Graduate Party (Mass Thread)

[[OOC: I'm assuming the Ballroom is the right place for this. If not, feel free to move it. Oh and Jemma's starting it because she's a Ministry employee (and secretary to someone high up, so makes sense IC for her to start things by orders etc.), but other grads can come.
Purpose of party is to 'make peace', due to civil unrest...then again, what is a better way to spread gossip?]]

Jemma was finishing up, putting some decorations up around the ballroom. The Ministry was hosting yet another party, supposedly in order to 'ease tension in the wizarding world' and all that. Jemma had heard rumblings of rebels not liking the corruptness of the Ministry, and especially given her position, she had seen some of the corruptness first hand. Mr. Shaw wasn't exactly the most ethical person, far from it in fact, and sometimes Jemma felt uneasy working for him, but she tried to put it behind her because it was good job which she currently needed.

Stepping back, she gazed around the room. A few other employees were helping sort out the room. She checked the time, fifteen minutes to go until guests were supposed to start arriving. All Ministry employees were invited, plus people brought there friends, so it had the potential to be a rather large gathering. Who didn't like a party with an open bar, after all? It was Jemma's first party that she'd been involved in since she had resumed her work and the Ministry and was excited for it. She didn't know many people here, but wanted to try and socialize more and get more involved in the wizarding world. Plus, she wanted to know more about these rebels.

Jemma was very curious about the rebels, which parts of the Ministry they wanted to reform and how they were planning on doing it. There were certain people in the Ministry that she wasn't so sure about, her boss included, so was swaying towards agreeing with the rebels. Not that she could say anything, with her job and all, but wanted to know if there was anyway she could subtly help. She was on the inside, and rather high up, there must be something she could do to help the cause.

Spoiler:

Jude strolled into the Ministrial ballroom, dressed in all of the strappings an upper official of the Ministry should be wearing. He wore it well, too, he had to admit. He had spent more of his time appreciating his appearance rather than actually suiting up for the party. The party was just another vapid excuse to dress up and drink champagne... and that was why he had been so eager to approve it.

This night was important. They were supposed to display a unity and order in the Ministry that was not actually there. There were murmurs of displeasure among the masses, and tonight was the night to do two things : express that there was no need for change in society, and prove through the sheer splendor and multitude of the Ministry employees that any hope of dissension was completely lost. There was no combating the Ministry.

He passed Jemma, patting her shoulder. "Wonderful work, here. We've all pulled together to make a wonderful night." Of course, Jude hadn't done anything, but he would surely say he had been working all the way up to the party, rather than enjoying a private drink in his office. "Great job, Jemma. You do me proud day after day."

Charlotte had been one of the first outside of the Ministry to hear of such a party thanks to her public relations manager. Being a death eater she hadn't wanted to go, it would give the impression she agreed with how the ministry operated, but being a secret death eater meant from time to time Charlotte needed to seem neutral, after all it as just a party and chances are Rivah would also be there. 

Charlotte has spent the entire day getting ready for the ball in her stately home. With Madame Malkin being her personal choice of designer at her command throughout the day the build up to the party had been a lot better than Charlotte anticipated. Having received the morning off training in order to prepare she'd been dying to go out for a fly but when she aimed to appear the most glamorous attendee flying came second - it would ruin her hair, which had been set perfectly first thing after breakfast. 

Alas, after thirteen hours of preparation Charlotte was ready, wearing a sparkling silver dress. The next hurdle was transportation. Using the floo network would ruin her outfit with ash, the Knight Bus was a peasants means of travel and flying on her broomstick would ruffle her hair. The Quidditch player was  fond of the idea that arriving in flight would add to her image though. After ordering her personal assistant to book her a true Indian flying carpet only then was she satisfied. 

Charlotte rode in a carriage pulled by winged horses, landing neatly outside of the visitors entrance to the ministry. Stepping into the telephone box - which, also at her request, had had an undetectable expansion charm placed upon it to allow her stretch out her purple and gold rug for her to ride in on. She sat on her knees, her head held hair allowing her hair to slither seductively down her spine. 

The pro player was greeted by flashing lights and the cries of fans and employees as she emerged from the telephone box and into the Atrium where a velvet carpet had been placed, leading to the ballroom. The flying carpet had made quiet the impression. It was unique, different and was doing a grand job at enchanting her public image. 'Hello. Hello.' She spoke, waving a hand to her fans all the way until she reached the ballroom. 

She had to admit, the ministry had done a marvellous job at decorating the ballroom. There was a raised balcony for VIP's. That's where Charlotte was heading. In a dress this expensive she wouldn't be allowing the common civilians to be within a two meter radius. Charlotte was more worthy than that.

