|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Wizarding World Captain
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:00 am
It's clear that whoever lives here likes their privacy. Surrounded on all sides by miles of dark, barren trees, the path leading up to the mansion is hardly inviting. Still... one can't help but wonder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:08 pm
Voldemort, who was sitting at a desk with a parchment in front of him that looked like it had the same sentence written over and over, looked up at the sound of tapping. A familiar white owl was on the windowsill, looking as impatient as ever. Voldemort made a note to leave the window in his study open on the warmer days to save him the owl's grief. Really, he figured it would have warmed up to him more by now, but he supposed all the reptiles-and Clementine- roaming the house at all times unnerved the bird.
He opened the window, Heinrich immediately flying over onto the desk where Voldemort had just been sitting, lifting his leg. Voldemort shook his head and sat back down, conjuring up a dead mouse (he always had many around for the snakes anyways) for the owl before taking the letter.
He read it over slowly, and then again, a blank expression on his face. He tried not to stake too much emotion into something as trivial as a letter, but that, surprising to himself, was becoming increasingly difficult.
Pushing all the other parchments aside, he took out a blank piece and set to writing, the ink leaving small blotches every now and again.Quote: Godfrey. This week has been fine. Work going good- every hatch of eggs producing snakes with more heads than the last. The heads seem to be independent thinkers, resulting in a few mishaps, as one would imagine. Clemetine is as usual. She has free roam over the entire grounds, and seems to find it amusing to dig up the grass in the front yard and bury things. So far I have found an old teapot, a string of lights and a dozen forks in partially dug holes. The weekend after next sounds fine. If you can make it to the farthest alley past the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade no later than 3pm I will leave you something much like a portkey there. You'll know when you see it. Good luck with your schoolwork. -S
He looked the letter over once, rolling it up and tying it with a piece of loose string. Heinrich had finished his mouse meal and again was holding out his leg with that impatient look. He flew off as soon as the note was securely attached.
Voldemort watched him go, something close to a smile crossing his face. He watched the sky long after the owl was gone, standing in the empty room, his black hooded robe casting his eyes in shadow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:28 pm
Saturday morning, the day in which Voldemort had specified Godfrey could come to the mansion and meet. Voldemort had already hid the portkey, which if touched anywhere between 12-3pm would transport Godfrey- and only Godfrey or anyone of his bloodline- to the end of the long driveway in front of the mansion. It was early now, the sun having not even breached the top of the trees yet, the yard bathed in darkness. It was light inside though, candles lit in every room, along every corridor, bathing the dark walls with a warm light.
Voldemort was awake, had been awake for quite some time now. he had already used a de-dusting charm on the the entire house, pulled back every dark green curtain from all the tall windows, set another chair along his long dining table, and stored most of the more dangerous snakes in their cages. Clementine of course was still free to roam, though at the moment she was curled up in a fuzzy dogbed near the front door, snoozing.
There was an odd sort of feeling of excitement. Voldemort felt childish for it, but all the same, the feeling remained. He hadn't invited anyone to the mansion in years, a decade even. It was hard to recall. Though he had got the few odd encounters. Wizards looking to get a glimpse of him, just to say they had, or else people seeking revenge. Both of which never made it beyond the gates, and were of course stupid to have tried.
Voldemort had purposefully lost all contact with the Death Eaters. No doubt they knew he was alive, but those times where over. The only one he had seen lately was Fenrir, who he allowed to hunt in the expanse of forest around the mansion.
Godfrey was different. It was odd, to be sure. But the young boy was genuinely interested in being his friend, keeping up with letters every week. Godfrey must know who he was- the name Voldemort was not heard everyday, and by this time he was in most history books. He did his best to get rid of the Dark Lord name, was surely very different then those days. But still, he would have thought Godfrey would be scared off by this point. And yet it was quite the opposite.
Voldemort sat in one of his mahogany chairs, his long fingers entwined, thinking. This visit was sure to be interesting, if nothing else. If Godfrey came at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:42 pm
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!! OOF!" Godfrey fell from the sky, falling hard on his back, the wind knocked out of him. The iron doorknocker promptly fell to the dirt right beside him, making a dull clanking sound and bouncing off into the grass.
Godfrey saw trees. And sky. And little tweeting cartoon birds. He shook his head, the present still clutched in his arms.
