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.
The last time he'd seen Maddie, it had not exactly been on the best of terms. He'd been an embarrassing mess — completely broken and lacking any semblance of masculinity. That was a month ago, however; the month of August had brought with it hope for the upcoming school year. The drama in their household had settled, and the only tension that seemingly remained was that between him and stubborn Sweetie.
Mourning practices had not at all done anything to soothe the flames that had been threatening to overtake their household. They were trapped inside for the most part, and completely away from society. While he attended no parties and let no official guests enter their household, he he had left the house and had let Maddie inside. Though there visits were usually under the guise of bread and pastry deliveries, he would make sure she lingered longer than the few minutes it would take to make a delivery.
Though he'd craved her presence to cope with his loss, he still feared his family — well, other than Darling — finding out about his feelings for the baker's daughter. Though he cared little about her class, that wasn't to say others in his household didn't. Sweetie obviously cared, though one could argue that her decision to forcibly interject herself in their relationship had directly led to the beginning of their love affair.
Handsome's fear of discovery had led him to take Maddie elsewhere today. His mind had been filled with the memory of a quiet, familiar place he'd gone to runaway, and with her on his arm, he'd apparated right there.
"The meadow," he said quietly, motioning down the hillside. The flowers sat in an array of colors, almost as if they were giving their last burst of color before autumn came. "We're on the side of a Scottish mountain. I apparated here completely on accident when I was bursting with emotions. There's no people for miles," he explained, looking down at the blonde.
Today had all been under the guise getting herself ready for school. No one had questioned it and she had slipped out of the house that morning at the behest of Handsome to meet him for some time alone. The last month or so had been trying for him, and for her. This new and budding romance of theirs and the death of his last remaining parent had placed a great deal of pressure on everyone, and it didn’t feel like he was getting a lot of support from his siblings, at least as far as she could see. With all eyes looking to him to ‘fix’ their broken household it all seemed very unfair, at least to her.
The meadow was beautiful, and quiet, and she was glad it was somewhere that they could just be alone, and didn’t need to pretend. ’Oh Handsome it’s beautiful’ she squealed excitedly. The hufflepuff was breathless with the beauty of the hillside, and she popped up on her tip toes and kissed Handsome’s cheek excitedly. ’What a place to spend the day!’ she beamed.
Handsome smiled down at Maddie. The area was beautiful, but it was the solitude he was most pleased about. There was always a fear-induced tension in his chest whenever he spent time in public with Maddie, but it wasn't because he was embarrassed by her. Drama had plagued his family for the entire summer, and society learning of their affair would certainly add to it. He just wanted to relax and enjoy the rest of summer.
"I know there isn't much to do here," he said, his hand reaching down to grab hers. "But the scenery is beautiful and there's no one here but us."
’well!’ she said with a sly smile, ’it could never be said that we hufflepuffs never come prepared.’ she removed her wand and gave her little wrist bag a tap and reached inside, first with her hand to the wrist then to her elbow. Before extracting from within a picnic basket and blanket, she placed them on the grass and then extracted a book of poetry. She set out the blanket and the basket began to unpack itself, with plates, glasses, a sweet fizzy lemonade and a selection of meats, cheeses, bread, cakes and fruit arranged themselves on the platters. Lastly the basket spat 4 small pillows onto the blanket and was, at last, still.
She of course hadn’t known they were coming here, but she had guessed that they would likely be alone and at least a little secret, and had thought bringing the picnic basket would remove the pressure of sneaking food, or risking going out together. She was enjoying this fantasy while it lasted, he had chastised her for her cynical view on their chances, and while they still lingered, she was prepared to at least try and enjoy this, and leave the problems of next year to next year.
’perhaps,’ she suggested, ’that instead of singing to you this time I might read?’, she took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Handsome watched in awe as Maddie's bag began to unpack itself. He'd never considered himself much of a planner. He'd brought nothing for her to enjoy other than his own presence — he was glad she'd brought entertainment. He tugged her towards the setup and took a seat.
