Iseabail Taylor

Backstory

I grew up in a magic-neutral, half-blooded house in the mids of the Scottish Highlands. My Da, Alabaster (though he usually goes by Douglas in Muggle circles), a big bear of a pure-blooded Slytherin Welshman, and my muggle Mum, a Scottish software developer, met during some concert or some'at, I'm not even sure at this point. I didn't know too much about magic growin' up, Mum wanted to keep it pretty hush, just in case I never took to it. We had a few magical books and toys, fun little odds and ends; Da still had magic, after all, and wanted me exposed even if I didn't have it. I went to Muggle primary schools for my first few years (scared the mickey out of my mom every time something went wrong, even in a mundane way), and spent most of my time around other muggles. Mum never properly understood, but she kept an open mind as best as she was able.

The one thing I did know about, though, was Quidditch. Da was an *enormous* fan of the Montrose Magpies (in fact, they were half the reason he moved all the way to Scotland!), and he kept all sorts of scores and posters around, even snuck me out to a few games when I was wee. Even before I could understand a bit of it, I loved it. I wanted to fly, I wanted to scream through the skies like a banshee, I wanted to be up there, more than anything. Da started taking me out on his broom for short rides, just to get me to quit pesterin' him about it. It felt more natural than breathin'. He told me all about his team, all about how hard they'd worked and how wonderful they were, about how, someday, maybe I could be up there with them. I all but stapled the Magpies banners to my jumpers after that.

Once my magic manifested, and my Hogwarts letter arrived, Mum and Da packed me up quick, shoved my trunk full of all my books and far too many jumpers, and stuck me on the train.

It's been a hard learning curve. Watchin' pictures of spells and creatures spinning across paper, and then being expected to do it myself? It's hard. Very hard. Sometimes, it makes me want to load up and head home. But then Mum will remind me that, I can't really learn Quidditch skills at Muggle schools, now can I? And Da will chime in to tell me that the Magpies will only take top-notch players, so I have to study hard, and try my hardest. It 'taint easy, but it'll be worth it.