Physical Description: Alfie is slight and somewhat shorter than his peers. He has dark curly hair, expressive blue eyes, and ( what he hopes is) a charming smile. His uniform is neat and clean, but slightly too large, and clearly second hand. He speaks both Welsh and English and has a distinct Holyhead accent (Northern Welsh intonation, but higher pitched, faster tempo, with occasional hints of Irish and Scouse).

Mental Description: Alfie conveys a confident easy manner while inwardly struggling with imposter syndrome. He maintains two contradictory beliefs about himself: the first that he is uniquely extraordinary and bound for greatness, and the second that he is flawed in some shameful way that may ultimately be revealed if he isn't diligent enough to suppress it. For that reason he has a fake it until you make it mentality. He is secretive, strategic, and an over-thinker, but luckily also a fast learner, quick-witted and creative. He strives to always be the most interesting person in the room and is not above inventing a good story when the truth doesn't fit that narrative. That said, he is willing to put in the work to stay a step ahead. He is often found reading or studying his own bound notebook in which he keeps names, snatches of overheard conversations, and anything that he feels useful to help him understand and navigate this strange new environment he finds himself in.

Biography: Alfie's mother was a clever working-class Welsh girl with a bright future who met a charismatic Spanish tourist while on holiday in Ibiza. The result was Alphie, and the necessity to drop out of medical school and move back in with her parents. For that reason, Alfie was raised by a loving but overworked single mother and a cantankerous unemployed ex-smelting plant worker grandfather. He also has memories of a grandmother, now deceased, who told him stories of selkies and the heroes of the Mabinogion.

Alfie knows nothing of his mysterious father other than his first-name (Alfonso), his description ("Gorgeous!"), and the fact that he spoke little English. He now assumes (correctly) that his father must be a wizard.

Growing up in Holyhead, Alfie became used to living in a city in decline, with closing businesses, abandoned buildings, and friends that moved away when their parents inevitably sought greater opportunities inland. Without much structure in the way of entertainment, Alfie was forced to find his own fun: fishing off the Holyhead breakwater, biking the paths of Mynydd Twr, or exploring the coastal cliffs. Inclement weather finds him indoors in his attic bedroom engrossed in a book while listening to raining pounding against his dormer window blown in from the Irish sea.

First Instance of Magic: For as long as Alphie could remember, he had been dogged by strange and baffling occurrences. But living among muggles, (and very unimaginative muggles at that) had taught him that inexplicable things can always be explained: a trick of the light, an overactive imagination, the probability that he was lying about it, and so forth. Looking back though, Alphie recalled an incident that must surely have been real magic.

He was six years old and had just been caught by his grandmother in another lie. After her scolding had finished and Alphie looked suitably abashed, his Gran had added that if he didn't stop fibbing his nose was going to grow like Pinocchio's and get stuck that way.

Alphie expected she was teasing but was concerned enough to check a mirror just to be sure. To Alphie's horror his nose began to grow before his very eyes. He was so upset and ashamed that he hid himself under his covers and refused to leave his room, even when called to tea. Later that night, when his mother got home from work, Alphie tearfully confessed, still too ashamed to lower the blanket.

"Sounds like someone has a guilty conscious," she said wryly before pulling back the covers to reveal a perfectly normal-sized nose.