"One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be family." - Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated

Chapter Twenty-Five – Padfoot Returns

"Do you think this is enough food for him?" Ceph fussed, looking down into the bag by his side. Ankaa looked away from the lollipop she was examining through the window of Honeydukes candy shop. She mentally rolled her eyes at her brother's childish behaviour.

"Ceph," She said, "You've got an extension charm on that bag and you've got enough food to feed an army. Not to mention that Potter'll be bringing food too."

Ceph sighed, "You're right." He glanced down at his watch then. There was still some time before Sirius had asked to meet them by Dervish and Banges.

Ceph had been incredibly excited about meeting Sirius the entire week. Ankaa had been dreading it just as much. It was one thing to write letters to him (which she had only recently started doing), but to actually have to talk to him was another thing entirely. And she wasn't entirely sure she was capable of being civil with him, seeing as every time they talked he said something or the other that just rubbed her the wrong way.

"This will be nice won't it?"

For him, maybe. But for a girl who had purposefully distanced herself from people as much as possible, the notion of having to meet and talk to an estranged father was slightly too taxing.

Ankaa gave him a sarcastic smile. "About as nice as being clawed by a Hippogriff... There's always that undertone of 'oh, you're in Slytherin' with him."

Ceph frowned, "I don't think he's all that bothered with us being in Slytherin."

Ceph may have deluded himself into thinking Sirius Black was the greatest father anyone could have. That was just the way he was though; trusting and welcoming to everyone he met. Ankaa's mother had been writing to her a lot more as well, happy about the fact that Ankaa had at least started somewhat talking to Sirius, but at the same time saddened by the fact that they usually had an argument every time they talked.

"Ceph," Ankaa pulled him along as they walked away from Honeydukes. "You've met Moody before right? What was he like?"

"Funny actually," Ceph smiled. "He's got some pretty interesting theories and methods when it comes to catching Dark Wizards."

"And you didn't think he was acting odd at all recently?"

"No idea," Ceph shrugged, looking down at her briefly. "I had only met him for a few minutes before my interview for the Ministry Internship. I can't really tell if he's acting odd or that's his usual self. Why?"

"Hermione mentioned something along those lines." Ankaa hesitated, "I think it's rather odd, don't you, how he's always hanging around Harry?"

Ceph pondered over the idea. "Maybe, but I think he's just helping Harry out in the Tournament."

"Turning Draco until a ferret was not something he needed to do to help Harry in the Tournament," Ankaa retorted, "That hardly seems like something an honourable Auror would do to a child."

"You're right… That does seem slightly out of character."

Ceph and Ankaa made their way around Dervish and Banges, following the winding path that led them further into the wild surrounding Hogsmede. There weren't nearly as many cottages that littered the scene anymore. A few minutes later, they found a large, shaggy looking black dog making its way over to them.

The dog saddled up to Ceph's leg first, and rubbed his head along his side. Ceph smiled and crouched down and smiled.

"Hey, Dad." He ran a hand through the dog's fur, petting it softly.

Sirius, or rather his Animagus form, then made his way over to Ankaa, who took a step back in surprise at first. Sirius stopped, and then slowly advanced towards her, as if he did not want to scare her off.

"Er—Hi, Sirius," Ankaa pet him on the head quickly and gently. Over his form, Ankaa saw Ceph frown admonishingly at her. Maybe he had expected more from her. Ankaa shrugged helplessly, turning away from him. "So, are we going be talking to your dog form the entire time?"

"I think we're going wait for the others," Ceph guessed. When the dog nodded, Ceph smiled. Sirius sniffed around Ceph's bag excitedly, waiting for the food.

"Hello, Sirius," said Harry, when he finally reached them. Granger and Weasley were with him too.

Ceph walked ahead with Harry as Sirius lead them to a more secure location. Climbing over the fence, the group followed him up the mountainside for almost half an hour, huffing and puffing at the effort it took. Finally, the large dog slipped into a small cave of sorts, and the children followed.

Ankaa halted at the sight before her. The Hippogriff from last year, Buckbeak, was chained up a few paces away. His beady eyes were trained on the newcomers, and he watched them haughtily. Instantly, everyone dropped their heads in a bow, not intending to be mauled by him.

