hang up all my fragile thoughts ;

Charity Imogen Burbage Hufflepuff ; 6th yr ; Pureblood ; Order of the Phoenix

[charitasburbage]

emmanuelle delacour·:

She was new,some said ‘fresh meat’ but what was she to some stupide boy in Slytherin who sat behind her in Charms. She didn’theed them attention in Beauxbatons when they made mocking commentary, she woulddo nothing of the sort here either. “What kind of spells are you looking for?”She wondered, curious if she could’ve done the same. “Only if you are nothungry—I might just give up and come back tomorrow. Maybe drop that book in thenearest fireplace when I can.” She gestured to the settled book that screechedpreviously at her. “Is it always like this, this school? All the gossip?” She asked, wishful it was a onetimething.

“Erm--” Any made up spell that could’ve come to mind blanked and it was just her staring at Emmanuelle. “Defensive...ones. Unique. I’m just trying to learn how to protect myself. I mean I don’t practice, practice them I just memorize the incantation and the wand movement.” She knew she shouldn’t feel embarrassed for wanting to protect herself, but she was worried Emmanuelle may get the wrong impression that she was doing the opposite and looking for offensive ones. A needless rambling in the back of her mind, but Charity wanted to ensure others she was safe and a friend not someone who could potentially harm them. 

“Not too hungry, I’ll manage, especially if this is important to you.” Which was just like Charity to offer. She snickered at the question, considering it before slowly nodding. “Actually...yeah. Hogwarts sadly thrives on gossip, names, who knows who, who has snogged who...it’s like a game show here.”

[charitasburbage]

ludovic bagman·:

“Nice one—I feel offended.” Ludo faked, a hand heldto his heart as he pulled a teary-eyed look off in one second, and back tonormal the next. “Is there really?Like partying with a bunch of menaces, you know, I’d thought you’d be tucked inthe corner, deducting points, reading a book. Very un-Burbage of you.” I’m notsurprised to find you here, big party, people, the whole shebang. They wereback to normal, that memory of the Yule Ball hung in his mind but he heeded itno attention when liquor thundered through his veins like a newfound power. “Areyou mad because I’m here or are youmad because this is my scene and notyours? Just tell me how our next argument is going to go.” And he was back tohis regular bout of poor man’s deflection.

“I can’t deduct points, I’m not a Prefect.” She snorted as though she’d successfully made some sort of dig at him. And failing miserably. The more Ludo made his digs, Charity felt that familiar spark of annoyance surge from her stomach. “Y’know what? Y’know what?” She took a step forward, faltering slightly, as she had at the Yule Ball but this time with the influence of a slight buzz and lack of heels “I jus’ y’know, I’m tired of the mad. Tired of the angry! Now I’m mad cause I’m just here tryin’ to have a time and you’re all out here breathing in my space with your angry. Are you mad because I’m here or are you mad that this may just start to become my scene and you’ll have to see me more?” 

[hopeamikaelsons]

[charitasburbage]

@ludovicsbagman

[bidaisyjohnson]

Chloe Bennet + fight like a girl campaign (2/?)

[charitasburbage]

wendy slinkhard‌:

As Charity talked about wanting to become the Muggle Studies professor, Wendy’s face lit up, her smile spreading across her face. She loved listening to people when they talked about things they were passionate about, the futures they envisioned for themselves. She had her own ideas, her own future planned, but it felt better to Wendy to hear other people get excited. “You’ll be a wonderful professor, Charity! You’re passionate and I think people would be honored to be taught by you. As far as limits go, it might depend on context, but to get other wixen, especially pureblooded ones, to question that – I think you’d be able to do it.” There was no wiping her smile off her face now, too excited for Charity’s possible future. “It definitely makes me think about when and where to use magic, which helps to blend in at home. But sometimes I get so used to using it at Hogwarts that I forget when I’m home.” She shook her head, laughing slightly. Charity’s question made her shrug at first, chewing on her lip while thinking before speaking. “It was and it wasn’t at the same time. I always thought I was something different. Things would happen so suddenly, so randomly that it had to feel like magic or something. So deep down I felt like I knew but being told, making it real, that was a whole different story. I almost didn’t want to believe it until I got here, seeing the castle for the first time.” Her sorting had been what really cemented this whole thing. “Now sometimes it’s hard to imagine, after seeing what I’ve accomplished over the years, that anyone could even think I shouldn’t be magical because my parents were muggles.” 

