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 Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:28 pm
There was something definitely troubling Godfrey. Voldemort didn't need mind control to find that out, and in fact upon first trying it he found it to be a useless effort. Godfrey's mind seemed blocked, warding against Voldemort's attempt to break in. What was normally a clear window into the mind, for Godfrey was a brick wall. Even more, the warding seemed that it might even be specifically set against his mind, specifically blocking out Voldemort.
Frowning, Voldemort ate along with Godfrey, an odd silence falling over the table. It wasn't awkward so much, as his mind was full of thoughts, and he was sure Godfrey was busy thinking as well. Voldemort didn't have to read the boy's mind to tell he was thinking; Godfrey's eyes were darting about the room, never settling on something for too long. Most noticeably, Godfrey wasn't looking at him at all. He chewed his turkey, eating it right off the bone, and was pleased to find that it all did actually taste good. He waited until his plate was nearly empty before saying anything.
Staring across the few feet that separated them, he arranged his thoughts slowly until he was sure of what he wanted to say. He needed to be sure of Godfrey's intentions, and with no way to probe his thoughts he had to ask. "Perhaps after this you would like a tour of the house? Or we could practice some spells, anything you might need some help with for school..."
He didn't leave space for Godfrey to answer, letting all his questions out before pausing. "Godfrey, what I really want to know is... why did you come here at all? Why do you... continue to write to me, to have any contact with me at all? I'm sure you have better things. Better people to busy your time with..."
Voldemort let the question hang in the air, his red eyes locked on Godfrey's blue ones, searching his face for whatever emotion was there. The white snake was busy winding itself through the table and chair legs, hissing its dissatisfaction now and again about sharing the room with an outsider.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:30 am
Godfrey opened his mouth to say he would like a tour and then shut it, frowning. He fiddled with his fork while he tried to think how to answer.
"Well.... because you wrote back." He shrugged, rather at a loss to explain. "I didn't have any friends, and you helped me, and you wrote me back."
Godfrey nibbled on his bottom lip, broke eye contact and looked down at his plate. "I don't really have too many friends now either. But the ones I do have..."
He gave a small smile to his meat pie, thinking of Josh and Spica, as well as others he was acquainted with, such as Hugo and Quill.
He was quiet for a moment before he looked up at Voldemort, seriousness etched into every line of his face, clear blue eyes piercing. "So why do you keep helping me with my spell work and talking to me? Why did you invite me over and make me lunch? Is it for the same reason?"
He paused for a moment, lowering his gaze to Voldemort's plate. "Or.... do you want something?"
His eyes flicked momentarily lower, below the table top, before he lifted his gaze to Voldemort's face, hands slightly braced on the tabletop.
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:30 am
Voldemort sat and listened; it was obvious Godfrey was uncomfortable being here. Nervous at least; he still didn't make eye contact really. Voldemort had done his best at being welcoming, trying to tone down what would usually be a barrage of questions. He wasn't used to being this lost on a person, being unable to really understand where they were coming from. It had been a long time since he was a teenager, and his memories would hardly let him recount what that was like. He had a brief thought that being a teenager might be just as confusing as trying to understand one.
Still, the answers Godfrey gave where better than he expected. He was used to bracing himself for worst-case scenarios, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when Godfrey finally looked at him, really looked at him.
"Godfrey I... can not quite pinpoint my intentions. I..." He let out a deep breath, wanting to be as truthful as possible, "I am lonely. I barely have contact with anyone. I prefer it that way; I generally don't enjoy other's company. But you are somehow different." He had more to say, pausing for a second to decide whether he should or not.
"I like feeling useful again, wanted. You are a mystery to me. I haven't had something puzzle me like you do for a long time. I suppose my intentions then... are to figure you out." He smiled, perhaps a bit too deviously, abruptly making his own nearly empty plate disappear.