When Ankaa finally passed him, she noticed Sirius had changed back into his human form. Thank Merlin, she sighed mentally, it was rather odd to address a dog so formally. Sirius was still wearing the same robes he had worn when she had last seen him, after he escaped Azkaban.

"Chicken!" He said hoarsely, approaching Harry, who eagerly opened his bag and pulled out the various pieces of food he had brought.

"Thanks," said Sirius, grabbing the food. As he tore into a chicken leg, he told him, "I've mostly been living off of rats. Can't steal too much food from Hogsmede; I'd draw too much attention to myself."

"Why haven't you gone to mom?" Ceph asked, placing a pitcher of water in front of him. "Why are you still around here?"

"Can't," Sirius said after he swallowed some food. "I really want to, believe me, I do. The Ministry's keeping an eye on your house. They know that I'd try to get with an old friend."

Ankaa snorted, "Had a lot of friends like Mum, did you?"

Sirius gave her a grin. "Your mother is one of a kind," He said. "Don't worry about me though. I'm fulfilling my duties as a father and godfather. Everyone around here just things I'm a lovable stray."

Ankaa mumbled lowly, "Seriously mistaken then."

"You're worried about something then?" Ceph asked, raising a brow.

Sirius nodded. He glanced at Harry, who seemed beyond anxious. "Your last letter… well, things have been getting fishier," He told everyone, "I've been stealing copies of the Daily Prophet here and there and sounds like I'm not the only one getting worried."

"What if they catch you?" Harry asked worriedly. Ankaa supposed it was terrifying for him to imagine losing the only family he had.

"You lot and Dumbledore are the only ones here that know I'm an Animagus," Sirius shrugged nonchalantly (which was so similar to how Ceph did it—they were definitely related), and continued devouring his food.

Ankaa picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet Sirius had been carrying. The major headlines talked about Crouch being sick, and the fact that a witch was still missing. She glanced over the article quickly.

"They make it sound like he's dying," Ankaa mumbled, passing the Daily Prophet over to Harry who read over it eagerly. "He can't be that bad… I mean, he's been around for the Tournament."

"Percy says he's suffering from overwork." Ron said, rolling his eyes in distaste.

"He did look ill last time I saw him up close," Harry provided, "That night my name was drawn from the Goblet."

Ankaa wasn't particularly interested in what Crouch was up to. She watched, but did not listen, as Harry and Sirius talked. She wondered how long it would be before she could leave. She would have to wait until Ceph decided…

"… it was Lucius Malfoy!" Ron was saying vehemently.

Beside her, Ceph rolled his eyes in mild irritation. "Honestly, Ron," He sighed, "You're only saying that because you don't like Draco."

"Am not!" Ron cried, "Who else would have done it? There was only the Bulgarian Minister, us and the Malfoys!"

"And Ludo Bagman," Hermione added.

"Oh… yeah…"

"Bagman?" Sirius was pacing now, "I don't know anything about him other than that he used to be a beater for the Wimbourne Wasps. What's he like?"

"He's OK," said Harry. "He keeps offering to help me with the Triwizard tournament."

Ceph raised a brow, "Really? He's been giving me a wide berth the entire time."

"I wonder why he'd do that," Sirius frowned deeply.

"He's got a serious gambling addiction," Ankaa informed. "It's quite possible he bet some money on Harry… maybe he's trying to make sure Harry wins."

"That would explain why he gave him full points for the first Task," Ceph speculated. Turning to Harry quickly, he said, "Not that you didn't deserve it…"

Ankaa rolled her eyes at her brother's diplomacy. Harry didn't deserve all those points. First of all, he had destroyed a section of the seats where the teachers were sitting. Then, he had been off gallivanting with a Hungarian Horntail and damaged some of the roofs of Hogwarts.

Harry's brows rose in surprise, "Oh no, you're right. I don't think I should have gotten the full points."

"But we say him the forest before the Dark Mark appeared," Hermione said.

"But he didn't stay in the forest the entire time, did he?" said Ron. "The moment we told him about the riot, he was off!"

"Oh please!" Ankaa spat, "You don't even know where he Disapparated to. It's kind of stupid of you to assume that he was involved in it in the first place. You're literally trying find someone to pin the blame on."

