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.
Restorer & Conservator at the Magical Portrait Gallery of England
29 year old Halfblood
5 ft. 6 in.
❤ Spinster
Played by Lady
228 Posts
113 Likes
9 July 1893 — Tuscany Countryside
Running after Bear seemed to become a very recurring habit of Irene’s. She had learned she could trust the cat to know where he was, and to know when it was time to come home, but beyond that, if she tried to go for a walk and bring the large feline along, it was either at a dawdle, or a run with absolutely no in between. Cousin Celia had consented to Irene’s walks around the massive vineyard, but thus far it had rained quite a lot for her to be going on daily walks; at least that was what her cousin had said. Irene, for her part, paid little attention to the precipitation in the air, and delighted in frolicking through one of the nearby fields. Sometimes if she was lucky, horses would be out and she was able to hand-feed one of the mothers and her new foal.
It was with great eagerness that she hurried to do exactly that with Bear running ahead of her, a black sooty blur as he darted through the incoming rain. Before she could reach the field however, a figure almost materialized out of the rain in the middle of the path. Bear managed to dodge the person but Irene skidded to a halt, promptly slid down the already soaked slope and crashed into them with a shriek. Before she could get an apology out, something collided hard with her side and stole the breath from her; she’d collapsed on top of a log and brought the stranger down with her.
Remy was excited for the intensive he had signed up for whilst also dreading it. What if he wasn't any good and the instructor said so? In front of Helene? In front of Mateo? He didn't know if he would be able to handle the embarrassment.
Today though, he was supposed to be visiting a friend but seemed to have apparated too far off. He was just thinkful he hadn't splinched himself. Now then, that left figuring out where in the Tuscany countryside he currently was. Not wanting to risk apparating in the rain, Remy decided that he would walk until he found a house.
He didn't mind rain, rather he often enjoyed walking in and basking in its natural beauty. He had been about to twirl in it when his plans were quite interrupted by what looked to be a cat and then a person who crashed into him. She was shrieking, he was shrieking, they were falling. "Are we alive?" He joked when things finally seemed to still aside from the still falling rain.
September 16, 2023 – 12:04 AM
Last modified: September 16, 2023 – 12:04 AM by Irene Crawley.
Restorer & Conservator at the Magical Portrait Gallery of England
29 year old Halfblood
5 ft. 6 in.
❤ Spinster
Played by Lady
228 Posts
113 Likes
She had heard his reply. Had thought it was funny. But laughing seemed to be a bit of a chore for her. Every breath she took felt as if her throat had suddenly shrunk down to the size of a pearl and Irene had keep herself doubled over on the ground while she claimed her breath back from wherever the log had sent it. “I’m - so sorry!” She wheezed, unable to keep a laugh from escaping as she apologized. Oh Merlin, what had she done? The small droplets of rain hitting her skin did something to help revive her and bring her back to her senses.
In front of her was a kind looking man with bronzed skin and — thank God — an amused expression on his face; it helped Irene confirm that he had in fact, been joking when he had posed his question, and she felt more confident at smiling back at him, still a sheepish and apologetic grin on her own face. “I think I’m still alive!” She breathed out once more, thanking God once again that she didn't have to make more of a fool of herself and try to speak Italian. “And yourself?”
as of 20 Dec 1893, Irene's hair is cut short above her shoulders
Everything felt like it hurt as Remy stood up. He stretched, wincing as that proved quite the chore. Peering curiously at the stranger, she seemed a little worse off. "I think time will tell," he said in jest, his heavy French accent dripping off every syllable that he spoke. "Do your ribs feel like they went toe to toe with a Whomping Willow?" At least nothing felt actually broken. But he had a feeling he was going to be finding a few bruises.
"Ah!" He cried out as if he had just spotted a bloodied corpse. "My new coat is torn." Despite the dramatic delivery of his words, his face remained as cheerful as ever. It was just a coat, after all. Readily fixed with a good sewing charm.
Restorer & Conservator at the Magical Portrait Gallery of England
29 year old Halfblood
5 ft. 6 in.
❤ Spinster
Played by Lady
228 Posts
113 Likes
She could only laugh once more as she clambered up onto her feet, using the log they’d just crashed onto as support. She was still winded enough for it to take a while for her to respond, but she wheezed out another laugh after it. “They certainly do, but I reckon they’ll be even more sore tomorrow.” She groaned, testing her range of motion with her body as she reached over her head to see which side hurt the most.
His cry of dismay startled her and she jumped in the midst of stretching. “Oh my!” Irene winced, staring down at the torn coat with a horrified expression. “Oh I’m so sorry, please forgive me, it was entirely my fault!” She beseeched, moving forward to inspect the damage.
as of 20 Dec 1893, Irene's hair is cut short above her shoulders
Remy had startled her and he felt bad about it. Though that was probably hard to tell as he just laughed some more. "No harm done, really. I am quite adept at sewing spells," he said as he took another good look at her. "And who might you be? A wood dryad trying their hand at human life?"
Restorer & Conservator at the Magical Portrait Gallery of England
29 year old Halfblood
5 ft. 6 in.
❤ Spinster
Played by Lady
228 Posts
113 Likes
Fortune looked favorably upon her apparently, though it had a funny way of doing so; he truly wasn’t put out at the rip in his coat. Irene blinked, finding herself believing him and was temporarily stunned and relieved at this. The man seemed to startle her out of her surprise by delivering one of the most delightful compliments she thought she’d ever been given. Just as soon as she had taken him down, he’d disarmed her enough to deposit a hefty dose of inspiration in her head.
“A wood dryad!” she exclaimed with glee, hands flying to her chest in a display of joy. “Oh how I wish I were, wouldn’t that be spectacular?” Truth be told she wasn’t…one hundred percent sure she knew what a wood dryad was, but contextually speaking she’d heard enough of her father’s storytelling to parse that it was something similar to a nymph. A wood nymph! Visions of small beings dancing amongst the leaves of autumn flashed through her mind - or perhaps that was still the stars from falling down - either way, she wanted to commit them to memory for the future. “Unfortunately I am but a mortal, clearly destined to take down everyone in the province by the end of the summer!”
as of 20 Dec 1893, Irene's hair is cut short above her shoulders
Remy playfully narrowed his eyes as if not altogether convinced. He had no idea from Eve who this young woman was but then again Remy had always been one to be quick to befriend people. Especially if they seemed a kindred sort.
"You speak as if you have also collided into others in the past," he said, clearly intrigued.
Restorer & Conservator at the Magical Portrait Gallery of England
29 year old Halfblood
5 ft. 6 in.
❤ Spinster
Played by Lady
228 Posts
113 Likes
She flashed him a sheepish grin before nodding. “Guilty as charged,” She admitted with a flush. “I believe you’re not my first victim, not by a long shot!” It occurred to her that it was in this moment, they’d likely talked enough that it was proper to introduce herself. So without warning she stuck out her hand in greeting. “I’m Irene. Irene Crawley.”
as of 20 Dec 1893, Irene's hair is cut short above her shoulders
He laughed, the sound loud and boisterous. He took her hand to shake it warmly as she finally got around to introducing herself. "Remy Toulouse, at your service."