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Bilingual not by choice
Alexsei (barely) raised Carmilla to speak both English and Russian, due to usefulness not responsibility. She learned Russian first because this is what he spoke around her (shouted mostly), and then through her own devices, as she found it hard to speak with the dwellers of Hogsmeade, Carmilla taught herself English. It was a hard and long process, leading her to an accent which is neither Russian or English, more american. Alexsei took advantage of this bilingualism. -
Carmilla Volkov was Born
On the 3rd of April 1992, Carmilla was born, but due to severe complications during the birth, her life also brought her mother's death. Mara died during the process and her untimely passing was placed solely on the shoulder's of Carmilla by her father. Intially optimistic that he could live life without his wife, Alexsei becomes bitter and began to take out his grief of the thing that caused him pain more than anything else. His daughter. She had Mara's eyes and didn't deserve them. -
Carmilla turns One
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Carmilla turns Two
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Carmilla turns Three
On Carmila's third birthday, a reminder to her father of her mother's death, it was here that Alexsei finally snapped. He abandonned the three-year-old in the house whilst he went to drink away his pain and made the girl grow up very quicikly to becoming independent and untrusting of his presence. For what was two years of forced love, Carmilla got nothing more than the bare minimum from that point forward, he collected her child welfare cheques and barely spent a penny on her actual welfare. -
Carmilla turns Four
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Carmilla tuns Five
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Saint Abraham of Smolensk's Preparatory School for Witches and Wizards
Carmilla was placed into the local religious school, the church on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. Despite not being raised well, her father forced his beliefs on her, as was tradition. She walked to school alone everyday, rain or shine and was picked upon for her ill-fitted clothing. Carmilla hated it because the children laughed at her accent and the teachers beat her for the times which she didn't understand them. She learned quickly to be quiet and to not draw attention to herself. It was hell. -
Carmilla turns Six
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"ты убил свою мать!" - [You killed your mother!]
A week after her sixth birthday and in a fit of despair driven by a miserable binge, Alexsei dragged Carmilla downstairs from her loft and locked her in the basement for three days. The last thing he said to her before the door was locked, or rather growled, was that - she was the reason he was like this, that she was the one that killed her mother. Carmilla found a dark corner and cowered in it for the remainder of her imprisonment, crying quietly as she dwelled on her father's words. -
Carmilla turns Seven
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A new passion?
On this night, whilst her father was away with his drinking buddies, Carmilla explored and played without the fear of his anger. This was a normal occurence, but what wasn't was the urge to explore futher. The basement was forbidden for her as it contained most of Mara's belongings still hoarded by Alexsei. Here, she found a piano shrouded in sheets and a picture of a woman smiling brightly on its stand. Her mother? Intrigued, Carmilla toyed with the piano until the signs of her father's return. -
An Unfamiliar Kindness
Upon return to school, and buzzing with excitement of her new ability (only really a light tinkering with ebony keys) Carmilla finds the nun whom treated her kinder than all the others, the organ player. She told her (hoping that she would keep her secret) about the piano and pleaded to the sister to teach her something. Whilst Sister Mary Patrick could not take the time to to anything of length, she sat with Carmilla during the first few breaks of the week, teaching her the basics. -
A Diamond in the Rough
With time, Carmilla realised that Sister Mary Patrick wasn't mean like the other nuns, as she had previously expected, but instead (like herself) was too meak or submissive to do little against their superiority. This Sister was newer to the parish, and the years had not worn her down. She was kinder to the children and forewent punishment when all others would have been quick to reach for the strap. Sister Mary Patrick never once did that. -
Smuggling Manuscripts
WIth each week that Sister Mary Patrick taught Carmilla during the breaks, she learned that the girl's appetite for learning was far more than she initially expected. Soon, the girl would surpass what she would be able to covertly teach her. So, M.P. looked out some old manuscript that wouldn't be missed by the church and leant it to Carmilla to learn away from the school. Starting her life long ambition to improve her skills. All thanks to one Sister's kindness. -
Carmilla turns Eight
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Carmilla discovers the art of self-injury (and it's addictive)
So used to beatings and general manhandling by her father, Carmilla discovered the release of taking control of these actions, and at such a young age. She found a blade Alexsei left in the store one day whilst cleaning the counters and squirrelled it away to her loft room. The first cut hurt the most, but it brought with it a sense of control, Carmilla hid it under clothing and ripped sheets and built her battlefield of injuries up over the years until she had no choice but to turn to her arms. -