Her head ducked with Wendy’s reaction, cheeks tinging pink and herself unable to bite back a smile of pride. “Thank you, Wendy. It’ll be a lot of work but I just want to help open up minds and create a sort of bridge between worlds.” If Charity could teach those her age, if she could actually get them to understand, that was the first step in making the world a better place. Her smile remained in place as Wendy described using magic habitually at Hogwarts and then needing to refrain at home. “I know what you mean, we live in plain sight in the Muggle world and it’s hard for me to remember to not use it. I’ll see someone almost drop something and just want to stop it from happening right then and there--and instead I just have to sprint over and help.” 

Wendy’s experience with magic, how she’d always felt different caused Charity to almost daydream finding out that way herself. She was of pure blood--poor, bottom of the food chain compared to those with powerful names--but she’d always known. “I wish I could’ve found out that way.” She couldn’t help but say, smiling fondly. “I think I’d want to write about your experience, and the others--include them in my classes, make those that are Muggleborn feel that they’re not alone. And eventually put an end to people thinking you shouldn’t be magical just because your parents are Muggles.” 

[charitasburbage]

rita skeeter·:

“I wouldn’t count on them to find out much of anything.” It’s delivered with nonchalance, a simple shrug rolling from her shoulders as she approaches the woman. Charity Burbage, quiet as a mouse and as quaint as such. “Let alone allow the rest of us in on whatever it is they’re investigating. Not after the debacle with Potter.” James Potter and his band of merry men could start a revolution and Rita was sure that there’d be a following of lemmings ready to fling themselves off nearest cliff for his approval. “It’s not like they’re about to publish every ounce of evidence to make themselves vulnerable.” She’d admired Charity’s determination, however she’d known and accepted as well as the next person that the Ministry and the papers had sought to cover up whatever was happening at Hogwarts. The world had turned into a firestorm of misinformation, leaking stories here and there that were surely bought and traded in the promise of immunity in the up and coming destruction. Rita had seen it before, had heard men in their high towers offering one another deals if only to remain unscathed as nations suffered, as people suffered, and whilst chaos was something in which she’d thrived in, she’d be damned if she’d allow it to happen to those she’d held closest. “The Prophet knows more than they’re letting on, o’course. As does the Ministry, it’s all between the lines.” 

She had no qualms with those accused, found them as amusing as most did, but Charity didn’t necessarily bend over backwards for them or have any desire to. She found respectful acquaintances with each, but she had a difficult time trying to wrap her head around Peter Pettigrew being one to conjure the Dark Mark. He’d always been kind, shy, and she’d always shared polite, easygoing conversations with him in class. “That’s true...I just feel like...a lot of it is hushed up...and I’m not sure if that’s because we’re still considered children or there’s more going on than we’re allowed to know.” She could’ve bitten back the words, but this was stemming from the frustration of finding herself relaxing and only turning around to find another fearful attack with the rest of the students. She’d wanted to come home and for it all to have just been a bad dream. “My whole question is...why? What’s the point of feigning ignorance?”

[charitasburbage]

emmanuelle delacour·:

Reliefflooded her when she saw it was Charity, a fellow ‘Puff, as shoulders slumped,and her wand lowered slightly. The woes of Hogwarts and the clear rift between some within houses andothers had never been—well, Emmanuelle didn’t plan to understand it. She came here for her last year, no sense injumping on a bandwagon she truly didn’t carefor.

The dimlylit space grew when she pointed her wand at it for the light to shift, expandwith the flicker of the candle as she turned back to the shelf. “ProfessorBinns gave me permission to come down here—looking for some old books on faileddiplomacy, he said they would be a bit daunting—but that one keeps screaming at me and now I have put myselfon edge for no reason.” She explained. “What has got you wandering the castle when dinner is being served?”

Charity had never made it a habit to go for the wand, trusting people and naively assuming no one in Hogwarts would pull theirs on her. But Emmanuelle was right to be on guard, and Charity needed to realize it too. “Trying to find inspiration for an essay topic. And also wondering if there are any new spells I could learn.” Not that she’d use them, Charity liked knowing the incantation and wand movements. “If you need help looking I’m happy to, then we can go to dinner together?” 

[dailymarvelwoc]

[charitasburbage]

ludovic bagman·:

Where: Lily’s Birthday, Gryffindor Common Room With: Ludo Bagman & @charitasburbage·

The party infull swing, the crowded walls of Gryffindor swallowing them whole, and it was the atmosphere Ludoliked. The kind that he could’ve had four or five of the bottles being passedaround, a few hits of whatever Xan was offering the crowd that lingered nearthe fire, using the dying embers of the endless flame to light the end ofwhatever it is they wanted to smoke. He was blurred, the kind that consumed andfilled Ludo to be everything hewanted to be: an unmistakable mess.Still, as he turned, came face to face with her, he cocked a brow. “Well if itisn’t Hufflepuff’s wonderwixen.” Hecrooned, lifting the half-finished bottle to his lips. “Didn’t think partieslike this were your scene?”

