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
I wanted to let you know that you don’t really have to worry about setting yourself on fire. It’s more so just a foolish mistake that happens to some of the more... eager kids, and Tom wanted me to inform you that it rarely doesn’t happen so don’t let it weigh on your mind. It probably wouldn’t hurt to befriend a book smart kid though. You know, on the off chance you’re unlucky. Not to say you will be! But please just talk to one. More importantly, what house did you end up being placed in? Tom and I were both Slytherins back when we went to Hogwarts.
I’ve sent Mort back with some pumpkin tarts my Mum your Grandmum made. If they don’t make it to you it’s because he’s bitterly eaten them. I know I mentioned it to you before you left, but it’s really important that you don’t leave him caged up. The bastard He was in quite a fit when he flew into my office. Knocked a whole damn bottle off my desk! He’s not above petty revenge, so just try to be less forgetful please…
Max's heart skipped a beat at the letter, and he read it several times, mostly to read what was written behind the scribbles and remember to look those words up later. He also stopped at each read-through on the words 'your Grandmum'. He didn't know he had one. His stepfather's ma was a mean lady who threw things at him. He loved his ma's mama, but she was dead now. This Grandmum seemed kind of like her, if she's sending treats.
Hi,
I got put in Gryffindor. I don't know why, since the hat asked me dumb questions. Anyway what is neat is I have a window in my room and it's really up high.
The kids here are strange. One girl said she would set me on fire unless we were friends. So maybe you gave me a good warning (I don't know if we are friends). Another kid that is in my dorm room is so tall I don't think he is a first year. Is it possible for some kids to fake how old they are? But there is one other kid that follows me around a lot. Maybe he's smart. We took Charms and Transfiguration yesterday and he already had answers to lots of questions and he gave me chocolate even though I didn't ask. Is that normal?
Sorry about Mort. I told him sorry when he got here but I think he still hates my guts because he left fast. So this letter will go back to you when he decides to return. Do I keep the dorm window open? It annoys the tall kid so I might but what if he closes the window is that okay? What about in Winter? I heard it gets really cold here compared to where I'm from so I don't know?
The pumpkin tarts are good. Better than the ones they have at breakfast because she added icing. And only a little bit nibbled on. Tell her I said thanks a lot for them.
Barbie’s heart stopped the second he opened Max’s letter. “Wha- Can you believe this?!” With jaw dropped, he flipped the letter around and shoved it into Mort’s face as if the owl could read the child’s scrawl. “Gryffindor?! Fuck! I bet Tommy he’d be a Slytherin too!” Covering his face with his hands in disappointment, Barbie leaned back into his chair. “I can’t believe I’m going to have to spend the next seven years of my life rooting for the lions.” Depression dripped off each word, as he slid frumpily down into his chair. His son was in the same house as Rhys... Pouting at the cruelty of the world, Barbie continued on reading, his face perking up into a smirk as Max spoke about a girl already threatening him. It must be in the Beck genes!
September 5th, 1892
Max,
Gryffindor is the fucking worst house of courage and bravery. Considering the past few months it seems rather fitting. The hat asked me stupid questions too. Mouthy prick bugger.
If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is that the best kind of girls to have by your side are the ones that threaten physical harm upon you. You’re definitely friends, don’t let the fear of being burnt deter you! None of the kids can lie about their age, sounds like your roommate is just freakishly tall. Not to worry though, you’ll catch up soon enough. Is the one that follows you around a Ravenclaw? Honestly if he already has the answers to things though he probably is. Keep him close to your side as well. They can prove to be rather resourceful.
Don’t worry about Mort, he’s just moody at me. You two will bond over it in time I’m sure. Mort has a secret tap sequence he does on windows to let you know when to let him in. I’ve made sure he knows to teach you when he returns with my letter.
I nicked some of the pastries off of Tom’s desk and bundled them for you. He came back with this massive haul the other day and honestly it’s best I send them off before I eat them all myself. I guess he finally managed to run into this girl he helped save some ducks with once and she’s some god send of pastry crafting or some nonsense? I forget now the exact words he used to describe her. Regardless, enjoy! They’re some of the best eclairs I’ve had in my entire life!
Max rubbed at the ink blot for awhile with his eraser, sometimes the trick works but this time it didn’t show him what was under. These came with treats again, fancy looking fluffy pastries that reminded him of some he’d have back home. The boy read the letter several times over while he nibbled on one, not realizing how big his smile went. He stopped as soon as he noticed. Life wasn’t supposed to be happy for a kid like him, he shouldn’t get too far ahead of himself.
When he decided to write back, it was a few days later. Mort came wrapped up in makeshift body armor from silver butter dishes and a helmet from a silver sugar bowl, all drawn together with copious ribbon and string that made the owl look a bit like a festive wind chime. Forks and knives were attached to each body armor butter dish like a makeshift jousting spear from all angles.
Hi Becks,
I wonder if the hat even knew that you were a Slytherin before. Would its opinion about me change, if it knew? Do people get resorted, if there was a mistake? I ask because I don’t feel brave and I haven’t done anything courageous like save anybody. Actually the opposite, a girl asked for my help on the boats and she fell in the water when I ignored her so she almost died.
