Madeline Pascale Sagace

Madeline Pascale Sagace
Portrayed By	Caroline Dhavernas
House	Slytherin
Year	1985
Position	Unspeakable, part-time assistant and secretary
Sex	Female
Race	Half-Blood
Age	28
Place of Birth	Dorset, England
Date of Birth	18 August, 1967
First Appearance	Papers and Critters
Last Appearance

There’s little in taking or giving,
There’s little in water or wine;
This living, this living, this living
Was never a project of mine.
Oh, hard is the struggle, and sparse is
The gain of the one at the top,
For art is a form of catharsis,
And love is a permanent flop,
And work is the province of cattle,
And rest’s for a clam in a shell,
So I’m thinking of throwing the battle—
Would you kindly direct me to hell?
_{- - - - - - - - - -} - Dorothy Parker, "Coda"

Character History

Abbreviated history. Most of this would be known ICly by any who care to pay attention to the sorts of families who suck up to more powerful ones.

At one time, the Sagace family of Calais was quite proud to tout Olivier "The Buzzard" Lavassuer, a pirate who was known in both the Caribbean and West Africa, as one of their ancestors. His success as a pirate might have been due in no small part to the fact he was actually a wizard. The family were even reputed to have an encrypted necklace that had belonged to the dread pirate, which was said to have a cryptogram that, once cracked, would lead followers straight to the Buzzard's lost treasure. All it ever led the Sagaces to were their deaths, however.

Over time, the necklace was locked away in the family vaults, though the family still had a somewhat … ambivalent view towards the law. Philippe Sagace, however, took a more prudent and mundane method of finding wealth: he married up. Elaine Winthrop's family ran a Muggle trading business out of Dorset and operated the Sterling Shipping Lines. Elaine was the first witch in her family, and met Philippe through a mutual friend.

Not long after Philippe and Elaine were wed, Elaine's parents were lost tragically at sea during a routine inspection of one of the vessels. Their remains never were found, and there were some murmurs that their disappearance was a bit off. Still, Philippe and Elaine happily took over the modest business, which had been floundering in recent years, and managed to turn it into a great success.

There were a few questions raised about just how this young couple got the business off the ground so quickly and to such large returns, but by all appearances, the Sagaces were as earnest and hard-working as you could get. They donated great amounts to both Muggle and wizarding charities, and they entertained powerful figures from both arenas as well. They would claim their success was mainly due to having the genius to bridge these two cultures, bringing them twice the return on every shipment.

Madeline was born into this world just as the Dark Lord was rising to power. Though she was an odd and socially-awkward child, her parents did what they could to help her fit in with their socialite standing. She was given lessons on piano and singing, taught etiquette and the finer points of conversation. She would never quite take to it entirely, but the adults did still have to admit that the pale girl with dark hair and startling blue eyes was simply darling when she was trotted out at parties to entertain them with a song or pass around the hors d'oeuvres.

Other than being brought out by her parents at these events, and occasionally spotted getting dragged around shopping or on holiday with Philippe and Elaine, Madeline was not much seen until she started Hogwarts in 1978. She was sorted into Slytherin house and was known back then for having some interest in the Dark Arts, and being maybe a little too intrigued whenever someone would get hurt or in trouble. But mostly she was known for being quiet and a little off somehow.

In 1982, one of the Sterling ships was caught carrying contraband into the country. In the post-Voldemort world, Philippe and Elaine had some trouble explaining the Dark Magic objects aboard, but managed to convince those in charge that they were not at fault. It helped that their many years of rubbing elbows with Ministers and other powerful figures had given them no shortage of contacts to provide a character reference.

By the time Madeline graduated Hogwarts in 1985, she no longer seemed to hold the same fascination with the Dark Arts. If anything, she'd grown even more quiet and introverted, though she'd gotten better at socializing. She got descent grades, which would come in handy when her parents decided she needed to work her way up, not just be handed a cushy job in the family business. And so Madeline has been stuck working as a lowly file clerk in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

Personality

Madeline's personality is a bit of a hard thing to nail down. She's shy, socially awkward, introverted, and yet rather talkative once she settles into a situation. She tends to drift around, trying to make sense of the things going on around her. It's hard to tell if she's being deliberately mysterious or if she's just strange. There's a fixation on death and pain that remains still, though it manifests more as simple curiosity than something malicious. She has a tendency to take people at face value, sometimes responding to rather obvious sarcasm or rhetorical as if it were sincere.

The Inner Self

Though Madeline might come across more as a slightly demented Hufflepuff than a Slytherin, there is definitely a side of her that people don't see. She is not without ambition, but she is willing to bide her time. When there is something she feels like going after, she can be relentless and amoral in pursuit of that goal. After all, the best way to keep secrets is to have it so no one would believe you've any secrets worth knowing. Mads is, however, sheltered and a bit off-kilter, making an easy mark for those who might want to manipulate someone, for good or ill.

Other Information

• Wand: A 15" bright wand made of oak with a phoenix tail feather core.
• Patronus: Kestrel (opportunistic, patient, precise in action)
• Pet: A puffskein named It, short for "Item Ten", which was given to her by Wade. She is a neglectful mommy and sometimes forgets she even has It; other times, she seems quite taken with It.
• What's in a Name: Her last name is French and pronounced "SAH-gahss", though Brits sometimes make it sound more like "SAY-gas". Her first name is also technically French (though her mother insisted on the English spelling) and would be pronounced "Mad-LEEN". But as she's born and raised in England, she's grown used to just using the English pronunciation instead (MAD-eh-lynn) when introducing herself. However, if speaking in French or to a French person, she may slip back into using that pronunciation of it.
• Arrested Development: Yes, Madeline still lives at home. Yes, her parents still very much tell her how to live her life. She listens (for now). These aren't facts she spreads around, but they aren't hard to find out either, especially if one knows her family.

