Full Name: Donna StarlingAge: 42
Birthdate: December 14, 1963
Birthplace: Dorset, England
Hometown: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Position/class taught, and the start of employment: Astronomy, 1990
Relationship status: Single
Blood status: Muggle Born
Height/build: 62 in/Slim
Hair/eye colour: Brown/brown
Parents: Joan Clark (67; Retired banker) and Kenneth Starling (77; Retired bank manager)
Siblings: Peter Starling (38; Dean of a school)
Wand: Pear wood, Unicorn hair/Kneazle Whisker, 12 inches
Patronus: Heron
Boggart: A broken telescope
Skills: Apparation, Legilimency, Non-Verbal Spellcasting, Navigation via the stars, a variety of spells and potions related to the stars
History:
Donna lived the first few years of her life in relative peace. It wasn't until she was about seven years old that her first magical awakening occurred. She had been outside with her father, the first time she was ever going to look through a telescope, and upon seeing the stars clearly and the surface of the moon, she became so excited and enthralled, that she caused the lights of their campsite to spark, though the sparks floated around them like they were trying to create the stars on her level. Her father found it fascinating, but her mother did not. Her mother began to treat Donna like a parasite, doting on her younger brother Peter more so than ever before.
Her father didn't let her fall by the wayside though and he did his best to care for her and make up for the neglect on her mother's part. He continued to foster her love of the stars and would take her away on camping trips so she could learn to love the idea of adventure as he hoped one day she might go on one and not feel so trapped by her mother. Luckily for them both, her letter to Hogwarts arrived. He was thrilled for her and her mother seemed equally thrilled to be rid of her.
At Hogwarts, Donna was sorted into Gryffindor, her love of adventure and her loyalty to those she cared for being the driving force for her placement. She excelled at her studies, though she did get herself in trouble more than a few times going on "adventures" to places students shouldn't. However, as her magical abilities grew, so did her love of it and her love of astronomy blossomed even further as well as she learned how magic and astronomy tied together.
As an adult, she found herself going on adventures as well, but she wanted to impart her love of the stars to future generations so they could understand just how amazing it is. She also hoped to maybe be there for other students who had been like herself. She quickly mastered what she needed to be able to become a professor and returned to her favorite haunt. She heard plenty of the famed trio outside of her class and none of them struck her as especially troublesome, though she did find it rather interesting that it was constantly the three of them winding up in rather precarious situations. When Harry began talking of Voldemort's return though... Well, she was torn. She both believed him and hoped he was wrong.
However, the whole wizarding community would learn he was very much right. She was terrified, being muggle-born as she was, but she had a duty, and she did everything she could to protect her students when the time came. When the war came to an end, she found herself wondering about her family and if they had even any idea of what had happened. It was a humbling experience in a way and it led to her trying to balance her muggle world and her magic one, but she stayed on at Hogwarts, determined to never abandon it. They had a duty to make sure the students that crossed their threshold were prepared...and while they couldn't give them every needed skill, they could at least foster a desire for a path to explore.
Personality:
Donna Starling possesses an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. Her love for the stars is rivaled only by her commitment to her students. Her teaching style is engaging and interactive, often encouraging students to question and explore beyond the curriculum. She believes in hands-on experience and is known to organize nighttime viewings and practical sessions for her students, sometimes bending school rules to do so.
Despite her adventurous spirit, Donna is grounded when it comes to her responsibilities. She is fiercely protective of her students. Her bravery, a trademark of her Gryffindor roots, shines through in these times, and she doesn't hesitate to stand in the face of danger to protect the school and its inhabitants.
In quieter times, Donna is approachable and often serves as a confidante to students who find themselves out of place or troubled, perhaps seeing a reflection of her younger self in them. Her muggle-born status and her experiences growing up have instilled in her a sense of empathy and understanding for those who may feel marginalized.
While she has mellowed in her approach with age, she still harbors a youthful exuberance that endears her to her students. Her lessons are peppered with tales of her travels, subtly woven in to make a point about the vastness and beauty of the universe. It's not unusual for her to draw parallels between the cosmic dance of celestial bodies and the tumultuous nature of wizarding history or human emotions.
Donna encourages the students to reach for the stars, both literally and figuratively, and to find their own paths, much like she did. Her spunk hasn't faded; it has merely been channeled into a formidable determination to inspire and nurture the next generation of witches and wizards. Her laughter is frequent, her patience is vast, and her resolve is as steadfast as the constellations she so loves to teach about.
Face Claim: Sally Hawkins
OOC username: Nova
Preferred means of contact: Discord