MILLICENT BAGNOLD is SEVENTY-ONE YEARS OLD and the MINISTER FOR MAGIC at THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC. She looks remarkably like MERYL STREEP and considers herself NEUTRAL. She is currently UNPLAYABLE.
Born in a small cottage in the Cotswolds, Millicent had no idea what lay ahead of her. Her wizarding village was small and was mostly overgrown, a place where sorcerers go to retire. Her parents owned a simple antique bookshop and led simple lives, never leaving the village unless absolutely necessary. Regardless of this quint upbringing, Millicent’s spirit refused to be contained and lept at any opportunity that would mean freedom. Ambitious, dedicated and intelligent, she was soon sorted in Ravenclaw where her fellow Ravenclaw students would only push her to be better, be greater. At heart, Millicent was a perfectionist, and thus pushed herself beyond her boundaries constantly. She never shied away from a challenge, taking on extra assignments and proving that she was right when she was questioned, even by professors. This, of course, gained her a reputation as a girl that was bossy, pushy and a know-it-all. This upset her as she knew that if she was a boy, she’d be seen as intelligent with good leadership potential. Thus, ever since her early days at Hogwarts, she swore that she’d become a great leader to prove that women could do everything a man could do, but better.
It wasn’t common for women to be in places of power then, there was a huge bias against women and many shook their heads at any woman that attempted to break the mould. Millicent realised that in order to be respected like a man, she’d have to act like one. She began to watch men around her, the arrogant boys in her class, the respected professors, the head boy, anyone she deemed successful or someone who influences others around them. She would learn how to act to gain respect and what not to do. She noted that one of the most intimidating professors never raised his voice, causing others to constantly lean in to hear him. She would use these tactics she had learnt and apply them to her personality. Surely but slowly, she did gain respect from many, but others also felt threatened by her. And so the vicious circle of respect and despise that would follow her through life began. One key aspect she had that many others did not was that she was sure of herself, she never simply took an order from anyone without questioning it first. She wasn’t insecure about her identity or her abilities and skill set. This allowed her to push further in life and prevented anyone from walking over her.
Whilst not making many friends in Hogwarts due to her academic-orientated mindset, she had made a connection with RUTHERFORD BAGNOLD, a Gryffindor boy who admired her courage and determination. Whilst during Hogwarts they kept things platonic, as the two aged their love for each other grew. Both Career-orientated, with Millicent working as junior undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and Rutherford in the magical invention industry, the two would both arrive home late from work, their lifestyles complimenting each other perfectly, causing no tension between them. Each understood what it was like to be career orientated and respected each other's decisions. During her position as junior undersecretary, Millicent learnt another valuable lesson, that time was valuable and that it should not be wasted on unnecessary questions or conversations. She began to build an encyclopedic knowledge of the ins and outs of the ministry and along with her perfectionism, she began to run a tight ship. It wasn’t long until she received a promotion to senior undersecretary. She loved her job, and sure, she was the second-best to a man, but she had gone further than she could have hoped for and already had an impressive influence over the ministry staff. She attended meetings and press conferences with HAROLD MINCHUM, the current Minister for Magic at the time and learnt everything she could from him.
It was at this point where she finally felt comfortable enough to start a family. It wasn’t long until Rutherford proposed, they had a fairytale wedding that pleased both families at a picturesque garden pavilion. The newly-wed couple moved into a house in Wimbledon and gave birth to their first son, HARRISON BAGNOLD. As much as Millicent loved Harrison, he was a difficult child and having to make more time for her personal life wasn’t on her agenda. Rutherford wasn’t much help either and the pair came off very cold towards their son. Looking back Millicent regretted not being there more for him and this definitely reflected in how the couple treated their second son, BOOKER BAGNOLD. They took time off their now well established careers and invested it into him, taking the pair to Quidditch matches and giving Booker the freedom he needed away from Millicent’s work events, the same events that Harrison now attended by choice. They were both proud parents when Harrison received his letter to Hogwarts, in the hopes that it would mould him into a better man than they had been so far. What felt like a couple of years passed and soon Booker was attending Hogwarts too. The couple quickly adapted to their children not being at home again and threw themselves back into work, which quickly paid off for Millicent.
She was promptly promoted to Advisor to the Minister for Magic. It was at this point that small cases of missing sorcerers started popping up, a trend formed and Harold Michum decided to allocate an Auror team to investigate the disappearances. Millicent held multiple meetings with ALICIA AVERY-JONES, the Head Auror at the time. The two women appreciated each other as powerful figures and there was a silent agreement between them to support each other when it was needed. Other officials that Millicent befriended included ADRIAN SKEETER, the Head of Public Information Services, THIEBAUT LESTRANGE, the new Senior Undersecretary, HARRELSON SELWYN, Head of the International Confederation of Wizards and BARTEMIUS CROUCH SENIOR, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Whilst practicing what she had preached to Harrison, networking way key and whilst Millicent never wished anything on Harold, she knew that he wouldn’t be the minister forever and she wanted to be prepared for when he stepped down. She saw life as a chess match, placing her pieces in precise locations and waiting for the perfect timing for everything to call into place like a chain of dominoes. It wasn’t long until the stakes began to rise, missing cases turning into murder cases and auror’s going missing and with that, Harold jumped ship like the coward Millicent knew he was and retired.
In 1980 Millicent was appointed Minister for Magic. Her carefully orchestrated plan had worked and well placed friendships voted her into power. Harold’s legacy had been that he had run a tight ship, however all those that had known Millicent knew that it had been her ship all along. She had proved all those that had doubted her wrong and more importantly, proved to herself that she was capable of achieving her dreams and more as long as she put her mind to it. She knew what the press would say about her, a cold-hearted woman, a dismissive perfectionist. She was ready for this, she knew that these were the words that would be used to describe her instead of powerful and wise, calculated and clear. But she was also prepared for the radical sacrifice as she wasn’t just the Minister for Magic for herself, but for others too. For the wizarding community who ultimately she served. She had pledges to create a new path for all, a more integrated society, a more inclusive community. She knew that not everyone shared these views and that it may be slow but who better to make these changes than the Minister for Magic. Her job wasn’t going to be easy and she knew that, she had been paying attention to the ever growing darkness and was ready to stand her ground against whatever this so called Dark Lord had up their sleeve.
→ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Blood Status → Pure-Blood
Identification → Cis Female
Relationship Status → Married to Rutherford Bagnold
Previous Education → Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Ravenclaw)
Family → Rutherford Bagnold (husband), Harrison Bagnold (son), Booker Bagnold (son)
Connections → Thiebaut Lestrange, Molly Prewett, Alicia Avery-Jones, Harrelson Selwyn, Adrian Skeeter, Bartimus Crouch Senior, Celeste Maxime, Tiberius Mclaggen
MILLICENT BAGNOLD IS A LEVEL 9 WITCH.
