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
I know we saw each other but only an hour ago, but I couldn't not write you after the letter I've just received.
The Hogwarts Board of Governors has removed bludgers—and with it, the beater position—from Hogwarts. Selwyn is off the team, and I've been given the captain badge. It seems the governors have gone ahead and ruined Selwyn's quidditch career for us, although I fear he'll have plenty of things to say to me once we return to school. It is strange that I feel a little disappointed? It feels like an undeserved victory—very anticlimactic.
I hate to say it, but I'd rather deal with Selwyn for a year (before we offed him, of course) than play without beaters. Think of how hard it might be to make the British League if we forget what it's like to have bludgers flying around!
Well, I have to say I didn't quite expect a letter on my desk when I returned home after shopping. IT was a nice surprise however.
That's both exciting for you, congratulations! And also kind of miserable, I was kind of looking forward to making Selwyn's captain-ship an utter nightmare. I can't believe we're to play without bludgers, it seems like it almost makes things... too easy? I'll be bored to tears just looking for the snitch without having to look over my shoulder for bludgers all the time. We will be ill-prepared for the real league without them.
I suppose we could practice throwing things at one another while we fly as part of practice to keep up with the skill? I don't know, that's for you to figure out, captain, though I'll obviously help if you want.
We'll have to coordinate with the other teams in order to find a way to make the play more interesting. I'm sure all the chasers will be more aggressive with their interceptions now that they don't have to worry about bludgers being aimed at their heads. But honestly, after the bludger to the nose at the scrimmage I never imagined I'd be disappointed to not be a target.
I'm sure we'll win more games this year with you as seeker and without Cad to slow us down. I know he'll probably try out for chaser, but could you imagine him, Maddy, and I running drills? I'd rather spend every weekend making potions in detention. I hope the other players who try out are good enough to justify discarding him entirely. (Does that make me a bad person? Now that I've written it I'll probably be forced to put him back on the team—the universe's way of punishing me.)
I can be a human bludger and just start trying to run into people? I'm about the same size. I didn't realize you'd gotten a bludger to the nose in the scrimmage, clearly you're fine though? I was so mad Mum wouldn't let me play or even go watch!
Ew, he can't be a very good chaser after playing beater for so long? Maybe Alcyone or Ned will beat him out? That would probably look bad on us though, if it was one of our friends that beat him out. Maybe we can convince Alice to give tryouts another go? She's pretty good in club play. Having Selwyn on the team is just rotten all around, he's not a great team player, but we didn't really have to worry about it in a beater position. In chaser it's kind of critical. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
The image alone is enough to make me laugh. I'd make a joke about your size, but combined with your speed you'd probably shove me right off my broom. Imagine that! And I promise I'm fine; my nose was broken but Alice was there, and I had her patch it up for me. It was a nasty game, and I had worries about Selwyn being a good enough beater after he took a bludger to the knee. (Hopefully that will affect his chances of making the team. I can't believe I'm worried about this now.)
I know Alcyone has been hoping to make the team single her first year. I also know Ned's sister and Greta have an interest in quidditch (assuming they're Gryffindors), and who knows what other first years will try out.
Ha, I bet I could! Probably would hurt like hell though. Speaking of hurt like hell, glad Alice was there to patch you up, she's good at that. Good practice for her too, considering she wants to be a healer. She's always patching me up too.
Maybe we could help Alcyone practice before tryouts? I'm surprised she hasn't made it before, but there hasn't been chaser space for a little while either. Maybe have Maddy check with her? They're closer than I am with Alcyone. I do wonder what the first year crop will look like, but hard to count on a first year beating him out, don't you think? I didn't even make the team as a first year, and I've been playing since I could walk!
Apparently she did better than just fix my nose, because no one's commented on it. I think it looks awfully crooked. I was afraid that you and everyone else would think it awfully crooked if I told you it'd been broken to begin with. Don't tell her, but I always let her believe every little injury is more serious than it is. Do you ever do that? She's so smart; I'd hate her to leave us next year. Besides, we need a healer in our friend group with all the trouble we get into. The more practice she gets, the better.
I spoke to Alcyone this summer and even asked her if she planned on trying out again. I wish I could just give it to her, but I suppose saying that makes me just as bad a person as saying I hope Cad doesn't make it back on the team.
I'm sure it's fine, Alice always does good work. No I don't exaggerate usually, she'll fix it either way, without all of the fuss. I think she's hanging around, she mentioned Professor Dawson was going to keep funding her, so she couldn't try out for quidditch. Which is a shame, but understandable really. She can't leave us anyway, Ned won't be able to handle all of us on his own.
I'm sure Alycone is a better chaser than Selwyn, hopefully tryouts proves it and it won't be an issue!
The clearly you've never seen the funny face she makes when she realizes your over-exaggerating. You should try it sometime. It's a shame she can try out for quidditch. If I could have it one hundred percent my way I'd put Alice or Ned or Alcyone on the team without tryouts. Remind me never to run for Minister's office; I'm afraid I might cause a scandal with the nepotism. (I tease, I tease.)
Don't forget to save me a seat on Tuesday. Now more than ever I need your expert detective skills to help me figure out what Selwyn is thinking (my bet is on "absolutely nothing"), because he hasn't written me yet.
Well now I have to try it, but I'm sure she'll figure it out pretty quick. Or think something is really wrong. We'll see. Might be worth it either way. No offense, but I doubt Minister is in your future, so we're probably safe.
Don't worry, the seat situation is handled. I'm not going anywhere near Selwyn if I don't have to though. He gives me the creeps.
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