The Slug Club: Famous Relations

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

Activity: Famous Relations
Points: 10 points, participation only.
Deadline: Saturday, 19 September @ 8 PM CST.

If you dig deep enough or far enough back, pretty much everyone can claim relation to someone famous. Slughorn's got himself all caught up on the topic, and is asking all his hopefuls about famous relatives. Care to share a tale with him?

Your job is to briefly (100-200 words) describe a famous relation of yours for Slughorn. If you have any wizard blood at all, this relative should be a wizard (perhaps he'll have heard of them!), but if you're muggleborn, you may use a muggle.

This is an excercise about creativity and imagination - no real people may be used. "Real people" here means people who have existed or are thought to have existed in the muggle world and people who exist within the HP canon. Your relative should be someone you have completely invented yourself. This is to even the playing field for people who may, in fact, have a famous relative, and also because I am sure we will all vomit if we see anyone claiming they are Snape's second cousin by marriage or Dumbledore's great granddaughter. (And there aren't that many minor wizards people could claim relation to, and I don't want us to run out.) You may use real things/places, so long as they don't interfere with canon or known fact. (For instance, you can claim your relative invented Polyjuice Potion, because no inventor has been given, but not that they founded Hogwarts.)

Your entry should include when your relative lived (or how old they are if they're still living), some background details about them (nationality, spouse/children, etc), and a brief explanation of why they are famous, or notable enough that Slughorn may be reasonably impressed.

Good Example
Marvin Meezle is my great-uncle on my father's side. As you may recall, Marvin was a pub-owner on Diagon Alley who discovered the intensifying properties of gilly water when mixed with spirits. Blah blah blah..

Bad Example
I happen to be the granddaughter of Arsenius Jigger, author of a potions text we use in this very school..

You get the idea, yes? Don't forget to sign with your name/house and make sure you have signed the roster before the activity ends.

Any questions, please ask!

Think you're special enough to catch Slughorn's eye? Try out for the Slug Club today!

Comments

Questions

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

Confused? Maybe I can help clear things up for you.

[slyfoxesq.livejournal.com]

You may not be aware of this, but I'm a direct descendant on my mother's side of the famous Scottish half-blood wizarding naturalist Themis Tod. She was one of the first naturalists to propose that most beasts were not in fact overly dangerous to wizards, if approached in the right way. She set out to prove her ideas by traveling and studying the beasts of the European continent and later south Asia, living amongst or close to the beasts she studied. She most famously studied a herd of centaurs in Germany and reported that she found them fascinating and quite intelligent, and not at all dangerous if approached with respect, which resulted in her being ridiculed upon her return to Britain. She later amended her theories after suffering a serious injury by an occamy to specify that sentient magical beasts were possible to coexist with, and that most other beasts could be safely approached by a knowledgeable and respectful wizard.

Fox//Slytherin

[quackypenguin.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you’ve heard of my ancestor Luca Papanillo, the legendary 14th century Italian dragon keeper. He was the first wizard to compile an encyclopedia of known dragon species, and many of his texts are still indispensable resources in the field. The majestic Red-Winged Mediterranean Dragon was first discovered by Papanillo, one of the many species he was the first to document. He also invented the Fireproofing Charm, which was indispensable while working so closely with dragons, as it allowed him to freely approach dragons without fear of bodily harm (from burns at least). Of course he’s also remembered for his eccentric taste in clothing. Even in the sweltering heat of summer, it’s said that he was still seen in his favorite dragon hide cloak. Despite his hazardous career Luca and his wife Eva still managed to have 11 children.

Mel//Gryffindor

[rideinthelimo.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, my maternal great-grandfather is Reginald Tancred Fleet, famed for defeating the Russian dark wizard Rawrwell Sharkbane in a duel. Sharkbane had beaten 6 wizards and taken their wands, hoping to add the magic number 7 to his collection by killing the Russian President of Free Wizards which would have increased his power enough to be a real threat. He was stopped dead by my great-grandfather. He went on to write a fabulous books on correct duelling procedure and etiqutte as well as being awarded for his bravery by the Russian President.
He recently reached his 107th birthday and currently lives with my great-grandmother and great-aunt, near London, offering private duelling tuition to the men of wealthy families.

Edit: Forgot to sign, I'm sorry.

