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 1895. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
Complete a thread started and set every month for twelve consecutive months. Each thread must have at least ten posts, and at least three must be your own.
Did You Know?
Did you know? Jewelry of jet was the haute jewelry of the Victorian era. — Fallin
Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go, and you let her go
Let Her Go - Passenger
Syd wasn't really sure why he was here, other than to get his mother off his back. She was a little too excited about this upcoming season and Syd was barely reaching halfhearted about it. He'd thrown himself headfirst into his work lately, much to his mother's dismay. It seemed like the appropriate thing to do, considering he really didn't have an interest in socializing, and work was the best distraction. Why he felt that way exactly was not something he was sharing with his mother any time soon however.
His mum really knew how to make him feel guilty though.
And so here he stood, watching the line of fresh debutantes making their way into the crowded room, only half paying attention as each was announced. Mostly this made him feel old, but if dancing with a few awe-struck teenagers got his mother to lighten up a little, he was all for it. She probably already had a line up for him, which made things easier, if a little less enjoyable. From where he stood on the outskirts, he could see his mother and her appraising look as each girl passed and he rolled his eyes every time she looked his way with a nod or raised eyebrows or whatever it was she was thinking at the moment. It wasn't hard to tell, she tended to wear her thoughts clear as day on her face.
If he were being truthful, he was only interested in seeing one particular lady tonight, but Syd doubted she would be here, which was also part of the reason he'd agreed to come. The way things had ended with Miss Carmichael still plagued him, even now almost a year later after her letter, and months after her cousin's planned dinner debacle.
Oh boy, how wrong he was.
Syd scanned the crowd to see if any of his mates were here, to help make this a little more bearable, but instead he landed on a familiar face and unforgettable brown eyes looking in his direction. Instant panic set in, which was ridiculous, he was a grown man for Merlin's sake, but he worried she'd seen him; he would hate to ruin her evening with his mere presence.
Pangs of uncertainty about her future were not foreign to Virginia, but she never felt so properly old as she did when surrounded by young ladies just taking their first steps into adulthood. Ginny herself had never even attended the Hogwarts Coming Out Ball as an honouree, though her own debut had been a shiny affair. Still, as the witch looked around her, she began swiftly to regret attending, as every movement in the corner of her eye was a look at a life she might have led, had things been different. Suffice it to say, Ginny Carmichael was not in the mood for a celebration.
Sydney Podmore.
Something else that could have been, had Ginny herself more attractive, less reserved, more vivacious, less...her. Her doe eyes stared at him for longer than was, strictly-speaking, appropriate, and the witch's cheeks flushed scarlet when his own eyes moved to make contact. How was she to get out of this?
With nothing else for it, she shot the healer a small smile.
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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He was being ridiculous, and the guilt gripped at him, keeping him frozen in place for a moment. He hadn't been fair to her in their last exchange, his inability to explain himself and his issues to her heartfelt confession had left everything in shambles. Frankly he was an idiot and he knew it, and his pride was getting in the way.
Perhaps though, perhaps they could be civil and see where that went. Pulling himself from the shock, he smiled softly at her and moved toward her in the crowded room. She could want nothing to do with him anymore and that was a logical consequence he would have to face, but he had thought about her quite a bit over their time apart and he'd be lying if he said that he didn't regret what he'd done.
"Miss Carmichael," He started, trying to gauge her reaction to his approach. "It's nice to see you again."
She had—well, most of her had—hoped the smile of greeting would be enough, that they would acknowledge one another’s presence and go on their merry way. After all, there was nothing left here; he had relegated them quite firmly to the camp of friendship, and she, uncomfortable and awkward, and put the kibosh on even that. What else was there for either to say?
“Good evening, Mr. Podmore. I trust you’ve been well?”
Evidently, that.
(It would have been churlish to ignore him when he had spoken directly to her, after all.)
Still, with the fake smile upon her face and her mind racing a mile a minute, Virginia felt like the biggest imposter in the room.
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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Damn this was awkward and he blamed himself. Had been a little more candid and a little less of an ass and explained himself properly he probably wouldn't have put them in this position in the first place. Syd would be the first to say he had issues with commitment, but he could have at least explained that. Yet he hadn't and so here they were.
"I'd say I've been better," He mused aloud, trying to best phrase the fact that he kind of missed seeing her around without being incredibly forward and making this even more awkward than it already was. Now, how the hell did he do that exactly? He most certainly did not have Clinton's wild ability to be straightforward in situations like this. He did not often envy his little brother, but every once in a while something popped up. "Been spending a little too much time at work and not enough time seeing the people I'd like to." His gaze turned her way again in a pointed sort of look.
"And yourself?" He was genuinely curious to know what she'd been up to in the months since he'd seen her last.
