You know, I completely spaced on the fact that Stiles adopted a dragon. Let's pretend he's been living with the Sheriff for the time between trials, but anyway, guess who will be back in the next chapter?

Chapter 31: Into the Forest

"Stiles, are you alright?" Sheriff Stilinski asked, tapping his fork on Stiles' plate to bring his attention back to him.

Stiles' head jerked back around towards the Sheriff, his eyes wide, startled, his face pale and drawn with worry. He ran a trembling hand back through his hair, mussing it more than it already was. His normally amber eyes glowed a bright crimson. They'd been that color all morning, or at least since the Sheriff had sat down across from him at the Sytherin's table. He reached for something beneath his shirt, but his hand pressed flat against his chest before falling limply to his lap. "I'm- I'm fine," he muttered.

The Sheriff sighed, setting down his fork and crossing his arms on the table top. "You don't look fine. You're acting like an addict who has gone cold turkey. Talk to me, Stiles, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

Swallowing thickly, Stiles braced elbow on the table and then his forehead against his hand. He licked at his lips, swallowing a second time. "It's just... it's just that, I haven't seen Derek all day which is strange in itself because he's the one who usually wakes me up in the morning. And then Mom's ring is also gone, and I know I didn't leave it anywhere because I never take it off. And I've only seen glimpses of the pack here and there, but none of them will come near me this morning. And then we're still dealing with Hayden's body from the Yule Ball, and the people who did that to her are still running around." He covered his face with his hands, taking a deep breath after babbling everything he'd just said in one breath. "I'm just kind of stressing right now. Fuck, and the Second Task is today. I'm dead. I am literally going to die today."

The Sheriff pried Stiles' hands away from his face, staring at his crimson eyes for a long moment. "Take a deep breath, Stiles. I'm sure Derek and your friends have their reasons for not being around today. You'll be fine during the Second Task today just like you were for the first one. Your friends will be there to cheer you on, and when you win the Second Task, Derek and the rest of them will be there to congratulate you."

Stiles nodded, biting his lip. "What about Hayden and the people who have been killing people for no good reason?"

"Like I told you when I got here two weeks ago, you leave that to me. I'll figure it out."

"Okay," Stiles whispered, and like the last time they had this conversation, he knew Stiles wouldn't listen to him.

Pursing his lips, he asked after a long moment, "Speaking of Derek-"

Stiles shot to his feet abruptly, startling Sheriff Stilinski back into a group of kids wandering passed. His cheeks flushing a red worthy to rival the crimson of his eyes, he rushed, "So sorry I've got to go so soon. Got lots of things to do. I've got to get ready for the next Task. I've got to wrangle up Calcifer and pick my items to ride into battle with and saddle up Calcifer because Hermione Granger knows it's not easy to bareback a dragon and-" He threw his leg over the bench, ready to bolt. He jerked to a stop as the Sheriff wrapped his fingers around Stiles' wrist.

"Stiles, sit down. We're having this talk whether you like it or not."

"I really do have to go get ready for the Second Task though."

"The longer you keep wasting time, the longer this conversation is going to drag on."

Sighing, Stiles threw his leg back over the bench, sinking reluctantly back into his seat. He fidgeted agitatedly with his wand, sending sparks down the table and setting some unfortunate First Year's homework on fire. "Oh fuck," he whispered, scrambling towards the kid.

The Sheriff waited patiently until the homework was merely smoking before he started. "I knew that you and Danny wouldn't last forever, but I guess I never imagined you and Derek would be... something. The two of you are, right? Something? Dating, I guess? Because I've had two weeks to observe you two, and I'm not exactly blind."

Stiles dragged his finger through a pile of crumbs some Fifth Year's owl had left on the table. "I guess you could say that we're dating, but that doesn't really describe it."

The Sheriff blinked at Stiles. "Is your relationship serious?" Stiles nodded. "How serious?"

"Like... 'I want to marry him after we're done with school' serious."

"Don't go rushing headlong into anything, Stiles, take your time deciding. People change after school, and you're going to want to know that that person is right for you."

Stiles gave the Sheriff a withering look. "Says the man who married his high school sweetheart right after they graduated. You would still be with Mom if she'd lived, right? You'd still love her even though she'd changed?"

"Of course. I still love your mother even if she's not with us anymore."

"That is the level of certainty I have towards my relationship with Derek."

The Sheriff nodded. "I just want to make sure that you're positive. You two are being safe, right?"

"Dad, come on, we're at breakfast," Stiles groaned.

"Are you?" Sheriff Stilinski repeated more sternly.

Raising an eyebrow at him, Stiles said, "Yes, we are. Are you and Mama McCall?"

The Sheriff spluttered, his ears burning red, but before he could form a reply, Deaton dropped a hand on Stiles' shoulder. "Stiles, Sheriff Stilinski, I hope your morning has been going well. I'm sorry to intrude on your conversation so suddenly, but I need to borrow your son for a moment."

"Sure. I'll just go look over those bodies again."

The pair stood together, hugging over the table before heading on their way. As the Sheriff disappeared, Stiles muttered, "Or to go have illicit relations with Mama McCall. Maybe Scott and I will have a new sibling in the next nine months."

Deaton chuckled good good-naturedly as they turned towards the dungeons and the Slytherin common room. "Are you ready for the Second Task, Stiles? It is in a few hours after all."

