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
February 3, 1890 - Random High Street Shop
Inspired by this article
On a normal day to day, Naomi was not really one to take much interest in the comments made by Witch Weekly. However, on this fine day, she had decided to take some advise from the gossip magazine to buy Martin some handkerchiefs. She planned to stich her their initials into each corner.
Walking around the shop, she spotted someone glancing between a few glove boxes. Approaching with a kind smile, she motioned to the boxes. "Did you read the Witch Weekly article as well?" Perhaps a light conversation would make her feel less like a love-struck idiot.
Morgana was not the type to read Witch Weekly. But sometimes it got boring in the tea room and visiting ladies left copies behind. And so she had perused a bit of it and come across the gifts for beaus thing. Huh. Her husband to be could probably use some handkerchiefs. She made enough coin that she could splurge on him a little.
She had gotten a little distracted by the glove boxes. They seemed so pointless to her but they were lovely. And even Morgana was not immune to a pretty trinket. "Yes. I thought I'd treat my intended to some handkerchiefs. And you?"
It was never a magazine that she really took all too seriously, though it did bring some good laughs on occasion. Some of the more conspiratorial articles were often so odd that it was amusing. Not that she would make a scene of such a thing. Though with her soon-to-be step-daughter's debut coming up, she aught to at least take that a bit seriously. Simply due to the fact that some people took it a little too seriously.
"Great minds, I suppose. I was planning to by some for my fiancé. I plan to put our initials on the corner." Many ladies chose to do so, if they had the time anyway. Some weren't as lucky. Some didn't even care to do such a thing. Not that she judged.
"Oh that would look nice. You're going to sew them on yourself?" Morgana asked curiously. The lady looked like the type that could pay someone to do that. Morgana couldn't quite read perfectly so she had missed the part of the article that had suggested even well to do ladies to do the handiwork themselves. Her and Marvolo had the same initials so she could even make use of his hankies.
"That is what I had planned. It's nice to do something yourself for someone you care for, at times." It wasn't as though this type of activity was inappropriate in the eyes of society. It was even encouraged as a sort of hobby. So one could not really look at Naomi oddly for deciding to do so for her fiancé. Not everyone had all of the money in the world, but those who had such money did not have to do absolutely nothing for themselves. How boring would that be?
"Oh, I'm sure. Though I'm not sure if my own intended will think it was worth my time." Marvolo was just odd that way. In fact, he tended to seem jealous of the fact Morgana had a job though Morgana was sure that was just her imagination.
Naomi resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. What did she know of another's relationship? Still, it did sound a bit odd. "Well, none of us have all the time in the world." She said thoughtfully. Perhaps they liked to keep busy in more practical manners.
"I could probably do it at work though - I work in the tearoom," she said in thought. It was a good, respectable job but sometimes boring when things were slow.
"Oh? That is a wonderful occupation. At Hogsmeade Hospital I assume?" Working at the hospital was certainly an admirable trait. While Naomi didn't work, she admired those women brave enough to do so. "My soon-to-be step-daughter has asperations to be a healer there."
"Yes, indeed," Morgana confirmed when the older woman guessed correctly which hospital it was that she worked for. Her interest was piqued when the woman mentioned that her soon to be stepdaughter had aspirations of being a healer. Morgana wondered if it was anyone she knew. If she had been able to stay in Hogwarts, this would have been the school year that she graduated. "Do you mind if I ask her name? This would have also been my graduating year so I'm curious."
It wasn't a hard guess, as they were in Hogsmeade and the only other hospital that came to mind quickly was St. Mungo's in London. Not that she would mention that unless asked. Well, there was the Irvingly Infirmary, she supposed. But that didn't really come to mind as quickly. "Miss Acacia Ruskin. She will be graduating this year." Last year, had it not been for the ban.
"I think I somewhat remember her. Redhead, artistic," Morgana said with a slight smile. Miss Ruskin had been in the year below her but Morgana had heard that the half breed ban had messed things up. It certainly had for her. Had it not been for the ban, she would perhaps have stayed in school. But by the time the ban had been reversed, Morgana was settled into an occupation and Marvolo was against her going back.
The ban had been startling, to say the least. Naomi was never one to judge half-breeds. Another thing that she disagreed with her parents over. "That's her."
Part of Naomi wanted to ask this young woman if she knew more about Acacia. They hadn't really talked all that much, but then again, Naomi hadn't really talked with this woman.a whole lot more.
Morgana was about to say something more before Marvolo came into the shop, clearly looking for her. "Looks like my husband to be has decided I have taken too long," she said with a fond chuckle. "It has been a pleasure to meet you. Do tell Miss Ruskin that Morgana Gaunt says hello." And never mind the fact that the young woman probably would have no idea who she was.
And just like that, it seemed like their conversation was coming to an end. "And you as well. I shall inform her of your greeting." Naomi replied politely. Perhaps a positive connection at the hospital would make Acacia's chosen career even better.
"I shall try to remember to make a point of welcoming her. Perhaps with a nice pot of tea," Morgana said with a smile before being tugged away by Marvolo. It would be interesting to see how a half vampire fared as a healer considering the prejudices against them.