Carmilla turns Nine
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The Rescuing of Salvador pt.2
She was determined to save the little fox cub, after all the little thing decided to come to her and clearly for some reason trusted her. Carmilla knew that this was special, even at the wee age of nine. She spent the rest of her summer holiday manufacturing bottles out of a milk jars and medicine droppers she found in the house, used her only hot-water-bottle, wrapped in some of her lesser used clothes to keep the little thing warm. Then... After some thought, she named the cub Salvador. -
The Rescuing of Salvador pt.1
During a lone outing oneday, entertaining herself away from her father's wrath in the woods skirting Hogsmeade, Carmilla came across a little fox cub. It was clearly a runt. Shaking, the little thing looked weak and on the verge of passing out as it limped away from a cave opening and to her. It wobbled and cried as she crouched down to scoop it up, empathy and worry in her eyes. Carmilla wrapped it up in her thin cardigan and held the little thing close to her chest, warming it. -
Stronger grows the bonds and strength
A month later, Salvador was thriving, albite having to spend the majority of his time in the loft with his doting human. His wounds had almost all healed thanks to the help and knowledge Carmilla had gained from her own suffering, and his shaking had long since ceased. The pair spend thier days out in the woods together, Sal nestled inside Carmilla jacket. Then, at night, the girl would scavenge them food, splitting it evenly between herself and her companion so both would remain strong. -
Charity but not Pity
With the new year of school started, Carmilla was thankful to have someone like Sister Mary Patrick on her side. With the news of her having rescured and started training a growing fox cub, the sister was quick to agree to keeping him in her room during her class time, spoiling Sal with food and woolen things which she sent home with the girl each day. Carmilla was so incredibly grateful. She politely took all the spare things Sister Mary Patrick gave, glowing at all the nice jumpers and socks. -
Learning to Hunt pt.1
During the winter break from school, Carmilla spent time teaching her fox friend how to hunt and scavenge the ground, seeing as he was six months and as such near fully grown. He trusted her thouroughly and picked up her lessons very quickly, spending time with Carm observing (quietly) other foxes doing the same. He was a strong fox, and quite often, came back to his friend with a rabbit or a bird pigeon that Carmilla crafted a fire to cook up for them, thanks to wilderness lessons in school. -
Learning to Hunt pt.2
This quickly became how Carmilla and Salvador got a good meal at night, preparing catches and bringing them back to the loft (which was a lot hard to do now that Sal was fully grown, she would have admitted). So, it became their daily routine in the morning during the break. Carm would forage the bushes and Salavdor caught what he could for his girl. They warmed their bodies in the noon by the little abadonned stove burner in her room, drying clothes and fur from the chilling coating of snow. -
Carmilla turns Ten
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To Become Icarus pt.2
Not knowing exactly what to do, Carmilla carefully lifted the hatchling into her uniforms cardigan, warming the bird, and ran into the church, desperatley hunting for Mary Patrick. The sister was shocked, but ultimately gleaming at yet again the girl kindness, her want to help. she commended her for her determination and ushered the child up to her room. It's a raven, she told her, common to those woods. "It was a heavy shame that hatchlings like that are abandonned by it's parents." -
To Become Icarus pt.1
Much like any other school lunch, Carmilla sat alone, eating whatever herself and Salvador could rustle up the weekend prior. She was tucking into a handful of berry's and a rabbit leg when the fox poked his nose out from the woods and whined at her for attention, urgently. Carm immediately pocketed her hankerchief of food and ran to his side, fearing for his whimper. Salvador took Carm to the base of a tree and nosed into the eart where a little barely feathered bird huddled into the foliage. -
To Become Icarus pt.3
"It's young too." Mary Patrick noted, "Not completely though... Maybe a year, see it's feathers are growing in." The sister knew a lot more about birds than foxes, given the church was surrounded by them. "I bet it tried to fly too soon." Knowing Carmilla was more than able to raise an animal as she had with Salvador, she taught her what she needed to know and sent her home from school "sick" with an arm full of bird seed and a wooden cage from the owlery. -
To Become Icarus pt.4
"I might try patting the ground around the church, the grass is quite abundant with worms. The gardener is forever moaning." Sister Mary Patrick chuckled the next day of school as Carmilla handed over the birdcage to her mentor for classes. Carm effortlessly hid her most recent blow from her father (for "insolence") as she smiled and excused herself. Later that day at break, M.P was amused to see the girl, tucked away from the other children, plucking worms from the grass. -
Carmilla turns Eleven
