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
It seemed only fair that he did something fun with his first and second years after his field trip with the older students. (Although Gus's definition of fun might differ drastically from that of his students.) They had been practicing the ice jinx for a few days now, and Gus thought it was time to see his students do a practical lesson before they moved on to something new. Some of them had picked it up quickly, while others still struggled with it, so it was useful to see who might need some help outside of class.
All the desks had been pushed off to the side, leaving the middle of the classroom empty; that was where the professor currently stood. “You’ll be moving through a series of challenges,” Gus explained, letting his eyes flick from student to student.. “First you'll freeze a surface in order to cross to the other side. Next you’ll stop obstacles that are in the way, and if you’re exceptional at the spell, you will move to the final challenge where you need to slow down a dummy before it reaches you.” They wouldn’t move on to the next challenge until they’d completed the first.
Gus went on to explain that they would be doing staggered starts, so they wouldn't be falling all over each other. He took some questions, and then asked, "Who's first?"
Please include the following so I can roll for success! I'll let you know if your student is on to the next challenge or needs to try again. If you don't include I will assume failure.
Code:
[b]Charms Skill:[/b] Terribad/Below Level/At Level/Above Level/Best Kid
[b]Concentration:[/b] Iffy/Average/Good/Unwavering
[b]Desire to Succeed:[/b] None/Meh/Average/I absolutely need this to happen
More info on the challenges are in the spoilers.
Show
Challenge 1: Frozen Bridge
A small pond of water blocks the path leading to the other side where the second challenge awaits; students are expected to create a path strong enough to hold their weight to cross it. Students could get wet during this exercise if they’re not careful. (Gus will not let anyone drown.) There is no way to walk around it. Challenge 2: Blocking Obstacles
Students must use the ice jinx to freeze a few blocks that are bouncing back and forth on the path. Be warned: they will not stay frozen for long. Final Challenge: The Opponent
An enchanted training dummy will move toward the students at a fast speed. Students must slow them down in order to “escape.” If they reach you, your feet will be frozen for a minute or so.
"Professor Lissington," Philippa chimed in. She had raised her hand, but had begun speaking before it reached its zenith—never mind waiting to be called upon. "This is the floor. We can simply walk across the floor. If I encounter a dark wizard, I do not believe it prudent to create an icy surface to attempt to flee on."
If this were charms class, Pippa might have understood. Had distaste for it, but understood. The Gryffindor, however, was not an athlete, would not have signed up for the Pan-Magical Games if they were offered during her time at Hogwarts. Without practicality or pleasure or aptitude, the second year regarded the open space in the middle of the room as though it had a bad smell.
Gia did her best to be patient, but as soon as there was mention of a challenge, her mind went to work. There were so many possibilities! How was Gia to know where to start? She was almost content to wait and let others proceed, but a Gryffindor a year above her decided to complain. Gia raised an eyebrow, she'd heard plenty about Miss Rowle from Des. She always seemed to find something to whine about.
"But what if you meet a dark wizard in winter? What if you're ice skating? What if you have to escape across water? We should prepare for all possibilities." It only made sense to think bigger, why ruin the fun and say no?
Even though she'd already spoken out of turn, Gia stabbed her hand into the air. "I would like to try, Professor!"'
Charms Skill: Above Level Concentration: Average (hyper-focused now, but easily distracted) Desire to Succeed: Gia absolutely needs this to happen
"....Also, it's fun," Kaatjie said after Gia Shacklebolt retorted to Miss Rowle's point. Kaatjie had little intention of ever facing down a dark wizard in the wild, so to speak, but she liked the concept of an adventure — and knowing spells like this meant that you could have good adventures when you traveled. (Kaat was determined to travel.) Refusing to do spellwork was very like Miss Wallace, whom Kaat did not particularly like — and Miss Rowle was not even a muggleborn!
She raised her hand to participate after Miss Shacklebolt; if she was going to draw a line in the sand about this, then Kaatjie was going to have to go sooner rather than later.
Charms Skill: At Level Concentration: Average Desire to Succeed: Very stubborn [needs this to happen]
Margaret looked around the others as they debated the merits of learning this spell. She could think of a few uses of such a spell to create mischief. In that she could actually agree with Miss Spaans.
