xxx✑BASICS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
NICKNAMES Auggie, Augs, Tanzizi, Meylian, Xiaolian, Month-Boy (pen name: Tanzil Rosescythe)
GENDER Male
SEXUAL ORIENTATION Bisexual
AGE 23
BIRTHDAY August 25, 2032 --- Virgo
LANGUAGES English, Chinese (Mandarin), Bangla.
Rudimentary Taiwanese, Russian, German, Arabic, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, British Sign Language.
BLOOD STATUS Muggleborn
WAND Hazel with Ashwinder Ash core, 11 ½ inches, hard. Parts of the wood branch around a small, hollow ball just above the handle before merging again into the rest of the wand.
PATRONUS Ashwinder
FACECLAIM Aramis Knight > Aditya Roy Kapoor
HEIGHT 5'9" (175.3 cm)
WEIGHT 157 lbs (71 kg)
APPEARANCE Glasses; Small pen nib and sword tattoo on the inside of his left arm
xxx✑SCHOOL AND CAREERxxxxxxxxxxxx
ATTENDED Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
HOUSE Slytherin Head Boy and Prefect
CLASS OF 2050
CLUBS
■ Daily Dragon writer -- Editor in Chief (yr 7), Managing Editor (yr 4-6)
■ Language Club-- Captain (yr 5+)
■ Quidditch Announcer
O.W.L. SCORES
Astronomy~ O
Charms ~ O
Defense Against the Dark Arts~ O
Herbology ~ O
History of Magic ~ O
Potions ~ O
Transfiguration ~ O
Ancient Runes ~ O
Arithmancy ~ O
Ghouls and Ghosts ~ O
Muggle Studies ~ O
Mythology ~ O
Wizard Law~ O
N.E.W.T. SCORES
Charms ~ O
Defense Against the Dark Arts ~ O
Herbology ~ E
History of Magic ~ O
Potions ~ O
Arithmancy ~ O
Ghoul and Ghost Studies ~ O
Muggle Studies ~ O
Mythology ~ O
Study of Ancient Runes ~ O
Wizard Law ~ O
Other electives
Exam Thread
Apparation: (yr 6)Rather good. He got a minor splinch early in the spring semester, but for the most part August found he liked apparating much more than he ever liked Flying.
DREAM JOB Supreme Mugwump and Professor of Wizard Law. Secretly, he imagines that he’d also moonlight as a famous novelist.
CURRENT OCCUPATION
■ Professor of Wizard Law (starting 2055)
■ Member of the International Confederation of Wizards (British seats) (2050 - present)
xxx✑PERSONALITYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PROTECTIVE August is fiercely protective of people--particularly his family and friends. While he acknowledges that people make their own dreams and decisions, he is always worried about their safety and stability and tries to encourage them towards a safe and stable path.
CIVIL Never appear upset. August has been directed from birth basically to never appear anything but professional and polite to “outsiders”, to appear perfectly civil regardless of his actual thoughts. He may sometimes seem too unfettered and stoic, . Around his family he’s a little more expressive about irritation and opinions. His experiences at school have both strengthened this ability to keep perfectly civil and taught him to relax more around his friends..
DETERMINED Doggedly persistent, August has been taught that if he’s not getting what he wants, it only means he hasn't worked hard enough. There is always something more he can be doing to improve, and August is determined to be outstanding in everything he does. Respecting other perspectives and decisions doesn't mean liking them, and he is not shy about pushing forward his own opinions and rationales forward.
BITTER Despite his achievements at school and in the International Confederation of Wizards, August remains worried that he is just one failure away from ruin, and his occasional rebellious or reckless decision will end up ruining everything he works hard to build normally. While he trusts and is grateful for Rhea and his friends, August recognizes that he can be quite dense sometimes and completely miss things. He prepares assiduously, but sometimes is still the last person to realize how he feels about something. He takes it as a matter of course that, without guidance, people will fail to use the systems in place to their advantage-- and a growing fear that systems will fail people.
RESPONSIBLE Authority and rules exist for a reason and August respects and understands that authority, even if he doesn't always agree. He takes his assignments and commitments very seriously and tries to always be thorough, prepared, and punctual. Inspired in part by great mentors in his own life, August has taken a shine to mentoring and tutoring other students himself and feels a responsibility towards these mentees as well. As a new professor, he tries to be there for each and every student, even if he knows that is not always feasible.
