| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter six

TROLLS

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The Halloween Feast was happening. Verena couldn't believe that only two months had passed. It felt longer to her. There was so much homework and due dates that made the year feel so long. The one thing that seemed to pass the time was reading and watching the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Verena thought there would be no team greater than Slytherin, but she had to admit it to herself – Ravenclaw was pretty damn good.

Veren entered the Great Hall, sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Thousands of bats swopped over the tables. The black clouds made the candles and pumpkins stutter. A few ghosts also came out and revealed themselves, some scaring students as they appeared through the table. The House ghosts were present: the Fat Friar, the Grey Lady, Nearly Headless Nick, and the Bloody Baron. In the corner was Peeves, the troublemaking poltergeist, who could only be controlled by the Baron and Professor Dumbledore.

Once Professor Dumbledore had finished his speech, and once the food appeared, Verena switched to the Slytherin table. She took a seat beside Daphne, and she thanked Verena for taking a seat so she wouldn't have to converse with Damien.

"Your bother is more annoying than usual," she said.

"I can still hear you," Damien reminded her. "You aren't very pleasant either."

"Something good happened," Daphne said to Verena, ignoring Damien. "What was it?"

"I'm going to be a reserve for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team," Verena told her excitedly.

"A reserve?" Draco questioned, joining their conversation. "But first-years can't be on the team, nor can we even have our own broom."

"Exactly, our own broom," Verena said, smiling. "I'll just use one at the school, as horrid as they are. And I won't be playing Quidditch officially, just practising for next year."

"Great!" Damien said. "Now we can really see who's better."

Verena scoffed. "I should remind you that it was me who helped you get better."

"Was not," he said furiously.

"You'll play against Slytherin next year?" Draco questioned.

"I'm playing a sport that I love," Verena rephrased. "Scared, Draco?"

"No, I just imagined we'd all be on the same team," he replied, and he looked down at his plate.

"I think it'll be fun going against you guys," Verena said. "Perhaps I could give Flint a run for his money."

"I don't doubt you could," Damien replied. "Uh, don't tell him I said that."

"Hey, Flint!" Daphne called, and a few people down, Flint looked at her.

"Don't you dare," Damien warned.

"Damien thinks that your Quidditch skills are... " She smiled as Damien pleaded for her not to say anything. "going to win us the Quidditch Cup this year."

"And the teachers allowed this?" Draco asked.

"Flitwick's going to talk to Dumbledore," Verena replied. "He can't say no. After all, I'm not even really playing, and it isn't actually my broom."

"And they let Potter play," Daphne added.

"Besides, if they say no, I think I'll just ask Cho to tutor me on how to fly," Verena said. "Then she could help me develop my skill."

"I see you've grown close to Cho Chang?" Daphne asked. "I might have to warn her if she tries to steal you away."

"Why should you care?" asked Pansy, who was sitting by Draco. "Oh, right. You're both blood traitors."