Sam is a young girl of quite average height and, for now, a scrawny build, with pale blond hair and green eyes. In only her first year, she has a lot of growing to do, but for now has kept up with her peers as far as height goes. Her parents fall into a normal range, as did her grandparents of both sides, so there is little worry she might end up too tall or too small. Her blond hair is kept cut rather short for a girl, a tomboyish trim that falls in messy layers to her chin. Her eyes are bright and expressive green, and though it's hard to tell how she may be feeling she has plenty of cues for when her mind is elsewhere, even if it's merely focused on figuring out the task at hand.

Dress-wise, she keeps herself in top shape at all times whenever possible. Clothes finely pressed, her appearance immaculate--not so much for the sake of vanity, but to uphold a certain appearance for her family. She may be a half-blood, but appearances and first impressions are deemed important. She walks the line between Muggle and Wizard as a half-blood, and it's easy to see the influence of both family lines in her dress--she does, however, prefer to wear more "neutral" clothing rather than distinctly feminine. When not wearing the Hogwarts uniform, she'll be dressed in trousers and fitting sweaters or tops which could easily put her indecipherable on a Muggle street.

Once bright and outgoing, since her mother's sickness and death she has withdrawn into herself somewhat. She doesn't mind talking to others and has no problem being social, especially if approached first, but doesn't often go out of her way to do so unless required. She works hard on what she attempts to do, and is remarkably stubborn when push comes to shove. Often she can be found working hard on something long after others may have given up, until the task is seen through to completion. That's not to say she's stupidly obstinate, she's definitely smart enough to know when something isn't going to work, but it's easy to see that she gives things her all without hesitation. At the same time, she's not always friendly and can be a bit bitter, especially toward those who have wronged her somehow, holding grudges despite herself long past a time when many would have forgiven. It takes some effort to get back in her good graces. This said, it's also a little difficult to get on her bad side, depending on what sort of person you are. Unless you're openly malicious, she'll probably tolerate you. Probably.

Growing up wealthy has not soured her opinion of others at all. She doesn't look down her nose at those less fortunate, and will sometimes offer to pay for things they can't, or simply buy the item outright for them if it's something a friend needs or wants. Reasonably, she doesn't get offended if they decline, and only purchases items if she knows it's alright with them, sometimes with the stipulation that she can be paid back in the future somehow or some way (though not as a requirement).

She's perceptive and intelligent, though tends to work toward her own goals rather than the goals of others, and expects the same of those around her. She also prefers to be honest, sometimes brutally, which can make her seem rude and sometimes insensitive, though is smart enough to know when to be tactful. Sam is not particularly good at comforting people who are upset, becoming visibly awkward and uncomfortable. Study-wise, Sam prefers to work alone, and meticulously keeps track of her assignments. She can be a bit cunning, though isn't particularly ambitious beyond wanting to get the best marks and keep her head down. She actually wouldn't sabotage her classmates like some Ravenclaws, but may not go out of her way to help them unless they are friends, either. While she doesn't wear her emotions on her sleeve, she cares about others.

Samantha was born in mid-August to a Muggle mother, Evelyn Lee Riddle (ne้ Scott), and Wizard father, Marcus Augustus Riddle, the only child of the pair. Having parents from both sides of the "spectrum," as it were, she grew up knowing both worlds quite well. Her father supported the family with his work, while her mother was able to stay home and raise their daughter. From a young age it was clear she would be magically inclined, showing signs of (obviously uncontrolled) magical ability before she could walk. Luckily for her mother, her father had already had that talk with her, and it was received with great joy (albeit also a bit of annoyance when Sam would inexplicably cause some form of chaos, such as the time her mother wouldn't let her have a sweet treat and she gave the cookie jar legs so it could walk to her instead, or the time she set the drapes on fire when she was six).

Both of her parents were loving and caring toward her, and she had little in the way of wanting for things, but she grew up understanding that half of her had to be kept secret when in certain places lest there be danger for her and her family. Although growing up in the wealthy part of Cambridge, her mother came from a poorer family and carefully cultivated humility and understanding in her daughter, preventing her from developing a superiority complex toward those with less. She went to Muggle public school for the first several years of her life, until having to be sent to a private magically-inclined school after an incident with a bully wherein she accidentally used magic on him. Although she had no control over it and was merely defending herself, it was decided that it would be best for her safety if she were sent elsewhere. Especially after the amount of cover-up required.

When Samantha was eight, her mother became seriously ill, deteriorating rapidly. Although she would survive for several years, receiving the best medical care that Marcus could find, she would unfortunately pass away from her sickness just after her daughter received her Hogwarts acceptance letter. Although both father and daughter were devastated by the loss of Evelyn, they took solace in knowing she was no longer suffering. Despite the bitterness in her heart, Samantha looks forward to Hogwarts and the education it will bring, keeping her mother close to her heart.

Core Classes Astronomy Charms Defense Against the Dark Arts Herbology History of Magic Potions Transfiguration Flying

Electives No (Ineligible) - Ancient Runes No (Ineligible) - Arithmancy No (Ineligible) - Care of Magical Creatures No (Ineligible) - Divination No (Ineligible) - Muggle Studies

How Do You Fit Into Your House?:
Samantha is an intelligent and studiously-hardworking individual and though she could easily have fit into Slytherin as well the Hat ultimately chose Ravenclaw thanks to her bookish attitude.

Writing Sample:

Samantha sat, quill in hand, aboard the steady rocking train, brows pinched in concentration as she read the line in her book again. She'd done a lot of pre-reading upon purchasing her schoolbooks, the first few chapters just to get an idea of what she was in for as far as the curriculum. There was no telling what they might skip or start on, so the first five, ten chapters had been read meticulously. Now she sat with her Transfiguration book in her lap and a pen in hand and a sheet of writing paper over another small novel as she jotted down what she thought might be important from each chapter. Of course, this might all be for naught, but it gave her an idea. Key words that she didn't know until now, spells and gestures, they were all deemed important. They probably wouldn't start transfiguring until later in the year, if they even went past the basics as first years at all, but it was important to know!

If only the train would stop rocking, though. That might make writing a bit easier. She had luckily only smudged a small handful of words thanks to the train or one of her neighbors being particularly rowdy, banging on the door or the wall and startling her. Her compartment was blessedly empty for now, allowing her time to think and study on her own without the incessant chatter. Her friends weren't going to Hogwarts, or she hadn't been able to find them, or she might have had someone like-minded there who would have studied with her or been a nice sounding board for her ideas.

Oh well.

Once she got to Hogwarts, she'd get sorted into a House, maybe Slytherin like her father and grandparents, and then she'd get to meet the other students. Maybe she'd make new friends.

Another bump, another scratch of her pen across the paper and she sighed, straightening her back up and kicking her legs off the seat in front of her, having been using it to prop her knees up. Maybe she should just go back to reading instead for now.

Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Sam is a quiet and now somewhat withdrawn bookworm, whose biggest worries in life right now are whether she'll get top marks on her next assignment. She's quite intelligent and works hard, though doesn't seem to have any care for outside opinions. She cares privately about others but keeps her feelings close to her heart, fearing the loss of more people after having lost her mother.