Barkridge Family History
The Barkridges were considered to be a wizarding family derived of only the purest blood. They were envied for their power and wealth, two factors that would inevitably be the family's downfall. Power and wealth made them targets to many attacks, however up until recently they were never affected by them.
The first known Barkridge was Elias Barkridge, a wizard who lived in Sweden in the 11th Century. It was said that he held great power, although where this power came from is not known to us. Many theory that he practiced in dark magic and struck a deal with a greater being in exchange for his power.
Another famous Barkridge was Maya Barkridge, who lived during the 14th Century. Much like her ancestor Elias, Maya resided in Sweden for the majority of her life but later made her way to the United Kingdom with her husband and two sons in order to pursue her dream of opening a potions shop and patenting some of her own potions, many of which we still use today. Some of her more known potions include the Hiccoughing Potion and the Confusing Concoction.
However, the most famous Barkridge was Violet Barkridge. In the late 17th Century Violet used the Imperius curse on an estimated 336 witches in order to sleep with them. Unbeknownst to her husband it is rumoured that she once housed 23 witches at once in the cellar of the family basement. It wasn't until one of her children mentioned to a family friend that his mother had a lot of friends staying round that her deeds were picked up on. Despite being sentenced to a life in Azkaban and having cursed hundreds of witches, Violet was the poster girl for gay rights in the wizarding community. Witches and Wizards everywhere protested that she wouldn't have been drawn to such manners had she been able to openly come out as a lesbian without fear of what would happen to her. As of the early 18th Century a law was passed allowing gay witches and wizards to marry and express their love as any straight couple would, this law is often referred to as "Violet's Law".
In the 19th Century a rumour spread that if you killed a Barkridge you would gain their powers, causing the remaining family to resign themselves to their family manor. This rumour was put to the test during a mass slaughter of the family by death eaters in 1971, leaving only one young boy by the name of Thomas, who had hidden under the floorboards of the family manor as he watched the Dark Lord spill the blood of his relatives in hopes that it would further increase his power.
After the bloodshed, the boy locked himself away from the world out of fear. Eventually he understood that if he continued to shut himself away his bloodline would die out at him, and the power that his family had worked so hard to preserve would wither away. He married Cathryn Bennett, a young pureblooded witch from America and together they settled down in the British countryside. Cathryn unfortunately passed away in 1982 due to a prolonged unknown illness. There are rumours that the couple have a daughter by the name of Adrianna, but no one has seen her so this cannot be confirmed.
Adrianna huffed and closed the book, sliding it back onto the shelf it came from. She peered around the family library in hopes something new for her to read would suddenly emerge, or she'd find a secret passageway that would lead to some strange mystery she could solve. But alas, no new books or strange buttons appeared and she had to come to terms with the fact that she had read every book they owned at least three times. She had begun to feel like Belle from her late mother's favourite muggle (or no-maj as she called them) book. However somehow Adrianna doubted that one of the house elves would suddenly transform into a Prince or a Princess and whisk her away. She let her eyes flick over the books once more and fell onto a very familiar one, 'Hogwarts: A History' by Bathilda Bagshot, the pages were worn and some torn, but to her that just showed that it was well read. Adrianna had probably read through this particular copy 27 times, absorbing every piece of information she possibly could from it. She plucked it from the shelf and held it close as she made her way from the library to her father's office. The house was big and secluded, perhaps not as much as she was told the old Barkridge Manor had once been, but it apparently came quite close. For some a house this big would have been a luxury, for Adrianna it felt more like an abandoned prison. There were 12 bedrooms yet her father and herself were the only ones living there and they had never had a guest so most bedrooms were left untouched, only to be cleaned regularly for dust by the house elves.
She didn't bother knocking on the door when she reached the office, just waltzed into the room, book in hand.
"No." Thomas, her father, had barely had time to process that his daughter was in the room before spotting the book. "For the last time, you're not going."
"You don't even know what I was going to ask you." Adrianna spat out, dramatically throwing herself onto the chair opposite her father's desk. "How can you just say no?"
"You were going to ask me if you could go to Hogwarts this year, as you do every year." He sighed, his head in his hands as though the very idea of his daughter wanting to leave the house was exhausting to him. "It's too dangerous Anna." His voice softened towards the end, using his usual nickname for her.
"Life is dangerous, and I have to live it at some point." She argued, seemingly not swayed by her father's softer tone and certainly not using one of her own. "I've read every book here, I've learnt all I can from them! I don't even have my own wand!"
"Then you're probably leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else in your year. If you were to start now you would be joining people in their 4th year, you'll have no friends and you won't know anyone. You'll be an outcast." Thomas tried to explain to his daughter who just threw him a scowl.
