Antoine de Laurent | Second Year | Beauxbatons

Name: Antoine de Laurent
School: Beauxbatons
Year: Second Year
Status: Pureblood
Residence: Paris, France
Nationality: French
Date of Birth: 14 Feb 2014
Age: 12

Physical Appearance: Antoine is tall for his age, and, at first glance, there is just something intimidating about him. His height typically doesn't register unless you walk right up to him, because you'll find him leaning against the wall, arms folded, completely closed off until approached. That is when he straightens, and his full height can be registered. Up close, Antoine is lanky, his hair falling softly over his ears to emphasize his silhouette. At times, he looks like he's not from this world, and rather a specimen from somewhere else. This is, of course, in the viewer's imagination. Antoine, with his dark hair and contrasting light eyes, is as much a wizard as the next person.

His resting face is undeniably neutral. It is as if the boy is a blank slate until spoken to. However, once spoken to, his expression quickly shifts into something more telling. Antoine finds no difficulty in expressing exactly those emotions that he thinks must be expressed, which often means that his silver tongue can not be trusted. However, for the more observant, his eyes are often a dead giveaway of what he's thinking, for a split second, at least. Then they, too, match the facade of the face, giving way to nothing the boy doesn't want you to know.

When not in his school uniform, Antoine's fashion is a stark contrast to his poised and composed mannerisms. He tends to gravitate from one style to the next, but never does he wear something simple. The boy's complex temperament is expressed through his fashion, with elegant, designer outfits being worn the same day as 2000's grunge. It all depends on what he's feeling, and how he chooses to express himself on that day.

Personality: Antoine is, in short, a charmer. He knows exactly what to say to get along with all types of people. Whether he chooses to say that is another story. Antoine is used to being approached and, whether it be pride or some other reason, he will rarely walk up to someone and speak to them. They must earn his respect in some way before he does so. Respect, for Antoine, is earned through quantitative measures. Whether it be you being a better duellist or better at potions, these are achievements he considers worthwhile. Kindness and friendliness is seen as weakness when not measured or calculated. Being on his own doesn't scare him; in fact, he likes his own company more than most people's. Any help given or kind word spoken is done with a motive in mind, so if you drop your books or trip and fall, don't expect him to stop and help. In fact, it'll be more likely for him to tease, or perhaps give a disapproving glare, depending on who you are, of course.

Antoine is quick to judge at first glance. His first impression of you may very well be his last. He tends to disapprove of those that are loud, outgoing, bubbly, or the like. Of course, there is the rare exception; someone who passes his initial judgment despite having traits he dislikes, and he is polite to them despite everything. However, he gets along best with other like-minded people, those who are calm, composed, and collected.

Once in his inner circle, Antoine is fiercely loyal. He would do anything for those he trusts and cares for, and his actions support it. He can often be teasing, and a softer, playful side of his comes out with those he adores.

History: Born to two well-respected, wealthy pureblooded parents, Antoine was raised with love. Or, at the very least, conditional love. Affection was given when he accomplished something, and so, from a young age, Antoine has learned to perform. He is the first to offer his hand in a dance, the first to play the piano, the first to do any manner of captivating things. And all to impress Florence and Alphonse de Laurent. Antoine has been molded into the perfect Beauxbatons student, with perfect etiquette and an affinity for the arts. This was no accident, but rather the combined efforts of governesses and tutors, hired by his parents, turning Antoine into the pride and joy of the family.

But being the golden child has its downsides. Everything Antoine does, he feels, is met with scrutiny and interrogation. Step a little out of line, and its a thousand questions. "Why? Antoine, why?" was a phrase often repeated during the boy's mischievous childhood. He quickly learned his role, and how to garner positive attention, but he has always felt as if he is living under the thumb of his parents. And if not his parents, then whatever governess wasn't sick of him yet.

As he grew older, however, Antoine's demeanor began to change. The boy had accepted his predicament, and began to count down the days for him to leave the nest and his over-protective, over-questioning parents. Beauxbatons was freedom, away from the tense environment of home. It meant he could finally be independent and make his own decisions, as far as a school environment would let him, of course. Did his homeschooling affect his ability to make friends? Certainly. Did he care about that side effect? Certainly not. The thought of the castle called him, not the notion of friendship.

