Welcome to Charming, where swirling petticoats, the language of flowers, and old-fashioned duels are only the beginning of what is lying underneath…
After a magical attempt on her life in 1877, Queen Victoria launched a crusade against magic that, while tidied up by the Ministry of Magic, saw the Wizarding community exiled to Hogsmeade, previously little more than a crossroad near the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the years that have passed since, Hogsmeade has suffered plagues, fires, and Victorian hypocrisy but is still standing firm.
Thethe year is now 1894. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind
September 27th, 1888 — Diagon Alley, London
When the pink envelope had arrived that morning, Ada had immediately assumed it was another insidious letter from Finlay Connolly. Who else was likely to send her a blindingly pink envelope that smelled suspiciously perfumed? For that reason she hadn't opened it but resolved to hand it over to him in person and make it clear that she wouldn't allow him to make her the subject of a nasty joke. It hadn't been until she was stood just outside of the entrance to St. Mungo's that she realized that she had assumed he worked at St. Mungo's for no good reason except that maybe she thought he worked at Hogmseade Hospital and she hadn't really wanted to confront him after all. Then there was the fact that the letter might very well be from someone else.
Resolved to settle the matter of who sent the letter first, Ada sought out a a tearoom in Diagon Alley shortly thereafter and once she had a nice cup of tea cooling in front of her, she pried open the garish envelope. A strange change came over her the moment she touched the contents and for the briefest of moments she thought she had foolishly opened some slyly disguised hate mail bearing a curse. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation, however, and nothing bad seemed to happen. Not at first anyway. Inside there was a love poem and as she absorbed the flowery verse, she was hit by an onslaught of emotions.
Longing. How could she stay apart from him a second more? Where was he now?
Regret. How could she have ever doubted her ability to love him? Of course she loved him, she had always loved him, he was as vital as the air she breathed!
She had to tell him of her feelings immediately, she had to fix the wrong she had done him and in extension the universe for clearly they were meant to be together. Clearly because there he was!
Ada jumped to her feet and all but pressed her nose against the window pane next to her. It was a sign, it was fate, she had to tell him of her feelings, he had to know! She hastily pulled out a handful of sickles from her purse and dropped them on the table before snatching up the letter and taking off after him. "Mr. Urquart!"
Another September had arrived and brought with it the departure of Delight, Ruby, and Sebastian to Hogwarts. Like last year, Topaz had been left to remain at home with her father, but unless Balt was very much mistaken, it did not have quite the same sting to it. While she could never truly accept her condition until society at large was prepared to do so, the wizard thought his daughter—a werewolf through no fault of her own—had handled the past year with more grace and courage than anyone else he knew would have mustered, even in less dire circumstances.
It was Topaz that served as his role model as he ventured from the house. The changing season had inspired in Balthazar a need for his own change; while the summer’s fog had made convenient his hiding away in the Urquart’s Irvingly home, the time had come for him to reclaim the tatters of his life—starting with things as simple as running errands.
Balthazar stopped first at Gringotts to make a modest withdrawal before taking a deep breath to steel himself and stepping out into Diagon Alley. He did not wish to abase himself further in the public eye and so walked with his head held high, his feigned confidence a shield charm against the few funny looks he did receive. By the act of some merciful deity, no one addressed him directly—that is, until he heard his name called aloud over the chatter of the streets, carried to him by a voice the wizard had thought very much he would never hear again.
Adelia Lovegood.
Surely not, he reassured himself. The Miss Lovegood who had refused him even at what was to be the altar of their wedding would not now seek him out in such a fashion, and yet, still the wizard turned round, his eyes swiftly meeting her own and practically screaming his surprise. A paroxysm of emotions—guilt, embarrassment, confusion—tore through him. Why was she here? What did she want of him?
How, in Merlin’s name, had she managed to find the one arena more public than that in which she had rejected him to address him now?
“Miss Lovegood,” he was able to muster at last, doffing his hat as she drew close enough for their conversation to be seemly. “What a…surprise.”