"... ow." He hurt a bit, but he thought he was alright, and set the present on his legs so he could push himself up and see precisely where he was.
"Wow." Was the only word that came to mind, as he looked down the long, tree lined driveway. It was.... spooky. There was no other way to describe it. The trees were tall, but looked to him as if they were facing the driveway, looming over him and watching his every move.
Godfrey swallowed, looking up, up at them, and carefully pushed himself up onto his knees, and then stood. His head remained tilted upwards as he began to walk, present clutched to his chest, looking up at the trees with unrestrained awe. Were they alive? Were they watching him? Had they seen him fall?
It took a grand effort for him to wrench his eyes back down, and he stopped in his tracks, though he was only halfway down the driveway.
Voldemort's house... mansion, was huge. There was no other word for it. It... was just big. Much, much bigger than his own house. And silent. The windows seemed to be watching him just as the trees had, eyes without pupils staring him down, the door a gaping mouth, waiting to receive him.
He gave a glance behind himself, but seeing nothing other than trees and more driveway he turned back towards the house and started to run the rest of the way towards it, his feet pounding against the dirt, the only noise, they echoed behind him and made him feel as if someone was running after him.
But he wasn't spooked. Oh no. The house in all it's silence, all of it's creepiness...... it completely and utterly thrilled him. It was if the man himself had been turned into the house, white and menacing, spooky and quiet, enthralling and enchanting.
He could barely contain his excitement as he reached up a hand, clasped onto the door knocker, (Not at all similar to the one that had taken him here) and very purposefully knocked on the door. He watch slowly ticked by a single second, the hands telling him it was 12:10 p.m.
Once, twice, three times he knocked. And then he waited. He hoped Voldemort would have lunch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:47 pm
Voldemort was still sitting, deep in thought, when a chime, much like a doorbell, rang throughout the mansion. The chime sounded when anything with magical presence entered the property. Voldemort cracked a small smile, standing up. The chime surely meant Godfrey had arrived on the property.
Voldemort made his way down the long hallway that led to the front door. The floor was a polished dark green, the walls a similarly dark grey. Every few feet there was a candle set along the wall, and sometimes a small square window, leaving the hall surprisingly bright. A few paintings were set between the candles, landscapes of dark forest, lonely lakes, broken-down houses. To the left of the front door was a sitting room, which had another connecting hallway which led to the "greenhouse", a glass room where most of the snakes spent there day. To the right was another long hallway lined with doors. A storage room, a large closet full of potion ingredients, a library, a study where Voldemort's desk and papers sat, and the last door, the bedroom.
Clementine had roused herself from sleep, and was already waiting expectantly at the front door, like a guard dog, forked tongue flicking out in curiosity.
Voldemort heard Godfrey knock, lowering the hood of his robe so his face wasn't covered in shadows before opening the door. And there stood the odd fox-eared boy, looking very out of place standing out in the sunlight with the leafless trees stretching out along the driveway behind him. To be sure, no one of such an age had ever set foot on the property, let alone made it to the door.
Voldemort fought to keep a neutral face as Clementine clambered out the door and tried her best to jump onto Godfrey, long furry tail wagging dangerously. She could hardly jump though, and ended up merely fumbling about Godfrey's ankles excitedly.
"Good afternoon, Godfrey." Voldemort couldn't help but smile now, opening the door up fully to allow Godfrey inside. His red eyes lingered on the present Godfrey was holding, wandering to stare at Godfrey's face. He might have commented on Godfrey's looks, if he thought it wouldn't be awkward to do so; but telling a young boy he looked nice seemed an odd thing for him to say, so he left it alone. He did let his gaze linger, however, for a few long seconds.
"I set up a lunch, if you're hungry." At the end of the hallway Voldemort had just walked down was the large dining room, on which plates of food had appeared seconds before, stocked with all sorts of food, from sandwiches to a whole turkey. One of the larger snakes, an albino python, was curled up lazily near the warm meal, resting contentedly. Voldemort indeed had planned to have lunch. And he thought if Godfrey stayed afterwards, they could work on spells together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:29 pm
He had knocked, and he had waited, his ears swiveling forward and upright as he heard footsteps walking down what was likely a hall. For a moment he panicked. How tall was Voldemort again? He didn't want to be caught staring idiotically at the man's shoulder, or up above his head. He fidgeted as the door knob turned, but it didn't matter anyways, because the first thing he did when the grand door swung open was to look down. He watched in surprise as the gigantic lizard clambered through the doorway and moved about his feet.
