good fight

[lovencharity]

(  paulina  singer  |  cis-woman  |  she/her  )  —  was  that  CHARITY  BURBAGE  passing  through  diagon  alley?  yes,  i  think  so…  people  around  them  say  they  remind  them  of  stacks  of  vinyl  records,  torn  pages  from  a  book,  waves  crashing  on  jagged  rocks,  long  winding  roads,  peace  signs  painted  on  buildings,  which  i  suppose  seems  to  fit  that  RAVENCLAW.  they’re  actually  pretty  RAW,  UNREPENTANT,  and  EDGY  for  a  TWENTY-FOUR  year  old,  but  i  wonder  if  it  serves  them  well  when  working  as  a  occupation  JUNIOR  MUGGLE  STUDIESPROFESSOR  at  HOGWARTS.  have  you  heard  that  rumor  has  it  that  HALFBLOOD  is  a  MEMBER  for  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  PHOENIX?  i  wouldn’t  have  guessed…  but  this  is  a  conversation  we  should  be  having  somewhere  else.

full    name:    Charity  Aleksandra  Burbage

nicknames:    N/A  unless  someone  tries

birthday:  February  9,  1954

Age: 24

accent:    A  little  cockney,  but  learned  received  pronunciation  when  it  comes  to  English,  Some  Ukrainian,

sexuality:    bisexual

relationship    status:    Single

positive    traits:    unrepentant,  astute,  observant

negative    traits:    raw,  edgy,  prolix

patronus:    Friesian  Horse

wand    type:    Cherry  Wood  with  Unicorn  Hair,  Nine  Inches

A  fire  was  burning….

Somewhere  in  London  near  the  Old  Spitalfields  marketplace,  Charity  Burbage  grew  up  with  her  wizard  father  and  muggle  mother.  She  was  much  closer  to  her  mother.  The  woman  indulged  her  daughter’s  natural  curiosity  and  recognized  her  brilliance  from  a  young  age…but  even  she  couldn’t  keep  the  child  indoors.

Surely,  Charity  was  intelligent  and  well-read,  but  the  loud  bustle  of  the  city  called  to  her.  And  soon,  she  found  herself  fully  emerged  in  the  different  cultures  and  styles  surrounding  the  city  in  the  60s  and  70s.  She  loved  the  earthiness  of  hippies,  the  grit  of  the  punks,  the  devil-may-care  of  the  new  wave.

But  she  was  excited  for  Hogwarts  and  found  herself  immersing  into  the  wizarding  world  in  the  fall,  but  diving  headfirst  into  the  excitement  summers  brought  her  in  the  muggle  world.  It  was  those  dynamics  that  drew  her  to  muggle  studies,  that  drew  her  to  speak  loudly  of  her  beliefs.  Charity  Burbage  did  not  give  a  shit  what  you  thought  of  her.

So  follow  her  through  the  streets  of  London-town  or  through  the  halls  of  Hogwarts  as  she  will  literally  make  her  mark  where  she  sees  fit.  She’ll  ask  you  questions  until  the  answer  satisfies  her  and  expect  the  same  from  you.

She  was  all  about  critique  and  being  critical  of  the  world  around  her.  Surely,  sometimes  that  made  her  a  little  quick  to  judge,  especially  for  someone  considered  to  be  so  open  minded.  But  reading  people  quickly  was  really  the  only  option  she  had.  So  that  applied  everywhere,  to  friends,  to  teachers,  to  leaders,  to  politicians.

In  some  ways,  behaving  that  way  felt  safer.  She  kept  a  few  close  to  her,  but  never  really  indulged  in  why.  That  would  take  much  more  to  get  out  of  her.  Parts  of  it  are  fear  of  course,  for  her  friends,  and  her  mother  especially.

Charity  knows  she  is  not  a  ‘fighter’.  Not  physically.  She  can  provide  intellect,  and  questions.  But  it’s  place  in  this  magical  society  feels  less  valued.  Charity  is  a  girl  with  just  as  many  answers  as  questions,  if  only  people  would  listen.

Post  Hogwarts,  suddenly  she  was  lost.  Muggle  friends  were  all  at  university  or  traveling  elsewhere  and  school  friends  were  suddenly  in  training  or  apprenticing.  At  a  standstill,  a  brilliant  girl  couldn’t  make  a  decision.  For  a  year,  she  found  herself  apparating,  when  she  could,  just  to  new  places.  Until  suddenly,  magic  seemed  pointless  -  she  took  trains.  The  time  to  think  was  time  well  spent.  It  was  also  around  time  that  stories  in  the  paper  were  becoming  more  troubling.  For  most  of  her  youth,  she  thought  these  things  were  contained  to  arguments  where  she  often  has  the  upper  hand.  The  world  as  she  saw  it  now,  frankly,  had  even  less  stark  differences  to  her  muggle  life.

