Tapio DeVries
Herbology Professor, Librarian, Hogwarts
Hufflepuff Head of House
Model: Carel Struycken
Post color: "Green" Basics: Name: Tapio DeVries
Heritage: Pureblood
Birth date:: 3. March 2049
Birthpace: Sigerswâld, Friesland, The Netherlands
Current residence:Fritham, Hampshire, England (in the New Forest) and Hogwarts, Scotland (during the school year)
Wand: 14", beech, unicorn hair core
Patronus: hummingbird
Boggart: landscape blasted of vegetation
Amortentia: heather, mountain air, wet fur
Pet(s): Fred, a lizard (at Hogwarts); Monty and Little Monty, cats (at home)
Appearance: Height: 2.13 meters (ca. 7 ft. 0 in.) tall
Weight: 99.8 kg. (about 220 lbs.)
Eye color: blue
Hair: light brown, balding
Distinguishing Features: none (besides being 7 ft. tall!)
Family: Father: Wichart DeVries
Mother: Annikki Koskinen
Siblings: Pieter DeVries, Jan Devries (brothers), Ada DeVries Visser (sister)
Wife: Isla Fraiser DeVries (m. Jan. 20, 2082)
Children:: two sons: Fraser Devries (b.2086) and Acton DeVries (b.2088)
Education: Koldovstoretz (Russia): 2060-2067 (graduated)
Hortus Botanicus (Leiden, The Netherlands): Intern, 2067-2070
Work History: Hortus Botanicus, Leiden, The Netherlands: Gardener, 2070-2074
Göttingen Alchemical Institute, Germany: Herbologist, 2074-2082
Cairngorm IMPA ("Important Magical Plant Area"), Scotland: 2083-2107
Professor of Herbology, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland: 2107-present
History:
Tapio was born in a small village in the province of Friesland in The Netherlands, the second son of a Dutch father and a Finnish mother. Although the inhabitants of Friesland (formerly known as Frisia) were historically known for their height, Tapio, at seven feet tall, is considered above the norm. Neither his parents nor any of his three siblings were unusually tall, so Tapio, with his height, his large hands and feet, and his angular features, has always stood out. When he was a child, he was teased by the other children for his appearance, although they stopped when he got big enough to challenge them. His parents did not approve of the curriculum or atmosphere of Durmstrang, so they sent their children to Koldovstoretz in Russia. There Tapio excelled at Herbology and Charms, and upon graduation, he served an internship at the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, The Netherlands. This is a famous garden area among Muggles and Wizards alike, although the section containing magical plants is hidden from Muggle eyes by protective charms. Tapio continued working there as a gardener for several years after he completed his internship and then took a position as Herbologist at the Göttingen Alchemical Institute. During his tenure there, he met Isla Fraiser, a magical naturalist from Scotland who was at the Institute on sabbatical. They fell in love and eventually got married, after which Tapio moved to Scotland to work as a caretaker at the IMPA (Important Magical Plants Area) located in the Cairngorn Mountains. They had two sons, Fraser and Acton, who are now grown and pursuing higher education. When their youngest son Acton left to attend university, Tapio and Isla decided to downsize their home and moved to Fritham, Hampshire in England, which is located within the New Forest area. Isla has become newly active in her field and often goes on expeditions to find and study magical plants and animals, while Tapio took advantage of a vacancy in Herbology at Hogwarts and became a professor there. He later also became school librarian, and most recently was appointed as the Head of House for Hufflepuff.
Personality:
Tapio learned early on that his grat size and angular features often intimidate others, so he has cultivated a very gentle demeanor, reluctant to give offense. He is gentle, patient, with a wry sense of humor. He is slow to anger, though he can be fiercely protective of those he loves or who are in his care if needed. He is both trustworthy and trusting, and he assumes others are also honest and straightforward, so he is sometimes vulnerable to deceit, although with experience he has learned to be less easily taken advantage of. He is deeply committed to his family and enjoys the outdoors and a simple, quiet life.