"I won't stop you from reading," he responded, allowing her to settle next to him. His knowledge on the art of being romantic was limited to displays of physical affection, so he sat still and waited for her to do something.
Maddie suppressed a laugh, typical Gryffindor! But then she wouldn’t have had him any other way, other than as he was. She supposed it was why they made a good team. He was spontaneous and exciting, she was methodical and diligent – balance. She was also aware that his grief, although not as sharp as it had been when she had snuck into is room, was still present and she was keen to make it another opportunity for him to take some emotional strength from her own.
She seated herself comfortably on one of the cushions and then encouraged Handsome to place his head on her lap, by plopping the other cushion on top of her lap, so she could look down at his face. When he was comfortable she ran her hands through his hair and ducked her head to give him a peck on the nose, giggling at her own daring. As alone as they might be, it still felt somehow illicit to make such a public display of affection. ’So Mister Whitledge do you often whisk shopkeepers daughters to remote corners of the countryside?’ she teased.
Handsome could not hold back a chuckle as he sprawled out across Maddie's lap. Her affection was very much appreciated and arguably needed, and he relished it with a smile. His eyes momentarily fluttered shut as her fingers began to run through his hair and onto his scalp. He let out an approving hum at her actions.
"Ah yes, whisking shopkeepers' daughters to the remote countryside is a weekly habit of mine. You have no clue how many women I've lured here," he teased, a smile of amusement twitching on his lips.
She gave him a soft and playful bonk on the head with her book, looking down at him, the long loose tendrils of her hair swatting his face. ’My mother warned me about men like you’ she teased, smiling, ’You’ll ruin me and leave me to the workhouse.’ She removed her wand from her sleeve, ’I would be in a workhouse but you’d spend your life as a frog,’ she threatened playfully.
’we can use magic outside school now, I could turn you into a frog and leave you here and no one would ever know!’ she teased, her eyes narrowing in as evil of an expression as the pretty blonde hufflepuff with the warm blue eyes could muster – it wasn’t very effective.
Handsome bit his lip to hold out the laugh that was threatening to leave his mouth. Maddie was being awfully flirtatious, and it made him want to giggle like a child. She was usually a gentle, yet decidedly stern girl, but now she was playfully taunting him! He scrunched his nose teasingly.
"Mmm, but they would know it was you — eventually, at least. My family's on to us, Miss Backus," he teased, scooting closer to her. "If I went missing, you'd be the first person she'd suggest was the culprit! Though the more I think about it, everyone might think it nonsense, seeing as she'd likely garner the most suspicion," he laughed.
’Meeee?’ she drew out the word and fluttered her lashes in fake innocence, ’Why I am only a poor bakers daughter, I would never have enough guile or magic to transform a gentleman such as yourself’ her already feminie voice was raised to an extreme of faux femininity, and placed her hand across her forehead in a dramatic gesture. She laughed, ’Although Im sure Sweetie would come straight to my door with the Aurors’ she put up her hands like she intended to box ’but then I am a urchin, I’m sure I could take her in fisticuffs’ It was a ridiculous notion, Maddie couldn’t have hurt anyone, even Sweetie, she even felt bad in duels if her spells caused others discomfort.
She managed to control her laugh for a moment, ’So do you think your family will always hate me?’ she asked, teasing slighty, ’Will we always be star crossed? Will I have to marry some old bachelor to secure a fortune and then come back for you?’ she joked.
Handsome smiled as she spoke up until her final words. His smile faded from his face, and he wrapped he reached out to grab her hand tightly in his own. The thought of her marrying some old bachelor was infuriating — he didn't want another man doing unspeakable things to her.
"I don't think most of my family hates you," he said honestly, shaking his head. "Darling likes you, as does Cupcake. I'll bet anything that Sweetie hates you simply because I like you, and I don't think Honey would be the type to judge. I'm not sure about Knight or my grandmother — I don't understand how their brains work sometimes," he explained with a shrug.