Maybe  Hogwarts  was  the  safe  option;  for  her,  for  her  mother,  for  her  father  even.  Maybe  at  Hogwarts,  Charity  Alexandra  Burbage  would  find  what  she  sought  in  reason  and  discussion.  Afterall,  she’d  spent  years  making  rather  socratic  arguments  over  the  world  she  experienced.  Now  on  track  to  become  the  youngest  Muggle  Studies  Professor,  Charity  call  to  young  minds  is  a  near  revamp  of  how  the  subject  had  always  been  taught  -  and  some  are  happier  than  others.

For  as  likely  as  she  is  to  engage  in  deep  meaningful  conversation  with  you,  she  will  not  hesitate  to  outsmart  and  outwit  you  if  her  battle  calls  for  it.

–

Aesthetics:

Long  cardigans,  loose  curls  falling  in  every  direction,  handmade  jewelry,  leather  jackets,  freckles  known  only  to  those  close  enough  to  see,  corduroy  trousers,  vinyl  records  and  band  posters  scattered  on  walls,  snapped  guitar  strings,  torn  book  pages  shoved  into  a  diary,    a  bedside  table  that  looks  more  like  a  library,  hopping  subway  turnstiles  when  the  situation  calls  for  it,  setting  up  her  own  tutoring  station  in  the  library,  clearing  away  glass  mugs  in  an  East  London  bar,  silly  photographs  lining  her  bedroom,  a  book  of  spells  specifically  for  charming  permanent  marks  into  walls

–

Sounds  Like:

As  Tears  Go  By;  Marianne  Faithfull,  Cruel  to  be  Kind;  Nick  Lowe,  Big  Yellow  Taxi;  Joni  Mitchell,  Warrior  in  Woolworths;  X-Ray  Spex,  Monster;  Paramore…..

Facts:

Her  favorite  musical  artists  are  Marianne  Faithfull

She  can  play  most  instruments,  but  its  a  jack-of-all  trades,  master-of-none  situation

She  used  to  paint  Pro-Muggle  and  Muggleborn  signs  around  campus,  usually  right  on  the  stone  walls  and  quidditch  pitch.

She  likes  to  take  photographs  of  her  friends  lives.  The  style  I  imagine  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Nan  Goldin  in  the  80s.

There  is  a  group  of  muggle  friends  she  used  to  see  regularly  in  the  summers.  Her  relationship  to  them  can  be  a  little  strained  as  there’s  so  much  she  isn’t  allowed  to  tell  them.  They  are  a  wild  mix  of  universtiy  students,  artists,  punks,  hippies,  etc.

Connection  and  Plot  Ideas

THE  CLOSE  FRIENDS  charity’s  circle  that  she  interacts  with  usually  daily.  They  know  her  ins  and  outs.  She  is  drawn  to  people  who  feels  she  engage  in  both  mental  and  emotional  states.  She  is  talkative  and  likes  to  solve  problems.  They  were  an  academic  bunch,  but  they’re  interests  can  diverge  into  many  fields  likely  as  they’ve  grown.

open  connection

THE  CHILDHOOD  FRIENDS  Charity  is  a  halfblood  with  wizard  family  on  her  father’s  side.  She  would  know  some  other  wizard  children,  however  she  was  much  more  engaged  with  the  muggle  world  because  she  was  closer  to  her  mom  growing  up.

open  connection

THE  INSURGENTS    Someone  who  works  with  her  in  all  respects  for  her  beliefs  in  changing  the  view  anti-muggle  and  muggleborn  sentiment.  They  started  when  they  were  in  school,  and  have  found  a  way  to  continue  this  into  daily  life.

open  connection

THE  SILENCER  -  Somebody  trying  incredibly  hard  to  get  her  to  shut  up  about  her  pro  muggle  and  pro  muggleborn  talking  points.  It’s  a  real  battle  because  she  is  so  well  spoken  and  so  clever.  This  person  is  getting  to  the  point  of  considering  more  extreme  means  to  get  her  to  stop.  It  could  also  be  opposition  to  her  position  at  the  school,  pretty  flexible  on  this.

Open  Connection

EXES    Charity  never  dated  much,  but  was  always  a  little  too  mature  for  her  age  so  relationships  likely  never  made  it  very  far.  She  was  always  a  million  miles  away.

open  connection

DECISION  MAKER  Charity  was  indecisive  about  her  future.  It’s  a  typical  smart  kid,  told  they  were  gifted  when  they  were  young  and  now  they  are  suffering,  type  deal.  This  person  thinks  her  skills  are  better  put  to  use  in  the  magical  world.  They  may  have  even  suggested  she  become  a  teacher…

open  connection

FLING  In  some  ways  Charity  is  more  suited  to  flings,  she  can  be  endearingly  sweet  but  also  finds  her  brain  just  moving  too  fast.  She  is  someone  who  is  hard  to  keep  up  with.

open  connection

PRIDE  AND  PREJUDICE      Wizard  Pride  and  Prejudice,  lets  go.  I’m  flexible,  this  can  have  a  different  outcome  I  just  think  it  would  be  fun  that’s  all.

open  connection

[lovencharity]

augustspencer​:

“Christ” August said, startled by the voice whispering to him.He placed his hands, palms down over the open book before him, as if trying to brace himself. He had completely lost all sense of area awareness as he spiraled into doubt about this whole move. He glanced over his shoulder to find her…

A slender women, with curls encircling her face. She had sharp, but delicate features, and a easy smile. As August looked at her he felt his heartrate begin to normalize. 

