InsaneJournal

HISTORY. Sean Connolly and Branwen O'Rourke met during the first World Cup after the war. The 1998 cup was pushed back to 1999 (for obvious reasons) and there Sean and Branwen met at a pub and had a one night stand. Branwen was then a waitress, fresh out of Hogwarts, and twenty three year old Connolly was playing the field and quickly forgot the encounter. Three years later, as the cup went back on schedule, in 2002 Branwen and Sean met up again. Now twenty six and a bit more serious, Sean was looking for an actual relationship. He also had forgotten about the one time hook up with Branwen (it had been a blur of beer and sexual encounters after Ireland had been eliminated) but knew she was familiar. After a few dates Branwen reminded Sean of who she was, though she hadn't been holding out hope of his return. Branwen and Sean dated for a year before they were married in 2003. In 2002 she became pregnant, and this Fionn was born.

Fionn grew up around Quidditch. His father played for the Kestrals and was on the Irish national team a total of six times before his recent retirement after the 2022 World Cup. Branwen was a stay at home mom and brought her son to every game to support his father. When Fionn showed talent at flying it became expected that he'd be the next great flying Connolly. That was the start of a lot of insecurity for Fionn.

Hogwarts was an escape from tabloids, expectations, and constant talk of how he was going to be a "champ." Fionn joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a chaser his second year, but he never put in more than minimum training. His natural talent and name allowed him to keep this position, but he'd never risen to the greatness of his father because he didn't try that hard.

Third year in Ancient Runes he discovered his like for design and working with his hands. His translations were some of the most beautiful runes imaginable. He'd always had fine penmanship, but these were art. Fionn started taking out books on artists from the library and trying to copy them. Most of what he knows is self taught or from books.

Fifth year Fionn had his first serious girlfriend. Six months into the relationship he slept with her and realized that he felt nothing for her (not even sexually) and made odd excuses to end the relationship. Fionn began to come to terms with the fact that he was interested in the same sex, though telling his father this was out of the question. Fionn decided to keep his sexuality a secret and to date women so as not to shame the Connolly name.