Jess McLeod | Third Year | Hufflepuff

At just longer than average, 27,6cm represents the perfect balance between power and precision, allowing the wielder to manipulate the wand entirely as intended.

The inflexibility of this wand denotes the strong relationship that will inevitably exist between the wand and its owner. Although the resistance to change can sometimes cause friction, ultimately, such commitment to one another truly reinforces their bond.

Suitable for highly intelligent wizards, who may be magical innovators and inventors, walnut is a handsome wood possessed of unusual versatility and adaptability. While some woods are difficult to dominate, and may resist the performance of spells that are foreign to their natures, the walnut wand will, once subjugated, perform any task its owner desires, provided that the user is of sufficient brilliance.

Snallygaster heartstring takes very well to nonverbal magic, as well as swift, responsive casters, making it popular among competitive duelists and Aurors alike.

Jess McLeod was born in Richmond, Greater London at 3:41am on the 12th November 2011, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces, to two loving parents, Abigail McLeod (muggleborn from Waikanae, New Zealand) and Guillaume Dumas (half-blood from Nancy, France). Going against tradition, Abigail did not take on Guillaume's second name, and after just a few weeks in the world, it was decided that Jess would take her mother's surname, 'McLeod', as a testament to her immediately-evident 'Scottish strength'. Jess' middle name, 'Marceline', was given in recognition of Guillaume's sister, who at the time was very close with her brother.

Abigail and Guillaume's Wedding Portrait

The Dumas Home at Christmas

During the early years of her life, Jess was blessed with a perfect family dynamic. The relative proximity of Guillaume's close family (mother, father and sister), who had lived in South London since he was a child, allowed for frequent visits and bonding, and so every Sunday a Roast would be hosted at their home, and Jess enjoyed being spoiled by her adoring aunt and grandparents. Given all of these interactions, Jess soon learned to speak French fluently, a skill she truly cherished. Despite the considerable distance between the three-person McLeod family and Abigail's muggle family, Abigail taught her husband how to use wireless technology so that video calls could be set up each week and, in order to counter the issue of magical interference, Abigail spent a significant period of time building a magic-free shed by hand, right at the bottom of their garden. As well as this, every few months, they travelled out to New Zealand to spend precious time as a family.

There is no doubt that having a Quidditch beater for a mother made a huge impact on Jess. Guillaume would often take Jess to watch her mother play for her team, and she grew to adore the sport, always in awe of her mother's sheer power and determination. Jess particularly loved travelling by Floo to and from the matches, as they would often be hosted far from their London residence. At home, Abigail was often tired from training, but Jess relentlessly begged to practice flying on her mother's Firebolt, and so Guillaume would play catch with Jess on the broom in their backyard while Abigail watched, a welcome reprieve from the intense sport. Every now and then, Abigail would find Jess wearing her mother's large Quidditch jersey, in which she paraded around the house, imagining herself walking out in front of cheering crowds.

Team Training Grounds

Waikanae beach

First Instance of Magic At the age of just 4, on an Easter visit to her mother's family in New Zealand, Jess was pulled underwater by a strong current while at the beach in Waikanae. After a long thirty seconds, in which her parents searched frantically for her, Jess skipped jovially out of the sea, her mouth and nose surrounded by a bubble. This was just the first example of Jess' future talent for magic, and just about everything that she tried.

Guillaume's interests were not always fascinating to Jess. In the evenings, he would spend hours in front of a telescope, examining the constellations, but Jess, who like her mother preferred constant activity, found it to be far too mind-numbing. However, one night, Jess spotted a shooting star while lying in the garden with her father, and was astounded by the way he could so easily explain the inner workings of the sky. Soon, the curious 5-year-old would not stop asking questions, eventually badgering poor Guillaume to the point where Abigail had to distract her with her Firebolt. While Jess may not have understood what she saw through the telescope, she recognised the profound beauty of the boundless expanse of space. From her embracement of this newfound hobby came Guillaume's affectionate nickname for Jess, 'my little neutron star'.

Guillaume's Telescope

Abigail's Funeral

The passing of Abigail came as a shock to everyone. While she had been on a Quidditch tour in Japan, Abigail was ambushed by a wild Kappa, and with neither cucumber nor time to trick the beast into bowing, Abigail suffered a rare and gruesome death. Her mother had always asked for a traditional muggle funeral, and so when it was held in Abigail's home town of Waikanae in New Zealand, the then-7 year old Jess tearfully performed one of her mother's favourite songs from her muggle childhood, "Where Is Love?". By the end of the piece, the entire congregation was weeping.

