"When my prayers to God were met with indifference, I picked up a pen; I wrote my own deliverance." - Alexander Hamilton

Chapter Twenty Two - The First Task

The First Task was growing steadily closer. Ceph had been busy reviewing his spells, practicing as much as he could between his duties as Head Boy, his N.E.W.T's and upcoming internship with the Ministry. He had also been busy writing to Sirius, trying to get as many tips as he could. So far, he hadn't brought up the subject of her visions.

But Ankaa knew it was only a matter of time.

And time was exactly what she was rapidly running out of. Ankaa had been spending a lot of time in the library, trying to read up as much about the Tournament as she possibly could, hoping that all that information would somehow trigger a vision. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort had happened yet. Mopsus had told her to be patient, but the First Task was only a few days away and she was running low on patience.

"Coming?" Draco poked his head past the bookshelf, raising an eyebrow at Ankaa. "I reckon you need a break," He said, pulling her along, "Hogsmeade will be good for you, come on."

As the two walked down to the carriages, Ankaa stuffed her hands in her pockets, trying to stop their trembling. It was all starting to catch up to her; the fact that her brother entered a dangerous Tournament and that she was unable to help him because of her inadequacy as a Seer.

"You alright?" Draco asked quietly, as they got into a carriage.

Ankaa shrugged, "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

Draco observed her silently, narrowing his eyes and looking her up and down once. She met his gaze head on, knowing that if she acted the slightest bit fidgety, he would catch on. Draco did not know she was a Seer, and there was no way Ankaa would ever tell him. They may have been friends, but she could never trust Draco with that secret. It was horrible, yes, but that's how she worked. It made her feel slightly guilty that Potter and his posse knew, but Ankaa was sure that them knowing would not affect her all that much.

"You'll tell me if something's the matter, won't you?" Draco asked quietly when they were making their way through the crowds in Hogsmeade.

Ankaa gave his hand a slight squeeze, leaving her answer up for interpretation. She would have liked to assume that she could tell him, but they both knew that that's not how things worked. Telling other people your problems never helped, it just gave them the upper hand to use against you. Draco knew that Ankaa would never tell him, but he wanted her to know he was there.

And she appreciated that.

"Go on," She nodded at him. "I'm going to head to The Three Broomsticks. I'll meet you lot at Honeydukes."

Draco nodded, giving her a salute before heading off to Honeydukes. She watched him saunter past their friends and leading them into the shop as dramatic as ever. Making her way into The Three Broomsticks, she stood on her tiptoes to find her brother. To Ankaa's immense surprise, she saw him sitting with Hermione Granger.

"Am I interrupting?" Ankaa raised a brow at Granger, who was slightly excited at the sight of Ceph sitting in front of her. Ceph, who paid her no mind, just gave Ankaa an ecstatic smile and pulled her down next to him.

"Not at all," Ceph smiled. "Hermione and I were just talking about everything that's been happening."

Ankaa pinned her intimidating stare on Hermione, who fidgeted slightly but did not back down. "Interesting," Ankaa hummed. "So what's been happening?"

"We were just wondering if you'd... seen anything?" Hermione asked uncertainly. "About the First Task, I mean."

Ankaa clenched her jaw and turned to Ceph, who raised his hands defensively.

"Not me, little sis," He said. "'We' as in her and Harry."

"He's here," Hermione spoke quickly and quietly. "Using his Invisibility Cloak." She gestured to the spot beside her.

"Hey." Harry spoke quietly. Ankaa was sure he had waved under his cloak as well.

"What the hell, Potter? Why are you hiding?"

"He thinks—"

"I don't want to hear people making fun of me anymore," Harry interrupted Hermione.

Ceph nodded. "Listen, about the badges. I've asked my friends not to wear them, but they're... well, you know." Ceph looked around at Ankaa, who was trying to hide the badge she had on her scarf. He elbowed her and gestured down to the badge. The two glared at each other, and finally (much to Hermione's amusement) Ankaa reached down to pull the badge off and deposited it into the middle of the table with a sigh.

"I worked so hard on it," She mumbled sullenly. Ceph rolled his eyes and passed her his Butterbeer, watching as she cheered up slightly.

