Oskar von Borke

Backstory

* General Information *

Name: Oskar Augustus von Borke.

Blood Status: Pure-blood.

House: Ravenclaw.

Wand: Elder, Phoenix tail feather, 12.25 inches, Hard.

Pet: Boreal Owl.

Patronus: Marsh Harrier.

*Family Background *

Oskar von Borke was born to Gerhard von Borke, a descendant of the Pure-Blood Noble House of Borke, and Anastasia Zaklinaneva, daughter of the famous witch Zoya Zaklinaneva, former headmistress of the Koldovstoretz School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and wizard Viktor Virakov, former Russian Minister for Magic.

The House of Borke was ennobled in the Middle Ages, before the institution of the Statute of Secrecy. It is related to the pure-blood British House of Burke, a cadet branch of the German line. Though the family had gained notoriety for its immense wealth and pure-blood supremacy, their image was rehabilitated somewhat by Brutus von Borke, Oskar's grandfather, who played a key role in bringing down the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. 

As Oskar is a member of a very ancient and respected pure-blood family, he had quite a lavish childhood; the family was reputed to be among the wealthiest in the wizarding world, having accumulated a fortune since the early Middle Ages.

Oskar's mother, though Russian, had attended Hogwarts when she was a child. Even though her mother was Koldovstoretz's Headmistress at the time, she thought it best that Anastasia should attend Hogwarts, as Zoya didn't want to favour her daughter over any other student at her school (Ana was later sorted into Ravenclaw house). Anastasia became a world-renowned Transfigurationist, featuring frequently in Transfiguration Today and other publications, and is conisdered to be a most knowledgable expert on human Transformations. She is also an Animagus and takes the form of an Eagle Owl when transformed.

Oskar's father, Gerhard, studied magic at the Durmstrang Institute, as did his father and grandfather before him. He had served as Deputy Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards before returning to his Arithmancy research. Today he teaches Arithmancy and Advanced Arithmancy at Durmstrang.

When Oskar came of age, his parents argued to which school he ought to be sent. Gerhard wanted him to attend Durmstrang, whereas Anantasia urged him to go to Hogwarts. In the end, they compromised and an application was sent to the British Ministry of Magic, requesting a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Owing to his family's innumerable connections and prestige, the application had been approved, and Oskar had indeed started attending Hogwarts. He was sorted into Ravenclaw House like his mother before him, and excelled in Transfiguration and Potions in particular.

Oskar's sister, Barbara, and brother, Dionysus, were also sorted into Ravenclaw; the former became top of the school in Arithmancy - authoring several papers on the subject with the help of her father before even finishing school - while the latter thrived as a Beater on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team.

* Character Information *

Oskar had developed an interest in wizarding history very early on. Since graduating Hogwarts, he has written numerous books on the subject, particularly ancient history. He has also published notes from ancient magical historians and philosophers that had not seen publication before. Among his famous works are International Magical Co-operation and An Appraisal of Magical Education in the Near East.

Along with his interest in history of magic, Oskar has authored several papers on Transfiguration -- a subject he is also enthusiastic about -- with an emphasis on early Transfiguration magic from ancient Rome, Greece, Anatolia and Persia.

For his contributions to the study of ancient magical history and the development of Transfiguration, he was granted an Order of Merlin (Second Class) and was given the illustrious title of Grand Sorcerer by the International Confederation of Wizards.