'Topez.' She announced when her flying carpet reached the top of the VIP balcony. One of the bouncers holding a guest list unfastened a red cord allowing Charlotte to enter. Dismounting from her carpet (which then went to gracefully hang upon the wall) she stepped onto the private platform. 

What Charlotte Looks Like:
http://styleshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Nicole-Scherzinger-in-Randi-Rahm-Dress-01.jpg

Despite his gut feeling, Matt decided he'd go out for once. Rather than stay inside and waste another night of his life reading. He had only been to the ministry on a few occasions and had never been in the ballroom. It was a rather elegant looking room, very large with an open ceiling that seemed to stretch into the clouds. It was the typical look of a ball room, not all that impressive really.

He was to embarrassed to ask for directions to the ballroom that it took him a very long time to finally find the place. But when he did he strolled in as though he hadn't gotten lost for half an hour. There were very few people at the ball. Perhaps it had only just started. He was wearing a very basic tuxedo and a bow tie. He smirked to himself and tugged on each end of the bow tie. "Bow ties are cool..." he thought to himself.

Matthew slowly made his way towards the refreshment table. Maybe he should have brought a date tonight. No, that wasn't exactly his area of expertise. He stopped and looked the table over. He leaned down and sniffed the punch. It smelled normal, which mean nobody, hopefully, had spiked it. He poured himself a glass before someone got to it. It tasted very sweet, almost too sweet. He put his glass down; not for him. And then he stayed there. By the punch bowl. Just like elementary school.

Matt's Tuxedo

Charlotte grasped a golden encrusted goblet from a house elf walking between the legs of ball-goers, a silver tray held above it's head to hide the bat like wings and tennis ball eyes. Taking a sip Topez gazed across the ball. It was an impressive site and she commended the Ministry for managing to provide some sort of happiness among the unrest... Not that she was bothered about the happiness, all she cared about was blood purity and become the beater for the England squad.

Where is she? Charlotte thought to herself, trying to find the blonde hair of Rivah Trenton lost in the sea of people below. A fellow Holyhead Harpie was on the balcony too, enjoying a smooch with her boyfriend. It wasn't as though anyone cared about her, the only people on the Holyhead Harpies worth talking about was Topez and the captain. They were all amazing players but the sultry looks of Charlotte Topez had gotten her the limelight of the team and most of the Quidditch world.

Below the balcony were a few men, drunk already, and eyeing up Miss Topez. Shooting a filthy look at them she turned around to join Sasha Grande, the captain of the Holyhead Harpies. 'You scrub up well.' Sasha said to Charlotte, who didn't reply she simply sipped her drink with a cold expression. Sasha was used to her coldness though, so there was nothing new there other than the fact she needed to speak to Rivah about certain plans.

Rivah smiled, leaning in slightly and pretending not to notice as the politician's gaze became fixed on the low-cut design of her dress. Reaching forwards to lay a delicate hand on the elder male's arm, the blond looked upwards through her lashes. "Well?" the Department Head asked softly, gentle smile still prominent on her features.

"I, uh, yes. Yes, of course. Couldn't agree more. More funding. For your department, rather. I'll be getting on that straight away," the man stuttered out, eyes still locked on a spot that was definitely lower than Rivah's face.

"Thank you," the blond said, taking back her hand, "you have no idea how much I appreciate this." Sending the man one last gleaming smile, the witch turned around and disappeared into the crowd. Well, that was her work completed for the night. No matter how pathetic her methods, Rivah couldn't help but be genuinely pleased with herself. Her department really did need more funding, and the woman was glad that such funding would finally be received. Lack of capitol was the reason for the multiple creature breakouts from the containment and research part of her department. Rivah was certain that all of her employee's would be pleased to know that the aforementioned area was going to be reinforced.

Finally finished with the important schmoozing that needed to be done that night, the witch allowed herself to approach the silver-clad back of one of the few Death Eaters she actively enjoyed the company of. "Well good evening Charlotte," the blonde greeted the Quidditch player, "you look even more stunning than usual."

What Rivah Looks Like

Charlotte turned her head at the presence of Rivah acknowledging her appearance. Giving her team mate a cold look the fellow Quidditch player knew her place to wander to another group of people, leaving Charlotte and Rivah alone. 'I gathered from the drooling dunderhead over there.' Charlotte said tilting her head to a porky wizard with a pink cheeks and greasy hair. Probably an intern. Topez thought to herself.

'Did you get the funding you needed?' The quidditch player asked her fellow death eater, edging along the padded double seat to make room for Rivah. They hadn't spoken properly since the appearance at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Sure there had been a death eater meeting but that wasn't the place for mere chit chat and so Topez had never found out the results of Trenton's plans for increased funds, of course during that time Charlotte had been busy training and recovering from her arm injury that had made front page of the prophet because her visit to St Mungos.