“Sorry, you said I walked past it twice?” He asked, glancing back around the dark pub. She had said that rooms were for rent above the pub, but this place felt anything but homey. He straightened his shoulders, turning to face the one who has decided to help him, allowing a small smile. “I guess it would be safe to assume you are not a no-maj, would you care to elaborate on how I can get to Diagon Alley? “

“You  did”  She  confirmed  again  that  he  had  passed  the  back  entrance  to  the  street  twice.  Charity  was  not  enjoying  this,  but  it  felt  oddly  similar  to  trying  to  lead  students  to  their  own  conclusions.  And  funnily  enough,  when  provided  with  the  correct  information  -  the  best  conclusions  were  usually  drawn.  Propped  up  on  her  elbows  along  the  counter,  Charity  side-eyed  the  room  before  looking  back  to  the  American.  

Her  loud,  lovely  Americans  from  the  muggle  train  systems  were  always  somewhat  enchanting.  She  found  that  the  decided  confidence  was  only  unwarranted  in  the  rude  ones  -  like  anywhere  really.  “I  could  elaborate.”  She  nodded  again.  “Could  you  recall  where  you’ve  paced  along  however?”

The  question  may  not  seem  obvious  but  Charity  avoided  letting  her  eyes  dart  in  that  direction.  So,  fine  -  perhaps  this  was  a  test  for  her  own  entertainment.  There  was  nothing  malicious  about  The  Leaky  Cauldron,  except  perhaps  left  over  lunch  specials.  “Have  you  concluded  that  it’s  not  the  way  you  came  in?”  She  smiled,  perhaps  letting  on  the  facetiousness  that  allowed  her  to  watch  another’s  brain  work  -  her  greatest  curiosity.  

[lovencharity]

open to anyone

a quick contract signing for her first flat at a cafe` in diagon alley

It  was  a  little  place,  nestled  into  a  corner  in  East  London.  Through  the  glamour  there  were  a  few  more  buildings  and  flats  that  would  meet  the  muggle  eye.  It  was  a  find  beyond  anything  else  and  all  she  could  think  was  showing  it  to  her  mum,  her  dad,  to  Alice,  to  Emmeline  -  but  she  wanted  it  to  be  ready  first.  “There’s  only  a  few  weeks  left  in  the  semester.”  She  signed  off  on  the  parchment,  making  the  third  floor  second  door  on  the  right  her  own  space  -  speaking  to  the  little  notary  who  would  send  it  off  with  an  owl.  Something  less  nomadic  settled  in  her,  but  made  her  wonder  how  long  she  could  last  like  that.  Silence  settled  over  while  the  clerk  went  back  to  work  and  she  was  aware  of  someone  behind  her.  “It’s  usually  impolite  to  listen  in  on  property  developments.”  And  of  course,  she  didn’t  want  any  old  person  knowing  she’d  finally  chosen  somewhere  solid  for  her  time  outside  of  Hogwarts. “But  it’s  usually  a congratulatory  moment.” @antemortemstarters​

[lovencharity]

g-parkinson​:

It was a weird request. Hogwarts didn’t often want those kinds of things. Mostly just texts on how dragons are dangerous and shouldn’t be messed around with. That was true, of course. But there was a beauty to them that wasn’t found anywhere else in Georgie’s opinion. She stood up from her desk, smiling a bit as she moved towards her work area. “I don’t have much in terms of older accounts. Those are mostly in special research libraries.” She moved her wand, the pages she needed starting to neatly stack on the long workbench. “There are some modern anatomical drawings that have been done recently at some of the reserves. And if you can find Mark, he should have a book he published a few years ago about dragon migration patterns over the years.” When the papers stopped flying, she looked over at the other woman. “Are you the new Care of Magical Creatures professor?” 

Charity’s  eyes  peered  over  the  stacks  of  paper  that  had  neatly  landed  along  the  workspace,  she  nodded  in  understanding  of  the  information  coming  towards  her.  “Muggle  studies.”  She  corrected,  taking  one  of  the  parchment  pieces  into  her  own  hands,  quickly  reading  over  for  anything  less  plan  -  valuable.  “And  assistant  professor.”  A  cordial  smile  on  her  lips  for  the  correction  before  moving  onto  another  slice  of  paper,  old  and  thin.  “I  think  the  cultural  context  crosses  over  more  than  they  will  think.  A  Friday  afternoon  class  type  of  project  really.”  Of  course  Charity  also  considered  that  spilling  her  entire  overhaul  plans  for  how  the  Muggle  Studies  department  may  be  negative.  She’d  already  had  to  appear  in  the  Ministry’s  Education  department  to  finish  out  certifications,  and  she  knew  where  to  expect  pushback.  “Illustrations,  old  wives  tales,  historical  accounts.  Do  you  think  such  things  match  up  across  muggle  interpretations?”

