| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter fifty-one

APOLOGETIC

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The task continued. Cedric got his marks and was taken away to the first aid tent. A few minutes later, Fleur Delacour was welcomed into the arena. Verena did not care much about what was happening. She was too busy thinking about the fact that Cedric could have told somebody about her interference already.

It was no surprise when Fleur obtained her egg. After her, Viktor Krum rose to face his dragon. Just like the other two, he had gotten his egg. The last to compete was Harry Potter.

Harry pulled out his wand, yelling "Accio Firebolt!" Verena recognized the Summoning Spell, and she looked at Hermione Granger who cheered him on. Verena knew that he must have gone to her for help.

A minute later, after dodging the dragon's attacks, the Firebolt raced into the arena. He swung a leg over his broom, then took off from the ground. He soared high and then dived to the ground.

People looked away as he inched closer to the ground. Even Verena turned to Cho, looking away from the action. The audience gasped and then there were cheers.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" yelled Bagman. "Are you watching this, Mr Krum?"

He barely managed to dodge the dragon's next attack. While he missed the flames, her tail came whipping at him. He swerved, but one of the long spikes on her tail scratched him. Verena could see that his arm had become weaker than the other.

Then, he began zooming around the arena. The dragon's head moved with him, her mouth opening and closing. He was taunting her. Then, the dragon spread her wings as he flew higher into the air. The dragon, with her neck outstretched to swallow him whole, was about to take off. But then, he dived. It was over within a few seconds. Harry Potter had gotten his egg.

"Look at that!" Bagman was yelling. "Will you look at that? Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr Potter!"

The dragon keepers rushed into the arena to subdue the dragon. Once Potter touched back to the ground, Professor McGonagall came and rushed him towards the first aid tent.

In the stands, Verena claimed she had to use the girl's loo. Cho nodded, smiling. She didn't believe Verena was going to the loo but was going to meet with someone.

Verena drew near the first aid tent. Before walking in, she could hear the voices of Granger and Weasley, and she stopped herself from entering.

"You were amazing! You really were!"

"Harry, whoever put your name in that goblet – I reckon they're trying to do you in!"

"Caught on, have you?" said Potter coldly. "Took you long enough."

Verena pulled away from the entrance. It sounded as though he wasn't entirely forgiving of his best friend, so she knew he wouldn't forgive her.

"It's okay," Potter said suddenly, and Verena walked closer to the tent again. "Forget it."

"No," said Weasley. "I shouldn't've— "

"Forget it," Potter said again.

They were smiling at each other. Granger burst into tears.

"There's nothing to cry about!" Potter told her, bewildered.

"You two are so stupid!" she shouted.

Verena stifled a laugh but stopped immediately after their eyes darted to the entrance. Verena turned red with embarrassment and entered.