"I have served 6 ministers in the past 50 years. If I'd believed in all of their policies, I would have been a stark-staring raving schizophrenic"
Theme Song
◈ The Men From the Ministry || Ivor Ernst Slaney



Full Name
Humphrey Caractacus (II) Burke
Age
67
Date of Birth
12th of July 1895
Sexuality
Hetrosexual
Department
Ministry for Magic Support Staff
Hogwarts House
Slytherin
Blood Status
Pure Blood


✔ Devious
✔ Insightful/Objective
✔ Shrewd
✔ Patient
✘ Amoral/Callous
✘ Proud
✘ Skeptical
✘ Stubborn
Humphrey is, without a shadow of a doubt, a member of the old pure blood establishment; by virtue of his career choices and his temperament. Cultured, shrewd and devious, the heir to house Burke has done very well for himself in wizarding politics. The aimed goal of cutting away the last vestiges of the family's historic role as the vassals of stronger and wealthier pure blood houses, has been achieved, without those esteemed houses even realizing the implications of the change. All in all, a life lead in a manner Slytherin would have approved. Once Caractacus Burke Senior conveniently and mysteriously finds his end in a few years time, Humphrey will assume the Burke lordship, while his hypothetically deceased grand father's "exotic artifacts" store will pass on to Mr. Borgin almost exclusive ownership; as a reward for his services. When that time comes, Humphrey will be finally free to show the so called ancient houses what happens when they entrust their legal secrets and disputes to one of those "ever so helpful but positively unambitious" Burks, or at least; one who has a backbone and ambition to match.
Presently, Humphrey is a contented spirit; satisfied to wait until he is ready to move forwards with his schemes. His children are doing well in their careers, the family name is refreshingly free of scandals; a niche the Blacks seem more than willing to adopt in their stead. A life time in public service has taken its toll on the middle aged wizard, but the prizes in contacts and direct influence on the magical world have been worth the cost. Truthfully, Humphrey didn't think he would return to the ministry, under a muggle-born minister no less, since his dismissal by Ignatius Tuft; that ungrateful imbecilic so and so. After long deliberations with pure blood circles, Mr. Burke decided to accept the appointment. While most of the more influential denizens of pure blood society unanimously agreed to resign in protest of the mudblood's appointment, it simply would not do to leave the Ministry at the mercy of muggle lovers and blood traitors. Humphrey, respected in the ministry for his decades of service, was the perfect man to keep an eye on things for the others. In reality, he was simply perceived as a minor power in the pure blood social hierarchy, one that wouldn't pose a challenge to the boycott by accepting the appointment.
Humphrey of course has his own agenda. He would have accepted the appointment even without the blessing of his counterparts. Maintaining the ability to court both camps was a boon to his plans, but it doe pose a problem. Without the widespread outcry of pure bloods against him, some of the so called mudbloods and blood traitors might assume that he is there to spy on them. Humphrey can't have that, before long he will have to publicly challenge his fellow pure bloods, while he privately maintains his role as their man in the Ministry. A war is coming, and no matter who emerges victorious; no one is better set up to benefit from the deaths of several of his most noble and ancient cousins than the man with legal knowledge and goblins contacts to pull it off, or in other words; Humphrey Caractacus Burke.


In the early 19th century, the ancient and noble house of Burke was a shadow of its former glories. The family's fortune had been squandered in several generations of mismanagement until it neared the verge of bankruptcy. Only the intervention of house Malfoy saved the family's finances; but the price was high. Amelia Burke, the house's 2nd child, was married to Septimus Malfoy, in a marriage contract which effectively promised almost all the Burke family's remaining landed and owned assets to any heir born of the marriage; stripping the designated heir, Percival Albion Burke, from his inheritance. Caractacus senior spent the remainder of his life trying to return the Burke fortunes though his trade in dangerous and illegal dark objects without success. in 1897, Percival's was caught using magical means to seduce several witches and imprisoned. His three year old son passed to Caractacus's guardianship, but was removed from his care in 1903 by the ministry after the then young Humphrey was almost killed by a dark artifact. The boy's aunt, Marian Malfoy nee Burke, assumed the guardianship and Humphrey was brought up as a ward to house Malfoy.
Humphrey prospered under the care of the Malfoy's, who though strict, provided the young boy with his first stable home. When he turned 11, Humphrey was sorted into Slytherin were he honed his social skills and his dueling talent; both of whom would serve him well in later life. Humphrey was confirmed as the heir to the Burke lordship when he turned 17, though in reality, little remained to the Burke name now effectively vassals to house Malfoy. The Burke heir immediately joined the ministry's civil service, specializing in wizarding law. Humphrey was appointed Under-Secretary of the Auror office in 1935 at the height of Grindelwald's reign. The new Under Secretary broke tradition by personally participating in the war after the head auror was assassinated by the dark lord's agents. After the war, Humphrey emerged as the leading legal expert of his time and served as Under-Secretary for the Wizengamot in Dumbledore's first years as Chief Warlock. Outside of his prospering career, Humphrey married the widow of the assassinated wartime auror office head, honoring his promise to take care of his late leader's family. No further children were born in marriage, but the young Alexanders came to see Humphrey as their father, and the latter in turn recognized both children as his legal heirs.
Humphrey was made Permanent Under-Secretary of Magical Law Enforcement in 1948, a post he held until his dismissal by Ignatius Tuft in 1959. Humphrey refused to accept any other appointment and quit the ministry in favor of a Gringots commission. Burke returned to the ministry in 1962 to bolster the drained higher echelons of the ministry's civil service.


Likes:
Dueling▲ Gardening ▲ Magical History ▲ Goblins ▲ Money ▲ Scheming ▲ Magical Law ▲
Disikes:
The Dark Arts/artifacts▼ Politicians ▼ Reform ▼ Liberals ▼ Vigilantes ▼ War ▼
Secrets:
Has consistently refuse to plead for his father's release until the latter's death. Rumors persist that someone systematically misplaced all documentation regarding his father's existence until he was virtually forgotten in prison well beyond his sentence. The documents turned up several years after Albion's death in the Pest Advisory Board files, under L for "Lecherous Swine".
Family:
Zenobia Alexander-Burke - 60 - Wife - Mixed Blood* - Retired auror/private investigator.
Marcus Alexander-Burke - 25 - Adopted Son - Mixed Blood - Gringots curse breaker
Romana Alexander-Burke - 24 - Adopted Daughter - Mixed Blood - Middle-east auror department
Caractacus Burke - 116 - Grandfather - Pure Blood - Proprietor of Borgin and Burkes
Mixed Blood: Technically a pure blood but not sufficiently old or pure to be counted among the sacred houses.
HERE

11 inch Hawthorn and Phoenix feather
Patronus:
A Common Nightingale
Boggart:
The Imperius Curse
Occupation or What they did Before Recruitment:
Gringots legal advisor
Pets:
A toad called Lady Carrow, usually nicknamed Lady.
Magical Strengths:
Dark Arts
A History of Magic
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Herbology
Potions
Magical Weaknesses:
Arithmancy
Charms
Flying
Alchemy

Face Claim:
Roger Delgado
Portrayed by:
TomorrowsHerald
Dialogue Color:
##006130