TREVELYAN, Daniel

[danieltrevelyan]

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About You - -

Name: Penny
Gender: Female
Age: Sixteen
Years of RPG Experience: Erm...three and a bit?
Other: [Removed By Staff]

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Quick Quiz - -

How did you find us? The wonders of Google and an inquisitive nature, I suppose.
What about ISS inspired you to join? Haha, are you kidding? It's almost impossible to find a good Marauder's Era site these days.
Do you have any suggestions for us? None whatsoever - looks perfect to me.

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About the Character- -

Name: Daniel Artorius Trevelyan
Age: Eighteen
Gender: Male
Year: Seventh
Face Claim: Kevin Flamme

Canon or Original? Original

Facial Properties:
Daniel Trevelyan has the sort of boyish appearance that can prove...confusing at times, to say the least, especially when one takes into consideration his less than squeaky clean personality. His face has an open, honest quality to it (a miracle of genes that he's exploited more than once) and all of his individual facial features are blessedly symmetrical, except for the lone dimple that manifests in his left cheek when he smiles (or smirks, as this is more likely to occur). Yes, a dimple - it somehow simultaneously adds both a naughtiness and an innocence to his overall appearance, though both of these looks suit him just fine, depending on who he's talking to and what sort of mood he's in. Still, the fact that he only has one of these facial indentations has always unsettled him somewhat for reasons unknown, so he tries to make sure that whenever a camera is around, he either doesn't smile or turns his face so that only his right side shows. It's no problem though, really, because irksomely cute dimple or not, his profile is quite nice, with a straight, almost Roman nose (almost because it lacks the slight aquiline hook that most people find so very attractive) and a moderately high forehead. It's a sign of his not inconsiderable vanity that he's grown his dark, perpetually tousled hair long enough that it partially obscures his forehead and makes it appear less broad than it actually is. Still, he finds the idea of traipsing around Hogwarts with a shaggy mess of hair constantly getting in his eyes intolerable, and so his brown locks sit at a sort of in-between as far as length goes. His hair colour in itself is not particularly noticeable - it's an unremarkable shade of dark brown, although when he was younger it was closer to black than anything else. It's always a little messy, no matter what he tries to do to it, and so Daniel's just taken to leaving it alone apart from the daily comb.

The boy's hair frames his face in a flattering way, covering a little bit of his ears (although they thankfully lay pretty much flat against his head anyway) and drawing attention to his bone structure, which is quite fine, albeit angular. His facial shape tapers softly and gradually to end with a masculine, chiseled chin, marked by a slight cleft in its exact centre. Daniel often tries to pass his jaw off as being rugged, but in reality it's more of a soft curve than a square. His eyes are probably his most outstanding features (as is the case with most people, really) - a deep brown in colour and naturally very wide, at first glance they practically ooze a vibe of "who, me?" blamelessness. It must be noted, however, that they are often prone to gaining a slightly sly and guarded look to them too, accentuated very much by his rather thick, dark brow and his high, semi-prominent cheekbones. He opts to go clean-shaven as opposed to allowing stubble to grow, because there's something about the thought of growing facial hair that just irks him. Perhaps it's the fact that it seems to look so...unkempt. His mother fawns over his cheekbones to some extent, because apparently he takes after his notoriously handsome father in that respect, but (as if that weren't embarrassing enough) Daniel's always thought that in some lights the shadows that they cast make his face seem rather gaunt - not a good look at all, as far as he's concerned. Then again, he's always been a bit pre-occupied with physical perfection, so maybe he's just being over-analytical. In any case, his eyes have been very useful, because they tend to carry a sincerity to them that makes lying almost painfully easy. They even vary slightly in shade due to fluctuating pigmentation - nothing too drastic, of course. In winter they tend to be darker and in summer they favour a lighter, hazel brown, that's all.

Daniel's mouth seems to automatically draw attention, for some reason. There's nothing special about his lips - some people have even called them thin before, which Daniel supposes is true, although his bottom lip is ever so slightly fuller than his top one. They're thoroughly nondescript on their own, but when they peel back in a smile, the effect is not quite dazzling, but it's very pleasing to look upon, nonetheless. Dan's smile is warm and some even refer to it as inviting, and although he never really looks all that aloof to begin with, his smile apparently makes him easier to talk to. How, he's not sure, but he's all too willing to take advantage of the gifts that his genes have given him. Toss in his dimple and the friendly, unassuming smile immediately transforms into a lopsided, roguish and even slightly mischievous grin. Granted, when he's not smiling he can look rather intimidating, because the combination of his cheekbones and the neutral line that his mouth assumes under normal circumstances is more than a little foreboding. He sometimes feels dissatisfaction about his looks (like, for instance, when he wakes up after a particularly late night and discovers that in addition to an almost ridiculously tousled case of bed-hair, he has dark circles under his eyes, too) but he definitely knows that for the most part, he's very handsome, and he never hesitates to play up his comeliness, whether it be for the purpose of seduction or intimidation. His individual features are highlighted even more by his skin tone - he is naturally pale, but in that healthy, European way, and his complexion is near-perfect, because he never went though the awkward teenage acne stage and there are no freckles or moles to be found on his face.