Her heart—and seemingly time itself—froze. For the briefest of moments, a surge of… what was that? Hope? Filled Ginny’s chest. Was he about to admit regret as to their last correspondence? Would she even wish him to?
However when time resumed its progress, any such potential was quashed. Work. He was a healer, and work was demanding. This was hardly reinventing the wheel.
Still, it was a level of honesty that one did not expect from a friend-turned-acquaintance, the rules of appropriate socialization did not quite cover a response to this, leaving Virginia on shaky ground. It was too easy to lapse, too easy to say something she would regret. Dangerous circumstances.
“How sorry I am to hear that, Mr. Podmore,” she offered kindly, but with still the same false cheerfulness that wrapped about her like a cloak. “I often tell George that he mustn’t burn the candle at both ends and, if you’ll excuse my saying so, it appears that you would do well to follow such advice as well!”
Was that too friendly? Overly familiar? Close to the way things were before she had fantasized an entire happy ending, only to have her efforts crash and burn?
“As to myself, I am doing quite fine.”
Quite fine. Hardly a glowing report, but the words had left her now, and could not be reclaimed.
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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Syd very nearly narrowed his eyes at her. This was not her normal demeanor and he was starting to question if she wanted to be shot of him or if she had something else on her mind. "I'm glad to hear it." And he was, though he'd by lying if he said it didn't bother him. Not because he wished her to be in low spirits, but mostly because he still felt guilty and wished that her good fortune was to due with him instead of something or somebody else. Mostly he was an idiot.
"Such is the life of a healer. He's doing well, your brother." To say it had been a little awkward when things had gone south was an understatement, not that he thought George very aware of the situation. Syd had become overtly professional where the youngest Carmichael was concerned, which he supposed was a bit of a difference from previously. Syd tried not to get too casual with his staff, but rather to toe the line of being approachable and professional. Now he erred toward the latter, just in case.
Fumbling for what else to say, Syd wished she'd elaborated on something in her responses to give him something to go off of, but he was left floundering instead. Their conversations had always flowed so smoothly before and now they were strained and awkward. He really was an idiot.
Where once their conversations had been so lively, so relaxed, so full of life, now they had resorted to discussing her brother. George was a perfectly adequate topic of conversation—after all, she was dreadfully fond of him—but was a poor substitute for what had been before Virginia had gone and mucked everything up. Why in Merlin’s name had she thought it would be better to reveal her feelings to him? Why couldn’t she had been satisfied with their friendship alone? Had she really thought she deserved more than the hand she currently held?
“I am glad to know it—one does worry about younger siblings, even once they are men grown,” she allowed. Then again, Mr. Podmore was too kind a fellow to say anything the contrary. “I’m pleased, though, to see him in a role that so fulfills him. To find such a position in life…I daresay that’s a rarity to many.”
— bee is a goddamn wizard ❤ —
August 16, 2018 – 1:05 AM
Last modified: September 3, 2018 – 12:15 AM by Sydney Podmore.
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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Scratching the back of his head in a rare show of distress, Syd was starting to feel like he'd made a mistake. He didn't want to feel foolish standing here, he used to truly enjoy their conversations full of wit and chemistry, but now everything was stiff and awkward.
"Ah yes well, they do say men take a little longer to grow up, I wouldn't give up just yet." Despite his professional success, his mother had a continued way of making him feel like he hadn't managed to grow up either. Right now he felt like an awkward teenage himself.
Syd in turn nodded along to her last sentiment. "It suits him, so many who try don't make it, but he took right to it." Merlin why couldn't he figure out some other topic of conversation? Something, anything like what they used to discuss. "How have you been spending your time lately, any trips to the seaside?" There, something, anything was better than the painful, polite chit chat. He cast her a smile with just enough of a teasing hint to it to hopefully break the ice.
“After catching on fire?” Ginny laughed, a genuine moment in their stifled circumstance. “I rather think I’m off the seaside for life!”
But what had she been doing in the interim? Ginny could hardly say that life had been boring in the months since they had severed communications! Life had been average, to be sure—attending balls, paying calls, but wasn’t that the sort of thing young ladies like her were supposed to do, supposed to enjoy?
“My cousin, Mrs. Gwenda Cadwallader, is expecting, so I have been spending a great deal of time with her before she must begin her confinement,” she offered instead. Gwenda would make a tremendous, if...exuberant mother, and she would miss her cousin dearly come the autumn when she had to settle down for the sake of the growing child. “And of course,” Ginny allowed, “the business of being a debutante is rather a full-time job, though not so important as healing.”
And done by rote, by the time one was her age.
They do say men take a little longer to grow up, I wouldn’t give up just yet. Virginia Carmichael was not a fool. She had, after all, been in Ravenclaw, and so while she might overreach herself at times, she would not allow herself to believe for a moment that he was not talking about George, that he was not sending a message. Still, however unintentional, they struck a chord with the witch—a painful one that she immediately silenced. She had fallen too far before; to do so again might kill her.
