The Wedding Gathering [Roman & Verena]

Guest

Verena's graduation had been a big thing for the Richardson family for more than one reasons. First of all, Verena had passed her exams, with good enough grades to prove she was smart, but she had finally come of age. Verena, according to her family, was now finally ready to start looking for a husband. Her mother was way too excited to tell her the news, and her father simply expected her to be happy as well. After all, this was why she was called the Richardson Diamond. This was her purpose in life.

But now, locked inside her room, Verena was far from excited about it. She didn't want this. She didn't want to get married, not yet. But she was well aware that if she didn't find a good enough suitor, her father would, and she doubted he was going to care whether she liked him or not. For all she knew he could be a forty year old man. No, she couldn't allow that. And that was why she took matters in her own hands.

Asking her parents to sent out invitations to every Purebood Family, Verena was going to throw a party, a big gathering, to celebrate her graduation but also help her find a suitor before it was too late. There would be Pureblood men everywhere, a good opportunity for connections, since the Richardsons were one of the most powerful families. It was a way to get Christian to prove how much he was worth, something like a present, as she was trying to show her love for him in her own way, but it would also be the perfect opportunity for her.

Dressed in a long black dress, Verena decided that her hair should be up in a ban and her makeup not too bold. A soft red lipstick and something to enhance her beautiful eyes. Once her heels were on, Verena cracked open her door, the music loud enough to reach her room at the top of the estate.

With a sexy smile, she slowly descended the grand staircase, the music halting as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her parents nodded at her approvingly and the young witch smiled at them as she waved her hand in order for the music to continue. "No need to stop. I want my guests to enjoy the party. Please, if you need anything, the House Elves are here to attend to your needs. Make yourselves comfortable!"

With that said, Verena grabbed a glass of red wine and started talking to a few Pureblood ladies she had met a few years earlier, but always keeping her eyes open in case there was someone she was actually interested in.

Guest

Roman was not overly impressed with the idea of going to this Pureblood event for an eighteen year old witch. He wouldn't mind a younger wife, but... eighteen? Roman could not think of anything worse, a child at best, that would be what the witch was, and that didn't quite sit well with him. However, Roman was vastly loyal to his family, and the fact they had asked him to attend had made him incapable of pulling out of it.

He could, of course, make connections with other young females to appease his parents.

Dressing in a deep blue suit (with a mismatched tie), Roman had made his way to the party - he was late, however, because he'd been sure his parents had said the later time. By the time he'd arrived the party seemed to be in full swing. Roman had helped himself to a glass of champagne from a passing House Elf as he moved around the room, and he stood off from the crowd.

Roman was a famous man, and staying out of the spotlight was often difficult. Here, in a room full of Purebloods was no different, though many had a sour impression of his family. They were not ill to do, no, but they were modern than many in the room. However, the Hughes were connected with the Murrays, and this meant he could never be snubbed.

Noticing a gaggle of young women, Roman moved slowly around to their group, waiting for a break in their conversation before slipping in. "Good evening, ladies." Roman greeted them warmly, giving them a small bow of the head out of respect. "I hope you won't think me so bold... but, could any of you point me in the direction of the hostess of this evening? I'm quite sure I need to pay my respects to her, and her parents, yet I'm afraid I am not familiar with her looks." He prompted, looking around the small group with a hopeful smile.

After all, Verena Richardson was likely to be one of the many girls stood with her parents... wasn't she?

Guest

The girls were not the best company, not for her. Of course her family expected her to keep them company, since there were girls of her class, women just like her. Purebloods. And she couldn't deny them that, but it didn't mean she wasn't pretending to like these... girls who wouldn't stop talking. They were annoying. They knew nothing, and they were just little girls giggling and talking about boys as if they were twelve.
Rolling her eyes, she allowed her eyes to wander, spotting a few charming young men that were eyeing her carefully and giving them a big smile. They were cute. Cute enough to be husbands.

She was lost in her thoughts, trying to figure out who these men were and whether she had met their families until she felt en elbow hit her in the stomach. Her eye went wide and she turned around to glare at the girl who dared to do such a thing, but her eyes were stuck on the man that was approaching them.
Verena recognised him as Roman Hughes, a Quidditch Player, and she couldn't help but allow a small smirk to touch her lips.

He gritted them warmly, earning a small giggle from a few girls but not her. She was eyeing him carefully. He was charming, wearing a blue suit with a mismatched tie, something that made her raise an eyebrow. Was he trying to get on every traditional Pureblood's nerves?

