Hunter VanDerberg

Character name: Hunter VanDerberg
Gender: Male
Birthday: October 24
Age: 11

Blood status: Muggleborn
Ethnicity/nationality: Dutch
Place of birth/residence: Gelderland, The Netherlands


Family background and description:

The surname VanDerberg literally translates to "from the mountain" in Dutch; however, since the Netherlands are primarily flat, the mountain in question is actually a large hilly region near the town of Asch. Gretta and John VanDerberg married by arrangement at a young age, and gladly took over the operation of the VanDerberg farm after their union. Despite their arranged marriage, John and Gretta had a happy life together. They tended their farm and became the parents of four healthy children. Jack was the eldest; a year younger was Hunter; lastly, two years later, the young couple gave birth to twin girls, Lynette and Lyra. Gretta's mother, a widow, also lives with the family.

Personal history:

Life on a farm isn't easy - any respectable farmer would tell you that. Hunter Vanderberg would tell you that as well, by the age of five. Only a year younger than his older brother, Hunter and Jack often did their daily chores together. While they were young, their work consisted of simple tasks such as picking vegetables and collecting eggs from the hen house. As the boys grew older, their chores became both more strenuous and time consuming. By the time Hunter was ten, he was plowing fields and helping his father herd the cattle.

Hunter never questioned the work he was given. Like his father, he took pride in the farm, and even at a young age the harvest of a successful crop brought a smile to his face. He pushed through his fatigue each day with the knowledge that he was helping to better life for himself and his family. It took more than one person to take care of a farm - Hunter was proud to be a part of the team!

Hunter got along well with all of his siblings. He looked up to his older brother, and spent most of his time with Jack. He also enjoyed spending time with the twins, even though they were girls. He liked being a big brother, and went out of his way to act the part. All of the VanDerberg children were schooled at home, in their little farmhouse. While Hunter had a few friends from the town, he preferred the company of his family and spent most of his free time playing games with his siblings, parents and grandmother.

Hunter was a very relaxed, pleasant child, and his emotions rarely reached any sort of extreme. As a result, Hunter didn't demonstrate any signs of magic until he was nearly eleven. Even when he did produce magic, it was miniscule enough that it could be overlooked; for example, at the end of a long work day, the plow might pull more easily through the ground. It wasn't until he received his Hogwarts letter that he knew that he was a wizard.

While for some time he believed the letter to be a joke, he eventually made his way to Diagon Alley with his family to pick up his school supplies. His sisters were more amazed than any of them at the magical surroundings, and spent most of the time in the Magical Menagerie looking at all of the magical animals. Finally, September 1st came, and Hunter took off (somewhat reluctantly) for Hogwarts. He had never been away from his family, and he had no idea what to expect from this magical school that he was going to attend.


Physical Appearance:

Hunter is a fit, young boy with wispy mouse brown hair and green-hazel eyes. Though he is only eleven, he is both tanned and toned from doing farm work daily. Hunter is of average height, and has a broad build.

Personality (strengths, weaknesses, traits, flaws, interests, what does he or she love? hate? write a bit about each)

Hunter's life with his family has instilled in him a great sense of commitment toward those who earn his trust - he would do anything for his family, and would never go back on a promise that he had made to anyone. Hunter is also the type of person who does what needs to be done, no matter its effect on him. He does his work as soon as he can once he knows about it, and this allows him to perform well in class despite the fact that he isn't the most intelligent student in the school. He looks at problems very logically, and doesn't allow emotions to interfere with problem-solving or work.

Hunter enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and is a very friendly, outgoing person. He'll talk to just about anyone, and can be relatively naive when it comes to others - he simply tends to see the best in everybody until they prove him wrong. He has a warm, protective nature, and will always stand up for his friends. He loves the outdoors and enjoys looking at the stars at night. He doesn't like being stuck inside too long.

While his lack of experience in the wizarding world may be a setback, Hunter's hard-working attitude and willingness to learn and make new friends should more than make up for his unfamiliarity with wizarding ways.

Boggart: Having to watch his family suffer
Mirror of Erised: To take over his parent's farm when he comes of age
Patronus: Coyote
Amortentia: Hay, Rainfall, Earth


Additional information: Don't think so!
How you found the forum: Googled it.
Role-play example:

Where the hell am I supposed to go? Hunter looked around the crowded train station for the third time and back down at his ticket, his brow furrowed in confusion. His family had dropped him off, but weren't able to stay and see him onto the train. Platform 9 3/4? With a sigh, the young boy once again circled from platform nine to platform ten, pushing his heavy trolley in front of him. He couldn't ask a guard - he'd probably be kicked out for causing trouble. He flipped his ticket over, hoping that it might have some sort of direction written on the back, but there was nothing.

He slowed to a halt and shoved his ticket in his pocket, leaning against a barrier in between the two platforms to collect his thoughts - or at least he meant to, but for some reason, his back never collided with the barrier. Instead, it collided with the ground, and he found himself looking at the ceiling of what seemed to be another platform. This must be it! he thought, scrambling to his feet.

He cautiously made his way back through the barrier and soon returned with his trolley. His eyes widened as he caught sight of a magnificent scarlet engine sitting amidst the crowd of people - he had definitely found the right place. All around there were people in cloaks and robes, and the sound of owls echoed through the air. Hunter made his way through the crowds of people and dragged his trunk onto the train. He made his way to an empty compartment, heaved his trunk inside, and prepared himself for the ride, his mind on his family that he was leaving behind.