Charming is a Victorian Era Harry Potter roleplay set primarily in the village of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the non-canon village of Irvingly. Characters of all classes, both magical and muggle — and even non-human! — are welcome.
With a member driven story line, monthly games and events, and a friendly and drama-free community focused on quality over quantity, the only thing you can be sure of is fun!
"Are you always this forward?" He asked teasingly since it would be a very short thread if he just ignored her entirely. — Tobin Cartwright in Take A Peek
Did you know? Churchgoers and worshippers had to endure a foul stench during prayers due to the amount of bodies often stored within the vaults of churches and chapels.
10:00 PM, May 30th — Hogwarts Coming Out Ball — Outfit
Annabelle was not pleased to be situated in the Great Hall on the evening of the Coming Out Ball. The back of her bustle pressed into the table behind her, Annabelle watched with nervous eyes as the ladies danced in the center of the room. Her sister was there, looking far lovelier—and not to mention much happier—than she. She had yet to cross a mirror, but she was almost certain she looked like a mess.
How long would she have to be here? Would her parents notice if she just ... disappeared? It wouldn't be all that difficult to do, but she could only imagine the punishment that would come upon her parents realizing she'd ditched. Seven years of preparation for this night had been in total vain; standing in the room, she was almost certain that she was unready to become a debutante.
With distracted eyes, the newly-graduated Gryffindor began to turn to her right with the hopes of retrieving a drink. The first mistake she made was moving without watching where she was going, as after moving less than a meter she found herself slamming into another's body!
"Oh Merlin!" she squeaked, forcibly moving herself backwards. Her eyes snapped up to the man's face in horror; she was quite confident that her face was bright red by now. So much for beauty and grace!
Richard always found the coming out ball that Hogwarts threw to be quite enjoyable. It was always a nostalgic feeling to be back in the school, even if it was only for an evening. He wished he could sneak out into the corridors but he didn't want to cause any trouble. He had yet to dance with anyone but then he had only arrived some moments ago.
Richard was just about to take a glass of champagne for himself when one of the new debutante's smacked into him. He was surprised but managed not to drop a single drop of his beverage.
His eyes widened a little as the girl moved herself backwards, not quite sure what he had been expecting. "No harm done, miss. I didn't even spill any, see?" He said, indicating the glass as he set it aside. "Are you all right?" She was one of the new debutante's so he was sure she must be a bundle of nerves.
She was embarrassed—perhaps more embarrassed then she'd been when Araminta referred to her as Matilda in front of their parents! And that had definitely caused its fair share of anxiety!
The concern in his voice and eyes, however, proved to be a source of comfort for the new debutante. She looked up at him with blue eyes, trying to examine his face for any signs of judgment. Surprisingly, she saw nothing of that nature. Perhaps not all upper class gentlemen were as snooty as the ones her parents brought to the house.
"I'm perfectly alright, thank you," she said softly, quite sure that her cheek were still glowing pink. "Though I am happy that I brought you no harm. My nerves have definitely been taking a toll on my grace." Not that she believed she would have ever harmed him in the first place—he was well over four inches taller than she!
The poor girl looked a little shaken in the eyes of the healer. He tended to be a little more observant than most people. It was likely a large reason why he had been promoted despite his young age.
She really was quite pretty, as well, which caused his own cheeks to blush a little before he cleared his throat. She was looking up at him with bright, blue eyes and he really didn't know what she was looking at him like that for. He chalked it up to it just being all in his head that she seemed to be looking for something within his expression.
"I am not surprised but you did look quite beautiful as you stepped into society," he said, by way of both comfort and compliment. "Do you think your grace can withstand the dance floor?"
She felt her cheeks go red once more at his kind words and soft demeanor. It was very rare to meet a man who didn't look at her with some semblance of judgment; not all of society's wealthiest members were all too accepting of the life she had in the time before Hogwarts.
