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[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

Who: Tom Riddle (hereisariddle), Narcissa Black (sweetcissy), and a bit of Harry Potter (cruxofapotter)
What: Tom and Narcissa decide to take a visit to the House of Personas
When: October 27th
Where: The House of Personas in Luceti Land
Summary: Tom and Narcissa have taken it upon themselves to explore Luceti Land. The House of Personas is no exception, and what awaits them may come as a bit of a surprise.
Rating: PGish? PG-13 at most.

When Narcissa had invited Tom to come with her to Luceti Land, he had been searching for an excuse to make himself go. Amusement parks were a Muggle thing, and as such, he had suppressed his curiosity and kept himself from acting on it. When Narcissa showed up at his doorstep, she had offered him just the excuse he was looking for - after all, she was just as pureblood as he claimed to be, and almost as biased - and thus, he took it. Now, the majority of Luceti Land had proven to be rather uninteresting; attractions such as The Dunk Tank and Twilight Horse of Horrors failed to bring him the amusement the park's nature had promised him. The roller coasters, on the other hand, he rather enjoyed.

But none of the above mentioned attractions could have possibly prepared him for what lay in store in the House of Personas. When Tom entered the building, he wasn't sure of what to make of it. A hall full of mirrors was a bit of an odd sight. He waited, however, for his companion of the day to join him before he began his investigation.

Comments

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Narcissa was of the firm opinion that, likely muggle origins aside, roller coasters were quite possibly the closest thing to flying without a broom you could get. They reminded her somewhat of the carts at Gringotts, but without the creepy goblin. As such, she'd managed to ride them several times after lunch, and they were by far her favourite thing at the park. Many of the other amusements confused her, or she simply didn't see why they were amusing. Though she suspected the Gryffindors here would find them hilarious.

Excitement aside, a more quiet pursuit was needed, and Narcissa followed a few paces behind Tom as he headed for the the House of Personas.

"A hall of mirrors?" she asked him when she caught up, a hint of doubt in her tone. "I know perfectly well what I look like."

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure there's something more to them." Although what he wasn't aware of what just yet. Now that Narcissa had caught up, he took a few steps to get a good look at the first mirror, and his reflection inside.

The sight that greeted him was not an unfamiliar one. It was of an ancient man, who on sight seemed to resemble a monkey, with a long, wispy beard that came rather close to touching the floor. He was clad in black, a locket engraved with a single "S" hanging from his neck. His back was straight, and his expression stern. Tom didn't have to ask who he was; his Hogwarts portrait was one Tom visited often.

"Tom." The old man addressed him, and Tom's head lowered, as if bowing on command. Tom wasn't sure if he could return the greeting just yet.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"If you say so." Busy glancing around at the mirrors in general and not at any in particular, Narcissa was surprised to see Tom bow his head from the corner of her eye.

Curious as to why he wouldn't want to see his reflection, Narcissa looked into the mirror, where a wizened old man was standing. Stepping closer, she was startled to see her parents standing right next to him, and their familiar faces were like a punch to the stomach.

"Oh, Merlin..."

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

His head lifted at the sound of her voice, and he peered into the mirror again. A man and a woman, from each of which he could pick out bits of Narcissa's appearance. A nose from one, lips from the other - they were undoubtedly her parents.

"'Oh, Merlin' indeed."

The old wizard was still staring him down, and Tom wasn't sure if he ever felt like hiding this much before. This is my ancestor, he told himself, he has no affect on the present unless I let him. The situation has changed; I should not feel ashamed.

Tom's head raised itself, and his brown eyes now held a hint of defiance. "Salazar." He returned the greeting. It was odd to look at Salazar Slytherin in such a way, but he felt it necessary. He would not feel guilty. Whether the happenings of Luceti did not stay within one's memory when they were returned or not, Tom had no doubts that he would find the Chamber of Secrets and open it when he was returned to the Wizarding World. Thus, he owed Slytherin no apology.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Papa's face was unusually stern, though Narcissa was unsure why. Her Mama raised one eyebrow, and realisation struck. Narcissa took a half step away from Tom - and Papa's countenance softened.

She rolled her eyes, and the feathers on her wings slicked down in annoyance. "Honestly, Papa."

Whatever magic this was, it certainly had her parents down pat - and then Tom greeted the old man as Salazar, and Narcissa started in recognition. His portrait hung in the common room, but it wasn't one she looked at often, much less conversed with. Clearly Tom was familiar with him.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

Narcissa's exchange with her parents was observed with mild interest (the amusement he kept from his expression). A glance was sent to Salazar, who returned his gaze to Tom's after studying Narcissa; the old man spoke with amusement. "Enjoy your vacation."

Tom returned with a similarly amused, "Yes, sir," and curiously took a step to the left - toward the next mirror. When nothing greeted him on the other side, he sent a glance toward Narcissa. If she happens to return the glance, he would gesture her over toward him.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"What did he say?" Narcissa asked absently, still gazing at her parents, though she coloured slightly when she realised how rude that was. "Forgive me, you don't have to answer that."

