Accepted! ~Elle

Your Nickname: Nuri
Have you read and do you agree to the Code of Conduct?: Yes
How did you find us and decide to write with us? Friend
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Balfour Spectre, Dietrich Eisenberg, Ira Almasy, Roger Lemon, Arthur Lemon, Rascal Rosier.
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary





Physical Description:

Raine Almasy, standing upright in her typically confident bearing, is 5’4’’ precisely and unlikely to grow any further in the years to follow. If you take into account her fiery curls on an especially humid afternoon, perhaps even 5’6’’ - although she has lately been in the habit of wearing her hair in long, loose waves.

Once you get past the intimidating demeanor, you might notice that Raine has a kind of prettiness about her; approximating best a maiden stepping past the threshold of a Waterhouse portrait. The resemblance ends there: she is not static in the least.

If anything, she is the exact opposite. Raine likes to keep busy and she likes to do this with frighteningly competent efficiency - it shows in her restless, confrontational body language. Once a polite, restrained witch, she has since grown in personality to become an alarming and often unpredictable figure irregardless of setting: duelling stage, quidditch pitch, ballroom floor. But all the while still quite elegant; a strict Governess’s upbringing cannot be so easily lost. Raine was raised for high society.

Her mannerisms are most relaxed around close friends and trusted teachers. Perhaps even languid; reflective of the lithe, feminine energies advocated by aristocratic Almasys in bygone eras. Similarly, she speaks with the cadence and wit of a superior station - complimented rather obnoxiously by a decisive voice and patronising expressions.

Raine appreciates clothes of a refined and polished nature; she isn’t afraid to procure the best in either muggle or wizarding design. Her wardrobe comprises of exceptionally feminine attire, touched by minimalist or masculine influences.


Personality Description:

For all her acerbic one-liners and blatant disregard for rules, Raine finds it difficult to obfuscate the kindness that ultimately defines who she is as a member of wizarding society. It is no secret that she aspires to be an Auror.

Her sister’s death at the hands of a Purist madman has only served to further the ambition.

Physical orderliness and discipline plays a large role in The Gryffindor’s everyday routine, as once-Captain of the Quidditch Team and a champion fencer in the muggle realm. She often uses her routines as an escape from the more pressing issues of her disturbed psyche, having never completely healed from losing her twin. Raine suffers a mild form of PTSD: infrequent nightmares, sleep walking, anxiety attacks.

Outside of her obsessive resolve, she can be quite approachable. Her exterior is calm and indifferent. Certainly more welcoming than the louder dispositions of other social ringleaders. She is critical of people in a detached and objective manner but never judgemental without provocation. Getting on her bad side is inadvisable and patently outweighed by the benefits of being her friend. Raine is extremely protective of the people she trusts - and just as importantly, she is always open to new exploits.


History:

You enter this world alone, and you die alone: this is a sad fact of life.

Unless you have a twin. Raine and Sanya Almasy began their lives together as a single narrative. They were born to Roman and Eliza Almasy. The former, a bastard son of an aristocratic Purist clan in Moscow. The latter, a muggleborn witch. They were a prosperous family who occupied an opulent home in the altogether uneventful village of Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

The Almasy Clan is a pureblood matriarchal Russian family whose historical roots can be traced back centuries, mingling with the aristocratic pedigrees of other European lineages - namely those of Hungary, Slovakia, France and Germany. Contemporary strains of the clan reach as far as Morocco and North Africa.

Incidentally, as twins are considered good omens by the Almasy Clan, the rift between Roman and his extended family was healed by the incidental fact that his daughters had developed as separate embryos from a singular zygote. To present day, Roman and his family enjoy excellent relations with the rest of the clan.

In addition to their daughters, Roman and Eliza were also blessed with the company of the girls’ inscrutable aunt: Ira Almasy.


CHILDHOOD

Raine and Sanya were brought up with no expense spared to their classical education. They went nowhere without one another, but managed (even under the tutelage of a single unpleasant governess) to develop separate interests.

By the time they came of age to enter Hogwarts, Raine had achieved her first title as a young fencing Champion. Sanya was an excellent ballet dancer. Both witches spoke fluent Russian and French, as well as passable Italian. They were exposed to muggle elements but rarely dabbled in modern devices. Music was a highlight of their lives and they were tutored in separate instruments with the sole emphasis of being able to play duets with one another. Nothing could part them at this point of their life.


HOGWARTS

Nothing except for the Sorting Hat.

The Hat may have hesitated a fair share before throwing Raine to the lions but it had barely grazed her sister’s head when the shout rang across the Great Hall: “RAVENCLAW!

Upon which their single narrative instantly split into two. The twins led lives independent of one another while at school, although not entirely. They still took meals together and shared a subset of friends who were able to look past the identical exteriors, recognising the highly distinct personalities underneath. Raine was by far the more forward, protective sibling: she finished every argument that Sanya began and had lost Gryffindor more than their fair share of points by instigating a duel with anyone who had a negative thing to say about her better half.