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First Flight
It had taken a little longer than most, but after a long accident prone series of weekends, entertaining the idea of perhaps asking Icarus to carry her letters, Carmilla finally managed to coach the juvienelle raven to fly. She had watched the feathery units do the same with their young for quite some time, and had plucked the confidence to not fear her own youngling falling. Icaurs, wasn't a natural (as Salvador had been with hunting) but he got there eventually. Practise would do the rest. -
An (un)Orthodox Survival of School
Carmilla made it through her preparatory school with thankfully only little trauma from the bullying and belittlement. She did however decide that she never wanted to play a part in the religion in any way after finsihing her six year sentence. Her father didn't bother taking her to church on Saturdays anyway, as he always left the girl to watch his shop whilst he was away. So, Carmilla survived school and was anxiously impatient for her letter to Hogwarts. Her escape finally in reach. -
"The" Hogwarts Letter Arrives
Carmilla found a Hogwarts Owl perched on the window ledge of her Attic room that morning, pecking on the glass to get attention. Bleary eyed, the little girl wrapped herself in her thin blanket and went to recieve its cargo - a perfectly folded letter emblazoned with the Hogwarts shield and wax seal. She was instantly awakened, petting the eagle Owls soft head feathers, she then left the windo open in order to allow Icarus to interact with it whilst she read her letter, terrified but excited. -
William Screed's Tale of the Soul Bound.
Just as Carmilla left his shop that day, William took her hand and nodded knowingly to her fox companion who was sat by the window, guarding her purchaces fiercely. "This is just a guess, my dear." He began, "But that creature looks to have formed quite the bond with you." After Carmilla confirmed their situation, he hummed knowlingly. "That's soul binding you have. Lifetimes entwined. Every witch or wizard is supoosed to have one, you know. I'm glad to see he's found such a kind witch for his." -
The Ministry's Gift of a Wand
Carmilla's trip to Ollivander's (thanks to Ministry funds) brings her the gift of her first ever wand. Ebony wood with a dragon heartstring core, 12" and supple flexibility, she went through many wands that the old wizard brought her before they were able to find the perfect fit. Once it was in her hand however, feeling its polished wood in her grasp, she was glas she waited. It was a perfect, almost unbelievable fit. (Her father had a similar profile, noted Ollivander in deep pondering) -
Carmilla meets William Screed
During her desperate search to gather all the requirments of the School list under the Ministry's very limited donation, Carmilla manages to find Screed and Sons, a second and third-hand book shop owned by a lovely old man named William Screed. He finds her kind and polite and helps her, even going to the extent of giving her a few books for free when she seemed to stress over the price. Screed begins to look out for Carmilla throughout the years from then on. -
The Ministry deliver Carmilla's Hogwarts Second-hand Suitcase
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Carmilla starts at Hogwarts and is sorted into Slytherin
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The Greys
Olivia Grey and father, Devish Grey (of Dervish an Blotts), Carmilla's neighburs across the street and people who often help the girl out, offer to take her to Kings Cross on the day of the 1st of Septemeber. Carmilla was a bit shy, but she accepted as she always saw Olivia as an older sister. On many occasions, the Greys had invited her over for a hardy dinner, feeling her to be too thin and small for her age. The wizard and young which became like proper family over the following years. -
Carmilla meets Ivy, Kaali, Lillith and Ruby on the Hogwarts Express
Searching for a space to sit on the train, Carmilla came across a cab with one available space and a group of girls who looked as if they had as hard a time finding a seat as Volkov had. They welcomed her in and fell into a comfortable silence before eventually introducing themselves later on in the ride to Hogwarts. Carmilla the strong, Ivy the confident, Kaali the kind, Ruby the brave (if a little tired) and Lillith the philosopher, all smart and ambitious in their own way. The Oracles. -
A New Family
After being sorted into their houses, Carmilla giddily now sat at the same long table as her train companions, enjoying the way it felt to be sat around them as they laughed and joked over the food that Carmilla ravenously dug into, her first propper meal in god knows how long. She was later even more overjoyed to find out that after rushing through the Slytherin common room to the dorms with her new friends, that all five shared the same, thanks to some observant work from their head of house. -
Mingling with the Gryffindors
In a class on the second day of year one with some of the Gryffindor students, Carmilla met 3/5s of the self-proclaimed danger posse, high off a sugar fuelled night of celebration. Lilly, Kennedy and Will were very greatful to have some of the professor's children on their team (with Ivy and Lillith being quick learners) and were surprised when Carmilla was able to answer almost every transfiguration lesson that was thrown her way. She had spent a lot of time in Screed and Sons, she told them. -
The Unofficially Adopted "O.D.P."
