Does Curfew Really Apply to Vampires?

"Oh-hoh," Marguerite exclaimed, her smile becoming a grin, "So it was out of valor in which you followed me, seeking to protect the poor and helpless damsel from the tongue lashing of a professor....and I beg to differ on the point of having absolutely no redeeming qualities. My most redeeming quality, is that nuisance many call independence, and of course there is responsibility. I exercise my independence by breaking the foolish rule that a nocturnal being is not allowed outside their dormitory after 10, and if caught, I exercise my responsibility by accepting any consequences which may come with such a risk."

Marguerite paused, her demeanor sobering.

"I must, however," she continued, "Acknowledge your skills in stealth. It is very rare that someone can approach me in the darkness without my knowledge, and though not necessary, your intentions seem noble....though your brash tongue does dim the respect I could have had a bit."

Marguerite gave Selwyn a short curtsy. Though she was being sincere, it was something that could be misconstrued as being sarcastic. Marguerite still had much to learn regarding the evolution of language and the culture of today.

Selwyn just stared at the girl. She was completely unhinged. That was the only possible explanation.

"Ehhh. No," he replied with a short shake of the head.

"See, the things you call independence and responsibility, the rest of us call recalcitrance and selfishness, respectively," he explained.

Usually, Selwyn wasn't one to lecture people on how their actions effected others. He left that to people like Monroe Ashcroft and Lucy Weasley. People who actually cared about other people. But he really needed to clarify a few things, like how he did not do anything out of valour and he didn't need some lovesick vampire trailing around after him. Merlin knew, he already got enough of that from the second years.

"Get a few things straight. Going outside the castle after curfew doesn't make you independent. It makes you a little girl who refuses to follow rules just because she dislikes them. And I can understand how you might've missed it, most people do, but the points system is set up to punish everyone when you foul up. So accepting the consequences of this little jaunt is very noble, but don't lie to yourself; coming out here in the first place was just selfish."

"Also, Gryffindor's only ten points behind us in house points, just so you know," he added. "Right now, most of the people in our house don't exactly like you, but they don't actively hate you either. I've seen people be hated in this house and it didn't look fun for them."

Another sad shake of the head. Marguerite was just digging herself in deeper and deeper.

"So no, I wasn't out here because I'm valorous, I was out here on damage control."

Marguerite gave a bark of derisive laughter and waved her hand dismissively in the air.

"What should I care for House points and winning some golden cup? I came to Hogwarts for an education which was denied of me centuries ago. By all means, let them hate me. I feel no true fealty for the House of Slytherin. I would have been just as happy with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. They are all means to an end. The only thing that rusty old House Cup represents to me is disunity within a Kingdom. Things would be far simpler if it weren't for all the tension between Houses regarding Quidditch and House Points. Should I ever feel the need to find some friends, and everyone hates me in Slytherin, then I shall make friends within other Houses. If Slytherin hates me for losing the Cup, then the other houses would love me and be more than willing to befriend me, don't you think?

If believing that one should be punished for their own actions, rather than their actions be the responsibility of an entire House, means I am childish and selfish....well, then I suppose you can call me childish and selfish. I suppose I do live for myself and no other. My own life is more important to me than anyone else's life, after all...as it should be with everyone."

Selwyn's eyebrows perked up.

"You don't care what other people think?" he repeated. "Could've fooled me. Why would someone who doesn't care what others think bother to break school rules?"

His sardonic smile quirked the corner of his lips once more.

"Do you want to know what I think? Never mind, I'll tell you anyway. I think there is a certain type of person who needs so badly for the rest of us to know that they don't care what anybody else thinks, that they go out of their way to break any rule or regulation they see, solely in order to declare it stupid or useless, without giving thought to its intended purpose.

And do you know what else? I think anyone who does that cares far more about what people think of them than an ordinary rule breaker, who just breaks the rules because they're inconvenient."

He paused for breath, but to let her interrupt would be madness, for she had derailed his train of thought twice already tonight.

"Furthermore! This has nothing to do with winning cups or prizes. It is about growing up, or rather failing to do so. A centuries old creature in the guise of a girl, but also with all of the failings of one. A real woman would speak to the Headmaster and have matters arranged more suitably but no, because you're still just a little girl, aren't you? You must follow your natural instinct to wander about the grounds in a fit of pique either because you are a teenage girl, or because you are a vampire. Each is as angst filled as the other."

He ended the outburst with a shrug.