Sirius held his hand up to silence Ron when he sensed a fight about to break out. Ankaa crossed her arms and sat there, frowning the entire time.

Sirius told them about how Crouch had a son, who had been sent to Azkaban for being involved with the Dark Lord.

"He died?"

Sirius nodded, "Lost it all then, he did… One minute poised to become Minister for Magic, and in the next he had lost his son and his wife."

"Moody says Crouch is obsessed with catching Dark Wizards," Harry told Sirius.

"He searched Snape's office as well," said Ron excitedly.

"Snape's office?" Ceph echoed. "Why?"

Harry shrugged. "Probably think's he still dabbles in the Dark Arts. Snape was going on about some Boomslang skin and lacewing flies being missing from his stores."

"That doesn't make any sense," Sirius mumbled to himself. "If Crouch wanted Moody to keep an eye on Snape, why wouldn't he stay to judge the Tournament to watch Snape himself?"

"You think Snape could be up to something then?" Harry asked, but Ceph intervened.

"That's ridiculous," He said, "Professor Snape hasn't done anything to ever endanger another student's life. And Dumbledore seems to trust Snape, I doubt he'd keep a teacher here if he knew they were going to be a threat to Harry."

Hermione nodded along with his words, "Dumbledore trusts him, so—"

"Oh come off it, Hermione," said Ron, shaking his head. "Dumbledore may be a brilliant wizard, but that doesn't mean a Dark Wizard couldn't fool him—"

"What do you think, Sirius?" Harry interrupted quickly, looking to his godfather.

Sirius glanced between Ceph and Ron. "They've both got good points. Ever since I found out Snape's a teacher here, I've always wondered what Dumbledore was up to. Snape has always been fascinated with the Dark Arts—he was quite famous for it… Knew more spells in his first year than most kids in their seventh year did."

"So knowing advanced spells is a bad thing now?" Ankaa asked, raising a brow and crossing her arms over her chest. "Ceph I know more spells than these three combined," She gestured over to the Golden Trio (who seemed quite offended at her statement, but she was not about to back down).

"No," Sirius remedied quickly, "But he was a part of a gang of Slytherin kids who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters."

Even Ceph rolled his eyes at that. "Sirius, you of all people should know that company doesn't necessarily define character." Ceph said, "I mean, your parents were pretty up there, weren't they?"

"I'm just telling you what I think," Sirius returned hotly. "I know Dumbledore trusts where a lot of people wouldn't."

Ankaa was happy that even Ceph was disagreeing with Sirius. She had been worried that he would blindly agree with everything the man said just because he was their father. Ceph and Ankaa stayed silent after that, letting the other four talk about their theories concerning Crouch.

Soon, in their discussions, they had lost track of time. At half-past three, Sirius finally decided it was best that they head back to the castle.

"Now listen," Sirius said, looking particularly hard at Harry, "I don't want you lot sneaking out of Hogwarts trying to see me. You can still send notes, but don't leave the school. It would be the perfect opportunity for someone to attack you."

"Nothing out of the ordinary for Harry," Ankaa muttered. Harry, having heard, scowled at her. Ankaa just shrugged, "Someone's been trying to kill you every year you've been here. I'm just stating a fact."

"Are you sure you don't want us to come by with a bit of food?" Ceph asked, "We could always use the passage into Honeyduke's cellar—"

"And my Invisibility Cloak!" Harry volunteered eagerly.

Ankaa rolled her eyes. "You can always mail him packages, you both have working owls."

After this, Hermione pulled Ron and Harry away from Sirius slightly. She gave Ankaa an encouraging smile as she pulled them off to the side and talked to them for a bit. Ankaa watched as Ceph made his way over to Sirius, and she followed.

"Did you like my Christmas gifts?" Sirius asked the two of them.

"You got us gifts?" Ankaa shuffled on her feet. "I didn't get any."

"Oh," Ceph chuckled sheepishly, "That's probably my fault. They came together, and I had planned on giving you your gift but I was busy with the Second Task…"

Ankaa just gave him an unimpressed look before turning back to Sirius. "Next time you know not to send him any gifts," She told him.

"Surprisingly I thought he'd be more efficient," Sirius smirked, and Ceph smiled. Turning back to Ankaa, he said, "The gift, it's from me and your mom. It's an old diary of hers, from when she started training as a Seer. We thought it could maybe help you."