The very next week, after transfiguration class, Lilly invites the Oracles to lunch with the D.P. and introduce them to the latter 2/5s and introverted follower. Carmilla meets Dutch and Delilah, a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined at the hip and one of Lilly's newly found friends, a quiet Johnathon Polaski. He was a little more withdrawn, but being that way herself, Carmilla completely understood. Thus started the alliance of the O.D.P. Who said childhood friendships weren't for life? -
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Her First Present
Along with her letter, Screed's owl carried a small string wrapped, manilla box. Within this, contained a small perfectly imperfect cupcake decorate with little chocolate stars, a colourful wrapper, and a note reading; "Happy Birthday Carmilla - W.S.". -
Carmilla turns Twelve
Confused when she starts recieving letters from her friends and Screed, Carmilla isn't truly aware of the divide between her oen understanding of birth dates and birthdays until she opened an array of brightly coloured envelopes before the sun had even risen that morning. She immediately stowed them away in her trunk after having read them, high of the happiness they made her feel. For the first time, she felt loved on her birthday. -
Carmilla is recruited for her houses Quidditch team
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Professor Zelena Mills gifts Carmilla with her first non-school broom
On the Monday before her first Match later in the week, Professor Zelena Mills gifts Carmilla with her first possesion that is soley owned by her and only her, a broom. The Firebolt Supreme to be exact - designed for Seeker's with speed in mind. Desperate to regain the trophy from Gryffindor and Nolan, Zelena would do anything, even spending her own money. She doesn't dwell on the cost however, as Carmilla's smile means everything when she opened her parcel in the Great Hall that morning. -
Carmilla turns Thirteen
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Carmilla turns Fourteen
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Carmilla asks for a Job
After three years of hardly being able to afford school uniforms, books and all other things that she needed to survive, Carmilla reaches out to Screed for help. By this point, they have a good relationship of trust and care, so he almost instantly helps her. As long as Carmilla worked her hardest during the summer and bank holidays, he would pay for her things and even give her a wage so she would be able to afford others. William cared for Carmilla like a grandfather might a granddaughter. -
Carmilla turns Fifteen
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Coping Mechanisms
During the summer holidays after Carmilla's fifteenth birthday, she discovered yet another coping mechanism to add to her compedium - Drinking! No, not butter beer, something stronger like fire whiskey or cricket vodka. Anything she can easily carry up to her room that wouldn't make a sound to alert Alexsei. Even if that meant pouring out some of her father's when he wasn't looking. She made sure to have a stock collected before school began again, it numbed her skin and lessened her worries. -
Carmilla turns Sixteen
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A Full Moon
Early into 2009, Ruby went through her first change as a werewolf, something the girl always feared due to the fact that she had been clawed during the tragic incident that killed her mother and father. Scared and alone, she went through everything without the help of Eugenia, who had taken ill and was in the infirmary. She wokeup in the forbidden forrest and only made it back to the castle thanks to the kind actions of a friendly centaur. She was in a rough state. -
A small solution to injustice
The Oracles spend the better part of the year, researching, practicing and perfecting the animagus skill. It took skill, practice, and patience, but not being able to do it was not an option for Carm, Ivy, Lillith and Kaali. Not when Ruby was out there alone and scared with each full moon. -
Carmilla turns Seventeen
On Carmilla's seventeenth birthday, the day she came of age in the wizarding world and no longer had a trace nor obligation to stay under the roof of her father, Screed gave her a rather surprising gift. Surprising yet, so utterly welcomed. On her seventeeth, William Screed (the man whom Carmilla saw as a grandfather) invited her to move in with him, a place that would be far away from her father, with a proper room of her own (not too mention all the love and support she might need). -
A Safe Transformation Accomplished
The Oracles sans Ruby formed a routine to help their animagus ambitions; holding the leaf of a mandrake in their mouth for an entire month, using the leaf for the creation of a potion, reciting an incantation on a daily basis, and drinking the Animagus potion during a lightning storm. Eventually, they managed to all find their animagus from, a frustrarted Ivy finding her's last. But now, they accompanied Ruby wherever she went with each full moon and transformation, keeping her safe. -
Carmilla turns Eighteen
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Carmilla drops her name into the Goblet of Fire
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Carmilla is chosen to be the Hogwarts Champion.
