| Details for Light Discussion on Dark Things |
| Summary: | Before it is lights out, Tom Riddle and Samira Prince get a rare chance to converse in private. |
| Date: | October 13th, 1940 |
| Location: | Slytherin Common Room |
| Related: | — |
| Characters |
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Slytherin Common Room
It is a fall night. The weather is cool and raining.
The Slytherin commons room is a low-ceiling-ed, dungeon-like affair illuminated during the day by a multitude of greenish lamps and a roaring fire which also works to partially ward of the perpetual chill of the dungeons. The common room is filled with low-backed, black and dark green leather sofas and armchairs accented with buttons that create dimples deep in the upholstery. For the decorative carvings of the dark wood cupboards, the columns, the mantelpiece, and other architectural details of the room run strongly towards snakes and skulls motif. All these details combine to create a quite grand atmosphere with a touch of spooky and cold.
Day or night the enchanted windows are filled with an eerie green glow from the water on the other side. Occasionally the Giant Squid and other residents of the Black Lake will swim by the portals. Over all the common room has a sunken ship feel, though is oddly enough also gives a strange cozy sense as well.
Riddle is sitting in the usual chair that he prefers, the high backed green leather chair with silver studs accenting the quilted surface of the cushions. A quill with a green augrey feather and a nib that is a snake's head with forked tongue in a spade like shape with black ink scratches words into the diary on the pages. They must be enchanted because the words disappear soon after the latest sentence is written. The fire illuminates him from the side casting a long shadow over the rest of the common room. It's getting close to curfew so the room is rather empty as many are either out trying to get last minute things done, or are already in bed. It's a rare time, Tom Riddle being alone and without at least one other Knight in attendance.
Though it is a bit late to be wandering the halls, Samira slinks in from the Serpentine Maze. A large cloud of a cat hops down from it's lounge over the arm of a leather sofa. With a small quirk of a smile Samira watches as the cat entwines through her legs, purring. She bends to gently stroke the top of its head before making her way towards the fire. Never warm enough, the desert rose most often seeks the sofa closest, where her cat had been lounging. But drawing close, she catches sight of Riddle, which gives her pause. "Masaa' al-kheer, ya Tom," she greets in Arabic before curling up nearby on the supple leather sofa.
Riddle looks up and offers Samira a genteel smile. "Good evening Samira." He seems amicable enough for the company. "How was your day?" Being two years apart it really is only during meals and down times like these that they get to interact all that much. But he's always genuinely interested in her state of being. So much so that his quill is set down on its page and the book is closed over it as a make-shift bookmark.
Samira offers a light nod as her dark gaze lingers in Riddle's young features. "It was interesting. I got to observe Madame Spleen heal a particularly dramatic cut this evening. And I was able to mend a few minor ones." Among the Knights of Walpurgis, Samira rarely says so much, preferring to observe and keep her thoughts like secrets. But alone with Riddle, her secrets come a bit more easily.
Riddle looks increasingly intrigued at the talk of dramatic injuries. "Dramatic hmm? What ever happened? I would be interested in witnessing you in action. It's a shame Spleen wouldn't allow a gawker. Perhaps something can be arranged though." Like bringing in Antonin after he gets a gash or something. "Or perhaps at some point you can tutor me in the spells away from such prying eyes like Spleens."
Samira's small smile grows catlike as she watches Riddle with keen interest. "Perhaps away from eyes like hers which might not care to see. If she hadn't been on hand to mend the gash down the side of McKinley's face, you might have witnessed. But, the Madam has made it clear she does not wish to allow such magic in her infirmary." Over the months, Samira has given many tantalizing hints as to her knowledge but she has always taken care to focus on the theoretical. After all, that is where the bulk of her education at Heka had focused.
Riddle bows his head with a knowing smile. "That would be very appreciated indeed. Thank you. I'll be staying with Niles again over the breaks this year. So perhaps we can arrange a meeting there. Or if that can't wait, I am sure we can make arrangements here. We've refrained from returning to our spot in the labyrinth sice it was discovered last year. But perhaps this year we can find a new location. Now that the instance is further from people's minds."
Samira shifts, settling a bit more comfortably on the sofa, her cheek resting against the padded arm. "Yes, it is rather hard to find quiet places. I do know a few, but it's difficult to fit more than one," she muses. Focusing once more on Riddle, she smiles, "But, a meeting at Niles' home could work well."
Riddle nods his head and gesture to the folded up throw blanket on the arm of the chair next to him, "May I?" He gestures in offering to bring the blanket over to cover her. He knows her well enough to know she likes to stay warm. "Pardon the uncouth invitation, but if you were truly seeking something more private…" He also knows how private a person she is and he breaks decorum in inviting himself in favor of her comfort. "But I could also make arrangements to visit your own home as well. Which ever is the most suitable for you."
