Closed A Pure Union PV Aurelius Leeds

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Kerr Manor, Scotland - 29th August 2021

The turnout for the wedding was impressive. A large number of guests, all dressed in their best finery and brandishing their smiles and charm, went through the process of meet and greet. This time, due to having returned to Hogwarts, Aurelius' older brother wasn't present; this meant the Leeds contingent was composed of the parents and second son, which seemed ample in Kenneth Leeds' opinion, considering it was a wedding, which was less formal than several Wizard conventions or gatherings. For Aurelius, though, he was just content to not have his gold child older brother hovering over him for a change... but the idea of sitting through a wedding and the reception afterward bored him.

"Best foot forward, child." Kenneth Leeds muttered. "Do not embarrass us."

Aurelius, for his part, walked obediently behind his parents; there was a time and place for disobeying, and he saw no benefit doing it here and now. Dressed in an appropriately black high function suit, with white shirt, black tie and polished black shoes, the ten year old was almost the mirror image of his father - much to Aurelius' annoyance. Probably his father's, too. It wasn't known outside of the Leeds family, of course, but the divide between parent and second son was as wide as the distance between Waterford and Inverness; however, for this occasion, the Leeds appeared as unified and content as any other present.

It was sickening.

But it was also part of the charade, the facade, the underlying deceit that permeated almost every aspect of high society and social elite circles. Appearances were everything, opinions were gospel, and reputations were the foundations that families of these sorts relied on to maintain what power and influence they could take. Aurelius, for his part, despised almost everything about the situation he was in; but he also understood, even at such a young age thanks in full to his intellect and logical capacity to discern, that playing a part was needed. Especially if he wanted to one day be at the top of the social mound, which required the pieces remain in place, the elite happy and content with their lives.

From between Kenneth and Margaret, between the black of his father's suit jacket and subtle green of his mother's dress, Aurelius caught brief sight of red hair around his own eye level. He glanced up, saw his parents speaking and greeting from the lower perspective that made them appear as giants at times, but before attention could return to the girl in the flowery lavender dress, the Leeds were moving onward. Some of the overheard comments directed at the young redhead were... interesting.

Kenneth and Margaret spoke quietly as they walked:

"...I wonder how the new wife-to-be will treat the daughter?"

"Judging by little Liana's expression...?"

"She is the heir. But I wonder... what happens if Lady Ophelia has a son?"

"It should still remain her right... should."

Aurelius tuned them out, as he glanced back to the redhead girl - Liana - and caught the same feigned expression on her face as his own, though admittedly hers was better. The Irish boy made a mental note to improve his fake smile. He absently wondered at the other strangers around, some with obvious false expressions, but ones that looked quite genuine - just how might Aurelius determine who was whom, when it came to that social display? Another topic to study, at a later date.

It wasn't long before the Leeds trio were seated. The ceremony was soon to begin, Kenneth and Margaret both had done due diligence in speaking to everyone they had aimed to, and now it was a matter of simply playing out the remainder of the events. Aurelius found himself seated toward the inner, his seat beside the aisle, and was afforded a view of most of the other guests. He knew some, had been coached by his parents on what to say to whom, but others not so much; still, every detail of those present was put to memory... and then the music procession began, and the wedding started.

It was all fairly standard affair. Groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, bride, string music and the slow walks. Among the family who took part in the ceremony itself, Aurelius saw that the girl from before - Liana - was the flower girl; that seemed to be a trivial position in the wedding, something for a cute distant relative, not the supposed heir to the Kerr family. The Irish boy wondered at that, wondered why that might be the case, and thought back to some of the material he had read. Yet, the look on Liana's face said more than words, as she walked past and had a flushed face as she tossed petals from the basket.

She's being made an example of, Aurelius thought to himself, his blue eyed gaze followed the redhead. This is a power move by the mother-to-be... like a dog in a pack, establishing dominance.

Aurelius narrowed his eyes at the bride, when she passed, before he exhaled with a growl. A nudge from his right - from his mother's elbow - caused the Irish boy to glance down. When he looked across the aisle, he saw several of the petals, and noted a curiosity with them - the edges were burnt on a number of the flower pieces, as though they had been dangled over flame and crisped on the edges, like a pretend treasure map. And ahead, further along, the petals looked more normal, without the burns.

"...seems a lowly place in the wedding party for her," Margaret whispered to Kenneth. "Flower girl? My, my. But Ophelia's dress, quite beautiful."

The Irish boy tried not to roll his eyes. His mother always seem obsessed with fashion, station or opinion. Yet, as the procession reached the front where the vows would take place, the Leeds became quiet and resumed watching. As everyone sat, Aurelius bent down and plucked one of the petals from the ground, then held it in his palm as he listened and watched - it was as boring and long-winded as expected, and seemed to drag on forever...

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Aurelius followed behind his parents once more, as they moved with the attending crowd to the reception tent. Given how short he was, being ten, there had been little chance to look for Liana. Though it did make the Irish boy wonder why he was interested in finding her; he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but was certain it would come to him, in time. Perhaps it was simply that they both shared the same forced expressions, so perhaps they were both suffering mutually through the ceremony of it all?

Either way, once seated at a table with others, Aurelius was obligated to watch the new couple engage in a dance. The music from the string band was understandably perfect, and while not his own personal taste, Aurelius could appreciate a well-played piece of instrumentation. Then as other guests started to join the newly weds, both Kenneth and Margaret stood and moved out onto the dance floor - but not without a firm glare from the father, first. The look clearly said 'do not do anything', to which Aurelius immediately began looking around to find something to do to oppose his parent's wishes.

He saw red hair and lavender.

With mindless actions, Aurelius stood and pushed his chair in, as he had been taught. He then started across the way, curious about the flower girl and the observations he had heard and thought. Not to mention Liana looked as positively bored as Aurelius did, as the girl paused to speak with an older woman - guest. Aurelius caught the last part of the brief interaction, as well as the smug expression the guest gave after Liana's response; and as the older lady turned away, the Irish boy altered his angle just a bit... and with a firm step, he caught the edge of her dress under his polished shoe.

