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

Mermaids

The day of the Second task, was one like any other. Atmosphere was buzzing with energy, and above all else, I could hear the Weasley Twins barking out prices and orders for their newest invention. I haven't been in contact with any of the Weasley twins ever since that very moment I excused myself to go to the girls bathroom. I was so upset and furious with Krum that I never came back. And as they both approached me, I parted my lips to speak, but then Fredrick turned away bitterly, and shoved passed me, bumping a smaller girl, with a similar shade of ginger upon her crown.

"Why do you have to be so rude!" The girl hissed as she walked passed me; obliviant to my presence.

We nearly collided as she turned her face in my direction too. "Woops," I said trying to sound funny. I paused in the sea of rushing people however, feeling very exasperated. The event of yesterday still fresh in my mind. Ever since last week I have had multiple visits to the Lake, and each time the further and further I went- deeper into the abys. I remember panicking like a chicken when they finally dragged me down by both arms to the bottom of the Black Lake. It was here I could actually hear their sweet song fully, in all it's harmonious glory.

"Lizzy!!"

I heard a familiar voice. Turning around spotted Harry who ran upto me and gave me a snug hug.

"Boy are you a sight or sore eyes!" He beamed happily.

I nodded, and all at once the fear and uncertainty I had melted away. " So are you!" I laughed. It was great to be among casual auras for a change; and Harry never seemed to disappoint. I have to admit though, I have grown quite distant to the trio since my arrival.. The drift between me and Hermione didn't help much. She still was clueless it seemed, and Krum was super annoying.

"You're soaking wet!" Harry chimed in a moment after, holding me at arms length to view my dripping cloaked profile.

"Oops- sorry about that." I grinned sheepishly. " I took another spin in the water a couple hours ago- until I was told it was time for the second task." I explained.

"You were in the Lake?" He quizzed with amusement, his eyes forming round rings behind his specticles.

"Yes I was- and I have been in the lake dozens of times already," I added in mock humor, with an obvious tint of irritation.

"You mean business," he laughed-in good nature though.

"Oi! You're that dragon girl everyone's been talking about," a booming voice rained from above as we walked.

I got startled and gasped with jump when I turned and craned my neck to view the speaker. He was large and intimidating, but smaller in stature and seemingly more friendly then Madame Maxime. After Harry's introduction I relaxed somewhat though and managed to drop my guard by a bit.
" I had no idea anyone was talking about me.." I laughed nervously as I turned my line of sight to the paved path in front of me, my fingers discretely tugging at Harry's sleeve in sheer nervousness of the kind giant.

The boy just laughed and whispered, " He means Ron's brother Charlie and the rest of the dragon trainers."

I mouthed a silent "OH," with my mouth as we climbed up the stairs leaving his friend behind.

"Wot 'appened?" Fleur quizzed quite forcefully, drawing the attention of Cedric and Viktor making me quite embarrassed. " You're all wet!"

I chuckled sheepishly and turned to my Headmistress who quirked a quizzical brow. " I fell into the lake.." I lied, and both joked at the same time. I didn't know how else to explain my awkward situation. I should've known there would be a catch to having the residents of the lake show me exactly where they would be placing my treasure and taking me into their kingdom. By law no outsider could be trusted with their secrets- not even Professor Dumbeldore himself knew the details of what I saw. And to be honest, here as I'm writing this, I have to apologize, for I can't reveal more then what I have already. Hehe..
Not even what my debt to be repaid to them was- sorry guys!
I know what you're thinking, this is all considered cheating. But fortunately for me, nothing was mentioned in the rule book about not practicing with the mermaids, and thus I wasn't penalized for it.. But it did later make people view me in a weird way..
Anyway.

So.. To test my Loyalty they promised me, if I should rescue my jewel without the use of magic, or charms or spells or potions or magical herbs, they will grant me a charm that would act like a passport from my surface world to the next.. Meaning.. Theirs. And if by any chance I would fail to keep this promise- be it I ran out of air and had to be forced to use either spell or charm to save my life, they wouldn't hold it against me- but they would ban me from entering the Black Lake again. " Topsiders do not belong in neither sea, river, nor lake" they said. I didn't like it though, how they already assumed that i would fail. I also knew that this test was meant to be impossible, I mean their under water kingdom was really deep down there to begin with. I always ran out of air half way down.

"Elizabeth wot ar're you doing?" I heard Madame Maxime scold me with a frown.

"Desole, my mind had wondered off again!" I apologized and dove into the water a second later. I had lost at least five, ten, fifteen minutes a least, pondering about the deal. In all honesty, I didn't really care about this Triwizarding Tournament. To be honest, I would much rather win the trust and right of passage to be able to see the hidden world of the mermaids- much more fascinating- don't you agree?

"Elizabeth, your're wand!" Maxime called out as she was about to chuck it at me.

" NO NEED!" I yelled back as I was already the quarter the distance away from the starting point. I paddled in, until I was floating at the center. Man being way out here was sincerely intimidating. I really didn't know what to do next. To calm my nerves I began singing the egg's riddle once more. What? I couldn't help it! It had a catchy tune and was really easy on the ears.

"Come where our voices sound.. We cannot sing above the ground.. An hour you will have to look! To discover what we took.."
~~*~~
Diving in, had to pass through the giant flowing thick forest below. The little tiki things were hot on my trail as I broke through dead center- the way I was shown many times before. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to bring a weapon, and summoning my dagger would count as using a spell. The little tiki's forced me to break the surface, but only just barely. Taking one last big breath, I dove, my eyes focused on the black mat before me. I ignored the chittering of the mini warriors that intimidated me so much each time I went through this level, and by chance I managed to grab a spear of one of the little boogers that decided to ride atop my back.

I lost a few air bubbles there, but I pressed on. The current was quite strong at this depth, and the water was chilly. I kept to the strategy I schemed a few hours earlier. Straight lines. If I could keep my brain thinking and just focusing on a straight path, then I could push the envelope even more. I dragged myself through the weedy forest, using it's long leathery extensions as a rope of sorts to help me pull myself through. The water was murky and at times slimy to the touch- especially as my bare skin brushed against some slimy reeds. It was there that I spotted five floating bodies as I entered the clearing. Startled at first sight lost a few more valuable air bubbles. Snapping the spear in two, managed to splinter the few inches off the top and began sawing at the body closest to me. It was Draco. Quite surprised at first, but as I mused mentally, I soon figured out that each person here was tied to one of the contenders. Ron, as Harry's best friend, Gabby, as Fleur's little sister.. Hermione.. I couldn't help but feel a lump form in my throat as it dawned upon me that Viktor's jewel was no longer me. Harry soon emerged making me frown, but gave him an "okay" hand sign divers usually used.

Soon Cedric and Viktor made their appearance, and here I was still trying to cut Draco free. Once I heard the leather snap, there were only three people left, Ron, Gabby, and Drake. By then I couldn't hold my breath any longer and I was forced to retreat to the surface. Struggling as I went, I suddenly felt light headed, my last storage of air bubbles escaping. My lungs screamed bloody murder, and as if on cue the mermaids that had been watching at a distance encircled us like sharks to a kill. They were waiting for me to use Draco's wand to shoot both of us out of there. I glared at one, and forced my muscles to kick a few more beats.

The surface was but five feet away.. I pushed Draco which in turn made me get dragged behind once again- the thought of of those creepy tikis coming out to get us at any moment was my motivation to get him out of here as soon as possible. Something soon grabbed my leg from below, and I let out a scream.

That was it.. The remainder of my air.. Escaped.. My vision became clouded.. And I began to sink.