Somehow every time she managed to slowly finish a drink a new one was shoved into her hand by the wild and evasive Theo Stebbins. Who purposefully spun away with a gleeful laugh if Charity opened her mouth to protest. At least they were more bearable and easier to stomach than the pumpkin juice at the Yule Ball. By now she was one of the many that were in a happy mood, mind buzzing, cheeks slightly flushed, and actually enjoying herself quicker than any other party. She could see herself having been Gryffindor. 

Not watching where she was going, or maybe part of her had gravitated toward him, her neck craned up to sneer at Ludo. “Well if it isn’t....whatever.” Charity’s eyes rolled at both him and her lack of a comeback, making it a point to take a drink with his question. “There’s more to me than meets the eyes, I guess. I’m here for Lily. And I’m not surprised to find you here, big party, people, the whole shebang.”

[charitasburbage]

bertha jorkins‌:

Bertha really had no opinion of Charity. She seemed nice enough, and Bertha herself hadn’t heard anything bad about the girl but she wasn’t one that she bumped into often. No, Bertha herself was often fluttering about the Gryffindors or hanging around the seventh-years. She was always on the trail of a wonderful story but even wonderful story hunted needed some breaks. So Bertha was at the Hufflepuff table, eating a nice little sandwich she had made herself and smiling happily. All the seats beside her were left empty, leaving plenty of room for Charity herself to walk right up to her and start a conversation.

“Charity!” she beamed up at her dormmate.  “Well,” she paused to think. “I guess I’d have to say that all this Death Eater stuff is a bunch of nonsense. There’s no way the four of them would ever do that! Ridiculous.” She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about the information she’d gotten from her dad but if he’d told her it must be true right? Certainly, everyone else seemed to think so as well. “The illegal circus seems the most likely. Something plausible enough they would do but I still don’t think they’d take it that far. The Ministry’s just scared of how creative their minds work. Everyone’s scared of people who do things differently, those with creative minds.”

Maybe the dislike stemmed from Bertha’s flitting around those who had the potential for stories, much like Charity with Muggleborns and halfbloods that had experience in the Muggle world. They weren’t unlike one another in that sense now were they? Realizing that caused a bitter taste in her mouth, more so directed towards Ludo than Bertha. 

Force of habit caused her to smile back, not quiet as big as Bertha’s, but still mutual and reflective of the other’s energy, and nodding then as she mentioned sharing her own thoughts about the core four. “Do you have an idea of who could’ve?” She asked curiously, wondering if Bertha’s rumors and gossip stemmed from facts or random guesses and observations. Again, another way the two were similar, Charity too had a tendency to jump to conclusions and the  hypothetical. “Scared of their creative minds? You don’t think they like creativity?” The Dark Mark was by no means creative. But if someone were to approach them with a creative solution would they turn it down?

[daisysquakesss]

Chloe Bennet for #FeelALIVE Campaign by Boss.

[sethkate]

[charitasburbage]

@ludovicsbagman

[saaranghaeyo]

My current sexuality: Daisy Johnson’s “game on” face.

aka the legendary Quake having absolute faith in herself and Mama May. 

[lunassists]

CHARACTER AESTHETIC: THE BOOKWORM

“the books gave a comforting message: you are not alone.”

[charitasburbage]

ludovic bagman·:

This might’vebeen the third or fourth time he was alonewith her, even if there were people around, he didn’t heed them much attention tothose around him. At the notion of her secret keeping abilities, as he held herto his chest, as they swayed to the music, his sights settled on hers. “I’m notgoing to tell you my secrets.” Wasn’t that saving her the headache, the need tocare? It should’ve been seen as ablessing in disguise, something that gave off the ideal of freedom. She needn’thear the woes of someone she didn’t know, wouldn’t see when school was done,and wouldn’t have to deal with. They weren’t even in the same year—why bother?

