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.
With the same account, complete eight different threads where your character interacts with eight different usergroups. At least one must be a non-human, and one a student.
Did You Know?
Braces, or suspenders, were almost universally worn due to the high cut of men's trousers. Belts did not become common until the 1920s. — MJ
Madame Laurent clasped her hands in delight as she looked out at the contestants. “Oh, mon dieu, but how many beautiful participants we have today!” She chirped. “I applaud you all for making it this far. Your talents have certainly shined today, and by the end, we shall see which of you gems sparkles the brightest!” Taking out her ash wand, she gave it a flourish and the opaque lace-embroidered cloths flew off the tables in front of the women.
“Today, we shall be testing your mettle by having you brew a Beautification Potion!” She looked about as if this were something to truly be beheld. “Your time starts - now! Bonne chance, les filles!”
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Hermia was delighted to reach the finals, the fun of competition something she missed from her quidditch days. It was down to her and three other women now, there would be no room for error. Smiling at the familiar French of the judge, Hermia turned her attention to her cauldron.
Perhaps the more daring Effie who had signed up for this competition hadn’t been wrong at all! Or she had gotten here by a fluke or two – but here they went again, so perhaps her luck would hold.
The beautification potion seemed quite involved and finicky, with too many colour changes to mention, but... it was the best she could do, so she put her hand up. Hopefully she was a sparkling gem, however unpolished?
Mattie had never doubted herself, but she was pleased and a little smug to be in the finals – although more was the pity, because so was Iphigenia. She tossed Miss Adebayo an eyebrow raise, as though she were shocked to see her here (she was not), and then stilled to listen intently to the instructions.
And since there was no Mr. Browne with whom to amuse herself or be distracted by this round either, Mattie concentrated on grinding her fairy wings to a fine dust and plucking rose petals and stirring her potion, rather wanting to win.
In one regard, it was a surprise to see Miss Farris here: while the former Ravenclaw might (might) have been competition for Genia in transfiguration, the former Slytherin was decidedly superiror in potions. In another, though, it seemed natural. Would Genia really be winning, after all, if she could not smile smugly at her nemesis in so doing?
She offered the other witch only a raise of her eyebrows—as though surrpsied Miss Farris hadn't crashed and burned in previous rounds—and paid no mind at all to the other competitors, focusing her attentions on winning.
A beautification potion. It was insulting—not to their abilities, but to their sex as a whole. Genia had not thrown her hat in with the suffregists, but the idea that she personally would find this both a challenge and a practical mixture was offensive. Still, she set about crafting her potion with the same diligence as any other in spite of this annoyance. At least she had a good insult locked and loaded for Miss Farris if a miracle should happen and the other witch bested her.
Madame’s enthusiasm for this current crop of contestants slowly evaporated as the time progressed - unlike poor Miss Clarke’s potion, which she stirred too much in the third state and caused the mixture to completely solidify. With a disappointed tut, Madame Laurent shook her head and waved her wand to vanish the cauldron along with its coagulated contents, then gave a wave of her hand that suggested the contestant should step back.
Unfortunately Miss Farris’ endeavor did not progress much further. The mixture had only thickened slightly and at the sixth step where one was supposed to stir vigorously, it looked as if Miss Farris attempted to coax her mixture into another dimension with how vigorous she stirred. Another tsk, wave of her wand and gesture for the raven haired debutante to desist.
It ended up being between Mademoiselles Adebayo and Bonaccord; frankly Madame Laurent had high hopes for her French compatriot, however Mademoiselle Bonaccord appeared to have overheated her potion which caused the mixture to turn a muddy puce color - and stay that way, even after time came for the contestants to wave their wands over their cauldrons.
Only Mademoiselle Adebayo’s potion shimmered as if she’d poured a rainbow into it, and Madame Laurent clasped her hands together in approval. “It appears our victor today is Mademoiselle Adebayo!” She announced, though somewhat begrudgingly, as her favorite had clearly failed in her endeavor. “My commiserations to the rest of you ladies, and a job well executed to Miss Adebayo.”
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