the wand!
apple wood, fwooper feather, springy, 8"
"Apple wood, what I know of it, anyway, is quite delicate. Mum's a bit of a plant enthusiast, obviously, just look at how I'm named. She was worried when my wand chose me—said it was dangerous to have such a weak wood for a wand. But it's my mum, she's entitled to worry, and to her credit, she knows me better than anybody else on the planet, probably. I'm a bit of a klutz, so that's probably something to do with her concerns. I know all about fwoopers, though. Their call drives you mad, after a bit, and they say that's what the feather does, too, in a wand. I don't feel quite crazy yet. Not quite sane, either, but that's to be expected, I s'pose. Elsewise, it's done right by me, my wand has."
the app !
NINE FAVORITES
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9.
flower – "Gerbera daisies. You can have regular daisies, sure, and the bright yellow against the white is nice. But I don’t want nice, I want
extraordinary. And you know, roses are so overdone. And they’re far too fancy. If a guy wanted to really win my heart, well… he’d do more than give me flowers. But I would rather have
a single orange Gerbera daisy than a dozen deep red roses. That would be a start."
8.
flavor – "That's difficult. I adore nut-flavored things because I'm not allowed to have nuts. Almond-flavor, especially, is a bit heavenly. I always envied children who could eat marzipan without the risk of certain death."
7.
scent – "I love
distinctive smells. "Coffee. Popcorn. Fabric softener. Cigar smoke. These are
smells that make memories, you know? I love that."
6.
meal - "I
adore sugar. It's terrible, awful, like anything you have too much of, but when I was traveling with my parents candy and sweet things in general were kind of a delicacy. Plus, as responsible adults, they tried to keep me away from junk food. Unfortunately when I went to Hogwarts I suddenly had quite easy access to all sorts of junk. My favorite, by far, are marshmallows. They're just so gooey and pillowy and delicious. I must have lived on fluffer nutters for a month during my fourth year. Those American muggle Easter candies, Peeps? I will never ever get tired of them. If the Dark Lord himself offered me a yellow duck-shaped Peep in exchange for my soul, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. And if you need to bribe me? Any sort of sweet will do."
5.
color – "Earth tones, I suppose, for obvious reasons. Deep greens. Maybe jewel tones as well? Can't go wrong with a nice… sapphire blue or garnet red. I suppose that answer makes it sound like most colors are my favorite. I can't imagine not being able to see color—I feel bad for dogs and other creatures who are colorblind."
4.
song – A tie between
"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey and
"Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.
3.
Quidditch team – "Puddlemere United! These veins bleed blue and gooooooooooooood! That being said, I would never in a million be able to
play the game of Quidditch."
2.
season – "Spring. That's probably do to with all the flowers blooming and animals in the mood for mating, which, as perverted as it might sound, is one of the best times to observe them. But it's quite temperate, as well, and I appreciate the necessity for only a light jacket. Traveling about as I did as a child, you learn to appreciate climate-related things at an early age."
1.
animal – "That is an unfair question and I have no fair answer for it. I love animals, period. They seem to be more practical than humans, and they make much more pleasant companions sometimes. Their needs are simply and uncomplicated and they ask very little of their human counterparts. Just food, and shelter, and affection—all things I'm willing to give in abundance if I'm approached correctly. Most creatures, even the brash and bestial ones, seem to have no trouble with me. Maybe it's a knack I picked up from my da."
EIGHT THINGS TO DO BEFORE SHE DIES
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8. witness the death and subsequent birth of a phoenix
7. visit the states, San Diego in particular (they have a quite impressive zoo)
6. learn to speak gobbledy gook
5.
ride a hippogriff
4. understand parseltongue
3. work in Romania with the dragons for at least a year
2. acquire a first-edition copy of
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a gift for my father
1. go to Africa during erumpet mating season.
SEVEN RANDOM FACTS
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7. "I was named after my mum's favorite plants. She's a pureblood witch and she excelled at herbology when she was here at Hogwarts. I think she was even in the running for Herbology professor for a bit, but she didn't like the idea of being stuck behind a desk when she could be out exploring and discovering new plants and uses for them, both magical and muggle. She's a bit amazing, to me, and I love her to death. But Juniper Amaryllis isn't exactly the most… approachable of names. Still, she's the reason I can tell you the meaning of each flower in the Victorian
"Language of Flowers" and breezed through herbology when I was in school. And out in the brush, it's good to know the difference between mint and poison ivy."
6. "For a whole six months, I was determined to work at the Ministry of Magic. Da's worked for them for years in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as a 'field expert.' He does all the traveling nobody else wants to do to check in with different departments around Europe and Asia and even sometimes in the States. He fancies himself a real dyed-in-the-wool student of Newt Scamander—carries
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them about like a Bible and he's just so passionate about being in the dirt and up close with the creatures he studies. I got a lot of experience with creatures I wouldn't have otherwise even known at my Da's insistence. But he was always so
frustrated with the way the Ministry treated him and other 'field' agents that after really thinking about it, I decided I wanted a career that would be slightly more rewarding, even if only in small private ways—like knowing I've taught someone something."