"Oh…" Ankaa trailed off. It irritated her a little that Sirius thought she needed to practice being a Seer better, but then she told herself the man had no experience with children before, so he had probably given it to her with good intentions. Giving him a fake smile, she lied, "Thanks. That's a great idea."

Sirius gave them both a warm smile. Glancing between the two of them, he lowered his voice and said, "About what I said… The Slytherin gang and Death Eaters… I want you two to know that I don't think any less of you just because you're in Slytherin."

"Really?" Ankaa snorted, "You sure had me fooled."

Ceph gave her a disappointed look.

"What?" She turned to Sirius, "You think I don't see the way you look at our Slytherin robes in slight distaste? That every time you talk to Harry, you look a bit more happier than when you talk to us."

"That's not true," Sirius denied, "Harry just needs a bit more support. He hasn't got anyone else." With a resigned sigh, Sirius ran a hand through his curls, "I know I haven't been the greatest father to you, and that you deserve much better. I can't help it if you don't believe me, but you should know that I love you both regardless. I couldn't be more proud to have you as my children."

Ceph gave Sirius a wide smile before launching himself at the man and hugging him. Sirius seemed just about as surprised as Ankaa, but his arms wound around his son and he hugged him back quickly, patting his head. Before she could step away Ceph reached for her and pulled her in for a hug as well. Well, for her it wasn't a hug. She was standing in the middle, with her elbows folded so her forearms were by her chest, and Sirius and Ceph were hugging her.

Ceph turned his head slightly and saw Potter watching them from the corner of his eye. Stretching out one of his arms in the younger boy's direction, he invited him forward.

"Come and join the group hug, Harry!"

And Harry, though slightly hesitant, was extremely delighted and grateful to join them. He wrapped his arms around Sirius and Ceph. Ceph knew that he might have felt slightly left out, and he just could not let it be. As much as Ceph wanted to spend time with his father, he knew Harry needed his godfather just as much.

"Great," he heard Ankaa mutter in annoyance, "We're all hugging now. Shall we invite Hermione and Ronald? Perhaps Dumbledore as well? Maybe Buckbeak?"

They broke away with a laugh. Sirius reached for Ankaa's head, most likely trying to ruffle her hair (just like Ceph usually did). Ankaa leaned away from him, holding up her hands.

"I've had enough contact to last me a while, thanks."

Sirius laughed and nodded. He changed back into his Animagus form and led them back down the mountain, at the same spot where he had met them. He allowed each of them to pet him.

"We're sorry we didn't get you a Christmas present," Ceph whispered to Snuffles.

"Yeah," Ankaa snorted, "We'll be sure to send you a dog collar." Ankaa laughed when Sirius snipped playfully at her fingers before turning and walking away.

As the siblings walked back to the castle, Ceph wound her arm through his and asked her, "That wasn't so bad was it?"

Ankaa took a moment to answer. Was it as bad as she was expecting? Yes, if not worse. Was it slightly awkward? Yes, and awkward was an understatement and an oversimplification. Was she put off from group hugs for the next century? Most definitely.

"No," She gave her brother an indulgent smirk. "It wasn't that bad."

Ankaa was laughing. She knew it was bad, and she shouldn't have laughed. But really, it was hilarious.

"I don't understand why you're laughing," Hermione told her crossly, "It's serious. Those letters threatened to curse me!"

Ankaa laughed harder. "You are a wicked girl, Hermione!" She imitated one of the letters in a high pitched voice, "Leave Harry Potter alone!"

Hermione scowled at her teasing. She looked away from Ankaa and to Mopsus, who was also smiling along. Unlike Ankaa, Mopsus seemed to be a bit subtler about his amusement. Ankaa on the other hand, was about a second away from wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

"That foul Skeeter!" Hermione fumed, "She hardly writes anything of substance. I can't believe I've been caught up in this mess!"

Ankaa snorted. "Relax, Hermione," She advised, "People who have more than three brain cells know that the news she reports is hardly news at all. It'll all blow over in no time."

"Easy for you to say, you're portrayed as one of the brightest witches Hogwarts has seen in ages! And here I am, reduced to a mere love triangle."

