Edwin Glass
 | |
| Edwin Horatio Glass | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 31 December 1949, 68 |
| City of Birth | Cambridge, England |
| Current City | Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire |
| Residence | Glass House |
| Blood status | Half-blood |
| Physical Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5'9" |
| Hair Colour | Brown, balding |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Skin Colour | Fair |
| Relationships | |
| Father | Arnold Glass |
| Mother | Joan Glass |
| Siblings | |
| Extended Family | |
| |
| Magical Characteristics | |
| Wand(s) | |
| |
| Patronus | Bull |
| Education | |
| School | Hogwarts |
| House | Slytherin |
| Class of | 1968 |
| Occupation | |
| |
| Character Information | |
| Playby | Peter Firth |
| Kit | |
British Minister for Magic from April 2011. Former Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes (2002-2011). Edwin was born in Cambridge and is a former Slytherin. He owns and resided in Glass House in Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire.
At the end of 2012 Edwin’s luck ran out. Many of his underlings in the Ministry had been busy looking into his actions before he became Minister, particularly surrounding his relationship with Ira Almasy, Mortimer Gamp, William Shufflebottom and Lawrence Musgrave. His involvement with the Leaky Cauldron explosion, and being so complicit of Musgrave’s dealings with dementors were just two of the revelations the wizarding world heard about when it all came out.
Even Ministers have to answer for their crimes.
Appearance
Edwin is about 5'9 with a stocky build. His face is round, with a strong nose and large ears. His brown eyes appear lower set due to his receding hairline. Colour often floods to his cheeks and nose, especially when irritated. Edwin sports a charming smile with thicker lips.
Edwin is, to his horror, increasingly bald. He futilely attempts to charm his brown, fine hair on a regular basis in an attempt to curb it. In his younger days, he sported longer, curlier hair. He has a tendency to carry weight if he doesn't watch what he eats, and has always been of broader build like his father.
Edwin's style dictates that he almost lives in suits, or at least shirts and trousers. He is not a man to wear bright colours, a bright red tie being the most vibrant attire he wears to work. His shoes are always rather smart leather, shined and laced. He wears wizard over-robes only when the situation dictates it or the formality requires it. A habitually warm person, he finds them stifling when it isn't winter.
His gate is always purposeful, and he has quite a presence. His voice carries well without having to be raised, though when it is, it can send juniors cowering. His accent is schooled, and very calculated. He never uses slang unless quoted or referred to in jest.
Edwin's favourite aftershave smells of bergamot and citrus fruit notes. As he doesn't smoke (not even a wizard pipe) he will only smell of smoke due to who he is with, or has been with.
Professional Personality
On first meeting Edwin at work, appears professional, organised and very polite. He is happy to help someone with genuine need, always conscious that people he meets could be of use and that first impressions last. He is charming, typically patient towards new acquaintances and tries to hide any irritation he experiences when conversing with them - politely finding a less senior person to deal with their enquiry as soon as he can without arising suspicion.
As a Department Head, Edwin was very efficient and trustworthy. As Minister he endeavours to do the same. He keeps near encyclopedic knowledge of faces and people in his head, from whom they have met and when. A Muggle might suggest he has a photographic memory as he has formidable recall for detail.
He is very capable at organisation and a keen delegator. His political views tended to align to those most likely to take power, especially the Minister, who he is always supportive of outwardly. Now as Minister, he balances his views with the popular support, and has exhibited some more extreme views (such as entertaining the possibility of sending dementors back to Azkaban in the Ministry's employ). He does well to appear as a confidante to many though unless the information is of particular use to him, inwardly, he finds this frustrating.
Edwin does enjoy the thrill of a disaster, which is possibly in bad taste, given his job. He likes nothing better than to tackle a difficult, unpleasant situation, though he'll make it known to the cause that they are complete idiots for causing it. His long memory means he takes favours and debts seriously, and will call them in months, if not years later.
Social Personality
As a friend, Edwin is happy to entertain, visit and drink fine wine. He is less inclined to spend the night at a bar these days, though used to before he was fifty. He collects friends with knowledge, even in the most obscure areas, networking very carefully and strategically, encouraging friends to introduce him to wider circles.
