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.
No sooner had his father set him up with a grand house in Wellingtonshire, did he send word of several high-society functions the boy was instructed to attend. And not just attend. But to show his face at, and say very little except what charm may behove the host.
Feiyu did not yet know to what extent he would obey.
But he obliged, attending the first of said functions this evening. It was a large dinner at the home of a new neighbour, and so far Feiyu had been perfectly quiet and poised, sleek and resplendent in his formal robes of navy.
The food was served with the great array of silver cutlery he'd been taught to master. Feiyu stifled a delicate sigh as he picked up a fork, mourning the lack of chopsticks.
This dinner party was one of the rare instances where he was not also doing double duty as a chaperone for his sister. She had another obligation elsewhere and their sister in law had seen fit to take her as it was an event for women. Which he most decidedly was not.
A rather delicate, beautous individual had drawn his interest when he had initially joined the fray. They were absolute gorgeous, their beauty alarming, a siren walking on land. Kenneth could not help the occasional glance despite the fact he had discovered the beauty was in fact a man.
As some wicked twist of fate would have it, he had been seated next to the beauty. Not even the most beautiful of the Englishwomen he had promenaded with in the past could strike him so speechless by their appearance alone. What was this? He was not particularly pleased with his own line of thoughts. It was not right. This was a man and these were thoughts he should be having for one of the women.
Even so, he could not help speaking when a delicate sigh sounded from the man beside him. "Not to your tastes?" He inquired conversationally.
It seemed his dining mate had sensed his stifled sigh, even among the chatter of others and the clink of plates. Feiyu looked up at the fellow, who had bright blue eyes (quite the novelty). "Forgive me, Mr Cosgrove", he said with a slight smile. This man was in Britain's Department of Magical Co-operation. "You caught me silently lamenting the lack of chopsticks."
This is a man, was the constant refrain that Kenneth found himself repeating in his head like a mantra. Some part of him was vaguely aware that if the man gave any indication of returned interest, he might not mind so much... no, that was a dangerous thought to have. He stifled it down. Even so... no reason to be unfriendly.
"I am sure the hosts would not be adverse to you conjuring a pair up," he suggested. Indeed, he doubted the hosts would take much notice of anything, immersed in conversation as they were.
The blue eyes proposed a solution, and Feiyu regarded him curiously. Of course, the de facto diplomat was quite comfortable using a knife and fork, and was aware it would be rather impolite to shun local customs... but he was intrigued by this concept of... societal adventure...
"Or two pairs. Would you care to try chopsticks yourself?"
"I have tried them before," Kenneth admitted with a small chuckle. "I work for the Magical Co-operation Department in the Ministry and part of that is meeting diplomats of other countries. Sad to say, however, that it is likely a surprise my handling of chopsticks have not caused an international incident."
As he spoke, he wordlessly conjured up two pairs of chopsticks, making sure the young mans was as intricate and beautiful as the young man was himself. He could barely stand to tear his eyes away but he had to otherwise he would look like a fool. And Kenneth didn't want this young man to think of him as a fool.
Feiyu regarded him — he knew a fair amount about him. Mr Cosgrove was a relatively important person, albeit not the most senior. He'd probably met Feiyu's father, in fact.
And he conjured them both chopsticks, which was kind — even more so that the ones he'd conjured Feiyu were particularly splendid. The boy granted a smile, and accepted the chopsticks gratefully. "Qǐng màn yòng", he said, which amounted to telling Mr Cosgrove to enjoy his meal.
Eating Western food with chopsticks felt... odd. But it was rather fun.
When he observed the man's handling of chopsticks, he could not help but smile slightly in amusement. "I have seen worse."
Kenneth felt an odd sense of elation when the young man accepted the chopsticks - and that smile. Kenneth recognized the feelings of being smitten within himself but this was a man. But no matter how much he repeated this fact to himself, it did not change any of the facts.
"You're too kind. Have you been in our country for very long?"
"Not three days", Feiyu replied when he'd swallowed his mouthful. "When do you think the novelty will wear off?" He was only half-joking. Feiyu was quick to bore... but then, he was also quick to find excitement and distraction. Every country was packed with unusual things; even a country as grey as this one.
He had only been around for three days! He wondered what sights the young man had seen already. Were there any that Kenneth could perhaps introduce him to? He chuckled in response to the question asked. "I hope not for a long while," he said. "I am sure there are many things that could be found to be of interest to you."
"Do you have anything in mind?" he replied curiously before taking a bite of food with an elegant lift of his chopsticks. Feiyu imagined his new friend might not have something specific in mind right now... but perhaps he could rack his brain for something when put on the spot.
"Have you been to Diagon Alley yet? It is a magical area in London hidden behind a pub," he informed the other. There were various other parts of Magical London as well. He supposed there was Irvingly as well but Kenneth didn't personally ever go there if he could help it.
"Not yet. I may venture out there tomorrow", he shared as they continued their conversation warmly. "Though I have also heard word of an interesting adjoining street called... Knockturn Alley?" he queried quietly.
Knockturn Alley? Kenneth supposed he could see why some might be curious about it. "That's one word for it. It's a run down area that caters to the darker side of society. Take care if you venture there as it can be damaging to ones social reputation." He wasn't about to tell him not to go. After all, it was just a street at the end of the day and not everyone there was shady. Just the majority were.
It wasn't exactly polite to speak of such things in polite society so he lowered his voice and leaned in closer. "Criminals, murderers, those that commit dark magics - they are the types that find things they need there," he explained. He was no auror so he didn't know the deeper details of these things but he knew it was pretty hard for the place to get cracked down on. Some of the shopkeepers were smart.
