GUROV, Zhenya

yevgeniya dmitrovna gurov

THE RECORDS

PERSONALITY

likes ;
MURDER Zhenya is fascinated by the subject. If her father wasn't so strict and didn't have a tight leash on her, she probably would have already acted out and taken someone's life. She fantasizes about it often. How she would do it, how she would get away with, and who she would subject to untold torture before she watched the light in their eyes fade. She might look like a harmless, feminine girl - but underneath that is true darkness that only a few people really see. When she's old enough - she'll be finding whatever path she has to take in order to kill freely. Most notably, working for The Dark Lord himself. Her aspiration towards this know no bounds.

HAVING PEOPLE FEAR HER There is nothing like seeing fear in someone's eyes when they look at you. It's like a drug to her, and maybe it attributes to why she only has a few real friends. She enjoys having everyone else fearing her. Even those that claim they don't, soon find reason enough to stay away from her. When they realize she has no problem going after their innocent friend or family member, they usually steer clear. Those that don't, have all new reasons to fear her.

HAVING POWER This is something that Zen has craved since the moment she stepped into Hogwarts. She wanted the power to make the lives of her fellow purebloods better at the retched school. It started with small things, but as she has grown older, her desire for power has heightened. Prefect, Quidditch Captain, and even taking control of the house are considered small steps for Zen - but steps she plans on taking. She wants to step out into the real world, where the potential to gain greater power was greatly magnified. She likes to be able to control a situation, and when she can't her more violent tenancies like to show themselves.

COLLECTING HEX BOOKS A habit that she began when she was quite young, taking books from the black market store her father runs. It was always an easy gift for her at Christmas or her birthday. This interest has evolved to now include Dark Arts books. Zen lives by them both, taking their philosophies and applying them to real life. Since she has been obsessed with this brand of magic since before she was even allowed to use it, it is no wonder that she took so easily to the new curriculum at Hogwarts. If one were to walk in her room at home, they'd see her visible shelves lined with legal ones, though behind the bookcase holds hundreds more it would be better to kept hidden - even in the current social climate.

BURNING CHOCOLATE FROG CARDS A habit that started when she was very young, and also the first magical act she performed. She had been playing in one of the expansive living rooms on the second floor of her home, when her parents came bursting in. This was also the night her mother died. After seeing their argument, and her father crucio her mother until she had been screaming in agony for minutes, the young Zhenya looked down and saw the card she was about to place in the 'pureblood' pile for safe keeping, had burst into flames. Ever since then, every time she has one in her possession, it quickly turns to ashes. It is a form of stress relief for her, and helps her to remember to stay put together - for her mother.

REPTILES Oh does Zen love reptiles, but particularly snakes. Most kids might want a cat, or an owl, or even one of those wretched pigmy puffs...but not this girl. The first pet she ever asked for was a snake, when she was 5 years old, but she didn't get him until Christmas when she was 6 years old. It actually happens to be the same python that she still owns. It was in obtaining Igor that she learned that she was a parselmouth. Her parents had been thrilled, particularly her father. Having Igor is much more than her owning a pet. He has been her friend for over 10 years now, and he was incredibly important to her when her mother passed away. Igor is about 11 years old, and Zen expects he will live well into his twenties. He would curl his scaley body around her as she cried when she was young, and whisper words of violent comfort and untold vengeance. He is so much more than a pet, and more like her best friend.

GROWING HER OWN POTIONS INGREDIENTS Herbology is not exactly the most popular of subjects among the purebloods, but Zhenya has a penchant for growing her own potions ingredients, and even doesn't mind dealing with dangerous plants. She has no fear of them, nor is she afraid to get her hands dirty in any sense of the phrase. It was something that she used to do with their mother, as they often needed combination of ingredients that pointed to illegal potions in the days before the Dark Lord's reign. So, her mother personally grew the more dangerous or suspicious plants, and purchased the innocent ones. It was a fun activity to do with her mother during the times she could. She has never stopped, and it seems she may have inherited her mother's green thumb, ironically enough. For a girl who is very good at destroying life, it seems odd she'd also be good at nourishing it.

