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
Philomen loved his family, but he admit that one of the best things about them is that it was very easy to shop for gifts for them. It was one of the perks of coming from an academic family--birthdays, Christmas, it didn't matter, he was buying them books, and expected books in return. The only real issue was finding books they hadn't already read.
He was currently perusing Flourish and Blotts' astronomy section for Christmas presents for his parents and for Cleander. For someone who didn't have a specific interest in the subject himself, he probably knew about about it than the average layperson, just via osmosis. That didn't make it any easier to find books for his family, though. That just made him more indecisive.
"Have you read this book?" Philomen asked another shopper, holding up the book that he was currently considering. If all else failed, get a second opinion, he supposed.
Emilia was supposed to be Christmas shopping for her children, but she had wandered over to Flourish & Blotts' astronomy section out of habit. She was hoping to see if there was anything new in the field she may find interesting — even if the books sold in regular bookstores were much less appealing to her than papers one found on the restricted floors of the library.
She looked up at the man's question. "Oh!" Emilia said. "I have, actually. Who's it for?"
"I haven't quite decided," Philomen admitted sheepishly. "I have multiple family members who would all probably appreciate the subject matter, but would also probably prefer to not all get the same gift." Phil imagined that, assuming whatever he bought them was good enough, it would circulate anyway.
Emilia pursed her lips. She probably could help, but she wanted more context before diving in. "How much do they know about astronomy?" she asked. "Or — how old are they?"
Ah, yes, that would help, wouldn't it? "My parents and older brother are all something of astronomy experts," Philomen explained. "Makes things both incredibly easy for me and incredibly difficult."
Emilia smiled at him. "I can help you, then," she said. She tapped the tip of her index finger against a large tome. "This is what I'm hoping my husband gets me for Christmas." She was not sure if Kit would follow-through, but things were better between them now than they had been — even though they continued to live separately. She indicated another, thinner book, by sliding it out and offering it to the man. "And I enjoyed this book on the magic of Mars, although it is not new research."
"Thank you," Phil said, taking one of the books to flip through it. "You would think finding gifts for people with particular interests would be simpler," he mused with a laugh.
"You, as well," Emilia said brightly. It wasn't often that she met someone with an interest in Astronomy when she was out and about. "I hope you have a happy Christmas."