She nodded her head quietly, looking obviously flushed. Her eyes gazed back up at the gentleman, who she was beginning to fancy as rather handsome! "Thank you," she said softly, a sweet, feminine smile spreading on her lips. "With your kind words and demeanor, I'm confident my nerves can be soothed."
The young woman seemed to be quite flushed. Oh dear, had he embarrassed her in some way? The young healer hoped not but he very much doubted that her flush was due to a sudden onslaught of fever as she did not seem to be feeling poorly in that sense from what he could tell from a cursory glance.
Richard had no clue who she was though truth be told, even if he did, he was very unlikely to cast judgement upon her. "You're quite welcome," he hastened to reply. Her sweet smile was enough to cause a little bit of his own nerves though he could hardly say why.
He chuckled when she cast what he thought to be a compliment upon his demeanor. "In that case, I would most certainly like a spot on your dance card," he requested before realizing that he hadn't a clue as to her name! He hadn't heard the new graduates names announced since he had arrived a little after it all. "Oh, do excuse me but I haven't got your name," he said apologetically.
He could hardly call her 'girl' or 'Sweet Smile' for the rest of the time they spent in each others company. It would be both improper and overly familiar, he felt.
Annabelle was hardly used to men speaking to her in such a way — usually they were skeptical, doubtful, and haughty towards her. Her story wasn't exactly a secret, and she had spent seven years at Hogwarts with the knowledge that finding a man who'd take her as his wife would be a troublesome task. Her spirits fell the moment he asked for her name. For some reason, she'd assumed he'd caught it in passing and didn't mind her 'tragic' backstory; now she doubted that his kindness towards her would continue from this point forward.
"Oh," she said quietly, her eyes falling from his gaze. "My name's Annabelle. Miss Annabelle Scrimgeour." She kept her eyes low and waited for his words. Would he put on a sweet facade that matched his previous attitude? Would he stiffen and become speechless? Or would he begin to talk to her like other men did — as if she was a complete inferior? She'd already convinced herself that he wouldn't wish to acquaint himself with her any further. Oh, this night was already a disaster and it had barely started! She might as well go home.
Richard was a little confused as to why she was reacting the way she was to his simple - and proper! - inquiry as to what her name was. Annabelle Scrimgeour. He tried to drum up why that name sounded familiar. Oh, right! He'd heard that there was a pair of Scrimgeour twins though he hadn't stuck around long enough to hear why they might have been being talked about. It had been quite some time ago.
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Miss Scrimgeour," he said genuinely. "I'm Mister Richard Gladstone. " Should he tell her his occupation? That would feel a little too much like boasting and he always felt quite modest at the fact that he had been promoted at what was considered to be a young age for the position. "Would you like to dance?" After a short pause, he added on. "With me, I mean?"
Mr. Gladstone's less-than-expected reaction took her by surprise. Her head still tilted downwards, her eyes glanced upwards and caught his gaze. He seemed genuine, and his introduction seemed sincere — perhaps he didn't care about what happened in her youth? Or more likely, perhaps he didn't know. She would keep quiet about it for now.
She smiled at the gentleman shyly, nodding her head at his request to dance with her. "I would find that most pleasing, sir," she agreed, trying not to allow her face to redden.
Richard waited for the young woman to answer him. She seemed a little like she was surprised he had asked. Had he done something wrong? He hadn't attended many of these things since he often chose to work instead so he couldn't be sure.
Or maybe she was just shy, he decided. Yes, that had to be it. "I'm glad," Richard said truthfully as he reached out for her hand so that he could lead her to the dance floor.
As he took her hand, her face flushed pink. She held her gaze down, a shy smile resting on her face as he led her to the dance floor. She was by no means the best dancer in the world, but she did have some graces (as opposed to what she'd shown moments ago!). She watched him with bright eyes as they danced, her mind pondering on what questions might be best to ask him.
"Do you work?" she asked casually, a curious gleam in her eye. "Or are you the type of man who prefers to to spend him time on leisurely activities?" There were some men — like her brother — who need not work but choose to anyways, and then there were second sons who needed to keep their income padded.