"Wh--oh, my!" She stammered, as the anchored material caused her to stumble. She hissed with a cross look. "Careful, boy!"

"Terribly sorry, ma'am," Aurelius said, his Irish accent evident, as he stepped to one side. "I thought there ample room in this large tent for you to pass... I guess not. My apologies."

Aurelius continued onward, the smirk on his face growing as he heard flustered exclamations of surprise and sharp inhales from behind him. He hoped Liana had seen it. The guest was left to her own devices, as the Irish boy ignored anything else she said, and reached the food table. He picked up a glass, filled with a maroon liquid, then looked toward Liana who stood a distance away along the tent edge... and with a turn, Aurelius started to walk toward her, as he sipped the cranberry juice.

When Aurelius stopped near Liana, he didn't say anything to begin with.

He took another sip of the juice.

He glanced toward her, blue eyes curious, then spoke:

"I'm Aurelius Leeds, it's a pleasure to meet you," He smiled, before he raised his eyebrows and asked. "I can't help but wonder... are you as bored as I am, with all this?"

@Liana Kerr

Her nerves having somewhat calmed down after that brief, agitating interaction with her new step-aunt, the girl ventured a glance in the woman's direction. Lady Beatrice Stroud, née Lynch, the name suddenly popped up in her memory. Was she still chatting with the same group, probably telling them how ill-mannered Liana was and how hard Lady Ophelia would have to work to fix that? Surely that would have been her twist on the initial response she'd provoked. To her relief and amusement, however, she saw the group's attention focused on a boy about her own age, who seemed to have somehow irritated the vile woman. Liana wished she could have heard what he'd said to them before moving away, because the expressions on their faces were worth taking a picture of. And it would be the only picture she'd enjoy seeing from this entire wedding party. Whatever the kid uttered made the bride's sister go pink in the face, while a few other ladies looked quite shocked. The girl could swear one of the men (surely not Lord Stroud himself?) in the company was trying not to laugh, and ended up taking a deliberately slow, long sip from his wine glass just to conceal the twitching of his lips.

She followed the young culprit with her eyes for a while, mildly curious as to who he was. A smug expression on his face made it rather evident that he enjoyed the bedlam he had caused. While thinking that he had done it for her benefit would have been silly - in all likelihood the boy didn't notice Liana's presence at all and merely happened to bump into someone who had just wronged her - she couldn't help but see him as a sort of ally. After all, they both had a common adversary, if only for a fleeting moment. Not to mention that the spectacle distracted and cheered her up some, giving a welcome respite from an otherwise stressful ordeal.

For a few moments the stranger disappeared from her sight, blocked by much taller adults moving to and fro the table. She shifted slightly, trying to locate him again by scanning the area she'd seen him in just seconds ago, but the crowd was too thick. Liana didn't want to risk moving away from her current safe spot to get a better look, lest someone see her and draw her into a yet another unpleasant exchange. Just as she resigned to having lost sight of the intriguing distraction, a movement caught her eye and the girl glanced in its direction, ready to flee as inconspicuously as she could. The sight of the dark-haired boy she had been secretly observing, now standing right next to her, was a startling one. Had he seen her watching? Her heart-rate suddenly doubled, she mirrored him by taking a sip from her own glass just to calm down and collect her thoughts. He didn't seem hostile in any way, even if he'd noticed her overt attentiveness. She could just come clean about it from the get-go, and use it as a conversation fuel. No need to get so worked up about a peer when there were antagonistic adults present.

"Liana Kerr, pleased to make your acquaintance," the girl responded when he finally spoke, the gears in her head immediately set in motion to retrieve all information about the Leeds family that she could. For, of course, she had been made to study the guest list, to know which topics to focus on for small talk and which ones to avoid. This cramming of extremely dull an largely useless information cost her the two last sessions with her tutor, since Lady Ophelia decided that Liana will be going to Hogwarts soon anyway, and being a good little hostess was more important than learning about duelling spells. Naturally, due to being deprived of the last enjoyable thing she had left for this summer, the eleven-year-old wasn't at all motivated to memorize various facts about people she will likely only see for only this one evening. She remembered reading something about Leeds, but it was an effort to bring it forth.

"Boredom is one way to describe it, I suppose," she said after quickly surveying the surroundings to make sure nobody was listening. Openly confessing to feeling in such a way at her own father's wedding would be unacceptable. And how could one be bored, with their nerves constantly on the edge? The only real similarity between boredom and what she was experiencing now was that both feelings made a person want to be somewhere else. "Although I must admit, the scene you caused was quite entertaining. Lady Beatrice seemed ready to throttle you. The most lovely expression I've ever seen on her face, to be honest." Admittedly, it was a bit of a risk to speak so negatively of someone who was now her extended family, especially to a person she'd just met. But it felt good to utter those words, and Aurelius seemed to be amicable.

She put the glass of cranberry juice to her lips again, sorting through what she managed to remember. Kenneth Leeds, eldest son of Riordan Leeds, was wed to Margaret Leeds. Their family was wealthier than the Kerrs, if she remembered correctly. Aurelius would be the younger son, and there was supposed to be one more boy, the heir. It had been marked in red ink that the older boy transferred to Durmstrang, and the topic was not to be brought up when talking to the family. That part she remembered pretty well, because it was one of the few things in the folder she had to learn by heart that piqued her interest. She could not for the life of her remember what were the points on which she could safely chat with the family, though. Liana's memory was usually much better than this, but today just wasn't her day. However, the most interesting aspect of the Leeds family was barred from conversation with the adults. Nobody ever wrote these guidelines about the children of the family, though. If only she could prod him gently to gauge a reaction.

"Are you also starting school in a few days?" she began subtly. "You look about my age. I hope you'll be going to Hogwarts?" That was about as far as she dared to go at this time. Veiled as a polite inquiry, the question would still ring oddly, given that the vast majority of wizarding youth from the British Isles attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Well, if he turned out to be unwilling to mention anything about his sibling, they could at least converse about something both of them would likely be interested in - their magical education.

