A Snake in the Gryphon's Den: A Riddle in Gryffindor {Completed}

The Sorting Hat

As the students were guided through the main halls, curious eyes drew in the tapestries and paintings that blanketed the walls and ceilings of the castle in awe. "Wicked..." Ronald Weasley told himself with a grin. A light banter of high pitched voices caught his attention, forcing his line of sight to flick to his right, "Those two seem to be getting along quite well," commented the ginger as he convened in the grand entrance hall in front of a regal flight of mahogany stairs.

Harry looked over his shoulder and chuckled at the sight of Hermione and the cat girl from earlier. "Yea they do."

"Ah so it is true then!" Draco Malfoy cut into their conversation, his regal air carried authority and confidence; his profile, platinum haired with a snide smirk upon his features.

Hearing her cousin's high tones, Elizabeth paused and turned her attention away from Shadow for but a moment.

"Meow.."

"Aww his meow is so CUUUTE!" A random girl with a green patterned scarf broke through Elizabeth's easily distracted trail of thought. "What's his name?"

Elizabeth looked up smiling, eyes searching for her fellow cat loving friend Hermione. Frowning at seeing the crescent now forming a few paces in front of her ignored the girl's question; finding her feet bringing her forward.

"Red hair, a hand-me-down-robe- must be a Weasley!" announced Draco confidently.

"Meow!"

"Shh Shadow!" Izzy whispered only to look up to find a professor looking down at her and the rest of the new students interrupting her cousin's banter.

"No-no come back!" She was shoved to the side by a plumpy looking fellow who pushed through the crowd making her bump into Crabbe. "Sorry.." She whispered.

"It's okay," he whispered back placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "What's happened?"

"It's Shadow, he-" her trail of thought was broken as a boy shouted, "TREVOR!! THERE you are!! I've been looking everywhere for you!!"

Chuckles filled the room, as an awkward pause arose.

"Looking for this..?"

Izzy's grateful eyes darted to Draco and smiled. "Shadow!"

"You should keep a better eye on him- he's as wild as you are," Draco joked affectionately and in good nature as he handed the little fluff ball over to the girl.

"Look at them- it's disgusting." Ron commented to no one in particular.

"What is?" Looking over her shoulder, Hermione spotted Elizabeth, "Aww," only to frown as she realized that Malfoy character had taken her away by the hand. "Eew."

Harry got too distracted by the distant scene, and before he knew it they were all led to the main dining hall for sorting.

"Harry Potter!"

That was his name.. No it couldn't have been-but as no one stepped up in the pin-drop silence, he found his feet stepping forth onto the platform. "Not Slytherin", he kept repeating mentally as he took his seat.

"Not Slytherin? But you could do so well in Slytherin!!" The Sorting hat reiterated as his invisible eyes darted to a small voice in the back for a split moment.

"Ow-" Elizabeth's kitten nipped her finger as the name was spoken, "SHADOW!" she hissed angrily- her voice drowned as cheers filled the room.

"Elizabeth Thomas LeStrange!"

Pin drop silence re-conquered the dining hall. For those familiar with the dark deeds of Bellateix LeStrange.. Hearing that very name inside the walls of Hogwarts was as dastardly and blasphemous as it became. All at once soft murmurs enveloped the air, nearly suffocating those that were breathing it.

"OUTRAGE!" A loud thud emitted from the end of the table of Gryffindor as a student arose startling the girl who now had the sorting hat placed above her crown.

"All students have equal opportunities here at Hogwarts regardless of their family's status." The Headmaster calmly and regally replied as he waved the student down. "Please continue."

The Sorting Hat felt the girl's tension, and tried to calm her nerves down, "Don't mind them.. They are as rowdy as they come," he chuckled. The moment his rim hugged her temples his light atmosphere vanished, and his facial expression stone faced. Darkness ran in this girl's blood. A deep darkness that rivaled one other that he'd sorted out almost five decades ago. "Sly-" he was about to announce before noting the Headmaster's stern glare. "Are you sure about this..?" The hat mentally asked.

Dumbeldore nodded, "There is light in there as well, best not let it fester and rot."

Quite surprised at his superior's choice of words focused on the young girl and frowned, "Right then... Right." He too sensed the tiny ounce of light, but it was so minute that he barely even noticed it. Glancing at the Headmaster uttered absentmindedly muttered audibly under his breath making Elizabeth roll her eyes in a comical quizzical manner as she wondered who he was talking to. "I hope you know what you're doing..." The Sorting Hat turned to the crowd before him and yelled,

" GRYFFINDOR!!"