Physique:
Certainly, when Daniel first started at Hogwarts (and indeed, this tradition continued well into his third year) he was lanky and scrawny - traits which nobody ever really appreciates. Things got better when the boy grew into his height and began to fill out physically around about fourth year, and this was a development that Daniel both understood and made complete use of. He's roughly 6'3" tall now, a height which makes him one of the bigger boys at Hogwarts, though he's by no means the tallest. To say that he doesn't lord this natural advantage over younger grades would be a lie, because he does rather enjoy the mixture of admiration and innocent terror that first years seem to display when confronted with the sight of a comparative giant. He possesses a rather striking presence - something which is probably aided by the condition that he keeps his body in. Daniel could certainly never be considered muscular or particularly built, since he's not really sporty enough to be the bench pressing, weight lifting sort. Then again, calling him thin and weedy would be doing him an absolute injustice. He'll never be able to say that he has an utterly breathtaking physique, but he is quite committed to running and that keeps him very fit. Occasionally, he even takes a bit of a fly around the Quidditch pitch, but this occurs too infrequently to be classified as a hobby. Daniel's activities and his fast metabolism have somehow toned all parts of his body to an equal standard, preventing him from looking unfortunately lopsided, as some do. He doesn't give the outward impression of particular physical strength, because his musculature isn't readily apparent to the eye - rather, he appears to be lean and athletic.

He has broad shoulders for someone who doesn't actively engage in sporting pursuits, but they are balanced out by a torso that tapers inwards slightly to end in a waist that has been described before as slender. Whilst his body is just about as tanned as his face is (not very), his chest and stomach muscles are toned to an impressive degree - he thinks that they give an impression of 'wiry strength', but in truth, he's just as often been called 'scrawny' by some of his unobservant peers. There's even some definition around his arms, though how it got there, the boy has no idea. Daniel's got long legs, as his height would suggest, and whilst they're good for getting places fast, they sometimes get in the way, too - he rarely trips over his own large feet, but when he does, it's not pretty. Really. Actually, a few years ago, when he first started having growth spurts, he'd stagger constantly, but now that he's adjusted to what it seems will be his final height, he's developed a certain level of grace. It's not enough to prevent the occasional mishap, but Daniel does move with the sort of fluidity that either comes naturally, or with time and a concerted effort - in his case, it is obviously the latter. He walks with confidence - his back is always straight, almost defiantly so, and people have referred to his stride as a swagger before, to his immense chagrin. Daniel tends to dress to impress - his clothes always fit right (though not too snugly), because absurdly loose pants and shirts get on his nerves. What is all that extra fabric for? He may never understand, but in any case, he'll wear slacks, jeans, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts - anything, really, as long as it suits him and is flattering. Bold colours don't sit too well on him, and so he prefers to opt for more neutral, earthy tones, such as grey, white and black.

Personality:

OH BABY, WHEN THEY MADE ME THEY BROKE THE MOULD;; random

The boy has a tendency to be very unpredictable when he's in the mood for it. Well, he figures he might as well be, so he just does whatever the hell he feels like doing - people shouldn't be too alarmed if he ever says something particularly odd, because that'll probably just give him satisfaction. Daniel's always been fond of surprising his peers, and he believes that if he throws something puzzling into the equation every now and then, it'll keep other students on their toes and constantly guessing. He's never actually bothered to check and see if this tactic actually works on anybody, so he's still assuming that to all the world, Daniel Trevelyan is a curious and enigmatic man of mystery. Yeah, well...at least it provides good stimulation for his ego, if nothing else. His spontaneity is not just limited to peculiar statements, though - sometimes he even catches himself bursting into song (though generally, this happens away from the ears of anyone else). Daniel's voice is atrocious, but it's the thought that counts. By general standards, he is not a particularly altruistic or compassionate person, and so on the off chance that he does some kind deed for someone, it's because of one of two reasons. Either they're a friend (and people who know Daniel will realize that he does actually hold his friends in very high regard), or he's simply mixing things up again for the sake of his own amusement and the confusion of others. He has to admit that there is a vague feeling of warmth whenever he performs a kindness for someone, but in the interest of continuing his well-developed routine of unpredictability (and...yes, that's a paradox), that notion of nicety is to be ignored.

HATE ME BABY, MAYBE I'M A PIECE OF ART;; vain

Unfortunately for most people who can't put up with it very well, Daniel is a narcissist. Not in the kind of way that makes him compulsively check his appearance in every single reflective surface he comes across, but he definitely cares. Certainly, his concern about the physical is mirrored in his near-obsessive wearing of the school uniform - not a single thread is ever out of place if he can help it. No, Daniel is not some sort of neat-freak, in case anyone was wondering. He simply believes that the outward appearance is a reflection of what's inside (since, you know, who doesn't want to be all suave and unruffled?), and he's always been a little pre-occupied with perfection, anyway. These small gestures of vanity are only skin-deep, however (as is the case with anything aesthetic, really) - behind the facade, Daniel is much, much worse. He's never been particularly satisfied with himself - a direct result of having to deal constantly with a disapproving father - and so he seeks ways to correct this...well, what he refers to as a 'weakness' in himself. More than anything, his hatred of public humiliation is a prime motivator for his actions, and he holds that phenomenon known as 'rejection' in a similar contempt. Things that other people say tend to stick with him, and he's possessed of a very good memory - he does take the words of other people to heart too much. He doesn't, however, take very kindly to being denied or told no to, not only because he's been used to getting his way for eighteen years now, but also due to the fact that...well, it makes him look bad - to himself, to others - it doesn't matter who bears witness, Daniel simply can't stand being brought low in a way that could potentially make others feel superior.

