Riddles

By: Me! Monsoon

Chapter 12: When Boggarts Attack

When we had our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Lupin brought us down to the teachers lounge to have us battle a boggart. I knew very well what they were, and I didn't want to face one. I didn't need to let the whole world know what my fears were.

The first person Lupin had go up against the creature was Pansy. Her greatest fear was actually snakes.

"You've got to be kidding right?" some asked drolly. I laughed. She glared at me before saying "Riddikulus" and making the cobra turn into a garden hose. Several others went after; all with strange fears; Dumbledore, werewolves (which made Lupin uneasy might I add), some one was even afraid of the Bloody Baron. Nephiro's fear was actually a grave stone with faded and overall unreadable script on it. She changed it to a small pyramid and stepped away quickly.

Without Draco in class I was spared having to see his beaten by Lucius. I mistakenly had moved forward to see Nephiro's fear but now Lupin could see me. I had kept to the back to not get picked but now he saw me and beckoned me forward.

"No thanks, I think I'll pass if you don't mind." I turned to go but he grabbed the back of my robes and dropped me before the boggart. I closed my eyes tight but I heard nothing but the whispering of the class. I opened my eyes and looked at Lupin frightened. I had too many fears. When I looked at the pyramid it snapped and became my fear from my first night at the castle.

First it was a dementor, leaning down upon me, another pop and it became myself beaten to a pulp, and with another snap it was the worst of all. Benvolio stood before me, just as he had exactly four months ago.

"You're afraid of him? I certainly find him cute." I ignored Pansy and the others that were agreeing with her. I knew what was coming. I had to see it; maybe this would relieve some pain. When I didn't move Lupin came forward to dispose of the creature but I shook my head no.

Slowly, the fake Ben reached for a knife in his pocket and carefully moved it across his wrists. I backed away from the figure but it moved with me. I knew it would.

The blood from his wrists sizzled on the floor, burning holes. He slid the blade across his neck in the exact place from before. Tears formed in his eyes and spilled down his face. "I'm sorry," the boggart mouthed.

I knew what the last part was now, the fatal step. Lurching to my right, I grabbed Lupin who stood ashen. "Lupin do something! Don't let him finish!" I begged. Ben lowered the knife to his stomach and placed the tip against his shirt.

"RIDDIKULUS!" four voices called together. One had been Lupin, one I recognized as Nephiro's and the other two confused me. I turned around and saw Dumbledore and Mr. Malfoy standing there. Lucius was livid.

"Miss Riddle, come with me please," Dumbledore beckoned. I looked around at the others but none gave comfort. Except maybe Nephiro. She seemed almost taken aback at my greatest fear.

I scuttled out of the room and leaned against the wall breathing hard. Seeing that didn't help. I opened my eyes and realized Snape, Dumbledore, and Lucius were looking at me. 'Why was Snape here?'

"Rilee, would you care to explain that?" Lucius asked, trying to keep calm.

"Not really, no."

Dumbledore placed a hand on my shoulder and steered me down the hall. "Well, at the moment we must set that aside. We have something to discuss with you." We headed for the stone gargoyle that led to his office.

Up in his office his phoenix eyed me curiously. I stuck my tongue out at it and sat down. Across the desk the headmaster seated himself and placed his fingertips together. The other two adults stared at me as well. 'Not cool, not cool at all.'

It was Snape that broke the silence. "Rilee, did you know that a package came for you today?"

'What?' "Uh no sir." His mouth twitched.

"Well, one did. It actually tried to come to the common room. We had to catch the falcon before it attacked someone."

He pointed to a cage on a side table. Inside sat a ruffled peregrine falcon. He looked familiar but I couldn't place to whom he belonged.

"He was carrying a large package. As Severus said, it tried to enter the Slytherin common room. When we confiscated what it had, we were a bit shocked by the contents of the package." I stared hard at Dumbledore. What was so frightening that they had to pull me out of Defense for?

"Well, what was it?"

"Quiet Rilee," barked Lucius. I glared at him.

"And why are you here?" I snapped. I hadn't wanted him to see anything of my past at Fyremoth. That was certainly one of the top three. Now he'll want to know who it was, what my relationship with him was and a bunch of other useless information.