5. "There have been muggle studies done on jet lag and how long it takes to adjust back to regular time. We did a lot of traveling via apparition, but also a good deal the old-fashioned way. I never really grew up on a 'regular time.' We traveled so much the lines blurred together so now I'm on my own clock with my own schedule and that doesn't include a lot of sleep, unfortunately. I get a lot of things done at night; plenty of good baking and reading and on occasion, drinking. I can go days on little-to-no sleep. It's not exactly the prettiest sight, but it happens fairly often. When I was younger, my parents knew the telltale signs and would give me warm milk and put me to bed. Nowadays… well, I'm up until I'm not. And then I can go days dead to the world, if no one wakes me."
4. "I am deathly allergic to nuts and seeds. There are treatments for this kind of thing, especially in the wizard world, but it's always scary to realize you suddenly can't breathe because that hamburger bun had a single sesame seed on it. Much better to be safe than sorry, in this case."
3. "I have a fairly strong stomach for most things—when you grow up traveling in some pretty rough conditions, you learn to understand the world is not necessarily a pretty place all the time. One thing I've never been able to stand, however, is
blood. The sight, the smell, even the
thought of blood makes me queasy."
2. "Most of the time, when I was caught, I would blame my wand. It's the fwooper feather that makes it so unpredictable. Actually, though, I just had a talent for jinxes while I was a student here. It's difficult to avoid being made fun of when you're a walking encyclopedia of plant and animal information and… well, I wasn't interested in being a target. It was all in good fun, of course—a few pig snouts on some unkind faces, things like that. Still, outside of magical creatures, jinxes remain my specialty."
1. "I am a vegetarian. This is partly to do with my severe dislike of blood and partly with the fact that I work with animals every day. Sometimes they're better friends to me than real people are. The idea that they're also slaughtered and eaten is… uncomfortable, for me. I don't expect everyone else to have the same standards and I certainly don't mean to lecture anybody on how poorly animals bred for eating are treated. I just choose not to partake—though on occasion I will have fish and chips. We all have our weaknesses."
SIX NOTABLE INJURIES
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6. broken arm, left – "Fell unconscious on rocky terrain in Russia when attacked by a pogrebin."
5. partially blinded in one eye, right – "Poked by a bowtruckle when I was nine, trying to collect aspen leaves for my mum."
4. cracked clavicle, right – "Fell out of a tree trying to catch a glimpse of a snidget."
3. second degree burns, both ankles – "Accidentally apparated into a box of fire crabs."
2. three fractured fingers – "Slammed in a desk drawer."
1. scalded lungs – "Mixed a potion terribly wrong during third year and inhaled some extremely hot smoke."
FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS
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5. nomadic – "My parents traveled the world as…well, scientists for lack of a better description. They collected samples of plants and observed magical creatures for their respective careers. They were quite brilliant, and didn't feel the need to stop their work just because they had a child. I was actually born in Switzerland right before a lecture my mother was going to give on the rare and beautiful ghost orchid. Anyway, I spent only the first year of my life in Dublin, my father's home town, before they were on the road again, with me in tow. I was toilet-trained on their trek across Asia. For a lot of my pre-Hogwarts life I was home-schooled, as much as home was ever an actual home. It was a bit Indian Jones-y, if you're familiar with any of those muggle films. The point of all this is, I got very used to picking up and moving every few months and it wasn't until I went to Hogwarts that I actually settled down and stayed in one place for more than three months. It was difficult, though, and sometimes it's still hard, staying in one spot. My body wants to be elsewhere, and gets nervous with too much of the same place."
4. resourceful - "Growing up constantly traveling, you learn to use what's on hand. My parents, renowned in their fields, decided they wanted to help the world by traveling—a lot of which occurred in third-world countries. It would probably be a culture shock to most people, but I had never known anything else, really, so when I wanted something, I learned to make use of what was available. Now, even though I have more convenient amenities than I know what to do with, I still find myself using bare minimum most of the time, and making do with what's in my immediate vicinity rather than going off to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley to buy the actual thing I need. Old habits."
3. affectionate - "Not
overly affectionate, I was raised mostly British, after all. The stereotype that we're only affectionate with dogs and horses is only a tiny exaggeration. Though I have always known my parents loved me, they rarely ever showed it physically. Pats on the shoulder and on the head, a hug every once in a while when I was desolate. I think it's that reason more than anything else that I sort of revel in contact. I like to be touched, and I like to touch other people. I'm aware of personal space and I've never been accused of crowding someone who did not welcome the attention. But with close friends, especially, there exist very few boundaries."
