Linette Volant

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Amanda Seyfried/Diane Kruger/Cara Delevingne

**Linette Richards** (née Volant) was the mother of Lyra Black with Sirius Black, and Alain Volant with her husband John Richards. She was a French socialite, and pureblood witch from the wealthy House Volant, only daughter of Jean-Pierre Volant and Babette Moreau. She died of eclampsia while giving birth to Alain in 1981.

## History

### Early Life

Linette was born in late Summer in Paris, France, the only child to a small but old and wealthy pure-blood family that had great political power. She was quite popular for her cheerful disposition, wit, and delicate beauty, having many suitors. She was quite a wild child, always energetic, curious, and wishing to explore the world. She has two aunts close in age to her, an an older uncle that was a father figure to her when her father was away. Her father Jean-Pierre was a corrupt businessman who was killed by thugs in an alleyway for revenge shortly after she turned 10, and her mother an unspeakable who died of a mysterious wasting illness shortly after her daughter was disowned, and left everything to Lyra, the only legitimate heir by blood status though not by marriage like Alain. She was doted on and well-loved by her family, the most beautiful and charming girl among the elite of the Paris wizards. She was expected to take over the family home and riches but after she left that life behind, as a surprise to those around her, her family dwindled and died out, leaving an empty home and riches to fall to Lyra.

### Meeting Sirius

The two met by chance in March, 1979, at a party in Versailles. It was a fancy muggle party at an art gallery for a charity auction. She was only 19 and he 20, both curious about muggles, and looking for adventure and excitement by exploring muggle art, and finding familiarity in aristocracy. She could tell he was a wizard, and he mistook her for a muggle at first, much to her amusement. They were instantly attracted to each other and had sex in a bathroom stall. He stuck around Paris for the next few days on a holiday, and they bonded over their hatred of pure-blood mania. After their brief fling, he returned to England and they did not give each other a second thought. She later sent him their daughter, unnamed, with a letter imploring him to care for her as her family would not allow her to keep the child. They were both drunk on champagne, he wore no tie, and she wore a pale cream silk slip, with her hair in glittery ringlets around her head, his hair was slicked back and he was clean-shaven.

### Romance & Marriage with John

She met John in a forest on an early spring morning while they were each out for a walk, they knew very little about each other when they married, but were so enamored by the grass being greener on the other side that they rushed into things. They had a short and tumultuous marriage as he was hoping to gain money and social status and she was hoping to hide from that part of her life and become a new person, each wanting to trade lives. He often went into town gambling his new money that she didn't care about, and hoping to make important friends, but struggled with social acceptance, while she did not want to encourage or help that. She was used to not doing much and hired helpers around the farm, and was heavily dependent upon magic, which he was unaware of but was uncomfortable with all the strange things she did and that occurred, becoming fearful and suspicious of her. They married because she fell pregnant, and she didn't care that her family disapproved until she did not have them and her aunts or uncle would not speak to her. She went to her mother's funeral, during which she was blamed for leaving and causing it, and pressured to move back and fix things, and when she was reluctant to she was scorned among the social circles as an example of the corrupting muggle influence even on those most well bred.

## Physical Appearance

She has fine golden blond hair down to her waist that is slightly wavy. She has large almond shaped light blue eyes that seem to sparkle with mirth. She has a fine bones face and delicate features. Her body is weak and slender, of average height.

## Relationships

* Aveline Rosier
* Jean-Pierre Volant
* Elise Beaufort
* Jacques Moreau
* Babette Moreau
* Timothee Volant
* John Richards
* Sirius Black
* Lyra Black
* Alain Volant

She found him handsome, free, and charming, but had no interest in marrying a fellow pure-blood.

She never stopped thinking about her daughter, and would send Sirius letters asking about her, and he sent her moving pictures. All Lyra had of her was the white blanket she was left with, along with a moving picture of Linette with her name on the back 'Linette Volant, 1976', smiling and twirling in a frilly pink gown with her hair down, looking like she is giggling.

She was determined to keep him, and that he could live freely as a muggle without the obligation and prejudice of her family.

## Quotes

* "I will live my life as I please!" To her mother, Babette.

## Skills & Abilities

She could produce a unicorn patronus, which was a rare form for it to take, she was pure of heart and a skilled witch. She was especially talented at charms, and heavily relied upon magic in her daily life.

## Possessions

* **Wand**: Sycamore and Unicorn Hair
	+ According to Garrick Ollivander: "The sycamore makes a questing wand, eager for new experience and losing brilliance if engaged in mundane activities. It is a quirk of these handsome wands that they may combust if allowed to become 'bored', and many witches and wizards, settling down into middle age, are disconcerted to find their trusty wand bursting into flame in their hand as they ask it, one more time, to fetch their slippers. As may be deduced, the sycamore's ideal owner is curious, vital and adventurous, and when paired with such an owner, it demonstrates a capacity to learn and adapt that earns it a rightful place among the world's most highly-prized wand woods."
	+ Unicorn hair could be used in wand-making, as wand cores. Wands with these cores produced the most consistent magic, were least subject to fluctuations and blockages, were most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts, and were the most faithful of wands. However, they did not make the most powerful of wands (unless the wand wood compensated) and were prone to melancholy if mishandled.