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Kerr Manor, Scotland - 29th August 2021

The crowd of guests became backdrop, as Aurelius turned his full attention to his new conversation interest. While the Irish youth was observant, he was able to see more beneath the surface than some adults, he approached analyzing Liana with a more calm and less forthright manner; this was a peer, after all, someone who might very well be someone worth knowing in the years to come, so it wouldn't do well to start on awkward footing. As such, Aurelius let the brief moment of surprise at his appearance by the redhead's side subside without comment.

When the responding introduction was made, Aurelius offered a small smile and nodded his head, as he had been taught to - a manner to acknowledge, without interrupting. The initial words were formal, it was expected, they were two strangers meeting for the first time, so it stood that some level of social etiquette would be used. However, Aurelius' opening comment about boredom had been a test of sorts, something to see how Liana responded to his less-than-formal approach to further conversation. After all, what kind of guest would admit to any negative thoughts toward an event they were invited to?

The redhead's response was diplomatic.

Unfortunate. Aurelius thought, as he sipped the juice again. I suppose I'd better settle in for a borin--

But then Liana commented about the amusement of the scene with one Lady Beatrice; whom Aurelius took to be the lady from before, and the scene to be the one involving the dress step, to which the Irish boy's smile broadened. Not only had the moment been witnessed, but Liana had found it entertaining and was willing to mention as much!

Down with social convention!

"I may have indicated that this obscenely large reception tent still wasn't ample enough for her to pass other guests, without bumping into them," Aurelius said in a low voice, as he smirked around the rim of the glass at his lips. His blue eyes glanced to Liana, seeking her reaction, though he expected she would find it likewise amusing. "I'm glad you found it entertaining. She seemed to be giving you a scathing, so it only seemed fair."

The conversation turned to school. That wasn't surprising, since they both seemed the same age, and it was the next exciting development. Still, the conversation topic seemed odd, given the situation, and how a more typical topic exchange might have gone through some wedding points, or guest commentary, or something similar. But who was Aurelius to try and determine how Liana wanted to approach things? In fact, just from the first few moments of interaction, Aurelius suspected that both he and she weren't exactly typical, both seemed content with defying what was expected of them - socially - so perhaps more atypical questioning could be expected.

I'll certainly keep it in mind.

It also made Aurelius wonder what Liana had been told about his family. Every child present had been coached, told about guests and important figures, that was the pure-blood way. To think otherwise was silly, really. Both of the young pair knew about the other's families and it was refreshing to finally have someone to talk to, who wasn't afraid to get to the meat of it... or however the expression was used, as Aurelius' father was fond of saying it.

Mentioning Hogwarts specifically, and whether I'll be attending? Aurelius knew she knew about his older brother, Sebastian, and his situation with Durmstrang. I'm happy to see where this goes... very well.

"I will be, yes," Aurelius replied, his tone neutral. "I received my owl several days ago, so I believe this will be my last big event before I leave for school." The Irish boy paused, then smirked. Now time to add some spice. "It's probably why my parents brought me along, because unlike my sibling, I will be attending and representing the Leeds family at Hogwarts... as is expected, for our families."

The statement was blunt, the intention clear:

Go ahead, ask.

@Liana Kerr

Suddenly, completely unexpectedly, Liana found herself chucking at the boy's response. He had actually implied that Lady Beatrice was fat - and directly to the woman's face, too. It was known that most adult women, especially those past their prime, were sensitive about their looks and weight. This remark would have come as a slap in the face, blunt and unforeseen. No member of the high society would have dared comment on her physical flaws, not when she was present at least. It was probably the first time she had to suffer such an insult. Which amused Liana to no end, because she did find her new step-aunt to be rather chubby. It was almost strange to be smiling genuinely for once, without any forced tension in her lips and jaw.

"That's a daring thing to say," she managed to articulate at last, her stifled laughter subsiding. "I doubt she'll ever forget that, although I don't see what she could do about it without seeming petty towards a child. Well played." Had an adult dared to utter such impropriety, the court-goers would probably shun them for weeks. A youngster, though, could just get away with it, especially one who was only a guest and did not need to display any polite hospitality. To be able to balance on the edge like that without falling into trouble, one needed to posses quite a sharp wit. Given her attraction to intelligence, Liana was liking the boy more and more.

"I'm glad you found it entertaining. She seemed to be giving you a scathing, so it only seemed fair."

The line rendered the girl incapable of speech for a few moments. She had not even dared to be so self-centered as to think the boy's impudence had been displayed for her benefit. Why would a complete stranger proceed to exact revenge on someone who mildly mistreated her? Liana had thought she was the one secretly observing him, but evidently it was Aurelius who took note of her first. And chose to make a bold move in her favour. No matter what his reasons were - whether it was an attempt to ingratiate himself, honest empathy, or just sheer boredom - she couldn't help but feel her gratitude soaring.

"Thanks for that, it brightened my day," she admitted, finally finding her voice. "I guess I'm in your debt, now." The words were said only half-jokingly. It didn't matter why the young Leeds sided with her today, and how insignificant his action may have seemed to him. To Liana, it felt like she had been drowning and was pulled back to the surface by that supportive gesture. The respite it gave her would likely enable her to pull through the rest of the day without any more major hiccups. And she would find a way to somehow repay him.

It was clear that the boy wasn't just a well-trained cruppy, performing predetermined actions on cue. There seemed to be rebellious spirit in him, an attitude Liana wished she had the courage to display more often herself. Perhaps that freedom came with being a second child, not constantly stuck under the boot of parental expectations.

She studied his expression as he answered the 'innocently' personal question, failing to notice any outrage or dissatisfaction about she subject she chose. Aurelius clearly understood her intention, too, because he mentioned his brother openly. The gate to the conversation was wide open, should she choose to step through.

"Glad to hear that we'll be in the same year. Perhaps even in the same house," she began lightly. Of course, most children from this blood-purist circle would wind up in Slytherin, as was likely their family tradition. In plenty of cases there would be no doubt in the child's mind as to where they belonged. Liana was getting serpentine vibes from the boy, too, although his smarts could have earned him a spot in Ravenclaw as well. Her own fate wasn't so clear in her mind, unless it was true that the Sorting Hat granted direct requests.