"Rilee, please," said the headmaster. "There were two reasons for Mr. Malfoy's presence. One because of what lay in the package did not seem appropriate for a young girl and the second was inform him of certain habits you have attained," he added, looking down his nose at me. I grinned cheaply, drinking wasn't a new habit.

"Headmaster, the package?" inquired Snape. With a nod from the older man, Severus placed a long heavy package on the desk before Dumbledore. When I saw it I beamed.

"May I Professor?" He nodded again. I removed the wrapping and gasped at the sight. I hadn't expected something so wonderful.

A brand new cherry wood bow sat unbent and untested before me. Two more packages lay inside and I carefully opened both. The first contained several waxed bowstrings made from the tail hairs of Unicorns and Centaurs. The second was long and heavy. It contained twelve perfectly straight arrows, all fletched with phoenix feathers.

I brought one up to my eye and surveyed the workmanship. Only a centaur could have made one so wonderful. Without thinking I took up the bow and strung it. I pulled the string back to my ear and felt the wood bent in the perfect arc. I notched an arrow and pointed it straight at the falcon. When it didn't make a noise or move I knew whom it belonged to.

Placing the bow back down I walked over to the cage and released the bird. He flew to my shoulder and glared menacingly at the adults.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Master Malfoy, may I present Alcot, the messenger falcon of the Dragone family, wizarding ambassadors to the American Ministry." I walked over to the desk again and looked straight at Dumbledore. "Sir, I am good friends with their daughter. For some time now, I've had a suspicion that her and the rest of our friends were planning something extravagant for me. I have been in serious need for a bow since the American Junior Archery Tournament, which I was champion of. It seems my friends have made me a new bow and arrows. They sent it across with Alcot with what I'm guessing were specific instructions to give it to me directly. I'm sorry that he had caused trouble sir." I gave them the best puppy dog eyes I could muster and saw what was the beginning of a scowl on all three faces turn to mush. 'I'm a genius,' I thought.

"I never knew you were in such a tournament Rilee," Lucius Malfoy stated. "Were you planning on telling us anytime soon?"

I fidgeted uneasily. I had never told them since they considered archery a muggle sport. "Well, no. You and Narcissa consider archery a muggle sport. And since she already dispises me why add wind to the flames?"

He seemed to pale under his already pale skin. "Yes, well, next inform me at least of what you attend. Had something ever happened, we would not know where to find you."

"Something happen? Like what, all my relatives are dead, including my mother and father." All three looked uneasy but said nothing. It was fun causing panic in adults. "Anyway, about my archery Headmaster. Is it possible for me to practice here on the grounds?"

"I'm afraid not Rilee. With the dementors about on the grounds and the way they seem to affect you, I would advise against it." I sat down hard in the chair.

"How did you know?" His hand opened a drawer and took out a crumpled piece of paper. He unfolded it and placed it on the desk for the others to see.

"This is yours is it not?" It was the picture of the dementor hand I had drawn after the thing disappeared. The sketch seemed so real.

"I'm sure others can draw just as well here in the castle sir. How did you know it was mine?"

"Only someone that has encountered a dementor first hand, felt its breath, felt their touch. Only someone like that can draw the exact replica of them or a piece of them."

"But-" he raised his hand to cut me off.

"I asked all those that encountered a dementor on the train. None of them would admit to drawing this. You and young Harry were the last." I shivered involuntarily. I quickly changed the subject and brought the matter of archery back.

"Well what will I do about archery. If I stay out of practice, I won't keep my title. Is there anywhere in the school that I could practice? A room that's void of all magic?"

"Why does it half to be empty of magic?" Lucius asked.

"Well, otherwise the magic would affect the velocity and trajectory of the arrow and that could seriously hurt someone." I sounded so professional. That scared me.

"Headmaster, would it be possible to empty one of the unused dungeons for use?" I stared at Snape. He was actually trying to help me? Cool.

The others were staring at him too. "Severus, anything could happen in a magic free zone. Anything." Now it was Lucius' turn to be stared at. "Well, it's true."

