audio

[morsmordre_met]

- nd then rotate the dial to adjust volume ACCORDINGLY, UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE SOUND -

Oh. Oh, Merlin, certainly not as planned.

[awkward pause of awkwardness]

Well. Well, then. Shall we get on with the technicalities?

Good evening. My name is Tom.

This is - [sound of paper rustling] ...afraid all I've here is that this is the 'City.' You'll

Comments

voice; 1/2

[7thborn]

[Not here. Not really. Just a moment of numbness as she tries to gather herself.]

voice;

[7thborn]

[And then a steadying breath and she sounds rather... together. Which isn't true at all, but no one can tell from the tone of her voice.]

From what I know about Professor Slughorn, he'll be fairly understanding of you missing class. Being in another world and all. Otherwise, I'd have failed the course twice over by now.

voice :: 1/2

[morsmordre_met]

[ -- knows Slughorn. Witch, or a Squib turned assistant, though the likelihood of that verged on nothing. Hardly of his time, else she'd well know her prefect. Not a Slytherin, or Slughorn wouldn't appear merely understanding, if adamant to favour. Going on stereotype, a Ravenclaw would bemoan the lack of resources to carry on studying, and a Hufflepuff would express some certainty that surely someone will provide for him, as he'd requested. Which left...]

voice

[morsmordre_met]

Oh, I do hope so. And I see your trouble. I can only imagine it must be dreadful to meet for an early Potions class without much for delay, when you've all the way to cover from Gryffindor Tower and down to the dungeons.

voice

[7thborn]

[This would be a sharp intake of breath if she didn't cover it up so quickly with a pleasantly surprised laugh. She knows he's clever-too brilliant, even-but drawing that conclusion from one little thing she's said is... unsettling.]

That's what all the secret passages are for. Spares you the trip along the stairs with the trick step, too; that thing costs you a good ten extra minutes on the trip to class if you aren't careful.

[Pause.]

And I didn't realise I was so obvious about my colours.

voice

[morsmordre_met]

[laughs with her]

Guesswork, in honesty. It could well have been Ravenclaw, the idler sort - is there such a thing? Or Hufflepuff, one somewhat less... idealistic. You won't begrudge me a reliance on stereotype, will you? I'm sure you've your own guesses about me, haven't you, Miss...?

voice

[7thborn]

But stereotypes are there for a reason, of course. And if you've managed to suss out my Gryffindorishness just like that, I'd have to guess Ravenclaw for you, haven't I?

[That's right, Ginny. Carry on as if you don't know who he is. Another quiet snort of laughter goes here, just a touch incredulous.]

And Merlin, no! No 'miss.' Makes me sound like I'm in trouble with my professors, doesn't it. Just Ginny will do me fine.

voice

[morsmordre_met]

[pause; wouldn't it be the closest person to the dungeons who'd note on that advantage? Fool. Gryffindors never fail to be dull. Tragic, truly.]

Wouldn't a proper Ravenclaw wait on more evidence before casting a verdict any one way? Miss -

[there, best to nudge the dullard.]

- Miss Ginny, then. Only proper.

voice

[7thborn]

[Better let him think her dull, a bit slow, than suspiciously sharp. She doesn't know all about him (far from it; she'd poured her secrets out to him more than the other way around), but she knows enough.]

Not Hufflepuff, then. Not after what you've said about their lot. Which means, of course, Slytherin-if only because you're certainly not Gryffindor. I'd have recognised you otherwise.

[A breath.]

And if you're Slytherin, then I'm not entirely sure why you're so concerned with Slughorn, Mister... ?

voice

[morsmordre_met]

[waits on her for a moment. Slytherin, unless. Slytherin, unless...? Oh, come off it.]

Unless we're of different eras, yes, Miss Ginny.

[slight pause]

House Slytherin it is. I'm afraid Professor Slughorn offers us no leeway. He's not fond of discrimination. One of the few.

voice; 1/2

[7thborn]

[No introductions, then. Nothing beyond the Tom he's given the network, which is fine enough for her, and aren't they on first name terms already? Hearing him say her name sends a chill shooting straight up her spine, and she has to pause for just a moment to push back the tumult of emotions curling through her stomach.

Ease up, Weasley. Play too stupid and he won't give her the time of day. Half of her is screaming that she doesn't want it. Keep him away. Far, far away. But the rational half of her knows she's got to stay close to keep an eye on him. She'd feel safer knowing where he is, what he's doing, who he's becoming friends with. She has to protect people.

An airy pfft of nonchalance, then, is what she utters here.]

I'm so used to the time thing, I didn't even think of it. I know a Thomas back home, in Gryffindor, so I didn't think... well, right, that's a bit idiotic of me, isn't it. Would you rather I just call you Tom, then?

voice

[7thborn]

Too true. When it comes to his own House, anyway. I reckon he picks favourites in a different way, but if you know him, you ought to know what I'm talking about.

Doesn't matter what year he's from, I expect those dinners of his are tradition, aren't they?

voice

[morsmordre_met]

[just a little bit of detachment]

Miss... Ginny? I'll thank you for no further injury before Professor Slughorn's integrity. He's been - he's helped immensely. Not very many still do.

[the entirety of his name? persistent. he doesn't much care for it, not for all it implies, but it'll have to do.]

...Riddle. Tom Riddle.

voice

[7thborn]

[There's a pause on her end, presumably for her to take in his name, process it. She doesn't have to. She knows. It's a chilling name spoken in the voice that narrates her nightmares from time to time. Ginny has not and cannot forget it.]

A pleasure, Mr Riddle. Didn't mean to, er, offend you about Slughorn. Don't get me wrong. I like him well enough, he's a brilliant professor; and I'm sure a great Head of House.

[There's a touch of wryness here, now.]

But you know how it is. That old Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry doesn't change. Bit of a habit, I'm afraid.

voice

[morsmordre_met]

[laughs again]

No - no, forgive me. My bad. It's all quite all right. I'm afraid the entire ordeal's taken its natural toll. Please, nothing to take into proper account.

May I also have the pleasure of a full introduction, then?

voice

[7thborn]

[Should she lie like the last time? Say she is a Prewett? No, not now. Less people knew her then, the risk of someone blowing her cover was lower. No such luck this time.

So she lets loose a laugh as well, to buy some thinking time, then comes to a temporary solution. It's almost disgusting, how easy it is for her to adopt a teasing tone around him; not all of it is faked, as much as she wishes it. He's too easy to talk to. Don't fall into that trap again, Ginny.]

Oh, I don't know, Tom. It goes against every bit of Gryffindor instinct I've got to just let a Slytherin have an easy answer. I already told you, just Ginny is fine.