She swirled the maroon liquid in her mostly-empty glass with an idle motion of her wrist for a while, not quite thirsty enough to take another sip. The conversation needed to move forward, but choosing subtle words was a complex task, now that she got an indirect permission to inquire about private matters of Leeds family.

"It is a bit of an unconventional choice to change schools, though. Especially for a heir of an old, tradition-honouring family. Can't imagine your parents were elated by that decision." A brief pause. "What about you? How is your relationship with your brother, now that he's so far away?" His brother's departure would provide ample opportunities for Aurelius to shine. Opportunities the boy seemed willing to take, judging from his words. But was there any rivalry between the siblings? That would make the difference between simply enjoying being in the spotlight, and fostering hopes of dethroning the runaway heritor.

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Kerr Manor, Scotland - 29th August 2021

The short lull in conversation gave Aurelius a chance to look out over the guests. His parents were visible on the dance floor still, waltzing amid other social elite, while others grouped or sat together and conversed. Lady Beatrice, the target of the Irish boy's snide remark, looked flustered and angry, but otherwise tried to compose herself. But all of it - those people, the opinions, the acting - was lost for Aurelius as he simply stood apart from it with a cranberry juice in hand.

Yes, yes, it's all so important, Aurelius thought to himself, as he took a sip of the drink. All so consumed by impressing one another.

Aurelius glanced back to Liana, when he heard her speak again. The thanks for brightening the redhead's day was met with a smile, and a mild shrug, as it had been fun anyway. While the younger Leeds sibling would often focus intensely on doing everything well, sometimes he couldn't deny the need to just... enjoy a moment or two, to allow his youthful self a chance to just have fun. It didn't happen often, Aurelius was a serious child, but he was only human...

"A debt, ay?" The Irish youth raised his dark eyebrows, as he considered. Aurelius added, with a sly expression, and whisper. "Are you sure you want to owe me one...?"

Aurelius paused a moment, let the words hang there, then added:

"I'm kidding, of course. No debt needed, it was equal parts comeuppance and amusement. And brightening your day was icing on the cake." Aurelius tipped his glass, offering a cheers. " You're welcome."

There was already an underlying positive disposition toward the redhead, as Aurelius felt she was just as curious as he, and just as thoughtful and intelligent. He could see that behind her eyes, the way she saw a lot even with a simple glance, and that same keenness was like his own.

"I suspect my House will be either Ravenclaw or Slytherin," Aurelius said simply, almost as if he expected the result, really. It made sense, there wasn't any real need to analyze that rationale, since his parents were from those same groups at Hogwarts. "If I have my way, I'm inclined to the snakes, though. Seems to be a little more freedom in how they can do things, if what my parents have said are true... do you have a House preference?"

And not long after, the real questions began. Aurelius had wondered how long til Liana got to the - undoubtedly advised and informed - sensitive subject, namely Sebastian Leeds. It wasn't surprising at all, since Aurelius had intentionally left that conversation starter hanging, and was kind of impressed that Liana felt comfortable enough to take it. It said a lot about her, perhaps how she liked to defy convention and delve into those uncomfortable places?

Knowledge is power. It's a very famous saying for a reason.

"It is unconventional, isn't it?" Aurelius mused, as he sipped the juice. It was almost empty, but for now it had enough in the cup. He looked to Liana, blue eyes watching her expression and how she acted. He wanted to remember her 'curious' mannerisms. "It's almost like the apparent-heir decided he couldn't handle certain aspects of Hogwarts, which I suspect were more social in nature... my brother has always been a special sort, in the sense he wasn't very adaptable to his environment. It suited living in a manor, isolated... but not a wizarding school, with hundreds of others, apparently."

Aurelius didn't feel the need to tiptoe with the facts. Liana had asked, and the younger Leeds brother had no reason to protect his sibling's reputation. In fact, if revealing some truths about Sebastian could lead to Liana's approval - or even trust - then the cost was worth the price. Besides, the Leeds household tended to avoid the subject like a modern-day plague, so it felt nice to have a chance to speak about it.

"And no, my parents were not elated. At all. It seemed the only comfort they could find was the fact he went to Durmstrang... and while it might not quite be the same, it's something for them, at least."

And when Liana asked about the brothers' relationship, Aurelius paused to consider. He could lie, of course, say how they were very close and friends... but instead, he decided to say it how it was:

"Well..." The Irish boy began, as he smirked. "Let's just say that - even closer, at Hogwarts - the distance might as well have been the same as it is now. There's no love lost for my brother, and he clearly doesn't care about much beyond himself, judging by his actions and risking a tarnish to my family name by leaving Hogwarts..."

Toward the end of the statement, Aurelius' eyes had hardened and his knuckles were white where they gripped the glass. Still, with an exhale and a smile, the Irish boy composed himself and looked back to Liana. The brief moment of frustration had been simply that, fleeting, and similar displays weren't typical for Aurelius. It remained to be seen if it had been intentional, especially as the boy didn't show emotions like others, if any... maybe it was just a show of the expected response?

"Would you like another drink? Won't be a moment."

Aurelius noted how his redheaded companion's own had gotten low. He reached out and offered to take the glass from her, if she wanted to allow it. Either way, Aurelius would go back to the table to refill his own (and hers, if so), spending a few moments in quiet, until he returned to where the pair stood.

"The wedding is very opulent, a very expensive event. And I see a lot of faces in the crowd who are quite important," Aurelius said as he took another sip of the renewed beverage. He continued to look out over the guests and wedding party, scanning faces and actions. "The ceremony was nice, too. Very traditional, if boring, but tasteful ay? Yet... I couldn't help noticing that the Kerr heir, you, weren't part of the bride's party. In fact, for some reason or another, you were the flower girl of all things...?

"That doesn't seem right to me."

With a raise of his eyebrows, Aurelius turned to face Liana and leaned closer as he lowered his voice. He lifted his free hand, which had been in his pant pocket, and opened the closed fingers--

"Not to mention this."

--and presented one of the flower petals, which had been singed by heat on the edges. It was now blackened on those edges, of course, but at the time there had been evidence of burning shortly after leaving her hands. And it was clear that the reason had been Liana, since other petals along the aisle had changed, almost along with her expression and temperament at the time.

