Professor of Alchemy and Magical Art
- Joined April 2015
- Member of Slytherin
- 0 House Points
- 7th Year
Sweden
Backstory
Full Name: Serafina Novalie Rosenquist
Birthday: March 21, 1988 (Aries)
Wand: Maple wood • Dragon Heartstring core • 12½ inches • Swishy
Patronus: Moose
Pets: Butterscotch (Orange sable Pomeranian) • Pancakes (Black and tan Pomeranian)
Socials: Facebook
Biography:
Serafina Rosenquist grew up in Malmö, Sweden alongside her twin brother, Septimus, and her younger sister, Genovefa. Her dad, Matteo, is a dragonologist that worked at a dragon reserve near Arjeplog and Kopparberg, while her mother, Constance, is a musical theatre actress from a prestigious wizarding family in Monaco. Constance's side of the family moved to Paris not too long after Serafina and her brother were born, so the family would often go on vacations to Paris during the summer.
Serafina attended Durmstrang Institute for Magical Learning and shortly after graduation, she decided to travel the world to study alchemy in different societies. Most notably, she was under the tutelage of Cao Zhaohui at the Conservatory of Alchemy and Taoism in Nanjing and Khabira Arafa at the Egyptian Centre for Alchemical Studies in Alexandria.
After years of traveling and researching, Serafina decided to delve into a teaching career, with hopes to inspire young minds with her love of alchemy. In 2013, she took up an Alchemy professor position at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. During her tenure at Beauxbatons, she was enthralled by the school's collection of Nicolas Flamel's notes and spend many nights pouring into her research. All paths towards what appeared to be a way to recreate the Philosopher's Stone were dead ends, and eventually Serafina realized that this became an unhealthy obsession that she needed to distance herself from.
Luckily, her colleague and friend, August Rubedo, informed her of a position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry so she packed her bags and made her way to Scotland in 2015. Staying in one place and not being constantly on the move has allowed Professor Rosenquist to pursue her secret passion in game design, which led to a part time position at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Her design experience that she gained from her job at the Ministry gave Headmistress Oshiro the confidence to greenlight her to teach Magical Art when the course started being offered again at the N.E.W.T. level.
Although she misses living that nomadic alchemist lifestyle, Professor Rosenquist acknowledges that she would not have the opportunities she has now if she was traveling all the time. Though, she won't say no to the suggestion of a vacation every now and then! Professor Rosenquist can often be found helping students in the Alchemy Laboratory or Magical Art Studio, hoarding desserts in the Great Hall, playtesting her newest board game in the Library, or walking her two dogs, Butterscotch and Pancakes, on Hogwarts grounds.
Fun Facts:
• Professor Rosenquist used to have a Swedish vallhund named Nils, who unfortunately passed away of old age in 2020. The pup often kept her company for long nights in the Alchemy Laboratory and was always wanting to play with the Alchemy PAs.
• The Alchemy Laboratory and Professor Rosenquist's office was originally located in the dungeons, but the professor requested the classroom and her office be moved up to the third floor. Although she claims that this was for the new room's natural lighting being "beneficial" to the students, rumors say there is a secret passageway leading to Honeydukes.
• Professor Rosenquist knows how to play the piano and the flute, being especially proficient in the latter. During her days at Durmstrang, she was the first chair flautist in the school's student orchestra - a choice some of the other professors couldn't understand the rationale behind since she had a habit of skipping class.
• Some people are intimidated by how much Professor Rosenquist towers over them. Of course, being 6'1" and having an affinity for tall heels will do that. Students in her class often have to use the Summoning Charm to get supplies down because the professor has forgets that not everyone can easily reach high shelves.