"Are there many dark wizards wandering about?" she whispered to whomever was sat next to her as Miss Shacklebolt stepped up to try the task at hand. Maggie was more than happy to sit and watch someone else do it as she played with her wand aimlessly.
Charms Skill: Terribad Concentration: Iffy to good depending on how much stricter on her Lisington is being after "flag gate" Desire to Succeed: Meh
Gus couldn't help but frown at Miss Rowle, although before he could answer, Miss Spaans, Miss Shacklebolt and Miss Wallace were speaking. "Well, while I do hope you never come across a dark wizard Miss Rowle, you never know when you'll need to be prepared." His mind wandered to the murders that happened, although she had probably been sheltered from those. Maybe she would need to use it after she debuted, trying to get away from an unruly gentleman.
"No," He said to Miss Wallace, even though the murderer hadn't been caught so the answer was probably yes, "There aren't any dark wizards about." He motioned for everyone except Miss Rowles to step forward. "Miss Shacklebolt, Miss Spaans, and Miss Wallace, feel free to cast when you're ready."
With a wave of his wand, the three challenges appeared; the first being a small body of water that they were expected to cross. Gus stepped aside so the ladies could begin.
Successfully completing the challenge is 6+
Shacklebolt 4 | Spaans 5 | Wallace 4 | (and for fun lol) Rowle 0
Gia turned to Miss Spaans excitedly and wished the girl good luck. Gia knew how the spell was meant to work and knew she was making ice blocks appear, which was different from freeing the target. She liked that there were such distinctions in magic, but she didn't like that she wouldn't learn the spell for the second concept for a few years, apparently. She must have been distracted because Gia managed to summon ice but about a handful of little ice chips that belonged in lemonade. "Oops!" She laughed at her own mistake. Giving herself a little shake, Gia tried again.
Charms Skill: Above Level
Concentration: Average (hyper-focused now, but easily distracted)
Desire to Succeed: Gia absolutely needs this to happen
Maggie stepped forward, unable to delay any longer. The little muggle girl waved the willow in front of her and made the incantation. Or at least she thought she did, perhaps her pronunciation was off or she just didn't have the magic to do it but her wand simply emitted a puff of icy cold air. A gift to someone wishing to cool down on a hot day, but of little use freezing the path across the pond.
Pippa did have the sense to hold her tongue, to bite back what was sure to be a brilliant and scathing retort that would live on in the annals of Hogwarts' history. Frankly, the Gryffindor thought herself charitable to do so. Nonetheless, she did not leap forward to join the first years in their quest for stupiditythe affection of a man, in this case the professor blind obedience.
(Miss Shacklebolt, she thought, was exactly the sort of girl who was far too uppity and would see herself on the bad side of a dark wizard. Miss Wallace was likely too boring to need to worry about it.)
Instead she quite pointedly took a small step backwards, arms crossed stubbornly across her chest.
Miss Rowle had a good point. But then again so did Miss Shacklebolt. Chloe found though, that at the end of the day she'd rather learn how to cast the spell correctly in a way beyond that which she could do when simply reading about it. "It's simply a matter of practicing a spell, whatever the reason." She told Miss Rowle matter of factly before squaring her shoulders and lining up to also attempt the challenge Professor Lissington had set before them.
Charms Skill: Above Level Concentration: Unwavering Desire to Succeed: I absolutely need this to happen
This sounded like an excellent challenege, if Toby did say so himself. The girls were all just worried of being shown up. Toby grandly stepped forward, "I shall protect you ladies." He told them with a flourishing bow even as two of them started. He just managed to dodge out of the way before he became a target. "Hey!" He protested, but there wasn't actually any bite in it.
At last it was his turn. He stepped forward, turned toward the class, bowed, then began the challenge with the first casting of the spell.
Charms Skill: At Level Concentration: Iffy Desire to Succeed: Meh
No luck yet, so Kaatjie squared her shoulders. "She's going to lose points," she whined, having noticed Miss Rowle's obstinance. Still, she hadn't nailed it yet — she cast again.
Charms Skill: At Level Concentration: Average Desire to Succeed: Very stubborn [needs this to happen]
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