"It slightly offends me that you said 'portrayed' because that implies I'm actually not those things," Ankaa retorted dryly, turning a page in her mother's diary.

Hermione frowned. "I'm sure you are that and much more."

"Thank you," Ankaa smiled, "I'm glad you've finally recognized my true potential."

Hermione smiled. "I had no idea you studied so much," He confessed. "I had thought you got by on raw talent."

"Raw talent?" Ankaa looked up at her then, surprised. "Raw talent is fine when it comes to basics, but you never really become good at things if you're depending on just raw talent."

Hermione raised a brow.

Ankaa shrugged, "I'm used to it." Closing her book, she said, "Ceph suggested it, actually. The first time he got his books, a few weeks before first term in first year, he had learned all the spells and theory by the time he got on the Hogwarts Express. When he did, he used the few hours of the train ride to practice as many spells as he possibly could.

I remember being so in awe when he came back during the Christmas holidays. And then when I got to Hogwarts, I saw how good he was at it, how everyone asked him for help. I wanted to be like that too."

Hermione smiled, "You want to help people?"

"Merlin, no," Ankaa scoffed. "People are annoying. I just wanted to be better than them."

Hermione shook her head at Ankaa's candid reply. Even then, Hermione couldn't help but smile. Whatever her motive may have been, Hermione had to admit that Ankaa was one of the ablest witches she had ever met; always one step ahead of the populous.

Soon enough, April was upon them. Blaise sat in the Great Hall, pouring over his books and preparing his exam notes. Exams were still not happening for quite some time, but he liked to be prepared. In front of him Ankaa was slouched on the table, blowing on the pieces of parchment before her.

"Get back to work," He told her, poking her in the head with his quill.

She grimaced and swatted his hand away. When the owls swooped down, carrying everyone's mail, she finally sat up. Blaise watched as she untangled a letter from Zeus' leg and stroked his feathers. Zeus then went forward and stopped by Ceph.

Behind Ankaa, the Weasley twins were sat with their friends. Blaise watched intently as the two poured over a letter, constantly looking over at the brown pouch that had come with it. Glancing at each other in surprise, one of the twins finally reached for the pouch and pulled it open.

"Bloody hell," Blaise heard him breathe in awe. Soon, both twins were gazing into the pouch, looking extremely pleased and surprised. The other twin reread the letter.

"It's not signed," He told his brother.

George sighed, "I didn't think it would be." He grabbed the letter from Fred and passed him the bag filled with gold.

Happy birthday Fred and George. I'm really sorry you couldn't get your money back from Bagman. I know this doesn't account for much, especially in comparison to what you were getting before, but I really hope this makes your day. The gift you have, making people smile, shouldn't be stopped.

Good luck.

"Who do you reckon it was?" Fred asked.

George shrugged, "They used a school owl. Whoever it was knew about Bagman... And two hundred galleons, Fred... it's a big amount."

Blaise, though he could not read the letter, could read the twins' emotions rather well. Once he deduced that the pouch contained money from a secret well-wisher, his eyes found Ankaa's. The girl just gave him a lazy smile before turning back to scribbling on her parchment.

Blaise shook his head in wonder.

"A maze?" Ankaa followed after her brother as he patrolled the hallways at night. They were now into the second week of June, and the Third Task was not for a few more days.

"That's what Bagman said," Ceph shrugged. "Sounds exciting, doesn't it?"

Ankaa grimaced, "Sounds awful if I'm being honest. A maze is the worst idea for a Task yet, in my opinion."

"It's the final task," he reminded her, "They've got to make it the toughest one yet."

Ankaa raised a brow, continuing on beside him. They walked in companionable silence, watching the grounds out of the window when they crossed one. Ceph kept twirling his wand, in case he ran into a student out late at night.

"So, how was your birthday?" Ceph asked her, "I know you didn't celebrate it much."

Ankaa shrugged, "I didn't feel like it. We'll celebrate after this ruddy Tournament is over; when you finish first."

Ceph smiled. "What presents did you get?"

Ankaa pulled out a silver round locket from her pocket. Ceph recognized it immediately, as he had received the same on from Sirius. It was used to communicate with the people whose pictures were in the locket. In the middle, he had placed his mother's picture, and on the other side of the opening flap, he had placed one of Ankaa and one of Sirius.