BLAME YOUR PROBLEMS ON MY WORLD FOR SO LONG;; arrogant

Daniel's upbringing has left him with a sense of excessive pride, which can sometimes feature so dominantly in his overall personality that it's almost stifling. His father has always impressed upon him the importance of making his superiority known, but that's the fastest way ever invented to alienate other students and in the interest of some semblance of diplomacy, the boy has decided prudently to refrain from acting high and mighty when in company. Doesn't stop him from thinking that way, though, does it? He thinks of himself as being some sort of modern day Adonis - funny, attractive, persuasive and undeniable. Whether or not this is actually true doesn't matter to him, because even the flattest of rejections, whilst humiliating to the extreme, doesn't have him dissuaded for long. He always springs back with a cocky self-confidence that is almost astounding, and why shouldn't he? There's nothing to be lost - his relationship with the rest of the school is predominantly love-hate anyway, swinging backwards and forwards so frequently that it's almost like a pendulum. When he's disliked, though, it's certainly not his fault, oh no - other people are jealous, intolerant, dense, and any other reason he cares to come up with. He's not the one to blame when things go wrong, because he's better and he doesn't make mistakes. Yeah, right - it's lucky for him that he doesn't make these self-assured, dangerously egotistical thoughts known to the public. He's a harsh judge of other people (...perhaps, though he'd never admit it, he's over-compensating for his own flaws?), but Dan does have a knack for being able to tell from the outset just who he'll be able to get along with.

AND IT'S KIND OF FUNNY;; cynical

Really, is there anyone alive who can truly call himself or herself altruistic? Daniel certainly doesn't think so - humans are motivated by greed, selfishness and carnal desires in his rather jaded eyes, and he is no different. So, there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, people even used to eat each other, way back when, and it's still a dog-eat-dog world, even at Hogwarts. Often, he's observed, ruthlessness is more apparent within school walls than anywhere else. Oh yes, Daniel has been influenced very greatly by his adoration and admiration of his father's actions, but on the flip side, he's also extremely disillusioned as to how the world works (or, at least, how he perceives it to function), because where better to learn about real human nature than within your own home? Cynicism is like a cross between a vice and a virtue for the Trevelyan boy, coming in handy at some times but hindering him greatly at other moments. It's not like he's made any effort to conceal his slightly facetious, biting edge, though, so perhaps the fault is his. He is sometimes cruel when he speaks to others - hints of mockery and deprecation are apparent here and there in his everyday conversations, generally, but when he's in a really foul mood, he's downright abusive. Most of the time it manifests in a particularly strongly worded request for someone who's annoying him to go away, but there have been incidents in the past where he's degenerated into a sneering, derisive bully with no goal in mind other than to antagonize all who are present.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK;; stubborn

Taking on board people's advice every now and then is all good and well (and polite, to boot), but it's another matter entirely when someone actually tells him to do something. His heels automatically dig in and he won't budge. Obviously, in accordance with this inability to take orders, he absolutely hates being wrong, and loves being right. He also loathes apologizing, because really, it's just another way of admitting that someone else is right. If he's feeling particularly peevish, he will argue a point until he either wins or runs out of breath. Sometimes he can acknowledge that he's wrong, because even he realizes that a person would have to be a fool not to be able to do that, but he doesn't do it very willingly. His mulishness doesn't end there - when he sets his mind to doing something, nothing and nobody can dissuade him. A bit unfortunate, of course, this bull headed behaviour, but he's lived with it for eighteen years now and is hardly likely to shake the habit any time soon. Daniel is, as one can imagine, rather used to getting his way, and so when something he wants is denied him, his yearning for it will increase at least threefold and he will pursue whatever it is relentlessly. Of course, the feeling of mild satisfaction that he experiences when he prevails is nothing compared to the effort expended in acquiring it, but it's just in Daniel's nature to see things done.

HELL OR GLORY, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING IN BETWEEN;; competitive

When your middle name was given in honour of a famous Roman general like Daniel's was, it's bound to have an affect (aside from the obvious emotional turmoil of being stuck with a name as utterly dodgy as Daniel Artorius, of course), and in the boy's case, it is plainly obvious why his namesake was a warlike man - Daniel is competitive to a fault. A person's first impression of Daniel is often that he appears to be a young man with something to prove (whether it be to himself or to someone else, it's hard to tell) and the fact that he'd always working towards a goal is undeniable. He has an overwhelming need to feel as though he's headed somewhere in life, despite the fact that he'll never need to work to support himself due to the very healthy inheritance that will eventually head his way. He enjoys success, and sees it as a failure if someone is better than him at anything at all - well...all right, History of Magic is an exception. Daniel, by default, doesn't like being defeated in the slightest, and the word 'sportsmanship' is one that only rarely appears in his vocabulary. Annoyingly perfect and moral boys are especially irksome, though he doesn't mind these kinds of girls quite so much. He's not one of those sorts who'll flare up and demand a rematch, or even challenge anyone he sees as a potential threat, though - oh no, that wouldn't do at all. After all, what if he did that, and then went and lost? The humiliation would be intolerable. Some call this approach cowardice, but Daniel sees it as being nothing but a preventative measure - subtle competition, if you will. Yes, it's one thing for Daniel to quietly accept that there are some things he'll only ever be second best at, but it'd be another matter entirely if his shortcomings were made known to the world.

