Warning: Summer gets a bit out of control in this chapter! Language.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Chapter 9: The Hardest Task

Summer POV

It was the night before the second task. I was up in the library researching with Jake and Andrew.

"Where do they think they are going to have this stupid task anyways? I mean, according to this, these birds live in the mountains." Jake asked quietly.

"The new stadium they've been building up in the hillsides behind the castle." I responded. "I can't believe I have to report there at 9."

"Better earlier than later." Jake replied back to me. Jake had been shaking all night. Not literally but you could tell that something was troubling him.

"What are you suppose to do anyways? Get past it like the first task?" Andrew asked.

"Maybe I have to kill it." I teased him.

"There almost on the verge of extinction." Jake pointed out.

"I was just kidding." I reminded him.

"Excuse me." Came a small voice from behind him. I looked up from my book and saw a second year girl from Gryffindor standing there. She had blonde hair and big blue eyes.

"Yes?" Andrew was the first to reply.

"The Headmistress would like to see Jake and Andrew in her office immediately." The girl replied.

"For what?" I asked.

"She didn't say. She just says that you need to hurry up though." The girl replied.

Andrew and Jake stood up. "Don't wait up for us." Andrew said as he kissed me good-bye and I watched them leave out of sight. I finished the book I was reading and headed back up Gryffindor Tower to find sleep and relaxation.

The next morning I showered and changed quickly, running down to breakfast. The table had an absents of Jake and Andrew and that got me down. I was expecting to be receiving a kiss good luck and now as I walked out to the back of the school, my stomach began to turn and the nervous feeling was coming over my body yet again.

The familiar tent was there and I found myself the first to arrive. I sat down in a chair and began to play around with my fingers.

Where are Andrew and Jake? They would be there to support me. Samantha soon entered the tent next followed by James.

Soon enough my father and Cho called us all out to the front. We were standing by rank, (Myself, James and then Samantha). The entire school was all around us cheering and screaming. This was really sad, anyone of us might die at any moment because we weren't prepared and these sick people were enjoying it. I watched as my Dad stood up from his position on the judges' panel and tap his wand to his neck.

"Welcome to the Second Task of the Tournament" he began. "Hopefully the champions have discovered what they will be facing."

My Dad pulled out his wand and pointed it above the crowd and a holographic figure of the terrifying bird appeared.

"The Sarcyrus is one of the most feared and remote creatures in this world. It's claimed this titled for taking the thing we love and fear to loosethe most. In our champions positions,"

My Dad flicked his wrist. "James Keller loves his girlfriend Rosemary Allis" the picture of the creature vanished and then appeared a picture of a girl who looked frightened sitting in what looked like a nest, tied by her wrists and ankles by what looked like rubber rope. She had auburn hair that fell to about her shoulders and pretty green eyes. Her eyes were pretty red and had looked like she had been crying. I could hear James starting to breath heavily.

"Samantha Estes is in love with her boyfriend Jake Esperanza." Dad went on as the image changed again to a picture of Jake, tied up like Rosemary was. His hair was a mess and he looked weak and poor. 'NO WAY!' my mind went off as I realized Jake had never once mentioned to me about him going out with Samantha. Samantha down the line screamed and buried her hands in her face and began crying. Then it finally hit me. That….

"And Summer Potter is in love with her long time boyfriend Andrew Weasley." The image changed to Andrew, his eyes were closed and blood was coming down the side of his dirty face. Suddenly breathing for me became hard. My vision was becoming blurry and quickly. My throat was closing up. Suddenly all the sound around me was fading away. They had my baby. "No." I whispered. I wiped the tears away as my Dad pulled his wand down.

"You all have two hours to race up the hillside, fight pass the Sarcyrus and bring back your loved ones." My Dad finished off.

This is what Jake didn't tell me. He knew that this beasts took people's loved ones.

"Began on my count." Dad went on.

I drew my wand out. The cliff wasn't that high and we probably weren't allowed brooms.

"Three."

I needed to do this. I needed to get Andrew back.

"Two."

I always told myself I would die for him, now it all seems pretty ironic.

"GO!"

I dashed. Through the gates, past the crowd, towards him. I looked up the cliff and saw it wasn't, that tall. At the top you could already see the nest, and the bird.

How the hell am I going to climb this? I mean it wasn't like a steep hill, like seventy degrees. Then it hit me. I pointed my wand at me shoes and flicked them. "Stickatico" I muttered. Suddenly my shoes could stick to any surface and it was easy for my body to pick them up at the same time. Then I took a deep breath and began running. Step after step brought me closer to my destination. Samantha at bellow me was crawling up but was having a hard time because she was crying to hard. James on the other hand didn't even try magic, he was running right behind me and was slipping a couple of times but he got up quickly and kept at it.

Soon enough I got to the top and saw the beast. I didn't bother undoing the charm. The bird was standing in front of the nest with my baby inside of it. I was quick to pull out my wand. The eyes on the Sarcyrus became deep red. It let out a def-defying screech. I felt a little dizzy, and then I remembered. That's how he weakens his prey. I pointed my wand at my ears. "Chorimia" Suddenly no sound could go to my eyes and I felt fine. A little weird no doubt but perfectly fine.

Then I moved onto my opponent. I pointed my wand right at its eye "Emergi" I couldn't hear my voice but knew I had said it. Suddenly a fine red line emerged from my wand and hit the bird in its eye. He fell back a bit and closed them. I took the opportunity to run between his giant legs, narrowly avoiding and of it's claws and jumped into the nest. Inside I found that the girl Rosemary had continued crying and started shrieking when she saw me. Jake just said something but I couldn't hear it.