STUDIOUS August keeps up a strict schedule of studying, supplementary reading and practicing. Even his extracurriculars he treated like classes, studying up on Quidditch like it was a class for announcing, or referencing textbooks to help write Daily Dragon articles. He delves into historical contexts eagerly, and masters theory as part of practicing more practical magic. August is most comfortable talking academics--particularly in Law, History, and Language. He sees great value in teaching, tutoring, and mentoring others, which las led naturally into his new position as a professor.
HOBBIES
■ Reading-- particularly historical and legal texts.
■ Writing stories-- primarily mystery and horror.
■ Ballroom dancing with Rhea
LIKES
■ Calligraphy
■ Spectacular landscapes, especially at sunrise or sunset
■ Foreign languages-- learning them, practicing them, having an opportunity to communicate with someone in their native tongue.
■ Tea
■ Peanut butter s'mores
DISLIKES
■ Dishonesty or disingenuity--If people were straightforward, honest, and genuine, he believes, then everyone could better do what they're good at and the world would be better. Unfortunately the world isn't like that.
■ Writer’s block--Writer’s block doesn’t exist, August insists, so whenever he gets it, he gets upset at every other possible circumstance that is preventing writing--time, studies, a completely inadequate quill, his own talent--anything.
■ Bodies of water
■ Running, sports, or anything that involves getting unnecessarily sweaty
■ Getting sick or being unable to work-- while rarely sick, when August has been sick he tends to be very sick. The inability to work frustrates him to no end, and the hilarity of compromised judgement insisting he can work only compounds that.
STRENGTHS
■ Keeping his emotions in check, or at least off his face.
■ Speed reading -- years of reading lots, reading quickly, and tutoring has made it easier to skim a text and understand it.
WEAKNESSES
■ Perfectionist-- August tends to exaggerate how much is expected of him and stress himself out with these illusions.
■ Overprotective-- August tends to overthink, and this can be overbearing to those closest to him or even intrusive to those more distant
DREAMS
■ Being a really powerful wizard that can clone himself into versions that work in tandem to take care of everything he needs and wants to do.
■ Of a little brick house in Scarborough with his wife, two kids, and two cats.
FEARS
■ Failing-- to live up to expectations, to do anything less than outstanding, failure in general.
■ Misguiding someone--his students, his friends, his family. The closer they are, the more August fears his own influence corrupting them.
xxx✑BACKSTORYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
✑EARLY CHILDHOOD
August was technically born in England-- his mother hadn’t even known she was pregnant when she accepted an international intellectual property law case in her home country. The case ran long, and she’d been mortified by the idea that the baby might impair her work. He didn’t, but she ended up having to stay in England to have the child. August was born late in the summer, and a week later they were on a flight back to Taiwan.
As a child, August spent at least part of every summer he could remember with relatives in England. His maternal grandparents in Scarborough were as strict as they were doting, and encouraged his writing as much as they emphasized his academics; he had everything he could possibly ask for, but was never without strict supervision. His aunt and uncle in London were more modest but adventurous; they talked to him about feelings and dreams and encouraged he play with his cousin and her friends--those moments were the only times he found himself truly without anyone breathing over his shoulder.
In school, August was noted to have knack for history and math. As a young child, he used to claim it was because a ghost told him stories. This claim was silenced very quickly, and even though August still believed in the “little voice” that kept him company in his room, he knew better than to say anything about it. But as partial result of preferring the company of the little voice, August didn’t have many close friends outside of family on the other side of the world. He got along well enough, if distantly, with his classmates, but there was always something he needed to be studying or practicing more urgently than hanging out.
Everything made sudden sense when a stately wizard delivered his Hogwarts letter a few months before his 11th birthday-- his aunt’s mysterious job, Sonora’s grandparents’ eccentricities, his own ghostly friend. When all skepticism and doubts were cleared, there was a short discussion whether he should attend Long Jiang School of Wizardry instead, but for the first time in his life, August rejected his parents' suggestion and insisted on going to Hogwarts. The night before he left to fly to England to spend the rest of the summer there and go to Diagon Alley, August’s father offered him tearful support, and even his mother didn’t seem to be angry. Nervously optimistic, August resolved to channel his dedication to his schoolwork into his magical studies.