Samira's dark gaze flits from Riddle to the blanket. With a rather subtle hint of shyness, she replies with a small nod and a soft "Thank you." Watching him as he draws closer with the blanket, she rises slightly. "Again, I appreciate your consideration. I have never taught and… without years of preparation, it can be a dangerous art to master. Fewer at once would be better. Though I can't guess my uncle's mind as to whether he would approve."
Riddle leaves the diary on his chair arm and smoothly rises to lift the blanket and with a snap unfurls it only by half so it's double thick and enough to blanket over Samira. There is not physical contact in the gesture. He allows her to tuck in more if she wishes and he retakes his seat. "I can pen a letter to your uncle to make clear my intentions if you think that would help sway him to our side?"
Samira does tuck the blanket in further, savoring the added warmth it offers against the dungeon chill. "I will write to him. If he expresses reservations, then perhaps that letter might help. Perhaps he won't mind in the slightest." She shifts, snuggling a bit deeper under the blanket despite the usual dignity she tries to maintain. "I should warn you though. The spell has some applications that I doubt any of the professors here would approve of…"
Riddle nods his head to the suggestion, "I will if needed." He glances towards the door when it opens again and a small clutch of students just pass by and splinter off by gender to head for their dormitories. The expression on Riddle's face as he offered them a cool smile was one that silently ushered them along to leave the pair undisturbed. "I am duly warned, thank you." The dryness of his gratitude makes it clear that he really could give absolutely no care to what the professors would approve of.
Samira glances to the passing students, expecting the popular fourth year to be soon surrounded by his admirers. But, Riddle's smile isn't as inviting as it usually is. Samira watches him with interest as they remain alone by the fire. Such lack of concern draws out a smile of impish mirth. "Mm. At my home, perhaps you would care to study some of my old school texts. They are in Arabic, but I can translate. I brought them so I could refresh."
Riddle's interest is plain because he sits forward so that his elbows are on his knees, hands clasped over the air between his slightly spread knees. "This would be advantageous indeed." Riddle perhaps uses the bigger words almost too much. But the orphane from the East End was eager to change himself into a wizard of means and power so early on he educated himself in the ways of an aristocrat it's why he acts with such decorum. By now it doesn't seem 'put on' or false at all. He's really starting to come in to his own, especially this year. "Arabic is a fascinating language. Do you think that I would be able to gather the core of the language if you were dehiscent with the knowledge."
"Mmmm… if you wanted to learn the Egyptian dialect, it might not take so long. But, the textbooks are in formal Arabic. It is a far more complicated language. Twelve patterns for pluralization alone. It is a challenge even for native speakers to master. But, if you were truly keen on the task, I could try." Samira also often tends towards more formal language, which from a child's mouth would sound strange. But, perhaps not so surprising given her mastery of English came only through formal tutoring.
Riddle bows his head in a light nod. "I understand. I'm sure Arabic or no, learning from such a cognoscente of the subject matter would be most advantageous indeed. Thank you Samira, I am very excited to learn anything that you can teach." Which is why she was accepted into the secretive fold of the Knights in the first place. "Perhaps we might find some things that I can mentor you in, an exchange is only fair."
"Mm… well, I'm ahead of you in all your classes. But, our interests are rather similar, I think. And perhaps you have stumbled upon things that aren't taught here. I would be keen on such an exchange." The glint in Samira's eyes betrays her eagerness.
Riddle once more bows his head, this time in acceptance of their new arrangement. "Very good." The agreement acknowledging that he does in fact have things that aren't on the curriculum that she's been caught up on in order to transfer. There is perhaps a note in his tone of not offended-ness exactly, more a confidence in effort to overcome her idea of having a greater knowledge. In sense he doesn't enjoy someone feeling superior to him because they are older, but he keeps it veiled in genteel assurance. Now it is time for some of the Knights to enter and gesture for Tom to join them. "It was very nice speaking with you Samira, we should try to do it more often. I have enjoyed this very much. A restful evening to you." He gathers up his diary and holds it under his arm with another little bowing nod of his head, this one a farewell.
Samira might be under the impression that she has gotten further along in their official curriculum, she has never failed to take Riddle seriously. She smiles, sitting up slightly to offer a respectful nod as he rises. "And to you. I look forward to when we speak next, ya Tom." She lingers by the fire a little longer under the blanket that Riddle had offered, contemplating their conversation. But before long, she slinks off to bed with her fluffy cloud of a cat following after.