"You made these?" Harry asked, sounding slightly miffed. Ankaa could just imagine his crestfallen, slightly sad expression.

"I just replicated them," Ankaa gave a smug smile in his general direction. "Draco's the one who designed them."

"Never knew he had it in him," Harry muttered.

Ankaa rolled her eyes, "He's smarter than you seem to give him credit for. A lot smarter than you, nevertheless."

Hermione, who sensed an argument brewing, quickly stepped in. Addressing Ceph, she asked, "Have you spoken to Padfoot recently?"

"Yes, has he told you he wants to talk to you?" Ceph asked Harry, who answered an affirmative. "I wonder where he'll meet us."

"I doubt he'll meet you in person, Ceph," Ankaa said, putting down the empty cup of Butterbeer. "He'll probably use the fires in our common rooms."

"Have you written to him?" Harry asked, "He was asking about you, y'know. Maybe you should write to him."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do." Ankaa spat, "Especially since you're the one thats hiding under an Invisibility Cloak, you stupid—"

"That's such a unique badge, Hermione!" Ceph interrupted quickly, elbowing his sister once more. "... Spew?"

A muscle jumped in Hermione's jaw. "It's S.P.E.W."

"I'm still going to call it spew." Ankaa muttered, squinting at the badge. "Students... for what? I can't read the fine print."

"Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare," Hermione told them, ever so passionate. "The house-elves get a very raw deal! It's almost like slavery. So, S.P.E.W is an organization that will help house-elves gain the freedom that they deserve."

"Sounds..." Ceph began uncertainly, "New... So, how many people have you got in this club of yours?"

"Three," Hermione told them proudly. "We're always taking new members." She reached into her pocket and pulled out some more hideous S.P.E.W buttons.

There was silence at their table for a few moments. Ankaa and Ceph glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes, and Harry's snickering could be heard.

"Yeah, no thanks," Ankaa stood up and stretched, "I'll pass on that horrible club."

"Horrible?!"

"Yeah," Ankaa shrugged. "You're bringing your Muggle ideas into this, Granger. House-elves don't need liberation, especially considering they're free to begin with."

"They are not free!" Hermione argued, slamming her hand against the table. "They're being forced to do things that they don't like by their masters—"

"Listen, Granger," Ankaa interrupted. "They like doing all that, it's their life. They're happy. You ever been down to the kitchens? The house-elves are more than happy to be working, it gives their life purpose."

"But Dobby—"

"There are outliers in every population," Ceph pointed out. "But largely house-elves are happy to be employed."

Hermione looked slightly put out with the fact that Ceph wasn't taking her side. Ankaa rolled her eyes and said, "Relax Granger, and put that head of yours to use elsewhere."

"This is an important issue!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm not giving up."

"Sucks for you then," Ankaa stuffed her hands in her pockets. "I'm out."

With that, she turned and walked away. Before she could leave, however, she heard Fred and George calling her name. Begrudgingly, she made her way over to their group. Ron looked equally as dismayed at her presence as she was to be there.

"What?"

"Cool down, love," Fred raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "We just wanted to know what was up."

"Yeah, you and Granger looked like you were about to kill each other." Lee nodded over to a still fuming Granger.

"Well," George gave Ankaa a cheeky smile, "Her more than you."

Ankaa shrugged. "She was going on about that Spew thing. Ceph and I tried to tell her it was useless, but she wouldn't listen. I wonder what she'll do when she finds out Rhyther Manor has several house-elves." Ankaa focused on Ron then, who was busy gulping down his Butterbeer so he wouldn't have to talk to her. "What's with you, then?"

"M—Me?"

"There's no one behind you, Weasley."

Ron wiped the foam off his mouth with his sleeve. "Nothing. What makes you think something's wrong?"

Ankaa raised a brow. "So you usually through hissy fits on a regular basis?"

Fred, George, and Lee smirked.

"You usually bully students—"

"Oh, spare me your atrocious comeback," Ankaa rolled her eyes. "I'm not here to discuss your feelings, I'm just letting you know that you're being a git. You've abandoned your friend because you're jealous."

Ron glared at her. "Says the girl who gave her best friend a Ton-Tongue Toffee as revenge."