READING ABOUT HORRIFIC EVENTS Who said history had to be boring? It wasn't if you knew which parts to pay attention to. Wars, death, terrorism, and a violent play for power all caught her eye. The only part of muggle life she ever paid attention to was when they were killing each other. Wizarding and muggle 'tragedies' alike catch her eye. Like the days when they would behead people and display their severed heads on spears across bridges. She would very much like for those days to return, and to be the one chopping them off. The bubonic plague, jack the ripper, and religious wars all make her laugh as if she were reading a comedic book. Wizarding violence entertains her just as much, and anytime she can pick up a book and read about blood and carnage, she takes the chance to curl up by a fire and enjoy herself

dislikes ;
MUGGLES. MUGGLEBORNS. HALFBLOODS. BLOOD TRAITORS. If you are in one of the afore mentioned groups, you have Zhenya's unbridled hatred. It was fighting these scum...the ones that should not be allowed to breathe let alone live freely among wizards, that caused her to loose her mother. While she's hated them all the same with her upbringing, that fact gives her even more license to do so. Muggles are weak and uncouth, living and breeding as well as rats in a sewer. Anyone with that blood running threw their veins were subject to the same weaknesses. Their control of the world has ruined it for good, pureblood wizards. Zen's irrational and deep seeded hatred for them is unmovable. She would rather kill one than ask it to move out of her way. There is no changing her mind, or reasoning with her when it comes to this. In fact, if you try - you'll probably get on her bad side a whole lot quicker.

DISRESPECT TOWARDS A PUREBLOOD Working hand in hand with her hatred of all people not pureblood loyalists, she hates seeing disrespect towards a pureblood that clearly demands it. This includes herself, and all the people that she feels deserve respect. If it is done in front of her, there is a chance that she will step in. Purebloods deserve nothing but the best, and to show them disrespect earns her hatred immediately. It gets a bit dicer when it's good purebloods disrespecting each other, and usually then - she leaves them to it. If you're one of those uncouth and rat-like creatures, then you will hear her sharp tongue, or have her wand used against you quickly if you speak out of turn.

BEING CAGED If there is one thing that can frustrated Zhenya - it's being caged, and being controlled. It is a difficult concept for her. If she is not allowed the freedom to do as she wishes, she can get frustrated, really quickly. House arrest, Hogwarts rules...not being able to act on her natural impulses...all of it, it only adds to the pent up frustration, which is sure to come to the surface in a dangerous way, one of these days.

strengths ;
QUICK LEARNER Zhenya us quite good at picking things up quickly, and once she's learned it - it never leaves her. There have only ever been a few spells that cause her trouble, and most of those have to do with ones that require her to feel some sort of emotion...as for the most part, she is rather emotionless. When faced with something new that she's interested in, she absorbs it like a sponge. Unfortunately, some of the things she's not interested in can often fall by the way side, only to be replaced by things she is interested in. Once she's mastered something, she considers it fair game.

THE DARK ARTS Having grown up around dark wizards and witches, it's hard not to pick up on a few things. She'd always had a facination with the magic that her parents performed, and she often stayed up late, listening in to their conversations when they thought she was sleeping. Hearing tales of muggles falling to death and mudbloods having their insides gutted out were like bed time stories to her. So, as she grew older and gained access to actually learn this material, she jumped on it. It became an obsession, and she'd spend hours studying, practicing, or training in some other way.

STRONG WORK ETHIC Well, okay. So, it may not have to do with mundane jobs like working with Katya in the store, or doing all her homework for subjects she didn't like. It was the things she really wanted that she worked relentlessly for. Much like her fanaticism with hex books, when she does something - she does it all the way. Zhenya has no problem spending hours studying, training, or working tirelessly towards a goal she wants to achieve. It's when she doesn't really give a damn that this isn't really a factor anymore.

weaknesses ;
JEALOUSY It's not exactly a secret that Zhenya Gurov has a jealous streak a mile high and a ten miles wide. It's also attributed by the fact that she feels she only deserves the best, and if something is hers, she will not give it up. People, objects, power, whatever. If someone has something she feels should belong to her, jealousy will rear it's ugly head, and Zen will react. Considering she is used to getting what she wants or fighting for it, she makes sure she doesn't have a reason to be jealous. Zen is not the type of girl to let it go, but yet acts on it quite forcefully. It's probably better if you aren't in possession of something she wants, but if you are...look out!

CONTROLLING HER BLOOD LUST Zhenya has a tough time keeping herself in line. Now that she's started down that path, she just wants to dive in and get it over with. It is easily the most control she could ever imagine having over someone - ever. She wants them to fear her, to know that she is going to end their lives. That everything they had done in their lives up until then...meant nothing because she is going to take it all away. It is her strongest addiction, and she's yet to even give into it. Controlling it is a little like holding her breath. She could only do it for so long. It affects her attitudes and her decisions daily, and she's dying to get out behind Hogwart's walls.

