What a Riddle

The beginning of the end

Dinner was a quiet affair. Both my Father and Lucius were missing so dinner was kept small, only Cissy, Draco, and myself. 

The manor had returned to its familiar silence before housing the death eaters. 

"I brought you for dinner to keep you safe from what is happening at Hogwarts" Cissy spoke softly as she put another small bite in her mouth. Both Draco's and my head shot up and looked at her wide-eyed "I've tried to keep you both safe but it is not for me to decide" A tear ran down her face and Draco and I both got out of our seats to go comfort her "not anymore" 

"Mother," Draco said softly cradling her head as my arms were wrapped around her shoulders.

"You raised us to be kind" I started "smart, ambitious, and... to be leaders" I tightened my hug

"It's time we step up and do what you raised us to do" Draco finished 

~~~

We both managed to get back into Hogwarts as my father's voice rang out through the halls. I placed a soft hand on Pansy's shoulder letting her know we were back. 

Everyone stood in silence unsure of what was going to happen till I stepped forward in front of Slytherin followed by Draco. All eyes fell on us and I made sure I kept my head held high. 

"Slytherin stands with you, Potter" My voice rang strong across the stone walls but the silence that followed was deafening. 

What happened next I wouldn't have guessed. Neville stepped forward "Gryffindor stands with you"

Then a Ravenclaw girl I didn't know stepped forward "Ravenclaw stands with you"

Followed by a guy from Hufflepuff I also didn't know "Hufflepuff stands with you"

"What do you need?" McGonagall asked 

Harry looked around unsurely "Time" he glanced at me "We need to destroy one of the last Horcruxes... Riddle, how did you destroy the diadem?"

"Basilisk Fang in the chamber of secrets" I answered ignoring some of the odd glances from the others. 

"We give you all the time we can," McGonagall said grimly "Anyone year three and below go back to the common rooms. Barricade yourselves in" she ordered everyone quickly dispersed. 

Ron and Harry dispersed and I joined Hermione's side.

"Think it's enough" she whispered

"It going to have to be" I replied 

Our eyes trailed to see McGonagall call the statues to life to protect the school. 

"I think we should use some of the defense spells we created" Hermoine commented as we watched row after row of stone statues come from the castle. 

"Am I thinking of the same spell" I grin a little

Hermoine nodded smiling also "You're better at the natural magic. I think you should do it"

My grin widened and I ran past McGonagall "Miss Riddle" she yelled "Get back in here! Florence, for heaven's sake-" she stopped as I went to my hands and knees onto the ground. My fingers curled into the grass. 

Closing my eyes I focused on myself and then on the ground. The earth rumbled around me I began mumbling incoherently in Latin as four large figures made of mud and stone grew from the ground. My chanting grew louder as I stood up planting my feet to continue growing the being to the size of giants. Smaller beings in the basic shape of wolves formed around me. Chucks of grass spot their muddy skin. Speaking of the last phrase of the spell, they freed themselves from the ground and began following the stone statues. 

I turned a gave an excited smile. McGonagall looked shell-shocked at what I just did. I just high five Hermoine and gave a smirk to Draco who looked on in amazement. 

"That worked better than our test run" Hermoine smiled 

"A lot better" I agreed panting a little "Should we wait on the enchanted tree spell?"

"No" Hermoine shook her head "We need to pull out all the stops"

I nodded "I'll be outside then" Giving a quick chaste kiss to Draco I sprinted back outside. 

~~~

Half an hour later I had most of the trees enchanted and I've been lucky enough to hit and kill any of my father's followers without them seeing me in the first attack. 

Medusa and I worked quite well taking down Hogwarts' enemies. Sometimes she'd provide a distraction for me to take care of it and other times she's lunged off my arm, mouth wide as she would sink her teeth into her victims' necks and deprive them of oxygen by wrapping her body around their necks.

I rounded a corner when I saw Grey-back over a dead Gryffindor in my year. 

"My lady" he bowed giving me a toothy grin as his claws dripped crimson blood on the ground. 

I gave an unimpressed look "She went down without much of a fight I take it" keeping the cool facade as I looked at the dead girl. 

"Nice and easy" he stood at his full height "Much like you will. I smell what you did, think you can get away with killing the ones that serve you. You're just a sheep in among the snakes" he stepped forward maliciously.

"I think you mean wolf" I quipped and lunged at him transforming myself into my animagus form. My large front paws knock him over as I bite down hard where the neck meets the shoulder. 

He howled in pain before digging his dirty nails into my hide and throwing me off. I let out a yelp as I hit the stone floor. 

he runs at me as I struggle to get into a defensive position. My attention snaps behind him when a loud roar echo through the halls and a large albino lion tackles Grey-back. 

I shift back and couldn't help a smile as Draco changed back to normal. Grey-back laying dead and decapitated. 

"Ugh" Draco spits "I don't think he took a bath recently"

I grimace "Probably not"

"You ok?" Draco then focused his attention on me

"I'm fine." I reassured rolling my shoulders. "You?"

"I will be when I get this taste out of my mouth."