There was no point. People didn’t need to understand aside they didn’t see, and he didn’t need to disperse an emotional recoil fromthose who would stare at him sympathetically. If he heard anything along thelines of ‘Poor Ludo…’ with some sadexpression, he might’ve set the bloody castle on fire out of retribution. Hedidn’t want it from them—and certainlynot her. He shook his head. “I’m average height—“ He looked down to her. “Bloodylearn to walk in those shoes and I’d be a bit more sympathetic. No one told youto wear things you couldn’t move in. Was that a plot so you wouldn’t have todance with Amos? Poor soul, that’s cruel, Burbage, even for you. I thought you were nicer than that.”

Dancing was oneof the things he was both good at, and made no concessions to make that known. Mostthings fell under that, but this, as he moved her along to the music, he didn’twant her to fall. Perhaps it might’ve been one of the few rare moments that were his to steal without telling anyone,enjoying it for the sake of enjoying it. Hand settled on the middle of her backpulled her close enough to make it look like he was making an effort, her handheld in his, as he snorted under his breath. “Just follow my lead. Last thing Ineed is you taking a tumble and bringing me down with you.” But he did chuckleto the thought, that small smile appeared for a moment as he caught her starewith his and tried not to linger. She looked good—eyes raked down her frame ina way he passed solely as making sure she didn’t step on his feet, watching hermovements. But he wasn’t some moron who couldn’t see what was before him. Orthat he sniped someone’s date. Tongue perched between his teeth, he didn’t sayanything as they moved.

“So what, ifhe didn’t, you didn’t plan on coming?” Ludo could’ve asked—there were a few fitbirds in school he would’ve easily gone for without a second thought. The onlyone he did ask was for a laugh, and Ludo got quite the one, aside from her sister’s glare. He could’ve askedMcKinnon if she hadn’t been snatched, and Stebbins was the same. “No one reallyleft to ask once everyone started pairing off.” He suggested, shrugging hisshoulders. Considerable his words were, they could’ve looped her into the frayof such, or left her thinking. Could he have asked her? It lingered on hermind, in a way he was thankful his thought process wasn’t an obvious expressionon his features, as he looked around, before catching her fumble once more. “Nexttime there’s a party, please wear shoes you can stand in without risking twistingan ankle.” His usual demeanor, that growl that lingered behind words was gone.Almost like he was smiling, shaking his head. “I’m almost worried to give youback to Diggory, you might fall and break a hip on the way.”

Not that hewanted to pass her off in the first place. No, if he thought about it, hewanted her to stay with him, because he wanted to unravel her mind andunderstand why she heeded to be all the things she wanted to be. Unapologetic—thatwas how he saw her, in every way. It almost made him curious, want to questionher without actually allowing the words to rise up and be spoke. “Just let meknow when you’re done with me.” He murmured. “I’ll pass you back off to your date. Don’t want to be accused ofsnatching up someone’s date.” Amos was a good lad—and certainly a grade aboveLudo in the manner of being a decent person. It made sense, he considered,looking down at her, making no move to push her away. Ludo was selfish—all heneeded was her to see that.

I’m not going to tell you my secrets. Charity merely shrugged at the words, indicating that she understood that Ludo felt that way. “Suit yourself--but at least now you know if you did tell me one, I wouldn’t tell a soul.” Why did it always seem like she was goading him? Why couldn’t she just accept anything he told her, and why was she insistent that he was different than he let on? 

Average height, that was a laugh. Charity was average-- “You should be sympathetic now since I don’t know how to ‘bloody walk in these shoes’.” Her mouth opened to protest that while no one had told her to wear the heels, she’d been like a sheep and followed the flock--and the plot that she’d worn them to not dance with Amos caused her to turn scarlet. “That’s not true! I wore them to feel beautiful for once in my life, and it was what all the other girls were doing so...I...I didn’t want to not fit in...” She felt tongue-tied, wondering if she’d hurt Amos’ feelings somehow. Charity stood out anyway with her love for Muggles, her willingness to not follow the pureblood code and desire to keep their bloodlines pure. “I’m dancing with you, aren’t I? Clearly I can go off and dance with Amos after all.” 

As she said that, Charity was practically clinging to the taller man in front of her, hoping she wouldn’t stumble and take Ludo down with her. “That would just be icing on the cake, wouldn’t it?” But he made it easy to keep up with him, strides slow and steady, strong arms holding her upright and keeping her in place--all she had to do was move her feet and follow. It was hard relinquishing control, to give in to another and allow them to lead. To trust in someone else that she’d only been arguing with instead of speaking civilly. Yet here she was, slowly allowing herself to relax, like a warmed cup of tea flowing through each limb. 