"Who's pictures did you put in there?"

"Yours, mum's and Snuffles'," Ankaa shrugged. "It glows white, did you know that? When the person on the other end opens it up to talk to you?"

"You've tested it?"

"With mom, yeah. She said it only works when the people who you've got in the locket touch it, otherwise anyone could use it." Ankaa said, "It's pretty convenient. Better than the other gifts I got, actually."

"And the twins?"

"What about them?"

"What did they get you?" Ceph raised a brow at her, regarding her with barely concealed amusement.

"Nothing," Ankaa shrugged. "We're not friends anymore, remember?"

"That certainly didn't stop you from giving them two hundred galleons," Ceph smiled. At her frown, he reminded her, "Valentine writes to me, remember? It's his job to update me on large withdrawals."

Ceph laughed as Ankaa muttered something along the lines of 'that stupid, short, goblin'.

"For what it's worth, I thought it was a sweet gesture." Ceph shrugged. "They really do deserve it, the money."

"Have you decided what you're going to do with your winnings from the Tournament?"

Ceph chuckled, "You sound so sure that I'll win."

Ankaa rolled her eyes, "Of course you will. Unless you decide to act like a bloody Saint again."

Ceph shrugged, brushing off her statement. "If I win... I was thinking I'd give Fred and George the winnings." Ceph whispered. At Ankaa's look of surprise, he told her quickly, "I know he's not your favourite person right now, but I think what they're doing is amazing. They've got a real talent for it, and it would be a shame if they didn't get an opportunity just because they couldn't afford it."

Ankaa nodded slowly, digesting his response. She shook her head in wonder. They were such an odd pair of siblings. Ceph was probably the nicest person she had met. He was sweet and kind, but at the same time, he knew where to draw the line. He knew how to command and how to follow.

Ankaa on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She was unapproachable, blunt and downright rude (sometimes). She could command, but she did not know how to follow. She knew where to draw the line, but she was unwilling to compromise.

"Get back to the common room," Ceph said as he stood with a tired sigh. "I'm going to finish up here."

Ankaa nodded. Slowly, she made her way back towards the common room. Surprisingly, the hallways weren't as deserted as she had thought they would be. Before she could make her way down the stairs heading towards the Slytherin dormitories, she was yanked back none too gently.

"Oh, sorry!" The person holding her exclaimed.

"Almost yanked her arm out, mate."

"I didn't realize I had built so much muscle," the first one sighed.

Ankaa finally pulled her arm free to face Fred and George. They were standing in front of her, giving her shy smiles.

"What can I do for you?"

"Actually," Fred began, "We came to give you your birthday gift."

"Oh—that's not necessary," Ankaa backed away quickly. "I didn't get you anything so, it's only fair—"

"We're not nearly as stupid as you seem to think we are," George interrupted, giving her a wink to show her he harboured no hard feelings.

"We've seen your writing before," Fred answered her confused look.

"Yeah, a little surprised you didn't change it." George chimed.

"Rookie mistake," The twins shrugged.

"So," Fred continued, "As an 'investor' in our shop, we decided it would be a good idea to let you have some of the products for yourself—before they hit the market!"

"Keep in mind," George advised, "The packaging isn't final, so don't be too caught up over the crappy design."

They thrust a box of biscuits in her hands. Ankaa looked down at the box. The biscuits looked like custard pies, but the top of the box had a brown label on it that called them Canary Cream.

"It'll turn the eater into a Canary," George supplied, ever so eager to help.

"Only for a little while though," Fred said, "About a minute or so."

"... Thanks." Ankaa said softly, holding the box gingerly in her hands.

"I know you're still mad at us—" Fred began.

"You, mate," George smiled, "She's mad at you."

"Okay, if we're being technical," Fred turned to his brother with a slight glare, "She said she was mad at herself."

George pointed at her retreating figure, "She is also leaving."

Fred turned to find Ankaa already halfway down the stairs. He frowned in disappointment at her retreating figure. Soon enough, she disappeared down the hallway. Fred turned back to George with a slight frown.

"I had an emotional speech planned," he mumbled.

George laughed, "I think we've had enough emotion for today."

Notes:

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