Richard had made an obligatory appearance earlier at one of those boring cocktails and dinner things, mostly because the invitation had been forwarded via his mother. Failure to do so would have left him open for a mandatory maternal nagging session at some later date for not socializing with the 'right' crowd. At least he'd been able to escape the dull dinner and duller conversation by pleading a prior engagement, even though in truth he had no place to go, and no one to go there with.
He was a little overdressed for Finnigans, but it was New Year's Eve, and at least he was fit enough to look good in a tux, unlike most of the men at the earlier gathering who bore distinct resemblance to overfed penguins. And you really never did know what could happen on New Year's Eve.
Not being a fan of watering good booze, he ordered his Bourbon straight up and sighed a little as he took his first sip in celebration of his escape. The attractive woman at the bar caught his eye and he nodded to her ever his glass. Vane. He recognized her from Hogwarts. Something with an R. Had a shop on the alley. Certainly made the little black dress look good.
"Cheers," he said with a smile, and raised his glass again for a larger swallow.