Rachel//Ravenclaw

[delorispea.livejournal.com]

I'm sure everyone knows Henry Horton. A brilliant Potions Master from the 17th century. I happened to be related to him but in a really shabby way. I mean, not that it takes it away from the true connections that it earned me but some great, great, great, great, great (you get the picture) grand mother of mine slept with him when he was still married to his wife, rumoured cousin, Hetty Horton. The whole affair caused contreversary until Horton discovered a potion to cure the Minister's daughter and the next thing you know he was the Potions world answers to Troy, married to Hatty Horton, my darling relative, and had four babies, mysteriously one came out only 5 months after the affair was publically announced by the scorned wife, or cousin whatever you prefer to say. Even though it was a rough start to the marriage they lived on happily and ended up producing some amazing kids, hence you get me. I live the legacy well ;-)

Louise//Gryffindor

[an-ardent-rain.livejournal.com]

Naturally you've heard of my great-great-grandmother Esme Devereaux, the French witch who single-handedly found the potion that cured the notorious Elf Pox epidemic of 1903. It was a simply dreadful disease and all across the countryside seemingly healthy witches and wizards were being struck down and incapacitated by its mighty hand. Esme, however, did not lose hope in the face of such a daunting task. She came over to Britain when she was only twenty-five and immediately set to work. The cure was incredibly difficult to create and poor great-grandmother lost sight in her left eye. But luckily it worked and she made it a point to teach every healer at St. Mungo's how to make it. Our family takes pride in its potions-making ability and even today our talent is well known.

Hannah//Ravenclaw

[stamieebabess.livejournal.com]

Just because I am muggle born, does not mean that I have no worthy ancestors. In fact, I am related to the Magical Protester, Charlotte Dugwoben. She in fact protested many governments and organizations to believe that magic in fact was real, which is ironic enough as her great-great-great niece would turn out to be a witch. It is said that she was attacked by goblins when walking down a dark street in Ireland. She believed it to be true, and now I know that it in fact is, because I have talked to that goblin's descendant, and he is quite ashamed at the disgrace put on his family, and he wished my not to repeat it ... so I'm sorry to him for repeating it now. In a certain way, I am glad that no one believed Charlotte, because then we would most probably be exposed. But she was acclaimed by many dreamers and believers of magic, and she was very famous before the end.

Stamie//Gryffindor

[shanima.livejournal.com]

Some might make the connection between the owners of the food company, Hading and Brothers, and myself. The three brothers, Jarett, Kenneth and Newton Hading, are my great-uncles on my mother's side. They have been selling their recipes and rare ingredients to the finest wizarding restaurants in the UK for over forty years.

You can taste their superior cuisine at many restaurants and cafés in Diagon Alley, including The Scarlet Sphinx and Portal of Pastry. Their most famous (and expensive) dish is grilled Augurey with sweet asparagus sauce. I advise you to try it.

The majority of their offices and warehouses are located in Leicester (Muggles think they are disused factories), but the brothers reside in Harrow, London, with their wives, children and grandchildren. It is a family business, so a number of their children also work for the company. My uncles are now between eighty and ninety, so I suppose they will retiring soon and leaving their legacy to their children.

Shanima//Hufflepuff

[trivalent.livejournal.com]

You may be aware of the fact that healers do not immediately become full healers after learning what they need to know. They first work under full healers and get practical hands on experience that readies them for the world of healing and the many exciting things that can come in the door. My great-uncle Edwin Eulius came up with that system.

Eulius was one of the best students to become a healer, but when he was given the opportunity to become a full healer, he decided not to. He thought he would become a better healer if he learned more and that it would benefit the world. Indeed he was right, and the system came in today.

Yet that is not all my great uncle Edwin has done. He went out into the poorer areas of wizarding villages and provided healing services there, wandering about, before opening his own office in Edinburgh, so that not everyone needed travel so far as London for great healing care.

Although Scottish and in his forties, he went to Europe during Grindelwald's rise and healed his victims and enemies. A generous man, he even healed captured prisoners.

-Silyara, Slytherin

[miss-padfoot.livejournal.com]

You all must have heard of Whedon Waterflapp, yes? He was my great-great-great-great-grandfather. Whedon ws a specialist in experimental charms and transfiguration, and he discovered a lot of principles that we still learn about today. He was the first to develop a spell for levitation; although it wasn't the most precise one, it was a precursor to Wingardium Leviosa. He also solved the Conjuring-Vanishing Problem, which most people believed to be insurmountable at the time. Before he solved that problem, objects could only be conjured if something of equal size vanished, and vice versa. Now we have spells to conjure and vanish objects without those problems, and it's all thanks to him.

[fizz-buzz.livejournal.com]

Charlie Cherry is my great, great grandfather on my mother's side. As you may recall, Charlie worked in a wizarding clock shop on Diadon Alley, Charlie’s Clocks (although one young wizard one day stole the second ‘l’… naughty, mischevious Hogwarts students…). He was a very inventive chap who had a keen interest in time travel. In fact, Charlie was the first wizard to try and blend muggle mechanics with wizarding magic. The harmony of these two factors have created what we nowadays refer to as the time turner, but were once known as Cherry’s Nostalgia Necklace – as it’s main purpose was infact to go and visit places in the past for reflection and nostalgia’s sake.