"What are you thinking? That I'm going to bring boys there and -" I stopped with a look from Dumbledore. I grinned.

"As a matter of fact Rilee, I am thinking that! I've been thinking that ever since you came back from that idiotic American school and started disappearing to Diagon Alley every day!" I glared menacingly at my godfather.

"Yes, I do believe it is possible Severus. And yes I understand your worries Governor Malfoy. I believe it can be arranged so that the room is a secret. I'm sure Miss Riddle would prefer solitude to company." I glanced at the old man and nodded. Solitude was far better.

"If that is all Headmaster," I said standing. Alcot flapped his wings and settled down. I headed toward the door but Dumbledore called me back.

"Rilee, your new habits need to be addressed." I sighed and returned. "I'm afraid we can't have you up until five every morning. It's not healthy." He paused for a moment, "And neither is smoking."

"Whoa what?!" Lucius and I said at the same time. "I do NOT smoke!"

"You had better not Rilee." I ignored Mr. Malfoy.

"Who in bloody fucking hell told you I smoked?!"

"Watch your language Rilee!" Snape growled.

"I'm afraid I can't reveal that to you. However I was told that you had a pipe nearly a foot long with smoke coming from your mouth and the pipe over by the Whomping Willow yesterday. And others have told me that your eyes have been rather blood shot and your walk more than a little clumsy."

"You must be joking," I said slowly. "One, and you can check me on this, I own no bong. Two, my eyes have been blood shot from lack of sleep. Three, yesterday I was in the bathroom talking with Moaning Myrtle. And four, I move as silently as a cat and have the balance of a crane. There is no way I could walk in the way stated."

I could have sworn that he was talking about my drinking ten minutes ago. Never would I have fathomed that someone would claim me for smoking a bong. Or anything else for that matter.

"And I demand to know who placed these charges!"

"As do I!" Both Lucius and I were bristling with anger. He might think me a slut but he knows that I would never smoke. I complain when his associates smoke out at the house. "She's been here for less than a week and you're already accusing her of smoking? I've right of mind to take her out of this school. Both of my children!"

"I'm not your child," I mumbled. He was more of a father to me than my real one so I wasn't that offended.

"Lucius, please, calm down. There is no need of that." My godfather glared at Snape and Dumbledore. "We must ask. If this is true than I'm afraid Rilee will be asked to leave. Her habits could affect the other students and be a bad influence on the younger kids. What we need to know is if she was smoking or not."

"Give me the serum. I'll say it truthfully." The three men stared at me. I had asked for the Truth Serum. No matter the question, I would answer truthfully. While in that state though, they could ask me anything. That was the only draw back. "Let me take the serum and you will get the righteous answer."

**********

(Snape's POV)

"Let me take the serum and you will get the righteous answer," Rilee demanded. I glanced at Dumbledore. Surely he would not allow her - he nodded. What was he thinking? This could affect her entire body for days.

"Severus, let her drink the potion." The girl stood there defiant. Idiot of a girl. When I hesitated to hand over the serum the headmaster gave me a look that could very easily break ice. He wanted the truth from her and he wanted it now.

Reluctantly I handed it over and watched as Rilee drank from the vile. She became drowsy and started to sway.

"Ennervate."

"Miss Riddle, can you hear me?"

"Yes," came the drone like response.

"What is your full name?"

"Rilee Eisblau Riddle."

"What is your age?"

"Thirteen."

"Were you smoking yesterday by the lake?"

"No."

"Have you ever smoked?" asked Lucius apprehensively.

She paused in answering. "No."

"Why did you pause?"

"I was trying to remember if I had or not."

"You've been offered then?"

"Yes." Lucius gave a half sigh half growl.

"We are done now Headmaster." Dumbledore still stared at her, face unreadable.

"Dumbledore? Is there anything else you wish to know?"

"No," came his soft reply. He stood and walked around to face Rilee directly. "Nothing more will be asked today." He patted her shoulder and removed the spell.

Notes: 5 pages. You should feel lucky. Now go read . . . um . . . something.

And as to who claimed Rilee smoking a bong, well, you will just have to wait. *grins* haha

There are 2600 words in this chapter.