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.
Show a pattern of selfish behaviour with your character. You should have at least three threads (ten posts, three+ yours) of your character doing cruel things. Character accounts cannot be combined.
Did You Know?
Queen Victoria was known for putting jackets and dresses on her pups, causing clothing for dogs to become so popular that fashion houses for just dog clothes started popping up all over Paris. — Fox
It would be easy to assume that Evangeline came to the Lady Morgana only to pick fights. That wasn't true at all. They also had very good biscuits. — Evangeline RowleinCheck Your Privilege
It was the first Christmas without mother and father. Henry didn't know how to handle that. School was just around the corner. How would she handle that? Mother and father wouldn't even get to know her Hogwarts house. The season seemed less cheerful then every other year. Henry was sure that she wasn't the only sibling to feel this way. She still cried every now and then, though not as much. Life was moving forward, as must they.
The siblings who could afford it brought presents... those whose jobs allowed them to make the trip at least. Working in households was hard when it came to visiting family. Living together with some of her siblings made it easier. Likely, however, they would each move on as the opportunity showed itself. Higher paying jobs did mean comfort, after all.
Still, the Davis siblings all seemed to try to be in a good mood. Henry was certainly trying. As the night went on, more laughter and smiles became genuine. They had each other, they were spending time with one another, that in itself was a treat. "Aubrey! Jacob and I got you something!" She said eagerly. Though Jacob obviously did the paying, she was the lucky one to pick out the gift herself. Holding out the box eagerly to her other brother, the excitement was clear on her face. Oh, she hoped she picked a good one.
He’d never have gone so far as to call the Urquarts generous people, but after serving their Christmas dinner and finishing his chores for the day, he and most of the staff had gotten the rest of the evening off, and Aubrey had headed straight home. He’d not been sure what would happen, this year, without their parents to run the show: the old house wouldn’t be near the same without them.
Still, it was good for them all to put on brave faces for the little’uns, especially Henrietta, who’d not even gotten off to Hogwarts yet. She was a good kid, Aubrey reflected, as they sat about at the hearth, the drink he was nursing quietly the cause of his festive cheer.
At any rate, he beamed at his smallest sister and set the drink aside, glancing about for her present in return but not finding it in easy reach, so settling for taking the box from her, and pretending to rattle it by his ear. “Aw, Henry, you shouldn’t’ve,” he said, his tone teasing, if his words weren’t. “I already getta see you, what else d’you think I could be needin’?”
School seemed so far away to the 11 year old Henry. It never did seem fair to her that she hadn't been able to go this school year simply because her birthday was in November. But it did give her more time to build up in excitement for the approaching time of Hogwarts. What was it like? Would she get to meet a dragon? That would be cool.
There were so many things that were going to come with the next year, things that Henry did not know of. But right now, they were together. That meant the world to the young blonde girl. It wasn't every day that they could all get together like this. Work got in the way for the older siblings, and sometimes the younger. Having this time together was important, especially this year.
Aubrey's smile seemed to always be one that would bring a smile to every other face around him. Henry admired that. Would she be like that when she grew up? That was a question that came to her mind a lot. Which sibling of hers would she be the most like? After all, she was the youngest. There were lots of different people to be influenced by for her. Giggling when Aubrey claimed not to need a present, she beamed when he stated that he already got to see her. "Open it! You'll like it, I promise!" She said joyfully. He might not need his present, but hopefully he would want it.
Aubrey shot his brother a brief look, hoping Jacob hadn't let Henry waste any money on something real frivolous, though he suspected Jacob wouldn't have, since most of the money Jacob had was his own. (And more than the most of them could hope to be earning, as their stations stood.)
He wondered how little Henrietta would fare, at school. She seemed like a bright kid, like she'd have more potential than he'd ever done. But he wished he'd been better, so that he could have taught her better reading and writing than he could dream of, things that would come in useful to her, things that might make all the difference when it came to passing her exams, and getting the chance to stay in school longer.
"Alright, alright," Aubrey said, grinning, "here I go." He made a big show of fumbling with the present, looking for a way in, until the little burst of excitement was less of a show and more an honest reaction. He pulled the box open and peered in.
Henry hadn't spotted the look that Jacob had received, too focused on waiting for Aubrey to open the present. Would he like it, she hoped he would like it. Present finding wasn't easy, even if it was for her brother.
The eleven year old felt that she was smart. Maybe not as smart as the rich kids, but smart. After all, she had been reading from her older siblings school books. Even if she did have to ask Jacob what some of the words meant, she did try. One day she did hope to do something important. How would she do that without a proper education?
Watching as she shuffled with excitement, she tried not to make too much of a fuss while she watched him open it. Inside was a little charm with a lion. Metal, though not the greatest quality. A string was attached. "I know I'm the one going to Hogwarts, but I figured that you'd like something to remind you of your time there. Gryffindor is the one with the lion, right?" She said. Would she be in the same house? She wasn't really that brave, even if she was a bit brave.
Aubrey extracted the string and the little lion charm, figuring out the thinking behind it pretty well at once - but he grinned broadly as Henry explained it, anyway, running his thumb over the gleaming metal in a strange nostalgia. That year had been a kind of dream.