"I admit, you were a lovely flower girl, but the burning petals and less-than-appropriate wedding party placement beg I ask: what's going on there?"

@Liana Kerr

The attempt at appearing insidious was carried out well; the Irish boy's expression, lowered voice and the very words could have made him seem like a mysterious villain... had he been an adult. Coming from a child, the speech ultimately, caused a yet another wave of amusement to wash over Liana, lifting the corners of her lips. While her standards for humour were usually rather high, at the moment she was more than willing to grasp at anything that could reduce today's tension. He was graciously releasing her from debt; the redhead would still find ways to repay him, but for now she was willing to let go of the subject. Acknowledging Aurelius' cheers, she raised her own glass and took one more sip, bringing it even closer to being empty.

"My case is the same. My mother was a Ravenclaw, and the whole Kerr family has invariably gone to Slytherin. I heard it said numerous times that Slytherin teaches its pupils how to achieve goals and deal with people much better than any other house, so I'd prefer being placed there as well." Not to mention that it was only expected of her; a fact which could give away that Liana would be forsaking the very freedom Aurelius was seeking in Salazar's house. She didn't want him to think less of her because of that, therefore she left that part out.

As they proceeded to enter the deeper waters of forbidden and highly personal conversation, the eleven-year-old found herself feeling impressed once again. The boy spoke candidly, even though she knew he would have been strongly advised against discussing the topic of his wayward sibling, if not even directly forbidden. What she gathered from his answer, without even needing to read between the lines all that much, was that Aurelius considered his brother to be unsuitable as a heir. Less socially-adjusted, less communicative, less responsible. All the qualities he himself possessed, or thought he did. Therefore, there would indeed have been competition between them. Whether the older son saw the younger one as a threat, or just sailed through life enjoying his rights as firstborn was a different question. Judging from the fact that he left Hogwarts against his parents' wishes, it would have seemed that he was not interested in carrying on the family legacy. All the more reason for the second-in-line to be frustrated with his current position.

"His absence at Hogwarts now would make your family suffer later, should he take over... How can he maintain the influence if he's not connecting with the people who will be taking Ministry positions in a decade or so?" This was the simplest politics, something even children could grasp, if educated properly. If you want to gain power or stay in power, you need to be noticed, known, well-liked. The older Leeds might be achieving just that at Durmstrang for all she knew, but that wouldn't matter once he came back to the British Isles and found himself surrounded by strangers. And if he lacked adaptability like Aurelius seemed to think, the family could lose the position its leaders were undoubtedly building up for generations. The wealth would then be drained if the streams of income could not be maintained. Entitled to a much more modest inheritance, the younger brother would either watch it happen with resentment, or try and outshine his sibling by leading a cadet branch so exceptionally that it could, in time, become as powerful as the senior branch used to be. It would save everyone a lot of effort if he could just be bumped up in the order of succession. That had, after all, been the main reason for fratricides in noble families during less civilized times. Either that or just pure greed and self-importance. "Your parents should at least take solace in the fact that they still have you, capable of picking up the slack."

It was curious to observe clear signs of vexation in Aurelius as he continued speaking. Quite likely, he had gone through a similar thought process as Liana did just now, and he would have done it multiple times, in much more detail. He was certainly aware that his brother's selfishness could damage him personally. Was it still such an acutely painful thought that his emotions would breach the boy's otherwise flawless mannerism whenever it arose? She could not blame him, as she watched his knuckles whitening. While their situations weren't exactly akin, they were close enough for Liana to be able to empathize. Mentioning anything about the brief moment of observable anger would have been in poor taste; hence, she allowed him to change the subject and take her glass for refilling.

As the proper young gentleman returned, she accepted the fresh juice with a "Thank you" and listened as he introduced the new conversation topic. For a brief moment, it seemed like he would be merely discussing the event itself, which would have been a convenient if superficial chat. But the boy proceeded to turn it towards the matters of house Kerr, which was only fair, given that he had just willingly discussed an issue in his own family. She took a deliberate sip of her drink, trying to win some time for figuring out a response. How much could she dare to reveal to this near-stranger who was so dangerously easy to talk to?

"Well, Lady Ophelia claimed I should have some sort of a spotlight at the wedding, and being made part of a group would take it away from me," she began, reciting the very reason with which her now-stepmother had convinced her fiancé to have his daughter and the rightful heir be a mere, if prettily dressed, flower girl. Much more preoccupied with inviting the right guests and creating the strongest possible impression of influence, Marcus Kerr didn't pay any mind to this feminine intrigue, a subtle demonstration of influence, carried out on a much smaller scale. "Father didn't want to argue on such insignificant matters, he was far too busy." Her eyes wandered around the room, surveying the people around them. Nobody was standing close enough to hear them with ease, what with the music and chatter. In fact, not a single soul currently seemed interested in a pair of kids socializing quietly at the edge of the tent, out of everyone's way.

She turned back to her companion, ready to wave her misplacement away as a misunderstanding or lapse of judgement. Instead, she felt her heart-rate increasing again at the sight of the scorched rose petal. Aurelius had clearly noticed the brief incident of uncontrolled magic that occurred when she was burning with shame about being at the receiving end of a power-play. It had completely escaped her mind due to the exchange with her step-aunt, and had not come back to haunt her thanks to the diverting conversation shared with the boy. That was why the sudden reminder came as a mild shock. She looked at the petal, traces of guilt visible on her face, as if she were a culprit caught at the scene of a crime. At least she felt like one.

