InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "My lovely horse...."

Tom Marvolo Riddle (riddleman) wrote in beyondthepages,
@ 2010-05-24 17:36:00

Entry tags:

!jade, 2023 10, albus severus potter, scorpius malfoy, tom riddle

RP: Why, Hello.... Friends.
Characters: Tom Riddle and open
Time/Date: 24 October 2023, morning
Location: Slytherin common room, Hogwarts
Warnings/Rating: PG
Summary: Tom ponders recent events.
Status: Incomplete

Tom was extremely glad that Sixth Years had Monday mornings off unless they were doing Care of Magical Creatures... which he wasn't. Useless subject really, nearly as bad as Muggle Studies. But it gave him time to ponder what had happened the previous evening as he pretended to study.

He'd been summoned to a meeting with Professor Dumbledore. It had been... interesting to say the least. Unsurprising in some ways as he'd been forbidden from going on the upcoming Hogsmeade visit and he'd been told his mail would be monitored. He hadn't bothered getting angry at that because he'd entirely expected it. It was the most obvious move. He suspected Dumbledore was up to some less than obvious moves though he hadn't detected any of them at the meeting. He'd probably find out at some point though when he least expected it. He'd have to be alert.

What had been annoying was the way Dumbledore had watched him and a few of the oblique comments the man had made. Tom wasn't stupid or incapable of understanding subtle. Dumbledore knew the truth about the Chamber. Not just suspected as he had through the end of his Fifth Year and at the start of Sixth Year but knew. Tom wasn't sure how and he made a mental note to get to work on the history books he'd borrowed from the library. He didn't like the thought of loosing the Chamber and he hoped his lovely pet was alright.

He curled up on the couch, adjusting his body language so that he looked harmless and calm. He'd been treated very warily by his Housemates and he felt that it was now time to meet them and judge them a little better.

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al_a_kazam
2010-05-24 08:15 am UTC (link)

Albus wasn't sure what he would do with his morning to keep himself occupied and keep Scor from ending his existence. He had a little while before his first class and he'd thought about trying to study.

"D'you want to head to the library?" Al asked, glancing back toward where Scor was presumably following him into the commons.

He absently scanned the commons, spotting Libra perched in an armchair staring intently across the room at...

Tom Riddle.

Al felt a chill wash over him, then he shook it off and headed across the room to where Riddle was seated. He paused briefly before sitting down nearby.

"Hullo," he said shortly.

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goesnowheregood
2010-05-24 08:24 am UTC (link)

Scor had to all but pin himself to the wall as Regulus sped by him, intent on getting back to his dorm it seemed. He raised one eyebrow, shrugged, and turned back to following Al.

"Library's fine, but can we go by the kitchen's first? I'm star..." he trailed off as Al seemed to just walk away from him, his eyebrows raising slightly again. His eyes followed where Al was making a beeline too, and he gave a sort of stunned, half chuckle. Wow. Hadn't expected that. He thought it was good on his mate for doing it though, and swaggered up behind him.

"You'll have to forgive him, he's poor mannered with new people," Scor drawled out, leaning over the back of Al's chair and nodding his head to where Tom was sitting. "Don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Scorpius Malfoy," he tilted his head down to indicate Al. "This is Al. I'm sure he'll introduce himself properly in a second."

He didn't feel right giving Albus' full name when they'd just been talking the night before about how that was liable to get him targeted. He'd let Al do that.

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riddleman
2010-05-25 03:10 am UTC (link)

Tom had been beginning to wonder if any of them would have the cunning and courage to make the approach to him but the two who did come over were... interesting. The first boy had been short to the point of rudeness whereas the second... had a rather familiar surname. When he looked up at that boy, he could see the family resemblance to the Malfoy he had known. he was tempted to reward civility with civility and rudeness with rudeness but then decided that was counterproductive. Let them see that even the rudeness would receive the hand of friendship. If nothing else, it would confuse them.

