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

Fête de Noel

"Lizzy! Lizzy!! You've got presents!!!"
Elizabeth frowned as she pulled the fluffy blue quilt-like-blanket with blue and white squares decorated with snow flakes over her head to shield her eyes from the piercing light that shot through the door. " Five more minutes..." She groaned through cotton, the envelops of the Weasley's letters resting on the floor in a lazy heap.

" Oh don't be such a bebe," Gaby ripped off the blanket revealing a girl with messy wavy layered curls standing in every which way possible dressed in a pastel blue long sleeved chemise dotted with white rose embroidery along the center up the sides of her torso and low neck line. " Viens vite! I'll even sneak you some cake!!"

"Cake!?" Lizzy sat up wide awake, very happy that she actually was picking up some French.

" You said come quickly right?" I beamed when she nodded, and as she extended her hand to help me up, I took it. " Merci!" I giggled only to find myself running on cold polished wood, " Woa- wait wait! Where are we going!? The Common Room is that way!"

Fleur suddenly appeared in front of us as we turned the corner. Her face rosy from excitement, " 'e iss 'ere!!" She bounced on her toes. Confused, I frowned, " Who?" I asked. Feeling their tense anxiety felt the air quiver, something must have happened. The energy was swollen with racing hearts and hyper giggles.

" Oh- COME ON!" Fleur dragged me into her room and threw a white casual sleeveless dress robe over me and tied the bow behind my back. After fluffing up my hair she shoved me into the guest quarters where a group of boys dressed in blood red uniforms with fur jackets with a matching fur hat stood. Gabby giggled next to me along with her older sister.

" 'e came just for you," Fleur whispered into my ear as she placed playful hands upon my shoulders.

"Who?-Woa!" I stumbled clumsily as my upperclassman, shoved me in front of a handsome lad who just laughed lightly with his fellows. My eyes drew a rounded comical gaze as I felt my cheeks blush as blood rushed through them. He was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time for some reason.. Drawing a frown I stepped a pace back in reflex. "Um.. Hai..?" I said sheepishly when he turned my way. The hushed tones that played into my ears were neither french or English, {Oh great..} I mused silently- a shy smile upon my features.

"Hello," the youth chuckled as his eyes looked me up and down as if sizing up the situation. Relieved that my toes were hidden underneath the skirt of my robe, clenched the tiny digits in nervousness. "Did you write this.?" He held up a parchment with my hand writing, " No-I mean- wait," narrowing my eyes, focused on what was written in the center top and gawked. It was my poem. " Where did you-" I looked over my right shoulder and saw a winking Fleur as she threw me a thumbs up.

"It's very beautiful," the lad's voice played into my ears making me turn round, " You have quite a way with words, I like it." He commented making my heart skip a beat.

"I-I'm sorry, have we met before?" I asked suspiciously, my eyes darting to the teen beside him elbow his back playfully muttering something in a different language. The boy holding my poem just laughed and glanced at me again, "Not officially it seems," he laughed lightly making me confused.

"Viktor Krum!" Called his Headmaster Igor Karkaroff making me flinch at his sharp tone as he walked up to us; Victor stuffing the poem in his back pocket. The tall bearded man paused and looked me up and down, I sensed a dark tension and familiarity. He was one of us.. One of the servants to the Dark Lord. And by his raised eyebrows he knew so was I- even if I never mentioned it to anyone. Lady Bellatrix LeStrange was my mother after all- and she was very well known as well; my experiences in Hogwarts proved it so. I shuddered at the horrible memories there.. For they weighed out the goodness of meeting Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

A Death Eater was in our midst.. Though this one didn't seem to carry as much loyalty as mother, but I did sense his fear.. His eyes narrowed with a slight pause as they met mine; then turned to his student. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Mew!"

All eyes awkwardly dropped to the floor as Shadow, a strapping three year old coal colored tomcat walked into the scene and up to Karkaroff. The man grimaced as Shadow hissed at him before sniffing Viktor Krum over and walked over to me. How I wished I could just apparate or turn invisible and disappear at that moment. A few quiet laughs echoed through the stiff air before the boy who had my poem spoke.

"Yes I have," he responded formally.

"Why don't you invite your little friend to Drumstrang," the bearded other added as he turned to our headmistress Madame Maxime with an approving nod.

I looked to the kind giantress who nodded at me, making me feel tense. I turned to this Krum guy and he smiled down chuckling. " Would you like to join us for the weekend? We are holding our annual Winter Festival."

"I.." I paused. There was something shifty about this invitation, and I didn't feel secure about it at all. It seemed half assed in a way, with some hidden intentions. I also didn't want to disrespect our French Name and reputation- not to mention break the ties between both schools. How could I refuse..? " I would graciously accept your invitation, however," I glanced back at Maxime and chuckled, " I hardly think it would be appropriate for me, a single fae to enter an all male establishment on my own," I smiled and turned back, feeling relived at seeing my Headmistress' nod and smile of acknowledgment. Krum looked at me in a strange yet amused way. I could've sworn he seemed impressed by how he held himself. I could also hear the girls begin to murmur and whisper behind me; among them were Fleur and Gabby's quiet, hushed utterings.

"Well, thairre you 'ave eet!" Maxime stood behind me, her hands resting upon my shoulder as she looked down on the wizard with a polite smile.

Viktor chuckled as his fellows began uttering in Bulgarian, and decided to see how far he could push the envelope. This girl.. From Beauxbaton seemed quite interesting. She was after all, the first girl who hadn't fawned over him, or jumped up and down like a deranged fangirl. In all honesty he thought the poet didn't even know who he was. " Why not we host the Christmas Ball?" He continued formally as he turned to both Headmaster and Headmistress," I believe it would also help strengthen our ties and show the world that the Lords of Drunstrang are both noble, hospitable, and powerful." At the tone of power Karkaroff seemed to hold himself a little higher.

"Splendid idea," the man even seemed to be a little out of character with his choice of words. By then I knew he really had something to say to me, he kept holding my gaze and turning to my left arm as if expecting to see or find something. My sleeves weren't transparent, but I did feel insecure about it.. So much so that I tugged at it's frills to hide the lower half of my palm. Looking up, tilted my head slightly as I sensed Maxime's tension. She also seemed uncomfortable with this offer. We had already prepared for tonight's ball, though with but a simple spell I'm sure everything could've been transferred. I also know that boys in an all boy school would probably act a little off seeing a group of girls walk into their halls. But how could we avoid such an encounter?

"Perhaps we could re-arrange the hosting for another time Headmaster..?" I spoke up, trying to sound confident. " We have all the preparations ready, and a few other foreign envoys were invited. I don't believe it would be prudent to just change the location at the last minute." I lied, but it was the only way. Before the man could speak, Maxime clapped her hands.

"Come along gerlzz we arrre running late!" She turned the group if girls standing behind me and gently yet forcefully nudged my back. This time I didn't pause to pick up Shadow, and I knew it bothered the feline. Maxime turned to Karkaroff and smiled, " Shall we convene for afternoon tea?"