Family
His father, Arnold Glass is keen herbologist, now retired. His mother, Joan Glass is a Muggle. Her keen interest in integrating with the magical world led her to write books on her experiences, and she authored three Muggle studies text books which were particularly popular during the sixties.
He has younger sisters Rachel Pinn and Emma Burke.
History
Edwin's family, are to his relief, alive and well.
He was born to Arnold and Joan Glass in 1949 at Cambridge's Muggle hospital. His mother, a Muggle, was aware of her husband's magic, and would rather have experienced this at St Mungo's. Unfortunately her magical status at the time meant it wasn't to be.
Arnold Glass is half blood, and has spent his life a keen herbologist, working to cultivate ingredients. He'd never been attracted to working alone or for himself, not fussed on taking on responsibilities of running a business, he was happy to work for a company a couple of hundred years old and keep to his routine. Edwin, growing up, didn't share his father's attraction in plants, but nonetheless learned a fair amount being in his presence during childhood which helped later. Arnold, in his late eighties, is now retired, is now the deputy chair of the local gobstones club.
Joan Still married Arnold out of love. The two had grown up in the same street and she had always taken a shine to him. Edwin was their first son, and she decided to whole heartedly give him a more traditional wizarding name. By the time his younger sisters, Rachel and Emma arrived, Joan had realised she didn't have to try and use traditional names to fit in. Both sisters are now married and have children and Rachel a grandchild.
Edwin's mother's keen interest in integrating with the magical world led her to write books on her experiences, and she authored three Muggle studies text books which were particular popular during the sixties. Edwin finds it all a little uncomfortable, though does agree it put him in good standing for his later career choice in the Department. His parents have since retired to Giggleswick in Yorkshire, which is where they went on honeymoon.
Edwin was sorted into Slytherin in September 1961, aged 10 years 8 months. The hat probably based the choice on his ambition. He wasn't displeased, though some of his housemates were not admirable people. Lord Voldemort was powerful and these were dark times.
Amongst his year were Samuel Harcroft (a now decorated auror), Arthur Weasley (war hero) and Theodora Kingstreet. He was the year ahead of Knox Greyfriar (former Hogwarts headmaster), Theobald Mainwaring (WCU and former Hogwarts Professor), Bellatrix Black (Lestrange, now deceased) and Rita Skeeter (journalist).
Edwin found studies easier than some of his classmates due to his lucky ability to recall information, though memory could not save him from mishaps and ensure his wandwork was quick enough. He chose Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies as extra subjects to carry to OWL. In his fifth Edwin picked up a convincing set of grades, strongest in Charms, History of Magic and Muggle Studies with outstandings and exceeds expectations in Defences, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Potions and Herbology. He didn't care too much for creatures in the end, and passed with acceptable.
Studying Muggles in Slytherin at the time gave him a bit of ribbing, but nothing he couldn't brush off. He took six subjects to NEWT level that he both found interesting and within his reach. He graduated with two exceeds expectations in Defences and Potions, and four outstandings in Charms, Transfiguration, Muggle Studies and History.
He picked up being a Prefect in his last few years, and would be called upon by his classmates to help cover up misdemeanours and turn a blind eye. His fondest memory of such a call was stumbling upon two students in the fifth year who had hexed a Hufflepuff and knocked him out cold in an upstairs corridor. Hearing the voices of two Professors approaching, Edwin pushed the unconscious form out of the open window, and used a sticking charm to the wall outside to hide the unfortunate student. The charm lasted almost as long as required, dumping the Hufflepuff on the ground below just after the Professors had passed. Luckily broken arms were not so hard to fix in the hospital wing, and the Hufflepuff knew nothing of his involvement.
On graduating at 18 in the summer of 1968, Edwin entered the Ministry. His understanding of both sides of the British population and his favourable examination results put him in good stead.
Edwin spent his continuing years learning to obliviate and contain situations with Muggles, carefully selecting and amending memories and then supporting the quickly created excuses of gas leaks and unexploded World War II bombs. The 70s kept the department busy particularly as Lord Voldemort began to rise to power with his Death Eaters.
In 1981 Edwin was amongst the team sent to deal with Sirius Black's murder of Peter Pettigrew by blowing up a city street. He worked alongside Vedir Prideaux, who had joined the Department in '82, and got along very well with him. He climbed ranks between getting more responsibility. Older, wiser hands were still in place in the upper ranks, working with MLE to cover up the atrocities being committed by the Death Eaters.
