Children of Merlin - Harry Potter 1980s RPG
JAMES, Zachary - Printable Version

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JAMES, Zachary - Zachary James - 11-09-2021

Character © Kieran

Play-by: Anthony Head



[Image: 078c5c3ae018e9648844bfa1c1d3dfbd.jpg]


[photo]


NAME
Zachary Adrian James
(”Zach”)


AGE
62-69 years
(* 25/10/1922)


BLOOD
Muggle-born / english-american


OCCUPATION
An editor of Daily Prophet
* Former professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts (1971-1975)
* Former FBI Special Agent


RESIDENCE
1-12 East Vale, Acton, London, England
Flat 4
---> Nearly photo-realistic 720° Virtual Tour



FAMILY



Mother: Elizabeth Hazel James (née. Austin) - * 1900 - d. 1960 | British

Father: William Carl James- * 1900 - d. 12/1941 | American



APPEARANCE



Height/Weight: 185 cm | 6'1'' / 80 kg | 177 lbs.

Eyes: green

Hair: light brown, though a bit greying already.

Animagus form: raven



He looks older than the average wizard of his age; right around a muggle of his age. Because stressful life has aged him fast, but due to the magical blood has not aged beyond his years in muggles' eyes. Despite of the middle-aged appearance he has an athletic body and the physical endurance of a 35-year old, as he has kept himself in shape for his job. His basic being is determined, calm and intelligent, as well as deep and serious. Even so he usually gives a friendly first impression, and his being may become very warm and inviting as he feels deeply and extremely. He's simply able to control his emotions very well in certain types of situations.



[Image: c120f355b649662aa9e2196aa19b15d3.jpg]


~ LIFE ~


Zach was born on a small farm in Minnesota, USA, and had a happy childhood apart from being bullied at school where he was seen as a freak due to the accidental magic he manifested. Yet he had a handful of good friends, just all of them were labelled as losers for whatever reason. In the summer of 1934 the answer to everything arrived with a letter and a couple of days later further with the principal of Ilvermorny the school of witchcraft and wizardry. Zach attended it, wanting to know this new and exciting side of himself but dropped out after two years. His father was extremely patriotic and people-loving person, and had inspired the same in his son. Zach did not, back then, see how education at Ilvermorny would enable him to serve his country and other people - due to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. He'd also for several years already, dreamt of a career in law enforcement, particularly in the secret service.



In December of 1941 he wished he'd stayed in the wizarding school for a few more years or at least continued studying magic at home – maybe then he would have had skills to protect his family and friends from weapons of mass destruction. In spring of 1942, at age nineteen, he was drafted; United States had joined the World War II in the previous December after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. His own father had served in the US Navy and died there that day. From April 1942 to the summer of 1945 Zach defended his country against the Japanese and at times against the Nazi soldiers, though the first year he spent in the army training. Loss of his father, the horrors of war, and the constant worry about his family and friends' safety only strengthened his desire to aim at a career in the FBI. He wanted to make the world a little bit safer and better, to try and lessen all the death and suffering.



Homecoming was happy in that his mother and friends had survived and he himself hadn't suffered any major physical injuries - but very difficult with PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) troubling him for a long time and almost preventing him from choosing his dream career. Zach took small steps, patiently descended back into normal life. He spent a lot of time with his mother, and he made it forward with the help of his mother, therapy, medication as well as those friends who'd also survived the war. During these post-war years he stepped more into the wizarding society, made friends there, studied charms and generally magic further, and even became an animagus - which he figured could be useful if he ever became an FBI agent. Fortunately his animal form turned out to be very suitable for that purpose.



He had a couple of serious romantic relationships during these years but they both ended because of wanting different things from life. In 1953 Zach graduated as an FBI Special Agent for their criminal investigation department. The job took most of his time, but almost all his spare time that he did not sleep he spent with his loved ones. During longer vacations he usually took some "me-time" to be by himself. Sometimes he was certain he'd never want to bring a child into this cruel and cold world, but other times he felt like a child was the one thing still missing from his life. But 50+ hour work weeks in a mobile and dangerous job prevented any serious and long-term relationships from forming.