"A tour, then?" The question had a finality to it, as if to command no further comment on the previous conversation.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:00 pm
Godfrey pushed down a sudden light flush of the cheeks at Voldemort's last words and his smile, feeling a sudden, weird, different nervous-like tickle in his stomach. He didn't know what it was, but it went away a moment later.
"Oh...... okay." He paused. " As long as you're not going to put me in a cage in the basement and do experiments on me. I won't stand for that." Godfrey politely itched his nose, set his fork down on his mostly empty plate, and nodded down at it. He looked up at Voldemort again- trying to ignore how intense his looks felt, and beamed at him, showing he was mostly joking about the last thing.
"Can we see your snakes last?" He stood and pushed in his chair, delicate, long-fingered hands curling around the back of it. He kept looking at Voldemort even though the more he stared at him, the more nervous he felt. Godfrey tapped his thumbs against the side of the chair, thinking it was just because he was overwhelmed by being in the presence of such a great and terrifying man, one whom he looked up to and greatly valued the opinion of, but still felt very unsure of. It also irked him that he couldn't seem to at least act silly, cute, and at ease like he ordinarily could. His letters to Voldemort always seemed to be the same way as well, and as he thought of that he smiled.
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:52 pm
Voldemort couldn't help but continue his mischeivious grin at Godfrey's comment. His red eyes perhaps betrayed some dark intentions, dark thoughts, but he couldn't help that- it was difficult for most to read his expressions anyways. Experiments. Not quite how he would refer to what would happen if he were to have Godfrey caged in the basement, but not too far off either. He laughed at the thought, a light but still somehow dangerous sound, like the laugh of a hyena. Somehow joyful, but for no reason you wanted to guess at. "Come, come, then. It will be best seeing the snakes last- they've all fed recently so they'll be less lethargic later on."
He turned and began down the long hallway, long cloak sliding along the floor behind him. He had a strange urge to hold Godfrey's hand, like he was a child Voldemort was afraid to lose in a growing crowd, but he shook that notion out of his mind. A few of the paintings of people- one especially disturbing of a man with a bloody nose and broken mouth who still somehow looked dignified- turned to stare as the odd couple passed. One of a man in the middle of a lake fishing paid them no mind, fighting desperately to reel some painted fish in.
They reached the end of the hallway, where Clementine had her returned to her bed near the door, snoozing soundly, her awkward reptile legs sprawled in uncomfortable looking directions. "To the right is the greenhouse, so left first it is."
Voldemort passed by the first door completely, stopping at the second. The door was already slightly ajar, and he pushed it open the rest of the way, revealing shelves packed tightly with ingredients. "Storage for my potion ingredients. It's amazing the outlandish things that will make the greatest potions." There was room enough between each line of shelves to pass easily. Near the front there was even a large cauldron, steam rising off it in small green clouds. Most all of the ingredients, in jars or boxes or even just laying on the shelf, had labels.
Raises a brow, looking down at Godfrey with the same devious grin. "Anything special you might need? A vial of Amortentia potion, perhaps?
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:28 pm
He felt a shiver of thrill go through him as he he continued to stare at Voldemort and the man laughed- but not at all unpleasant. He grinned and nodded, following Voldemort down the hallway, keeping his eyes on the swishing cloak for a moment before taking in the pictures and things on the wall.
He blinked at most of the paintings, and wanted to linger and look closer at a few, but kept pace, waving at one or two that seemed the most curious.
"Oh." He paused and stared down at Clementine, peering momentarily into the greenhouse. It looked rather spectacular and distracted him enough that he forgot to move, so when he realized himself, he had to hurry to catch up. He almost ran into Voldemort, not expecting him to stop at this door since he'd passed the first.
When Voldemort explained the room was for storing ingredients, his interest was instantly piqued and he moved closer, standing in the doorway.
There wasn't quite any way to express what he was feeling as he looked at shelf upon shelf- some ingredients likely being things he had never heard of or seen before, ingredients he'd only ever dreamed of. His brain was likely salivating as his eyes took in all the jars or shelves, his fingers twitching to browse and touch, to brush against the words and take everything in.