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D.A.t.D.A. Class
During class, the upper second's are taught the theory behind a powerful defence spell called the patronus, a form of advanced magic which even the most qualified wizards can struggle with. They learn that the Patronus has two forms, non-corporeal and corporeal. It becomes apparent that a Patronus can appear as ‘a thin wisp of silver’ that hovers ‘like mist’ or in a form that is clearly defined and is more than vapour or smoke. Carmilla wondered what hers might be, all things considered. -
The First Trial Begins
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The Night Before the Yule Ball
On the night before the Yule Ball, Carmilla decides to cut her hair short again, irritated and stressed, it seemed like a cathartic act at the time. Lilly is theree for her, they spend the better part of that night in the prefects bathroom making her hair look perfect, and the rest of the night talking about their lives and how they got to where the were. Then, under the moonlight shining through the window, Lilly kisses her. Carmilla melts into her and for the first time, she's alive with love. -
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Happily Never After
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The Second Trial Begins
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Carmilla turns Nineteen
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The Final Trial Begins
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Expecto Patronum
During the final trial, faced with an aggressive dementor, Carmilla fought back lash after lash of what emotional trauma it resurfaced. Terrified, it wasn't until a Defence Against the Dark Arts class came back to her sharply. Expecto Patronum... How could she have forgot? Carmilla gathered her nerves and channelled the only happy memories she could muster. Commanding the words of the spell, a raven swirled to life in front of the dementor and pushed it back long enough for her to escape. -
Carmilla turns Twenty
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Pianist by Trade
It was the only thing she knew, and as such, it was the only thing she was passionate about learning. Through some well spread news of a piano prodigy in the wall of Hogwarts, Carmilla had no issues when she finally attempted to bridge out into the world of classical entertainment. She started small at first, dinner performances in some fancy restaurants. Then, after a few years, Carmilla moved into a higher tier, joining an orchestra of touring players when their pianist retired in the winter. -
Adoption Papers
On Christmas day 2014, Carmilla was passed an envelope by Regina at the Screed residence. The observing pair, Zelena and William, watched on as Carmilla opened what she believed to be a letter, read its document contents and burst into tears, falling forward into Regina's waiting arms. In her hands, Carmilla held adoption papers stating that she Carmilla Volkov, was now in all technicalities Carmilla Mills, should she have wished it to be true. Carmilla had a home and now a family. A mother. -
Carmilla first calls Regina "Mom"
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Carmilla and Laura get engaged
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Carmilla and Laura get Married
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A High Reputation
As Carmilla's reputation became bigger in the Classical Circle, she focused more and more on her composing and started to play less with the orchestra as more requests came for her to play concerts of her own in many different venues (in and out of the country). She earned a name for herself and it showed in her earnings. They were more than enough to live comfortably and nicely, and gave her the ability to buy the couple a nice house. -
Johnathon's Gift
As kind as he always was, when Jonathon heard of Carmilla and Laura's failed search at the ministry for a donor, wanting to start a family together, he offered his as an alternate. Caring more about Laura (and in extention Carmilla) than the world, he was first to do so and was enthusiastic to help them raise the kid. (Sadly, this triggered the chain of events that would later lead to the afair with Laura and ultimately the couple's seperation.) -
Kip is Born
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Heartbreak of a lifetime
In a moment of disaster, a chance glimpse of something that shouldn't have be seen, Carmilla returns home early from her mother's to find Laura and Jonathon together. Everything is a whirlwind of tears and screaming until the man runs out of the manor with only his pants. Then, as she is threw her wife's things into a suitcase and forced her downstairs and to the door to, she asked "How long? How long!?". Years... Carmilla slammed the door against Laura's back and fell into sobs. -
An the Rules of Seperation
There was no way to salvage thier relationship. Laura returned on last time to pack up what was left of her things. She finally moved fully into Jonathon's estate, leaving her grieving ex, bedroom bound and lost. A distraught Carmilla had already sent an urgent owl to Regina at Hogwarts (a day prior) asking her to accompany Kip home from school. Carm was in no state to do so. She needed her mom to pick up the pieces. So Regina did, moving into the manor for a month to sooth her daughter's woe. -
The Concert and the Violinist