Ankaa waved her hand in dismissal. "My situation is different," She said, "No one expects me to be their friend, to be there for them when things get rough. You, on the other hand, the ever glorious Gryffindor, you're supposed to be there for Potter through thick and thin."

"She's got a point mate," Fred pointed out, which made Ankaa pause. Then again, it was no surprise to her. He probably still thought of her as the little Slytherin girl, hell-bent on manipulating people. That's probably why he could never like her because he didn't think of her as a friend.

"I have to go." Ankaa turned and rushed away from their table, ignoring them when they called her back. She passed Ceph as she pushed past the throngs of students heading back to the Castle and told him to tell Draco she had gone back.

George walked quickly, hoping to catch Ankaa before she disappeared into the Slytherin Common room. Fred and Lee had elected to stay behind, talking to Angelina. Pursing his lips, George paused in the middle of the hallway, contemplating where to go.

Think, he told himself. If you were Ankaa, and wanted to avoid people as much as possible, where would you go?

With a smirk, he turned around and dashed off.

"Are you alright?"

Ankaa stuffed another chocolate chip cookie in her mouth so she wouldn't have to answer George. She knew coming to the kitchens was a bad idea, especially since the twins frequented it so much. Instead of answering his question, Ankaa just pulled the quickly emptying plate of cookies closer and picked up another one, dunking it in a glass of milk.

"How many of those have you had?" George took a seat before her, glancing between her stuffed face and the almost empty plate.

"... Twelve." Ankaa muttered, stuffing her face once more. "Thirteen."

George smiled fondly. "Trying for a new record?"

"Something like that."

George accepted the glass of milk a house-elf passed him, and watched as the plate was filled with cookies once more. He reached for one of the cookies hesitantly, watching Ankaa's reaction. Ankaa paused, and then after a moment slid the plate forward so it rested in between the both of them.

"Are you alright?" George repeated.

"Yeah." She answered immediately, fixing him with a curious look. "Are you?"

George only narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," She lied.

"You wanna know the best part about living with so many siblings?" George asked as he brought a cookie up to his lips. "It's that no one can lie to you, you can read people too well."

Ankaa tensed.

"You can tell me what's wrong, Ankaa." He placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair in an oddly comforting way. "It'll help, I promise. I'll help."

There was silence once more. Ankaa stopped stuffing her face, and so did George. They both sat there, looking at the other, waiting for them to talk. Ankaa wanted to, she really did. But she didn't know how. Ankaa wished she could tell him what she was feeling so that the crushing feeling on her chest could lessen even the slightest amount. But with every breath, the silence stretched. Ankaa finally breathed deeply.

"I'm fine, George. Thank you."

But she wasn't, and George knew that. He only wished she would tell him.

"Dragons?!"

Harry shushed her immediately, quickly drawing his hands in front of her face and firmly placing them over her lips. He could feel her scowling beneath his fingers, and he flushed slightly at the diminished space between them. It certainly wouldn't look good if someone was to walk in on them here; in the back of the library, between two bookshelves, pressed against each other.

With a grunt, Ankaa pushed him away. Harry noticed she seemed not to care about the closeness, but rather she was annoyed that Harry would decide to manhandle her. Typical.

"You're sure?"

Harry raised a sarcastic brow, "I might wear glasses, but my eyesight isn't that bad, Ankaa."

Ankaa smirked, "Well, one can never be too sure where you're concerned." The two paused as another student walked past the shelves, and they both turned away from each other, pretending to browse the shelves.

"I thought you would have known by now," Harry whispered, dragging his fingers across the spine of a tattered old book. "I thought you and Ceph would have a plan of attack by now."

Ankaa nodded. "Well, I've been a bit busy. Besides, we've still got enough time… Tell me, Potter, what else did you see?"

Harry raised a brow, "They have one for each of us. Charlie was saying something about them being nesting mothers, if that's even relevant?"

Ankaa hummed, sliding a book back into it's place. "Everything is important in this Tournament." She whispered, "Do you remember what kinds?"

"There was a Horntail," Harry remembered that one alright, he remembered Charlie saying how particularly vicious that one was. "Er, a Short-Snout… something about a Fireball and a Welsh Green?"

Ankaa pursed her lips. "Do the others know about this?"