[lovencharity]

georgettexollivander​:“

May as well have screamed my name. My stomach is still in my throat,” Georgette raised her eyebrows. “Thank you for that,” the playful sarcasm passed through her lips. She put her wand away. Better Charity to be the one to startle her. If it had been anyone else, that wand could have likely been used. Luckily Georgette was quick on her toes and didn’t go blasting away at any small thing. She held her wand with as much power as she did while she was making it. — a secret still no one knew. It broke the wandmaker’s heart that she couldn’t say that she was a wandmaker. Would Garrick ever allow it? She was already twenty-five for Christ’s sake.

“Oh, just looking, y’know, seeing what’s here. Same as you, I imagine.“ — or because the materials she could find there that would be far more difficult, expensive or not as interesting if she followed the texts. The texts never got it. There was a mastery that couldn’t be put into words or a moving photograph to explain the emotion it takes to put the seemingly random pieces together. Georgette tossed a few things around one of the boxes, not paying particular attention to them at the time.

She was standing there with a professor, someone she considered a friend, in a store with no one else in sight. Georgette wanted to badly to express the joy, curiosity and mapping out how to create something that so few in the Wizarding World could but had been told over and over and over again since she was fifteen not to tell anyone. Her whole life was a fucking secret, her passion ought to be as well.

But …did it have to be?

She spotted a rough green gemstone and picked it up, raising it to eye level between her two fingers. “Green Aventurine,” she said. She never understood why crystals and gems were only peppered through their education at Hogwarts. There were so many facets to the study that it could warrant a full curriculum. Alas, another failure on Hogwarts’ part. “Did you know that Green Aventurine has soothing energy? It can balance our emotional body and create inner harmony. Adding something like this to a wand,” she cleared her throat and looked back down at the box, “it could bring a wix’s nervousness or anger to a softer place while using their wand. More effective that way.”

Georgette rolled her eyes. “You don’t need me telling you this stuff. The corner of her lip turned upside “You’re the professor.”

Charity  had  always  liked  to  watch  others,  observing  how  they  changed  in  the  dynamics  of  a  room.  Her  fun  at  parties  had  always  been  finding  hushed  conversations  and  wondering  over  what  things  would  change.  Of  course,  it  all  just  lead  to  her  own  hypotheses,  more  often  proven  true  than  not.  Her  assumptions  of  Georgette  through  the  years  were  more  or  less  correct  given  that  thread.  What  Charity  didn’t  often  expect  was  more  friendship  to  be  born  of  it.  

They  were  conversational,  as  she  often  was.  Yet,  there  was  less  girlishness  between  then,  she  figured  was  the  best  way  to  describe  it.  The  frivolities  sought  with  Emmeline  or  Alice  could  be  an  escape.  In  fact,  she  may  have  shared  more  of  a  mind  with  Georgette  than  a  younger  version  of  herself  would  have  admitted.  

This  especially  was  watching  someone  in  their  element.  “What  makes  you  pick  it  out  though?”  She  questioned  with  eyes  tracking  the  green  stone,  her  own  hands  just  barely  touching  over  the  top  of  the  bin.  She  did  nod  along  with  all  of  the  fact  “Are  you  looking  for  inspiration?”  Maybe  there  was  a  better  way  to  phrase  it,  but  Charity  wanted  to  see  where  it  would  draw  the  wandmaker’s  mind  to  for  the  words.    

“Professor  according  to  who?”  The  question  was  a  joke,  with  inclination  in  her  speech.  “No,  today  I  a  but  a  mere  rebel  among  the  ravagers  of  junk.”

[lovencharity]

alicemacmillan​:

“– yes, it’s a castle filled with children - charity, my love – that’s what a school is” brows furrowing, as if she was waiting for the punch line. laughter bubbled as she realized what she was getting at, “ah, so you feel like an actual adult then - to think we thought that we knew everything, anything bad felt life ending at the time” that and the heartbreak felt like it was soul crushing, by godric she wanted to go back and shake her seventeen year old self and tell her that this was just a soul crushing moment - a defining moment, but something that was going to shape her into the person she was today. 

“of course you did –” as if it was obvious, charity always seemed like she was two steps ahead and by godric, alice could use that if her head was screwed on right, “that defeats the point of guessing – come on char, humour me! who do you think lady luck decided on – what would be painfully ironic” she mused, any ounce of dread she once had at the thought of frank had dissipated, ever since he had found her in the office - ever since she had heard his sincerity, she couldn’t shake the lack of anger – she was at ease, so much so that she could joke about it. it was still painful in a way - to have him so close and yet he was far, friendship in itself would be a challenge that she wasn’t sure she was ready to embark on.

--

It  was  still  oddly  inbetween,  with  only  one  other  person  being  anywhere  near  her  age.  Of  course  it  was  odd  that  this  year’s  seventh  years  may  have  actually  known  her  as  a  student;  but  the  strangest  part  was  considering  how  old  some  of  the  professors  may  actually.  She’d  had  suspicions,  a  guessing  game,  on  it  before  -  but  they  somehow  now  seemed  older  than  she  thought  they  were.  “And  I  was  such...an  uppity  little  thing.”  Every  so  often,  her  practiced  voice  would  slip  into  the  remnants  of  a  London  girl,  she  accepted  it  more  now.  “In  retrospect.”  She  grinned.  

