Merik Storm

• Name: Merik Storm
• Age: approx 100 at death
• Position: Former Durmstrang Headmaster

Appearance: White haired, with a beard, elderly, senile. Looks like an older Ignan Storm.

Short Bio:

Merik Storm was Durmstrang Headmaster between 1952 and 1968 after being Deputy Headmaster 1943 to 1952.

He was the father of Ignan Storm and Imelda Storm and husband of Amelia Storm, and died December 2009 in Hanover, Germany. Merik was the son of Uwe Storm and Imelda Hueber, and brother of Medgar Storm. Merik and his ancestors were pure-blood German. He was a great-uncle to Johann Storm and uncle to Wolfgang Storm who are descendants of Medgar.

Merik spoke the language of Durmstrang, German and English and practised occlumency. By the end of his life he had some minor wandless magic skills, able to open and close doors and extinguish lights.

Pre 1952

While visiting Britain for research purposes, Merik Storm became fond of Amelia Storm in 1943-1944, and on discovering she had become pregnant, she followed him back to live with him in Germany, under the guise that they were to be together and marry. Their son, Ignan Storm was born September 1944.

Merik was very proud to have a son, playing down Amelia's half-blood status. He did not concern himself with his wife's melancholy, rushing to arrange their marriage in March 1944. Together they also had a daughter, Imelda Storm, conceived not long after Ignan's birth, attending Durmstrang the year behind her brother.

1952-1968

A disciplinarian, he was not afraid of corporal punishment on the students in the Dregs who misbehaved, happy to demonstrate slicing curses and other uncomfortable spells on the delinquents in demonstration to the Oberteils. His methods may not have been supported by the school's ethos at the time.

"I can remember my father collecting three boys for creating explosives for detonation in an exam, stripped them naked and tethered them to a wall in the dungeon before illustrating to his favoured obteils, myself included, how best slice flesh in the right way to cause either intense pain, or slow bleeding... I believe the three of them still would carry the scars today, which he claimed were due to birching." Looking back on it now, knowing his elderly father was more likely to sleep a good portion of the day than inflict pain on teenagers, it seemed like an entirely different person.

At home there would be family quarrels, and Merik would always win. His word was rule in the house, and at school. Merik's wish to push both his children into success sometimes backfired.

In the Summer of 1958, when a chronic infestation of gnomes burrowed under the foundations of Durmstrang, he sanctioned the gassing and sending crups in after them. Gnome rights activists protested about this, much to the disagreement of Headmaster Storm, whom was of the opinion these activists "wanted to give the gnomes hugs and houses".

In 1962 Merik tried to teach Ignan Storm occlumency while still a student, but it became a struggle for Ignan due to his father's teaching style.

1965, Amelia's Death

In 1965, with both children now adults, Merik became increasingly irritated with Amelia, who was rather taken with the birth of Gabrielle Murray-Harker in her extended family.

In November, Amelia finally told her husband how unhappy she had felt for the past two decades nearly. Her courage was not rewarded.

The couple argued furiously after the confession, resulting in Merik disarming and physically beating Amelia, who managed to escape him in their private chambers at the school. So isolated and alone, she had fled anywhere she thought she might be safe within the castle, eventually climbing the tallest tower. Merik chased her, still furious, and determined to regain control of his wife.

Up in the tower, Amelia threatened to jump if Merik did not calm, She hoped that her husband actually did love her, or wanted to keep her alive. She miscalculated, Merik decided in an instant that Amelia would no longer be a burden to him. Without magic or might - and merely his words, Merik taunted Amelia to her death at the foot of the tower.

Someone witnessed from the ground, and saved Amelia's memories just before she finally passed away on the ground below, though who and why is as yet unknown.

Amelia's body was found the following day at the base of the tower at Durmstrangs, without her wand. The death was ruled as suicide, though is often referred to as an 'accident'.

Post 1968

Merik continued to be headmaster for two further years before retiring - more to prove he could, rather than of any particular use. Many had considered him to be past his prime. He didn't go quietly, still remaining an intrusion for his successors.

He maintained a residence in Hanover, Germany, with two house elves, one male one female.