The word ‘pleasant’ died on his tongue as soon as he got there. Balthazar would never begrudge Miss Lovegood for knowing her own mind, for holding back from an action she thought to be a mistake, but the manner of their parting had not been…comfortable.
As she came to a stop and he turned around she was seized by a sudden giddiness. "Isn't it?" she agreed warmly. Ada found herself smiling widely at him, expecting him to understand everything without explanation because obviously it was fate and he felt what she did. "I can't imagine what might have prompted you to do it but I have to think it's the work of fate, don't you agree? That you should be passing at the very moment... It can only be destiny." As she gazed at him she was struck by just how handsome he was - had she truly appreciated it before?
"What else could explain it?" Ada was being incredibly forward but in her state of excitement it felt natural and entirely normal. "I know my heart now, I only wish I'd come to know it sooner."
Even when married, Balthazar didn’t think he had ever seen Miss Lovegood so eager to see him—a fact that was leaving him now decidedly disquieted. The woman before him looked like Miss Lovegood but her energy was so foreign to him that Balt could not help but wonder if she had, perhaps, neglected to tell him she was a twin. That would explain the ill luck of their union, if nothing else.
I know my heart now.
He had not particularly been moving, but at that, Balthazar metaphorically froze.
“I—I’m not altogether certain what you mean, Miss Lovegood,” he replied cautiously.
He seemed more hesitant than she had expected but she supposed it was natural for him to guarded with his emotions after she had jilted him. "I mean that I return your affections, that I love you!" She beamed up at him expectantly. This was it, his face would mirror her own delight and all would finally be put right between them. It really was extremely forward of her, but she felt as if she was doomed to ruined their lives again if she didn't act with the utmost openness and urgency.
When the pair had separated, it was because affection—companionate, not romantic—had not been enough for Miss Lovegood to commit herself to him until death. The manner of her declaration had stung, but Balthazar had respected her values in that regard. He had, however, never proclaimed to be in love with her (he had been very careful on that score), and so to now hear that she "returned" his love was perplexing on multiple fronts. Plainly, something in Miss Lovegood had gone decidedly awry. She seemed so earnest, but how was that even possible?
"Miss Lovegood," Balt answered with careful concern, "is there anywhere that you are expected to be right now?"
Perhaps since their last correspondence, Miss Lovegood had found herself in the Spell Damage ward of St Mungo's, and had 'fled the asylum', as it were.
What a strange question to ask after her ardent declaration, and in such a tone! Ada's brow furrowed ever so slightly as she tried to make sense of his words. Maybe he had refrained from voicing his mutual feelings because of where they were. Or was he perhaps going to invite her somewhere? A romantic stroll in a park perhaps? That idea appealed to her greatly. "Nowhere in particular." Ada followed this with a happy smile in her anticipation of some sort of invite. She added, unnecessarily, "My time is quite my own today."
'Her own' in earnest, or because she had taken it?
"What a fine day it must be for you, then," he offered with decidedly feigned sincerity, his effort to lull her into...a sense of security? She was already far too content in his companion, Balt realized. "Are neither Mr. Lovegood with you today?"
In her right mind, Ada would have preferred to have had the company of one or both of her brothers, if only to serve as an excuse to cut the interlude short or at least distract from what ought to have been a highly uncomfortable exchange. Ada was not in her right mind though and was very pleased to be without either of them. They would probably get in the way, they wouldn't understand how she felt about him now and this way neither would have to feel like a third wheel. "No, I'm very much by myself today." Her smile persisted in his direction.
Damn. In spite of what had transpired between them—at her behest, no less!—Balthazar felt obliged to see her safely somewhere if she had no accompaniment to do so. Even to see her out and about on her own on a usual day would have struck the wizard as odd, but as she was, he could not help but worry she might be taken advantage of if left alone.
He emitted a shallow sigh through his nose, largely inaudible. Merlin help him if this wound up in Witch Weekly!