✑SCHOOL YEARS
■ FIRST YEAR August's year was spent quietly studying up on the wizarding world and his new classes. Any other time was spent climbing the infernal staircases and trying to get to know his peers. He knew most people by name at least and picked up a few friendships along the way in the Daily Dragon. Quite unexpectedly, he became close confidents with the wild Lizzie Spektor. He was also surprised to be roped into Quidditch announcing, but if his mentor Ferdie said it would help, August was determined to see it through.
■ SECOND YEAR After a slanderous case where someone kicked Prefect Travers at the Opening Feast only to blame it on him, August was happy to make friends with Jeremy and learn more about wizarding law and governance. Otherwise, August spent the year continuing to work hard in classes and for the Language Club and Daily Dragon. He kept correspondence with Ferdie, sending short stories and calligraphy. After more than one instance of all-day Quidditch Announcing, he was much more comfortable with announcing.
■ THIRD YEAR August was quite surprised to welcome Rhea Lane to Slytherin and then to Quidditch Announcing with him and did his best to watch out for her in place of her oldest brother. He earned a reputation for recommending supplemental "light reading" to Rhea and her friends and prioritizing understanding of theory. Outside of this tutoring, August kept very busy with classes, clubs, studying, announcing and writing. Partially because of this, he was quite aggravated and disappointed that everyone around him seemed to be bitten by the "doki-doki-lovey-dovey" bug. Unfortunately, his solution that everyone needed more homework to stop thinking romance thoughts was not very popular or effective.
■ FOURTH YEAR August spent the summer helping to plant a garden of magical plants, tutoring, taking dance classes, and of course, studying. Back at Hogwarts, August was excited to be offered the Managing Editor position for the Daily Dragon and despite initial suspicions, actually enjoyed working with Jonah Lane. Between Daily Dragon, Language Club, tutoring, and of course "light" reading and the occasional Quidditch Announcing match, he was always busy, but still tried to be there for his young mentees, this year including Ferdie's younger brother Eion. He put a respectable effort into OWLs studying as well and decided that the year seemed to go by wonderfully-- when he wrote as much to Ferdie and Jeremy, they were both super supportive. That summer he was honored to be invited to Ferdie and Elisabet Delacroix's wedding.
■ FIFTH YEAR Adding prefect duties to his schedule in fifth year, August still spent as much time as he could studying and practicing for OWLs. His life was jolted early in the winter when, after a quiet evening dance, Rhea kissed him and confessed her feelings seriously. Although confused by what he should feel, August promised to at least acknowledge Rhea's feelings. The two went on a few Hogsmeade outings together-- not as dates, but just friends, and his thoughts were further muddled. Accordingly, he was very happy to take his own third year advice and assign himself extra reading and studying. Come OWLs, he was very prepared, very satisfied to earn all Os, and spent the rest of the school term very sick. Later when Rhea, who had insisted on taking care of him, also got sick, he returned the favor to take care of her. On the verge of asking her out properly, August hesitated when he started getting nightmares about a Rhea suffering because she was involved with him. Returning to Hogwarts sleep-deprived and confused, he knew only that he could not involve Rhea.
■ SIXTH YEAR The first half of August's sixth year was spent avoiding discussing feelings Rhea, which only made her more insecure and him more worried. After Winter Break, Rhea herself gave him the cold shoulder, which hurt even more. August buried himself in studying and tutoring, but his plants continued to suffer until Mallaidh had a very illuminating conversation with him. He wrote everything out to Rhea, asking her to save him a dance at the Valentine's Dance. The night of, after panicking that she had left the dance early, he caught her outside, confessed everything, and they agreed on a relationship. He was noticeably more at ease the rest of the year, took Rhea out on little Hogsmeade dates every two weeks at least. With his emotions sorted, his plants thrived.
Summer started with August's paternal grandfather dying. Thankfully, August and his cousins had left early enough to be with the old man in his final moments. Back in Taiwan for the first time since he started at Hogwarts, August caught up with family, which as he discovered, included the ghost from his bedroom. Of course, being himself, August leveraged his newfound connections to Chinese wizarding by enlisting in their help studying for NEWTs.
