Application
Character
Name: Ernest Courtland Macmillan
Gender: Male, obviously
Date of birth: 4 January, 1980
House/Year: Hufflepuff // class of 1998
Blood status: Pureblood (his family is descended from nine consecutive generations of pure-blood ancestry)
Sexuality: What an absurd question. He's heterosexual, of course. He is the only male Macmillan with the ability to carry on the Macmillan name and he fully intends to do so. Of course, his parents could have a Mid-Life Crisis baby, but he'd prefer if you not put that image into his head.
Suggested livejournal username: macminister
PB/Avatar: Topher Grace
Physical characteristics: Ernie was terribly worried about being short and pudgy forever until his fifth year when he hit his stride and shot up into a taller, lankier frame. He stays rather lean due to his constant stress over work and will sometimes go several days with only a few crackers to tide him over without even realizing it. His hair has darkened from spending more time inside studying and working rather than in the sun like he did when he was younger and his hair was closer to blond. His eyes are a calming gray-green colour, though when impassioned they darker to a deeper and more intense green. Rather, when he's calm, they lighten closer to gray. It's one of the few ways to really tell how Ernie is feeling. Though Pureblooded, he favours Muggle suits for their sleeker appearance, but will wear dress robes to formal events. His back has several scars and burn marks from a 'Detention' in his 7th year, and his left shoulder shoulder spasms after continuous activity.
Distant History: Ernie Macmillan is the first and only son of Alastair and Lydia Macmillan. He is part of nine consecutive generations of pureblood ancestry. Though not as affluent as families like the Malfoy's and the Black's were, the Macmillans chose hard work and service to the wizarding society over illegal and unethical practices. Ernie's father is a member of the Wizengamot, his grandfather was a member of the Wizengamot, and his father before him. Ernie never really had a choice, not that he's wanted another choice, about his future in the Wizengamot.
He became Prefect in his fifth year and took his position seriously. Unfortunately, that was also the year Professor Umbridge came to Hogwarts. He hated the class that he had once loved, and when Hermione approached Hannah and him with the DA it was her incompetancy as a professor that had him leaning towards breaking the rules and joining the Defense group. He eventually joined the DA for several reasons. One, because it was the right thing to do. He trusted Dumbledore and Harry despite what the Wizengamot said. He had known Cedric, everyone in Hufflepuff had, and he knew Harry was incapable of killing Cedric. It had to have been You-Know-Who. He even went so far as to declare his support to Harry in a way that would distinguish himself as someone sensible and logical instead of being grouped into a category with Luna Lovegood or Neville Longbottom. The other reason was more selfish: he wanted to achieve an OWL in DADA and knew he wouldn't be able to do so without Harry's help - despite what Zacharias Smith said. Fortunately, this decision proved to be the right one and he received an E on his DADA OWL.
In his sixth year, Ernie was honored with the prestigious position of 'Student Representative to the Wizengamot.' This was important because it was a good foot into the Ministry as well as an assurance that he would be the Head Boy the next year. Every Friday morning Ernie would wake early, report to his Head of House's office, and would Floo to the Ministry of Magic to sit in on trials, decision making, and other assorted business. This was an exciting time as well due to the war which was beginning to press against them and the appointment of a new Minister of Magic. However, this quickly lost it's luster after Hannah's mum was murdered by Voldemort and she was taken out of school. He faithfully sent her her homework every week, and over Christmas break he urged her to think about her future and to at least try to keep up with her studies.
The summer before his Seventh Year, Ernie received an owl telling him he was Head Boy. Two days later, the Ministry fell. Soon after, Snape was appointed the new Headmaster of Hogwarts and Ernie knew things were going to change. Not wanting to lose his badge, Ernie split it in half and transfigured the pieces into cuff links - he also took one of the 'Support Cedric Diggory' pins from fourth year and Transfigured it bit by bit into a Head Boy badge. This proved to be a fortuitous decision because immediately after arriving at Hogwarts he and Theodore Nott were both called to the Headmaster's office where he was informed that there had been a regrettable mistake and that Nott was the rightful Head Boy. He was ordered to give him the badge, and Ernie dutifully handed over the Transfigured 'Cedric Diggory' button. He wore the H and B cuff links every day after that, knowing that he was the true and rightful Head Boy of Hogwarts.