Stiles scratched at the back of his head, all of this anxiety his father had chased away for just a moment returning in a rush, smothering him. "No. I haven't been able to concentrate all morning. I haven't seen Derek and the others haven't come near me."

Deaton nodded thoughtfully, clasping his hands behind his back. "I would suggest that you bring that book you collected, but leave the potion."

"How would a book help me? I can't exactly read it during the task."

"Have you even opened to book yet?"

"Oh yeah. I've had loads of time to just sit around reading between the Yule Ball, Kate and Peter, and all of the bodies," Stiles said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Deaton sighed. "Bring the book, Stiles. What else are you going to bring?"

"Calcifer is definitely coming with me, the invisibility cloak and I guess the book now too. I'm going to save the apple for the last task, and the bonus object is never coming with me anywhere until it stops shape-shifting, and I guess the potion is just going to hang out too."

"Good, those are good choices." Deaton turned to leave as they stopped in front of the Slytherin's common room door, but paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Oh, and Stiles, don't fret over Derek or the others. It'll all be fine as long as you do well on the Task."

…..

Stiles paced back and forth in front of the line of trees, the stadium rising high into the sky above the treetops behind him. He fiddled with his wand in his pocket, biting viciously at his thumbnail. Calcifer balanced on his shoulder, making soft noises of comfort in his ear, almost like purring. Kira and Allison had yet to show up, and the bleachers were mostly empty save for a few chattering groups of students who kept glancing down at him.

The pack hadn't shown up just yet either. Maybe they never would. Maybe they'd let him face this alone. Maybe that vision he'd seen at the end of the first task had been true. Maybe Derek believed he'd been wrong to choose him.

Pain ripped through Stiles' middle, sending him to his knees, blurring his vision. He gripped at his chest, gasping for breath. It was the same as when he'd had the vision, when Derek had told him he should have picked his mate better. His heart gave a shudder, as if it were breaking in two. Somehow through the pounding in his ears, he found that the stadiums had gone quiet, but no one had come down to try helping him.

He gave a guttural sob, tucking his head against his knees, trying his best to keep himself together. It felt as if his body were trying to rip itself apart, as if it were unraveling from the inside out. He sent out a distress signal to the rest of the pack, but it fell short, his magic working to keep his body knit together.

"Stiles?" Lydia leaned over him as he raised his head, tears streaking down his cheeks. "Stiles, you're going to be fine. It's going to be okay. We're here. We're right here," she whispered, cupping his face in her hands. "We were told not to talk to you, but fuck that. We're here now."

Students and teachers were streaming in around them, filling the stands, watching them with questions in their eyes, but unwilling to help. The pack stood behind Lydia, worry in their eyes as they sent comfort along the bond towards him. They found Deaton in the crowd, shooting him nasty glares before crowding around Stiles and pulling him to his feet.

"Where's Derek?" he asked Lydia pleadingly, "He didn't... He doesn't think he chose the wrong mate, right?"

Shock spread across Lydia's face followed closely by understanding as she glanced down at his arms still clutching his middle. "Of course not! He loves you, Stiles, and nothing is going to change that! He wouldn't stop loving you no matter what, not even if it could bring his family back. Where did you get that idea from?" She touched the tips of her fingers to his cheek again, wiping tears from his skin.

"I haven't seen him all day. He hasn't even come to find me once. He wasn't there when I woke up this morning. I'm worried. I don't want him to-"

Lydia cut him off with a gentle finger placed against his lips. Pulling him gently down, she kissed him chastely, passing him a small bit of her magic, enough to warm him, to make him feel loved and needed again. When she pulled away, anger burned deep in her eyes. "Fuck Deaton, and fuck what he said. I can't watch you fall apart like this anymore. Derek is-"

'Witches and wizards, welcome to the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament! All those who are not Champions, please leave the field immediately!' the announcer called cheerfully, and as if being dragged from their spots, the others reluctantly found their way into the stands, each touching Stiles in some way before moving away. Jackson grabbed Lydia's wrist, pulling her along behind him. Allison and Kira remained, a hand on each of his shoulders. 'Thank you! Now we can begin! Here is Headmaster Deaton to explain the next Task.'

Deaton stood on a box above the top of the stadiums, balancing on the very edge. 'Champions, your next Task lays before you in the Forbidden Forest. Something, or somethings, something important to you, has been taken from you, stolen in the night. Your objective is to retrieve these objects from the forest within an hour from the time the Task begins. It may be anywhere in the woods whether that be the den of the giant spiders or the centaurs' territory. It may even be in the hands of a creature. The first Champion to find their object will be the one to win. If you do not find your object in the hour given, it may very well be lost for the rest of eternity.'

Both Kira and Allison paled at his words. Stiles would have followed suite if he hadn't already been pale with the sharp tugging in the pit of his stomach.

'You may use any tools you have at your disposal, whether that be your wand or the objects your collected in the first task. Summoning charms will be useless to you. I do not recommend you wasting your strength on casting them. Remember, you will only have one hour to track down this important object. Use it wisely.' He turned his eyes back to the announcer and nodded.

The announcer smiled widely. 'Champions, please take your spots at the places marked for you!' The three reluctantly split away from each other, each taking an 'X' marked on the ground. They faced the forest, staring into it depthless darkness, shivering under the feeling of being watch and sized up. 'You each have one hour to find your object. On your marks... go!' A bell like a church bell tolled, and the three sprinted into the forest, immediately disappearing from sight.