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.
Slowly but surely, Earth was doing a bit better since Mandrake's birth. The only time she could recall in recent memory of being more exhausted than she was these days was after having the twins. But her work on her more spiritual book was coming along and she decided to focus on that as she spent her time recovering and being nagged by healers to not overwhelm herself.
Hearing a knock on the door, a big smile flashed on her face to see her eldest brother. "Sun, how are you? It feels like ages since I last saw you." An exaggeration for sure, given the closeness of their family. Still, she motioned for him to come in with eagerness and happiness. The mourning still hung over her head, but she tried to always look on the bright side of things.
Lately, Sun had been doing a lot of tiptoeing around his family. He knew better - knew there were some of them he could trust, even with matters of heart such as his -, but he wouldn’t risk his engagement. Instead of talking about it and letting at least one person know how deeply he’d fallen for a lady that was out of his league, he decided to act as if nothing had changed. As if nothing wasn’t about to.
"It’s been ages. We ought to see each other more, dear sister." He chuckled, taking her in an embrace. He’d miss this if she ever distanced herself - there was a warmth to his actions, especially with his family, that held important for a guy so affectionate. "I’ve been doing well. Ever so worried at work, there’s much we have to do that we can’t always finish, but it’s nothing too bad. What about yourself?"
If there was one thing that a person could count on, it was for Earth to be open-minded. About most things at least. Matters regarding religion were a bit more of a 'this is how I think' for Earth. But matters of the heart? This was something Earth was happily able to support. Especially of the love her siblings had for others.
"We must. Having time with family is so important." Earth was not one to distance herself. Being the bubbly woman she was, she adored her family and embraced them with love. "Tired. Very tired. But I have managed to get a few pages done since Mandrake was born. Have you seen him yet?"
MJ made magic
February 9, 2020 – 4:56 PM
Last modified: February 9, 2020 – 5:00 PM by Irene Fudge (I).
"Not really." It suddenly dawned on him - he hadn’t even taken a good look at Mandrake yet. Sure, a minute or two, but this was hardly anything to a doting family such as his. He couldn’t even hide his eyes widening, but decided to calm down; there would be no way of recovering lost time, he knew that much. One of the little things dating Mire had further taught him. "You could have asked me to take a better look at him. I could have done some of the hard work for you - I mean, it’s not that difficult, right? Taking care of children. I looked after you lot all the time."
He hoped she’d accept his apology, mediated by an offer. "I hate seeing you look this tired, Earth. You don’t have to hide from anyone that you might need a break, this isn’t - it isn’t something to be ashamed of."
Oh, well it was a little disappointing to hear. But she understood that Sun was a busy man, so she tried to move past those feelings smoothly. "Oh, you really want to? He is quite sweet. I'm sure some bonding time would be good for both of you." It wasn't something she expected. Their mother and father adored looking after the grandchildren, but bonding time certainly was important.
"It's actually quite the opposite, Sun. I can't stand not doing anything. I feel so anxious. I know I should rest, but I want to get things done." She said, sighing softly at the thought. Being stuck in bed wasn't her cup of tea.
"Does getting things done only mean looking after them? Sister, you look restless, I can tell that, but perhaps… perhaps it would be best to try and find something more. I take it from experience - only having work to do would make me absolutely miserable." Which had, in fact, happened in the past. For only a month before he decided to go back to his ‘old’ ways and try to stop his reputation from falling (ha! Like it could ever). Still, he’d gone through it and knew what a major headache this could be.
Of course he wouldn’t let his sister be without assistance. "I’d be honoured to look after them. In the meantime, come and tell me what you’d rather be doing. There must be something, I’m sure of this."
"Looking after them, and writing my book. I miss my garden, but the healers say I can't move too much. I also wish I could wander London again. I hope to do so soon." It wasn't as if she had never been through this before. The healer was more concerned with the twins being born, and the bedrest had been so long in her eyes. But she had managed to get through that as well.
"I want to go back to church. I miss the services, and my friends. And to my herbology club. I would love to do more research." She said. She never truly felt like she had to do everything on her own. Only that she had an energetic personality that needed to be put to good use.
He couldn’t help it, that idea popping up on his mind as he hears her speak. Sun knew very well the dangers of boredom, not wanting to go his sister go through it. Though very soon he would be... betraying her, in a way, by going away to do something nobody had ever - or would ever - give him permission, he still wanted to do something good for her. He hoped it wouldn’t surprise her that he had a smile by the end of it. "I have the perfect idea."
And there it was - ready to be stretched out in front of them. "What if we go to the garden, and you remain sat at all times, of course. You could tell me what to do, guide me through it. I cannot promise it will be without bumps, but I’d learn more of gardening and in the meantime, you could watch your garden be tended to. I’m sure your plants would find it lovely, isn’t it so?"
The things he planned were something she was ignorant of. What was sad was she wouldn't stop him if she knew. More likely, she would be happy to attend the wedding. But she couldn't advocate for herself if she didn't even know the situation. She was ignorant on the matter, so no comment could be made.
Her eyes brightened as his idea was spoken. At the end, she clapped briefly in delight. "I would love that, Sun!" She responded with a spark that she hadn't had for a while with how tired she was.
Something about the look on his sister’s face made him feel like he’d just won his day. It’s better than any compliment he’d ever received at work. It’s family. He’d long ago vowed to protect them, to do all he could to keep them all safe and happy, and though he was not the best at keeping up with society’s expectations, he surely could do well at the little things; the things that to him truly mattered.
"I’m most delighted you will, because I had already planned on having you teach me everything!" Not exactly true, but he couldn’t help and grin. "Tell me, what is it that I should know? Are gardening spells difficult, or is it a tough balance with knowing the needs of plants and herbs?"
Not everything that society valued was taken seriously by the Smith family. Married or not, Earth was a Smith at heart. Family was more important to her than any gossip or odd looks. Being there for one another and looking out for each other. Not every family was excellent at holding these values.
Earth giggled at her brother's statement. As though the man really wanted to learn everything there was to know about herbology. "Well, knowing what each plant and herb needs is important. Gardening spells aren't difficult if practiced with delicate care."
"In other words, so long as I’m careful, I should have the necessary knowledge already?" He looked at her rather attentively. Not wanting to blow this up, by somehow killing her plants. He was no murderer, even as far as herbology was concerned. "You know I never took for Herbology, though I might surprise myself, having watched you all these years. Perhaps it will give us both something to take our minds off of stress."
He couldn’t help but smile at this idea. What stressed him out most was the source of magnificent happiness. Spending time with his sister however was safe, and for as much as he wouldn’t want to admit, safety was much needed.
That earned him a nod. Of course, part of her was slightly worried that he would accidently harm her plants. Some were rare, others even exotic. But she would be there to keep an eye on him. "I'll tell you if something needs to be changed." She offered.
Whatever was stressing him, part of her could sense it. Though it seemed that most men didn't really want matters to be pushed, and Earth was too tired to dig further thus far.
"Then we shall be off to do it, dear sister." He smiled her most charming smiled, for no other reason than it suited him. Offered her a hand, of course, since medics’ orders were medics’ orders and he could never let it go without paying (some) attention to it. "Let’s hope none of it goes with an accident."