"There was more to that, yes," she admitted unwillingly, deciding it was no good trying to wriggle out of this dialogue. Aurelius would already have suspicions and even evidence to base them on. There was no way she could convince him that everything was fine and dandy for the Kerrs; at least not without losing some of his respect for uttering a blatant lie. She glanced up at him briefly and cast her eyes down again, finding it easier to just focus on the petal resting in his palm. "My dear stepmother sees me as a threat to her future progeny, because, as a firstborn, I have the strongest claim to everything Father owns. And the Lynch family is known to struggle producing male heirs. She herself is one of five daughters, the current Lord Lynch struggled for over ten years to sire a boy. All of her sisters are already married, some with children, none of which are male. So she worries that her own children will all be girls, and they wouldn't be likely to even budge my claim." Which was not entirely true. Yes, had Liana been pureblood, her inheritance would not be threatened by other female offspring of her father. But her blood was tainted, its purity halved. Nobody but Lord Kerr and herself knew about it, and Lady Ophelia indeed worried about her children's chances. It bothered the eleven-year-old that much more to know the woman had far better chances than she thought. And there wasn't a single soul in this world that Liana could share this burden with. She shrugged, not taking her eyes away from the petal. "I know she'll do everything she can to take away my birthright, and she showed that today by granting me this insignificant role. I was furious about that, and I lost control for a moment. The intrigues are just starting and I have the time, years with some luck," she lied, as if she truly had time until an unlikely son was born. The girl finally raised her eyes to meet the pair of piercing blue ones, somehow feeling sure her deceit was easy to see through. "Do you think a lot of the guests noticed the fire hazard?"

• ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ •
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Kerr Manor, Scotland - 29th August 2021

The discussion of Houses at Hogwarts was a little arbitrary, yet when Aurelius listened to Liana speak about it, there was something of an interest there. So it wasn't a snore-fest as it might have been with others. In fact, it seemed the pair had similar lineage, with parentage that had graduated both Slytherin and Ravenclaw; so in essence the die could be cast in either direction, though Aurelius did hope Liana might end up in Slytherin alongside himself.

He had little doubt as to his future House, after all.

"We can only hope, then," Aurelius said with a nod, in response to Liana's statement about preference of placement. "I can't confirm it, but apparently the sorting hat takes into account the wants of the wearer at the time... but who knows?"

Then Liana spoke of Sebastian's absence from Hogwarts, how it would hinder his position as the supposed heir to the Leeds family, and essentially came to the right conclusion. It had been a constant point of discussion between Kenneth and Margaret, since they had deduced the same, but also considered a multitude of other concerns. One that Aurelius overheard involved worry at whether Sebastian would seek to relocate the family, away from Ireland, as it had been for generations. The juice was passed back to Liana, before the Irish boy replied:

"There's a number of concerns, truth be told," Aurelius said as he took a sip of the fresh juice. He wondered if he should go into more detail, hesitant for a moment, but then decided he could do a brief mention of the problems - after all, it wouldn't be anything not already considered by others who had a care to consider the Leeds' position. "It's not only the lack of connections. My father is concerned over Sebastian's comfortability in the new country, and whether he seeks to make it the new home for the family when in charge. That also brings danger of other Leeds family claims to lead, should the majority of extended family disagree and seek to usurp control from my family. On top of that, it would be generations of closely maintained connections and familial relations with other wizarding patrons that would be wasted, by leaving Ireland and the British Isles... it's a whole mess, ay?"

And while Liana's sentiment of Aurelius being there to pick up slack was nice, the truth wasn't so...

"And you might think that, but I'm still just the other one. For now."

With a slow exhale, Aurelius looked across the assembled guests, to the dance floor, and caught sight of his parents through the throng of people. Specifically his father, whom the boy glared at with blue daggers. The moment passed, as Aurelius looked back to Liana and offered a smile, though it was offset by the lingering scowl for a moment.

Then it was Liana's turn to share, which caused Aurelius to remain quiet, as he listened. There was a lot of emphasis being put on Lady Ophelia, the step-mother who was seemingly already vying for control and influence toward Liana's father. The claim to being too busy - or apparent lack of care - didn't sound good, especially if Ophelia was already getting her way and her newly wed husband was already prone to not getting involved. That could spell disaster for Liana, at least within the immediate family specifically, as her position would become reliant on the step-mother's whims rather than her father's, as it had been.

Liana is in a worse situation than I thought.

And the petal Aurelius held revealed more, as Liana continued. Being in a similar struggle for position within a family based in archaic tradition, the Irish boy sought to provide some kind of support - he guessed - by being attentive and listening. It wasn't so much that Aurelius felt pity or sympathy for Liana, more that he saw problems that needed solving. Emotion wasn't exactly Aurelius' strong suit, but he had grown up in a family consumed by social facades and displays, so putting the right expressions on his face - at the right times - was simple enough. Still, beneath it all, Aurelius felt... something... that drew him closer to Liana; perhaps it was simply mutual predicament, and the potential for becoming allies, to overcome it all? It was hard to say.

When Liana asked about the fire to the petals, Aurelius considered. He sipped the juice, took a moment, then looked to her with his blue gaze:

"Honestly? Yes. Probably quite a few, since many of them probably recognize magic for a living," He said slowly, but it wasn't accusatory or demeaning. It was simply stated as it was, no real inclination or emotion behind it. It was what it was. "But. The thing you can feel some relief with, if you'll excuse the metaphor, is that these people--" Aurelius motioned to the dancers and guests, his smirk broadening. "--they're all parts in a play. Actors on a stage, each following a script determined by the most prominent and powerful, the lead roles."

Aurelius sighed, but the amusement didn't leave his face.

"It's all one big farce, ay? But, as long as we're willing to play our parts - for now - we can reach the point of being able to change the script. So many heirs and claimants - usually young, impulsive, support acts in comparison to the whole - try so hard to cause a stir, to create a ruckus and force change, without considering the entire thing. Every single person on that dance floor has a part, and all those parts rely on the others to exist, so when a supporting act tries to take the spotlight before its time... well, they tend to be put back in their place and stamped out."

For a few moments longer, Aurelius remained still, just watching the crowd. He continued to smile, as he glanced to Liana, and raised his eyebrows.

"It's not about replacing the lead parts, Liana... it's not even about waiting for them to retire, and being in a position to assume those roles. The real power is being head and shoulders above our 'support role' peers, beyond being simply 'a part to play'. Patience, and control of the people in our influence, is the key. If we have that over fellow heirs and claimants to pure-blood families and lines, then we can write the script... as the directors of it all. Don't you think?

"Let the simpletons vie for acting roles. But let the planners, the long-term strategists, prepare to own the production."