Edwin's ambition remained, but his interest in trying to get to the top of his department quickly was temporarily stalled by the plight of a colleague. While containing a small incident on night duty, Edwin's colleague was over zealous in his obliviation and entirely wiped the memory of a young woman. He panicked, and Edwin, coming on duty in the early morning and apparating to the scene to assist, discovered him considering killing the woman to try and cover his mistake. Instead of reporting him immediately, Edwin took charge and deposited the dazed woman some distance away in the grounds of a mental institution by apparition and together they filed the report as 'no action required'.
The year and a half that followed brought far more bungled cases to Edwin's attention and he became known as someone who could be trusted to help a colleague out of a tight situation. Some could not be helped, the stress of the war and the takeover in the Ministry by Voldemort's forces forced many errors by innocent employees. Edwin, a Slytherin was not high on the list to be questioned about his wizarding heritage given his mother, and further improved his chances by keeping allies under Pius Thicknesse's reign.
At one point the whole purpose of the Department seemed to be turned upon its head to cause magical accidents and catastrophes to frighten Muggles. Initially horrific, Edwin realised on reflection he'd begun to get a bit of a thrill out of it. The end of the war could not come quick enough.
There was plenty of work to clear up the catastrophic impact of war on communities, and Edwin and the staff who remained set about on the task. From there it was on to rebuild the Department - to recruit and train. Nightingale Kesali was amongst one of those who joined the department. Edwin welcomed Shacklebolt as a worthy new leader to put things right.
The skeleton crew from the senior side in the staff (who could be spared for the short term had been sent to MLE to help capture war criminals, and were away for longer than expected or had officially transferred) included Edwin who found himself swiftly promoted to second in command in 2000. Not wishing to spend his days obliviating all the time, he was not therefore head obliviator, but rather more a co-ordinator of a whole scene, taking charge.
In 2002 he became acting head of the department due to the untimely demise of the then Head of Department, who, ironically, had a catastrophic accident of his own doing and took out his house leaving a crater. Within six months his post was secured.
Being Head of the Department immediately pushed Edwin firmly into the political and strategic side of the Ministry. Department leaders didn't get their hands dirty half as often, and they came with their axes to grind. The DMAC are always seen as the clean-up team (well, partly true when Sidney and his Magical Maintenance team were aligned in Edwin's department). Edwin resents the MLE in particular as one of the main causes of messes. That and the bloody dragons. Its also his Department's responsibility to advise on wizarding public behaviour in events - reminding to place fireworks displays in remote areas and not to attempt obliviation.
Well versed in the Statute, the recent establishment of the Muggle Affairs Office has made Edwin particularly twitchy. He would like to keep both sides very separate, despite his upbringing.
In this peaceful time, Edwin secretly wished something horrific would happen to make his life more interesting.
Professional Career
- 1968 - began training as an obliviator
- 1981 - amongst the team sent to deal with Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew blowing up a street
- 2000 - appointed Deputy Department Head
- 2002 - appointed Acting Department Head following the accidental death of his predecessor
- 2002 - appointed Department Head officially after 6 months probation
- 2011 (April) - became Minister for Magic
Head of DMAC
Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes requires a calm head and well oiled plans. Edwin ensures his staff are well trained and resourced as far as possible to enable deployment at any time of night. He enjoys internally billing other Departments for severe catastrophes, though you can only tell by the way he signs the bills with a flourish before sending them over. He spends most of his time working with MLE, in particular the Auror office, who he'd like to bash the heads of together.
In charge of budgets, discipline, long term planning and development, Edwin doesn't do very much hands on these days, though isn't against raising a wand if necessary. In peacetime the workload tends to be to control blunders and the more occasional catastrophe, which tempts him to be complacent. Every six months he stages a training exercise with another Department to prepare for all magical disasters from Quidditch cup rampages, mass dragon escapes and genocide.
Wizengamot Elder
Edwin has been Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes since becoming acting head in 2002 due to the untimely demise of the then Head of Department. Within six months his post was secured. He has worked for the Ministry since the late 60s.