"I think she remembers me!" He said, finally looking up at Voldemort. He caught the man's observation and assured himself his outfit was fine- perhaps even slightly humorous, considering the skulls. Voldemort looked exactly the same and yet somehow different, and Godfrey blinked as he suddenly realized what it was and that the one at fault was himself. He'd grown a few inches since they'd first met.
"Good afternoon! I brought Clementine a present." Of course, who else would a pink, sparkle-y package with a bow be for? Holding the box between his hands, Godfrey shook it back and forth, whatever inside making lots of jingling noises. "Ah..... can I give it to her, Sir?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:22 pm
"Of course you can give it to her." Chuckles a bit as the lizard shakes it's shaggy head, trying to get a better look at Godfrey and the present. "You may want to come in the house first... she'll keep you out there all day if she can help it."
At that the furry lizard turned, looking as contemptuous as a lizard can, and clambered back into the hall, apparently trying to disguise her initial excitement. Still, her tail flicked back and forth, her tongue tasting the air.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:01 pm
Godfrey laughed, but tried to cover it up by bringing the present up higher and hiding his face against it. When he came back up a few moments later, he seemed more composed.
"Ah! Yeah, right. I'm sorry!" He hurried into the house, eyes locking automatically on the huge meal, and more precisely on the gigantic snake slithering about it.
"Wow." He blinked, but then shook himself and looked around for Clementine, then crouched down on the floor, facing her. He set the present on the floor, and pulled the bow loose, then grasped the top and pulled it off. Inside the box was an old fashioned metal keyring about eight inches across in diameter. Godfrey shifted, so he was on his knees and sitting back on his heels, then pulled the item out of the box, all the different spoons hanging from it, over thirty of them, jingling against each other.
Godfrey looked back up at Voldemort, smiling. "You can throw this for her! And maybe she won't hide your spoons anymore, if she's got her own!"
He looked back at Clementine and jingled the thing, which weighed a good amount and made his arm hurt to hold up for too long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:17 pm
Voldemort shut the door, the silence in the house inviting, rather than it's usual oppression. Clementine stared hard at what Godfrey was doing, shifting uncontrollably in excitement. She liked stealing things, but getting a present was a different kind of excitement. Her tongue flicked rapidly in and out, smelling.
Voldemort smiled softly. "Well, that certainly is a..." Before he could finish Clementine was upon the keyring, her jaws firmly clamped, tugging it out of Godfrey's hand as lightly as she could manage and hurrying off into the house somewhere; probably to find a hiding place for it. "... a very excellent present. I really don't understand her obsession with spoons... possibly she liked her own reflection. She does often sleep in front of the big mirror in the study..."
"Anyhow, I assume lunch is in order?" And with that he started back down the hall, the floor so shiny it reflected them both walking upon it. " I didn't know what you liked, so I just made a small assortment." Understatement of the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:41 pm
"Oh!" Godfrey exclaimed quietly as Clementine took his present and ran off, but then grinned. "Mirrors, really? She reminds me of my sister."
Godfrey grinned, imagining how his sister would like being compared to a gigantic, hairy lizard, before picking up the box and standing. He wasn't sure what to do with it, so he just tucked it under his arm, and then hurried off after Voldemort, easier able to see the complete array of foods as he got closer, but was just as fascinated by the floor, looking down to watch himself and near tripping over his own feet once.
"Small?" Godfrey said, coming to a stop a few feet from the table, giving Voldemort a wry grin. "Have you got house elves?"
He asked the question out of curiosity, not quite able to imagine Voldemort spending all the time it would require, even with magic, to make all of this. It looked like Voldemort was expecting at least twenty other guests, as if there was going to be some sort of party, though Godfrey doubted it.
Godfrey's stomach didn't seem to care how the food was made, or how much of it was, or that there was a gigantic snake curled up amongst it, because it gave a little growl as the smell of turkey hit his nostrils. Godfrey breathed in deep, and reached forward to grab a grape, his fingers brushing something warm, smooth, and that twitched when he touched it.