WHAT A CATCH, WHAT A CATCH;; charming

He unerringly tries to seek out people's weaknesses and strengths, and if he can discover them he will exploit them fully in order to manipulate effectively. He is the kind of boy who knows exactly what to say, and exactly when to say it. For all his flaws (and there are many of them), he is definitely a smooth talker, with so much inherent charm that it is practically tangible. Having an abundance of self-confidence helps, too, come to think of it. Though it's incredibly antiquated in his opinion, he does his very best to be chivalrous, because it is not only polite, but an instant favourite-maker with some of the more susceptible people around Hogwarts, too. He does everything that a 'good Pureblood gentleman' should, holding open doors for girls, making proper conversation, and generally being an uplifting presence to be around - when he's trying, of course. He has a rather vexing tendency of sometimes lapsing into uncouth behaviour (by this, it is meant that he has a bad, bad mouth) when he's frustrated, which, understandably, proves to be quite a shock for those who aren't expecting it. Nonetheless, he's friendly to almost everyone - not because he actually wants or needs to make friends, in most cases, but rather due to the fact that one never knows when they'll need an ally - and he has a way of making people relax with his judiciously chosen words. He's got a sharply honed wit, too, so if his cool and collected ways of persuasion fail, he can always break the ice with a few choice jokes. He is not, nor has he ever been fond of hopeless romantics or grand gestures, but if he knows that they'll help in making a good impression on people...well, then, he'll blow them away if need be.

WHERE WILL I BE WHEN I WAKE UP NEXT TO A STRANGER?;; capricious

Daniel can be ignorant (if such a condition can be summed up in one word) and self-centered, and his vanity is definitely reflected in the way that he treats girls. Yes, he is naturally debonair and seems to somehow attract more girls than a person like him deserves, but he is unwilling to make a commitment and mostly, he just feeds off of the affection that he receives from his admirers and uses it to fuel his philandering ways. He was never instructed to do otherwise, and the idea of a 'relationship', of monogamy, is foreign to him. He is and always will be a lover, through and through. Charming and skilled with words, he makes a good impression on his conquests, though at the end of the night, that doesn't really make much difference, does it? He still leaves them, and he feels no qualms about doing so - one would think that after years of the same routine, vulnerable girls would know enough of his somewhat dubious reputation to avoid him if they were interested in long-term associations. Still, while it lasts, he is perfect - he can treat a girl as though she is made of glass for weeks on end if that's what it takes to win her over. He doesn't discriminate against house or blood purity (as if that is somehow redeeming) at all - anyone who's pretty and willing is good enough for him. Daniel supposes that he'll eventually give in to pressure from his parents and stick with a girl for whom his fondness is more than just passing, but for now he's going to make the most of his natural advantages and, for lack of a better description, 'play the field' while he still can. Mind you, he doesn't womanize for the sake of it (much) - he simply has a woefully short attention span, and he finds that he quickly grows bored of certain types of people.

I MUST CONFESS, I'M IN LOVE WITH MY OWN SINS;; unrepentant

What you see is what you get - well, at least when Dan's not lying, of course. One thing that he prides himself on (one of the many, that is) is the fact that he makes no apologies for who he is, and he doubts that he ever will unless genuinely moved to. Yes, he knows that he could be less of a philanderer, and he is fully aware of the fact that he's probably told more lies in his lifetime than truths, but that's him. His slightly twisted view on the matter is that there are plenty of very nice people out there who wouldn't apologize for being...say, sickeningly sweet, so there's no place at all for guilt about being a womanizing liar in him. Yes indeed, he's unashamed of the person that he is today, because what is there to be ashamed of? Some people are born destined to be bad people, and some are simply good, but Daniel's merely a product of his (in some instances) badly handled upbringing, and there's nothing he can do about that, so he's accepted it. As far as he's concerned, people will either like him or dislike him, and he's not particularly troubled if the latter ends up being the case.

MY MIND IS A SAFE;; dishonest

A little white lie here and there never harmed anyone, really. Unfortunately, however, Daniel's lies are neither little nor harmless, and they definitely don't only occur here and there. Something must have gone seriously awry when they were handing out the moral compasses, because Dan missed out big-time. In his memory, there's never been a time that he's lied and felt any guilt whatsoever about it, because he figures that if you let yourself think about the fib too much, then it'll come out wrong, and he's seen first-hand what consequences getting emotionally worked up about a lie can have. No, he's got it down to an art by now, really - just relax, spit it out and sometimes even smile for effect. Widen the eyes a little for the sake of it, maybe, and speak as sincerely as possible. Not that hard, and very rewarding if all goes according to plan. Still, there's one golden rule to follow if real success at deception is to be achieved - keep it simple, stupid. There's nothing worse in Dan's mind than weaving a long, convoluted tale when a simple sentence, or even a monosyllable would have sufficed. Details are too hard to remember anyway, when you lie as often as Daniel does, and if he happened to forget something or get mixed up, there'd be a bit of an issue. He often jokes that he was born to it, but...ehh, he still slips up every now and then, for all he professes to be a 'natural'. Certainly, though, nobody should trust Daniel Trevelyan's word unless they know him very well. On the flip side, years of perfecting his own 'technique' have seen to it that he's rather observant when it comes to others telling lies, a talent which is almost as useful as being able to deliver half truths.

SOON AS WE HIT THE HOSPITAL;; temperamental

Now, Daniel has a tendency to be a tad volatile, temper-wise. It's already been mentioned that he takes what other people say more seriously than strictly necessary, and it's when this happens that his irritability becomes an issue. He can be charming, he can be sweet, and he can be narcissistic, but it's when he's annoyed that he's at his most dangerous. Usually, he thinks of himself as being one of the more rational beings at Hogwarts - capable of reasoning and calculating, and whatnot. At the times when the anger sets in, though, he goes through a couple of different stages. The first is a sort of cold displeasure which is fairly easy to ignore, but if he's angry enough to go beyond biting words, the potential for all hell to break loose is suddenly there. A sort of disorienting haze descends, and he's rather annoyed about the fact that, robbed of the ability to think, he often storms around and yells (extreme profanity ensues) in much the same way that a little child having a minor snit would. If something he says provokes another person enough (or vice versa), he's got no problems resorting to fists or wands, even though his frame (hardly that of a brawler) and penchant for clumsiness would really suggest against that kind of approach. Once the wave of aggression passes, he lapses into a sullen silence for a while, but then eventually returns to normal again. His susceptibility to firing up depends almost entirely on his state of mind (some days nothing can ruffle him, and yet on others one wrong look will be challenged), but he's difficult to settle down once he gets started, that's for sure.

