| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixteen

WARNINGS

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October had arrived, sending chills over the school. The Hospital Wing was as busy as ever. Many people – students and staff – had caught colds during the chilly weather. Verena had been told that Professor Snape had made them brew Pepperup Potions since Madam Pomfrey was running out. The results were effective in curing their colds though they were left steaming from the ears for a couple of hours.

Raindrops thundered on the castle grounds day after day; the lake rose, the paved dirt trails turned to sticky mud, and the rooms got colder, especially the dungeons. Every fireplace in the school was lit in hopes to spread the warmth throughout the school.

Verena had her disputes with many individuals on the Quidditch team of each house. While Flint kept bothering her about Ravenclaw's plays, the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams watched them practice. Rumours and gossip were spreading about her and how she was accepted to be on the team. Of course, she took Cho's advice and ignored them. She knew those who spread the rumours were likely the ones who got replaced by her.

Verena had just finished their practice in the mud and rain. She had no idea how hard it was playing in bad weather until she was in it. The rain blurred her vision and the winds tried blowing her off course. It wasn't her best practice, and she was angry because of it.

Verena entered the nearest restroom. She tried turning on the faucet of a sink, but it wouldn't work. Verena tried the other knob, but nothing came out. Something within her made her pause and examine the sink. She thought she might have seen it before, or she was going crazy again.

"Who are you?" said a voice from behind her.

Verena let out a terrified shriek, and she hoped no one heard her. Never did such a sound of fear come from her mouth. She turned around, looking at a young girl. Verena knew she was a ghost by her transparency. She had two pigtails, thick glasses, and wore a Ravenclaw uniform.

"How did you die?" Verena asked, looking at her.

Suddenly, she began to weep, floating around the room. At once, Verena remembered who she was. Her name throughout the school was Moaning Myrtle, though only the girls really knew of her. She haunted the bathroom so most girls tried to avoid it if they could.

"Okay, I see you're still sensitive about that," Verena said, hoping to calm her down. "No need to cry, Myrtle."

"The tap's broken," she informed. "Has been for a long time."

"Um, thanks," Verena replied.

She moved over to a different sink, splashing water on her face and arms, washing away the mud. While doing so, she was half-listening to Moaning Myrtle as she whined.

"No wonder they call you Moaning Myrtle, you're so sensitive," Verena muttered, but the ghost heard her.

"Yes, go on," she said, teary-eyed. "Make fun of weeping, miserable, moping Moaning Myrtle."

She dived into a toilet, splashing water everywhere. Verena rolled her eyes and left, heading back to her common room. When she got there, she found that the common room was packed with more people than usual.

"Some Muggle-born got this bad omen," Marietta Edgecombe was saying to her circle of friends. "It was clear in her teacup."

"What omen?" Verena asked, curious.

Cho shook her head saying, "Professor Trelawney's teaching us about predicting the future with tea leaves. Marietta claims that someone got a bad omen."