First Instance of Magic: As a young child, frustration would often flow through Antoine's veins. The tiniest thing would send the fairly spoiled child into a frenzy. And it was during one of his frenzies that his first instance of magic occurred. Antoine was sick of his lessons, and angrier still at not having seen his parents at all for days. They were busy people, of course, always heading out to one business dinner or the next, and Antoine had had enough of it. He had had enough of everything, in fact. This was at the age of 7, and as he threw a tantrum he let out a scream, hands curled into fists, eyes closed tight. When he opened his eyes, the candles in front of him had been lighted, when they had been unlit just a second ago. His governess calmed him, and the discovery was shared that evening over a family dinner. His parents gave him nods of approval, and then promptly told him it was impolite to eat with his elbows on the table.

Part-Veela Application: Antoine's Veela heritage is fairly new in the family tree, dating back to Florence's mother. Florence de Laurent, then called Florence Dubois, was born to a pureblood wizard and a Veela mother. Her father, Julien Dubois, was a performer, using his exceptional strength and levitation magic to entertain children, young and old alike. The man knew the value of an entertaining persona, and he was quick-witted and charming. It was during these travels that he encountered a Veela.

At first, Julien did not recognize the being for what she was, only seeing the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. No doubt he had caught her eye with his impressive displays of strength. However, he was determined to know more about her. Whenever they talked, Julien knew there was something different about her, but he couldn't quite place what. It was only when they had Florence that she revealed who she was.

Although Julien was willing to raise the child together, the Veela vanished as quickly as she had come. He looked all over the city for her, only to find no trace of her. He was left with Florence, who had taken completely after her mother. The same pale blonde hair, the same light blue-green eyes.

Julien tried his best, but Florence simply was not suited to the life of a travelling performer. She wanted stability; she wanted a home. There were quite a few tantrums, some that Julien could barely handle. But, despite everything, Florence picked up quite a few skills with their lifestyle. Her Veela heritage meant she was already beguiling, and Julien was sure his daughter's beauty knew no bounds. Florence quickly picked up her father's charm and quick wit, sometimes even joining him in his performances, which led to many more people than usual watching.

One of these people was Alphonse de Laurent, spotting them while on a stroll through Paris. He was completely entrance by this girl, who, for all her beauty, was acting as a magician's assistant. He was determined to speak to her, no matter what. And so, when the performance ended, he pushed his way to the front of the crowd and started up a conversation while her father was bowing to the crowd. Young Alphonse had no idea how drastically his life was about to change.

Florence, of course, was quite used to people attempting to approach her, but there was something different about Alphonse. He was forward, but not desperate. He stood politely waiting for her responses, and there was poise and charm dripping off his every word. And so, she did something she hardly ever did. She agreed to go on a date with him.

The rest was history. Florence kept her Veela ancestry quite hidden for fear of scaring him off. Little did she know it would be her savior when they were to be married. For all Alphonse's bravery, his parents disapproved of Florence. The woman had undeniable beauty, but they expected their son to marry someone of higher social rank. Alphonse was adamant, and for a while, this caused a rift in the family.

That is, until, Alphonse's grandfather recognized Florence to be part-Veela. The man had survived an encounter with a Veela when he was younger, and curiously, this young woman his grandson had brought home shared such similar features. And so, bluntly, he asked Florence if she was part-Veela. Florence, realizing she was caught, broke down, much to Alphonse's surprise. He had known there was something different about her, but he certainly hadn't expected her to be part-Veela.

However, this was Florence's gateway into the family. Gone was the disapproval that had been present just a few minutes ago. Instead, they praised their son for his good taste, and praised Florence for her beautiful heritage. This was when Florence learned that love can be conditional, even when given by one's parents. Once they were married, Florence quickly learned all the mannerisms and nuances of being part of high society.

And once Antoine was born, she knew she had to teach him the very same nuances, as quickly as possible. They would make him go far. Unlike his mother, Antoine had dark black hair, but, like his mother, his eyes were a light blue. Florence was grateful he didn't look like most part-Veelas. Now, he would only have to deal with the intriguing effect he may have on most people, but not be so hard to pinpoint.

Florence is proud of her Veela heritage; it has gotten her to many places. However, she prefers to keep it hidden, and has passed down this tendency to Antoine as well. Being part-Veela can have its downsides, and she firmly hopes her son will never have to face them.