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.
I know you don't subscribe to Witch Weekly, so I've included today's issue--you'll notice that I'm right on the front cover! They've held a contest of sorts and I was one of the winners and now I'm going on holiday in November! It's terribly exciting, as I've never been able to travel much before. We're going through the far east (China!) to the mountains, where there's some sort of magical spa, from the sounds of it, and then through the deserts of Arabia and on to Venice before we head home. I'll be gone over a month, but since there's so seldom anything happening in November anyway I think it's rather excellently timed.
I ought to have told you about this earlier and made you enroll; it was a writing contest and I'm positive you could have won it if you'd wanted to, and then we could be traveling together! You'll have to forgive my oversight, but I know how disdainful you are of my little magazine generally. I'll be able to see you, won't I, before I leave? I wouldn't miss one of your Halloween costumes for the world so you must tell me which dance you plan to attend so I can go to the same one. And I promise to look for something outlandish and interesting while I'm abroad to bring back for you as a present -- and if you like I'll write to you so often you'll really feel as though you are traveling with me!
Oh, how outrageously fun! Did you skew the contest results from behind the scenes?
No, you know I'm only teasing. I'm thrilled for you! What do you think of all your travelling companions-to-be? Do you know any of them? I believe I've only heard Miss Blackwood's name before; one would hope she isn't tired of globe-trotting already. In any case, I confess that I was rather enjoying this issue (ludicrous rumours and all!) until I reached the ghastly feature that was 'Lonely Hearts' - please tell me those aren't real? What tragic trash. I ought not to have been drinking at the time, for I'm sure I snorted half my water out from my nose. (I also fear I spoke too soon about enjoying your magazine - 'Ballroom Horror Stories'? Of all the bourgeois trite in all the world!)
But I've found myself waylaid - back to it, then. I am excited on your behalf, though I suspect it is a relief I didn't enter, since I doubt most of Witch Weekly's audience would much enjoy reading my accounts. I am keenly awaiting yours, though, send as many letters as you like! I've not travelled so far myself, so shall be pleased for the occasion to exercise my faculties of imagination. (I do adore Venice, though.)
And of course you shall see me before you go! What if you got in trouble and died somewhere remote abroad - lost in the middle of the desert, perhaps, to the sands of time! - and I hadn't gotten to say goodbye? I'd be sorely disappointed. Though I'm not certain when - I do enjoy autumn events more than anything in the summer, but, strangely, nothing yet has caught my eye. Has society had the uncommonly good sense not to invite my family to any festivities this year, or is there simply a dearth of worthwhile Halloween celebrations?
You'd have to ask someone who properly works for the magazine whether the Lonely Hearts submissions come from real people or whether they make them up--I suspect it's a little of both but I wouldn't have occasion to know. I only write the fashion articles and I can assure you that I have never been so desperate as to resort to such ploys! I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that someone like Miss Adelia Lovegood was writing in, though, would you? She's certainly ruined herself in the eyes of any respectable gentleman after her affair with the former Minister this summer, but she doesn't have the confidence or grace to survive in life without a husband. I expect she's hoping to make someone fall in love with her over letters before they meet her and realize what an unfortunate woman they've attached themselves to--but since I don't believe she has many redeeming traits of personality I can't imagine such a scheme would work, with the aid of Lonely Hearts or not!
Speaking of love, though--Phyri, you must put your cynicism and misgivings about such things aside and simply be happy for me, because I am too deliriously happy to allow you to be anything else--I am engaged as of this afternoon! Mr. Devine came to the house today with flowers; it seems he wanted to make things between us more official before I left on this holiday, so now I have a thousand other reasons to be grateful for winning it--and this means that as I shall be engaged by Christmas I can get him some real present; courting girls have so many restrictions on these things it's positively ridiculous!
We won't be speaking of wedding details until after I return but of course you'll be the first to know once we've picked a date and I may even prevail upon you to play some part in the wedding if you think you can set your morbid tendencies aside for an afternoon, for my sake! In the meantime, please say you can come to the house sometime this month for an engagement party of sorts (just myself and closest friends, nothing very grand and certainly no men). I haven't determined the date for that yet, either, but of course we must have one.
Oh, and I've talked Armando into throwing a Halloween ball at our house, so of course you must come to mine! I've only just started to think about it but it may be the last ball I'm really involved in as Miss Dippet so I must make it spectacular. You ought to help me plan it out, if you can spare the time--you have such a lovely mind for Halloween things and I do want this party to be truly original!
Ophelia, my dear, my darling, there's no need to protest so much. I didn't think you ever despaired that your heart was so lonely so as to stoop that low. I don't know Miss Lovegood all too well but I expect you're right. I would like her a lot better were she to have embraced spinsterhood and - well, tried to live a little, but after the Urquart affair, it does seem that she is doomed to desertions, and the fact that she keeps trying is a little pitiful. With her fate, I'm sure if she marries she will end up regretting it for one reason or another.
I don't expect you will, though. I do believe my friends quite capable of knowing their own minds, so far be it from me to criticise yours - it does grieve me tremendously (no, no, only a little) to say it, but - congratulations! I am so pleased you're pleased. With a little mental fortitude, I shall be jolly and bright at the engagement party and - dear god - the wedding and as a gift to you I will even listen to you go on at length about the delirious happiness of your engagement, as I am sure you would like to. Yes, I may be rolling my eyes. Lovingly, of course.
Your Mr. Devine should be on his best behaviour though - I shall be watching out for him. If he's to be your husband I probably ought to appraise him properly! After all, I do like to judge people.
My, my, you are busy even before your travels! Your Halloween news is splendid, though, I am already excited and am quite willing to assist any way you should need! I do hope Mr. Devine likes playing host, too? Because he's in for it now. I can only imagine the new heights Ophelia Dippet the married hostess will reach; all the other socialites should be quaking in their dancing shoes!
You had best believe that Mrs. Ophelia Devine will be throwing only the very best sorts of parties, and I shall prevail upon you to come to all of them! I won't make you dance with bores, though, and I do promise you'll have fun. I won't allow any of my parties to be boring, like so many of the season events are.
But we really must make this Halloween party the best that Britain has seen for ages, to give me an auspicious start of things! Can you come to tea this week so that we can plan it all out? I have some ideas but I want your opinions on them. I do promise that I will at least try not to talk too much of Mr. Devine!
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