"Tom Riddle," he said with a small but merry smile that communicated quite well that he knew that such an introduction from his side was entirely unnecessary. He looked up at Scorpius curiously. "I believe I know... or rather knew your... great-grandfather? Would that be about right? It's a little hard to tell. I know not all the men in the pureblood families marry young."

He then turned his somewhat amused attention to Albus. "I would attempt the same party trick for you, pulling out some long lost relative that I know but... unfortunately I cannot."

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al_a_kazam
2010-05-25 04:38 am UTC (link)

Albus knew that he had been raised with more manners than this. Usually he was the quiet one who let Scor do all the talking (he was just so good at it), but he'd already initiated this particular conversation. Now there wasn't an excuse for trying to switch to politely quiet instead of his current rude glowering.

"Albus Potter," he said, attempting a thin smile. "Sorry about that. I'm not overly fond of mornings."

Or more like he'd gotten little sleep obsessing over whether the younger man was the epitome of evil and just waiting for the chance to off his friends and relatives.

"Don't get Scor started on how far back his family goes. You'll never hear the end of it."

There. He could have a conversation with Riddle. A wooden one, but a conversation nonetheless.

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goesnowheregood
2010-05-25 05:26 am UTC (link)

There was a slight sense of unease that curled up Scor's spine when Tom mentioned that he'd known his great-grandfather. Slugging Al lightly on the shoulder - more out of habit than anything - when he mentioned Scor could go on about his family, he tried not to think too much about how uncomfortable it had suddenly made him.

"Abraxas, I'm going to guess," he said to Tom. "He's a great-grandfather on Dad's side. Don't know if you knew Lucius at this point in your life, but you'd have met him eventually. My dad, too," he shrugged. "Hell, you may even be able to trace back the Greengrass line from Mum. And if Potter doesn't do it for you, you can try Weasley with Al. But you might have a rougher go of it - not sure many in his family tree've been Slytherin," he added, ruffling Al's hair a bit harder than he intended, alerting him to the fact that he was maybe a bit more shaken than he wanted to admit to himself.

Now aware of his tone, he paused again, closing his eyes briefly and forcing a smirk, trying to get back into the casualty he'd had when they first started the conversation. "You'll forgive me if I'm less than thrilled about how deep our connections go, given the circumstances."

He wondered, somewhat belatedly, what others would think about the fact that he was speaking so candidly with Tom Riddle, and started to wonder if this had been such a good idea after all.

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riddleman
2010-05-25 07:02 am UTC (link)

om raised his eyebrows at the surly one's name. "Albus? Are you named after Professor Dumbledore?" He smiled. "I'd imagine the Professor finds that quite amusing and quite touching."

He nodded then looked thoughtful. "Abraxas, yes, that's him. I knew a Greengrass or two and there was a Charlus Potter a few of years ahead of me in Slytherin. I'm not sure if it's a relation though. Potter's not an uncommon surname." He chuckled ruefully. "There was a Bilius Weasley in Gryffindor. Two years ahead of me. Good man if a bit rough around the edges. Used to get into dreadful trouble with the prefects and the teachers for swearing all the time. Obviously that's how I knew him."

He smiled and wriggled around to a more comfortable position on the couch. "Oh, I quite understand though I think you're misreading the relationship between your relatives and myself. Not surprising. History books are written by the victors after all and those who survived who knew the older me would have been eager to distance themselves. Of course they'd tar and feather and make me out to be worse than I was. Not that I'm denying that I was apparently quite... ghastly. Why wouldn't they if I were dead and couldn't speak for myself? Especially if they were Slytherins. I'd probably think less of them if they hadn't. I know my House."

He made sure his smile became thin and a little cold. "They pandered to me because I was a prefect and the professors' favourite, especially Slughorn. But when I came to Hogwarts I couldn't claim to be anything more than a halfblood. All I knew was that my father's name was Tom Riddle and my grandfather's name was Marvolo. I didn't even know my mother's name. I could claim nothing. I was an orphan and nigh on destitute." His smile became even thinner. "Or let me put it this way. I was good enough to be their friend here where I had influence and favour but I wasn't good enough to be invited to spend any time on the holidays with them and their families."