I'M A LOOSE BOLT OF A COMPLETE MACHINE;; paranoid

It's in everyone's nature to think about death now and then, but Daniel's slightly more concerned about his own mortality than he'd like to openly admit. He doesn't particularly like the idea of growing old and eventually being too frail to do all of the things that he can do now. Well, it's not as though he can do anything about getting older and (some day) dying, but he's resolved to make the absolute most of his youth. The idea of dying young is appalling to him, and it shows in the way he unconsciously avoids things that carry a potentially great risk for him. It's not as though he actually thinks that a stone from a Hogwarts turret is going to dislodge itself and fall on his head when he least expects it, but he'll admit that he does keep an eye out for structural flaws and the like - it's part of the reason that extremely loud and unexpected noises unsettle him (along with the fact that he just enjoys tranquil settings more in the first place), because his immediate, irrational thought is usually that the building's coming apart above him. No, it certainly cannot be said that Daniel Trevelyan is a daredevil, not by any stretch of the imagination. He cares about his own wellbeing too much to place himself in danger recklessly - though, of course, this isn't a sentiment that he actively spreads around if he can help it.

Likes:

+ Music
It's food for thought, and Daniel has always found the differences between genres to be fascinating.
+ Womanizing
Because he's a man with a man's needs, and besides, it's fun.
+ Women
Obviously, and also because...well, if he's going to be honest about it, they are the fairer sex for a reason.
+ Wealth
It makes life so much simpler, and he doesn't have to worry about anything as unsavoury as that four-letter word...debt.
+ Respect
Since, unless one's spineless enough to allow himself or herself to be trodden all over, it's a heady feeling.
+ The chase
With anything, really - the thrill of being in pursuit of something he wants often transcends the feeling he gets when he actually reaches a goal.
+ Brunettes
He's partial to them...maybe because his own hair is so dark? It's a mystery.
+ Learning new spells
Well, you never know when they're going to come in handy. Besides, it is a magical world.
+ Winning
Aside from the fact that anyone who doesn't enjoy triumph is probably crazy, Dan has always found a certain satisfaction in success.
+ Winter
A perfect excuse to rug up in front of the fire in the common room, or to offer a coat to a girl - very useful. Snow's not half bad, either.
+ Wizard's Chess
A disgustingly nerdy habit of his, but there's something so fulfilling in seeing little bits of stone beat each other to pieces mercilessly.
+ Quidditch
He doesn't play often, but Daniel thinks of it as being a worthy sport.
+ Competition
It's a healthy drive in a lot of people, and Dan happens to have a slightly larger competitive streak than most.
+ Milk chocolate
From Honeydukes, to be precise. Dark chocolate is much too bitter for his liking, and white chocolate is too creamy.

Dislikes:

– People who are overly passionate about blood purity
He's all for ridding the world of scum, but seriously...some people need to tone it down a little. And who cares about whether or not such-and-such's dad was a Muggleborn, anyway?
– Failure
It goes without saying that Daniel doesn't cope very well when he loses, naturally.
– Rejection
For the same reasons as failure. There's just something so shameful in being told no.
– White chocolate
It's just so...bright. And creamy. It shouldn't even be called chocolate.
– Those novels by that muggle...Jane Austen?
They're so unrealistic that it's unbelievable. Mr. Darcy this, Ms. Bennett that - blegh.
– Getting caught out in a lie
He's usually just so good at it that it's almost embarrassing to get caught.
– Loud and unexpected noises
They're so disruptive, and besides, when they come out of nowhere they kind of freak him out.
– Seafood
It tastes weird, and squid is rubbery. Daniel is (secretly) slightly unnerved by the fact that fish stare so much, even after they're dead. It's odd.
– Hopeless romantics and famous love tragedies
For the same reasons that he doesn't like Jane Austen novels - nothing like that's ever got a chance of happening to anyone. Besides, everyone always died in Shakespeare's tragedies, and who in their right mind would throw themselves on a sword because someone they loved had passed away? Wouldn't that just make things worse?
– History of Magic
It's not really that boring, but it's reputation precedes it in Daniel's mind and he's never been able to bring himself to enjoy it. All that information about Goblin Wars and such? Irrelevant.
– Leaping to conclusions
It often leads to people assuming the worst of others - not that anyone needs an excuse to think badly of him, of course.
– Hypocrites
Yes, he knows how hypocritical this is of him.

