Your Nickname: Natasha
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If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Jason Marren
George Carter
Frank Pratt
Daniel Marren (secondary)
Casper Bagman
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary
Full Character Name: Lyov Lukin Molchenoff
Character Birthday & Age: 29 March 1992, 17
City & Country of Birth: Moscow/Russia
Pureblood, Halfblood or Muggleborn: Halfblood
House & Year: Obertiel, 7th Year
Wand: Lyov’s eleven and five-eighths inch wand is made of ivy wood (good for Transfiguration and Defensive Magic) with Demiguise Hair Core (Transfiguration) and is slightly pliable with a small bend in the middle of the shaft. The end of the wand is twirled slowly. The handle itself is well worked and fits Lyov’s hand with light blue smooth, round stones set into the wood, catching light and glances alike. He received it at a local shop in Russia after his first wand was broken in his first year, and it has been his most lasting and trustworthy friend at Durmstrang.
Physical Description: Lyov was graced with his mother’s slim frame and his father’s medium stature. It has assisted him throughout his thus far young life in staying on the balls of his feet with the ability to duck farther than other, taller boys. At five-eight, he might blend in the crowd if it weren’t for his prominent cheekbones (again, his mother’s addition) and his sharp, blue eyes under his thick eyebrows.
When he was younger, being picked on for his ears that stuck out farther than others had forced him to stick up for himself. Now, it’s a means of identifying him from the others. The mop of dark brown hair on his head is a mutually shared trait from his parents.
Though his build isn’t powerhouse, he has lean and slightly defined muscle. He’s even special enough to have an outie.
As a young man who is often judged, he can keep a fairly unamused frown on his face a little too easily. His teeth (which he considers his worst feature) are not in the forefront view, and are not as easily to see unless he really grins. And that isn't often.
Personality Description: Lyov is quiet, meticulous, and watchful. He’s ambitious and hardened. If it meant you or him, he’d probably pick him. At the same time, he enjoys a good party, drinking with his mates, and screwing around like a teenager who thinks nothing bad can happen to him.
Growing up, he felt the need to be the best, to make his father proud. He still wants to impress his father, but now it’s his professors and fellow elite classmates as well. They are the ones who make sure he stays where he is, after all, just as he is for them. Lyov understands what hardwork is. He prefers to keep busy to relaxing and doing nothing. What sort of future could he hope to have if he didn’t put everything into it?
Growing up in the sort of family that he did, Lyov values authority and strength. Violence is a means to an end as long as it’s purposeful, in his opinion.
His temper can be quick and unrelenting. Even his close mates have felt his wrath. He prefers pointing out others mistakes than seeing his own. And he enjoys seeing others fail while he comes out on top. His sense of humor can be dark and sarcastic, and he does love to smirk. Still, he is loyal. And sometimes, that's all that matters.
History: Lyov’s mother, Nika, had been born and raised in the wizarding mafia, her blood pure. His father, Luka, had not, and his blood was a muddled mix. It was at Durmstrang that Luka had the opportunity to join. He was rowdy, boisterous, and had a quick mouth and a faster upper cut. Still, he had to prove his worth to the rest of the boys, to the Durmstrang gang that housed sons and nephews and wannabe’s of the Mafia.
He had a few years to do it in as well. After they graduated, he had to earn his place in the real Mafia. That’s where things got hard. Still, he was able to accomplish his goals, and Luka was a wizarding goon, an underpaid ball of testosterone and adrenaline. As Nika was the daughter to someone of similar beginnings, he was able to ask for her hand. Lyov was the second of four, the first son, and the one who was forced upon with all the expectations of his father. He had to carry the torch.
He hasn’t let it go since.
His other brothers (the two younger children) have tried to wrestle it out of him. The twins, Aleksei and Stefan, are barely a year younger, and are probably the reason Luka and Nika decided to stop having children. His older sister, Yulia, took after their mother, after her little brother came along when she was three and her spot as her father’s prize went away.
Life was rough and busy, but hardly dull. They moved around Moscow and Luka rose within the ranks of the Mafia from goon to messenger to hitman. He taught his children about the use of their hands and feet as useful weapons, before they could hold a wand, and Nika tried to teach them about etiquette and the proper way of life. A life she had grown up in. Her father was now one of the smaller lords in the Mafia, and had struggled with that all of her younger life.
When Yulia went off to Durmstrang, it caused an interesting relationship between the three brothers. She had been their voice of reason, the one who dealt the quick backhand slap when they were out of line. And if they were caught hitting her back, the slap was nothing compared. With her gone, it caused the boys to rebel against one another, the twins sticking with each other on most things and ganging up on Lyov.
Those were good times, though, because at the end of the day, there was food on the table and lots of laughter and conversation.
Durmstrang did not come to such a happy ending every day. It was a constant battle the first two years. Lyov had his family name and his father and mother’s connections. It helped him, even if his blood was not as straight and narrow as the other students. That did not mean it was easy for him.
His entire first year was spent in and out of the Dregs and Zufrieden. At first, the Professors deemed him fit for the Zufrieden. His second year, and his sudden desire to be the best and outshine his twins (who were just starting) allowed him promotion (and a couple demotions) into the Oberteils. His commitment to do better than his siblings caused him to suddenly come out of his shell a bit.
It was still tough going. Though he enjoyed Intangibles, he inevitably settled into Spellworks, picking up the odd Intangible class here and there. He was fascinated with the idea of being able to see into someone else’s mind. Where other students seemed to focus on Animagus, he started to learn the basics of Occlumency and Legilimency. What better way to get the upper hand in a duel or on the Quidditch pitch if you could figure out what the competition’s next move was going to be?
Like most students, he went through the harsh conditions of ‘learning’ given by their professors. If you were going to be the best, you had to impress and outdo everyone else. It was a constant competition, even amongst your friends, and you were never sure when one was going to try and get ahead of you. Lyov likes his lasting scars, reminders to be the best. Punishment at Durmstrang was supposed to make you stronger in mind.
As he enters his last year at Durmstrang, Lyov feels he has a very basic but rounded understanding of Occlumency and Legilimency, and practices the extra coursework for it daily. As an upperclassmen Oberteil, he has to fight to keep his rank. And that means keeping a close eye on the competition (many of whom are his mates) and one-upping them. With the Tournament this year, it feels like the perfect opportunity to bring glory for Durmstrang (and himself).
How Do You Fit Into Your House?: Through dedication and hard work, and his almost-arrogant belief that he's better than everyone, has proven that he has what it takes to be the elite at Durmstrang. What he chooses to invest his time into comes out on top.
Writing Sample:
Sum up your character in one paragraph: Hard work and dedication (and a willingness to do anything for his goals) have helped Lyov get to where he is. He has aspirations for his life, goals to meet before graduating from Durmstrang, and a (sometimes too) healthy appetite for trying everything.
Lyov Molchenoff | 7th Year Oberteil