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

Dance with the Dementors

Elizabeth awoke startled at hearing the faint echo of Hermione's voice, " Hermione?" She voiced quietly. Eyes well adjusted to the darkness, looked around curiously and cautiously. She felt a light weight hook around her waistline, and react to her startled demeanor. It seemed to hug her closer and tighter. " Snakey..?" She whispered. When no answer played back, she propped herself on her elbow and frowned. A furred cape seemed to have been draped upon her profile, and as a trembling hand decided to investigate what had her in it's grasp, she paused wide eyed and gasped. When her fingers lit upon a hand, she looked over her shoulder to find the sleeping Viktor and sighed. Relaxing on her side, took a few deep breaths as her mind tried to replay the events of hours before. Her eyes were quite puffy, and her voice was cracked from all her crying.

"KRUM EXPLAIN YOURSELF!" Was what played angrily into Elizabeth's ear.

"There is nothing to explain.." Came a sleepy response from over her shoulder, making Lizzy giggle and chuckle as she turned to face the sleep talking wizard. Poor guy, seemed so tired. He had a content and happier look upon his features though. It kind of reminded her of a happy puppy. With a grin she kissed his forehead lightly and pulled his cape over his shoulders. He in turn just smiled and hugged her tighter as she hugged his head playfully and lightly.

She really didn't care at that moment, it was too cold to get out of bed, and she felt so comfortable underneath the cape.. The fur was also silky and soft; it tickled her cheeks making her laugh lightly.

"What's wrong..?" Came a confused sleepy play of words.

"The fuzzies.." The girl giggled like a child.

He laughed and just rolled his eyes, " The fuzzies huh? That's all..?" He played on a fake hurt note.

Tying into this charade, Lizzy grinned impishly, " Yas! Tha fuzzies!"

Viktor just laughed and pulled her closer poking her ribs playfully, " The fuzzies huh?" He teased.

"AHHH!!"

The scream forced the duo to a frozen stiff seated position, - Viktor Krum's wand in hand, while Elizabeth cowered behind him in reflex.

" SNAKEY!!" Hermione's voice echoed dominantly. "WHAT are YOU doing here!?"

Confused, both Lizzy and Viktor exchanged glances and walked towards the dim light at the other end of the room, hand in hand.

"Hermione?" Lizzy called out, red fur cloak hanging over her shoulders.

Hermione's eyes whipped around, quite shocked and confused at what she saw. In the darkness, she couldn't see the linked digits and so burst forth with her arms extended. " LIZZY!!"

Within seconds of her rush of feet, the unnaturally long serpent curled around the girl jerking her back just in time to avoid the spitting sparks as his skin hit the transparent shield- his scales being lightly singed by the invisible wall that surrounded them.

"Snakey!!" Lizzy cried out- only to have Draco's voice play into her auditory frames from behind. How long had he been actually standing there? She didn't know- but it looked like he too had broken an entrance.

"Mr. Krum, how nice of you to keep our Riddle company," Professor Snape was seething between his teeth. He ignored Elizabeth's protests and pressed his wand up against the boy's neck protectively.

Elizabeth felt awkward.. Had they all been watching them sleep? "Purvy old man.." She mused mentally- and though nothing weird happened between them- it was still.. Well weird to know they had an audience.

"Wait a sec-" the moment she stepped towards Professor Snape, she walked into an electric wall which bounced her backwards. " AHK!" With a deep canyon forming between her brows, she smacked the wall with a palm and jerked backwards. " What's happening?" She called into the air. The volts of electricity seemed to have disturbed the cursed snake upon her back, and it began slithering around the celtic mark, making her skin itch, and burn. " AAAHH" she gasped as she fell to her knees hugging her sides.