History:

BIRTHPLACE: Essex, England
BIRTH DATE: 3rd of March, 1959
FAMILY:
Thomas Trevelyan - Father
Pandora Trevelyan (nee. James) - Mother

I'M BORING, BUT OVER-COMPENSATE;; before the boy

It's rare that two people are drawn together by art, but Thomas and Pandora Trevelyan were and it is something that they never let their children forget about. Both Pureblood former Hogwarts students, the pair never actually met at school, despite the fact that there was only a two year age difference between them. This was probably because Thomas was the craziest, most fun-loving and extroverted Gryffindor in his grade, whereas Pandora was another daughter in a long succession of all-things-Roman obsessed Slytherins who generally kept to herself and thought that books about the Trojan War, Julius Caesar, and the Argonauts were just as vital as oxygen or water. Obviously, there wasn't much common ground there and even if Thomas and Pandora had met at school they probably wouldn't have liked each other much. Three years after Pandora graduated, though, Thomas had calmed down considerably (his 'little phase' was almost over) and was successfully managing a London bank, and so when the two ran into each other by chance the meeting was much more pleasant than it would've been a few years previously. On that fateful day, Thomas had been taking a day off from work with the intent to go and inspect a statue of one of his wizarding ancestors, which he'd been told was located in a quaint little museum in East London. When the young man arrived he was thoroughly frisked by the security guard, who pityingly told him that, "Miss James insists that I do this with everybody, just in case some nutjob who wants to wreck the art comes along." Walking a little stiffly because of the fact that the Secrecy Sensor had gotten a bit too close to some sensitive parts, it took Thomas about ten minutes to get to the statue of his ancestor (who seemed to be involved in something quite interesting, though Thomas wasn't completely sure that those activities would still be legal in polite, modern times).

A cough had drawn his attention away from his impressively carved forefather and he'd turned to see a slightly insane looking woman (her hair was in a crazy bun and there was a restorative brush tucked comfortably behind one of her ears) looking at the statue too. "You the...curator here?" He'd questioned uncertainly, wondering if this was the evidently paranoid 'Miss James' that the guard had told him about. Pandora nodded once, and taking this for encouragement, Thomas decided to brag a little, because despite the paintbrush and the weird hair the girl was still very pretty. "You know, he's my ancestor," he'd tossed out casually, smirking in a charming fashion at the former Slytherin in front of him. This statement seemed to amuse Pandora, because she'd replied, "I hope you don't take after him." Thomas was puzzled - as far as he could tell, his great-great-great-great-great-something-grandfather was very handsome indeed. He even said as much, to which Pandora agreed, but then with a wicked smile she'd pointed upwards and stated calmly, "He's not very well endowed, though, is he?" One quick glance at the statue confirmed that Pandora was right. Flustered, slightly humiliated and generally downright confused, Thomas spent the better part of the next ten minutes trying to explain to Pandora that no, he did not take after his forefather in that particular respect, but when she asked for proof he became even more troubled. Somehow, out of his confusion he managed to ask her on a date, and the rest is history, ironically enough. They were a dysfunctional, but somehow dynamic couple, and he put up with her many eccentricities because she never complained about the fact that he was as messy and disorganized as any man could possibly be. Both the bank that Thomas managed and Pandora's family museum flourished and the two became successful members of the particular circles that they moved in.

PERMANENT JETLAG;; and then he's born

Five years after Thomas and Pandora were wed, they became parents to a very loud and boisterous little boy. Pandora was all for naming him Aristotle or Brutus, but Thomas managed to negotiate with her to the point that their son was given the wholesome and rather less disturbing name of Daniel. He didn't fully escape his mother's eccentric nature, though - she insisted on being able to give the boy's middle name, and what she came up with was nothing short of awful - Artorius. She wanted her boy to grow up and be a strong, commanding sort of man, and so what name could be more fitting than that of an obscure second century Roman general? Thomas could think of a few, but he indulged his wife anyway, because there was no way he possibly could have intervened. Daniel's infancy passed without incident, though it must be conceded that he was spoiled absolutely rotten by his ridiculously wealthy parents, and his mother's servile attitude towards her son probably laid the very foundations for what was to become his demanding personality. Thomas desperately wanted another child - a daughter, perhaps, because she would have been lovely and pretty and cultured, no doubt, but Pandora put her foot down firmly: no more children for her, because she didn't have the time for them and besides, "Can you imagine, Thomas? The stretch marks would be absolutely intolerable!" And that was that. Thomas had no choice but to accept, because what was he going to do - force her to have another child? No, he was above that, but whenever he looked at Daniel from that moment onwards he always felt a little pang of regret. Nonetheless, he was firmly determined to bring up his son as well as he possibly could, since it was patently obvious that he only had one chance to get it right, thanks to Pandora's phobia of childbirth and the physical side-effects that would come about from having to carry a baby for nine months.

KNOCK ONCE FOR THE FATHER, TWICE FOR THE SON;; oh, childhood

As Daniel progressed into his early childhood, one thing about him was made very clear - he absolutely adored his father. Of course, he loved his mother too, as all children do to begin with, but she caved to his whims far too easily, and even back then, he was progressively becoming fond of having to pursue something to attain it. No, Thomas was much harder to persuade and manipulate, and so Daniel soon came to view his father as the ideal sort of fellow. His first word was 'daddy' and practically from the moment that he learned how to walk, Daniel started trying to emulate his dad. He picked up several important mannerisms during his formative years - pride, charm, determination, and even the desire to compete. When Pandora was not occupied by restoring her precious statues and paintings, she gushed about how yes indeed, Daniel was like a smaller version of Thomas in looks as well as personality now, and she was so proud. Thomas, for the most part, was pleased that his son looked up to him so much, and could see the similarities between them, but still a niggling doubt ate away at a small part of his mind - what if Daniel wasn't good enough? Thomas Trevelyan was not a betting man by nature, but he'd staked his entire fortune on his only child, and for Daniel to turn out...wrong somehow would be a failing that he wasn't sure he could handle. His worries drove him to treat his son slightly more stoically and strictly than he should have, and soon Daniel was striving not only to become like his father, but simply to gain a kind word or praise from him every once in a while. Everything he did had some flaw, and so he'd have to go back and attempt it again and again, and again until he got it right - at which point his only reward was a patronizing pat on the head. It didn't matter though, because it was acknowledgment and Daniel lived for it.