With a laugh, Aurelius shook his head, and reached out to nudge Liana with his forearm.

"Sorry, I know it sounded dramatic. But everyone at this event is dramatic, to varying extents, so it helps to keep the comparison to the same level." Aurelius raised his eyebrows, however, as he asked. "But enough about that... what are you planning to do about your step-mother? What approach to the situation, and outplaying her, have you considered?"

@Liana Kerr

Hearing a yet another person mention that the Sorting Hat is rumoured to grant the wearer's requests provided some measure of relief. For months before this cursed wedding, she had been worried sick that if her house ends up being Hufflepuff, or even worse, Gryffindor, she will be disowned on the spot. Those fears were sidelined by much more serious threats to her inheritance than the colour of the uniform she would be wearing for the next seven years, but they didn't exactly go away. Wizarding families that valued blood status clearly also valued Slytherin, and she would lose some of Father's preference - if there was any left - should she break the family tradition. At this point, she needed as positive an image of herself as she could muster, every single tiny detail being important.

In the meanwhile, her companion remained candid about the concerns his family faced. As he spoke, Liana made a mental note to go back to the information about the Leeds that had been provided for her before the event. She would need to re-read it with more attention, memorizing the names and taking note of any nuances she may have missed. In all likelihood, Marcus Kerr would know more than was written there, but there was no time left to interview him - she would just get scolded for occupying his mind with insignificant matters. Unless she was willing to tell him all she learned from Aurelius, which would doubtlessly pique Father's interest. Perhaps even earn her some points in this competition against her new stepmother... It would also break the trust and potential friendship bonds that were forming at the moment, which made her shy away from considering such betrayal. She did put a pin in it, though - after all, it was almost certain that the Irish boy would have at least a brief thought about divulging her own secrets to his parents.

"Relocating the family would be a horrid choice, it would take multiple generations to reach anything similar to the level of influence the Leeds have now," she observed, the idea sounding ridiculous, yet entirely possible. If the elder son makes friends abroad, he might feel that those connections will be enough to sustain his family. But no matter how close he became with the local aristocracy, he would still remain an outsider in the local politics. At least that was the impression Liana got from Aurelius' description of his sibling's personality. "It would be a shame to see such a renowned family leave the British Isles, too." Even though it would open up space for other, less successful ones to thrive in. The Kerrs, being a notch below the Leeds in wealth and influence, would have a head-start if the head of the family was informed of this early enough. Then again, if the two families could instead form an alliance in some decades, it would benefit them both without any loss of influence to either of the parties.

Unfortunately, Aurelius' words made it quite evident that he was not seen as a worthy alternative. With the family likely valuing blood and centuries-old rules above even its own well-being, the current heir would have to commit multiple grave errors if he was to be deposed. Or, at the very least, the second-in-line would have to accomplish a number of truly impressive feats.

"Your father looks fairly young," Liana noted, following the angry glare of the icy blue eyes to find a couple dancing with easy grace. "You have plenty of time to turn the tables." After all, unless an untimely death claimed the life of Kenneth Leeds, there was no way he would let either of his sons take control before they were in their late twenties at the very least. "Even if you're just 'the other one', there must be some occasional grooming coming your way. Just in case," the sentence ended there, casually, all the possible implications left unspoken.

The boy's situation turned out to be noticeably similar to her own. True, he would be fighting to take a position from his brother, while she would be struggling to keep her own status. Both of them would also have low chance of success in their individual quests, when one considered all of the deciding factors. It explained, at least partially, why the two were drawn to each other's company immediately. If they could not help one another just yet, at least they could understand the shared problems well enough.

The answer to her question about the singed petals was not a soothing one. The only solace was realization that Aurelius would not lie to her just to make her feel better - a rough yet valuable quality.

"I hope the gossip about that incident doesn't reach Father," was all she could say through the sickening sensation of dismay that clutched her stomach. If the word about her uncontrolled display of magic reached Kerr or Lynch families - or even those related to them - she would suffer for it. Hopefully nobody would care too much about it, and it would soon be forgotten. She was but a child, after all, and thus her blunders did not warrant lingering attention of those in positions of power.

The incredibly wise speech with which Aurelius aimed to console her worked well enough. She had not thought of the court intrigues as a theatre before, at least not enough to form such apt parallels. It made a lot of sense, however. True, she could not hope to 'own the production' for years and years to come. But she could keep working at it. If she excelled at school, if she made influential friends, if she showed aptitude for politics, she could defend her position, or try and win it back, should it be lost. As long as nobody found out what it was that she was really lacking, the one thing no amount of intelligence or agreeable personality could compensate for in the eyes of purist elites. She exhaled, a portion of the heaviness in her chest having been lifted by the pep-talk.

"It seems that you've given this a lot of thought," she said with a brief, fragile smile. "You're right. It is a farce, all of it. I guess it's best to realize it early and start working on gaining control over it, before we reach an age where the other actors start seeing us as possible competition." If only she could sustain this momentary inspiration and remember the theatre metaphor every time she was feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of her own role.

Once again, she glanced around warily when the boy inquired about her plans in this unfair competition against an adult witch who already had most of the strings in her hands. The two of them were delving into taboo subjects with such speed that anyone who happened to be eavesdropping would gain enough intel to damage both of their families, and ruin both of their chances at ever achieving what they wanted. It seemed like nobody was listening, still. With some lingering doubt, she began speaking.

"My best bet would be getting them divorced as soon as possible. There isn't any emotional bond between them, I know it from their cold interactions. This union is more of a mutual attempt at helping each other's families. Lady Ophelia is in her thirties and the last one unmarried among the Lynch daughters, she cannot hope for a better match than a widower of the same social status, who already has one child. Should they start fighting over something, should their opinions diverge considerably..." She took a sip from her refilled glass, studying the boy's face, trying to decide how much more could she dare to tell him. All of it would be far too much. A significant portion of it was not the safest option either, but if they were to become allies in the future, she should show him that she had the brain for formulating intricate plots.