2. clumsy – "To be kind, I
lack grace. It’s no fault of mine that I’ve some sort of magical gravitational pull that happens to knock things about and push me to the floor at inopportune times. The rest of my skills certainly make up for the fact that I will undoubtedly meet my doom because I've accidentally walked off a cliff."
1. intelligent - "I've always hated this word. From the roots
inter-, meaning 'between' plus
legere, to 'choose, pick out or read.' It forms the Latin
intelligere 'to understand.' Someone who is intelligent, then, is simply someone who understands something. And it's not that hard to understand something, as long as it's explained succinctly. It's interpretation that I'm really interested in. Nonetheless, for academic and social purposes, I have, on occasion, been called intelligent. It's true; I have a deep understanding of a lot of things. But I think what they really mean is 'educated,' which really isn't the same thing at all. I don't know. Intelligence denotes some sort of superiority, as does education, at least in that context. I don't want to be superior to anyone. I'm just… interested in knowing things. If that makes sense."
FOUR ITEMS CARRIED AT ALL TIMES
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4. pocket watch – "I get… anxious, when I don't know what time it is. I can't explain why, really, I just like to know the exact time."
3.
moonstone necklace – "Passed down from my mother's mother's mother. Honestly? There must be about a million anti-breaking charms on this thing, for as many times as it's been stepped on and sat on and slammed up against something else. But I even wear it in the bath. Mum said it's for protection. I'm sure that's a bunch of bollocks, seeing as I'm in the infirmary every other day, but it was the thought that counted."
2. bruise healing paste – "I was not a thrilling potions student, but I learned and perfected this by my second year. I'm more than a little bit clumsy and my more notable injuries are nothing in comparison to the things I bump into and trip over on a daily basis. It's just easier to carry a jar of bruise-healing paste with me. Less visits to the hospital wing."
1. baked good – "This is a slight extension of my love of sweets, but I made extremely good—and rule-breaking—use of the kitchens when I was still a student here at Hogwarts. I figured if I was going to be eating so many sweet things, I may as well learn how to make them. And I became a popular study-buddy once people realized I always brought cookies or cupcakes as incentive. Even as a professor, now, I offer treats as incentive. Plus, it's always nice to just… give someone something scrumptious to eat."
THREE THINGS THAT IRK HER
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3. shoes – "I hate them. I would rather be barefoot for the rest of my life than have to squeeze my feet into something tight and uncomfortable. Even the most comfortable, breathable shoes (which I am convinced are made by Nike and require no socks) are still such a hassle. Don’t even get me started on high heels. Even if they do make my calves look AMAZING."
2. transfiguration – " I don’t believe in it. I mean, of course I believe in it; I’ve seen it, I’ve done it. But I don’t like the concept that we can command something to be something other than what it is. If you want a needle and you’ve got a matchstick… then go get yourself a needle. I know it’s all about convenience, in the end, and perhaps a little about showing off, but honestly. Transfiguration is the reason blood status was such a big deal when our grandparents were going to school. All these pureblood needles wanted those matchsticks to either become needles, or be caught on fire. But matches are useful in their own right. Anyway, it was probably my worst subject because I dislike the theory of it."
1. liars – "What, you want the truth? You’ll always get it with me. Lying is an unnecessary detour from the things that probably most need to be said anyway. It's insulting to be lied to. I’m not insensitively blunt, but I will tell you what I think if you ask my opinion. And no doubt, I have an opinion. And I will stick by it until you give me something better. My mother has a saying “I’m never wrong, I just change my mind.” I change my mind a lot. But I will never, ever lie to you."
TWO LEGITIMATE FEARS
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2. Flying – "I’m not
afraid of heights. Or falling. I fall every day, really, that's nothing new, and most fall-induced injuries can be easily corrected in the wizard world. I like having control over my heights. I can't work a broom to save my life—it's true, my flying teacher actually banned me from the class after the first week because of how many injuries I had incurred myself and caused to other students. I like to be on top of things, in a position to have a view. I
love rooftops. But again, I have control over that height. Flying is something else all-together, I can't believe those muggles ride in heavier-than-air flying machines and trust them."
1. deep water – "I've come quite close to drowning more than a few times. It's one of the risks of always being out in the wild and following around someone whose job it is to poke magical creatures. I was lured into a bog by a hinkypunk when I was still a toddler and caught and half-strangled by a kappa at age seven. And perhaps I did a few less-than-intelligent things during my first year at Hogwarts involving the Black Lake and the grindylows. Either way, I do my best to stay away from anything deeper than a kiddy pool."
ONE ENTIRELY TELLING PHOTOGRAPH
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JACKS, JUNIPER AMARYLLIS, twenty-seven, staff, rachel mcadams
