading homework, and participating in student/staff events. He does a lot of hands-on work in his class, under the belief that it is better to learn by doing. He also tries to incorporate teaching important life-lessons and good habits and traits that will carry over into the adult world. He assigns reading, essays, and out-of-class practice as he sees fit and as need arises. He lends his support to student activities and participates in staff meetings, events, etc. He does his best to be patient, understanding, and unbiased with students. Of course, as a new professor, he is still learning the ins and outs of teaching.
 
Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Benny spent a very long time working in the Ministry of Magic with the Department of Mysteries under the Spell Experimentation & Research division. He has helped in the creation of many spells. He has penned multiple books on various topics including: spellcraft theory, charms theory, every day charms, and most recently for protection & defensive charms. He has spent the last 28 years working with charms and spellwork in various ways. From a professional career at the ministry to that of an author and researcher.
 
Writing Sample:


Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Benny is a muggleborn wizard who grew up with a thirst to prove himself worthy. He experienced both the first and second wizarding war. He has always been a hard working, talented wizard with a special aptitude for wand work- especially charms. Patient, loyal, hard working, honest, and good natured he is a man who is easy to get along with. As a professor he is understanding, patient, and unbiased. He has a lot of regrets in his life, and dwells a lot on the past, but he is trying to be a better man. 

Other: I'm just putting this here as a note. With it being so late in the year, I feel like it would make more sense to have him start next term. But I'm up for whatever you guys want to do.