A dramatic turn for the worse was taken shortly after Daniel turned seven, though - his father started acting strange, staying out late and avoiding his mother's eye. He claimed it was for 'work', but Daniel, who always watched Thomas closely to try and act more like he did, could see the tiny tic in the corner of his eye, the way his jaw set when he forced the words out, and the uncharacteristic clenching of his hands by his sides. It took him a while, but he finally realized that his father was...lying. What? Perfect, honest Thomas telling lies? It couldn't be, because Pandora always told Daniel that lying was awful, and no self-respecting man ever did it. Still...now that Daniel could see that his dad was doing it, he realized that his mother was wrong, because Thomas Trevelyan was a self-respecting kind of man, wasn't he? If he was spouting fibs, then it had to be good. From that moment on, Pandora had two liars in the household to contend with. At first, Daniel thought that maybe Pandora didn't realize what Thomas was doing, but one night his father came home from 'work' with a red smear on his collar, and all hell broke loose. After throwing two priceless vases at Thomas' head, Pandora screeched at him for about ten minutes about how she couldn't believe he was doing this to her, and had he been doing it for a long time now? It took Daniel a little bit of thought to work out just what - or rather, who Thomas had been doing - another woman. That was...odd. As Daniel tried to grasp at what this meant for his family, Thomas proceeded to tell Pandora (with certain levels of language) just why he was being unfaithful, and it was because of her, not him. If only she wasn't so damn stubborn - if only they'd had another child - he wouldn't have allowed his eyes to wander elsewhere!

I LOVE THE MAYHEM MORE THAN THE LOVE;; the aftermath

About a week passed in stony silence, and then Pandora issued Thomas with an ultimatum - the other woman, or her. At first, Thomas was foolish, thinking that if Pandora met his lover, things would work out and they might be able to come to an agreement. Of course, this only proved that he was an idiot and knew what women were like even less than Daniel did, but they still had dinner together, anyway. Her name was Lilith Pendergast, and she was a tall, leggy blonde - Daniel didn't like her at all. Neither did Pandora, obviously, and so she presented Thomas with the same choice as she had done before. He chose his wife and child, and Lilith was never seen again, but over the course of the next three years Daniel still caught his father out in the occasional lie (something which he was getting quite proficient at himself, now) and had to assume that Thomas was either still seeing the woman or was...entertaining a string of different ones. Again, his idolization of his father won out over his mother's much more sensible and socially acceptable personality, and soon Daniel was actually admiring his devastatingly debonair father's ability to ensnare ladies. Pandora, whose faith in her husband had already been shaken, didn't need to find out, and Daniel saw it as a service to his father that he didn't voice his suspicions to his mother - not that Thomas would have been pleased if he'd known. Daniel was old enough to realize by this point that his father was not being cold to him for the sake of making him a better person, but simply because he couldn't be bothered with him and was taking out his built-up resentment for Pandora on their only son by being aloof. It was a painful shock to the boy, but by this time he'd already developed his own distinct personality (well, maybe not so distinct, considering his role model) and there was nothing he could do.

Besides, there was nothing he'd want to change, was there?

Daniel performed his first bit of magic inadvertently when he was eight years old - he was trying to read a novel by a Muggle fellow named Dumas, and a fly was buzzing around his ear that could not be shooed away, no matter how much he swatted at it. He attempted to ignore it at first, but the noise became so persistent that eventually he set his book down and shot the offending insect one baleful glare full of hatred. The fly erupted into flames in mid air. It was kind of disgusting, actually, but Daniel was pleased because he'd finally 'come into his own', so to speak. Well, that and the fact that he could get back to his book.

GET NEW PASSPORTS, GET OUT NOW;; time for school

His eleventh birthday finally rolled around, and it was with great pomp and ceremony that Pandora presented her son with a thick envelope of parchment, bearing what Daniel thought was a funny looking seal. He tore it open and extracted a letter, which informed him that he had a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (like that was a surprise) and that he was to start in September. Armed with his school equipment list and his father's wallet, Daniel and his mother went to Diagon Alley promptly, where they purchased all of Daniel's school supplies. Truth be told, Daniel was fond of the idea of going to school, because he'd be able to get out of an increasingly (or so it seemed to him) house, and well...maybe he'd be good enough to finally prove himself to his dad. The first day of September arrived a few months after he'd received the letter, and his parents saw him off at the station. Pandora tearfully embraced her little boy and told him to behave, and with characteristic gruffness, Thomas clasped Daniel's shoulder and requested that he not do anything stupid, and make them all proud. The slightly bitter thought that it'd be near impossible to make his father proud crossed Daniel's mind immediately, before the whistle of the great scarlet engine behind them drew his attention and he dragged his trunk onto the train. Hogwarts was splendid - spacious and full of opportunities to explore and prove himself. The Sorting Ceremony passed quite quickly, and with the first hurdle in his education over, Daniel set about fitting in and getting used to school life. He made friends and enemies, as most do, and soon discovered that he had quite the talent for charming people. It turned out that his father had been helpful, after all. He made his way gradually through the years, studying, womanizing and developing as a person, and entered Seventh Year with a sort of near-optimism. After all, it's going to be the final few pages in a chapter that he is both eager and reluctant to close. His years at Hogwarts have been the best he's ever known, but then again, the appeal of the wider world is also substantial - perhaps his confusion over the matter will lessen as the year goes on.