“I would’ve gone with friends.” She answered quickly, immediately defensive and perhaps snarking back just a bit. Did he think so little of her that if someone hadn’t asked, she wouldn’t have bothered showing up? Charity wasn’t shallow or embarrassed to show up without a date. She remained silent with his answer, wondering briefly who he would’ve asked had others not been paired off. “Was there someone you wanted to ask that got paired off?” She really had a bad habit of asking the questions that floated into her noggin, didn’t she? Chuckling, Charity nodded her head in agreement to wear shoes that were comfortable. “Trust me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and these things are going to be tossed off the Astronomy Tower after tonight.” She found herself smiling at the words, eyes meeting his then rolling. “Give me a break, you’re teaching me how to use them right now and I’m doing just fine.” 

But Charity didn’t necessarily want to go back to Amos, and she felt guilty for feeling that way. Amos had been kind in asking her to the Ball, and here she was spending time with another. How long was too long? And as though Ludo read her mind, he spoke, and Charity found herself answering earnestly. “I wouldn’t be done with you...I like dancing with you--” But he was right, she had a date, she was neglecting someone by spending time with another. That wasn’t fair. “...are you done with me?” 

[charitasburbage]

wendy slinkhard·:

It was so warming to Wendy that Charity had such a love for everything relating to Muggles. Having grown up completely integrated with them, not knowing she was a witch until her thirteenth year, something that most muggleborns in her year had learned. But here was Charity, the opposite, completely immersed in the wixen world wanting to know everything there is to know about Muggles. Wendy smiled even wider as she listened to the other girl talk. “Resilient, that’s a word for it, I agree. I grew up knowing this, of course, but I bet learning it from your perspective makes it even more remarkable that Muggles even made it this far without magic.” She paused, suddenly thinking about a past memory that made her laugh, from when she found out she could do magic outside of Hogwarts. “Gran is still getting used to me being able to do magic, still, I’m on a very strict no magic at home unless it’s an emergency. Maybe one day she’ll get used to it and see how useful cutting some corners could be.” Like using magic to lift the couch instead of attempting to move it just to clean underneath it. Or magic the dishes clean when they somehow pile up. The little, tedious things. “But your holiday sounds just perfect for you.”

“Oh absolutely! I have loads of notes--my trunk is practically overflowing with them. I’m hoping one day to become a professor here and teach Muggle Studies, help the young witches and wizards of our world see that Muggles are actually just like us, only without magic. And yes, they’ve made it so far! I almost wonder if we’re limited with our reliance on it.” She flashed Wendy a sheepish smile, realizing she’d babbled her thoughts without realizing, a common trait of Charity Burbage. “I think that’s wise of your Gran, limiting it to emergencies. Hopefully won’t have to but I’m sure she’ll get used to it like you said. Was it hard for you to wrap your head around when you first discovered you could do magic?” Every Muggleborn had a different story, and she loved hearing each and every one of them. 

[charitasburbage]

wendy slinkhard·:

Upon hearing her name, Wendy looked about the room before finding Charity sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her, which brought a wide smile to Wendy’s face. She made her way over to the fellow Hufflepuff, sitting down with her back against the end of the couch and brought her leg up, so she could put all of her focus on Charity. “Could you believe it’s been a busy first week?” Wendy laughed, shaking her head. She’s been feeling half out of it for a few days now, too focused on everything that wasn’t her classes and then when she would remember that homework was something that needed to be done, she was spending any free time in the library. “My holiday? Hm, it was good, I suppose. I spent a few days with my Gran then I came back here. Found out the school was closed so I spent the last couple of days in Hogsmeade, actually. It was different but also kind of amazing.” A smile came to her lips, Wendy liked the idea of living in an area that was heavy if not only comprised of wixen. It was different than her practically all muggle home. “What about you? I hope it was good.” 

Wendy was always there to lift her spirits--Charity was usually an optimist herself, but the growing darkness was proving itself difficult to wade above it. “I’ve missed it,” She admitted with a laugh, finding it hard to believe herself that that had been her reaction. As a sort of finally craving of fulfillment she’d been searching for. Charity smiled as Wendy described her break, happy to hear her friend had spent quality time with her family, frowning slightly with the mention of the brief closure of their school. She’d been worried, but in an effort to keep the tone light, didn’t breathe a word. “I spent the majority of my time perusing the Muggle library near my home, reading about their history, how they discovered electricity--a kite and a line and a key, can you believe that? And catching up with my family. Doesn’t seem special to most, how I spent my holiday, but it was amazing for me. I missed being surrounded by Muggles and their world. They’re so...” She searched for the word. “Resilient?”