"Hm?" He was so distracted by this single room that he almost didn't hear Voldemort's question, and looked up at him, his look filled with reverence. "Oh!"
Godfrey grinned back and looked back at the room, taking a deep breath. The scent of too many different potions ingredients to count drifted through his nose, and he breathed out the smell. "Amortentia? Oh! I've never even seen any before...... it's one of the potions I'm not allowed to make, and I don't think I even get to see it until next year."
He looked at Voldemort again, still grinning. "I don't think I'd need any of that though. But what are you making in the cauldron? That one over there?"
He pointed towards the cauldron, not recognizing it in the slightest.
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:11 am
"I do have some less harmful potions, of course. Amortentia is much more harmful than helpful... as it was meant to be, I imagine."
Voldemort seemed to stare into space for a moment, thinking, but snapped back at the question of what he was brewing. "Hm. That is actually an antivenom solution I'm testing. Eventually I hope to create a potion that will be a basic cure for any poison, from animal bites or otherwise." Takes a step into the room, peering into cauldron and shaking his head. "Of course, right now it would most definitely be deadly in even the smallest of doses." He could have went on about the potion, but he felt already he was being a bit too full of himself. It wasn't often he got to discuss any of his achievements with anyone, but to begin would be to ramble on. Much could be spoken about later on.
Waves his hand dismissively, moving back out of the room. "Mostly I am hoping it will be the first accessible cure to Basilisk venom. Phoenix tears aren't easy enough to come by... shall we move on then?" He smiled down at Godfrey, continuing down the hall. The windows on the opposite side of the doors showed the day was already getting late, the sun already touching the tops of the barren trees.
The next door was a large wooden double door, intricately carved with latin writing along the arch. Voldemort pushed both doors open to their full extent. "My library..." A room almost the size of the dining room stretched out, two floors up. Wall to wall was shelves of books, in the center a circular table with a large candelabra for light. The classic spiral staircase of black metal was set in the right-most corner. "I collect quite a lot of books without realizing it... they were packed away for some time in a small box. You can imagine my surprise upon trying to unpack them all."
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:52 pm
"Mmhm." Godfrey nodded as Voldemort talked, standing on his toes for a moment to get a better look at things and almost falling forward. He actually wanted to smell the amortentia- would it smell like Josh's hair gel? Or something else? But when Voldemort trailed off, he remembered something he'd read in a book about the Dark Lord, and decided it didn't really matter. His interest was rather piqued by the experimental potion anyways, and he was rather eager for Voldemort to go on. He could have listened for hours, likely, so it was probably better that Voldemort urged them forward. Godfrey continued to follow him down the hall.
"Wow......... the most exciting thing I've ever made is........ a collection of two dozen different shampoos in scents that have never been made before. But I learned part of the recipe from Papa anyways...."
Godfrey didn't notice how late it was, too enthralled with the tour even though they'd only gotten through one room. If he'd been impressed by the potions room, he obviously would have never been able to imagine how large and wonderful the library was. He stood in the doorway next to Voldemort, staring upwards. "It must have taken ages."
"Show me some of your favourite books?" Not wanting Voldemort to move off without exploring this room a little, he entered the room before turning to grab Voldemort's right wrist between his hands, looking at him imploringly. "Please?"
Sure, Hogwarts might have more books than Voldemort did, but books Godfrey was generally most interested in were in the restricted section. Godfrey had a feeling that if he asked, Voldemort might let him look at anything in here that he wanted. His excitement was so great that he forgot his self-appointed 'no touching' rule, having remembered how uncomfortable Voldemort had been that first time when he'd hugged him. As he'd grown older he'd developed a stronger sense of tact, but it seemed to have abandoned him at the moment.
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:28 pm
Voldemort didn't bother addressing the fact that once the library was set-up to fit all the books it didn't take more than an hour to actually unpack them all, and arrange them loosely by subject and author. Not like his library needed an organizing, since it was simple enough to just call out the book you wanted, but he had a weird obsession about things like that. Even his potion ingredients were stored alphabetically, which would only be helpful to someone nonmagical or very young.
