Novak, Artemisia - Hogwarts Caretaker

[Artemisia Novak]

Accepted! Welcome to Hogwarts: The New Ages!

Full Character Name: Artemisia Katica Novak
D.o.B./Age: April 1st, 1976/ 52
Place of Residency: Bristol, England
Former House: N/A (Durmstrang)
Blood Status: Halfblood
Wand: Dogwood, unicorn hair, 10 inches

Position Requesting: Hogwarts Caretaker

Credentials:

• Astronomy - A
  
• Care of Magical Creatures - A
  
• Charms - O
  
• Defense Against the Dark Arts - A
  
• Divination - D
  
• Herbology - A
  
• History of Magic - D
  
• Potions - D
  
• Transfiguration - O
  

25 years as a caretaker at the now defunct St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys

History:
When Artemisia’s parents found out they were pregnant with her, they were initially thrilled. A muggle and a half blood who loved each other deeply, they saw Artemisia as a blessing. However, their rejoicing soon turned to worry as they look at the state of their homeland, Yugoslavia.

Shortly after Artemisia was born, Yugoslavia would collapse into a period of economic downturn. Despite this, Artemisia never knew how bad things were, her parents were able to shelter her and she had a mostly happy childhood. She never strongly showed signs of magic, but subtle signs were there.

When she received her letter to Durmstrang, at 11 years old, in 1987, her parents were sad to see her go. However, they could feel mounting tensions in Yugoslavia, so at the same time as they were sad, they were happy that they could protect her from whatever was going to happen soon, which they felt would not be good.

However, the time at Durmstrang didn’t exactly prove good for Artemisia either. The time when she was at Durmstrang, the school was controlled by Igor Karkaroff. Karkaroff’s culture of fear and intimidation started to cause Artemisia to become more of a hardened person and not the cheerful person that she had once been. It wasn’t that she was unhappy, just that she was more suspicious and distrusting person than she had ever been before. Her parents wanted to withdraw her, as many of Artemisia’s friends’ parents had done, but with the situation turning hostile back home in Yugoslavia, her parents ultimately felt that she would be safer at Durmstrang, as much as that pained them to admit.

Artemisia graduated Durmstrang with okay, but not outstanding grades, except in Charms and Transfiguration, two areas where she had always excelled. She was disappointed that she would miss out on entering the Triwizard tournament by only one year.

After Durmstrang, she moved to Germany to be with her parents, who had been accepted there as refugees as Yugoslavia disintegrated around them. She worked a few odd jobs in Germany, but felt distant from her parents after so many years away from them.

This was a time where Artemisia felt kind of like a drifter in life. She felt pressure from her parents to be the kind of child who excelled and was very successful in life, but she didn’t have greater ambitions or dreams herself. Eventually, the pressure from her parents caused her to move away from them and she moved to England.

At first, the move to England was rough for Artemisia. She applied for many jobs, but didn’t get them. Finally, she applied at St. Brutus’ and was accepted, but only after lying on her resume to conceal her Durmstrang education.

For 25 years, being the caretaker at St. Brutus’ was her life. She felt that through tough love, she could change these children. She wasn’t above using her magic to teach them a lesson either. She dated a couple of times, but found that nobody could really understand her devotion to such terrible boys. For a long time, she was a loner and her life was just work and then coming home to her pet cat, Juno. While she was in England, both of her parents eventually passed away. Even though Artemisia felt distant from them, she still tried to be a dutiful daughter and visited them monthly until their passing.

However, amid a scandal alleging mistreatment of the boys in their care, St. Brutus’ was shut down. Artemisia didn’t know where to turn at this juncture. She couldn’t imagine working elsewhere, but yet, she wasn’t ready to stop either. She, herself, was not involved or implicated in the scandal. So, upon hearing that Hogwarts needed a caretaker, she decided to apply to a place where she wouldn’t have to hide her magic. She knew that there would be some differences in being the caretaker of a magical school versus a muggle one, but she was confident that she was up for the challenge.

Significant People in Your Life: N/A
Pet(s): Juno, a black cat with one white stripe down his back
Economic Status: Working class


Personality Description:
The first word that comes to mind when thinking of Artemisia is the word stoic. Artemisia is often serious, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a sense of humor. Indeed, there are many things which amuse her, but she often keeps that amusement to herself. She is not very maternal, but yet, she tends to care deeply for her students, she just has a strange way of showing it.

She believes strongly that life is short and that people should get along, which is why she tried so hard with her parents even though she felt distant from them. She often comes across as short, but that’s not intentional, her personality is just kind of direct. She tends to keep her distance from people though, feeling like they won’t like her or they will think her ways are strange or backwards.


Physical Description:
Height: 5 foot 5 inches
Weight/Build: 135/average
Skin Tone: Pale white
Hair Color and Style: Red, short bob cut
Eye Color: Green/hazel
Personal Scent: Disinfectant, hair dye, and cabbage

Artemisia’s natural hair color isn’t red. It’s actually a more dirty blonde color. However, as she aged, she went more gray and so now she chooses to cover up her gray hair with red. She prefers plain and functional clothes over showy clothes. She appreciates well done make up, but doesn’t go overboard. She's muscular, but not to a point where she looks bulky or anything. She tends to stand straight and tall, which gives her the appearance of being intimidating. She has pierced ears and excellent teeth. 


Likes: {at least List 3}

• Cooking
  
• Meddling
  
• Working with her hands
  

Dislikes: {at least List 3}

• Bratty children
  
• Impatient people
  
• Nosey people
  

Special Talents:
Artemisia is exceptionally gifted at cleaning. If you don’t think this is a special talent, well, you’re wrong. She’s able to bring a room into the shape where you would swear no human being had ever set foot in it before. She also is excellent with her wand. She is also very good at sneaking around unnoticed and in the shadows. She makes for an excellent observer because of this, often picking up on things about students they would never tell her.


RP Example:
Artemisia stood waiting outside of the headmaster’s office, back straight and stiff as a board. She knew that the headmaster was in there with a few others trying to decide whether or not to hire her. She wished they would have sent her home, but they said that the position of caretaker needed to be filled immediately, so they would decide whether or not she was fit for the position right away. She hoped that that was a good sign that she would get the position.

As she waited, she thought of all the ways that had lead her to this point. She never imagined, growing up in what was then Yugoslavia, that someday she would be even here at Hogwarts. She never imagined she would end up working with - or well adjacent to - kids. She never imagined much of anything. She worked hard, putting one foot in front of the other, the only way she knew how.

But suddenly, she heard the headmaster calling her and she was snapped back to reality. What would he say?

How You Found Us (Optional): I’ve been here fur ever.