Vickers Vanderbilt was born to “The Debutante of the Year”, Celestyne Vanderbilt, youngest child of Mrs Aquila Vanderbilt. His mother got pregnant with him on her 18th birthday from her pureblood Italian boyfriend. Her boyfriend promised to marry her but never did, opting to hide away and abandoning his responsibilities. Her brother Corineus wanted to seek him out but was forbidden to do so, a good part being that he was in the middle of a delicate treatment for his heart condition, and also because Celestyne begged him to just let the matter go.

Vickers was born June 5th 2061 in the Italian US Embassy in Rome, where Celestyne went into emergency labor in the excitement of thinking that she saw Vickers’ father. Every few months thereafter for nearly two years mother and son would travel to Italy in the hopes of “bumping” into his father. During the last trip Celestyne took Vickers to an exclusive Wizarding ski resort. As they rode up the open ski lift she spotted a man she thought was her ex-boyfriend and began doing all sorts to get his attention. In her excitement she caused the chair to break its safety harness and toppled over, falling from the height and crashing down into a greenhouse filled with mandrakes. Vickers was lucky to have landed on thickets that softened his fall. But the ensuing screams from the Mandrakes killed Celestyne instantaneously and damaged baby Vickers hearing.

After the incident the family matriarch, Aquila Vanderbilt, took over guardianship of Vickers and raised him, along with her son Corineus, who formed a close relationship with the child that shared his birthday. Growing up Vickers looked to his Uncle Corin as a big brother and foster father rather than simply his uncle. There were also opportunities when Vickers met his English uncle, Derrick Vanderbilt, although because of their proximity age-wise they became more cousins.

Growing up in the Wizarding Vanderbilt Manor with no one remotely close to his age, Vickers usually kept to himself, either in his room which was at the east wing of the manor, or going on long walks in the Vanderbilt estate and surrounding forests. Vickers was a curious boy who explored and investigated anything that struck his curiosity. But what really fascinated him was the concept of flight. He would spend hours watching the skies, studying birds in flight, even Muggle planes and the occasional brooms and flying cars.

As a boy he had a balcony right by the sitting area of his room and would often leave seeds, nuts and various fruit to attract birds so he can have a closer look. Over time more birds would flock to his ledge and eventually, the balcony was extended and then transformed into an aviary.

During one of his walks he was followed home by a stray puppy—having seen him scattering nuts, dried fruits, croutons and seeds for the birds. Vickers fed the dog whatever scraps of food he managed to set aside on his plate. After feeding, the dog would leave, only to return the following day begging at his door. Vickers starts calling him MacArthur, the famed general of the Pacific War noted for his famous quote “I shall return”. MacArthur eventually stays with Vickers and becomes the boy’s constant companion. Shortly thereafter Vickers also rescues an abandoned Umbrella Cockatoo and nurses it back to health. He names her Dolly, given her resemblance to the Muggle country singer when the bird would characteristically fluff up the white feathers around her head.

Vickers studied at a prep school for young wizards, the same school his Uncle Corin went to. When his magic came about Mrs Vanderbilt enrolled him at the beginners Wizarding level of the Salem Academy of Shamanism and Sorcery. During his 4th year an exchange student program was promoted in the school and he applies to several schools outside the country, one of which was the esteemed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Great Britain.

Vickers earns his nickname from a model aircraft purchased at the turn of the century by his Uncle Corin. Corin, on a mission for the US Ministry of Magic, uses a time turner and travells back to the year 2000, getting to meet the celebrated Harry Potter. He took a picture of this in remembrance, but because of the covert nature of his work he was unable to show it to hardly anyone. Before leaving circa 2000 Corin passed by a toy shop and bought a Vickers model airplane (this particular toy discontinued production the follow year). On his return to the present era he gifted this toy to his nephew. Vickers was thrilled and took great pains to assemble the toy the Muggle way—following the instructions booklet. He then brought the collectible to their class show & tell and thereafter earned him the nickname Vickers.