Professor Application: Gideon Blackwood

General Information

Character Name:
Gideon Blackwood

Age:
32

Date of Birth:
18 August 1888

Blood Status:
Pureblood

Residence:
London

Family:
Father: Rupert Blackwood
Mother: Emery Blackwood
Eldest: Wesley Blackwood
2nd: Gideon Blackwood
3rd: Archer Blackwood
4th: Hayes Blackwood
Youngest: Lavinia Blackwood

The Blackwood family works as a tight knit group, all putting in time at the Blackwood & Son’s Clothing shop. It was discussed whether they should rename the shop, being that a daughter had been born into the family, but it was decided to keep Blackwood & Son’s, since that was how the world knew it.

Rupert, the patriarch of the family, was the acting CEO. Wesley was a regional manager of sorts. Running the London/DA Flagship store, but also traveling to the other locations to oversee operations. Gideon, for years, had worked in the Paris and Milan locations, but left for the war in 1914. Archer, being born with a hearing disability that even magic couldn’t fix, escaped the dangers of war. Being a sly character with clever ideas and less than legal dealing took up running the betting ring. He had a mind for numbers and a reputation that preceded him. Some say the lack of hearing in his left ear, made his senses even more keen, picking up on subtle details most might not. Hayes, the youngest of the brothers, had been promoted at a young age to CFO. With a brilliant mind, the only Ravenclaw in the family, Hayes could look at the financials and in minutes see where they were losing money and come up with a plan to fix it. Little Lavinia, was still under the watchful eye of her brothers at all times. Working in the shop and as a Bartender for the backroom bar, she was never far away from the boys.




Professorship Information

Personality:
Born in a traditional Pureblood magical family, old money and even older ideas on how the world should work. Old money gave Gideon a false sense of how the majority of people lived. Not one, not two, but four house elves. Washing laundry, never him. Cooking meals? He wouldn’t know the difference between a stock pot and a sauce pan. In fact, while in the Slytherin dorms as a young boy, he had found it hilarious that socks had to be matched.

Not that Gideon would laugh at such things today. As a boy he had a carefree smile and a mischievous nature. Playing pranks on his brothers was a beloved pastime. The second oldest of four boys. Testosterone was plentiful in the Blackwood house, until the little one came along. When little Lavinia, with her pink dresses and sweet smile came into the family, Gideon had a new role of protector. No one messed with his baby sister. The Blackwood family line was built up of all sons. Vini, being the first daughter to be born into the family in over 100 years.

At the young age of twenty one, Gideon found himself married to a beautiful Pureblood witch by the name of Elizabeth. This wasn’t a match based on love or attraction, but on bloodlines and brokered deals. They grew as a couple, coming to love each other dearly.

Everything changed with the start of WWI. Enlisted at the start of the war in 1914 at the age of 24, Gideon was a good soldier. He followed orders, was quick thinking and fast on his feet. A valued member of the company, liked by most.

Tragically, Elizabeth died in a bombing during the summer of 1917. Gideon was devastated and distracted, a lethal combo while fighting in a war. During a rather pivotal battle, Gideon helped save another soldier, but was injured in the process. For his time in the war, he got a pat on the back, “Thank you for your service,” and the death certificate of his beloved wife. He saw others get medals and accolades, while he got a limp and a cane. Now, three years later, the limp was less pronounced, and no cane was needed. A good anti-inflammatory potion helped immensely.

No more smiles. No more hope. Gideon fell into a state of depression and anger.

After the war, Gideon got a job at the Ministry in the Ministers office. They got along well enough, but seeing other happy couples,dealing with the pain that still radiated from his knee and the broken heart that didn’t beat without his Elizabeth, he began to grow bitter. When a new Deputy Head Master was needed, Gideon was sent to the castle by the Minister, thinking he had a valued friend and servant ready to report back. Entering the castle in the summer of 1920, he was inheriting a mess of massive proportions. One he was ready to fix. Entering his new post as Deputy Headmaster, Gideon would make sure the students and staff under his purview were taken care of and safe. And maybe those who weren’t students and staff as well.


What subject are you applying for?
open to options. Herbology, Astronomy are my 2 top

IC Reason to Teach:
Gideon has recently been promoted to Deputy Headmaster. It was not a position that he wanted, exactly, but one he is ready to take on. He loves children and is the protective sort. When it comes to teaching he is pretty clueless. With a military background he is more ridged in his instruction. Not understanding why the students ask questions when they should really just do what he says. He is being taught right along with them.

Once he gets his feet wet and starts seeing them learn, he falls in love with teaching.

Prompt Response:
This had been the longest week of his life. Classes had started, he was swamped with lesson plans and grading. The castle magic was more temperamental than a hormonal teenager and a pregnant mother combined. Which was, A LOT. To say that Gideon was exhausted was an understatement. He had a standing order with the house elves for a new pot of fresh coffee to be delivered every hour.

God bless those creatures. Angels they were.

This was his time. Sitting at the staff table eating lunch, enjoying the newspaper in front of him. Eyes skimming over the text and moving pictures about uprisings, the end of the war, politicians, people breaking the law and the odd ad for men's clothing here and there. Blackwood & Sons didn't need to advertise. Fredricks in London was a joke, with their buy one get one free sale. Low quality meant sales racks and clearance sections. You get what you pay for these days.

Pushing the paper away with a look of disgust Gideon heard the tell tale signs of trouble before his eyes found it. The flying muffin was the first physical sign of trouble. Blueberry if his eyes were seeing correctly. His eyes following the food back and forth like a tennis match. Not that he was surprised, but the mayhem was being perpetrated by the table swathed in red. Gryffindor. Honestly, were they even house trained?

Standing up from the table, Gideon kept a look of indifference on his face as he buttoned up his vest and suit jacket. Always put together, even when he was dead on his feet.

The food was flying more rapidly now. Other tables starting to join in. Surveying the Great Hall, there was one person in the heart of the mayhem, like a beacon in red with a smile that spoke of innocence, but a glint in her eye that told a different story.

With a sharp whistle, “FFFWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Gideon waited a few feet away for the food to stop flying. All eyes turned to him, silence wrang out in the hall, except the occasional plopping sound of food falling to the floor. “Matilda Nordstrom, do you think your Grandfather will be happy with this behavior? And you Peter, shall we write to your parents?” He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t need to. The point was made.

“GRYFFINDOR! You are ALL on clean up duty. You have one hour to put the hall back in order, without magic, or it is detention for the next week.” His deep voice booming over the hall. Looking at the pocket watch tucked away in his vest noting the time. He waited a beat before looking up at the hall of filthy children. “I suggest you begin.”