Description
❬❬ Gavril . Aravinda . Shinde ❭❭
Nicknames: Gav, Ara, Aramis, Ary, etc.
Age : 16
Birthday : November 11
Height : 5’10” [156 lbs]
Blood Status : Half-blood
House : Hufflepuff
Year : Fifth
Pet : D'Artagnan [“D’Art” for short] . Fancy Rat [Black and White Variegated Odd-Eye ]
Wand : Beech . Unicorn Core . 13 ¾ Inches . Reasonably Supple
“The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond [their] years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant. Such wizards and witches, having obtained a beech wand without having been suitably matched [yet coveting this most desirable, richly hued and highly prized wand wood], have often presented themselves at the homes of learned wandmakers such as myself, demanding to know the reason for their handsome wand’s lack of power. When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation.” [via Pottermore ]
Electives : Magical Theory . Care of Magical Creatures
Extracurricular : Frog Choir . Magical Cooking
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
Personality :
adaptable . amiable . attentive . contrary . inclusive . risk-taker . self-assured . self-aware . speculative . unmindful
☑ Positives :
Gavril is something of a multifaceted individual; complicated in certain aspects, although most would see him as something more of a light-hearted youth. Being of a generally cheerful and amiable disposition, the ‘Puff often makes for a fair impression on others, and those who aren’t exasperated by his playful tendencies have likely found themselves drawn to his vibrant personality.
He’s definitely a people-person, with a keen interest in the individuality of others, and a notably diverse taste in friends that is uninhibited by neither house nor blood status, to say the least. It should be noted that one surprising aspect of Gavril’s social skills is his attentiveness in conversations; new acquaintances are often startled to find that the young wizard is able to remember and recognize faces and names, as well as any general details shared in previous conversations.
Being of the more active and adventurous sort, the Puff is often ready and open to new experiences, and enjoys trying out new things. This seems to be a trait that he shares with his muggle father, as the two have often collaborated on many hands-on activities [building things] and outings [trips to different local areas and activities] in the past. It is not surprising for Gavril to return to Hogwarts each year with a new story to tell or a different skill to share. Currently, upon his fifth year return to Hogwarts, Gavril seems to have picked up the acoustic guitar [which he has brought with him to school].
☒ Negatives :
Gavril’s familiarity with others is often counted as a positive trait, however, it can grow to be a bit excessive. He seems to disregard personal space among friends [such as reading over their shoulders, or picking at their food --a number of his schoolmates automatically pull their plates from his reach]. He also has a bad habit of borrowing items and then forgetting to return them. Those who venture to ask for their belongings would find them in poorer conditions than when they were lent [and at this point, Gavril would sheepishly apologize and offer to buy a replacement.]
The wanting condition of those borrowed items is likely due to the “organized” mess of Gavril’s corner of the dorm; for a person of generally tidy appearances, he can be almost careless about anything he doesn’t have to put on. Although the ‘Puff can find most things in the piles of his living space [hence the “organized” bit], some of his roommates haven taken to referencing to the area as a black hole. The fact that D’Art also has the tendency of stashing treats and gnawing on various articles and objects he finds lying around doesn't improve the situation.
Likes: baseball, coffee, curry & savory foods, ginger newts, girls, muggle inventions/technology [bikes > brooms], muggle pop-culture, music [‘10s and ‘20s pop and rock]
Dislikes: clingy/overly-dependent people, foods with strong artificial sweetness [some candies are okay, especially if they’re sour], heights, pumpkin juice, trips to Gringotts
Skills/Hobbies: fixing things, hanging out, [muggle] magic tricks, muggle sports, singing
Fears/Weaknesses: death of family/friends, flying/quidditch, heavy reading
TL;DR: Gavril is a fairly affable and good-natured young wizard with a playful streak and and a penchant for mild rule-bending. Although he often has solid opinions, he is also quite accepting of most differences between himself and others, and is often considered to be a warm-hearted and attentive friend.
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
History :
‘15 - ‘22
Gavril Aravinda Shinde was born to what was perceived as fairly normal multi-racial middle-class home. With loving and attentive parents, an older sister, grandmother, and cat, their home was a lively one, and all the more, even, when Gavril’s two younger sisters joined the family after. Although it could be said that privacy in such a large household was often times near non-existent, and clashing personalities would spark, they were altogether close-knit and communicative. Any conflict they had with each other could never displace their deep-rooted sense of love and loyalty towards one another.
Things were going well until the tragedy of October 2017, although if asked, Gavril would admit that he couldn’t recall much of the event. There seemed to only be a lingering impression of things being rather strained at the time, even as life went on as always. When a letter arrived from the children’s uncle in England inviting the family to keep him company in the country, Gavril’s mother and father had been quick to prepare for the move. Only their grandmother had chose to stay behind, claiming that she was much too old to be starting life in a new place.
← ----- ---- --- -- -
‘22 - ‘26
The reason for this, and everything else became clear shortly after their arrival in England, where the Shinde family did not actually move to join their uncle in his home, but instead chose a quiet town nearby. They often made trips to see this uncle, and the truth of their heritage was soon revealed to the three older Shinde children, as Gavril and his older sister had already begun showing signs of witchcraft. They were all sworn to secrecy, and as the children’s magic grew, their trips to their uncle grew more frequent, right up until Gavril’s older sister was accepted into Hogwarts and the house of Ravenclaw.
The wonders of their first visit to Diagon Alley and the fluttering excitement upon his sister’s return from school had quickly fueled Gavril’s desire to join the ranks of the students there. He eagerly awaited his own invitation.