"I need to find more information about her family tree. It's plain to see that providing male heirs is troublesome for their women, which would already make most men disregard Lady Ophelia as a potential wife. That's why her sisters married below their status. I heard rumours about not one but several Squib births, too; children that never went to Hogwarts and were erased from family history. That could just be slander, and I think that's the conclusion Father came to, otherwise this wedding wouldn't be taking place. It could also really be that the Lynch family has a genetic disposition to produce non-magical offspring. If I could find proof of that, it might be enough to convince Father to at least not grant inheritance rights to the first baby that pops up, until he or she shows signs of magic. Or..." her eyes made another round to check for any potential spies in their vicinity. This was not a thought she would normally dare to speak out loud in an empty room, much less in one filled with intrigue-weavers. It was a huge risk to let a complete stranger in on it, too, but somehow she continued to form the words, "...if I can't find anything like that, I could try and forge it myself."

• ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ •
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Kerr Manor, Scotland - 29th August 2021

One thing Aurelius did was keep an eye on Liana. He watched her, out the corner of his peripheral when not directly looking, as he watched her reactions. There was a lot to learn about someone by expressions or mannerisms they displayed. It was no mistake that Aurelius revealed what he did, the Irish boy wasn't prone to sharing family secrets, but in this instance there was something about Liana that he could... identify with. Not connect, per say, but certainly see similarities in their circumstances. And shared hardship was a strong motivator for mutual conspiring.

But first, Aurelius needed to gauge Liana. He wanted to understand her reactions, how she showed surprise, or anger, or sadness and even optimism. The theater monologue had been used for two purposes; the first to apply a metaphor, clearly, but also to carefully prompt reactions from his conversation partner. Another had been the question regarding her new step-mother, and what followed.

Already Aurelius had seen some subtle displays from Liana. She showed composure for the most part, which he appreciated and respected, and didn't seem alarmed by his own displays of expression. Such as glaring at his parents. The response at the possibility of Sebastian moving the Leeds family had showed some honesty, which was nice to see, but again Aurelius saw that careful concealing demeanor from Liana.

She's similar to me, Aurelius thought, as he listened to Liana respond to the notion of everyone of the social elite being actors. Not exactly, of course, but close. She might be more prone to showing emotion, but that's something we can work on... yet, so far, I feel very confident that we could go many places together. And Aurelius absently wondered at the future, how their respective Houses might reveal, and hoped that Slytherin was in the cards for both of them.

"I have, ay," Aurelius said with a smirk, once Liana mentioned the thought behind the metaphor from moments before. "I find it easier to categorize and organize things, people, places. I break down the basic components of whatever it is, say a situation or mannerism, and then mentally combine those components to formulate estimations... and usually they're accurate."

A perfect example had been bumping into Lady Beatrice. Aurelius had not once worried about reprisal, because he understood the embarrassment, the judgmental people around, and how important it was to maintain face at all times. Beatrice hadn't stood a chance.

"And you're right. We can begin making connections with our peers, start to establish those friendships early, when influence can be given easily," Aurelius smiled to Liana. He sipped the juice, before he continued. "After all... what's the biggest fear a new student at a new school might have? Being outcast or embarrassed. Or both. Kindness and respect will encourage connection, and from connection influence, and from influence control."

Aurelius looked out over the guests, before he glanced to Liana.

"Sounds fun, ay? But, I digress, I'm very interested in your plans against Lady Ophelia..."

And while Liana began to explain the situation, Aurelius nodded and listened. Divorce was the obvious result, indeed, though there were many ways to reach that. When the redhead explained the more mutual nature of the marriage, some pieces fell into place, and the Irish boy smiled. The sip Liana took as she left the unspoken implication open made Aurelius chuckle, as he shared a sip of his own juice. And the mention of learning more about Lady Ophelia's family tree made sense; what with knowledge being power and all that. Not to mention, the implication of the family having difficulty in producing heirs - even Squibs - played very heavily into Liana's favor... and she knew it, too.

A calculating mind, Aurelius thought, as he was both intrigued and cautious about the depth of Liana's thought processes. She clearly has a way with plots, and just from our brief interaction, I know she would make a terrible enemy... so I suppose that's just one more reason to befriend her. I'll add it to the several other reasons.

When Liana began to explain her idea behind the notion of pursuing non-magical offspring as a means to secure inheritance, Aurelius inclined his head. He squinted for a moment, as he thought, but kept quiet until the redhead had completed her thought process. It had merit, yes, though perhaps a precautionary solution could be put into place also, to further assist in the effort. It could certainly improve chances, were Liana to forge documents, at any rate...

"How well do you know your family house-elves?" Aurelius asked suddenly. He raised his eyebrows as he looked to her. "Ones you - dare I say - trust? Or at least ones greedy enough to bring over to your side?"

Aurelius paused for a moment, then continued.

"Lady Ophelia expects you will be at Hogwarts most of the year, ay? And I also suspect she might push to keep you away from returning home, with other engagements or plans. Visiting other pure-blood families, for example." Aurelius tapped the cup in his hand, as he worked through the idea. "Perhaps having your own spies - the elves - at home could keep you informed, without needing to force confrontation with Ophelia? Additionally, by remaining absent, and not trying to impose your need to return to see developments here, she might very well let her guard down to focus on other problems... which could give you even more opportunity to find a vulnerability to strike."

It reminded the Irish boy of a lesson from a tutor, who spoke about one of the Muggle wars from generations past. Aurelius decided to share the explanation:

"Consider this: when someone is fighting a war on all sides, they become exhausted. But that exhaustion can give way to bold, unexpected moves or reactions. However, if one side eases up, focus can be redistributed to the other battles... and a fog of war can set in on a threat that was laying low. And without that central force fighting unpredictably, they can be anticipated and the right amount of pressure can be applied when needed.

"In essence, let Lady Ophelia believe she has won. Let her think she has worn you down. Maintain the charade, and prepare a complete and utter devastating blow she can't recover from that she isn't expecting."

Aurelius smirked as he raised his eyebrows.

"Also bribe your house-elves, if you can, and get them to cover magical mishaps from step-siblings to make them appear non-magical. Assuming said step-spawn aren't Squibs anyway."

Plotting was very enjoyable.

@Liana Kerr