"Ah!" Godfrey exclaimed, jumping back a bit and partially hiding behind Voldemort, having accidentally touched the gigantic snake's tail, so camouflaged it was by some of the things spread about. "Oh, it's so big."
He sounded surprised, but not frightened.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:03 pm
"Hm? House elves? No, no, I don't. I don't really like the idea of them any longer..." He had a lot more to say on the subject, but let it go. He was done with servants, and certainly didn't want an Elf around the house at his beck and call. Having control over something like that was too... easy. " I just have more free time than I anticipated I would ever have." Smiles, about to get a plate for himself when Godfrey was startled.
Voldemort stood very still with Godfrey so close behind him, glancing back at the boy. "Fine with big lizards with diseased saliva, but startled by snakes?" Chuckles a bit, moving to the side.
"That's normal sized for a python her age. The half-basilisks are the ones you really need to look out for... Her name is Niveus. Terrible name I know, it just means white but... well, honestly, I'm surprised more snakes aren't around. They've probably already found warm spots of their own. Niveus is a lot more adventurous than most, always finding where there's something interesting going on." Strokes the snake under it's chin with a slender finger, her tongue flicking lazily out, continuing her slow crawl among the dishes, never touching anything other than the tabletop.
"They're all quite harmless though, as I find most animals to be when you just talk to them the right way." Picks up one of the clear glass plates again, flicking his hand so a leg tore itself off the turkey and set down on the plate along with some cranberry sauce and a slice of bread, which moments before was a whole loaf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:07 pm
"Really? I've never asked you if you like cooking, but this all looks really, really good." Though he hadn't been scared, well, only a little, he had felt safe hiding behind Voldemort. "Oh, I don't really like House Elves anyways, to be honest."
House elves creeped him out, always bowing and looking at you with big, round eyes, but getting all weird and upset or crazy if you tried to give them compliments, or hugged them, or smiled at them, or were in any way nice to them. They sort of frightened him as well, at least the ones he'd met, because it distressed him to see the poor little things punish themselves so suddenly and at times violently. Only one or two he'd met had seemed relatively sane, but he still wouldn't want one around, waiting and watching and knowing. The Hogwarts elves were the only exceptions, though he still preferred to tidy up after himself, instead of letting them do it.
Godfrey pressed his lips together, a red tinge appearing across his cheeks. "I'm not afraid! I just wasn't expecting the food I was trying to grab to move! And I've never seen one so big before either."
He moved purposefully forward, and grabbed a grape this time, popping it in his mouth and listened to Voldemort talk, his cheeks still reddened.
"I like that name." He plucked another grape, they were so big and juicy he couldn't resist, and popped it in his mouth, the round shape pressing up against his cheek, visible as he watched the snake, and then watched Voldemort casually fill his plate using an impressive display of wandless magic.
"Mmphm..." Godfrey said, by way of comment, wondering if Voldemort meant to show off but not really minding, and grabbed his own plate, and started to wander around the table. He took pretty much a little bit of everything. He paused, momentarily, to run the back of his hand along the back of the large snake. It was clear he was interested in examining her further, but his stomach came first, and the delicious grape burst in his mouth as he finally bit down on it. He finished off his journey by claiming the other turkey leg, and stopped to contemplate where to put it as his plate was too full. He stared at it in consternation, wondering why he just hadn't thought to just get seconds, but shrugged to himself and brought the leg to his mouth, pulling off a chunk of turkey and chewing it, the leg held over his plate. He could eat rather a lot, though, and eyed the grapes again as he made his way back to where he had started out.
"Can we.... ah... well... where are we eating?" It didn't seem to him that there was really any room on the table to eat, but maybe Voldemort was going to clear some things away? Maybe there was a place outside to eat, or the man had something else in mind. He stared up at him, waiting, holding his mountain of food in both hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:11 pm
Watches Godfrey the whole while, his expression unreadable. He was pleased he had went through the trouble of making such a large meal, and Godfrey had definitely come hungry. Growing boy and all that, he supposed. It wasn't as if any of the food would go to waste as it could be easily stored and kept fresh for days and months, if need-be. Voldemort didn't eat much himself, and his body didn't necessarily require any sustenance at all to run properly. Food was just another luxury for him, one he enjoyed time to time when the situation presented itself. The only thing he ate on a regular basis was candy peppermints, which he had an odd obsession with lately. He could literally survive for months without a thing to eat, much like the snakes he cared for and resembled...