Voldemort managed to only tense up the slightest bit as Godfrey grasped his arms. He had a moment to wonder if he himself was very cold or Godfrey was naturally just much warmer. It was hard to tell the difference, having been so long out of human contact. Cold-blooded reptiles were no basis for body temperature. But he drew no attention to the fact that Godfrey was touching him, didn't pull away. Didn't stare.
He followed Godfrey the few steps into the room, pondering and looking around at all the texts as if he would spot a book and remember it was one of his favorites. "Excluding any characteristic books of knowledge, I do actually favor novels by George Orwell. Though I don't suppose you'd know who that was. 1984, Animal Farm... hm." He counted off with his free hand, unphased by the fact that all the notible authors that came to mind were Muggles. "Lewis Carroll, perhaps? Dante's Inferno, Lovecraft, Thomas Malory... Stephen King I believe is still well-known?"
Even if he was making a long list, most books he enjoyed didn't pertain to the Wizarding world at all; not spell books, or histories, or animal geneologies. Novels from simpler times that showed insight to the future that was now, or tales of darkness, spoke to him more.
He smiled down at Godfrey, pulling his hand away gently. "You can look around if you like. It seems sad that I should have so many books but no one but myself to read them."
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:50 pm
"Oooh, the nine levels of hell and all that? And I've seen and read Animal farm! One of my favourites is Lord of the Flies though- the book and movie both. I used to have a huge crush on Ralph when I was ten! And Stephen King, yeah, but I've never read anything by... Lovecraft and Malory, I think."
Now that Godfrey had a hold of Voldemort, he didn't particularly want to let go of him and would have been content to drag him around for the rest of the evening, but Voldemort seemed to want him to, and the books were calling to him besides.
"Carroll?" He practically zoomed over towards the nearest bookshelf, fingers reaching up to lightly brush the spines. "Oh!"
He had tilted a book out, but put it back and turned his head to look at Voldemort curiously, ears pointed forward. "You like Alice in Wonderland? And....... 'twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe; all mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe!'"
Godfrey grinned, turning to face Voldemort, his tail curling down around his leg. "That's my favourite poem. I used to make Daddy read it to me every night before I'd go to sleep."
He paused and then just smiled at Voldemort for a moment, before making a 'hm' noise and going back to the shelves.
((XD Okay.... so I made it up on the spot that that's his fave poem, but it really does fit... >_> Godfrey likes weird/cool things like that. :3 BESIDES, YOU LEARN NEW THINGS EVERY DAY! D< *Goes to put that on Godfrey's profile* :3))
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:23 pm
"Well clearly you are much more well-read than most your age, Godfrey." Voldemort pulled out a chair from the large circular table and sat down so he was facing Godfrey. The boy was undeniably... cute, with his fox appendages and habit of switching between surprisingly mature and childishly inquisitive. He was pleased to find that he seemed to be loosening up, and was much more bubbly and cheerful than he was at lunch.
"The Jabberwocky, yes. It's nice to find an author that dares to border on nonsensical while still speaking so much truth." Voldemort frowned a bit, as Godfrey was currently looking at the section containing books on famous murderers and other infamous villains, wizarding and muggle alike.
"If there's anything I might help you find... you need just ask." Voldemort glanced over at the table, grabbing a seemingly blank hardcover book that was lying there. He flipped through the pages aimlessly and with little interest, despite the fact that it was a one-of-a-kind hand written journal. He had read it countless times before, but didn't want to catch himself staring at Godfrey. He had the strange sensation that earlier in the day he could not feel his heartbeat. At least that it was beating much slower before. For all he knew, it wasn't beating at all before Godfrey showed up. No one was around who could speak otherwise.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:40 pm
"Oh, well I had really good tutors, especially since we thought I'd never be able to go to Hogwarts." Godfrey's fingers lingered on the books, caressing them almost lovingly- as if they did not hold countless stories of terror. A book was a book to him, mostly.