"Madam Maxine was there when Hagrid showed me," Harry confessed. "I'm pretty sure Karkaroff will show Krum too, but Ceph will be the only one that doesn't know—unless you tell him."

"Of course," Ankaa nodded. With a huff, she turned around and gave Harry a pleasant smile, "Well thanks for letting me know. I suppose we owe you one now. If you survive the First Task, I'll help you for the second."

"Thank… you?"

"Back again," Mopsus smiled tightly when Ankaa walked through the doors once more. Some of the other portraits who had grown used to her presence gave her a welcoming nod as well.

"You say that as if you didn't think I would be here," Ankaa said as she settled herself on the wall opposite Mopsus, laying her legs in front of her and placing the most recent book she had found on the Swedish Short-Snout.

"I was hoping you would not," Mopsus sighed, tiredly. "I had hoped that your abilities would have developed enough by now for you to be able to see without the aid of the Potion."

"You said it was a slow process!" Ankaa retorted defensively, "I've only been at it for a few months."

"Yes, but you have also been using the Potion," Mopsus said. "If you become accustomed to the Potion, I am afraid your abilities will never be able to develop."

Ankaa sighed. "Mopsus, I appreciate your input, really, I do," Ankaa raised a brow, "But today, I'm really not in the mood to hear your lectures."

Mopsus seemed offended, and Ankaa wished she could take back what she said. But once more, her attention was drawn to the book in her lap.

The Swedish Short-Snout is a Beast of the XXXXX level, according to the Ministry of Magic Classification. And rightly so, for it is considered to be among one of the most vicious dragons in the world. The Short-Snout's flame is a brilliant blue in colour. It has the power to turn bones to ash in a mere millisecond. Not as agile on land as its dragon companions due to its lack of forelimbs, the Short-Snout is nonetheless a fierce beast of the sky.

The Short-Snout was the last dragon left for her to study. Ankaa didn't have time to worry about Mopsus' hurt feelings, she could fix that later. The First Task was two days away, and she needed to help Ceph prepare.

"Forsooth."

Ankaa stood, waiting for Mopsus' portrait to swing forward so she could grab a flask of the Potion. Mopsus stood still, gazing intently at Ankaa, face clear of any emotion. Ankaa stood still as well, matching his indifferent stare.

"Forsooth, Mopsus," Ankaa repeated, "Open it."

Mopsus sighed, and his portrait swung forward. Ankaa took a few steps inside and reached into the basket holding Mopsus' Potions. She paused when she realized there were only about five of them left. She picked up three of them, holding them in her hand.

She really only needed one, for the First Task, but with what happened with Mopsus, Ankaa wasn't sure if he would let her inside again. At least this way, she could ensure that the Three Tasks were covered.

When she stepped out, Mopsus' portrait swung back with a little more force than necessary, and Ankaa flinched. She turned back around to Mopsus, who was not looking at her anymore.

"I know you mean well, Mopsus," Ankaa whispered, running her fingers over one of the flask's openings, "But I need to help my brother. I can't lose him, and this is the only way I can be sure."

"I understand, young one," Mopsus said, giving her a small smile. But even then, Ankaa knew that he did not understand. No one did.

"So, I assume you haven't been writing to Dad." Ceph said as he took a seat beside her in the common room later that night, with his own notes about Dragons in his lap. "He wants to talk."

Ankaa raised a brow. "Oh? What about?"

"The Tournament, I suppose," Ceph shrugged, leafing through his notes. "And he wants to know how you're holding up. He thinks you hate him."

Ankaa gave him a confused sort of smile. "Why? He knows I don't write much."

Ceph raised a brow as well, equally as confused. "Wait, who do you think I'm talking about?"

"Our father."

"Our father or our father?"

"Which one are you talking about?" Ankaa asked, glancing around the common room. Everyone was busy amongst themselves, and she was sure Ceph had cast a silencing charm around them anyway.

"Padfoot," Ceph said as if it was painfully obvious.

"Pad—You're calling him Dad now?" Ankaa spat disgustedly, regarding her brother with the most incredulous look she could muster. "You think the man's your Dad just because you've written him a few letters?"

Ceph glared back, "He's the reason we're here, Ankaa. He's the reason we were ever born."

