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If Yes, list them all: Baxter Fox, Brett Abraham, Callum Knight , Candice Stevenson, Declan Ó Móráin, Dugan MacDuff (secondary) Griffon Manley, Hunter Radley (secondary), Liadán Ó Móráin, Winifred Oliver
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary
Full Character Name: Herschel Foster Reid
Character Birthday & Age: August 29, 1943
City & Country of Birth: Devon, England
Blood Purity: Pureblood
Alma Mater: Ravenclaw, Hogwarts
Job/Position: Hogwarts Board of Governors
Wand: Herschel’s wand is pliable, 11 1/3 inch long ivy wand with a phoenix feather core- pliable, the handle has a slight spiral but is otherwise smooth.
Physical Description: Herschel is certainly not much to look at. He stands at an average height of 5'10" tall. In his youth he was thinner, but as he has gotten older, Herschel has put on a bit of weight. He is beginning to get a bit round in the middle. He's also got wrinkles and his skin and body are starting to droop. (Most noticably in his face.) His clothing does nothing to hide the fact. Herschel wears tailored three piece suits most of the time (though it is not uncommon for him to leave his jacket on the back of his chair in his office). Herschel prefers interesting pops of color and patterns on his suits.
He has dark blue eyes. Herschel always has heavy bags under his eyes, making them look a bit droopy. His eyebrows are low set. Herschel's hair is beginning to gray and is starting to thin. He has large ears and sunken cheek bones with a prominent forehead. Overall, he has the look of a very serious man- which is not far from the truth. He certainly looks 66- if not a bit older, given the slowness with which most wizards age.
Personality Description: The son of an old fashioned pureblood family, Herschel is definitely somewhat conservative and dated in his beliefs and customs. He believes that men and women have their own roles in life, and also believes that those with magical blood are superior to those without it, and a list of other things that most would associate with a pureblood's upbringing in the time before Voldemort's ascension to power. It is important to note, however, that Reid is not purist nor does he attempt to force his beliefs upon others. Having lived through both eras of Voldemort's terror has taught him the importance of tolerance- whether or not you understand or can accept the choices another has made in their lives.
Herschel does, however, have no qualms about forcing education upon a person. It is only through education that a person can better themselves, and he believes it is every witch and wizard's inborn right to have the chance for an excellent magical education and the opportunity to further their learning post-Hogwarts if they so desire, whether through private tutoring or through their chosen career path. Herschel is the sort of wizard who wants to force children to reach their full potential. He is known as a strict but very talented educator both as a tutor and from his time at Hogwarts.
He is a very calm and calculated individual. Herschel maintains excellent control over his emotions, rarely letting his anger or frustration get to him. In the privacy of his home he is slightly less reserved- but all in all, he finds the practice of reigning in his emotions to be quite beneficial from a political standpoint. It does no good to say harsh words out of anger, and you can never truly take back anything that you say. For this reason Herschel has a habit of speaking slowly and deliberately, carefully choosing every word and thinking ahead to ensure that what he says comes out properly articulated with the appropriate meaning and connotation. It takes a great deal of patience to have any type of debate or discussion with Herschel, as it is not uncommon for him to fall into long lapses of silence as he carefully considers the best response or approach to take in the course of the conversation.
Surprising to many who know him on a professional level, Herschel is not all work and no play. He can be very jovial when the mood strikes him, enjoying a good joke and prank as much as the next person. He is not skilled at telling jokes himself, but definitely appreciates them. He is most fond of intellectual jokes. And, like many, Herschel also can't help but smile when he sees someone fall down. Entertaining anecdotes are another of his favorite things, and he often asks people about their lives (especially older witches and wizards) with the hopes of sharing a laugh and a story of his own. He truly enjoys learning about other people and establishing positive relationships with others. On the same token, Herschel genuinely enjoys young children- they always say what they think, and he finds it very amusing.
Though one would think that Herschel is a stickler for the rules- he is aware that some freedom and leeway is necessary. He prefers to follow the rules himself, and will often remind others of the rules, but finds trivial loopholes and "rules lawyering" (using technicalities) to be a bit over the top and drastic. For the most part Herschel believes that as long as a person is not hurting others, themselves, or harming the reputations of the person(s) they represent or their own reputation, that it's quite alright.
Herschel is a very talented wizard. His wand work is impeccable, and he excelled at most other subjects. The only subject which he failed to receive an OWL in (and therefore, could not take a NEWT in) was Astronomy. The concepts were simply beyond him, and he often associated it with Divination- which he thought to be quite ridiculous and useless. Even so, he has always enjoyed furthering his education through reading and travel, as well as studying with other capable wizards. Though Herschel will never be particularly skilled in Astronomy, Divination, or Muggle Studies (he finds all three subjects to be "silly") he has read more about them and attempted to broaden his horizons. Though mostly what he has read has been lost amongst other useless trivia and knowledge he has amassed over the years.