"It's brilliant, Henry. Thank you," he said, beaming for her benefit as he moved his fingers to the string, so as to put it on. "An' that's right. Brave as lions, I was." Is, he might've said, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd done anything particularly courageous. The old Hat at Hogwarts must still know more about him than he did. "You going to be one too?" He asked, only teasing - of course she wouldn't know. He didn't know. "Or have you got your heart set somewhere else already?"
Hogwarts sounded like a wonderland. She really did wish to be there for as long as she could. Hopefully she could make it to at least her OWLs, though she was hoping for NEWTs. If only for the fact that those careers seemed more interesting, as well as the fact that she could help her family out more with more earnings.
She giggled happily at his praise. "I want to be in the same house as you!" She responded as she watched him with excitement. Though she had heard that she would be best suited for Hufflepuff, she wanted to be like her big brother. He was so fun and kind!
"Maybe you will be," Aubrey said, grinning across at her and giving her a brotherly prod in the stomach. He watched the light glance off the lion charm as it swayed gently on its string, angling it towards her for a moment. "If y'are, I'll have to get you one of your own pretty soon." It'd be nice if she was, but the Davis family was not one to set store by houses, and he didn't suppose it would much affect Henrietta, wherever she ended up. She'd make the most of school anywhere.
Nice that she wanted to be like him though, he supposed. It made him feel good, strangely; perhaps because he'd never been that before, a role model, someone to take after. He was nothing special, see. Was as ordinary a bloke as anyone. Probably wouldn't change the world. (Henrietta might, he considered.)
"For now," Aubrey said with a wide smile, stretching over to present her with a package from him in turn, "this one's for you. How about that?" They didn't have much space for luxury, so her present had to be primarily useful, but that didn't mean it couldn't be wrapped up and all.
Shrieking playfully at the sudden poke to her stomach, Henry laughed happily. Of all of their siblings, Aubrey was the one that she felt the closest to. He always seemed to have such a kind heart. Someone that she always wanted to look up to. "What if I'm not?" She questioned. While it wasn't a thought that she liked very much, it wasn't a concept that broke her spirit. She would still be loved no matter what house she went in. Would still work hard in whatever house she was sorted into.
While he hadn't gotten far in school, Henrietta felt that her big brother would do good in the world all on his own. It might not be with a fancy job, and it might not be with all of the money in the world. But he was a kind soul, one that would help others when needed. Even if not with action.
Her eyes widened with delight as she saw the package before her. Gently taking it, she looked at it happily. Looking at her brother, she smiled brightly before looking back at the package and opening it. It was quite thrilling to receive a package all wrapped up like this. A mystery to uncover.
"Then we'll have to get you a diff'rent charm," Aubrey said patiently, grinning over at her. He'd love her no less, and brave and loyal and strong-willed as she already was, his youngest sister had a cast of qualities that were all her own, so Gryffindor was not the only house in reach. "If anyone's gonna go and be their own person, it's you, Henry," he told her.
"And all of us are sure you'll reach for the stars, soon enough," Aubrey commented with a mysterious smile, trying not to glance over at Jacob (who'd made more progress than any of the rest of them had in that direction, not that he had necessarily gone far.) But maybe Henrietta would do better than them all. There'd be no bitterness from him about that.
The mysterious smile had been about one of her presents: a telescope. Second-hand, true, and it rattled a little when one retracted it, but it was of fine quality, and had some pretty etching along the side. It was only another thing on the school equipment list; she'd need it for Astronomy classes. But it was something that could be hers. In another package, they'd bundled together a mismatched set of quills and inks, in more styles and colours that she would need, but which she might have some fun with as she got better with her writing. "They're not much," Aubrey admitted, "but."
Her smile was brightened even more by his statement. Yes, she knew she would always be loved no matter where life took her. It wouldn't be long before Henry actually knew what house she would be in, but it felt like so long away. She would be sure to write to her siblings first thing after the ceremony. Hopefully she would know someone from in her house. It would be nice to make friends of course, but having familiar faces during her first year would help her to cope with such a big change. But she said no more of it, electing to nod to what he said.
If she was being honest, she liked her life how it was. ... Aside from missing her parents of course. But she did wish that her siblings could be around more. It always seemed as if someone had to work. And she missed them each time they left. Whether it be for Hogwarts or to go off to work. She smiled back at her big brother. Ever the optimist. That was one thing she admired about him, one thing she dearly hoped she would be like as she grew up. Optimistic.
Gasping at what she saw, she gently took out the telescope to have a better look at it. Turning it around in her hands, she studied the pretty etchings and felt the weight of it in her hands. "It's so pretty." She said, looking up at each of her siblings with a big smile on her face. Opening the other package, she smiled even more at all of the interesting inks and quills that she was given. "I love them." And with that, she gently put her presents down before going to each of her siblings with a hug.
They weren't much. It wasn't much. Not much, maybe - but plenty, all the same. Still plenty to be grateful for.
"Use 'em well, eh," Aubrey murmured, as every sibling got their turn at a hug. She was a good kid, wasn't she? And she'd stayed good, he knew, even without their parents around anymore to guide her. Aubrey and the rest of them: they'd look out for her well enough. It was his turn now, and he smiled as his sister's arms folded about him, and he gave her a brotherly bear-squeeze around her middle. "Hey, happy Christmas, Henry."