"—and running off with another man would be that last thing I'd want you to do. I'm too greedy to share, even if it's just for a little while," he teased.
It was nice to hear his reassurance, she liked Darling, and indeed liked Cupcake, she hadn’t known Sweetie before their interaction in the parlour. It was difficult to reconcile the fact that Handsome might face trouble with his family over his affection for her. She certainly didn’t want to widen the rift between Handsome and his siblings. If there was one thing her father always told his children was that blood was thicker than water - they might love one another but they would always be his siblings.
’Then I shall just have to rob Gringotts then’ she joked back, ’For I shouldn’t want to give society any reason to hate me.’ she said, ’It’s just rather unfair that I might have been acceptable to your family, well to society had my parents not married against my mothers wishes.’ she explained, she had never told him this, but there was no reason to keep it from him. She had told him she might go to Russia after she finished school, but she hadn’t indicated why. ’My grandfather and grandmother in Russia have land, and houses, they are wealthy enough. They didn’t like my father, and so when my mother decided to marry him they gave her enough to buy the bakery outright and then cut her off. I hadn’t spoken to them at all before this year.’ she explained
Her story brought a frown to his face. He hadn't known that she had wealthy Russian relatives living out of sight. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to know that your parent's choice of partner had led to the family's downfall — even if his reputation were ruined for being with Miss Backus, no one could take away the inheritance he was set to receive.
Nevertheless, he didn't really wish for his reputation to be damaged, but he also didn't want to keep his affection for Maddie forever in secret! It was a situation where little good for him could come from either choice he made, and was now just a matter of what he thought was best.
"Even if you were to become a wealthy heiress tomorrow," he said, brushing a piece of hair out of her face. "society would likely gossip. There's no telling that you would be completely accepted straight away. No matter how much money you have in the present, you couldn't rid of the first seventeen years of your life." Not that he cared; he loved her. He just didn't wish to see her get hurt through this ordeal.
’A little gossip I could deal with’ She gave a small sigh, ’you are probably right’ she admitted, ’but it would be easier to be a middle class girl, of a middle class family, rather than a poor girl from a poor family,’ she gave a whistful sigh. She had read stories of girls raised by inheritance and fortunes, and it was suddenly acceptable for them to marry a man of wealth and stature for love. This romance of theirs may not last the year but
’I asked Marcus Lytton, if I might be able to save all my funds and buy a dress for next year, he refused because of who my family is.’ she admitted, it was supposed to illicit sympathy, ’we joked afterwards that I might one day discover that I am a czarina, or something’ she gave a small smile, ’it would be a nice thought’ Maddie gave a small laugh. ’Perhaps I still will discover that my grandma, and grandpa in Moscow are actually the czar and czarina of Russia and I will really be cinderella.’ she said referencing the dress she had worn the night that they admitted their feelings for each other.
Handsome and Maddie's story was not bound to be an easy one, but Handsome was too much of a lovesick puppy to ever admit that there might be more than just a few troubles in the future if they made their romance public knowledge. He knew better to keep it on the down low, though — even two upper class children their age couldn't waltz around declaring their feelings for one another!
Handsome tugged Maddie closer and placed a tiny peck on her jawline. If he had things his way, she would eventually be Cinderella. If his father had still been alive, he'd probably have suggested that Handsome marry a proper woman and keep Maddie has his mistress; however, that was not something Handsome could imagine himself doing. He was too loyal of a person — he did not wish to be forced to split his affection between two ladies, especially with only one of them obviously having his heart!
"It really doesn't matter," he insisted, tugging lightly on a strand of her hair that flew free from her bun. "If I want to marry you, no one can stop me. They can't take away my inheritance, even if they try to ruin my reputation. I don't need you to be a czarina."
![[-]](https://old.charmingrp.com/images/collapse.png)
![[Image: ItXbzb.png]](https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/ItXbzb.png)
![[Image: haddie_zps26uqdttk.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/Enelya/haddie_zps26uqdttk.jpg)