"Blood means very little to me, Ceph."

Ceph seemed taken aback. Ankaa watched as the anger slipped off his face in seconds, only to be replaced by a look so sad that Ankaa had to do a double take.

"I must mean very little to you then," Ceph mumbled as he gathered up his things and stood. Indifferent once again, he looked down his nose at her, and informed her, "Padfoot says to be alone in the common room alone later tonight, around two. If you want, you can join us."

And with that, he trudged up the stairs and disappeared into the boys' dormitory. Ankaa stayed in the common room a little longer. She thrust her latest book about Dragons away from her in a fury. Why should she be helping Ceph when he was being stubborn about every little thing?

Draco sat himself next to her with a snort. "I haven't seen you look this mad since Blaise decided to practice his Pimple Hex on you," He told her, placing his legs on the coffee table before them.

Ankaa smirked, leaning against the back of the couch next to him. "I'm not quite at that level yet," she told him, "just a bit irritated."

"About?"

"Ceph," Ankaa cast a look towards the boys' dormitories, and Draco snorted.

"You two have a row almost every week," Draco shrugged idly, "It's a privilege, having a sibling."

Ankaa laughed, and so did Draco. "If you like him so much Draco, all you have to do is say it," Ankaa nudged him with her elbow, "I'll trade him for your eagle owl. "

"No thanks," Draco sat upright, "He's great, and I'd love a sibling, but no thanks. I think being friends with you is enough."

Ankaa nodded thoughtfully. The two worked on their homework silently after that, occasionally turning to each other to answer a question or to point something out. It was one of the rare times where the two of them weren't surrounded by other Slytherin students, even in the common room.

"You still owe me a favour, by the way," Ankaa muttered later that night when they were both cleaning up.

"Favour?" Draco asked, "When—"

"Last year when you asked me to curse you," Ankaa reminded him, raising a smug brow. "You promised me any favour remember?"

Draco regarded her carefully, narrowing his eyes and seemingly calculating something. Finally, after about a minute, he sighed, "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing," Ankaa hummed as she walked past him and up the stairs, "I just wanted to remind you that I have the upper hand."

Draco only frowned before rolling his eyes and heading to his own dormitory.

At around half past one that night, Ankaa sat up in bed. Everyone else was asleep, Pansy was snoring slightly, Greengrass was half hanging off her bed and the other two had drawn their curtains. Ankaa slowly pulled her sheets back and put her slippers on. Reaching into her trunk, she pulled out the green sweater Mrs. Weasley had knit for her last year and slipped it on over her night clothes.

Slowly, and quietly, she walked down the stairs and into the common room. When Ceph glanced up from the book he was reading beside the fireplace, Ankaa ran a hand nervously through her hair. She settled herself in the spot beside him, pulling her feet under her and the sleeves of her sweater over her hands.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled after a minute of awkward silence, "I hadn't meant it that way, you know."

Ceph turned a page in his book.

"For me, I think Henry will always be my Dad… At least until I get to know Sir—Padfoot better."

With a sigh, Ceph closed the book he was reading. After he had placed it on the table, he wound an arm around Ankaa's shoulder and pulled her into his side, almost giving her a hug.

"I know," He said. "And I'm sorry too. I know it's not as easy for you as it is for me, to make new friends or understand this. Just give him a chance, though, will you?"

Ankaa rolled her eyes with a teasing smile, "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't ready to do that, Ceph."

Ceph chuckled. "You're right," He said, as he pinched her cheek. Ankaa swatted his hand away angrily, muttering something about her family not understanding her boundaries. Ceph just ignored her.

"Psst."

The two turned to the fireplace, where Sirius' head was floating in the flames. Ankaa and Ceph made their way over to him quickly, leaning in front of the fire.

"Sirius," Ceph smiled widely, "How are you?"

"Me?" Sirius laughed, "Forget about me, and tell me about you! The Triwizard tournament!"

Ceph gave a breathless laugh as well before crossing legs and settling himself in front of the fire. "Yeah, I suppose it's all great," He said, shrugging. "The First Task is with Dragons, Ankaa says I'll be getting the Swedish Short-Snout."

"Ankaa," Sirius smiled at her, looking beyond excited that she had decided to join them. "How are you?"