In 1999, his son, Ignan Storm returned to stay with him a while. The two found some common ground as men, and his son explained somewhat how the past couple of decades had been, and how he was unable to find suitable work.

Without adequately consulting his son, he recommended him as a replacement tutor at the school to Auberon Eisenberg, who begrudgingly took Ignan on as a favour for Merik in 2001.

Merik's mental health began to fail, and he became forgetful, confused and erratic. He preferred to spend increasing time alone with the house elf for company. The female house elf passed away in early December 2008, and the male elf remained in service, though rather elderly.

New Year's eve 2008, the family gathered at Merik's home for an annual celebration, resulting in Merik falling asleep in a chair. Ignan stayed with him for a few days. Merik had grown an impressive beard by this point in his life.

Ignan didn't have the heart to wake his elderly father, who would reach his centenary imminently, and left him snoring peacefully in his favourite armchair in the corner of the sitting room. ... Merik Storm gave a snort in his sleep and his breath rearranged the long, white whiskers beneath which was buried his mouth, hidden within his beard. A wizard's beard was a status symbol of age, wisdom and intelligence. [1]

By June 2009 both elves had died.

The house elf has perished, on the dining room floor no less. I don't quite know how none of the family have realised. It was on its last legs, I just hoped it might stay on its feet until I got back. My guess is its been at least a month. The carpet needs replacing - elves leave magical residue that doesn't do describing. The room is sealed until that is done. [2]

The family home had seen better days, a boggart was found in an upstairs room. Ignan Storm and Wolfgang Storm confiscated Merik's wand on June 19th 2009 for safety. His confused state was becoming a hazard. Merik's minor wandless skills prevailed but were not troubling.

When Ignan became Deputy Headmaster at Hogwarts for September it was hard for Merik to understand.

"Merik must be proud, though?" "He's ... perhaps a little too addled these years to remember from one moment to the next." Ignan's features drooped. His father would be proud, given he had led Durmstrang many years ago before bowing out. Despite their differences, son and father had been closer in the past decade.[3]

Death in 2009

Shortly after Christmas, Merik passed away in his sleep. His funeral was held December 29th, after which Wolfgang Storm read Merik's last will and testament to the extended family in attendance at the family home.

Ignan and Imelda did not take long to discuss the split of the family home, neither too attached. Imelda inherited the furniture, apart from a few items, and Ignan sold the house. Both with enough mutual respect to deposit money to the other should there be a significant imbalance of funds. Ignan took charge of the house elf, Gerda, purchased a matter of months earlier to take care of Merik.

There was little specified in the will for the rest of the family.

Merik left the sum of 20000 Galleons to Durmstrang, the news of which Wolfgang Storm was pleased to inform Headmaster, Auberon Eisenberg of.

"Merik Storm turned up his toes a few days ago," Wolfgang began to unroll the will, "He was my uncle, you remember? Would have told you sooner, only a lot of family bother to clear up, and it was a quick burial, given the time of year." He waved a hand, as if brushing off the problems, "I took the opportunity to ensure his will was up to date when we saw he was starting to lose grip on reality." Wolfgang tapped his temple as if in illustration of the old man's failing mind, "suggested it to Ignan that it might be good, that it could be the last. He left Durmstrang 20000 Galleons." [4]

Home

Merik owned a wizarding house just outside Hanover (Winterstraße, 30989 Gehrden), which once was kept by two house elves. The living room has a large cabinet full of strange artefacts and ornaments that were not to be touched. The family also owned a pensieve, and a grandfather clock, now in the possession of Ignan Storm.

Ignan approached the familiar cabinet, which had always stood in the same place against the sitting room wall in all the time he could remember. The dark varnished wood cabinet held all sorts of unusual items, curiousities and finger trapping perils. Ignan recalled such from his childhood rummage, come misadventure. His father had beaten him severely for it, but as an adult, he appreciated how lethal some of the items were on display. ... Behind the glass, was a recess into the foot of the cupboard. Ignan unlatched the two glass doors ... Then, with great care, he slid his fingers into two tiny nooks, and lifted the false bottom of the shelf away, revealing a circular hole, beneath which the family's pensieve was hidden.[5]

Permissions

Created by User: Kit, Deceased. Can be referenced, but any deeper references or incidents please PM Kit first.