She was incredibly curious, though. If she'd seen her parents, what did it mean that he'd seen Salazar Slytherin?

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"He told me to enjoy my vacation." He didn't mind; he understood being curious. Besides, it made things easier when he decided to voice his own curiosities.

He waited, then, for her to look over to him.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"He thinks we're on vacation?" Narcissa gave him an incredulous look. Well, unless Salazar knew that he was in an amusement park, and thought the wings were a costume of some sort - though Narcissa could not imagine Tom choosing to be winged, or even wearing a costume.

But that made absolutely no sense at all.

gdi just realized that Tom and Salazar would say "holiday", not "vacation" /fails at being British

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

He waved her over. "We're not attending classes at Hogwarts, are we?" Tom wasn't the biggest wing fan, especially not for the useless wings he was given upon arriving in Luceti.

eh, shite happens. I didn't notice either - US TV & movies are rotting my brain! XD

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"Well, no, I suppose not," she conceded, moving to stand beside him at the next mirror.

She frowned slightly upon seeing the reflection within. "I think this one is defective - I see my parents again."

If she was going to see Mama and Papa in every mirror, then Narcissa was going to wait outside. The less reminders she saw of home, the less likely she would be to get upset in public.

Amen to that, sista (+ tense fail)

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

Well, that was odd. "I don't see anything." But Narcissa would notice, when she looked, she could see a translucent, ghost-like woman. The woman wore simple clothes that were of Muggle origin. Thin, wispy hair framed a gaunt, pale face. Her eyes were glued to Tom. They smiled, as well as she. A hand was sent out, to touch the glass separating the reflection from the original. Lips, thin for a woman, moved as if speaking, but it was evident Tom did not hear anything, and neither would Narcissa.

half a sentence missing, whut?

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

He didn't? Narcissa peered curiously at Tom's side of the mirror. He was correct, there was nothing there.

"They must be brok--" Narcissa looked closer. There was a woman, pale and gaunt, who was reaching out to Tom and smiling, trying to say something - but Narcissa heard only the murmur of her parents as they gazed at her. "Is that a ghost?"

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

Tom turned to raise his brow at Narcissa at her inquiry, only to return his gaze to where hers was. He still did not see anything. "Is what a ghost?"

He sent a glance to Narcissa's parents, although it was quite obvious that she was not referring to them. They seemed the same as the mirror before. He curiously returned his gaze to the empty reflection across from him.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"The lady trying to talk to you..." Narcissa's voice trailed off as she glanced at Tom. He genuinely could not see her, yet the direction of his gaze indicated he could see her parents quite clearly - and they seemed to be whispering to one another and glancing behind them.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"Lady?" Again, he attempted to see this ghost woman Narcissa had her eyes on. "She's my reflection, I take it." Tom found it very odd that he was unable to see his own reflection.

But, then, his gaze wandered back to Narcissa's parents - he could see them quite clearly, after all - and as curiosity dictated, to whatever it is they were glancing at behind them.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"You don't see her." It wasn't a question. But if Tom didn't see her, there was no point in pushing the issue, though the woman's face looked rather sad as she realised Tom would not be able to communicate with her.

"Narcissa?" She immediately looked to her father, who'd spoken. He and her Mama were smiling slightly, and they stepped to one side. Curious, she looked past them to see a faint figure forming in the glass; a tall boy with blond hair and grey eyes - and Narcissa gave her parents an accusing look.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

His attention was shifted back towards her parents, and then to the boy. He looked oddly familiar; and in all it didn't take Tom long to figure out just who the boy was. "Lucius, is it?" The resemblance was obvious.

The forgotten woman looked rather morose, indeed, but in the end, she wore a bit of a melancholy smile.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

It was, and Narcissa felt a sudden jolt of homesickness so strong, she had to gasp for breath. One hand was reaching for the mirror, but as soon as it entered her field of vision, she let it drop to her side again. It was an image, nothing more.

Without answering Tom, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, before marching determinedly to the next mirror, though she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to see what it held.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

He followed her without protest. She had given him enough of an answer. He would let her have her pride (for now, at least).

The sight that greeted him in the next mirror was not one he recognised immediately. It was a man, around the age of twenty-five, tall with black hair and brown eyes. As Tom studied him, he saw quite a bit of himself in the man - his hair and eyes, for one, and the majority of his facial structure, for another - and a terrifying thought flitted across his consciousness. Tom did not hesitate to glare at what he was almost certain was his father, and swiftly walk to the next mirror. He did, however, send a curious glance towards Narcissa's reflection as he passed.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Narcissa was staring in horrified fascination at a great hulking brute of a man whose face was in shadows. He had broad shoulders and a menacing air, and Narcissa knew - she knew - that this was the man who'd stolen away her sister. She resolutely ignored the fact that she had no idea what he looked like, and the fact that despite her hatred of him, the reflection had gentle hands.