A  loud  huff  and  groan  left  Charity’s  lips,  uncharacteristically  loud  with  her  head  rolling  back  on  the  couch.  Of  course,  she  hadn’t  even  seen  Frank  that  long  ago  and  it  never  seemed  to  come  up.  At  school  or  not,  the  romantic  entanglements  of  her  core  friends  never  seemed  to  ever  change.  “Maybe  change  fields  if  you  didn’t  want  it  to  happen.”  She  mused,  a  little  bit  of  a  smirk  upon  her  lips  looking  towards  Alice  -  a  trial  of  her  wits.  However,  what  Charity  decided  almost  instantaneously  was  that  these  things  must  happen  not  just  for  a  reason,  but  because  they  themselves  allowed  it  to  happen.  If  Emmeline  could  show  up  in  Hogsmeade  on  a  trip  weekend,  and  mention  just  as  much  of  Tristan,  then  Charity  saw  no  difference  here.  “What  would  you  want  working  with  him  to  be  like?”

[lovencharity]

augustspencer​:

closed starter - charity @ lovencharity location - leaky cauldron

“i mean…this has to be it?”

August quickly folds the map, stuffing it into his back pocket. He tugs on the strap of his bookbag, tightening the strap that was slung over his shoulder. He pulled the worn baseball cap off his head, pushing open the door to the unassuming building tucked away off charing cross road.

As his eyes adjusted to the difference in light, this locale being very dark and dingy even though it was the middle of the day. He saw a few patrons scattered across the wooden tables. He meanders over to the bar, beckoning the barkeep and asking for a finger of firewhisky. “that’d be 17 sickles” the barkeep said, and August looked at the collection of coins he pulled from his pocket. 

“Uhmm…”

He held his hand out, feeling like an absolute fool, from which the barkeep took a number of midsized coins. “Thanks” August breathed, placing a large coin down on the bar, and moving towards a empty table in the rear of the large room.  

He sat down, placing his bag at his feet and studied the area. Looking at the walls, he tried to notice anything out of place. He noticed people walking past him towards the back of the pub, but kept put, studying the walls and seeing if anything ‘looked’ like a port key. After downing his drink, he pulled a book from his bag, thumbing to a flagged page. He traced his fingers over the words, “great, so I guess I live in this pub now. No clue how to get to diagon.” he breathed out in defeat.

She’d  hoped  to  meet  Alice,  perhaps  figure  out  plans  for  the  upcoming  holiday  break.  She  was  trying  not  to  take  to  leaving  school  grounds  so  close  to  finals,  she  wanted  to  be  there  for  students.  But  this  was  honestly  the  easiest  way  to  do  it.  Charity  arrived  early  and  spend  the  passing  time  watching  the  figures  around  the  familiar  pub.  Some  went  about  their  lives  completely  unaware  of  the  quirks  and  oddities  that  surround  the  shadowy  tables.  

A  confused  traveler  was  nothing  new.  She’d  seen  even  the  most  confident  get  lost  on  her  travels,  and  tried  not  to  be  too  entertained  by  the  likely  humbling  situation.  However,  for  this  one,  Charity  sympathized.  There  was  no  sense  that  he  had  any  idea  of  where  he  was,  so  she  clasped  her  hands  together  and  leaned  over  slightly.  

“You’ve  walked  past  it  twice.”  

Her  voice  was  hushed,  but  she  did  offer  back  a  smile.  It  should  have  been  one  of  kindness,  but  the  delight  of  knowing  did  seep  through  just  slightly.  “But  just  in  case.  They  do  have  rooms  upstairs  if  you  decided  you’d  be  better  off  establishing  residency  here.  Otherwise,  have  you  really  thought  it  through ?”  She  questioned  in  earnest. 

[lovencharity]

corruptedbartemiscrouch​:

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you were talking to me.”

@antemortemstarters

For  as  much  as  she  did  love  the  weekend  Hogsmeade  trips,  she  did  have  obligations  to  monitor  throughout  the  day.    And  now  was  time  for  her  rounds  about  the  south-end  of  the  main  street  shops.  “Surely,  the  recognition  is  enough  now.”  Charity’s  eyebrow  raised,  in  slight  amusement  at  the  ignorance,  allowing  herself  to  step  past  him  as  she  had  previously  been  politely  asking  to  do.  

[lovencharity]

emmesvcnce​:

“sounds like it’s all about the company and if this is where you keep yourself entertained, then it’s your energy darling” warmth was what spread through her as she reminisced, bustling tables, laughter that was so loud that she was sure she could hear the ruckus from honeydukes - that’s what they said about the good times, wasn’t it? you don’t realize you were in them till they were all but a memory. 