Though fate had made her a debutante, Annabelle wished to have a career of her own, specifically in the healing arts. Her mother and father had forbade it, however, fearing that they'd never marry her off if they didn't marry her off young. It had been revealed to her that her dowry was well larger than her sister's; without the incentive, men would almost certainly choose her just as attractive twin over herself.
Like most young ladies, Annabelle wished for a fairy tale ending, though she was less likely than other girls to get it. If she followed her parents' wishes, she'd be married to wealthy pure-blooded man twice her age. He would be conservative and classy; far from the kind and unprejudiced sort of husband she wished for. Annabelle held no prejudices against muggles, muggleborns, squibs, or halfbloods; raised by muggles, there was almost no way she'd hold her family's blood purity values.
Richard chuckled as the young woman asked if he worked or if he liked to spend his time on leisurely activities. "I work. I'm a healer in charge over at St. Mungos," he replied. "I was never one to lead an idle sort of life." He had plenty of friends that did though. It just had never been anything that appealed to him. He liked hard work and helping people. And he was obviously very good at it considering he had been promoted at quite the young age.
Richard wouldn't mind a wife that worked, in fact he would very much prefer it. He knew it was considered untoward for a wife to have a job but so long as she was not the lazy sort then he would be quite happy. If she didn't want an actual occupation then his future wife could do charity work or the like. That would suit Richard very well, he thought.
Word Count: 153 | Tag: @'Richard Gladstone' | Date: May 31, 1887
Her eyes suddenly widened and a look of awe faded onto her face as he voiced his career. He was a healer-in-charge? At St. Mungo's? She suddenly felt like a giddy child with a thousand different questions, and it was difficult for the emotionally-expressive Gryffindor alumna to hide.
"A healer," she echoed softly, smiling up at him. "Are you really? I've always wa—." She paused suddenly. She remembered being told that her ambitions were the last thing she needed to be voicing to a man. Speaking of such things would be the surest way to repel him from her — no man went looking for a woman who wanted to work. She took in a deep breath and released it.
"I've always thought that being a healer was a very admirable career," she said after a moment. "There's nothing more honorable than caring for those who cannot adequately care for themselves," she added thoughtfully.
Richard wasn't quite sure what to make of her awe. His unspoken question was soon answered. She seemed to be the sort that would have fancied being a healer. Richard knew that there was some of the sort that had careers they aspired to but didn't go after due to familial disapproval or the like. It was one of the facts of upper class life.
"Yes, I really am," Richard said, curious now as to whether she'd ever held aspirations to be one. "That is one of the reasons I became a healer - to help people. I am not well suited to be an auror, hit wizard or any of the like but healing, I can do. And you, Miss Scrimgeour? Is there any career you'd fancy having if you had the chance?" Richard had always been of the thought that a woman should be allowed to do as she pleased.
Word Count: 137 | Tag: @'Richard Gladstone' | Date: May 31, 1887
Annabelle could feel her cheeks turn slightly pink at his question. Did it really matter if she wanted a career anyways? The likelihood of her achieving her ambitions was slim, if at all possible. She could envision herself working as a healer, but that was before reality smacked her in the face.
"I would like to work as a healer as well," she admitted quietly, her eyes dropping from his face. She would have held back from admitting her desires, but he spoke in a tone that suggested that he had little issue with the notion of a woman desiring a career. "It's a silly dream, and I know I'm a silly girl for holding onto it. I have ... other duties that are more important — duties I cannot fulfill while pursuing my desires," she said rather sadly.
Richard smiled when Miss Scrimgeour admitted that she would like the work as a healer. "I don't think it's silly at all," Richard assured. "I know of quite a few women of the same social degree as you hold that work as healers even after having children." Mrs Mariana Macnair and Mrs Annabelle Bones over at Hogsmeade Hospital for example.
"You don't seem like a silly girl to me, Miss Scrimgeour. You seem to have quite the good head on your shoulders but then again, I have only met you this night," Richard said with a slight chuckle.
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