I have gone through and edited the first 7 chapters if you read any of the chapters before September 3rd! I would suggest going back and rereading them - AR
Pure Blood debut balls were much like presenting debutantes at court except without the sovereign to present her to.
It was fairly simple actually. A ball was held and the young girl would be presented meaning she would descend down stairs ,and would be announced then she would dance a dance with her father, with a chosen suitor, and then many other dances with whoever asked, and that was that. There was a little more tradition that went with it such as family jewels being worn. and things such as that, but nothing major.
Verina and Briony were in her room getting ready. As usual people were hired to do hair and makeup on such large occasions for fear of the house elves making a mistake.
Verina sat in a chair as someone magically made her more beautiful using different charms and such.
Briony looked in the mirror at Verina's eyes. " You seem happier today than usual. What's up with that? Usually you dread these things."
Verina smiled. " Well, this just means I am one step closer to graduating, healing school, marrying Lev and the life I so want."
"Right. You totally kissed him last night." She said and Verina blushed and Briony squealed. " Verina that is the most scandalous thing you have ever done ever."
Verina looked down at her lap as her mother walked in. " Verina you looked flush are you hot?"
" You bet she is." Briony said and Verina began to choke.
"Yes. I need some air." She said and Seriphina began to fan her.
The clock chimed and Seriphina sighed. " Briony are you almost finished you have a half hour before the guest arrive. You know you have to be down there to greet the guest."
"Seriphina I am well versed in pure blood protocol. Yes, I am finished now if someone will get me my dress she said standing up. Briony's dark brown hair was long and straight, but tonight it was pulled in a braided up do. She favored her grandfather's people ( to Briony's mother's dismay).
She had hoped for an English looking child, but it did not happen.
Briony would go unnoticed in downtown Sofia. Both of the Obolensky girls favored their great grandmother. Verina's only flaw was her distinctly Romanian jet black hair and her unusually violet eyes, both inherited from Vera. Briony had green grey eyes like the rest of the Obolenskys, and like Verina her cheek bones were high and her nose was slender. Her features dainty, angled, and feminine both girls were petite.
However, Briony was taller than Verina and a bit more filled out than Verina. Many who didn't know them well usually got them mixed up. To only be third cousins Verina thought it was crazy how much alike they looked, but if you saw how similar Katherine and Vera looked and how similar the two brothers looked you wouldn't be surprised.
Katherine, too had incredibly dark hair, though not black and was very pale with brown eyes. She wasn't beautiful like Vera, she was actually quite mousy looking, but their coloring was at least similar.
Briseis, Dimitri Jr's wife, was a beautiful woman, but Verina didn't like her very much and only tolerate her, and therefore thought her to be very ugly. She was average height and curvy and was slightly tan with chest nut hair and green eyes. The only thing Briony ever got from her was life- thankfully and possibly her talent to sing. Brisies was a three hit wonder on the Wizard Wireless Network before a politically ambitious Dimitri Jr. snatched her up. He was climbing the latter in the office of International Magical Cooperation in London like his father had before he retired- well that was before he was locked up.
Briony was a beautiful creature to behold many spoke of her beauty. She too graced the cover of magazines and things because of her own grandfather's fame. Witch Weekly loved to talk about the heiresses.
It was like a fairy tale to the world, but the girls didn't see it that way. Briony slipped into her gown, and Verina was instantly envious.
Briony's dress was a silky emerald green it was a one shoulder strap with flowers at the top. The dress was not tight, but fitting and pooled down to the floor in a trumpet style bottom. It was elegant, but modern much like Briony was. She wore a simple gold diamond bracelet and gold shoes and her clutch was gold as well. Her green eyes needed very little make up for the stood out. Seriphina looked over her with approval looking at her own black dress. " You win."
Briony laughed. " Don't I always. This color is really in this season. I think I rather like it."
Together they walked out and Verina sighed. The calm before the storm.
She stood up and prepared to get into her own dress. Her hair was pulled up in a very intricate curly up do. Glittery strands twisted through out her hair and all met in a curly do on her head. It was loosely done so she looked more natural. Her tiara which her princess ancestors had worn now rested on her head. It wasn't overly large, but it wasn't small either. It was now time for her dress. She walked over to the middle of the room and stepped in. It took them ten minutes to button her up and get everything settled. She finally got to look in the mirror. She couldn't believe it was her in the mirror. Her dress was indescribable the top was simple and plain with straps what hung of her shoulders giving it more the appearance of it being strapless. It was a cream colored gown that was fitted at the waist and then it flared at the bottom roses bordered the silk fabric that went to the floor in a curve down the left side on the right side it was nothing but toulle with gold that went through out it. Verina looked at the tiara and noticed it matched perfectly. It was gold and it's design was beautiful. The tiara was flowers and diamonds all pointing upward. The dress and the tiara somehow seemed as if it was once piece. Verina looked at it all and was breahtless. It was extravagant but it was her all the same. She wore her grandmothers locket and bracelet her mother had bought specially for the occasion. You couldn't see it but her mothers ring was in the locket. Verina had done some charms to make it work. She looked at Ava and smiled. " I am beautiful."
"No my dear beautiful isn't even adequate."
Minni appeared letting her know it was time and Verina nodded and walked out of her room and to the grand staircase where everyone was waiting. Violins were playing and people were chattering but then trumpets sounded and Verina's grandfather spoke.
" It is my pleasure to you to present to society my granddaughter Miss Verina Yordona Luminita Black-Obolensky the pride and joy of her family." Ooos and Aaaahhhs errupted from the room as she descended the stairs with the lullaby of her childhood being played on the harp. Her grandfather extended his arm and Verina took it. They danced about half a dance which was traditional before Lev stepped in. Her grandfahter shook his hand and kissed Verina's cheeks and the continued to dance allowing everyone else to join them on the dance floor. " You look like a princess." Lev said Verina smiled. " I am a princess."