“– and that’s how you stay young, love” she joked softly, “you know me, communication and i don’t have the best relationship” shrugging slightly, emmeline found herself finishing off her own pint. “i can’t just put up signs asking for a chat, believe it or not - repressing the loneliness seems to be a basic requirement of the job –” sympathetic smile etched at her lips as she wrapped her arm around hers, learning into her, “sorry Char –” she whispered, here she was complaining about what she had and yet she still got a change of scenery, “i bet tristan can keep you sane –” she pointed out, grin stretching her lips, “get into a debate about the effectiveness of the bubble head charm and that will keep you busy for days” 

-

“I  was  never  one  to  crave  company,  though  was  I?  It  just  happened  that  I  happened  upon  the  likes  of  you.”  To  say  she  was  content  being  a  wallflower  would  be  incorrect.  The  reality  of  her  situation,  as  Charity  saw  it,  was  that  she  could  comfortably  be  alone  -  more  so  back  then.  Wherever  she  was,  there  was  always  another  little  piece  of  her  concealed.  With  Emmeline,  she  likely  wouldn’t  discuss  something  as  muggle-like  as  her  mother’s  love  for  the  newest  television  model.  And  she  wouldn’t  tell  her  mother  much  of  the  floating  butterbeer  can  a  table  behind  Emmeline’s  head.  A  silly-student  trick  she  assumed.  

“You  could  always  ask  yourself  why  you  think  you  don’t  communicate  well.  Then  you’d  communicate  with  yourself.”  But  that  was  making  light  of  Emmeline’s  worries,  and  Charity’s  eyebrows  fell  to  a  sympathetic  expression.  Even  though,  comfortable  with  silence  she  couldn’t  help  but  let  out  a  little  huff  and  tap  Emmeline’s  leg  under  the  table  with  mention  of  someone  she’d  honestly  have  thought  would  have  come  up  earlier  in  their  day  -  given  the  previous  count  of  such  occurrences.  “Perhaps  I  should  invite  you  to  our  next  forum  and  you  can  participate.”  Her  grin  grew,  crinkling  up  with  a  reflective  twinkle  in  her  eye.  “Speaking  of  being  a  bubble-head  in  front  of  someone  anyways,”  she  teased  “I  think  it  would  be  to  your  benefit.  

[lovencharity]

“I’m actually just looking to get some illustrations, shedded scales if you have them.” She knew the request was . . . odd. “I just have all these excerpts of muggle interpretations of dragons in fantasy tales and I think they’d get a lot out of comparing them.” She had decided to petition the Muggle Studies professor to let her add a literature section. Of course, she wanted it to include something they may be familiar with. So a few world-tales on the creatures, some medieval illustrations, that film about Pete’s Dragon as well seemed interesting and new if she could find a way to make the reel work in the castle. “Anything anatomical or older accounts on record even.” If Charity was going to teach, then she wanted this lecture to prove something about her changes to the curriculum. She wanted the students, first years or seventh years to raise their hands and ask just as many questions as she did. “I can promise you’ll get them back as you had them.” @g-parkinson​

[lovencharity]

St.  Mungo’s  had  an  odd  familiarity  to  it.  Anytime  she  turned  a  corner  she  expected  to  see  her  own  mother  standing  there,  in  her  nurse’s  uniform  pushing  along  some  child  who  was  at  least  smiling.  It  was  not  that  different  here  among  the  healers  and  mediwix.  The  smell  was  still  somehow  clinical,  clean  and  sterilized  the  way  her  mother’s  floor  had  been.  In  those  small  things  Charity  took  comfort  since  confining  herself  to  the  waiting  room  of  the  hospital.  It  was  on  her  own  request  that  she  accompany  the  student  to  the  London  hospital.  Quidditch  accidents  were  often  nasty,  but  something  about  this  had  seemed  malicious.  And  if  the  offender  wasn’t  so  well  protected  then  she’d  be  advocating  for  expulsion.  It  seemed  that  not  much  had  changed  in  the  near  seven  years  since  she  was  last  on  the  other  end  of  the  classroom.  

It  seemed  that  so  little  had  changed  that  on  that  student’s  chart,  she  recognized  the  name  of  the  Healer  assigned  to  the  case.  She  took  the  papers  under  her  arm  and  waited  for  an  unseen  moment  to  escape  down  the  blueish-white  hall  to  ward  thirty  seven.  The  student’s  parents  hadn’t  arrived  yet,  she  remembered  what  it  was  like  to  get  her  own  muggle  mother  into  these  places.  Maybe  that’s  why  it  was  important  that  she  had  stayed  here  instead  of  returning  to  Hogwarts.  

