Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Sebastian: The Ascension

Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.
"If I can not bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell."

The death of his parents came right after he had adopted his first child, Darcia. The happiness he should have felt as such an event was suppressed and more often than not just non-existant. He was the only true Bryant left. His aunt and grandmother had been missing for decades, and his daughter would take on the hardship of his name in due time. 
The despair that Sebastian felt was so profound that even the students began worrying for him. McGonagall was flooded with the concerned letters of both student's and now graduates of his that heard about what had happened. Almost a month to the very day the murder happened, Sebastian resigned from his post as Potions Professor of Hogwarts.

The ex-professor secluded himself in Bryant manor for nearly a year, only seeing his daughter, house elf, and the occasional guest (though those almost never came). Two months after he had left his job, Mr. Bryant stumbled upon a secret compartment in his grandfather's study. It was a false bottomed drawer that was used for various quills and ink bottles. Strangely enough, he found an envelope that was addressed to him.

Eleven months after his self-imposed exclusion of the world and nine months after finding the addressed folder, Sebastian stepped outside his estate for the first time. He was a changed man.. No longer fearful of what can and might happen, but instead he was dedicated to a task set before him by none other than Zachary Bryant, his grandfather. The first place he apparated to was Gringott's bank to withdraw a considerable sum of Galleons. The second and third are undisclosed places that not even the greatest auror of their time could track, but when he returned to his estate the gold was gone.

A few short weeks later, the Minister stepped down from his position and Sebastian stepped into it almost without any opposition. There were a few people who spoke about his lack of political experience, his questionable lineage, and most often about his disappearance from the public eye. They asked: "What happened in eleven months of isolation that changed a cheery educational professor into an ambitious politico?" and each and every time he would respond with the same curt answer. "My daughter."

Not even hardly a month into his new role as Minister of Magic, and Sebastian proclaimed himself King of Magical England. There was a much higher number of resistance and a fair amount of hostility. Somehow though, the number began minimizing until there simply wasn't anyone willing to question it. Whether they just accepted his authority or disappeared wasn't really any concern of Sebastian's, because their opinion on what was going on in the greater world didn't really matter anyway. 

He was amassing power for the sake of his daughter. If he couldn't wield magic himself, he'd make damn sure people who could were around. 

Title page found within a folder labeled "Sebastian Bryant, My grandson":
 
"Dearest Sebastian, 
 
          I hope you can find it within your heart to accept my apology for all the horrible things I'm sure your mother has told you about me. While most, if not all, are true, there is always a second side to the story. I did it for you. Your grandmother, mum, aunt, you, and your children's children. I did it to make sure  my family was safe. During my time at the Ministry and even afterwards, I came into contact with some very powerful individuals. Individuals whom I came very well antiquated to upon my return from South America. I wish to leave these instructions to you in case you need to contact them. If you ever need anything, my boy, these are the men to ask for help. There is a vault in Gringott's that is deeded to you already, aside from the one you shall gain when you're 17. It's for uses in emergencies regarding familial matters. Keep it hidden and keep it locked.

Remember, Sebastian.. You're the only male of the Bryant Legacy now. Keep the family safe, and keep yourself safe. 

I'm proud of you and what you shall one day day be,
Zachary T. Bryant"

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Sebastian: A Backstory

Alea iacta est
"The die has been cast"

27 years have passed since the death of Professor Zachary Thomas Bryant. His grandson has claimed his rightful inheritance of the Bryant manor and followed somewhat in his footsteps. As a Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he has come to be known and loved by very many. Always a man of kindness and quick to laugh, his earlier years attending Hogwarts bespoke of a different man.

Excerpt of Sebastian Bryant's childhood journal. 

"They did it again, Maximo.. Those bullies... They pulled me into the bathroom Moaning Murtle lives in and took turns cursing me. OF COURSE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! I'M NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE OF MY DAMN ISSUE WITH CHARMS! Ugh.. I can't wait to leave here. Just one more year then I can get out and no-one will know about my problems and disabilities! 
On another note, I aced the Advanced Potions exam today! (Probably why they heckled me later) Well, onward to another day..

Sleep well, Maximo. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
- Sebastian Orion Christopher Bryant - 16 years old"

He was teased and ridiculed while being taught how to perform various forms of magic. They mocked him for his proper inability to perform even the most basic charms, and often quizzed him about how he was going to properly save his family when he was older. Someone had once stolen his journal and began spreading the rumors that his darkest fear was his family getting hurt while he couldn't help. They weren't wrong, either. 

 His grades suffered for it until McGonagall had a talk with Flitwick and they had the class dropped from his curriculum entirely. Other than his bullying problems, Sebastian was a bright student and made top grades throughout the entirety of his schooling. Focusing almost entirely in Potions during his N.E.W.T.s, everyone thought he would go on out in to the field discovering other uses for some potions, or even coming up with a few of his own, though only he knew his real desire.  

After taking the customary trip around the world and seeing how other Wizarding communities lived, Sebastian returned home to England to begin his career in teaching. He applied at Hogwarts for the Potions Professor at the age of 20 and began mentoring the young students on how to properly prepare potions. After being so bullied at a young and impressionable age, Professor Bryant was hell bent on squaring away anyone who thought it was okay to pass that form of judgement on others. While he was indeed quick to laugh, Bastian was also quick to punish those who he thought were being over zealous in expression their negative opinion. 

His tenure at Hogwarts was short lived, as he left quietly after tragedy struck.