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

First Kill

I do not know how many days have come and gone, but with each passing day I grew weary. The pain.. Unbearable. I awoke in darkness, " Hermione?" I was surprised at the name my tongue called out for. I neither saw walls nor doors, not even my own hands that I held in front of my face.

I heard a faint voice in the near distance and called out once more, " Hello..?" When no response played back, I continued treading forward with my seemingly invisible hands out stretched forward.

The air around me smelled humid, and wet- dare I say musty and putridly old. I followed the sound of trickling water, and emerged in a corner of Hogwarts I never saw before. Right before me were two students, one a boy with a camera, and one.. A girl.. I edged closer to them but they both screamed making me scared. I sped after them, seeming to glide atop the marbled flooring. "Wait!!" I heard my mind cry out. The boy flashed a camera at me, and my world turned white for a split second. A moment afterwards, when darkness returned the boy was on his back, frozen in the position he once stood a few seconds ago. " Hello?" I heard my mind ask as I pulled up beside him. I tried to shake his shoulders with my hands, but realized.. I HAD NONE! In sheer panic and fear I began darting my eyes here and there and here and there! Voices soon were heard down the hall, as another girl screamed at the sight of me. Within a blink of an eye she too dropped like a stone. I let out a scream- but even I didn't recognize my own voice. I docked back into the tunnels, how I found them so quickly I didn't know.. I wondered in darkness for a long time.. And soon.. I found myself in the library. "Thank God you're here!" I happily treaded towards Hermione, whose back was turned to me. "Hermione-" within a moments glance she too dropped to the ground- falling off her chair. " AHHHH HERMIONE!!"

I woke up with a start, sweat marked my brow. " It's just a dream.. Just a dream.." I sighed and plopped back down onto my side, to find a girl who looked dead next to me. I shrieked.
" Kyaaaaaaaaa!!" My voice echoed all around. "HERMIONE!!" I screamed. The air smelled sour and rotten.. Almost as if I was in the sewers.. And some idiot dumped something dead in there. " Again I found myself emerging into the light to face a familiar- this time.. It was Harry. In joy I rushed up at him, to have Him stab me with a Basilisk fang right through the top of my mouth and into my head. I writhed in pain and I felt the ground rushing up at me.. Tears streaming down my eyes as I began to cry.. My heart slowed down.. Until. It stopped.

And I reawakened in a baby's crib, crying. And as my eyes looked beyond the dark curtains, the sun seemed to rise and fall really quickly.. And I found myself on the train again.. And soon after I woke up at Hogwarts.

I lost all sense of reality.. And as I wondered through the halls.. Everything felt so strange. It was almost as if.. I was frozen in time.. And.. As I walked through a door, I entered another dark passage way, and this time.. The air smelled of dried flowers- roses to be exact.. Grass.. And.. Dust.

"Where am I?" I seemed to ask the air. I seemed to have wondered off again, finding myself at a crossroad.

"Professor!" I greeted the one they called Mad Eye, " Professor?" I paused as he disappeared into mist.

Confused, I ran after him, a glowing shot seemed to speed right towards my face. " AHK!" I docked, side stepped and twirled. " WAIT IT'S ONLY ME!"

"Elizabeth!?" A familiar voice called out.. A certain Bouty Crouch or whatever his name was; I don't really remember- and to be honest I didn't really care. He was one of the judges though, and always seemed nice to me; smiling every time we passed by each other. I heard him scream " RUN!" But instead of going the other way- I ran towards him.

I continued hearing voices and echoes ringing in my ear.. And for all I knew- this was but a dream. I think they called this kind of dream.. Lucid dreaming.. Anyway attacks were fired my way and I dodged and returned fire.

"CRUCIO!"

Within a few seconds I dropped to the ground writhing in pain. My body shook almost as if it was having a seizure. My stomach twisted and churned.. Almost as if squeezing my last meal out of my throat. My head stung, and my back seemed to jump alive as I could feel the serpent dance around and constrict around the shape engraved in my back. " GAAAAH!!" I choked as my brain whirled and spun. I had to do something!!! Time seemed to drag on for eons.. The pain.. Killing me slowly.

"Use it... You know you want to.." Came that eerie voice again.

"NO!" I yelled out loud as I curled up like a shrimp, crying my eyes out unable to take it anymore.

" YOUUUUSSS ITTTT!" The voice boomed in my head.

" NOO!! I CA-" I choked, " I CAN'T!!" I screamed, my throat already sore.

"You.. Chaaan.... Jusste fochusss.." The voice instructed.

" On whaat!!?" I screamed mentally, the shadow holding the attack, drawing nearer.

"Thaah.. Shaoundd of my voicccceee."

I really had no choice.. I really didn't want to die here and now- even if this was a stupid dream. I closed my eyes and began to do my best and attempt to zone everything out. The strange voice also began reminding me of all the horrible instances I had suffered and gone through.. Of all times why now!?

I began do doubt this voice.. I began to hate it.. With all my being. I remembered the exercises Madame Maxime taught me though.. When these dark thoughts entered my mind. But at the mention of Hermione and Viktor, I lost it and stood up. The words that came right out of my mouth.. Were the ones I feared most. " AVADAKADAVRA!" And just like that I heard a thump as a body fell to the floor. My weak knees trembled.. Yet I forced myself to trudge through.. And to my horror.. There lay Mr. Barty Crouch.. Motionless.. Pale.. And still..

"NOOOOOOO!!!"