He does not have any great ambition at this age. He has enjoyed his life thus far, and is content to not be the next Minister of Hogwarts or to take over the Board of Governors. Herschel rather likes having his hand in Hogwarts since he is unable to teach there (as all spots are filled and seem to be filled up rather quickly when they become open). Herschel hopes that in the future the Board of Governors can help make great strides in wizarding education and ensure that all wizard children are offered the chance to learn. (Even those who are expelled should have
some alternative.)
History: Obediah Reid was born in 1924 and Joan Whitman was born a year later in 1925. The two were both born into prestigious pureblood families, given ever advantage from a young age. They would meet at Hogwarts, and have the fairy tale romance. The summer after Joan graduated, she wed Obediah- and months later she was pregnant. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday she gave birth to her first son- named Herschel Foster Reid.
As a child, Herschel was very inquisitive and enjoyed learning from both of his parents. His father worked at the ministry of magic and his mother was a homemaker. Joan taught Herschel how to read, write, and do basic mathematics. She also taught him all about the wizarding world. She had been a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts, and loved to learn- and was glad to see that her son had inherited this trait from her.
Unlike many children from wealthy families, Herschel was taught hard work and was not overly spoiled. His parents explained to him basic morals. (Though they most certainly were purist and very vocal about it.) Herschel was, therefore, a very well behaved and responsible child. The same could be said for his siblings, as well. The children were quiet, listened to their parents, and rarely bickered amongst themselves as it was considered improper. This was especially surprising considering that Herschel and his brother were so close in age- and they were never caught fighting with one another.
He took to books early on, and when it came time to enter Hogwarts he was certain that he would become a Ravenclaw just like his mother. (Though, he had also supposed that Slytherin would be alright too. It would make his father proud.) Herschel was thrilled to go to Diagon Alley with his parents to buy his supplies. Mostly he couldn’t wait for the chance to get a wand. He’d heard grand stories about it from his cousins. When he visited Ollivander’s, Herschel was slightly disappointed that it only took a few tries for a wand to choose him. A pliable, ivy wand with a phoenix feather core- pliable, the handle has a slight spiral but is otherwise smooth.
September 1st, 1954- Herschel begins his education at Hogwarts! The sorting hat barely had to touch his head before it screeched out Ravenclaw and he joined his new classmates at their table in the Great Hall. Hogwarts would be an amazing experience for Herschel. He was far beyond his other classmates from reading so much prior to entering school. He had a natural skill at most subjects- struggling only with Astronomy. (He likened it to Divination, which he thought was incredibly silly and not real magic.) He would soon make a name for himself as one of the brightest of his year, and had little difficulty finding his niche among his peers.
He would spend all of his Hogwarts years focusing on school and studying, determined to be the best wizard that he could be. His strongest talents were in Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Herschel was prefect in fifth and sixth year, and became Head Boy in his 7th year. He would NEWT in all of the subjects he took after his fifth year, receiving the following grades:
Ancient Runes | E
Care of Magical Creatures | A
Charms | O
Defense Against the Dark Arts | O
Herbology | E
History of Magic | E
Potions | A
Transfiguration | O
Herschel was very disappointed not to get a higher grade in potions. But he had always struggled more with the mathematical subjects (part of why he did not take a NEWT in Arithmancy). But he still was proud of his scores, and had the whole world ahead of him! He wanted to find a job which would further his education and allow him to learn more. For this reason, he decided to join the Department of Mysteries.
1963, and he was embarking on his new career. He enjoyed his job- learning much more than he could have ever imagined. It was during his time in the Department of Mysteries that he began his animagus training. He found it fascinating. After a year of intense studying, he registered with the ministry. His animal form was that of a basset hound, his identifying mark being a white patch of fur on his chest in the shape of a bowtie.
While at the Department of Mysteries, Herschel discovered his love for educating others. He began taking newcomers under his wing, loving the feeling of satisfaction that he got from training and helping them enrich their educations. It wasn’t long before he was the go-to guy for training the newbies, especially if you wanted it done right. He even began teaching some of them the theory and process of perfecting the art of animagi transformation.
After discovering his talent and passion for teaching, Herschel began tutoring in his spare time. He worked with children of other pureblood families, and also offered transfiguration tutoring to those he felt qualified and capable. He loved knowing that he was playing an important role in the lives of young children, and quickly gained a reputation as a capable and skilled tutor- much to his enjoyment and surprise. It was fulfilling for Herschel to know that others thought he was good at what he loved to do- and he began to hope, one day, he could become a professor at Hogwarts.