Anyway, if I stay a Gryffindor I guess it’s okay, the other kids I met are in my house too. Mimi and Cal, and James is a little older but he knows Hestia too. Mimi and James make sense as Gryffindor, they’ll talk back to anybody no matter how big they are, even the prefects get sick of arguing with James. Mimi is the one who threatened to set me on fire but I think she already forgot all about it to be honest. Since I just know how to fight, that’s the end of my bravery I guess since I can let Mimi do all the talking. Promise I’m trying to not get in trouble here.
Besides that I mostly spend time with the smart kid Tao. He is definitely Ravenclaw, he said his sister was too (which is why I think the hat cares about what runs in the family). Anyway Tao is neat because he already even knows some magic, he helped me make this armor suit for Mort. We talk about quidditch and even practiced riding brooms with a Slytherin who’s a chaser on his team. I want to be a chaser I think because I’m good at scoring goals. But that means maybe next year because this year they just have a beater position open. Did you play quidditch at Hogwarts? Also do you have a team you like? I don’t know who I should root for because Mimi and Cal always argue between the Scottish and Irish teams most…
Okay so Mort taught me the secret tap to get in. He’s still grumpy with me though because there are now little dragons everywhere around the school so I don’t want to let him outside to hunt in case the dragons are hungry. Tao said some dragons eat birds and that Mort even might taste like chicken and I don't think Mort liked hearing that because his eyes got even bigger.
So now the issue is so bad they won’t even let any of us kids outside and quidditch tryouts are canceled until the ministry people here catch them. But it’s been a few days since you sent your letter so I didn’t want you to worry. I’m fine but kids have been missing or getting half their letters so I hope you get this letter from me okay.
Maybe it’s better for you to hold onto Mort for a few days to be safe. Definitely don’t send him back with any treats. I like the treats a lot but I worry it’ll make the dragons want to eat him even more. But we made him armor with weapons to defend himself though so I think he will be okay to Hogsmeade.
The sight of Mort flying almost haphazardly back into the office sent Barbie right off the edge of his chair into a fit of laughter. Even the feeling of Mort poking him with the ends of his jousting silverware from the floor wasn’t able to stop his howling. “Mate I’m sorry.” He breathed as he tried to pick himself up from the floor, the pain in his sides from laughing to hard making the action difficult. “But Tom should be back any minute and he has to see this!” The glare Mort gave could have destroyed bloodlines, and as Barbie sat back up and tried to climb back into his chair, the feeling of beak piercing the skin of his ankle caused him to wince. “Oi! You little bastard!” He pushed Mort back with his foot. “Come on now, you have to see the humor in this.” Barbie snickered as the grin widened on his face. “And I bet you thought you had it rough with Tom and I, huh?”
Reading the letter that came along with Mort did little to stop Barbie’s laughter as he smirked back down at Mort. “You probably would taste like chicken.”
September 23rd, 1892
Max,
I’m not quite sure if the hat is able to remember past students if I’m being honest, and I’ve never heard of anyone ever being resorted before. Bravery comes in many forms, and it is not your problem that someone lacks the bare minimum coordination required to keep themselves from going for a dip in the lake. Although I would advise to practice the hero angle with the girls early on. You’ll thank me a few years from now I promise.
Quidditch was one of my favorite parts of going to school! I’m happy to hear you’re already taking quite the interest in it and seem to be making quite a few friends already. I actually played chaser back in my day! Got in my second year too. Tom played seeker alongside me. Your friends are idiots fangirling over the wrong teams, as the Chudley Cannons beat any Scottish or Irish teams hands down. Although if you have to side with one of them, pick the girl. Always pick the girl.
Mort managed to get here safely and seems mostly unharmed outside of his dignity. You and your friends’ craftsmanship was quite admirable! Reminds me of the kind of dumb shit things Tom and I would get up to back in the day. We even snapped a picture to frame in the office. Also don’t let Mort’s grumpiness get to you. He can just be a jaded little prick owl sometimes.
I’ve included some more pastries since the dragons have been taken care of now. We currently wouldn’t have wanted to make Mort look tastier to them. Tom was a bit miffed about the eclairs I stole so I made a trip out to London to that girls bakery. I wasn’t sure what you liked so I asked the girl what she recommended. She seems sweet enough and I must agree with Tom that she has quite the cute smile. I am fearing for Tom’s sanity already. Word of the wise: Enjoy these years before women start making you go crazy while you can.
Anyways, there’s some jam filled pastries, honey tarts, some pumpkin thing that I honestly forgot what the girl said it’s called but they’re delightful. Try not to eat too many right before flying. Trust me.
There is a dueling competition going on so I think I might sign up for that. I thought you should know in case I die, but I don’t think I will, they’ll have real live aurors and everything helping do the matches. What if I duel with a girl? Do I be nice?
There weren’t any spots except beaters for the Quidditch team this year, but I really want to try out for chaser next year. Mostly because I am really good at football and like going fast. I’ve been going to all the games. The team is really good. Don’t be mad but I do root for Gryffindor because we have the best Seeker, she’s the fastest person on a broom I’ve ever seen. She also likes Chudley Canons, so.
What does jaded mean? But also, you and Tom sound a lot like me and Tao. I’m glad Mort is still alive and I got all the pastries. The pumpkin thing is the best ever tasted, even if the girl who makes them is making Tom go crazy. She sounds a little mean if that's what she's doing on purpose. But I can see what you mean, the older girls here at Hogwarts seem ... scary. Except Sloane. Honestly being old like you doesn’t sound very fun.
Also, what do you do when you feel so bored in detention you might die?
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