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
These Scots took their Halloween very seriously. Greer had only been here a few short weeks with her aunt, but in finding a new seamstress position really quickly, her walk to work was currently filled with some hilariously spooky decorations. The florist and the sweetshop were all done up quite well, in addition to a few more of the businesses. They had never quite gone this into depth back at home, but she was thoroughly enjoying the sights today.
At her lunch break she’d decided to take another walk, just to venture around town a bit more. She hadn’t really gotten a chance to see much more than the main streets and her new neighborhood, so thought since it was still somewhat nice out (if cold!) that she would meander toward the large park on the far side of town. Gigi had to admit that she did sort of like the colors and the atmosphere of this season of Hogsmeade. This season of her life was a huge change too and at least the scenery was fitting.
And the lake, well the lake was something. They had beautiful bodies of water at home and Greer would always love the ocean, but this big beautiful dark lake was truly another thing entirely. The surface looked like glass as the wind blew gently across it and Greer was drawn to the nearby docks with the little boats tied up there. Wouldn’t it be fun to take a little ride? Just a quick one, she had a little less than an hour now, but she couldn’t see any oars or anyone to ask about them so she strolled back a little way to the nearest person. ”Excuse me?” Greer knew her accent stood out, but couldn’t bring herself to be self conscious about it. ”Are the little boats for anyone to use?”
Philip didn't confine himself to Irvingly and had plenty of friends within Hogsmeade that he often came to see. It was also not uncommon to find him visiting Honeydukes since it was owned by a friend of his. He had been about to admire the decorations springing up around High Street as Halloween made its approach.
He headed off to Padmore after having stopped by to lovingly hassle Quin. He was settled on a bench overlooking the pond when a young woman approached him. "They are! And they are enchanted so you don't have to row which most people find useful if they want to read or peer into the pond as they glide across it," Philip answered when she asked about the boat. The accent was a little unfamiliar.
"Honestly?" Greer gasped, looking between the man she'd approached and the boats nearby. Her mouth fell open as she weighed her options. Certainly a little fifteen minute jaunt wouldn't hurt? Did they go where you directed them to? She had so many questions and just enough of a missing filter not to spout them all on the poor unsuspecting man on the bench.
"Have you used them before? Do they go where you want them to? I don't have a lot of time and I don't want to get stuck out there." She admitted with a skeptical frown. Maybe she would have to save it for another time. What a disappointment.
The young woman was unlikely to be a local considering her surprise at the boats. "I have and they do but some tend to have their own ideas," Philip said. It was funny how magical objects could get like that despite not actually being sentient. "So I suppose it could also be down to how lucky you tend to be."
Greer hummed out her amusement, mixed with disappointment. This would certainly have to be an excursion for when she had more time. She wasn't sure how she would explain to her employer just how she had thought it a good idea to let boats with minds of their own take her for a spin on the lake on her lunch break.
"Sounds like something I should save for a Sunday afternoon, then." She huffed, looking out over the lake again. "Not sure how I would explain being late getting back to work because a boat decided to go too far." Greer knew the lake was much larger than the inlet they could see here. It stretched all of the way to their local magical school, she'd been told. "I bet it's lovely in the summer." Though Greer missed the ocean already, this large lake would certainly be a good substitute come the warmer months.
Philip felt bad about how disappointed she seemed to be but he was sure it would have been worse for her to find out on her own. At least now she had forewarning and could make an excursion when she could afford a lazy drift along the lake.
"It certainly is, I highly recommend it. If you like reading, it is also a lovely time to do so," he suggested.
Reading wasn't exactly something Greer had the patience for, but she supposed a little needlepoint would do the trick as well. She needed to keep her hands busy, so it would be a good way to pass the time. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you." Maybe some summertime when she was unlikely to turn into a an icicle and freeze her fingers off just for being outside.
"At least the water looks calmer than where I'm from. I'm used to the ocean's waves." It would be a nice, easy sort of ride, not the tumultuous rock of being on the ocean itself.
He smiled as she took note of his suggestions. He hoped she would enjoy her time on the boats, whenever she took the moment to take part. He listened in interest as she spoke about the ocean. "You come from somewhere quite close to the ocean? I did wonder a bit about your accent, it isn't one I'm all too familiar with." He had travelled some in his quest to find new foods to develop in his kitchen but hers was not one he had come across that he could currently recall.
"I do, Australia." She shrugged. Greer was used to the questions already, about her accent, funny mannerisms and general demeanor. "Right near the coast." Because inland was a wild, wild place to be. The towns and cities on the eastern coast were easy enough to navigate and all close to the ocean.
"Moved in with some extended family recently." Though she was typically pretty direct and would answer if pressed, the fact that she'd moved because she'd lost her parents to some magical disease in the last year, wasn't something she just went offering out casually; it was a real downer. "Never been in an all-magical town before, it's pretty spectacular." That part was nice. They'd been in a magical neighborhood back home, but to be able to freely do magic in the streets if necessary was a beautiful thing.
Australia. That was one place Philip hadn't been but perhaps he should rectify that soon. He wondered what the local foods there were like and how they differed from the fare local to Hogsmeade, London or anywhere else he had ever travelled.
"It really is! I personally live over in Irvingly - it is a mixed muggle-magical settlement but the muggles there get to retain information that magic exists," Philip said, assuming since she was not from around here that this was not something she knew yet.
Irvingly, that sounded familiar. She'd had this conversation before. Irvingly was where Mr. Rohlwing was from, not too far from here, certainly by magical means, but also by muggle. Perhaps she'd have to take the time to venture over there.
"I've heard of it, sounds like it would an interesting visit." Her neighborhood in her hometown had been all magic, and fairly well hidden, but they'd still been careful about how often they used it outside of designated areas. The whole town being magical was so rare, which was a nice perk of Hogsmeade at far though she wasn't sure it outweighed the cold.
"It would be. You could drop by my bakery and I will give you some treats," Philip offered with a smile. He enjoyed Irvingly despite not being able to openly use magic. He had made great friends with his neighbors there over the years and the muggles tended to get him to make their wedding cakes since he kept his rates affordable.
"Oh," Greer smiled wider. "That would be nice." Now she had something to look forward to.
Reaching into her pocket, Greer checked her ancient, beat up pocket watch that was once her father's. "I've got to get back to work, but I look forward to the treats in Irvingly." She was curious to see how that situation worked as well. It was even more rare than the all-magic Hogsmeade. She had to wonder how the muggles felt about everything. Perhaps she would find out.
![[Image: Greer-Sig-New.png]](https://i.ibb.co/h17ckjz/Greer-Sig-New.png)