Edwin has an excellent grasp on the law, Edwin has to keep up with it as a Department Head. He's also well abreast of the far reaching ripples of wizarding kind on their Muggle cousins. He is able to judge fairly and without influence on each of the cases brought before the Wizengamot. Edwin has dealt with more than a few silly wizards in his life, and has great patience.
Minister for Magic
Edwin has always hoped he might climb to the top of the Ministry. His years here have been punctuated by the wars, and he has always felt he has done more good in the ranks, than at the top. However, he has spent 43 years in the Ministry, and 9 of those as Department Head. He has seen Ministers and Heads of Departments come and go in that time. Now, Edwin feels in these unstable times, he is a worthy hand at the tiller of the British Ministry for Magic, and it is time to step up. He has the support of his fellow Wizengamot, and now of the country according to the waters of acclamation.
Edwin joined the Ministry in 1968, and has served for 43 years. He started out as an obliviator, and gained seniority. He served through the occupied years, and was instrumental in restoring the Department for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes after Voldemort was finally removed.
In 2000, he became Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. In 2002 he was made acting head following the ironically accidental death of the Department Head. He was sworn in officially six months later, as he was considered to be doing the job well. He has served 9 years in the post, and is one of the longest standing Department Heads since the second war.
His command on Level 3 has been unfaltering. He may not be popular with Level 2 and any other Department who sees fit to cause a catastrophe, but he runs a tight ship. He upholds the statute of secrecy, is a stickler for procedure and appropriate actions. The Department is efficient and trains a small army of interns and trainees each year, who then feed into other Departments as well as remain with his. Edwin has an excellent memory for names and this translates as appreciation for his staff. However, he is no pushover.
Edwin also serves on the wizengamot and nominated his opposition to become Minister. He has sat on many trials, alongside his duties as Department Head, and considers evidence carefully. He is well versed in wizarding law, and understands where the loopholes are and would like to close many with his influence. He is well respected, and generally his voting is just, though he can be biased on werewolf policy.
Edwin draws upon a lifetime of service, deep understanding of the laws and methods of the Ministry, and the public and internal support to become Minister.
Edwin represents wizarding kind, officially, in the British Government, though he would never be allowed to attend the House of Commons to represent his ‘constituents’ due to the statute of secrecy. He does, however, work with the British Prime Minister at times of crisis when the wizarding world may or has bled out into the muggle one. They meet irregularly to keep the Prime Minister informed.
He oversees the work of all the Ministry’s Departments. He chairs meetings, boards and panels relating to all manner of wizarding life, and chairs a regular Heads of Department meeting. He and the undersecretaries ensure that the wizarding citizens of Britain are well looked after, taxed correctly, kept safe and happy. He is also responsible for checking the Ministry manages its finances effectively, with the undersecretaries and staff dedicated to the holdings of the Ministry.
At an international level, Edwin represents Britain with other Ministries, in conjunction with former Minister Zephyr. He is in charge of high-level negotiations with other Ministries and representatives of wizards in foreign countries, in conjunction with his Departments as appropriate, most often the Department for International Magical Cooperation.
Ministerial Policies
Edwin’s policies are to uphold existing wizarding law - by holding the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to far greater account, and to pursue Zephyr’s attempt to increase transparency of the Department of Mysteries. He is looking to tighten restrictions on werewolves, review policies on other areas of wizarding life which threaten the statute. He is also open to reinstating dementors within Ministry control if it means they are kept in check and not a threat to the British population. He would also like to increase the number of witches in Level 1 undersecretaries and Department Heads.
Dementors
- Would prefer Ministry control of dementors to avoid the plague of 2009-2011.
- Would support them guarding Azkaban, but only as a last solution
Werewolves
- Sets strict and ambitious targets for Level 4 with regards to bites
- Pro strong penalties for unregistered werewolves, or werewolves who do not attend Ministry approved safehouses
- Would consider additional budget to improve safehouse security, but only if progress is made towards targets on existing resources
Full Moon Incidents (Dec 2011/Jan 2012)
- Establish a joint Full Moon Taskforce with DMLE, DMAC, WCU
- Cancel all non-urgent leave for relevant personnel
- Establish an acting Department Head promptly for Level 4
- Full investigation into Carter’s death led by DMLE supported by WCU
Praecantatio Deliquus
- Joint St Mungo’s and Ministry response with advice to the public as soon as possible
- St Mungo’s to have autonomy on investigation (Magical Bugs and Diseases to lead?) but Ministry to keep close tabs
- All known cases at hospital to be reported, plus encourage public to report other cases to assist in collecting data.
