power is power.

Deimos feigns indifference, having practised his look of faux sympathy since he was young - it was a must for a young pureblood boy, even when he wasn’t to be faking his emotions in the small circle of pureblood families which remained true. “It’s such a shame, what’s happened,” He averts his eyes from the person next to him, staring down into his cauldron, masking the deep seated joy. “Could you pass the Howlet’s Wing?”

He almost lets out a bark of laughter at Deimos’ words, knowing all too well how insincere they are. In stead, however, he nods in agreement. “It really is. WHAT a tragedy. I cannot help but be a bit shaken,” he says, tone grave. Lucius doesn’t care much about the lives that have been lost, has become desensitised to these things. He’s rather glad, even. “Here you go.” He hands the potion ingredients to Deimos, a small smirk curling his lips. 

“I wonder if we’re still goin’ to the Quidditch World Cup. I was really looking forward to it.”

“If McGonagall decides to cancel it because some people are ... well, let’s just say, too fragile, I’ll be making SURE that I can go either way and sit with my father. He has better seats, either way. You could join me.”

capucine had no responsibility for organizing the party nor who attended it, and therefore did not have any particular cares for what anyone did at the party so long as no one died or got hurt in one way or another. she’d been walking around the party, conversing with a few groups of people she recognized and enjoyed speaking with and had been making her way to the table of food when she’d slowed to read the label on the bottle of wine lucius had brought, not realizing who it had belong to until lucius had begun to speak in order highlight why he had to bring the bottle; seeking, she supposed, to also highlight how unique he was in bringing it. “I’m sure there’s no offense to be taken: I just past a group of seventh years conducting their own wine tasting down by the waterfall, so you weren’t the only one with the same idea.” she paused a let the corners of her mouth turn upwards, “I’m sure they’d let you join them, I did see a nice bottle of Richebourg in the mix as well.”

“If this was a wine tasting worth attending, I’d know about it,” said Lucius, hardly looking up from his glass. He had little interest in mingling with people he didn’t know --- he had done that plenty during his summer break. Of course, he could have avoided doing such a thing altogether by just not attending the party, but Lucius liked tradition and sticking with it. Even if they were as idiotic as these. Besides, it was amusing to see others make a fool of themselves. “Richebourg is nice, though.” He took a sip from his own wine as he met Capucine’s eyes, before shrugging. “We have a fair amount of bottles in our cellar. It’s nothing compared to Superior Red, which I hope you know. If not, you’re missing out badly.”

“Don’t lie, Lucius.” She did love the way his name tasted on her tongue. It had very little to do with him. “I thought we were past that. You won’t upset me by being a wine snob. Do you forget I’m from Italy? Wine is practically a food group for my family. I’m only offended that you aren’t offering to share.”

“See, this is why I like you,” he said, leaning down a little to pick up his bottle of red. “You get it. I think it’s my French blood, that makes me so ... critical of wine.” Lucius swung the bottle back and forth a little. “Here, take a glass, but only if you tell me what you think. I need complete honesty.”

“I’ve always been fond of the occasional butterbeer. Can’t beat the taste.” Persephone smiled faintly at Lucius, making sure she wasn’t in anyway rude to the fellow pureblood. “No, I didn’t want to drink much today so I enjoy it enough.”

“I think many people are. It’s a rather popular drink,” he said. He was merely stating facts --- he was bored, restless even; but he gave Persephone a smile either way. “That’s wise. You’ll get to watch all our peers get completely wasted, which is always quite amusing.”

Jasmine made a face, though didn’t push him anymore. “Well, that’s still dull and boring. What are you doing at this party, just drinking?” The part-Veela smiled. “Okay, okay. I give up. What do you want to do instead?”

“I’m enjoying my wine, yes, and I’m catching up with certain people,” he said. Jasmine wasn’t necessarily one of them, and her determination to make him have a good time was annoying him, to say the least. “Oh, I’m fine sitting here, don’t you worry.”

“I always do, you’re not exactly difficult to read.” Bellatrix let out a small chuckle. “The only thing they have going for them is their decent Quidditch skills so I knew that I had to prepare. Champagne of course.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, but I don’t mind if you continue to be under that impression,” said Lucius. “And even those skills are questionable. I’m glad I don’t have to play against them any more.” He smirked, then. “Ah, champagne ... good choice.”

“I saw a Ravenclaw bloke cradling a vase and whispering to it.” retorted Rodolphus, a blatant air of disdain in his voice. “Honestly, I wonder whether or not they even try to have a good time or just socially stunt themselves further. This must be why we don’t venture into mingling with the rest of this damned school.”

“I thought Ravenclaws were all about intelligence,” said Lucius, rolling his eyes. At least Rodolphus was at the party, too --- the crowd around him was rather tiring, but the Lestrange was at least good company. “I don’t even want to know. I think they all just want the attention they’ll receive when they’re the topic of gossip coming weeks. It’s rather sad.”

“Oh come on now Malfoy, don’t be such a sore sport, I mean its absolute rubbish drinks but free alcohol is good alcohol!” Xenophilius grinned at the Slytherin, sipping from a cup of the spiked punch. “Or if you’re into some more fun things I know Sybill has got some magic mushrooms, because she is absolutely amazing.”

“Once you reach a certain point of ... wealth, it no longer matters if things are free or not. Besides, free does not mean BETTER,” pointed Lucius out, taking a sip from his wine. How sad life must be, if you were poor, he thought. “Right. I’ll leave that to ... the people at this party who are interested in making complete fools of themselves.”

“It’s really all calories isn’t it?” The brunette huffed a little, “Well I’m not really drinking much tonight, just some wine I brought from my dorm. I’m not exactly trying to embarrass myself tonight, but of course it wasn’t like I wasn’t going to come to the party. I also have to keep an eye on Talia of course…”

“I think so, yes,” said Lucius. He’d never paid much mind to those things. “That’s wise. I’m not planning on getting plastered myself, this is not the crowd I want to do that with. And ah, Talia, of course. I’m glad I don’t have any younger siblings to look after tonight.” A small lie: Lucius had always craved a sibling, but that was a mere detail. “Is she that wild, then?”