“Perhaps I might escort you to the Leaky Cauldron,” he suggested gently. “It would be little enough trouble for you to grab the floo from there.” And, once back under her brother’s careful watch, hopefully sort out whatever was making her so peculiar!
He had to know that she had no desire to go home just yet, he must just want to spend time with her, perhaps he'd even invite her somewhere before they could part company? "I should like that very much!" Hopefully he'd now take her by the arm and she'd be able to enjoy the close proximity. She probably shouldn't be thinking such things but where was the harm in it? While they walked they could talk of their feelings and of the future which seemed dazzlingly bright to her now that he seemed to be back in it. "I don't think you mentioned what brought you out today, Mr. Urquart..." Ada held her breath and willed him to answer that he'd been hoping to run into her, despite the fact that he couldn't possibly have known where she'd be.
"Oh, the usual errands," he answered with a shrug. The gentlemanly thing to do, Blathazar knew, would be to offer her his arm...but it was far too public a situation for that. Such an action, however perfunctory, would not go unremarked upon by society at large—their keeping company was suspect enough! Instead, with her question answered, the wizard slowly built up a pace, trusting Miss Lovegood would keep up.
A sense of slight consternation came to her as he gave but the most brief of responses and seemed to increase the rapidity of his stride. Was he perhaps feeling anxious in her presence because of his feelings? That seemed to be the only logical reason aside from his not wanting to be around her but that was ridiculous, he'd declared his feelings for her, he could only feel as she did!
It was as if a rational part of her mind that had been overcome by the effects of the enchantment managed to break through for a moment, but only long enough to plant the realization that following a somewhat agitated man alone to some location was typically a situation to avoid if one wanted to remain physically and reputationally in tact. Rather than bring her to her senses wherein she would conclude that Mr. Urquart hardly seemed the type to lure her away for nefarious purposes but really she ought to excuse herself anyway, she found herself speculating if he really was luring her away somewhere so he might kiss her. Worse still she found that prospect rather exciting, to kiss a man for the first and for him to be Mr. Urquart! Kissing wasn't the most proper thing to do in public so that was probably why he was so agitated.
She quickened her pace to keep up with him and felt the back of her hand nearly graze his which made her heart ache with longing for some affectionate gesture. "You needn't be so ill at ease, Mr. Urquart, our love can overcome anything. I shan't ever doubt it again like I once did, you have my word." And her hand if he would only reach out and take it.
Her words brought him grinding to a halt as he turned to look at her, really look at her, confusion and just a hint of accusation in his gaze.
"Miss Lovegood," he began gently, for there could be no playing along. She was clearly quite addled, and what little he owed her was enough to try to bring her to her senses. "There is nothing between us. You will recall, I hope, saying that you could not marry me for you did not love me, as is your right, but that was some time ago. Perhaps your feelings have grown in absentia, but mine did not. I am sorry if this causes you any distress, but the only feelings I bear you are feelings of concern for your well-being."
There was a half second after he had finished speaking during which she failed to fully comprehend what had just been said to her. Then her face fell, as though she'd just witnessed something very distressing but equally perplexing. "What can you mean?" He couldn't possibly mean what it sounded like he had said. It was inconceivable. He'd written her a love letter, she had proof of his feelings. She had proof of his feelings. Maybe he was unsure if she'd read the letter, maybe he was just pretending to save face because he thought she was mocking him for some illogical reason.
"I-I've read your letter, you needn't worry, you can be honest with me." While her words suggested that she was trying to be reassuring, her entire demeanor suggested she was the one in need of it. Ada began to rummage in the pocket of her dress and after some agitated fumbling, presented him with the slightly creased love letter. "See?"
"Miss Lovegood," he replied almost sadly, even as he took the letter from her, "I assure you that I have respected your wishes, have kept my distance, and did certainly not send you this letter."
One look at the handwriting had been enough to convince the wizard of that. If someone were trying to torment poor Miss Lovegood, they could at least have put the effort in to forging his hand properly!
"I fear you have been the victim of rather a cruel trick."
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