"M'Alright," Ankaa mumbled, taking a seat next to Ceph. "Er, Sirius, listen… I—I'm sorry I haven't been writing to you much—"

"At all," Sirius raised a brow, one corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. "But that's alright. Maya told me you're not much of a writer. I'm just glad you're here today, I wanted to talk to the both of you."

"What about?"

"This Tournament is dangerous," Sirius told them, "Also, there's the fact that someone put Harry's name in the Goblet. Someone wants him to compete, wants him to get hurt. Especially that Karkaroff, he's no simple bloke."

"Karkaroff?" Ankaa raised a brow, "What's wrong with him?"

"He was a convicted Death Eater," Sirius informed the siblings, "The only reason he got out was because he gave some other names, told everyone he had repented. But you don't just decide to drop something like that."

"You think he's the one that put Harry's name in the Goblet?" Ceph asked, "That he's still a Death Eater who's trying to kill Harry?"

"Whatever the case," said Sirius slowly, "I think you lot should be careful. Everything that's been happening recently; Bertha Jorkins' disappearance, that 'accident' with Moody before the start of term, it's all a bit much to be a coincidence." There was silence as the siblings mulled over Sirius' words, looking at each other.

"Where are you right now?" Ankaa asked suddenly. "I mean, you've been on the run, haven't you? How'd you get a fireplace?"

Sirius gave her a cheeky smile, "I've broken into a wizarding house to use it. I've got to be going now. I still haven't talked to Harry, and he—"

"Really needs it," Ankaa nodded.

Sirius laughed. "Write to me soon," He told them, "I want to hear all about the First Task."

"Bye." Ankaa gave a small wave.

"Bye, Dad."

Sirius seemed a bit startled at Ceph's goodbye, but his eyes softened in the next second as he looked at his son. Ankaa glanced away, slightly guilty, when Sirius' eyes turned to her. He seemed like he was expecting the same goodbye from her. When she didn't say anything, he gave her an understanding smile and a nod.

"Be safe," He told them before his form vanished from the fire.

Waiting for the Tournament to begin was agonizing. Everyone had gathered in the stadium, while the champions had been called to a separate tent. Ankaa had not had the chance to see Ceph earlier that morning before he made his way to the Champions Tent.

"Nervous?" Cedric Diggory walked beside her as they made their way into the stadium. Draco was leading the way, trying to find the best seat. Cedric's Hufflepuff friends made their way over as well, following Draco's lead.

"A bit, I suppose," Ankaa muttered, glancing around at the various students holding up banners and posters for their champions. "He'll be alright though, I know it."

Cedric smiled.

"You entered the Tournament too, didn't you?"

Cedric nodded, running a hand through his hair quickly, "Yes, but I'm rather glad Ceph was chosen." He didn't seem the least bit bitter. The two made small talk after that, waiting for the Tournament to begin.

"Bets! Place your bets!"

Cedric and Ankaa turned slightly to see the Weasley twins making their way over to them, holding up a small box of sorts to hold people's bets. They stopped occasionally, collecting money from some spectators.

"They're collecting bets?" Cedric was surprised, "Seems…"

"Insensitive?" Ankaa offered.

Cedric gave her a half-hearted smile, "I suppose. Though, another part of me is congratulating them on their business skills."

"Bets?" Fred and George came to rest by them.

"No thank you," Cedric declined. Ankaa shook her head as well. Fred and George glanced between the two and gave Ankaa a sly grin. They were no doubt thinking about whether or not Cedric was the older student she liked.

"Go away," Ankaa mumbled, shoving them away slightly when they made kissy faces at her and Cedric. Cedric, for the most part, was oblivious. He was busy talking to his friends.

"It's starting!"

Ankaa watched with baited breath as the Swedish Short-Snout was brought into the stadium. It seemed a bit disorientated at first, most likely because it had been given a Sleeping draught. Ankaa watched as Charlie Weasley attached the large chain that was around the Dragon's neck to a bolt in the ground.

Once Charlie had exited the field, it was a few moments before the Short-Snout finally started coming to. Ankaa watched as it blinked its beady eyes slowly and stood on its legs. The Short-Snout shook its head. Its eyes found the golden egg resting in the centre of the circular field. The Short-Snout curled itself protectively around the egg.