Through his tutoring, Herschel would meet his wife Mildred. She was much older than he. He was 26 and Mildred was 45. She was the aunt of a child he was tutoring. She was a spinster who was living with her brother, depending on his kindness and generosity. Herschel was immediately attracted to her. He thought that she was beautiful and her mind was quick. She was brilliant, skilled, and the only witch who had ever caught his interest in such a way. Though she was older than his mother, and others thought it would be a doomed union, Herschel married her anyway. He was in love- so was she- and that was all that mattered to him.
The happiness would last for a few years. Mildred gave birth to a son and they named him Byron after her father. They got along great, and he had a son to dote on and to (one day) educate. Herschel was happy.
But it didn’t last for long. Voldemort’s first rise to power came while his son was a toddler. There was much unrest in the wizarding world, and Herschel tried to keep his head low and stay out of it. As a pureblood he was relatively “safe”. He continued to go to school and tutor pureblood children and take care of his son, but it was during Voldemort’s reign that he began to realize how dangerous the blood prejudice could become. He soon abandoned teaching his son the purist ways he was raised on- and Mildred did not argue.
Herschel was not keen on sending his son to Hogwarts in the midst of all the unrest, but knew it was necessary. And then- it happened. Voldemort was destroyed by the baby Potter boy. The wizarding world rejoiced, and Herschel saw it as a grand blessing that his son would be able to attend Hogwarts in what would hopefully be a time of peace.
Byron took after his mother and father, and Herschel was always incredibly proud of him. During his son’s 6th year at Hogwarts- the 1989-1990 school year- Herschel finally got a post at Hogwarts, the one he had been waiting for. He was the new Defense Against the Dark Art professor! He loved the position, and had never felt more satisfied in his career- even after spending twenty plus years in the Department of Mysteries.
But the summer after his first year as a professor, Herschel’s wife fell ill. He resigned from his position at Hogwarts to better care for her. Mildred would die from the magical disease in 1991. Herschel was devastated, and so was his son. But life went on- it had to go on. Byron was still young, he needed his father- and Herschel was never the sort to simply give up.
He was offered the chance to visit Hogwarts to help teach apparition the same year his wife died. He knew it was a gesture of kindness to keep his mind off of things, and he greatly appreciated it- and it was a job he would continue doing for years. Herschel also began to spend less time with the DoM and more time tutoring, as teaching was his true passion.
Just when it seemed things were beginning to get back to normal in his life, however, Voldemort rose to power a second time. Things were just as terrifying as they were the first time- he was only glad that his own child was gone from Hogwarts. He was subjected to seeing his coworkers removed from their positions as their heritage and purity was called into question. Herschel felt incredibly guilty that he never stood up for them, and it only furthered his distaste for purist views.
The year after the fall of Voldemort, after McGonagall’s promotion to Headmistress, Herschel was offered the chance to come to Hogwarts full time again as the transfiguration professor. Thrilled to get to teach at Hogwarts again, he didn’t even think before saying yes and heading back to Hogwarts. Transfiguration was his favorite class as a student, and it was a dream come true to be teaching it. He would be the transfiguration professor for four years- leaving in 2002 after being offered a position on the Hogwarts Board of Governors. Though it meant he couldn’t teach at Hogwarts, it did mean he could still be a part of Hogwarts and it was a very prestigious position. And he still was able to tutor students, help with anmagi training, and participate in the apparition lessons.
For the last seven years, Herschel has served diligently on the Board of Governors. He has been a large part in the lives of his grandchildren. He has two- one who is twelve, and another who is eleven. He is thrilled about the fact that they are incredibly intelligent, and adores his daughter-in-law (who is the first muggle born to marry into his family line). He is glad that his son has not taken on the purist ways, and that his children are learning to be equally tolerant.
Herschel is, all and all, satisfied with his life thus far. He is 66 years old, and thinks he has lived his life well. Herschel has dedicated many years to the care of his family, has had a hand in molding the minds of multiple young people, and even got to teach for a while. He broke the cycle of purists, managing to teach tolerance to his son even in the worst of times. Even now, he continues to tutor others and looks forward to helping Hogwarts continue to thrive and be a safe place for the children of the wizarding world to gain a top notch education.
Describe your job duties and how you go about them: Herschel is one of the group of twelve wizards who help govern Hogwarts. It is part of his job to help appoint or suspend the current headmaster of the school (if necessary). It is also in the job description of the governors to see to it that parent complaints are addressed and investigated.
Elaborate on your expertise in your field: Herschel has taught at Hogwarts for a total of five years (though at different points in time). He also has a long history of tutoring children of all ages, as well as aiding in animagi training and apparition licensing. He has been on the Board of Governors for almost seven years now, and loved every minute of it. Herschel was a well known, capable, and skilled educator with a long history in the ministry prior to gaining his position on the board.
Sum up your character in one paragraph: Herschel is a wizard who has lived through a lot and seen a lot. He has a quick mind, a thirst for knowledge, and a passion for education.
Herschel Reid: Hogwarts Governor