Then I looked over at Andrew. He wass lying down. Only his arms are up against the sides of the nest by the wrists. His ankles tied to the bottom. He was asleep. I lifted the mute charm from my eyes and I couldn't hear the bird.

"What's wrong with Andrew?" I snapped at Jake.

"He passed out, from the bird squawks. They feed us the antidote because you were the one in first place." Jake explained.

"Well now your telling me something. You never told me about the fucking bird and what it fucking does. And you never told me about Samantha. And don't worry she's on her way." I spat back at him.

"Hey, I didn't want you to worry." Jake tried to explain.

"Well thanks, because I couldn't worry beforehand, I got the privilege to cry, in front of the entire school." I screamed at him.

Then the screech came back. I covered my ears and quickly put the mute charm back on the ears. I stood up and looked back at the beast. Blood was rushing out from its left eye and it looked back down at me. I grabbed my wand but I was too slow. The animal had bent down and picked my up with its beck as I went flying in the air. He only tossed me up a little and I fell back on the hard ground, out of the nest, on my back. Pain began running through me as it brought its foot up above me. I rolled over just in time not to be squished under its claw. "Vermillion!" I screamed as I pointed the wand at his ankle. The Sarcyrus jumped up from the electric shock and began steaming as I held the curse on it. I released after a while then jumped back up and back into the nest.

I looked back at Andrew who hadn't moved. I used a cutting charm with my wand and broke his bonds. I brushed the dirt off his face and kept repeating his name but nothing worked. I pointed my wand at his body and repeated "Halepeo!" I picked his body up with ease as the lifting charm on him began working. The bird had fled the scene, probably waiting for James to arrive. I began walking back down the hill with ease and my boyfriend over my shoulder. God this was awkward. I saw James dart up past me.Samantha was struggling about halfway down the hill. I took a rest and took the mute charm off my ears and tried to wake up Andrew again but had no success.

I picked the body up again in a fireman style and this time began sprinting towards the noise of the crowd. As I reached the bottom of the hill I began running even faster through the gate as the entire school saw me.

"And Summer Potter is the first to return with 15 minutes to spare." I heard my Dad announce over the roar of the stadium. Madame Pomfrey began running towards me with outstretched arms for Andrew. I gave him over and felt the pressure come off my body.

I watched my Dad replay the highlights of my journey up the mountain and back down. I couldn't concentrate on that right now. I didn't really soak up the glory of anything. I just kept watching Andrew.

Through the tent I could see him. His breathing increased and soon enough he sat up straight. Madame Pomfrey came running out with a potion for myself; I guess it was for my back since it felt incredibly better after I had drowned it down. Andrew came out to see me. I don't remember a time when my smile was wider.

And that's when he kissed me in front of the entire school.

The entire student body "awed" at our cuteness I had to pull away as James ran in 2 seconds before the timer was finished. He had his girlfriend Rosemary trailing behind him. They held on to each other once they made there way to the center stage.

The judges up at the table were in a huddle as Samantha and Jake began running into the stadium, five minutes late.

"The judges have given total scores to each champion based on their combat between themselves and the Sarcyrus, there technique in getting up and down the mountain, and the fact that they got back here within the time limit." My Dad finally announced.

"Coming third place was of course Samantha Estes with a total score of 35 out of 50.

"In second place, we have James Keller who achieved a score of 46 out of 50.

"And as she remains in first place, Summer Potter reaches a score of 48 out of 50." Dad announced.

"The ranking remains the same. Summer Potter continues to lead the competition with James Keller following her and then last but certainly not the least is Samantha Estes. It is still a tight competition and it is still anyone's game." Dad finished.

Andrew took me into his arms again. I had done it. I had completed the hardest task that has come to me in my entire life. This had to mean something if I felt that way about him when I saw the condition he was in. Kind of like how my mother had to take my father's body back to the castle after they had killed the dark lord. But at least I knew one thing is for sure.

I love him.

Hey guys, I finished this chapter, so as soon as I figure out why isn't showing up on my computer then I'll be able to post it. I hope it didn't go bye bye. That would suck.

Anyways, I am not going to respond to the reviewers in this chapter, I'll combine this chapter and the last one in my next chapter. I'm sorry but I really need to get this out to you guys.

So yeah, I just got out of a major writer's block, all due to Patrick I know. You wanna know why too….

I got the chance to stress about homecoming and it finally happened two weeks ago and it was awesome! Oh my gosh I am totally in love! Patrick's so good to me.

I am what they call a 'band nerd' and have dedicated my high school life to being in marching band/wind ensemble. I have a competition every other weekend and some on school nights so it's kind of hard to find some sleep.

I am currently taking AP European History as a sophomore, and it's a hard class, one that requires hours of studying and hours of reading. So it's REALLY hard to find free time.

I know I may seem like I am being a little dramatic but I have to. I barely have time to breathe in my life let alone write. Don't get me wrong, I love all you guys but I have other things I am tied down with.

My life:

54 percentband

25 percent School

20 percent Patrick

1 percent Other (breathing, eating, sleeping, yatta yatta yatta.)

Usually I cute my writing into School WHICH ISN'T GOOD! Ask Mrs. Estes and Mr. Costa and Mrs. Kishore. It isn't pretty.

My Algebra 2 teacher Mrs. Johnson caught me writing this story in her class cause I forgot my book and I decided to write. She didn't say anything like it wasn't appropriate (this is a story I am writing on BUT SHE TOOK IT! And then she ripped it up and threw it in the trash, I cried at lunch.

That you-know-what.

Anyways, I have to go. AND I am looking for a beta-reader, that will read anything Harry Potter or O.C. If you guys have time on your hands and would love to help me out, you'll be able to read future chapters and stories that pop out of my mind!

Best Wishes!
Holly