[@The Elvenqueen]
Yeah but get your character up soon. We're starting once I get a post up. 

Answers:
1. It'd be their parents fleeing, voldemort was defeated 30 years prior to this
2. Yes but have a reason. 
3. I thing anything bigger than dof size is a little to big so maybe a smaller snake (like 5 ft tops). Snakes as pets are fine though.