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
Dun smiled slightly at this, but he didn't tease — Acacia evidently found her falling asleep in class very shameful, while Dunstan thought it understandable.
At her question, he lowered a finger; of course he'd tried every-flavour beans! But he was more adventurous than his sister, while she was more careful. Even when it came to confectionery.
Raising an eyebrow, she had not lowered a finger this time around. "Yes you have, I remember rushing to you at seven years old. It was a child's broom then, but a broom none the less." That was one of the most terrifying moments of Acacia's life, having thought he had broken something or worse. He had been fine, but that was not something she would have forgotten. "Finger down, and my turn. I have never been in a non-Ravenclaw dorm."
Magic by Elaine!
April 27, 2020 – 4:58 PM
Last modified: April 27, 2020 – 5:04 PM by Dunstan Ruskin.
Dunstan gave a huff of abashed amusement; that had been a pretty poor fib given that Acacia had been the one to rush to his side that day after the broomstick fall. Though it was no wonder he'd forgotten; he'd hit his head quite badly that day.
Ah well, this family had been through worse.
He responded to the next question by keeping his fingers raised. He still had eight fingers up. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't want to peek around the other Houses", he admitted. "The Gryffindor common room sounds quite interesting. Anyway..."
"I've been curious about the Slytherin common room. Seeing where Chrysanta spends her days when not in class or other parts of the class room." She admitted. The Hufflepuff common room seemed nice as well. To have her sisters be in different houses was interesting. House pride made it a hint frustrating that they weren't all together.
Her fingers stayed up, and she smiled. "Good. I would hate to hear that you were falling behind." She commented. Then she really had to think again. What was a good question? "I have never been in the forbidden forest."
It did seem strange that siblings so close should have such private lives at school, but it also seemed fair and proper — and really quite grown-up, while they were on the subject.
With a guilty grimace, Dunstan lowered a finger. He had been in the Forbidden Forest. "But it was only to fetch a ball for a boy who was too afraid to go in there himself". That was his defense; altruism, as usual. The boy had really been quite distraught; and delighted when Dun had returned the ball to him... relatively unscathed.
"I've never..." hmm, it was his turn to come up with a tricky one; "I've never wanted to get married."
Eyes widening, Acacia stared at her little brother with a hint of horror on her face. Goodness sakes, did the boy have a death wish? "You should have fetched a teacher." She said sternly. Oh Merlin, nothing they could do now about it.
Shaking her head with a sigh, she lowered another finger. "You haven't? Well, I suppose that's natural for a boy of your age." Would he ask any specifics? Or would she be spared that. "I have never had a pleasant conversation with grandma Ruskin." Goodness, that woman was quite tense.
Drat. Well, that was the last time he'd confess such a thing to his sister; he was a lawful lad, but bent the rules when it came to helping others. Acacia would much rather he stayed out of trouble full stop, and frankly he could see why. He'd almost died, after all.
Or something like that.
Dun thought for a moment and lowered a finger. Now he had six fingers up. Pleasant was not an apt word to describe their grandmother, but he had had an interesting conversation with her once... and to Dunstan, "interesting" often meant "pleasant", as long as fangs and furs weren't flying.
"I've never... wished I was in another House at school."
Caring as Acacia was, there were things that she would not, could not do out of kindness. Risking her life - unless for a dear loved one, risking her families reputation. She didn't want people to see them negatively. Didn't want even more hardship on the families shoulders than what being half-breeds provided for them. Most times, she didn't even want to be a half-breed.
Glad that the topic of marriage was left behind instantly, Acacia was proud to keep her other fingers up. "I suppose we both have some house pride. I have never been to Ireland."
Dunstan blinked... his "I've never" had been another playful fib (it was all part of the game). For he had once wished he was in another House. Only once, and only for a moment. But as Acacia regarded him with pride and approval, Dun couldn't bring himself to lower a finger.
Her next one was such an anomaly that he had to smile. Why would either of them have been to Ireland? Especially without each other's knowledge? Once more, his fingers remained raised, though his curiosity remained piqued.
"I've never worn pink, that I can recall", he said, and squinted at Acacia to remember if she had. She really wasn't a pink type — but then again, it was possible she'd been a frilly little girl before Dun was born...
Being blissfully ignorant in Dunstan's passing feelings on the matter of his house, there was no need to ask why he felt that way. Perhaps they would have that conversation at one point, if it was ever brought up.
For what it was worth, Acacia had gone to the Resort that her friend's family owned without them. She had been the only one invited. Then again, everyone in the family had known about that.
That he could recall? Oh, but that was just too cruel. She scrunched her nose playfully as she lowered one finger. "No, you wouldn't recall this. I'm not sure any of us told you either. I don't even think Orinda remembers that day." And at this, she forgot that she needed to think of a new question, instead thinking of another thing entirely.
"You dressed me as a girl?" Dunstan asked with a bark of laughter. It wasn't that long ago that pink was seen as a masculine colour, and blue as feminine, but there had been a bit of a switch in recent times — but Dun didn't mind, not really. He was just amused because Acacia was amused; it was always good to see her smile.
So he lowered another finger, leaving only one hand — five fingers — raised. He looked at his sister to check who was winning.
No, he really wouldn't remember. He had been perhaps a week old at the time. With yet another soft - but not disappointed - sigh, Acacia shook her head softly. "Not me, Dunstan. She had wanted all of us to be more traditional. An older baby boy's outfit for you, some blue little dresses for us. A family painting. Mother had seemed so excited that day." Before the incident, one of the few memories Acacia had of her. The three fingers she had down at this point were still held subconsciously, but she really wasn't thinking about that at the moment.
It had been a day that Acacia didn't remember too well, but well enough. The painter had been a family friend. The painting itself had been stored away after mother left. She wondered if Chrysanta even remembered that.
"Well... she was a bit like you and Chrysanta. Kind and compassionate, but quite stubborn. She did love us, I know that." Enough to leave. Enough to be scared that she would hurt them. "She loved the rain."
Magic by Elaine!
April 29, 2020 – 8:06 PM
Last modified: April 29, 2020 – 9:21 PM by Dunstan Ruskin.
![[Image: dun-sig.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/mzsPwPc/dun-sig.jpg)