Musgrave
- Expedite case to court, public want to see action and finish
- Advise Wizengamot to reach harshest sentence
- Overrule St Mungo’s if necessary if Ministry intelligence suggests main aim of research already achieved
Unrecorded Criminal Actions
Pre Timeline
- Ministry Occupation- created catastrophes, attempted to help friends cover up deaths while they tried to survive command from Death Eaters
- 2000 - helped Morwenna Hopwood cover up a serious mistake as an obliviator
2010
- Worked with Mortimer Gamp (then Head of DoM) to source a suitable 'dark' wizard to attempt to control dementors [1]
- 28th July - Provided shelter to wanted wizard, Lawrence Musgrave in the wake of the Werewolf Games[2]
- 31st July - Met with Ira Almasy to plot the Remember, Remember attack on the Leaky Cauldron[3]
- 5th November - Assisted with the Remember, Remember attack while pretending to be as shocked as everyone else
- 6th November - Provided shelter to wanted wizard, Lawrence Musgrave, who was injured carrying out the Remember, Remember attack[4]
2011
- Commanded Lawrence Musgrave (supported by William Shufflebottom) to attempt to control dementors, supplying resources
- 2nd January - Met with Mortimer Gamp, Lawrence Musgrave and William Shufflebottom to discuss unsanctioned control of dementors[5]
- 4th January - Deception of a Ministry Official, Sameera Taylor investigating the Remember, Remember attacks[6]
- 12th January - Threats to William Shufflebottom and unauthorised obliviation of Gladys-May Shufflebottom[7]
- 14th February - Warns Mortimer Gamp and Lyra Gamp of the escape of their teenage test subjects in the Mischief Unmanaged plot[8]
- 23rd August - Blackmails Morwenna Hopwood (Head Obliviator) to obliviate incriminating memories from Lawrence Musgrave and obliviates her[9]
End of Career
At the end of 2012 Edwin’s luck ran out. Many of his underlings in the Ministry had been busy looking into his actions before he became Minister, particularly surrounding his relationship with Ira Almasy, Mortimer Gamp, William Shufflebottom and Lawrence Musgrave. His involvement with the Leaky Cauldron explosion, and being so complicit of Musgrave’s dealings with dementors were just two of the revelations the wizarding world heard about when it all came out.
Even Ministers have to answer for their crimes.
Potted Romantic History
Edwin has a reputation for being a bit of a skirt chaser before he became Minister.
Although unattached, Edwin is loving, and very gracious towards his female companions. He had hoped to be married, but has instead had a few longer relationships which haven't settled ultimately. He would very much like to settle down, even so late, and women with children already are not to be ruled out.
First romance: An undersecretary on level one, who he romanced with flowers and dinner dates, besotted with her as a young obliviator.
Former partners:
- Morwenna Hopwood [10] 1999-2000
- Morgana Hollingbury [11], [12], [13]
- Hester Iravani Feb-Oct 2012
Possible flings:
Notes:
- He was always rather smitten with Aisling Knight [19] but it was unrequited.
- There were rumours about his interest in the late Jacoba Schlagenweit who he got a job for in his Department
- Bidding for Miranda Storm in a charity auction[20] might not have just been to irritate Ignan Storm, until later [21].
- He was not above trying to flirt with Sameera Taylor even though she was investigating him [22]
- Darlus Scruffin, Deputy Editor of the Daily Prophet suggested Evangeline Kuester was Edwin's partner [23]
Other Odd Facts
- As he was born in the Muggle world, he has a National Insurance number, receives Muggle post, pays council tax and has a British driving license
- Edwin's Muggle cover is he is a member of Special Branch, to the point he claims he's on their payroll [24]
- He's more of a coffee drinker than tea [25]
- Doesn’t lunch. If he needs a break he leaves and walks somewhere alone. If he does have to lunch it is for strategic reasons. May be a member of a London club.
- Will always remember your name.
- His first job was for a Muggle newsagents, delivering newspapers when he was 12.
