Leah Riddle (Book 1)

Chapter Fifty-Seven

"Ms. Loveland shall go in first, followed by Mr. Potter and Mr. Krum together, who will be followed by Mr. Diggory, and finally, Ms. Delacour," he said and right after, the canon sounded, signaling me to go.

I nodded to Severus and then made my way in, wand in hand.

"Lumos," I whispered, and all I could see were shrubs as the entrance closed up behind me; leaving me to endure an eerie new silence. My adrenalin was pumping, seeing as this was when my father would return. Tonight is the night!

I trailed my fingers through the shrubs, and screamed as one grabbed me. I caught my breath and set it on fire, making it shrivel back. Stupid plant!

If the students can hear me, Pansy's probably crying right now. I stepped carefully over roots that looked menacing and climbed a particularly large rock. After a little while, I heard a shrill scream, and I knew it was Fleur. 

I saw red sparks shoot up a few moments after the scream, but it was my turn to scream once again. This giant freaking spider was running up to me, and I took out my wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!" I said, but it bounced off the armored shell.

"Damn," I hissed, ducking under its leg. I slid on the ground and aimed my wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" I said, hitting it at its weakest point. It instantly froze, after trying to reach me with its fangs, and then fell. 'Lucky' me, it was right on top of me. I pushed with both my arms and legs, but could not move it, and my wand had rolled just out of reach.

"Shit!" I shouted angrily.

"Leah?" I heard Potter call a little ways off.

"Harry," I shouted back, and it was silent for a while. I struggled again, reaching for my wand, and let out a strangled gasp when I couldn't reach.

"Leah," sighed a relieved voice, and I saw Potter running up.

"Wingardium Leviosa," he said. The spider was lifted off the ground a bit, just so I could roll away, and I stood up gracefully. I grabbed my wand and blew a strand of hair out of my face.

"Thanks," I forced out and he nodded.

"You killed it?" he asked.

"Yeah..." I nodded, and we just looked at each other before walking off.

"What happened to Fleur?" I asked after we took a few turns.

"Krum hexed her, and before I got to her, the shrubs...ate her. She should be fine now," he explained.

"Viktor?" I gasped.

"He was bewitched..." Potter said grimacing. I nodded and saw Cedric run past an opening. Potter and I rounded another corner quickly and I stopped with a glare as a sphinx lounged in front of us.

"Please move!" I growled and it blinked at me.

"You may not pass without answering a riddle," it said.

"Fine, riddle's my middle name," I smirked, Potter not knowing the humor behind it.

"First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally give me the sound often heard

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"

The sphinx finished its riddle and waited for us patiently. I could see the gears turning in Potters head and I sighed.

"Let's break it into parts," I muttered to him.

"Alright...Think of the person who lives in disguise, who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies," he recited. I thought of myself instantly and then Ariana... hm. Barty as well; what are we all?

"Spies, that's what the first part defined," I said quietly, and our backs were turned to the sphinx.

"Er, alright yeah," he nodded, seeing it finally.

"Okay so... could you repeat the next line?" Potter asked it, but I had it committed to memory.

"No, I've got it; next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

the middle of middle and end of the end," I said, and this was a bit confusing. Middle of middle... uh...well the climax right? No, that's just literature. The end of end as well...the middle of the world middle is two 'D's. The end of the word end is a 'D' as well.

"The letter D," we whispered together. He smiled slightly and I gave him the last line.

"And finally give me the sound often heard during the search for a hard-to-find word," I sighed.

"Er..." Potter struggled. Search for a hard to find word...that's it!

"That's it Harry, 'er'!" I whispered excitedly.

"Now string them all together to find a creature you wouldn't want to kiss," Potter said.

"Spies D er," he muttered.

"Despise?" I asked in a hushed tone and then I shook my head.

"No despise isn't a creature," I corrected myself.

"Spy d er..." Potter sounded out and my light bulb clicked on just before he shouted it out.

"Spider!" he smiled and we turned to face the Sphinx, who was nodding.

"You are correct, you may pass," it allowed. We ran past and I frowned; that cost time.

"We need to hurry," Captain obvious said.

"Yes," I said, trying to be patient. We raced on and stumbled upon Cedric, who almost collided with me.

"They have giant spiders in here!" he said frantically as we raced each other.

We finally found the cup, and we all looked at each other. I took off faster than ever and Potter caught up; Cedric on our heels.

"Oh my God!" I said in frustration and Potter smirked. Suddenly I couldn't see Cedric out of my peripheral vision, and Potter stopped.

"What are you doing?" I hissed as I heard Cedric scream. I looked back and saw Cedric being drug down by the shrubs. Potter was staring, obviously conflicted.

"Let's go!" I urged, but Potter just stared between Cedric and the cup. Finally, Potter made his move and helped out Mr. Hufflepuff. Why, Potter, why? We all ran to the cup together and I was cursing in my head.

"Together!" Potter yelled, and we all grabbed the cup at once, instantly being portaled to wherever father wanted us.