"Right, because it's not like I'm already an outcast, that I already don't have friends, that I don't know anyone." She spat out with spite, her father's serene look faltered slightly as he realised that she was right. "I don't care if I'm leaps and bounds ahead of everyone mentally, when it comes to physical ability I have had no training, and what about the subjects we don't have books on? There's a limit to wandless magic!"
"We'll get you new books." He tried to rationalise in response, but Adrianna didn't listen to him, she just carried on spitting out her accusations and insults.
"If you're so paranoid that I'll go out and get hurt, then let me learn how to defend myself! You can't protect me forever, when you're gone I'll be defenseless with no friends and no family and no way to protect myself from anything." She was well aware of her steadily raising voice and her clenched fists but she didn't care enough to stop herself from getting too worked up. "You're a selfish bastard Thomas. Your paranoia will end up being my main cause of death." With that, she stormed off to her bedroom, the door slamming itself shut in her wake. She grabbed a pillow off of her bed and used it to muffle the sounds of her frustrated screams, she had learnt long ago that she couldn't just bottle up the anger. Once her screaming fit was over she launched the pillow at her wall and it exploded on impact, raining feathers all around her otherwise spotless room. Instinctively, one of the family house elves, Topsy, appeared to clean up the mess and thus fell witness to Adrianna's endless ranting about how utterly unfair it was that she had to live such a secluded life. After an hour or so Topsy was relieved to see that the young mistress had ranted herself off into a dreamless sleep.
Adrianna groaned as light flooded into her bedroom, tugging her sheets over her head to try and hide from it.
"It's time to get up and get dressed!" Thomas cheered, pulling the bed covers away from his daughter who was most certainly not a morning person, although she wasn't particularly a day or night person either. "Make sure you wear sensible walking shoes." This caught her attention.
"Wait what? Walking? Where? Why?" She shot out of bed and ran to her dressed where clothes were already lying out ready for her. She snatched them into her arms and sped into the en suite bathroom to change.
"We're going to Diagon Alley. Flourish and Blotts have a great book collection." He called out after her, causing her to quite literally squeal in excitement.
Adrianna had never been anywhere but her garden, even in escape attempts that was the furthest she'd ever made it before being caught and dragged back. Needless to say, she was more than excited about the idea of going out and seeing other witches and wizards. She had read up on Diagon Alley and the shops there, she hoped that Flourish and Blotts wouldn't be their only stop for the day.
Within 5 minutes the pair were stood in Diagon Alley, Thomas looking nervous and Adrianna looking utterly mesmerized. She watched in complete awe as witches and wizards greeted one another on the streets with a smile, gossiping about their summers and placing bets on the Quidditch World Cup. Quidditch and flying on a broom in general plucked at Adrianna's curiosity, she knew the theory but had neither seen nor practiced it herself. She was certain if given the chance she would be able to put what she knows into action and effortlessly fly on a broom, but she doubted her father would ever give her the chance.
"Right then, Flourish and Blotts first!" Thomas held out his arm as his daughter clung onto it instinctively, admittedly she was quite intimidated by the sheer amount of people so she was grateful for it. "You know I was a Ravenclaw when I was in Hogwarts. Your mother of course went to Ilvermorny so she was never sorted into a Hogwarts house but I have no doubt she would have been in Hufflepuff, she had such a kind soul." He mused, leading his daughter down the street to the shopfront. He pulled out a handwritten list from his pocket and studied it. "Now what does it say you need? Magical Drafts and Potions; The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4; The Dark Forces, A Guide to Self-Protection.." Adrianna didn't hear the last few as he listed them off, she was too busy trying to come to terms with what he was implying.
"Wait dad.. You're not telling me I'm.." She trailed off and looked up at him hopefully, her eyes almost watering at the idea. Her father simply nodded with a stiff smile almost as though he was already regretting it, which he probably was. She flung her arms around him, now fully sobbing.
"Hey hey! I thought you were supposed to be happy that I'm letting you go to Hogwarts! What's with the tears?" He leant down to look his daughter in the eye and he gasped at the sight of her. He hadn't seen a grin on her face that wide since before her mother passed and his own eyes began to tear up.
"Thank you." She whispered sincerely. "Thank you." The moment was ruined by the clearing of a throat from behind the pair. They pulled apart and looked over to the source of the sound and sure enough there stood a man with long, platinum blonde hair, his head held high.
"Thomas Barkridge, I was under the impression that you no longer left the house." The man sounded and looked as though he were sneering, but at the same time attempting to look like he couldn't care less. "And I see the rumours must be true, yes? This is your daughter?" From behind him appeared a boy around Adrianna's age with hair equally as platinum blonde, undoubtedly his son. His eyes studied her as though assessing whether or not she was worthy of his time.
