Kitra Rune Donoghue

Backstory

FAMILY HISTORY:

Both of my parents were Slytherins by blood, but my mother had been sorted into Ravenclaw when she went to Hogwarts. My father was a shoe in for Slytherin. Our family history had an odd twist though. We were Donoghues, Celtic by ancestry, spread across the islands from Germany to Britain. When Salazar Slytherin married his wife, Dalena, held different ideals than her husband. Salazar had favoured only those with pure blood as he feared for the safety of the magical communities, but as a result many muggles were looked down upon and mistreated by later generations. Dalena, had her own mind set about the ways to be most successful.

She agreed that Slytherins had the most strategic and cunning personalities, but as she watched three generations pass from children, to grandchildren, and then great grandchildren, she grew saddened by the state of the Slytherin house. The children and the family lines that had created the house seemed to rely more and more on their status than their cunning.

Dalena’s youngest grandchild, Keaton, had adored his grandmother and seemed to remain a bit distant from the rest of his family. He was more pleasant, he smiled and was kind to others and viewed everyone as equals. Keaton and Dalena found many places of common ground in their ideals as they both grew older.

Several long nights were spent between Dalena and Keaton discussing their… unique standpoints and if the other Slytheirn lines found out as their plans were forming, they would most likely be cut off immediately. They needed to bide their time before something drastic occurred.

Keaton and Dalena wrote a letter that had been passed down through the generations:


To the selected recipient of the Slytherin line at age nine,

If people believe you to be something different, whether it be a different house or even a Muggle, you’re undoubtedly living up to what we’ve meant for you to be, dear child.

Be a chameleon. If we Slytherins are snakes, make it so that not even their prideful craftiness can see through your quick adaptability, your changing colours, or your ability to see things from many perspectives at once.

You are Slytherin, no doubt, but you’re much better in fact… because you can be everything or nothing in an instant. You are not bound by house. You are hidden. You have every potential to be much craftier, much kinder, and much braver. You do not rely on your family name alone. You thrive within your mind and every interaction, every place, every habit is an important piece on a chess board. Every smile, every time you help someone without expecting something in return, every time you stand up for what you believe in… Slytherin is your home, but you can be its master.

Chameleons and Snakes. We are not set against one another. We are one house. United! Do not shun another house or leap to conclusions. You’re far too wise to rely on family history, appearance or size alone. Do not be blinded. You have eyes that can see things that others can’t, a heart that you keep hidden that feels more than you would ever tell, and ears that
understand more than others anticipated. Do not be afraid to blend into the background, but neither be afraid to let your mind, your determination, or your desire for adventure free. Nothing binds you, my dear chameleon. Remember who you are, who your family is, and then use them all to your advantage as best you can, but remain kind and honourable unless you deem that harsh actions are the right thing to do. Analyse everything.

All my love to you, my future son or daughter. You are extraordinary.

~ Dalena Shae Rune Slytherin

Before Dalena died, she asked very specifically to meet with Keaton and no one else. The other members of the family grew angry thinking that Dalena was giving Keaton a larger portion of the estate, a bigger amount of cash than the rest, when in fact she simply took his hand. They both looked one another in the eyes and smiled.

“Chameleon, Keaton… Chameleon. Raise your children to be something… unexpected.”

“I would like to change my last name, Ma.” Keaton said with a smile.

Dalena looked at him worried “My child, you’ll be kicked from the family line for sure.”

“May I take your maiden name? Donoghue? As it is a pure line as well, simply less well known.”

Dalena’s sad laugh broke out and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, my dear Keaton… Please do. Even if they do not accept you, your line is pure. It will not be recorded in the history books, and you may not be remembered, but never forget what we have done.”

“I could never.” Keaton said with a grin as he held her hand and she smiled before drifting away.





SORTING:

I felt my throat tighten and my stomach feel like it was going to uproot itself and spill from my insides. A chemical rush sent through my brain and out to my limbs like fire and electricity, a brief wave of nausea as I heard “Kitra Donoghue.”

My facial expression tore itself from a worried state where it had been rooted on the greeting from the Slytherin house that the other students sorted there so far had gotten, and now returned to its regularly scheduled iron vice gaze of authority. I forced my brain to turn off all the emotional things that I possibly could and ignore the stomach acid that rose in my throat as I walked toward the stool. I sat on the chair and my heart was pounding in my ears, but my breath was slow and even. I looked down at the floor for a moment before I raised my gaze to meet the remaining first years standing before me.

My exterior was poised, controlled, authoritative, calm… my interior was worse than a dance party during an earthquake.


'You’re awfully tense… Something tells me it isn’t just nervousness that has you so wound up.' I heard it say with a gentle but amused sounding voice.

'Yes.' My mind replied simply.

'Give me a few moments. I want to see some things.'

I sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. I let my gaze drift back to the floor, but I never lost my poise. I breathed in and out as the silence continued. Had it been an hour yet?

'You have the desire to learn of Ravenclaw, but I don’t think you’re as excited about competing for book smarts… You like different kinds of intelligence.'