Startled to feel Tom walk right past her before she could glimpse what he saw, she hurried to the next mirror - and grinned.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

Oh, hey, look. There was an eleven-year-old Tom Riddle, standing across from a newly sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle. The younger looked at the older with a dark stare, one that Tom was well-acquainted with, the one he wore the years he lived in the orphanage. The two stood staring at each other before -

"I know who you are." The younger said. "You're me, but older." With a snap, his gaze turned to Narcissa. "Who's she?" His tone was demanding, as were his eyes.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Cringing slightly at the fact that her Mama still had her in ribbons right up until she went to Hogwarts, Narcissa still smiled to see what was clearly her younger self reflected back at her. The little girl had her hands behind her back and was standing very straight - though Narcissa could see that she wanted desperately to fidget.

"I get taller!" Her voice is gleeful.

"Yes, I do!" Narcissa laughed merrily, before looking to see if Tom also had a younger reflection. He did, though the boy was much more solemn than her own younger self. He looked almost... haunted. Like he knew things he shouldn't have.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"Narcissa Black." Tom answered. He suppressed the temptation to let his unhappy, younger self know of the good fortune about to be bestowed upon him (Hogwarts, that is), and didn't offer anything more. He wanted to keep his roots from Narcissa, after all, and if it was made apparent that he didn't know of Hogwarts at the age of eleven, he had no doubt she would grow suspicious.

So, he moved to the next mirror. The expression following read "confused".

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Turning her head at the sound of her name, Narcissa realised that Tom's reflection must have enquired after her identity. Giving the sombre boy a curious look as Tom moved away, she waved at her beribboned younger self and moved to stand beside Tom.

The look on his face was one of puzzlement, and Narcissa found herself agreeing with him.

"Books?"

I feel so awful for my huge delays ><

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"Apparently." He hadn't seen the one hovering across from him before. It was a plain book - it didn't even seem to have anything written on the pages - one that he would expect to see in a Muggle shop, not across from him in the a hall of mirrors.

He moved on.

different timezones, and we do have lives! Well, you do. XD

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"It looks like the shelves in my room..." she trailed off as Tom moved past her, but she did notice that his book seemed to be nothing more than blank pages.

"Why would it show you a diary?" Narcissa asked as she stepped next to him at the next mirror. Her eyes widened at the object within. "My wand!"

Her hand flew to the glass, which naturally, did not give way.

But what use is a life if it riddles me with guilt about neglecting Tom's? (pff no pun intended)

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"Not sure. I haven't seen it before." And then there's a pointed stare at what was hovering before him. Just what was the significance of a ring? Or an blank diary, for that matter? "Nor have I seen this." Narcissa's wand got a glance, as did she.

Tom wasn't very well enjoying this. He took a few more steps to peer into the next one. It was the very locket Tom had seen hanging from Salazar Slytherin's neck in the first mirror.

"Narcissa." He called, and again, if she would look, he would gesture her over.

it's why I have a data plan on my phone. *sigh*

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"How very odd."

Narcissa did not think much of this Hall of Persona's - so far, everything she'd seen had just made her miss home that much more. She'd been managing to suppress it so far, but all the familiar faces and objects - though again, she didn't recognise the ring reflected before Tom - were not conducive to her good humour. Though she tool some small comfort in the fact that even though Tom was from several decades before her time, he was at least a wizard, and the right sort, too.

She glanced up when he called her name. "Hmm?"

*Pat, pat*

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

'The right sort' indeed. If Tom encountered one of the caretakers from the orphanage, he was gone. Tom gave himself a note to keep an eye on Narcissa's pace, and to stay at least one step ahead of her.

He nodded her over to the next mirror. Perhaps her reflection would hold a hint.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Not quite as eager to see what the mirrors held anymore, Narcissa still stepped over to stand beside Tom. Her eyebrows went up as she, too, recognised the locket and chain, but then her attention was caught by what the mirror showed her.

"Right..."

It was a gnarled oak tree on the grounds at Hogwarts, near one of the lesser known exits from the castle.

Well, she knew what significance that held. And she wasn't going to share it.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

He kept his gaze on her, and his eyebrows went up as well, in a nonverbal questioning that it seemed she would likely miss.

"Any idea?"

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

"The... objects seem to be things that we value. Or that hold some sort of sentimental meaning."

That was true for her, at least, and vague enough, she hoped.

[hereisariddle.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps, although this is the only one I've recognised." And, again, he moved to the next. This mirror held a golden cup, one that had two finely wrought handles on its sides, and a badger engraved on the front.

He glanced back at the mirror that had held Slytherin's locket, and then he realised what the cup was. Although he had no idea why there would be a possession of Helga Hufflepuff's in one of his mirrors. Although, it seemed, the mirrors were there to raise more questions than to provide answers.

[sweetcissy.livejournal.com]

Narcissa paused just before the mirror this time, not really sure she wanted to see what it held. As such, she saw Tom's reflected object before she saw hers. A golden cup?

"I think these mirrors are defective..." Because she was close enough now that the faint blur appearing for her was solidifying into what she suspected would be her canopied bed at home. Complete with teddy bears. Moving on. Though she could wish her mattress in this world were a little more comfortable.

"Why in Merlin's name would it show you a cup?"