boggart ; Her father.
amortentia ; blood, leather ( specifically, old, leather bound books ), metal
erised ; To be standing above everyone else, as they all attempt to please her. To have ultimate power.
veritaserum ; Zen's biggest secret lies in just how dark she is. Students know her as an unpleasant person, one easily prone to vengeance and even hexing other students - but the depth of her darkness is hidden behind her hooded eyes and long blonde hair.
dementor ; The night her mother died, when she witnessed her father torturing her mother with the cruciatus curse, forcing her to go - forcing her to die.
patronus ; Zen's patronus forms into a cobra. This is a spell she had quite a lot of trouble with when she first began learning it. To date, her happiest memory is the rush she felt after she killed her first muggle. As for her childhood memories, she had often attempted to conjure a patronus by remembering her mother. They were not tied to strong enough emotions, and she was never able to conjure more than the silvery mist.
personality ; Zhenya is one of the coldest and emotionally unresponsive people that you could ever hope to meet. It is very difficult to incite any other emotion other than anger out of her. Hatred and anger flow so easily through her, while everything else seems to hit a wall. Don't expect her to be happy or excited for you. There are a few she might go through the motions for, but deep down - she feels nothing. Her parents brought her up to be strong, independent, and to get what she wanted. Those are lessons that she carries with her everyday. She doesn't let anyone stand in her way of what she wants, and in the end she evaluates everything and decides what's best for her own self interest.

She has a great work ethic, but when that fails to yield a response, she will use any means to get what she wants. Zen has no problem spending hours working on spell work, or dueling with someone. She knows that hard work is the only way that she'll be able to continue down a path she's already started on. A murderous path, and one she desires above almost all else. That being said, Zhenya is not one to back away from violence. In fact, it is her first stop shop. She loves causing pain, and physical pain is one of her favorite forms - and perhaps her specialty. She's endured a lot of her own, but she thinks it's all worth it to watch the light fade from someone's eyes.

It would be a severe understatement to say that she was spoiled. Her parents never denied her a request. Wealth was only the beginning in the power her family was gaining in the dark movement. Growing up, she was given the best - and so that is the only thing she will accept for herself. If someone refuses to give her what she wants, she will just take it. No is not exactly a word that she accepts. It's not uncommon for her to act like a spoiled child when she doesn't get what she wants, although only those closest to her see those weaker moments. The majority of the world sees her react as she usually does - with anger. Which, could obviously be seen as acting like a spoiled child, as well.

All in all, she is not a particularly nice person to the majority of her classmates. She never has anything nice to say, unless you are one of the elite. Any chance she gets to bring someone down, she will take it. Zhenya loves to see the unworthy fall, and even more than that - she loves to have a hand in it. She’s very picky about her ‘friends’, and uses the term lightly. She couldn't even use all five fingers to count on one hand the number of people she actually trusted and felt any sort of companionship with. The attitude that surrounds her is one of superiority and pride. It wouldn't be far off to say she is a little stuck-up. If you aren't the best of the best, you won't gain her alliance.

When she can, Zhenya loves taking control of a situation. Power and control are drugs, although not quite as potent as murder. She will assert herself in any situation she thinks can be improved by her involvement. She is a bit of a natural born leader, and has no problem leading by example. On the Quidditch Pitch she is fierce, and practices are almost more strenuous than the actual games. She sees little leadership needing to be used as a prefect, as she pretty much only uses that as a means to an end. It's a bit of power, but not much.

When it comes down to it, she would follow the person with the most power; whether it was power with popularity, wealth, or control. At school, she sees herself as being that person - but out in the real world, it will be someone totally new. She knows she'll have to prove herself all over again, and she's ready for the challenge. Zhenya is completely self-absorbed, and incredibly hateful. Not exactly the friendliest of combination's.

HISTORY

Zhenya is the youngest out of the four children that Hortense Gurov gave birth to, all of whom grew up with more than they could ever need. Her parents ran and operated a highly successful ‘robe’ store in Knockturn Alley. It also offers a variety of dark items, that were sold in secret until Lord Voldemort took control of the Ministry via the Imperioused Minister. Her father is still pretty secretive about the dark side of his business, preferring only to deal with elite clientele, and not just anyone off the street. Behind the closed doors plenty of dark dealings and meetings are held. During the rise of the Dark Lord in the 70s, their store was booming. Zhenya, of course, wasn't alive to experience those happy times. She has a few memories of the later years, right before his fall – but she has very little during Voldemort’s hey day. It was a fruitful time for the family, but in the end it turned out to be also a heartbreaking time as well. Both of her parents fought for the Dark Lord, even during his absence. They joined with Bellatrix Lestrange and others like her in keeping the Death Eater movement alive. One night while they were out 'interrogating' some former Order members, her mother was killed. He had been able to stay off the ministry radar, although he was questioned severely about Hortense’s disappearance.