'Correct'

'I have two thoughts and I’d like to hear your opinion. Gryffindor and Slytherin are the two I’m struggling to pick between. I’m rather torn.' It said with a chuckle.

'Without announcing it aloud, what do you find suits me best?' I asked trying to perhaps buy some time.

'That… is the entire problem.' it replied knowingly.

'Slytherin. I voiced bravely. I would like to be in Slytherin.'

'You would choose Slytherin… I see.'

'I have something to accomplish at this school, sir and I know what house would give me the greatest opportunity. I want to help re-engineer the minds of my fellow students.'

'That… right there was the only thing I needed to hear.'

“SLYTHERIN!”


A huff of air escaped my chest like I had been holding it in. The hat was taken off of my head and I swallowed. I stepped down off the stool and my throat felt tight. I wanted to scream. I turned to look back at the hat and I offered it a THANK YOU smile, I didn’t know if it could see me, but I had the feeling it knew I was thankful. When I sat down at the table one of the older members looked up from his pad of paper and stopwatch and whispered to me "Five minutes, 23 seconds..."




OTHER DETAILS:

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the problems therein were many years in the past, a few generations at least.

Raised as a muggle despite blood purity. Removing oneself from the influence of muggles only leaves a gap in understanding and opportunities to learn. Being a part of it in some ways brought another advantage as far as the Donoghues could figure. A decision the ancestors surely would have been impressed by.

INTJ-A <- to those of you who would understand that reference, good on you.

Research specialises in animal behaviour. I work with whoever needs help at the time, whether that's the magical community or the muggle communities as I have a place in both.
This is my dream job and it takes me to many interesting places.

What is the most interesting thing about magic? It's a science that I can't see the mechanics of. I love psychological matters and magic is psychological, mechanical, chemical, and physical... all of these technically synonymous yet very different aspects of nature. How else would it be more interesting? To have the opportunity to pull apart a mechanism you can't see the inside of or possibly ever understand wholly. How endlessly fascinating! Also, everything here is mostly just living in my imagination anyway so of course I adore it.

My goal with any science that I learn is to help others with it... while of course being a scientist and competing with other scientists to find something influential before anyone else does.

I have a dog back home. It always makes me laugh that dogs aren't considered magical creatures and yet so many people can turn in to them or have a patronus of a dog in some form. I think the reason dogs were deemed non-magical creatures was from the endless frustration of the first wizards who used wands, finding their dog sitting on the floor with their owner's wand between their paws and half the tip missing... While I travel about though, I have a melanistic guinea pig. Melanistic means that all his skin pigment is solid black. I named him Lucio which is patronymic from the Latin name Lucius, a derivative of lux ‘light’. because... come on... irony.



POTTERMORE DETAILS:
Results stated here are from both accounts I have there.

Ilvermorny houses:
Pukwudgie & Wampus:

Pukwudgie favors healers
Wampus favors warriors


Patronus:
Chow Chow dog & Thestral

Fun info:
The pottermore patronus test asks you to think of your happiest memory while you're taking the test (of course). I tried that the first year I was on the site (result Chow Chow), but the memory was difficult to keep in my head throughout the test. The end result described my personality fairly well anyway, but it was a surprising result.
The next time I took the test at least a year or so later, I was on the phone laughing with someone I love and got the result of Thestral. I consider the Thestral result to be more accurate than the Chow Chow simply because of the state of mind I was in when I took the test. I was truly happy when I took it that time whereas previously, I had been more focused on attempting to click quickly or read all the questions as fast as possible; that is to say, I'd been more concerned with the process than I had with any happy memory. In addition, in the HP universe, I would be able to see them anyway...

I'll include descriptions of both below:

Thestral description:
Thestral is a breed of winged horses with a skeletal body, face with reptilian features, and wide, leathery wings that resemble a bat's. They are very rare, and are considered dangerous by the Ministry of Magic. Thestrals are, undeservedly, known as omens of misfortune and aggression by many wizards because they are visible only to those who have witnessed death at least once or due to their somewhat grim, gaunt and ghostly appearance.

Their fleshless, lustrous bodies are covered with a translucent and glossy coat. This smooth and dark skin is a bit slippery and so thin that Thestral's bones are clearly defined through the entire extension of their sleek bodies. These eerie horses have long black manes, as well as a large tail, either with flowing black hair like horses, or ending in a tuft like zebras. Another distinction is their sharp fangs used to seize and slash their prey. These winged beasts are very capable and fast fliers and can travel long distances hardly beating their large wings. It is possible that they were faster than even the fastest broomstick.
The Thestral tail hair is a powerful and tricky substance that can be mastered only by a witch or wizard capable of facing death. It should be noted that this substance can be used as a core in a wand's conception and it was used to create the most powerful wand known by wizards, the Elder Wand.

Thestrals are carnivorous animals and are attracted to the smell of blood. Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank mentions that they often attack birds. This indicates that, naturally, they hunt not only for food in the ground, but also pursue flying prey.
Thestrals are social creatures who live in herds. Professor Rubeus Hagrid states that they are "dead clever", and, in fact, trained Thestrals are smart enough to understand their rider's words when they ask to travel to a specific location.

