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.
With the same account, complete eight different threads where your character interacts with eight different usergroups. At least one must be a non-human, and one a student.
Did You Know?
Braces, or suspenders, were almost universally worn due to the high cut of men's trousers. Belts did not become common until the 1920s. — MJ
Emilia had no idea where her son was today, but he was an adult, and she was not going to let that stop her. (Hopefully he was with friends and not with those godforsaken peopler from the Auror training program.) But she had acquired Bronwyn, and they went to the Hillicker Tree Farm together. There was something charmingly muggle about the day's activity — the women were armed with a saw and released into the rows of evergreen trees.
"I want it to feel like Christmas when Anne gets home," Emilia said, by way of belated explanation — although she expected that Winnie may have guessed as much already. She took a sip of her hot cocoa, and eyed the trees. Which one was most festive?
Given the fact that Dory was Jewish and Winnie had never really had the room for a tree of her own, she honestly hadn’t even thought of getting one this year either. Emilia however, of course, would want one for her home and for the children (one of whom was no longer a child, but an adult, how had that happened?), so she was more than amenable to voyage with her sister-in-law to the tree farm to cut one down. She had half a mind to get a little one for her shared space with Ivy, but without having asked her other roommate first, wasn’t sure if it was even something the other woman would want.
”Of course, how is it that she's already halfway done with her fourth year?” That Ned had graduated and was now in training to do the very same job that his father had was mind-blowing and Winnie was glad that Ivy was also an auror and around to keep an eye on her nephew. ”I should get a wreath for my door.” Ivy couldn’t object to that, right? Even if Win spent the majority of her time at Dory’s place, for all outward appearances, she didn’t live there.
Emilia huffed out a breath. "Every day, I can't believe it," she said. Anne in her Fourth Year, Ned at the Ministry — all of it felt impossible to her. So she could try to extend their childhoods a little longer, for all that their father's absence had damaged them.
"You really ought to get a wreath," she said. She was still eyeing the Christmas trees; trying to find the best one. "Should I have a wreath and a tree? Is that too much?" Was there such a thing as Too Much Christmas?
It really was mind-blowing, to see her niece and nephew where they were now, especially considering she had been there when they were born and now Ned was a full-fledged (well, almost) adult. They were likely her only chance at children, having tried to help out as much as she could when Kit was missing, so it felt weird to her as well.
"Never too much. I think we can decorate our own back at the little pergola over there." She waved dismissively with the hand that wasn't holding her cocoa. The crisp wintery air was refreshing, even if her cheeks were cold. Winnie had never been particularly creative, but thought it would at the very least, be fun. Maybe she'd get a little kissing ball for inside Dory's place, just for giggles.
"How big of a tree were you looking for?" There were some that were a reasonable size, but others were absolutely monstrous, surely it wouldn't even fit in Em's house? They all smelled heavenly though; it was one of Winnie's favorite scents.
"We should head over there after," Emilia agreed, taking a sip of her hot cocoa.
Winnie asked a practical question, next; Emilia loved practical questions. She waved dismissively at one of the bigger trees. "Smaller than that," she said, "But not so small it's pathetic, either — one of the medium ones."
She put her free hand on her hip; somewhat awkward given that she was holding the saw. "Do any look good?"
Good, that was decided. If she were any kind of sentimental, she might think of a small tree for her space with Ivy, but she didn't think either one of them wanted the responsibility.
Win looked over the ones Emilia had dismissed easily enough. "This ones rather... shapely." Winnie chuckled, running her hand down the branches suggestively. "But might be a wee bit too big for your intentions," said no woman ever, but that didn't need saying aloud either. She could push boundaries with Emilia, but they were in public and Emilia was married to her brother, who she would rather not think about in any capacity near a bedroom.
"Maybe this one?" She motioned with her cocoa toward another one that was a little shorter and a little more manageable, though not even close to pathetic.
Emilia laughed at the curvaceous tree; Winnie was right that it would have taken up too much space in her living room. (She was also at least mildly relieved that Winnie hadn't gone further with the joke.)
The second tree was much better.
"I like that one," Emilia nodded. She adjusted her grip on the saw. "If I look embarrassing when I start sawing, don't tell my husband." Kit would have enjoyed this, Emilia thought — but while things were better between them, a jaunt to a tree farm was much more intimate than dinner once or twice a week. It was far safer to bring Winnie.
And she really didn't want Kit to see her embarrass herself.
Pleased she'd elicited a laugh from her sister-in-law, Winnie set her cocoa in the snow and held onto the tree with both hands as Emilia started to saw at the base. "Doing just fine, but if we embarrass ourselves, your secret is safe with me." Win laughed herself, watching with admiration as Emilia went to town on the trunk. "Look at us, strong independent women." She teased, but Win didn't know anyone stronger than Emilia; her fortitude was something Winnie greatly admired greatly about her sister-in-law.
She held on as the tree came free of the stump, keeping it standing. "Now what?" She laughed again.
Emilia beamed at Winnie, who was able to hold the tree steady. "Excellent," she said — her tone was half-sarcastic, but she was still genuine. "I think we still owe you a wreath." She held onto the axe; her palm was blistered from tackling the tree itself.
"Delightful." Winnie beamed, retrieving her cocoa as she let the tree fall. Win was always the kind to work smarter, not harder, so she pulled her wand from inside her cloak and pointed it at the tree, charming it to follow them back toward the little buildings near the entrance. "This was fun," Win nodded decisively. A little fresh air, a little girl time, a show of independence; all in all exactly her kind of afternoon. "Now, let's get me a wreath."
![[Image: Winnie-Sig-W94.png]](https://i.ibb.co/vhYTmc6/Winnie-Sig-W94.png)