Gilchrist Riordan
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| Gilchrist McCabe Riordan | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 29 June 1970, 48 |
| City of Birth | Antrim, Ireland |
| Blood status | Half-blood |
| Physical Information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair Colour | Sandy-blonde |
| Eye Colour | Hazel |
| Skin Colour | Tanned |
| Relationships | |
| Father | Glenn Riordan |
| |
| Children | |
| Education | |
| School | Hogwarts |
| House | Slytherin |
| Class of | 1988 |
| Occupation | |
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| Character Information | |
| Melissa | |
With a keen, strategic mind and a strong sense of ethical responsibility, Riordan makes for an efficient and impactful civil servant. While seen as a leader in Level Two, he is much less relatable as an individual. Those few he does take the effort to get to know, however, see him as a dedicated soul with a passion for helping others.
Physical Description:
Riordan has a rugged appearance which, if not maintained can quickly look unkempt. With more than a dusting of stubble and longer, shaggy hair, many who see him in his street clothes and casual attire would find it hard to consider him seriously. However, he fills out his dress robes and--on occasion--suits quite solidly, with a firm stance, impeccable posture, and a commanding presence.
Not one to be overly ornamental, Riordan's attire is kept clean and basic, with crisp pocket squares, smooth ties, and absolutely no headwear. Hats are detestable and belong only on aged men playing wizard's chess in the park or country hunters.
His coloring is golden: sandy-blond hair, hazel eyes, and tanned skin that alludes to an active lifestyle. Riordan is an ambitious man, and naturally takes to marathon and weight training. His figure--barrel-chested, but lean--is consistent with this.
Personality Description:
Riordan is a hard worker in all areas of life—and expects a baseline of competency and excellence in all he associates with. With those skills, you earn his tolerance in respect. Without them, he will ridicule, rib, and stonewall you. For this reason, he is sometimes seen as superior, intolerant, and stubborn. But it’s not that Riordan thinks less of you. It’s that he expects better from you.
Riordan is more reserved, quiet, and more inclined to watch a conversation than to actively participate in it, unless he feels he can be either of service or derive some benefit. On the whole, he considers constant communication of thoughts and emotions unnecessary. He shows up when he is needed, speaks out when it is necessary, but on the whole, is more inclined towards letting people manage their own situations, if they can.
Riordan’s known for his cool, collected demeanor--and more than a few people have been on the receiving end of a razor-sharp, acerbic wit at their expense. Bystanders to such conversations often give people cause for pause, and many a person has steered clear of him, assuming him to be cranky, displeased, or downright cantankerous.
However, the few that have gotten to know him would find a sincere and dogged determination to improve society, improve others lives, and to help those who may be struggling to find their way to carve out a path. Riordan is a strategic thinker, at heart with a strong moral conscience. His morality, however, is unconventional. He has been known to blackmail, use his position as the heart of Level Two to obtain--but seldom use--secrets of those who may stand in his way, and he has not always been above using this information for what he perceives to be the common good.
While he may approach a situation in a calculated and systematic manner that may appear compulsively organized, it is almost always with the object of being of use to what he views as the common good of the whole--be that his house, his family, his Department, or some other entity larger than himself. Riordan makes an active effort to reach out to those he thinks might be bullied--particularly within his own Department, having been on the receiving end of elitist ridicule in his early years at Hogwarts--a dynamic he would argue is still prevalent, lamentably, among grown adults.
History:
Gilchrist Riordan was born to a halfblood father, Ministry lawyer Glenn Riordan, and a Muggle mother. While Glenn Riordan was from a rather well-to-do wizarding family, his choice for a Muggle for a spouse led to considerable family friction, and by and large, Gilchrist Riordan did not spend much time with his wizarding relatives, instead spending time with the McCabe branch of his family. While this has allowed Riordan to feel fairly comfortable with Muggleborns and other halfbloods, it did make the wizarding world—particularly his Hogwarts years—a time of rough adjustment.
Upon attending Hogwarts, Often taken for being shy or timid, Gilchrist Riordan was often mercilessly teased for his shabby clothing, quiet demeanor, and book-worm habits.
Truth was, Roirdan was neither shy nor quiet. He was merely observing conversations, pinpointing weaknesses, and finding opportunities. A point which became vastly apparent when Riordan neither withered under perpetual hazing, and when he was able to soundly shut down an attempt at bullying from older classmate Alberic Grimm by threatening to reveal to teachers that he had been cheating on tests. To classmates, the cause of the dispute was unknown, but the outcome--a working relationship with one of Slytherin's most manipulative bullies, if even an odd sort of friendship--showed an enviable command of negotiation, probable blackmail, and valuable assets. Attributes which could only be admired among his Slytherin peers.
