Darkness-Open

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite made it to the train at the last moment. She stepped on the train cursing her mother's driver for making her late as the engine let out a long hiss. She walked by cabin after cabin looking for an empty one, her bag brushing against the doors noisily. Why couldn't these things have better lighting so late at night?

Finally, towards the rear of the train was the only door that was opened. She pulled her bag inside the cabin with her setting it on the seat alongside of her. It took her a couple of minutes to make out another figure sitting across from her. She couldn't tell if they were looking out the window or staring at her. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in here. Do you mind? I could find another cabin." She offered. Marguerite had been hoping to sit by herself, but now she was just glad to be sitting at all.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros shifted somewhat lazily in his seat, one brow arching almost imperceptibly at the girl. She seemed somewhat flustered at his presence, whether from surprise or from a desire to be alone he could not tell. He had been looking out the window, watching the crowd mill, then thin, when the girl had slipped into the cabin. He had been perfectly content to divert his observations to a nearer subject.

"Please, don't leave on my account," he drawled. "The door was open, after all." As little as Eros would enjoy sitting amongst a group of twittering children, he didn't at all mind having more sociable company. The girl sitting across from him, lovely little thing that she was, seemed sociable, if over-apologetic.

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite smiled politely and shifted in her seat to a more comfortable position. His voice was smooth as he spoke. She crossed her legs out of habit and sat up straight. Mother dearest would be proud, now wouldn’t she? She couldn’t make out much of what he looked like, only that his hair seemed to shine in the soft moonlight.

“I’m Marguerite.” She introduced herself. Even as she spoke, she recognized something strange about her voice. Enthusiasm? Over-enthusiasm? Oh god, where did that come from. “Is this your first time going to Hogwarts?” Her voice was smoother this time. She tilted her head slightly, a reflex, almost as soon as the question came out of her mouth.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Enchanté, Marguerite," Eros returned, nodding his head slightly in the young lady's direction. He wasn't French, despite the sound of his surname, but he spoke enough to count. His lips quirked at the interest in her voice, but he made no comment. The fact that she was so easily affected only amused him and made her more interesting.

"My name is Eros d'Avonderre, and yes, this will be my first time in Scotland. I'm actually visiting friends for the summer, so I'm afraid I likely won't have reason to see the famous castle." And yet he was riding the Hogwarts Express. Money and influence could buy anything, and he intended this summer to be an experience from beginning to end. That meant a more interesting entrance than simple apparition.

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite smiled. "Oh non, c'est tout mon placier." Oh no, the pleasure is mine, she said softly. French was the language she understood best, but she hardly ever got to speak in French at Hogwarts. Since she was at Hogwarts for most of the year, she didn't get to speak French much and enjoyed the opportunity when provided.

"Parlez-vous Francais?" She cocked her head to the side a little bit. She caught a glimpse of his eyes, ehem, his gorgeous eyes. Feeling embarrassed she quickly looked away. Her cheeks grew hot and she could feel them getting more red. How many times was she told not to stare? She hoped he wouldn't be able to tell in the dim lighting.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

He couldn't at all see her blush, but there was just enough light to tell by the gleam of her eyes where they had been focused. His lips quirked ever slightly. "Assez pour survivre à des vacances prolongées, chéri, mais moi ne prétendront pas être un expert," Eros replied. Enough to survive a lengthy holiday, darling, but I won't claim to be an expert. Not with the slight imperfection that remained where his British accent would not entirely fade.

"Et vous? Êtes-vous français? Votre seul accent est assez pour tourner des têtes. Exquis," Eros added, his voice lowering with that last word. She really was a lovely creature, and as much as he loathed imperfection in himself, he found hers charming. And you? Are you French? Your accent alone is enough to turn heads. Exquisite.

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite laughed. "Merci beaucoup. Est-ceci que vous dites chaque fille que vous rencontrez?" Is that what you say to every girl you meet? Her eyes sparkled as the words swept across her lips meant mostly as a joke. "I am from Lyon, France, but my mother is vacationing in Spain at the moment so that is where we have been staying." If a person is on vacation for seven months, is it still a vacation? " You're French is very good, better than most, actually. Do you spend many holidays in France? "

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros gave the girl an easy smile at her first comment. Perhaps he enjoyed the melodramatic at times, but even that was based in truth. And what fun was truth without just a little embellishment? He was pleased by her response.

"I often spend some weeks during summer visiting the Côte d'Azur," he replied, "though I have visited Lyon. I have found the food and wine to be exceptional." He had also visited the occasional bouchon, but as such establishments were generally looked down upon, he didn't speak of them.

[Marguerite de León]

"The Côte d'Azur is beautiful. My brother keeps a boat there in Menton, although I am not sure why if nobody looks after it. He certainly doesn't." Marguerite smiled. Growing up wherever there was food, there was wine and vice versa. Her house was near a vineyard and as a child her Grand-mére used to take her to the vineyard at night to pick some grapes. Marguerite remembers the bitter taste of an unripe grape as if it were yesterday. They would go back home and Marguerite would watch her as she begun to...

Before she got too lost in old memories, Marguerite reached into her bag and pulled out a Merlot. She had planned on drinking it sooner or later and decided it was probably better if she drank it soon. "Would you like some?" She asked holding up the unlabeled bottle. Before he answered she popped the cork off, carefull to make sure it didn't break before it was all the way out.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros arched a brow at the girl. "Do you have glasses in there as well?" he asked. He could only imagine that she must be a student. Who else would carry a bottle of wine in a bag with them? Not that he had any particular argument against sharing, since she had so generously offered. He was partial to a good wine. Come to think of it, considering her likely age, he wondered if it was a good wine. He supposed he'd find out, whether she had glasses or not.

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite tilted her head and let a wide grin spread across her lips. Instead of reaching into her bag, she tilted the bottle sideways. As the deep red wine fell gracefully out of its bottle, instead of falling, a glass formed to catch it. Once the glass was filled, she caught it lightly by the stem and held it out for him. Marguerite then proceeded to fill her own glass in the same matter. She rested the bottle on the windowsill and raised her glass. “Á la vôtre." She saluted.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros's lips quirked as he raised his glass, echoing the toast back to Marguerite. "Á la vôtre." He took a drink of the wine and nodded his head lightly in approval. "C'est bon," he said. She was definitely Pureblood, he could tell that much. He'd never met a halfblood or less who would know the difference between a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

"So, tell me, Marguerite, do you always carry fine vintages with you?" he teased lightly.

[Marguerite de León]

Marguerite laughed lightly. "Not always. My grand-mére used to make her own wine at our house. There was a vineyard near our house and she would wake us up in the middle of the night to get the grapes. It's just sitting there now since there is rarely anyone home. I'd hate to see perfectly good wine go bitter." She said sipping her wine. Merlot was one of her favorites. It was strong and not too sweet if aged properly.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Just sitting there?" Eros asked. "A vineyard? That sounds like a terrible waste. Is it taken care of in the absence of the owners?" He would assume so, but he knew of so many such properties that simply went to seed when the owners lost interest, or when the properties went on to an uncaring heir. Eros sipped his wine, thinking idly about the possibilities. A vineyard. He was tempted to look into purchasing one now that he thought of it, but doubted his father would even consider doing so, considering the cost of this summer's diversion.