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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Syd grinned more genuinely when she laughed. It was the first time since he'd approached that the conversation felt real instead of stiff. He was going to have to endeavor to keep it that way. "Come now, maybe not the Sandition, but there's got to be other beaches, elsewhere you'd like to visit?" Truthfully he'd only done marginal traveling himself, but there were other, less... flammable places to visit!
Nodding along as she related the news of her life, that wasn't exactly her news, Syd felt a pang of guilt. He remembered Mrs. Cadwallader quite well alright. "Please pass along my congratulations next time you see her." Was all he could manage, trying to regain the feeling of the conversation a moment ago.
"Care to trade? You can go run my department and I'll dress up all pretty and go to parties in the meantime." Syd chuckled. "I don't think I'll be able to make it look as effortless as you do, but I shall try. You do look quite becoming tonight, by the way." He added with a knowing smile. Effort, he had to put in the effort if he was going to try and do something here.
Ginny felt her cheeks flush at his compliment. Did Mr. Podmore intend to have this effect on her, or was he merely oblivious, even careless, as to their situation?
“I should be grateful indeed not to have to parade about again,” she replied, glancing away fleetingly to regain her composure, “though I do not think your patients—nor my brother—would thank you for such a trade. Besides, I never did take my NEWTs! No, Mr. Podmore,” Virginia concluded with a wry smile, “I think we are best in our current roles, however taxing we might find them.”
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
44 year old halfblood
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Syd rather thought the blush on her cheeks was a bit of a reward for his current endeavor to return their interactions to their previous level of ease. Perhaps, with a bit of effort on his part, this could be salvageable. It wasn't as if her letter last year had been wholly unwelcome, just a bit of a surprise. He'd tried to be honest with her, but perhaps had, in the end, been a bit too honest. He had always been
the straightforward type, but clearly she hadn't liked his response and her lack of one following had been enough to give him pause.
"Mm, pity, I could use a break." Syd shrugged a little, thinking he what he could really use was a drink. "Probably for the best, though. I think you'd be fine, but I would flounder terribly. I am not the most social of creatures without serious prodding. Or my mother's, well, force." His mum was the driving factor behind most of his social appearances. Otherwise he'd likely be at the office tonight. "She's just there," Syd motioned to her, watching them with a curious kind of smile on her lips. Syd smirked at her and waved,causing her to look away quickly, obviously flustered at being caught. "I will no doubt, be interrogated about this later." He half-joked because it was likely true.
She herself had never had to endure a pushy mother—Elizabeth Carmichael had been protective and compassionate and understanding, but had never tried to press a husband upon her daughter, even now, as her years tallied higher and higher. She had, though, heard horror stories from friends of both sexes over the years, and could only imagine what a terror Mrs. Podmore could be if she had any inclination.
"I hope for your sake that she sees the honesty in your eyes when you tell her it was nothing she would find remarkable," Ginny replied kindly, though the corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly downward as she said it. The same honesty that would save Mr. Podmore from his meddlesome mother would be yet another nail in the coffin of what she had once believed could be, after all. "Though that saves you only from questions about this, not any other lady you might encounter this evening."
Administrative Director of Podmore Zoological Gardens
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Syd didn't entirely miss Miss Carmichael's expression in her reply. "Unlikely," He countered lightly, chancing another glance at his mother who was doing the same; trying to watch, but not be caught. "Her heightened senses of dissecting my,"Bullshit answers was what he wanted to say, but couldn't in polite company. "Particular answers to her questions, are pretty keen." He chuckled before continuing, "She's also seen us together before." If Syd was out being social, his mother was likely right behind him, lurking in the shadows, as it was at her insistence that he was out at all. The Reconciliation Ball last year came to mind as a time where he'd been previously questioned about Ginny.
"I would also argue your second point, as the reason she's likely watching me now is that you're the first person I've purposefully sought out to speak with this evening." Syd, though not very good with expressing himself in many respects, stood to be straightforward when the occasion called for it. He rather thought this called for it. Mostly he wanted to know if he'd screwed up too badly in the past to warrant a second chance.
The witch did not even try to mask the surprise on her face. Given the silence between them in the past months, Ginny would have expected instead for him to evade her company, not seek it out. Could that mean…
No, she chided herself silently. She had already made a fool of herself once before, attaching meaning to words and deeds that had no business having meaning attached to them, and where had that gotten her? Alone, uncomfortable, and down one friend.
“If she’s so bad as you say,” Ginny pointed out sagely, feeling in spite of her self-insistences that she was a bit out of breath, “you should save yourself and not give her undue cause to pry.”
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