He laughed. " How often I forget."
Verina just smiled. " You know what this means don't you?"
Lev spun her around and kissed her cheek. " Don't I ever."
The song ended and all applauded and Verina began to receive people. Many wanted to speak to her and a line soon formed. A bell rang, and Verina knew what the meant she excused herself ,and went to her room where she changed into a much less physically restraining gown. Her new dress was also cream it was a simple floor length . It was very 1920's inspired and Verina loved it. The top had sleeves, but above the breast line it was a see through sheer with intricate glittery gold lines. It was A-line and it gathered right below the breast and flowed to the floor. It had a slight train and Verina put on different jewelery. Her hair was changed, but her tiara remained and so did her gloves. She walked back downstairs and was asked to dance by a few young men from her childhood. She saw Briony dancing with Draco and thought that looked just right. Lev, soon asked to cut in and asked her to come out to the gardens with him for just a moment. She agreed and walked out with him.
"I was going to wait until your birthday to ask you and I promised your grandfather I would, but I thought you should know. I plan for us to marry and I want you to say yes. Now I am not asking we get engaged today, you're much too young for that, but I don't want you to be anyone elses. Say you'll be mine just mine until the day we go get to married. I love you and I can't imagine my life without make me better and I love who I am when I with you and I know it's because somehow somewhere someone made you just for me."
Verina kissed him. " Yes. Yes, I am yours. All yours."
He picked her up and spun her around and presented her with a box. "It's a symbol of a promise."
Verina opened the box and looked at the ring. The band was gold vines that met in the middle to a yellow diamonded flower. It was unique and she got the significance. She put it on and kissed him again.
" I really like this new thing we have going here." He said and she laughed.
" I love you Lev Stefan Zograf."
" I love you the future Mrs. Zograf."
It was then the screams errupted from the house. Verina ran into the house and Lev stopped her just short of the door. The fire had errupted and people were running to get out. Verina saw the black cloaked men. " Death Eaters."
Lev looked at her very seriously. " Verina, they are here to get you. I want you to do me a favor do you hear me?"
Verina was very scared, but she listned. " Call Minni and you two leave and go to England. You go to the beach house and you wait and you do not leave until you hear word from me. I love you, Verina please just listen."
" I love you!" she yelled as he ran towards the fire.
She did not obey him instead she ran down the garden trail and into the servants house. She hid there for what seemed like hours until the commotion died down. She heard someone come into the house and she quit breathing. They were sobbing and Verina recognized the sobs. She walked out of the closet and saw Narcissa sitting on the couch next to her son Draco. Lilyana was having them carry in a body. Verina recognized who it was immediately. Her grandmother lay on a stretcher bleeding. Verina ran to her and everyone gasped. She had them lay her down and she tried to stop the bleeding. She worked forever muttering spells and applying potions and salves that Lilyana had. Severus had arrived and he too tried. Vera weakly grabbed Verina's hands.
" Verina, there is nothing you can do. Stop. Listen to me." She said weakly. Verina stopped and looked into the violet eyes of her grandmother. " You will never be alone. I am always with you. Heal, Verina, Heal. It is what you have to do. Don't dwell on the past. It doesn't matter who people say you are what matters is in here. Love." She said and she breathed her last.
Verina collapsed on the body and began to sob. She kissed her head as tears spilled down her cheeks. She needed her mother. " I want my mother. Where is my mother?" she screamed and Narcissa began to sob. Verina looked at Severus Snape and just fell to the ground. " Who else is dead?"
"Verina there was no warning they attacked and many people died at least ten, six of them guards." Severus said " They servants, the guests, and the house elves got away. The damage to the house in minimal."
Verina went pale and she knew what the answer was. " MaMa, GrandMaMa, PaPa, and six guards that's nine who is the tenth?" she said sobbing " Who is the tenth?"
All was silent and no one spoke.
Tears stained the pale, ashen face of the girl, blood covered her hands, and her eyes screamed for comfort, but there was none to give. She looked around and no one would say anything. Verina asked again, and still no one spoke. Finally Draco looked at her. He got off his spot on the couch and bent down to her level. Looking her seriously in the eyes he grabbed her elbow and looked at her. " Verina, it was Lev."
Everything in her screamed. She wanted to hit something or someone. She wanted to die herself. She looked down at her grandmother was sleeping peacefully. Her beautiful body covered in blood. " I need to clean her up." she said feebly and walked to Lilyana's kitchen. She gathered a bowl of water and grabbed a cloth. She numbly cleaned her grandmother. Saying things like "There, there" and " You'll look better in a moment."
No one said a word, but no one took their eyes off of her.
" Please take her body back to the main house." Verina said to anyone who would listen.
Lilyana nodded to her husband who obeyed.
She put the rag back in the bowl and Minni took it and put it back in the kitchen. She wiped her face unaware she had just smeared blood down her cheek.
" I want to see the rest of them" she said to the air for all that she cared and she quietly walked back to the main house.
She did not notice that she was covered in blood or that she was still sobbing.
They moved the bodies in the rooms away from the rubble. The other three had been cursed so there bodies were clean. The Zograf's were with their son. Verina asked that all three Obolensky's be kept together and her wishes were granted. She cleaned them up and covered them with a sheet. They would be buried soon. She didn't have the hear to go and see Lev- not yet.
She then walked downstairs and noticed it had been cleaned.
Except for a few damages here and there you couldn't tell anything had happened. Verina didn't know what to do with herself. \The house was now surronded by guards and magical enchanments. Verina, looked around the house and crumpled to the floor. She didn't know how long she had sobbed before someone picked her up and held her. Whoever it was they were sobbing too.