“Is  there  an  administrator  I  can  speak  to?”  She  asked  to  the  dark  haired  figure  standing  before  the  cot,  but  her  eyes  hardened  a  little  bit  when  Andromeda  Black  turned  around.  “Have  the  parents  arrived  yet?  Or  do  you  still  need  to  look  at  their  chart.”  She  referred  to  the  groaning  child,  something  shadowy  among  their  injuries.  Remaining  calm  and  even  was  important  to  her,  even  if  she  felt  herself  slightly  hotter  inside  than  usual.  “I’m  responsible  for  them  till  then.” @drcmeda​

[lovencharity]

frvnklongbcttom​:

he had felt like he was being stretched thin, he knew that he also did it to himself. but it was what he had to deal with because he just didn’t want to go home to his lonely little flat, he’d rather spend time trying to solve a case, try and help the people that he could. things were tense at the dmle, he knew that he needed to be on his a-game and not sleeping would cost him. he smiles briefly at what she says nodding his head. “well that’s a decent trade then.” he says with a yawn getting up from his seat finally. he grabs his coat and starts to follow her outside. “both, probably.” he says with another small smile. “always both.” he could use any and all caffeine he could get his hands on. “catch me up on what you’re doing then, it’s got to be more interesting than what i’ve been doing.”

On  one  hand  Charity  was  about  to  keep  him  lifted  by  the  elbow,  maybe  physical  support  as  well  as  mental.  On  another,  she  knew  what  dignity  could  mean  to  them  both,  even  for  the  little  things  like  this,  so  she  simply  let  herself  fall  into  slower  step  as  they  hit  the  paved  walk.  “You  witnessed  what  I  do  for  about  seven  years  of  your  own  life.”  She  grinned,  hands  making  their  way  into  pockets  to  avoid  the  chilled  air.  “Don’t  tell  me  you’ve  already  forgotten?  Or  perhaps  I  should  photograph  the  exact  spot  in  Binn’s  room  I’m  convinced  you  used  to  carve  your  name  into  the  desk.”  She  teased,  looking  for  a  little  liveliness  before  they  reached  their  caffeine. They likely  both  needed that  more  than  Charity  would admit,  even  to  Frank. 

[lovencharity]

Nomadic or Not

Travel, just like her friends always spoke of. She slept in train cars, with a bag of essentials. She wandered through villages with the belief anywhere could be home. That’s what made the decision to go back so easy.

It was home then.

However, now ‘home’ was different. It was not a shared space. No friends, no family. The solitude was like that on her little train car. She wanted to keep a home like her mother’s. Warm in color, free with air - of course to her own tastes and not that of a nurse who matured in 1950. Hogwarts felt less personable now, perhaps because her welcome in the space had changed. No lamp bought from a street vendor at the market, but a chandelier above head enchanted to light on command. Convenient, but without meaning. 

Meaning was found in trips down narrow streets, appearing a darling friend’s door when she had time. Most of all, saving her time to pick where she wanted to call her space. The flat was chosen carefully, slowly, and filled with pieces of her just the same. 

[lovencharity]

xenophilivs​:

     ❝   hogwarts   is   entirely   last   year   —   no   one   wants   to   hear   about   that   place   unless   you   know   who   sits   down   and   does   a   tell   all   about   his   own   time   there.   ❞   it   was   maddening,   xeno   felt   as   if   they’d   never   escape   the   confines   that   were   hogwarts   school   of   witchcraft   and   wizardry.   but,   he   was   curious   as   to   why   charity   burbage   wanted   some   gossip   herself.   ❝   if   you’re   simply   here   to   save   your   own   arse,   maybe   try   looking   yourself.   ❞   there   was   no   reason   for   them   to   be   mad   at   her,   but   xeno   was   overwhelmed,   annoyed   at   his   outside   circumstances,   and   unfortunately   taking   it   out   on   charity.   

     ❝   fine.   we   got   a   tip   last   month   that   dumbledore   makes   someone   do   his   cleaning.   laundry,   things   like   that.   satisfying,   or   total   garbage   ?   ❞ 

Her  slump  against  the  wall  was  uncommon  to  her  nature,  uncharacteristically  sloppy.  Charity  was  rarely  feeling  defeated  before  even  really  trying.  Then  again,  she  was  not  usually  one  to  feel  tired  either.  So  overall,  the  energy  and  discourse  seemed  to  be  at  odds  with  her  self.  “Brilliant  for  a  gossip  column,  Xenophilius  really.”  They  were  right  in  a  way  Charity  would  have  admitted  if  she  was  feeling  on  top  of  her  game.  Her  lesson  plans,  lectures,  and  Merlin  even  clothes  felt  all  put  together,  knowing  what  they  needed.  Yet,  the  situation  she  felt  coming  was  not  nearly  going  to  be  as...Socratic  as  she  might  like.  “Where  do  you  get  your  methods  from?  Writing-wise.  What  do  you  want  people  to  think  when  you  write.”

[lovencharity]

georgettexollivander​:

location: the junk shop. closed: charity burbage; @lovencharity

Aside from Ollivander’s, Georgette’s favorite shop was The Junk Shop. She never knew what she would find, the prices were low enough, she didn’t run into the uppity folk and there weren’t judging eyes on her. She was in her element digging around the boxes for treasure.

It wasn’t often she came across other people who appreciated the variety the store had to offer. Georgette wasn’t even sure the owner appreciated it the way she did, but she wouldn’t have known because there was never a formal introduction. Maybe the guy behind the counter was like her: loving the job you have but hating dealing with people. If that were the case, Georgette could respect that. If not, well, it didn’t really matter.

