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.
I suppose it is a nature of all mothers to feel proud when we see our children attempt such feats, even if we know that they are not likely to succeed.
Oh, I do not wish to speak ill to you my Jude, I just truly do not think that our world is ready to change towards the direction you want it to. I suppose it is a pity that Magical Britain does not have a political system that would allow for more voices to be heard, with a parliament and parties of all sorts. I do think that it is important for all opinions to be heard, even the worst ones for at least we know who is telling them. It is far more dangerous for some voices to linger in the shadows.
I support of course your zealousness in wanting to make the world a better place, but I hope you can understand my position if I am unable to support you politically — not that anyone would care to ask a widow anyway.
In any case, I will wish you good luck and if you are elected then that is what the people wanted and that is the basis of democracy, if we hope to have any.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I may not necessarily expect to win, but if you agree about the power of voices being heard you see that there is some merit in my trying, regardless. If I can push the public debate at all towards the side of progress, at least I’ll have made some difference.
Whoever is elected will be elected because it is what a particular set of men with the property and position to vote wanted. Personally, I think it’s a shame that intelligent, educated, widowed women who are equally impacted by our laws are denied all opportunity to change them. But no one will fault you for favouring the status quo.
I understand your position, and won’t ask you to speak on my behalf.
How is all your summer event planning going?
Yours,
Jude
August 21, 2023 – 8:45 PM
Last modified: August 21, 2023 – 8:46 PM by Emilia Wright.
I am happy to hear that you are not terribly disappointed with me, I would hate to lose our academic friendship over politics!
You are very right of course that a very specific group of men will have the deciding vote and because that is the case, that is why I do not think that someone like you could be elected, my dear. Well, you very well could have been elected if you were still the man your father wanted you to be, just to win their votes, and then you could spring a socialist utopia to them. That, of course, I know is very far from what you believe in and you would never do it, though I suspect some of the candidates would. I would dread to see one of those old Pureblooded families in power, I must confess.
I will agree with you that it is a pity that educated widows are not allowed to vote, but I am afraid that society doesn’t even realise we still exist and we contribute to it. Never mind that we’ve had female Ministers in the past!
My dear Jude, I just don’t think that the world is ever likely to change. It will always be money and social status that will rule the world and because it knows that it is greatly outnumbered in manpower, it will do anything to maintain the status quo. Even many of those you have denied everything to vouch for would betray you if given the choice, because they would believe that by doing so they would have the chance of joining their “oppressors” as you would call them.
In any case, thank you for asking for my plans, my dear. I will be hosting an Academic Salon here at Wright House on the 20th. I’ve sent out invites to all our prominent scholars and researchers. You are, of course, welcome to attend and you could even bring along any of your friends, if you they are academically inclined and you promise to behave yourselves. There will be a room dedicated to the social sciences, where I could not, of course, stop a debate on the subjects you so enjoy from happening.
I hope to see you there. Have you planned any events for your campaigns? I would, of course, be happy to share years of my hosting experience if you wish to host something off the streets.
I agree with you – it might have been an easier path in if I had been more my father’s son. Still, I would rather lose with some integrity than win as a liar and a hypocrite, and I’ll be sorry if that’s who our next Minister turns out to be. I know we talk a lot about ‘society’ as one homogenous entity, but I have to believe that there are enough people living in it with minds and opinions of their own, and people with enough compassion to care about more things than money and power.
I don’t mean to argue with you. In fact, even some of my own friends might agree with you. I’m just not sure I can.
Thank you for the invitation – I’d be happy to attend. I’m sure we can still agree on transfiguration topics, if nothing else.
I’m planning a few things, and you would always be welcome to attend in turn if you hadn’t already made your position clear. I may host a ball at some point – to put it cynically, if you prefer – to mingle with a wider audience, and I would be grateful to hear any advice you have for that. As long as that would not fall under the purview of supporting me politically?