Voldemort was still holding his own plate, waiting for Godfrey to finish getting what he wanted before making the food vanish from the table; he left the grapes. "I thought here would be fine." He set down his plate and sat at the head of the table, in the chair with the highest back of intricately carved mahogany. Waiting for Godfrey to sit before he started eating.
The thought, the wonder of why Godfrey came, still nagged at him. Godfrey knew who he was, knew of his past actions, and he wanted to ask why, why would you still come, still write, still hold any sort of interest or kindness? But he let the thought continue to berate the inside of his head, didn't dare ask. Voldemort was choosing every word, every action very carefully to avoid the inevitable rejection. For some reason he needed the friendship of this young boy, craved it, and didn't want to give it up by saying or doing anything... rash.
"I hope you enjoy everything. It's not often I make meals for anyone, so my skills in cooking might be a bit off." This was true essentially. He didn't practice cooking magic except on the off instance when he craved something. For all he knew his taste buds were much different than that of a normal person and the food would taste horrible. Too many spices, too overcooked, perhaps. But at least it all smelled good, of this he could be certain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 2:32 pm
Godfrey's stomach was taking precedence over all other thoughts at the moment, so he observed Voldemort making the food go away without comment- everything except the grapes he noticed, which was rather thoughtful and pleased him in an odd way.
Much more used to eating at a smaller table, he didn't see the sense of sitting at the opposite end of where Voldemort was or a few chairs away, so he followed Voldemort to his seat, set his plate down on the table, and took a seat in the chair to Voldemort's immediate left.
"This is a really nice dining room. Your whole house is really nice." Godfrey grinned at Voldemort, seeming to not be perturbed at all to be sitting next to a man who- though he wasn't the one to kill his grandparents, thousands of other people from his Dad's world, and torment his father, was essentially still the same person.
But he was a bit nervous, to be truthful. Excited, hungry, happy- but nervous.
He took a large bite of the turkey and chewed, ravenous but restrained by good manners from attacking it with his hands and consuming it all within moments. Besides that, he wanted to actually taste everything- so far it was pretty good.
He swallowed and shook his head. "No, it's really good! Really!"
Godfrey smiled again and took a smaller bite of food, picking up his fork along the way to sample everything else. He didn't say anything else and absently jiggled his foot underneath the table as he let his eyes drift around the room and take in all the smaller details, all the while avoiding staring at the one thing- or person- he did want to look at.
Godfrey thought he could suppress it and had, but he was bursting with questions. Why?Why would a man such as Voldemort, who appeared to enjoy his solitude despite his gigantic house, have indulged his silly letters and all his questions and his attempts at friendship?
Godfrey knew it was strange that he felt like he could talk to Voldemort about almost anything, just like he did with Josh and Spica. Except he'd avoid trying to pry into Voldemort's past and personal life, since he didn't seem to really like it.
Part of him still felt as if this was all some huge, cruel joke. That Voldemort was luring him to feel safe and happy, and making him feel confident, like he could do anything- and then he'd bring him smashing down from his pedestal and he'd be worse than that sad little boy Voldemort had met a year ago. The one who had been so needful and eager to not even be special, but to just be like everyone else.
Godfrey's fork absently scraped across the plate where he'd emptied a section and he winced. He wasn't very aware of it, but a lot of the time he could be just like his Dad when it came to mood swings- often being overly cheerful and then letting a thought get in his head, and changing his emotions abruptly, and this happened especially when he was nervous.
Another odd part of him wanted to actually see if the Voldemort he had heard about in horror stories still existed, and the thought that he might actually not be, might be just someone with his looks and name and power but that's it made him much less afraid. And oddly disappointed as well.
Godfrey cleared his throat and sat up straighter, trying to push away all his thoughts. He busied himself with the rest of his meal and hoped his thoughts and emotions hadn't shown on his face. Considering the fact that he knew Voldemort was a legimens, he felt the effort was likely useless on his part.
((xP Feeling a little odd trying to get back into sorting Godfrey out, with how different he's been in so many places. xD So if it seems a bit awkward, that's it.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
Godfrey Potter-Lockhart Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
