Alice Bailey

#### Personality

Alice is a wildly independent young woman. She can find her own way home after wandering for hours, cook her own meals, and definitely take care of her own wounds-- the physical ones, that is-- and you’ll hear almost zero complaints about it from her. She’s strong and resilient but not without baggage. Her life has been relatively nomadic and so she’s got quite the knack for picking up her things at a moment’s notice and heading on her way. As a result of this, she doesn’t have many worldly possessions, valuing memories over objects. Alice is quick-witted and street smart, she uses her resources well and keeps a relatively positive attitude.

As she’s lived in many places, she has developed an interest in and a skill with history. There have been many afternoons that she’s strolled through memorials or by historical sites and memorized the details on signs. It’s one of the few activities that you can do that doesn’t cost any money and so she has sort of fallen into it by no choice of her own. As for friendships, the Hufflepuff has deep and close friendships with those she lets in, going out of her way to reciprocate the trust that they give her and share openly with them… well, maybe everything except for the situation with Cici which tends to stress people out. Her heart is big but slightly guarded, worrying if she lets people in that they’ll leave.

One of her most notable traits is her sense of humor, the self-deprecating sort, which helps her get through difficult times and make light of the situation that she finds herself in. Is it healthy to make jokes at one’s expense all of the time? No, probably not but it’s more accessible than therapy is so….

The young Puff has some abandonment issues; her mum, the struggling artist that she is, would leave her for long periods of time with strangers to look after her or as she got older, at home by herself. Not only that, but Alice has been left to fend for herself for meals and homework and a variety of other things and while it’s made her resilient, she’s also resentful. She’s seen her peers lead normal lives and wonders why she can’t be the same. As negative as things are at home, Alice just can’t seem to give up her penchant for taking care of Cici. If given the opportunity to stay with friends or go home-- wherever that might be at the time and regardless of if Cici has sold the bed in order to buy more paint-- for a holiday, Alice will always opt to go home. She feels guilty and responsible and much more of the parent in the relationship than her own mother is. After all, what kind of state would Cici be in without her?

#### History

##### Family History

Cecelia Bailey and Jacques Charpentier met while she was a young student studying abroad in France. She gained an internship at his gallery and the pair worked together for months, spending many long days together and sharing lunches. Cici shared with him her interest in being an artist and he opened up about his struggling marriage. At some point, things developed into more than a working relationship and Cici grew incredibly fond of him. However, after she became pregnant, it became clear that he was never leaving his wife and the young aspiring artist was devastated. She continued to work for him, hoping he would change, but after Alice was born she packed up her things and left, never to return to France again. Still hopeful about her dreams to be an artist, Cici named her daughter Alice Imogen after two of her favorite artists and gave the girl her last name as she knew she’d never have a relationship with her father.

##### Early Life

After leaving France, Cici head to Spain for some time, keeping jobs at random shops and spending all of her spare money on watercolor paints and canvases. Alice grew up in Spain for a couple of years, growing attached to the elderly woman who lived next door who watched her only to be picked up and leave at the age of three for Italy. The longest stint that Alice can remember from her childhood living in one place was Italy. It was there that her mother took a position at a local cafe and spent her free evenings attempting and failing to sell her work. Still, though, Alice liked Italy and attended school for the first time. It was here that she met her first friend and grew incredibly attached to his family and the stability they provided. The family looked after her, feeding and sometimes clothing her, and providing her with a sense of love that she never had before. It was helpful, to have something to rely on because Cici went through frequent bouts of what Alice grew to call *the Sads* where she’d not go to work, not leave the bed, and not remember to feed herself. The young girl tried her best to do what she could but there was only so much someone of her age could manage.

   However, after a bout of the Sads followed by one particularly happy and motivated day, Cici decided that Italy was no longer for them and packed up their small number of things and left with Alice in tow. After Italy, Alice and Cici head to Germany and then back to Italy, and then… well, she began to lose track at some point. Shortly before Alice’s eleventh birthday, the pair were in Bath. That was where the Ministry official came to inform her that she’d be attending a school called Hogwarts.

##### School Years

***TW: alcoholism, abuse, food insecurity, assault***

Arriving at the castle, Alice wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Sure, the Ministry employee had given her the basics about the school but Cici had really been a bit preoccupied with talking about herself and it derailed the conversation. However, upon seeing it, Alice couldn’t believe her eyes. It was far more beautiful than any place she had ever lived before in her life-- the young girl had only ever known dusty flats and cockroaches and mice, Hogwarts though was magnificent. Shortly after her arrival, she was sorted and placed into Hufflepuff and given her own bed which was a moment that most others would take for granted, but not Alice.

When she left for the summer, she’d been looking forward to a relaxing holiday but upon arriving at the flat in Bath, Alice realized that Cici wasn’t there. The woman had up and left without a word, seeking her big break in London. It had taken several phone calls from shops that took pity on her and a talk with the neighbors who barely spoke English in order to discern where she was. Finally, Alice made it there and met up with Cici, finding her surrounded by canvases and absolutely no food in the house.

Alice managed to get by though, stashed away some of Cici’s money that she earned from working at a pub in order to ensure they’d have groceries. She bought cheaply, she got clothes second-hand, and she offered to watch their neighbors cat for a bit of pocket change under the table. Thankfully, Hogwarts was unchanged when she arrived back for her second year and the young girl was relieved to be bogged down by essays and spellwork once again. Things carried on as usual during her second year and she found that her liking of Muggle history transferred over well to her interest in magical history, earning top marks in History of Magic. However, getting back to Cici’s place during the summer caused her significantly more stress than exams had as the woman had gained a boyfriend who seemed to drink most of their money away and was inclined to shout, throw plates, and make threats. Alice persisted though, as she always did, counting down the days until she would be back within the castle walls where it was safe.

When the Hufflepuff was finally old enough, Alice earned herself a job during the summer so that she could start bringing some money in to ensure that the pair could make rent every month. She wished that she could continue to keep it during the school year but that was impossible and so every moment she’s away at Hogwarts is one filled with the stress of not knowing if Cici will be there, if she’s fed, if she’s showing up to work, and if they’ll be evicted while she’s away.

During the summer before her seventh year, Cici obtained a new boyfriend who assaulted Alice. Upon finding them, Cici called Alice a variety of names and kicked her out of the house. Alice went and stayed with Doona McCannell for some time after that as she recovered and then attempted to go back home only to find that Cici had moved and not informed her. The Hufflepuff spent the last weeks of the summer sleeping in her place of employment at Honeydukes.

In February, Alice sustained minor injuries during the Hogsmeade Riots and in July she graduated from Hogwarts and obtained a position as a Welcome Witch at St. Mungo's. After graduating, Alice moved back in with Cici only to have her mother take off and not tell her where she was going.

### Connections

#### Friends

* Doona McCannell - mum friend forever
* August Sullivan - friends since her fist year
* Kingsmill Lincoln Cooper - friends since her first year
* Mairi Campbell - friends since her second year
* McKenzie Grace - recent friends but still scary