He paused and stared at the fireplace thoughtfully. "I wonder if that's the reason," he mused. He looked over at the two boys and elaborated. "I've been trying to work out why I did what I did. How can I stop myself from doing it again if I don't know why I did it? Unfortunately I can't talk to my older self to find out and, as I said before, the history books are written by the victors so there is a great deal of speculation in them but very little concrete fact." He waved a hand. "Anyway, I wonder if it was to get back at the purebloods? From what I understand I got quite a lot of them killed or disgraced." he frowned and shook his head, his gaze drifting back to the fireplace. "Hmm, no, it doesn't seem like it. Maybe it was a factor but it can't be the whole reason."

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al_a_kazam
2010-05-25 02:07 pm UTC (link)

"That's right," Al confirmed at Tom's first question. "Though I wouldn't know what he thought first-hand. I've not had a chance to speak to him yet."

While Riddle spoke, Al shot a quick glance at his mate. He was picking up on a little of his unease and that did nothing to settle his own nerves. Listening to Riddle go on made him feel like he'd swallowed a stomach-full of ice and then somehow set it on fire.

The entire thing was unnerving.

Despite his unease, Al's interest was piqued a touch at the mention of a Potter in Slytherin. That bit of information would have eased his mind a lot when he'd first been Sorted if he was, in fact, somehow related. Unless the Potter who Riddle knew had been a bad sort.

"Can't say I could help you figure it out much," Al said, trying to clasp onto something -- anything -- to say to the other boy. He looked relatively normal, sounded and acted like a nice enough bloke, and seemed genuine enough.

And that was what made Al so ill at ease, he suspected. Because he was still absolutely convinced that this was all rubbish and that Riddle knew exactly why he'd turned out so dark -- or at least what his plans for doing so had been at this age.

"Don't suppose that's good enough even for a factor when it comes to something like that," he said at last, frowning. He shot another glance to Scor, hoping he could pick up with a better way to carry the conversation. Glancing back to Riddle, Al quirked one eyebrow as a thought struck him. "Riddle, I was curious. Everyone's all nerves about you, it seems. What's your plan for proving you're not going to kill the lot of us at the first opportune moment?"

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goesnowheregood
2010-05-25 07:24 pm UTC (link)

Scor's upper lip curled and he wondered if anyone actually bought that cock and bull story Tom was telling. Enhancing the tale. Victors wrote the history books. Sure, the weaker ones who wanted to claim their innocence to the entire thing had exaggerated a great deal, but some families had had the courage to step forward and admit they were wrong, and had suffered for it. Perhaps because they were given no other option, but all the same.

And did he honestly believe that people who's families had suffered first hand at his misdoings would believe that their parents had simple exaggerated?

The fact that he'd admitted to being only a half blood through Scorpius off though - it was evident on his face as well for anyone who happened to be looking as he thought it through. Surprise, confusion, hesitation that maybe there was something to that. He'd always heard that Voldemort had been the one who was most for the eradication of Muggleborns, and here he was openly admitting to...

... something that was already in the history books, that everyone knew. Scor tried to refocus on the hate he'd felt a moment ago, but it was becoming clear that this was no ordinary student that they were chatting with. He had half a mind to tap Al's shoulder and depart before Riddle could really get into convincing them he was the victim in this scenario.

While Tom gave him a lot to think about and process, he left him with little to say outloud. He didn't miss Al's looks, waiting for him to take the lead in this conversation, but he found himself almost at a loss. He didn't want to break the illusion he kept slipping out of of suave confident badass Slytherin boy who wasn't afraid of the Big Bad Dark Lord, but the only comments he could think to make right now were petty and accusatory.

He did manage to snap out of it quite suddenly when Al asked Riddle what his plans were to prove he wasn't going to kill anyone, laughing out loud as he ducked his head to try and calm himself. This, right there, this was why they were best mates. "Oh man," he said to Tom. "Sorry mate, but I have got to hear the answer to this one. I mean, charm, good looks, and general politeness'll get you far in the world that's been fighting for general acceptance and inclusiveness for years now, but surely you've got plans for a grandiose statement or two."