Over time, Riordan managed to work within his modest means to dress presentably, if plainly. His observant nature were admired almost as much as his biting wit, and he was well-liked among classmates--particularly after his fourth and fifth years, when he was a vital member of the Quidditch team. For his fourth and fifth years, Riordan played Keeper, doing a more-than-adequate job. Though certainly not the team's standout performer, he was a vital contributor to their two-year winning streak. He was a nearly the undisputed pick for team captain the next year.
However, with the added responsibilities as a prefect--an opportunity which came around in his fifth year--as well as ambitions in coursework, Riordan opted out of the team, which caused some harbored resentment amongst his classmates--particularly when their team lost the following two years. Still, Riordan was not wholly detested, particularly by several Hogwarts girls, who had begun to appreciate his good looks. While Riordan did not have any exclusive relationships at this time--beyond those lasting a handful of weeks--Riordan always had at least one or two interests to keep him busy.
Riordan's hard work at school—now without the distraction of the Quidditch pitch—paid off. Graduating with top marks, he found his transition to his selected career of lawyer was an easy one. His father, who had served as a lawyer for Magical Catastrophes, helped pave the way to his first job. Starting out, Riordan had to do his time as a legal intern on Level Two before finally rising through the ranks to join the Ministry’s prosecutors. With a subtle sort of charisma and determination, litigation was a natural fit, and Riordan came to be respected. In more recent years, as Riordan’s career has progressed, he transitioned gradually out of the courtroom and more into a counsel role, providing legal advice, preparing subpoenas and warrants, and coordinating other lawyers’ efforts on Level Two. When the position for Deputy Head opened up 3 years ago, Riordan was in a prime position to snatch the role up—which he did. Riordan did, however, acknowledge the disturbingly high turnover rate in Level Two: his handful of years as Deputy Head has seen no less than 3 Heads of Level Two. Even while benefitting from the frequent departures--which allowed him, as a rather young member of the Ministry, to reach a prominent role by 35--Riordan sees this as a sign that Level Two particularly faces some systemic issues that need to be rooted out and dealt with.
In the midst of this, Riordan met an attractive mediwitch, Elspeth. Although their courtship was short-lived and marked by passionate disagreements and even more passionate reconciliations, Elspeth informed him several months after their separation that she was expecting. While Riordan is not as engrained in his daughter’s life as her mother, Lenora, now 4 years old, has a caring father in Riordan, who sees her most weekends and who helps care for her in the summers. He is very doting about his daughter, but also very private. Few people not intimately acquainted with Riordan personally would know—or suspect—Riordan to be the fathering sort.
Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
The Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's role is primarily inward facing. While it the Head's role to ensure that external components of the Ministry and public are satisfied and aware of Level Two's activities--inquiries are addressed, any testimonies or hearings and updates are routinely disseminated--it is the Deputy Head's responsibility to ensure that the internal divisions and branches of Level Two are making fruitful steps towards meeting these needs.
For instance, recent developments within the Ministry have emphasized a need for transparency, accountability, and coordination between Departments. While the Head will work to collaborate and communicate with other Heads, the Deputy Head will help to develop then implement a strategic plan that would guide hitwizards, Aurors, and lawyers in their day-to-day routines in order to better meet those goals.
At present, Riordan's primary concern is ensuring that investigative actions are timely, and directly address not only traditional law enforcement needs, but also broadcast to the increasingly jaded public the efficiency of their taskforce. Specifically, this means Riordan will meet with individual supervisors to make sure projects are on-point and on-target for timelines. It will also mean that Riordan will discover and come up with solutions to any avoidable setbacks--such as a lack of funding and an inability to retain key personnel. One of Riordan's pet projects is succession planning, or making sure that with Level Two's high turnover rate, they do not lose key organizational knowledge.
Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Riordan has spent the whole of his Ministerial career on Level Two, and is familiar in this time with the inner workings of the department.
More important still, however, is Riordan's scientific and calculating mind, which is well-equipped to analyze trends within the department and implement calculated strategies to address weaknesses. With a highly-organized mind and sharp memory, he is a natural choice for a personnel manager, able to juggle multiple areas and tasks at once, while still maintaining an awareness of individual needs.