Heartbroken, the children cried for days for their mother’s death. After realizing that no amount of tears would bring her back, the family had to go on and do what they could to survive. It became clear to Zhenya, especially after the fight her parents had that she had witnessed, that they knew they were walking into something that could kill them. But they did it anyways. They planned it all out...even what would happen if they died.

Luckily, they had plenty of money still put away, but Dmitri wanted to rebuild their store and their cause, even after Hortense was killed. Despite his distance from his late wife, he felt he had to keep things going for her, not to mention the four pureblood youth that now depended on him. By the end of 1998, Jin’s was the top robe and garment store for purebloods and wizarding loyalists. It didn't hurt that the Battle of Hogwarts went their way, and things in the wizarding world began to change. They drew in all sorts of customers during the ‘times of peace’, and the quality and style of their merchandise brought in wealthy customers even from Diagon Alley. It became the reason to go “off the beaten path” and venture into Knockturn Alley. Zhenya loved the store, and refuses to wear any other fashions. Slowly, the underground part of the store reopened and Zhenya found solace down there during her days off of school. Her and her siblings all attended a private wizarding preparatory school, as their father didn’t want his children mingling with Muggles. On the weekends, Zhenya would beg to spend her days at the store. She found the books and objects under the store particularly interesting, although she loved all the latest fashions too. She began to collect any hex books that crossed her father’s desk, and soon had a rather formidable collection.

After her mother’s death, Zhenya became the cold and distant young woman her friends currently know. Although she had been demanding, spoiled, and unkind child – she still had had a heart (as selfish as it was) and had been as open as a book. Without her mother, and only her cold father to raise her, she became closed to her family and went about things in a vicious and underhanded way. Some would say it was her being rebellious because of her loss (she was only 7 after all when her mother died), but she never grew out of it. If she can’t get what she wants by direct action, Zhenya gets vicious. It isn’t just about getting her way, but hurting people as the opportunity shows itself. Being the youngest of a group of 7 kids that lived in that house, Zen was always looking for ways to rebel, and get attention. She had only been the youngest a four, and suddenly three more people had been added. It was a little like getting a new baby brother or sister - only, they were older and she was still left at the bottom of the heap. When she was 6, she'd been given Igor, her Royal ( aka: Ball ) Python for Christmas, and the family had learned that she was a parselmouth. It was not uncommon to hear the hissing noises coming from her room, or for her to have Igor wrapped around her as she roamed the house. He was her best friend - and the others in the house soon got used to seeing her with him, and hearing the strange hissing noises.

When she entered Hogwarts in 1998, Zhenya wanted to be popular and she wanted to learn more about magic and how she could manipulate things. Having heard all about the school from everyone else, she was ready to get started. Zhenya had a desire to finally use magic without getting into trouble, and work her way towards becoming powerful. Something she craved more than anything, considering the role she had taken at home thus far. The creepy youngest, completely emotionally detached with undeniable dark tendencies. She wasn't friendly when she first arrived, and snapped at anyone that tried to talk to her. However, over time - she made the right friends. Those that knew her siblings often tried to befriend her, and purebloods that knew her family name were interested in the youngest Gurov. There were plenty of older Slytherins she respected quite a bit, but never had much of a chance to get to know as well. She made plenty of friends in good places, and she soon found herself on the Quidditch team (a secret passion she had kept from her family) in her 3rd year. Hogwarts treated the diva well, although she had never excelled in her preparatory school, she did well in a few of her classes. She got by easily by acting above most of her peers, and throwing around her social class which affectively belittled many of them.

The end of her first year brought the Battle of Hogwarts - but she didn't get to see much. Her older siblings and her father were there fighting for the Dark Lord, but she was still too young. She was hidden and protected by one of the teachers. But, really, she just wanted to be out fighting for the purebloods. There was a lot about that day that she didn't understand until she was older - but after that things really started to pick up for the Gurov family. They were nicely rewarded for their loyalty, and the sacrifice of Hortense all those years ago. Dmitri earned his place as a high ranking Death Eater, and his children all aspired to do the same.

Even with her rough attitude, Zhenya is still a bit of a girly girl. She likes wearing make up, doing her hair, batting her eyelashes, and keeping her nails without a chip on them. She knows how to get what she wants, and more importantly – she knows exactly what it is she wants. Zen never has to question herself, and she never really bothers to think twice. If she wants it, she takes it. Once she set her sights on becoming a prefect in her 4th year, she knew the badge would arrive. Sure enough, the summer before her 5th year, the shinny prefects badge accompanied her Hogwarts letter. She used the power to her own liking much of the time, and only did enough ‘good’ to keep her badge. After all, she needed it to hang over the heads of the younger ones that tried to question her. And, if she was patrolling the halls...who was patrolling for her?