Physical Description: Saturnalia stands slightly above her peers at 4’9”, but shrinks like she’s much shorter. Her desire to blend in with the crowd is not easily accomplished- not with her long, copper-colored locks, usually down- so she can hide behind it. Her freckles are light and scattered across her pale face like constellations. Her eyes are a deep blue, like the first hour of the night sky. Her voice is soft and calm, but has a sharp, cutting edge to it- she speaks with meaning. Her uniform is always immaculate, but her fingers are typically stained with ink and chalk dust.

Mental Description: For someone whose head is always in the clouds, Saturnalia is a fairly grounded person. She may be caught in daydreams, but she’s fairly aware of the reality of the world around her. She has the silence of someone who’s learned not to trust so easily, and is deeply introspective, distant, and drawn to control, but is quietly competitive, using her sharp wit to excel in wizard chess and Quidditch. She has a deep, aching curiosity, and always yearns to learn more. She hungers for meaning, yet does not seek it out, due to a fear of vulnerability.

Biography: A shared telescope under a lunar eclipse led to deeper conversation. That conversation led to a date, that date to marriage, and then, to Saturnalia.

It was a cold December day, and under the last light of the Geminid meteor shower, Saturnalia was born. Named after the day she was born, her parents aimed to raise her (and her younger brother, born around two years after) in a world full of academics and curiosity.

Crius Sutton and Asteria Smith shared a deep, introspective curiosity that eventually evolved into a relationship. However, their endless curiosity about the universe, while it led to great conversation, did not make for a strong, steadfast relationship. They were great at discussing astronomical theories, but not at discussing their feelings. Feelings became another problem to be solved.

One day, they decided to change it. Instead of letting every emotion simmer beneath the surface, they brought it up, and it exploded like a supernova. Years of quiet resentment, suddenly pelting at each other, full throttle. The moment they were vulnerable with each other and started saying what they truly felt, everything fell apart- at least in Saturnalia’s eyes.

They quietly divorced when she was eight. Everything about her life from that point on became methodical and scientific. The schedule from which she rotated from one place to another, the meals she ate, even the books she was allowed- and expected- to read. The schedule was never broken. The rules were clear. Knowledge was rewarded. Emotions never took a place- they were never acknowledged unless they interfered with the pursuit of knowledge. For that, she learned that she couldn’t trust them, and couldn’t show them to anyone. Structure was safe. Emotions were unstable- they were a red supergiant, moments away from collapsing into a black hole.


First Instance of Magic: Saturnalia’s magic first started exhibiting itself when she was seven years old. It was still early in the morning, the sun not yet over the horizon on the morning of April 6.

“Saturnalia,” her mother whispered softly, gently waking her up. “Come quick, there’s something I think you should see.”

Ever obedient, Saturnalia slipped out of bed, bare feet quietly padding across the floor. Her brother Jupiter was already in the hall, wrapped in a blanket and stifling a yawn. Asteria slipped a shawl over her daughter’s shoulders so she wouldn’t get too cold in her nightgown. Saturnalia was still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as her mother led them outside and to the telescope that was seemingly permanently situated on the deck outside their cottage on the outskirts of the town.

“Come see, come see,” she encouraged, eagerly leading them by their little hands. She helped each of them climb onto the little tree stump stool before pointing upwards. “Look right there. Do you see that?” In the sky, faintly, Saturnalia could make out a triangle- the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter. She let out a gasp at the sight.

“Look at that. My two little babies, up in the night sky together.”

“Would you like to look at it through the big telescope?” Her father asked, coming from seemingly nowhere. All thoughts of sleep were gone from Saturnalia’s mind, replaced with unbridled joy and pure excitement. She nodded excitedly, and Crius scooped her up into his arms so she could see through the telescope.

Her mouth hung open in true childlike wonderment and awe. She squealed a little, her legs kicking slightly in the air. She loved looking up at the night sky, and seeing something as cool as this, with her family, in the middle of the night? She thought her heart might explode. Instead though, once she was back to her stool, a warmth spread under her fingertips, light pulling her attention back down to Earth. A small fire burned on the railing where her hands had been only moments prior, bright and intense and blue. She quickly stepped back, the flames disappearing as quickly as they came. When she cautiously inspected the railing, though, she found no scorch marks or any sign that a fire, burning hot and bright, had ever been there. Saturnalia thought nothing more of it, but her parents exchanged a knowing glance.

Her first instance of magic was born out of a love for knowledge and the beauty of creation, and is what fills her desires and inspires her craft as she learns and grows at Hogwarts.