"I hope you won't think me so bold... but, could any of you point me in the direction of the hostess of this evening? I'm quite sure I need to pay my respects to her, and her parents, yet I'm afraid I am not familiar with her looks."

The girl's immediately gave her a discreet look, and Verena gave them the look as well. Meaning that no girl was going to reveal her identity, or hit on him. He was marked as hers from that moment, and the girls were going to deal with that.
Speaking up, Verena decided to play with him, trying to see what he was up to. How could anyone not know her?

"I am afraid she hasn't appeared yet. She is probably busy upstairs. But I could show you around until she comes, if you wish?"
He couldn't possibly deny her, could he?

Guest

The giggling girls were not new to Roman, and with good grace, he smiled it off - pretending to look slightly abashed at their actions, though really it wasn't anything new. He enjoyed it, though, to an extent, because it opened many a door to him. However, tonight was not the night that Roman was looking for such things as those doors being opened, well, maybe some, but not the ones being a Quidditch player did.

A look passed amongst the girls - a look that Roman did not know the meaning of - leaving him to wait a moment for his answer. Perhaps it was disappointment (however unnecessary) that he was not to be staying for long... Roman couldn't be sure.

However, only a moment passed, and one of the young women spoke up. The offer that was provided brought a small smile to his lips. "So long as your parents wouldn't mind." Roman replied, because Merlin he knew that the stiff upper lipped families would faint at the idea of him being on his own (however brief the moment) with their daughter. "Unless, you want to take someone with us?" Roman added politely. More social etiquette, yet apparently this was customary.

"Oh, and my manners are abysmal. Roman Hughes, you are Miss..." Roman probed, hoping not to offend the witch before him because he wasn't sure on her name.

Guest

"So long as your parents wouldn't mind."

Only if you knew...

"Oh please, do not worry. There is absolutely no problem."
Her parents would freak out if they saw him with her, but even if they didn't approve of him, they new that it would be a very good connection for them. The Hughes were a modern Pureblood family, completely opposite to the Richardsons who were an old and very traditional one. But if a modern and a traditional family got connected to one another, this would mean a new era. More power. So even if they didn't like them, they would pursuit something like this.

"Unless, you want to take someone with us?

"It won't be necessary, I assure you." With a small smile and a motion of her head she started walking, turning to look once in a while if he was following her. Thankfully he was, a the smirk couldn't leave her lips. He was charming, and not as cocky as most of the Purebloods were.

"Oh, and my manners are abysmal. Roman Hughes, you are Miss..."

"Uh.. I am.. Valerie! And I already know who you are, Mister Hughes."
Giving him a small smile, she took a sip of her glass as they slowly walked away from all the crowd and closer to the balcony, where they could talk freely.
"What brings you to this party? I am sure it is not Lady Richardson, since you don't even know who she is.."

Guest

The assurance that this situation would not need to worry him made Roman sceptical. Every female Pureblood had their parents worrying over their image, their reputation, and most importantly, their virginity. Quite honestly, Roman was not out to ruin any of those for the girl who was seemingly quite pleasant to him, but he knew that he was something of a sheep amongst wolves in that moment.

He'd been polite, though, and used the small gaggle of witches to his advantage by making a public appearance of wariness around the ladies. Roman's appearance was important enough to him to not have false accusations around his sexual nature.

Another assurance that it would be okay made the twenty five year old accept - it would be rude not to - and move to follow. "Excuse me," Roman insisted to the others who did look slightly put out that he was leaving in that moment. They were young, though, and Roman's interest was not held by them.

The witch who had offered her services showed Roman out to a balcony - something very cliche in Roman's mind but he paid it little thought. "Valerie..." Roman echoed, trying to place the name for a moment, failing, and simply smiling so not to upset the witch with a comment of not knowing who she was. "It's lovely to meet your acquaintance." He added, slightly belated. "Though, I hope whatever it is that lead you to know my name is not too horrible a tale."

It was a joke, of course, an ice breaker, even if not entirely necessary.

Leaning with his hands (and glass) over the balcony, Roman took in the exquisite gardens before him as Valerie asked him if his reasons for coming. Her words were quite true, and he gave a small smile that showed he knew he'd been caught out there. "Well, truth be told... I have no interest in her. My parents do. The Richardson family is powerful, and they have an unmarried daughter. As I'm unmarried too, it is my job to look for a suitor. Of course, she is but a child, so... well, it's a bit weird. Not to mention... well, rumours fly quite openly around our community, and I doubt very much that Verena would be a good choice."

Roman gave a pause, lifting his drink to his lips. "She has a brother, though, so I might find a contact with him should I find him." He finished, turning slightly to Valerie. "And you, what have you come here for?"

