InsaneJournal

Name: Amanda Elizabeth "Mandy" Brocklehurst
Journal: miss_mandy
House & Graduation Year: Ravenclaw, 1998
Occupation: Student
Allegiance: Sympathetic to Dumbledore's Army and considering trying to join.
Blood Status: Halfblood (father is a muggle, mother is a squib)
Birthday & Other Important Dates: May 1, 1980
PB: Ashley Greene
Likes: Books, dancing, cooking, watching Quidditch, muggle literature, helping her grandfather fix things, writing, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Dislikes: Conflict, serious decision making, vanity, snow, Divination, confrontation, bullies, and awkward forced social interaction.

Mandy Brocklehurst considers herself to be average and plain, very easy to overlook. With long dark brown hair and dark eyes, she claims that there is nothing special or extraordinary about her. From the way that she carries herself, Mandy can be easily overlooked due to her lack of confidence, but for someone paying attention there are details that would be hard to ignore.

Before learning of her magical abilities and attending Hogwarts, Mandy took dance lessons from age 5 to 9 and still carries herself with the posture and grace of a dancer (as she still practices often on her own in her free time). Her coordination and posture almost make up for her incredibly small stature as she is just barely 5'1 (something she is frequently teased by her friends about. Even her grandfather calls her "Shortie").

Her complexion is considerably fair though upon her return to school every fall, she usually comes back with a slight tan from spending the majority of her summer months outdoors. Her petite frame and features often lead her to joke that she might suspect herself to be part Pixie if she didn't know her bloodline.

While Mandy will deny it a hundred times over, she is fairly pretty-- she just doesn't put an emphasis on her own looks and doesn't give many the chance to truly take her in.

Although Mandy is considerably quiet in social settings due to a lack of confidence when it comes to herself and relating to her peers, she becomes a completely different person in the classroom. While Mandy is considerably bright she's not the most competitive learner-- she's no match for Hermione Granger or some of her fellow Ravenclaws most of the time. However, when Mandy is sure of her answer, her hand is one of the first in the air, she is incredibly well spoken when dealing with Professors and other superiors and naturally curious. Mandy is never ashamed to admit that she doesn't know an answer and rather strives to learn as much as possible from every opportunity she has.

Mandy's general lack of confidence comes from her fallout with her family. Mandy tends to keep to herself but also is always secretly seeking out acceptance due to her difficult home life and thus once she's decided to trust you, you're in her life and she'll bare her soul to you. When she is open to you, she's sweet but can be slightly sarcastic and has a peculiar and dry sense of humor. If she's decided she likes you she'll also be opinionated and outspoken around you-- so watch out, it's a bit of a blessing and a curse all in one.

overall family: Mandy grew up with her parents until she was 10. At that point in her life, her father insisted that Mandy chose between living with her parents or attending Hogwarts. Mandy had been thrilled at the idea of learning to hone her abilities and had to make the agonizing decision to leave her intolerant parents and be who she truly was. She currently lives with her Grandparents in Ireland when not attending Hogwarts.

father: +Sean Brocklehurst: Mandy's father is a muggle. He married Mandy's mother knowing that she was a Squib after being reassured that they would be able to live a normal life. He was always a fairly distant father, consumed with making sure that he earned a good living to keep food on the table for his family. Once Mandy's magical abilities began to show, Sean was horrified, convinced that this meant there was something wrong with his daughter and becoming even more neglectful. His attitude ultimately lead to a fallout in the family when Mandy was only 10 years old. Mandy has not spoken to him since then. (See background for full family story)

mother: +Isla Donahue-Brocklehurst: A squib. Isla always felt completely rejected for not sharing in her family's magical abilities. When she married her husband-- who seemed completely bewildered by and against the use of magic-- she finally felt accepted. She was an adoring mother, but when Mandy began to show magical abilities she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. When Sean's intolerance caused problems with their family-- Isla took her husband's side and has not spoken to Mandy since she was 10.

grandfather: +Kian Donahue: Isla's father. Kian is an old Wizard who attended Hogwarts as a Hufflepuff and lived through the First War. He is still energetic and comical and has allowed Mandy to live with him in Ireland since she was 9 years old. He is her true father figure and one of her closest confidants.

grandmother: +Matilda Donahue: Isla's mother. Commonly referred to as "Nanna Tilly". Attended Beauxbatons and lived through the First War. Is incredibly outspoken. Mandy adores her but is also slightly intimidated by her. She strives to please her grandmother by helping with housework and errands.

When Sean Brocklehurst met Isla Donahue, it seemed to be a match made in heaven. Isla was a squib who felt rejected for not being able to perform magic like her family and Sean was a practical and narrow minded muggle who believed magic was the work of the devil. They lived happily together for three years before having their first child, Mandy.

Mandy was a pleasant and naturally curious child. She was well behaved and disciplined. She began taking dance lessons at the age of 5 and enjoyed learning and exploring in anyway she could. Mandy was six when she showed her first signs of magic-- unintentionally willing her toys to float to her. Her parents did their best to discourage and then ignore these displays.

By the time she turned 10 it was apparent that Mandy had magical abilities and would be invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Mandy was told she was ecstatic, but then her father told her that as long as she was living with them magic was forbidden. Faced with a seemingly impossible decision at the tender age of 10-- Mandy was unsure of what to do until the grandfather she had never met-- Kian Donahue-- intervened (having been informed of the situation by Isla). With Kian's guidance, Mandy elected not to deny who she was and went to live with her grandparents in the Irish countryside for a year before attending Hogwarts.

Mandy was immediately sorted into Ravenclaw when she arrived at school. Her curiosity and taste for discovery and learning leading to her Sorting. But that day, the Hat said something very interesting to her. You seek to understand just as much as you seek to be understood. Perhaps you'll find it all in Ravenclaw.

Mandy was surprised to discover that some weren't accepting of her due to her blood lineage, this only further fueled Mandy's fear of being rejected so she kept to herself the majority of her time at Hogwarts.

For her entire seven years at Hogwarts, Mandy stayed uninvolved with the events that unfolded, however after her sixth year, Mandy spent her summer studying and furthering her knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts. As an intelligent witch who keeps up on current events, she believes that there will be further problems between the Death Eaters and the rest of the world, and she has made silent decision to do what she can to preserve the only way of life she has left-- the life that she chose and the life that she loves. She is most likely gathering the nerve to inquire with the right people about Dumbledore's Army.

Name: Amanda
Email: arush35@gmail.com
AIM name: ARush35