Description

Several inches shorter than average, Madeline has a habit of making herself seem even smaller than she is. Thick, straight dark brown hair is usually worn down, set off against pale skin and her mother's ice blue eyes. She has a strong, square jaw, which she inherited from her father.

Her robes are always meticulous, but unremarkable. Usually black or another solid colour, they are tailored well and made of quality material, suggesting the woman comes from wealth since someone on her salary couldn't afford clothing such as this. Her shoes aren't exactly unfashionable for a wizarding woman her age, but they do seem to have been chosen more for their sensible

Logs & Events

1995-09-16: Good Grief!!	aberforth artemis jack madeline
1995-07-19: Paperwork Geeks	madeline mickey
1995-07-13: What Is Tomorrow?	jack madeline
1995 03-11: Lawyer Appreciation	horatio madeline
1994-12-10: A Dark Time for Dresses	ginny madeline siobhan
1994-11-04: An Atypical House-Call	ichabod madeline
1994-10-18: Amortentia	madeline sechnall
1994-10-15: Initiation To New Surroundings	jack madeline
1994-09-28: Majority Rules	dawlish fudge jack kingsley liam madeline ministry tonks umbridge wizengamot
1994-09-27: Among the Wolves	davie holly jack madeline spencer

page 1 of 212next »

Significant People

PCs

Name	Relation	Notes
Jack	Employer	Madeline has most recently found herself employed as Jack's part-time secretary. This doesn't help with making it any more clear to the socially awkward one whether or not she should consider him a friend, but at least it's easier to explain.
William	Ministry Co-Worker	Literally running into each other in the Atrium led to some interesting conversation.
Wade	Ministry Co-Worker	He gave her a puffskein and seemed nice enough, though Mads isn't quite sure she wants him poking into her secrets.
Septima	Family Friend	While initially regarded as just another of the influential so-and-sos that her parents enjoy wining and dining, Mads has come recently to learn that Septima is … far more interesting than that.
Sechnall	Potions Teacher	Someone who might actually be even more socially awkward! It's at least a close race. But despite their common shyness, private potion-making lessons have been arranged.

Family

Name	Relation	Notes
Philippe Sagace	Father	Philippe grew up in Calais and attended Beauxbatons.
Elaine Winthrop-Sagace	Mother	A Muggle-born, Elaine attended Hogwarts and was in Ravenclaw.

NPCs

Name	Relation	Notes

Wanted

• Influential People/Families: The Sagace family is perhaps not of particular significance themselves but Madeline's parents like to suck up to pretty much anyone they see as being 'of worth'. If you think you or your family might be the type of influential sorts whom the Sagaces might have brought by to wine and dine, I'd love to set up back-story like that with you.
• Ministry Workers: Madeline is a rather quiet and mousy sort at work, but she's a regular fixture around the DRCMC and probably seen carting files to and from other departments too.
• DRCMC Workers: It'd be nice to have another person or two in Madeline's department to provide yet more files for her to cart around.
• Shadowy Types: All is not what it may seem with the introverted woman, and I'd enjoy maybe nudging her down that primrose path a little as well.
• Bad Influences: She needs some help coming out of her shell and perhaps getting into a little trouble.
• School Peers: Mads attended Hogwarts from September 1978 - June 1985. If your character went to/worked at the school during that window, there's a chance they might know of each other, especially people in Slytherin or in her year at school.

Memorable Quotes

• "I haven't checked everywhere, no. But I know my department, and I've never seen anything like that there. And by that logic, you could say the Ministry is … I don't know, breeding deadly giant leeches, since no one's looked everywhere to prove that they aren't." (On whether the Ministry was covering up an army of heliopaths.)
• "I think it depends on what we're saying." (On whether or not one should discuss Sirius Black and the Dark Mark in Knockturn Alley.)

Playlist

I'm Going Slightly Mad - Queen

I'm knitting with only one needle, // Unravelling fast it's true. // I'm driving only three wheels these days, // But my dear how about you. // I'm going slightly mad. // I'm going slightly mad. // It finally happened. // It finally happened - oh yes. // It finally happened, // I'm slightly mad. // Just very slightly mad. // And there you have it.

Elsewhere - Sarah McLachlan

Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break free, // The mold that clings like desperation. // Mother can't you see I've got // To live my life the way I feel is right for me. // Might not be right for you but it's right for me…

Every You Every Me - Placebo

All alone in space and time. // There's nothing here but what here's mine. // Something borrowed, something blue. // Every me and every you.

The Ballad of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithful

At the age of thirty-seven she realised she'd never // Ride through Paris, in a sports car with the warm wind in her hair. // So she let the phone keep ringing. and she sat there softly singing // Little nursery rhymes she'd memorised in her daddy's easy chair.

A Comet Appears - The Shins

But with each turn // It stays front and center, // Like a dart stuck square in your eye. // Every post you can hitch your faith on // Is a pie in the sky, // Chock full of lies, // A tool we devise, // To make sinking stones fly. // And still to come: // The worst part and you know it. // There is a numbness // In your heart and it's growing.

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Stuttering. // Cold and damp. // Steal the warm wind // Tired friend. // Times are gone // For honest men, // And sometimes // Far too long // For snakes. // In my shoes, // A walking sleep. // And my youth, // I pray to keep. // Heaven send // Hell away. // No one sings // Like you // Anymore.

Mary Jane - Alanis Morissette

Well it's full speed baby, // In the wrong direction. // There's a few more bruises // If that's the way // You insist on heading. // Please be honest Mary Jane: // Are you happy? // Please don't censor your tears.

Gallery