In the '70s Zach retired, and moved to Britain. Though he didn't find its wizarding government agreeable, at least the British didn't try to dectate who he could have relationships with. The longer he lived there the more clear it became to him that the issue of inequality are far worse than it initially seemed and that a lot of the wizardkind have a superiority complex and their governments show it especially well. He felt it was time to seek true equality and find out how many wizards and witches have the guts to truly try and change the establishment or at least the heart to start making changes on individual level.



~ PERSONALITY


His determined, persuasive and strong personality and his desire to search until the truth is revealed combined with resourcefulness, great discretion and adaptability made a path in FBI's service a natural one. Zach bases his decisions on facts and strong conclusions and he's excellent in bringing order into chaos, making him a strong leader. But he never aimed at the higher ranks in his job for especially when he was younger he desired adventure and field work. Generally in life he instinctively seeks a leadership position and rather starts his own projects than joins someone else's.



Zachin basic nature is calm and cool, and patient – on the other hand he can quickly become aggressive if the situation is painful or threatening enough which may surprise an observer – which all in part helped him return home from the war. He won't reveal even the smallest of secrets, not even under torture, his own or anyone else's. He hates that kind of betrayal as much as dishonesty in general. But he does understand the difference between a white and black lie as well as how some situations require it – after all his job demands undercover operations, and thus he does not judge all dishonesty harshly if at all. Still, his trust is extremely hard to win back if it's once been built and then lost. Especially as he is initially/basically distrustful towards new people.



Distrustful and secretive nature makes it difficult for him to form significantly close friendships. He does like to hold conversations and discuss even deep stuff, and is relatively social, but he doesn't give a very easily approachable first impression nor reveal deeply personal stuff from his past easily. Usually when he steps into a crowded room he tends to blend in and observe everything and everyone before freely socialising. Zach is brave, friendly and likes to help which has formed him a wide social circle albeit mostly acquaintances and good mates rather than friends.



He's often unyielding even when he recognises that it would be better to give in. Although he feels deeply he won't let it show outside of his nearest and dearest. Zach is very devoted to any big project he starts and has a clear value rank for them. He lives with deep feeling, is very protective and does show a lot of affection, but only family and closest friends get to experience all the colours and depths of his soul. If you wrong him he may hold a grudge for the rest of his life and may even avenge – on the other hand he also remembers kindness and good deeds as well, and takes a chance to repay.



He hates living in another person's home, literally he'd rather live in a box outside than in someone else's home for a longer period of time. Even if he paid rent. Zach always does everything in his power to find a place of his own in any given life situation. It's not so much about pride as it is about being fiercely independent and survivalist so he simply doesn't feel at home anywhere that he hasn't built or earned himself.



Results of his own work, achievements and control of his own life are extremely important to him. As serious/solemn as he is he does also have a lighter and playful side which shows especially around Halloween and young children.



[Image: a42588cf23b76a3ad4d5f3ebc44d9195.jpg]


[age 19] – [age 40+]


~ MISC



* speaking voice



- Founder and leader of the secret society, Children of Merlin.



- Skilled at Occlumency, to the degree of being able to make his mind blank. Can't do Legilimency at all despite the same very good old friend who helped him learn Occlumency, offering the chance to practise that too. He simply respects people's privacy too much to do that and trusts his non-magical skill of being able to tell if someone is lying to him.



- He's very powerful in magic. Akin to the likes of Barty Crouch Jr.



- In London he grows his own vegetables and keeps a few chickens for fresh eggs.



- Still occasionally suffers from war flashbacks / suffers from mild-ish PTSD.



- Enjoys drinking on weekends, especially in bars/pubs. But only one or two drinks, as in has never been drunk.



- Loves calm evenings at home.



- Hobbies: biking on nature paths, photographing, and researching. Especially human psychology, myths, and past centuries.



- Wealthy: pension $182 280 / £137,570 per year (in today's value.)



- Plays guitar and sings.