| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter fifty-nine

THE SECOND TASK

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Verena followed Moody through the dark corridors of the castle. As soft gusts of wind blew by, the hairs on her arms rose and chills went down her spine. Something about how the torches left shadows on the walls and the rhythmic thuds of Moody's staff as hit the ground made everything seem terrifying. It made her feel like she was a Death Eater on her way to hell.

Finally, they came to a stop. Verena recognized the gargoyle, remembering the time she had entered Professor Dumbledore's office in her second year.

"Cockroach cluster," said Moody, and the gargoyle stepped aside.

"Cockroach cluster?" Verena said aloud.

"He's a weird man, Dumbledore," said Moody.

"No weirder than you, I'm sure," Verena remarked, instantly regretting it afterwards.

"Got a point there," Moody confessed. "Now, Dumbledore doesn't know we're in his office. You see, I think I should show you something, but only Dumbledore has the vessel I need."

"I don't understand," said Verena. "What is it? What vessel?"

They entered Dumbledore's office, and Moody walked over to a wall behind the desk. There, he opened a black cabinet, and something slowly moved out from the cabinet. There was a shallow stone basin with runes along the edges of it. A silvery light shone out from the basin and onto the walls. Verena looked into it, seeing a substance almost like water or air.

"You know what this is called?" asked Moody. "A Pensieve. One siphons their thoughts and pours them into the basin. I've recently become in possession of a memory that I believe you should see."

Moody opened his jacket and reached into his inside pocket. After digging around for a few seconds, he pulled out a vial with a silvery-white strand contained inside. He then poured it into the basin and the thought swirled around.

Verena glanced at Moody warily and stepped closer to the basin. She leaned over slowly, then watched as her reflection changed into someone else. Then, the walls of the office warped and Verena felt herself falling.

"No! Leave her alone!"

"Duvessa, calm down."

"Mum?" Verena spoke ever so softly, shocked to see her mother. "Dad... "

"She is your sister, I understand," said the man at the head of the table. "I will let this one slide... "

Verena barely recognized the man she saw. He was young, quite handsome actually, though it was the eyes that were what made her recognize who he was. They flashed a scarlet colour, and Verena only knew one person with red eyes.

"You asked for me, my Lord?" said a voice, and the figure came out of the shadows.

He was a young man with messy brown hair and well-defined cheekbones. Between his fingers was a cigarette, and he walked in casually.

"Yes, Barty," said the Dark Lord. "Dahlia Duman is being held in the dungeons. See to it that Dolohov and Travers are taking care of her."

Barty coughed, taking the cigarette out of his mouth. He looked at him confusedly and said, "Dahlia? What's she doing in the dungeons?"

"It seems she's been giving information to Dumbledore," he said. "She's lost her way."

Then, in the silence, there was a scream. Verena looked around the table, seeing her mother flinch at the sound. So did Darcy.