After their third year at Hogwarts, the Almasy girls made a new acquaintance in Oxfordshire. An older squib named Roger Lemon entered their lives. He swept them away with his charming, robust accent and continual cussing. And also with the irony of his situation -  a poor pureblood with no magic (themselves being wealthy halfbloods practically emanating witchcraft). Every vacation from that summer on, the trio was inseparable. Raine was the object of Roger’s romantic affections (mild as they were) and Sanya, his closest friend.

The attachment was predestined for tragedy.

In the summer of 2009, a mentally unstable and Purist relative came to live with Roger’s family. His name was  Arthur Lemon and he was later to be convicted for the murders of several muggles in the Oxfordshire county - alongside the murder of Sanya Almasy.

It was Sanya’s murder that led to the capture of Arthur Lemon. Witnessed by both Roger and Raine - the former, powerless, and the latter from a distance - the incident only made minor headlines in 2008. Ira Almasy had gone to great lengths to suppress the controversy of the situation in the media: perhaps to protect her niece although her true intentions are unknown to most.

Raine struggled with the fact that while twins may indeed come into the world together, they rarely left it in the same way. It made her unconsolable for the longest time.

But she returned for the fifth year at Hogwarts, albeit with a personality so changed and withdrawn that her housemates grew accustomed to the newly taciturn behaviour. It took the better half of the academic year to learn how to function without the sister who had practically been an extension of herself. Raine largely owes her personal growth to the patience and encouragement of both her teachers as well as peers.

From being a Prefect to a Quidditch Captain to a Tetra-Wizard Champion, she has pushed herself more in the past two years than ever before. Even in light of Arthur Lemon’s release to St.Mungo’s and subsequent escape, she continues to persevere.

After taking a term away from her last year at school, Raine returned to Hogwarts in time to complete her NEWTs. She was instrumental to providing evidence that eventually led to the raid on Ira Almasy's building in April 2011. Raine is currently an Auror-in-Training.


How Do You Fit Into Your House?:

Raine was chosen for Gryffindor for her foolhardy form of courage. Her attachment to her twin helped develop a very protective persona; she has never refrained from diving headfirst into trouble to help those whom she loves. Raine isn’t fond of all Gryffindors but will, without hesitation, be there to help them in times of need. She finds apprehension to be a very uncomfortable and suffocating feeling—this spurs her on to continuously confront her fears.

Writing Sample: (See Vivienne Thorpe, if needed)

Sum up your character in one paragraph:

Raine Almasy is an Auror-in-Training with a critical eye and a wry smile. She is a determined and brave witch with protective tendencies; however, very few would consider her genuinely friendly. Her approach to social situations is nonchalant - face by a challenge, she can be startlingly aggressive. Raine harbours an ambition to become an auror, a goal that was reinforced by the murder of her twin sister in 2008. She loves hexes!

How did they learn or hone this ability?:
Raine and her twin sister began enquiring about Animagi when they were first taught about the subject in their third year. Together, they obtained most of their information and a little training from the then-professor of Transfiguration (which would be Morrigan Ramsay).

Over the summer holidays, they were taught by their reluctant Governess. While at Hogwarts they practiced with the assistance of one another. The girls were very determined to master the ability, believing it to be one of the few genuine interests they had in common, in spite of having such distinct personalities.

Describe how the Special Ability influences their life.  What do they use it for?:
Raine initially used this ability as a way to bond with her sister and also because she believed it would someday be useful to her ambitions as an Auror. With time, the twins began to use it for other reasons-- sneaking out together, for one, and exploring the fields around their home or the Hogwarts Grounds.

Write a description of what happens when your character is exhibiting this Special Ability:
Raine's animagus form is that of a Caracal (much like a Eurasian Lynx). She can be recognized by her slightly redder coat of fur and a subtle, unnatural hue of blue in the eyes. Unlike most young Caracals, Raine comes short of the average length by measuring at approximately 60cm in body length with a tail nearly a third of that. She can easily be mistaken for the wix's familiar.

The Gryffindor is sharp and alert as a Caracal but especially defensive around people. She is an intermediate of this ability and still requires her wand in order to transform.

Career Change

Character Name: Raine Almasy
Character Biography: http://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=7859.msg58402#msg58402
Previous Job/Position: Student
Position Applying For: Auror Trainee

Why have you chosen to change careers?:
Graduation!

Elaborate on your expertise in this new field:
Raine will have attained NEWTs in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Astronomy. She attained an Exceed Expectation in Muggle Studies.

Describe your new job and how you go about doing it:
As an Auror Trainee, Raine will be tasked with various duties on level two in addition to her duelling and on-hand experience alongside other trainees.