"No, I'm an illusion." She rolled her eyes, if this is how consending the rest of the world is perhaps she would be better off sticking to books. Her father squeezed her shoulder as if to tell her to not be so vindictive against these people. Unfortunately, if Adrianna was told not to do something she would go out of her way to do it. "Completely fabricated, as far as anyone else is concerned you're talking to air. Perhaps you should-"
"Excuse Adrianna, the excitement of this trip must have gotten to her head." Thomas cut his daughter off before she could say anything too damaging. He gave her a stern look which thankfully she understood and kept her mouth shut. "Lucius Malfoy, I haven't seen you since our 5th year at Hogwarts-" Adrianna paid not attention to the adults conversing and instead looked back at the younger Malfoy who was apparently now introducing himself to her.
"Draco Malfoy. I assume you've heard of me." He radiated self importance as he stuck his hand out for her to shake. Having never met anyone but a couple of doctors and maybe one of her father's business partners unintentionally, Adrianna just stared at the hand with a raised eyebrow.
"I believe the name Malfoy was mentioned in a book that I've read but the information wasn't important enough for me to retain, however I don't you in particular were mentioned." Draco looked practically appalled at the girl who simply smiled in return. "I've been noted in a few books however my existence is usually just speculation. Nevertheless, I am still noted." With that, Thomas and Lucius had finished their conversation, Lucius now with his hand on Draco's shoulder dragging him away as the boy stared at Adrianna in confusion.
"Stay away from them." Her father whispered, turning her around and leading her into the bookshop. "Bad people." She barely had time to register the words as she took in and relished the sight of hundreds of unread books. Pulling away from her father, she skittered around the shelves and grabbed one of each book she had not yet read until her arms were so full she couldn't carry anymore. Rolling his eyes and smiling, Thomas picked out all of the books that had been listed that she required for Hogwarts. As they made their way to the counter to pay for the books the man working there seemed to be in shock at the large pile that had suddenly been dumped in front of him, though he wasn't about to protest at someone buying out half of the shop. Money had never been an issue for Barkridges, however now more than ever as Thomas and Adrianna were the only ones remaining and had inadvertently inherited the entire family fortune.
Thomas, with his arms full of books, followed his daughter through the next few shops, grateful that they had purchased a fairly large cauldron in which he deposited the books for easier transportation. Having purchased school robes and a few new sets of dress robes, the pair made their way to their second to last intended stop, Magical Menagerie. Students were allowed to bring an owl, cat, or toad to Hogwarts with them and there was no way Adrianna would let that opportunity slip past her. Considering all of the options, she decided on a Barred Owl which she named 'Danger' much to her father's dismay. The reason for this particular name was that it in theory allowed Adrianna to shout "Danger" anywhere and cause panic with the excuse that she was just calling for her owl.
They finally reached their last shop and Adrianna couldn't hide her excitement any longer, this was what she had been waiting for since she had learnt the real reason they were at Diagon Alley. She looked up in admiration at the shop front, mouthing the name "Ollivanders", and it wasn't long before she was inside and being greeted by Ollivander. He looked at Thomas and nodded.
"I remember your wand Mr Barkridge." He informed him. "Rowan, Unicorn Hair, 10 ½ inch." Thomas nodded, impressed at the man's memory. "Rowan wood has always been favoured, good for protection." He muttered seemingly to himself. Thomas cleared his throat and gestured down to his daughter who was busy admiring the wands that littered the walls.
"I believe it's time for Adrianna to get a wand, she'd been long overdue one." He smiled sadly as he truly came to terms with the fact that she wasn't just a little girl anymore, she had to experience the world.
"Ah yes!" He began pulling out wands and passing them to Adrianna. "Reed, Unicorn hair, 11 ¾, give it a swish." She shook the wand a little but it did nothing more than let out a couple of red sparks, Ollivander shook his head and snatched it back, replacing it with a new one. "Laurel, Dragon String, 9 ½, try that." This wand produced an even more lackluster effect and was therefore snatched back and replaced. This went on for about 6 minutes, Thomas was concerned that Ollivander would be fed up by now but the man only seemed to be happier as the challenge proved to be more and more difficult.
Eventually with the swish of one wand there was an almost blindingly bright light and Ollivander cheered. "12 ¾ inches, Pine wood, always chooses an independent, individual master who may be perceived as a loner, intriguing and perhaps mysterious. Pine wands enjoy being used creatively, and unlike some others, will adapt unprotestingly to new methods and spells." He began processing the order through. "Phoenix Feather, the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world." Adrianna grinned, clutching her new wand as Thomas paid for it. They thanked Ollivander and left the shop, making their way back to the Leaky Cauldron so that they can take the Floo Network back home.
As they walked, Thomas looked down at his daughter who was now cooing at Danger who pecked at its cage as though it already knew that it was in for one hell of a ride with Adrianna and wanted to escape while it could. He couldn't help but worry for his daughter and how she would react to being at Hogwarts with the hundreds of other students. It was needless to say that he regretted keeping her locked away for so long, but at the same time he wished he could keep her hidden away from the dangers of the world forever.