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 1894. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
You probably do not know this, scarcely as we ever talked about my life before I married your father, but during my seventh year, I began to study how to become an animagus. Sadly, I didn't have the time to complete my studies before I graduated and after my graduation, I didn't have the chance. I think we can both agree that your father was not the sort to support anything that is outside of the status quo. He didn't care about having an academic for a wife, so I had to drop my interests to the side when I married him.
In any case, imagine my surprise when a friend at the Ministry spotted your name at the Animagus registry! Congratulations, my dear. You've inspired to get my old notebooks out of the attic and begin studying again. Do tell me everything, how long did it take you to accomplish it?
I know that we are not close, but I hope that you will see this correspondence as merely the exchange of two academically interested individuals.
A letter had come in unfamiliar handwriting – so he did feel a slight pang of guilt when he realised it was his mother’s. They wrote letters rarely, and saw each other even more infrequently. Jude unfolded the rest of the letter with some trepidation, dreading that if anything had come from her it was probably something significant, and probably nothing good.
He was relieved to discover he was entirely wrong. And that there was, for once, perhaps no harm in answering her.
13th September, 1891
Mother,
Your letter was a surprise. I’ve been well. Busy, but well.
No, I never knew that. I remember some Transfiguration books in the library. I read a few of them one summer – but maybe they were yours? I suppose I didn’t ask.
I only managed to become an Animagus last month – back in August, when it stormed most of the night. It stormed over London, at least. But I’d been studying for two and a bit years beforehand. I hadn’t done any Transfiguration in a while, so I had to brush up; and then the process itself is a long one, and a lot of effort.
Worthwhile, though. And I’m glad you haven’t forgotten all your old interests. Are you actually thinking of becoming one?
As soon as Emilia received her son’s letter she opened and devoured it, feeling somewhat ashamed that she had this reaction now instead of at any point in the past. This newfound shared interest of theirs intrigued her. Part of her was happy that in spite of everything, the two had a shared love for advanced magical academic pursuits.
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Letter addressed to Jude, dated September 20th.
How marvellous, I am very proud of you. Becoming an animagus is no small feat!
I first started studying the subject during my last year at Hogwarts but with my duties as Head Girl I didn’t have the time to devote fully to the task. Then of course I spent a year at finishing school where I met your dear aunt and later your father and once I was married, well let’s just say that my priorities were changed.
How does it feel to be in animal form? Please forgive me dear, for I have forgotten the form you have, my friend who saw your name mentioned it but I’ve forgotten and frankly I’d rather hear it from you. I do not want you to think that I’ve been spying on you!
I have also enclosed some of my notes, I know that you are busy of course, but if you could look over them and tell me what you think I would really appreciate it!
That makes sense. But It’s a shame you never got to follow through on that. It’s a lot of difficult work – but the reward of having done is pretty astounding. I never thought it would feel that good.
Well, I’m sorry to hear you’ve given up on spying on me nowadays. That was a joke, I My animagus form is a type of albatross – and even after all that studying I don’t know how your form chooses you any more than I understand a Patronus – but it takes some getting used to, being a bird! But I can fly, and it’s – hard to describe. I never understood why people liked brooms so much, but this kind of soaring is... freeing, I suppose. I feel like someone else out there.
I’ve looked at your notes and returned them. I hope you don’t mind that I added a few points of my own, a few techniques I found in the process?