Guest

Verena didn't know exactly what to do at that moment, since the man before her wasn't very keen on talking so far, but she was positive that she would be able to handle any situation with him. After all, this was her home, and her party. She didn't have to worry about anything at that moment. Or until this party was over, at least.

The hesitation as he repeated the false name Verena had provided made her eye him carefully. Was he trying to understand what family had a daughter named Valerie? True enough, it was stupid of her to simply speak a name without thinking it. After all, he was a Pureblood and even if his family wasn't of the top ones, they had connections. He could possibly know she was lying. But a second later a small smirk touched her lips as Roman voiced how lovely it was to meet her.

"Likewise.."

"Though, I hope whatever it is that lead you to know my name is not too horrible a tale."

Laughing softly, Verena brought the glass to her lips and took a few sips of her red wine. Champagne was never much to her taste.
"I just happen to know a few things about Quidditch, that is all." Thank Merlin, Christopher had educated on such matters, because, just as now, there were men who were interested in the sport. She had to be prepared for everything. She had to be the best.

"Well, truth be told... I have no interest in her. My parents do. The Richardson family is powerful, and they have an unmarried daughter. As I'm unmarried too, it is my job to look for a suitor. Of course, she is but a child, so... well, it's a bit weird. Not to mention... well, rumours fly quite openly around our community, and I doubt very much that Verena would be a good choice."

Verena almost choked on her wine as Roman spoke up, explaining about his and his family's intentions. She wanted to break his every bone. One by one. With her hands. How could he be so foolish? Thinking he actually stood a chance with her? His family was understandably interested in her, since Verena meant much more than just connections for them, but marry him?

And then there were those.. rumours. What rumours? What was being said behind her back that made her not a good choice for marriage? Because the last time she had checked, Verena was the best choice for marriage. From various points of view.

"She has a brother, though, so I might find a contact with him should I find him."

Verena was working on calming herself down as she took a couple of sips more of her wine. What an actual jerk he was! Was she not good at pretending and restraining herself, Roman would be far from alive now. If she could, she would of have destroyed his family right then and there. But the men were the ones doing business. She was just the trophy.

"And you, what have you come here for?"

Clearing her throat, Verena finished her glass of wine and turned to look at Roman with her usual fake smile. He wanted to play games then? Two could play.
"Well, I am of age, and this is a Pureblood gathering. My parents brought me here to meet men, like you. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to marry someone as kind as you."

Looking back at the dark sky, she added.
"Though, I must tell you. Lady Richardson is a very beautiful lady with many talents. I am positive that all the rumours you heard are simply that. Rumours. She is proud, she wouldn't allow herself to give in to any... cheap temptations."

Turning back to Roman, she gave him a small wink, before turning the other way, facing the house.
"But since you are much more interested in her brother, allow me to lead you to him."

Guest

The comment on knowing a few things on Quidditch was an eye opener. Though, not enough to be impressed. Likely the witch before him knew the Pureblood males who graced the Quidditch world, simply because it came with the studying that was associated with being a female in the Pureblood world. But, Roman was also not dimwitted enough to think she knew anything further than the very, very basics of the sport. "That's very good of you." Roman responded in a half-hearted compliment to the witch. He really wasn't going to try to see how far that knowledge went.

Disappointment could be left to another time.

Drinking seemed to be another thing that Valerie was good at - downing her whole glass in quick sips. Roman pretended not to have noticed, for this would have been an impolite notion to point out she was drinking fast. However, it made Roman wonder if, there was, perhaps, either something wrong, or that the woman beside him was working up to something. Oh, Merlin, no, please don't be thinking you have a chance... Roman thought to himself, taking another sip of his Champagne to avoid the thoughts that were processing in his mind in that moment.

"Perhaps you'll be so lucky as to not marry someone like me. If your family is here..." Roman paused, motioning to the house behind them. "They're not going to be interested in myself, I can assure you of that much. Not unless Mr Richardson insists upon such a thing, which... well, Merlin only knows if that would happen." He jested a little, checking over his shoulder for others. It was relatively quiet though, around them... perhaps a little too quiet...

"Oh, I never suggested Miss Richardson was not beautiful, I'm quite sure she is the most beautiful young lady in all the country. And, I'm sure the rumours are, as you say, just rumours, but rumours start from a truth that gets blown out of proportion." Roman replied, believing in that statement fully. The comment about cheap temptations made Roman raise an eyebrow. Valerie's actions that came a moment later only confused the situation a little more.