Due to Thestrals' classification as XXXX, only experienced wizards (or Hagrid) should try to handle Thestrals. Breeding as well as owning these beasts may be discouraged or even illegal without Ministry consent; in fact, wizards that live in areas not protected against Muggles are forced by law to perform Disillusionment Charms on their Thestrals regularly.

The Thestrals that live within the Hogwarts grounds, in the Forbidden Forest, are properly fed and well trained. They don't attack other creatures or students unless seriously disturbed. They appear to be loyal creatures, able to discern a friend from an enemy. The Hogwarts herd is gentle towards humans, they react satisfactorily to caresses and avoid attacking owls. However, taking into consideration the Ministry of Magic classification as "dangerous", this behaviour may be exclusive to well-trained Thestrals.

A Thestral is also one possible corporeal form of the Patronus Charm; although, it is one of the rarest.



Chow Chow description:
This dignified, serious dog with the lion-like ruff and scowling expression is a true introvert.

Chow Chows must be accustomed to people at an early age so that their territorial instincts are properly discriminatory.

Naturally clean, quiet, and mannerly in the home, he is an impressive companion if you can establish a relationship of mutual respect, i.e. admiring his strong-willed independent character while consistently enforcing household rules so that he respects you, as well.

Though he usually minds his own business unless provoked, many Chow Chows can be aggressive with other dogs of the same sex. Some have strong hunting instincts and can be predatory with cats and tiny dogs.

Obedience training will go nowhere if you use "jerking" methods -- this proud breed will either shut down or retaliate. Chow Chows cannot be forced to do anything.

He's also dignified and aloof, as befits a breed that was once kept in imperial Chinese kennels.

He's not really fond of being hugged or fussed over, but he'll be a quiet, attentive companion to his favourite person, and his loyalty extends to other family members.

The Chow Chow is an imposing character thanks to his bellowing bark and scowling expression. They originated in China and were used to hunt everything from pheasant to wolves and were commissioned to guard boats and pull carts of cargo. Today the Chow still makes an excellent guard dog, and when treated with love and respect, is himself a loving and respectful companion who tends to attach deeply to one or two members of his family. Chows are an aggressive breed, fiercely protective of their people and property.


Wand: Exact same result on both accounts even though tests were taken nearly a year apart.
Rowan wood, Unicorn hair core, 14" length, Slightly Springy flexibility.

Rowan:
Rowan wood has always been much-favoured for wands, because it is reputed to be more protective than any other, and in my experience renders all manner of defensive charms especially strong and difficult to break. It is commonly stated that no dark witch or wizard ever owned a rowan wand and I cannot recall a single instance where one of my own rowan wands has gone on to do evil in the world. Rowan is most happily placed with the clear-headed and the pure-hearted, but this reputation for virtue ought not to fool anyone - these wands are the equal of any, often the better, and frequently out-perform others in duels.

Unicorn hair core.
Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuation and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate for this) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may 'die' and need replacing.

14":
Most wands will range between nine and fourteen inches.

Slightly Springy flexibility:
Wand rigidity denotes the degree of adaptability and willingness to change possession by the wand-and-owner pair, although, again, this factor ought not to be considered separately from the wand wood, core and length, nor of the owner's life experience and style of magic, all of which will combine to make the wand in question unique.




Let it be notated that Slytherins can desire the best for other people and while quiet, deeply intellectual, and possibly appearing arrogant because of that intellect and quiet nature, they are also kind and severely care for those close to them; however, we aren't afraid to call you out if you're doing something stupid, especially if it puts others in danger... but Slytherin is not synonymous with darkness and hostility.

I know several Slytherins (including myself) that several people thought we would be Hufflepuff simply because of how down-to-earth, genuine, and kind we were when speaking with them... Plus, from Kitra's story and from my own personal opinion... if other people can't tell you're a Slytherin... that's when you're really doing it right. If we're so cunning and can talk our way into anything, shouldn't we flexible, able to be the chameleons? Not the marble statues in the courtyard...


Also, if you've gotten this far down into the back story, which hardly anyone ever does, I'll reward you with some things about me. As you can see in the upper most portion of my profile, I'm from Great Britain. I was born in Sussex, but currently am in the United States. So, there's a bit of fun. Imagine everything I say in a Britishesque accent and there you go! I am an animal behaviour research scientist, happily married to a computer geek, INTJ. I'm a hobbyist writer if I ever make the time. I am also a proud Christian and an INTJ. Yes, we do exist.

I love helping people out who just join the site, especially if they would like any assistance with their classes. I won't tell you the answer, but I can definitely show you some quick ways to find the information for yourself.

Also, I do love to write role plays with other people, but after so many years of role playing with younger people online, I do tend to be a bit picky about who I continue writing with, so if I end up dropping off the radar, please don't be offended. It also has to do with the fact that I actually have things I need to get done and writing is usually not at the top of that priority list.

All in all, it's a pleasure to meet you and I hope you enjoy the sarcasm you find here.

- Author of Kitra (common username of mine: Whoever I Am To You)