■ SEVENTH YEAR August's final year and tenure as Head Boy was marked by serious studying, organizing study parties, and mentoring younger students, particularly Margaux, Annie, and Sparrow, who would be taking over his clubs and quidditch announcing after him. He did his best to be there for Aldrick, who had lost his brother early in the year, and Aidene, who had become a vampire over Winter Break-- even if it just meant sharing notes for class or reminding them to rest. He punched Aldrick for getting Lizzie pregnant, but also redoubled his efforts to make sure both Lizzie and Aldrick were safe, healthy, and able to pursue their goals after graduation.
✑POST GRADUATION Immediately after graduation, August started as an assistant for the members of the International Confederation of Wizards, where he was able to leverage his multilingual skills and understanding of history for legal work. He was promoted relatively quickly to a member when a seat happened to open up. Most of his spare time was spent helping Lizzie and Aldrick get settled, doing extra reading for work, and getting back into creative writing. Once the school year started back up, August could be found at Hogsmeade every weekend he wasn't abroad to meet with Rhea or be there for his mentees.
After Rhea graduated, August went around to every member of the Lane family to solemnly ask for Rhea's hand in marriage. There was a bit of trolling involved, but finally, with everyone's blessing, he proposed. They were engaged early in Winter 2053. In Spring, Rhea had an accident while at work, which led to temporary retrograde amnesia. They spent the summer together, carefully making sure she recovered. She accepted his second proposal, and they moved in together shortly before finally getting married in Winter of 2054. They spent a magical few weeks at Disney World in America, and found out Rhea was pregnant before returning.
While they were gone, the Winchester Massacre killed much of his family in England, including his paternal uncle that he had seen more of than his own father. Grief quickly sobered the emotional high he had been on. August tried to help, but Wren, the new Head of the Winchester family and Foundation, stubbornly wanted none of his help. Instead, August buried himself in work, seeking comfort from Rhea, in Lizzie and Aldrick's twins, and comforting Sonora and his younger cousins in turn.
In the spring, hearing that his former Wizard Law professor was retiring, August applied as a professor and made plans to at least partially continue his work for the International Confederation of Wizards.
xxx✑RELATIONSHIPSxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FAMILY
■Wife Rhea Allison Lane-Li, dance instructor (halfblood)
■ Parents Rhimjhim Li, nee Amin, lawyer (muggle); Li Zexing, hotel owner (muggle)
■ Paternal Cousins Sonora Lane, cursebreaker; Wren Winchester, wandmaker; Sparrow Winchester, actress; Robin Winchester, responsible child; Flick Knapp Phoebe Winchester, curious egg.
FRIENDS
■ Best Friends Lizzie Spektor and Mallaidh O'Hannigan
■ Rival and close friend: Aldrick Knapp
■ Mentors Ferdie Delacroix in writing and announcing; Jeremy Travers in law and writing
■ Friends his year and older: Vinny Cloutier, Kam Hepburn, Aeryn Quinlan, Rodrick Ross, Orion Lane, Vespera Salazar
■ Mentees Eion Delacroix, Aidene Kieran, Brook Knapp, Yukon Knolle
■ Younger Students: Aubrey Hepburn, Margaux Héloïse Lévesque, Hailey Scheer, Annie Sheehan
■ Really want to punch, but also respect: Jonah Lane
xxx✑UPDATESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CREATED 6 September 2018
UPDATED 04 January 2022
UPDATES MADE
■ Updated to present for professor application.
■ Flavor text edits basically everywhere in personality.
■ Hobbies/ Likes/ Dislikes/ Fears edits
ACCEPTED BY 𝓖𝓻𝔂𝒇𝒇𝓲𝒆 01/09/2022
RECENT UPDATES ACCEPTED BY (signature here)
CREATED 6 September 2018
UPDATED 04 January 2022
UPDATES MADE
■ Updated to present for professor application.
■ Flavor text edits basically everywhere in personality.
■ Hobbies/ Likes/ Dislikes/ Fears edits
ACCEPTED BY 𝓖𝓻𝔂𝒇𝒇𝓲𝒆 01/09/2022
RECENT UPDATES ACCEPTED BY (signature here)