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.
November 7th, 1891 - The Florist Potts January Lynch
The greenhouse had settled back down after her little misadventure with Dahlia and the snapdragons last week. Everything seemed so out of whack lately that even things in what Daff generally considered her sanctuary were going awry. Her need for her life to settle out was reaching some level of disastrous and she was thinking maybe a holiday to visit family was in order. A few days, a week maybe, with no responsibilities, no distractions, maybe some actual sleep. She would have to put some serious consideration into it.
Today however, was to be spent with January and that at least was a lovely constant that Daffy could look forward to. She was always so relieved to have friends who were into the same sort of hobbies as she was and as the pair spent their time in the warmth of the far greenhouse, she could at least feel some sort of contentment. "I cannot believe the chill in the air, I miss summer already." She sighed as she tossed Hector, her chomping cabbage, a handful of plant scraps from an arrangement she'd done this morning.
"I feel like it will be Christmastime and the New Year's before we know it." Maybe that was an exaggeration, but it certainly felt that way. Daff, for one, was ready for a new year with new opportunities, but she couldn't exactly tell January about that, unfortunately.
November 6, 2021 – 7:22 PM
Last modified: November 7, 2021 – 7:44 AM by January Lynch.
Hope was married so had less time to be out and about with January. She suspected that it likely also translated to less time hanging out at the Potts shop and as the weeks passed, she was proven correct. It was a little sad but also rather expected. She hoped that soon either she or Daffy would have their own nuptial news to share.
She enjoyed lending a hand to the Potts when they allowed it. Usually just something simply like helping water or planting a seed into a plot. "I know what you mean. Though with the season over, I have a lot more time on my hands to come visit you and our other friends, at least," January said. Though lately, she had been considering the possible merits of getting a job. She had been out for multiple seasons without many prospects. Though she did have some, at least.
Daff too was relieved for the end of the season, though likely for far different reasons than January. "It does take up quite a bit of time," Daffy agreed with a warm smile. Not that she slept much these days, but to be tired from a ball, on top of tired from work was a lot. "Would you mind helping me repot these?" She motioned to the small bean plants that were just small seedlings in equally small clay pots, but they were ready to be grouped together into a larger pot with a wire cage to climb. I just a few months beans would be sprouting onto the plants.
Gathering the larger pots on the floor and the soil, Daff set up a little assembly line to help get everything neat and orderly for their little project, Daff moved to grab a trowel for both herself and January. "Did you enjoy the season at least?" She asked with genuine interest. Just because she did not overly enjoy it most of the time, did not mean her friends felt the same. "You weren't caught up at the Sanditon, were you?" She asked suddenly, assuming she would have heard by now. Daff had gone, but left early, unable to handle it for long. It seems she had left at the right time.
"Certainly," January said with a smile when Daffy asked if she would help her repot some plants. Small bean plants from the looks of it. She got into position and took one of the trowels.
"This season was better than most, I think," January said. "I was at the Sanditon Closer but I came out of it without any injuries." It had still been a rather traumatic experience but others had suffered much worse than she had. "But let us talk about happier things such as the fact that Jack Cardew called on me at my home a couple of times this season." January had met the man in April 1890 and had certainly mentioned him to Daffy more than once as a man she had a certain sort of interest in.
Her worry automatically deflated and Daff was able to agree to her friend's suggestion of happier topics. It was, of course, quite normal for young ladies at their age to be discussing any gentleman caller, but Daff was growing increasingly tired of the topic, simply because her own love life, or lack thereof, was a bit of a sore spot. She would not however, let on or seem in any way unhappy for something that clearly made her friend glow and so she put on the appropriate smile and raised an eyebrow. "It's becoming quite frequent no? That must mean good things!" Or she assumed anyway, Daff hadn't exactly done the whole falling in love thing the "right" way, but she had watched Senna and Ama go through it.
"Did he bring flowers?" Daff waggled her eyebrows unable to keep her favorite thing about social calls out for long. What he brought would certainly say a lot of how he felt! Unless he was as clueless as most men, so there was that, she supposed. With the easy chit chat keeping her thoughts occupied, Daff thoughtlessly moved bean sprouts around from their little starter pots to their new, larger homes. Keeping her hands busy was helpful, but she could do this in her sleep, so she was thankful for the distraction January's company provided, in addition to spending time with a dear friend.
"I hope he asks to court me soon or else my parents are likely to start chasing him off." After all, it would look like she was already courting and scare off potential serious suitors. She hoped not, though. She rather liked Mister Cardew.
"He tends to bring me lilacs," she informed Daffy with a knowing, little smile. She didn't know if Jack knew the meaning of the blossom aside it from being very pretty. But they both knew.
Daff wouldn't really know what that was like. Her courtship if it could be called that, had always been in secret, but oh had she enjoyed it. That little thrill of sending one another a little something, a chance encounter at a social event, catching the other's eye across the room. It was always quite thrilling and she wished for her friend to have that sort of romance in her life, if that was what she wanted.
"Oh lilacs, always a good choice, if not for the meaning if for the smell." Such a beautiful fragrance and blossom. The colors were always lovely as well. "It does make me wonder if gentlemen every really know what they're sending. I give out so much advice when they come into the shop, but they don't always ask." Going straight for what looked nice was never a bad idea, especially if a lady had a favorite bloom, but Daffy had always enjoyed the subtlety of putting together a bouquet with meaning.
"Indeed. Nothing is better than some lovely flowers," January said. She would forsake all the marble and gilded halls in the world in favour of a beautiful garden. It was her hope one day to be married to a man that would provide her a home that allowed for a sizable garden.
"I like to think some men educate themselves or have someone in their lives to educate them. They should make it part of etiquette classes in Hogwarts. It would sure be more useful than knowing what fork is best."
Chuckling, Daffy had to wonder if anyone would pay attention, even if it was part of etiquette classes. "Perhaps we should petition Professor Skeeter to do a little lesson on it." It would have been a good idea for the Garden Club at any rate! "Or maybe we should run our own little free class." Now that was an idea. Let some ladies come in and learn how to arrange flowers or invite some gentlemen in to learn what to order for their ladies.
"I should ask Mama about putt something together." She mused. It would certainly be something Laurel would enjoy. Of course she would also be scouting matches at the same time. Her mother was nothing if not predictable in that regard. "I think it would be fun!"
"Oh, now that would be fun," January said enthusiastically when Daffy suggested that they run their own little class. It would give them something to do, at least. Not that January's life wasn't busy - there was a reason being a debutante was considered to be a full time job, after all - but this would be something she deeply enjoyed doing. "I would love it and I know some of our other friends would, too." January and Daffys shared friends seemed to have varying degrees of interest in gardening and florals but most would probably be into this kind of thing.
"Perhaps in the spring, before the season begins." It would be splendid timing, teach the ladies about some arrangements and the language of flowers prior to the season surging into full swing. They could offer tea and sweets, maybe she could talk to her friends at the Ivy Leaf about hosting and providing refreshments for the occasion. It would be good for both businesses no doubt.
Dusting off her hands, now that her little sprouts had been repotted successfully, she smiled at January. "Tea? I could use a little snack after all that work." What a perfect way to spend the afternoon. Daff forgot how much she enjoyed spending time with her friends, she felt invigorated for it, after spending so much of her time working lately.
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