Name:
Cassandre LaFlamme
Gender:
Female
Age:
17
Year:
7
Blood:
Half-Breed (Veela)
House:
Tituba
Pet: Agatha
Electives:
Alchemy
Arithmancy
Divination
Clubs:
Divination Club
Choir
Boggart:
Her friends turning their back on her. Loneliness.
Patronus:
Cat
Amortentia:
Lavender blooming in a meadow
Wand:
Pear with Veela Hair, Somewhat rigid, 11 1/4 inch.
Best Class:
Transfiguration, Divination, Apparition
Worst Class:
Flying, Study of Ancient Runes
Strengths:
-Compassionate
-A talented musician
-An adept student
-Spiritualist
Weaknesses:
-Too often thinks the best of people
-Reacts emotionally instead of rationally
-Fear of heights and, thus, flying
Personality:
Cassandre had been raised to put others on an equal plane as herself. Sometimes she has taken that to an extreme, putting others well before her in most things to her own detriment. The fact that she was being torn between worlds as a child made it all the more important for her to make the best possible impression that she could. The need to connect with people quickly, people of vastly different cultures, beliefs and traditions.
As she got older she also started to realize the subtle racism around her. She experienced much of it, purists looking the other way as she walked in. So many times she tried to break through with a smile. But soon she realized what was happening and it began to darken her view of people. Starting school she experienced it a few times still. But, putting on that smile, Cassandre pushed past that with sheer power of will and helpfulness. Starting study groups, joining too many clubs to make new friends.
All this because she fears being alone. Fears not being accepted. Rejection hits her harder than anything she can imagine. But, those first years of trying too hard burned her out. Now, she's gotten a bit more down to earth. Instead of putting everyone first, it's friends and family. It takes little for her to consider someone a friend, but she's not going to try too hard when people dislike her because of prejudice. It has given her a strength that she didn't have in previous years.
Likes:
Music, all types really
Singing and playing guitar (punk)
Dancing
People
Learning new people's traditions
Cooking
Politics
Dislikes:
Prejudice
Mean people
Being Alone
Silence
Quidditch
Fears:
Losing her friends and heights.
Biography:
Cassandre's parents came from completely opposite worlds. Almost literally. Her mother was French, and definitely more than half Veela, her father was a half blood from the Mohawk tribe near Quebec. Haiëñ'wa'tha, named after the leader of the Iroquis confederacy, was a halfblood shaman who worked heavily with the Republic of Magic to create a space for the First nations in the greater whole of the Republic. He met Marie-Francois there. She was a performer living in Quebec but frequently touring the magical world. It was one of those lust at first sight situations, nine months later there was a Cassandre.
By the time of her birth, her parents initial spark had dwindled to nothing. That was fine for them, but it meant Cassandre never got to settle into any world, she was torn between two vastly different cultures and parents. Her father was patient, life was slow and deliberate and filled with tradition. Her mother, with a joie de vivre that was difficult for a child to keep up with. A fast paced life from city to city for days, weeks at the most. One time, they even stayed for a season in Paris for opera season. That was the longest she stayed anywhere with her mother.
Cassandre very much loved them both and was intimately connected to both in vastly different ways. Her father and she shared a spirituality, Cassandre could follow his path as a Shaman. During her times with him she threw herself into it because it was expected. She enjoyed it but by the time she was eight she knew it wasn’t going to be her path. She couldn’t dedicate herself to her father’s people. They were her people too, but she was métisse and a part of her was tied to the European life. But it wasn’t French, it had been the English and their rock and punk that inspired her in a way she didn’t understand at that young age.
School changed everything for her. Away from both parents she felt truly alone for the first time in her life. This scared her more than anything she’d experienced so she dove in to make friends. However, she came on too strong at the beginning and it did cause problems. One, her school work suffered as she tried to do to many social things, second she pushed too hard on some people.
It was her second year that she started to find a better path. Maybe it was the end of her first year after her big accident in flying class. Someone helped her, but it wasn’t out of that need it was genuine. Taking the summer, she changed, maybe grew up a little.
The next few years were good. She had friends and fun and learned a great deal. She joined choir, but also started a band. Maybe it was a bit of a contradiction, but really it made sense. She poured all of her bad emotions, fears, anger that she hid into the music. It started more traditional, Sex Pistols and the Clash but then she started to spread out. By her fifth year she’d really discovered the Riot Grrrl movement and the band moved in that direction. Now they’re finding their own voice. A mix of old punk and modern social issues with a unique sound. It was definitely political; she was very much a supporter of the Rebellion. She hopes to lend her voice and music to what she thinks is a worthy cause.