“Do-do-do,” Georgette hummed under her breath hoping she would find wand fragments. Some days she was luckier than others, but she always went through every box, making little noises and, uncharacteristically, bobbing her head. Georgette was happy, something she didn’t come by easily.

Lost in the music playing in her head, Georgette had let her guard down, not hearing someone come into the store. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she got a tap on the shoulder. No one grabbed their wand as fast as the wandmaker herself. She spun, terrified.

“Charity! What the – you should know –” Georgette took in a deep breath. “Hi,” she quietly exhaled. 

Perhaps  Charity  left  Hogwarts  more  often  than  was  recommended.  But  this  time  there  was  a  purpose.  The  junk  shop  was  rarely  different  from  any  other  thrift  store  she’d  wandered  into  and  that  was  the  entire  point.  On  the  ‘lower’  scale,  she  missed  being  around  the  creatives,  wix  or  muggle.  So  to  see  curious  eyes  scanning  curious  objects,  a  spark  of  recognition  come  over  them  as  they  marveled  as  something  seemingly  broken,  was  the  most  human  thing  of  all.  Of  course,  a  class  trip  could  not  exactly  be  sanctioned  but  from  the  Junk  Shop  to  the  closest  muggle  thrift  store,  a  new  lesson  plan  was  brewing  in  her  head.  

It  made  sense  to  pass  by  Georgette,  this  was  the  type  of  place  that  would  call  to  her.  That  would  be  an  interesting  guest  lecture  and  yet,  it  wasn’t  exactly  like  she  could  bring  in  some  other  type  of  inventor.  But  for  now  the  light  frustration  could  be  evaded  for  the  simple  pleasure  of  talking  to  someone  her  own  age.  

“Hello,  Georgette.”  it  was  the  softest  her  voice  had  been  in  a  while,  usually  favoring  her  ‘teaching’  voice  throughout  the  school  day.  “What  has  spoken  to  you  in  here?”  Her  eyes  drifted  over  the  rubble  like  bin,  catching  a  few  glimpses  of  something  glittering.

[jasminesanders]

paulina singer by shana jade

[lovencharity]

alicemacmillan​:

“is that right?” alice knew deep down that she wasn’t wrong – she arguably felt more like herself the last few weeks than she had in the last year. wry smile tugging at her lips as she felt Charity’s hand, cheek resting against the soft cushion as she turned to look at her, “you went back – that’s a bit different and far more forgivable than running” she joked, “how is it back there? is teaching everything you had hoped it to be?” 

eyes bright with curiosity, “cultural aspects? if you’re referring to the stuff that has them a tad loopy and preaching about how beautiful life is  - what a ride” she had seen quite a bit, didn’t understand the technical aspects of it - there were quite a few variations and they often came with a questionable smell, but alice was going to stick to good ol’ wine as her vice - she didn’t have the time to take a different kind of trip. “hopefully sooner rather than later” she sighed, reaching over for her glass – the red liquid swirling as she tucked her legs beneath her, “you won’t guess how ironic lady fate is – her sense of humour had left me a bit jarred on monday –” she started, sheepish smile at her lips as she met Charity’s gaze, “guess who my partner is?” 

The  reason  Charity  could  believe  her  own  words  is  for  how  little  she  felt  of  herself.    Certain  things  always  stayed  the  same.  She  had  questions,  she  was  controlled,  she  tried  not  to  indulge.  But  the  certainty  with  which  she  approached  the  day  seemed  rocked.  She’d  been  in  the  same  routine  for  at  least  three  years  now.  “It’s  filled  with  children,  Alice.”  Practically  a  confession,  albeit  an  obvious  one  fell  from  her.  “I    truly  cannot  believe  we  had  ever  perceived  ourselves  as  adults  back  then.”  Surely,  other  things  were  coming  up  especially  with  Muggle  Studies  needing  the  changes  she  desperately  wanted,  but  the  battle  was  uphill,  and  for  right  now  in  this  moment,  not  actually  in  front  of  her  face.

“And  that’s  how  I  always  stayed  so  clean  on  overnight  train  rides.  A  little  extra  charm  work  can  actually  go  unnoticed.”  That  was  about  as  close  to  a  giggle  as  she  ever  emitted.  Now  and  then,  Charity  had  chosen  to  be  mature  as  if  that  would  prepare  her  for  life.  Maybe  restraint  was  only  ever  going  to  get  her  so  far.  But  this  felt  like  gossip,  like  something  she’d  been  meant  to  do  for  a  long  time  coming.  It  was  a  little  frivolous  and  a  little  loose.  A  warm,  dreary  sort  of  feeling  across  her  mind  and  eyes.  It  wasn’t  the  complete  lack  of  control  she’d  alway  seemed  to  witness  on  others  with  a  certain  drink  in  hand.  So  yes,  maybe  Charity  was  a  little  bit  better  than  that.  The  spark  of  Alice’s  words  pushed  her  up  in  the  cushions  a  little  bit.  “Oi,  who?”  A  remnant  of  city  colloquialism  that  she  never  fully  kicked. “Out with it now.”