Sample Post:

(AS BEN THORNTON ON ANOTHER SITE)

One would've thought that after putting up with Yule Ball for numerous years, Ben Thornton might have learned to avoid it. For all that the organizers and staff proclaimed it to be the classiest, most formal night of the year, when you were a Slytherin it was an entirely different story, guaranteed. Somehow, returning to the dormitories every year from a night filled with dancing to find a group of strange inebriated girls (thank you very much, firewhiskey and rowdy Seventh Years) scattered about and accompanied by even more drunk (if such a thing were possible) boys had taken the gloss away from the traditional Christmas celebration and replaced it with general irony. One memorable year, there'd even been a half-conscious girl sprawled across his bed, and Ben wondered for the better part of five minutes how she'd ended up there before Alex had whirled past with a giggling blonde and declared expansively, "Merry Christmas, Benjy!" Self explanatory, really. Yes, Ben decided as he deftly looped a Windsor knot in his tie, sometimes he hated his friends. Unfortunately, though, this time he only had himself to blame for his foolish decision to go downstairs and take a turn on the dance floor. That was stupid in itself, since he didn't even have anybody to be taking a turn with.

The Slytherin may very well have wallowed in his own miserable circumstances for long enough to avoid the event altogether, if it hadn't been for the not entirely unwelcome appearance of one Guilhem Rochefort, who took one critical glance at him, told him that his tie was absolutely ridiculous, and then promptly swept out (presumably to meet with another conquest). Ben was used to criticism, but really, there was nothing wrong with his tie. It was his lucky tie! Sure, it was a bright, almost eye watering shade of red, but it honestly was a good luck charm - Ben just couldn't remember how it came to be one right now. He squinted at his reflection for a few moments, wondering just how much store he could set by Guilhem's advice, before he sighed and switched the ostentatious and apparently visually offensive crimson tie for an admittedly more understated black bow tie. Unwilling to admit that his friend had been absolutely right, Ben fixed his mirror image with a baleful gaze and said defiantly, "Yeah, well, you'll see. I'm going to have an unlucky night now." Right, so talking to his own reflection wasn't the healthiest thing to do in the world, but he'd just lived through a particularly bad day and was now convinced that it was going to get a whole lot worse.

Ben feebly tried to think of a few more reasons not to go, but in the end figured that he was already fully dressed in his custom ordered Beauviller tuxedo, and it'd be a shame (okay, well, utterly idiotic) to let all that effort go to waste. Steeling himself ("Bloody Merlin!", his inner socialite screamed. What did he need to steel himself for? It was the same every year!) for the unknown, Benjamin finally left the Slytherin Common Room and set his course for the Great Hall. Despite the fact that he was feeling more pessimistic than usual, he had to concede that the walk was very quiet - tranquil, even. He allowed himself to bask in the peace of the deserted Hogwarts halls, knowing full well that it wouldn't last nearly long enough. Sure enough, he was right - there was utter pandemonium in the Entrance Hall. Bright, constantly moving colours (some of which he reluctantly associated with sorry excuses for dresses) danced about in front of his eyes, and the noise was practically deafening. Yep, this was your run-of-the-mill Yule Ball, alright. Rather than causing him grief, the sights and sounds relaxed Ben somewhat, the way that only a very familiar - tedious, almost - scenario could calm a person.

Knowing now that he was as much in his element as he would ever be, he strode through the great double doors before he had a chance to regret it, but sadly, regret and instant dissatisfaction hit him anyway as soon as he saw Rabastan Lestrange loitering around. A wholly unwanted memory of Rabastan's near assault on Adele invaded his thoughts, and he was instantly wishing that he had that damn tie. "I need a drink," he declared at once, causing the passing Professor McGonagall to give him a speculative look. Ignoring the fact that his Transfiguration Professor might just believe that he was an alcoholic, the Slytherin moved over to the refreshment table anyway, bypassing the pumpkin juice and hitting the fruit punch with full force - after all, it would definitely be spiked by now. He poured himself a generous measure and took a test sip that had his throat burning, and, satisfied for once that his peers had done their job, made to leave the table and give some other poor soul in need of a serious kick a chance. He was stopped, though, by a soft greeting coming from his right. Turning and looking down, he spotted none other than Adele Beauviller, and decided that his luck had probably finally chosen to make an appearance again.

Matters were probably made a little bit worse by the fact that he had once again been caught out wearing Beauviller, but since there was nothing that he could do about it and she seemed pleased to see him then there wasn't really a problem. "Good evening, Adele," he responded, slightly more stiffly than he'd intended for some reason (and since when had he been so bloody crusty?), but once he realized this he made amends by adding, "You look very nice tonight, though I'm surprised I ran into you here, of all places. I'd expect to see you out on the dance floor, actually." He paused and took another fortifying gulp of his punch, before gesturing an arm in the general direction of the entrance to the hall and commenting, "I saw our mutual friend Rabastan a couple of minutes ago, you know. That's why I'm over here, as a matter of fact. Needed a bit of a pick me up, if you know what I mean." Ben caught sight of the punch glass in her hand and concluded that yes, she probably did know what he meant. "So, how's your night been so far? Getting into the Christmas spirit yet?"

^{__________________________________________________________}

And Finally - -

I, PENNY, have read the rules, understand clearly what my responsibilities are now that I am joining ISS, and will abide by these standards set by the staff.

[Professor Albus Dumbledore]

Brilliant application, Penny. It had been a while since I last saw this length. Welcome to the site! Daniel's been sorted into Slytherin.