Despite Jess' maturity and apparent fortitude following the tragedy, it took a toll on her mental health. Often, in uncomfortable or stressful situations, Jess would begin to hyperventilate, spiralling into a state of anxiety as she struggled with the hole in her heart, created by the loss of her mother. Late at night after these incidents, she would stay awake, questioning her integrity and experiencing feelings of intense inadequacy - subconsciously, her greatest fear was not making her mother proud. Fortunately, Guillaume was by her side at all times, and they battled the grief together, growing ever closer as they recalled their favourite moments with her mother. Abigail's oversized Quidditch jersey became Jess' most prized possession, and she wore it proudly for any and all important occasions.

Abigail's death distinctly changed the family dynamic. While it seemed to unite Guillaume and Abigail's family during their stay in New Zealand, the same could not be said for Guillaume's family. During one of their usual Sunday lunches, Marceline, Jess' aunt, accused Abigail of having been an absent mother, too distracted with her career aspirations to allow Guillaume to find himself. Guillaume was infuriated, shocked that anyone could say a word against his late wife, and while Marceline claimed her accusation came from caring for her brother, the argument escalated, with both of Jess' grandparents joining to defend Marceline. Finally, her grandfather claimed that, having been a muggleborn, Abigail should have let Guillaume take the lead, at which point Guillaume grabbed Jess and stormed from the house. Any contact with her aunt and grandparents was stopped indefinitely.

Despite Guillaume's starkly-different upbringing, both he and Abigail agreed on the need for Jess to attend primary school at some point, if only for a while. For preschool, year 1 and year 2, Abigail and Guillaume were able to share the task of teaching Jess basic English, Maths and History of Magic in their spare time, but after Abigail's death, Guillaume's obligations at the Ministry as an employee in the Department of Magical Games and Sports meant there was no one to teach or supervise Jess during the day, and so from year 3, Jess spent her time excelling at a French primary school.

Primary School

Jess was intrigued by the muggle understanding of human biology, especially once she had learnt from her father how brittle muggle bones were. In Year 4, Jess joined the Rugby team, which she loved for its similarities with Quidditch, as well as her Kiwi cousins' obsession with the sport.

One issue that was overlooked was Jess' relationships with her classmates. Over the years, Jess made friends with several people in her year, but the problem began at the suggestion of a playdate. While Jess could happily go to her friends' houses, the Statute of Magical Secrecy became a big barrier in allowing her friends to come over in return. Jess often found that her friendships were weakened by her inability to reciprocate a house invitation, and she cried in Guillaume's arms when one of her closer friends, Felix, told her she was selfish and mean for never letting him come over for a playdate. Eventually, Guillaume decided that one solution to this isolation would be the purchase of a device for Jess to use to communicate with her friends, and so for her 11th birthday, Guillaume bought Jess her own iPhone. It was a complicated task for Guillaume, who despite all the teaching from his wife, could not get to grips with muggle technology, but Jess was endlessly grateful for his effort. From then on, Jess could call her friends in her mother's hand-built shed all the time, and she and Felix became best friends.

0. Pre-Hogwarts

Reducio

25th July 2023: My Hogwarts acceptance letter arrived! It was a bittersweet moment, but I can't wait for what lies ahead.
17th August 2023: I went to Diagon Alley with Dad to buy my Hogwarts supplies! The highlight was getting my wand - I'll never forget the instant connection between us.
1st September 2023: I spent dawn with Felix, and we shared our final few hours before our relationship changes forever.

I. Year 1

Reducio

Autumn Term

1st September 2023: I nearly missed the Hogwarts Express, and met Aston and Bobbie on the train. I was sorted into Hufflepuff, and attended a proper Hogwarts Feast, before spending my first night in the Badger Bungalow.

Spring Term

17th February 2024: I was struggling with my homework, and this annoying Second Year came and made my life even worse!
6th May 2024: I watched the Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor Broom Racing Match - Hufflepuff won! It was a brilliant match, and it made me want to join the team so much more!
18th May 2024: I attended Martial Arts Club for the first time - it was super fun!

Summer Term

10th June 2024: I wrote a leaving message for the Graduating Seventh Years. It made me reminisce about my own graduation from primary school less than a year ago.

II. Year 2

Reducio

Autumn Term

12th July 2024: I went to Diagon Alley on my own, and met Dark and Rachel!
2nd September 2024: I applied for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and properly spoke to Audrey for the first time, as well as a first year named Gemini!
4th September 2024: I redirected a firstie called Avis to the right class - I hope she's alright!
30th September 2024: I attended a surprise birthday party, organised by Alliasta, for a girl I didn't even know!
12th October 2024: I took part in my first ever Quidditch match against Gryffindor as Second String Chaser!
20th October 2024: I tried out my new Silver Arrow, and had a pretty nasty experience, but I also practiced with Alejandro, which made up for the pain...