The Short-Snout startled slightly at the sound of a cannon. It's giant head reared about, trying to find the source.

"Ceph's up first," Draco told Ankaa softly, watching the entrance to the stadium.

Sure enough, a few moments after the sound of the cannon had faded away, Ceph's form emerged from the entrance. His robes were black and emerald green, with 'RHYTHER' scribed on the back. Ceph paused by the side, his wand clutched tightly in his hand, as he surveyed the sight before him.

The Short-Snout's sharp gaze was focused on him, as if daring him to come any closer. Ceph, ever so confident, smiled widely at the dragon.

"Unbelievable," Ankaa muttered, massaging her forehead. "Even in the face of a deadly dragon, the idiot smirks at it."

Cedric laughed. "That's the Cepheus Rhyther we know and love."

Without a word, Ceph pointed his wand at the Short-Snout and shot a curse it's way. Ankaa did not think it was meant for the Dragon, however. The curse hit the ground a few feet in front of the Short-Snout's head, and the dirt launched up in chunks, temporarily blinding the Short-Snout. Ceph quickly raced away from the entrance and ducked behind a boulder considerably close to the Short-Snout, which by now, was livid.

With a loud growl that shook the stadium, the Short-Snout shot a burst of blue flame at the boulder which Ceph was behind. Ankaa watched with pursed lips as the Dragon got up, slowly making its way over to the boulder.

"MOVE CEPH! MOVE!" Ankaa shouted, but her warning was drowned out among the other students screaming for him.

Luckily, Ceph seemed to know. Quick as lightning, he dashed up and away from the boulder. The Short-snout reared its head once more, the blistering hot blue flames following him. Ceph flicked his wand once more, and a boulder came up from the left and levitated before him in front of the flame.

Ceph then threw the blistering hot rock towards the dragon's face, momentarily distracting it. Ceph surged forward, trying to grab the Golden Egg, just as the Short-Snout's tail came swinging for him.

"JUMP!"

And he did. But he was too close, there was no cover for him. Any moment now, Ankaa knew the Short-Snout would turn around, and in the next second, Ceph would be no more than a pile of ash. Especially if he did not find cover.

But he did. Ceph quickly ducked under the dragon's legs and slid behind one of the boulders once more. Ankaa watched as he summoned a sizable rock towards himself. Ankaa watched as he transfigured it into a Dragon's Egg. Without magic this time, Ceph picked up another pebble and threw it with all his might in the opposite direction.

Ankaa watched as the pebble surged over the Short-Snout's form, and clattered against the ground. The Short-Snout turned towards the sound, firing another surge of blue flame. Behind the dragon, Ceph raced forward towards the Golden Egg, the transfigured egg resting under his arm.

"Amazing," Cedric breathed, watching as Ceph slid forward and grabbed the Golden Egg.

Just as he did, the Short-Snout turned towards him again. This time however, there was no way Ceph could get under cover. Just as the Short-Snout opened its mouth, and the audience gasped, Ceph brought his wand about, and the rock he had transfigured to look like a Dragon Egg surged forward, levitating in the air right between the Short-Snout's mouth and Ceph's form.

The Short-Snout paused. Ceph slowly backed away, holding the Transfigured Dragon egg in the air. The Golden Egg was clutched securely behind his back. Every time he moved, Ceph made sure to place the transfigured egg in front of the Dragon's mouth.

"What's he doing?" Cedric muttered, not once glancing away from the scene.

"It's a nesting mother," Ankaa whispered in surprise, "He's placed the egg in front of her mouth so that there's no way she'll try to breathe fire, especially not if it's her egg in front of her."

"Brilliant," Cedric mused.

The arena was silent by now, watching in fascination as Ceph slowly backed away from the dragon. Once he was a considerable distance away, Ceph smirked once more. With a wave of his wand, the egg transformed back into a rock and dropped to the ground with a loud thunk.

By the time the Dragon realized what had happened, it was all over. The students broke out in a vicious applause, and Ankaa chanted Ceph's name along with the ecstatic Slytherin students. The dragon tamers hurried forward.

And just like that, the First Task was over.

At least for Ankaa.

Notes:

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