"I'm just looking, but thank you." He paused to peer more closely at the title of a book.
"I've read this one." He tugged out a rather thick book part ways. "Is....... is it you in the book though?"
Godfrey turned again to look at Voldemort curiously, fingers lightly gripping the book's spine. "Or did you come from some other place, like my Dad did? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
He turned back around again, putting the book gently back in place, and moved down slightly, browsing the titles, his tail unwinding and relaxing, the tip almost swishing against the floor.
((I LIED. *POSTS*))
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:06 am
Voldemort set the blank book back down, staring intently at Godfrey.
"That." He crossed and uncrossed his legs, pondering. "Is a very good question. What first must be answered is what is meant by 'you'. It must be considered, for instance, how much one's own memories are connected to reality. Reality and the past is just memories and texts written down, subject to being altered at any moment. Is a clone, an exact and identical replica of it's original, sharing all the same memories and essentially the same life as the original, still considered the same person? One would reason as to say no, but to the clone it is the same, at least upon the moment of creation. However..." He stood up, pushing his chair in. He had plenty of time to reason this out, had thought of it himself over the years, and had an almost concrete answer.
"Once the clone starts creating it's own memories, the original person taking a different path, then they become separate. What shapes us and individualizes us is simply our memories, and the paths we choose to take regarding what we have already been through. So am I the same? My memories say that I am. The life I remember living tells me I have done all those things, experienced everything the same way. The real question then is... am I the clone, or the original? And that, Godfrey, is unanswerable. It would shatter the mind to know you did not live what your memories dictated you had." He was standing over Godfrey now, and took out the book indicated, flipping through the pages.
"Suffice to say, I am a somewhat different person now. Original or not, it makes no difference." He took a few moments to read a few paragraphs on himself before closing the book and putting it back.
(I put way too much thought into this. I feel smart, it makes sense to me, arghulblargh. ;_; )
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:39 pm
Godfrey stared at the books for a moment as Voldemort began to speak, but then turned to watch him, listening. He didn't move as Voldemort came closer, looming above him, just watched.
"Of course it makes no difference." He smiled up at Voldemort after he stopped talking, hardly nervous anymore at all, and placed a hand on Voldemort's arm. "If it made a difference, I wouldn't be here! You probably wouldn't be here. So..."
Godfrey knew his Dad would likely not feel the same way if he ever found out, but since he decided not to worry about that until it happened, he put the stray thought out of his mind.
Feeling brave, Godfrey gave Voldemort a quick, friendly arm-hug, and then pulled back. "So, how about we continue the tour? There's too many books here for me to look at in one evening, and I would like to see your other rooms, please!"
((Awesome Mike. biggrin Compeltely awesomeeeeeee! Makes complete sense! biggrin ))
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Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:24 pm
Voldemort had spent days at a time pondering if he were the original, if the original even still existed, but he had given up on that topic a long time ago. he doubted there was even a way for it to be proved one way or the other; what evidence might there be? Even the topic of Horcrux's, living without a body, was hard to grasp. His human body, the one he had born in, had long since perished. His soul was a fractured and frail thing; who was to say any one part of his original soul was any different, more real, than the others. He could only live his life as he had been; removed, away from the temptation of power.
"Indeed..." Voldemort gave a very genuine smile, one that held no undertone except happiness. He made his way to the door, glancing towards the direction they were going, and then back towards the entrance door. "The last two rooms are simply my study and sleeping quarters. Perhaps now would be a good time to head back towards the greenhouse?"
It was a question, but it hinted towards a command. He didn't see a point in Godfrey seeing the study or his bedroom, and there was really nothing out of the ordinary in either. Stacks of papers and writings, studies on snakes, potions, spells he had created and perfected. And the bedroom; well, as any, it was meant to be a personal place. There was only a large bed in the center, a closet along one end, and a writing desk. Yes; it definitely didn't seem proper that his tour included that room. Much too personal.
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