0. Pre-Hogwarts

Reducio

Felix Haynes | 7th October 2019 | Muggle | Best Friend
Garrick Ollivander | 17th August 2023 | Wandmaker | Elder

I. First Year

Reducio

Aston Beckett | 1st September 2023 | Second Year | Friend
Bobbie O'Brien | 1st September 2023 | Second Year | Friend
Finley Greer | 1st September 2023 | Groundskeeper | Elder
Cassie Jiang | 17th February 2024 | Second Year | Annoying Student
Mateo Sáez | 17th February 2024 | Librarian | Elder
Bailey Glade | 18th May 2024 | Fifth Year | Club President
Cass Ito | 18th May 2024 | Second Year | Club Member
Kim Sato | 18th May 2024 | Fourth Year | Club Vice President

II. Second Year

Reducio

Dark Phoenix | 12th July 2024 | First Year | Friend
Rachel Greenford | 12th July 2024 | First Year | Friend
Audrey Gallant | 2nd September 2024 | Second Year | Classmate
Gemini Johnson | 2nd September 2024 | First Year | Weirdo
Avis Greymond | 4th September 2024 | First Year | Mentee
Alliasta Holista | 30th September 2024 | Second Year | Party Organiser
Dan Palmer | 12th October 2024 | Seventh Year | Quidditch Commentator
Eugenia Karageorgiadi | 12th October 2024 | Second Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Alyssea Brown | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Landon Matthews | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Sage Willows | 12th October 2024 | Second Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Avery McCall | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Hufflepuff Captain
Tesla Stone | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Ethen Emrys | 12th October 2024 | Sixth Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Alejandro Garcia | 12th October 2024 | Second Year | Gryffindor Player
Aodhan Shaw | 12th October 2024 | First Year | Gryffindor Player
Atlas Reid | 12th October 2024 | Sixth Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Finnegan Connor | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Gryffindor Player
Oonagh Brown | 12th October 2024 | First Year | Gryffindor Player
Roxette Hartmore | 12th October 2024 | Third Year | Hufflepuff Teammate
Sere Nade | 23rd October 2024 | Second Year | Study Partner
Lucian Allum | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Quidditch Referee
Prat Pass | 2nd November 2024 | Second Year | Opposing Quidditch Player
Mamori Anezaki | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Opposing Quidditch Player
Acacia Murillo | 2nd November 2024 | Second Year | Castelobruxo Student
Elisa Shakestra | 2nd November 2024 | Second Year | Opposing Quidditch Player
Maisie Gemmell | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Quidditch Teammate
Meyra Lancaster | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Quidditch Teammate
Camilla Carter | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Quidditch Teammate
Delaney Collins | 2nd November 2024 | First Year | Quidditch Teammate

0. Pre-Hogwarts

Reducio

Owl Post (Solo) | 25th July 2023 (09:21) | Home | ✓
One Final Item... (Solo) | 17th August 2023 (19:48) | Diagon Alley | ✓
Is this goodbye? (Solo) | 1st September 2023 (06:04) | Felix's House | ✓

I. First Year

Reducio

Head First (Open) | 1st September 2023 (10:53) | Platform 9 3/4 | ✓
Making Friends (Open) | 1st September 2023 (11:00) | Hogwarts Express | ✓
First Year Entrance (Open) | 1st September 2023 (20:14) | Great Lake | ☐
Home At Last (Solo) | 1st September 2023 (22:37) | Badger Bungalow | ✓
A Hindering Hand (PV) | 17th February 2024 (11:23) | Library | ✓
Martial Arts Club (Club) | 18th May 2024 (15:32) | Ballroom | ☐
Farewall Class of 2024 (Errand) | 10th June 2024 (07:16) | Small Hall | ✓

II. Second Year

Reducio

An Unexpected Meet-up (Open) | 12th July 2024 (08:35) | Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour | ✗
Time to Play? (Open) | 2nd September (17:41) | Hufflepuff Common Room | ☐
Periculum! (PV) | 4th September 2024 (08:59) | DADA Classroom | ✓
A Quest For a Name (PV) | 4th September 2024 (10:30) | Corridor/Transfiguration Classroom | ☐
Surprise Birthday (PV) | 30th September 2024 (16:25) | Small Hall | ☐
Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff - Fall 2024 (Quidditch) | 12th October 2024 (16:30) | Quidditch Stadium | ✓
Just Like Taming a Horse (PV) | 19th October 2024 (10:39) | Quidditch Training Pitch | ☐
Every Line Connecting the Stars (PV) | 23rd October 2024 (12:30) | Study Room | ☐
Test of Strength (Quidditch) | 2nd November 2024 (12:30) | Quidditch Stadium | ☐