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

Two faces

"This iz an outrage!" A furious fae's voice came booming in through the double doors of the headmaster's office. "Ze gerl did not do eet! I refeuuuuze to believe eet! You cannot send our're champion to Azkaban."

As if clockwork Harry, Ron, and Hermione popped out from under the invisibility cloak, talking all at once, adding to the chaotic chorus.

"I know it is hard to accept," the Headmaster grew very frustrated. " I AM NOT SENDING ELIZABETH TO AZKABAN!" He yelled.

"You're not?" The golden trio harmonized.

"No I am not!" Dumbeldore declared once more, his tone quieter but still deadly firm. "The ministry is.." His very out of character response sent an awkward tension into the air. The quartet before him soon grew quiet as he continued to speak. "Unfortunately it doesn't change the facts," the wise wizard drew a deep frown forming a crevice between his eyebrows. " She did in fact kill Barty Crouch..- with the most terrible of the Forbidden Curses!"

His voice grew in to an uproar- disappointment and anger hung on his every word. If the girl didn't use one if the forbidden curses.. Then.. Maybe he could've saved her.. But she just HAD to use THAT particular ONE.

"Say your good byes tonight, she leaves for Azkaban in the morning." Dumbeldore sighed as she paced off towards his beloved phoenix.

"But- YOU CAN'T!!" Hermione cried out as she followed the elderly man.

"There is nothing I can do about it!" The wizard turned towards the younger girl. He continued, still frowning as he spoke, " IF any of you have any ideas I'm all ears!!!"

Silence reigned in the room.. And when no one spoke.. the air stood still.
"I'm not giving up! There has to be away!" Hermione cried as she ran out of the room in tears. Ron soon followed suit leaving Harry and the Headmistress.

"Harry.." Dumbeldore's voice broke the awkward silence.. His voice heavy and.. Grave.

".. I understand professor.." The boy hung his head low, his shoulders forming an arch at his back as they slumped at his sides. Heart broken- didn't want to linger longer.. He needed time to think.. Alone. His mind still didn't register it all at all.. All this.. His mind churned in confusion.

It couldn't be just a coincidence could it? Something nagged at the back of his mind however.. The incident all those years ago.. That almost killed a student.. With that playing in the recess of his own mind.. He couldn't help but doubt everything now. She was the daughter of Tom Riddle... What if..she meant to kill him...? For her father? Her mother was a Death Eater after all... And so was her other father.. It shouldn't be so surprising now should it..? Not when you put it like that..

The more he thought about it the more convinced he was that she was a cold blooded murderer.. Just like her parents.. But that wasn't all that bothered him.. Did Dumbeldore also not want to fight for her because he knew she was bad news? It wouldn't be the first time he hid information.. Or shared it mildly in the least.. It didn't sit right with him.. This was.. Way too easy.. Was he just going to give up on her just like that..? Harry turned to face the Headmaster, only to have the elder's voice break his trail of thought. " There is darkness in her Harry... But.. There is also light.. Which is why I sent her away to Beaubatoux.. So the darkness wouldn't find her there.." He took a deep breath, " She is a good witch Harry.. Never forget that.." The wizard reassured.
After the boy left, he sighed deeply, the echoes of Harry's feet scraping atop the ground's surface stinging his eardrums.

"Elizabeth.. You can come out now."

The girl emerged from the dark recesses of the room, Professor Snape in tow.

"Are all the preparations ready?"

The Potions Master nodded, " Everything is ready," he placed kind hands atop the girl's shoulders.

"Good work Madame Maxime, that performance was extraordinary," the Headmaster complimented. He then turned to the girl who frowned at him with obvious anger.

"You remember what you're going to do right.?" the Elder asked.

With a stern set of optics, the girl nodded, " I have a question though...- well two actually." Exchanging looks with the other two characters in the room shifted on her soles, " One- How do you know they will break me free..? And two- what if they ask me to kill again." Her voice was level, but glazed with fear and anxiety. She felt the Potions Master squeeze her shoulders gently, making her tension grow. " You don't expect me to-" she cut herself short. When she read the silent answer in the man's eyes she backed into the professor who had been holding her shoulders for the longest time. Shaking her head, " ..No.. NOOOO NO NO I won't do it!!" She yelled in panic.

" YOU HAVE TO!" Dumbelfore slammed his hand on his desk angrily, " If you want to live another day- you will have to convince them you're one of them."

Elizabeth argued, " BUT I'M NOT one of them!"

Maxime frowned, " Zis wos not par'rte of ze plan!! Eeef she doez zis then she will be ma'arked for're laife!!"

Elizabeth clenched her fists, glaring at the old wizard who was now asking her to turn into... One of them.. Those that she desperately wanted to run away from.. what was she to everyone anyway? A frigin tool!?! She wanted to run away.. Far from here..

Maybe.. Maybe.. Marrying Draco would've been much better... Than having to kill people.. being a Malfoy couldn't be so bad could it...? If their influence could get her out.. Then.. Maybe..

-Thud-

Something fell over in the back of the room- but the noise was soon forgotten once Servius Snape spoke up. "The ministry knows you are going to be working for us.." His voice was hollow. " Reading the girl's frown as she looked up at him, kept his monotoned speech, " Do this- and in the eyes of the ministry your slate will be wiped clean.. And we will be able to prepare the students for the danger that is to come in the following years. You will be saving many lives. "

Elizabeth rang a bitter note, " By killing people?"

Pin drop silence enveloped the room. Her mother was right... Everyone.. EVERYONE had an agenda.. And just because she was daughter of her father.. She was the queen in all their chess games.. Why do they always have to sacrifice the queen..?

Just because she could step a foot here and there on both sides..?

Heh.. What both sides? They are all on one side.. Their own selfish side.. Everything she stood for.. Everything she believed Hogwarts was about.. Was all a lie. " To kill.. Or not to Kill.. What difference was there? They all were going to die at some point.. She shook these dastardly thoughts.. How could she think that way!? This wasn't her.. This wasn't the Elizabeth she used to know.. NOT AT ALL!!

She'd rather meet with the Dementors, or worse, marry Malfoy than be a pawn in their stupid games..

So what if Lord Voldemort hated Harry- it had nothing to do with her!!! She had her own life too did she not? She felt quite torn that very moment.. What was she thinking! Harry.. Was her best friend!!! And so were the others... Or at least.. She thought they were.. Then again.. She was confused.

Her knees buckled and she allowed herself to drop to the ground, but a random flat chest skidded under her breaking her fall as she fell into a seating position. Holding her head between her palms, Elizabeth began to hunch over.. She really wanted to die right then and there... So much pressure.. It was all messed up..But then again... She also wanted to live and help the others. She also knew whether she was there or not, nothing would make a difference.

" I really have no choice do I..."