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
September 6, 1894 — Gryffindor Common Room; Matron's Quarters
It was finally time for the school year to begin - really begin. And with the new year, Louisa knew she had to prepare to stay goodbye to the new seventh years in what would seem like only a few months from now. While she wasn’t one for tears, Louisa still felt herself a sentimental creature, and had set up a schedule to meet up with all those who would like and discuss their futures - or reflect their time as a student at Hogwarts.
When she received the knock at her parlor door just off the Gryffindor Common Room, she got up from the chaise, and opened it. “Miss Valenduris,” She greeted with a warm smile. “Do come in, and thank you for agreeing to meet with me today. I trust your classes are satisfactory?”
Her last first week of classes was over and - at least as far as she knew - they had managed to get through the week with only minor inconveniences rather than an all-out disaster. Which, honestly - when compared to last year - Sobie would count as a victory. The last thing she had to do, or the last thing she had scheduled was a meeting with Ms. Clearwater who she had, so far, only seen in passing this week. If she felt busy she was sure it was even worse for the matron. Sobie acknowledged she probably wasn't the comforting presence the first years would seek out when they were homesick.
The matron's parlor had always been cozy and the scent of old books had always been enough to make her relax. "Ms. Clearwater. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me," Sobie returned, following the matron into the room. "Yes, they all have been. With N.E.W.T.s this year, all the professors have certainly driven right in. I think Grandfather in particular has high expectations."
Though she did her best to treat all her students with the same amount of respect and dignity, when it came to familiarity, that depended fully upon Louisa’s relationship with them. And with Miss Valenduris’ relationship to the deputy headmaster, well, it was quite easy to slip into that familiarity. She laughed softly as she sat down at the chaise and gestured for Miss Valenduris to take a seat across from her. “Would you like a cup of tea, or some biscuits?”
In the corner, a low hooting greeted the both of them; Gylfie, Louisa’s eagle owl sat perched in her open cage, blinking great amber eyes whose color was only magnified by the crackling fireplace in the room. Oddly enough, Louisa had found her large companion to be somewhat of an even more calming presence than she expected. “Well your grandfather is right to have high expectations, though I hope you don’t feel too great a pressure?” She returned, tapping her wand on the teapot.
"Ohh... yes, please. Both if you do not mind. I missed supper," Sobie replied eagerly, sinking into the chair as soon as she was directed. It was lovely to get off her feet after spending the past hour literally chasing some first year's toad across the Great Hall. It hadn't even been a Gryffindor and she wasn't sure who the girl was other than she was wearing blue and seemed to think bringing her toad to meals was a good idea. Which, Sobie figured, it probably had seemed like one until, according to the girl's wailing, someone had sat too close to her and squished it leading to it escaping her pocket.
"No, no. It is not too much. I think we could become shop girls and Grandfather would still be cheerful. He would just have high expectations for our sales quotas." He tolerated Sobie's plans better than her father or mother did anyway. She was pretty sure they simply tolerated her ambitious. Mother likely even thought she'd outgrow it. Father was probably just happy she'd stopped stomping people's toes.
It wasn’t uncommon for a student, especially a fifth year OWL or seventh year NEWT student, to have skipped one meal or another. Louisa cast a chastising look at the young girl in front of her as the teapot. “In that case,” She flicked her wand again to draw up a mini-table next to Miss Valenduris before calling, “Wispy!”
Immediately a house elf dressed in a popped into existence just beside Louisa’s elbow, her large eyes surveying the two of them. “Yes, Ms. Clearwater?” She squeaked.
“Wispy, would you please bring a plate of food from dinner for Miss Valenduris? It appears she’s missed a meal tonight.” She cast a wry grin at the seventh year witch just as the elf nodded eagerly before disappearing and reappearing within a few seconds. “Thank you so much Wispy. Would you care for a cup of tea?”
“Oh, yes Ms. thank you!”
Louisa conjured a small elf-sized teacup and saucer and handed it to the creature. “Two sugars, just how you like it. Give my regards to Reggy.”
“Will do Ms. Clearwater, ma’am! And good night Miss Valenduris!” With a cheerful wave, the house elf disappeared on the spot.
“Now, Miss Valenduris,” Louisa said with an air of finality. “Do eat. I won’t have Meserimus chastise me for letting his granddaughter starve on my watch.” She picked up her own cup again and settled back in the chaise. “And you are quite right, he would have high expectations for just about everything. But that’s because he believes in you, and if I were a betting woman, I would not place any against him or his lineage.” She cast Miss Valenduris a humorous smile.
Sobie flinched as she realized the Matron hadn't just summoned the elf to bring tea. She hadn't said it to complain or draw attention. She certainly hadn't said to make Ms Clearwater feel obligated to provide. "Thank you, Ms Clearwater. You did not need to do that but thank you." A bit uncomfortable, she waved back to the elf, her shoulders on dropping once it left.
She was pretty sure her grandfather had long ago accepted that she wouldn't let anyone force her to do - or not do - anything but that felt inappropriate to declare so she chuckled. "No, he'd probably just scold me for not making time for dinner."
At the woman's next words, she stiffened. "I want to make my accomplishments because of myself... not because of my grandfather or family. She wanted her name to be the only one tied to her accomplishments. It was bad enough people thought - and would continue to think - that she only succeeded because of her family. It would only make it worse to have her grandfather's name attached to it. She already had her family name. She'd be fight against that belief that couldn't manage anything without her family her entire career. She loved her grandfather and he'd always supported her but his name was so well-known she'd be fighting to make her own for so long.
Louisa surveyed Miss Valenduris with an appraising look before she raised her cup to her lips. It was certainly a good sign that the young witch wanted to carve her own way; to rely on nepotism was something Louisa knew she’d run into at the beginning of her career. Some took advantage of it, and some preferred to be without it at all.
“And admirable goal to have, to be sure.” She supplied simply, before falling silent again and wondering if there was more to it than merely wanting to make something of herself despite the weight of her family’s name. She’d known Miss Valenduris for quite some time, and so could venture a guess as to what the answers to her assumptions were, but preferred to let the girl voice them for herself.
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