However Ernie soon learned that he wanted nothing to do with Hogwarts. They were being taught Dark Magic in their NEWT level DADA class and Umbridge's detentions were nothing compared to the detentions had at the hands of the Carrow's. He put up with it for months, though by the time Neville went into hiding Ernie's temper was growing shorter. It was in one of these DADA classes, soon after Neville went into hiding, that Ernie had to as well. They were being forced to learn the Cruciatus curse, and when [student] refused Alecto Carrow decided that [student] would be the volunteer for the class to practice on. Ernie wouldn't let this happen. He Disarmed Carrow and ordered [student] to get out of the classroom. This act of disobedience cost him dearly. Despite his family connections, Ernie was subjected to several bouts of the Cruciatus curse as well as a number of horrific torture curses. During this 'Detention,' he was able to escape the classroom and run to the Room of Requirement where he found Neville who gladly took him in. He had word sent to Hannah and the other Hufflepuffs that he was safe and in hiding and had them send him his clothes and books a little bit at a time over a month period. During that period, more former DA members began to trickle in to the Room of Requirement.
Believing that being in exile was no reason to shirk their education, Ernie took it upon himself (as the Rightful Head Boy) to make sure everyone studied and kept up on their work - assigning several students who excelled in their subject as their alternative Professor. However, he was not opposed to creating mischief in the school. He joined Neville and other DA members in hiding to graffiti the school and make life difficult for Snape and the Carrows until it became too dangerous.
When Harry returned to Hogwarts, Ernie stayed to fight in the Final Battle. He fought hard and loyally, and has pledged undying loyalty to Harry after watching him save Hannah from You-Know-Who's killing curse. When You-Know-Who fell, Ernie felt an immense sense of relief wash over him. It was over. Finally. The first thing he did when Harry proved victorious was to return his Head Boy badge back to its rightful shape.
That summer he elected to take his NEWT examinations at the Ministry of Magic and earned an outstanding 10 of them due to his disciplined studying while in hiding. This assured him a position as Clerk Assistant of the Wizengamot - one of the youngest wizards to achieve this position in centuries.
Recent History: Ernie quickly became one of the Ministries rising stars - both for his hard work and fine moral character and also for his part in the Battle of Hogwarts and the months leading up to it. Of course, his stellar family ties didn't hurt him at all. He rose through the Ministorial ranks with ease, becoming Junior Undersecretacry to the Minister of Magic (youngest after Percy Weasley, but considering the circumstances involved there Ernie tends to ignore this) by the time he was twenty-one. Almost 2 years later and Shacklebolt himself says he doesn't know how he surrvived before Ernie.
As the months until his twenty-third birthday approach, Ernie's parents have been giving increasingly less subtle hints that perhaps he should consider venturing out onto his own. He has resisted this for awhile, claiming that work keeps him far too busy to keep house, but ever since coming home to a clipping of flat vacancies taped to his mirror with a large red circle around Eutrepe's Corner it has become harder to ignore. The moving boxes that appeared in his room one day and covered his bed might also have been a hint as well.
Current employment status: Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic
Personality: Ernie is one of those people who believe that he is not opinionated, so much as he is always right and refuses to see else wise. Once he has come to a conclusion he will stop at nothing to see it through - whether this is in school, his personal life, or in the work field. He believes in tough-love, so when he cares about someone he is not afraid to be hard with them in order to help them better themselves. Focused and driven, Ernie has his sights set on becoming the youngest ever Minister of Magic and is willing to do almost anything to get there. If asked, Ernie will tell you that the reason the Hat deliberated for so long was because it was seriously debating putting him in Ravenclaw, but decided his drive and thirst for knowledge would better serve Hufflepuff. What he won't tell you is that he spent a good five minutes trying to talk the Hat out of placing him in Slytherin