"And, what, may I ask, do you mean of cheap temptations?" Roman asked, looking sideways at Valerie who was now facing the house.

Guest

"Perhaps you'll be so lucky as to not marry someone like me. If your family is here... They're not going to be interested in myself, I can assure you of that much. Not unless Mr Richardson insists upon such a thing, which... well, Merlin only knows if that would happen."

A small laugh left Verena's lips at that moment. It would be too easy to tell him who she were and it would certainly spoil all the fun, but how long could she really keep this up? She would have to reveal herself sooner or later, but what better way than in front of everyone? That way, Roman would surely understand the mess he had made for both him and his family. And Verena would be standing aside, enjoying every moment of his pain.

"Well, I know for a fact that Mr Richardson has quite the power. Let's not test it today."

His words about how much he agreed with her made her want to roll her eyes. After he had just revealed that he was not really interested in her, and that he believed she was merely a child, Verena was not going to believe another word he said. A plan was already forming in her head, and she was not going to waste anymore time. The sooner she was done with it, the better.

"And, what, may I ask, do you mean of cheap temptations?"

"It doesn't matter. Let's go back inside, my family will probably start looking for me now."

Without waiting for him, Verena made her way inside, but always checking whether he would follow. Once she made sure that he was right behind her, a smirk touched her lips as she slowly approached the crowd once more.
Turning to look at him, Verena's smile faded, and her eyes went cold. Roman was going to regret ever meeting her.

"Roman Hughes... I happen to be very displeased with you... But since I am a foolish child, let me show you what Verena Richardson can do."

Walking away from him, Verena clapped her hands twice, making the music halt, drawing all the attention to her. "I sadly have to inform you that the Hughes got some urgent business that they need to take care of, and will be sadly departing from our little gathering. But, please, make sure to visit again and I truly hope everything goes well. The elves will escort you to the door."

With a small, fake smile, Verena waved her hands and the music started playing again. Some people were commenting on the sudden departure of the Hughes, and Verena couldn't help but cast a glance at Roman's shocked family members as she approached him.
"Consider yourself uninvited," she whispered to him before pushing him aside and walking over to the ladies that were waiting for her.

Guest

Roman conceded the point of not finding out how much power Mr Richardson had with a slight tilt of his head. He definitely did not wish to bring any unwelcome attention to this party for his family. Especially seeing as he may have just made an acquaintance with the witch before him.

Perhaps - and for a moment Roman had been tricked in to thinking it - cheap temptations were things the girl before him wanted to try... with him. However, Roman was not that kind of man. Flirtatious, yes, but not the kind to take advantage of a situation like this. But, whatever Valerie had been about to tell him was cut off by the thought of her parents, which brought Roman firmly back to the ground. "Yes, of course." Roman responded, knowing it would be thought ill of them if they were missing for too long. Following the witch back in to the room, Roman looked around for a sight of the infamous Verena Richardson, but there seemed to be little and less commotion going around the hall.

How strange...

It was in the moment that Valerie - or rather Verena - turned back to him that the whole thing slipped in to place. Even as the words came from her mouth, Roman realised what he'd done. How foolish he'd been. The colour drained from his cheeks as the witch moved away from him. All eyes landed on her, and Roman knew that he'd just made an enemy in the worst family possible. His family was going to kill him when the news spread.

And, as if on cue, Verena called the party to a halt, excusing him from the party under some premise of other matters to attend to. When, really, she was simply calling him out. Making him look an idiot in front of all of their kind of people. Roman, at least, kept his chin up. He might not be as proud as the Richardsons, but he was not going to be... to be belittled by a child.

Having only the nerve to watch Verena in that moment, Roman waited for her to come back. Her words were not needed, really, it was obvious that he wasn't invited any longer. His jaw set for only a moment as the words, "As you wish." Left his lips as she departed from him to the girls she'd been with before. Turning on his heel, Roman moved calmly through the others in the room, ignoring the whispers that came, and the looks he received whilst he passed by. Verena Richardson was by no means stupid, it was him that had blown all of this.

But that didn't mean he'd lost.

Not yet.

Stepping out of the house, Roman took a moment to steady himself, before apparating to the country manor he'd been gifted on his twenty first birthday. Best not to go straight home, his mind told him, his parents would only raise questions of his early arrival home.

» Falling from Grace (Roman & Verena)
» Eenie Meanie Minie Mo! (Christopher, Roman & Verena)
» There's a List of Regrets I'm Already Writing (TW: Swearing & Minor Sexual Situations (Kissing) Verena & Roman)
» The Aftermath [Verena & Christopher]
» Roman Hughes