← ----- ---- --- -- -
‘26 - ‘30
Gavril was accepted into Hogwarts sometime before his eleventh birthday, where he was sorted into the house of Hufflepuff. Neither his uncle’s nor his sister’s recounts seemed to do justice to the wonders that awaited him, and soon he came to regard the castle as a second home. The pumpkin juice served during meals and the dreaded flying class made up the few elements that he would probably never get used to, but the ‘Puff adapted quickly to his spell-casting lessons, and became all the more vibrant in the continued company of his peers.
Gavril has gotten in and out of his fair share of scrapes during his past years at Hogwarts, earning and detracting house points on such a comparative basis that none of his housemates could quite decide as to whether or not he was more of an asset or a liability. He is currently continuing on to his fifth year, where he is looking forward to the new experiences that await him.
TL;DR: Gavril was born to a rather active and close-knit family in the States. Although they all lived as muggles [and Gavril had no idea of his alternate heritage], the family decided to seek security in the UK after the events of the Second Witch Trials. After the move, Gavril and his sisters were introduced to the wonders of the witching world, and he was eventually sorted into the house of Hufflepuff at Hogwarts.
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
Stance on the looming threat of the muggle world :
If asked about the subject, Gavril will most likely deflect the conversation, claiming to have too poor a knowledge on the topic to form any sort of substantial opinion. He would easily listen to any rant or ramble that should reach his ears, but tends to be reserved should the focus ever fall on him.
In truth, he and his siblings have been warned by both their mother and their uncle to speak as little of it as possible; especially by their uncle, who had first-hand experience with Death Eaters at Hogwarts during the Second Wizarding War. Regardless of their own opinions on such like matters, it was better to be cautious than sorry in such troubling times.
Of Gavril’s own stance, he is torn by his love and loyalty to the muggles [whom he had identified with for a good portion of his life] and the bitter ache that comes with recognizing the damage that they seem to inevitably cause to the communities and environments around them. Although he feels as though there is little that he could do to soothe this conflict, he is determined to prepare himself as best as he can for what seems like an inevitable and oncoming war.
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
Family :
Roshan David Shinde : father. muggle. [49]
Esmeralda Maribelle Shinde : mother. half-blood witch. [49]
Juliet Kalyani Shinde [Julie] : sister. 7th year Ravenclaw at Hogwarts. [17]
Rosemary Darshana Shinde : sister. squib. home-schooled. [14]
Amelia Ishani Shinde [Emmy] : sister. 2nd year Gryffindor. [12]
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
Notes :
● Nicknames: As suggested, Gavril has many of them, the most common of which is "Ara". [If our characters are on good terms, nicknames will probably be used by both parties.] It should be noted that Gavril will generally answer to any reasonable moniker directed towards him [including any house reference], and so nicknames are nigh limitless.
● D'Artagnan : pet rat. [5]
Gavril’s pet, D’Art, is an odd-eye rat with mismatched eye colors of black and pink. He’s notably large for his kind, with a body length of 11 inches and a tail length of 9 inches.
Like many fancy rats, D’Art has been taught a number of tricks, and will respond to verbal cues and gestures; for example, he will come when his name is called, and is quite comfortable with riding on Gavril’s shoulders.
D’Art is very much a social creature, and will generally get along with most people and pets [omitting most cats and owls]. He has a habit of cuddling when he sleeps, and can be found preoccupying the beds of Gavril’s dorm-mates if the ‘Puff should return late. Also, if another student or person is carrying around snacks, D’Art would likely go over to beg for a treat. ...Or he might simply ransack them if they’re distracted or less generous.
● Guitar : Yamaha FG700S Model. Unfortunately for his housemates, Gavril has yet to master the acoustic guitar. He had only begun to learn the basics of the instrument roughly two weeks prior to his fifth year return to Hogwarts, and much of his practice and lessons have been self-taught through websites and online videos. He has managed to memorize the more common and basic chords, but while he can work out the finger placements, Gavril is still adjusting to the timing and accuracy of shifting between chords. He also often forgets to tune his guitar, and the combination of this, along the many awkward pauses and other small errors seem to have a poor effect on others within hearing range.
● Ethnicity : Gavril identifies himself as an Indian-American, but he is actually half-Indian, a quarter French, and a quarter British.
● Appearance : Along with his height, Gavril’s narrow and more angular facial features make him seem older than he is, occasionally confusing other students who are less familiar with the ‘Puff.
Gavril waxes his hair or uses some means to keep it tidy [not being above minor hair accessories if need be]. Those who see him standing before a mirror and styling his hair mornings might mark him as vain, but to Gavril, he is simply making himself presentable and being hygienic.
He has three moles on his face: two of varying sizes along the left side of his jaw, and one at the outer edge between his right eye and eyebrow [this one often being obscured under the long bangs of his hair]. Additional moles also cover his neck and body.
● Flying : Many young wizards will eagerly take to the broom, but Gavril has a mild fear of heights and flying. He will attempt to suppress his uneasiness or brush aside direct comments on the subject, although those who’ve shared the class with him have seen the results. [It didn’t help that he was also knocked off his broom by a classmate during his early first-year lessons.]
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
Relationships :
Gryffindor: TBA.
Hufflepuff: [Christopher Huynh ]
Ravenclaw: [Drina Ashford ]
Slytherin: TBA.
Detailed Information/Interactions [ relationships ] [ headcanons ] [ impressions ]
- -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- → - -- --- ---- ----- →
RP Methods :
GDocs > Skype > Forums > Other . No emails. [I’m also open for chatting via Skype.]
Full Paragraph RPs > Script-based RPs
Head-canons are always welcomed, but let's talk about them, yeah?
Extra : Traditional methods work, but I’m game for a variety of styles, so hit me up if you’re feeling creative. I don’t generally do first-person POV or poetry, but I am open to methods such as pen-pals [or quill-pals, I should say; that is, writing in the style of hand-written letters], really doodly comics/illustrated RPs, etc.
Also: [ Hoot ]