Mindy//Gryffindor

[lotrangel17.livejournal.com]

There are those that know me who may or may not know this but my great, great aunt Matricia’s husbands niece’s son is actually the inventor of the wonderful concoction known as Butterbeer. This son, one Nathaniel Daniel Mathias by name, had a hankering one day for a mug of ale and as he was drawing himself one his elbow accidentally hit a bowl of liquid butterscotch is wife Mathilda was mixing candy with. I had the privilege of meeting Nathaniel Daniel one time many years ago as a child at his home in a small borough in Scotland when I was visiting Aunt Matricia and let me tell you there is nothing like a old fashioned Butterbeer served like the original in a tall glass. And if I just happen to be accepted into the Slug Club because of this fantastic relation I have, I may be able to arrange an introduction and possibly even a lifetime supply.

Stephanie//Hufflepuff
(hope this is okay)

[starryeyedstara.livejournal.com]

Arama Smudge is my great aunt. You have probably heard of her - she is famous for her part in researching the use of unicorn hair in wands, and has become very wealthy and successful because of her discoveries.
She went on to write several books on wand making and theory, and even had an influential ministry position!

Amie//Ravenclaw

[supremacy-born.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you've heard about the famous Neimanta family tree of witches and wizards from Eastern Europe. They originated in Latvia, which is where my great grandmother was born before my family moved to England. A country of heathens and druids, Latvia was well known for its magical families and the secret powers and spells that were passed on from generation to generation. My great grandmother in particular, Inese Neimanta, was particularly well known for her romantic spells and curses, which were particularly successful and powerful since they were inherently tied in with the bloodline of our family tree.

Inese was one of the most powerful witch of her time in Eastern Europe, and many wizards sought her favour because they knew that the only way their families could inherit the Neimanta power was by marrying into the family. Yet Inese, as always, chose to act on her emotions and married out of love to a Latvian peasant. It's said that in my family tree, magic is far more powerful on the female side and I'd definitely like to think that I have inherited that from my great grandmother. :)

Eve//Slytherin

[exoticrooftile.livejournal.com]

Of course, I’m sure you all already know about my sister’s husband’s second cousin’s mother, Gillian Hayleswort. No? Well, honestly, where have you been? Okay, I’ll refresh your memory.

Dearest Gillian, a great friend of mine (of course, she’s round to dinner almost every week) was indispensible in ending the Great Pygmy/puff Wars 76-81. It was a hideous time, and I don’t want to remind you of those terrible memories any more than I have to, but it was Gillian who finally persuaded the two factions that they would do best to interbreed and become cute pets. Who only knows what would have happened if she hadn’t intervened in the bloodshed, risking her own neck to do so.

I expect it will be many a generation before she is forgotten.

Rachael//hufflepuff

[et-tu-lj.livejournal.com]

You may remember Eric Halfabee, the wizard who first discovered how to apparate from one place to another. He's a great great great etc. grandfather of mine, but I assure you he's just one of the many talented witches and wizard in my family tree. Good old Grand-da Eric is one of the more well-known ancestors though, as his early attempts at apparition caused quite a stir. You see, sometimes invention requires sacrifice. During his first attempt, poor Eric was bisected accidentally, becoming the very first to suffer splinching. Thankfully, the mediwitches had him fixed up in no time and future attempts were much more successful.

Kimberly/Ravenclaw

[willfully.livejournal.com]

My family is a long line of witches and wizards from Russia and Poland, with a history of attending Durmstrang for their education. Many of my ancestors have faded into obscurity after the Muggle Holocaust, but my paternal grandfather - whose parents made it over to America - made a name for himself as an alchemist, known even to the Muggle world as a physicist, and published quite a few books. His scientific mind was passed on to my father, and was inherited by me, though I am not quite sure what I will do with it. He died when I was young, but I remember him fondly, and still have his books around the house.

Annalisa//Slytherin

[mandyloo.livejournal.com]

It just so happens that my great-uncle on my mother's side is Wilbert Plimpy, the well-known (and eccentric) naturalist who discovered many rare species. His greatest discovery was of the plimpy, an aquatic species found in rivers throughout Britain (which can be used to make quite tasty soup! In fact, our family believes that large consumption of plimpy soup is what has helped Uncle Wilbert live so long- he celebrated his 123rd birthday last year!). Wilbert was actually the first of my mother's family to come to Britain from Portugal. He moved, along with his wife Ella and their dog Poncho, to Surrey in 1950 while on an expedition for purple-tailed snapcrackles. Once in Britain he discovered the plimpy and was so fascinated with them that he moved there.
I know how much you enjoyed that plimpy soup I brought to the last Slug Club meeting, Sir, using my family's secret recipe. I'd be glad to introduce you to Uncle Wilbert!

Mandy//Hufflepuff