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riddleman
2010-05-25 08:10 pm UTC (link)

So... these two were going to be harder to convince. Tom almost snorted; of course they would be. They were Slytherins, not brainless Gryffindors or trusting Hufflepuffs. He didn't feel any irritation. He knew it was going to take time and he had plenty of it again. Rushing, especially while being watched so closely, would only end badly.

He chuckled and shook his head. "No, no speeches. Why bother? No one would believe me anyway." His expression became rather wry. "To be honest I'm starting to wonder why I should bother speaking to anyone at all. Everyone seems bound and determined to disbelieve every word I say to the point where I wonder if they'd believe me if I said I was going to the lavatory, not to mention treat me as though I am already a monster who has killed hundreds. I can't see how anything I say is going to convince you or anyone else otherwise."

He shifted on the couch again, moving his book slightly as the spine dug into his leg. "No. All I intend to do is continue what I had been doing... studying for my NEWTs next year. Thankfully this time it will be without two wars going on outside these walls. I'm not going to miss the rationing."

He shrugged. "I don't see that there's anything else I can do. People seem to have made their minds up about me already." He raised an eyebrow at them though he managed to ensure there was a sort of sad amusement in his eyes. "After all... haven't both of you done the exactly that?"

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al_a_kazam
2010-05-27 09:17 am UTC (link)

He was outmatched. Everything Al could say would be countered by comments like that. What could a bloke say that wouldn't make him sound like a petulant child who could only come up with things like, 'But my parents said...!'

Al frowned softly and leaned back in his seat, absorbing things for a moment.

It was how he thought best. He was the one who stood quietly by until he hit upon the best way to continue. Scor was the one with the gift to enter into conversations smoothly and continue it on even as he thought. This time even Scor seemed to be quiet aside from the occasional interjection.

"Don't jump to conclusions," Al chastised, standing up.

His mind wasn't made up about Riddle, yet. He was convinced he was a threat, yes. But he was nowhere near convinced about exactly what sort of threat or how much of a threat Riddle was.

"You haven't given anyone much to make up their mind about." Al glanced to Scorpius, lifting an eyebrow and giving him a look that plainly stated that he was done here. "Are you read to start toward class? I wanted to glance over your notes if you took any."

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goesnowheregood
2010-05-28 05:48 am UTC (link)

A slow, interested smile crossed over Scorpius' face, and he thought that - on some level, under other circumstances that he may have fallen in line behind someone like Tom Riddle. He could at least understand why so many had. There was a certain... something in his expression, in the way he stood, in his tone, in his words. There was a certain something that said, "Follow me, and everything will be way less complicated and confusing."

But... it was hard to be that person when he came from a family who had suffered - at least, from their viewpoint, he didn't really care what the rest of the wizarding world thought about it - so much at Voldemort's hand. When he had a best mate who's family had suffered even more. When just about every teacher in the school whom he trusted and respected was doing their very best to hide the fear and concern. When Dark Marks were being pasted all over their little world...

Nodding to Al's indication he was ready to leave, he shifted his weight off the chair but he did have a few last things to say, and possibly hear a response to. "Haven't made up my mind about you, mate. Certainly made up my mind about who you became, and you can hardly blame me for that, but I haven't decided yet what I'm going to believe." He shrugged a bit. "I'm sorry you've got to endure all the hatred for stuff you haven't done, but if you're really the good guy you claim to be, folks'll come around in time."

He knew they would, too. People were sheep. And with a personality like that, Tom was liable to convince even the most pigheaded Gryffindors that he wasn't a monster.

He shrugged again. "Anyway, mate. It was good chatting with you. We'll let you get back to your NEWT studies."

He did wait to see if Tom had any closing statements before turning and rolling his eyes at Al, rifling through his bag to see if he could find the notes he'd taken from their last class, muttering something to the effect of "if you'd bother bringing a quill, you could take your own notes."

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