Isaac O'Brien (Curse breaker)

Played by Jamie Bell (link)
DESCRIPTION:At first glance, nothing really stands out about Isaac. But there’s something very solid and comforting about his quiet presence and kind smile. He tends to keep his face mostly shaved, and his hair is usually slightly gelled or covered by one of his beloved beanies. He doesn’t tend to talk much unless he’s addressed or actually has something to say. (Which can be anything from sage advice to a teasing quip directed at his siblings.) It’s pretty common to find him on the edge of the action with his hands in his pockets, finding his enjoyment in watching everyone else’s.




POSITIVE TRAITS: kind, good listener, peacemaker, strong protective instincts, puts others first, observant, empathetic, hard worker, gives solid advice, doesn’t seek attention
NEGATIVE TRAITS: doesn’t always speak up for himself, can get so focused on others he forgets about himself, will mask his own feelings for the sake of other people, may sometimes explode for no apparent reason when his bottled up emotions get to be too much, not always appreciated because people don’t realize how much he does, terrible at telling people no, sometimes caves when he shouldn’t just to avoid conflict, has a habit of carrying the burdens of other people, can waste a lot of energy looking for ways to fix things that can’t be fixed, doesn’t always know how to fix his own problems (ironic given how good he is at fixing other people’s)
LIKES: beanies, the sound of rain, fish and chips, fall, having his whole family in one place, indie music
DISLIKES: people who use magic to hurt others, beer (he finds the taste disgusting), the smell of cigarettes, rowdy parties (O’Brien game night being the one exception), people who pretend to be something they’re not, crude stories/jokes
HOBBIES: caring for plants (he has several in the house), reading about history (especially the Middle Ages), having pretend adventures with his nephew and young niece, playing amateur therapist for his siblings

GENERAL PERSONALITY: Isaac is the rock of the O’Brien family. He has a habit of looking out for those around him, a quality strengthened by trying to help his siblings through the loss of their parents. He tends to be the family peacemaker in true middle child fashion, as well as the one people go to for advice or a listening ear. If someone in his family needs something, he’s probably already working on getting it done. Isaac is a hard worker who often gets the job done behind the scenes without seeking recognition. Most of his family probably has no idea just how much he does for them. Which is just how Isaac likes it. Unfortunately, that can occasionally result in people taking him for granted. His strong awareness of the feelings and needs of others can also lead to him bottling up his own emotions or ignoring what he himself needs. And his quiet nature means he doesn’t always speak up for himself when he should. But he loves his family unconditionally, and his protective instincts and heart of gold have made him quite good at his job of countering dark magic. He’s pretty happy with where his life is right now. Actually, Isaac is a pretty simple guy who doesn’t need a lot to be content. Just knowing his family is happy and the world is that much safer for his work is more than enough for him.




Parents: Jacob O’Brien (Irish, deceased) and Rose O’Brien (British Muggle, deceased)
Siblings: Rebecca (36, reporter), Connor (33, unspeakable), Trace (27, Appleby Arrows keeper), Hannah (23, medi-witch)
Partner: n/a
Children: n/a
Other Family: Claire O’Brien (30, sister-in-law via Connor, beast liaison with the Ministry), Hayden O’Brien (15, niece), Micah O’Brien (10, nephew), Megan O’Brien (6, niece)

Character History: Isaac was the third child to enter the O’Brien family. He was something of a blessing to his parents, being far quieter and much more adept at staying out of trouble than his two older siblings or the brother who soon followed him. Isaac preferred to read historical fiction or help his parents with odd jobs around the house. His one downfall, however, proved to be exploring. The young lad liked to know as much as he could about his environment and often got his clothes dirty poking around outside. But his helpful nature made it hard for his parents to stay mad at him, especially when they were far too busy refereeing between Becca and Connor or trying to keep Trace from jumping off the bannister. Although Isaac was usually waiting below said bannister with a stack of pillows to lessen any injury. Age made the younger two O’Brien boys quite close despite their different temperaments. Or maybe that was precisely why it worked. Trace caused the trouble, and Isaac bailed him out.

When Isaac turned eleven, he got a letter from Hogwarts just like his two older siblings before him. Isaac was a bit more of a homebody and so was a little more apprehensive about the school. But the large medieval castle opened a whole new world to explore, one full of items that snagged Isaac’s interest. No one in his family was surprised to find him sorted into Hufflepuff. The house of the loyal and hard-working was perfect for the middle O’Brien child. It also introduced him to Herbology, which quickly became Isaac’s favorite hobby. As far as classes, he proved quite adept at Ancient Runes and Charms as well as defense spells. That combination, combined with his love of exploring and historical objects, led his head of house to suggest he consider a career as a curse-breaker.

It was shortly after that conversation, when Isaac was fifteen, that his parents were killed but a rogue blood purist enraged by the marriage of a wizard to a Muggle woman. That tragedy shifted life rather dramatically for the O’Brien clan. Becca, all of twenty-one, was suddenly in charge of the family. Connor reacted to the loss by acting out, and Isaac often found himself playing peacemaker to his two distraught older siblings. Looking out for the others caused Isaac to unconsciously shunt aside his own grief. It was only some months later when things began to calm down at home that the full force of his own feelings finally hit him, sending him spiraling into depression. Thankfully, his siblings were able to pull him out.

Gradually the O’Brien clan settled into their new normal. Isaac took his OWLs and then his NEWTs, focusing on subjects necessary to become a curse-breaker. His siblings were a little surprised that he had chosen such an adventurous career. But Isaac’s passion for the subject made it a clear fit. Apparently Gringotts thought so as well because he had no trouble landing an internship of sorts under a much older curse-breaker. The man taught Isaac all the tricks of the trade, including a fair bit of wandless magic. And while the job could be highly dangerous, the allure of history was too great for Isaac to resist. Not to mention he seemed to have a natural talent for the art of combating dark magic.

He had just settled in to building his own career as a full curse-breaker when war began brewing in the wizarding world. Given how much traveling he did, it took Isaac longer than it should have to see the signs building. But soon it was unmistakable. And with a reporter sister and a brother and sister-in-law in the Ministry, it didn’t take long for Isaac’s family to come under fire. The O’Brien clan closed ranks as best they could. As the war worsened, Connor finally suggested using the Fidelius Charm to protect the house. There was no question in anyone’s mind that Isaac should be secret keeper. Most people probably would have gone crazy under a sort of self-imposed house arrest, but Isaac kept himself busy keeping his siblings sane. All things considered, he’s probably the single reason they all pulled through.

Eventually the war ended, and life began returning to normal. Isaac went back to being a curse-breaker, which is pretty much what he’s been doing for the last five years. When he’s not traveling the world raiding historical sites, he lives in his childhood home with his two sisters. Not exactly the most exciting thing ever. But it keeps his domestic side happy and lets him keep an eye on his family, especially his newly adopted niece Hayden who seems to need a little extra support adjusting. The majority of the O’Brien clan is usually in the house at any given time anyway, so it’s not like he ever gets bored. In fact, he’s pretty happy with his life right now. He’s got his job and his family and his plants (which must be carefully protected from Becca’s utter lack of a green thumb). What more could he want from life?




Wand: mistletoe, unicorn tail hair, 10 2/3, slightly springy
Former House: Hufflepuff
Affiliation: N/A
Amortentia: his father’s aftershave (he buys the exact same brand), cinnamon (his mother’s favorite spice, so it was in the kitchen a lot), damp earth (he loved herbology and the Hufflepuff common room)
Magical Abilities: wandless magic