Some people think it’s a jungle out here.

It’s not...It’s a zoo!

Life on the Bad, Old Streets

Everyone loves an orphan, those poor, sweet, abandoned kids just in need of a good home. What about an urchin? Not so sweet anymore, and still just as abandoned, scraping by on the streets and wherever else they might find a few scraps or a knut to make it through the day.

I've been inspired by a few sources to make a street urchin character. Her name is Charley, WCMB, and she's currently stuck in Hogsmeade after attending her only year at Hogwarts. A youthful veteran of an acting troupe, she's got charisma and a storytelling nature that doesn't much help with wandwork or magic. Without the money to continue her education and losing contact with her Muggle family, Charley's slipped between the cobblestone cracks and wound up on the streets, stealing or doing odd jobs to survive as a street urchin.

My goal with her is to have or form some relationships with the characters in and around Hogsmeade. I'm open to friends, charitable allies, victims/witnesses, competitors, and perhaps the bestworst of all, police!

The best of all would be fellow street urchins, of course. I'd love to have 2 to 4 others to write Charley with. I'm open to different ideas, but I thought of a few ways that other urchins could work well with Charley's story:

• An urchin aged 12-15 who attended 1-2 years of Hogwarts and couldn't afford more (like Charley).
  
• A Hogsmeade native, either before or after Hogwarts, who has the run of the streets. Might still live with family or at St. Mungo's Home for Inconvenient Children.
  
• A physically aggressive, hothead kid who would storm heedlessly into danger against all odds.
  
• A talented, shy kid who gets protection (and food) from fellow urchins who need that one amazing skill they possess.
  
• A bright-eyed, intelligent kid who really should have gotten that scholarship for Hogwarts Year 2+ or be at finishing school, and is only on the streets as a consequence of their class and circumstances.
  

Thanks for the read, I'm eager to hear thoughts and interest!

The following 1 user Likes Charley Goode's post:1 user Likes Charley Goode's post
   Jack Dorset

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I’ve got Hestia here like we chatted about! :DDD

The following 1 user Likes Hestia's post:1 user Likes Hestia's post
   Charley Goode

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Welcome to The Iron Fang Inn.

Man I wish Charley was around last year! Alexander is not currently active but he lived at the orphanage from April 1891-June 1892 after loosing his parents. He was quiet and surly with a lot of buttons that were easy to push and did anything he could to sneak out/eschew adult authority.

I'll bring him back some day but he won't be going back to the orphanage and (I think!) currently lives in London. Just thought I'd offer him as a past connection until I find a reason for him to be in Hogsmeade again. Oh also he was one of Hestia's boys.

The following 1 user Likes Alexander Waterford's post:1 user Likes Alexander Waterford's post
   Charley Goode

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Avs by Bee <3

Also here have Jack, with whom I should have posted my initial reply and now can't change it. He's a Hogsmeade Constable and for him being a rookie is more of a way of life than an actual job title. Also he's a softy. I don't have a ton of bandwidth for plots right now but you can have him for past connections/whatever.

  

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I’ve got Hestia here like we chatted about! :DDD

Absolutely! Hestia seems like the perfect connection for times when Charley needs to lay low, or quiet a grumbling stomach, etc. And I'm sure she has plenty of advice for a young street urchin.

Man I wish Charley was around last year! Alexander is not currently active but he lived at the orphanage from April 1891-June 1892 after loosing his parents. He was quiet and surly with a lot of buttons that were easy to push and did anything he could to sneak out/eschew adult authority.

I'll bring him back some day but he won't be going back to the orphanage and (I think!) currently lives in London. Just thought I'd offer him as a past connection until I find a reason for him to be in Hogsmeade again. Oh also he was one of Hestia's boys.

I wish Charley was around last year, too! If I could have found Charming before last fall, she would have been.

I might take you up on a past connection there, on Alexander if not also Jack Dorset. I could see Charley having a hard time now if Alexander was gone and she was still behind.

The following 1 user Likes Charley Goode's post:1 user Likes Charley Goode's post
   Hestia

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She might know Yuri Podsnapper - he lives that Victorian Orphan dream - in that he was taken in by a wealthy gent who is paying his bills!

He was a stone child, and is still at Hogwarts but I would LOVE some detailed plotting for the two of them! I could see them having been street friends and Yuri feeling a very serious obligation to look out for her now she is back on the street!

If she was decent at potions or a Slytherin while at school Meserimus Valenduris might have taken an interest in her.

Benevolence Crouch - also has form for finding handy jobs urchins and paying them for doing errands for her.

Madeleine Backus - owns the beautiful beast boutique and could use her for errands and package running etc. Her parents own a bakery and she could let her sleep in the shop at night by the fire. She is also a bleeding heart

The following 1 user Likes Madeleine Backus's post:1 user Likes Madeleine Backus's post
   Charley Goode

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We kind of chatted, but Cliff is reporting for duty<3 He also has a hellion of a baby sister Charley could have crossed paths with, and well, Cliff swears he hates his siblings but he's super protective over them. She could slowly become one of them, or you know. This man can just have a child rival and I'm here for it xD

The following 2 users Like Clifford Hillicker's post:2 users Like Clifford Hillicker's post
   Charley Goode, Hestia

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[Please feel free to hit Cliff at your leisure; he probably deserves it.]

So here is Miss Grace who is 8 years old now and still fairly shy. Her older brother often gets her in trouble. While she does live in Irvingly I can send her to stay with her great aunt or extended family in Hogsmeade as needed and have her run into Charley in the park, would love if Charley terroized her, but then again everyone scares her so take that as you will.

I also have friendly shop owner Laurel Potts who would likely be trying to help Charley in small ways. Like delivering flowers or something. Or maybe Charley gives her a tough time and Laurel is trying to make it better for her but she doesn't want anything to do with her pity?

Everett Swann is a lawyer on High Street and used to be a trouble maker as a kid so that might be fun for him to get involved somehow. (He also has ties to the black market that no one knows about)

And if you want someone to antagonize, Ellsworth Ruskin is in Hogsmeade in the summers and could easily be the part of very annoyed elderly gentleman.

The following 1 user Likes Grace Riley's post:1 user Likes Grace Riley's post
   Charley Goode

Madeleine Backus

I've got down that Charley did well at Potions in school, so if she ever runs across the posh side of Hogsmeade that could be a way Meserimus encounters her again.

I'm also writing in that she finds a place to sleep at the Beautiful Beast Boutique and Hestia's Hog's Head corner when she's working. I'd be happy to pursue threads with those as starting points with either you or Lady.

Clifford Hillicker

Want to compete for the stickiest fingers? Cliff or Meena, Charley's not opposed to stealing or sweets. Or of stealing sweets. What better combination?

Grace Riley

I could see her terrorizing Grace, or at least making her very uncomfortable. And it could be fun to cross Laurel Potts to see what fury she can unleash. I'd be down for both or either of those. And open to the others, though I don't have immediate ideas yet for them.

The following 1 user Likes Charley Goode's post:1 user Likes Charley Goode's post
   Clifford Hillicker

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Clifford Hillicker

Want to compete for the stickiest fingers? Cliff or Meena, Charley's not opposed to stealing or sweets. Or of stealing sweets. What better combination?

Hahah, yesss<3 I am so excited for this. Cliff has also stolen sweets? I thought I listed everything for you, but clearly I am missing things lol.

The following 1 user Likes Clifford Hillicker's post:1 user Likes Clifford Hillicker's post
   Charley Goode

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[Please feel free to hit Cliff at your leisure; he probably deserves it.]